Understanding the Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Lung Cancer Screening Amongst United States Veterans: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States, with this rate disproportionately affecting the veteran population. Despite USPSTF recommendations, screening rates are low and underutilized. The purpose of this study is to understand veterans’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs surrounding lung cancer and lung cancer screening to better address barriers to screening. Methods: Five interviews were conducted with veteran community members, and three were conducted with key informants for a current total of eight interviews. Key informants included Philadelphia community leaders who work with veterans. Interviews explored lung cancer screening knowledge, motivating factors and barriers to care, tobacco use, and potential educational strategies. Interviews were transcribed and coded through NVivo Pro 12 for direct content analysis. Results: Analysis revealed a lack of knowledge and awareness surrounding lung cancer screening amongst veterans. Cancer screening beliefs echoed themes of fatalism and personal experience. Multiple barriers to care were identified, including lack of concern, fear, and patient navigation. Despite these barriers, interviewees believed that screening is necessary. Smoking is highly prevalent in this community due to social, cultural, and habitual factors. Potential educational strategies include group classes with both medical providers and lung cancer survivors. Conclusion: This study provides insight into understanding veterans’ knowledge and beliefs surrounding lung cancer screening. Understanding these values are important in addressing barriers to care and reducing the disproportionate lung cancer burden. In the future, this knowledge can be utilized to facilitate the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate educational programs and materials

Demographic Data Associated With Digital Inequity Reported in Patient-to-Provider Teledermatology Studies in the United States From 2011 to 2021: Scoping Review

Background: Patient-to-provider teledermatology relies on a patient’s access to technology to ensure a successful visit. However, access to broadband internet and technology varies across populations in the United States—leading to the digital divide. While teledermatology has been recognized as a model to improve access, little is known about how often demographic data associated with digital inequity are captured in studies. Objective: Given the expansion of teledermatology over the past decade, we sought to determine how often demographic data associated with digital inequity are reported in patient-to-provider teledermatology studies. Methods: A scoping literature review search was conducted using the search term teledermatology in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. All studies published between December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2021, that evaluated patient-to-provider teledermatology were eligible. Results: In total, 1412 publications describing teledermatology were identified, of which 46 met the inclusion criteria. Race or ethnicity was the most frequently reported demographic characteristic (28/46, 61%). However, only 41% (19/46) of studies were representative of race or ethnicity, defined as including \u3e20% nonwhite participants. Studies rarely reported the number of participants greater than 65 years of age (14/46, 30%), preferred language (9/46, 20%), income (6/46, 13%), highest level of education (5/46, 11%), or access to a device (4/46, 9%). Studies conducted after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly more likely to report preferred language (9/25, 36% vs 0%; P=.002) and appeared more likely to report other demographic data associated with digital inequity, without reaching statistical significance (P\u3e.05). Conclusions: Demographic data associated with digital inequity are rarely reported in patient-to-provider teledermatology studies to date. These studies frequently lack adequate representation of racial and ethnic minorities. With increased calls for equitable representation in dermatology studies, future teledermatology studies can improve the reporting of race and ethnicity and consider demographic data associated with digital inequity as an important criterion in research design

Satisfaction with teledermatology in an underserved urban shelter setting

Problem Statement: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face disproportionate access to dermatologic care. Teledermatology is a platform that may improve access to medical care in underserved communities. The literature is lacking on this topic. Project Aim: The purpose of this quality improvement initiative is to evaluate patient and provider satisfaction with teledermatology in an urban shelter setting. Satisfaction surveys will be distributed over one year to provide measurable data that are determinate (designed to highlight multiple satisfaction metrics, numerically), concise (designed with functionality and efficiency in mind) and relevant (validated across multiple studies).https://jdc.jefferson.edu/medposters/1021/thumbnail.jp

An Unexpected Case of Non-uremic Calciphylaxis in a Patient With Multiple Risk Factors

A 58-year-old woman with a history of morbid obesity, asthma, and prior warfarin use presented to the hospital with shortness of breath and a three-month history of painful, ulcerated ulcers with retiform purpura of her bilateral distal extremities. A punch biopsy specimen demonstrated focal necrosis and hyalinization of the adipose tissue with subtle arteriolar calcium deposition, findings consistent with calciphylaxis. We discuss the presentation of non-uremic calciphylaxis and review the risk factors, pathophysiology, and interdisciplinary management approach of this rare disease

Image processing as state reconstruction in optics

The image reconstruction of partially coherent light is interpreted as the quantum state reconstruction. The efficient method based on maximum-likelihood estimation is proposed to acquire information from registered intensity measurements affected by noise. The connection with totally incoherent image restoration is pointed out. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated numerically. Spatial and correlation details significantly smaller than the diffraction limit are revealed in the reconstructed pattern.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

A Fast Radio Burst in a Compact Galaxy Group at z ∼ 1

FRB 20220610A is a high-redshift fast radio burst (FRB) that has not been observed to repeat. Here, we present rest-frame UV and optical Hubble Space Telescope observations of the field of FRB 20220610A. The imaging reveals seven extended sources, one of which we identify as the most likely host galaxy with a spectroscopic redshift of z = 1.017. We spectroscopically confirm three additional sources to be at the same redshift and identify the system as a compact galaxy group with possible signs of interaction among group members. We determine the host of FRB 20220610A to be a star-forming galaxy with a stellar mass of ≈109.7 M ⊙, mass-weighted age of ≈2.6 Gyr, and star formation rate (integrated over the last 100 Myr) of ≈1.7 M ⊙ yr−1. These host properties are commensurate with the star-forming field galaxy population at z ∼ 1 and trace their properties analogously to the population of low-z FRB hosts. Based on estimates of the total stellar mass of the galaxy group, we calculate a fiducial contribution to the observed dispersion measure from the intragroup medium of ≈90-182 pc cm−3 (rest frame). This leaves a significant excess of 515 − 272 + 122 pc cm−3 (in the observer frame); further observation will be required to determine the origin of this excess. Given the low occurrence rates of galaxies in compact groups, the discovery of an FRB in one demonstrates a rare, novel environment in which FRBs can occur. As such groups may represent ongoing or future mergers that can trigger star formation, this supports a young stellar progenitor relative to star formation

A Fast Radio Burst in a Compact Galaxy Group at zz~1

FRB 20220610A is a high-redshift Fast Radio Burst (FRB) that has not been observed to repeat. Here, we present rest-frame UV and optical $\textit{Hubble Space Telescope}$ observations of the field of FRB 20220610A. The imaging reveals seven extended sources, one of which we identify as the most likely host galaxy with a spectroscopic redshift of $z$=1.017. We spectroscopically confirm at least three additional sources to be at the same redshift, and identify the system as a compact galaxy group with possible signs of interaction among group members. We determine the host of FRB 20220610A to be a star-forming galaxy with stellar mass of $\approx10^{9.7}\,M_{\odot}$, mass-weighted age of $\approx2.6$~Gyr, and star formation rate (integrated over the last 100 Myr) of $\approx1.7$~M$_{\odot}$~yr$^{-1}$. These host properties are commensurate with the star-forming field galaxy population at z~1 and trace their properties analogously to the population of low-$z$ FRB hosts. Based on estimates of the total stellar mass of the galaxy group, we calculate a fiducial contribution to the observed Dispersion Measure (DM) from the intragroup medium of $\approx 110-220$ $\rm pc \, cm^{-3}$ (rest-frame). This leaves a significant excess of $500^{+272}_{-109}$ $\rm pc \, cm^{-3}$ (in the observer frame), with additional sources of DM possibly originating from the circumburst environment, host galaxy interstellar medium, and/or foreground structures along the line of sight. Given the low occurrence rates of galaxies in compact groups, the discovery of an FRB in such a group demonstrates a rare and novel environment in which FRBs can occur.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, submitte

The Demographics, Stellar Populations, and Star Formation Histories of Fast Radio Burst Host Galaxies: Implications for the Progenitors

We present a comprehensive catalog of observations and stellar population properties for 23 highly secure host galaxies of fast radio bursts (FRBs). Our sample comprises 6 repeating FRBs and 17 apparent nonrepeaters. We present 82 new photometric and 8 new spectroscopic observations of these hosts. Using stellar population synthesis modeling and employing nonparametric star formation histories (SFHs), we find that FRB hosts have a median stellar mass of ≈109.9M⊙, mass-weighted age ≈5.1 Gyr, and ongoing star formation rate ≈1.3 M⊙ yr−1 but span wide ranges in all properties. Classifying the hosts by degree of star formation, we find that 87% (20 of 23 hosts) are star-forming, two are transitioning, and one is quiescent. The majority trace the star-forming main sequence of galaxies, but at least three FRBs in our sample originate in less-active environments (two nonrepeaters and one repeater). Across all modeled properties, we find no statistically significant distinction between the hosts of repeaters and nonrepeaters. However, the hosts of repeating FRBs generally extend to lower stellar masses, and the hosts of nonrepeaters arise in more optically luminous galaxies. While four of the galaxies with the clearest and most prolonged rises in their SFHs all host repeating FRBs, demonstrating heightened star formation activity in the last ≲100 Myr, one nonrepeating host shows this SFH as well. Our results support progenitor models with short delay channels (i.e., magnetars formed via core-collapse supernova) for most FRBs, but the presence of some FRBs in less-active environments suggests a fraction form through more delayed channels

Perceptions, prevalence, and patterns of cannabis use among cancer patients treated at 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers

BackgroundThe legal climate for cannabis use has dramatically changed with an increasing number of states passing legislation legalizing access for medical and recreational use. Among cancer patients, cannabis is often used to ameliorate adverse effects of cancer treatment. Data are limited on the extent and type of use among cancer patients during treatment and the perceived benefits and harms. This multicenter survey was conducted to assess the use of cannabis among cancer patients residing in states with varied legal access to cannabis.MethodsA total of 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, across states with varied cannabis-access legal status, conducted surveys with a core questionnaire to assess cannabis use among recently diagnosed cancer patients. Data were collected between September 2021 and August 2023 and pooled across 12 cancer centers. Frequencies and 95% confidence intervals for core survey measures were calculated, and weighted estimates are presented for the 10 sites that drew probability samples.ResultsOverall reported cannabis use since cancer diagnosis among survey respondents was 32.9% (weighted), which varied slightly by state legalization status. The most common perceived benefits of use were for pain, sleep, stress and anxiety, and treatment side effects. Reported perceived risks were less common and included inability to drive, difficulty concentrating, lung damage, addiction, and impact on employment. A majority reported feeling comfortable speaking to health-care providers though, overall, only 21.5% reported having done so. Among those who used cannabis since diagnosis, the most common modes were eating in food, smoking, and pills or tinctures, and the most common reasons were for sleep disturbance, followed by pain and stress and anxiety with 60%-68% reporting improved symptoms with use.ConclusionThis geographically diverse survey demonstrates that patients use cannabis regardless of its legal status. Addressing knowledge gaps concerning benefits and harms of cannabis use during cancer treatment is critical to enhance patient-provider communication