OBJECTIVE: To analyze the trends in demographics and outcomes of patients presenting with traumatic brain injury by performing a retrospective database review of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Trauma Registry.METHODS: We utilized the IDPH Trauma Registry to retrieve data on patients treated for traumatic brain injuries at our large, tertiary care hospital from 2004 to 2012, inclusive. From this data, logistic regression models were used to analyze and compare basic demographics such as age, sex, and clinical outcome.RESULTS: Three thousand and thirty-nine patients were analyzed with a mean age of 43 (standard deviation, 24) and a median age of 41 (interquartile range, 23 to 60). Over the study period, patients’ age increased steadily from 32 to 49 years. The percentage of female patients increased, from 16.4% to 27.5% over the last 4 years. Overall mortality was greater for males than females (22.1% vs. 17.3%; odds ratio [OR], 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10 to 1.68). Mortality decreased over the period (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.91), with a greater decrease in females (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.90) than in males (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.94).CONCLUSION: Although the age of patients presenting with traumatic brain injury is increasing substantially, the data suggests that overall mortality appears to be decreasing, and this decrease appears to be greater in females than in males. These changes in trends found in the IDPH Trauma Registry supports the importance for further analysis of other reliable public datasets to identify areas of future study.
Brain Injuries ; Dataset ; Demography ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Illinois ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Patient Outcome Assessment ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Healthcare

Introduction of biological therapies have led to dramatic changes in the management of debilitating immune-mediated inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. However, the long term use of these agents may be very expensive, placing a significant burden on National Healthcare Systems. The development of first biosimilar to infliximab, CT-P13 (Remsima; Celltrion Inc., Incheon, Korea and Inflextra; Hospiral, Lake Forest, Illinois, USA) has become another way to decrease the medical care cost and increase patient treatment option, but, actual equivalence of efficacy and safety of CT-P13 was investigated in rheumatic diseases only. The extrapolation of outcome from rheumatic trials to IBD and the interchangeability of CT-P13 with infliximab have come to be a matter of concern. Two recent retrospective studies reported the similarity of CT-P13 in terms of efficacy and safety. Infliximab biosimilars may be promising new treatment options for IBD patients, however, well-designed, prospective randomized non-inferiority trials should be needed to confidently integrate infliximab biosimilars into IBD treatment.
Biological Therapy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Illinois ; Incheon ; Infliximab ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Korea ; Lakes ; Pharmacy ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Trees

The purpose of this study was to determine if Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variables predict soy milk intake in a sample of WIC participants in 2 Illinois counties (n = 380). A cross-sectional survey was used, which examined soy foods intake, behavioral beliefs, subjective norms, motivation, and intention. Soy product intake was low at both sites, and many participants (40%) did not know that soy milk was WIC approved. Most (> 70%) wanted to comply with their health care providers, but didn't know their opinions about soy milk (50-66%). Intention was significantly correlated with intake (0.507, P < or = 0.01; 0.308, P < or = 0.05). Environmental beliefs (0.282 and 0.410, P < or = 0.01) and expectancy beliefs (0.490 and 0.636, P < or = 0.01) were correlated with intention. At site 1, 30% of the variance in intention to consume soy milk was explained by expectancy beliefs and subjective norm beliefs (P < 0.0001); at site 2, 40% of the variance in intention was explained by expectancy beliefs. The TPB variables of expectancy beliefs predicted intention to consume soy milk in WIC participants. Therefore, knowing more about the health benefits of soy and how to cook with soy milk would increase WIC participants' intention to consume soy milk. Positive messages about soy milk from health care providers could influence intake.
Child* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Illinois ; Infant* ; Insurance Benefits ; Intention ; Motivation ; Soy Foods ; Soy Milk*

The 6th Annual Meeting of the United States Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (USCACA) was held in conjunction with the 50th Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on May 30, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, the United States of America. With a focus on personalized medicine, the conference featured novel approaches to investigate genomic aberrations in cancer cells and innovative clinical trial designs to expedite cancer drug development in biomarker-defined patient populations. A panel discussion further provided in-depth advice on advancing development of personalized cancer medicines in China. The conference also summarized USCACA key initiatives and accomplishments, including two awards designated to recognize young investigators from China for their achievements and to support their training in the United States. As an effort to promote international collaboration, USCACA will team up with Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) to host a joint session on "Breakthrough Cancer Medicines" at the upcoming CSCO Annual Meeting on September 20th, 2014 in Xiamen, China.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Awards and Prizes ; Chicago ; China ; Drug Discovery ; Genomics ; Humans ; Medical Oncology ; Neoplasms ; Precision Medicine ; Societies, Medical ; United States

The aim of this study was to assess changes between primary classification of esophageal motility disease and follow-up classification by high resolution manometry (HRM) and to determine whether previously classified diseases could be recategorized according to the updated Chicago Classification published in 2011. We reviewed individual medical records and HRM findings twice for each of 13 subjects. We analyzed primary and follow-up HRM findings based on the original Chicago Classification. We then reclassified the same HRM findings according to the updated Chicago Classification. This case series revealed the variable course of esophageal motility disorders; some patients experienced improvement, whereas others experienced worsening symptoms. Four cases were reclassified from variant achalasia to peristaltic abnormality, one case from diffuse esophageal spasm to type II achalasia and one case from peristaltic abnormality to variant achalasia. Four unclassified findings were recategorized as variant achalasia. In conclusion, esophageal motility disorders are variable and may not be best conceptualized as an independent group. Original classifications can be recategorized according to the updated Chicago Classification system. More research is needed on this topic.
Chicago ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Manometry ; Medical Records

PURPOSE: To assess the reproducibility and reliability of applanation A-scan ultrasonography (Pacscan 300A, Sonomed Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and optical measurements with IOL Master(R) (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Germany), Pentacam(R) (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany), and Orbscan II(R) (Orbtek Inc., Laredo, TX, USA) when measuring anterior chamber depth (ACD). METHODS: In this study of 188 eyes of 94 patients, ACD estimation prior to cataract surgery was preformed by the applanation A-scan method and IOL Master(R), Pentacam(R), and Orbscan II(R) optical methods. Repeatability from each device was evaluated by coefficient of variation, standard deviation, and intraclass correlation coefficient. RM-ANOVA on Ranks was used to compare the differences in ACD among the devices. The Bland-Altman plot was performed to assess agreement in measurements between the devices. RESULTS: The mean ACD according to the applanation A-scan method and IOL Master(R), Pentacam(R), and Orbscan II(R) optical methods were 2.89 +/- 0.49 mm, 3.25 +/- 0.45 mm, 3.21 +/- 0.46 mm, and 3.19 +/- 0.47 mm, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The coefficient of variation for the 4 methods was 2.50% in the A-scan, 0.87% in the IOL Master(R), 1.25% in the Pentacam(R), and 1.04% with Orbscan II(R), and reproducibility was higher with the optical principle devices. The correlation coefficient between A-scan and IOL Master(R) was 0.65, between IOL Master(R) and Pentacam(R) 0.91, between IOL Master(R) and Orbscan II(R) 0.90, between A-scan and Pentacam(R) 0.69, between A-scan and Orbscan II(R) 0.71, and between Pentacam(R) and Orbscan II(R) 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: Applanation A-scan provided lower measurements for ACD compared with IOL Master(R), Pentacam(R) and Orbscan II(R). There was good agreement between results obtained with the latter 3 methods, and reproducibility was high with optical measurements. The coefficient of variation was low for IOL Master(R).
Anterior Chamber ; Cataract ; Chicago ; Eye ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in populations with anticipated prevalence > or =2%. This study surveyed HBV screening and vaccination practices of Asian American primary care providers (PCPs). METHODS: Approximately 15,000 PCPs with Asian surnames in the New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Chicago areas were invited to participate in a web-based survey. Asian American PCPs with > or =25% Asian patients in their practice were eligible. RESULTS: Of 430 (2.9%) survey respondents, 217 completed the survey. Greater than 50% followed > or =200 Asian patients. Although 95% of PCPs claimed to have screened patients for HBV, 41% estimated that < or =25% of their adult Asian patients had ever been screened, and 50% did not routinely screen all Asian patients. In a multivariable analysis, the proportion of Asian patients in the practice, provider geographic origin and the number of liver cancers diagnosed in the preceding 12 months were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of screening for HBV. Over 80% of respondents reported that < or =50% of their adult Asian patients had received the HBV vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Screening and vaccination for HBV in Asian American patients is inadequate. Measures to improve HBV knowledge and care by primary-care physicians are critically needed.
Adult ; Asian Americans ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chicago ; Data Collection ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Los Angeles ; Mass Screening ; New York ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; San Francisco ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVE: To compare spinopelvic parameters in young adult patients with spondylolysis to those in age-matched patients without spondylolysis and investigate the clinical impact of sagittal spinopelvic parameters in patients with L5 spondylolysis. METHODS: From 2009 to 2012, a total of 198 young adult male patients with spondylolysis were identified. Eighty age-matched patients without spondylolysis were also selected. Standing lateral films that included both hip joints were obtained for each subject. Pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis angle, sacral inclination, lumbosacral angle, and sacral table angle were measured in both groups. A comparative study of the spinopelvic parameters of these two groups was performed using SPSS 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Among the aforementioned spinopelvic parameters, PI, SS and STA were significantly different between patients with spondylolysis and those without spondylolysis. PI and SS were higher in the spondylolysis group than in the control group, but STA was lower in the spondylolysis group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: PI and SS were higher in the spondylolysis group than in the control group, but STA was lower in the spondylolysis group than in the control group. Patients with spondylolysis have low STA at birth, which remains constant during growth; a low STA translates into high SS. As a result, PI is also increased in accordance with SS. Therefore, we suggest that STA is an important etiologic factor in young adult patients with L5 spondylolysis.
Animals ; Chicago ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lordosis ; Male ; Parturition ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis* ; Young Adult*

PURPOSE: Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is the most commonly used denture base material despite typically low in strength. The purpose of this study was to improve the physical properties of the PMMA based denture base resins (QC-20, Dentsply Ltd., Addlestone, UK; Stellon, AD International Ltd, Dentsply, Switzerland; Acron MC; GC Lab Technologies Inc., Alsip, Japan) by copolymerization mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Control group specimens were prepared according to the manufacturer recommendations. In the copolymer groups; resins were prepared with 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% acrylamide (AAm) (Merck, Hohenbrunn, Germany) content according to the moleculer weight ratio, respectively. Chemical structure was characterized by a Bruker Vertex-70 Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (Bruker Optics Inc., Ettlingen, Germany). Hardness was determined using an universal hardness tester (Struers Duramin, Struers A/S, Ballerup, Denmark) equipped with a Vickers diamond penetrator. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of control and copolymers were evaluated by Perkin Elmer Diamond DSC (Perkin Elmer, Massachusetts,USA). Statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical package SPSS for Windows, version 15.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). The results were tested regarding the normality of distribution with the Shapiro Wilk test. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey test (P<.01). RESULTS: The copolymer synthesis was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Glass transition temperature of the copolymer groups were higher than the control groups of the resins. The 10%, 15% and 20% copolymer groups of Stellon presented significantly higher than the control group in terms of hardness. 15% and 20% copolymer groups of Acron MC showed significantly higher hardness values when compared to the control group of the resin. Acrylamide addition did not affect the hardness of the QC-20 resin significantly. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that copolymerization of PMMA with AAm increased the hardness value and glass transition temperature of PMMA denture base resins.
Acrylamide ; Acrylic Resins ; Chicago ; Collodion ; Denture Bases ; Dentures ; Diamond ; Glass ; Hardness ; Hardness Tests ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Pyridines ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Spectrum Analysis ; Thiazoles ; Transition Temperature

For several decades esophageal manometry has been the test of choice to evaluate disorders of esophageal motor function. The recent introduction of high-resolution manometry for the study of esophageal motor function simplified performance of esophageal manometry, and revealed previously unidentified patterns of normal and abnormal esophageal motor function. Presentation of pressure data as color contour plots or esophageal pressure topography led to the development of new tools for analyzing and classifying esophageal motor patterns. The current standard and still developing approach to do this is the Chicago classification. While this methodical approach is improving our diagnosis of esophageal motor disorders, it currently does not address all motor abnormalities. We will explore the Chicago classification and disorders that it does not address.
Chicago ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophagus ; Manometry