Colorectal cancer screening completion by patients due or overdue for screening after reminders: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Patient and clinician reminders were implemented as part of an adherence improvement project at University of Florida (UF) Internal Medicine Clinics. We sought to assess colorectal cancer (CRC) screening completion rates among patients not up-to-date with screening following distribution of reminders and to identify characteristics correlated with screening outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed for patients not up-to-date with CRC screening for whom at least one reminder (patient and/or clinician) was issued in June 2018. The primary endpoint, the completion of a CRC screening test, is characterized as the ratio of completed screening tests to the number of patients not up-to-date with screening. All analyses were performed using R 4.0 software. RESULTS: Of the 926 patients included, 403 (44%; 95% CI, 0.40-0.47) completed a CRC screening test within 24 months following a reminder. Family history of CRC (relative risk (RR) 1.33; P = 0.007), flu immunization within two years of the reminder (RR 1.23; P = 0.019), and receiving a patient reminder either alone (RR 1.62; P < 0.001) or in combination with a clinician reminder (RR 1.55; P = 0.006) were positively associated with CRC screening completion. Reporting being divorced, separated, or widowed was negatively associated with screening completion (RR 0.70; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Reminders, in particular patient reminders, seem to be an effective method to enhance screening among patients not up-to-date with CRC screening. This study suggests that reminder efforts should be focused at the level of the patients and provides insight on target populations for practical interventions to further increase CRC screening adherence.

Gross Hematuria following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination.

In the setting of the rapid development of currently available vaccines for coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), little is known about their less frequent potential side effects. Raising the awareness of clinicians and front-line healthcare workers about the less well-known potential side effects of vaccination is important. We describe the self-limited occurrence of gross hematuria in two elderly men on a combination of aspirin and another antiplatelet or anticoagulant following their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination. While the bleeding seems to be self-limited, the long-term course currently remains elusive.

Predictors of Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Among Participants in the Women's Health Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: Older adults typically experience higher rates of severe disease and mortality than the general population after contracting an infectious disease. Vaccination is critical for preventing disease and severe downstream outcomes; however, vaccination rates among older adults are suboptimal. We assessed predictors associated with pneumococcal and seasonal influenza vaccination among older women. METHODS: We used data from the Women's Health Initiative, a nationwide cohort of women. We ascertained seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination status through a questionnaire administered in 2013. We limited analyses to women aged ≥65 years at questionnaire administration. We used logistic regression to estimate associations between demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors and vaccination and explored stratification by race. RESULTS: Of participants who responded to each question, 84.3% (n = 60 578) reported being vaccinated for influenza and 85.5% (n = 59 015) for pneumonia. The odds of reporting influenza vaccination were significantly lower among non-Hispanic Black participants than among non-Hispanic White participants (odds ratio [OR] = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.49-0.58), women with no health insurance versus private health insurance (OR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.54-0.68), and women living in rural versus urban settings (OR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96). Current smoking, lower education levels, and having comorbid conditions were associated with lower likelihood of being vaccinated for influenza (than not); past pneumonia diagnosis and being currently married were associated with a higher likelihood. We observed similar associations for pneumococcal vaccination coverage. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reinforce the need to enact policy and implement programs to improve access to, education and awareness about, and provider recommendations for these critical disease-prevention tools. Results from our study should guide strategies for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Knowledge of Teenagers and Young Adults about COVID-19 and Compliance with Social Distancing Guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) knowledge and personal preventive behaviors of younger individuals is important as it can affect not only their own health but also the health of other potentially more vulnerable individuals. The aims of this study were to explore the knowledge of teenagers and young adults about COVID-19 and assess their personal preventive behavior. METHODS: We developed a 14-item questionnaire to conduct a cross-sectional online survey. Survey responses with missing variables were excluded. SPSS was used to perform the analyses, including descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants, 15 to 27 years of age, completed the survey between May 2020 and March 2021. Thirty-one (88.57%) reported feeling sufficiently informed to avoid the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The most frequent sources of COVID-19 information were social media (68.6%) and parents (68.6%), whereas the least were teachers (11.4%). Thirty-three (94.29%) participants reported practicing social distancing, citing the main reasons to keep oneself, family members, and others safe. Thirty-three (94.29%) identified taking classes online instead of going to school as an example of social distancing, 26 (74.29%) calling friends on the telephone, and 24 (68.57%) going on a walk alone. Twelve (34.29%) chose eating infected foods and 8 (22.86%) touching animals, including pets, as transmission means for COVID-19. When asked about COVID-19 prevention, 34 (97.14%) reported that COVID-19 can be prevented by avoiding close contact with people who are sick, 31 (88.57%) by covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and 8 (22.86%) by avoiding contact with animals, including pets. CONCLUSIONS: We found high awareness of COVID-19, but also identified important knowledge gaps about COVID-19 and preventive measures. Digital platforms and social media campaigns can be important sources for providing evidence-based and age-appropriate information about COVID-19 and recommendations for safe activities to reduce social isolation during the pandemic and its negative mental health effects. This study also suggests that teachers may be an underused source of accurate information about COVID-19. These findings can be used to develop effective educational interventions to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on young individuals.

Euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with pancreatitis and type 2 diabetes on empagliflozin.

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are glucose-lowering drugs with proven efficacy in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, and more recently, have been shown to improve heart failure outcomes in patients without diabetes. A rare complication of SGLT2 inhibitor use is the development of euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA), characterised by euglycaemia (blood glucose level <250 mg/dL), metabolic acidosis (arterial pH <7.3 and serum bicarbonate <18 mEq/L), and ketonaemia. Given patients with EDKA do not present with the typical manifestations of diabetic ketoacidosis, including marked hyperglycaemia and dehydration, the diagnosis of EDKA may be missed and initiation of treatment delayed. We present the case of a man with recent SGLT2 inhibitor use and multiple other risk factors who developed EDKA.

The Association of Predicted Resting Energy Expenditure with Risk of Breast Cancer among Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative Cohort.

Obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and chronic inflammation, have been positively associated both with postmenopausal breast cancer and with resting energy expenditure (REE). However, there is limited epidemiologic evidence on the associations between REE and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between predicted REE (calculated using the Ikeda, Livingston, and Mifflin equations) and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer overall and by subtypes, and by level of body fat) among 137,283 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). All predicted REEs were positively associated with risk of invasive breast cancer [HRq5 vs. q1 = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.57-1.81; HR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.57-1.82; and HR = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.56-1.80 for Ikeda, Livingston, and Mifflin, respectively]. These positive associations were observed irrespective of the hormone receptor subtype, grade, and stage of the tumors, but were most pronounced for estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive tumors. After additional adjustment for body mass index (BMI), the associations were mostly attenuated and remained statistically significant for most of the outcomes. We also observed an interaction between the predicted REEs and BMI, with the associations being somewhat stronger among normal weight and overweight women than among obese women (Pinteractions < 0.05). Our findings indicate that relatively high REE is associated with increased risk of invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women (particularly for the obesity-related tumor subtypes), irrespective of the equation used. Further studies using more objective measures of REE are, however, needed to confirm our findings. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: This study showed that higher resting energy expenditure (REE) was associated with higher postmenopausal breast cancer risk. REE provides energy to support cancer-associated disorders such as obesity and inflammation. Thus, studies on its association with breast cancer can help to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of breast cancer.

Risk of Subsequent Fractures in Postmenopausal Women After Nontraumatic vs Traumatic Fractures.

Importance: The burden of fractures among postmenopausal women is high. Although nontraumatic fractures are strong risk factors for future fracture, current clinical guidelines do not address traumatic fractures. Objective: To determine how future fracture risk varies according to whether an initial fracture is traumatic or nontraumatic. Design, Setting, and Participants: We conducted a prospective observational study using data from the Women's Health Initiative Study (WHI) (enrollment, September 1994-December 1998; data analysis, September 2020 to March 2021), which enrolled postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years at baseline at 40 US clinical centers. The WHI Clinical Trials and WHI Bone Density Substudy, conducted at 3 of the clinical centers, asked participants to report the mechanism of incident fractures. Of 75 335 participants, information regarding incident fracture and covariates was available for 66 874 participants (88.8%), who comprised the analytic sample of this study. Mean (SD) follow-up was 8.1 (1.6) years. Interventions: None. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident clinical fractures were self-reported at least annually and confirmed using medical records. Participants reported the mechanism of incident fracture as traumatic or nontraumatic. Results: Among the 66 874 participants in the analytic sample (mean [SD] age, 63.1 [7.0] years and 65.3 [7.2] years among women without and with clinical fracture, respectively), 7142 participants (10.7%) experienced incident fracture during the study follow-up period. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of subsequent fracture after initial fracture was 1.49 (95% CI, 1.38-1.61). Among women whose initial fracture was traumatic, the association between initial fracture and subsequent fracture was significantly increased (aHR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.06-1.48). Among women whose initial fracture was nontraumatic, the association between initial fracture and subsequent fracture was also increased (aHR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.37-1.68). Confidence intervals for associations between initial fracture and subsequent fracture were overlapping for traumatic and nontraumatic initial fracture strata. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, among postmenopausal women older than 50 years, fracture was associated with a greater risk of subsequent fracture regardless of whether the fracture was traumatic or nontraumatic. These findings suggest that clinical osteoporosis assessment should include high-trauma as well as low-trauma fractures.

After the initial fracture in postmenopausal women, where do subsequent fractures occur?

BACKGROUND: The locations of subsequent fractures after initial fracture in postmenopausal women are poorly characterized. METHODS: We conducted a prospective analysis of subsequent fractures after initial fracture in Women's Health Initiative (1993-2018) participants who provided follow-up (mean 15.4 years, SD 6.2 years) data (n = 157,282 participants; baseline age 50-79; 47,458 participants with incident fracture). Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and other covariates. FINDINGS: The risk of each type of subsequent fracture was increased after each type of initial fracture. Incident lower arm/wrist fracture was associated with significantly elevated risks of subsequent fractures at the upper arm/shoulder, upper leg, knee, lower leg/ankle, hip/pelvis, and spine (adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs] ranging 2·63-5·68). The risk of hip fracture was increased after initial lower arm or wrist fracture (aHR 4·80, 95% CI 4·29-5·36), initial upper arm or shoulder fracture (aHR 5·06, 95% CI 4·39-5·82), initial upper leg fracture (aHR 5·11, 95% CI 3·91-6·67), initial knee fracture (aHR 5·03, 95% CI 4·20-6·03), initial lower leg/ankle fracture (aHR 4·10, 95% CI 3·58-4·68), and initial spine fracture (aHR 6·69, 95% CI 5·95-7·53). Associations were significant in all age groups, even women aged 50-59 years. Risks of subsequent fracture were more pronounced among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic/Latina, and Asian/Pacific Islander than among non-Hispanic White women. INTERPRETATION: Increased risk of subsequent fracture is observed for all fracture types across all ages. Women who experience any of these fractures should be targeted for interventions to prevent subsequent fractures. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health HHSN268201600018C,HHSN268201600001C, HHSN268201600002C, HHSN268201600003C, and HHSN268201600004C.

Role of community pharmacies in a population-based colorectal cancer screening program.

In Catalonia (Spain), population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening offers biennial fecal occult blood testing to men and women aged 50-69 years old. The program is organized in screening hubs, most of which use a pharmacy-based model to distribute and collect fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits The comprehensive evaluation of CRC screening programs, which include the role and implications of pharmacy involvement, is essential to ensure program quality and identify areas for further improvement. The present study aimed to assess the adherence of community pharmacies to the CRC screening program and to analyze data on FIT kit distribution and collection in the Metropolitan area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Time to FIT completion was assessed by Kaplan-Meier estimation, and with the log-rank test. A Cox regression model was used to adjust for other variables associated with the completion of FIT such as sex, age, deprivation score index and previous screening behavior. Overall, 82.4% of pharmacies adhered with CRC screening program. Out of 82,902 FIT kits distributed to screening invitees 77,524 completed FIT kits were returned to pharmacies (93.5%) with a participation of 39.8% among the 193,766 invitees. From those who completed a FIT, the median time to return the kit was 3 days. FIT completion time was significantly lower among women, older age, high deprivation score index and previous CRC screening (p < 0.005). Our findings highlight the large involvement of community pharmacists with CRC screening program as well as a high quality in the process of FIT distribution and collection.

Improving Preventive Care for Women through a Provider Reminder Tool.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of utilization of health maintenance tables (HMTs) as a provider reminder tool within the electronic medical record with the completion of women's preventive health services. METHODS: Guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices were used to create the HMT. The study sample consisted of female patients between 18 and 74 years of age who visited the University of Florida Internal Medicine Clinic at Medical Plaza between February 15, 2016 and June 24, 2016. We determined whether a reminder system was used for each visit and whether the following preventive health services were up to date: breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, and human papillomavirus vaccination. χ2 tests of independence were performed to compare the number of up-to-date preventive measures associated with each provider reminder type. RESULTS: We divided the visits into four groups based on the type of provider reminder used: the HMT, the computer-generated reminder .HM, simple annotation, and no reminder. Compared with .HM, no reminder, and all non-HMT, HMT utilization had a statistically significant positive association with the completion of breast and cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus vaccination. The difference between the HMT and simple annotation groups did not achieve statistical difference, however. CONCLUSIONS: Despite well-established, evidence-based guidelines for screening tests and immunizations effective in reducing cancer-related morbidity and mortality, significant gaps in routine preventive care remain. The HMT may be a provider-friendly and cost-effective reminder tool to enhance the preventive health care of women.

Association of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes With Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women.

Importance: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) may have unique risk factors in women. Most women have a history of pregnancy; common adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) appear to be associated with ASCVD, but prior studies have limitations. Objective: To assess whether APOs are associated with increased ASCVD risk independently of traditional risk factors. Design, Setting, and Participants: The APO history among participants in the Women's Health Initiative, a large multiethnic cohort of postmenopausal women, was assessed. The associations of 5 self-reported APOs (gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, low birth weight [ie, birth weight less than 2.49 kg], high birth weight [ie, birth weight greater than 4.08 kg], and preterm delivery by 3 weeks or more) with ASCVD were analyzed, adjusting for traditional ASCVD risk factors. Data were collected and analyzed in 2017. Exposures: APOs (gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, low birth weight, high birth weight, and preterm delivery). Main Outcomes and Measures: Adjudicated ASCVD. Results: A total of 48 113 Women's Health Initiative participants responded to the survey; the median (interquartile range) age at time of enrollment was 60.0 (55.0-64.0) years. A total of 13 482 participants (28.8%) reported 1 or more APOs. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was more frequent in women who reported an APO compared with those without APOs (1028 of 13 482 [7.6%] vs 1758 of 30 522 [5.8%]). Each APO, analyzed separately, was significantly associated with ASCVD, and gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, low birth weight, and preterm delivery remained significant after adjustment for traditional ASCVD risk factors. When all APOs were analyzed together, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (odds ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.15-1.40) and low birth weight (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00-1.26) remained independently associated with ASCVD. All findings were materially unchanged by additional adjustment for parity, body mass index, and socioeconomic factors. Conclusions and Relevance: In this large multiethnic cohort of women, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and low birth weight were independently associated with ASCVD after adjustment for risk factors and other APOs.

Association of Menopausal Hormone Therapy With Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality During Long-term Follow-up of the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance: The influence of menopausal hormone therapy on breast cancer remains unsettled with discordant findings from observational studies and randomized clinical trials. Objective: To assess the association of prior randomized use of estrogen plus progestin or prior randomized use of estrogen alone with breast cancer incidence and mortality in the Women's Health Initiative clinical trials. Design, Setting, and Participants: Long-term follow-up of 2 placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials that involved 27 347 postmenopausal women aged 50 through 79 years with no prior breast cancer and negative baseline screening mammogram. Women were enrolled at 40 US centers from 1993 to 1998 with follow-up through December 31, 2017. Interventions: In the trial involving 16 608 women with a uterus, 8506 were randomized to receive 0.625 mg/d of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) plus 2.5 mg/d of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 8102, placebo. In the trial involving 10 739 women with prior hysterectomy, 5310 were randomized to receive 0.625 mg/d of CEE alone and 5429, placebo. The CEE-plus-MPA trial was stopped in 2002 after 5.6 years' median intervention duration, and the CEE-only trial was stopped in 2004 after 7.2 years' median intervention duration. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was breast cancer incidence (protocol prespecified primary monitoring outcome for harm) and secondary outcomes were deaths from breast cancer and deaths after breast cancer. Results: Among 27 347 postmenopausal women who were randomized in both trials (baseline mean [SD] age, 63.4 years [7.2 years]), after more than 20 years of median cumulative follow-up, mortality information was available for more than 98%. CEE alone compared with placebo among 10 739 women with a prior hysterectomy was associated with statistically significantly lower breast cancer incidence with 238 cases (annualized rate, 0.30%) vs 296 cases (annualized rate, 0.37%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.93; P = .005) and was associated with statistically significantly lower breast cancer mortality with 30 deaths (annualized mortality rate, 0.031%) vs 46 deaths (annualized mortality rate, 0.046%; HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37-0.97; P = .04). In contrast, CEE plus MPA compared with placebo among 16 608 women with a uterus was associated with statistically significantly higher breast cancer incidence with 584 cases (annualized rate, 0.45%) vs 447 cases (annualized rate, 0.36%; HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13-1.45; P < .001) and no significant difference in breast cancer mortality with 71 deaths (annualized mortality rate, 0.045%) vs 53 deaths (annualized mortality rate, 0.035%; HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.94-1.95; P= .11). Conclusions and Relevance: In this long-term follow-up study of 2 randomized trials, prior randomized use of CEE alone, compared with placebo, among women who had a previous hysterectomy, was significantly associated with lower breast cancer incidence and lower breast cancer mortality, whereas prior randomized use of CEE plus MPA, compared with placebo, among women who had an intact uterus, was significantly associated with a higher breast cancer incidence but no significant difference in breast cancer mortality.

The Mismatch of Nutrition and Lifestyle Beliefs and Actions Among Physicians: A Wake-Up Call.

Background. There is a notable lack of education on nutrition and physical activity guidelines in medical schools and postgraduate training. The purpose of this study is to assess the nutrition and exercise knowledge and personal health behaviors of physicians in the Department of Medicine at a large academic center. Methods. We conducted a survey study in the Department of Medicine at the University of Florida in 2018. The survey instrument included questions on demographics, medical comorbidities, baseline perception of health and fitness, and knowledge of nutrition concepts. The Duke Activity Status Index assessed activity/functional capacity and the validated 14-point Mediterranean Diet Survey evaluated dietary preferences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the χ2 test was used to perform comparisons between groups. Statistical significance was determined at P < .05. Results. Out of 331 eligible physicians, 303 (92%) participated in the study. While all respondents agreed that eating well is important for health, less than a fourth followed facets of a plant-based Mediterranean diet. Only 25% correctly identified the American Heart Association recommended number of fruit and vegetable servings per day and fewer still (20%) were aware of the recommended daily added sugar limit for adults. Forty-six percent knew the American Heart Association physical activity recommendations and 52% reported more than 3 hours of personal weekly exercise. Reported fruit and vegetable consumption correlated with perceived level of importance of nutrition as well as nutrition knowledge. Forty percent of physicians (102/253) who considered nutrition at least somewhat important reported a minimum of 2 vegetable and 3 fruit servings per day, compared with 7% (3/44) of those who considered nutrition less important ("neutral," "not important," or "important, but I don't have the time to focus on it right now"; P < .0001). Conclusions. This study highlights the need for significant improvement in education of physicians about nutrition and physical activity and need for physicians to focus on good personal health behaviors, which may potentially improve with better education.

Preventive care for patients with end-stage kidney disease: crossroads between nephrology and primary care.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) might expect their nephrologists to coordinate all their healthcare needs. We performed a survey among adult patients with ESKD undergoing HD in two outpatient dialysis centers at the University of Florida to identify differences in characteristics between patients with and without primary care providers (PCP) and to explore the association of PCP utilization with adherence to preventive health measures. Of the 132 participants, 89.4% reported having a PCP. This group was more likely to be female, older, and with higher education level. Having a PCP was associated with influenza, pneumococcal, and tetanus/Tdap vaccinations as well as screening for tuberculosis, depression, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The PCP group had statistically significant higher rates of influenza immunization (89.8% vs 71.4%, P = .04) as well as screening for hypertension (93.2% vs 64.3%, P = .04) and depression (78.8% vs 42.9%, P = .004), compared to the group without PCP, in the multivariable analysis. Having a PCP is associated with higher rates of influenza vaccination and screening for depression and hypertension. These findings could have important implications as far as identifying patients with ESKD at risk for fragmented care and potential gaps in optimal preventive care.

Physician Mothers and Breastfeeding: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Objectives: To explore infant-feeding intentions and behavior of physician mothers as well as their breastfeeding enablers and obstacles. Study Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among female physicians with at least one biological child recruited through the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. The main outcomes were duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and duration of any breastfeeding (BFD). We determined predictors of EBF and BFD. Results: The 570 participants reported intention to breastfeed at least 12 months in 78.1% of cases. Breastfeeding rates were 97.8%, 85.5%, and 55.4% at birth, 6, and 12 months. EBF rates were 88.5%, 76.3%, and 40.9% at birth, 3, and 6 months. Younger participant age, breastfeeding discontinuation not due to work-related demands, and heightened maternal satisfaction with BFD were associated with longer EBF and BFD. EBF at birth, less maternal stress, availability of time to express milk, and collegial support were associated with longer EBF. Longer maternal BFD goal, longer maternity leave, existence of laws or regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, later child order, and lower level of maternal depression were associated with longer BFD. Conclusions: Maternal infant-feeding intentions and work-related factors both play important roles in physician mothers' infant-feeding behavior. Longer maternity leave, regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, and workplace support might significantly improve physician mothers' BFD.

Giant cell tumour of tendon sheath mimicking nodal osteoarthritis.

Giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath (GCTTS) commonly presents as a slow-growing and painless soft-tissue lesion in the hand. It has a propensity to mimick other benign and malignant lesions of the hand including lipoma, haemangioma, myxoid cyst, synovial sarcoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, fibroma and osteosarcoma. GCTTS has a unique histopathological appearance that aids in definitive diagnosis. Although bony invasion and local aggressive characteristics have only been reported rarely, the treatment of choice is local excision. The following case illustrates a fairly typical presentation of GCTTS with certain atypical features.

Relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease during pregnancy and abnormal glucose metabolism during and after pregnancy.

While non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in non-pregnant patients, the clinical significance of NAFLD during pregnancy is still unclear. We hypothesized that sonographic findings of NAFLD during pregnancy would be associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and predict abnormal postpartum glucose metabolism. NAFLD was assessed by ultrasound during and after pregnancy. Standard 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was used during pregnancy and post partum to establish GDM and the diagnosis of normal, impaired fasting glucose, or DM. We also measured plasma insulin, C peptide, and free fatty acids (FFA) concentration during an OGTT to evaluate glucose tolerance, insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Of the 84 subjects, 12 had sonographic evidence of NAFLD (5 of whom had OGTT post partum). There was a non-significant trend toward higher mean weight and body mass index during and after gestation in the NAFLD group, but no statistically significant differences in mean age, ethnicity, prepregnancy and postpregnancy hemoglobin A1C values, and postpartum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, insulin, or FFA. We did not find an association between sonographic evidence of NAFLD during the third trimester of pregnancy and abnormal glucose metabolism during or after pregnancy. This study also suggests that while AST and ALT are not reliable diagnostic tools for NAFLD during the postpartum period, ultrasound is a reasonably safe, practical, and cost-effective modality to assess maternal hepatic fat during pregnancy.

Maternal Implications of Breastfeeding: A Review for the Internist.

Breastfeeding seems to be a low-cost intervention that provides both short- and long-term health benefits for the breastfeeding woman. Interventions to support breastfeeding can increase its rate, exclusivity, and duration. Internists often have a longitudinal relationship with their patients and can be important partners with obstetricians and pediatricians in advocating for breastfeeding. To play their unique and critical role in breastfeeding promotion, internists need to be knowledgeable about breastfeeding and its maternal health benefits. In this paper, we review the short- and long-term maternal health benefits of breastfeeding. We also discuss special considerations in the care of breastfeeding women for the internist.

A Comparison of US and Canadian Osteoporosis Screening and Treatment Strategies in Postmenopausal Women.

The optimal approach to osteoporosis screening and treatment in postmenopausal women is unclear. We compared (i) the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Osteoporosis Canada osteoporosis screening strategies; and (ii) the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and Canadian treatment strategies. We used data from the prospective Women's Health Initiative Observational Study and Clinical Trials of women aged 50 to 79 years at baseline (n = 117,707 followed for self-reported fractures; n = 8134 in bone mineral density [BMD] subset). We determined the yield of the screening and treatment strategies in identifying women who experienced major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs) during a 10-year follow-up. Among women aged 50 to 64 years, 23.1% of women were identified for BMD testing under the USPSTF strategy and 52.3% under the Canadian strategy. For women ≥65 years, 100% were identified for testing under the USPSTF and Canadian strategies, 35% to 74% were identified for treatment under NOF, and 16% to 37% were identified for treatment under CAROC (range among 5-year age subgroups). Among women who experienced MOF during follow-up, the USPSTF strategy identified 6.7% of women 50 to 54 years-old and 49.5% of women 60 to 64 years-old for BMD testing (versus 54.4% and 60.6% for the Canadian strategy, respectively). However, the specificity of the USPSTF strategy was higher than that of the Canadian strategy among women 50 to 64 years-old. Among women who experienced MOF during follow-up, sensitivity for identifying women as treatment candidates was lowest for both strategies in women aged 50 to 64 (NOF 10% to 38%; CAROC 1% to 15%) and maximal in 75-year-old to 79-year-old women (NOF 82.8%; 51.6% CAROC); specificity declined with advancing age and was lower with the NOF compared to the CAROC strategy. Among women aged 50 to 64 years, the screening and treatment strategies examined had low sensitivity for identifying those who subsequently experience MOF; sensitivity was higher among women ≥65 years than among younger women. New screening and treatment algorithms are needed. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.