Changes in Nonosteoporotic Bone Density and Subsequent Fractures in Women.

OBJECTIVES: Osteopenia is considerably more common than osteoporosis and accounts for most of the fracture burden in women older than 50 years. It is uncertain when to initiate treatment in osteopenia. We sought to determine in women with osteopenia what effect transitioning to lower categories had on subsequent fracturing. METHODS: We surveyed 1150 women from office-based practices who had initial normal or osteopenic bone mineral densities (BMDs) and who were retested after 5.75 years. We classified categories related to baseline T scores as follows: normal (>-1.0), mild osteopenia (-1.0 to -1.49), moderate osteopenia (-1.5 to -1.99), and severe osteopenia (-2.0 to -2.49). We determined during a 9.6-year follow-up period the fracture occurrence in those who maintained their initial category status or transitioned into lower categories. RESULTS: Transitioning to lower categories was not significantly different among baseline osteopenic categories but significantly more than normal baseline BMDs. Total fractures, individuals fracturing, and major fractures were significantly more, with baseline T scores of ≤-1.5 (<0.001). Although only 10.2% transitioned to osteoporosis, 90.5% of these transitions occurred with baseline T scores ≤-1.5 and accounted for significantly more fractures than baseline T scores of >-1.5. CONCLUSIONS: Most subsequent fractures and transitions to osteoporosis occurred with baseline T scores ≤-1.5. Clinical risk factors need to be used to determine at what T score threshold treatment would be cost effective.

Prospective randomized double-blinded trial comparing 2 anti-MRSA agents with supplemental coverage of cefazolin before lower extremity revascularization.

OBJECTIVE: To compare with antibiotics with methicillin-resistant microbial coverage in a prospective fashion. BACKGROUND: Current antibiotic prophylaxis for vascular procedures includes a first generation cephalosporin. No changes in recommendations have occurred despite changes in reports of incidence of MRSA related surgical site infections. Does supplemental anti-MRSA prophylactic coverage provide a significant reduction in Gram-positive or MRSA infections? METHODS: Single center prospective double blinded randomized study of patients undergoing lower extremity vascular procedures from 2011 to 2014. One hundred seventy-eight (178) patients were evaluated at 90 days for surgical site infection. Infections were categorized as early infections less than 30 days of the index procedure and late after 90 days. RESULTS: Early vascular surgical site infection occurred in 7(8.24%) of patients in the Vancomycin arm, and 11 (11.83%) in the Daptomycin arm (P = 0.43). Gram-positive related infections and MRSA infections occurred in 1(1.18%)/0(0%) of Vancomycin patients and 9 (9.68%)/1 (1.08%) of Daptomycin patients, respectively (P < 0.02 and P = 1.00). Readmissions related to surgical site infections occurred in 4(4.71%) in the Vancomycin group and 11 (11.8%) in the Daptomycin group (P = 0.11). Patients undergoing operative exploration occurred in 5 (5.88%) in the Vancomycin group and 10 (10.75%) of the Daptomycin group (P = 0.17). Late infections were reported in 3 patients, 2 of which were in the combined Daptomycin group. Median hospital charges related to readmissions due to a surgical site infection was $50,823 in the combination Vancomycin arm and $110,920 in the combination Daptomycin group; however, no statistical significance was appreciated (P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin supplemental prophylaxis seems to reduce the incidence of Gram-positive infection compared with adding supplemental Daptomycin prophylaxis. The Incidence of MRSA-related surgical site infections is low with the addition of either anti-MRSA agents compared with historical incidence of MRSA-related infection.

Significance of high- and low-distal energy forearm fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine in men and women aged 50 years or older the proportion of distal forearm fractures related to high- or low-energy events and subsequent fracturing. METHODS: We reviewed records of patients presenting to emergency departments and urgent care facilities with distal forearm fractures occurring during a 7-year entry period and studied for an additional 3.5 years. RESULTS: High-energy events proportionally were 3.25 times more likely in men, whereas low-energy distal forearm fractures proportionally were 7.98 times more likely in women. Although 25% received bone densitometry evaluations, only 3.59% were performed within the first year after a distal forearm fracture. Osteoporosis and osteopenia did not differ between high- and low-energy distal forearm fractures. In logistic regression, subsequent fractures were associated with prior fracture and age 80 years or older. The occurrence of individuals subsequently fracturing was similar in men and women. Compared with controls, the odds ratio of individuals subsequently fracturing was 1.74 (95% confidence interval 1.32-2.30) in women and 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.07-3.43) in men. Approximately 60% of total subsequent fractures occurred within 3 years. Osteoporosis was significantly more in patients with distal forearm fractures than controls (P < 0.001), but control patients had significantly more osteopenia (P < 0.001). No differences were noted in therapeutic intervention between those with prior distal forearm fractures and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of trauma occurrence, both men and women age 50 years and older with recent distal forearm fractures should be evaluated early for treatment by bone densitometry and clinical risk factors because the majority of recurrent fractures occur within 3 years.

Risk factors predicting fractures in early postmenopausal women.

Abstract Few studies exist evaluating fracture prediction in women aged 50-59. Clinical risk factors are important determinants for fracture prediction in younger postmenopausal women since most fractures occur outside the range of an osteoporotic bone mineral density. Although fracture incidence rates in this age group are about one-half of those aged 60-69, considerable costs and loss of quality-adjusted life years are still incurred in this age group. We sought to determine what clinical risk factors would predict subsequent fractures. Questionnaires were mailed out to 546 rural women who underwent osteoporosis screening 8.3 years previously by bone densitometry and a 24-item clinical risk factor assessment. Our survey had a 55% response rate and found that 11.9% of respondents had subsequent fractures. A prior fracture history, self-reported rheumatoid arthritis, and menopause age <40 were significantly associated with subsequent fractures. A logistic regression analyses showed only a prior fracture history and menopause age

An approach to identify rural women aged 60 to 64 for osteoporosis treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The US Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended that women younger than 65 years undergo a bone mineral density screening if clinical risk factors (CRFs) of a major osteoporotic fracture are ≥9.3% for a period of 10 years. We sought the most cost-effective approach to identify older, rural women who are eligible for osteoporosis treatment. METHODS: We evaluated CRFs and peripheral forearm densitometry (pDXA) in 277 rural women aged 60 to 64 years for treatment eligibility. We compared three strategies of universal screening-pDXA, CRFs, and exclusion of pDXA in specific situations (prior fracture and CRFs ≥20%)-followed by CRF evaluation with pDXA confirmation in the residual population. RESULTS: Our sample showed that 37.5% of women had CRFs at a ≥9.3% cutoff threshold. Only osteoporotic pDXA values were significantly higher at this threshold. Current estrogen use was significantly associated with diminished treatment eligibility (P = 0.001). Body mass index correlated poorly with pDXA values (r = 0.12) and CRFs (r = 0.21). Although a cost-savings strategy nonsignificantly identified more women who were eligible for treatment using the three strategies (P = 0.25), significantly fewer pDXA examinations were required (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Initiating treatment in rural women aged 60 to 64 years who had a prior fracture or CRFs ≥20% without pDXA confirmation, followed by pDXA evaluations in the residual population with CRFs between ≥9.3% and 20%, significantly reduced the number of pDXA examinations and the cost of screening.

Critical appraisal of the Carotid Duplex Consensus criteria in the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians have relied on published institutional experience for interpreting carotid duplex ultrasound studies (CDUS). This study will validate the ultrasound imaging consensus criteria published in 2003. METHODS: The CDUS and angiography results of 376 carotid arteries were analyzed. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROCs) curves were used to compare peak systolic velocities (PSVs), end-diastolic velocities (EDVs) of the internal carotid artery (ICA), and ICA/common carotid (CCA) ratios in detecting < 50%, 50% to 69% (ICA PSV of 125-230 cm/s), and 70% to 99% (PSV of ≥ 230 cm/s) stenosis according to the consensus criteria. RESULTS: The consensus criteria uses a PSV of 125 to 230 cm/s for detecting angiographic stenosis of 50% to 69%, which has a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 68%, and overall accuracy of 85%. A PSV of ≥ 230 cm/s for ≥ 70% stenosis had a sensitivity of 99%, specificity of 86%, and overall accuracy of 95%. ROC curves showed that the ICA PSV was significantly better (area under the curve [AUC], 0.97) than EDV (AUC, 0.94) or ICA/CCA ratio (AUC, 0.84; P = .036) in detecting ≥ 70% stenosis and ≥ 50% stenosis. Pearson correlations showed a statistical difference between the correlation of PSV with angiography (0.833; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-0.86), EDV with angiography (0.755; 95% CI, 0.71-0.80), and ICA/CCA systolic ratio with angiography (0.601; 95% CI, 0.53-0.66; P < .0001) in detecting 70% to 99% stenosis. Adding the EDV values or the ratios to the PSV values did not improve accuracy. The consensus criteria for diagnosing 50% to 69% stenosis can be significantly improved by using an ICA PSV of 140 to 230 cm/s, with a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 92%, and overall accuracy of 92%. CONCLUSIONS: The consensus criteria can be accurately used for diagnosing ≥ 70% stenosis; however, the accuracy can be improved for detecting 50% to 69% stenosis if the ICA PSV is changed to 140 to < 230 cm/s.

Prospective randomized trial of routine versus selective shunting in carotid endarterectomy based on stump pressure.

BACKGROUND: The use of shunting in carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is controversial. This randomized trial compared the results of routine (RS) vs selective shunting (SS) based on stump pressure (SP). METHODS: Two-hundred CEA patients under general anesthesia were randomized into RS (98 patients) or SS (102 patients), where shunting was used only if systolic SP (SSP) was <40 mm Hg. Clinical and demographic characteristics were comparable in both groups. Patients underwent immediate and 30-day postoperative duplex ultrasound follow-up. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Of 102 SS patients, 29 (28%) received shunting. Indications for CEA were similar (42% symptomatic for RS; 47% for SS, P = .458). The mean internal carotid artery diameter was comparable (5.5 vs 5.5 mm, P = .685). Mean preoperative ipsilateral and contralateral stenosis was 76% and 38% for RS (P = .268) vs 78% and 40% for SS (P = .528). Mean preoperative ipsilateral and contralateral stenosis was 79% and 56% in the shunted (P = .634) vs 78% and 34% in the nonshunted subgroup of SS patients (P = .002). The mean SSP was 55.9 mm Hg in RS vs 56.2 for SS (P = .915). The mean SSP was 33 mm Hg in the shunted vs 65 in the nonshunted subgroup (P < .0001). Mean clamp time in the nonshunted subgroup of SS was 32 minutes. Mean shunt time was 35 minutes in RS and 33 in SS (P = .354). Mean operative time was 113 minutes for RS and 109 for SS (P = .252), and 111 minutes in shunted and 108 in the nonshunted subgroup (P = .586). Mean arteriotomy length was 4.4 cm for RS and 4.2 for SS (P = .213). Perioperative stroke rate was 0% for RS vs 2% for SS (one major and one minor stroke, both related to carotid thrombosis; P = .498). No patients died perioperatively. Combined perioperative transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke rates were 2% in RS vs 2.9% in SS (P > .99). The overall perioperative complication rates were 8.3% in RS (2 TIA, 3 hemorrhage, 1 myocardial infarction [MI], and 1 asymptomatic carotid thrombosis) vs 7.8% in SS (2 strokes, 1 TIA, 3 hemorrhage, 1 MI, and 1 congestive heart failure; P = .917). CONCLUSIONS: RS and SS were associated with a low stroke rate. Both methods are acceptable, and surgeons should select the method with which they are more comfortable.

The correlation of aortic neck length to early and late outcomes in endovascular aneurysm repair patients.

BACKGROUND: Initially, patients with a short angulated aortic neck were considered unfit for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Recently, however, more liberal use of EVAR has been advocated. This study analyzes the correlation of aortic neck length to early and late outcomes. METHODS: We analyzed 238 patients who underwent EVAR during a recent 7-year period. All patients were followed up clinically and underwent postoperative duplex ultrasound imaging or computed tomography angiography, which were repeated every 6 months. Aortic neck length was classified into >or=15 mm (L1, n = 195), 10 to <15 mm (L2, n = 24), and <10 mm (L3, n = 17). Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate freedom from late endoleak, early and late reintervention, and survival. RESULTS: Analyzed were 49 Ancure, 47 AneuRx, 104 Excluder, and 38 Zenith grafts. The mean follow-up was 24.7 months (range, 1-87 months). The initial technical success was 99%. The perioperative complication rates for groups L1, L2, and L3 were 13%, 21%, and 24%, respectively (P = .289). Proximal type I early endoleaks occurred in 12%, 42%, and 53% in groups L1, L2, and L3, respectively (P < .001). Intraoperative proximal aortic cuffs were needed to seal proximal type I endoleaks in 10%, 38%, and 47% in L1, L2, and L3 groups, respectively (P < .0001). However, the rate of late reintervention was comparable in all groups. Postoperatively, the size of the abdominal aortic aneurysm decreased or remained unchanged in 95%, 94%, and 88% in L1, L2, and L3, respectively (P = .660). Rates of freedom from late type I endoleak at 1, 2, and 3 years were 84%, 82%, and 80% for L1; 68%, 54%, and 54% for L2; and 71%, 71%, and 53% for L3 (P = .0263). Rates of freedom from late intervention at 1, 2, and 3 years were 96%, 94%, and 92% for L1; and 94%, 83%, and 83% for L2; and 93%, 93%, and 93% for L3 (P = .5334). CONCLUSIONS: EVAR can be used for patients with a short aortic neck; however, it was associated with a significantly higher rate of early and late type I endoleaks, resulting in an increased use of proximal aortic cuffs for sealing the endoleaks.

Primary carotid artery stenting versus carotid artery stenting for postcarotid endarterectomy stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been advocated as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in high-risk surgical patients, including stenosis after CEA. This study compared early and midterm clinical outcomes for primary CAS vs CAS for post-CEA stenosis. METHODS: This study analyzed 180 high-risk surgical patients: 68 had primary CAS (group A), and 112 had CAS for post-CEA stenosis (group B). Patients were followed-up prospectively and had duplex ultrasound imaging at 1 month and every 6 months thereafter. All patients had cerebral protection devices. Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis was used to estimate rates of freedom from stroke, stroke-free survival, > or =50% in-stent stenosis, > or =80% in-stent stenosis, and target vessel reintervention (TVR). RESULTS: Patients had comparable demographic and clinical characteristics. Carotid stent locations were similar. Indications for CAS were transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or stroke in 50% for group A and 45% for group B. The mean follow-up was comparable, at 21 (range, 1-73) vs 25 (range, 1-78) months, respectively. The technical success rate was 100%. The perioperative stroke rates and combined stroke/death/myocardial infarction (MI) rates were 7.4% for group A vs 0.9% for group B (P = .0294). No perioperative MIs occurred in either group. One death was secondary to stroke. The combined early and late stroke rates were 10.8% for group A and 1.8% for group B (P = .0275). The stroke-free rates at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years for groups A and B were 89%, 89%, 89%, and 89%; and 98%, 98%, 98%, and 98%, respectively (P = .0105). The rates of freedom from > or =50% carotid in-stent stenosis were 94%, 83%, 83%, and 66% for group A vs 96%, 91%, 83%, and 72% for group B (P = .4705). Two patients (3%) in group A and seven patients (6.3%) in group B had > or =80% in-stent stenosis (all were asymptomatic except one). The freedom from > or =80% in-stent stenosis at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years for groups A and B were 100%, 98%, 98%, and 78% vs 99%, 96%, 92%, and 87%, respectively (P = .7005). Freedom from TVR rates at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years for groups A and B were 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100% vs 99%, 97%, 97%, and 92%, respectively (P = .261). CONCLUSIONS: CAS for post-CEA stenosis carried a lower risk of early postprocedural neurologic events than primary CAS, with a trend toward a higher restenosis rate during follow-up.

Gastrointestinal norovirus infection associated with exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to determine, in pediatric patients, whether norovirus infection could be associated with exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ascertain whether the clinical expression of norovirus gastroenteritis was similar in patients with IBD compared with non-IBD controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a case-control retrospective chart review, over a 10-month interval, of patients with IBD with an exacerbation of their disease. The presence of norovirus in stool and/or rectal swab samples, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunoassay, was assessed. In addition, sex, age, type of IBD, presence or absence of diarrhea, hematochezia, and the need for hospitalization were determined. A similar number of control patients who did not have IBD were used as controls. RESULTS: Nine patients with IBD (8 ulcerative colitis/1 Crohn disease) had exacerbations with diarrhea. Eight had norovirus antigen in at least 1 sample. All 9 patients with IBD presented with bloody diarrhea and 6 of the 8 norovirus-positive patients with IBD required hospitalization. All of the control patients experienced diarrhea; however, no hematochezia was noted and no hospitalization was required. Several patients with IBD and controls remained positive for norovirus months after the initial positive stool and/or rectal swab sample. The virus appeared to be more common during winter months. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that norovirus may be associated with exacerbations of IBD. When norovirus accompanies IBD it is more likely to be associated with hematochezia than when the infection occurs in the absence of IBD.

Does sex make a difference in survival of patients undergoing resection for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if sex associated differences exist in presentation and survival of patients undergoing resection for early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 2207 patients with Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Summary Stage I, II or III (local or regional disease) patients eligible for surgery, nonsmall cell lung cancer diagnosed and treated in WV between 1993 and 2000, which underwent surgery as a first course of treatment. Data set obtained from the West Virginia Cancer Registry. RESULTS: 1332 male cases and 875 female cases were reviewed. No statistically significant difference was found with mean age of diagnosis (men 66.5 years; women 67.2 years). A greater proportion of women had adenocarcinoma (p < 0.0001), lower grade (p = 0.002), and lower SEER summary stage (p = 0.009). There was no difference in laterality of tumor, 30-day post surgery survival or surgical procedure between men and women. Regression analysis showed a higher hazard ratio was associated with a increasing stage, grade, and those > or =65 years of age while lower hazard ratio was associated with adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that stage, grade, age, and histology, but not sex was the significant prognostic indicators of death in five years.

Utilizing trauma nurse practitioners to decrease length of stay.

This article describes a nurse practitioner model utilized to decrease the length of stay and improve the quality of discharge planning for hospitalized trauma patients between 1999 and 2006. An observational method employing nurse practitioners to decrease length of stay for the trauma population during these years is described. Adding nurse practitioners to the trauma team has resulted in decreasing the length of stay in all 4 of the injury severity score groups. Adding nurse practitioners to the trauma team provides a core member in a revolving trauma service. Consequently, length of stay and discharge planning have been positively impacted.

Optimal carotid duplex velocity criteria for defining the severity of carotid in-stent restenosis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal duplex ultrasound (DUS) velocity criteria to determine in-stent carotid restenosis are controversial. We previously reported the optimal DUS velocities for >or=30% in-stent restenosis. This prospective study will further define the optimal velocities in detecting various severities of in-stent restenosis: >or=30%, >or=50%, and 80% to 99%. METHODS: The analysis included 144 patients who underwent carotid artery stenting as a part of clinical trials. All patients had completion arteriograms and underwent postoperative carotid DUS imaging, which was repeated at 1 month and every 6 months thereafter. Patients with peak systolic velocities (PSVs) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) of >or=130 cm/s underwent carotid computed tomography (CT)/angiogram. The PSVs and end-diastolic velocities of the ICA and common carotid artery (CCA) and the PSV of the ICA/CCA ratios were recorded. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal velocity criteria for the diagnosis of >or=30, >or=50, and >or=80% restenosis. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 20 months (range, 1-78 months). Available for analysis were 215 pairs of imaging (DUS vs CTA/angiography) studies. The accuracy of CTA vs carotid arteriogram was confirmed in a subset of 22 patients (kappa = 0.81). The ROC analysis demonstrated that an ICA PSV of >or=154 cm/s was optimal for >or=30% stenosis with a sensitivity of 99%, specificity of 89%, positive-predictive value (PPV) of 96%, negative-predictive value (NPV) of 97%, and overall accuracy (OA) of 96%. An ICA EDV of 42 cm/s had sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and OA in detecting >or=30% stenosis of 86%, 62%, 87%, 60%, and 80%, respectively. An ICA PSV of >or=224 cm/s was optimal for >50% stenosis with a sensitivity of 99%, specificity of 90%, PPV of 99%, NPV of 90%, and OA of 98%. An ICA EDV of 88 cm/s had sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and OA in detecting >or=50% stenosis of 96%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 53%, and 96%. An ICA/CCA ratio of 3.439 had sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and OA in detecting >or=50% stenosis of 96%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 58%, and 96%, respectively. An ICA PSV of >or=325 cm/s was optimal for >80% stenosis with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 99%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 88%, and OA of 99%. An ICA EDV of 119 cm/sec had sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and OA in detecting >or=80% stenosis of 99%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 75%, and 99%, respectively. The PSV of the stented artery was a better predictor for in-stent restenosis than the end-diastolic velocity or ICA/CCA ratio. CONCLUSION: The optimal DUS velocity criteria for in-stent restenosis of >or=30%, >or=50%, and >or=80% were the PSVs of 154, 224, and 325 cm/s, respectively.

Pharmacological thromboembolic prophylaxis for medical patients in a tertiary care, teaching community hospital: room for improvement.

Venous Thrombembolism (VTE) is a potentially lethal complication in hospitalized patients. Studies indicate that pharmacological prophylaxis may reduce the incidence of VTE. However, the use of VTE prophylaxis remains unclear. We aimed to retrospectively assess whether medically ill hospitalized patients with established risk factors receive pharmacological VTE prophylaxis in our 912-bed community-based tertiary care teaching hospital between 1997 and 2003. We randomly selected a sample of 350 medically ill (non surgical) hospitalized patients with risk factors for VTE. A total of 164 of 321 patients (51.1%) received pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. Patients with a platelet count of greater than or equal to 278 K/cu mm, a weight of 146 to 184 lbs, or a weight > or = 185 lbs were found more likely to receive prophylaxis. Patients with cancer as well as other diagnoses (compared to MI patients) were less likely to receive prophylaxis. We conclude that there continues to be a significant underutilization of VTE prophylaxis in this patient population. Strategies for identifying patients at risk for VTE and implementing appropriate protocols to ensure that these patients receive prophylaxis are necessary.

Brain death: a challenging diagnosis in trauma patients.

Brain death is a catastrophic consequence of trauma, and diagnosing it can be a challenging for physicians because it presents in numerous ways. Since existing recommendations are not applicable to all hospitals because of the requirement of special equipment and highly-trained personnel, a committee of health care professionals at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston decided to review the available literature and create a new set of protocols regarding brain death. This article summarizes the findings of the committee and provides recommendations for physicians working with trauma patients.

Implementation and Outcomes of a Community-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in Rural Appalachia.

PURPOSE: To report on the implementation and clinical outcomes of a community-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in rural Appalachia. METHODS: Three rural health centers and a large referral hospital worked together to establish pulmonary rehabilitation services based on AACVPR guidelines. Each site hired at least 1 respiratory therapist. To measure clinical outcomes, a retrospective medical record study compared pre- and post-program values for the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea level, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), negative inspiratory force (NIF), respiratory disease knowledge, St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), BODE index (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea and exercise capacity), and smoking status. The percentages of persons completing the program and participating in maintenance exercise after the program were recorded. RESULTS: During the first 20 months of the program, 195 unduplicated persons with qualifying chronic lung diseases started the program. Of these, 111 (57%) completed the program. Mean improvements for all 6 measures were highly significant (P < .001) and compared favorably with published results from hospital-based programs: dyspnea level, -1.2; 6MWT, +259 ft; NIF, +11.3 cm H2O; knowledge test, +1.9; SGRQ, -6.2; BODE index, -1.1. Of the 23 smokers, 5 quit by the end of the program. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based pulmonary rehabilitation in rural health centers is feasible and achieves clinical outcomes similar to programs in large hospitals and academic centers. Furthermore, the addition of respiratory therapists to these primary care teams provides important collateral benefits for the evidence-based care of patients with chronic lung diseases.

Coal Mine Dust Desquamative Chronic Interstitial Pneumonia: A Precursor of Dust-Related Diffuse Fibrosis and of Emphysema.

BACKGROUND: Diseases associated with coal mine dust continue to affect coal miners. Elucidation of initial pathological changes as a precursor of coal dust-related diffuse fibrosis and emphysema, may have a role in treatment and prevention. OBJECTIVE: To identify the precursor of dust-related diffuse fibrosis and emphysema. METHODS: Birefringent silica/silicate particles were counted by standard microscope under polarized light in the alveolar macrophages and fibrous tissue in 25 consecutive autopsy cases of complicated coal worker's pneumoconiosis and in 21 patients with tobacco-related respiratory bronchiolitis. RESULTS: Coal miners had 331 birefringent particles/high power field while smokers had 4 (p<0.001). Every coal miner had intra-alveolar macrophages with silica/silicate particles and interstitial fibrosis ranging from minimal to extreme. All coal miners, including those who never smoked, had emphysema. Fibrotic septa of centrilobular emphysema contained numerous silica/silicate particles while only a few were present in adjacent normal lung tissue. In coal miners who smoked, tobacco-associated interstitial fibrosis was replaced by fibrosis caused by silica/silicate particles. CONCLUSION: The presence of silica/silicate particles and anthracotic pigment-laden macrophages inside the alveoli with various degrees of interstitial fibrosis indicated a new disease: coal mine dust desquamative chronic interstitial pneumonia, a precursor of both dust-related diffuse fibrosis and emphysema. In studied coal miners, fibrosis caused by smoking is insignificant in comparison with fibrosis caused by silica/silicate particles. Counting birefringent particles in the macrophages from bronchioalveolar lavage may help detect coal mine dust desquamative chronic interstitial pneumonia, and may initiate early therapy and preventive measures.