Phase II study of dichloroacetate, an inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase, in combination with chemoradiotherapy for unresected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally-advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HSNCC) yields 5-year survival rates near 50% despite causing significant toxicity. Dichloroacetate (DCA), a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase metabolic inhibitor, reduces tumor lactate production and has been used in cancer therapy previously. The safety of adding this agent to CRT is unknown. Our randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase II study added DCA to cisplatin-based CRT in patients with LA-HNSCC. The primary endpoint was safety by adverse events (AEs). Secondary endpoints compared efficacy via 3-month end-of-treatment response, 5-year progression-free and overall survival. Translational research evaluated pharmacodynamics of serum metabolite response. 45 participants (21 DCA, 24 Placebo) were enrolled from May 2011-April 2014. Higher rates of all-grade drug related fevers (43% vs 8%, p = 0.01) and decreased platelet count (67% vs 33%, p = 0.02) were seen in DCA versus placebo. However, there were no significant differences in grade 3/4 AE rates. Treatment compliance to DCA/placebo, radiation therapy, and cisplatin showed no significant difference between groups. While end-of-treatment complete response rates were significantly higher in the DCA group compared to placebo (71.4% vs 37.5%, p = 0.0362), survival outcomes were not significantly different between groups. Treatment to baseline metabolites demonstrated a significant drop in pyruvate (0.47, p < 0.005) and lactate (0.61, p < 0.005) in the DCA group. Adding DCA to cisplatin-based CRT appears safe with no detrimental effect on survival and expected metabolite changes compared to placebo. This supports further investigation into combining metabolic agents to CRT. Trial registration number: NCT01386632, Date of Registration: July 1, 2011.

Effects of a Decentralized Nursing Model on Patient Outcomes in Two Rural Community Hospitals.

AIM: To assess hypothesized effects of decentralized nursing models on adult inpatient outcomes, patient medical records and satisfaction surveys were analyzed from two rural community hospitals that transitioned from centralized to decentralized nursing unit designs in 2015. BACKGROUND: The objective to place nurses closer to patients precipitates broad use of decentralized nursing unit designs over models with centralized nurse stations. Decentralized models have been hypothesized to improve patient outcomes, but few studies have empirically measured effects. METHODS: A cross-sectional, pre-post study used regression and interrupted time series models of adult inpatient data. Encounter-level patient records and survey responses across both sites were analyzed for a change in length of stay (LOS) and patient satisfaction from the preperiod (centralized) to the postperiod (decentralized). RESULTS: LOS decreased in the postperiod compared to the preperiod at one site, and there was no change in LOS at the other. Patient satisfaction mostly improved at both hospitals in the decentralized model; however, most upward trends started prior to the move, with no change postmove. Patient satisfaction significantly improved regarding quietness at night and overall hospital rating at one hospital and decreased regarding receiving help as soon as wanted at the other hospital. These changes occurred at the time of the move but may not be solely attributable to the decentralized nursing model. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results were mixed. One hospital experienced positive changes while the other did not, suggesting factors apart from nursing unit design are important to assess.

From Fable to Reality at Parkland Hospital: The Impact of Evidence-Based Design Strategies on Patient Safety, Healing, and Satisfaction in an Adult Inpatient Environment.

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to evaluate the quantitative effects of new hospital design on adult inpatient outcomes. BACKGROUND: Tenets of evidence-based healthcare design, notably single-patient acuity-adaptable and same-handed rooms, decentralized nursing stations, onstage offstage layout, and access to nature were expected to promote patient healing and increase patient satisfaction, while decreasing adverse events. METHODS: Patient healing was operationalized through length of stay (LOS) and patient safety through three adverse events: falls, hospital-acquired infections (HAI), and medication-related events. Standard patient surveys captured patient satisfaction. Patient records from 2013 through 2017 allowed for equivalent time periods surrounding the move to the new hospital in August 2015. Stratified by hospital division where significant, pre/post comparisons utilized proportional hazards or logistic regression models as appropriate; interrupted time series analyses afforded longitudinal interpretations. RESULTS: Observed higher postmove LOS was due to previously increasing trends, not increases after the move. In surgical and trauma units, a constant increase in falls was unaffected by the move. Medication events decreased consistently over time; medication events with harm dropped significantly after the move. No change in HAI was found. Significant improvement on most relevant patient satisfaction items occurred after the move. Call button response decreased immediately after the move but subsequently improved. CONCLUSION: Results did not clearly indicate a net change in adult inpatient outcomes of healing and safety due to the hospital design. There was evidence that the new hospital improved patient satisfaction outcomes related to the environment, including comfort, noise, temperature, and aesthetics.

Single-family room neonatal intensive care unit design: do patient outcomes actually change?

OBJECTIVE: This study examined outcomes in a single-family room neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) compared to an open bay within a public safety net hospital. STUDY DESIGN: We included 9995 NICU encounters over 5 years pre and post move for a predominantly low SES population. Outcomes were length of stay (LOS), growth, time to first oral feeding, and incidence of sepsis. Analysis included regression models, interrupted time series, and growth models. RESULTS: LOS decreased over time in preterm infants both pre and post move, but increased post move for term/post-term infants (p < 0.001). First oral feeding decreased over time in both periods. A higher incidence of sepsis was found in the post period for term/post-term infants (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our analysis appropriately accounted for time trends. Few differences were observed. Changes in LOS for term/post-term infants should be further explored as well as the impact of NICU care patterns.

Using Social Network Analysis to Visualize Networks in American Indian Health Research.

The Collaborative Research Center for American Indian Health (CRCAIH) is a transdisciplinary, collaborative center focused on building American Indian tribal research infrastructure. Funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities in 2012, it was created as a platform to join tribal communities and researchers in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota to develop research infrastructure and stimulate research in American Indian health. The CRCAIH infrastructure has created a large network of transdisciplinary research partnerships. To understand the initial development of the CRCAIH network and understand the broader impact it has had on American Indian and Alaska Native health research, CRCAIH undertook a network analysis based on publications by collaborators working with and within CRCAIH. The network analysis showed how far the CRCAIH network went in a short period of time to create a platform for networking to build collaborations and further stimulate research with American Indian communities.

Associations of Patient and Staff Outcomes With Inpatient Unit Designs Incorporating Decentralized Caregiver Workstations: A Systematic Review of Empirical Evidence.

OBJECTIVES:: This systematic literature review synthesizes and assesses quality of research addressing associations of patient and staff outcomes with inpatient unit designs incorporating decentralized caregiver workstations. BACKGROUND:: A current hospital design trend is to include decentralized caregiver workstations on inpatient units. A review of literature addressing decentralized unit design is needed. METHODS:: The systematic review methodology was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Database searches were conducted for studies published in peer-reviewed journals through October 2017. Included were empirical studies associating patient and/or staff outcomes and unit design with decentralized caregiver workstations. Individual studies were evaluated for quality using established methods, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) and GRADE-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual) guided rigorous inspection of evidence quality and strength for quantitative outcomes and qualitative findings, respectively. RESULTS:: The search yielded 1,096 records with 36 full-text articles examined and 12 articles included in the final review. This work was dominated by studies with limited analyses. Staff outcomes have been most widely studied, especially collaboration/communication and walking. Overall, studies exploring decentralized nursing as a design intervention have produced limited results for both staff and patient outcomes. Strength of evidence of the current literature with quantitative methods as a whole was rated very low quality. CONCLUSIONS:: Although varying degrees of caregiver workstation decentralization in inpatient units are now common, the literature addressing the impacts of such designs is of very low quality and shows inconsistency in associated outcomes. Rigorous, well-designed studies with consistently defined design and outcome measures are needed for greater confidence in determining any effects of decentralized unit design.

Racial/Ethnic Variation in Emergency Department Care for Children With Asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the variation between racial/ethnic groups in emergency department (ED) treatment of asthma for pediatric patients. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of pediatric (2-18 years) asthma visits among 6 EDs in the Upper Midwest between June 2011 and May 2012. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to assess the odds of receiving steroids, radiology tests, and returning to the ED within 30 days. We conducted a subanalysis of asthma visits where patients received at least 1 albuterol treatment in the ED. RESULTS: The sample included 2909 asthma visits by 1755 patients who were discharged home from the ED. After adjusting for demographics, insurance type, and triage score, African American (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-2.26) and Hispanic (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.22-2.22) patients had higher odds of receiving steroids compared with whites. African Americans (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.46-0.74) also had lower odds of radiological testing compared with whites. Asians had the lowest odds of 30-day ED revisits (aOR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08-0.84), with no other significant differences detected between racial/ethnic groups. Subgroup analyses of asthma patients who received albuterol revealed similar results, with American Indians showing lower odds of radiological testing as well (aOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.22-1.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, children from racial/ethnic minority groups had higher odds of steroid administration and lower odds of radiological testing compared with white children. The underlying reasons for these differences are likely multifactorial, including varying levels of disease severity, health literacy, and access to care.

The Role of Socioeconomic Status in Individuals that Leave Against Medical Advice.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals leaving against medical advice (AMA) are at risk for adverse health outcomes including a 40 percent increased mortality rate a year after self-discharge. Additionally, leaving AMA may dramatically increase medical costs due to failure to complete treatment resulting in higher risk of readmission with additional co-morbidities. METHODS: Retrospective study of inpatients utilizing the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) 2012 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Primary outcome of interest was discharge type (AMA versus non-AMA) examined against primary payer type, patient and hospital characteristics. Analysis performed on the weighted discharges using Proc Surverylogistic. Statistical significance set at p less than 0.05. All analysis was performed in SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute). RESULTS: After adjustment for possible cofounders and socioeconomic factors, there were increased odds of leaving against medical advice in those that lacked insurance (ORadj = 4.16, p less than 0.001) or had Medicare (ORadj = 2.10, p less than 0.001) or Medicaid (ORadj = 2.94, p less than 0.001). Compared to individuals in the lower income brackets, groups with higher incomes had a 20-30 percent decrease in leaving AMA. However, in comparison to white individuals, black (ORadj = 1.023, p = 0.2688) and Native Americans (ORadj = 0.994, p=0.9322) were not at an increased risk of leaving AMA. Hispanic (ORadj = 0.665, p less than 0.001) and the Asian/Pacific Islander (ORadj = 0.56, p less than 0.001) groups had decreased odds of leaving AMA. CONCLUSION: Groups at risk for leaving AMA were individuals lacking insurance, having public insurance, and those within the 0-25th percentile in income. Although ethnicity does play a factor in leaving against medical advice, our data indicates that the gap is not as extreme as previously stated. Additional work needs to be done to help health care providers set targeted preventative measures to address those at increased risk for leaving AMA in order to provide a higher standard of care for the patient.

Leaving the emergency department without complete care: disparities in American Indian children.

BACKGROUND: Children who leave the emergency department (ED) without complete evaluation or care (LWCET) have poorer outcomes in general. Previous studies have found that American Indian (AI) children have higher rates of LWCET than other racial or ethnic groups. Therefore, this study aims to examine LWCET in AI children by exploring differences by ED location and utilization patterns. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of five EDs in the upper Midwest between June 2011 and May 2012. We included all visits by children aged 0-17 who identified as African American (AA), AI or White. Logistic regression was used to determine differences in LWCET by race and ED location controlling for other possible confounding factors including sex, age, insurance type, triage level, distance from ED, timing of visit, and ED activity level. RESULTS: LWCET occurred in 1.73% of 68,461 visits made by 47,228 children. The multivariate model revealed that AIs were more likely to LWCET compared to White children (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.62, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.30-2.03). There was no significant difference in LWCET between AA and White children. Other factors significantly associated with LWCET included triage level, distance from the ED, timing of visit, and ED activity level. CONCLUSION: Our results show that AI children have higher rates of LWCET compared to White children; this association is different from other racial minority groups. There are likely complex factors affecting LWCET in AI children throughout the upper Midwest, which necessitates further exploration.

Vaccine-preventable, hospitalizations among American Indian/Alaska Native children using the 2012 Kid's Inpatient Database.

Our aim was to assess the odds of hospitalization for a vaccine-preventable, infectious disease (VP-ID) in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children compared to other racial and ethnic groups using the 2012 Kid's Inpatient Database (KID) The KID is a nationally representative sample, which allows for evaluation of VP-ID in a non-federal, non-Indian Health Service setting. In a cross-sectional analysis, we evaluated the association of race/ethnicity and a composite outcome of hospitalization due to vaccine-preventable infection using multivariate logistic regression. AI/AN children were more likely (OR=1.81, 95% CI=1.34, 2.45) to be admitted to the hospital in 2012 for a VP-ID compared to Non-Hispanic white children after adjusting for age, sex, chronic disease status, metropolitan location, and median household income. This disparity highlights the necessity for a more comprehensive understanding of immunization and infectious disease exposure among American Indian children, especially those not covered or evaluated by Indian Health Service.

Community Perspectives on Emergency Department Use and Care for American Indian Children.

Emergency department (ED) utilization by American Indian (AI) children is among the highest in the nation. Numerous health disparities have been well documented in AI children, but limited information is available on parental experiences of care for AI children in the ED. Our objective was to understand parental attitudes towards ED care for AI children. Focus groups were held with AI parents/caregivers at five sites in the Upper Midwest. Traditional content analysis was used to identify themes. A total of 70 parents participated in ten focus groups. Three main themes were identified: healthcare environment, access to care, and interaction with providers. Healthcare environment issues included availability of specialists, wait times, and child-friendly areas. Transportation and financial considerations were major topics in access to care. Issues in interaction with providers included discrimination, stereotyping, and trust. This is one of the first studies to assess parent perspectives on ED use for AI children. Obtaining parental perspectives on ED experiences is critical to improve patient care and provide important information for ED providers.

Emergency Department Utilization by Native American Children.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine differences in emergency department (ED) use by Native American (NA) children in rural and urban settings and identify factors associated with frequent ED visits. METHODS: This cross-sectional, cohort study examined visits to 6 EDs: 2 rural, 2 midsize urban, and 2 large urban EDs from June 2011 to May 2012. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted. Frequent ED visitors had more than 4 visits in the study period. RESULTS: We studied 8294 NA visits (5275 patients) and 44,503 white visits (33,945 patients). Rural EDs had a higher proportion of NA patients, those below 200% of the income poverty level, and those who traveled more than 10 miles from their residence to attend the ED (all P < 0.05) compared with midsize and urban EDs. Native American patients had a high proportion of mental health diagnoses compared with whites (4.9% vs 1.9%, P < 0.001). Frequent ED visitors had greater odds of NA race, age younger than 1 year, public insurance, female sex, residence within less than 5 miles from the ED, and chronic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Native American children seem to have greater challenges compared with whites obtaining care in rural areas. Native American children were more likely to be frequent ED visitors, despite having to travel farther from their residence to the ED. Native American children visiting rural and midsize urban EDs had a much higher prevalence of mental health problems than whites. Additional efforts to provide both medical and mental health services to rural NA are urgently needed.

Epidemiology of substance-exposed pregnancies at one Great Lakes hospital that serves a large number of American Indians.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of substance-exposed pregnancies at a hospital in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. METHOD: Data were collected via retrospective chart abstractions of patients who were seen for delivery at one Great Lakes region hospital during a 1-year period who were given at least one of the International Classification of Diseases codes related to substance use. RESULTS: A total of 342 medical records were included in the analysis, and, while much race/ethnicity data were missing, a large percentage of those in our analysis identified as American Indian. The prevalence of substance-exposed pregnancies at this hospital during a 1-year period was 34.5%. The majority (84.8%) were tobacco users, and many were found to have multiple substance exposures. Also, 48.5% were found to have a mental health diagnosis in addition to substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this project can be used in prevention efforts, including preconception care for women at risk for substance use and mental health issues.

Emergency Department Utilization for Mental Health in American Indian Children.

OBJECTIVES: To examine emergency department (ED) visits for mental health concerns by American Indian children in a multicenter cohort. To analyze demographic and clinical factors, the types of mental health concerns, and repeat mental health visits. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of children 5-18 years old who visited 1 of 6 EDs in the Upper Midwest from June 2011 to May 2012 and self-identified as white or American Indian. Mental health visits were identified by primary diagnosis and reasons for visit and were categorized into diagnostic groups. We explored racial differences in ED visits for mental health, diagnostic groups, and repeat mental health visits. Analysis involved χ(2) tests, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests, and regression models including age, triage, timing, and insurance, and their interactions with race. RESULTS: We identified 26 004 visits of which 1545 (5.4%) were for a mental health concern. The proportion of visits for mental health differed by race and age. American Indian children had lower odds of a mental health visit for 5-10 year olds (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.26-0.60), but higher odds for 11-17 year olds (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.34-1.95). In the older age group, American Indian children were seen primarily for depression and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, whereas white children were seen primarily for depression and disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders. Repeat visits were not different by race. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were noted in mental health visits between American Indian and white children and were influenced by age. These findings warrant further investigation into care-seeking patterns and treatment for mental health in American Indian children.

The Role of Bias by Emergency Department Providers in Care for American Indian Children.

BACKGROUND: American Indian children have high rates of emergency department (ED) use and face potential discrimination in health care settings. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to assess both implicit and explicit racial bias and examine their relationship with clinical care. RESEARCH DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional survey of care providers at 5 hospitals in the Upper Midwest. Questions included American Indian stereotypes (explicit attitudes), clinical vignettes, and the Implicit Association Test. Two Implicit Association Tests were created to assess implicit bias toward the child or the parent/caregiver. Differences were assessed using linear and logistic regression models with a random effect for study site. RESULTS: A total of 154 care providers completed the survey. Agreement with negative American Indian stereotypes was 22%-32%. Overall, 84% of providers had an implicit preference for non-Hispanic white adults or children. Older providers (50 y and above) had lower implicit bias than those middle aged (30-49 y) (P=0.01). American Indian children were seen as increasingly challenging (P=0.04) and parents/caregivers less compliant (P=0.002) as the proportion of American Indian children seen in the ED increased. Responses to the vignettes were not related to implicit or explicit bias. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of ED care providers had an implicit preference for non-Hispanic white children or adults compared with those who were American Indian. Provider agreement with negative American Indian stereotypes differed by practice and respondents' characteristics. These findings require additional study to determine how these implicit and explicit biases influence health care or outcomes disparities.

Racial Differences in Pediatric Emergency Department Triage Scores.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities are frequently reported in emergency department (ED) care. OBJECTIVES: To examine racial differences in triage scores of pediatric ED patients. We hypothesized that racial differences existed but could be explained after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. METHODS: We examined all visits to two urban, pediatric EDs between August 2009 and March 2010. Demographic and clinical data were electronically extracted from the medical record. We used logistic regression to analyze racial differences in triage scores, controlling for possible covariates. RESULTS: There were 54,505 ED visits during the study period, with 7216 (13.2%) resulting in hospital admission. White patients accounted for 36.4% of visits, African Americans 28.5%, Hispanics 18.0%, Asians 4.1%, and American Indians 1.8%. After adjusting for potential confounders, African American (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-2.12), Hispanic (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.55-2.02), and American Indian (aOR 2.57, 95% CI 1.80-3.66) patients received lower-acuity triage scores than Whites. In three out of four subgroup analyses based on presenting complaints (breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, fever), African Americans and Hispanics had higher odds of receiving low-acuity triage scores. No racial differences were detected for patients with presenting complaints of laceration/head injury/arm injury. However, among patients admitted to the hospital, African Americans (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.13-1.90) and Hispanics (aOR 1.71, CI 1.22-2.39) received lower-acuity triage scores than Whites. CONCLUSION: After adjusting for available sociodemographic and clinical covariates, African American, Hispanic, and American Indian patients received lower-acuity triage scores than Whites.

Daily Enteral DHA Supplementation Alleviates Deficiency in Premature Infants.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid (FA) important for health and neurodevelopment. Premature infants are at risk of DHA deficiency and circulating levels directly correlate with health outcomes. Most supplementation strategies have focused on increasing DHA content in mother's milk or infant formula. However, extremely premature infants may not reach full feedings for weeks and commercially available parenteral lipid emulsions do not contain preformed DHA, so blood levels decline rapidly after birth. Our objective was to develop a DHA supplementation strategy to overcome these barriers. This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial determined feasibility, tolerability and efficacy of daily enteral DHA supplementation (50 mg/day) in addition to standard nutrition for preterm infants (24-34 weeks gestational age) beginning in the first week of life. Blood FA levels were analyzed at baseline, full feedings and near discharge in DHA (n = 31) or placebo supplemented (n = 29) preterm infants. Term peers (n = 30) were analyzed for comparison. Preterm infants had lower baseline DHA levels (p < 0.0001). Those receiving DHA had a progressive increase in circulating DHA over time (from 3.33 to 4.09 wt% or 2.88 to 3.55 mol%, p < 0.0001) while placebo-supplemented infants (receiving standard neonatal nutrition) had no increase over time (from 3.35 to 3.32 wt% or 2.91 to 2.87 mol%). Although levels increased with additional DHA supplementation, preterm infants still had lower blood DHA levels than term peers (4.97 wt% or 4.31 mol%) at discharge (p = 0.0002). No differences in adverse events were observed between the groups. Overall, daily enteral DHA supplementation is feasible and alleviates deficiency in premature infants.

Patient and Physician Perceptions of Genetic Testing in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION: The convergence of biomedical informatics and translational genomics is changing the way we practice. Primary care will play a pivotal role in this transformation. We therefore sought to assess general knowledge about genetic testing among outpatient internal medicine providers, and the patients that they serve across a five state region in the Midwest. METHODS: One thousand take-home paper surveys were created and distributed to internal medicine patients at 13 Midwestern clinics. Sixty-two electronic surveys were also created and distributed to internal medicine providers at these same clinics. Questions assessed knowledge, interest, and comfort with genetic testing as well as the role of genetic counselors. Differences in response based on physician characteristics were compared using a Chi-squared analysis. RESULTS: In general, patients cared for in internal medicine clinics expressed an understanding of both content (75 percent) and rationale (81 percent) for genetic testing. Patients are open to hearing about genetic risks that could affect their health (88 percent) even if their visit was scheduled for a different reason. In these same clinics, providers expressed a strong understanding of the purpose of genetic testing (88 percent). However, providers were not confident in responding to questions about the impact of genetic testing on disease susceptibility (25 percent). Providers were more confident answering questions about genetic variability in drug response (46 percent). In general, outpatient internal medicine providers feel comfortable referring patients to genetic counselors to assess disease risk (88 percent) and they believe genetic testing is relevant to their practice (75 percent). CONCLUSIONS: In our Midwestern sample, we found that both patients and providers express interest in learning more about genetic testing in the context of primary care. Patient and physician responses indicate a role for genetic counselors in helping our patients understand and interpret genetic test results.

Fostering Social Determinants of Health Transdisciplinary Research: The Collaborative Research Center for American Indian Health.

The Collaborative Research Center for American Indian Health (CRCAIH) was established in September 2012 as a unifying structure to bring together tribal communities and health researchers across South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota to address American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) health disparities. CRCAIH is based on the core values of transdisciplinary research, sustainability and tribal sovereignty. All CRCAIH resources and activities revolve around the central aim of assisting tribes with establishing and advancing their own research infrastructures and agendas, as well as increasing AI/AN health research. CRCAIH is comprised of three divisions (administrative; community engagement and innovation; research projects), three technical cores (culture, science and bioethics; regulatory knowledge; and methodology), six tribal partners and supports numerous multi-year and one-year pilot research projects. Under the ultimate goal of improving health for AI/AN, this paper describes the overarching vision and structure of CRCAIH, highlighting lessons learned in the first three years.

What is the relationship between gestational age and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) levels?

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are increasingly transferred from mother to fetus late in pregnancy. Infants born before this transfer is complete are at risk for deficiency. This study determines the relationship between gestational age (GA) and circulating LCPUFA levels to better understand the unique needs of premature infants born at various GAs. Whole blood was collected within the first 7 days of life from 60 preterm (≤34 weeks GA) and 30 term infants (≥38 weeks GA) and FA levels were analyzed. Since concurrent intravenous lipid emulsion can skew composition data, blood LCPUFA concentrations were also measured. Levels were compared among groups, and linear regression models were used to examine the association between FA composition and GA. Preterm infants had significantly lower DHA and ARA levels than term peers, and whether assessed as concentrations or compositions, both directly correlated with GA (p<0.0001). Moreover, FA comparisons suggest that premature infants have impaired synthesis of LCPUFAs from precursors and may require preformed DHA and ARA. This study confirms that essential FA status is strongly related to GA, and that those babies born the earliest are at the greatest risk of LCPUFA deficiency.