Chest
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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. American Indian and Alaska Native people use commercial tobacco products at higher rates compared with all other races and ethnicities. Moreover, they show lower adherence to cancer screening guidelines. ⋯ Limited access to and awareness of lung cancer screening must be addressed. American Indian and Alaska Native adults use several health information sources unique to tribal communities, and these should be leveraged in designing screening programs. Equitable partnerships between clinicians and tribes are essential in improving knowledge and use of lung cancer screening.
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At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether performing CPR on patients with COVID-19 would be effective or increase COVID-19 transmission to health care workers was unclear. ⋯ In this multihospital study, DNR orders remained persistently higher for patients with COVID-19 vs patients without COVID-19 with similar severity of illness during the first year of the pandemic. The specific reasons why DNR orders remained persistently elevated for patients with COVID-19 should be assessed in future studies, because these changes may continue to affect COVID-19 patient care and outcomes.
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Massive hemoptysis is a rare, high-acuity presentation, which requires the integration of both cognitive and procedural skills. Simulation has been recommended to improve preparation for high-acuity, low-occurrence procedures; however, the effect of a simulation curriculum for massive hemoptysis management has never been investigated. ⋯ Hemoptysis simulation experience improves fellow confidence and skill for management of this high-acuity, low-occurrence presentation.
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Simulation for the management of massive hemoptysis is limited by the absence of a commercially available simulator to practice procedural skills necessary for management. ⋯ Creation of a hemoptysis simulator with appropriate content, high functional task alignment, and strong affective fidelity was successful using 3-D-printed airway models and existing manikins. This approach can overcome barriers of cost and availability for simulation of high-acuity, low-occurrence procedures.
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Preclinical experiments suggest protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolites in lung injury and fibrosis. Whether higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with disease progression and survival in humans with pulmonary fibrosis is unknown. ⋯ Further research is needed to investigate underlying biological mechanisms and whether omega-3 fatty acids are a potential disease-modifying therapy.