Medicine
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Virtual reality (VR)-based simulation in hospital settings facilitates the acquisition of skills without compromising patient safety. Despite regular text-based training, a baseline survey of randomly selected healthcare providers revealed deficiencies in their knowledge, confidence, comfort, and care skills regarding tracheostomy. This prospective pre-post study compared the effectiveness of regular text- and VR-based intervention modules in training healthcare providers' self-efficacy in tracheostomy care skills. ⋯ The current study suggests that VR materials significantly enhance trainees' self-efficacy (increased familiarity, increased confidence, and reduced anxiety) and their satisfaction with the training, while motivating them to use acquired knowledge and skills in clinical practice.
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In response to the global coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have been developed. Although many infrequent side effects of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine have been reported, only a few cases of pancreatitis have been reported. ⋯ Acute pancreatitis can develop shortly after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Therefore, of great importance to differentiate acute pancreatitis when abdominal pain occurs after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.
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There is a dearth of literature on health outcomes for Black people who identify as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Black DHH individuals generally experience at least 2 types of oppression, racism and audism, both of which contribute to health disparities within the Black and Deaf communities. To understand the prevalence of health outcomes in a Black DHH adult sample and compare this to a Black hearing sample. ⋯ Black DHH adults are at disparity for certain medical conditions compared to the general Black adult population. Future directions are needed to ensure that anti-racist policies include consideration of people with sensory disabilities. Inclusion of cultural and language needs of Black DHH patients in cultural humility training for healthcare providers is recommended to address health disparity in this population.
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Routine neoadjuvant therapy for muscle-invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma prior to radical surgery is curative. With the increase in cancer immunotherapy, neoadjuvant immunotherapy has been used as an important complement to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Toripalimab is a recombinant, humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody directed against programmed cell death protein 1 and received the first global approval for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in China on December 17, 2018. ⋯ Toripalimab combined with gemcitabine exhibited accurate antitumor activity and may be a promising novel neoadjuvant therapy for muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.
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Various heavy metal elements in the human body have been reported to be associated with dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. The role of cobalt in these conditions is unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the association of blood cobalt concentrations with dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. ⋯ The adjusted ORs for hypertension and diabetes were not associated with blood cobalt concentrations (P > .05 and P for trend > .05). In conclusion, higher blood cobalt concentrations were associated with a lower risk of dyslipidemia. However, blood cobalt concentrations were not associated with the risk of hypertension or diabetes.