Changes in use of 17-OHPC after the PROLONG trial: a physician survey.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHPC) or vaginal progesterone use for patients at risk for preterm birth has changed since the publication of the 17-OHPC to Prevent Recurrent Preterm Birth in Singleton Gestations (PROLONG) trial, and to assess which organizations' (Food and Drug Administration's [FDA], American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's [ACOG] or Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine's [SMFM]) statements most influenced change. METHODS: Through a vignette-based physician survey, we sought to measure (by Likert scale) how counseling tendencies regarding 17OHPC and vaginal progesterone have changed since the PROLONG trial publication. Participants were also asked which organizations' statements most influenced change. RESULTS: With response rate of 97 % (141/145), a pre-to-post PROLONG trial comparison revealed significant changes in counseling for progesterone. Respondents were less likely to recommend 17OHPC (p<0.001) and more likely to recommend vaginal (p<0.001). The FDA statement most influenced the decision not to recommend 17OHPC for the prevention of preterm birth (r=-0.23, p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Providers have made significant changes in their counseling regarding progesterone use for patients at risk for preterm birth after the publication of the PRLONG trial.

Removal of pregnancy categories and likelihood of prescribing: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the degree to which removal of FDA' Pregnancy Categories (PC) of medications (A, B, C, and D) from labeling, affects the likelihood that providers will prescribe those medications. METHODS: Over a one-year period a convenience sample of providers was recruited into a randomized, survey-based, study. Two versions of the survey were randomly distributed; version 1 presented clinical vignettes, drug information, and PC, while version 2, presented the identical information without the PC. Respondents were asked to estimate their likelihood of prescribing the drug. A mixed linear model was constructed, with likelihood of prescription as the dependent variable, treated as interval-scaled. RESULTS: Out of 169 surveys given out, 162 (96%) were returned. Simple effects analysis showed that the presence of PC letter significantly affected the decision to prescribe category B (p<0.001) and C drugs (p=0.008) but not the A or D. Participants were significantly less likely to prescribe class B and C drugs when the letters were not available for review. These findings remained significant even when controlling for covariates (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: When a PC letter is absent on labeling, physicians were less likely to use category B and C drugs, the most common medications prescribed in pregnancy.

Confirmation Bias Affects Estimation of Blood Loss and Amniotic Fluid Volume: A Randomized Simulation-Based Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to determine if confirmation bias affects diagnoses in obstetrics, specifically estimation of blood loss and amniotic fluid volume. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a randomized simulation-based trial. Participants went through the following three consecutive scenarios: (1) the first involved estimating the volume of blood (actually a blood-like substance) in a container at the simulation model's perineum. The actual volume was either 500 or 1,500 mL. Participants were told it was blood seen after a vaginal delivery. One group was told that the "patient" was normotensive, the other was told that the "patient" was hypotensive. (2) The second scenario involved estimation of amniotic fluid from an ultrasound picture of four quadrants, with one group told that the patient was normotensive and the other group told that the patient had chronic hypertension. (3) The third scenario was a "negative image" of the first (i.e., if they had been randomized to the 500 mL/normotensive in scenario one, then they would be presented with the 1,500 mL/hypotensive). They also filled a survey including demographics and tolerance of ambiguity and confirmation bias scales. RESULTS: From April 2018 through May 2018, a convenience sample of 85 providers was recruited. Participants were more likely to overestimate blood loss when they were told that the patient was hypotensive (p = 0.024), in comparison to when they were told the patient had normal blood pressure. They were also less likely to estimate the amniotic fluid as normal when they were told that the patient was hypertensive (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Confirmation bias affects estimates of blood loss and amniotic fluid.

Applying the Eosinophilic Esophagitis Endoscopic Reference Scores (EREFS) to Different Aged Children.

OBJECTIVES: The eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) endoscopic reference score (EREFS) was developed to analyze adults with EoE and has been successfully applied to a pediatric cohort. The present study compares EREFS in younger and older children with EoE. METHODS: The 99 patients were divided among 3 cohorts: 44 active EoE (EoE-A); 16 EoE remission (EoE-R); and 39 controls (esophageal dysfunction but <15 eos/hpf). The cohorts were then subdivided into 2 groups: younger (≤10 years) and older (>10 years) that were compared based on the composite and the individual components of their EREFS. RESULTS: EREFS identified EoE-A in all children with an area under the receiving operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.85, in older children with an AUC of 0.90 and in younger children with an AUC of 0.77. Mean EREFS for ≤10 years was 1.26 ±â€Š1.19 and 2.71 ±â€Š1.33 for >10 years (P < 0.01). The 3 most common findings in our entire EoE-A cohort and in both ages were furrows, edema, and exudates. EREFS in patients with EoE-A had similar specificities (0.88 vs 0.89) and positive predictive values (0.89 vs 0.91) in both ages. CONCLUSIONS: The present investigation confirms the utilization of EREFS in Pediatric EoE. Furthermore, EREFS can detect EoE and document response to treatment in both younger and older children. EREFS, however, predicted EoE in the older children with a higher sensitivity (0.89 vs 0.63) and a higher negative predictive value (0.87 vs 0.59) than was seen in the younger cohort.

Phenotyping nocturnal polyuria: circadian and age-related variations in diuresis rate, free water clearance and sodium clearance.

BACKGROUND: this study compares diuresis rate, sodium clearance and free water clearance (FWC) by age and time of day (nighttime vs. daytime) in subjects with and without nocturnal polyuria (NP) to determine whether these variables affect the phenotype of NP. METHODS: post hoc analysis of two prospective observational studies. Eight urine samples collected at 3-h intervals and a single blood sample were used to calculate daytime (10a/1p/4p/7p/10p) and nighttime (1a/4a/7a) diuresis rates, sodium clearance and FWC. Three mixed linear models were constructed for diuresis rate, sodium clearance and FWC using four predictor variables: NP status (present [nocturnal urine production >90 ml/h] vs. absent [≤90 ml/h]), time of day, age and study identification. RESULTS: subjects with NP experienced higher nighttime versus daytime diuresis rates, sodium clearance and FWC. Regardless of NP status, increased age was accompanied by an increase in the ratio of nighttime/daytime diuresis rate, nighttime sodium clearance and daytime sodium clearance. FWC showed a complex age effect, which was independent of time of day or NP status. CONCLUSIONS: age-related increases in nighttime/daytime diuresis rate, 24-h sodium clearance and 24-h FWC are not specific to subjects with NP. The age-related surge in either nocturnal sodium clearance or nocturnal FWC may represent the relevant substrate for behavioural or pharmacologic interventions targeting sodium diuresis or free water diuresis, respectively. Increases in FWC in older age groups may reflect impaired circadian rhythmicity of endogenous AVP or changes in responsiveness of the aged nephron to water clearance.

Discharge Readiness after Propofol with or without Dexmedetomidine for Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery protocols employ various approaches to minimize detrimental side effects of anesthetizing agents. The authors tested the hypothesis that adding low-dose dexmedetomidine to propofol for anesthesia in ambulatory colonoscopies, compared with propofol alone, would lower the propofol requirement, improve the intra-procedure hemodynamic state, and not increase time-to-discharge. METHODS: In this noninferiority, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, patients having colonoscopies received total IV anesthesia either with propofol and placebo (n = 50), or propofol and a bolus dose of dexmedetomidine, 0.3 µg/kg (n = 51). Additional propofol was administered to maintain a Bispectral Index score of 60. Following the procedure, readiness for discharge was assessed regularly using the Modified Post Anesthetic Discharge Scoring System until discharge criteria were met. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients meeting discharge criteria within 30 min from procedure end-time. RESULTS: Twenty-six of 51 (51%) patients receiving propofol-dexmedetomidine were ready for discharge by 30 min from procedure end time, compared with 44 of 50 (88%) receiving propofol (P < 0.001). Propofol consumption was lower in subjects receiving propofol-dexmedetomidine (140 µg · kg(-1) · min(-1)) compared to those receiving propofol (180 µg · kg(-1) · min(-1)) with P = 0.011. The lowest mean arterial pressure decreased further from baseline in those receiving propofol-dexmedetomidine (-30%; mean decrease -30 ±10.5 mmHg) compared to propofol (-21%; mean decrease, -22 ± 14.2 mmHg) with P = 0.003. There was no difference in incidence of bradycardia, with sustained bradycardia occurring in 3 of 51 (6%) patients receiving propofol-dexmedetomidine compared to 1 of 50 (2%) patients receiving propofol (P = 0.62). No apnea episodes requiring positive-pressure ventilation occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: For anesthesia in ambulatory colonoscopy, combining low-dose dexmedetomidine with propofol delayed discharge readiness and provoked hypotension compared to propofol alone.

Does the Magnitude of the Electrocardiogram QT Interval Dispersion Predict Stroke Outcome?

BACKGROUND: QT dispersion, maximal interlead difference in QT interval on 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), measures cardiac repolarization abnormalities. Data are conflicting whether QT dispersion predicts adverse outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Our objective is to determine if QT dispersion predicts: (1) short-term clinical outcome in AIS, and (2) stroke location (insular versus noninsular cortex). METHODS: Admission ECGs from 412 consecutive patients with acute stroke symptoms from 2 university-based stroke centers were reviewed. QT dispersion was measured. A neuroradiologist reviewed brain imaging for insular cortex involvement. Favorable clinical outcomes at discharge were modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1, discharge National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score less than 2, and discharge to home. Multiple logistic regressions were performed for each outcome measure and to determine the association between insular infarct and QT dispersion. RESULTS: Of 145 subjects in the final analysis, median age was 65 years (interquartile range [IQR] 56-75), male patients were 38%, black patients were 68%, median QT dispersion was 78 milliseconds (IQR 59-98), and median admission NIHSS score was 4 (IQR 2-6). QT dispersion did not predict short-term clinical outcome for mRS score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] .99-1.01, P = .85), NIHSS at discharge (OR = .994, 95% CI .98-1.01, P = .30), or discharge disposition (OR = 1.001, 95% CI .99-1.01, P = .81). Insular cortex involvement did not correlate with QT dispersion magnitude (OR = 1.009, 95% CI .99-1.02, P = .45). CONCLUSIONS: We could not demonstrate that QT dispersion is useful in predicting short-term clinical outcome at discharge in AIS. Further, the magnitude of QT dispersion did not predict insular cortical stroke location.

To Treat or Not to Treat?

Background and Purpose- The 2015 updated US Food and Drug Administration alteplase package insert altered several contraindications. We thus explored clinical factors influencing alteplase treatment decisions for patients with minor stroke. Methods- An expert panel selected 7 factors to build a series of survey vignettes: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), NIHSS area of primary deficit, baseline functional status, previous ischemic stroke, previous intracerebral hemorrhage, recent anticoagulation, and temporal pattern of symptoms in first hour of care. We used a fractional factorial design (150 vignettes) to provide unconfounded estimates of the effect of all 7 main factors, plus first-order interactions for NIHSS. Surveys were emailed to national organizations of neurologists, emergency physicians, and colleagues. Physicians were randomized to 1 of 10 sets of 15 vignettes, presented randomly. Physicians reported the subjective likelihood of giving alteplase on a 0 to 5 scale; scale categories were anchored to 6 probabilities from 0% to 100%. A conjoint statistical analysis was applied. Results- Responses from 194 US physicians yielded 156 with complete vignette data: 74% male, mean age 46, 80% neurologists. Treatment mean probabilities for individual vignettes ranged from 6% to 95%. Treatment probability increased from 24% for NIHSS score =1 to 41% for NIHSS score =5. The conjoint model accounted for 25% of total observed response variance. In contrast, a model accounting for all possible interactions accounted for 30% variance. Four of the 7 factors accounted jointly for 58% of total relative importance within the conjoint model: previous intracerebral hemorrhage (18%), recent anticoagulation (17%), NIHSS (13%), and previous ischemic stroke (10%). Conclusions- Four main variables jointly account for only a small fraction (<15%) of the total variance related to deciding to treat with intravenous alteplase, reflecting high variability and complexity. Future studies should consider other variables, including physician characteristics.

Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy and Depressive Symptoms on All-Cause Mortality Among HIV-Infected Women.

Depression affects up to 30% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. We estimated joint effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and depressive symptoms on time to death using a joint marginal structural model and data from a cohort of HIV-infected women from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (conducted in the United States) from 1998-2011. Among 848 women contributing 6,721 years of follow-up, 194 participants died during follow-up, resulting in a crude mortality rate of 2.9 per 100 women-years. Cumulative mortality curves indicated greatest mortality for women who reported depressive symptoms and had not initiated ART. The hazard ratio for depressive symptoms was 3.38 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.15, 5.33) and for ART was 0.47 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.70). Using a reference category of women without depressive symptoms who had initiated ART, the hazard ratio for women with depressive symptoms who had initiated ART was 3.60 (95% CI: 2.02, 6.43). For women without depressive symptoms who had not started ART, the hazard ratio was 2.36 (95% CI: 1.16, 4.81). Among women reporting depressive symptoms who had not started ART, the hazard ratio was 7.47 (95% CI: 3.91, 14.3). We found a protective effect of ART initiation on mortality, as well as a harmful effect of depressive symptoms, in a cohort of HIV-infected women.

Seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in Inner-City Children and Adolescents-Implications for Vaccine Development.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of Chlamydia trachomatis infection is an ideal application for a vaccine program, which should optimally be administered before sexual debut. However, there are limited epidemiologic studies of C. trachomatis infection in an unselected pediatric population since routine screening and treatment of pregnant women was implemented in the United States in 1993. METHODS: Anonymized serum samples were obtained from children younger than 21 years in 2 medical centers in Brooklyn, New York, from 2013 to 2015. Anti-C. trachomatis IgG antibody was determined by a validated enzyme immunoassay. Infants younger than 1 year were excluded from the final analysis due to interference of maternal antibody. RESULTS: One thousand two sera were included in the final analysis. Fifty-seven percent were females. No antibody was detected at younger than 11 years. Anti-C. trachomatis IgG antibody was detected in 11.4% and 5.6% of female and male subjects, respectively, older than 11 years (P = 0.0027), and seropositivity increased with age. There was no significant difference in the distribution of age at infection between the centers (P = 0.432), but a difference was detected between genders (P = 0.012) with a higher percentage of female subjects testing positive. CONCLUSIONS: Antibody was first detected at 11 years of age, likely coinciding with sexual debut. The prevalence of antibody was higher and appeared earlier in females, mirroring national surveillance trends based on nucleic acid amplification testing. The delay in male antibody detection may be due to biological or behavioral differences between genders. These data are critical in informing potential C. trachomatis vaccine strategies.

The Relationship of Baseline Prostate Specific Antigen and Risk of Future Prostate Cancer and Its Variance by Race.

PURPOSE: Several studies suggest that a baseline prostate specific antigen (PSA) measured in young men predicts future risk of prostate cancer. Considering recent recommendations against PSA screening, high-risk populations (e.g. black men, men with a high baseline PSA) may be particularly vulnerable in the coming years. Thus, we investigated the relationship between baseline PSA and future prostate cancer in a black majority-minority urban population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of the prostate biopsy database (n = 994) at the Brooklyn Veterans Affairs Hospital. These men were referred to urology clinic for elevated PSA and biopsied between 2007 and 2014. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict positive prostate biopsy from log-transformed baseline PSA, race (black, white, or other), and several other variables. RESULTS: The majority of men identified as black (50.2%). Median age at time of baseline PSA and biopsy was 58.6 and 64.8, respectively. Median baseline PSA was similar among black men and white men (2.70 vs 2.91 for black men vs white men, p = 0.232). Even so, black men were more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer (OR 1.62, p < 0.0001). Black men less than age 70 were at particularly greater risk than their white counterparts. Baseline PSA was not a statistically significant predictor of future prostate cancer (p = 0.101). CONCLUSIONS: Black men were more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than were white men, despite comparable baseline PSA. In our pre-screened population at the urology clinic, a retrospective examination of baseline PSA did not predict future prostate cancer.

Patterns of Internet Use by Pregnant Women, and Reliability of Pregnancy-Related Searches.

Objective To assess patterns of e-health use in pregnancy in an underserved racially diverse inner-city population, and to assess the accuracy of pregnancy-related information obtained from the Internet. Methods A cross sectional study of 503 pregnant/postpartum women belonging to an underserved racially diverse inner-city population who completed a survey regarding e-health use. To assess accuracy, four independent expert-reviewers rated the first 10 webpages on Google searches for each of five questions based upon those in ACOG bulletins. Results 70.8 % of pregnant/postpartum women belonging to an underserved racially diverse inner-city population were e-health users. E-health users were younger (mean age 29.4 vs. 31.2, P = 0.009), more likely to be nulliparous (50.3 vs. 21.3 %, P < 0.001), have English as their primary language (62.3 vs. 49.1 %, P = 0.014) and have a college/graduate education (78 vs. 26.6 %, P < 0.001). While 60 % of these women said e-health influenced decision making, only 71.3 % of them discussed their searches with their provider. Expert reviewers determined that the online information was fairly accurate (mean score: +1.48 to +4.33 on a scale of -5 to +5) but not uniformly accurate, and there was at least one webpage with inaccurate information for every question. Conclusions for practice Pregnant women frequently use e-health resources but do not routinely share their findings with their providers. Most, but not all, information obtained is accurate. Therefore it is important for providers to discuss their patients' use, and help to guide them to reliable information.

To treat or not to treat? Pilot survey for minor and rapidly improving stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Minor strokes and rapidly improving stroke symptoms are frequent exclusions for intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. We explored factors influencing tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment decision for minor strokes/rapidly improving stroke symptoms. METHODS: A pilot survey, including 110 case scenarios, was completed by 17 clinicians from 2 academic medical centers. Respondents were asked whether they would treat each case with tissue-type plasminogen activator at 60 minutes after emergency department admission. Cases varied by (1) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at treatment decision time, (2) symptom pattern over time (improvement or worsening and then improving), (3) type of neurological deficit (3 main domains: motor, visual/sensory/ataxia, and language/neglect), and (4) age/occupation (4 profiles). Logistic regression was used to predict probability of omission (pO). A binomial regression model was used to predict probability of treatment decision. RESULTS: Predicted probability of treatment decision was affected by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (P<0.001) and age/occupation profiles (P<0.001) but not by symptom patterns (P=0.334). There were significant, albeit modest, main effects on probability of treatment decision for neurological domains. Responses were most likely omitted (P=0.027) for cases improvement pattern and language/neglect domain (pO=0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.89) and with visual/sensory/ataxia domain (pO=0.74; confidence interval, 0.37-0.93) when compared with improvement pattern and motor domain (pO=0.17; confidence interval, 0.06-0.42) and to any worsening and then improving patterns (0.37

Longitudinal Trends in Sexual Behaviors with Advancing Age and Menopause Among Women With and Without HIV-1 Infection.

We assessed changes in self-reported sexual activity (SA) over 13 years among HIV-infected and uninfected women. The impact of aging and menopause on SA and unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse (UAVI) was examined among women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), stratifying by HIV status and detectable viral load among HIV-infected women. Generalized mixed linear models were fitted for each outcome, adjusted for relevant covariates. HIV-uninfected women evidenced higher levels of SA and UAVI than HIV-infected. The odds of SA declined by 62-64 % per decade of age. The odds of SA in a 6-month interval for women aged 40-57 declined by 18-22 % post-menopause (controlling for age). Among HIV+/detectable women only, the odds of any UAVI decreased by 17 % per decade of age; the odds of UAVI were unchanged pre-menopause, and then decreased by 28 % post-menopause. Elucidating the factors accounting for ongoing unprotected sex among older women should inform interventions.

Validation of the lower urinary tract symptom score.

INTRODUCTION: To develop and validate a lower urinary tract symptom score (LUTSS) as a measure of lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) severity and a treatment outcome tool in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An expert panel was convened to develop the LUTSS questionnaire. Content validity was achieved by obtaining subject and expert feedback from two prospective drafts. Subjects were divided into three groups: normal, LUTS and overactive bladder (OAB). Questionnaire was administered on two separate occasions within 1-2 weeks. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, discriminant validity, criterion validity and responsiveness to change were also assessed. RESULTS: The questionnaire contains 14 questions with answers scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0-4). It includes 9 storage, 4 voiding and 1 bother question. One hundred ninety-one patients completed it; 80 males and 111 females, mean age 65 years (range 22-91). Seventy-two had OAB, 91 LUTS without OAB and 28 were normal. Test-retest intraclass correlation was 0.96 and Cronbach's-□ was 0.77, indicating strong test-retest reliability and internal consistency, respectively. ANOVA and post-hoc bootstrap-generated adjustments showed significant differences between the three groups (p < 0.001), demonstrating discriminant validity. Responsiveness to change was exhibited by the significant decrease between preop and postop scores and a concurrent patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I) score indicative of symptomatic improvement. CONCLUSION: The 14-question LUTSS is a validated questionnaire that assesses a full range of LUTS in men and women. The ordinal nature of the data with its highly specific description of symptoms makes it ideally suited as a nuanced and comprehensive symptom score and patient reported outcome (PRO) tool.

Psychosocial intervention improves depression, quality of life, and fluid adherence in hemodialysis.

Patients with ESRD have high rates of depression, which is associated with diminished quality of life and survival. We determined whether individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) reduces depression in hemodialysis patients with elevated depressive affect in a randomized crossover trial. Of 65 participants enrolled from two dialysis centers in New York, 59 completed the study and were assigned to the treatment-first group (n=33) or the wait-list control group (n=26). In the intervention phase, CBT was administered chairside during dialysis treatments for 3 months; participants were assessed 3 and 6 months after randomization. Compared with the wait-list group, the treatment-first group achieved significantly larger reductions in Beck Depression Inventory II (self-reported, P=0.03) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (clinician-reported, P<0.001) scores after intervention. Mean scores for the treatment-first group did not change significantly at the 3-month follow-up. Among participants with depression diagnosed at baseline, 89% in the treatment-first group were not depressed at the end of treatment compared with 38% in the wait-list group (Fisher's exact test, P=0.01). Furthermore, the treatment-first group experienced greater improvements in quality of life, assessed with the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (P=0.04), and interdialytic weight gain (P=0.002) than the wait-list group, although no effect on compliance was evident at follow-up. In summary, CBT led to significant improvements in depression, quality of life, and prescription compliance in this trial, and studies should be undertaken to assess the long-term effects of CBT on morbidity and mortality in patients with ESRD.

Knowledge of ovarian reserve and reproductive choices.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors that influence the reproductive choices of health care professionals, and to assess whether knowledge of ovarian reserve would modify those choices. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey utilizing anonymous questionnaires that assessed demographics, knowledge, attitudes and choices of female and male health care professionals between the ages of 20-55 (N = 185) who work at an academic medical center RESULT(S): Of the 185 respondents, 75% were female, 35% were residents and 35% were married. Among those who were delaying childbearing 39% wanted to complete their education, 25% had no identified partner, 10% were too active professionally and 4% could not afford children at the time. If testing of the individual or individual's partner indicated diminished ovarian reserve, 48% of those responding would try to have a child sooner, 21% would opt for oocyte cryopreservation, 7% would try to find a partner sooner, 7% would pursue adoption, and 3% would select embryo cryopreservation. Only 14% would not actively pursue treatment or make lifestyle changes. These results varied significantly with marital status but did not differ between participants with and without children. Similarly, choices did not vary significantly with religious belief or ethnicity. CONCLUSION(S): Increased information about a woman's reproductive reserve would lead individuals to modify life choices. Physicians caring for reproductive-age women and men should inquire about their childbearing plans, and educate those who are postponing childbearing regarding the normal pattern of reproductive decline.

Comparison of Lidocaine Gel-Assisted Transconjunctival and Transcutaneous Local Anesthesia for Outpatient Eyelid Surgery.

PURPOSE: Determine whether transconjunctival local anesthesia using 2% lidocaine gel decreases pain perception in comparison with transcutaneous anesthesia in patients undergoing outpatient eyelid surgery. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial. This study approved by an institutional review board and adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. A total of 120 patients undergoing bilateral upper or lower eyelid surgery were enlisted. Topical 2% lidocaine gel was administered to the palpebral conjunctiva for 1 minute, followed by a local transconjunctival injection. Local anesthetic was administered to the contralateral eyelid by a transcutaneous approach without use of topical anesthetic. Both injections were 1 ml of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:100,000 on a 30-gauge needle. After each injection, patients rated the pain on a 0-to-10 visual analog scale. Patients were also asked for preference between the 2 sides. RESULTS: The mean pain scores were 2.33 (standard deviation 0.98) for the transconjunctival side and 3.42 (standard deviation 0.88) for the transcutaneous side. The reduction in pain scores for lidocaine gel-treated sides was statistically significant (p < 0.001) when controlling for side of intervention, upper versus lower eyelid procedures, sex of participants, and type of procedure. In addition, 85% of participants found the transconjunctival injection to be less painful than the transcutaneous (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Transconjunctival local anesthesia in conjunction with topical anesthesia with 2% lidocaine gel provides a clinically and statistically significant decrease in perceived pain when compared with transcutaneous anesthesia in patients undergoing outpatient eyelid surgery.

Accuracy of optic nerve sheath diameter measurement by emergency physicians using bedside ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound (US) measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been utilized as an indirect assessment of intracranial pressure. It is usually performed by trained ultrasonographers. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether or not emergency physicians (EP) are capable of measuring the ONSD accurately by US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective measurement of ONSD was conducted on computed tomography (CT) scans of the head or facial bones. These patients had undergone ocular US performed by EPs prior to CT scanning. The CT scan measurements of ONSD read by a board-certified radiologist were compared with that of the US read by a registered diagnostic medical sonographer. A difference in measurements of the ONSD ≥ 0.5 mm between the two modalities was considered as significant for this study. RESULTS: The ONSD measurements were performed with CT scan and compared to that of the US. Of the 61 patients studied, 36 (59%) were male and 25 (41%) were female. The average age was 56 ± 17 years. All but 4 patients had ONSD measurements that were between 5 and 6 mm [Corrected]. Discrepancy in measurements of the ONSD between US and CT for both groups fell within our predetermined value (0.5 mm) for the majority of cases. None of the measurements were above 6 mm. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.9 (95% confidence interval 0.8846-0.9303). CONCLUSION: Emergency physicians were capable of accurately measuring the ONSD using bedside US. Prospective studies with a larger sample size are recommended to validate these findings.

Rapidly improving stroke symptoms: a pilot, prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Rapidly improving stroke symptoms (RISSs) are a controversial exclusion for intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We estimated the frequency of 4 prespecified RISS definitions and explored their relationship to clinical outcome. METHODS: Pilot, prospective study of AIS patients admitted within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Serial assessments using National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were performed every 20 ± 5 minutes until a rt-PA treatment decision was made, independent of the study. Improvement was calculated as the difference between baseline NIHSS and treatment decision NIHSS. RISS was defined as a 4-point or greater improvement, 25% or greater, 50% or greater, and according to the previously reported TREAT (The Re-examining Acute Eligibility for Thrombolysis) criteria. Unfavorable outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score more than 1 at 90 days after stroke. Logistic regression determined if RISS definition(s) related to the outcome. RESULTS: Fifty patients with AIS were enrolled: mean age 65 years; median baseline NIHSS score 5 (interquartile range, 2-11). RISS frequencies were 10%-22% based on definition. Median treatment decision NIHSS score is 5 (interquartile range, 2-9). Twenty-three (46%) patients received rt-PA. None of the 3 non-TREAT RISS definitions was independently associated with the outcome. Five of fifty (10%) were RISS according to the TREAT criteria, all 5 had good outcome without rt-PA. CONCLUSIONS: A Serial NIHSS assessment before treatment decision is feasible and may help determine the frequency and magnitude of RISS. This is the first prospective estimate of RISS frequency and outcome according to various prespecified definitions. The TREAT RISS frequency as a more restrictive definition may better predict good outcome of RISS in future, larger studies.