iPLEDGE Weaknesses: Is It Time to Address the Flaws?

BACKGROUND: The observance during acne follow-ups that information stored within iPLEDGE was discordant with medical charts prompted this study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the information acquired and stored within iPLEDGE as it compares to medical charts with a goal of assessing the efficacy of iPLEDGE as a database. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective chart review analyzing congruence and discrepancies between medical chart documentation and iPLEDGE data for all patients who received at least a single dose of isotretinoin from the primary investigators between January 2006 and November 2010. RESULTS: A total of 357 charts were analyzed. Overall congruence between medical chart documentation and iPLEDGE data was observed in only 73.1% of cases. The discrepancy (N=96) was due to a missed dose (prescription recorded in chart but not in iPLEDGE) in 81.4% of cases, or an addition (medication dispensed per iPLEDGE without corresponding chart documentation) in the remainder of cases. Of note, several charts had multiple discrepancies (N=249 total discrepancies). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective chart review study. CONCLUSION: Given the large percentage of discordant data, our findings question the efficacy of the iPLEDGE system, which is designed to monitor every dispensed isotretinoin dose.

Insulin increases placental triglyceride as a potential mechanism for fetal adiposity in maternal obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal obesity increases the incidence of excess adiposity in newborns, resulting in lifelong diabetes risk. Elevated intrauterine fetal adiposity has been attributed to maternal hyperglycemia; however, this hypothesis does not account for the increased adiposity seen in newborns of mothers with obesity who have euglycemia. We aimed to explore the placental response to maternal hyperinsulinemia and the effect of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) in promoting fetal adiposity by increasing storage and availability of nutrients to the fetus. METHODS: We used placental villous explants and isolated trophoblasts from normal weight and obese women to assess the effect of insulin and IGF-2 on triglyceride content and insulin receptor signaling. Stable isotope tracer methods were used ex vivo to determine effect of hormone treatment on de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty acid uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and esterification in the placenta. RESULTS: Here we show that placentae from euglycemic women with normal weight and obesity both have abundant insulin receptor. Placental depth and triglyceride were greater in women with obesity compared with normal weight women. In syncytialized placental trophoblasts and villous explants, insulin and IGF-2 activate insulin receptor, induce expression of lipogenic transcription factor SREBP-1 (sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1), and stimulate triglyceride accumulation. We demonstrate elevated triglyceride is attributable to increased esterification of fatty acids, without contribution from DNL and without an acceleration of fatty acid uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Our work reveals that obesity-driven aberrations in maternal metabolism, such as hyperinsulinemia, alter placental metabolism in euglycemic conditions, and may explain the higher prevalence of excess adiposity in the newborns of obese women.

Update on Osteoporosis Screening and Management.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to an increased risk of fragility fractures. Central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements are the gold standard for determining bone mineral density. A well-balanced diet containing adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, exercise, smoking cessation, and limited alcohol intake are important to maintain bone health. Pharmacologic agents should be recommended in postmenopausal women who are at high risk for fractures. Newer anabolic therapies including teriparatide, abaloparatide, and romosozumab have emerged for use in severe osteoporosis.

Cirrhotic Patients Have Worse Bowel Preparation at Screening Colonoscopy than Chronic Liver Disease Patients without Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis has been shown in small studies to be a predictor of suboptimal bowel preparation at screening colonoscopy. It has yet to be established whether patients with chronic liver disease in the absence of cirrhosis experience equally poor colon cleansing. Intestinal dysmotility related to cirrhosis might impair bowel preparation in this population more than those with chronic liver disease without cirrhosis. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the quality of bowel preparation in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients with chronic liver disease and determined whether this influenced polyp detection rate. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with chronic liver disease, both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic, who underwent screening colonoscopy was performed. Patient characteristics, concomitant medication use, adequacy of bowel preparation, and the total number and types of polyps found were compared between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic groups. RESULTS: 330 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria; 36% (n = 120) were cirrhotic. Cirrhotic patients had significantly worse bowel preparation scores compared with non-cirrhotics (mean 3.4 ± 1.1 vs. 3.7 ± 0.9, P = 0.003). Worse bowel preparation scores in cirrhotics vs. non-cirrhotics persisted despite controlling for age, sex, and concomitant diabetes mellitus (DM) (P = 0.0027). Among the cirrhotics, 48% had the lowest preparation scores compared with 30% of non-cirrhotics. No difference in polyp detection rate was found between cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics. Severity of cirrhosis as assessed by the MELD score did not predict worse bowel preparation. CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhotics have significantly worse bowel preparation scores compared to non-cirrhotics with chronic liver disease. No correlation between MELD score and bowel preparation score was observed in the cirrhotic cohort.