Educational and occupational aspirations of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a qualitative analysis.

PURPOSE: Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) are patients diagnosed with cancer between 15 and 39 years of age. AYACS are often derailed from planned educational and occupational endeavors due to disruption from cancer treatment and its consequences. The study objective was to examine how a personal cancer diagnosis impacted AYACS' experiences related to these endeavors. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted as part of a larger study assessing psychosocial challenges among a younger AYACS subset aged 15-25 years old at the time of cancer diagnosis. Interviews were coded based on responses and were used to develop themes related to educational and occupational endeavors. RESULTS: Data were collected from 35 participants. Five themes emerged: (1) Pauses in educational attainment had a detrimental effect on educational goals for some participants, but further solidified and sculpted educational plans for others; (2) Although participants experienced challenges accomplishing educational goals, supportive school environments helped surmount these challenges; (3) Participants reflected on rethinking career aspirations, though some desired to pursue the same occupation planned before cancer diagnosis; (4) Participants experienced challenges, including physical and cognitive limitations, upon returning to work; and (5) Participants valued autonomy and normalcy through work and appreciated supportive and flexible work environments. CONCLUSIONS: AYACS prioritize professional achievement, yet encounter challenges in achieving professional goals. Our findings create a foundation for developing and testing prospective interventions to promote continuance of school and work during cancer treatment when feasible, and proactive reintegration strategies for those who paused professional goals due to cancer treatment.

Prevalence of Moral Injury, Burnout, Anxiety, and Depression in Healthcare Workers 2 Years in to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: COVID-19 has led to marked increases in healthcare worker distress. Studies of these phenomena are often limited to a particular element of distress or a specific subset of healthcare workers. We administered the Moral Injury Symptom Scale for Healthcare Professionals, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 via online survey to 17,000 employees of a large academic medical center between December 2021 and February 2022. A total of 1945 participants completed the survey. Across all roles, the prevalence of moral injury, burnout, depression, and anxiety were 40.9%, 35.3%-60.6%, 25.4%, and 24.8%, respectively. Furthermore, 8.1% had been bothered by thoughts that they would be better off dead or of hurting themselves for "several days" or more frequently. Healthcare workers across all roles and practice settings are experiencing unsustainable levels of distress, with 1 in 12 regularly experiencing thoughts of self-harm.

Human Rhinovirus Infection of the Respiratory Tract Affects Sphingolipid Synthesis.

The 17q21 asthma susceptibility locus includes asthma risk alleles associated with decreased sphingolipid synthesis, likely resulting from increased expression of ORMDL3. ORMDL3 inhibits serine-palmitoyl transferase (SPT), the rate-limiting enzyme of de novo sphingolipid synthesis. There is evidence that decreased sphingolipid synthesis is critical to asthma pathogenesis. Children with asthma and 17q21 asthma risk alleles display decreased sphingolipid synthesis in blood cells. Reduced SPT activity results in airway hyperreactivity, a hallmark feature of asthma. 17q21 asthma risk alleles are also linked to childhood infections with human rhinovirus (RV). This study evaluates the interaction of RV with the de novo sphingolipid synthesis pathway, and the alterative effects of concurrent SPT inhibition in SPT-deficient mice and human airway epithelial cells. In mice, RV infection shifted lung sphingolipid synthesis gene expression to a pattern that resembles genetic SPT deficiency, including decreased expression of Sptssa, a small SPT subunit. This pattern was pronounced in lung epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM+) cells and reproduced in human bronchial epithelial cells. RV did not affect Sptssa expression in lung CD45+ immune cells. RV increased sphingolipids unique to the de novo synthesis pathway in mouse lung and human airway epithelial cells. Interestingly, these de novo sphingolipid species were reduced in the blood of RV-infected wild-type mice. RV exacerbated SPT deficiency-associated airway hyperreactivity. Airway inflammation was similar in RV-infected wild-type and SPT-deficient mice. This study reveals the effects of RV infection on the de novo sphingolipid synthesis pathway, elucidating a potential mechanistic link between 17q21 asthma risk alleles and rhinoviral infection.

Adjunctive dietary intervention for bipolar disorder: a randomized, controlled, parallel-group, modified double-blinded trial of a high n-3 plus low n-6 diet.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preliminary efficacy of a high n-3 plus low n-6 (H3-L6) dietary intervention in improving mood stability in Bipolar Disorder (BD) when compared to dietary intervention with usual U.S. levels of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intakes (control diet, CD). METHODS: This 2-arm, parallel-group, randomized, modified double-blind, controlled 48-week study of 12-week intensive diet intervention in subjects with BD was conducted at a single suburban-rural site in the mid-Atlantic region. Participants with DSM-IV TR BD I or II with hypomanic or depressive symptoms were randomized, stratified on gender (N = 82). The intervention included the provision of group-specific study foods and dietary counseling. Variability of mood symptoms was measured by a twice-daily, 12-week ecological momentary analysis (EMA) paradigm, and group differences were analyzed using multilevel models. Circulating n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were measured at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of diet exposure. RESULTS: All 82 randomized participants were included in biochemical analyses. Seventy participants completed at least 2 EMA surveys and were included in primary EMA analyses. Variability in mood, energy, irritability, and pain as measured using EMA was reduced in the H3-L6 group compared to the CD group. No significant differences in mean ratings of mood symptoms, or any other symptom measures, were detected. The dietary intervention effect on target PUFAs significantly differed by the group over time. CONCLUSIONS: A dietary intervention adjunctive to usual care showed preliminary efficacy in improving variability in mood symptoms in participants with BD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02272010.

Dysregulated Diurnal Cortisol Pattern and Heightened Night-Time Cortisol in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation may contribute to the symptom burden in bipolar disorder (BD). Further characterization of cortisol secretion is needed to improve understanding of the connection between mood, sleep, and the HPA axis. Here, we observe diurnal cortisol patterns in individuals with BD and healthy controls (HCs) to determine time points where differences may occur. METHODS: Salivary cortisol was measured at 6 time points (wake, 15, 30, and 45 min after wake, between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.) for 3 consecutive days in individuals with symptomatic BD (N = 27) and HC participants (N = 31). A general linear model with correlated errors was utilized to determine if salivary cortisol changed differently throughout the day between the 2 study groups. RESULTS: A significant interaction (F = 2.74, df = 5, and p = 0.02) was observed between the time of day and the study group (BD vs. HC) when modeling salivary cortisol over time, indicating that salivary cortisol levels throughout the day significantly differed between the study groups. Specifically, salivary cortisol in BD was elevated compared to HCs at the 10:00 p.m. time point (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Significantly higher levels of cortisol in participants with BD in the night-time suggest that the attenuation of cortisol observed in healthy individuals may be impaired in those with BD. Reregulation of cortisol levels may be a target of further study and treatment intervention for individuals with BD.

Low Skepticism and Positive Attitudes About Advance Care Planning Among African Americans: a National, Mixed Methods Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: African Americans have low engagement in advance care planning (ACP). This has been attributed to healthcare distrust and skepticism about ACP. A better understanding of these attitudes is needed to address health disparities related to end-of-life care. OBJECTIVE: To explore the ACP-related values and beliefs of diverse African American communities across the USA and then the perceived value of an inexpensive end-of-life conversational game. DESIGN: Prospective, convergent, mixed methods cohort study involving fifteen underserved, African American communities across the USA. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 428 who attended events at purposively sampled sites, 90% consented to the research; 37% participated in one of 15 focus groups (n = 141). INTERVENTION: An end-of-life conversation game, played in groups of 4-6. MAIN MEASURES: The validated, 7-item ACP values and beliefs questionnaire (scaled 7 = least skeptical, 49 = most skeptical) was administered pre-game. Post-game focus groups explored perceptions about ACP and the intervention. KEY RESULTS: Participants had positive attitudes (low skepticism) about ACP with a median score of 12.00 (7.00, 20.00). Values and beliefs did not significantly differ by geographical region; however, rural areas were observed to be slightly more skeptical than urban areas (median score 14.00 vs. 11.00, p = 0.002). Themes from focus groups converged with survey data showing participants valued the ACP process and consider further engagement in ACP to be worthwhile. Subthemes emphasized the need for and value of ACP. CONCLUSIONS: Skepticism about ACP may contribute to low rates of ACP engagement in underserved African American communities. The positive attitudes uncovered in our study either negate previous findings or suggest reduced skepticism. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT03456921 ).

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Preferred Information Sources Related to COVID-19 Among Central Pennsylvania Adults Early in the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Survey.

PURPOSE: To explore public knowledge, understanding of public health recommendations, perceptions, and trust in information sources related to COVID-19. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of central Pennsylvanian adults evaluated self-reported knowledge, and a convergent, mixed methods design was used to assess beliefs about recommendations, intended behaviors, perceptions, and concerns related to infectious disease risk, and trust of information sources. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 5,948 adults. The estimated probability of correct response for the basic knowledge score, weighted with confidence, was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.79-0.80). Knowledge was significantly higher in patients with higher education and nonminority race. While the majority of respondents reported that they believed following CDC recommendations would decrease the spread of COVID-19 in their community and intended to adhere to them, only 65.2% rated social isolation with the highest level of belief and adherence. The most trusted information source was federal public health websites (42.8%). Qualitative responses aligned with quantitative data and described concerns about illness, epidemiologic issues, economic and societal disruptions, and distrust of the executive branch's messaging. The survey was limited by a lack of minority representation, potential selection bias, and evolving COVID-19 information that may impact generalizability and interpretability. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about COVID-19 and intended adherence to behavioral recommendations were high. There was substantial distrust of the executive branch of the federal government, however, and concern about mixed messaging and information overload. These findings highlight the importance of consistent messaging from trusted sources that reaches diverse groups.

Switching to Progressively Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarettes in Smokers With Low Socioeconomic Status: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The Food and Drug Administration issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking for setting a product standard for nicotine levels in cigarettes, with an emphasis on minimally or non-addicting very low nicotine content (VLNC). METHODS: A 33 week, two-arm, double-blind randomized trial conducted in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA and Washington, DC, USA included adult daily cigarette smokers (≥5 cigarettes per day) with less than a college degree, and who had no plans to quit within the next six months. Participants were randomized to either reduced nicotine content (RNC) study cigarettes tapered every three weeks to a final VLNC (0.2 mg/cigarette) for six weeks or to usual nicotine content (UNC) study cigarettes (11.6 mg/cigarette). Outcomes included acceptability of study cigarettes measured by attrition (primary outcome), compliance, reduction in cigarette dependence and tobacco biomarkers, and post-intervention cessation. RESULTS: The RNC (n = 122) versus UNC (n = 123) group had higher attrition (adjusted Hazard Ratio 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.99 to 5.81). At the end of the intervention, cotinine levels were 50% lower in the RNC group (mean group difference -137 ng/mL; 95% CI -172, -102). The RNC group smoked fewer CPD (-4.1; 95% CI -6.44, -1.75) and had lower carbon monoxide levels (-4.0 ppm; 95% CI -7.7, -0.4). Forty seven percent (29/62) of the RNC group were biochemically-confirmed compliant with smoking VLNC cigarettes (mean cotinine = 8.9 ng/ml). At three month follow-up, only compliant VLNC smokers quit with an assisted quit attempt (N = 6/22, 27%). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports a VLNC standard in cigarettes. IMPLICATIONS: Differential dropout and noncompliance indicate some smokers had difficulty transitioning to cigarettes with reduced nicotine. These smokers will benefit from supplemental nicotine in medicinal or noncombustible tobacco products if a nicotine reduction standard is established. Other smokers successfully transitioned to very low nicotine content cigarettes exclusively and substantially reduced their exposure to nicotine.

Rapid Transition of a PICU Space and Staff to Adult Coronavirus Disease 2019 ICU Care.

OBJECTIVES: We describe the process by which a PICU and a PICU care team were incorporated into a hospital-wide ICU care model during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. DESIGN: A descriptive, retrospective report from a single-center PICU. SETTING: Twenty-three bed, quaternary PICU, within an 862-bed hospital. PATIENTS: Critically ill adults, with coronavirus disease 2019-related disease. INTERVENTIONS: ICU care provided by pediatric intensivists with training and support from medical intensivists. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Within the context of the institution's comprehensive effort to centralize and systematize care for adults with severe coronavirus disease 2019 disease, the PICU was transitioned to an adult coronavirus disease 2019 critical care unit. Nurses and physicians underwent just-in-time training over 3 days and 2 weeks, respectively. Medical ICU physicians and nurses provided oversight for care and designated hospital-based teams were available for procedures and common adult emergencies. Over a 7-week period, the PICU cared for 60 adults with coronavirus disease 2019-related critical illness. Fifty-three required intubation and mechanical ventilation for a median of 18 days. Eighteen required renal replacement therapy and 17 died. CONCLUSIONS: During the current and potentially in future pandemics, where critical care resources are limited, pediatric intensivists and staff can be readily utilized to meaningfully contribute to the care of critically ill adults.

Critical Care for Coronavirus Disease 2019: Perspectives From the PICU to the Medical ICU.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the unique perspective of pediatric intensivists caring for critically ill adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Academic medical center in New York City. PATIENTS: Coronavirus disease 2019 positive adults requiring admission to an ICU. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In late March 2020, New York Presbyterian Hospital centralized all of its inpatient pediatric units (n = 4) from across the network to a single center, in order to create space to accommodate the increasing number of critically ill adults with coronavirus disease 2019. Within 1 week, the PICU at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine transferred or discharged all inpatients, underwent a transformation of the physical space, and began admitting adults of all ages with coronavirus disease 2019 related acute respiratory failure. The New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine PICU physician group continued to lead this unit. PICU nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, and child life specialists joined their PICU physician colleagues to care for these critically ill adults. CONCLUSIONS: In the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, PICU physicians are well poised to care for adult patients in a surge capacity, and bring a unique perspective to the experience.

Temporal and spatial trends and determinants of aggressive prostate cancer among Black and White men with prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Few studies have reported temporal and spatial trends of aggressive prostate cancer (PC) among black men who are known to have more aggressive disease. We examined these trends for highly aggressive PC at diagnosis among black and white men in Pennsylvania (PA). METHODS: Men, aged ≥ 40 years, with a primary, clinical PC diagnosis were identified from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry, 2004-2014. Joinpoint analysis was used to evaluate the temporal trend of highly aggressive PC (clinical/pathologic Gleason score ≥ 7 [4 + 3], clinical/pathologic tumor stage ≥ T3, or distant metastasis) and identify change points by race in which annual percent change (APC) was calculated. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between race and highly aggressive PC, after adjusting for covariates with and without spatial dependence. RESULTS: There were 89,133 PC cases, which included 88.7% white and 11.3% black men. The APC of highly aggressive PC was 8.7% from 2011 to 2014 among white men and 3.6% from 2007 to 2014 among black men (p values ≤ 0.01). The greatest odds of having highly aggressive PC among black compared to white men were found in counties where the black male population was ≤ 5.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Highly aggressive PC increased for both black and white men in PA between 2004 and 2014. Black men had more aggressive disease, with the greatest odds in counties where the black male population was small. The increase in highly aggressive PC may be due to less screening for PC, resulting in more advanced disease at diagnosis.

Spatial patterns in prostate Cancer-specific mortality in Pennsylvania using Pennsylvania Cancer registry data, 2004-2014.

BACKGROUND: Spatial heterogeneity of prostate cancer-specific mortality in Pennsylvania remains unclear. We utilized advanced geospatial survival regressions to examine spatial variation of prostate cancer-specific mortality in PA and evaluate potential effects of individual- and county-level risk factors. METHODS: Prostate cancer cases, aged ≥40 years, were identified in the 2004-2014 Pennsylvania Cancer Registry. The 2018 County Health Rankings data and the 2014 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Quality Index were used to extract county-level data. The accelerated failure time models with spatial frailties for geographical correlations were used to assess prostate cancer-specific mortality rates for Pennsylvania and by the Penn State Cancer Institute (PSCI) 28-county catchment area. Secondary assessment based on estimated spatial frailties was conducted to identify potential health and environmental risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: There were 94,274 cases included. The 5-year survival rate in PA was 82% (95% confidence interval, CI: 81.1-82.8%), with the catchment area having a lower survival rate 81% (95% CI: 79.5-82.6%) compared to the non-catchment area rate of 82.3% (95% CI: 81.4-83.2%). Black men, uninsured, more aggressive prostate cancer, rural and urban Appalachia, positive lymph nodes, and no definitive treatment were associated with lower survival. Several county-level health (i.e., poor physical activity) and environmental factors in air and land (i.e., defoliate chemical applied) were associated with higher mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: Spatial variations in prostate cancer-specific mortality rates exist in Pennsylvania with a higher risk in the PSCI's catchment area, in particular, rural-Appalachia. County-level health and environmental factors may contribute to spatial heterogeneity in prostate cancer-specific mortality.

Characteristics of Adult Cigarette Smokers Who "Relight" and the Effects of Exposure to Tobacco Smoke Constituents.

INTRODUCTION: About half of smokers relight their cigarette, a habit that is a risk factor for chronic bronchitis and possibly lung cancer. Little is known about the characteristics of smokers who relight and their dependence on nicotine. It is unknown whether relighting affects exposure to tobacco smoke constituents. This study examined the characteristics of relighters of usual brand cigarettes and whether relighting affects exposure to selected tobacco smoke constituents. METHODS: We explored relighting status and frequency, using baseline data from 248 adult smokers participating in studies of reduced nicotine cigarettes in relation to demographic and cigarette characteristics, smoking behaviors, nicotine dependence, biomarkers of exposure (exhaled carbon monoxide, blood cotinine), and biomarkers of oxidative stress (ratio of oxidized/reduced glutathione). RESULTS: 69.4% (n = 172) of subjects reported relighting, and they relit an average of five cigarettes out of 20. Both relighters and non-relighters smoked a mean of 20 cigarettes per day (p = .6). Relighting was significantly associated with higher nicotine dependence, use of longer rod cigarettes, older age, lower income, and unemployment. There were no significant associations between relighting and blood cotinine, exhaled carbon monoxide or measures of oxidized/reduced blood glutathione. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of subjects were relighters, who had higher levels of nicotine dependence than non-relighters. Relighters had similar levels of plasma cotinine and exhaled carbon monoxide to non-relighters. IMPLICATIONS: No study has compared the cigarette characteristics and biomarkers of exposure of adult cigarette smokers who relight with those who do not. Relighting behavior was common in our sample and was associated with low income, not currently working, higher nicotine dependence, cigarette rod length, daily cigarette use years, and a lifetime history of depressed mood.

CALIPSO: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Calfactant for Acute Lung Injury in Pediatric Stem Cell and Oncology Patients.

To assess if calfactant reduces mortality among children with leukemia/lymphoma or after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), we conducted a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial in 17 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) of tertiary care children's hospitals. Patients ages 18 months to 25 years with leukemia/lymphoma or having undergone HCT who required invasive mechanical ventilation for bilateral lung disease with an oxygenation index (OI) > 10 and <37 were studied. Interventions used were intratracheal instillation of either calfactant or air placebo (1 or 2 doses). Forty-three subjects were enrolled between November 2010 and June 2015: 26 assigned to calfactant and 17 to placebo. There were no significant differences in the primary outcome, which was survival to PICU discharge (adjusted hazard ratio of mortality for calfactant versus placebo, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, .53 to 6.05; P = .35), OI, functional outcomes, or ventilator-free days, adjusting for risk strata and Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score. Despite the risk-stratified randomization, more allogeneic HCT patients received calfactant (76% and 39%, respectively) due to low recruitment at various sites. This imbalance is important because independent of treatment arm and while adjusting for PRISM score, those with allogeneic HCT had a nonsignificant higher likelihood of death at PICU discharge (adjusted odds ratio, 3.02; 95% confidence interval, .76 to 12.06; P = .12). Overall, 86% of the patients who survived to PICU discharge also were successfully discharged from the hospital. These data do not support the use of calfactant among this high mortality group of pediatric leukemia/lymphoma and/or HCT patients with PARDS to increase survival. In spite of poor enrollment, allogeneic HCT patients with PARDS appeared to be characterized by higher mortality than even other high-risk immunosuppressed groups. Conducting research among these children is challenging but necessary, because survival to PICU discharge usually results in successful discharge to home.

Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students in Pennsylvania.

We analyzed data from the 2014-2015 Pennsylvania Youth Tobacco Survey to determine prevalence of tobacco use among middle and high school students. For the first time, questions on current (past 30-day) use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were included in the survey. For current use, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle school students (2.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4%-3.2%), and cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among high school students (11.0%; 95% CI, 8.1%-13.8%). Given the changing landscape of tobacco products, collection of comprehensive data on tobacco use, including frequency, is important for monitoring behaviors among adolescents.

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis in Association with Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare diffuse lung disease in the pediatric population. There are currently few cases documenting hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis as a cause for secondary PAP. We describe an ex-preterm child with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, complicated by PAP and hypoxemic respiratory failure.

A comparison of nicotine dependence among exclusive E-cigarette and cigarette users in the PATH study.

Electronic cigarettes ("e-cigs") have recently gained in popularity, but their health risks, including dependence potential are unclear. This study analyzed the adult database from the Wave 1 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a nationally representative survey of tobacco use in the United States, to assess the relative level of dependence among adult, exclusive everyday users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. Of the total 32,320 observations from the Wave 1 PATH adult database, 3586 (5.9%, weighted) were eligible for our analysis population. Among those who met the eligibility criteria, 156 (4.6%) were exclusive e-cig users, and 3430 (95.4%) were exclusive cigarette smokers. Our results show that e-cig users reported a significantly longer time-to-first-use of the day after waking (measured in minutes) compared to cigarette smokers after adjusting for confounders (adjusted geometric mean [95% confidence limits (CL)]: 29.2 [24.4-34.9] vs. 20.0 [18.7, 21.5]). In addition, cigarette smokers were significantly more likely to consider themselves addicted (Adj. Odds Ratio [95% CL]: 6.9 [4.5-10.7]); have strong cravings (2.9 [1.9-4.2]); find it difficult in the past 12months to refrain from using their product in places where it was prohibited (6.4 [2.9-14.3]); and feel like they really needed to use their product (3.9 [2.4-6.4]). These results are consistent with previous studies, in finding that exclusive daily e-cigarette users are less dependent on their respective product than comparable cigarette smokers.

What's in the Shadows? Formal Analysis: Art History Method to Improve Interpretation Skills for Mammography and Chest Radiographs in Resident Education.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of using an art history tool of formal analysis in resident education for interpretations of mammography and chest radiographs METHODS: In a pre-post study design, residents were shown pre-selected 10 mammograms and 10 chest radiographs for a total of 20 unique anonymized patient cases. After the pretest, residents attended four formal analysis art history lessons. The formal elements included line, light, dark, shade, proportion and balance. The post-tests were administered utilizing the same set of images given during the pre-test. After the completion of the pre- and post-tests, the participants filled out a written survey. RESULTS: On average, participants improved their image descriptions for a mean of 30% of the total number of mammographic images they evaluated, and similarly they improved their image diagnoses for a mean of 31% of the mammographic images. On average, participants improved their image descriptions for a mean of 37% of the total number of chest radiographs they evaluated, while improving their image diagnoses for a mean of 52% of the chest X-rays. Of the 20 participants, 14 (70%) completed the post study survey. Almost all of the respondents endorsed agreement in understanding the application of formal analysis to radiologic interpretation. Eight out of 14 (57%) participants self-reported improvement in identifying abnormalities and contriving descriptors. CONCLUSION: This pilot study shows that formal art analysis used by art historians may improve radiologic learners' ability to perceive and describe relevant radiologic abnormalities which in turn would lead to a more accurate radiologic differential diagnosis. The formal analysis process trains the eye to detect and categorize the underlying structure of images. This method provides an alternative arts intervention specifically designed to improve fundamental visual skills in radiology education.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Novel Intensive Care Unit Communication Intervention ("Let's Talk") and Initial Assessment Using the Multiple Goals Theory of Communication.

Background: Family members of intensive care unit (ICU) patients often report poor communication, feeling unprepared for ICU family meetings, and poor psychological outcomes after decision-making. The objective of this study was to create a tool to prepare families for ICU family meetings and assess feasibility of using Communication Quality Analysis (CQA) to measure communication quality of family meetings. Methods: This observational study was conducted at an academic tertiary care center in Hershey, PA from March 2019 to 2020. Phase 1a involved conceptual design. Phase 1b entailed acceptability testing of 2 versions of the tool (text-only, comic) with 9 family members of non-capacitated ICU patients; thematic analysis of semi-strucutred interviews was conducted. Phase 1c assessed feasibility of applying CQA to audio-recorded ICU family meetings (n = 17); 3 analysts used CQA to assess 6 domains of communication quality. Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were used to interpret CQA scores. Results: Four themes emerged from Phase 1b interviews: participants 1) found the tool useful for meeting preparation and organizing thoughts, 2) appreciated emotional content, 3) preferred the comic form (67%), and 4) had indifferent or negative perceptions about specific elements. In Phase 1c, clinicians scored higher on the CQA content and engagement domains; family members scored higher on the emotion domain. CQA scores in the relationship and face domains had the lowest quality ratings. Conclusions: Let's Talk may help families become better prepared for ICU family meetings. CQA provides a feasible approach to assessing communication quality that identifies specific areas of strengths and weaknesses in communication.

Ecological momentary assessment and cue-elicited drug craving as primary endpoints: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial testing the efficacy of a GLP-1 receptor agonist in opioid use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Despite continuing advancements in treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), continued high rates of relapse indicate the need for more effective approaches, including novel pharmacological interventions. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) provide a promising avenue as a non-opioid medication for the treatment of OUD. Whereas GLP-1RAs have shown promise as a treatment for alcohol and nicotine use disorders, to date, no controlled clinical trials have been conducted to determine if a GLP-1RA can reduce craving in individuals with OUD. The purpose of the current protocol was to evaluate the potential for a GLP-1RA, liraglutide, to safely and effectively reduce craving in an OUD population in residential treatment. METHOD: This preliminary study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to test the safety and efficacy of the GLP-1RA, liraglutide, in 40 participants in residential treatment for OUD. Along with taking a range of safety measures, efficacy for cue-induced craving was evaluated prior to (Day 1) and following (Day 19) treatment using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in response to a cue reactivity task during functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and for craving. Efficacy of treatment for ambient craving was assessed using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) prior to (Study Day 1), across (Study Days 2-19), and following (Study Days 20-21) residential treatment. DISCUSSION: This manuscript describes a protocol to collect clinical data on the safety and efficacy of a GLP-1RA, liraglutide, during residential treatment of persons with OUD, laying the groundwork for further evaluation in a larger, outpatient OUD population. Improved understanding of innovative, non-opioid based treatments for OUD will have the potential to inform community-based interventions and health policy, assist physicians and health care professionals in the treatment of persons with OUD, and to support individuals with OUD in their effort to live a healthy life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04199728. Registered 16 December 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04199728?term=NCT04199728 . PROTOCOL VERSION: 10 May 2023.