Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Measures for Identifying Patients Requiring High-Intensity Care.

OBJECTIVES: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) may progress to require high-intensity care. Approaches to identify hospitalized patients with AWS who received higher level of care have not been previously examined. This study aimed to examine the utility of Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Alcohol Revised (CIWA-Ar) for alcohol scale scores and medication doses for alcohol withdrawal management in identifying patients who received high-intensity care. DESIGN: A multicenter observational cohort study of hospitalized adults with alcohol withdrawal. SETTING: University of Chicago Medical Center and University of Wisconsin Hospital. PATIENTS: Inpatient encounters between November 2008 and February 2022 with a CIWA-Ar score greater than 0 and benzodiazepine or barbiturate administered within the first 24 hours. The primary composite outcome was patients who progressed to high-intensity care (intermediate care or ICU). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN RESULTS: Among the 8742 patients included in the study, 37.5% (n = 3280) progressed to high-intensity care. The odds ratio for the composite outcome increased above 1.0 when the CIWA-Ar score was 24. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) at this threshold were 0.12 (95% CI, 0.11-0.13), 0.95 (95% CI, 0.94-0.95), 0.58 (95% CI, 0.54-0.61), and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.63-0.65), respectively. The OR increased above 1.0 at a 24-hour lorazepam milligram equivalent dose cutoff of 15 mg. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV at this threshold were 0.16 (95% CI, 0.14-0.17), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.95-0.96), 0.68 (95% CI, 0.65-0.72), and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.64-0.66), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neither CIWA-Ar scores nor medication dose cutoff points were effective measures for identifying patients with alcohol withdrawal who received high-intensity care. Research studies for examining outcomes in patients who deteriorate with AWS will require better methods for cohort identification.

Toileting Behaviors and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Female Physicians and Medical Students.

IMPORTANCE: A greater understanding of the relationship between toileting behaviors and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) has the potential to generate awareness and improvement of overall bladder health in specific populations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and correlation between maladaptive toileting behaviors and LUTS among female medical trainees and attending physicians. STUDY DESIGN: We surveyed female medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians at an academic hospital, capturing demographics, voiding behaviors, LUTS, and fluid intake using the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Short Form, the Toileting Behavior-Women's Elimination Behaviors, and the Beverage Intake Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 146 medical students and physicians participated in the study. Eighty-three percent reported at least 1 LUTS, most commonly storage symptoms, particularly incontinence (30%, stress urinary incontinence > urgency urinary incontinence). Altered toileting behaviors included "worrying about public toilet cleanliness" (82%), "emptying the bladder before leaving home" (81%), "delaying emptying their bladder when busy" (87%), and "waiting until they could not hold urine any longer" (57%). Total Toileting Behavior-Women's Elimination Behaviors scores were significantly associated with total Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms scores (ß = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.12-0.42; P<0.01). This remained true after adjusting for total fluid intake in medical students (ß = 0.41, P<0.01) and resident physicians (ß = 0.28, P = 0.03) but was not correlated among attending physicians (ß = -0.07, P = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Female physicians and medical students experience a high prevalence of LUTS. Many engage in maladaptive toileting behaviors, which highly correlate with LUTS (especially among medical students and residents) and may lead to impaired bladder health.

Utilization of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors of the Stomach: Analysis of the 2006-2018 National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy has reduced tumor burden and improved survival in both primary and recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). However, no clear guidelines exist on optimal patient selection for neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). Our aim was to analyze factors and outcomes associated with the therapeutic sequence of TKI therapy before and/or after surgery for gastric GISTs. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients surgically treated for a gastric GIST utilizing the 2006-2018 National Cancer Database. We examined demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics associated with NAT versus adjuvant therapy (AT) using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 3732 patients, 20.4% received NAT and 79.6% had AT. Among patients receiving therapy, NAT significantly increased over our study period (12% to 30.7%). A majority of the AT group received a partial gastrectomy (77.9%) compared with the NAT group who received more near-total/total gastrectomy or gastrectomy with en bloc resection (p < 0.001). In a multivariable model, patients were more likely to receive NAT when insured (private, aOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.31-4.29), treated at an academic/research program (aOR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.49-2.56), had tumors located in the proximal stomach (aOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06-1.86), tumor size > 10 cm (aOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.41-2.51), and received near-total/total gastrectomy (aOR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.42-2.29). There were no differences in outcomes. CONCLUSION: NAT for gastric GIST has increased in utilization. NAT was used in patients with larger tumors and who underwent more extensive resection. Despite these factors, outcomes were similar to patients receiving only AT. More studies are required to determine the therapeutic sequence for gastric GISTs.

American Burn Association (ABA) Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP) and Large Data Set Analysis Considerations: A Practical Guide to Investigating Clinical Questions in Burns via Large Data Sets.

The Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP) consolidates data previously collected from the National Burn Repository and the Burn Quality Improvement Program into a single registry. Its data elements and their associated definitions are tailored to create consistency across other national trauma registries, namely the National Trauma Data Bank implemented by the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS TQIP). The BCQP now includes 103 participating burn centers and has captured data from 375,000 total patients as of 2021. With 12,000 patients entered under the current data dictionary, the BCQP represents the largest registry of its kind. On behalf of the American Burn Association Research Committee, the aim of this whitepaper is to provide a succinct overview of the BCQP, showcasing its unique features, strengths, limitations, and relevant statistical considerations. This whitepaper will highlight the resources available to the burn research community and offer insight on proper study design when preparing to conduct a large data set investigation for burn care. All recommendations herein were formulated through the consensus of a multidisciplinary committee and based on the available scientific evidence.

Health literacy in women with chronic pelvic pain.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Limited health literacy (HL) is a risk factor for poor patient outcomes, including pain. Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a prevalent disorder affecting up to 25% of women and coexists with multiple overlapping conditions. This study aimed to describe health literacy in women with CPP, primarily correlate HL to pain intensity and pain duration, and secondarily correlate HL to mood symptoms and pain catastrophizing. We hypothesized that women with CPP with higher HL would report lower levels of pain intensity and duration. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Forty-five women with CPP were recruited from outpatient Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery clinics. Validated questionnaires were administered to evaluate pain intensity and duration, pain disability, psychological symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and health literacy. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics of patient characteristics and summary scores, as well as Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rho) to assess the strength of associations between summary scores and health literacy. RESULTS: Forty-five women with CPP were enrolled with mean age of 49 years, majority non-Hispanic White, and median chronic pelvic pain duration of 7 years. Possible or high likelihood of limited health literacy was identified in 20% women with CPP (11.1% and 8.9%, respectively). Limited health literacy was moderately correlated with pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and pain catastrophizing. Pain duration was not significantly correlated with health literacy. The remaining 80% of women with CPP were likely to have adequate health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of women with CPP in this single center study were likely to have adequate health literacy. Limited health literacy was seen in a minority of women with CPP but was moderately correlated with greater pain intensity, more depressive symptoms, and higher pain catastrophizing. This study identified that women with CPP were likely to have adequate HL, but underscores the importance of considering HL screening and interventions in those with higher pain intensity, depression, and pain catastrophizing.

Urinary retention is rare after colpocleisis and concomitant midurethral sling: a 10-year experience.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal method of managing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women undergoing colpocleisis remains unclear, especially in a setting of urinary retention. We aim to compare postoperative retention after colpocleisis with or without concomitant midurethral sling (MUS). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all women who underwent colpocleisis with or without MUS from October 2007 to October 2017 was performed. Women with preoperative and 2-week postoperative post-void residual volume (PVR) measurements were included. Urinary retention was defined as PVR of ≥100 ml. Analysis included t tests/Wilcoxon rank, Chi-squared/Fisher's exact, and multivariate linear regression models. RESULTS: A total of 231 women with a mean age of 77.7 years (± 6.0 years SD) met the inclusion criteria. One hundred and thirty-eight women underwent colpocleisis alone, whereas 93 women had colpocleisis with MUS. Preoperative retention rates were high (44.9% vs 34.4%, for colpocleisis alone versus with MUS, p = 0.114). Postoperative retention rates were lower and similar between the groups (10.1% vs 11.8%, for colpocleisis alone vs with MUS, p = 0.69). Linear regression models showed the adjusted odds ratio for postoperative urinary retention in patients with concomitant MUS was 1.68 (95% confidence interval: 0.64-4.41) compared with patients with colpocleisis alone and this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.292). Fortunately, after colpocleisis, women had high rates of resolution of retention, regardless of MUS (80.3% vs 90.6% for colpocleisis alone vs with MUS; p = 0.20). Few women required reoperation for retention (3.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Placement of an MUS at the time of colpocleisis is a safe and effective therapy. This appears to be unaffected by preoperative urinary retention status.

Childhood Daily Energy Expenditure Does Not Decrease with Market Integration and Is Not Related to Adiposity in Amazonia.

BACKGROUND: Childhood overweight and obesity (OW/OB) is increasingly centered in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as rural populations experience market integration and lifeway change. Most explanatory studies have relied on imprecise estimates of children's energy expenditure, restricting understanding of the relative effects of changes in diet and energy expenditure on the development of OW/OB in transitioning contexts. OBJECTIVES: This study used gold-standard measurements of children's energy expenditure to investigate the changes that underlie OW/OB and the nutrition/epidemiologic transition. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from "rural" (n = 43) Shuar forager-horticulturalist children and their "peri-urban" (n = 34) Shuar counterparts (age 4-12 y) in Amazonian Ecuador. Doubly labeled water measurements of total energy expenditure (TEE; kcal/d), respirometry measurements of resting energy expenditure (REE; kcal/d), and measures of diet, physical activity, immune activity, and market integration were analyzed primarily using regression models. RESULTS: Peri-urban children had higher body fat percentage (+8.1%, P < 0.001), greater consumption of market-acquired foods (multiple P < 0.001), lower concentrations of immune activity biomarkers (multiple P < 0.05), and lower REE (-108 kcal/d, P = 0.002) than rural children. Despite these differences, peri-urban children's TEE was indistinguishable from that of rural children (P = 0.499). Moreover, although sample-wide IgG concentrations and household incomes predicted REE (both P < 0.05), no examined household, immune activity, or physical activity measures were related to children's overall TEE (all P > 0.09). Diet and energy expenditure associations with adiposity demonstrate that only reported consumption of market-acquired "protein" and "carbohydrate" foods predicted children's body fat levels (multiple P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite underlying patterns in REE, Shuar children's TEE is not reliably related to market integration and-unlike dietary measures-does not predict adiposity. These findings suggest a leading role of changing dietary intake in transitions to OW/OB in LMICs.

Brigham Eyebrow Tool for Alopecia: A Reliable Assessment of Eyebrow Alopecia Areata.

There are no tools to evaluate eyebrow involvement in patients with alopecia areata. We developed and assessed the reliability of the Brigham Eyebrow Tool for Alopecia (BETA) as a quantitative evaluation of eyebrow alopecia areata. BETA uses facial landmarks of eyebrow anatomy and is calculated using surface area and density. A total of 50 eyebrow images with varying levels of hair loss were distributed to six board-certified dermatologists at three academic medical centers with standardized instructions and examples. Interrater and intrarater reliability were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). BETA demonstrated high interrater (ICC = 0.88, confidence interval = 0.83-0.92 right eyebrow scores and ICC = 0.90, confidence interval = 0.85-0.94 left eyebrow scores) and intrarater (ICC = 0.90, confidence interval = 0.85-0.93 right eyebrow scores and ICC = 0.91, confidence interval = 0.87-0.94 left eyebrow scores) reliability. When measured in the same patient with varying degrees of hair loss over time, BETA demonstrated sensitivity to change. BETA is a simple and reliable objective assessment of eyebrow alopecia areata. BETA is easy-to-use and quick to calculate, making it feasible for a variety of clinical and research settings. Although developed for alopecia areata, we hope that BETA will be investigated in other etiologies of eyebrow alopecia to serve as a universal tool for monitoring disease progression, improvement, and response to treatment.

Surgical Approach to Orbital Floor Fractures: Comparing Complication Rates Between Subciliary and Subconjunctival Approaches.

BACKGROUND: There are multiple approaches to repairing orbital floor fractures. This study compares the postoperative complications of the subciliary and transconjunctival approaches. METHODS: The electronic medical records from 2 hospitals were screened for CPT codes associated with orbital floor reconstruction. A total of 184 patients were identified and included in the study. Patient characteristics and complications were compared by surgical approach. RESULTS: Of the 184 patients, 82 (44.6%) were in the subciliary group and 102 (55.4%) were in the transconjunctival group. The overall postoperative complication rate was 25.5%. The most common of these were diplopia (11.4%), corneal injury (7.1%), proptosis (5.4%), and enopthalmos (4.9%). The complication rate was not statistically significant between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Subciliary and transconjunctival approaches to orbital floor repair are equally safe. This study is limited by a smaller sample size, and a larger study will likely be necessary to fully address this question.

Consideration of pelvic floor myofascial release for overactive bladder.

INTRODUCTION: Physical therapy has been shown to be effective for women with overactive bladder (OAB). We report on our experience with pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) with or without myofascial release as treatment for women with symptoms of urinary urgency or urge incontinence. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review, of patients who presented to our tertiary care Urogynecology practice. These women were evaluated and treated between August 2016 and December 2016. We abstracted for symptoms as per history of present illness and the pelvic floor muscle examination. PFPT progress notes were reviewed to determine whether patients received myofascial release techniques, or if therapy was limited to behavioral interventions and urge suppression techniques. We recorded the number of PFPT sessions attended, and whether the patient reported improvement. RESULTS: 77 patients with symptoms of OAB met inclusion criteria and initiated PFPT. Myofascial tenderness of the pelvic floor muscles was found in 56.5% of patients. PFPT was limited to behavioral and urge suppression in 18 patients, while 59 patients received myofascial release techniques. Improvement was reported by 71.4% (n = 55/77) of patients. Improvement increased with number of sessions attended: 1-2: 6% (1/17), 3-5: 94% (16/17), 6-8: 91% (29/32), and >8: 80% (9/11) improved, respectively (p < 0.001). Among patients who had myofascial release, 84.7% reported improvement when compared to only 27.8% of patients without myofascial release. CONCLUSIONS: The data support the inclusion of myofascial release during pelvic floor physical therapy for overactive bladder. At least three sessions of PFPT are necessary for patient reported improvement.

Male Bladder Microbiome Relates to Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: In women, compelling evidence associates lower urinary tract microbiota (LUTM) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS); a similar association in men with benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is not established. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether associations exist between LUTM and LUTS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Forty-nine male volunteers, aged 40-85 yr, were recruited from one academic tertiary care center. Twenty-eight patients undergoing BPE/LUTS surgery and 21 undergoing non-BPE/LUTS surgery were stratified by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and paired voided/catheterized urine specimens were collected for expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Primary and secondary outcomes were presence of detectable LUTM and specific bacterial members of the LUTM, respectively. Baseline data were compared. Univariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for IPSS category associated with the presence of bladder microbiota. Relative LUTM proportions were compared with IPSS using chi-square tests. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Thirty-nine percent of catheterized and 98% of voided specimens contained LUTM. Catheterized and voided LUTM differed significantly. LUTM was detected in catheterized urine of 22.2% of men with mild LUTS, 30.0% with moderate LUTS, and 57.1% with severe LUTS (p=0.024). Increased IPSS category was associated with significantly higher odds of detectable bacteria (OR: 2.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-4.49). Small sample size limited this study, making it unable to identify significant differences in specific bacterial taxa based on IPSS. CONCLUSIONS: Voided urine does not adequately characterize the male bladder microbiome. In males with and without BPE, IPSS severity was associated with detectable bacteria in catheterized urine, which samples the bladder. Additional studies are needed to identify specific bladder bacteria associated with LUTS. PATIENT SUMMARY: To study bladder bacteria, urine should be collected with a catheter. Men with severe urinary symptoms are more likely to have detectable bladder bacteria than those with less severe symptoms.

Oral probiotics and the female urinary microbiome: a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Probiotics may reduce risk of urinary tract infection by preventing colonization of uropathogens. We aimed to determine the change in the ratio between uropathogens:Lactobacillus (U/L) within the lower urinary tract in response to oral probiotic. METHODS: This was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial of healthy pre-menopausal female volunteers. Participants provided daily voided urine for 3 months including three phases of the trial: 1-baseline, 2-intervention, 3-wash-out. Participants were randomized to an oral probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14) versus placebo. The primary outcome was the U/L ratio of daily voided urine, as determined by an enhanced urine culture method. Analysis included t test of the ratios and separate generalized linear mixed effects models (GLMM) for microbiota diversity. RESULTS: 481 samples of seven female participants with mean age 29.1 years (± 5.3 years) were included in the analysis (probiotic n = 4; placebo n = 3). No adverse events were reported. The placebo and probiotic groups had similar mean U/L ratios with no difference between placebo and probiotic groups in Phases 1-3 (p = 0.90, p = 0.58 and p = 0.72, respectively). The probiotic species were never identified in the voided urine. There were no changes between groups in terms of microbiota diversity. CONCLUSION: For young healthy women, the use of oral probiotic did not affect the U/L ratio.

Pelvic floor myofascial pain in patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate lower urinary tract symptoms typically associated with a urinary tract infection (UTI) with physical examination findings of pelvic floor myofascial pain (PFMP). METHODS: This retrospective review included all new patients presenting to a urogynecology clinic between August 2 and December 19, 2016. Patients completed validated questionnaires, had a catheterized urine specimen, and underwent pelvic examination. Associations between demographics, symptoms, urine culture, and PFMP were analyzed. RESULTS: We included 250 patients with urinary frequency (n=160, 64.0%), urgency (n=155, 62.0%), urgency incontinence (n=140, 56.0%), pelvic pain (n=43, 17.2%), and dysuria (n=25, 10.0%). PFMP was detected in 125 (50.0%) patients and culture-proven UTI in 15 (6.0%) patients. Demographics associated with PFMP were lower prolapse stage (P<0.001), age younger than 50 years (P<0.001), lower parity (P=0.028), and non-white ethnicity (P=0.003). Symptoms associated with PFMP were dysuria (adjusted odds ratio 4.13, 95% confidence interval 1.08-15.78), urgency/frequency (2.72, 1.47-5.04), and patient-reported pelvic pain (2.57, 1.08-6.12). These symptoms were independent predictors in multivariable logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients had symptoms associated with UTI; however, culture-confirmed diagnosis was infrequent and PFMT was diagnosed in half of participants. Clinicians treating women with these symptoms are advised to examine the pelvic floor muscles.

Constraint and trade-offs regulate energy expenditure during childhood.

Children's metabolic energy expenditure is central to evolutionary and epidemiological frameworks for understanding variation in human phenotype and health. Nonetheless, the impact of a physically active lifestyle and heavy burden of infectious disease on child metabolism remains unclear. Using energetic, activity, and biomarker measures, we show that Shuar forager-horticulturalist children of Amazonian Ecuador are ~25% more physically active and, in association with immune activity, have ~20% greater resting energy expenditure than children from industrial populations. Despite these differences, Shuar children's total daily energy expenditure, measured using doubly labeled water, is indistinguishable from industrialized counterparts. Trade-offs in energy allocation between competing physiological tasks, within a constrained energy budget, appear to shape childhood phenotypic variation (e.g., patterns of growth). These trade-offs may contribute to the lifetime obesity and metabolic health disparities that emerge during rapid economic development.