Assessing Trust in Physician and Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanic/Latinx Parents.

Introduction: Representing the USA's largest ethnic/racial group, Hispanic/Latinx (HL) experience health challenges of proportional magnitude. This study investigates the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among HL adults and trust in their child's pediatrician. Methods: HL parents of children who receive medical care at one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the United States completed a survey examining associations between physician trust, vaccine hesitancy, and demographics. Data were subjected to ANOVA via SAS9 version 9.0 (Cary, NC) and SPSS version 27 (Chicago, IL) software. Results: With a total of 500 surveys completed (51% response rate; 81% completion rate), the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy amounted to 15.4% (n = 77). Parents with university-level education displayed higher levels of trust and perceptions in favor of routine vaccination practices (p < .01). When medical visits were conducted in Spanish, parents exhibited lower levels of trust and were more vaccine-hesitant (p < .01). Conclusions: Vaccine literacy must be prioritized in early education to reach parents who may not achieve college degrees. Ensuring language concordance within patient-physician dyads may maximize the potential for vaccine uptake and physician trust.

Factors Moderating the Impact of After Death Communications on Beliefs and Spirituality.

After death communications(ADCs) are defined as perceived spontaneous contacts with living individuals by the deceased. This research presents on a subset of data from a recent large international survey of individuals who experienced ADCs and provided systematic information regarding these experiences. In our research we explore the impact of having an ADC on reported spirituality, religiosity, beliefs and attitudes about death and dying and also explore the moderating factors of this impact. We found that having an ADC was perceived as a positive life experience and that it was associated with a reduction in fear of death, belief in life after death and that the deceased could communicate with the living, and increased reported spirituality. Moderating factors include aspects of having or desiring physical contact with the deceased as well as perceiving some emotional reaction to the ADCs. Future directions for research exploration are also provided based on our findings.

Gestational Age is Dimensionally Associated with Structural Brain Network Abnormalities Across Development.

Prematurity is associated with diverse developmental abnormalities, yet few studies relate cognitive and neurostructural deficits to a dimensional measure of prematurity. Leveraging a large sample of children, adolescents, and young adults (age 8-22 years) studied as part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, we examined how variation in gestational age impacted cognition and brain structure later in development. Participants included 72 preterm youth born before 37 weeks' gestation and 206 youth who were born at term (37 weeks or later). Using a previously-validated factor analysis, cognitive performance was assessed in three domains: (1) executive function and complex reasoning, (2) social cognition, and (3) episodic memory. All participants completed T1-weighted neuroimaging at 3 T to measure brain volume. Structural covariance networks were delineated using non-negative matrix factorization, an advanced multivariate analysis technique. Lower gestational age was associated with both deficits in executive function and reduced volume within 11 of 26 structural covariance networks, which included orbitofrontal, temporal, and parietal cortices as well as subcortical regions including the hippocampus. Notably, the relationship between lower gestational age and executive dysfunction was accounted for in part by structural network deficits. Together, these findings emphasize the durable impact of prematurity on cognition and brain structure, which persists across development.

Prevalence and Location of Obstetric Lacerations in Adolescent Mothers.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe prevalence and location of obstetric lacerations in adolescents. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: We performed an analysis of the Consortium on Safe Labor database including tertiary care university-affiliated urban hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: All primiparous women who delivered vaginally were included. INTERVENTIONS: Vaginal and perineal lacerations were compared between age groups 15 or younger, 16-21, 22-34, 35-39, and older than 40 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included vaginal, perineal, labial, and periurethral lacerations. χ2 and Fisher exact tests were used as appropriate, with P < .05 considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 9777 patients were included in the analysis. Young adolescents and adolescents had significantly higher rates of labial and periurethral lacerations compared with individuals aged 22-34 years. The prevalence of third- and fourth-degree perineal tears increased with age. CONCLUSION: Adolescent primiparous women are less likely to have severe perineal obstetric tears, but have higher rates of labial and periurethral tears.

Diminished Cortical Thickness Is Associated with Impulsive Choice in Adolescence.

Adolescence is characterized by both maturation of brain structure and increased risk of negative outcomes from behaviors associated with impulsive decision-making. One important index of impulsive choice is delay discounting (DD), which measures the tendency to prefer smaller rewards available soon over larger rewards delivered after a delay. However, it remains largely unknown how individual differences in structural brain development may be associated with impulsive choice during adolescence. Leveraging a unique large sample of 427 human youths (208 males and 219 females) imaged as part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, we examined associations between delay discounting and cortical thickness within structural covariance networks. These structural networks were derived using non-negative matrix factorization, an advanced multivariate technique for dimensionality reduction, and analyzed using generalized additive models with penalized splines to capture both linear and nonlinear developmental effects. We found that impulsive choice, as measured by greater discounting, was most strongly associated with diminished cortical thickness in structural brain networks that encompassed the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, temporal pole, and temporoparietal junction. Furthermore, structural brain networks predicted DD above and beyond cognitive performance. Together, these results suggest that reduced cortical thickness in regions known to be involved in value-based decision-making is a marker of impulsive choice during the critical period of adolescence.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Risky behaviors during adolescence, such as initiation of substance use or reckless driving, are a major source of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we present evidence from a large sample of youths that diminished cortical thickness in specific structural brain networks is associated with impulsive choice. Notably, the strongest association between impulsive choice and brain structure was seen in regions implicated in value-based decision-making; namely, the ventromedial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices. Moving forward, such neuroanatomical markers of impulsivity may aid in the development of personalized interventions targeted to reduce risk of negative outcomes resulting from impulsivity during adolescence.

Small hepatocellular carcinoma: MRI findings for predicting tumor growth rates.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Current clinical practice favors imaging rather than biopsy to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is a need to better understand tumor biology and aggressiveness of HCC. Our goal is to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of HCC that are associated with faster growth rates (GRs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: After approval from institutional review board, a retrospective evaluation was performed of pre-liver transplant patients. Fifty-two patients who developed a >2 cm HCC on serial imaging were included in the study group, with a total of 60 HCCs seen. Precursor foci were identified on serial MRIs before the specific diagnostic features of >2 cm HCC could be made, and GRs and MRI features, including signal on T1- and T2-weighted images (WI), the presence of intralesional steatosis on chemical shift imaging, and enhancement pattern were analyzed. GRs were correlated with imaging features. RESULTS: The average GR of precursor lesions to >2 cm HCC was determined to be 0.23 cm/mo (standard deviation [SD], 0.32), with a doubling time of 5.26 months (SD, 5.44). The presence of increased signal intensity (SI) on T2-WI was associated with significantly higher growth (P = .0002), whereas increased intensity on T1-WI at the initial study was associated with a significantly lower GR (P = .0162). Furthermore, lesions with hypervascular enhancement with washout pattern had significantly higher GR (P = .0164). There is no evidence of differences in GRs seen in lesions with steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Small precursor lesions with increased SI on T2-WI and a washout pattern of enhancement are associated with faster GRs, which may suggest more aggressive tumor biology. These features may be helpful in patient management and surveillance for HCC.

Changes in steroid concentrations with the timing of corticotropin stimulation testing in participants with adrenal sufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the time of day at which corticotropin stimulation testing is performed influences the steroid concentrations observed in persons with normal adrenal function. METHODS: In this retrospective, secondary analysis, participants with normal adrenal function were studied to determine whether the time of corticotropin stimulation testing influenced results. Participants consisted of 2 groups: healthy volunteers who were not suspected of having adrenal insufficiency and patients being tested for adrenal insufficiency as part of their standard of care who were subsequently shown to have normal adrenal function on the basis of a peak cortisol value of at least 20 µg/dL. A high-dose corticotropin stimulation test was performed in all participants. Baseline, peak, and delta steroid concentrations were documented after corticotropin injection. Steroid concentrations were measured by tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariate analyses adjusted for patient age, sex, and baseline steroid concentrations. RESULTS: With progression through the day for the time of testing, the baseline cortisol concentration decreased, while the peak and delta cortisol concentration increased (P values: <.001, .007, .007, respectively). For 11-deoxycortisol, the baseline decreased, while peak and delta values increased with later testing (P values: .017, .012, .02, respectively). Peak aldosterone concentrations increased according to their baseline values (P<.001), but were unaffected by time. Peak and delta dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations increased with time (P = .015 and .021, respectively). Referring to the various criteria for adequate steroid responses to corticotropin available in the literature, the time-related differences in this small group of patients were insufficient to draw different conclusions about results of testing. CONCLUSIONS: Cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone values were most influenced by testing times. In patients with borderline adrenal function who are tested at different times of the day, the modest differences we observed may be sufficient to affect conclusions about whether adrenal insufficiency is present.

Face, content, and construct validity of a low-cost sinus surgery task trainer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the face, content, and construct validities of a low-cost sinus surgery task trainer in acquisition of skills for endoscopic sinus surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective validation study. SETTING: Tertiary academic center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Attending otolaryngologists, otolaryngology residents at various levels of training, and medical students performed nasal endoscopy and 5 specific tasks using this model. Face and content validities were assessed based on the attendings' responses to a questionnaire evaluating the task trainer. Construct validity was determined by comparing novice to experienced performance using a validated checklist and globalized rating scale. RESULTS: A total of 77 subjects participated in the study. Attending otolaryngologists responded to a survey after completing the tasks. Eighty percent of evaluators rated the trainer as realistic and agreed that this model correlates with the essential skills needed for endoscopic sinus surgery, 90% felt this model provided adequate training and would increase resident competency, and 90% were interested in using the model to train residents. On the task trainer, experienced otolaryngologists and senior residents scored significantly higher than junior residents and medical students using the objective measures of the globalized rating scale and checklist. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates face, content, and construct validity of the low-cost sinus surgery task trainer. This model has the potential to be a valuable tool in endoscopic sinus surgery training for otolaryngology residents.

Obesity in adult lymphoma survivors.

As a result of therapeutic advances, survivors of lymphoma are now living longer. However, their mortality is higher when compared to the general population, probably due to multiple factors. Survivors of childhood leukemia and lymphoma appear to have an increased prevalence of obesity. The objectives of this retrospective study were to analyze weight change after lymphoma treatment in an adult population and determine factors predictive of weight gain. Data were collected from 219 patients and analyzed sequentially at the initial visit and at 6, 12 and 18 months. There was a progressive increase in weight from the initial visit to 6 months (1.5% increase of initial body weight), 12 months (4.5%) and 18 months (6.4%). More than 9% of patients experienced weight gain greater than 20% during follow-up. There was a statistically significant association between the percentage of increase in weight and age, B symptoms and body mass index (BMI) at presentation. Younger patients, those with B symptoms or those with lower BMI manifested more weight gain (p = 0.0008, p = 0.0440 and p = 0.0009, respectively). Other assessed factors had no effect on weight gain including sex, race, lymphoma histology, disease outcome, radiation therapy, number of treatment regimens and use of steroids. Further studies are needed to explore long-term weight trends and their impact on the health of lymphoma survivors.

Levothyroxine replacement doses are affected by gender and weight, but not age.

BACKGROUND: Body weight (BW) and age have been shown to affect the dose of levothyroxine (LT(4)) that results in normalization of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in hypothyroid patients. Our objective was to determine whether gender, menstrual status, and ideal BW (IBW) also affect the LT(4) dose required to achieve a serum TSH within the normal range. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients being treated for primary hypothyroidism who had TSH values within a normal range. We selected patients aged 18-85 years who were taking LT(4) without any confounding medications, and who had no serious chronic conditions. Their LT(4) doses, referred to here as LT(4) dose requirements, based on both BW and IBW were documented. The relationship between gender, menstrual status, age, serum TSH concentrations, and the degree of overweight on LT(4) dose requirements were determined using multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Women were significantly more overweight than men (ratio of BW/IBW was 1.35 for women vs. 1.17 for men, p <0.0001). LT(4) requirements based on BW did not differ by gender when age was included in the model. However, when degree of overweight was also included, men required lower LT(4) doses than both premenopausal women (1.34 µg/kg vs. 1.51 µg/kg, p = 0.038) and menopausal women (1.34 µg/kg vs. 1.49 µg/kg, p = 0.023). When examining IBW using a model incorporating age, men also required lower LT(4) doses than both premenopausal women (1.64 µg/kg vs. 1.92 µg/kg, p = 0.0033) and menopausal women (1.64 µg/kg vs. 1.90 µg/kg, p = 0.0024). Serum TSH concentrations were not significantly different in any of the gender groups. There was no relationship between serum TSH and either age or BW. The initial serum TSH concentration was by design with the normal range, but the concentration within that range was not a significant predictor of the LT(4) replacement dose in any of the models. CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous studies suggesting that age affects LT(4) replacement requirements, we found that age-based differences in doses are secondary to differences in BW and gender. In addition, in contrast to prior studies showing that lean body mass, but not gender, affected LT(4) dose, we instead found a significant impact of gender. Gender-based differences in dose requirement only became apparent either when IBW was used to correct for the dose or when degree of overweight was included in the model. Gender differences in LT(4) dose requirement exist, but are masked unless gender-based differences in degree of overweight are also considered.

A model for training and evaluation of myringotomy and tube placement skills.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Simulation is emerging as a mandatory component of surgical training and a means of demonstrating surgical competency. We designed a cost-effective, low-fidelity model to further acquisition of technical skills related to myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion (M&T). The purpose of the study was to examine the skills trainer as a method of assessment to evaluate competency, timeliness, and procedure confidence in junior residents. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized. METHODS: A simplistic M&T skills box was developed. General surgery interns (n = 20) with no prior procedure training were randomized to receive either didactic instruction or skills training using the model. One hour of lecture or technical skills training was provided to each group. A blinded examiner evaluated the subjects in both groups before and after training. Performance was measured using a global rating scale, task-specific checklist, and time-to-completion. Pre- and postsession questionnaires assessed procedure confidence. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a trend toward improvement in global rating scores between groups. There was a statistically significant difference in time improvement between groups (P = .0211). The skills lab group felt they could perform the procedure faster and with improved abilities, as compared to the didactic group (P = .0069 and 0.0007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Junior surgical residents performed an M&T procedure using a novel, low-cost model. This study demonstrated the skills lab's positive effect on training as measured by global rating scale, time-to-completion, and overall resident confidence. We anticipate its application to be valuable not only in training residents but also in assessing competency.

Resolution of hydronephrosis after uterine artery embolization for fibroids.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence, predisposing factors, and resolution of hydronephrosis among patients undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) for fibroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2004 to May 2008, 1,114 patients underwent UAE at an academic medical center. Hydronephrosis was found on angiographic images in 101 patients. In 34 of these patients, 3-month ultrasound follow-up was available. The angiographic images were graded for hydronephrosis severity by three interventional radiologist reviewers. The degree of residual hydronephrosis was obtained from ultrasound images or reports in 3-month follow-up imaging. Descriptive statistics summarizing outcomes and interobserver agreement regarding hydronephrosis grade were calculated. In a parallel assessment, prospectively gathered baseline data available from 776 patients undergoing UAE were analyzed to identify predisposing factors to hydronephrosis. RESULTS: Among the 34 patients with hydronephrosis and appropriate follow-up, resolution occurred in 28 of 34 (82%) patients. Among the entire study group, 9.0% (101 of 1,114) of patients had unilateral or bilateral hydronephrosis. Hydronephrosis was less frequent in left kidneys (4.5% [35 of 776]) than right kidneys (6.3% [49 of 776]; P = .013). The mean uterine volume in the group with hydronephrosis was greater than in the group without hydronephrosis (1,041 cm(3) vs 609 cm(3); P < .0001), and the mean dominant fibroid volume was also greater (233 cm(3) vs 147 cm(3); P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that UAE may result in resolution of hydronephrosis in a notable number of cases. Large uterine size and dominant fibroid size was associated with hydronephrosis.

Conversion from intravenous insulin to subcutaneous insulin after cardiovascular surgery: transition to target study.

BACKGROUND: No study of transition from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin after cardiac surgery with dose based on percentage of intravenous total daily insulin (TDI) has reported a clearly superior regimen for achieving target blood glucose. We compared three first-dose transition strategies for insulin glargine: two based on TDI alone and one that also took body weight into account. METHODS: Mostly obese, type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients (n = 223) undergoing cardiac surgery were randomized to receive insulin glargine subcutaneously at 60% or 80% of TDI or in a dose based on TDI and body weight. RESULTS: Transition to subcutaneous insulin occurred 27.4 ± 6.6 h after surgery. Over the study period, mean proportion of blood glucose values within target range (80-140 mg/dL) were 0.34 ± 0.24, 0.35 ± 0.24, and 0.36 ± 0.22 in the 60% TDI, 80% TDI, and weight-based groups, respectively. This difference was not significant. Significantly more insulin corrections were needed in the 60% TDI group than in the weight-based group. There was only one incidence of hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 40 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS: No subcutaneous insulin regimen implemented approximately 1 day after cardiac surgery showed significantly better control of blood glucose over the 3-day study period. Further studies are needed to determine optimal formulae for effecting an early transition to subcutaneous insulin after cardiac surgery or whether it is preferable and/or necessary to continue intravenous insulin therapy for an additional period of time.

Comparison of estimated glomerular filtration rates and albuminuria in predicting risk of coronary heart disease in a population with high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and renal disease.

Improved accuracy in predicting coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in patients with diabetes and kidney disease is needed. The addition of albuminuria to established methods of CHD risk calculation was reported in the Strong Heart Study (SHS) cohort. In this study, the addition of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated using data from 4,549 American Indian SHS participants aged 45 to 74 years. After adjustment for Framingham CHD risk factors, hazard ratios for eGFR as a predictor of CHD were 1.69 (95% confidence interval 1.34 to 2.13) in women and 1.41 (95% confidence interval 0.94 to 2.13) in men. Models including albuminuria, eGFR, or both scored higher in discriminatory power than models using conventional risk factors alone in women; in men, the improvement was seen only for albuminuria and the combination of albuminuria and eGFR. Hosmer-Lemeshow assessments showed good calibration for the models using eGFR alone in both genders, followed by models including albuminuria alone in both genders. Adding eGFR improved the net reclassification improvement (NRI) in women (0.085, p = 0.0004) but not in men (0.010, p = 0.1967). NRI and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were improved in both genders using albuminuria and eGFR (NRI 0.135, p <0.0001, and IDI 0.027, p <0.0001 in women; NRI 0.035, p <0.0196, and IDI 0.008, p <0.0156 in men). Therefore, a risk calculator including albuminuria enhances CHD prediction compared to a calculator using only standard risk factors in men and women. Including eGFR alone improves risk prediction in women, but for men, it is preferable to include eGFR and albuminuria. In conclusion, this enhanced calculator should be useful in estimating CHD risk in populations with high prevalence of diabetes and renal disease.

Predicting liver failure in parenteral nutrition-dependent short bowel syndrome of infancy.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that early trends in common blood tests may delineate risks of liver failure (LF) in infants with parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) from short bowel syndrome and suggest criteria for transplant referral. STUDY DESIGN: Total levels of bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, platelet count, and absolute neutrophil count were recorded every 3 months for 61 infants with PNALD who were being considered for intestinal transplant starting at age 3 months until death without transplant (n = 12), LF with transplant (n = 35), or liver recovery without transplant (n = 14). Probabilities of LF were determined with logistic regression. RESULTS: Independent predictors of LF were, in descending order, total bilirubin level (odds ratio [OR] = 1.195), platelet count (OR = 0.992), and albumin level (OR = 0.248). Predicted probabilities of eventual LF varied from 36% to 38% at ages 3 to 6 months when the total bilirubin level was 6.0 mg/dL, platelet count was 220 x 10(3)/microL, and albumin level was 3.5 g/dL to 83% to 84% when the total bilirubin level was 11.7 mg/dL, platelet count was 168 x 10(3)/microL, and albumin level was 3.0 g/dL. CONCLUSIONS: Transplant referral for a total bilirubin level of 6 mg/dL between 3 to 6 months of age is appropriate, because the probability of LF is at least 36%.

Intravascular ultrasound and 3D angle measurements of coronary bifurcations.

OBJECTIVE: To standardize the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis of coronary bifurcations. BACKGROUND: Percutaneous treatment of bifurcation lesions is difficult particularly at the side branch ostium. Imaging techniques may improve our understanding of treatment options. There is no established IVUS methodology to assess the bifurcation. The present study aims to develop standards for bifurcation imaging. METHODS: Quantitative IVUS analysis and 3D bifurcation angle measurements were performed in 34 patients who were selected from the Washington Hospital Center Database. Patients were included if both left anterior descending (LAD) and first diagonal (DX) pullbacks in the same procedure were done. Angiograms were available in 27 patients to measure the 3D bifurcation angle using specialized software. Pullbacks were analyzed proximal and distal to the bifurcation, and at the bifurcation. RESULTS: Prox(LAD) versus Prox(LAD(DX)) were similar for vessel area (15.5 +/- 4.6 mm(2) vs. 15.9 +/- 4.0 mm(2), P = 0.19), lumen area (8.3 +/- 3.6 mm(2) vs. 8.6 +/- 3.3 mm(2), P = 0.25), and plaque area (7.2 +/- 2.0 mm(2) vs. 7.3 +/- 1.9 mm(2), P = 0.55). However, Bifurcation(LAD) was larger than Bifurcation(DX) for vessel area (17.3 +/- 4.0 mm(2) vs. 16.6 +/- 3.9 mm(2), P = 0.0083). The 3D angiographic bifurcation angle was 50 degrees +/- 13 degrees (range of 26 degrees -84 degrees), and did not affect the IVUS measurements. IVUS analysis showed that bifurcation lesions did obey Murray's Law, as Prox(LAD) lumen area measured 36.7 +/- 25.1 mm(3) versus Dist(LAD)/Dist(DX) measured 38.0 +/- 29.1 mm(3), P = 0.56. CONCLUSIONS: Two IVUS pullbacks should be performed for a complete assessment of the bifurcation and comparison with Murray's Law. The proposed IVUS analysis was not influenced by the bifurcation angle.