Bin Huang, Joseph Valentino, Stephen W Wyatt, T J Gal
{"title":"Incidence of oral cavity and pharynx cancer in Kentucky.","authors":"Bin Huang, Joseph Valentino, Stephen W Wyatt, T J Gal","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Oral cavity and pharyngeal (OCOP) cancer is strongly associated with tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Kentucky consistently has one of the highest rates of tobacco use in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in incidence rates in Kentucky as compared to nationwide data as well as regional differences within the state.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Oral and pharyngeal cancer incidence data for the years 1995-2004 in Kentucky were obtained from Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR). Data for the same time period for the United States were approximated using SEER*Stat 6.3.5 provided by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Age-adjusted incidence rates and smoothed incidence rates by county were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall incidence of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer in Kentucky was 12.1/100,000. This was significantly higher than the rate seen in the SEER data of 11.3/100,000 population (p < 0.05). This difference was more pronounced for males in Kentucky, where a 20% higher rate (19.2 vs 16.3/100,000 SEER) was observed. The vast majority of cases (62.1%) had a documented smoking history, and this number was higher in advanced stage disease (73%). Rates were lower in Appalachian regions (11.4/100,000) compared to non-Appalachian regions (12.4/10/ 100,000), p < 0.01, with additional geographic variations observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Kentucky has a higher incidence rate for oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer than the national average. The high prevalence of tobacco use in the state is likely a strong contributing factor. The etiology of regional patterns of incidence rates statewide requires further study.</p>","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 8","pages":"355-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27667808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A cluster study of gastroschisis: single center experience.","authors":"Shilpi Chabra, Bryan D Hall","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and methods: </strong>A cluster of 10 neonates admitted with a diagnosis of gastroschisis at birth to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in the year 1996, prompted us to perform a retrospective analysis to determine environmental or genetic causes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 36 neonates with gastroschisis were admitted during the period 1/1992 to 12/1996, and the maternal and patient demographics were evaluated by chart review. The mean maternal age was 21.5 years (14-35 years) of which 42% were teenagers, 66% were primiparous, 42% were smokers, 6% had a history of illicit drug use, and 72% had a history of taking prenatal vitamins. Mean birth weight was 2438g (990-3700g) with 54% being preterm with a mean gestational age of 36 wks (29-40 wks). Family history was negative and chromosomes were normal in patients in whom a karyotype was performed (25%). There was no recurring environmental or drug exposure in the study group. The mothers were from 24 different counties of Kentucky. The 36 cases were not uniformly distributed over the five-year period (chi square statistic = 46.8, degrees of freedom = 4, p < 0.0001). However, there was no evidence that the cases clustered in any 1 year (p = 0.99 for Ederer-Myers-Mantel test).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This is one of the few cluster studies of babies born with gastroschisis. Many of the mothers were teenagers, primiparous, and had an increased frequency of smoking. There was no evidence of temporal or spatial clustering in the gastroschisis cases. We conclude that the cluster of gastroschisis cases in our study occurred as a matter of chance.</p>","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 8","pages":"361-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27667810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danielle Anderson, Linda M Asher, Elmer Whitler, Emery A Wilson
{"title":"The impact of health on Kentucky's economy.","authors":"Danielle Anderson, Linda M Asher, Elmer Whitler, Emery A Wilson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>All states are strongly committed to economic development policies and activities as participants in national and global competition. However, a sometimes overlooked and perhaps under appreciated influence on economic development is the health of a state's citizens. This study focuses on how the health status of Kentucky profoundly influences its economy, workforce, productivity, and general quality of life. If Kentucky's economy is to improve significantly, as compared to other states, significant improvements in the health status of its citizens must be achieved in the near future and sustained over time. In an era of growing concern about rising health insurance costs and maintaining a reliable and productive workforce, employers are increasingly likely to locate in communities where measures of health status are strongly positive. The latest report from the United Health Foundation indicates that in 2007 Kentucky had the 8th worst health status in the nation based on a set of risk factors and outcomes. These risk factors include personal behaviors, community and environment, and public health policies that culminate in key health outcomes related to quality of life and longevity. While it is a serious challenge, our research demonstrates that many of these risk factors can be lowered through relatively low cost and effective interventions that produce substantial improvements in health and Kentucky's rank. Health education is very effective when it begins early in life and continues to emphasize the importance of healthy behaviors, such as not smoking, healthy diets and exercise, and weight control. Preventive health services that identify and treat diseases and conditions that lead to premature death increase both longevity and economic growth through lower treatment costs for chronic diseases and an increase in human capital. Policy changes, such as primary enforcement of motor vehicle seat belt use and encouragement of the use of safety equipment at work, also saves lives and contributes to economic development. Kentucky has already implemented many programs to begin the necessary transformation to a healthier Commonwealth. Creation of additional programs and expansion of those successful ones in place are keys to producing both significant health change and economic growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 7","pages":"321-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27662907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Partam Manalai, Ravikumar M Bhalavat, Michael R Dobbs, Steven Lippmann
{"title":"Coma falsely attributed to Lyme disease.","authors":"Partam Manalai, Ravikumar M Bhalavat, Michael R Dobbs, Steven Lippmann","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuroborreliosis has very low prevalence in Kentucky and coma due to Lyme disease is uncommon in North America. A patient diagnosed with Lyme disease in Kentucky, based on coma, typical inflammatory changes on brain imaging, and a positive ELISA resulted in an erroneous clinical impression. Diagnosis should have been confirmed by a positive result on Western Blot, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Physicians must apply careful consideration before diagnosing a rare disease in areas where that condition is uncommon without first eliminating other differential options. Neuroborreliosis clinicalfindings are nonspecific and often require confirmatory testing, especially in nonclassical case presentations.</p>","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 7","pages":"317-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27662905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The applicant pool: the genesis of the physician pipeline.","authors":"Carol L Elam, Kimberly L Scott, Jay A Perman","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As medical schools across the nation consider the recent call made by the Association of American Medical Colleges to increase numbers of medical school students by 30% by 2015, it is important to explore the characteristics of the applicant pool. Understanding the make-up of the pool of recent applicants to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine can assist us in defining areas where the pool could be expanded in the future. Reviewing data from 2002-2006, we will examine the Kentucky county of origin of our applicants and matriculants. We will describe demographic characteristics of our applicants and matriculants with regard to gender, race and ethnicity, and international backgrounds. We will also look at factors that may discourage or dissuade prospective applicants from seeking admission to medical school including undergraduate grades, denial of the initial application to medical school, and cost considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 6","pages":"263-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27537352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"National health insurance coverage.","authors":"John R White","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 6","pages":"253"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27537350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Patient Physician Partnership proves effective: 2008 Kentucky General Assembly a success for medicine.","authors":"Preston P Nunnelley","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 6","pages":"258-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27537351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"First home call.","authors":"Patrick J Murphy","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 6","pages":"287-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27537354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cost-benefit analysis on the HPV vaccine in Medicaid-enrolled females of the Appalachian region of Kentucky.","authors":"Smita R Prasad, Raymond Hill","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study was to determine the cost-efficiency of vaccinating against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Medicaid enrolled females of the Appalachian region of Kentucky (n = 49,411 females) aged 12 to 25 years, versus paying for the treatment of cervical cancer cases (n = 643 cases) within this population later in life.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In order to determine the cost of vaccination and cervical cancer treatment, the use of data acquired from the Kentucky Department of Medicaid Services (DMS) and Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) was necessary.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Relative Risk of Appalachian Kentuckian females developing cervical cancer compared to their non-Appalachian counterparts is 1.23. The total cost DMS paid to treat cervical cancer in 2005 in Appalachian counties was $5.95 million. The direct cost DMS paid in 2005 to treat cervical cancer was $960,910.95. The direct cost for the vaccine for the 2005 Medicaid-enrolled population aged 12 to 25 in Appalachian Kentucky counties is $17.8 million (price of $360 for the three-dose vaccine). The cost to vaccinate the subsequent 12-year-old cohort (n = 4,137 females, born in 1995) in the next year is $1.5 million. Each year similar additional costs would accrue.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Implementing a prevention plan for cervical cancer that includes annually vaccinating Medicaid-enrolled adolescent females of the Appalachian region of Kentucky against HPV infection is cost-efficient for the Medicaid system when considering the total expenditures associated with the illness. Recognition of an actual cost savings would not occur for several decades as the vaccinated population ages.</p>","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 6","pages":"271-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27537353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Medical family trilogy: part 3.","authors":"Cheryl Houston","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76673,"journal":{"name":"The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association","volume":"106 6","pages":"291-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27537355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}