The American journal of the medical sciences
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The racial disparity in hypertension and hypertension-related outcomes has been recognized for decades with African Americans with greater risks than Caucasians. Blood pressure levels have consistently been higher for African Americans with an earlier onset of hypertension. Although awareness and treatment levels of high blood pressure have been similar, racial differences in control rates are evident. ⋯ The reasons for the racial disparities in elevated blood pressure and hypertension-related outcomes risk remain unclear. However, the implications of the disparities of hypertension for prevention and clinical management are substantial, identifying African American men and women with excel hypertension risk and warranting interventions focused on these differences. In addition, focused research to identify the factors attributed to these disparities in risk burden is an essential need to address the evidence gaps.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Case-oriented self-learning and review in pharmacology teaching.
To cultivate students' ability to use the pharmacology principles in medical practice, case-oriented self-learning and review has partly replaced lecture-based teaching in our pharmacology course. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of an innovative teaching model in pharmacology teaching on the performance of medical undergraduates. ⋯ Case-oriented self-learning and review can improve students' internalization of basic pharmacological principles and provide a greater opportunity for self-study and collaborative study. The examination composition can affect the efficacy of the assessment of problem solving abilities.
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Spontaneous early patency of infarct-related artery (IRA) on arrival for primary percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with better short- and long-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to investigate whether the hemographic parameters on admission are associated with spontaneous IRA patency. ⋯ NLR on admission is significantly related to angiographic thrombus burden and spontaneous early IRA patency in patients with acute STEMI.
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In the United States, from 2005 to 2009, nearly 8% of all cancers diagnosed and 15% of cancer deaths occurred in individuals aged 85 years and older (85+ age group). With the aging of the U.S. population, an analysis of incidence of cancer in the elderly population may provide information for clinical care and resource allocation. ⋯ This study contributes to measuring cancer burden in the oldest old population. In certain cancers, including meningiomas, the IR continues to rise with advancing age. Management of cancer in elderly is challenging and screening persons in the 85+ age group for frailty very thoroughly may help guide decisions of palliative versus aggressive therapies.