A Multicenter Evaluation of Treatment-associated Changes in Body Composition in Men With Germ Cell Tumors of the Testis: Implications for Adverse Events and Complications.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize changes in body composition following cytotoxic chemotherapy for germ cell carcinoma of the testis (GCT) and quantify associations between body composition metrics and chemotherapy-associated adverse events (AEs) and post-retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective multi-center study included 216 men with GCT treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or RPLND (2005-2020). We measured body composition including skeletal muscle (SMI), visceral adipose (VAI,), subcutaneous adipose (SAI), and fat mass (FMI) indices on computed tomography. We quantified chemotherapy-associated changes in body composition and evaluated associations between body composition and incidence of grade 3 + AEs and post-RPLND complications on multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-two men received a median of 3 cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Following chemotherapy, median change in SMI was -6% (P = <.0001), while VAI, SAI, and FMI increased by +13% (P = <.0001), +11% (P = <.0001), and +6% (P = <.0001), respectively. Seventy-nine patients (43%) experienced at least one grade 3 + AE. A decrease in SMI following chemotherapy was associated with increased risk of grade 3 + AEs (P = .047). One hundred and 3 men with a median age of 28.5 years (IQR 23-35.5) underwent RPLND of whom 22 (21.3%) experienced at least 1 grade 3 + post-RPLND complication. No baseline body composition metrics were associated with post-RPLND complications. CONCLUSION: In men with GCT of the testis, chemotherapy was associated with 6% loss of lean muscle mass and gains in adiposity. Lower skeletal muscle was associated with a higher incidence of chemotherapy-associated AEs. Body composition was not associated with the incidence of post-RPLND complications.

Challenges and Successes of an Audio-Technician Training Program in Guatemala.

Hearing healthcare outreach in developing countries is ill defined and inundated with sustainability challenges. One method to facilitate sustainable efforts is by training local personnel on certain aspects of hearing healthcare. The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the challenges and successes of an audio-technician training program conducted in various regions throughout Guatemala. A collaboration was created between Healing the Children, Centro de Audicion, the University of Washington, and Gallaudet University to create a learning environment for Guatemalan audio-technicians and audiology graduate students. Administration of the audio-technician training component of this program began in 2008 and continues today. Challenges and successes were identified around five themes: (1) audio-technician recruitment and skills upon entering training program; (2) practical and logistical components of clinical training; (3) collaboration and resources for ongoing care; (4) funding for travel, time, and accommodation for personnel involved in training sessions; and (5) cultural differences surrounding our approach to hearing healthcare and training. Approaches to overcome the barriers identified and future directions are discussed.

Barriers to early pediatric cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVES: Universal newborn hearing screening has significantly improved the ability to identify patients with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which results in earlier treatment and better hearing and development outcomes. It is recommended that patients born with SNHL who meet criteria receive cochlear implants (CIs) by a target age of 12 months, however many children are being implanted at an older age. This study aims to describe populations of pre-lingual patients with SNHL that are at risk for delayed implantation and to identify and analyze barriers that cause this delay. METHODS: Charts of patients receiving a CI between January 2008 and June 2012 at a tertiary care cochlear implant center were reviewed retrospectively. We looked at patient demographics, age at hearing loss diagnosis, age at implantation, and etiology of hearing loss. Barriers to implantation were identified through surveys completed by team members. RESULTS: Fifty-seven CI recipients were identified of which 42 were in patients with pre-lingual SNHL. SNHL etiology included: cochlear dysplasia (18%), GJB2/GJB6 (17%), acquired (10%) extreme prematurity (9%), and idiopathic (46%). The median age of SNHL diagnosis for pre-lingual patients was 15 months. Compared to private insurance, public insurance status was associated with SNHL diagnosis at a significantly later median age (20.0 vs. 4.0 months, p=0.024), and with a significantly longer median interval from diagnosis to implantation (25.5 vs. 11.0 months, p=0.029). While cochlear implant team members identified delayed insurance approval and medical comorbidities as reasons for delayed implantation, the most significant factor identified was parental, with delayed/missed appointments or reluctance for evaluations or surgery. CONCLUSION: 52% of patients with pre-lingual SNHL that met criteria for CI were implanted more than 12 months after diagnosis. Having public or no insurance was significantly associated with delayed implantation. Parental barriers were most common factors cited for delays in implantation. Overcoming these delays necessitates appropriate identification of at risk patients and creating a system to educate families and chaperone them through the process.