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1.
Health Promot Int ; 38(5)2023 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37791593

ABSTRACT

Family meals are recognized as an opportunity to promote the health of families. Popular discourse posits that changes to contemporary family life have made family meals harder to achieve and promotion of the 'traditional' family meal may be adding pressures to contemporary families. While research has been conducted on family meals over the last three decades, there is no explicit investigation of the experiences and practices of family meals over this time. Understanding the evolution of family meal practices across time is important for developing achievable expectations in relation to this ritual. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a diverse population of South Australian parents in the 1990s (n = 32) and with a separate population of parents in 2020 (n = 22) to gather their experiences of family meal practices. A comparative analysis, informed by grounded theory, was undertaken to identify similarities and differences in experiences across these two time periods. The results indicated stability in many family meal experiences across time, particularly in their value and significance in family life. Negotiations balancing time, cost, food preferences and responsibility persisted. The stability of family meal values and practices is important to consider when making recommendations, designing interventions and creating services targeting the family meal.


Subject(s)
Ceremonial Behavior , Feeding Behavior , Humans , Grounded Theory , Australia , Meals , Family
2.
Appetite ; 191: 107091, 2023 Oct 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37865298

ABSTRACT

Family meals are positively associated with numerous beneficial health and social outcomes. Current discourse however claims that parents are faced with numerous barriers when trying to bring the family together to share a meal. Solutions for overcoming barriers to a positive shared family meal are often individualistic and do not address the systemic pressures and burdens families have faced for decades. The aim of this study was to explore the systemic and novel barriers and enablers to shared family meals as experienced by families across time. To achieve this, a qualitative study informed by grounded theory was conducted. Parents of South Australian families were recruited and interviewed in the 1990s, and a new sample of parents were recruited and interviewed in 2020. Transcripts were analysed using grounded theory and comparative analysis methods. Thirty-two parents from 16 families were interviewed in the 1990s, and 22 parents from 10 families in 2020. Ten factors were identified presenting as either enablers or barriers to the family meal, depending on the context they were experienced. Barriers and enablers were largely consistent across time. Scheduling and flexibility, children's disruptions and children's independence, privileges required to have family meals and motivation and commitment to the family meal were identified as persistent enablers and barriers across time. These findings indicate that parents are faced with similar challenges they have been facing for decades and are still not being adequately supported to execute family meals regularly. Recognising that factors present as either barriers or enablers to the family meal provides us with opportunities to transform barriers to enablers and support families to have regular, meaningful family meals.

4.
Curr Opin Pulm Med ; 29(5): 501-511, 2023 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37522560

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan system disease exerting significant impact on biophysical, social, psychological and emotional well-being. Mortality and disability correlate to accessible, timely, expert care for sarcoidosis and its related complications. Across health conditions, positive healthcare interactions and interventions can rehabilitate unfavourable factors tied to concepts of ' frailty' . Here, we set out to introduce concepts related to frailty and their impact in the context of sarcoidosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies examining frailty across other multiorgan and single organ-based diseases that mirror organ involvement in sarcoidosis demonstrate findings that bear relevance in sarcoidosis. Namely, factors predisposing a person to frailty are a multifactorial phenomenon which are also reflected in the lived experience of sarcoidosis; and that early diagnosis, intervention and prevention may alter a course towards more favourable health outcomes. SUMMARY: Factors predisposing to frailty in other health conditions may also signal a risk in sarcoidosis. In turn, proactive health preservation - regardless of age - may lead to improved biopsychosocial reserve and health-related quality of life. Fortifying holistic resilience in sarcoidosis is anticipated to reduce risk of the occurrence and prolongation of health-related complications, and facilitate swifter recovery from biophysical complications as well as from psychosocial and emotional stressors.


Subject(s)
Frailty , Sarcoidosis , Humans , Frailty/epidemiology , Quality of Life
5.
Curr Opin Pulm Med ; 29(5): 525-531, 2023 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37439108

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize data from recent reports about risks and outcomes of the infections most often reported in patients with sarcoidosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Rates of fungal infections and other severe infections are higher in patients with sarcoidosis compared to controls. Immunosuppression further increases the risk for an infection requiring hospitalization. In contrast, outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not worse unless lung impairment or other comorbidities are present. SUMMARY: Tuberculosis, fungal infections, and other severe infections requiring hospital admission are, fortunately, relatively rare in patients with sarcoidosis who live in nonendemic regions. However, ongoing vigilance is required when the course of sarcoidosis is atypical or inexplicably progressive, as costs are high when these infections are missed. In contrast, COVID-19 and other respiratory viral illnesses are common, including among patients with sarcoidosis. When organ impairment is minimal, an underlying diagnosis of sarcoidosis does not appear to increase the risk of severe COVID-19, but patients may have higher risks due to comorbidities, which are important factors to address in routine sarcoidosis care. The burden from respiratory viral events, including impacts on quality of life and life functionality including work capacity, is unknown and is important to measure.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mycoses , Sarcoidosis , Humans , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/epidemiology , Quality of Life , Sarcoidosis/epidemiology , Sarcoidosis/diagnosis , Comorbidity
8.
Intern Med J ; 53(5): 671-679, 2023 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36353844

ABSTRACT

Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a simple noninvasive microscopic technique used to identify characteristic morphological abnormalities in the nailfold capillaries. The presence of this microvasculopathy appears to be of fundamental importance in the pathological processes that underlie the scleroderma spectrum disorders (including dermatomyositis and antisynthetase myositis). This review discusses the different methodologies and techniques in performing NFC and stresses the diagnostic utility achieved with simple 'bedside' techniques utilising the ophthalmoscope, dermatoscope or smart phone. Recent advances in reporting abnormal microvascular patterns and vascular metrics (e.g. capillary density and dropout) are discussed. The aetiopathogenesis of the microvasculopathy is currently unknown but its close association with Raynaud Phenomena and specific autoantibodies together with recent observations from sequential NFC allows speculations on its possible mechanism. Finally, future developments in the use of NFC as a possible biomarker in the management of the scleroderma spectrum disorders are discussed, with a recommendation that NFC becomes more widely available, particularly in rheumatological, immunological and dermatological practice. NFC provides a clinically accessible window on the pathologic process fundamental to scleroderma-related disease.


Subject(s)
Myositis , Rheumatology , Humans , Microscopic Angioscopy/methods , Capillaries/pathology , Autoantibodies
9.
Front Immunol ; 14: 1301991, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38173720

ABSTRACT

Rationale: Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory granulomatous disease of unknown etiology with predominant lung involvement. Organ involvement and disease severity, as well as the nature of immune alterations, vary among patients leading to a range of clinical phenotypes and outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the association of disease course and immune responses in pulmonary sarcoidosis. Methods: In this prospective cohort study of 30 subjects, most of whom were followed for one year, we evaluated 14 inflammatory markers in plasma, 13 Treg/T cell flow cytometry markers and 8 parameters of FOXP3+ Treg biology, including suppressive function, epigenetic features and stability. Results: We identified a set of 13 immunological parameters that differ in sarcoidosis subjects in comparison with healthy donors. Five of those were inversely correlated with suppressive function of Tregs in sarcoidosis, and six (TNFα, TNFR I and II, sCD25, Ki-67 and number of Tregs) were particularly upregulated or increased in subjects with thoracic lymphadenopathy. Treg suppressive function was significantly lower in patients with thoracic lymphadenopathy, and in patients with higher burdens of pulmonary and systemic symptoms. A combination of five inflammatory markers, Ki-67 expression, Treg function, and lung diffusion capacity evaluated at study entry predicted need for therapy at one year follow-up in 90% of cases. Conclusion: Tregs may suppress ongoing inflammation at local and systemic levels, and TNFα, TNFR I and II, sCD25 and Ki-67 emerge as attractive biomarkers for in vivo sarcoid inflammatory activity.


Subject(s)
Lymphadenopathy , Sarcoidosis , Humans , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory , Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Prospective Studies , Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism , Sarcoidosis/metabolism , Prognosis , Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
10.
JACC Cardiovasc Imaging ; 15(11): 1944-1955, 2022 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36357136

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis frequently undergo fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging to assess disease activity at baseline and after treatment initiation. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effect of immunosuppressive therapy and biopsy status to achieve complete treatment response (CTR), partial treatment response (PTR), or no response (NR) on myocardial FDG-PET/CT. METHODS: This study analyzed 83 patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis (aged 53 ± 1.8 years, 71% were male, 69% were White, 61% had a history of biopsy-confirmed sarcoidosis) who were treatment naive, had evidence of myocardial FDG at baseline, and underwent repeat PET imaging after treatment initiation. CTR was graded visually, and PTR/NR were measured both visually and quantitatively using the total glycolytic activity. Patients were also evaluated for the occurrence of death, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, and heart failure admissions. RESULTS: Overall, 59 patients (71%) achieved CTR/PTR (30%/41%) at follow-up scan (P = 0.04). Total glycolytic activity and visual estimate of PTR/NR had excellent agreement (κ = 0.86 [95% CI: 0.72-0.99]; P < 0.0001). In patients receiving prednisone only, the highest rates of CTR/PTR were observed in patients initiated on moderate or high dose (P < 0.01). In a regression model, moderate prednisone start dose (P = 0.03) was more strongly associated with achieving CTR/PTR than was high prednisone start dose. However, the latter patients were tapered faster between start dose and follow-up scan (P < 0.01). After a median follow-up of 4.7 (IQR: 3.1-7.8) years, patients who were biopsy-proven (vs non-biopsy-proven; P = 0.029) and with preserved left ventricular function (P = 002) were less likely to experience major adverse cardiac events. Outcomes based on treatment response status (CTR vs PTR vs NR; P = 0.23) were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with suspected sarcoidosis and evidence of myocardial inflammation, treatment response by serial FDG-PET was variable, but a favorable response was more common when using moderate-to-high intensity prednisone dose. Biopsy-proven individuals and those with preserved systolic function were less likely to experience adverse outcomes during follow-up.


Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathies , Myocarditis , Sarcoidosis , Humans , Male , Female , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography , Radiopharmaceuticals , Prednisone , Cardiomyopathies/diagnostic imaging , Cardiomyopathies/drug therapy , Cardiomyopathies/pathology , Predictive Value of Tests , Sarcoidosis/diagnostic imaging , Sarcoidosis/drug therapy , Sarcoidosis/pathology , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Immunosuppression Therapy
11.
Front Pharmacol ; 13: 979788, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36313333

ABSTRACT

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as a scientific method of disability data collection comprised of >1,200 categories describing the spectrum of impairment types (functional, symptoms-based and anatomical) under the bio-psycho-social model with consideration of environmental and personal factors (pf). ICF Core Sets and ICF Checklists are streamlined disease-specific resources for clinical use, service provision, and for use in health economics and health policy. ICF can disclose strengths and weaknesses across multiple patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and help consolidate best-fitting question-items from multiple PROMs. Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), are generally progressive, with restrictive physiology sometimes occurring in the context of multi-organ autoimmunity/inflammatory conditions such as connective tissue diseases (CTDs). In spite of significant associated morbidity and potential disability, ILD has yet to be linked to the ICF. Methods: Each instrument and their question-items within the consensus-recommended core sets for clinical trials in ILD were deconstructed to single concept units, and then linked per updated ICF linkage rules. Inter-linker agreement was established. Three additional subsequently validated measures were also included. Results: One-hundred-eleven ICF categories were identified for ten PROMs and three traditional objective measures that were amenable to ICF linkage. The proportion of agreement ranged from 0.79 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.91) to 0.93 (0.76, 0.99) with the overall proportion of inter-linker agreement being very high 0.86 (0.82, 0.89) for the initial instruments, with 94-100% for the three additional PROMs. Thirty-four new 'Personal Factors' emerged to capture disease-specific qualities not elsewhere described in ICF, e.g. 'pf_embarrassed by cough' or 'pf_panic/afraid when can't get a breath'. Conclusion: This first known effort in ICF linkage of ILD has provided important revelations on the current utility of the ICF in lung disease. Results have indicated areas for meaningful assessment of ICF descriptors for lung impairment. The mapping across PROMs provides insight into possibilities of developing more streamline and precise instrumentation. Finally, familiarity with the ICF in ILD may enable clinicians to experience a smoother transition with the imminent harmonization of ICD and ICF, ICD-11.

12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36128253

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to define the prevalence of hip pain in nonambulatory children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) (type I or II) treated with aggressive medical management, prior to widespread use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Methods: A retrospective chart review (1993 to 2017) was performed on children diagnosed with SMA to identify subjective reports of hip pain and associated interventions, while radiographs were evaluated to assess hip instability and spinal deformity. Results: Seventy-two patients (33 with type I and 39 with type II) met the inclusion criteria. Hip pain was more frequent in type-II SMA (49% versus 12%; p = 0.001). Seventeen percent of the patients with 2 copies of the SMN2 (survival motor neuron 2) gene, 53% of patients with 3 copies, and 1 of the 2 patients with 4 copies reported hip pain. Nearly all patients had abnormal findings on hip radiographs made at the onset of pain or at the latest follow-up; however, no patient with type-I and 18% of those with type-II SMA had pain that was severe enough to undergo invasive intervention (p = 0.01). The intervention reduced the pain in most of those patients but completely eliminated it in only 1 patient. No significant differences were found with respect to the mean age at the onset of scoliosis, the mean age at the time of scoliosis surgery, or whether insertion of growing rods or posterior spine fusion was performed between those with and without hip pain requiring invasive treatment. Conclusions: This study is, to our knowledge, the largest investigation to date to assess hip pain among nonambulatory children with type-I or type-II SMA and suggests that symptoms rather than radiographs be utilized to direct care. These data will be crucial in assessing any effects that the new DMTs have on the natural history of hip pathology and pain in nonambulatory patients with SMA. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

13.
BMJ Open Respir Res ; 9(1)2022 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35882424

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory infections are ubiquitous. The COVID-19 pandemic has refocused our attention on how morbid and potentially fatal they can be, and how host factors have an impact on the clinical course and outcomes. Due to a range of vulnerabilities, patients with sarcoidosis may be at higher risk of poor outcomes from respiratory infections. The objective of the SARCoidosis Outcomes in all respiratory Viral Infectious Diseases (SARCOVID) Study is to determine the short-term and long-term impacts of respiratory viral illnesses (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) in sarcoidosis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Up to 20 clinical sites across the USA are participating in the recruitment of 2000 patients for this observational, prospective study. To ensure that the study cohort is representative of the general population with sarcoidosis, participating sites include those dedicated to reaching under-represented minorities or patients from non-urban areas. Baseline data on demographic features, comorbidities, sarcoidosis characteristics and pre-enrolment lung function will be captured at study entry. During this 3-year study, all acute respiratory infectious events (from SARS-CoV-2 and any other respiratory pathogen) will be assessed and recorded at quarterly intervals. The level of required medical care and survival outcomes determine infection severity, and the impact of infection on quality of life measures will be recorded. Post-infection lung function and imaging results will measure the long-term impact on the trajectory of sarcoidosis. Patients will be analysed according to the clinical phenotypes of cardiac and fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis. Control groups include non-infected patients with sarcoidosis and patients with non-sarcoidosis interstitial lung disease. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Each site received local institutional review board approval prior to enrolling patients, with the consent process determined by local institution standards. Data will be published in a timely manner (goal <12 months) at the conclusion of the 3-year follow-up period and will be made available upon request.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Communicable Diseases , Humans , Pandemics , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life , SARS-CoV-2 , Treatment Outcome
14.
Curr Opin Pulm Med ; 28(4): 321-336, 2022 07 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35749798

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ageing, the accrual of molecular and cellular damage over a lifetime confers progressive physiologic dysfunction of bodily systems, leaving the body in a heightened state of vulnerability to biophysical and psychosocial stressors. The inflection point is frailty which easily leads to disability and death. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) creates biophysical and psychosocial stresses difficult for even optimally fit patients to cope with. With evolving ILD treatment pathways, people with ILD are living longer. RECENT FINDINGS: ILD and ageing are bi-directionally influential: ILD, its treatments, complications, and collateral systemic extra-pulmonary damage (hypoxic and oxidative stress) wear on the ageing person and ageing impacts a person's tolerance of ILD. ILD extent may proportionally accelerate age-related vulnerabilities. ILD related to inflammatory systemic diseases, e.g. connective tissue diseases or sarcoidosis, exert an even more complex biophysical impact on the body. SUMMARY: The present review stresses goals of preventing frailty in ILD and preserving general health and well being of people living with ILD of any age, from time of diagnosis and as they age. The development of a prediction score is proposed to classify those at risk of frailty and guide interventions that preserve successful ageing for all levels of ILD severity. VIDEO ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/COPM/A32.


Subject(s)
Connective Tissue Diseases , Frailty , Lung Diseases, Interstitial , Aging , Connective Tissue Diseases/complications , Humans , Lung , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis
15.
J Clin Rheumatol ; 28(5): 257-264, 2022 08 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35697042

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Patients classified as interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) have interstitial lung disease (ILD) and features of autoimmunity but do not fulfill criteria for connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Our goal was to identify patients classifiable as IPAF, CTD-ILD, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) from a preexisting pulmonary cohort and evaluate the prognosis of patients with IPAF. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 456 patients from a single-center pulmonary ILD cohort whose diagnoses were previously established by a multidisciplinary panel that did not include rheumatologists. We reclassified patients as IPAF, CTD-ILD, or IPF. We compared transplant-free survival using Kaplan-Meier methods and identified prognostic factors using Cox models. RESULTS: We identified 60 patients with IPAF, 113 with CTD-ILD, and 126 with IPF. Transplant-free survival of IPAF was not statistically significantly different from that of CTD-ILD or IPF. Among IPAF patients, male sex (hazard ratio, 4.58 [1.77-11.87]) was independently associated with worse transplant-free survival. During follow-up, only 10% of IPAF patients were diagnosed with CTD-ILD, most commonly antisynthetase syndrome. CONCLUSION: Despite similar clinical characteristics, most patients with IPAF did not progress to CTD-ILD; those who did often developed antisynthetase syndrome, highlighting the critical importance of comprehensive myositis autoantibody testing in this population. As in other types of ILD, male sex may portend a worse prognosis in IPAF. The routine engagement of rheumatologists in the multidisciplinary evaluation of ILD will help ensure the accurate classification of these patients and help clarify prognostic factors.


Subject(s)
Autoimmune Diseases , Connective Tissue Diseases , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis , Lung Diseases, Interstitial , Myositis , Autoimmune Diseases/complications , Autoimmune Diseases/diagnosis , Connective Tissue Diseases/complications , Connective Tissue Diseases/diagnosis , Humans , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/complications , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis , Male , Myositis/complications , Myositis/diagnosis , Prognosis
16.
Appetite ; 176: 106101, 2022 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35636566

ABSTRACT

The father's role in household responsibilities has shifted over the past fifty years. In particular, fathers are now expected to be more involved in the family food provisioning but are often still positioned in a role that is supplementary to the mother's role. Previous literature has explored contemporary perceptions of the father's role in this domain, however research on the expectations both parents have for the father's role is limited. This qualitative study therefore seeks to understand what mothers and fathers believe the father's role in family food provisioning should be or what they would like it to be. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the beliefs, expectations and lived experiences of heterosexual couples (N = 8) with at least one child aged between 5 and 12 years old. A thematic analysis informed by principles of constructivist grounded theory revealed that while the fathers placed importance on equally sharing the food provisioning role, a discrepancy is acknowledged between their attitudes and behaviours. The majority of the mothers desired a more equal share of the food provisioning role. However, such aspirations did not necessarily translate into real-world expectations of the father as they were deemed unlikely to be met. Parents recognised that the birth of children worked to increase the mother's load, and further reinforced the parent's roles moving forward. Constraints to change were heavily impacted by the socialisation of both gender and culture. The current study expands the existing literature by highlighting the need to focus on structural mechanisms that inform cultural and social change, in order to enable a more equal division of food provisioning.


Subject(s)
Mothers , Parents , Attitude , Child , Child, Preschool , Family Characteristics , Fathers , Female , Humans , Male
17.
Appetite ; 175: 106071, 2022 Aug 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35490845

ABSTRACT

The family meal has been recognised as an integral part of family life. With the positive health outcomes associated with the family meal, it has been proposed as a strategy for encouraging health-promoting behaviours. However, a detailed understanding of the physical and mental work required to execute the family meal is lacking. The aim of this research was to conduct a grounded theory study to understand the components required to successfully execute the family meal. Two temporal data sets (1993-4/2020) in which diverse participants were sampled were used for this study. Methods used to conduct qualitative interviews with parents in the 1990s were mirrored in the conduct of qualitative interviews with parents in 2020. The interview data was analysed drawing on grounded theory methodology and methods. The entire sample included 54 parents from 28 families. A conceptual framework, 'The Family Meal Framework', was developed from the analyses. The five main components of The Framework are the cognitions (invisible work considering the needs of the family), actions (physical tasks required for the family meal), outcomes (the event of the family meal), the beliefs and feelings (expectations and attitudes toward the family meal), and the person(s) responsible (who undertakes the work). This framework provides a novel theory describing the reactive, cyclical nature of the work required to execute the family meal. This new understanding provides discrete opportunities for intervention in family meal research, practice, policy and promotion.

18.
Innov Aging ; 6(7): igac068, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36588625

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: There are social and economic benefits to supporting individuals to live independently for as long as possible. Structured shared meal programs provide opportunities for older individuals to connect in their communities and likely impact their health and well-being. Research in this area has not been summarized in recent years. This scoping review was undertaken to explore the impact shared meal programs may have for older community-dwelling adults. Research Design and Methods: Nine databases were systematically searched in 2020, and 5,996 unique studies were identified. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full text for inclusion. Reference lists of included papers were hand searched, and the search was updated in 2021. Eighteen studies were included in the final review. Results: Studies were published between 1980 and 2021 and most were published in the United States. Most studies were cross-sectional, two adopted a qualitative design, one a cohort design. Significant associations were reported between shared meal programs and improved dietary intake; however, minimal improvements were reported for physical health measures. The programs had a positive impact on attendees' social networks and perceived well-being. Discussion and Implications: Structured shared meal programs show promise in supporting the health and well-being of older adults in the community. They provide additional nutrition, opportunities for social connection, and are perceived to contribute to perceived well-being. More investigation is required to understand how these programs work to facilitate health and well-being, and how they can best be used to improve health outcomes for older populations.

19.
Acad Radiol ; 29 Suppl 2: S181-S190, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34429261

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD) on high resolution CT (HRCT) is difficult for non-expert radiologists due to varied presentation for any single disease and overlap in presentation between diseases. RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether a pattern-based training algorithm can improve the ability of non-experts to diagnosis of DPLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five experts (cardiothoracic-trained radiologists), and 25 non-experts (non-cardiothoracic-trained radiologists, radiology residents, and pulmonologists) were each assigned a semi-random subset of cases from a compiled database of DPLD HRCTs. Each reader was asked to create a top three differential for each case. The non-experts were then given a pattern-based training algorithm for identifying DPLDs. Following training, the non-experts were again asked to create a top three differential for each case that they had previously evaluated. Accuracy between groups was compared using Chi-Square analysis. RESULTS: A total of 400 and 1450 studies were read by experts and non-experts, respectively. Experts correctly placed the diagnosis as the first item on the differential versus having the correct diagnosis as one of their top three diagnoses at an overall rate of 48 and 64.3%, respectively. Pre-training, non-experts achieved a correct diagnosis/top three of 32.5 and 49.7%, respectively. Post-training, non-experts demonstrated a correct diagnosis/top three of 41.2 and 65%, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.0001). In addition, post training, there was no difference between non-experts and experts in placing the correct diagnosis within their top three differential. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of DPLDs by HRCT imaging alone is relatively poor. However, use of a pattern-based teaching algorithm can improve non-expert interpretation and enable non-experts to include the correct diagnosis within their differential diagnoses at a rate comparable to expert cardiothoracic trained radiologists.


Subject(s)
Lung Diseases, Interstitial , Algorithms , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnostic imaging , Radiologists , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods
20.
Front Med (Lausanne) ; 8: 729229, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34926489

ABSTRACT

Background: Recurrent or persistently active sarcoidosis is a risk factor for permanent organ damage. Whether this damage is due to accumulated focal injuries or progressive disease extent is not known, as the natural history of chronic inflammation in sarcoidosis is poorly characterized. The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of disease in recurrently active sarcoidosis. Methods: We identified patients with recurrent cardiac sarcoidosis (N = 21) retrospectively from an imaging database, and with recurrent cutaneous sarcoidosis (N = 17) from a prospective registry. The longitudinal patterns of cardiac sarcoidosis were established by findings on cardiac positron emission tomography scans, and of cutaneous sarcoidosis by the validated Cutaneous Sarcoidosis Activity and Morphology Instrument clinical scoring system. Patterns of recurrent disease were compared to baseline findings. Results: Recurrent sarcoidosis occurred in a nearly identical pattern and distribution as baseline disease, and spread of disease was rarely observed for both cardiac and cutaneous sarcoidosis: 97% of heart segments positive on recurrence scans were positive on baseline scans, and only one new region of facial disease was observed. In some cases, recurrence followed years of apparent remission. Discussion: Across phenotypes, and across a long period of follow-up, the extent of sarcoidosis was stable in spite of fluctuations in disease activity. For patients with a demonstrated history of recurrent disease affecting critical organs, our findings support the need for long-term follow-up.

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