Arch Intern Med
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Previous studies of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have focused on men, with few studies including minority populations. The Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey is designed to study the prevalence and impact of LUTS among both men and women in a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse population. ⋯ In this population-based, racially and ethnically diverse random sample, LUTS were common among both men and women and increased substantially with age. Lower urinary tract symptoms had a negative impact on quality of life across age, sex, and race/ethnic groups.
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Recent reports have highlighted the poor standard of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) achieved by health care professionals in diverse situations. We explored what can be achieved in an emergency department by highly trained permanent staff. ⋯ Highly trained professionals in an emergency department can achieve appropriate chest compression rates during CPR with a low hands-off ratio. Increased attention must be paid in all situations to the avoidance of hyperventilation.
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The role of nutritional status in the disablement process is still unclear. The objective of this study was to assess whether low concentrations of nutrients predict the development and course of disability. ⋯ Low serum concentrations of vitamins B(6) and B(12) and selenium predict subsequent disability in ADLs in older women living in the community. Nutritional status is one of the key factors to be considered in the development of strategies aimed at preventing or delaying the disablement process.
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Although white women have the highest incidence of breast cancer, African American, followed by Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Asian American or Pacific Islander, women have higher death rates from the disease. Timely initiation of treatment has been shown to improve survival, and may help to lessen the mortality differences among racial/ethnic groups. ⋯ In a population-based study, African American women experienced the most delays in initial diagnosis and initiation of breast cancer treatment, relative to women of other racial/ethnic subgroups. Despite the limitations of a claims database, the magnitude and direction of the findings are consistent across the research, suggesting the critical importance of reducing these delays.