Socioeconomic status (SES) remains an important population health risk factor and impacts a patient's experience of care during breast cancer. This study explored the relationship between SES and quality of life and satisfaction in survivorship following breast cancer and reconstruction. All patients underwent breast reconstruction at a single academic center from 2013 to 2017. Patients completed the five quality of life and satisfaction domains of the BREAST-Q, a validated patient-reported outcome measure. Estimated home value using a web-based real estate website was used to approximate a patient's socioeconomic status. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson's correlation methods, where appropriate, as well as analysis of covariance. Data were stratified for comparison utilizing t tests and linear regression models. Significance was defined as P <= .05. Four hundred patients underwent 711 breast reconstructions during the study time period. Satisfaction with the breast (P = .038) and psychosocial well-being (P = .012) had significant positive correlations with increasing socioeconomic status. When stratifying patients' socioeconomic status into thirds, the upper third had significantly higher psychosocial well-being (P = .001), satisfaction with breasts (P = .010), and physical well-being of the chest (P = .001) than the lower third. Significance persisted even after controlling for cancer stage, treatment, complications, and baseline comorbidities. Higher socioeconomic status is associated with greater satisfaction with breast reconstruction and psychosocial well-being following breast cancer treatment. Providing added social, psychological, and emotional support networks may be beneficial long after the initial cancer treatment and reconstruction are complete. Patients of lower socioeconomic status may benefit from additional resources.

Background Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a cyclical, progressive disease that begins at the time of axillary dissection and worsens in the setting of adjuvant oncologic therapies. The paradigm of lymphedema management in these patients is shifting from therapeutic surgeries and decongestive therapy to preventative surgery with immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR). Methods After institutional review board approval, a prospective database was maintained of all patients undergoing ILR. Patients were excluded if they had preoperative lymphedema or expired during the study period. All ILR were performed by the senior author. A control group was established with standardized physician delivered phone surveys of patients who had axillary dissection for breast cancer (same oncologic surgeon cohort) prior to the implementation of ILR at the same institution. The study and control groups were matched based on history of adjuvant radiation and body mass index. Results A cohort of patients between 2016 and 2019 with 2 years of follow-up after undergoing ILR (77 patients) were matched with those who did not undergo lymphatic reconstruction (94 patients). The incidence of lymphedema in the study group undergoing ILR was 10% (N = 8). In comparison, the incidence in the cohort who did not undergo lymphatic reconstruction was 38% (N = 36; p < 0.01). Patients with ILR had 92% lower odds of developing lymphedema (p < 0.01). Conclusion ILR can significantly reduce the risk of developing BRCL in high-risk patients at 2 years of follow-up. Patients receiving adjuvant radiation therapy are more likely to develop BCRL after ILR compared with those who do not. Ongoing studies include investigation aimed at identifying patients most at risk for the development of BRCL to help target intervention as well as elucidate factors that contribute to the success of ILR.

Objective: To assess the barriers to obtaining care for patients with orofacial clefts through a survey of Florida-based orthodontists and families and an analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. Design: A cross-sectional study utilizing multiple-choice questionnaires completed by Florida orthodontists and caregivers of patients who attended a Florida-based cleft and craniofacial clinic. Additionally, data from the PHIS database were analyzed to investigate national factors affecting the age of alveolar bone grafting (ABG). Setting: Craniofacial team in Florida Patients/Participants: The survey included 39 orthodontists (7.1% response rate) and 48 caregivers (41% response rate) The PHIS study included 1182 patients. Main Outcome Measures: Barrier to orthodontic care and age of ABG. Results: Orthodontic Survey : Among the surveyed orthodontists, 71% treated cleft/craniofacial patients, 37% accepted Medicaid, and 55% provided pro-bono care. Poor reimbursement was identified as the most common barrier (58%). Caregiver Survey : Most patients were insured by Medicaid (67%), with 55% incurring out-of-pocket expenses. PHIS Database : The average age of ABG was 10.3 years (SD = 3.2). Government funding was associated with a 6.0-month delay in ABG (p = 0.047) and residing in non-Medicaid expanded states was linked to a 6.0-month delay (p = 0.023). Post-Medicaid expansion status was also associated with a delay (p = 0.004) Conclusions: Access to oral care is difficult for patients with OFC. Despite both federal and state mandates, many financial and non-financial barriers still exist in accessing orthodontic care and a majority of patients experience significant out-of-pocket expenses despite statutorily mandated insurance coverage.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has be designated a pandemic less than 4 months after its first outbreak. Due to the novelty of the virus, there is little understanding of how ecological factors affect transmission of the coronavirus. This study aims to determine the relationship of temperature, absolute humidity, and health infrastructure on COVID-19 transmission and mortality.Methods: Epidemiological data was obtained for all US states and countries worldwide between January 22 and March 23, 2020. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were done comparing temperature, absolute humidity, and health infrastructure with cases and deaths.Results: The regression models revealed that temperature and humidity significantly affect the number of confirmed cases (p = 0.0123 and p = 0.0072, respectively).Conclusions: The transmission of COVID-19 seems to thrive in colder and drier environments. Despite this relationship, more efforts are needed to ensure compliance to “social distancing” and other public health measures rather than relying on temperature alone to reduce COVID-19 cases.

We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the WHO immunological criteria for detecting antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment failure in a cohort of Vietnamese patients. We conducted a stratified analysis to determine the effects of BMI, peer support, adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, age, and gender on the sensitivity and specificity of the WHO criteria. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 605 HIV-infected patients using data previously collected from a cluster randomized control trial study. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of CD4⁺ counts to the gold standard of virologic testing as a diagnostic test for ART failure at different time points of 12, 18, and 24 months. The sensitivity [95% confidence interval (CI)] of the WHO immunological criteria based on a viral load ≥ 1000 copies/mL was 12% (5%-23%), 14% (2%-43%), and 12.5% (2%-38%) at 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. In the same order, the specificity was 93% (90%-96%), 98% (96%-99%), and 98% (96%-100%). The positive predictive values (PPV) at 12, 18, and 24 months were 22% (9%-40%), 20% (3%-56%), and 29% (4%-71%); the negative predictive values (NPV) at the same time points were 87% (84%-90%), 97% (95%-98%), and 96% (93%-98%). The stratified analysis revealed similar sensitivities and specificities. The sensitivity of the WHO immunological criteria is poor, but the specificity is high. Although testing costs may increase, we recommend that Vietnam and other similar settings adopt viral load testing as the principal method for determining ART failure.

This study characterizes a measles outbreak which occurred in Ecuador in 2011–2012, analyzing data from 3700 suspected cases of measles reported to Ecuador’s Ministry of Public Health. The study population had a large age range and included 333 confirmed cases of measles. The greatest number of cases were found in the <1 year (32.43%, n = 108) and 1–4 year (30.03%, n = 100) age-groups. Compared to Mestizos, indigenous people had the highest number of cases (68.2%, n = 227), as well as a higher risk of infection (OR 7.278 (CI 5.251–10.087)). The greatest protection from measles was observed in individuals who received two doses of the measles vaccine. Residents of Pastaza (OR 6.645 CI (3.183–13.873)) and Tungurahua (OR 8.346 CI (5.570–12.507)) had a higher risk of infection than the other provinces. Of the 17 laboratory confirmed cases, all were identified as genotype B3. Age-group, ethnicity, measles vaccinations, and residence in Tungurahua and Pastaza were correlated with rates of measles infection in the outbreak. Tungurahua and Pastaza, where the outbreak originated, have large indigenous populations. Indigenous children <1 year of age showed the highest incidence. It is likely that indigenous women do not have immunity to the virus, and so are unable to confer measles resistance to their newborns.