Family child care home providers' self-reported nutrition and physical activity practices, self-efficacy, barriers and knowledge: baseline findings from happy healthy homes.

OBJECTIVE: Describe nutrition and physical activity practices, nutrition self-efficacy and barriers and food programme knowledge within Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) and differences by staffing. DESIGN: Baseline, cross-sectional analyses of the Happy Healthy Homes randomised trial (NCT03560050). SETTING: FCCH in Oklahoma, USA. PARTICIPANTS: FCCH providers (n 49, 100 % women, 30·6 % Non-Hispanic Black, 2·0 % Hispanic, 4·1 % American Indian/Alaska Native, 51·0 % Non-Hispanic white, 44·2 ± 14·2 years of age. 53·1 % had additional staff) self-reported nutrition and physical activity practices and policies, nutrition self-efficacy and barriers and food programme knowledge. Differences between providers with and without additional staff were adjusted for multiple comparisons (P < 0·01). RESULTS: The prevalence of meeting all nutrition and physical activity best practices ranged from 0·0-43·8 % to 4·1-16·7 %, respectively. Average nutrition and physical activity scores were 3·2 ± 0·3 and 3·0 ± 0·5 (max 4·0), respectively. Sum nutrition and physical activity scores were 137·5 ± 12·6 (max 172·0) and 48·4 ± 7·5 (max 64·0), respectively. Providers reported high nutrition self-efficacy and few barriers. The majority of providers (73·9-84·7 %) felt that they could meet food programme best practices; however, knowledge of food programme best practices was lower than anticipated (median 63-67 % accuracy). More providers with additional staff had higher self-efficacy in family-style meal service than did those who did not (P = 0·006). CONCLUSIONS: Providers had high self-efficacy in meeting nutrition best practices and reported few barriers. While providers were successfully meeting some individual best practices, few met all. Few differences were observed between FCCH providers with and without additional staff. FCCH providers need additional nutrition training on implementation of best practices.

Survival Benefit of Treatment at or Transfer to a Tertiary Trauma Center among Injured Older Adults.

Objective: It is well established that seriously injured older adults are under-triaged to tertiary trauma centers. However, the survival benefit of tertiary trauma centers (TC) compared to a non-tertiary trauma centers (Non-TCs) remains unclear for this patient population. Using improved methodology and a larger sample, we hypothesized that there was a difference in hospital mortality between injured older adults treated at TCs and those treated at Non-TCs. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of injured older adults (> =55 years) reported to the Oklahoma statewide trauma registry between 2005 and 2014. The outcome of interest was 30-day in-hospital mortality and the exposure variable of interest was level of definitive trauma care (TC vs Non-TC). Overall survival benefit of treatment at a TC as well as the survival benefit of transferring injured older adults to a TC were evaluated using multivariable survival analyses as well as propensity score-adjusted analyses. Results: Of the 25,288 patients eligible for analysis, 43% (10,927) were treated at TCs. Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed effect modification by age group and time. After adjusting for potential confounders within the age strata, overall, patients treated at TCs were significantly less likely to die within 7 days of admission and this effect was stronger for patients aged 55-64 years (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.31-0.52) compared to those > =65 years (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.55-0.70). Overall survival benefit of TCs beyond 7 days was also observed (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.83). Similarly, for the survival benefit of transferring injured older adults, after adjusting for the propensity to be transferred and other confounders, transfer to a TC was associated with lower 30-day mortality both for patients less than 65 years old (HR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.27-0.49) and those 65 years and older (HR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.48-0.64). Conclusions: Our results suggest a survival benefit for injured older adults treated at TCs. This benefit was also observed for patients transferred from non-tertiary trauma centers. Further research should focus on identifying specific subgroups of patients who would especially benefit from this level of care to minimize trauma triage inefficiencies.

Diabetes among Hispanics in Oklahoma: Assessing Disparities to Guide Basic and Applied Research.

Background ­: Diabetes, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, disproportionally affects minority populations. In 2015, Hispanics, the largest minority in the country, had the third highest rate of diabetes prevalence and the third highest age-adjusted rate of diabetes-related mortality. Substantial progress in understanding diabetes disparities nationally and in many areas of the country has been made. However, little is known about diabetes and related mortality among Hispanics in Oklahoma, which is known as a Hispanic "new Settlement" state due to the relatively recent and substantial growth of this population. Methods ­: We used Oklahoma Behavioral and Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data (2011-2016) to calculate population estimates of diabetes prevalence and selected sociodemographic characteristics for Hispanic and Non-Hispanic adults in the state. We used Oklahoma Death Registry data to estimate diabetes-related mortality rates for Hispanic and Non-Hispanic adults for the same five-year period. We examined differences in diabetes prevalence and diabetes-related mortality across selected sociodemographic characteristics. Results ­: Hispanics are the largest minority group in Oklahoma. Spanish is the most common non-English language spoken in the state. Hispanics are younger, poorer, less educated and experience less access to health care compared to other populations in Oklahoma. While Hispanics had the fifth highest reported diabetes prevalence rate during the five-year period examined, they had the third highest diabetes-related mortality rate in the state. Discussion and Conclusions ­: There is a need for community engagement and basic and applied research to help identify and reduce diabetes disparities in the growing Hispanic population in Oklahoma.

Serum apolipoproteins and apolipoprotein-defined lipoprotein subclasses: a hypothesis-generating prospective study of cardiovascular events in T1D.

APOB, APOC3, and APOE and apolipoprotein-defined lipoprotein subclasses (ADLSs; based on qualitative apolipoprotein complement) have been associated with dyslipidemia and CVD. Our main objective was to define associations of serum apolipoproteins and ADLSs with "any CVD" and "major atherosclerotic cardiovascular events" (MACEs) in a prospective study of T1D. Serum apolipoproteins and ADLSs (14 biomarkers in total) were measured in sera (obtained between 1997 and 2000) from a subset (n = 465) of the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications cohort. Prospective associations of "any CVD" (myocardial infarction, stroke, confirmed angina, silent myocardial infarction, revascularization, or congestive heart failure) and MACEs (fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke), over 5,943 and 6,180 patient-years follow-up, respectively, were investigated using Cox proportional hazards models that were unadjusted and adjusted for risk factors. During 15 years of follow-up, 50 "any CVD" events and 24 MACEs occurred. Nominally significant positive univariate associations with "any CVD" were APOB, APOC3 and its subfractions [heparin precipitate, heparin-soluble (HS)], and ADLS-defined Lp-B. In adjusted analyses, APOC3-HS remained nominally significant. Nominally significant positive univariate associations with MACEs were APOC3 and its subfractions and Lp-B:C; those with total APOC3 and APOC3-HS persisted in adjusted analyses. However, these associations did not reach significance after adjusting for multiple testing. There were no significant associations of APOA1, APOA2, APOE, or other ADLSs with either "any CVD" or MACEs. These hypothesis-generating data suggest that total serum APOC3 and APOC3 in HDL are potentially important predictive biomarkers for any CVD and MACEs in adults with T1D.

Loss of alveolar bone density in postmenopausal, osteopenic women is associated with circulating levels of gelatinases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether circulating levels of two matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9, are associated with loss of alveolar bone density (ABD) or height (ABH), or with progression of periodontitis (relative clinical attachment level [RCAL]), among postmenopausal women with local and systemic bone loss. BACKGROUND: This study was planned as part of a 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial examining efficacy/safety of subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (20 mg bid) in postmenopausal osteopenic women. This study examines whether serum levels of gelatinases are associated with local changes in the periodontium. METHODS: A sample of 113 women received periodontal maintenance for moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis and consented to analysis of stored serum biomarkers. Posterior vertical bitewings were taken, and serum collected, at baseline, one, and 2 years. ABD was determined by computer-assisted densitometric image analysis (CADIA), ABH by the Hausmann et al (1992, J Periodontol 63, 657) method, and RCAL by Florida Probe (every 6 months). MMPs were measured densitometrically on gelatin zymograms using denatured type I collagen as substrate and purified MMP-2 (72 kDa) and MMP-9 (92 kDa) as standards. Evidence of worsening in the periodontium at a tooth site was defined as a change from baseline of, for ABD, at least 14 densitometric units (for subcrestal locations) or 17 units (for crestal locations); of at least 0.4 mm for ABH; and of at least 1.5 mm for RCAL. Logistic regression models, while accounting for clustering, compared the odds of worsening in ABD, ABH, or RCAL, after 2 years of observation, between groups defined by baseline and concurrent levels of serum gelatinases. RESULTS: Changes in ABH and RCAL were not associated with circulating levels of MMP-2 or MMP-9. However, elevated odds of ABD loss over 24 months were associated, among smokers, with both baseline and concurrent levels of MMP-9 in the middle and highest tertile, and with concurrent levels of MMP-2 in the middle (but not the highest) tertile. Elevated odds of ABD loss were also associated, among women within 5 years of menopause, with baseline levels of MMP-2 in the highest tertile. CONCLUSION: Among postmenopausal osteopenic women, loss of ABD was associated, in smokers, with elevated circulating levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2. In those within 5 years of menopause, ABD loss was associated with elevated circulating levels of MMP-2.

Higher Coated-Platelet Levels in Acute Stroke are Associated with Lower Cognitive Scores at Three Months Post Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Coated-platelets are a subset of highly procoagulant platelets observed after dual agonist stimulation with collagen and thrombin. Coated-platelet levels are increased in acute stroke compared to controls, and higher levels are associated with stroke recurrence. We examined whether coated-platelet levels measured at the time of the stroke correlate with cognitive scores at 3 months following the brain infarction. METHODS: Coated-platelets were assayed in consecutive patients with nonlacunar stroke. Cognitive screening was performed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at 3 months after discharge. Linear regression, with adjustment for individual covariates, was used to model the association between coated-platelet levels and MMSE scores. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with a mean MMSE score of 26 points (range 14-30, standard deviation [SD] 3.1) and mean coated-platelet levels of 40.9% (range 5.2-76.2, SD 13.3), completed cognitive screening. An inverse linear association was found between coated-platelet levels and MMSE score, with higher levels seen in patients with lower MMSE scores (r = -.34, R2 = .12, P < .0001). This association remained despite adjustment for potential confounding factors. In the final model, higher coated-platelet levels (coefficient -.078, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -.12 to -.041, P < .0001), presence of hypertension (coefficient -2.42, 95% CI: -3.90 to -.95, P = .0015), and anticoagulant use at discharge (coefficient -1.48, 95% CI: -2.56 to -.39, P = .0079) were predictive of lower MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a link between increased platelet procoagulant potential at the time of the stroke and development of cognitive impairment following cerebral infarction.

Apolipoprotein-defined lipoprotein subclasses, serum apolipoproteins, and carotid intima-media thickness in T1D.

Circulating apolipoprotein-defined lipoprotein subclasses (ADLS) and apolipoproteins predict vascular events in the general and type 2 diabetes populations, but data in T1D are limited. We examined associations of ADLS, serum apolipoproteins, and conventional lipids with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measured contemporaneously and 6 years later in 417 T1D participants [men: n = 269, age 42 ± 6 y (mean ± SD); women: n = 148, age 39 ± 8 y] in the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications study, the follow-up of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). Date were analyzed by multiple linear regression stratified by sex, and adjusted for time-averaged hemoglobin A1C, diabetes duration, hypertension, BMI, albuminuria, DCCT randomization, smoking, statin treatment, and ultrasound devices. In cross-sectional analyses, lipoprotein B (Lp-B), Lp-B:C, Lp-B:E+Lp-B:C:E, Apo-A-II, Apo-B, Apo-C-III-HP (heparin precipitate; i.e., Apo-C-III in Apo-B-containing lipoproteins), and Apo-E were positively associated with common and/or internal carotid IMT in men, but only Apo-C-III (total) was (positively) associated with internal carotid IMT in women. In prospective analyses, Lp-B, Apo-B, and Apo-C-III-HP were positively associated with common and/or internal carotid IMT in men, while Lp-A1:AII and Apo-A1 were inversely associated with internal carotid IMT in women. The only significant prospective association between conventional lipids and IMT was between triacylglycerols and internal carotid IMT in men. ADLS and apolipoprotein concentrations may provide sex-specific biomarkers and suggest mechanisms for IMT in people with T1D.

Association between benzene and congenital anomalies in Oklahoma, 1997-2009.

OBJECTIVES: Although the most common cause of death in infants, little is known about the aetiology of congenital anomalies. Recent studies have increasingly focused on environmental exposures, including benzene. While benzene is known to affect the central nervous system, the effects on the developing fetus are unclear. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the association between ambient benzene exposure and the prevalence of congenital anomalies among 628 121 singleton births in Oklahoma from 1997 to 2009. We obtained benzene from the Environmental Protection Agency's 2005 National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment for the census tract of the birth residence. We used modified Poisson regression with robust SEs to calculate prevalence proportion ratios (PPRs) and 95% CIs between quartiles of benzene exposure and critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs), neural tube defects (NTDs) and oral clefts adjusted for maternal education and tobacco use. RESULTS: Median benzene exposure concentration in Oklahoma was 0.57 µg/m3. We observed no association between benzene exposure and oral clefts, CCHDs or NTDs. When specific anomalies were examined, we observed an increased prevalence of cleft lip among those exposed to the second quartile of benzene compared with the first (PPR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.13), though no association with higher levels of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not provide support for an increased prevalence of anomalies in areas more highly exposed to benzene. Future studies would benefit from pooling data from multiple states to increase statistical power and precision in studies of air pollutants and specific anomalies.

Disseminating, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered outcomes to improve cardiovascular care using a stepped-wedge design: healthy hearts for Oklahoma.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the US and incurs high health care costs. While many initiatives promote the implementation of ABCS (aspirin therapy, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation) measures, most primary care practices (PCPs) lack quality improvement (QI) support and resources to achieve meaningful targets. The Healthy Hearts for Oklahoma (H2O) Study proposes to build a QI infrastructure by (1) constructing a sustainable Oklahoma Primary Healthcare Improvement Collaborative (OPHIC) to support dissemination and implementation (D&I) of QI methods; (2) providing QI support in PCPs to better manage patients at risk for CVD events. Parallel to infrastructure building, H2O aims to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the QI support D&I in primary care and assess the relationship between QI support uptake and changes in ABCS measures. METHODS: H2O has partnered with public health agencies and communities to build OPHIC and facilitate QI. H2O has 263 small primary care practices across Oklahoma that receive the bundled QI intervention to improve ABCS performance. A stepped-wedge designed is used to evaluate D&I of QI support. Changes in ABCS measures will be estimated as a function of various components of the QI support and capacity and readiness of PCPs to change. Notes from academic detailing and practice facilitation sessions will be analyzed to help interpret findings on ABCS performance. DISCUSSION: H2O program is designed to improve cardiovascular health and outcomes for more than 1.25 million Oklahomans. The infrastructure established as a result of this funding will help reach medically underserved Oklahomans, particularly among rural and tribal populations. Lessons learned from this project will guide future strategies for D&I of evidence-based practices in PCPs. Trained practice facilitators will continue to serve as critical resource to assists small, rural PCPs in adapting to the ever-changing health environment and continue to deliver quality care to their communities.

Prediction of 6-minute walk performance in patients with peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a highly prevalent disease that impairs walking ability. Walking tests, such as the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and 4-meter walk test, are commonly used to assess exercise endurance and ambulatory function over a short distance, respectively. The 6MWT performance is predictive of PAD severity and disease outcomes, but it is not feasible in many clinical settings because it requires a long walkway to serve as the test route and lengthens clinic visits. As an alternative, the 4-meter walk test is convenient, inexpensive, and repeatable, but whether it accurately predicts endurance performance in the long-distance 6MWT is not known. The goal of this study was to develop a statistical model to predict 6MWT gait speed from 4-meter walk test results and clinical characteristics among patients with PAD. METHODS: Measures of 6MWT gait speed were derived from 183 patients with symptomatic PAD who were evaluated at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2004-2012). The testing procedures and research personnel remained constant throughout the duration of the study. Independent variables included demographic and clinical information and 4-meter walk test gait speed. Fivefold cross validation and manual backward selection were used for model selection. Adjusted R2 and corrected Akaike information criterion were applied to quantify the predictive performance of the regression models. RESULTS: A total of 183 people (54% male; mean age, 65 [standard deviation (SD), 10] years) with moderate PAD severity (ankle-brachial index [ABI]; mean, 0.72 [SD, 0.24]) performed the walking tests. Participants covered an average distance of 335 (SD, 97) m distance in the 6MWT. The 4-meter walk gait speed, ABI, and dyspnea were independent predictors of 6MWT speed in the multivariate model (adjusted R2 = 0.55). The model resulted in 95% prediction interval widths of 30 m for mean and 260 m for individual predicted 6MWT distance measures. CONCLUSIONS: Slower 4-meter walking speed, lower ABI, and presence of dyspnea all predict slower 6MWT gait speed, which corresponds to shorter 6MWT distance. Prediction of group means is reasonably precise; however, prediction of individual patient 6MWT performance is imprecise relative to between-group differences that are clinically important.

Benzene and childhood acute leukemia in Oklahoma.

BACKGROUND: Although childhood cancer is a leading cause of childhood mortality in the US, evidence regarding the etiology is lacking. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between benzene, a known carcinogen, and childhood acute leukemia. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study including cases diagnosed with acute leukemia between 1997 and 2012 (n = 307) from the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry and controls matched on week of birth from birth certificates (n = 1013). We used conditional logistic regression to evaluate the association between benzene, measured with the 2005 National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) at census tract of the birth residence, and childhood acute leukemia. RESULTS: We observed no differences in benzene exposure overall between cases and controls. However, when stratified by year of birth, cases born from 2005 to 2010 had a three-fold increased unadjusted odds of elevated exposure compared to controls born in this same time period (4th Quartile OR: 3.53, 95% CI: 1.35, 9.27). Furthermore, the estimates for children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were stronger than those with acute lymphoid leukemia, though not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: While we did not observe an association between benzene and childhood leukemia overall, our results suggest that acute leukemia is associated with increased benzene exposure among more recent births, and children with AML may have increased benzene exposure at birth. Using the NATA estimates allowed us to assess a specific pollutant at the census tract level, providing an advantage over monitor or point source data. Our study, however, cannot rule out the possibility that benzene may be a marker of other traffic-related exposures and temporal misclassification may explain the lack of an association among earlier births.

Efficacy of Dorsoradial Capsulodesis for Trapeziometacarpal Joint Instability: A Cadaver Study.

PURPOSE: To test the biomechanical properties of the dorsoradial capsulodesis procedure. METHODS: Six cadaveric hands were used. After exposing the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint, we placed Kirschner wires in the distal radius and thumb metacarpal. The rotation shear test was then performed to test the joint axial laxity, and angular measurements using Kirschner wires as reference points were documented. The dorsoradial (DR) ligament and capsule were released, followed by the intermetacarpal (IM) ligament; angular measurements were obtained. Finally, the DR capsulodesis procedure was performed, and final measurements were obtained. Comparisons were made among the various stages of ligament integrity to determine the amount of stability provided by DR capsulodesis. RESULTS: All cadavers demonstrated axial laxity with transection of the DR ligament; an increase in stability was obtained after DR capsulodesis. Transection of the capsule and IM ligament caused increased laxity relative to the native joint (median, 24° and 35°, respectively, on rotational testing). After we performed DR capsulodesis, rotational stability improved by a median of 41° compared with DR ligament transection, 49° compared with DR and IM ligament transection, and 18° relative to the native joint. CONCLUSIONS: Dorsoradial capsulodesis restores rotational stability for TMC joint after division of the DR and IM ligaments. The stability achieved was statistically significant compared with both an intact native TMC joint and induced laxity of the TMC joint. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The DR capsulodesis procedure may improve rotational stability to the TMC joint.

Associations between intensive diabetes therapy and NMR-determined lipoprotein subclass profiles in type 1 diabetes.

Our objective is to define differences in circulating lipoprotein subclasses between intensive versus conventional management of type 1 diabetes during the randomization phase of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). NMR-determined lipoprotein subclass profiles (NMR-LSPs), which estimate molar subclass concentrations and mean particle diameters, were determined in 1,294 DCCT subjects after a median of 5 years (interquartile range: 4-6 years) of randomization to intensive or conventional diabetes management. In cross-sectional analyses, we compared standard lipids and NMR-LSPs between treatment groups. Standard total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels were similar between randomization groups, while triglyceride levels were lower in the intensively treated group. NMR-LSPs showed that intensive therapy was associated with larger LDL diameter (20.7 vs. 20.6 nm, P = 0.01) and lower levels of small LDL (median: 465 vs. 552 nmol/l, P = 0.007), total IDL/LDL (mean: 1,000 vs. 1,053 nmol/l, P = 0.01), and small HDL (mean: 17.3 vs. 18.6 µmol/l, P < 0.0001), the latter accounting for reduced total HDL (mean: 33.8 vs. 34.8 µmol/l, P = 0.01). In conclusion, intensive diabetes therapy was associated with potentially favorable changes in LDL and HDL subclasses in sera. Further research will determine whether these changes contribute to the beneficial effects of intensive diabetes management on vascular complications.

Childhood cancer in children with congenital anomalies in Oklahoma, 1997 to 2009.

BACKGROUND: Data-linkage studies have reported an association between congenital anomalies and childhood cancer. However, few studies have focused on the differences in the effect of congenital anomalies on cancer as a function of attained age. We aimed to examine associations between anomalies and childhood cancer as a function of attained age among children born in Oklahoma. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Oklahoma State Department of Health from 1997 to 2009 (n = 591,235). We linked Vital Statistics records for singleton deliveries to the Oklahoma Birth Defects Registry and the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry using name and birth date. To assess the relation between anomalies and childhood cancer, we used Cox regression analysis allowing for a nonproportional hazards for anomalies as a function of age. RESULTS: There were 23,368 (4.0%) children with anomalies and 531 (0.1%) children with cancer. When considering 3-year age intervals, we detected an increased hazard of any childhood cancer in children with anomalies compared with those without anomalies before 1 year of age (hazard ratio, 14.1; 95% confidence interval, 8.3-23.7) and at 3 years of age (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-3.2). The increased hazard declined with increasing time since birth, with the effect diminished by 6 years of age. CONCLUSION: Our results were consistent with previous studies indicating an increased rate of childhood cancer among children with anomalies at younger ages. Furthermore, our study added a methodological refinement of assessing the effect of anomalies as a function of attained age. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:633-642, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Differences in galectin-3, a biomarker of fibrosis, between participants with peripheral artery disease and participants with normal ankle-brachial index.

The aim of this study was to determine if galectin-3 levels were different between participants with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and controls, and to describe its relationship with markers of early atherosclerosis. Sixty participants were recruited into two groups: a PAD group (n=31), ankle-brachial index (ABI) ⩽0.90 and a normal ABI group (n=29), ABI 1.0-1.4. PAD participants were older (68.6 vs 61.8 years, p=0.037), more commonly men (68% vs 38%, p=0.02), and with more cardiovascular risk factors (p<0.001). Galectin-3 was 22% higher in PAD participants (mean±SD: 17.6±4.7 vs 14.4±4.1 ng/mL, p<0.01). The odds ratio for galectin-3 in PAD to be 1 ng/mL higher than the participants with normal ABI was 1.19, after adjusting by age and gender (p=0.014). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) were positively associated with galectin-3 in the age- and gender-adjusted model, while arterial elasticity and microalbuminuria were not. In conclusion, galectin-3 levels were higher in participants with PAD.

Traffic-related air pollution and childhood acute leukemia in Oklahoma.

BACKGROUND: While many studies have evaluated the association between acute childhood leukemia and environmental factors, knowledge is limited. Ambient air pollution has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, but studies have not established whether traffic-related air pollution is associated with leukemia. The goal of our study was to determine if children with acute leukemia had higher odds of exposure to traffic-related air pollution at birth compared to controls. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study using the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry to identify cases of acute leukemia in children diagnosed before 20 years of age between 1997 and 2012 (n=307). Controls were selected from birth certificates and matched to cases on week of birth (n=1013). Using a novel satellite-based land-use regression model of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and estimating road density based on the 2010 US Census, we evaluated the association between traffic-related air pollution and childhood leukemia using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The odds of exposure to the fourth quartile of NO2 (11.19-19.89ppb) were similar in cases compared to controls after adjustment for maternal education (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.75, 1.55). These estimates were stronger among children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) than acute lymphoid leukemia, with a positive association observed among urban children with AML (4th quartile odds ratio: 5.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 25.26). While we observed no significant association with road density, male cases had an elevated odds of exposure to roads at 500m from the birth residence compared to controls (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.93, 2.10), which was slightly attenuated at 750m. CONCLUSIONS: Although we observed no association overall between NO2 or road density, this was the first study to observe an elevated odds of exposure to NO2 among children with AML compared to controls suggesting further exploration of traffic-related air pollution and AML is warranted.

Lower Coated-Platelet Levels Are Associated With Increased Mortality After Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Coated-platelets are highly procoagulant platelets observed on dual-agonist stimulation with collagen and thrombin. Coated-platelet levels are decreased in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage when compared with controls and inversely correlated with bleed volume. We sought to investigate whether coated-platelets are associated with increased mortality at 30 days after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: Coated-platelet levels were assayed in 95 consecutive patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. The main outcome was mortality at 30 days according to coated-platelet levels at enrollment. Subjects were grouped into tertiles of the observed coated-platelet level distribution. Groups defined by tertile of coated-platelet level were compared using either ANOVA or a Kruskal-Wallis test for small group size for continuous measures and an exact Cochrane-Armitage trend test for categorical measures. Logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds of death within 30 days associated with coated-platelet levels. RESULTS: Cumulative mortality at 30 days was 23% (22 subjects). Mortality at 30 days differed among the coated-platelet tertiles: 44% for the first tertile (lowest coated-platelet levels), 19% for the second tertile, and 6% for the third tertile (trend test; P=0.0004). Logistic regression examining the association between mortality and coated-platelet levels showed that the odds of death at 30 days in those with levels <27% (n=47) were 6.83× the odds for patients with levels ≥27% (95% confidence interval, 2.10-22.23). CONCLUSIONS: These results support a link between impaired coated-platelet potential and outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage.

Delayed primary excision with subsequent modification of radiotherapy dose for intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma: a report from the Children's Oncology Group Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee.

The majority of intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) patients have gross residual disease (Group III) after their first operative procedure. It is currently not known if local control rates can be maintained when, following induction chemotherapy, the radiation therapy (RT) dose is decreased after a delayed primary excision (DPE). To answer this question we evaluated patients enrolled on COG D9803 (1999-2005) who had Group III tumors of the bladder dome, extremity or trunk (thorax, abdomen and pelvis) were candidates for DPE at Week 12 if the primary tumor appeared resectable. RT dose was then adjusted by the completeness of DPE: no evidence of disease 36 Gy, microscopic residual 41.4 Gy and gross residual disease (GRD) 50.4 Gy. A total of 161 Group III patients were evaluated (24 bladder dome, 63 extremity and 74 trunk). Seventy-three patients (45%) underwent DPE which achieved removal of all gross disease in 61 (84%) who were then eligible for reduced RT dose (43/73 received 36 Gy, 19/73 received 41.4 Gy). The local 5-year failure rate (0% for bladder dome, 7% for extremity and 20% for trunk) was similar to IRS-IV, which did not encourage DPE and did not allow for DPE adapted RT dose reduction. In conclusion, DPE was performed in 45% of Group III RMS patients with tumors at select anatomic sites (bladder dome, extremity and trunk) and 84% of those who had DPE were eligible for RT dose reduction. Local control outcomes were similar to historic results with RT alone.

Assessment of Translational and Interdisciplinary Clinical Research at an Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

PURPOSE: In response to National Institutes of Health initiatives to improve translation of basic science discoveries we surveyed faculty to assess patterns of and barriers to translational research in Oklahoma. METHODS: An online survey was administered to University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine faculty, which included demographic and research questions. Results: Responses were received from 126 faculty members (24%). Two-thirds spent ≥ 20%time on research; among these, 90% conduct clinical and translational research. Identifying funding; recruiting research staff and participants; preparing reports and agreements; and protecting research time were commonly perceived as at least moderate barriers to conducting research. While respondents largely collaborated within their discipline, clinical investigators were more likely than basic science investigators to engage in interdisciplinary research. CONCLUSION: While engagement in translational research is common, specific barriers impact the research process. This could be improved through an expanded interdisciplinary collaboration and research support structure.

Primary venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in patients with solid tumors: a meta-analysis.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of death among outpatient chemotherapy patients. However the VTE preventive measures for outpatients are not widely advocated. We did a meta-analysis to evaluate the outpatient VTE prevention's effectiveness and safety. We searched electronic databases until the end of December 2012 and reviewed the abstracts and manuscripts following the PRISMA guidelines. Occurrence of first VTE event was the efficacy outcome. The safety end point was major bleeding. We calculated Q statistic and a homogeneity formal test. The odds ratio (OR) estimates were pooled by using the Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effects method in the absence of heterogeneity. Data were analyzed using the R META package). We identified 1,485 articles and reviewed 37 articles based on initial screening. The number of patients included in 11 selected trials was 7,805. The odds of VTE was lower in the prophylaxis group (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.45-0.71) and improved when heparin-based prevention was analyzed (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.41-0.70). We found strong prevention among patients with lung cancer (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.29-0.74) and pancreatic cancer (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.16-0.67). Major bleeding events were frequent in the intervention group (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.12-2.44). Thromboprophylaxis reduced VTE episodes. The VTE events were reduced by 47% in heparin-based prophylaxis trials compared to placebo. The patients receiving heparin-based prophylaxis had a 60% increase in bleeding events. Improving risk stratification tools to personalize prevention strategies may enhance the VTE prevention applicability in cancer patients.