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Int J Cardiol 2020 Jul 4. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Department of Cardiology III, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.

Background: In adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD), both underlying disease and lung restriction contribute to exercise intolerance. In ACHD the yet incompletely understood mechanism underlying restricted ventilation may be inspiratory muscle weakness. Therefore, this study comprehensively evaluated inspiratory muscle function in ACHD and associations with systemic inflammation and the clinical severity of exercise intolerance. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Jul 6;10(1):11080. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia.

There is a persistent, aberrant accumulation of V0/V1 versican in skeletal muscles from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and in diaphragm muscles from mdx mice. Versican is a provisional matrix protein implicated in fibrosis and inflammation in various disease states, yet its role in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy is not known. Here, female mdx and male hdf mice (haploinsufficient for the versican allele) were bred. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2020 Jun 25;10(6). Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 783490, Chile.

An inexpensive and simple method to determine non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the abdominal ultrasound, but there are still doubts about its accuracy. We assessed the precision of a semi-quantitative ultrasound method to determine liver fat infiltration, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as the reference. The study was conducted in youths from an ongoing cohort study. Read More

Int J Gynecol Cancer 2020 Jul 5. Epub 2020 Jul 5.

Gynecologic Oncology Program, AdventHealth Cancer Institute, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Purpose: Recurrent ovarian cancer frequently involves the spleen. Our aims were to describe the technique of robotic-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy and to evaluate outcomes including progression-free and overall survival in patients who underwent this procedure for recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods: Chart reviews were performed on all consecutive patients who underwent robotic splenectomy (April 2012 to May 2019) for recurrent ovarian cancer. Read More

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2020 Jun 11. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Department of Medicine, Anesthesia and Intensive Care Clinic, University of Udine, Udine, Italy; Department of Anesthesia and Intensive care, University-Hospital of Udine, Italy, Udine, Italy.

Lung ultrasound (LU) has a multitude of features and capacities that make it a useful medical tool to assist physicians contending with the pandemic spread of novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Thus, an LU approach to patients with suspected COVID-19 is being implemented worldwide. In noncritical COVID-19 patients, 2 new LU signs have been described and proposed, the "waterfall" and the "light beam" signs. Read More

Curr Probl Diagn Radiol 2020 Jun 1. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Department of Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address:

The diaphragm is not only a sheet of muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities: it plays an essential role in ventilation and can act as a gateway for the spread of different disease processes between the abdominal and the thoracic cavity. Careful attention to the appearance of the diaphragm on various imaging modalities is essential to ensure the accurate diagnosis of diaphragmatic disorders, which may be secondary to functional or anatomical derangements. Read More

Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

St Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Keenan Research Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Rationale: Diaphragm function is a key determinant of dyspnea in COPD; however, it is rarely assessed in clinical practice. Lung hyperinflation can also impair diaphragm function. Ultrasound can assess the activity, function and the force reserve of the diaphragm. Read More

Chest 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada; Division of Respiratory Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with nighttime respiratory symptoms, poor sleep quality, and increased risk of nocturnal mortality. Overnight deterioration of inspiratory capacity (IC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) have previously been documented. However, the precise nature of this deterioration and mechanisms by which evening bronchodilators may mitigate this have not been studied. Read More

PLoS One 2020 30;15(6):e0235308. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy Unit, University of Medical Science, Poznań, Poland.

Background: Respiratory system diseases are some of the most common pathologies worldwide. Although osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) is used predominantly to treat other pathologies, certain OMT techniques have been shown to improve patients' respiratory function.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of osteopathic techniques on breathing. Read More

Ter Arkh 2020 Apr 27;92(3):19-24. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Far Eastern Federal University.

Aim: To assess the strength of the respiratory muscles in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with varying severity of endogenous intoxication.

Materials And Methods: In the hospital, 78 men aged 1826 years with CAP were examined. СAP was diagnosed in 56 (72%) patients, severe CAP in 22 (28%). Read More

Ter Arkh 2020 Apr 27;92(3):7-12. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Vladivostok State Medical University.

The respiratory muscles (RM) strength is the main indicator of their functional state. However, RM strength is not used as criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stratification.

Aim: To evaluate the RM power of COPD patients with various variants of comorbidity and to determine the role of comorbidity in the development of respiratory muscle dysfunction. Read More

Biochem Soc Trans 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, U.K.

Genetic approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited muscle diseases have advanced rapidly in recent years. Many of the advances have occurred in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a muscle wasting disease where affected boys are typically wheelchair bound by age 12 years and generally die in their twenties from respiratory failure or cardiomyopathy. Dystrophin is a 421 kD protein which links F-actin to the extracellular matrix via the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC) at the muscle membrane. Read More

Phys Med Biol 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, NO.5 Zhongguancun south street, Beijing, 100081, CHINA.

Motion compensation can eliminate the inconsistency of respiratory and cardiac phases during image acquisitions for precise vascular reconstruction in the clinical diagnosis of vascular disease from X-ray angiographic image sequences. In X-ray-based vascular interventional therapy, motion modeling can simulate the process of organ deformation driven by motion signals to display a dynamic organ on angiograms without contrast agent injection. Automatic respiratory signal estimation from X-ray angiographic image sequences is essential for motion compensation and modeling. Read More

Diabetologia 2020 Jun 25. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

Aims/hypothesis: Myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF), mainly secreted by bone marrow-derived cells, has been known to promote glucagon-like peptide-1 production and improve glucose/lipid metabolism in mouse models of diabetes, but little is known about the functions of MYDGF in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Here, we investigated whether MYDGF can prevent the progression of DKD.

Methods: In vivo experiments, both loss- and gain-of-function strategies were used to evaluate the effect of MYDGF on albuminuria and pathological glomerular lesions. Read More

Turk J Emerg Med 2020 Apr-Jun;20(2):93-96. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Department of Radiology, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) develops due to embryonic ductal plate malformation of intrahepatic bile ducts. Cysts in the liver can range from a simple compression effect to severe liver failure. The most common complication is rupture and inflammation of cyst. Read More

APL Bioeng 2020 Jun 9;4(2):026108. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

In this work, we describe a benchtop model that recreates the motion and function of the diaphragm using a combination of advanced robotic and organic tissue. First, we build a high-fidelity anthropomorphic model of the diaphragm using thermoplastic and elastomeric material based on clinical imaging data. We then attach pneumatic artificial muscles to this elastomeric diaphragm, pre-programmed to move in a clinically relevant manner when pressurized. Read More

Surg J (N Y) 2020 Apr 16;6(2):e112-e117. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Superspeciality Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

A 59-year-old gentleman with a history of aortic valve replacement presented with spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma in right lobe of a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease with hemoperitoneum. This acute emergency was managed by transarterial embolization. Right trisectionectomy with preservation of segment IVB after augmentation of future liver remnant by transarterial chemoembolization followed by portal vein embolization was subsequently performed. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.

Dissemination of pseudomyxoma peritonei into the thoracic cavity is rare and carries a poor prognosis. Optimal treatment has not been defined. In our institution, patients had received cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy, which demonstrated good prognosis. Read More

Cureus 2020 May 13;12(5):e8084. Epub 2020 May 13.

Integrative/Complimentary Medicine, French-Italian School of Osteopathy, Pisa, ITA.

Respiratory rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as a cornerstone for the therapeutic path. Physiotherapy involves physical activity with aerobic and anaerobic exercises, which can improve the patient's symptomatic picture, such as motor function, emotional status (depression and anxiety), and improve the pain perception. The training of proprioception is not included in the structure of the exercises proposed by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Read More

Georgian Med News 2020 Apr(301):7-13

National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine.

The aim of the research - to study the effect of carbopneumoperitoneum on the possibility of laparoscopic surgery in patients with cardiac rhythm disorders and conduction disturbances. We conducted analysis of 940 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery. The patients were divided into two groups. Read More

Dev Dyn 2020 Jun 11. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Division of Genomics of Development and Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Lymphatic vessels play key roles in tissue fluid homeostasis, immune cell trafficking and in diverse disease settings. Lymphangiogenesis requires lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) differentiation, proliferation, migration, and co-ordinated network formation, yet the transcriptional regulators underpinning these processes remain to be fully understood. The transcription factor MAFB was recently identified as essential for lymphangiogenesis in zebrafish and in cultured human LECs. Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2020 27;7(6):001738. Epub 2020 May 27.

Emergency Department, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy.

We describe the case of a young female patient admitted to our emergency department during the Italian COVID-19 epidemic, for fever and dry cough associated with symptoms of gastric reflux over the previous 5 days. Lung ultrasound showed diffuse bilateral B lines with irregular pleural thickening, and consolidation with air bronchogram and slight pleural effusion in the lower left lobe. Chest HRCT and abdominal CT scanning with contrast revealed diaphragmatic rupture with gastric perforation, and atelectasis of the left pulmonary lobe with unilateral pleural effusion, diffuse ground-glass opacities and multiple small consolidations in both lobes. Read More

Pulm Med 2020 18;2020:7437019. Epub 2020 May 18.

Foundation Don Carlo Gnocchi IRCCS, Department of Cardiology, Institute of Hospitalization and Care with Scientific, Via Capecelatro 66, Milan 20100, Italy.

Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020 Jun 9:1-7. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Cardio Thoracic Department, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Unit, Policlinico University Hospital, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.

: Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP), a useful tool for the assessment of diaphragm function in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is usually performed together with lung function tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether SNIP results are influenced by the order of performance of the tests. : 103 consecutive patients (65% males, 80% spinal onset) were recruited. Read More

Cureus 2020 Jun 2;12(6):e8416. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

General Medicine, Universidad Anahuac Norte, Mexico City, MEX.

Since the first successful use of mesh in hernia surgery, the development and progress in materials, techniques, and procedures have increased exponentially; consequently, surgeons started to use meshes for hiatal hernia repair to prevent postoperative hernia recurrences and complications. Nonetheless, there are alarming reports in literature concerning cardiac tamponade as an apparently rare complication of hiatal mesh placement, especially when fixation is performed with tacks. A 50-year-old female diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease undergoes an elective laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair with tack fixation of the mesh; on the fourth postoperative day she was readmitted with cardiac tamponade diagnosed via echocardiography, and CT scan showed proximity of the tacks to the pericardium. Read More

J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2020 Jun 10;33(6):683-689. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Tufts University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

The grave clinical context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic must be understood. Italy is immersed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the world will soon follow. Read More

Hum Gene Ther 2020 Jun 5. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

University of Missouri, 14716, Biomedical Sciences, Columbia, Missouri, United States.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by degeneration of motor neurons and muscles, and death is usually a result of impaired respiratory function due to loss of motor neurons that control upper airway muscles and/or the diaphragm. Currently, no cure for ALS exists and treatments to date do not significantly improve respiratory or swallowing function. One cause of ALS is a mutation in the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene; thus, reducing expression of the mutated gene may slow the progression of the disease. Read More

Zentralbl Chir 2020 Jun 4;145(3):303-320. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Due to its importance as a central respiratory muscle as well as a separating layer between the thorax and abdomen, the functional integrity of the diaphragm is crucial in any case of surgical intervention. High demands are placed on surgical interventions regarding the functional integrity of the diaphragm. The aim of surgery may even be an improvement in the functional status of the patient. Read More

Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2020 Jun 3:1535370220931038. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.

Impact Statement: Diabetes mellitus is a group of chronic metabolic disorders, which causes serious damage to a variety of organs, such as the retina, heart, and skeletal muscle. The diaphragm is an important skeletal muscle involved in respiration in mammals. Fibrosis of the diaphragm muscle affects its contractility, which in turn impairs respiratory function. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Jun 2;10(1):8967. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Box 2644, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal neuromuscular disease caused by deleterious mutations in the DMD gene which encodes the dystrophin protein. Skeletal muscle weakness and eventual muscle degradation due to loss of dystrophin are well-documented pathological hallmarks of DMD. In contrast, the neuropathology of this disease remains understudied despite the emerging evidence of neurological abnormalities induced by dystrophin loss. Read More

Int J Gynecol Cancer 2020 Jul 2;30(7):1052-1057. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Objectives: Ovarian cancer patients with miliary disease have the lowest rates of complete surgical resection and poorest survival. Adjunct surgical techniques may potentially increase rates of complete surgical resection. No studies have evaluated the use of these techniques in primary debulking surgery for ovarian cancer patients with miliary disease. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2020 28;8:2050313X20919228. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Department of Urology, Uonuma Institute of Community Medicine, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan.

Myeloid sarcoma is an extramedullary tumor composed of immature myeloid cells and occurs in various extramedullary sites. We report a 48-year-old man diagnosed with myeloid sarcoma in the epididymis. He was admitted to our hospital due to a painless right intrascrotal mass. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2020 Jul 23;470(1-2):189-197. Epub 2020 May 23.

Nemo Sud Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina University Hospital, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125, Messina, Italy.

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), telomere shortening has been postulated to contribute to the failure of regenerative activity promoting the premature senescence of satellite cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the telomere length and the expression of telomeric repeat-binding factor-1 (TRF1), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) and mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase (MTERT) in gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and diaphragm muscles of the murine model of DMD, the mdx mouse and whether a chronic protocol of forced exercise impacts on them. Our results confirmed a telomere shortening in mdx muscles, more evident in the diaphragm, in which exercise induced a greater shortening than in wild-type mice. Read More

J Card Surg 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Mohamed 5 Military Hospital, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Rabat, Morocco.

Scimitar syndrome is a rare malformation defined as the partial or total anomalous pulmonary venous return of the right lung veins to the inferior vena cava just above or below the diaphragm. Severe forms of the disease are diagnosed in infancy and childhood. However, because of the mild form of the syndrome in adult patients, they remain asymptomatic and few cases are reported in the literature. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(20):e19973

Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China.

Background: Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, which lead to sudden contractions of the glottis. CAM, such as acupuncture is commonly used and stimulation of the vagus nerve and interference with phrenic nerve conduction are also used to treat hiccups. However, there is little evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture for cancer-related hiccups. Read More

J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle-wasting disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which leads to structural instability of the dystrophin-glycoprotein-complex with subsequent muscle degeneration. In addition, muscle inflammation has been implicated in disease progression and therapeutically addressed with glucocorticosteroids. These have numerous adverse effects. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2020 May;8(9):1713-1720

Department of Ultrasound, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China.

Background: Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors with a high incidence and mortality. Hepatitis-liver cirrhosis-liver cancer is known as the trilogy of liver cancer. At present, due to significant development of imaging interventions, they occupy an irreplaceable position in the field of liver cancer treatment, especially ultrasound-guided ablation. Read More

Turk J Pediatr 2020 ;62(2):343-346

Department of Pediatric Neurology, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey.

Background: Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is a rare degenerative disorder that is thought to occur subsequent to a disruption of the dentate-rubro-olivary pathway.

Case: We report a pediatric case of unilateral HOD presented with persistent hiccups and palatal tremor. Radiological examination of diaphragm was normal considering ultrasound and chest x-ray. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2020 Jul 11;55(7):1781-1788. Epub 2020 May 11.

Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia.

Objective: To investigate ultrasound features of diaphragm motion and function in type 1 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA-1) patients.

Design: Prospective study.

Patients: The study cohort included SMA-1 children younger than 18-year-old. Read More

J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020 Jul 18;14(7):955-963. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India.

Research on prostheses for repairing abdominal wall defects has progressed through past decades for developing an ideal prosthesis. The study was designed to compare different extracellular matrix (ECM) derived biological prostheses as alternate to conventional synthetic polymeric prostheses for the repair of full thickness abdominal wall defects. Five biological scaffolds derived from bovine diaphragm, bovine aorta, bovine gall bladder, porcine gall bladder, and rabbit skin were prepared and screened for their in vitro biocompatibility. Read More

Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao 2020 Apr;42(2):216-221

Department of Radiology,PUMC Hospital,CAMS and PUMC,Beijing 100730,China.

To evaluate the feasibility of non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (NCE-MRA) on a 3.0T scanner. Totally 36 volunteers and 24 patients with clinically suspected coronary artery disease underwent NCE-MRA. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2020 Jan;47(1):144-146

Dept. of Surgery, Toyonaka City Hospital.

Multiple sporadic gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)are rare, except for those restricted to von Recklinghausen disease or hereditary conditions.We reported a case of a gastric GIST resected 9 years after the resection of a duodenal GIST.The patient was a 58-year-old male who had been followed-up with computed tomography scans after pancreatoduodenectomy for a duodenal GIST when he was 49-years-old. Read More

Thorac Cancer 2020 Jul 7;11(7):2048-2050. Epub 2020 May 7.

Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mediastinal neoplasm associated with a high recurrence rate. Total excision on initial surgery is an established indicator of a positive outcome. Here, we report the case of a 52-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of cough, chest pain, and dyspnea for two months. Read More

Lung India 2020 May-Jun;37(3):288

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Lung India 2020 May-Jun;37(3):220-226

Department of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background: Although muscle dysfunction is a major contributor to morbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), assessment of skeletal muscle, and diaphragm function is not routinely performed in COPD patients.

Objectives: (1) The aim is to assess muscle dysfunction in COPD by measuring the zone of apposition of diaphragm, diaphragm excursion, thickness of diaphragm, and rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) with ultrasonography.(2) To correlate the above assessments with spirometric parameters; notably forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV). Read More

J Heart Lung Transplant 2020 Apr 21. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Background: Lung transplantation is a complex but effective treatment of end-stage pulmonary disease. Among the post-operative complications, phrenic nerve injury, and consequent diaphragmatic dysfunction are known to occur but are hitherto poorly described. We aimed to investigate the effect of lung transplantation on diaphragmatic function with a multimodal approach. Read More

South Med J 2020 May;113(5):213-218

From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, the Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, the Department of Family Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, and the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.

Objectives: Women with substance use disorders experience unique challenges to contraceptive obtainment and user-dependent method adherence, contributing to higher than average rates of unintended pregnancy. This study estimated the prevalence of barriers to contraception and their associations with contraceptive use and unwanted pregnancies among women receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in northeast Tennessee.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was piloted among female patients aged 18 to 55 years from 2 OAT clinics. Read More