Adherence Rates and Barriers to Second-Generation Antipsychotic Medication Use in Youth with Bipolar Spectrum Disorders Who Have Overweight/Obesity.

Objective: Youth with bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD) are frequently prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Nonadherence to treatment often results in increased mood symptoms and diminished quality of life. We examined SGA adherence rates and adherence barriers among youth who have overweight/obesity and are diagnosed with BSD enrolled in a multisite pragmatic clinical trial. Methods: SGA adherence and adherence barriers at baseline via patient- and caregiver report was assessed. Adherence was defined as taking ≥70% of prescribed SGA doses in the past week. The weighted Kappa statistic was used to measure child-caregiver agreement about adherence rates, barriers, and caregiver assistance. Regression analyses were used to examine associations of caregiver assistance, age, sex, race, insurance status, dosing frequency, and number of concomitant medications with adherence. Barriers to adherence were analyzed separately for youth and their caregivers, using logistic regression to assess associations between informant-reported barriers and informant-reported adherence. Results: Participants included 1485 patients and/or caregivers. At baseline, 88.6% of patients self-reported as adherent; 92.0% of caregivers reported their child was adherent. Concordance between patients and caregivers was moderate (k = 0.42). Approximately, 50% of the sample reported no adherence barriers. Frequently endorsed barriers included forgetting, side effects, being embarrassed to take medications, and preferring to do something else. Concordance between informants regarding adherence barriers was weak (k = 0.05-0.36). Patients and caregivers who did not endorse adherence barriers reported higher adherence than those who endorsed barriers. Male sex and having once daily dosing of medications were associated with lower adherence. Discussion: One-week patient- and caregiver-reported adherence was high in this sample. Half of the sample reported adherence barriers. Most commonly endorsed barriers were forgetting, side effects, being embarrassed, and preferring to do something else. Caregivers and patients have unique perspectives regarding adherence barriers. Understanding and addressing treatment barriers in clinical practice may facilitate adherence.

Rare Variant of Left Circumflex Coronary Artery Originating From the Right Coronary Artery.

Coronary artery anomalies are rare in the general population. Many individuals with coronary artery anomalies are asymptomatic. Some individuals with these anomalies have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), especially young athletes, and an elevated risk of myocardial ischemia with anginal symptoms, seen in older age groups. We report a 43-year-old male who received coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for the four-vessel disease after suffering from an anteroseptal myocardial infarction (MI). The patient presented to the hospital emergency department with episodes of chest pain for three days. On coronary angiography, an anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery (ALCx) was visualized. This ALCx was a type I variant originating from a separate ostium from the right coronary artery (RCA) at the right coronary cusp.  It is important to document and describe the different variants of coronary anomalies to provide proper patient management. The anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right coronary cusp of the RCA is considered a benign variant. It may, however, have been instrumental in supplying blood to the left heart in the setting of complete left coronary artery (LCA) occlusion.

Methamphetamine-Induced Bowel Ischemia in a 50-Year-Old Male.

Methamphetamine intoxication is a known risk factor for nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI). We describe a case of a 50-year-old male with a history of polysubstance abuse who presented to the Emergency Department with severe abdominal pain and coffee-ground emesis. Computed tomographic (CT) imaging demonstrated portal venous gas and diffuse colonic wall thickening concerning for ischemic colitis. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with resection of the ascending colon as well as a necrotic section of the jejunum. Further embolic workup was negative with a subjective history of amphetamine use prior to presentation. NOMI has a high fatality rate, and we recommend providers include drug-induced bowel infarction on their differential when presented with findings of ischemic bowel of unclear etiology.

Training Needs Assessment Survey in Pediatric Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.

OBJECTIVE: Despite growing recognition of how curriculum modules can benefit child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) training, there are few standardized teaching resources for pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry (PCLP). A Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Physically Ill Child Committee (PICC) conducted a needs assessment to establish interest in, and availability of, a library of online, self-paced learning modules specific to PCLP. METHOD: An email needs assessment survey was distributed to the PICC listserv in the fall of 2019 with four core areas of inquiry: (1) clinical service description, (2) teaching barriers, (3) interest in curriculum resources, and (4) interest in evaluation resources. RESULTS: Respondents were representative of typical academic PCLP programs. The response rate was 28% (n = 39). Programs endorsed barriers to teaching including high service obligations and limited protected teaching time. All respondents indicated that they would utilize high-quality, online learning modules. Psychiatric complications of medical illness, catatonia, and delirium were identified as priority topics in the care of pediatric patients with comorbid medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: There are currently no published educational studies regarding the training needs for PCLP programs, even among tertiary care academic facilities. This training needs assessment is the first step in establishing a national PCLP training curriculum. New paradigms to develop standardized curriculum resources for PCLP are needed.

Youth Suicide.

In the setting of the current youth mental health crisis and increasing rates of suicide, detecting suicide risk and intervening to prevent it is crucial. Factors that confer an elevated risk of suicide attempts and death by suicide include past suicide attempts, nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior, psychiatric disorders, gender and sexual minority identity, family history, history of trauma and loss, bullying, a lack of connectedness, and access to lethal means. Proper screening, assessment, and crisis planning may help save lives and reverse the trend of increasing youth suicide rates.

Lessons Learned From a Burn-Injured Pediatric Patient With Dandy-Walker Syndrome After Multiple Anesthetics: A Case Report.

Dandy-Walker syndrome is a rare congenital brain malformation that requires unique anesthetic considerations. We present a rare case of an 18-month-old boy with Dandy-Walker syndrome presenting with 17% total body surface area burns undergoing multiple general anesthetics for both operative and bedside procedures. Numerous lessons were learned during multiple anesthetics, which influenced and guided our subsequent anesthetic management. The preoperative assessment, risk for respiratory apnea, opioid management, risk for laryngospasm, and postoperative care of patients with Dandy-Walker syndrome were all lessons learned.

Suicide Risk Screening in Pediatric Hospitals: Clinical Pathways to Address a Global Health Crisis.

BACKGROUND: Youth suicide is on the rise worldwide. Most suicide decedents received healthcare services in the year before killing themselves. Standardized workflows for suicide risk screening in pediatric hospitals using validated tools can help with timely and appropriate intervention, while attending to The Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert 56. OBJECTIVE: Here we describe the first attempt to generate clinical pathways for patients presenting to pediatric emergency departments (EDs) and inpatient medical settings. METHODS: The workgroup reviewed available evidence and generated a series of steps to be taken to feasibly screen medical patients presenting to hospitals. When evidence was limited, expert consensus was used. A standardized, iterative approach was utilized to create clinical pathways. Stakeholders reviewed initial drafts. Feedback was incorporated into the final pathway. RESULTS: Clinical pathways were created for suicide risk screening in pediatric EDs and inpatient medical/surgical units. The pathway outlines a 3-tiered screening process utilizing the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions for initial screening, followed by a brief suicide safety assessment to determine if a full suicide risk assessment is warranted. This essential step helps conserve resources and decide upon appropriate interventions for each patient who screens positive. Detailed implementation guidelines along with scripts for provider training are included. CONCLUSION: Youth suicide is a significant public health problem. Clinical pathways can empower hospital systems by providing a guide for feasible and effective suicide risk-screening implementation by using validated tools to identify patients at risk and apply appropriate interventions for those who screen positive. Outcomes assessment is essential to inform future iterations.

Root Cause Analysis of Adverse Events in an Outpatient Anticoagulation Management Consortium.

BACKGROUND: A number of factors can lead to adverse events (AEs) in patients taking warfarin. Performing a root cause analysis (RCA) of serious AEs is one systematic way of determining the causes of these events. METHODS: Multidisciplinary teams were formed at Michigan Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Initiative (MAQI2) sites with organized anticoagulation management services (AMS). Medical records from patients who suffered serious AEs (major bleed, embolic stroke, venous thromboembolism) were reviewed, and AMS staff were interviewed to determine the root cause using the "5 Whys" technique. More than 600 patients had an AE and underwent screening by trained RNs. Of these, 79 required full review by a multidisciplinary panel. All potential contributing factors (comorbidities, concurrent medications, current protocols) were assessed to determine the main factor that caused the AE. RESULTS: Full RCA was completed in 79 cases. The main contributing factor was identified in 69/79 (87%) cases. Most identified AEs, 55/69 (80%), were due to patient-specific factors such as comorbidities. Patient-to-provider and provider-to-provider communication accounted for 16/69 (23%) of events and was the second most common cause. Other causes included protocol non-adherence and technology/equipment issues. After each detailed review, the multidisciplinary panel recommended system changes that addressed the primary cause. CONCLUSION: The majority of severe AEs for patients taking warfarin were related to nonmodifiable patient-related issues. The remaining AEs were primarily due to patient-to-provider and provider-to-provider communication issues. Methods for improving communication need to be addressed, and methods for more effective patient education should be investigated.

Evaluation of a pharmacist-led outpatient direct oral anticoagulant service.

PURPOSE: The impact of a pharmacist-led direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) service on prescription appropriateness and patient adherence was simultaneously evaluated. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, patients age 18 years or older for whom a DOAC was prescribed from September 20, 2013, through December 31, 2014, were identified through electronic medical record review of all DOAC prescriptions within the University of Michigan Health System. Patients had their DOAC therapy managed by a pharmacist-led DOAC service or by their physician (usual care). Primary endpoints included the percentage of patients who had appropriate DOAC therapy prescribed at baseline and at follow-up appointments at 3-6 months. Secondary endpoints included mean medication possession ratios (MPRs). RESULTS: A total of 258 patients were included in the study, with 129 in each group. Patients in the pharmacist-led DOAC service were significantly more likely to have an appropriate combination of DOAC and dosage prescribed for their indication at baseline compared with the usual care group (p = 0.009), a finding that persisted at follow up (p = 0.016). There was no significant difference between groups in the number of patients determined to have an appropriate DOAC prescribed for an approved indication (independent of dose) in the pharmacist-led service (95.3%) versus usual care (93.0%) at baseline. Patients in the pharmacist-led service had a greater mean adjusted MPR compared with the usual care group (p = 0.0014) over a median follow-up period of 248 days. CONCLUSION: A pharmacist-led DOAC service increased appropriate dosing of DOACs at baseline and follow up as well as patient adherence to therapy.

Direct oral anticoagulants: unique properties and practical approaches to management.

Since 2009, four direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been introduced for treatment of venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. While they are currently first-line therapy for a majority of patients, there are a number of clinical situations where warfarin is preferable. In both randomised trials and real-world populations, use of DOACs significantly reduces the risk of intracranial haemorrhage as compared with warfarin. While drug-specific reversal agents are currently only available for dabigatran, andexanet alpha is pending approval for reversal of factor Xa inhibitors, reducing concerns about major bleeding for many patients and providers. DOACs can be held for 2-4 days prior to a procedure, depending on a patient's renal function, but should not be restarted too rapidly post-procedurally given their fast time to peak activity (∼2 hours). The anticoagulation clinic should play an important role in managing patients on all oral anticoagulation, both warfarin and DOACs.

Impact of a Guideline for the Management of Antimicrobial/Warfarin Interactions in the Inpatient Setting and Across Transition of Care.

BACKGROUND: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with warfarin and antimicrobial agents are a common cause of international normalized ratio (INR) instability, which can affect the risk for bleeding and thrombotic events. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a comprehensive guideline for the management of warfarin-antimicrobial DDIs across transitions of care. The guideline emphasizes improving identification of significant antimicrobial-warfarin DDIs during hospitalization, empirical warfarin dose modification based on DDI and baseline INR, patient education, documentation of the DDI, communication with outpatient providers regarding the DDI and anticipated antimicrobial stop date, and warfarin dose adjustment on discontinuation of antimicrobial. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, quasiexperimental, pre-post study compared end points 3 months before and after guideline implementation. The primary outcome was time within therapeutic range (TTR). RESULTS: The study included 78 preguideline and 31 postguideline patients; baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Implementation of the guideline resulted in greater in-hospital TTR (72% vs 50%, P = 0.04) and improved TTR across transition of care (70% vs 46%, P = 0.01). Documentation of DDI in the pharmacy anticoagulation discharge summary significantly improved in the postguideline group (40% vs 14%, P = 0.02) and numerically improved within the daily pharmacy progress notes (94% vs 82%, P = 0.13). The implementation of the guideline was associated with a nonsignificant, numerical reduction in bleeding events compared with the preguideline group (0 vs 4 events, P = 0.11). CONCLUSION: This single-center approach to optimize the comprehensive management of significant antimicrobial-warfarin DDIs resulted in improved communication with outpatient providers and improved INR TTR.

Psychiatric aspects of pediatric cancer.

The diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with cancer has a tremendous and lasting effect on the patients, their families, and other individuals in their social network. It carries a host of psychological and behavioral ramifications, from questions of mortality to changes in levels of functioning in multiple domains. In this review the authors address the psychosocial and treatment-related issues that arise in children with cancer, with attention to the adjustment to cancer at different developmental stages, mood and anxiety issues, treatment-related psychiatric sequelae, and the challenges faced by childhood cancer survivors.

Equus caballus major histocompatibility complex class I is an entry receptor for equine herpesvirus type 1.

In this study, Equus caballus major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) was identified as a cellular entry receptor for the alphaherpesvirus equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). This novel EHV-1 receptor was discovered using a cDNA library from equine macrophages. cDNAs from this EHV-1-susceptible cell type were inserted into EHV-1-resistant B78H1 murine melanoma cells, these cells were infected with an EHV-1 lacZ reporter virus, and cells that supported virus infection were identified by X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside) staining. Positive cells were subjected to several rounds of purification to obtain homogeneous cell populations that were shown to be uniformly infected with EHV-1. cDNAs from these cell populations were amplified by PCR and then sequenced. The sequence data revealed that the EHV-1-susceptible cells had acquired an E. caballus MHC-I cDNA. Cell surface expression of this receptor was verified by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. The MHC-I cDNA was cloned into a mammalian expression vector, and stable B78H1 cell lines were generated that express this receptor. These cell lines were susceptible to EHV-1 infection while the parental B78H1 cells remained resistant to infection. In addition, EHV-1 infection of the B78H1 MHC-I-expressing cell lines was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by an anti-MHC-I antibody.

Psychiatric aspects of pediatric cancer.

The diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with cancer has a tremendous and lasting effect on the patients, their families, and other individuals in their social network. It carries a host of psychological and behavioral ramifications, from questions of mortality to changes in levels of functioning in multiple domains. In this review the authors address the psychosocial and treatment-related issues that arise in children with cancer, with attention to the adjustment to cancer at different developmental stages, mood and anxiety issues, treatment-related psychiatric sequelae, and the challenges faced by childhood cancer survivors.

Effects of combined granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2, and interleukin-12 based immunotherapy against intracranial glioma in the rat.

Cytokines play a major role in the regulation of the immune system. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been shown to be useful for immunotherapy against glioma because it can stimulate dendritic cells to present tumor antigen. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is involved in T-cell expansion, and interleukin-12 (IL-12) drives the T-helper cell type I response. Previous studies have shown that each of these cytokines alone can induce the regression of tumor cells. In the present study we postulated that peripheral infusion of GM-CSF along with either IL-2 or IL-12 and irradiated tumor cells can lead to increased survival from 9L brain tumors. 9L gliosarcoma cells (10(6)) were implanted in the brains of syngeneic Fischer 344 rats. Osmotic minipumps were utilized for subcutaneous, continuous delivery of GM-CSF, either alone or with IL-2 or IL-12. Irradiated 9L cells were injected subcutaneously at various time points during treatment. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and immunohistological analysis were used to further characterize the anti-tumor response. Treatment with GM-CSF and irradiated tumor cells led to an increase in survival rate in rats with intracranial 9L tumors when compared to untreated animals. The addition of IL-2 or IL-12 to the GM-CSF/tumor cell therapy further increased the survival rate up to 90%. The anti-tumor response was associated with vigorous DTH against 9L cells and increased infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes into the tumor. These results suggest that the combined infusion of GM-CSF and other cytokines may be effective adjuvants in treating brain tumors.