The phenotype-genotype reference map: Improving biobank data science through replication.

Population-scale biobanks linked to electronic health record data provide vast opportunities to extend our knowledge of human genetics and discover new phenotype-genotype associations. Given their dense phenotype data, biobanks can also facilitate replication studies on a phenome-wide scale. Here, we introduce the phenotype-genotype reference map (PGRM), a set of 5,879 genetic associations from 523 GWAS publications that can be used for high-throughput replication experiments. PGRM phenotypes are standardized as phecodes, ensuring interoperability between biobanks. We applied the PGRM to five ancestry-specific cohorts from four independent biobanks and found evidence of robust replications across a wide array of phenotypes. We show how the PGRM can be used to detect data corruption and to empirically assess parameters for phenome-wide studies. Finally, we use the PGRM to explore factors associated with replicability of GWAS results.

Increased Risk of Herpes Zoster Infection in Patients with Celiac Disease 50 Years Old and Older.

BACKGROUND: Celiac Disease (CD) is associated with increased susceptibility to certain bacterial and viral infections. Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral infection that can be prevented by immunization. In the US, the vaccine is recommended for adults ≥ 50 or ≥ 19 with certain at-risk conditions, not including CD. AIMS: We aimed to determine if adult patients aged < 50 or ≥ 50 years with CD had a higher risk of developing HZ. METHODS: We designed a retrospective cohort study. CD was defined as patients with the ICD-10 code for CD and positive Celiac serology. Patients with negative serology and lacking CD ICD-10 codes served as controls. Patients who had HZ before CD diagnosis were excluded. We formed two sub-cohorts, those aged < 50 (cohort 1) and aged ≥ 50 years (cohort 2), and evaluated HZ infection at 10-year follow-up. To account for confounding variables, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: Following PSM, cohort 1 had 6,826 CD patients, and cohort 2 had 5,337 CD patients and respective matched controls. After ten years of follow-up, in cohort 1, 62 CD patients developed HZ versus 57 controls, RR: 1.09 (CI: 0.76-1.56, p-value = 0.64). In cohort 2, 200 CD patients developed HZ versus 159 controls, RR: 1.2 (CI: 1.02-1.54, p-value = 0.03). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the likelihood of getting HZ in CD patients < 50, although CD patients ≥ 50 had a modestly increased risk. Our findings do not support routine early vaccination for HZ in CD, and the vaccine should be offered at age 50.

Efficacy of Continuous Intrathecal Infusion Trialing with a Mixture of Fentanyl and Bupivacaine in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients.

Intrathecal trialing is used as a screening prognostic measure prior to intrathecal drug delivery system implant. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a continuous intrathecal infusion of an admixture of bupivacaine and fentanyl in patients with chronic low back pain. Patients with refractory chronic low back pain in the setting of previous lumbar spine surgery and/or chronic vertebral compression fracture(s) were enrolled in a randomized double blind cross-over study comparing saline infusion to infusion of a solution containing bupivacaine combined with low-dose fentanyl over a 14-18 hour period. The primary outcome measure was the change in pain intensity at the end of the screening trial. Patients who experienced significant pain reduction from either infusion relative to baseline pain were offered a permanent implant. In total, 36 patients were enrolled, with 31 patients trialed and 25 implanted. At the end of the screening trial, pain scores, at rest or with activity, decreased appreciably in both groups; however, significantly better improvements occurred in the fentanyl/bupivacaine group compared to saline both with activity and at rest (P = .016 and .006, respectively). Treatment order appeared to affect outcome with saline demonstrating a placebo response. At 12 months following implant, primary and secondary outcome measures continued to be significantly reduced from baseline. Continuous intrathecal delivery of a combination of zlow-dose fentanyl with bupivacaine is superior to saline in screening intrathecal trialing for back pain reduction. With longer term delivery, a sustained reduction of chronic low back pain was also observed.

Black men's awareness of peripheral artery disease and acceptability of screening in barbershops: a qualitative analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) disproportionately burdens Black Americans, particularly Black men. Despite the significant prevalence and high rate of associated morbidity and mortality, awareness of and treatment initiation for PAD remains low in this demographic group. Given the well-established social cohesion among barbershops frequently attended by Black men, barbershops may be ideal settings for health screening and education to improve awareness, early detection, and treatment initiation of PAD among Black men. METHODS: A qualitative study involving 1:1 participant interviews in Cleveland, Ohio assessed perspectives of Black men about barbershop-based screening and education about PAD. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to derive themes directly from the data to reflect perceived PAD awareness and acceptability of screening in a barbershop setting. RESULTS: Twenty-eight African American/Black, non-Hispanic men completed a qualitative interview for this analysis. Mean age was 59.3 ± 11.2 years and 93% of participants resided in socioeconomically disadvantaged zip codes. Several themes emerged indicating increased awareness of PAD and acceptability of barbershop-based screenings for PAD, advocacy for systemic changes to improve the health of the community, and a desire among participants to increase knowledge about cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Participants were overwhelmingly accepting of PAD screenings and reported increased awareness of PAD and propensity to seek healthcare due to engagement in the study. Participants provided insight into barriers and facilitators of health and healthcare-seeking behavior, as well as into the community and the barbershop as an institution. Additional research is needed to explore the perspectives of additional stakeholders and to translate community-based screenings into treatment initiation.

Differences in Clinical Presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Pediatric Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn Disease.

SIGNIFICANCE: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an inflammatory condition characterized by T helper-2 (T H 2) cytokines. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) are inflammatory conditions with different clinical presentations and immune profiles. UC is associated with T H 2 cytokines and CD with T H 1 cytokines. We investigated potential differences in the association of EoE with UC and CD because of these different immune profiles. METHODS: We utilized ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes to find patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and EoE. We defined EoE as any esophageal biopsy with >15 eosinophils. We collected demographic, clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and histological data. RESULTS: Thirty patients had both EoE and IBD. 14.9% of UC patients had EoE and 5.7% of CD patients had EoE. 64.7% of UC patients presented with UC and EoE at the same time, whereas 76.9% of CD patients presented with EoE at follow up. Ten of 13 CD patients were on anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) at EoE diagnosis. No UC patients were on anti-TNF at EoE diagnosis. Eighty-three percent of CD patients had mild disease or were in remission, whereas 50% of UC patients had moderate to severe disease at the time of EoE diagnosis. CONCLUSION: A higher percentage of UC than CD patients had EoE. EoE was more likely to be present at the initial diagnosis of UC than CD. EoE was more likely after diagnosis and treatment of CD with anti-TNF, when CD activity was mild or in remission. The difference in presentation suggests that anti-TNF or it's impact on inflammation may differentially impact the association of EoE with CD and UC.

Nonmydriatic Retinal Photography in the Outpatient Neurology Resident Clinic.

BACKGROUND: The funduscopic examination is an essential component of the neurologic examination. However, examination of the ocular fundus with a direct ophthalmoscope is often difficult. Nonmydriatic ocular fundus photography allows direct visualization of the ocular fundus with high-quality photographs. We used nonmydriatic ocular fundus photography to improve patient care and funduscopy skills of residents in the Neurology Resident Clinic. METHODS: At the time of triage, funduscopic photographs of all new neurology resident clinic patients were taken. The images were imported into the hospital's imaging software. The residents completed a full neurologic examination, including a funduscopic examination with a handheld ophthalmoscope. At the time of staffing the patients with the attendings, the residents received immediate feedback and teaching on retina photograph evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 255 patients were enrolled. Of those, 230 (90%) had at least one high-quality funduscopic photograph. Retinal photographs were normal in 161 (70%). Out of the 69 abnormal photographs, only 7% of abnormalities were detected by the residents. Ninety-three percent of residents found the retinal photographs useful. CONCLUSIONS: Nonmydriatic ocular fundus photography improved the care in patients presenting to a Neurology resident clinic and facilitated residents in recognizing funduscopic findings. Its benefits are clear when one considers (1) the high risk of negative patient outcomes and possible medicolegal consequences due to missed findings, (2) the ease of incorporating retinal photographs into the patients' medical records, and (3) the benefit of improving resident education in regard to the ophthalmologic examination.

Clinical Practice Survey of Repeat Endoscopy in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in North America.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic remission has become a standard treatment target in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is unclear how widely this practice has been adopted amongst pediatric gastroenterology providers. This study determines the frequency of repeat endoscopy in pediatric IBD and evaluates for predictive baseline characteristics of providers. METHODS: We developed a cross-sectional survey, which was distributed via 3 national email listservs to pediatric gastroenterology providers. We obtained baseline characteristics of respondents and assessed motivations and barriers for the practice of repeat endoscopy compared with none. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-eight unique respondents completed the online survey. Response rate was 11% (238 of 2300 possible participants). The majority practice in an academic setting (77%) and reported participation in ImproveCareNow (63%). Overall, 65% of respondents perform repeat endoscopy to assess for endoscopic remission in pediatric IBD as part of routine clinical practice. Fifty-six percent reported repeat endoscopy as individuals in the absence of a departmental protocol. "Symptoms are not sufficient to follow IBD patients" was reported by 82% of those who repeat endoscopy; conversely, "I perform endoscopy based on clinical, biomarker, and/or imaging trends" was reported by 81% of those who do not repeat endoscopy. The establishment of a pediatric-specific guideline was most commonly reported to change current practice, based on rank-order scoring. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of representative providers repeat endoscopy to assess for endoscopic remission in pediatric IBD. Fewer years in practice favored repeating endoscopy. The need for North American pediatric guidelines with pediatric-specific evidence to support the long-term benefits of endoscopic remission are highlighted in this study.

Phenotyping coronavirus disease 2019 during a global health pandemic: Lessons learned from the characterization of an early cohort.

From the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, researchers have looked to electronic health record (EHR) data as a way to study possible risk factors and outcomes. To ensure the validity and accuracy of research using these data, investigators need to be confident that the phenotypes they construct are reliable and accurate, reflecting the healthcare settings from which they are ascertained. We developed a COVID-19 registry at a single academic medical center and used data from March 1 to June 5, 2020 to assess differences in population-level characteristics in pandemic and non-pandemic years respectively. Median EHR length, previously shown to impact phenotype performance in type 2 diabetes, was significantly shorter in the SARS-CoV-2 positive group relative to a 2019 influenza tested group (median 3.1 years vs 8.7; Wilcoxon rank sum P = 1.3e-52). Using three phenotyping methods of increasing complexity (billing codes alone and domain-specific algorithms provided by an EHR vendor and clinical experts), common medical comorbidities were abstracted from COVID-19 EHRs, defined by the presence of a positive laboratory test (positive predictive value 100%, recall 93%). After combining performance data across phenotyping methods, we observed significantly lower false negative rates for those records billed for a comprehensive care visit (p = 4e-11) and those with complete demographics data recorded (p = 7e-5). In an early COVID-19 cohort, we found that phenotyping performance of nine common comorbidities was influenced by median EHR length, consistent with previous studies, as well as by data density, which can be measured using portable metrics including CPT codes. Here we present those challenges and potential solutions to creating deeply phenotyped, acute COVID-19 cohorts.

Incidence of missing pathology specimens in dermatology.

BACKGROUND: Occasionally specimen containers are received in the dermatopathology laboratory without an accompanying specimen. The consequences in this scenario can range from delay in care and inconvenience to patients to increased morbidity and even mortality. Data regarding incidence and associated characteristics of missing specimens are scant. METHODS: Over a 10-year period (7 January 2010 to 7 January 2020) all cases with a missing specimen in a single academic dermatopathology laboratory and a single dermatopathology practice embedded within a dermatology practice were reviewed. RESULTS: Out of 270,754 specimens received, 83 empty specimen containers were identified for an incidence of 0.031%. There were 14 (0.005%) cases in which patients had a separate procedure and a second container with both specimens in it accompanying the empty container. The most common missing specimen-generating procedures were shave biopsies (51%) with most common clinical diagnosis being unspecified (30%). The most common specimen location from the 97 total specimen bottles containing either zero or two specimens was head/neck (53%). Although no further procedures were performed after the specimen was lost for 48% of cases, re-biopsy occurred for 28%. CONCLUSIONS: Failure to insert specimens into the correct container is rare, but represents a potential significant negative event where vigilance and improvement is required.

Effects of Bupivacaine on Opioid Patient-Controlled Intrathecal Analgesia in Chronic Pain Patients Implanted with Drug Delivery Systems.

BACKGROUND: Combining neuraxial opioids and local anesthetics in acute pain results in improved duration of analgesia and reduced dosages and adverse effects. Although commonly used in intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) for chronic pain, the effectiveness of this admixture has not been examined specifically in relation to patient-controlled intrathecal analgesia (PCIA). METHODS: IDDS-implanted chronic noncancer pain patients receiving opioids with bupivacaine (O + B) were randomized to receive either opioids without bupivacaine (O) or O + B in a double-blind manner, at IDDS refills, for one week and then crossed over to the other solution for another week. Primary outcome measures included numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores before and within 30 minutes after PCIA boluses. Secondary outcome measures included average NRS scores and functional outcome measures. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were enrolled, and 16 patients completed the study. There were no differences in NRS scores before and after PCIA boluses between the O and O + B conditions, though pain scores improved significantly (average decrease in NRS scores: O 1.81 ± 1.47 vs O + B 1.87 ± 1.40, P = 0.688). No differences were noted in speed of onset or duration of analgesia. Although more patients subjectively preferred the O + B treatment, the difference was not statistically significant. No differences were noted in secondary outcome measures, with the exception of global impression of change having higher scores in O compared with O + B. CONCLUSIONS: Acutely removing bupivacaine from a chronic intrathecal infusion of opioids and bupivacaine in patients with chronic noncancer pain did not adversely affect PCIA effectiveness, nor did it affect speed of onset or duration of effect. These findings are divergent from those in acute pain and may have to do with study conditions and pain phenotypes.

Skeletal Maturity Using Knee X-rays: Understanding the Resilience of 7 Radiographic Parameters to Rotational Position.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a skeletal maturity system using knee radiographs, named the modified Roche-Wainer-Thissen (RWT) system, has been developed using 7 discrete radiographic parameters. While the system has been shown to significantly outperform the Greulich and Pyle atlas, the effect of rotational variation of the knee radiograph on skeletal maturity determinations has not been studied. METHODS: Normal knee computed tomography scans of 12 male children ages 10 to 16 years and 8 female children ages 8 to 14 years were obtained retrospectively, converted into 3-dimensional reconstructions, and then used to simulate knee radiographs in 5 different rotational positions. Images were graded using the modified RWT system, and 1-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare skeletal age in the patella centered view versus the other positions. We next retrospectively found 85 pediatric patients with both bilateral standing anteroposterior hip to ankles and separate knee radiograph within 6 months of each other. The skeletal maturity values from the 2 different radiographs were compared in 39 males between the ages of 10 and 16 years and 46 females between 8 and 14 years of age using paired t test and Wilcoxon-signed rank test. RESULTS: On the computed tomography scan-based images, there was no statistically significant effect of rotational position on the modified RWT score using repeat measures analysis of variance (P=0.210). Only the width ratio of the tibial epiphysis and metaphysis and the width ratio of the fibular epiphysis and metaphysis were statistically different between rotational positions (P<0.05). Comparing clinical full length versus knee radiographs, we found a small difference of 0.069 years which trended towards a statistically significant difference (P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study supports the resilience of the RWT model to rotational variation, reassuring clinicians that bone age estimation can be performed in a slightly rotated knee x-ray within a reasonable margin of error. These results can minimize the number of radiographs needed to assess skeletal maturity limiting radiation exposure and expedite clinical flow. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level-III-diagnostic study.

Factors Predictive of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Critically Ill Trauma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious complication of mechanical ventilation. We sought to investigate factors associated with the development of VAP in critically ill trauma patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of trauma patients admitted to our trauma intensive care unit between 2016 and 2018. Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia were identified from the trauma database. Data collected from the trauma database included demographics (age, gender and race), mechanism of injury (blunt, penetrating), injury severity (injury severity score "ISS"), the presence of VAP, transfused blood products and presenting vital signs. RESULTS: A total of 1403 patients were admitted to the trauma intensive care unit (TICU) during the study period; of these, 45 had ventilator-associated pneumonia. Patients with VAP were older (p = 0.030), and they had a higher incidence of massive transfusion (p = 0.015) and received more packed cells in the first 24 h of admission (p = 0.028). They had a higher incidence of face injury (p = 0.001), injury to sternum (p = 0.011) and injury to spine (p = 0.024). Patients with VAP also had a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) (p < 0.001) and had a longer ICU (p < 0.001) and hospital length of stay (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression models controlling for age and injury severity (ISS) showed massive transfusion (p = 0.017), AKI (p < 0.001), injury to face (p < 0.001), injury to sternum (p = 0.007), injury to spine (p = 0.047) and ICU length of stay (p < 0.001) to be independent predictors of VAP. CONCLUSIONS: Among critically ill trauma patients, acute kidney injury, injury to the spine, face or sternum, massive transfusion and intensive care unit length of stay were associated with VAP.

Comparative Effectiveness of Targeted Intrathecal Drug Delivery Using a Combination of Bupivacaine with Either Low-Dose Fentanyl or Hydromorphone in Chronic Back Pain Patients with Lumbar Postlaminectomy Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Targeted intrathecal drug delivery (TIDD) is an effective interventional pain management modality often used in postlaminectomy patients with refractory chronic low back pain. A combination of intrathecal bupivacaine with an opioid is often used. However, intrathecal catheter tip granulomas have occurred with use of morphine or hydromorphone but generally not with fentanyl. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of TIDD using bupivacaine/fentanyl vs bupivacaine/hydromorphone in patients with chronic intractable low back pain postlaminectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis of consecutive patients with lumbar postlaminectomy syndrome who were trialed and later received TIDD with a combination of bupivacaine/hydromorphone or bupivacaine/fentanyl between June 2009 and May 2016 at a single tertiary medical center. RESULTS: We identified a cohort of 58 lumbar postlaminectomy patients receiving a TIDD admixture of either hydromorphone/bupivacaine (30 patients) or low-dose fentanyl/bupivacaine (28 patients) with at least two years of follow-up. The fentanyl group had significantly lower baseline opioid consumption and a lower rate of intrathecal opioid dose escalation. Both groups had similar and significant reductions in pain scores over the two-year follow-up period. No granulomas were observed. CONCLUSION: TIDD using a low-dose fentanyl admixture with bupivacaine in patients with postlaminectomy syndrome and refractory chronic low back pain results in similar pain relief to TIDD with hydromorphone and bupivacaine. Low-dose intrathecal fentanyl leads to a lower rate of opioid escalation and may be safer than hydromorphone.

Identifying barriers to post-placental intrauterine device placement: male partners' views.

Objective: The use of post-placental intrauterine devices (IUDs) has potential to address the health issues of suboptimal breastfeeding rates and short inter-pregnancy intervals. An understudied factor that may influence choice of breastfeeding-compatible contraception among postpartum women is their romantic partner. We aimed to identify male partner influences on women's postpartum breastfeeding-compatible contraception choices.Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 75 men in Cleveland, OH, USA. Data on partner priorities, opinions and knowledge about breastfeeding and contraception, and barriers to partner IUD receipt were collected. Survey data were summarised using frequencies and percentages, and univariate logistic regression models were used to explore associations between responses.Results: Participants were predominantly African American, unmarried and had at least one child. Twenty-six participants (36%) reported using contraception with their current partner; men who had discussions and agreed about contraception with their partner were more likely to use it. Thirty-nine men (54%) intended for a future child to breastfeed; this intention was more likely for men who had a child that was breastfed previously and for those with knowledge of breastfeeding benefits. Only 25 (35%) thought a post-placental IUD was safe for breastfeeding mothers; correct IUD knowledge and a partner's positive IUD experience were significantly associated with this response.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that knowledge about breastfeeding and contraception as well as experiential learning regarding breastfeeding and contraception within a partnered relationship are important and that minimal prior experience and low knowledge in these areas may be a male partner barrier to post-placental IUD placement for breastfeeding mothers.

Effect of Long-Term Intrathecal Bupivacaine Infusion on Blood Pressure.

OBJECTIVES: The local anesthetic bupivacaine is a common analgesic adjuvant medication used in combination with opioids in intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDSs). While the acute effects of spinal bupivacaine injection on blood pressure (BP) have been studied, there is a dearth of data regarding long-term effects of continuous intrathecal bupivacaine infusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all noncancer pain patients receiving bupivacaine through IDDSs from January 2013 to November 2017 was performed. Blood pressure values before implantation, and after implant at the 1-week, 3-month, 6-month and 1-year time points are recorded as well as corresponding bupivacaine and opioid doses in the IDDS. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were included in the study; median patient age was 64 years and intrathecal catheter tips were located predominantly in the lower thoracic spine. Significant decreases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) relative to baseline occurred in patients receiving chronic lower thoracic intrathecal bupivacaine delivery at 3, 6, and 12 months post-implant (-12.96 ± 18.21; p < 0.001 and - 6.38 ± 12.04; p < 0.001, respectively). The only significant decrease in DBP was observed at 1 year post-implant (-3.09 ± 11.76; p < 0.05). Similar decreases in BP values occurred in patients with or without hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term thoracic intrathecal infusion of bupivacaine likely exerts a lowering effect on BP, primarily because of a significant decrease in SBP. This effect is likely due to efferent sympathetic blockade by bupivacaine.

Instructor and student knowledge of study strategies.

Students' self-reported study skills and beliefs are often inconsistent with empirically supported (ES) study strategies. However, little is known regarding instructors' beliefs about study skills and if such beliefs differ from those of students. In the current study, we surveyed college students' and instructors' knowledge of study strategies and had both groups evaluate the efficacy of learning strategies described in six learning scenarios. Results from the survey indicated that students frequently reported engaging in methods of studying that were not optimal for learning. Instructors' responses to the survey indicated that they endorsed a number of effective study skills but also held several beliefs inconsistent with research in learning and memory (e.g., learning styles). Further, results from the learning scenarios measure indicated that instructors were moderately more likely than students to endorse ES learning strategies. Collectively, these data suggest that instructors exhibited better knowledge of effective study skills than students, although the difference was small. We discuss several notable findings and argue for the improvement of both students' and instructors' study skill knowledge.

How do students improve their value-based learning with task experience?

When learning items that vary in reward, students improve their scores (i.e., earned reward) with task experience. In four experiments, we examined whether such improvements arise from better selective encoding of items that would earn more (vs. less) reward. Participants studied and recalled words across multiple study-test trials. On each trial, 12 words were slated with different values (typically from 1 to 12), and participants earned the point value assigned to a given word if it was correctly recalled. In all experiments, participants earned more points across the first two trials. In Experiment 1, participants either self-paced their study or had experimenter-paced study and in Experiment 2, some participants were penalised for each second spent during study. Improvements in points earned were related to increases in overall recall but not to selective encoding. In Experiment 3, some participants were given value-emphasised instructions, yet they did not demonstrate selective encoding. In Experiment 4, we used a larger range of point values, but selective encoding still did not account for the improvement in point scores across lists. These results suggest that metacognitively-driven selective encoding is not necessary to observe improvements in value-based learning.

Understanding Breastfeeding Barriers at an Urban Pediatric Practice.

Breastfeeding is the optimal nutrition for infants given the numerous health benefits that are conferred on mothers, infants, and society in a dose-dependent manner. However, low breastfeeding rates and racial breastfeeding inequities persist for the African American (AA) community due to historic structural racism. The issue is especially salient at the Rainbow Center for Women and Children, an urban health center in Cleveland, Ohio where approximately 90% of their mothers are AA, WIC-eligible, and publicly insured. Our study aims to elucidate factors contributing to breastfeeding practices and identify supports that could be added for women served at RCWC. The study was conducted within 2 cohorts both of exclusively AA  women. Wave 1 of the study included AA mothers who exclusively breastfed, did mixed feeding, or exclusively formula fed. Wave 2 included expectant women at least considering breastfeeding. Breastfeeding attitudes of those who had exclusively breastfed or practiced mixed feeding were not significantly different than those of expectant participants planning to breastfeed; mean attitude scores, however, were in the "neutral" range. Participants endorsed many sources of support for their feeding choices, including the infant's father, their own parents, and family. However, the data show that even when women feel personally supported in their feeding choices by their partner and family, if additional breastfeeding help is needed, they will benefit from help accessing available resources. Thus, lactation support that helps women achieve their own breastfeeding goals is optimal; customized care ultimately can move the needle on racial inequities in breastfeeding for our society.

Isolated Diastolic Hypertension and Kidney and Cardiovascular Outcomes in CKD: The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study.

Rationale & Objective: The clinical significance of isolated diastolic hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. We assessed the prevalence of isolated diastolic hypertension and its association with adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in participants in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting & Population: CRIC study participants with complete baseline data on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) (N=5,621). Exposure: Isolated diastolic hypertension defined as SBP ≤ 130 mm Hg and DBP >80 mm Hg. Reference Group: Normotension, defined as SBP ≤ 130 mm Hg and DBP ≤ 80 mm Hg. Outcomes: Composite kidney events (50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate or onset of kidney failure), composite cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease), and all-cause mortality. Analytical Approach: Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic, health behavior, and clinical covariates. Results: Of the 5,621 participants, 347 (6.2%) had isolated diastolic hypertension. Among the 347 participants with isolated diastolic hypertension, there was no association between isolated diastolic hypertension and the composite kidney outcome (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.93-1.47; P = 0.18), composite cardiovascular events (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.65-1.27; P = 0.58), or all-cause mortality (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.57-1.19; P = 0.30). Limitations: Older age of cohort and low number of participants of Asian ethnicity limit generalizability of findings. A relatively small sample size is inadequate to detect modest associations with outcomes. Conclusions: Isolated diastolic hypertension was not associated with the risk of adverse kidney and cardiovascular events in participants with CKD. Plain Language Summary: Clinicians frequently encounter patients with kidney disease who have controlled systolic blood pressure (BP) but high diastolic BP and do not know whether they should intensify BP treatment in an attempt to control the diastolic BP. We examined whether having controlled systolic BP but uncontrolled diastolic BP leads to worse heart and kidney outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease. We did not find any such association. However, our study was relatively small and had a number of limitations. Till larger studies confirm or refute this finding, we recommend not increasing blood pressure medications to improve the diastolic BP control if the systolic BP is already well controlled in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Comparison of Short-Term Outcomes for Standard Versus Nonstandard Induction Dosing of Infliximab for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have emphasized the early use of infliximab (IFX) in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Standard dosing of 5 mg/kg/dose may not be sufficient to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. The aim of our study was to compare short-term outcomes with standard dosing of IFX to higher, nonstandard dosing of IFX for induction therapy. METHODS: Retrospective study of 162 pediatric patients receiving either standard (5-6 mg/kg, n = 90) or nonstandard (>6 mg/kg, n = 72) dosing of IFX during induction was performed. Patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and laboratory data were collected. Need for dose escalation during the first 6 months, combination therapy with immunomodulators, and steroid-free progression were investigated. RESULTS: Clinical remission rates between the 2 groups were significantly different, with patients receiving nonstandard dosing demonstrating higher rates (58% vs 78%; p = 0.012). Use of combination therapy with immunomodulators was significantly different between standard and nonstandard groups (80% vs 48%; p < 0.001). Numeric trend in need for IFX dose escalation in the first 6 months was seen between standard and nonstandard groups (54% vs 39%, respectively; p = 0.087). Post-induction IFX trough concentrations, rates of antibody development, drug discontinuation, and infusion reaction were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Nonstandard induction dosing of IFX was associated with higher rates of clinical remission, despite similar rates of serum IFX trough concentrations. There was a numeric trend towards the standard group requiring dose escalation within the first 6 months of therapy. Patients given nonstandard dosing may achieve superior clinical outcomes compared with those on standard dosing.