A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder that has been well studied amongst non‐Hispanic white populations. Data specifically describing the disease in the U.S. Hispanic population is limited and available studies that do report prevalence and incidence within this population reveal discrepancies. The aim of this study is to estimate the incidence of CD and to define common presenting symptoms in Hispanics in Phoenix, AZ. Data was collected via a retrospective chart review from Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS), an organization caring for a patient population that is >50% Hispanic, between 2004‐2013. The study population is both adult and pediatric patients that had received the ICD‐9 code 579.0. The total number of non‐repeat patients seen at MIHS each year between 2004‐2013 was also determined and broken down by race for incidence calculations. During this 10‐year period, 29 total patients were diagnosed with CD at MIHS. The overall yearly incidence increased from 1 in 44,011 patients in 2004 to 1 in 27,948 in 2013. Of the 29 diagnosed, 52% were Caucasian, 34% Hispanic, 7% Asian and 7% African American. The yearly incidence in Hispanic patients also increased from 0 in 2004 to 1 in 58,302 in 2007 to 1 in 25,826 in 2013. Although diagnosis was greater in females of both races, Hispanic patients were diagnosed at a younger age than Caucasians (22 vs. 31 y/o, respectively). The most common diagnostic approach was serological testing combined with duodenal biopsy. The 3 most common gastrointestinal presenting symptoms in Caucasians were diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting, while those in Hispanics were constipation, bloating/abdominal distention and diarrhea. At the time of diagnosis, at least 1/3rd of both Caucasian and Hispanic patients had presented with another autoimmune disorder. Other associated conditions were neurological symptoms and iron‐deficiency anemia. Data from this study suggests that CD in the Hispanic population may be more common in Phoenix than the overall population in the U.S. as described in the literature. It also suggests that Hispanic patients may have different presenting symptoms than do Caucasians. The reason behind the increase in CD incidence in Hispanics is unclear, although increased physician awareness and diagnosis may play a role. Further research and awareness of CD in the Hispanic population may be necessary to optimize diagnosis & treatment of the condition.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Research has shown an association between childhood maltreatment and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and depression. The purpose of this study is to examine the total and unique effects of various forms of childhood maltreatment on the development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and depression in both women and men. Data for this study will be obtained from retrospective chart review and from an already established research database at a private healthcare facility specializing in the treatment of trauma and addiction. All information will pertain to participants’ admission to the healthcare facility and will include self‐report data on childhood maltreatment and symptoms of depression, as well as retrospective chart review data regarding physiological metrics of risk for cardiovascular disease (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes). Results from 290 patients indicated that emotional abuse and emotional neglect were the leading predictors of negative outcomes with emotional neglect being a significant predictor of adult depression even after controlling for age, gender, and marital status. Younger participants and women reported higher levels of depression. However, the gender‐specific regressions showed that younger age and emotional neglect remained significant predictors of depression, with the percent variance explained by the model being greater among men compared to women. This greater effect size among men was driven by a stronger association between younger age and depression in men than in women. Childhood emotional abuse was associated with greater risk for coronary heart disease, even after controlling for gender and marital status. Gender‐specific analyses showed that, for men, childhood physical neglect emerged as a significant predictor of coronary heart disease risk after controlling for marital status. Contrary to predictions, among women, none of the five types of childhood maltreatment emerged as a significant predictor of coronary heart disease risk. Moreover, depression was inversely associated with risk for coronary heart disease. In other words, higher levels of depression were consistently associated with lower levels of coronary heart disease risk. This was attributed to the fact that younger people reported higher levels of depression, but younger age was also associated with lower levels of coronary heart disease risk. Furthermore, the results of this study can be used to develop screening tools, based on childhood maltreatment severity and type, for depression and cardiovascular disease. To what degree are specific types of childhood abuse and neglect (i.e., emotional, physical, or sexual) risk factors for depression and cardiovascular disease and how are these risks moderated by gender? Hypotheses: 1) It is expected that higher levels of childhood neglect and abuse (all forms taken together) will be related to higher levels of depressive symptoms and greater risk for cardiovascular disease. 2) Comparing five basic forms of neglect and abuse, it is anticipated that emotional abuse will have the strongest association with elevations in depression and cardiovascular risk. 3) It is hypothesized that the relation between childhood maltreatment and cardiovascular risk will be stronger in women compared to men.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Surgical correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) carries a substantial risk of complication. The literature supports improved perioperative outcomes through the two surgeon strategy in other complex orthopedic procedures. Does the presence of 2 versus 1 attending surgeons affect the perioperative morbidity of posterior spinal fusion (PSF) in patients with AIS curves greater than 70°? We reviewed the database from a large regional children’s hospital of all patients with AIS curves greater than 70° who underwent PSF from 2009‐2014 and divided the cohort into single versus 2‐surgeon groups (28 vs. 19 cases, respectively). We analyzed cases for length of surgery, estimated blood loss, and length of stay. The groups were identical when comparing age, gender, spinal levels fused, and average ASA score. However, the average Cobb angle in the single surgeon group was significantly less than in the 2 surgeon group at 78.4 vs 84.0 degrees, respectively (p=0.049). Mean operative time for single versus 2 surgeons was 238 (SD 48) vs 212 (SD 46) minutes (p=0.078). Mean percent estimated blood loss was 26% (SD 14.1) for single surgeon vs 31% (SD 14.9) for 2 surgeons (p=0.236), and mean estimated blood loss for single surgeon vs 2 surgeons was 830ml (SD 361) vs 1045ml (SD 346) (p=0.052). Mean length of stay was significantly decreased in the 2 surgeon group at 5.16 days (SD 1.7) versus the single surgeon group at 6.82 days (SD 6.82) (p=0.002). The use of 2 surgeons in AIS deformity correction at an experienced regional children’s hospital did not improve clinical outcomes. The average length of stay was reduced in the two‐surgeon group, but there was no significant impact on blood loss or operative time. However, this study does not rule out the potential for positive impact with a two‐surgeon strategy, and given previous supportive data in the literature, this approach should further evaluated to determine its effect on improving perioperative outcomes.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by long- and short-term inflammation and bronchospasm susceptible to multiple triggers that affects patients across the lifespan. Asthma management is a primary care priority in Vermont, where there continues to be an above-average prevalence of asthma among both children and adults as compared to other states. However, many of Vermont's children and especially adults with asthma are not participating in regular check-ups for asthma management that would best prevent exacerbation of asthma symptoms. Several climate and weather elements including, but not limited to, extreme temperatures and particulate matter are known asthma triggers. Vermont's high per capita use of old woodstoves, pockets of poverty and cold winters are all factors that might collide to adversely impact residents' asthma. Insights into how climate and weather might be related to peak periods of acute asthma exacerbation (AAE) among individuals living in the rural Northeast Kingdom of Vermont (NEK) could provide valuable, regionally focused public health information to primary care providers on the front lines of asthma management. The objective of this research was to examine the potential relationship between the climate and weather of the NEK and visits for asthma exacerbation in the primary care setting. The research began with a retrospective chart review including visits to five different clinic sites in the NEK between 2009-2014 with the ICD-9 code for asthma exacerbation (493.xx) as the primary diagnosis. When visits were individually validated as an AAE, the clinic site, date of visit, and the patients' age and sex were documented. These validated visits were then analyzed against weather and climate data including temperature and air quality. Results suggest that while diurnal shifts and air quality do not show a strong relationship with AAEs in this area, colder days do appear to correlate to when patients visit primary care clinics in the NEK for AAEs.

No description available.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Current stroke imaging protocol at Barrow Neurological Institute calls for a noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT), a computed tomography angiography (CTA), and a computed tomography perfusion (CTP) at the time of presentation to the emergency department (ED), and follow up imaging includes magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (MR‐DWI). This information is used to determine the appropriateness and safety of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration. Previous studies have shown the risk for post‐tPA hemorrhagic conversion rises significantly as the size of the infarct core increases. Thus, it is of great importance to have an accurate method of measuring core infarct size in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of our study is to determine if CTP correctly identifies the infarct core and if post‐tPA hemorrhagic conversion is related to the size of the infarct core and/or the accuracy of CTP in identifying the infarct core. The ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes by decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with tPA administration. This study is a retrospective chart review of all patients who presented to the ED during a one year period with signs and symptoms of acute ischemic stroke who then subsequently received tPA. Imaging was also reviewed, including the NCCT, CTA, CTP, and MRDWI for each patient. In this study, MR‐DWI is used as the gold standard for determining the presence or absence of an infarct core. CTP and MR‐DWI are in agreement of the presence of an infarct core in 7 patients, or 10 percent of the time. Similarly, CTP and MR‐DWI are in agreement of the absence of an infarct core in 31 patients, or 44 percent of the time. In the other 32 patients, CTP and MR‐DWI are in disagreement. The percent correlation between CTP and MR‐DWI was found to be 24 percent with a p‐value < 0.05. As for post‐tPA hemorrhagic conversion, 12 percent of patients had hemorrhagic conversion, and when the hemorrhage rate was compared to the size of the infarct core, the odds of post‐tPA hemorrhagic conversion were 56 times higher in the group of patients with infarct cores larger than one‐third of a vascular territory than in patients with smaller infarct cores with a p‐value < 0.001. Although no significant correlation was found between the accuracy of CTP data and the rate of post‐tPA hemorrhagic conversion, patients with concordant CTP and MR data had a 46% lower likelihood of post‐tPA hemorrhagic conversion than did patients with contradictory CTP and MR‐DWI data. Conclusion: Because patients with infarct cores larger than one‐third of a vascular territory are 56 times more likely to hemorrhage than patients with smaller infarct cores and CTP is less accurate than MR‐DWI in identifying the infarct core in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke, CTP studies should not be part of the acute stroke imaging protocol. Another imaging modality, such as MR‐DWI, may be preferential in the setting of acute ischemic stroke to identify the infarct core.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians are some of the most common and lethal forms of injury for children in the United States. Among younger children, a common mechanism of action for severe trauma is when a vehicle runs over the child in a forward or backward motion at low speed resulting in a blunt crush injury. This typically occurs in non‐traffic settings including driveways, sidewalks, and roadways. Such incidents have been referred to in many different ways in the literature but for the purposes of this paper will be referred to as low speed vehicle run‐overs. This is a retrospective chart review carried out at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in affiliation with the University of Arizona College of Medicine‐Phoenix that categorizes and examines the injuries sustained by patients involved in low speed vehicle runovers occurring between December 2007 and August 2013. Fifty‐five pediatric patients were included with a median age of 24 months and 6 of these patients were fatally injured. Internal injuries were common overall and significantly more common in children ≤24months. Over half of the cohort sustained fractures, with a 24% incidence of skull fractures. All fatalities were the result of traumatic brain injury. Twenty percent of victims required operative intervention. It was concluded that the severity of these types of incidents varies from minimal to life threatening and best care requires close and thorough evaluation by the trauma and emergency department teams.

No description available.

No description available.

A total of 1,018 charts of people who died from August 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009 were reviewed to describe and examine current end-of-life care needs and care practices provided in two acute care hospitals. The mean age of those who died was 72.5, the majority of decedents were elderly (73.8%), a slight majority were male (53.0%), a slight majority were not married (53.0%), and most were urbanites (79.5%). The most common primary diagnosis was cancer (36.2%). More than half of deaths were expected (54.6%). Only 40.3% of those who had an expected death had a palliative care referral. Of all decedents, 13.8% had CPR performed, and a total of 13.9% of people died without having a DNR order. A written will was provided in 30.8% of cases. Most had technologies in use at the time of death (97.3%). Of those who died with pain, most received analgesia (98.6%).