Race, Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Chronic Lung Disease in the U.S.

Background: Higher socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as educational attainment and income reduce the risk of chronic lung diseases (CLDs) such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs) refer to smaller health benefits of high SES for marginalized populations such as racial and ethnic minorities compared to the socially privileged groups such as non-Hispanic Whites. It is still unknown, however, if MDRs also apply to the effects of education and income on CLDs. Purpose: Using a nationally representative sample, the current study explored racial and ethnic variation in the associations between educational attainment and income and CLDs among American adults.Methods: In this study, we analyzed data (n = 25,659) from a nationally representative survey of American adults in 2013 and 2014. Wave one of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH)-Adult study was used. The independent variables were educational attainment (less than high school = 1, high school graduate = 2, and college graduate = 3) and income (living out of poverty = 1, living in poverty = 0). The dependent variable was any CLDs (i.e., COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma). Age, gender, employment, and region were the covariates. Race and ethnicity were the moderators. Logistic regressions were fitted to analyze the data. Results: Individuals with higher educational attainment and those with higher income (who lived out of poverty) had lower odds of CLDs. Race and ethnicity showed statistically significant interactions with educational attainment and income, suggesting that the protective effects of high education and income on reducing odds of CLDs were smaller for Blacks and Hispanics than for non-Hispanic Whites. Conclusions: Education and income better reduce the risk of CLDs among Whites than Hispanics and Blacks. That means we should expect disproportionately higher than expected risk of CLDs in Hispanics and Blacks with high SES. Future research should test if high levels of environmental risk factors contribute to the high risk of CLDs in high income and highly educated Black and Hispanic Americans. Policy makers should not reduce health inequalities to SES gaps because disparities sustain across SES levels, with high SES Blacks and Hispanics remaining at risk of health problems

Ascitic Fluid to Serum Bilirubin Ratio for Differentiation of Exudates From Transudates

Background:Regarding the diagnostic errors of the classic criteria including serum ascites albumin gradient (SAAG),total protein concentration and the adapted Light et al’s criteria in distinguishing transudate versus exudates, we evaluated the ascitic fluid to serum bilirubin ratio as a new criteria in this regard. We also evaluated whether the combination of bilirubin ratio with each of these classic criteria improves the diagnostic accuracy.   Methods: One-hundred ascitic fluid specimens were analysed prospectively whereas the   category of fluid was assessed according to the clinical diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity,   positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), overall accuracy, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-) and the Youden’s index of each criterion alone and in combination with the bilirubin ratio were calculated.Results: SAAG seems to be the best criterion (specificity = 0.9090, PPV = 0.97, LR+ = 8.03, Youden’s index = 0.64). Bilirubin and LDH ratio criteria had equivalent specificity (0.8333 and 0.8205, respectively), accuracy (0.80 and 0.81, respectively), PPV (0.54 and 0.55, respectively),NPV (0.90 and 0.93, respectively) and LR+ (4.09 and 4.30, respectively)which generally were better than fluid total protein and total protein ratio but not as predictive   as SAAG. The addition of bilirubin ratio to any criterion did not make any improvement.Conclusion: Ascitic fluid to serum bilirubin ratio, although not more predictive than   SAAG, can be used as an alternative criterion in distinguishing exudative versus transudative ascitic fluid as it is more cost-effective in terms of laboratory processing and also more available.

Combined Effects of Race and Socioeconomic Status on Cancer Beliefs, Cognitions, and Emotions

Aim: To determine whether socioeconomic status (SES; educational attainment and income) explains the racial gap in cancer beliefs, cognitions, and emotions in a national sample of American adults. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, data came from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2017, which included a nationally representative sample of American adults. The study enrolled 2277 adults who were either non-Hispanic Black (n = 409) or non-Hispanic White (n = 1868). Race, demographic factors (age and gender), SES (i.e., educational attainment and income), health access (insurance status, usual source of care), family history of cancer, fatalistic cancer beliefs, perceived risk of cancer, and cancer worries were measured. We ran structural equation models (SEMs) for data analysis. Results: Race and SES were associated with perceived risk of cancer, cancer worries, and fatalistic cancer beliefs, suggesting that non-Hispanic Blacks, low educational attainment and low income were associated with higher fatalistic cancer beliefs, lower perceived risk of cancer, and less cancer worries. Educational attainment and income only partially mediated the effects of race on cancer beliefs, emotions, and cognitions. Race was directly associated with fatalistic cancer beliefs, perceived risk of cancer, and cancer worries, net of SES. Conclusions: Racial gap in SES is not the only reason behind racial gap in cancer beliefs, cognitions, and emotions. Racial gap in cancer related beliefs, emotions, and cognitions is the result of race and SES rather than race or SES. Elimination of racial gap in socioeconomic status will not be enough for elimination of racial disparities in cancer beliefs, cognitions, and emotions in the United States

Demographic, Social, and Behavioral Determinants of Lung Cancer Perceived Risk and Worries in a National Sample of American Adults; Does Lung Cancer Risk Matter?

Background: Perceived risk and worries of developing cancer are important constructs for cancer prevention. Many studies have investigated the relationship between health behaviors and subjective risk perception. However, factors correlated with lung cancer risk perception and worries in individuals more susceptible to lung cancer have rarely been investigated. Objective: To determine demographic, social, and behavioral determinants of cancer perceived risk and worries and to explore heterogeneities in these associations by the level of lung cancer risk in a nationally representative sample of American adults. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, data came from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2017, which included a 2277 representative sample of American adults. Smoking status, cancer perceived risk, cancer worries, age, gender, race, education, income, and insurance status were measured. We ran structural equation models (SEMs) for data analysis. Results: “Ever smoker„ status was associated with higher cancer perceived risk (b = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.05⁻0.44, p = 0.013) and worries (b = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18⁻0.50, p < 0.001), suggesting that “ever smokers„ experience higher levels of cancer perceived risk and worries regarding cancer, compared to “never smokers„. Other factors that correlate with cancer perceived risk and worries were race, age, income, and insurance status. Blacks demonstrated less cancer perceived risk and worry (b = −0.98, 95% CI = −1.37⁻0.60, p < 0.001) in both low and high risk lung cancer groups. However, the effects of social determinants (income and insurance status) and age were observed in low but not high risk group. Conclusions: Determinants of cancer perceived risk and worries vary in individuals depending on the level of lung cancer risk. These differences should be considered in clinical practice and policy makings with the goal of improving participation rates in lung cancer screening programs

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: A Pictorial Review Based on the New ATS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guideline for Radiologists and Pulmonologists

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a complicated and heterogeneous interstitial lung disease (ILD) caused by an excessive immune response to an inhaled antigen in susceptible individuals. Accurate diagnosis of HP is difficult and necessitates a detailed exposure history, as well as a multidisciplinary discussion of clinical, histopathologic, and radiologic data. We provide a pictorial review based on the latest American Thoracic Society (ATS)/Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS)/Asociación Latinoamericana del Tórax (ALAT) guidelines for diagnosing HP through demonstrating new radiologic terms, features, and a new classification of HP which will benefit radiologists and pulmonologists

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ABSTRACT Context There is extensive overlap among the imaging characteristics of pseudocyst, mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) and side branch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) on CT images. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of attenuation measurement in differentiating pseudocysts from MCN and IPMN of pancreas on CT images. Patients Seventy-five pathologically proven unilocular pancreatic cysts including 31 pseudocysts, 29 MCN and 15 IPMN imaged with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) before resection were evaluated. Main outcome measures Attenuation values were measured by conventional region of interest (ROI) method. Design Attenuation values (in Hounsfield unit, HU) were compared between the cyst pathologies. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to obtain the best attenuation threshold between mucin-containing cysts and pseudocysts. Correlation between attenuation values and cyst size was assessed. Results Maximum transaxial diameters of pseudocysts (4.5 cm), MCNs (3.7 cm) and IPMNs (4.0 cm) were comparable (P=0.919). Mean attenuation was 18.9 HU, 13.0 HU and 11.4 HU for pseudocyst, MCNs and IPMNs, respectively. Attenuations were significantly higher in pseudocysts versus mucin-containing (MCN+IPMN) cysts (P=0.001) and comparable between MCNs and IPMNs (P=0.390). ROC curve showed 14.5 HU the best cut-off (accuracy: 73.5%) for differentiating pseudocysts from mucincontaining cysts (P<0.001). Pancreatic cyst attenuation measurement did not significantly correlate with cyst size (r=-0.03, P=0.772). Conclusion Attenuation measurement may help in differentiating pseudocysts from unilocular mucin-containing simple cysts of the pancreas on CT images

Lung cancer screening patient–provider discussion: Where do we stand and what are the associated factors?

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to estimate the percentage of individuals possibly eligible for lung cancer screening that report having discussed screening with a health care provider. The secondary objective was to investigate the associated factors of having patient–provider lung cancer screening discussion. Methods: Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 2017 were used ( n  = 3217). Lung cancer screening eligibility was based on the criteria utilized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Gender, race, educational attainment, health insurance coverage, and usual source of health care were covariates. Current or former smokers ages 55–77 ( n  = 706) were considered potentially eligible for lung cancer screening (dependent variable). Results: Only 12.24% of individuals potentially eligible for lung cancer screening report prior discussion regarding lung cancer screening with a health care provider. Being eligible for lung cancer screening based on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services eligibility criteria was positively associated with the odds of a patient–provider lung cancer screening discussion (odds ratio = 3.95, 95% confidence interval = 2.48–6.30). Unlike gender, race, education, or insurance coverage, a usual source of health care was positively associated with a patient–provider screening discussion (odds ratio = 2.48, 95% confidence interval = 1.31–4.70). Conclusion: Individuals potentially eligible for lung cancer screening are more likely to have screening discussions with a health care provider. Having a usual source of health care may increase the odds of such a discussion, while patients are not discriminated based on race, gender, education, and insurance coverage. However, the relatively low rate (12.24%) of reported patient–provider lung cancer screening discussion indicates that significant barriers still remain

Tracheobronchial Tumors: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation of Tumors and Mimics.

Tracheobronchial masses encompass a broad spectrum of entities, ranging from benign and malignant neoplasms to infectious and inflammatory processes. This article reviews the cross-sectional findings of tracheal tumors and tumor-like entities, correlates imaging findings with histologic pathology, and discusses pearls and pitfalls in accurately diagnosing and classifying tracheal tumors and mimics

Abdominal wall and pelvic hernias: classic and unusual hernias and their mimics

Abdominal and pelvic wall hernias are classically defined as a weakness or opening of the muscular wall through which abdominal or pelvic tissues protrude. The aim of this manuscript is to review the imaging findings of abdominal and pelvic wall hernias and their mimics and to discuss pearls and pitfalls for accurately diagnosing and classifying these entities