JAMA network open
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of Standard Local Anesthetic Bupivacaine and Liposomal Bupivacaine for Postoperative Pain Control in Patients Undergoing Truncal Incisions: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Liposomal bupivacaine for pain relief is purported to last 3 days compared with 8 hours with standard bupivacaine. However, its effectiveness is unknown in truncal incisions for cardiothoracic or vascular operations. ⋯ In this randomized clinical trial involving truncal incisions for cardiovascular procedures, liposomal bupivacaine did not provide improved pain control and did not reduce adjunctive opioid use compared with conventional bupivacaine formulation over 3 postoperative days.
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The 2017-2018 influenza season in the US was marked by a high severity of illness, wide geographic spread, and prolonged duration compared with recent previous seasons, resulting in increased strain throughout acute care hospital systems. ⋯ The findings of this qualitative study suggest that during the 2017-2018 influenza season, there were systemic vulnerabilities as well as a lack of hospital preparedness planning for future pandemics at US hospitals. These issues should be addressed given the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of Cancer Prevalence in Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 at an Academic Cancer Center vs in the General Population From 1985 to 2020.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a complex genetic disorder that is associated with not only neurofibromas, but also an increased susceptibility to other neoplasms. ⋯ This cohort study found that among patients with NF1, those who developed undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, HGG, MPNST, ovarian carcinoma, or melanoma had significantly lower DSS rates compared with those who developed other neoplasms. This study also found that patients with NF1 developed some neoplasms more frequently and at a younger age compared with individuals without NF1. HGGs and MPNST were noteworthy causes of death among patients NF1. This information may be useful for NF1 patient counseling and follow-up.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in up to half of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The longitudinal effects of COVID-19-associated AKI on kidney function remain unknown. ⋯ In this cohort study of US patients who experienced in-hospital AKI, COVID-19-associated AKI was associated with a greater rate of eGFR decrease after discharge compared with AKI in patients without COVID-19, independent of underlying comorbidities or AKI severity. This eGFR trajectory may reinforce the importance of monitoring kidney function after AKI and studying interventions to limit kidney disease after COVID-19-associated AKI.
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Comparative Study
Estimation and Comparison of Current and Future Racial/Ethnic Representation in the US Health Care Workforce.
The COVID-19 pandemic coupled with health disparities have highlighted the disproportionate burden of disease among Black, Hispanic, and Native American (ie, American Indian or Alaska Native) populations. Increasing transparency around the representation of these populations in health care professions may encourage efforts to increase diversity that could improve cultural competence among health care professionals and reduce health disparities. ⋯ This study found that Black, Hispanic, and Native American people were underrepresented in the 10 health care professions analyzed. Although some professions had greater diversity than others and there appeared to be improvement among graduates in the educational pipeline compared with the current workforce, additional policies are needed to further strengthen and support a workforce that is more representative of the population.