Differences Between Highly Rated vs Poorly Rated Patient Ratings of Radiology Reports.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences in quantitative features between poorly versus highly rated patient ratings of radiology reports. METHODS: A HIPAA-compliant, IRB-waived study was performed from October 2019 to June 2021. Patients completed an optional 2-question survey ("How helpful was the report?" with a 5-star scale and an open text box) embedded into the patient portal, and reports were assessed for readability and brevity. Quantitative analyses were performed between poorly (≤3 stars) and highly rated (>3 stars) CT and MRI reports, including the use of structured reporting, number of words, words per sentence, Flesch Reading Ease, and Flesh-Kincaid Grade level within the findings and impression sections of the radiology reports. A two-tailed nonparametric Mann U Whitney test was performed for continuous variables and Chi2 for categorical variables. RESULTS: Of the 490 responses, all 135 evaluating CT or MR were included (27%). 106/135 (78%) of the patients gave high ratings (score of 4 or 5). 46/135 (34%), the radiology reports were in a structured format. The proportion of highly rated reports were significantly higher for structured than freeform reports (93.5 vs. 70.8%, p = 0.002). In the findings section, highly rated reports had a lower Flesch Reading Ease score than poorly rated reports (19.6 vs. 28.9, p <0.01). No significant differences were observed between number of words (p=0.27), words per sentence (p=0.94), and Flesh-Kincaid Grade level (p=0.09) in the findings section. In the impression section, no differences were observed between highly vs. poorly rated reports among the measured parameters. CONCLUSION: Patients preferred highly rated reports that were structured and had lower Flesch Reading Ease scores in the findings section.

Availability of a final abdominopelvic CT report before emergency department disposition: risk-adjusted outcomes in patients with abdominal pain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether availability of a final radiologist report versus an experienced senior resident preliminary report prior to disposition affects major care outcomes in emergency department (ED) patient presenting with abdominal pain undergoing abdominopelvic CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-institution, IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective cohort study included 5019 ED patients with abdominal pain undergoing abdominopelvic CT from October 2015 to April 2019. Patients were categorized as being dispositioned after either an experienced senior resident preliminary report (i.e., overnight model) or the final attending radiologist interpretation (i.e., daytime model) of the CT was available. Multivariable regression models were built accounting for demographic data, clinical factors (vital signs, ED triage score, laboratory data), and disposition timing to analyze the impact on four important patient outcomes: inpatient admission (primary outcome), readmission (within 30 days), second operation within 30 days, and death. RESULTS: In the setting of an available experienced senior resident preliminary report, timing of the final radiologist report (before vs. after disposition) was not a significant multivariable predictor of inpatient admission (p = 0.63), readmission within 30 days (p = 0.66), second operation within 30 days (p = 0.09), or death (p = 0.63). Unadjusted event rates for overnight vs daytime reports, respectively, were 37.2% vs. 38.0% (inpatient admission), 15.9% vs. 16.5% (30-day readmission), 0.65% vs. 0.3% (second operation within 30 days), and 0.85% vs. 1.3% (death). CONCLUSION: Given the presence of an experienced senior resident preliminary report, availability of a final radiology report prior to ED disposition did not affect four major clinical care outcomes of patients with abdominal pain undergoing abdominopelvic CT.

Improved gastrointestinal health for irritable bowel syndrome with metagenome-guided interventions.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder worldwide, and the most common reason for referral to gastroenterology clinics. However, the pathophysiology is still not fully understood and consequently current management guidelines are very symptom-specific, leading to mixed results. Here we present a study of 88 individuals with IBS who had baseline sequencing of their gut microbiome (stool samples), received targeted interventions that included dietary, supplement, prebiotic/probiotic, and lifestyle recommendations for a 30-day period, and a follow-up sequencing of their gut microbiome. The study's objectives were to demonstrate unique metagenomic signatures across the IBS phenotypes and to validate whether metagenomic-guided interventions could lead to improvement of symptom scores in individuals with IBS. Enrolled subjects also completed a baseline and post-intervention questionnaire that assessed their symptom scores. The average symptom score of an individual with IBS at baseline was 160 and at the endpoint of the study the average symptom score of the cohort was 100.9. The mixed IBS subtype showed the most significant reduction in symptom scores across the different subtypes (average decrease by 102 points, P = 0.005). The metagenomics analysis reveals shifts in the microbiome post-intervention that have been cross-validated with the literature as being associated with improvement of IBS symptoms. Given the complex nature of IBS, further studies with larger sample sizes, more targeted analyses, and a broader population cohort are needed to explore these results further.

Thoracic cord herniation through a dural defect: description of a case and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord herniation through a dural defect is a cause of myelopathy and BSS that may be underdiagnosed. It may occur spontaneously, after trauma, or after surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with low back pain, progressive myelopathy, right proximal LEW, several episodes of falling, sensory changes below the lower part of the chest wall, and pathologic reflexes. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine showed kinking of the spinal cord anteriorly at the level of T6-7. Posterior laminoplasty and intradural exploration revealed an anteriorly displaced spinal cord that was herniating through a ventral dural fold. The defect was repaired, and the spinal cord abnormality was reduced. Postoperatively, the patient's strength, gait, and sensation improved immediately. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the successful surgical treatment of a thoracic spinal cord tethering from herniation through a ventral dural defect and review the literature regarding the proposed pathogenesis, surgical repair options, and reported outcomes.

Magnetic resonance imaging detects and predicts early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage in a canine experimental model.

The canine double hemorrhage model is an established model to study cerebral vasospasm, the late sequelae of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The present study uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the recently reported early brain injury after SAH. Double hemorrhage SAH modeling was obtained by injecting 0.5 mL/kg of autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna of five adult mongrel dogs on day 0 and day 2, followed by imaging at day 2 and day 7 using a 4.7-Tesla (T) scanner. White matter (WM) showed a remarkable increase in T2 values at day 2 which resolved by day 7, whereas gray matter (GM) T2 values did not resolve. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values progressively increased in both WM and GM after SAH, suggestive of a transition from vasogenic to cytotoxic edema. Ventricular volume also increased dramatically. Prominent neuronal injury with Nissl's staining was seen in the cortical GM and in the periventricular tissue. Multimodal MRI reveals acute changes in the brain after SAH and can be used to non-invasively study early brain injury and normal pressure hydrocephalus post-SAH. MR can also predict tissue histopathology and may be useful for assessing pharmacological treatments designed to ameliorate SAH.

Determination of penicillin G in feeds by liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction.

A liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of penicillin G in feeds. The method involves extraction of penicillin G with methanol, concentration under a stream of nitrogen, and cleanup using Phenomenex Strata-X solid-phase extraction cartridge. Analyte separation and quantification were achieved by gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography and ultraviolet absorbance at 230 nm. Average spike recoveries for samples prepared at 3 spiking levels (25, 50, and 200 g/ton) were 96.3, 92.1, and 88.6%, respectively. The overall method precision at each of the 3 spiking levels was < or = 5.39% relative standard deviation. The limits of detection and quantititation (g/ton formulation) were 3.89 and 13.0 g/ton, respectively.

Assuring Quality Cancer Survivorship Care: We've Only Just Begun.

Clinical practice guidelines, quality metrics, and performance improvement projects are the key tools of the national movement to improve and assure quality cancer care. Each of these evaluation instruments is intended to assess quality from a unique perspective, including that of the individual provider, the practice/hospital, and the health care system. A number of organizations have developed or endorsed quality measures specific to cancer, however, these have not formally included survivorship measures. Fortunately, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) have taken a leadership role in developing survivorship guidelines and quality metrics. Both ASCO and ACoS have focused their efforts on the treatment summary and care plan, a document that was proposed in the 2006 Institute of Medicine report on cancer survivorship. ASCO has proposed a care plan template for implementation and incorporation into the electronic health records (EHR), which will lend itself to structure, process, and outcome measurement. ACoS, conversely, has included the care plan in its cancer program standards with annual evaluation metrics. In addition, ASCO has developed a number of key survivorship-relevant metrics as part of its Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI), a tool developed to measure quality cancer care and assess adherence to guidelines across academic and community practices. Together, these efforts will direct us to more effective ways to disseminate guideline recommendations and to better methods of assessing quality survivorship care nationally.

Determination of tylosin in feeds by liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction.

A method was developed for the determination of tylosin in feeds. The method involves extraction of tylosin with methanol, concentration under a stream of nitrogen, and cleanup using Phenomenex C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge. Analyte separation and quantitation were achieved by gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography and UV absorbance at 285 nm with a reference wavelength of 320 nm with column temperature of 45 degrees C. Average spike recoveries for samples prepared at 4 spiking levels (22.7, 181, 907, and 1000 g/ton) were 111.0, 94.9, 96.2, and 98.6%, respectively. The overall method precision at each of the 4 spiking levels was < or = 7.85% relative standard deviation. The limits of detection and quantitation (g/ton) were 2.16 and 7.20 g/ton, respectively.