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3.
J Health Care Poor Underserved ; 35(3): 933-950, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39129611

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to understand the barriers and facilitators among diverse health care and community organization stakeholders implementing a populationbased social determinants of health (SDOH) intervention. The SDOH intervention included three core programs: SDOH screening, a community health worker program, and a digital referral platform. After one year of implementation, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with clinical and community-based organization stakeholders about (1) the three SDOH programs, (2) organizational implementation strategies, (3) interactions with partner organizations, and (4) perceived target population needs. Findings from the first year of implementation highlighted several factors to consider when designing and implementing SDOH programming, including (1) the successful features of the three SDOH programs, (2) the local implementation strategies and challenges across organizations, (3) the impact of broader community needs and resource availability on implementation, and (4) the importance of intentionally fostering relationships and collaboration among partner organizations.


Subject(s)
Social Determinants of Health , Humans , Qualitative Research , Cooperative Behavior , Community Health Workers/organization & administration , Interviews as Topic , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Program Development
4.
Heart Rhythm ; 2024 Aug 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39168295

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare genetic heart disease associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Diagnosis of ARVC is based on the 2010 Task Force Criteria (TFC), application of which often requires clinical expertise at specialized centers. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an electrocardiogram (ECG) deep learning (DL) tool for ARVC diagnosis. METHODS: ECGs of patients referred for ARVC evaluation were used to develop (n = 551 [80.1%]) and test (n = 137 [19.9%]) an ECG-DL model for prediction of TFC-defined ARVC diagnosis. The ARVC ECG-DL model was externally validated in a cohort of patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) ARVC gene variants identified through the Geisinger MyCode Community Health Initiative (N = 167). RESULTS: Of 688 patients evaluated at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) (57.3% male, mean age 40.2 years), 329 (47.8%) were diagnosed with ARVC. Although ARVC diagnosis made by referring cardiologist ECG interpretation was unreliable (c-statistic 0.53; confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.53), ECG-DL discrimination in the hold-out testing cohort was excellent (0.87; 0.86-0.89) and compared favorably to that of ECG interpretation by an ARVC expert (0.85; 0.84-0.86). In the Geisinger cohort, prevalence of ARVC was lower (n = 17 [10.2%]), but ECG-DL-based identification of ARVC phenotype remained reliable (0.80; 0.77-0.83). Discrimination was further increased when ECG-DL predictions were combined with non-ECG-derived TFC in the JHH testing (c-statistic 0.940; 95% CI 0.933-0.948) and Geisinger validation (0.897; 95% CI 0.883-0.912) cohorts. CONCLUSION: ECG-DL augments diagnosis of ARVC to the level of an ARVC expert and can differentiate true ARVC diagnosis from phenotype-mimics and at-risk family members/genotype-positive individuals.

6.
J Am Heart Assoc ; 13(15): e034069, 2024 Aug 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39082420

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have increased symptomatic burden. Mavacamten was recently approved for treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy based on 2 randomized controlled trials. However, its use under real-world conditions and in diverse populations is under-studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a prospective observational cohort study of patients seen at the Johns Hopkins HCM center and prescribed mavacamten for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy between July 7, 2022 and January 6, 2024. Patients were followed longitudinally, with serial echocardiography and clinical evaluation as mandated by the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program. Sixty-six patients received mavacamten (mean age 59 years, 47% male, 29% non-White [Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander], 47% obese). Before treatment, all patients had New York Heart Association class II (51.5%) or III (48.5%) heart failure symptoms. Initial maximum peak left ventricular outflow tract gradient was 107±46 mm Hg. Median treatment duration was 9 months. For patients on mavacamten after ≥6 months (n=43), symptoms improved by ≥1 New York Heart Association class in 72% of patients, and peak left ventricular outflow tract gradient decreased by 80±46 mm Hg, eliminating hemodynamically significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 79.1% of patients. Mavacamten was temporarily discontinued in 3 patients due to left ventricular ejection fraction decrease <50%. There were no medication-related adverse events. Effectiveness and safety were similar between White and non-White patients, but symptomatic relief was attenuated in patients with body-mass index ≥35 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: Mavacamten was effective and safe when used under real-world conditions in a racially diverse population of symptomatic patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Patients with comorbid obesity were less likely to experience symptomatic improvement while on mavacamten.


Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic , Humans , Male , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/drug therapy , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/physiopathology , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/ethnology , Middle Aged , Female , Prospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Aged , Benzylamines/therapeutic use , Uracil/analogs & derivatives , Uracil/therapeutic use , Uracil/adverse effects , Pyrimidinones/therapeutic use , Pyrimidinones/adverse effects , Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects , Time Factors , Echocardiography
7.
Thyroid ; 34(9): 1082-1093, 2024 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38940753

ABSTRACT

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) co-occur with a prevalence of about 30%. PTC harboring BRAFV600E (PTC-BRAF) confers a worse prognosis, but it is unclear if LT alters prognostic features and recurrence of PTC. Objective: We compared the prevalence of PTC-BRAF with and without LT. The risk of adverse pathological features in (i) PTC in the presence and absence of BRAF mutation, irrespective of LT status, was compared to (ii) PTC in the presence and absence of LT, irrespective of BRAF status. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection for observational studies published from 2010 to June 2023 on adult patients with PTC. The search strategy yielded 47 studies with relevant data. Data of baseline characteristics, clinicopathological features, and the quality assessment tool were extracted by two reviewers. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023437492). Results: Of the 47 studies, 39 studies with a total cohort of 28 143, demonstrated that the odds of PTC-BRAF were significantly lower in the presence of LT compared to its absence (odds ratio [OR] 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-0.58, p < 0.00001). In PTC-BRAF patients, there was a positive association of central neck nodal disease (CNND), PTC > 1 cm, extra-thyroidal extension, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage 3-4, and multifocality with pooled ORs of 1.54 (95% CI: 1.16-2.04), 1.14 (95% CI: 0.82-1.58), 1.66 (95% CI: 1.40-1.97), 1.53 (95% CI: 1.35-1.75), and 1.24 (95% CI: 1.11-1.40) respectively, compared to wild-type PTC, irrespective of LT status. In the same studies, PTC with LT patients had lower pooled ORs of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.51-0.81) for CNND, 0.83 (95% CI: 0.73-0.95) for PTC > 1 cm, 0.71 (95% CI: 0.58-0.86) for ETE, 0.84 (95% CI: 0.75-0.94) for AJCC Stage 3-4 compared to PTC without LT, irrespective of BRAF status. PTC recurrence was not affected by BRAF or LT, with pooled ORs of 1.12 (95% CI: 0.66-1.90, p = 0.67) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.28-1.30, p = 0.20) respectively. Similar results were seen with recurrence expressed as hazard ratio in this limited data-set. Conclusion: The odds of PTC-BRAF are significantly lower in the presence of LT than without. PTC with LT, irrespective of BRAF status, was significantly associated with better prognostic factors. Further studies are required to evaluate if LT inhibits PTC-BRAF, and whether this is relevant to the role of immunotherapy in advanced thyroid cancer.


Subject(s)
Hashimoto Disease , Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary , Thyroid Neoplasms , Humans , Hashimoto Disease/complications , Hashimoto Disease/genetics , Hashimoto Disease/pathology , Prognosis , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/complications , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/genetics , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/mortality , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/complications , Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics , Thyroid Neoplasms/mortality , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
9.
Stat Biosci ; 16(1): 25-44, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38715709

ABSTRACT

Purpose: As health studies increasingly monitor free-living heart performance via ECG patches with accelerometers, researchers will seek to investigate cardio-electrical responses to physical activity and sedentary behavior, increasing demand for fast, scalable methods to process accelerometer data. We extend a posture classification algorithm for accelerometers in ECG patches when researchers do not have ground-truth labels or other reference measurements (i.e., upright measurement). Methods: Men living with and without HIV in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort study wore the Zio XT® for up to two weeks (n = 1,250). Our novel extensions for posture classification include (1) estimation of an upright posture for each individual without a reference upright measurement; (2) correction of the upright estimate for device removal and re-positioning using novel spherical change-point detection; and (3) classification of upright and recumbent periods using a clustering and voting process rather than a simple inclination threshold used in other algorithms. As no posture labels exist in the free-living environment, we perform numerous sensitivity analyses and evaluate the algorithm against labelled data from the Towson Accelerometer Study, where participants wore accelerometers at the waist. Results: On average, 87.1% of participants were recumbent at 4am and 15.5% were recumbent at 1pm. Participants were recumbent 54 minutes longer on weekends compared to weekdays. Performance was good in comparison to labelled data in a separate, controlled setting (accuracy = 96.0%, sensitivity = 97.5%, specificity = 95.9%). Conclusions: Posture may be classified in the free-living environment from accelerometers in ECG patches even without measuring a standard upright position. Furthermore, algorithms that fail to account for individuals who rotate and re-attach the accelerometer may fail in the free-living environment.

10.
AIDS ; 38(10): 1485-1493, 2024 Aug 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38788204

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: People with HIV (PWH) are at greater risk for diastolic dysfunction compared with persons without HIV (PWOH). An increase in visceral adipose tissue is common among PWH and greater visceral adipose tissue is associated with diastolic dysfunction among PWOH. We investigated associations of visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and other fat depots with subclinical diastolic dysfunction among men with and without HIV (MWH and MWOH). DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of MWH and MWOH in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). METHODS: Participants underwent echocardiography for diastolic dysfunction assessment and CT scanning including subcutaneous, visceral, epicardial, and liver adiposity measurements. Diastolic dysfunction was defined by characterizing heart function on antiretroviral therapy0 criteria. Odds for diastolic dysfunction with each measure of adiposity were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 403 participants (median age 57, 55% white, median BMI 26 kg/m 2 ), 25% met criteria for diastolic dysfunction and 59% MWH (82% undetectable plasma HIV RNA). Greater epicardial adipose tissue area was associated with higher odds of diastolic dysfunction [odds ratio:1.54 per SD; 95%confidence interval (CI) 1.15-2.05] when adjusted for demographics, HIV serostatus, and cardiovascular risk factors. This association did not differ by HIV serostatus and persisted when excluding MWH who were not virally suppressed. Less subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with higher odds of diastolic dysfunction. Other adipose depots were not associated with diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Greater epicardial adipose tissue and less subcutaneous adipose tissue were associated with diastolic dysfunction, regardless of HIV serostatus and viral suppression. Greater epicardial adipose tissue and less subcutaneous adipose tissue observed among PWH may contribute to risk for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in this population.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Intra-Abdominal Fat , Subcutaneous Fat , Humans , Male , HIV Infections/complications , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Middle Aged , Subcutaneous Fat/diagnostic imaging , Intra-Abdominal Fat/diagnostic imaging , Pericardium/diagnostic imaging , Echocardiography , Adult , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Aged
11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38804700

ABSTRACT

Summary: RET mutations are implicated in 60% of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) cases. The RET-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor selpercatinib is associated with unprecedented efficacy compared to previous multi-kinase treatments. Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a clonal histiocytic neoplasm usually driven by somatic BRAF mutations, resulting in dysregulated MAPK signalling. We describe a 22-year-old woman with metastatic MTC to regional lymph nodes, lung and liver. Tumour tissue harboured a somatic pathogenic RET variant p.(M918T) and selpercatinib was commenced. She experienced sustained clinical, biochemical and radiological responses. Two years later, she developed rapidly progressive apical lung nodules, prompting biopsy. Histopathology demonstrated LCH with a rare BRAF variant p.(V600_K601>D). The lung nodules improved with inhaled corticosteroids. We hypothesize that selective pressure from RET blockade may have activated a downstream somatic BRAF mutation, resulting in pulmonary LCH. We recommend continued vigilance for neoplasms driven by dysregulated downstream MAPK signalling in patients undergoing selective RET inhibition. Learning points: Patients with RET-altered MTC can experience rapid disease improvement and sustained disease stability with selective RET blockade (selpercatinib). LCH is a clonal neoplasm driven by MAPK activation, for which the most common mechanism is BRAF mutation. Both MTC and pulmonary LCH are driven by dysregulated MAPK signalling pathway activation. We hypothesise that the RET-specific inhibitor selpercatinib may have caused the activation of dormant LCH secondary to selective pressure and clonal proliferation.

13.
BMJ Open ; 14(4): e075368, 2024 Apr 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38670612

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia, presents key challenges to achieving optimal HIV care outcomes among ageing people living with HIV. These diseases are often comorbid and are exacerbated by psychosocial and structural inequities. This interaction among multiple health conditions and social factors is referred to as a syndemic. In the USA, there are substantial disparities by social position (ie, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic status) in the prevalence and/or control of non-communicable diseases and HIV. Intersecting stigmas, such as racism, classism and homophobia, may drive these health disparities by contributing to healthcare avoidance and by contributing to a psychosocial syndemic (stress, depression, violence victimisation and substance use), reducing success along the HIV and non-communicable disease continua of care. Our hypothesis is that marginalised populations experience disparities in non-communicable disease incidence, prevalence and control, mediated by intersectional stigma and the psychosocial syndemic. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Collecting data over a 4 year period, we will recruit sexual minority men (planned n=1800) enrolled in the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study, a long-standing mixed-serostatus observational cohort in the USA, to investigate the following specific aims: (1) assess relationships between social position, intersectional stigma and the psychosocial syndemic among middle-aged and ageing sexual minority men, (2) assess relationships between social position and non-communicable disease incidence and prevalence and (3) assess relationships between social position and HIV and non-communicable disease continua of care outcomes, mediated by intersectional stigma and the psychosocial syndemic. Analyses will be conducted using generalised structural equation models using a cross-lagged panel model design. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol is approved as a single-IRB study (Advarra Institutional Review Board: Protocol 00068335). We will disseminate results via peer-reviewed academic journals, scientific conferences, a dedicated website, site community advisory boards and forums hosted at participating sites.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Noncommunicable Diseases , Social Stigma , Syndemic , Humans , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/psychology , Male , United States/epidemiology , Noncommunicable Diseases/epidemiology , Adult , Observational Studies as Topic , Research Design , Middle Aged , Sexual and Gender Minorities/psychology , Sexual and Gender Minorities/statistics & numerical data , Prevalence , Health Status Disparities , Healthcare Disparities
14.
Nat Cancer ; 5(3): 384-399, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38531982

ABSTRACT

Cellular redox homeostasis is an essential, dynamic process that ensures the balance between reducing and oxidizing reactions within cells and thus has implications across all areas of biology. Changes in levels of reactive oxygen species can disrupt redox homeostasis, leading to oxidative or reductive stress that contributes to the pathogenesis of many malignancies, including cancer. From transformation and tumor initiation to metastatic dissemination, increasing reactive oxygen species in cancer cells can paradoxically promote or suppress the tumorigenic process, depending on the extent of redox stress, its spatiotemporal characteristics and the tumor microenvironment. Here we review how redox regulation influences tumorigenesis, highlighting therapeutic opportunities enabled by redox-related alterations in cancer cells.


Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Oxidative Stress , Humans , Reactive Oxygen Species , Oxidation-Reduction , Carcinogenesis , Tumor Microenvironment
15.
medRxiv ; 2024 Feb 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38405757

ABSTRACT

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at higher risk of heart failure (HF) and preceding subclinical cardiac abnormalities, including left atrial dilation, compared to people without HIV (PWOH). Hypothesized mechanisms include premature aging linked to chronic immune activation. We leveraged plasma proteomics to identify potential novel contributors to HIV-associated differences in indexed left atrial volume (LAVi) among PLWH and PWOH and externally validated identified proteomic signatures with incident HF among a cohort of older PWOH. Methods: We performed proteomics (Olink Explore 3072) on plasma obtained concurrently with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging among PLWH and PWOH in the United States. Proteins were analyzed individually and as agnostically defined clusters. Cross-sectional associations with HIV and LAVi were estimated using multivariable regression with robust variance. Among an independent general population cohort, we estimated associations between identified signatures and LAVi using linear regression and incident HF using Cox regression. Results: Among 352 participants (age 55±6 years; 25% female), 61% were PLWH (88% on ART; 73% with undetectable HIV RNA) and mean LAVi was 29±9 mL/m 2 . Of 2594 analyzed proteins, 439 were associated with HIV serostatus, independent of demographics, hepatitis C virus infection, renal function, and substance use (FDR<0.05). We identified 73 of these proteins as candidate contributors to the independent association between positive HIV serostatus and higher LAVi, enriched in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling and immune checkpoint proteins regulating T cell, B cell, and NK cell activation. We identified one protein cluster associated with LAVi and HIV regardless of HIV viral suppression status, which comprised 42 proteins enriched in TNF signaling, ephrin signaling, and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. This protein cluster and 30 of 73 individual proteins were associated with incident HF among 2273 older PWOH (age 68±9 years; 52% female; 8.5±1.4 years of follow-up). Conclusion: Proteomic signatures that may contribute to HIV-associated LA remodeling were enriched in immune checkpoint proteins, cytokine signaling, and ECM organization. These signatures were also associated with incident HF among older PWOH, suggesting specific markers of chronic immune activation, systemic inflammation, and fibrosis may identify shared pathways in HIV and aging that contribute to risk of HF.

16.
J Nutr ; 154(4): 1428-1439, 2024 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38408732

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Social unacceptability of food access is part of the lived experience of food insecurity but is not assessed as part of the United States Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). OBJECTIVES: The objectives were as follows: 1) to determine the psychometric properties of 2 additional items on social unacceptability in relation to the HFSSM items and 2) to test whether these 2 items provided added predictive accuracy to that of the HFSSM items for mental health outcomes. METHODS: Cross-sectional data used were from the Intersection of Material-Need Insecurities and HIV and Cardiovascular Health substudy of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study/Women's Interagency HIV Study Combined Cohort Study. Data on the 10-item HFSSM and 2 new items reflecting social unacceptability were collected between Fall 2020 and Fall 2021 from 1342 participants from 10 United States cities. The 2 social unacceptability items were examined psychometrically in relation to the HFSSM-10 items using models from item response theory. Linear and logistic regression was used to examine prediction of mental health measured by the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. RESULTS: The social unacceptability items were affirmed throughout the range of severity of food insecurity but with increasing frequency at higher severity of food insecurity. From item response theory models, the subconstructs reflected in the HFSSM-10 and the subconstruct of social unacceptability were distinct, not falling into one dimension. Regression models confirmed that social unacceptability was distinct from the subconstructs reflected in the HFSSM-10. The social unacceptability items as a separate scale explained more (∼1%) variation in mental health than when combined with the HFSSM-10 items in a single scale, and the social unacceptability subconstruct explained more (∼1%) variation in mental health not explained by the HFSSM-10. CONCLUSIONS: Two social unacceptability items used as a separate scale along with the HFSSM-10 predicted mental health more accurately than did the HFSSM-10 alone.


Subject(s)
Food Supply , HIV Infections , Psychological Tests , Self Report , Humans , Female , United States , Cohort Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Food Security
17.
Heart Rhythm ; 21(8): 1390-1397, 2024 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38280624

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are at risk of sudden death, and individuals with ≥1 major risk markers are considered for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Guidelines recommend cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to identify high-risk imaging features. However, CMR imaging is resource intensive and is not widely accessible worldwide. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop electrocardiogram (ECG) deep-learning (DL) models for the identification of patients with HCM and high-risk imaging features. METHODS: Patients with HCM evaluated at Tufts Medical Center (N = 1930; Boston, MA) were used to develop ECG-DL models for the prediction of high-risk imaging features: systolic dysfunction, massive hypertrophy (≥30 mm), apical aneurysm, and extensive late gadolinium enhancement. ECG-DL models were externally validated in a cohort of patients with HCM from the Amrita Hospital HCM Center (N = 233; Kochi, India). RESULTS: ECG-DL models reliably identified high-risk features (systolic dysfunction, massive hypertrophy, apical aneurysm, and extensive late gadolinium enhancement) during holdout testing (c-statistic 0.72, 0.83, 0.93, and 0.76) and external validation (c-statistic 0.71, 0.76, 0.91, and 0.68). A hypothetical screening strategy using echocardiography combined with ECG-DL-guided selective CMR use demonstrated a sensitivity of 97% for identifying patients with high-risk features while reducing the number of recommended CMRs by 61%. The negative predictive value with this screening strategy for the absence of high-risk features in patients without ECG-DL recommendation for CMR was 99.5%. CONCLUSION: In HCM, novel ECG-DL models reliably identified patients with high-risk imaging features while offering the potential to reduce CMR testing requirements in underresourced areas.


Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic , Deep Learning , Electrocardiography , Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine , Humans , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnosis , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/physiopathology , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnostic imaging , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/methods , Risk Assessment/methods , Retrospective Studies , Death, Sudden, Cardiac/prevention & control , Death, Sudden, Cardiac/etiology , Risk Factors
18.
Matern Child Health J ; 28(2): 351-361, 2024 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37980700

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Care management programs for medically complex infants interact with parents after complicated pregnancies, when gaps in maternal health care are well documented. These care managers may have the relationships and skills to promote postpartum and interconception health and health care access. It is unknown whether expanding these care management models to address maternal needs would be acceptable. METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews with women with a history of preterm birth and clinicians. For women with a history of preterm birth, additional inclusion criteria were Medicaid-insured infant in one health system and English proficiency. We purposively oversampled women whose infants received care management. Clinicians worked in two geographically adjacent health systems. Interviews explored priorities after preterm birth and perceived acceptability of mother-infant dyad care management. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded following an integrated approach in which we applied a priori codes and captured emergent themes. RESULTS: We interviewed 33 women (10/2018-7/2021) and 24 clinicians (3/2021-8/2021). Women were predominantly non-Hispanic Black, and 15 had infants receiving care management. Clinicians included physicians, nurses, and social workers from Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Family Medicine. Subgroups converged thematically, finding care management acceptable. Tailoring programs to address stress and sleep, emphasizing care managers with strong interpersonal skills and shared experiences with care management users, and program flexibility would contribute to acceptability. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Dyad care management after preterm birth is acceptable to potential program end-users and clinicians. Dyad health promotion may contribute to improved birth outcomes, infant, and parent health.


Subject(s)
Obstetrics , Premature Birth , Pregnancy , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Humans , Female , Child , Postpartum Period , Mothers , Qualitative Research
19.
Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle) ; 4(1): 642-650, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38155873

ABSTRACT

Objective: There are gaps in receipt of maternal preventive services in the interconception period. Yet mother-infant dyads have frequent health care visits. Health systems have opportunities to better capitalize on existing visits to address dyad needs, but this possibility has not been fully explored. Methods: In this qualitative study we conducted semistructured interviews with clinical team members involved with birthing parents or infants after preterm birth. We conducted snowball sampling from teams in pediatrics, obstetrics, and family medicine at two geographically adjacent health systems. Interviews explored perspectives on existing barriers and facilitators to integrating dyad care across adult and infant teams. Interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed, and coded using an integrated approach. Results: We interviewed 24 physicians, nurses, midwives, and social workers (March-November 2021). Participants identified barriers to integrated care including infrequent communication between clinical teams, which was generalizable to care of the birthing parent or infant as individuals, and additional barriers related to privacy, credentialing, and visit design that were specific to dyad care. To improve integration of dyad care, clinicians proposed adapting a variety tools and procedures currently used in their practices, including electronic health record tools for communication, dedicated roles to support communication or navigation, centralized information on resources for dyad care, referral protocols, identifying dyads for proactive outreach, and opportunities for clinicians to connect face-to-face about shared patients or families. Conclusions: Clinicians believe existing health care structures and processes can be adapted to address current substantial barriers to integrated dyad care.

20.
JCEM Case Rep ; 1(3): luad061, 2023 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37908587

ABSTRACT

Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumors of the adrenal medulla chromaffin cells, usually associated with features of catecholamine excess. Clinically and biochemically silent pheochromocytoma without adrenergic symptoms or elevated catecholamine concentrations are rare. A 71-year-old female presented with acute right flank pain with abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealing a hemorrhagic right adrenal mass. She had no preceding adrenergic symptoms, and normal serum electrolytes, on a background of well-controlled hypertension on amlodipine monotherapy. After conservative management and discharge, an outpatient CT adrenal scan confirmed an 88 × 64 mm right adrenal mass demonstrating intense avidity (maximum standardized uptake value, 20.2) on fluorodeoxyglucose F 18-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT scan. Biochemical screening supported a nonfunctional adrenal lesion with normal-range plasma normetanephrines and metanephrines. She underwent a right adrenalectomy for presumed nonfunctioning adrenocortical cancer; however, histopathology demonstrated a 120-mm pheochromocytoma. Succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) and fumarate hydratase (FH) staining were retained; however, weakly positive 2SC staining raised concerns for FH-deficient pheochromocytoma. Germline DNA sequencing was negative for pathogenic RET, VHL, SDHB, SDHD, or FH variants. Tumor cells stained positive for tyrosine hydroxylase and negative for dopamine ß hydroxylase. Four months postoperatively, progress FDG-PET/CT scan demonstrated no focal avidity. Massive biochemically silent pheochromocytomas are exceedingly rare, and we discuss various mechanisms that may predispose patients to this phenomenon.

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