Episodic Memory and Hippocampal Volume Predict 5-Year Mild Cognitive Impairment Conversion in Healthy Apolipoprotein ε4 Carriers.

OBJECTIVE: The Apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 allele increases the risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, but not all carriers develop MCI/dementia. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine if early and subtle preclinical signs of cognitive dysfunction and medial temporal lobe atrophy are observed in cognitively intact ε4 carriers who subsequently develop MCI. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy, cognitively intact ε4 carriers (ε3/ε4 heterozygotes; ages 65-85) underwent neuropsychological testing and MRI-based measurements of medial temporal volumes over a 5-year follow-up interval; data were converted to z-scores based on a non-carrier group consisting of 17 ε3/ε3 homozygotes. RESULTS: At follow-up, 11 ε4 carriers (38%) converted to a diagnosis of MCI. At study entry, the MCI converters had significantly lower scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) Trials 1-5, and RAVLT Immediate Recall compared to non-converters. MCI converters also had smaller MRI volumes in the left subiculum than non-converters. Follow-up logistic regressions revealed that left subiculum volumes and RAVLT Trials 1-5 scores were significant predictors of MCI conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this exploratory study suggest that ε4 carriers who convert to MCI exhibit subtle cognitive and volumetric differences years prior to diagnosis.

Personal Network Characteristics of Youth in Substance Use Treatment: Motivation for and Perceived Difficulty of Positive Network Change.

BACKGROUND: Among youth in substance use treatment, peer substance use consistently predicts worse treatment outcomes. This study characterized personal (egocentric) networks of treated youth and examined predictors of adolescents' motivation and perceived difficulty in making changes in the peer network to support recovery. METHODS: Adolescents (aged 14-18; N = 155) recruited from substance use treatment reported on substance use severity, motivation to abstain from substance use, abstinence goals such as "temporary abstinence," motivation and perceived difficulty in reducing contact with substance-using peers, and personal network characteristics. Personal network variables included composition (proportion of abstinent peers) and structure (number of network members, extent of ties among members) for household and nonhousehold (peer) members. RESULTS: Although a majority of peer network members were perceived as using alcohol or marijuana, youth in treatment had relatively high motivation to abstain from substance use. However, treated youths' motivation to reduce contact with substance-using peers was relatively low. In particular, a goal of temporary abstinence was associated with lower motivation to change the peer network. For marijuana, specifically, network composition features (proportion of abstinent peers) were associated with motivation and perceived difficulty to change the peer network. For marijuana, in particular, network structural variables (extent of ties among members) were associated only with perceived difficulty of changing the peer network. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high motivation to abstain from substance use during treatment, adolescents reported low motivation to reduce contact with substance-using peers. Personal motivation to abstain and abstinence goal predicted motivation to reduce contact with substance-using peers. In contrast, particularly for marijuana, network structure predicted perceived difficulty of network change. Results highlight the potential utility of addressing motivation and perceived difficulty to change the peer network as part of youth network-based interventions.

Association of a Pediatric Gynecology eLearning Module With Resident Knowledge and Clinical Skills: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a pediatric and adolescent gynecology electronic learning (eLearning) module improves knowledge and clinical performance among obstetrics and gynecology residents. METHODS: We conducted a multi-institutional, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial across four university programs; three had pediatric and adolescent gynecology rotations, and two had pediatric and adolescent gynecology fellowship-trained faculty. Applying permutated block randomization, residents were randomized to no intervention or completion of a validated eLearning module on prepubertal bleeding. All residents subsequently completed a pediatric and adolescent gynecology-related knowledge assessment that queried understanding of prepubertal bleeding and an objective structured clinical examination that assessed history collection, performance of a prepubertal genital examination, vaginal culture, and vaginoscopy for a pediatric patient. Objective structured clinical examinations were videotaped and reviewed by two faculty, blinded to randomization group; interrater reliability score was 97%. We calculated descriptive frequencies and compared randomization groups using χ analyses and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables, and median tests for continuous variables; a value of P<.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: From July 2018 to June 2019, we invited 115 residents to participate; 97 (83%) completed both objective structured clinical examination and follow-up knowledge assessments. Most were female (91%) and the majority reported limited pediatric and adolescent gynecology didactic or clinical experience, with 36% reporting prior didactics on prepubertal vaginal bleeding and 33% reporting prior exposure to the prepubertal genital examination. Forty-five participants (46%) were randomized to the module and groups were similar across training levels. Residents assigned to the module scored significantly higher on the knowledge assessment (4/5 vs 2/5, P<.001) and objective structured clinical examination (13/16 vs 7/16, P<.001) and were more likely to avoid a speculum in the examination of a pediatric patient (95.6% vs 57.7%, P<.001). CONCLUSION: Our pediatric and adolescent gynecology eLearning module resulted in improved short-term resident knowledge and simulated clinical skills among obstetrics and gynecology residents. Applying this learning technique in other programs may help address deficiencies in pediatric and adolescent gynecology education and training.

Long Curriculum in Resident Education: Comprehensive Curriculum in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology for Postgraduate Trainees in Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Adolescent Medicine.

In 2015 the Resident Education Committee published the Long Curriculum in Resident Education to provide educators with a comprehensive document to be used in post-graduate medical education. The original curriculum was designed to meet the resident learning objectives for CREOG, RCPSC and ABP and to provide a more intensive, broader learning experience. This Committee Document is an updated version of the 2015 Long Curriculum.

Resident Education Curriculum in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology: The Short Curriculum 2.0.

The degree of exposure to pediatric and adolescent gynecology (PAG) varies across residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics. Nevertheless, these programs are responsible for training residents and providing opportunities within their programs to fulfill PAG learning objectives. To that end, the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology has taken a leadership role in PAG resident education by creating and systematically updating the Short Curriculum. This curriculum outlines specific learning objectives that are central to PAG education and lists essential resources for learners' reference. This updated curriculum replaces the previous 2014 publication with added content, resources, and updated references. Additionally, attention to the needs of learners in pediatrics and adolescent medicine is given greater emphasis in this revised North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Short Curriculum 2.0.

Surgical Management of Benign Adnexal Masses in the Pediatric/Adolescent Population: An 11-Year Review.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare ovarian conservation rates and surgical approach in benign adnexal surgeries performed by surgeons vs gynecologists at a tertiary care institution. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort review. SETTING: Children's and adult tertiary care university-based hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 21 years of age and younger who underwent surgery for an adnexal mass from January 2003 through December 2013. INTERVENTIONS: Patient age, demographic characteristics, menarchal status, clinical symptoms, radiologic imaging, timing of surgery, surgeon specialty, mode of surgery, rate of ovarian conservation, and pathology were recorded. Patients were excluded if they had a uterine anomaly or pathology-proven malignancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the rate of ovarian conservation relative to surgical specialty; secondary outcome was surgical approach relative to surgical specialty. RESULTS: Of 310 potential cases, 194 met inclusion criteria. Gynecologists were more likely than surgeons to conserve the ovary (80% vs 63%; odds ratio, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-4.48). After adjusting for age, body mass index, mass size, and urgency of surgery, the difference was attenuated (adjusted odds ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-3.84). Surgeons and gynecologists performed minimally invasive surgery at similar rates (62% vs 50%; P = .11). A patient was more likely to receive surgery by a gynecologist if she was older (P < .001) and postmenarchal (P = .005). CONCLUSION: Results of our study suggest that gynecologists are more likely to perform ovarian-conserving surgery. However, our sample size precluded precise estimates in our multivariable model. Educational efforts among all pediatric and gynecologic surgeons should emphasize ovarian conservation and fertility preservation whenever possible.

Case Series: Vaginal Rupture Injuries after Sexual Assault in Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal rupture after sexual assault is a rare but life-threatening occurrence requiring prompt recognition and treatment. Herein, we describe four such cases in children. Our purposes are to increase clinicians' awareness of the physical trauma that a sexual abuse victim can suffer and increase recognition that these victims require immediate trauma services. CASES: Each patient had obvious hymenal and vaginal lacerations with a vaginal apical rupture injury and secondary acute blood loss. None of the four victims sustained infectious sequelae. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Providers should have a low threshold for managing sexual abuse victims as trauma cases when they have obvious hymenal and vaginal lacerations and genital bleeding, proceeding expeditiously to examination using general anesthesia when appropriate.

Renal Remnant Presenting as a Large Retroperitoneal Mass in a Teenage Girl.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents commonly present with a symptomatic pelvic mass. The vast majority of these masses are benign and gynecological in nature. Nonetheless, it is important to consider less common etiologies including retroperitoneal and enteric cysts. CASE: A 17-year-old female patient with chronic pelvic pain due to a large 9-cm cystic pelvic mass underwent laparoscopy. Operative findings indicated a retroperitoneal mass, which was excised in a minimally invasive fashion. Final pathology was suggestive of a remnant of a developmental renal anomaly. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of a broad differential when considering etiologies of a cystic pelvic mass. Clinical diagnosis and management are often challenging. Therefore, it is important to increase awareness of this diagnosis within the gynecological community.

Young Age, Nulliparity, and Continuation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive Methods.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship among young age, nulliparity, and continuation of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project database, an observational cohort study of 9,256 sexually active reproductive-aged females. This analysis focused on continuation of the intrauterine device and implant in nulliparous adolescent participants compared with parous, older women. We analyzed our data by age-parity groups and individual characteristics and used multivariable analysis to assess the association of age and parity on continuation. RESULTS: There were 6,106 participants in our analytic set, including 863 aged 14-19 years. Long-acting reversible contraceptive continuation rates at 12 months were high and similar between all age-parity groups ranging from 82-86%. In the Cox proportional hazards model, nulliparous participants using the copper intrauterine device and implant were more likely to discontinue their LARC method (copper intrauterine device: adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.76, 95% CI 1.13-2.73, implant: adjusted HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.35-2.64) than parous participants. This effect was not observed among levonorgestrel intrauterine system users (adjusted HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.92-1.46). Age younger than 20 years was not associated with discontinuation at 12 months (adjusted HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.74-1.22). CONCLUSION: We found that LARC continuation rates were high and similar across age and parity. Clinicians should not hesitate to recommend LARC methods to young nulliparous females owing to fear of early discontinuation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.