Optic nerve morphology as marker for disease severity in cerebral palsy of perinatal origin.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to predict the neurologic outcome and ambulatory status in children with perinatal neurologic insult until 2-5years age. This study aims to correlate clinical optic nerve head (ONH) findings-cupping, pallor and hypoplasia, with gestational period and neurologic (motor) outcomes in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) from perinatal insults. METHODS: 54 consecutive patients with CP from perinatal insults were enrolled. Patients with intraocular disease, retinopathy of prematurity and hydrocephalus were excluded. ONH was labeled as pale, hypoplastic or large cup (cup/disc ratio≥0.5) if 2 ophthalmologists independently agreed after an ophthalmoscopic examination. Inter-rater reliability was excellent. RESULTS: Mean age at examination was 10.98±6.49years; mean gestational period was 33.26±4.78weeks. Abnormal ONH (pallor, cupping or hypoplasia) was seen in 38/54 (70%) patients. Of patients with pallor (n=17), 88% were quadriplegic and 82% non-ambulatory. Mean cup/disc ratio was 0.45±0.22; 50% patients had large cup. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that disc pallor was associated with non-ambulatory status (OR: 21.7; p=0.003) and quadriplegia (OR: 12.8; p=0.03). Large cup was associated with age at examination (OR 1.15; p=0.03). Cup/disc ratio showed positive correlation with age at examination (Pearson's r=0.39; p=0.003). There was no significant association of ONH parameters with gestational age. CONCLUSION: Clinically observed ONH changes (pallor, cupping and hypoplasia) are common in CP. Presence of ONH pallor serves as an indicator for poor motor outcome in patients who develop CP from perinatal causes and should prompt early referral for rehabilitation.

Factors that impact medical student and house-staff career interest in brain related specialties.

PURPOSE: There is a national shortage of physicians in brain related specialties (neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry), with fewer students training in these specialties. This study explored socio-economic and experiential factors that determined medical trainees' interest in brain related specialties. METHOD: Medical students and house-staff at a state university medical school completed a 46-item questionnaire sent as an anonymous email survey. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 22% (n=258). Eighty-eight (34.1%) trainees were interested in brain related specialties. Prior neuroscience experience (29.6%) and effective medical school neuroscience courses (23.9%) were identified as important by those interested in brain related specialties, while "neurophobia" was reported by 30% of those not interested. Multivariate regression model showed that effective college neuroscience course increased the likelihood for interest in brain related specialties (OR=2.28, 95% CI 1.22, 4.28). Factors which decreased the likelihood included parent's possessing professional degree (OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.17, 0.80), personal annual income>$50,000 (OR=0.40, 0.18, 0.87) and current debt level≥$100,000 (OR=0.33, 0.17, 0.64). The proportion of trainees interested in brain related specialties decreased from 51.7% (1st year medical students) to 27% (4th year students) and 25.3% among house-staff (χ(2) test of trend p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic (current personal debt and annual income) and experiential factors (college neuroscience course) influence a medical trainee's interest in brain related specialties. Career guidance and improved, better and early exposure to neurosciences may help mitigate trend for decreased interest in brain related specialties.

Prevalence and Comorbidities of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Adults in Kentucky Across Gender and Area Development Districts, 2011.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kentucky, and precise estimates of the prevalence of this disease and its comorbidities are needed. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of both COPD and its comorbidities and risk differences of COPD comorbidities across Area Development Districts (ADDs) and gender. Methods: The demographic characteristics, prevalence of self- reported COPD and its comorbidities were determined by using data from the 2011 Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (KyBRFS). Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for COPD and comorbidities. Results: The overall prevalence of age adjusted COPD was 10.09% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.99, 10.19), 8.85% for men (95% CI 8.76, 8.93), and 10.78% for women (95% CI 10.67, 10.88). Odds ratios for risk of angina or coronary heart disease (CHD), and arthritis among patients with COPD, by sex and ADDs varied significantly (pooled overall OR=3.43, 95% CI 2.70-4.34, heterogeneity p=0.0001) and (pooled overall OR=2.16, 95% CI 1.75-2.67, heterogeneity p=0.0001), respectively. ORs for risk of depression (pooled OR=2.61, 95% CI 1.78-3.70, heterogeneity p=0.028) and hypertension (pooled OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.16-2.42, heterogeneity p=0. 006) only varied significantly in men. Odds ratios for risk of diabetes was not significant across ADDs and gender (pooled overall OR=2.02, 95% CI 1.61-2.53, heterogeneity p=0.709). Conclusion: Gender differences account for the discrepancy in the risk of comorbidities in patients with COPD across Kentucky's Area Development Districts. This should guide public health officials and physicians to create gender-based prevention interventions.