Positive Predictive Value of a Single Assessment of Estimated GFR in the Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The positive predictive value (PPV) of a single assessment of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not known. Our objective was to determine the PPV of a single assessment of eGFR among adults with at least one eGFR <60 mL/min in their lifetime, using the Distributed Area Research and Therapeutics Network CKD natural history dataset. METHODS: In all, 47,104 adults who were cared for by 113 practices in the United States were included. Proportions of patients in eGFR categories at baseline were calculated using the following categories: <15 mL/min, 15 to 29.99 mL/min, 30 to 44.99 mL/min, and 45 to 59.99 mL/min. Comparisons were then made between the baseline and the endpoint to identify patients who had a follow-up eGFR that remained at <60 mL/min. The proportions of patients in each eGFR category were compared baseline to endpoint using cross-tabulations. To test the proposed cutpoint, the proportions of patients who had an eGFR that remained at <60 mL/min were measured, using the cutpoints that included the highest cumulative proportion of patients. The sensitivity and specificity of that cutpoint were calculated. RESULTS: A cutpoint of <45 mL/min was identified, yielding a PPV of 93% with a sensitivity of 28% and a specificity of 94%. CONCLUSIONS: A valid cutpoint to screen for CKD was identified. This cutpoint may prove important to early screening for CKD while reducing the burden on the healthcare system and patients suspected of having CKD.

Utility of pre-operative serum CA-125 in the management of uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of pre-operative serum CA-125 in the management of women diagnosed with uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). We hypothesized that elevated pre-operative levels of serum CA-125 correlate with higher disease stage and poorer prognosis. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with UPSC and managed in our institution were identified over a period of 10 years, 1995 to 2005. All required information were extracted from their records. The nonparametric test applied for comparison of data included Kruskal Wallis H-test and Man-Whitney U-test. The chi(2) test and Spearman correlation test were used to examine the association of serum CA-125 with different parameters. Receiver operator characteristic curves (ROC) were used to quantify marker performance. Recurrence and survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analyses were performed with a Cox proportional regression method. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients met the study criteria. Mean pre-operative serum CA-125 levels were significantly higher in patients with stage IV (1150+/-1297 U/mL), compared with stage III (181+/-232 U/mL; P<0.001), stage II (22+/-9; P<0.001), and stage I (14+/-1; P<0.001). CA-125 correlated strongly with stage (r=0.68, P<0.001). On the ROC, a cut-off of 35 IU/mL provided the best sensitivity and specificity (78% vs. 100% respectively) for extra-uterine disease. Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were longer in patients with CA-125<35 U/mL compared with CA-125>or=35 U/mL [median DFS not reached during study vs. 21.2 months (P=0.009), and median OS not reached during study vs. 25 months, (P=0.0001) respectively]. Multivariate regression model showed CA-125 as the only variable associated with survival (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: Pre-operative serum CA-125 levels correlate with stage of disease in patients with UPSC. This may be important for management planning, prognostication and counseling in these women.

Extracting Deep Phenotypes for Chronic Kidney Disease Using Electronic Health Records.

INTRODUCTION: As chronic kidney disease (CKD) is among the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world with various rate of progression among patients, identifying its phenotypic subtypes is important for improving risk stratification and providing more targeted therapy and specific treatments for patients having different trajectories of the disease progression. PROBLEM DEFINITION AND DATA: The rapid growth and adoption of electronic health records (EHR) technology has created a unique opportunity to leverage the abundant clinical data, available as EHRs, to find meaningful phenotypic subtypes for CKD. In this study, we focus on extracting disease severity profiles for CKD while accounting for other confounding factors. PROBABILISTIC SUBTYPING MODEL: We employ a probabilistic model to identify precise phenotypes from EHR data of patients who have chronic kidney disease. Using this model, patient's eGFR trajectory is decomposed as a combination of four different components including disease subtype effect, covariate effect, individual long-term effect and individual short-term effect. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS: The discovered disease subtypes obtained by Probabilistic Subtyping Model for CKD are presented and their clinical relevance is analyzed. DISCUSSION: Several clinical health markers that were found associated with disease subtypes are presented with suggestion for further investigation on their use as risk predictors. Several assumptions in the study are also clarified and discussed. CONCLUSION: The large dataset of EHRs can be used to identify deep phenotypes retrospectively. Directions for further expansion of the model are also discussed.

Is there gender bias toward male residents in an obstetrics and gynecology training program?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether male obstetric and gynecologic residents experience gender bias in training for vaginal deliveries. STUDY DESIGN: We compared male and female resident training experiences in vaginal deliveries in a community hospital. Three analyses were performed: (1) total number of deliveries performed by male and female residents, (2) percentage of deliveries that male and female residents performed with female attendings, and (3) percentage of attending deliveries performed by male residents. The main outcome measure was whether male residents had limited training opportunities with female attendings as compared to female residents. RESULTS: There was no difference between male and female residents with regard to total deliveries performed per rotation. Male residents were as likely as female residents to participate in vaginal deliveries by a female attending. Conversely, female attendings were as likely as male attendings to have a male resident attend their patients' deliveries. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of gender bias regarding male resident training opportunities in vaginal deliveries in an obstetric and gynecologic training program.

Mastalgia: a review of management.

Mastalgia affects up to two-thirds of women at some time during their reproductive lives. It is usually benign, but thefear of underlying breast cancer is why many women present for evaluation. Mastalgia can be associated with premenstrual syndrome, fibrocystic breast disease, psychologic disturbance and, rarely, breast cancer. Occasionally, extramammary conditions, like Tietzie syndrome, present as mastalgia. A thorough clinical evaluation is required to assess the cause. The majority of women can be reassured after a clinical evaluation. Approximately 15% require pain-relieving therapy. Mechanical breast support; a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet; and topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents are reasonable first-line treatments. Hormonal agents, such as bromocriptine, tamoxifen and danazol, have all demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of mastalgia. Side effects, however, limit their extensive use. Danazol is the only FDA-approved hormonal treatment and is best used in cyclic form to limit the adverse effects. Lisuride maleate is a new agent recently studied for the treatment of mastalgia. Initial data on this medication are encouraging. Sixty percent of cyclic mastalgia recurs after treatment. Noncyclic mastalgia responds poorly to treatment but resolves spontaneously in up to 50% of cases.

Inaccuracy of ICD-9 Codes for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Study from Two Practice-based Research Networks (PBRNs).

BACKGROUND: Inaccurate use of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), codes obfuscates registries used for research, resulting in unreliable data and inaccurate measurement of outcomes, and it may contribute to mismanagement of patients. Thus it is important to understand the prevalence of ICD-9 code misuse. We chose chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a condition of interest after several patients recruited for a previous study indicated they did not have the disease, despite the presence of the ICD-9 code (585.x) in their electronic medical record (EMR). METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients with the ICD-9 code for CKD stage 3 (585.3; n = 325). Data were collected from EMRs at 3 primary care practices Buffalo, New York (n = 2), and Kansas City, Kansas (n = 1). RESULTS: Across all practices, 47% of patients with the CKD ICD-9 code did not have clinical indicators for the disease, based on Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The CKD stage 3 ICD-9 code usage did not accurately reflect the prevalence of disease among this population. This has clinical implications because patients may be treated or receive tests for a disease they do not have. This also presents an important issue for research projects that rely on accurate data from EMRs to identify and recruit patients.

Reflective impressions of a precepted clinical experience caring for people with disabilities.

There is evidence that early and frequent encounters with people with disabilities can improve medical students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes about disability. As part of a 4-year integrated curriculum in caring for patients with disabilities, third-year medical students (n = 144) in a Family Medicine clerkship participated in a day-long precepted clinical experience at a medical facility serving people with disabilities, predominantly developmental disabilities, where they met patients and worked with clinicians. At the conclusion of the program, students completed a reflective survey about their experience. These data were analyzed qualitatively using a constructivist grounded-theory approach. Students' responses indicated that the experience improved their comfort levels in working with people with disabilities and increased their awareness of attitudinal factors that influence patient care. Responses also demonstrated that students achieved an awareness of technical accommodations and organizational adaptations that improve patient care.

Attitudes of healthcare students and professionals toward patients with physical disability: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Negative healthcare provider attitudes toward patients with physical disabilities may challenge the delivery of quality care to patients. The objective of this study was to systematically review published studies examining the attitudes of healthcare students and professionals toward patients with physical disabilities. DESIGN: In October 2011, we searched four electronic databases using the OVID platform. In addition, we screened citation lists. Independent reviewers completed the selection of articles and data abstraction by triplicate review using standardized and pilot tested forms. They resolved disagreements by discussion or with the help of an additional reviewer when necessary. Articles were included if they examined healthcare professionals' and students' attitudes toward patients with physical disabilities. We did not perform a meta-analysis because of the variation in instruments used and variables examined. We used a qualitative approach to identifying and reporting common findings across the studies. RESULTS: Results indicate that healthcare students and professionals have favorable attitudes toward persons with physical disabilities. More experience with persons with physical disabilities, both professionally and socially, was associated with more favorable attitudes. In addition, female healthcare students and professionals were found to have more positive attitudes toward patients with physical disabilities than do their male colleagues. Limited evidence exists examining the influence of age, race or ethnicity, and rank of student or professional on attitudes toward patients with physical disabilities. Finally, it was found that healthcare students and professionals reported overall more favorable attitudes than did individuals in non-healthcare professions. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, healthcare students' and professionals' attitudes toward persons with physical disabilities were favorable. However, some studies revealed the possibility that some healthcare providers demonstrate fear and anxiety with the challenge of caring for a patient with physical disabilities. Some of the factors associated with providers' attitudes toward patients with physical disabilities are potentially modifiable (e.g., experience) and could be the target of educational interventions to ameliorate this fear and facilitate higher quality care.

Resident performance on the in-training and board examinations in obstetrics and gynecology: implications for the ACGME Outcome Project.

BACKGROUND: The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Outcomes Project has endorsed the in-training examination (ITE) as an example of a multiple-choice question examination that is a valid measure of a resident's attainment of medical knowledge. An outcome measure for performance on the ITE would be the subsequent performance on the board certification examination. However, there are few reports that attempt to correlate a resident's performance on the ITE to subsequent performance on the board certification examination. PURPOSE: The Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) has administered the ITE annually since 1970. This study tested the hypothesis that the CREOG-ITE score is a valid assessment tool to predict performance on the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) written examination. METHODS: CREOG-ITE and ABOG written board examination results were collected for 69 resident graduates between the years 1998 and 2005. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to estimate the relationship between a resident's score on the CREOG-ITE and subsequent performance on the ABOG written examination. RESULTS: Fifty-seven resident graduates passed (82.6%) and 12 graduates failed (17.4%) the ABOG written examination. The correlation between the CREOG-ITE overall score and performance on the ABOG examination was weak (correlation coefficient =.38, p =.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis for the CREOG-ITE overall scores and the probability of passing or failing the ABOG examination revealed moderate accuracy (area under the curve = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62-0.92) with a CREOG-ITE score of 187.5 yielding the best trade-off between specificity (0.79) and sensitivity (0.75). At the cutoff value of 187.5 there was a weak positive predictive value of 43% (i.e., 43% of residents with a score less than 187.5 will fail the ABOG exam) and a strong negative predictive value of 94% (i.e., 94% of the residents with a score above 187.5 will pass the ABOG exam). Logistic regression analysis also revealed a statistically significant relationship between the CREOG-ITE overall score and performance on the ABOG written examination (p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Similar to other specialties, resident performance on the CREOG-ITE is a weak assessment tool to predict the probability of a resident failing the ABOG written examination. Our study highlights the need, in the spirit of the ACGME Outcome Project, for residency and board specialty organizations to coordinate efforts to develop more reliable and correlative measures of a resident's medical knowledge and ability to pass the boards.

An unusual presentation of endometrial cancer: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this case report is to describe the failure of standard diagnostic work up in the presence of an advanced stage endometrial cancer and briefly review the literature about the efficacy of the currently utilized diagnostic tools in the evaluation of women with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB). CASE: A 71-year-old normal weight lady presented with an unprovoked PMB. Initial evaluation consisted of pelvic ultrasound followed by office hysteroscopy and directed endometrial biopsy. Biopsy was negative but her symptom persisted, so she had a repeat hysteroscopy with dilatation and curettage (D&C) in the operating room. The D&C histology was again negative but elevated CA 125 and a suspicious looking intramural "fibroid" on ultrasound and MRI prompted our advice for hysterectomy. At the time of surgery, a stage III C endometrial cancer was found. CONCLUSION: A high level of vigilance is required in the evaluation of women presenting with symptoms suspicious for endometrial cancer. When these symptoms persist despite negative initial work up, continuing evaluation and sometimes intervention are required on the part of the clinician.

Young patients with endometrial carcinoma selected for conservative treatment: a need for vigilance for synchronous ovarian carcinomas, case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to report a case of synchronous ovarian malignancy in a very young patient with early endometrial cancer who desired fertility-sparing management. CASE: Twenty one-year-old patient presented with an apparent early stage endometrial cancer and desiring conservative management. After failure of conservative management for 3 years, surgery was performed. An incidentally small papillary serous ovarian tumor of low malignant potential was found. CONCLUSION: Careful preoperative and intraoperative assessment of the adnexa is mandatory in young women with endometrial cancer. Those who desire ovarian preservation should be counseled regarding the high potential for coexisting ovarian malignancy.

Central fetal monitoring: effect on perinatal outcomes and cesarean section rate.

BACKGROUND: In a trend similar to continuous electronic fetal monitoring, many hospitals are incorporating central fetal monitoring into labor and delivery suites. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of central fetal monitoring had an effect on neonatal outcomes or cesarean section rate. METHODS: This retrospective study involved patient data from deliveries occurring at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, between the years 2000 and 2003. In the period from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2001, central fetal monitoring was available, whereas in the period from February 1, 2002, to December 31, 2003, it was unavailable. Data on deliveries at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo were obtained using the Western New York Perinatal Data System, which is an electronic data set based on birth certificate information. The method of delivery, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and 5-minute Apgar scores less than 7 were compared for deliveries occurring with and without the use of central fetal monitoring. These outcomes were further subdivided into full-term and preterm deliveries. RESULTS: Three thousand five hundred and twelve deliveries used central monitoring and 3,007 deliveries did not. For full-term deliveries, in the years with central fetal monitoring compared with the years without it, no differences in the cesarean section rate (13.4 vs 14.5%, not significant [NS]), the admission rate in neonatal intensive care unit (3.3 vs 3.3%, NS), or the incidence of Apgar score less than 7 (0.6 vs 0.5%, NS) were observed. For preterm deliveries, comparing the years with central fetal monitoring with the years without, no differences in the cesarean section rate (21.3 vs 21.3%, NS), the admission rate in neonatal intensive care unit (17.7 vs 20.1%, NS), or the incidence of Apgar score less than 7 (7.0 vs 6.5%, NS) were observed. Analyses pooling all deliveries also failed to show any differences in any of the parameters. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference was demonstrated in the rates of cesarean section, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, or incidence of Apgar scores of less than 7 associated with the use of central fetal monitoring. Therefore, we could not identify any benefit to the use of central fetal heart rate monitoring.

Resident selection process and prediction of clinical performance in an obstetrics and gynecology program.

BACKGROUND: To date, there is no published data showing a correlation between the National Residency Matching Program Ranklist position and performance in residency. PURPOSE: The background was to assess whether a residency applicant selection process is able to predict the subsequent performance of candidates during residency. METHODS: Over a period of 3 academic years, resident candidates were invited to a structured interview process. This interview process was used to generate a rank list for the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). We evaluated the clinical performance of the residents that matched to our program at the end of the 1st postgraduate year. We then examined the correlation between the NRMP rank position and the residents' clinical performance score. RESULTS: For the 3 academic years, the residents mean total performance score was similar for the residents for each of the years. There was a positive correlation between the resident candidate NRMP rank list percentile and the subsequent 1st year clinical performance evaluation score (r = .60, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A structured selection process of residency applicants can predict their subsequent 1st year clinical performance.

Primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the uterus: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary primitive neuroectodermal (pPNET) tumors rarely occur in adults, and they very rarely present as primary tumors of the uterus. Only 12 reported cases of pPNET of the uterus have been published in the English literature. We report two additional cases treated at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, between 1999 and 2002. CASES: Two postmenopausal patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding underwent endometrial biopsy, and subsequently staging laparotomy. The diagnosis of pPNET in both cases was confirmed only by extensive immunohistochemical analysis of the tumors. One patient with disease confined to an endometrial polyp received no adjuvant therapy, while the second patient with extrauterine disease received adjuvant pelvic radiation followed by chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of pPNET of the uterus may be a challenge. Features of diagnostic significance include positive staining with neuron-specific enolase, presence of neurosecretory granules, and positive staining with the MIC-2 gene. Currently, there is no uniformity in the treatment of these cases since the majority of the patients reported to date have had surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy.