Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes of Patients With Locally Advanced/Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated at the Veterans Health Administration.

PURPOSE: This study retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving atezolizumab with bevacizumab (A + B) therapy at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced HCC who received first-line systemic therapy with A + B at the VHA between December 1, 2019, and March 1, 2022, were selected from electronic medical records (EMR) using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Abstractors reviewed the EMR of the patients from their index date of A + B initiation until death or their last VHA visit, with the study period ending on January 31, 2023. The chi-square test was used to compare rates, and the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare medians. RESULTS: A total of 332 patients met the study criteria. The median age was 67 years; 99% were male, 63% were non-Hispanic Whites, 26% were Black, and 66% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≥1. 84% had child Pugh score (CPS) class A, 16% had CPS classes B and C, 62% had a grade 2 albumin-bilirubin score, 56% had HCC caused by viral hepatitis, 80% had cirrhosis, and 67% had received prior local therapies. The 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) was 59%, while the 1-year PFS rate was 36%. Overall survival (OS) at 1-year was 52% in our study. CONCLUSION: In real world, despite having similar PFS as the phase III IMbrave 150 trial, our OS at 12 months was lower (52% vs. 67%) because our study included a higher proportion of elderly patients with moderate liver dysfunction and a 40% non-White. This study provided real-world outcomes that differed from the study population in a pivotal trial.

Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can aid geriatricians in caring for complex, older patients. Currently, there is limited literature on POCUS use by geriatricians. We conducted a national survey to assess current POCUS use, training desired, and barriers among Geriatrics and Extended Care ("geriatric") clinics at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of all VAMCs between August 2019 and March 2020 using a web-based survey sent to all VAMC Chiefs of Staff and Chiefs of geriatric clinics. RESULTS: All Chiefs of Staff (n=130) completed the survey (100% response rate). Chiefs of geriatric clinics ("chiefs") at 76 VAMCs were surveyed and 52 completed the survey (68% response rate). Geriatric clinics were located throughout the United States, mostly at high-complexity, urban VAMCs. Only 15% of chiefs responded that there was some POCUS usage in their geriatric clinic, but more than 60% of chiefs would support the implementation of POCUS use. The most common POCUS applications used in geriatric clinics were the evaluation of the bladder and urinary obstruction. Barriers to POCUS use included a lack of trained providers (56%), ultrasound equipment (50%), and funding for training (35%). Additionally, chiefs reported time utilization, clinical indications, and low patient census as barriers. CONCLUSIONS: POCUS has several potential applications for clinicians caring for geriatric patients. Though only 15% of geriatric clinics at VAMCs currently use POCUS, most geriatric chiefs would support implementing POCUS use as a diagnostic tool. The greatest barriers to POCUS implementation in geriatric clinics were a lack of training and ultrasound equipment. Addressing these barriers systematically can facilitate implementation of POCUS use into practice and permit assessment of the impact of POCUS on geriatric care in the future.

Current Use, Training, and Barriers of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Anesthesiology: A National Survey of Veterans Affairs Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine current use, training needs, and barriers to point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use among anesthesiologists in practice. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, observational study. SETTING: Anesthesiology departments in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Chiefs of staff and chiefs of anesthesiology departments. INTERVENTIONS: A web-based survey was conducted between June 2019 and March 2020. Chiefs of staff answered questions about facility-level POCUS use, training, competency, and policies. Anesthesiology chiefs responded to a follow-up survey with specialty-specific POCUS questions. The results of the 2020 survey were compared with a similar survey conducted by the authors' group in 2015. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All chiefs of staff (n = 130) and 77% of anesthesiology chiefs (n = 96) completed the survey. The most common POCUS applications used were central and peripheral vascular access (69%-72%), peripheral nerve blocks (66%), and evaluation of cardiac function (29%-31%). Compared with 2015, there was a statistically significant increase in desire for training (p = 0.00015), but no significant change in POCUS use (p = 0.31). Training was most desired for volume-status assessment (52%), left ventricular function (47%), pneumothorax (47%), central line placement (40%), peripheral nerve blocks (40%), and pleural effusion (40%). The most common barriers to POCUS use were lack of funding for training (35%), trained providers (33%), and training opportunities (28%). CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase in desire for POCUS training was seen among anesthesiologists practicing in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system since 2015, and lack of training continues to be a top barrier for POCUS use among anesthesiologists.

Development of a Point-of-Care Ultrasound Track for Internal Medicine Residents.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training has been increasing among internal medicine (IM) residency programs, but few programs can provide longitudinal training due to barriers such as lack of trained faculty. AIM: Describe the development of a longitudinal POCUS track for IM residents using local and external resources, including a national POCUS certificate program. SETTING: University-based IM residency program affiliated with a public and veterans affairs hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve IM residents from 2018 to 2021. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Residents complete a national POCUS certificate program by attending live courses and completing online modules, an image portfolio, and final knowledge/skills assessments. Locally, residents participate in 1-month procedure and diagnostic POCUS rotations and provide peer-to-peer POCUS teaching of residents and medical students. PROGRAM EVALUATION: The POCUS track increased residents' use and comfort with diagnostic and procedural applications. All residents rated being satisfied or very satisfied with the track and would recommend it to prospective applicants (100%). The most commonly reported barriers to utilizing POCUS per residents were time constraints (83%), lack of available ultrasound equipment (83%), and lack of trained faculty (58%). DISCUSSION: IM residency programs with limited faculty expertise in POCUS can leverage external resources to provide longitudinal POCUS training to its residents.

Teaching vs learning: Impact of deliberate practice and formative feedback on developing point of care ultrasound skills.

PURPOSE: The study investigators hypothesized that Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training through bolus didactic and workshop experiences may be sufficient for trainees to learn the cognitive aspects, while an extended period of exposure with formative feedback is responsible for developing the psychomotor skills critical for POCUS. METHODS: The investigators studied trainees over the course of an academic year. They compared trainees' performance on written (cognitive) and observed image acquisition (psychomotor) exams at baseline and at each subsequent quarter, using a stepped-wedge design. They performed linear regression analysis to determine which variables contributed to knowledge and psychomotor skill development. RESULTS: Twenty-six trainees met the study requirements and participated in the POCUS curriculum. Participating in a POCUS rotation was consistently associated with an increase in psychomotor scores. There was no consistent variable to predict an increase in trainee's score on written knowledge assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Extended exposure to POCUS over a 4-week rotation with direct and indirect formative feedback can explain difference in scores on psychomotor skills assessments. Trainees scored similarly on the written assessment with or without a POCUS rotation. Training through didactic and workshop experiences may be sufficient to learn the cognitive aspects, but not psychomotor skills required for POCUS.

Current Use and Barriers to Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Rheumatology: A National Survey of VA Medical Centers.

INTRODUCTION: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can assist rheumatologists in monitoring disease activity, establishing diagnoses, and guiding procedural interventions. POCUS use has been increasing, but little is known about current use and barriers among rheumatologists. The purpose of this study was to characterize current POCUS use, training needs, and barriers to use among rheumatologists in practice. METHODS: A prospective observational study of all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers was conducted using a web-based survey sent to all chiefs of staff and rheumatology chiefs about current POCUS use, training needs, barriers, and policies. RESULTS: All chiefs of staff (n = 130) and rheumatology chiefs at VA medical centers (n = 95) were surveyed with 100% and 84% response rates, respectively. The most common diagnostic POCUS applications were evaluation of synovitis, joint effusion, tendinopathies, bursitis, and rotator cuff. The most common procedural applications were arthrocentesis and joint, bursa, and tendon injection. Most rheumatology chiefs (69%) expressed interest in training for their group. The most common barriers to POCUS use were lack of trained providers (68%), funding for training (54%), training opportunities (38%), funding for travel (38%), and ultrasound equipment (31%). Lack of POCUS infrastructure was common, and few facilities had POCUS policies (20%), image archiving (25%), or quality assurance processes (6%). CONCLUSION: Currently, half of rheumatology groups use diagnostic and procedural ultrasound applications. Most rheumatology groups desire training, and lack of training and equipment were the most common barriers to ultrasound use. Deliberate investment is needed in ultrasound training and infrastructure for systematic adoption of POCUS in rheumatology. Graphical Abstract available for this article. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03296280.

Social Determinants of Long-Term Opioid Use Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) risks persistent pain and long-term opioid use (LTO). The role of social determinants of health (SDoH) in LTO is not well established. We hypothesized that SDoH would be associated with postsurgical LTO after controlling for relevant demographic and clinical variables. This study utilized data from the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program, VA Corporate Data Warehouse, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including Veterans aged ≥ 65 who underwent elective TKA between 2013 and 2019 with no postsurgical complications or history of significant opioid use. LTO was defined as > 90 days of opioid use beginning within 90 days postsurgery. SDoH variables included the Area Deprivation Index, rurality, and housing instability in the last 12 months identified via medical record screener or International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. Multivariable risk adjustment models controlled for demographic and clinical characteristics. Of the 9,064 Veterans, 97% were male, 84.2% white, mean age was 70.6 years, 46.3% rural, 11.2% living in highly deprived areas, and 0.9% with a history of homelessness/housing instability. Only 3.7% (n = 336) developed LTO following TKA. In a logistic regression model of only SDoH variables, housing instability (odds ratio [OR] = 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-5.22) and rurality conferred significant risk for LTO. After adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, LTO was only associated with increasing days of opioid supply in the year prior to surgery (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.43-1.63 per 30 days) and the initial opioid fill (OR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.06-1.08 per day). Our primary hypothesis was not supported; however, our findings do suggest that patients with housing instability may present unique challenges for postoperative pain management and be at higher risk for LTO.

Unstable Housing and Mortality Among US Veterans Receiving Dialysis.

Importance: Housing status is an important health determinant, yet little is known about unstable housing among individuals receiving dialysis. Objective: To determine factors associated with unstable housing among US veterans receiving dialysis and to estimate the association of unstable housing with risk of death. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used data from the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the US Renal Data System for patients who initiated dialysis between October 1, 2012, and December 31, 2018. Veterans were included if they used VHA outpatient services and completed 1 or more unstable housing screenings within a 3-year period before starting dialysis. Data analysis was conducted from January 24 to June 16, 2023. Exposures: Unstable housing was defined as self-report of not having stable housing within the past 2 months or having concerns about stable housing in the next 2 months. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was all-cause mortality. Characteristics associated with unstable housing at the time of dialysis initiation were examined. The multivariate Fine and Gray cumulative incidence model was used, treating transplant as a competing risk and age as an effect modifier, to examine the risk of death associated with unstable housing. Results: This study included 25 689 veterans, with a median age of 68 (IQR, 62-74) years. Most participants were men (98%), and more than half (52%) were White. There were 771 veterans (3%) with a positive screen for unstable housing within a 3-year period before starting dialysis. Compared with veterans with stable housing, those with unstable housing were younger (mean [SD] age, 61 [8] vs 68 [10] years), were more likely to be Black (45% vs 32%) or Hispanic (9% vs 7%), and were more likely to start dialysis with a central venous catheter (77% vs 66%), receive in-center hemodialysis (96% vs 91%), and have non-Medicare insurance (53% vs 28%). Factors associated with unstable housing included Hispanic ethnicity, non-arteriovenous fistula vascular access, lack of predialysis nephrology care, and non-Medicare insurance. Veterans with unstable housing had higher all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.20 [95% CI, 1.04 to 1.37] for a median age of 68 years), and risks increased with age (P = .01 for interaction). In age-stratified analyses, unstable housing was associated with higher mortality among veterans aged 75 to 85 years (AHR, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.18 to 2.28]), but associations were not observed for other age groups. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of veterans receiving dialysis, unstable housing experienced before starting dialysis was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, and risks increased with age. Further efforts are needed to understand the experiences of older adults with unstable housing and to estimate the scope of unstable housing among all individuals receiving dialysis.

Current Use and Barriers to Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Primary Care: A National Survey of VA Medical Centers.

BACKGROUND: More primary care providers (PCPs) have begun to embrace the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), but little is known about how PCPs are currently using POCUS and what barriers exist. In this prospective study, the largest systematic survey of POCUS use among PCPs, we assessed the current use, barriers to use, program management, and training needs for POCUS in primary care. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of all VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) between June 2019 and March 2020 using a web-based survey sent to all VAMC Chiefs of Staff and Chiefs of primary care clinics (PCCs). RESULTS: Chiefs of PCCs at 105 VAMCs completed the survey (82% response rate). Only 13% of PCCs currently use POCUS, and the most common applications used were bladder and musculoskeletal ultrasound. Desire for POCUS training exceeded current use, but lack of trained providers (78%), ultrasound equipment (66%), and funding for training (41%) were common barriers. Program infrastructure to support POCUS use was uncommon, and only 9% of VAMCs had local policies related to POCUS. Most PCC chiefs (64%) would support POCUS training. CONCLUSIONS: Current use of POCUS in primary care is low despite the recent growth of POCUS training in Internal Medicine residency programs. Investment in POCUS training and program infrastructure is needed to expand POCUS use in primary care and ensure adequate supervision of trainees.

Effect of intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative pain and swelling following periodontal flap surgery: A randomized controlled trial of patient-centered outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This randomized, crossover trial sought to determine if a preoperative intravenous (IV) dose of dexamethasone reduces pain, swelling, and analgesic usage following periodontal surgery. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients planned for two similar periodontal flap surgeries under IV sedation were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either 2 mL (8 mg) dexamethasone sodium phosphate or 2 mL of IV solution (placebo) before the first surgery, and 2 mL of the other solution before the second surgery. Postoperative discomfort was managed with a standardized regimen of 600 mg ibuprofen and 325 mg acetaminophen. A smartphone application was used to record self-assessed pain and swelling scores using 21-point numerical (NRS-21) and 4-point verbal (VRS-4) rating scales as well as the number of analgesic medications taken at 12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 168-, and 336-hours following each surgery. RESULTS: IV dexamethasone was associated with a significant reduction in pain at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours (P <0.05), and swelling at 12, 24, 48, and 168 hours (P < 0.05) postoperatively when compared with placebo based on NRS-21 responses. VRS-4 data showed significant reductions in pain at 12, 72, and 168 hours and swelling at 12, 24, and 168 hours postoperatively with dexamethasone. No significant differences were found in the number of tablets of ibuprofen or acetaminophen between dexamethasone and placebo surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative, intravenously administered dexamethasone reduces pain and swelling within the first postoperative week following periodontal flap surgery and should be considered a useful adjunct for perioperative management.

Development of a multisystem point of care ultrasound skills assessment checklist.

BACKGROUND: Many institutions are training clinicians in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), but few POCUS skills checklists have been developed and validated. We developed a consensus-based multispecialty POCUS skills checklist with anchoring references for basic cardiac, lung, abdominal, and vascular ultrasound, and peripheral intravenous line (PIV) insertion. METHODS: A POCUS expert panel of 14 physicians specializing in emergency, critical care, and internal/hospital medicine participated in a modified-Delphi approach to develop a basic POCUS skills checklist by group consensus. Three rounds of voting were conducted, and consensus was defined by ≥ 80% agreement. Items achieving < 80% consensus were discussed and considered for up to two additional rounds of voting. RESULTS: Thirteen POCUS experts (93%) completed all three rounds of voting. Cardiac, lung, abdominal, and vascular ultrasound checklists included probe location and control, basic machine setup, image quality and optimization, and identification of anatomical structures. PIV insertion included additional items for needle tip tracking. During the first round of voting, 136 (82%) items achieved consensus, and after revision and revoting, an additional 21 items achieved consensus. A total of 153 (92%) items were included in the final checklist. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a consensus-based, multispecialty POCUS checklist to evaluate skills in image acquisition and anatomy identification for basic cardiac, lung, abdominal, and vascular ultrasound, and PIV insertion.

Current use, training, and barriers in point-of-care ultrasound in hospital medicine: A national survey of VA hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can reduce procedural complications and improve the diagnostic accuracy of hospitalists. Currently, it is unknown how many practicing hospitalists use POCUS, which applications are used most often, and what barriers to POCUS use exist. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize current POCUS use, training needs, and barriers to use among hospital medicine groups (HMGs). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective observational study of all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers was conducted between August 2019 and March 2020 using a web-based survey sent to all chiefs of HMGs. These data were compared to a similar survey conducted in 2015. RESULT: Chiefs from 117 HMGs were surveyed, with a 90% response rate. There was ongoing POCUS use in 64% of HMGs. From 2015 to 2020, procedural POCUS use decreased by 19%, but diagnostic POCUS use increased for cardiac (8%), pulmonary (7%), and abdominal (8%) applications. The most common barrier to POCUS use was lack of training (89%), and only 34% of HMGs had access to POCUS training. Access to ultrasound equipment was the least common barrier (57%). The proportion of HMGs with ≥1 ultrasound machine increased from 29% to 71% from 2015 to 2020. An average of 3.6 ultrasound devices per HMG was available, and 45% were handheld devices. CONCLUSION: From 2015 to 2020, diagnostic POCUS use increased, while procedural use decreased among hospitalists in the VA system. Lack of POCUS training is currently the most common barrier to POCUS use among hospitalists.

Accuracy of dental calculus detection using digital radiography and image manipulation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine if image enhancement improves a clinician's ability to identify the presence of calculus on digital radiographs. METHODS: Seventy-one hopeless teeth were collected from 34 patients. Teeth were stained with 1% methylene blue, the largest interproximal calculus deposit was scored, and photographs of each interproximal root surface were taken. The surface area of calculus deposit was determined as a percentage of the total interproximal root surface area. Digital radiographs of teeth taken before extraction were modified using the following enhancements: auto-contrast, emboss, invert, and sharpen. Radiographic presence of calculus was determined by two examiners. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each examiner and enhancement. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare differences between the image enhancements in the detection of dental calculus. The kappa statistic was used to compare ratings between examiners. RESULTS: None of the enhanced images were statistically superior to original images in identifying radiographic calculus (P > 0.05). The average sensitivity of digital radiography was 50%, average specificity was 82.2%, PPV was 94%, and NPV 23.2%. A threshold of >30% of interproximal root surface covered with calculus and increasing size of deposits were associated with improved detection (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Digital enhancements do not significantly improve radiographic detection of dental calculus. As area of calculus on the root surface and size of calculus deposits increased, sensitivity of detection also increased.

Retention of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Skills Among Practicing Physicians: Findings of the VA National POCUS Training Program.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use continues to increase in many specialties, but lack of POCUS training is a known barrier among practicing physicians. Many physicians are obtaining POCUS training through postgraduate courses, but the impact of these courses on skill retention and frequency of POCUS use post-course is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the change in POCUS knowledge, skills, and frequency of use after 6-9 months of participating in a brief training course. METHODS: Course participants' POCUS knowledge and hands-on technical skills were tested pre-course using an online, 30-question knowledge test and a directly observed skills test, respectively. The same knowledge and skills tests were repeated immediately post-course and after 6-9 months using remote tele-ultrasound software. Course participants completed a survey on their POCUS use pre-course and after 6-9 months post-course. RESULTS: There were 127 providers who completed the POCUS training course from October 2016 to November 2017. Knowledge test scores increased from a median of 60% to 90% immediately post-course followed by a slight decrease to 87% after 8 months post-course. Median skills test scores for 4 common POCUS applications (heart, lung, abdomen, vascular access) increased 36-74 points from pre-course to immediately post-course with a 2-7-point decrease after 8 months. Providers reported more frequent POCUS use post-course, which suggests application of their POCUS knowledge and skills in clinical practice. More frequent use of cardiac POCUS applications was associated with significantly greater retention of cardiac skills at 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing physicians can retain POCUS knowledge and hands-on skills 8 months after participating in a 2.5-day POCUS training course, regardless of frequency of POCUS use post-course.

Inhibition of astrocyte hemichannel improves recovery from spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes severe disability, and the current inability to restore function to the damaged spinal cord leads to lasting detrimental consequences to patients. One strategy to reduce SCI morbidity involves limiting the spread of secondary damage after injury. Previous studies have shown that connexin 43 (Cx43), a gap junction protein richly expressed in spinal cord astrocytes, is a potential mediator of secondary damage. Here, we developed a specific inhibitory antibody, mouse-human chimeric MHC1 antibody (MHC1), that inhibited Cx43 hemichannels, but not gap junctions, and reduced secondary damage in 2 incomplete SCI mouse models. MHC1 inhibited the activation of Cx43 hemichannels in both primary spinal astrocytes and astrocytes in situ. In both SCI mouse models, administration of MHC1 after SCI significantly improved hind limb locomotion function. Remarkably, a single administration of MHC1 30 minutes after injury improved the recovery up to 8 weeks post-SCI. Moreover, MHC1 treatment decreased gliosis and lesion sizes, increased white and gray matter sparing, and improved neuronal survival. Together, these results suggest that inhibition of Cx43 hemichannel function after traumatic SCI reduces secondary damage, limits perilesional gliosis, and improves functional recovery. By targeting hemichannels specifically with an antibody, this study provides a potentially new, innovative therapeutic approach in treating SCI.

Comparison of in-person versus tele-ultrasound point-of-care ultrasound training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Lack of training is currently the most common barrier to implementation of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use in clinical practice, and in-person POCUS continuing medical education (CME) courses have been paramount in improving this training gap. Due to travel restrictions and physical distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, most in-person POCUS training courses were cancelled. Though tele-ultrasound technology has existed for several years, use of tele-ultrasound technology to deliver hands-on training during a POCUS CME course has not been previously described. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study comparing educational outcomes, course evaluations, and learner and faculty feedback from in-person versus tele-ultrasound POCUS courses. The same POCUS educational curriculum was delivered to learners by the two course formats. Data from the most recent pre-pandemic in-person course were compared to tele-ultrasound courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Pre- and post-course knowledge test scores of learners from the in-person (n = 88) and tele-ultrasound course (n = 52) were compared. Though mean pre-course knowledge test scores were higher among learners of the tele-ultrasound versus in-person course (78% vs. 71%; p = 0.001), there was no significant difference in the post-course test scores between learners of the two course formats (89% vs. 87%; p = 0.069). Both learners and faculty rated the tele-ultrasound course highly (4.6-5.0 on a 5-point scale) for effectiveness of virtual lectures, tele-ultrasound hands-on scanning sessions, and course administration. Faculty generally expressed less satisfaction with their ability to engage with learners, troubleshoot image acquisition, and provide feedback during the tele-ultrasound course but felt learners completed the tele-ultrasound course with a better basic POCUS skillset. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to a traditional in-person course, tele-ultrasound POCUS CME courses appeared to be as effective for improving POCUS knowledge post-course and fulfilling learning objectives. Our findings can serve as a roadmap for educators seeking guidance on development of a tele-ultrasound POCUS training course whose demand will likely persist beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reduced cerebral blood flow in an α-synuclein transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

There is increasing evidence that widespread cortical cerebral blood flow deficits occur early in the course of Parkinson's disease. Although cerebral blood flow measurement has been suggested as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, as well as a means for tracking response to treatment, the relationship of cerebral blood flow to α-synucleinopathy, a major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease, remains unclear. Therefore, we performed arterial spin-labeling magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging on transgenic mice overexpressing human wild-type α-synuclein and age-matched controls to measure cerebral blood flow and degenerative changes. As reported for early-stage Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein mice exhibited a significant reduction in cortical cerebral blood flow, which was accompanied by motor coordination deficits and olfactory dysfunction. Although no overt degenerative changes were apparent in diffusion tensor imaging images, magnetic resonance imaging volumetric analysis revealed a significant reduction in olfactory bulb volume, similar to that seen in Parkinson's disease patients. Our data, representing the first report of cerebral blood flow deficit in an animal model of Parkinson's disease, suggest a causative role for α-synucleinopathy in cerebral blood flow deficits in Parkinson's disease. Thus, α-synuclein transgenic mice comprise a promising model to study Parkinson's disease-related mechanisms of cerebral blood flow deficits and to investigate further its utility as a potential biomarker for Parkinson's disease.

Utilization of Interactive Clinical Video Telemedicine by Rural and Urban Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration Health Care System.

PURPOSE: Interactive clinical video telemedicine (CVT) has the potential to benefit health care systems and patients by improving access, lowering costs, and more efficiently distributing providers. However, there is a gap in current knowledge around the demand for and potential uses of CVT in large integrated health care systems. METHODS: We conducted an observational study using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administrative databases to analyze trends in CVT utilization, and types of care received, among 7.65 million veterans during fiscal years (FY) 2009-2015 (October 1, 2008-September 30, 2015). Trends were stratified by veteran rurality and analyzed using linear regression. Among 4.95 million veterans in FY2015, we used logistic regression to identify characteristics associated with CVT utilization for any care, mental health care, and major specialties. FINDINGS: Over 6 years, the annual CVT utilization grew from 30 to 124 encounters per 1,000 veterans (>300% increase), with faster growth among rural veterans than urban veterans. Over the study period, ≥50% of all CVT-delivered care was mental health care. In FY2015, 3.2% of urban and 7.2% of rural veterans utilized CVT for nearly 725,000 clinical encounters. Rural residence, younger age, longer driving distance to VHA facilities, one or more comorbidities, and higher rates of traditional, non-video utilization were independently associated with higher odds of CVT use. CONCLUSIONS: CVT utilization in VHA has increased quickly and exceeds published rates in the private health care market. The availability of CVT has likely increased access to VHA care for rural veterans, especially for mental health care.