Evaluation of the effect of an audit and feedback reporting tool on screening participation: The Primary Care Screening Activity Report (PCSAR).

Participation in cancer screening is critical to its effectiveness in reducing the burden of cancer. The Primary Care Screening Activity Report (PCSAR), an electronic report, was developed as an innovative audit and feedback tool to increase screening participation in Ontario's cancer screening programs. This study aims to assess its impact on patient screening participation. This study used a retrospective cohort design to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2014 PCSAR on screening participation in Ontario's three screening programs (breast, cervix and colorectal). The 3 cohorts comprised all participants eligible for each of the programs enrolled with a primary care physician in Ontario. Two exposures were evaluated for each cohort: enrollment with a physician who was registered to receive the PCSAR and enrollment with a registered physician who also logged into the PCSAR. Logistic regression modelling was used to assess the magnitude of the effect of PCSAR on participation, adjusting for participant and physician characteristics. Across all three screening programs, 63% of eligible physicians registered to receive the PCSAR and 38% of those registered logged-in to view it. Patients of physicians who registered were significantly more likely to participate in screening, with odds ratios ranging from 1.06 [1.04;1.09] to 1.15 [1.12;1.19]. The adjusted odds ratios associated with PCSAR log-in were 1.07 [1.03;1.12] to 1.18 [1.14;1.22] across all screening programs. Implementation of the PCSAR was associated with a small increase in screening participation. The PCSAR appears to be modestly effective in assisting primary care physicians in optimizing cancer screening participation among their patients.

Does cord presentation on ultrasound predict cord prolapse?

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of umbilical cord presentation found on antenatal ultrasound and the incidence of cord prolapse in labor. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the antenatal records of all deliveries in the Mount Sinai Hospital in a 5-year period and conducted two separate retrospective studies. In the first study we reviewed the antenatal sonograms of all women with proven cord prolapse for cord presentation (study A). In the second study we reviewed the obstetrical outcome of pregnancies where sonographic cord presentation was identified in the third trimester of pregnancy (study B). RESULTS: In study A, 16,551 delivery records were reviewed and 42 patients were found to have had clinical cord prolapse (0.25%). Sonograms were available for 16 of these 42 patients. Only 2 of them (12.5%) had cord presentation on ultrasound scan. In study B, cord presentation was reported in 13 of 8,122 consecutive sonograms (0.16%). Six of these patients (6/13, 46%) had been scanned once. Three required cesarean delivery for malpresentation and cord presentation on ultrasound (3/13, 23%), while the other 3 had uncomplicated vaginal deliveries (23%). The remaining 7 patients had repeat scans which revealed persistent cord presentation in 3 (23%). All 3 underwent cesarean delivery, 1 following cord prolapse. The other 4 spontaneously converted to vertex with resolution of cord presentation as proven at delivery (31%). CONCLUSION: Cord presentation and cord prolapse are not synonymous. Documented cord presentation during the third trimester necessitates repeat scans and intrapartum sonographic assessment to determine the mode of delivery.

Peripheral nerve regeneration in the apolipoprotein-E-deficient mouse.

Apolipoprotein E (apo E) is thought to mediate the reutilization of myelin cholesterol for nerve regeneration. Prior research suggests that apo E is not essential for nerve regeneration following a nerve crush injury. This study was conducted to determine if apo E is essential for nerve regeneration after nerve transection and interposition nerve autograft. Nerve regeneration of transgenic apo E-deficient mice was compared with control mice after a sciatic nerve neurolysis and repair and interposition autograft. Histomorphometric assessment and histology were performed on distal nerve segments to evaluate nerve regeneration. Apo E-deficient mice demonstrated no difference in total fiber number or nerve fiber width when compared with controls; however, the nerve fiber density and percent neural tissue of apo E-deficient mice were significantly less than controls following nerve repair. Apo E deficiency does not affect nerve regeneration. It is likely that the low nerve fiber density and the low percent neural tissue associated with apo E-deficiency result from impairment in the disposal of myelin debris.