The effect of metformin on vitamin B12 level in pediatric patients.

PURPOSE: Metformin is a common medication for patients with hyperglycemia. In adults, one well-documented side effect of metformin is vitamin B12 deficiency. However, this side effect has rarely been studied in pediatric patients. This study examined the changes of vitamin B12 level in pediatric patients being treated with metformin. METHODS: Data were collected from pediatric patients (n=151) with at least 3 months of consecutive metformin intake. The effects of dose of metformin on the mean vitamin B12 level were investigated at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. The effect of compliance of metformin intake on vitamin B12 level also was studied. RESULTS: There was no significant decrease in mean vitamin B12 level at 6, 12, 24, or 36 months in patients treated with metformin. Mean vitamin B12 decrease was only noticeable (p<0.05) in patients taking a high dose of metformin with good compliance. Despite this change, the mean vitamin B12 remained well within the normal reference range. Furthermore, of the 151 patients studied, only 1 demonstrated vitamin B12 deficiency after 12 months of treatment. However, his B12 level was normal at 24 and 36 months without any vitamin B12 supplements. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that metformin treatment in children does not cause vitamin B12 deficiency; however, the effect of long-term consistent high-dose treatment on vitamin B12 level remains unknown.

Classroom Instruction: Medical Students' Attitudes Toward LGBTQI+ Patients.

The Association of American Medical Colleges declared it essential that medical students receive instruction on the health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals. The integration of LGBTQI+ health and instruction in medical curricula, however, is scant. A pre-post confidential survey study was completed by first-year medical students (N = 103; 85% response rate) in the context of classroom instruction. The California State University Northbridge instrument assessed students' perspectives on LGBTQI+ Patient-Care, Comfort with LGBTQI+ Patient Interactions, Gender and Sexuality, Civil Rights, and LGBTQI+ Education. Post-instruction, students reported a significant increase in understanding of bisexuality (p = .02), being transgender (p = .006), and LGBTQI+ couples' adoption rights (p = .003). The findings support the incorporation of LGBTQI+ instruction into medical curricula and suggest that educators may consider consulting pre-intervention data before teaching LGBTQI+ health content, which would allow material to be tailored toward learner-specific needs.

Child access prevention legislative language and pediatric firearm injury rates.

Backgroud: Firearm injuries are a significant public health problem facing young people in the USA. In 2015, a total of 16 878 people under 19 years old were injured or killed by firearms. To reduce firearm injuries, 29 states and Washington, DC have enacted child access prevention (CAP) legislation. CAP legislation is intended to reduce the likelihood of a minor obtaining a weapon and subsequent injury or death. This study evaluates the impact of CAP legislation based on language of the legislation, specifically it evaluates a relationship of the legal threshold of liability and the number of firearm injuries per capita of minors. Methods: Data were collected from the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System for patients less than 19 years of age who presented to emergency departments with firearm injuries in 2016. The Giffords Law Center classification was used to group states into three categories (strong/weak/no CAP) based on CAP language. Differences of firearm-related injury rates per capita were assessed. Results: When controlling for population, states with CAP legislation had a 22% decrease in firearm injuries per capita compared with states without CAP legislation. States with 'strong' CAP legislation had a 41% decrease in firearm injuries per capita compared with states with 'weak' or no CAP legislation when controlling for population. Conclusions: States with 'strong' CAP legislation had lower pediatric firearm injury rates per capita, but more complete data and further studies are needed to evaluate this relationship as well as other factors that may impact firearm injury rates.

Passive Peritoneal Drainage Impact on Fluid Balance and Inflammatory Mediators: A Randomized Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Infants after cardiopulmonary bypass are exposed to increasing inflammatory mediator release and are at risk of developing fluid overload. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of passive peritoneal drainage on achieving negative fluid balance and its ability to dispose of inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: From September 2014 to November 2016, infants undergoing STAT category 3, 4, and 5 operations were randomized to receive or not receive intraoperative prophylactic peritoneal drain. We analyzed time to negative fluid balance and perioperative variables for each group. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured from serum and peritoneal fluid in the passive peritoneal drainage group and serum in the control group postoperatively. RESULTS: Infants were randomized to prophylactic passive peritoneal drain group (n = 13) and control (n = 12). The groups were not significantly different in pre- and postoperative peak lactate levels, postoperative length of stay, and mortality. Peritoneal drain patients reached time to negative fluid balance at a median of 1.42 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.00-2.91), whereas the control at 3.08 (IQR: 1.67-3.88; P = .043). Peritoneal drain patients had lower diuretic index at 72 hours, median of 2.86 (IQR: 1.21-4.94) versus 6.27 (IQR: 4.75-11.11; P = .006). Consistently, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and interferon-γ were present at higher levels in peritoneal fluid than serum at 24 and 72 hours. However, serum cytokine levels in peritoneal drain and control group, at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively, did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic passive peritoneal drain patients reached negative fluid balance earlier and used less diuretic in early postoperative period. The serum cytokine levels did not differ significantly between groups at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively. However, there was no significant difference in mortality and postoperative length of stay.

Stand Your Ground: Policy and Trends in Firearm-Related Justifiable Homicide and Homicide in the US.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, several states have enacted Stand Your Ground (SYG) legislation intended to deter crime. To date, the impact of these laws on justifiable homicide (JH) and homicide (HOM) is unknown. This study was designed to compare JH and HOM rates (JHR, HR) before and after enactment of SYG laws and in states with and without (NoSYG) such legislation. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective analysis of justifiable homicide and homicide using 3 United States datasets from 2000 to 2017. Descriptive statistics and univariate linear regressions were used to evaluate the association of SYG laws and JH and HOM in the United States. RESULTS: There were 4,594 incidents of JH and 214,630 incidents of HOM in the United States between 2000 and 2017. Stand Your Ground states accounted for most JH and HOM incidents 3,184 (69%) and 116,511 (54%), respectively. Stand Your Ground states had higher JH and HOM rates than NoSYG states (0.126 vs 0.047 and 4.663 vs 3.301 per 100,000 population, respectively; p < 0.001). Comparing periods pre- (2000 to 2004) and post-SYG (2005 to 2017) law enactment, SYG vs NoSYG states had increased JH rates of 54.9% vs 20.4%, respectively (p < 0.001); HOM rates increased 10.8% in SYG states and decreased 2.3% in NoSYG states (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Stand Your Ground states had significantly higher JH and HOM rates and significantly greater increases in JH and HOM rates pre- vs post-SYG law enactment compared with NoSYG states. These results raise questions about the potential adverse consequences of policies such as the SYG law in the US.

Association of Demographics and Hospital Stay Characteristics With Patient Experience in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.

There is limited research on patient experience in hospitalized pediatric patients. Our aim was to investigate the association of patient demographics and hospital stay characteristics with experience in a tertiary-care, freestanding children's hospital. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of patient experience surveys. We designated the highest rating as "top-box" and examined data across 8 domains, including overall assessment (OA). A total of 4602 surveys were analyzed. Top-box percentages were lower for younger patients in 6 domains, including OA (0-<1 year old: 57.6%; 1-<4 years old: 61.3%; 4-<12 years old: 68.4%; ≥12 years old: 70.2%; P < .001), and were lower for patients with private insurance in 5 domains, including OA (private 63.2%, public 68.9%; P < .001). There was no association between other demographics (gender, race/ethnicity, primary language) and OA. Overall assessment was also not associated with length of stay (P = .071) and number of consulting services (P = .703). The most important domain predictor of OA was personal issues (odds ratio = 4.79), which assessed concern, sensitivity, and communication from staff. In conclusion, patient experience was associated with age and insurance status but not hospital stay characteristics.

How Postbaccalaureate Career Changer and Traditional Medical Students Differ Academically.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective descriptive study compared the academic performance of postbaccalaureate career changer students with that of traditional students during the classroom-based, science-dominated early years of medical school. Earlier studies documented the eventual success of nontraditional medical students, although we found little information specific to the medical school performance of career changers. Our objective was to determine whether postbaccalaureate career changer medical students perform differently from traditionally prepared medical students in the science-dominated early years of medical school classroom education. METHODS: This study analyzed the admission data and academic performance of medical students at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine across 8 years (N = 630). Differences in performance were assessed using examination grades from the first 2 years of medical school, and US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 scores. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between traditional and career changer students for all science modules in year 1, and 4 of the 5 modules in year 2. Traditional students performed better on USMLE Step 1. Significant differences between the groups disappeared by USMLE Step 2. CONCLUSIONS: Career changer medical students show a small, persistent academic lag in the first 2 years of medical school and on USMLE Step 1 scores. By USMLE Step 2 the difference disappears. Similar undergraduate grade point averages and Medical College Admission Test scores suggest that science exposure, not ability may explain these differences. An unexpected finding is the number of career changer students is not increasing proportional to the proliferation of postbaccalaureate programs in the United States. This study may benefit student advisors and residency directors, and, it is hoped, provide reassurance to career changer students.

Pre-clerkship medical students' perceptions of medical professionalism.

BACKGROUND: Professionalism instruction and assessment is a core component of medical education, and essential for professional identity formation (PIF). Thus, understanding the socialization of medical students to the values of the profession (i.e., medical professionalism), and how these may evolve, warrants continued understanding. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to examine and compare pre-clerkship (first and second year) medical students' perceptions of professionalism. First and second year medical students participate in this study. This was a two-phase mixed-methods cohort study conducted across two academic years (2014-2015 and 2015-2016). In Phase I, first and second year medical students participated in a nominal group technique (NGT) session. NGT data was analyzed qualitatively to generate a card-sorting exercise of professionalism attributes for Phase II. In Phase II, data from the sorting task was analyzed using Principle Component Analysis (PCA). RESULTS: The PCA for first year students derived a 7-factor solution. Factors (i.e., professionalism domains) identified were: Self-management and patient-centeredness, ethics and professional reputation, dependability, self-awareness and self-improvement, image, proficiency and lifelong learning and integrity. The PCA for second year students derived a 5-factor solution; factors identified were: "Good Doctor" attributes, responsibility, ethics, innovation and self-improvement and unbiased. CONCLUSIONS: Identification and organization of attributes into an overarching professionalism mental model provide a window into the active reconstruction of students' professional identity during the nascent stages of medical education. M1 professionalism domains were more consistent with the conventional professional image of the physician (e.g. Ethics and Professional reputation, Dependability, Integrity), whereas, M2 domains reflected a more global view (e.g., "Good Doctor" attributes, Responsibility, Ethics). This study provides a lens into the dynamic nature of students' PIF and encourages educators to evaluate PIF pedagogy at their own institutions.

Quantifying Intraoperative Laparoscopic Visual Field Opacity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic surgery can be complicated by condensation and debris on the lens obscuring the visual field, increasing the risk of surgical error and injury to the patient. Despite, development of possible solutions, little is known regarding the quantitative measure of time lost during surgery because of an obscured visual field. Without this knowledge, the cost of laparoscopic lens fogging cannot be quantified and compared to the cost of antifogging devices. In the present study, we investigated the amount of time a laparoscope is withdrawn for cleaning during surgery. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study of patients (n = 52) who underwent laparoscopic surgery at Florida Hospital Celebration Health. Patient's age, gender, and body mass index, operative time, wound class, estimated blood loss, type of procedure, and complication (if any) were collected. In addition, intraoperative information on the number of times and total amount of time the laparoscope was withdrawn because of obscured visual field were recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent (43) of the procedures required laparoscope withdrawal because of fogging. Increased operative time, increased blood loss, and patient age correlated with the number of times (P < .05) and amount of time (P < .05) the laparoscope was withdrawn. DISCUSSION: There was a significant correlation between increased laparoscope withdrawal because of an obscured visual field with increased EBL, operative time, and patient age. Possible explanations include change in body composition with age, the increased viewing angles required for more complex procedures, and increasing intraoperative effect on the surgeon of the poor visual field caused by fogging and debris.