A rapid host-protein test for differentiating bacterial from viral infection: Apollo diagnostic accuracy study.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid host-protein test for differentiating bacterial from viral infections in patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) or urgent care center (UCC). Methods: This was a prospective multicenter, blinded study. MeMed BV (MMBV), a test based on tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), and C-reactive protein (CRP), was measured using a rapid measurement platform. Patients were enrolled from 9 EDs and 3 UCCs in the United States and Israel. Patients >3 months of age presenting with fever and clinical suspicion of acute infection were considered eligible. MMBV results were not provided to the treating clinician. MMBV results (bacterial/viral/equivocal) were compared against a reference standard method for classification of infection etiology determined by expert panel adjudication. Experts were blinded to MMBV results. They were provided with comprehensive patient data, including laboratory, microbiological, radiological and follow-up. Results: Of 563 adults and children enrolled, 476 comprised the study population (314 adults, 162 children). The predominant clinical syndrome was respiratory tract infection (60.5% upper, 11.3% lower). MMBV demonstrated sensitivity of 90.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 80.3-99.7), specificity of 92.8% (90.0%-95.5%), and negative predictive value of 98.8% (96.8%-99.6%) for bacterial infections. Only 7.2% of cases yielded equivocal MMBV scores. Area under the curve for MMBV was 0.95 (0.90-0.99). Conclusions: MMBV had a high sensitivity and specificity relative to reference standard for differentiating bacterial from viral infections. Future implementation of MMBV for patients with suspected acute infections could potentially aid with appropriate antibiotic decision-making.

Quality improvement project in a neonatal intensive care unit reduced the prevalence and duration of hypophosphatemia with significant and sustainable results.

BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatemia is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and may affect growth, bone mineralization, nephrocalcinosis, and mortality in preterm infants. Optimal nutrition practices may decrease risk for hypophosphatemia and improve outcome. METHODS: A quality improvement project was established to improve parenteral and enteral phosphorus intake with the goal to decrease prevalence and duration of hypophosphatemia in the first 14 days in infants <32 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Among 406 preterm infants, the prevalence of moderate hypophosphatemia decreased from 44% to 19% (P < 0.01) over 4 years. The median duration of moderate hypophosphatemia decreased from 72 h (48-128) to 24 (24-53) (P < 0.01). Daily intakes of parenteral calcium and phosphorus on the fourth day of life increased from 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/kg/day (P < 0.01) and 0.6 to 1.3 mmol/kg/day (P < 0.01), respectively. The median postnatal age of first serum phosphorus concentration assessment decreased from 53 h (41-64) to 32 (24-40) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: During this quality improvement project, reduced prevalence and duration of hypophosphatemia in infants <32 weeks' gestation in the first 14 days of life was achieved through the optimization of parenteral and enteral phosphorus intake and improved response to acute hypophosphatemia.

Growth after implementing a donor breast milk program in neonates <33 weeks gestational age or birthweight <1500 grams: Retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Donor breast milk (DBM) feeding has been associated with less growth than formula in preterm infants. Zinc content in DBM is insufficient to support growth in preterm infants. OBJECTIVE: To compare growth from birth to discharge, macro- and micronutrient intake and the frequency of poor growth before (Epoch-1) and after (Epoch-2) implementing a DBM program. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 1069 infants born at < 33 weeks' gestational age or birthweight < 1500 g and fed using our adjustable feeding protocol with accurate serial length measurements. Growth was assessed by changes in Z-scores of weight, length and fronto-occipital circumference from birth to discharge. RESULTS: Growth did not decrease significantly in Epoch-2. However, energy and protein intake increased by 5% and frequency of zinc and vitamin D supplementation increased by >30%. CONCLUSIONS: DBM implementation did not significantly decrease growth from birth to discharge using our adjustable feeding protocol.

Effect of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin on Patency in High-Risk Bypass Patients.

BACKGROUND: The use of warfarin for anticoagulation in thromboembolic disease has been the mainstay of treatment. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have demonstrated equivalent anticoagulant effects, without increased bleeding risks or need for frequent monitoring. However, the role of DOACs remains unclear in the setting of replacing warfarin for high-risk peripheral artery disease (PAD) interventions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of DOACs compared to warfarin during the postoperative period in patients that underwent a lower extremity high-risk bypass (HRB). METHODS: The study is a single institution, retrospective review of all lower extremity HRBs between January 2012 and June 2021, who were previously placed on or started on anticoagulation with a DOAC or warfarin. The HRB group included all patients undergoing femoral to above or below knee bypass with an adjunct procedure, or below knee bypass with synthetic or composite vein conduit. All demographics, preoperative factors, and complications were evaluated with respect to DOAC versus warfarin. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients (28 males; average age 68.8 ± 10.9) underwent an HRB during the study period. There were no significant differences in demographics and preoperative characteristics between the 2 groups. Among patient comorbidities, coronary artery disease was found to be significantly higher in patients on DOACs (P = 0.03). The 12-month primary patency rate was 83.3% versus 57.1%, for DOAC versus warfarin respectively (P = 0.03). Multivariate analyses revealed that <30-day reinterventions contribute to 12-month patency (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent lower extremity HRB with postoperative DOAC appeared to exhibit higher graft patency rates than those who were placed on warfarin. Due to their low incidence of undesirable side effects and the lack of frequent monitoring, DOACs could be considered a safe alternative to warfarin in the postoperative period for patients with HRB.

Open abdominal aortic repair in the current era has more complications for occlusive disease than for aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular intervention has become the first-line treatment of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) or aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). However, open abdominal aortic repair remains a valuable treatment option for patients who are younger, those with unfavorable anatomy, and patients for whom endovascular intervention has failed. The cohort of patients undergoing open repair has become highly selected; nevertheless, updated outcomes or patient selection recommendations have been unavailable. In the present study, we explored and compared the characteristics and postoperative outcomes of patients who had undergone open abdominal aortic repair from 2009 to 2018. METHODS: Patients who had undergone open AAA (n = 9481) or AIOD (n = 9257) repair were collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The primary outcome was the 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes included 30-day return to the operating room, total operative time, total hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Unmatched and matched differences between the two groups and changes over time were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to assess the risk factors predicting for 30-day mortality. RESULTS: After propensity matching (n = 4980), those in the AIOD group had had a higher 30-day mortality rate (5.1% vs 4.1%; P = .021), a higher incidence of wound complications (7.4% vs 5.1%; P<.0001) and an increased 30-day return to the operating room (14.2% vs 9.1%; P < .0001). More open AIOD cases (P = .02) and fewer open AAA cases (P = .04) had been treated in the second half of the decade than in the first. The factors associated with an increased odds of 30-day mortality included advanced age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥III, functional dependence, blood transfusion <72 hours before surgery, weight loss in previous 6 months, and a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CONCLUSIONS: From 2009 to 2018, the number of open AAA repairs decreased and the proportion of open abdominal AIOD cases increased. Open AIOD surgery was associated with higher 30-day mortality, increased return to the operating room, and increased wound complications vs open AAA repair. Multiple risk factors increased the odds for perioperative mortality. Thus, open abdominal aortic repair should be selectively applied to patients with fewer risk factors.

From Mushrooms to Myolysis: A Case of Rhabdo in Psilocybin-Induced Mood and Psychotic Disorder.

ABSTRACT: The involvement of certain recreational drugs, namely, hallucinogens, in the development of hyperactive syndromes is well known, but not well studied. In this report, we expand on this relationship by documenting the development of substance-induced psychosis in a young patient who used a large amount of psilocybin and developed symptoms of a first psychotic and manic episode, complicated by violent behavior and rhabdomyolysis. We further evaluate the association between psilocybin use and rhabdomyolysis and explore this understudied phenomenon and differentiate it from the diagnoses of other hyperactive syndromes seen in psychiatry. This case exemplifies the need for increased vigilance in psilocybin microdosing therapy and for physicians to be mindful of how each patient responds to its use to prevent life-threatening hyperactive syndromes in its wake.

Open conversion after failed endovascular aneurysm repair is increasing and its 30-day mortality is higher than that after primary open repair.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the preferred treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Recent studies have demonstrated that cases of EVAR failure repair and subsequent open conversion have increased. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the national trend of annual cases and assess the 30-day outcomes of conversion to open repair after failed EVAR compared with primary open repair. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for relevant Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision, codes to identify patients who had undergone conversion to open repair or primary open repair of nonruptured AAAs from 2009 to 2018. The annual trend of cases was assessed, and the perioperative outcomes of both procedures were compared. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent perioperative factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: Of the 9635 patients with nonruptured AAAs included in the present analysis, 9250 had undergone primary repair and 385 had required open conversion. During the 10-year period, the annual number of cases of open conversion had steadily increased and that of primary repair had decreased. The incidence of postoperative complications was similar between both groups, except for cardiac arrest, which had occurred more frequently in the open conversion group. The 30-day mortality was higher in the open conversion group than in the primary group (9.6% vs 3.9%; P < .0001). Open conversion was also independently associated with higher odds of death (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-2.4; P < .0001). When the average mortality in both groups was compared between the first and last 5 years, no difference was found (open conversion: 9.8% vs 9.5% [P = 1.00]; primary repair: 3.6% vs 4.2% [P = .19]). Other perioperative factors independently associated with mortality included increased age (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5-2.1; P < .0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥III (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.6; P = .029), insulin-dependent diabetes (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.3; P = .005), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8; P = .006), the presence of dyspnea at rest (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.8-6.1; P < .0001), and a high preoperative hematocrit (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Open conversion to treat nonruptured AAAs after failed EVAR was independently associated with higher mortality. Also, the annual cases of open conversion have continued to increase without any significant changes in postoperative mortality. This highlights the danger of open conversion and stresses the need for better solutions to prevent and manage EVAR failure.

Conversion of a Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility into a Satellite Hospital in Response to a COVID-19 Surge.

BACKGROUND: New York City was among the earliest and hardest hit areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the peak of the surge in April 2020, a makeshift hospital was opened to address the growing need of overflow beds in Brooklyn, New York. A rehabilitation center was converted into a satellite hospital with a capacity of up to 425 patient beds in 10 days. DESIGN-BUILD APPROACH: Our institution worked in coordination with larger hospital systems and state and local governments, which allowed for a rapid lease of an underutilized structure, influx of supplies, and personnel. Hospital staff were voluntarily redeployed from their assigned services based on reduced need. OUTCOMES: A total of 204 COVID-19 patients were accepted for transfer to the facility between April 6, 2020, and May 11, 2020. There were no major adverse outcomes and no deaths at the facility. LESSONS LEARNED: When a surge of patients is projected to outnumber the available beds in a hospital, such as during a pandemic, it may become necessary to establish a satellite facility. Creativity with existing spaces, health care infrastructure, and reallocation of available resources, as well as having all stakeholders on board, is imperative. Providing mandatory emergency planning and response trainings to hospital staff and leadership can improve preparedness. By leaning on revised protocols established at the satellite facility during the initial surge, the hospital was able to lease and convert another nursing facility and make it patient-ready in less than one week during the second surge of COVID-19 patients.

The Impact of COVID-19 and Quarantine on Suicidality in Geriatric Inpatients-A Case Report.

The mental health burden of COVID-19 and associated quarantine can be enormous for the elderly. Being at higher risk for serious illnesses results in them being further isolated at a time of prolonged social distancing. In the following suicide-attempt cases, we examine the effects of quarantine and a global pandemic that expose the elderly to increased risk for negative mental health outcomes. Examining defense mechanisms and the effects of quarantine may help healthcare professionals better identify individuals at higher risk during times of crises that warrant isolation and quarantine, and provide appropriate interventions.

A Case of Clutter and Chaos: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Confounding Hoarding.

ABSTRACT: Hoarding disorder is a chronic disorder defined as the persistent difficulty in parting with possessions and the need to save items, regardless of their actual value. Severe hoarding has largely been a hidden clinical problem, and awareness has mostly been limited to voyeuristic depictions of the plight of hoarders in popular media. Approximately 28% to 32% of individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially the inattentive subtype, have been reported to have clinically significant hoarding. It has been hypothesized that patients with ADHD initially acquire objects impulsively and later develop emotional attachments or intrinsic meaning, resulting in a perpetuating cycle of reliance on hoarding as a coping mechanism. Treatment focused on impaired attention has shown improved prognosis, which further signifies the relationship between inattentive ADHD and hoarding. We discuss the case of a patient with ADHD (inattentive type), major depressive disorder, and hoarding traits.

Compartment syndrome secondary to viral myositis as initial presentation in COVID-19 patient.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease typically manifested as a respiratory infection with a range of symptoms from a mild viral illness to a severe acute respiratory syndrome with multiorgan failure and death. We report a case of a young man presenting with compartment syndrome secondary to COVID-19 viral myositis, with a protracted hospital course further complicated by extensive venous and arterial thrombosis. As the coronavirus pandemic evolves, our understanding of the virus continues to improve; however, a host of unanswered questions remain about atypical presentation and management and treatment options.

Optimizing individual nutrition in preterm very low birth weight infants: double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: In preterm neonates fed human milk, fortification may be adjusted by (1) optimization, based on growth rate and serum nutrient analyses, or (2) individualization, based on serial milk nutrient analyses. The primary aim was to determine whether individualized plus optimized nutrition (experimental) improves velocity of weight gain and linear growth from birth to endpoint (36 weeks postmenstrual age or discharge) when compared with optimized nutrition alone (controls). STUDY DESIGN: Double-blinded parallel group randomized trial in 120 neonates <29 weeks gestational age (GA) or <35 weeks and small for GA (birth weight < 10th centile). RESULT: Weight-gain velocity (13.1 ± 2.1, n = 57 controls, vs. 13.0 ± 2.6 g kg-1 day-1, n = 59 experimental, P = 0.87), linear growth (0.9 ± 0.2, n = 55, vs. 0.9 ± 0.2 cm week-1, n = 52, P = 0.90) and frequency of weight/length disproportion (2% vs. 2%, P = 0.98) were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized plus optimized nutrition does not improve weight gain, linear growth, or weight/length disproportion at endpoint versus optimized nutrition alone.

Multicenter experience in translumbar type II endoleak treatment in the hybrid room with needle trajectory planning and fusion guidance.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of treating type II endoleaks (T2Ls) after aortic endovascular repair with image guidance translumbar puncture using intraoperative cone beam computed tomography with preprocedure computed tomography angiography fusion in hybrid operating rooms. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive T2L patients in three different institutions were treated between March 2015 and September 2017 by direct translumbar puncture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) sac after previous endovascular aortic repair. All patients were treated at a single setting in a cardiovascular hybrid operating room with a workstation featuring needle trajectory planning and guidance software. Aneurysm sac size change from the index treatment, freedom from recurrent endoleak after treatment, demographics, risk factors, and procedure factors were analyzed with univariate analysis. RESULTS: All patients (N = 26; 19 male, 7 female; age range, 59-95 years; mean body mass index, 27.44 ± 3.06 kg/m2) underwent treatment for AAA sac expansion or symptoms. Four patients had failed to respond to previous catheter-directed T2L treatment. The most common risk factors included hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, tobacco use, and diabetes. Time to initial endoleak diagnosis ranged from 2 to 1914 days (average, 404 days). Aneurysm size after initial repair was 60.3 ± 7.5 mm; sac size had increased 10.1 ± 6.5 mm at the time of treatment. Onyx (Medtronic, Irvine, Calif) or glue (n-butyl cyanoacrylate) and coil embolization was used in 20 cases, and 6 patients were treated with coiling alone. There was no difference between the patients treated with coils alone and those treated with coils or glue (P > .05) in terms of freedom from failure. Total procedure time was 75.9 ± 40.7 minutes; contrast material volume, 19.9 ± 29 mL; fluoroscopy time, 13.74 ± 12.2 minutes; and radiation dose, 121.16 ± 167.7 mGy. After embolization, the mean sac diameter decreased by 2.2 mm to 67.5 ± 9.8 mm. Average follow-up period was 214 days. In 19 patients, the sac reduced in size between 0.2 and 19.1 mm per 100 days; in 2 patients, there was continued AAA expansion (3.4-4.3 mm per 100 days); there was no change in the sac size in 5 patients after the procedure. There were no AAA ruptures during the study period. Once T2L was treated, the recurrence rate was low at 11.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This initial multicenter evaluation of the effectiveness of fusion image-guided translumbar obliteration of T2L demonstrated that the technique was effective at all three study centers and showed excellent efficacy to reduce AAA sac size. This may become a more effective and efficient method of treating T2L compared with transarterial or transcaval embolization because of its high success rate and technical ease.

Risk factors predictive of unfavorable distal aortic remodeling after surgical repair of type A thoracic aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: One-third of the patients successfully treated for acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) require re-intervention secondary to the distal aortic disease progression. The aim of this study is to identify clinical and morphologic risk factors in the pre and postoperative AAD patients with respect to unfavorable aortic remodeling, reoperations and poor long term outcomes. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three consecutive patients who survived proximal AAD surgery were reviewed at a single institution. The medical charts and computed tomography (CT) studies of these patients were reviewed from 2005 to 2014. The short axis area of the true lumen (TL), false lumen (FL) and the total cross-sectional area were measured from reconstructed images using centerline technique at the largest segment each of the aortic arch (AA), descending thoracic aorta (TA), aorta proximal to the celiac artery (CA), and the abdominal aorta (AbA). Survival and time to first reoperation were analyzed with Kaplan Meier and Cox proportional-hazards models. Factors associated with radiologic change were evaluated using multiple linear regression models. A significant change was defined as >10% change (cm2) from the baseline CTA. RESULTS: At least one sequential CT scan was available for 62 (50%) of the 123 patients (40 male, 22 female; average age, 59.1±13.5 years). Mean interval (baseline and the comparison CT scan) was 779 days. In general, the TA and FL increased in size over the study period. Multivariate analysis showed that age >60 years and smoking were significantly associated with an increase in TL over time, while coronary artery disease (CAD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were associated with decrease TL (P=0.03). Hyperlipidemia and CAD were associated with an increase in FL size., while pre-existing aortic aneurysm, coronary surgery and hemodialysis were significant risk factors for reoperations (P=0.029). Age >60 (P=0.01), COPD (P=0.002), and male gender (P=0.02) were also associated with an increase in total area, signifying distal aneurysmal progression. CONCLUSIONS: Patient risk factors predict unfavorable long-term morphologic outcomes in the remaining aorta after AAD surgical repair. These factors can be used as markers to identify patients who may benefit from closer surveillance and possibly earlier endovascular intervention to the distal thoracic aorta.

Iliac venous stenting for outflow obstruction does not significantly change the quality of life of patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency.

PURPOSE: Percutaneous endovenous iliac stenting has emerged as a new modality in the treatment of advanced chronic venous insufficiency with outflow obstruction. However, the effect of this intervention on the quality of life remains unclear. We examined the impact of iliac venous stenting for outflow obstruction as compared to conservative medical management on the quality of life in severe chronic venous insufficiency patients. METHODS: Medical records of all patients with CEAP class 5 and 6 disease (N = 172) who underwent ilio-caval venography with intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) at a single institution over a seven-year period, were reviewed for this case-control study. Quality of life evaluation was performed utilizing the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20) one year after the index procedure. RESULTS: Of the 172 severe chronic venous insufficiency patients, 109 were stented and 63 patients were treated medically based on their venography and IVUS results. The indication for stenting was confirmation of IVUS determined surface area or diameter outflow stenosis of greater than 50% within the common or external iliac venous systems. Eighty patients (47%) responded with completed CIVIQ-20 questionnaires for analysis. Of these, 47 were from the stented group and 33 from the non-stented group. At least moderate persistent pain or discomfort post-procedure was reported by 20 (43%) stented group patients and 19 (58%) non-stented group patients. Scores for all the other criteria in the CIVIQ-20 were similar between the groups. The mean total CIVIQ-20 score was 45.23 and 47.13, respectively, in stented group and non-stented group patients. (p = 0.678). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the quality of life reported by CEAP 5 and 6 patients who underwent iliac venous stenting versus those who were treated medically for presumed iliac outflow obstruction. Prospective studies are needed to determine the true value of iliac venous stenting based on IVUS criteria in the management advanced chronic venous insufficiency.

"My Patient Can't Sleep": Resident-Led Curriculum Development for Insomnia Management.

OBJECTIVE: Insomnia is a prevalent complaint on acute psychiatric units. When not addressed by primary treating teams, patients request sleep aids "as needed," leading to increased burden on on-call residents and decreased individualized treatment. The authors implemented a new educational curriculum and computer order set for inpatient insomnia management, and examined changes in residents' comfort level in its management and in inpatient sleep medication ordering patterns. METHODS: In this IRB-approved quality improvement project, the authors identified best practices for insomnia management, developed a new curriculum for psychiatry residents, and created a "Sleep Order set" in the electronic medical record (EMR). Residents were surveyed and EMR queried for sleep medication orders for 6 months pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: The level of comfort of the residents in ordering a variety of sleep medications increased significantly. Sleep medication orders placed by primary teams surged from 938 during the pre-intervention period to 1801 post-intervention (p < 0.001), while those placed by on-call teams fell considerably. CONCLUSION: Education on insomnia management boosted residents' confidence in handling inpatient sleep disorders. Implementation of the new resident-developed "Sleep Order set" greatly reduced the work load of on-call residents, in terms of "as needed" sleep medication orders.

Role of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor as potential biomarkers in psychosis.

The identification of biological markers for psychosis has an impact on its diagnosis, prognosis, and likelihood of treatment response. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is involved in important functions such as synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation and neurogenesis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) is the most important inhibitor of tPA. Preliminary studies have shown that schizophrenia patients have lower tPA and higher PAI-1 levels than the general population. The association of tPA and PAI-1 abnormalities with psychotic spectrum disorders, however, remains elusive. Our primary objective was to assess the plasma levels of tPA and PAI-1 in patients experiencing acute psychotic episodes as compared to those in healthy controls. In this prospective case-control study, we collected peripheral blood samples from psychiatric inpatients and healthy age, gender and race-matched subjects and determined plasma levels of tPA and PAI-1 by enzyme-linked immune-absorbent assays. Plasma levels of PAI-1 in patients with schizoaffective disorder were significantly lower as compared to those in control subjects (P = 0.03). tPA was lower in cases as compared to controls although it did not reach statistical significance. Asian patients and controls had lower PAI-1 levels. Further, Asian patients with schizoaffective disorder had significantly lower PAI-1 level compared to Asian patients with schizophrenia. Our results indicate that patients with schizoaffective disorder have lower PAI-1 levels than those with schizophrenia, affective psychosis, and healthy controls. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential of PAI-1 as a biomarker for diagnosing schizoaffective disorder.

Prevalence of Hoarding in an Adult Inpatient Population and Its Association With Axis I Diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: Hoarding behavior is not limited to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) alone. With the objective of highlighting the association between hoarding behavior and common psychiatric disorders, we explored its occurrence in psychiatric inpatients and co-occurrence with Axis I diagnoses. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled adult psychiatric inpatients by simple random sampling at an urban, community-based, academic medical center. Patients were screened for hoarding using the validated Hoarding Rating Scale-Interview, and those meeting criteria for clinically significant hoarding were assessed for Axis I disorders. RESULTS: Clinically significant hoarding was observed in 33% of the 200 acute psychiatry patients admitted to the study. Mood disorders were positively associated with hoarding (p = 0.033), whereas psychotic spectrum disorders had a weaker association with it (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: This study indicates a need for clinicians to be mindful that hoarding manifests in many forms of mental illness and is not limited to OCD alone.

Psychiatric Emergency Services - Can Duty-Hour Changes Help Residents and Patients?

Limitations on resident duty hours have been widely introduced with the intention of decreasing resident fatigue and improving patient outcomes. While there is evidence of improvement in resident well-being and education following such initiatives, they have inadvertently resulted in increased number of hand-offs between clinicians leading to potential errors in patient care. Current literature emphasizes need for more specialty/setting-specific scheduling, while considering residents' opinions when implementing duty-hour reforms. There are no reports examining the impact of duty-hour changes on residents or patients in psychiatric emergency service (PES) settings. Our purpose was to assess the impact of a recent scheduling change and decrease in overall duty hours, on resident well-being and sense of burnout, while also evaluating changes to patient wait-time and length of stay (LOS) in PES. Residents completed Maslach Burnout Inventory and anonymous surveys focusing on: fatigue, sleep, life outside work for shifts - regular (8 am-8 pm) and swing shifts (12 pm-10 pm). Data from the electronic medical records were collected for 6 months pre- and post-schedule change (January 2016-February 2017), for LOS and patient wait-time. Residents' preference for shifts was split. However, 86% reported getting enough sleep during swing shifts, while 83% reported lack of sleep during regular shifts. The average patient wait-time and LOS significantly decreased from 169 to 147 and 690 to 515 min, respectively. The change to swing shifts significantly impacts LOS and patient wait-time. The short shifts demonstrated an improvement in well-being for residents, but were not the singular factor for overall resident satisfaction.