5-Year effects of a novel continuous remote care model with carbohydrate-restricted nutrition therapy including nutritional ketosis in type 2 diabetes: An extension study.

AIMS: This study assessed the five-year effects of a continuous care intervention (CCI) delivered via telemedicine, counseling people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on a very low carbohydrate diet with nutritional ketosis. METHODS: Participants with T2D were enrolled in a 2-year, open-label, non-randomized study comparing CCI and usual care (UC). After 2 years, 194 of the 262 CCI participants were approached for a three-year extension. Of these, 169 consented, and 122 remained in the study for five years. Primary outcomes were changes in diabetes status assessed using McNemars' test, including remission and HbA1c < 6.5 % on no glucose lowering medication or only on metformin at 5 years. Changes in body mass, glycemia, and cardiometabolic markers from baseline to 5 years were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Twenty percent (n = 24) of the five-year completers achieved remission, with sustained remission observed over three years in 15.8 % (n = 19) and four years in 12.5 % (n = 15). Reversal to HbA1c < 6.5 % without medication or only metformin was seen in 32.5 % (n = 39). Sustained improvements were noted in body mass (-7.6 %), HbA1c (-0.3 %), triglycerides (-18.4 %), HDL-C (+17.4 %), and inflammatory markers, with no significant changes in LDL-C and total cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Over five years, the very low carbohydrate intervention showed excellent retention and significant health benefits, including diabetes remission, weight loss, and improved cardiometabolic markers.

Expanding the use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs): Screening youth with type 1 diabetes from underrepresented populations.

AIM: Youth from lower socioeconomic status (SES) have suboptimal type 1 diabetes (T1D) outcomes. Patient reported outcomes (PROs) measure psychosocial states and are associated with T1D outcomes, however are understudied in low SES youth. We aimed to evaluate associations between PROs and public insurance status, a proxy for low SES. METHODS: We analyzed survey data from 129 youth with T1D (age 15.7 ± 2.3 years, 33 % publicly insured) screened with PROMIS Global Health (PGH, measuring global health) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, measuring depressive symptoms) during diabetes appointments. Correlation and regression analyses evaluated differences in PGH and PHQ-9 by insurance status. RESULTS: For youth with public insurance, lower global health correlated with lower self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG; r = 0.38,p = 0.033) and older age (r = -0.45,p = 0.005). In youth with private insurance, lower global health correlated with lower SMBG (r = 0.27,p = 0.018) and female sex (rho = 0.26,p = 0.015). For youth with private insurance, higher depressive symptoms correlated with higher body mass index (r = 0.22,p = 0.03) and fewer SMBG (r = -0.35,p = 0.04). In multivariate regression analyses, public insurance was inversely associated with global health (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: PGH is a particularly salient PRO in youth with public insurance. Global health may be an important psychosocial factor to assess in youth with T1D from low SES backgrounds.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Effectiveness of a Metabolic Health Telemedicine Intervention for Weight Loss: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic public health measures such as stay-at-home and mandatory work-from-home orders have been associated with obesogenic lifestyle changes, increased risk of weight gain, and their metabolic sequelae. We sought to assess the impact of this pandemic on weight loss from a telemedicine-delivered very-low-carbohydrate intervention targeting nutritional ketosis (NKI). Methods: A total of 746 patients with a BMI ≥25kg/m2, enrolled between January and March 2020 and treated for at least 1 year with the NKI, were classified as pandemic cohort (PC). A separate cohort of 699 patients who received 1 year of the NKI in the preceding years, enrolled between January and March 2018, were identified as pre-pandemic cohort (Pre-PC). Demographic and clinical data were obtained from medical records to compare the cohorts and assess the outcomes. Using propensity score matching (PSM), balanced and matched groups of 407 patients in the Pre-PC and 407 patients in the PC were generated. Longitudinal change in absolute weight and percentage weight change from baseline to 1 year were assessed. Results: Weight significantly decreased in both PC and Pre-PC at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The weight loss trajectory was similar in both PC and Pre-PC with no significant weight differences between the two cohorts at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. On an average, the PC lost 7.5% body weight while the Pre-PC lost 7.9% over 1 year, and the percent weight loss did not differ between the two cohorts (p = 0.50). Conclusion: A very-low-carbohydrate telemedicine intervention delivered comparable and medically significant weight loss independent of pandemic stress and lifestyle limitations.

Continuous care intervention with carbohydrate restriction improves physical function of the knees among patients with type 2 diabetes: a non-randomized study.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, we assessed a novel, remotely monitored carbohydrate restricted diet regimen including nutritional ketosis in patients with type 2 diabetes and reported significant improvements in weight, glycemic control, abdominal fat and inflammation from baseline to 2 years. Knee outcome measures were collected as a secondary outcome in the trial. This study aims to assess the effect of this intervention on knee functional scores and to identify if changes in weight, central abdominal fat (CAF), glycemic status and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were associated with its improvement. METHODS: This prospective analysis included continuous care intervention (CCI, n = 173) and usual care (UC, n = 69) trial participants with type 2 diabetes that reported knee pain at baseline. Knee outcome measures included the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain, symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), sports and recreation function, and knee-related quality of life subscales, and total KOOS score were assessed from baseline to 2 years. Missing data at each time point were replaced with multiple imputation under the assumption of missing at random. To assess if the primary analysis of the knee scores changed under plausible missing not at random assumptions, sensitivity analysis was also performed using pattern mixture models. In CCI, we also assessed factors associated with the improvement of knee scores. RESULTS: In the primary analysis, CCI participants demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in total KOOS and all KOOS individual subscale scores at 1 year and maintained through 2 years as opposed to UC patients who showed no significant changes from baseline to 2 years. The significant improvement in total KOOS and its individual subscale scores from baseline to 2 years remained relatively stable in CCI in the sensitivity analysis under different missing not at random scenarios confirming the robustness of the findings from the primary analysis. Approximately 46% of the CCI participants met the 10 points minimal clinically important change at 2 years. A reduction in CAF was associated with improvement in total KOOS and KOOS ADL, while a decrease in hsCRP was associated with improvement in KOOS symptoms scores. CONCLUSION: A very low carbohydrate intervention including nutritional ketosis resulted in significant improvements in knee pain and function among patients with T2D. The improvements in knee function were likely secondary to a reduction in central adiposity and inflammation. Future research on the applicability of this intervention in radiographically confirmed OA patients is important. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial registration: NCT02519309 (10/08/2015).

Depressive symptoms improve over 2 years of type 2 diabetes treatment via a digital continuous remote care intervention focused on carbohydrate restriction.

Depressive symptoms are prevalent among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and, even at low severity levels, are associated with worse diabetes outcomes. Carbohydrate restriction is an effective treatment for T2D but its long-term impacts on depressive symptoms are unclear. In the current study we explored changes in depressive symptoms over 2 years among 262 primarily non-depressed T2D patients participating in a continuous remote care intervention emphasizing carbohydrate restriction. Subclinical depressive symptoms decreased over the first 10 weeks and reductions were maintained out to 2 years. Increased frequency of blood ketone levels indicative of adherence to low carbohydrate eating predicted decreases in depressive symptoms. Concerns have been raised with recommending restrictive diets due to potential negative impacts on quality-of-life factors such as mood; however, results of the current study support positive rather than negative long-term impacts of closely monitored carbohydrate restriction on depressive symptoms.

Reduced COVID-19 severity elicited by weight loss from a medically supervised ketogenic diet in a geographically diverse ambulatory population with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Objective: To investigate factors associated with COVID-19 severity in ambulatory individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity treated with a medically supervised ketogenic diet (MSKD). Research design and methods: In this real-world, retrospective, exploratory analysis, multivariate modelling was used to assess clinical factors associated with hospitalisation for COVID-19 in a geographically diverse outpatient population with T2DM treated virtually. Results: Leading up to COVID-19 onset, non-hospitalised patients had higher average ketones (0.64 vs 0.52 mmol/L; p=0.016) and greater weight loss (6.8% vs 4.2%; p=0.009) compared with those hospitalised. Greater weight loss was significantly associated with lower likelihood of hospitalisation (adjusted OR=0.91, p=0.005), controlling for enrolment demographics and medical characteristics. Conclusions: Therapies such as MSKD, which elicit rapid, significant weight loss, may favourably impact COVID-19 hospitalisation rate and severity in individuals with T2DM and obesity.

Multisite Examination of Depression Screening Scores and Correlates Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate self-reported depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes during routine screening for adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and examine associations among depressive symptoms and demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) was administered to 197 adolescents and young adults with T2D using the PHQ-2 or PHQ-9 in routine pediatric diabetes care at 4 academic medical centres. Data from electronic health records were extracted from the screening date and 12 months earlier. RESULTS: Adolescents and young adults with T2D (mean age, 16.85 years; 57% male; 77.2% non-Caucasian) completed the PHQ as part of routine diabetes care. On the PHQ, 19.3% of adolescents and young adults endorsed elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ score ≥10) and, among a subsample with item-level data (n=53), 18.9% endorsed thoughts of self-harm. Subsequently, 50.0% of those with depressive symptoms had a documented referral for mental health treatment in the electronic health record after the positive screening outcome. Older age, shorter diabetes duration, higher glycated hemoglobin level, being non-Hispanic white, more blood glucose checks per day and being prescribed oral medications were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for depressive symptoms identifies individuals in need of referral for mental health treatment. A focus on self-harm assessment, standardized methods for documentation of symptoms and mental health referrals and increased referral resources are needed.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Focused on Normalization of Glycemia: A Two-Year Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of an alternative approach to type 2 diabetes prevention. Ninety-six patients with prediabetes (age 52 (10) years; 80% female; BMI 39.2 (7.1) kg/m2) received a continuous remote care intervention focused on reducing hyperglycemia through carbohydrate restricted nutrition therapy for two years in a single arm, prospective, longitudinal pilot study. Two-year retention was 75% (72 of 96 participants). Fifty-one percent of participants (49 of 96) met carbohydrate restriction goals as assessed by blood beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations for more than one-third of reported measurements. Estimated cumulative incidence of normoglycemia (HbA1c <5.7% without medication) and type 2 diabetes (HbA1c ≥6.5% or <6.5% with medication other than metformin) at two years were 52.3% and 3%, respectively. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome, class II or greater obesity, and suspected hepatic steatosis significantly decreased at two years. These results demonstrate the potential utility of an alternate approach to type 2 diabetes prevention, carbohydrate restricted nutrition therapy delivered through a continuous remote care model, for normalization of glycemia and improvement in related comorbidities.

A retrospective multisite examination of depression screening practices, scores, and correlates in pediatric diabetes care.

Psychosocial guidelines recommend routine screening of depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with diabetes. Best practices for screening in routine care and patient characteristics associated with depressive symptoms require further investigation. The purpose of this study was to examine psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9); document rates of depressive symptoms and related clinical actions; and evaluate associations with patient characteristics. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2 or PHQ-9) was administered at five pediatric academic medical centers with 2,138 youth with type 1 diabetes. Screening was part of routine clinical care; retrospective data from electronic health records were collected for the first screening date as well as 12 months prior. The PHQ demonstrated good psychometric properties. Evaluation of item-level PHQ-9 data identified 5.0% of AYA with at least moderate depressive symptoms who would not have been flagged for further screening using the PHQ-2 only. On the PHQ-9, 10.0% of AYA with type 1 diabetes endorsed elevated depressive symptoms and 7.0% endorsed thoughts of self-harm. Patients with moderate or greater depressive symptoms had a 43.9% documented referral rate for mental health treatment. Higher BMI, older age, public insurance, shorter diabetes duration, higher HbA1C, and a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) event in the past year were associated with depressive symptoms. The PHQ-9 identified AYA with elevated depressive symptoms that would not have been identified using the PHQ-2. Depressive symptoms were associated with negative diabetes indicators. To improve referral rates, standardized methods for provision and documentation of referrals are needed.

Epigenomic profiling of neuroblastoma cell lines.

Understanding the aberrant transcriptional landscape of neuroblastoma is necessary to provide insight to the underlying influences of the initiation, progression and persistence of this developmental cancer. Here, we present chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) data for the oncogenic transcription factors, MYCN and MYC, as well as regulatory histone marks H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27Ac, and H3K27me3 in ten commonly used human neuroblastoma-derived cell line models. In addition, for all of the profiled cell lines we provide ATAC-Seq as a measure of open chromatin. We validate specificity of global MYCN occupancy in MYCN amplified cell lines and functional redundancy of MYC occupancy in MYCN non-amplified cell lines. Finally, we show with H3K27Ac ChIP-Seq that these cell lines retain expression of key neuroblastoma super-enhancers (SE). We anticipate this dataset, coupled with available transcriptomic profiling on the same cell lines, will enable the discovery of novel gene regulatory mechanisms in neuroblastoma.

Diabetes-Specific Self-Compassion: A New Measure for Parents of Youth With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Given the high daily demands of managing type 1 diabetes (T1D), parents of youth with T1D can experience high levels of emotional distress, burden, and self-criticism, with implications for parent and child well-being and parent self-efficacy for managing diabetes. Diabetes-specific self-compassion (SC), or being kind to oneself when facing challenges related to managing diabetes, may serve as protective for parents. This study aimed to create and assess the psychometric properties of a new tool, the diabetes-specific Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-Dp), to assess diabetes-specific SC in parents of youth with T1D. METHODS: We adapted a parent diabetes-specific SC measure; surveyed parents (N = 198; parent: 88% female; 95% non-Hispanic White; M age = 44 ± 8.9; child: 46% female; M age = 13 ± 3.4, range 2-18 years; 83% insulin pump users; 40% continuous glucose monitor (CGM) users; HbA1c from clinic data available for 76 participants: M HbA1c = 8.1 ± 1.3%) and conducted confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability and construct validity analyses. Validity measures included diabetes distress, diabetes empowerment, diabetes numeracy, and HbA1c. RESULTS: A bifactor structure provided the best fit, with one general factor and two wording-related group factors (positively and negatively worded items). The final 19-item SCS-Dp demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α =.94; range of item-total correlations: .52-.81) and good construct validity. As predicted, greater SC was associated with lower distress (r = -.68, p < .001) and greater empowerment (r = .43, p < .001) and was not associated with diabetes numeracy (p = .61). Diabetes-specific Self-Compassion Scale was not associated with HbA1c (p = .28). CONCLUSIONS: Results provide initial evidence of good reliability and validity of the SCS-Dp to assess diabetes-specific SC in parents.

Depression in context: Important considerations for youth with type 1 vs type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Youth with diabetes are at increased risk for depression. However, severity and correlates of depressive symptoms may differ by diabetes type. OBJECTIVE: Associations of depressive symptoms with global health, diabetes duration, and gender were compared between youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A sample of 149 youth ages 12 to 21 diagnosed with either type 1 (n = 122) or type 2 (n = 27) diabetes were screened during routine clinic appointments. Regression models were constructed to examine differences by diabetes type. RESULTS: Adolescents with type 2 diabetes had significantly higher depressive symptom scores (4.89 vs 2.99, P = .025) than those with type 1 diabetes. A significant interaction between global health and diabetes type on depressive symptoms revealed inverse associations between global health and depressive symptoms that was stronger among youth with type 2 diabetes (ß = -.98, P < .001) than type 1 (ß = -.48, P < .001). Further probing revealed that among youth with better global health, adolescents with type 1 had more depressive symptoms than those with type 2 diabetes (ß = .33, P = .035). Diabetes duration and depressive symptoms were positively associated among individuals with type 2 (ß = .86, P = .043), but not type 1 diabetes. No gender differences were detected. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that correlates of depressive symptoms in youth with diabetes differ by diabetes type. Global health appears to be an important correlate among youth with both types, whereas diabetes duration was only a significant factor among those with type 2 diabetes. The current findings can inform future psychosocial intervention efforts within both these populations.

Long-Term Effects of a Novel Continuous Remote Care Intervention Including Nutritional Ketosis for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A 2-Year Non-randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Studies on long-term sustainability of low-carbohydrate approaches to treat diabetes are limited. We previously reported the effectiveness of a novel digitally-monitored continuous care intervention (CCI) including nutritional ketosis in improving weight, glycemic outcomes, lipid, and liver marker changes at 1 year. Here, we assess the effects of the CCI at 2 years. Materials and methods: An open label, non-randomized, controlled study with 262 and 87 participants with T2D were enrolled in the CCI and usual care (UC) groups, respectively. Primary outcomes were retention, glycemic control, and weight changes at 2 years. Secondary outcomes included changes in body composition, liver, cardiovascular, kidney, thyroid and inflammatory markers, diabetes medication use and disease status. Results: Reductions from baseline to 2 years in the CCI group resulting from intent-to-treat analyses included: HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and liver alanine transaminase, and HDL-C increased. Spine bone mineral density in the CCI group was unchanged. Use of any glycemic control medication (excluding metformin) among CCI participants declined (from 55.7 to 26.8%) including insulin (-62%) and sulfonylureas (-100%). The UC group had no changes in these parameters (except uric acid and anion gap) or diabetes medication use. There was also resolution of diabetes (reversal, 53.5%; remission, 17.6%) in the CCI group but not in UC. All the reported improvements had p < 0.00012. Conclusion: The CCI group sustained long-term beneficial effects on multiple clinical markers of diabetes and cardiometabolic health at 2 years while utilizing less medication. The intervention was also effective in the resolution of diabetes and visceral obesity with no adverse effect on bone health. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02519309.

Post hoc analyses of surrogate markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis in patients with type 2 diabetes in a digitally supported continuous care intervention: an open-label, non-randomised controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: One year of comprehensive continuous care intervention (CCI) through nutritional ketosis improves glycosylated haemoglobin(HbA1c), body weight and liver enzymes among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we report the effect of the CCI on surrogate scores of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis. METHODS: This was a non-randomised longitudinal study, including adults with T2D who were self-enrolled to the CCI (n=262) or to receive usual care (UC, n=87) during 1 year. An NAFLD liver fat score (N-LFS) >-0.640 defined the presence of fatty liver. An NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) of >0.675 identified subjects with advanced fibrosis. Changes in N-LFS and NFS at 1 year were the main endpoints. RESULTS: At baseline, NAFLD was present in 95% of patients in the CCI and 90% of patients in the UC. At 1 year, weight loss of ≥5% was achieved in 79% of patients in the CCI versus 19% of patients in UC (p<0.001). N-LFS mean score was reduced in the CCI group (-1.95±0.22, p<0.001), whereas it was not changed in the UC (0.47±0.41, p=0.26) (CCI vs UC, p<0.001). NFS was reduced in the CCI group (-0.65±0.06, p<0.001) compared with UC (0.26±0.11, p=0.02) (p<0.001 between two groups). In the CCI group, the percentage of individuals with a low probability of advanced fibrosis increased from 18% at baseline to 33% at 1 year (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: One year of a digitally supported CCI significantly improved surrogates of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis in patients with T2D. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02519309; Results.

Psychosocial and Human Factors During a Trial of a Hybrid Closed Loop System for Type 1 Diabetes Management.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems are designed to automate insulin delivery to improve type 1 diabetes (T1D) outcomes and reduce user burden and distress. Because the systems only automate some aspects of diabetes care, psychosocial and human factors remain an important consideration in their use. Thus, we examined whether psychosocial and human factors (i.e., distress related to diabetes management, fear of hypoglycemia, and technology attitudes) would (1) change after using the system and (2) predict glycemic outcomes during the trial. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fourteen adults and 15 adolescents with T1D participated in a multisite clinical trial of an investigational version of the MiniMed™ 670G system (Medtronic, Northridge, CA) over 4 to 5 days in a semisupervised outpatient setting. Users completed surveys assessing psychosocial and human factors before beginning the HCL system and at the conclusion of the study. t-Tests and regression analyses were conducted to examine whether these factors changed following trial exposure to the HCL system and predicted glycemic outcomes during the trial. RESULTS: Diabetes management distress decreased and diabetes technology attitudes became more positive over the trial period. Fear of hypoglycemia did not change over the trial period. There was a trend toward greater pretrial management distress predicting less time in range during the trial, controlling for time in range before the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that this system is promising for enhancing technology attitudes and reducing management distress. Psychosocial factors, such as management distress, may negatively impact glycemic outcomes and should be a priority area for further investigation.

From Wary Wearers to d-Embracers: Personas of Readiness to Use Diabetes Devices.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes devices such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are associated with improved health and quality of life in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, uptake remains low. The aim of this study was to develop different "personas" of adults with T1D in relation to readiness to adopt new diabetes technology. METHODS: Participants were 1498 T1D Exchange participants who completed surveys on barriers to uptake, technology attitudes, and other psychosocial variables. HbA1c data was available from the T1D Exchange for 30% of the sample. K-means cluster analyses grouped the sample by device barriers and attitudes. The authors assigned descriptive labels based on cluster characteristics. ANOVAs and chi-square tests assessed group differences by demographic and psychosocial variables (eg, diabetes duration, diabetes distress). RESULTS: Analyses yielded five distinct personas. The d-Embracers (54% of participants) endorsed few barriers to device use and had the highest rates of device use, lowest HbA1c, and were the least distressed. The Free Rangers (23%) had the most negative technology attitudes. The Data Minimalists (10%) used pumps but had lower CGM use and did not want more diabetes information. The Wary Wearers (11%) had lower overall device use, were younger, more distressed, endorsed many barriers, and had higher HbA1c. The High Distress (3%) group members were the youngest, had the shortest diabetes duration, reported the most barriers, and were the most distressed. CONCLUSION: These clinically meaningful personas of device readiness can inform tailored interventions targeting barriers and psychosocial needs to increase device uptake.

Using Cluster Analysis to Understand Clinician Readiness to Promote Continuous Glucose Monitoring Adoption.

BACKGROUND: Many people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) report barriers to using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Diabetes care providers may have their own barriers to promoting CGM uptake. The goal of this study was to develop clinician "personas" with regard to readiness to promote CGM uptake. METHODS: Diabetes care providers who treat people with T1D (N = 209) completed a survey on perceived patient barriers to device uptake, technology attitudes, and characteristics and barriers specific to their clinical practice. K-means cluster analyses grouped the sample by CGM barriers and attitudes. ANOVAs and chi-square tests assessed group differences on provider and patient characteristics. The authors assigned descriptive names for each persona. RESULTS: Analyses yielded three clinician personas regarding readiness to promote CGM uptake. Ready clinicians (20% of sample; 24% physicians, 38% certified diabetes educators/CDEs) had positive technology attitudes, had clinic time to work with patients using CGM, and found it easy to keep up with technology advances. In comparison, Cautious clinicians (41% of sample; 17% physicians, 53% CDEs) perceived that their patients had many barriers to adopting CGM and had less time than the Ready group to work with patients using CGM data. Not Yet Ready clinicians (40% of sample; 9% physicians; 79% CDEs) had negative technology attitudes and the least clinic time to work with CGM data. They found it difficult to keep up with technology advances. CONCLUSION: Some diabetes clinicians may benefit from tailored interventions and additional time and resources to empower them to help facilitate increased uptake of CGM technology.

Cancer-related loneliness mediates the relationships between social constraints and symptoms among cancer patients.

Cancer patients have high rates of persistent and disabling symptoms. Evidence suggests that social constraints (e.g., avoidance and criticism) negatively impact symptoms, but pathways linking these variables have yet to be identified. This study examined whether cancer-related loneliness (i.e., feeling socially disconnected related to having cancer) mediated the relationships between social constraints and symptoms (i.e., pain interference, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive complaints) in patients with various cancers (N = 182). Patients (51% female, mean age = 59) were recruited from the Indiana Cancer Registry and completed questionnaires assessing social constraints, cancer-related loneliness, and symptoms. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the hypothesized relationships among variables. The model demonstrated good fit. Consistent with our hypothesis, cancer-related loneliness mediated the relationships between social constraints and each symptom. Findings suggest that addressing cancer-related loneliness in symptom management interventions may mitigate the negative impact of social constraints on outcomes.

Corrigendum: Transcriptomic profiling of 39 commonly-used neuroblastoma cell lines.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2017.33.

Implementation of Depression Screening and Global Health Assessment in Pediatric Subspecialty Clinics.

PURPOSE: Adolescents with chronic illness face greater risk of psychosocial difficulties, complicating disease management. Despite increased calls to screen for patient-reported outcomes, clinical implementation has lagged. Using quality improvement methods, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of standardized screening for depression and assessment of global health and to determine recommended behavioral health follow-up, across three pediatric subspecialty clinics. METHODS: A total of 109 patients aged 12-22 years (median = 16.6) who were attending outpatient visits for treatment of diabetes (80% type 1), inflammatory bowel disease, or cystic fibrosis completed the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Global Health measures on electronic tablets. Patients screening positive on the PHQ-9 received same-day behavioral health assessment and regular phone check-ins to facilitate necessary follow-up care. RESULTS: Overall, 89% of 122 identified patients completed screening during a 6-month window. Patients completed measures in a timely manner (within 3 minutes) without disruption to clinic flow, and they rated the process as easy, comfortable, and valuable. Depression scores varied across disease type. Patients rated lower global health relative to a previously assessed validation cohort. Depression and global health related significantly to certain medical outcomes. Fifteen percent of patients screened positive on the PHQ-9, of whom 50% confirmed attending behavioral health appointments within 6 months of screening. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized depression and global health assessment protocol implemented across pediatric subspecialties was feasible and effective. Universal behavioral health screening for adolescents and young adults living with chronic disease is necessary to meet programmatic needs in pediatric subspecialty clinics.