Vitality, Racial Creativity, and Biopolitics

2021 ◽  
pp. 81-117
Author(s):  
Randall Knoper
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
William Dean Howells ◽  
Bell Curve ◽  
Oliver Wendell Holmes ◽  
Du Bois ◽  
White Middle Class ◽  
Physical Energy ◽  
Class Average ◽  
Pauline Hopkins ◽  
African American Race

In a materialist vitalism that emerged, nerve force as a physical energy was assumed to give idiosyncratic shape to organisms, races, and species. Borrowing from evolutionary theory and biometrics, Oliver Wendell Holmes suggests in Elsie Venner that the vital force of the average members of a race or species will prevail, while hybrids at the edges of the vital bell curve will expire, a principle that applies as well to literature, which has its own vital curve. William Dean Howells promotes a naturalized realism of the healthy, national (white, middle-class) average. W. E. B. Du Bois and Pauline Hopkins take on the task of establishing the African American race as vigorous and empowered rather than enervated—and of eluding constraining racial definition by oscillating between biological and immaterial conceptions of racial force.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e043584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E Ebinger ◽  
Gregory J Botwin ◽  
Christine M Albert ◽  
Mona Alotaibi ◽  
Moshe Arditi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Los Angeles County ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Delivery System ◽  
Hispanic Ethnicity ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
African American Race

ObjectiveWe sought to determine the extent of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and the factors associated with seroprevalence across a diverse cohort of healthcare workers.DesignObservational cohort study of healthcare workers, including SARS-CoV-2 serology testing and participant questionnaires.SettingsA multisite healthcare delivery system located in Los Angeles County.ParticipantsA diverse and unselected population of adults (n=6062) employed in a multisite healthcare delivery system located in Los Angeles County, including individuals with direct patient contact and others with non-patient-oriented work functions.Main outcomesUsing Bayesian and multivariate analyses, we estimated seroprevalence and factors associated with seropositivity and antibody levels, including pre-existing demographic and clinical characteristics; potential COVID-19 illness-related exposures; and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection.ResultsWe observed a seroprevalence rate of 4.1%, with anosmia as the most prominently associated self-reported symptom (OR 11.04, p<0.001) in addition to fever (OR 2.02, p=0.002) and myalgias (OR 1.65, p=0.035). After adjusting for potential confounders, seroprevalence was also associated with Hispanic ethnicity (OR 1.98, p=0.001) and African-American race (OR 2.02, p=0.027) as well as contact with a COVID-19-diagnosed individual in the household (OR 5.73, p<0.001) or clinical work setting (OR 1.76, p=0.002). Importantly, African-American race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with antibody positivity even after adjusting for personal COVID-19 diagnosis status, suggesting the contribution of unmeasured structural or societal factors.Conclusion and relevanceThe demographic factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among our healthcare workers underscore the importance of exposure sources beyond the workplace. The size and diversity of our study population, combined with robust survey and modelling techniques, provide a vibrant picture of the demographic factors, exposures and symptoms that can identify individuals with susceptibility as well as potential to mount an immune response to COVID-19.

Engaging Social Justice Methods to Create Palliative Care Programs That Reflect the Cultural Values of African American Patients with Serious Illness and Their Families: A Path Towards Health Equity

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-230
Author(s):  
Ronit Elk ◽  
Shena Gazaway
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
African American ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
White Middle Class ◽  
Healing Power

AbstractCultural values influence how people understand illness and dying, and impact their responses to diagnosis and treatment, yet end-of-life care is rooted in white, middle class values. Faith, hope, and belief in God’s healing power are central to most African Americans, yet life-preserving care is considered “aggressive” by the healthcare system, and families are pressured to cease it.

Classical American pragmatism: Practicing philosophy as experiencing life

Human Affairs ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn Kegley
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Religious Development ◽  
American Pragmatism ◽  
Du Bois ◽  
Problems In Living ◽  
Applied Philosophy ◽  
Democratic Life

AbstractI argue that Classical American Pragmatists—Royce, James, Dewey, Perice, Addams, Du Bois, and Locke subscribed to this view and practiced philosophy by focusing on experience and directing a critical eye to major problems in living. Thus Royce and Dewey explored the nature of genuine community and its role in developing a flourishing individual life but also a public, democratic life. Royce and James engaged in a phenomenological analysis of human experience including religious experience developing a rich understanding of human psychological, social, and religious development. Dewey, Royce and Perice applied the lessons of the scientific communal experience to problem solving in everyday life. Dewey explored life’s aesthetic dimensions. Addams, Du Bois and Locke applied philosophy to problems of living with discrimination as an immigrant or an African American.

Patient-related barriers to some virtual healthcare services among cancer patients in the USA: a population-based study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Abdel-Rahman
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
African American ◽  
National Health Interview Survey ◽  
Population Based ◽  
The Past ◽  
Virtual Care ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
African American Race

Objective: To assess the patient-related barriers to access of some virtual healthcare tools among cancer patients in the USA in a population-based cohort. Materials & methods: National Health Interview Survey datasets (2011–2018) were reviewed and adult participants (≥18 years old) with a history of cancer diagnosis and complete information about virtual healthcare utilization (defined by [a] filling a prescription on the internet in the past 12 months and/or [b] communicating with a healthcare provider through email in the past 12 months) were included. Information about video-conferenced phone calls and telephone calls are not available in the National Health Interview Survey datasets; and thus, they were not examined in this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with the utilization of virtual care tools. Results: A total of 25,121 participants were included in the current analysis; including 4499 participants (17.9%) who utilized virtual care in the past 12 months and 20,622 participants (82.1%) who did not utilize virtual care in the past 12 months. The following factors were associated with less utilization of virtual healthcare tools in multivariable logistic regression: older age (continuous odds ratio [OR] with increasing age: 0.987; 95% CI: 0.984–0.990), African-American race (OR for African American vs white race: 0.608; 95% CI: 0.517–0.715), unmarried status (OR for unmarried compared with married status: 0.689; 95% CI: 0.642–0.739), lower level of education (OR for education ≤high school vs >high school: 0.284; 95% CI: 0.259–0.311), weaker English proficiency (OR for no proficiency vs very good proficiency: 0.224; 95% CI: 0.091–0.552) and lower yearly earnings (OR for earnings <$45,000 vs earnings >$45,000: 0.582; 95% CI: 0.523–0.647). Conclusion: Older patients, those with African-American race, lower education, lower earnings and weak English proficiency are less likely to access the above studied virtual healthcare tools. Further efforts are needed to tackle disparities in telemedicine access.

scholarly journals Smoking, race, ancestry and prospective abstinence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W Bergen ◽  
Carolyn M Ervin ◽  
Christopher S McMahan ◽  
James W Baurley ◽  
Harold S Javitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Pharmacogenetic Study ◽  
P Values ◽  
Cessation Treatment ◽  
Metabolite Ratio ◽  
Treatment Research ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
African American Race

Background: Factors influencing cessation include biopsychosocial characteristics, treatments and responses to treatment. The first cessation trial designed to assess cessation disparities between African American and White cigarette smokers demonstrated that socioeconomic, treatment, psychosocial and smoking characteristics explained cessation disparities. Ongoing translational efforts in precision cessation treatment grounded in genetically informed biomarkers have identified cessation differences by genotype, metabolism, ancestry and treatment. Methods: In planned analyses, we evaluated six smoking-related measures, demographic and socioeconomic covariates, and prospective abstinence (7-day point prevalence at 12 weeks with bupropion, nicotine replacement and counseling treatments). We assessed concurrent and predictive validity in two covariate models differing by inclusion of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) race/ethnicity or genomic ancestry. Results: We studied Pharmacogenetic Study participants (N=456, mean age 49.5 years, 41.5% female, 7.4% African American, 9.4% Multiracial, 6.5% Other, and 6.7% Hispanic). Cigarettes per day (OR=0.95, P<.001), Fagerström score (OR=0.89, P≤.014), Time-To-First-Cigarette (OR=0.75, P≤.005) and predicted urinary nicotine metabolite ratio (OR=0.57, P≤.039) were associated with abstinence. OMB African American race (ORs from 0.31 and 0.35, p-values≤.007) and African genomic ancestry (ORs from 0.21 and 0.26, p-values≤.004) were associated in all abstinence models. Conclusions: Four smoking-related measures exhibited association with abstinence, including predicted nicotine metabolism based on a novel genomic model. African genomic ancestry was independently associated with reduced abstinence. Treatment research that includes social, psychological, treatment and biological factors is needed to reduce cessation disparities.

scholarly journals African-American Race Is a Predictor of Seminal Vesicle Invasion After Radical Prostatectomy

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. e65-e72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kosj Yamoah ◽  
Amy Walker ◽  
Elaine Spangler ◽  
Charnita M. Zeigler-Johnson ◽  
Bruce Malkowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Radical Prostatectomy ◽  
Seminal Vesicle ◽  
Seminal Vesicle Invasion ◽  
African American Race

Abstract P250: How Much Decrement in Renal Function During Heart Failure Hospitalization is Due to Loop Diuretic Exposure?

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olesya Krivospitskaya ◽  
Edward L Peterson ◽  
Gurgit Singh ◽  
Karen Wells ◽  
L. Keoki Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
African American ◽  
Loop Diuretic ◽  
Loop Diuretics ◽  
Function Change ◽  
Primary Hospital ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage ◽  
African American Race

Background: Worsening renal function (WRF) during heart failure (HF) hospitalization is an accepted correlate of poor prognosis. Loop diuretics are increasingly being considered as a potential cause of worsened HF outcomes, perhaps via WRF. However, the magnitude of worsening in renal function attributable to loop diuretics has not been quantified. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who received care from a large health system and had a primary hospital discharge diagnosis of HF between Jan 1, 2000 and June 30, 2008. Patients with preexisting end-stage renal disease were excluded. Daily creatinine (Cr) measurements, furosemide dosing (only loop diuretic on hospital formulary), and radiocontrast dye studies were collected using administrative data. Day-to-day changes in Cr and MDRD estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) calculated. The first Cr or eGFR value during hospitalization or in the emergency department was considered baseline. Generalized estimating equations were used to test the association furosemide exposure over previous 2 days to the daily change in Cr and eGFR. Covariates included undergoing radiocontrast study, age, race, gender, and baseline Cr or eGFR. Results: Among 6071 patients who met inclusion criteria there were a total of 20,645 observations. This cohort was 51% female, 68% African American, and baseline Cr was 1.36 mg/dl. Furosemide exposure was associated with an average daily increase in Cr of 0.021 mg/dL and decrease in eGFR of 0.72 ml/min/1.73m2 (per 100 mg furosemide daily, both p<0.001). Over a typical length of stay of 5 days this would amount to a Cr increase of 0.11 mg/dL or decrease in eGFR of 3.6 ml/min/1.73m 2 . Furosemide exposure accounted for only 0.4% and 0.1% of the variation in Cr and eGFR changes, respectively. Undergoing radiocontrast study, African American race, and higher age were associated with day-to-day creatinine increases (all p<0.01). Conclusions: While loop diuretic exposure is statistically associated with WRF among hospitalized HF patients, the associated magnitude of renal function change is very small, and loop diuretics explains little of the variability in renal function during hospitalization. More important predictive factors likely exist but remain unidentified.

Abstract 28: African American Race is Not Protective Against Coronary Artery Involvement in Kawasaki Disease

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily P Williams ◽  
Michael S Kelleman ◽  
William T Mahle
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Kawasaki Disease ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Artery Aneurysm ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Strict Adherence ◽  
Hispanic Patients ◽  
American Children ◽  
African American Race

It has been previously reported that African American race may be protective against coronary artery aneurysm development in Kawasaki Disease (KD). We aimed to test this with our own cohort of KD patients from a large pediatric cardiology practice. Data from 250 subjects diagnosed with KD and followed as outpatients with surveillance echocardiography over a two-year period were analyzed. Twelve patients were excluded due to incomplete records or an unconfirmed diagnosis. Race designated by parent was recorded. Charts were reviewed for any coronary involvement (ectasia or aneurysm) and coronary Z-score greater than 2.5 at the time of diagnosis and at subsequent follow-up visits. Odds rations were calculated comparing each racial group to others for any coronary involvement and for coronary Z-score > 2.5. Of 238 included patients, 44.5% were African American, 37.4% were non-Hispanic white, 10.5% were Hispanic, and 7.6% identified with other racial designations. Approximately 21.9% of African American patients had any coronary involvement and 9.5% had a coronary Z-score > 2.5. Approximately 21.4% of non-Hispanic whites had any coronary involvement and 13.5% of non-Hispanic whites had a coronary Z-score > 2.5. Twenty-eight percent of Hispanic patients had any coronary involvement and 12% had a coronary Z-score > 2.5%. Of patients that identified with other racial designations, 38.9% had coronary involvement and 22.2% had a coronary Z-score > 2.5. No statistically significant odds ratios were identified. Relative to reference group (non-Hispanic whites) African American patients had nearly identical rates of 1) any coronary involvement, or 2) coronary Z-score > 2.5. KD occurs commonly in African-American children. Given equal risk for late coronary sequelae vigilance and strict adherence to consensus guidelines is essential.

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