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Objective: To analyze the costs and benefits of alternative cervical cancer screening schedules among elderly women.Setting: Population-based screening programs.Design: A Markov model predicts the outcomes of periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment for cervical cancer among women from 65 to 109 years of age.Patients: A hypothetical cohort of one million 65-year-old women; representative of the U.S. population.Measurements: The costs and yields of screening.Results: Triennial screening reduced mortality from cervical cancer among the elderly by 74% at a cost of $2254 per year of life saved. Annual screening increased costs to $7345 per year of life saved; less frequent schedules yielded lower costs but decreased savings in life. These results were most sensitive to the quality of the Papanicolaou smear and the characteristics of the women using the benefit. If the sensitivity of the Papanicolaou smear was reduced from a baseline estimate of 75% to 50% and the specificity was decreased to 87% from 95%, the cost effectiveness ratio increased by nearly $7000 per year of life saved. If triennial screening is targeted to women who have not had regular screening, the program will save money as well as years of life; however, screening women who have been screened regularly is considerably less efficient, increasing costs to $33,572 per year of life saved.Conclusion: The success of the new Medicare benefit depends substantially on physicians assuring that their elderly patients, particularly women without regular prior screening, obtain high quality Papanicolaou smears. The data also show that after a woman 65 years of age or older has a history of regular negative smears, screening is inefficient and can cease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine whether observing patients overnight in the hospital after intravenous antibiotics have been discontinued is a useful way to identify important clinical events.Subjects and Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients admitted during a 6-month period to a tertiary care teaching hospital with a primary diagnosis of either pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or cellulitis who were treated with intravenous antibiotics. Charts were abstracted for patient characteristics, including comorbid illnesses and laboratory values, as well as for evidence of recurrent infection or other adverse events.Results: Of the 374 patients in the study, 63 (17%) were discharged on the day intravenous antibiotics were discontinued. These patients were 10 years younger (P = 0.0009) and had fewer comorbid illnesses (P = 0.02) than those who were observed in the hospital. Recurrent infection was noted in 3 (1%; 95% confidence interval 0.2% to 3%) of the 308 patients who were observed. A mild adverse antibiotic reaction was also noted in three observed patients. The readmission rate to the same institution for recurrent infection was 3% for patients with an observation period and 2% for patients without an observation period (P = 0.70).Conclusions: Observing patients overnight in the hospital after discontinuing intravenous antibiotics is a common clinical practice. There was an extremely low incidence of adverse events during the observation period, and the events that did occur would have been discovered in an outpatient setting. In-hospital observation after discontinuing intravenous antibiotics is unnecessary for most patients with pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or cellulitis and greatly increases health-care costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We undertook a study to determine whether there were differences in the quality of lipid management in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in 2 different practice settings (which represent different socioeconomic classes), and to determine the level of compliance with the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines by academic physicians in managing patients with CAD. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using a systematic chart review of 270 medical records (131 from the cardiology clinic, 139 from the cardiology private practice) of patients with known CAD at an academic tertiary care center in New York City. The total proportion of patients with CAD having a lipid profile ordered in the clinic and private suite was 43%. Of these people, 22% had a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) < or = 100 mg/dl and 54% had an LDL < or = 130 mg/dl (10% and 23% of the total population, respectively). The total proportion of patients taking lipid-lowering medications was 29%. When comparing the quality of treatment between the 2 settings, there were no statistically significant differences in the percentages of patients who had lipid profiles measured (40% clinic vs 47% private suite, p >0.10), in the percentage of patients with LDL < or = 130 mg/dl (50% clinic vs 57% private suite, p >0.10) or in the weighted percentage of patients taking lipid-lowering medications (29% clinic vs 48% private suite, p = 0.099). The performances of individual physicians, however, varied widely. The percentages of patients with lipid profiles measured by individual physicians ranged from 0% to 83%, while the percentages of patients on drug treatment by a physician ranged between 10% and 88%. These findings indicate that socioeconomic differences, represented by different practice settings, do not account for differences in the screening for, control of, or use of medications in managing hyperlipidemia. Rather, individual physicians are accountable for differences in lipid management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Underserved young adults (YA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience the worst outcomes across the life span. We developed and integrated the Supporting Emerging Adults with Diabetes (SEAD) program into routine endocrinology care to address unmet social and medical challenges., Research Design and Methods: This study was designed as a longitudinal cohort study, with prospective data collection over 4 years on YA in SEAD compared with usual endocrine care. We used propensity-weighted analysis to account for differences in baseline characteristics, and multivariate regression and Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate change in outcomes over time. Primary outcomes included incidence of hospitalizations, diabetes technology uptake, and annual change in HbA1c levels., Results: We included 497 YA with T1D in SEAD (n = 332) and usual endocrine care (n = 165); mean age 25 years, 27% non-Hispanic Black, 46% Hispanic, 49% public insurance, mean HbA1c 9.2%. Comparing YA in SEAD versus usual care, 1) incidence of hospitalizations was reduced by 64% for baseline HbA1c >9% (HR 0.36 [0.13, 0.98]) and 74% for publicly insured (HR 0.26 [0.07, 0.90]); 2) automated insulin delivery uptake was 1.5-times higher (HR 1.51 [0.83, 2.77]); and 3) HbA1c improvement was greater (SEAD, -0.37% per year [-0.59, -0.15]; usual care, -0.26% per year [-0.58, 0.05])., Conclusions: SEAD meaningfully improves clinical outcomes in underserved YA with T1D, especially for publicly insured and high baseline HbA1c levels. Early intervention for at-risk YA with T1D as they enter adult care could reduce inequity in short and long-term outcomes., (© 2024 by the American Diabetes Association.)

Background: A recent trial showed that postmenopausal women diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative, lymph node-positive (1-3 nodes) breast cancer with a 21-gene recurrence score of ≤ 25 could safely omit chemotherapy. However, there are limited data on population-level long-term outcomes associated with omitting chemotherapy among diverse women seen in real-world practice., Methods: We adapted an established, validated simulation model to generate the joint distributions of population-level characteristics of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in the U.S. Input parameters were derived from cancer registry, meta-analyses, and clinical trial data. The effects of omitting chemotherapy on 10-year distant recurrence-free survival, life-years, and quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) were modeled for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. QALYs were discounted at 3%. Results were evaluated for subgroups stratified by race and ethnicity. Sensitivity analyses included testing results across a range of inputs. The model was validated using the published RxPONDER trial data., Results: In premenopausal women, the 10-year distant recurrence-free survival rates were 85.3% with chemo-endocrine and 80.1% with endocrine therapy. The estimated life-years and QALYs gained with chemotherapy in premenopausal women were 2.1 and 0.6, respectively. There was no chemotherapy benefit in postmenopausal women. There was no variation in the absolute benefit of chemotherapy across racial or ethnic subgroups. However, there were differences in distant recurrence-free survival rates, life-years, and QALYs across groups. Sensitivity analysis showed similar results. The model closely replicated the RxPONDER trial., Conclusions: Modeled population-level outcomes show a small chemotherapy benefit in premenopausal women, but no benefit among postmenopausal women. Simulation modeling provides a useful tool to extend trial data and evaluate population-level outcomes., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Objective: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, which disproportionately impacts underserved populations. This study aimed to provide data regarding the rates and outcomes of amputation in patients admitted with DFU in our health system, which cares for an ethnically diverse and underserved population., Methods: This retrospective study examined the electronic medical records of adult patients hospitalized with DFU at 3 hospitals in our health system between June 1, 2016, and May 31, 2021., Results: Among 650 patients admitted with DFU, 88% self-identified as non-White race. Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 0.62), low body mass index (OR, 0.98), and history of smoking (OR, 1.45) were significantly associated with amputation during the study period. A higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR, 1.01), C-reactive protein level (OR, 1.05), and white blood cell count (OR, 1.11) and low albumin level (OR, 0.41) were found to be significantly associated with amputation versus no amputation during admission. The amputation risk during the index admission for DFU was 44%., Conclusion: Our study identified a high DFU-related amputation risk (44%) among adult patients who were mostly Black and/or Hispanic. The significant risk factors associated with DFU amputation included male sex, low body mass index, smoking, and high levels inflammation or low levels of albumin during admission. Many of these patients required multidisciplinary care and intravenous antibiotic therapy, necessitating a longer length of stay and high readmission rate., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 AACE. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Breast cancer mortality in the US declined between 1975 and 2019. The association of changes in metastatic breast cancer treatment with improved breast cancer mortality is unclear., Objective: To simulate the relative associations of breast cancer screening, treatment of stage I to III breast cancer, and treatment of metastatic breast cancer with improved breast cancer mortality., Design, Setting, and Participants: Using aggregated observational and clinical trial data on the dissemination and effects of screening and treatment, 4 Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) models simulated US breast cancer mortality rates. Death due to breast cancer, overall and by estrogen receptor and ERBB2 (formerly HER2) status, among women aged 30 to 79 years in the US from 1975 to 2019 was simulated., Exposures: Screening mammography, treatment of stage I to III breast cancer, and treatment of metastatic breast cancer., Main Outcomes and Measures: Model-estimated age-adjusted breast cancer mortality rate associated with screening, stage I to III treatment, and metastatic treatment relative to the absence of these exposures was assessed, as was model-estimated median survival after breast cancer metastatic recurrence., Results: The breast cancer mortality rate in the US (age adjusted) was 48/100 000 women in 1975 and 27/100 000 women in 2019. In 2019, the combination of screening, stage I to III treatment, and metastatic treatment was associated with a 58% reduction (model range, 55%-61%) in breast cancer mortality. Of this reduction, 29% (model range, 19%-33%) was associated with treatment of metastatic breast cancer, 47% (model range, 35%-60%) with treatment of stage I to III breast cancer, and 25% (model range, 21%-33%) with mammography screening. Based on simulations, the greatest change in survival after metastatic recurrence occurred between 2000 and 2019, from 1.9 years (model range, 1.0-2.7 years) to 3.2 years (model range, 2.0-4.9 years). Median survival for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/ERBB2-positive breast cancer improved by 2.5 years (model range, 2.0-3.4 years), whereas median survival for ER-/ERBB2- breast cancer improved by 0.5 years (model range, 0.3-0.8 years)., Conclusions and Relevance: According to 4 simulation models, breast cancer screening and treatment in 2019 were associated with a 58% reduction in US breast cancer mortality compared with interventions in 1975. Simulations suggested that treatment for stage I to III breast cancer was associated with approximately 47% of the mortality reduction, whereas treatment for metastatic breast cancer was associated with 29% of the reduction and screening with 25% of the reduction.

Background: Immune-related endocrinopathies are common after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, among which destructive thyroiditis is the most prevalent. Improved survival outcomes have been associated with immune-related adverse events. We aimed to compare the clinical course and biochemical parameters of two subtypes of ICI-related destructive thyroiditis: a transient thyrotoxicosis that reverts to either euthyroidism (TT; transient thyroiditis) versus progression to permanent hypothyroidism (PH), and to identify prognostic markers in cancer patients receiving ICI therapy who developed DT., Methods: This retrospective observational study included 124 patients who developed a transient thyrotoxicosis due to a destructive thyroiditis after ICI therapy from January 1, 2016 to April 30, 2021 at the Montefiore Medical Center. Patients were categorized as either TT or PH based on spontaneous renormalization of the TSH or the permanent need for thyroid hormone replacement, respectively. Thyroid hormone and antibody levels, serum inflammatory markers, eosinophils, and metabolic uptake of the thyroid on PET imaging, each corresponding closest to a suppressed TSH, were characterized. Survival from TT and PH were also analyzed., Results: Of the 124 patients, 53 developed PH and 71 developed TT. The PH group developed thyrotoxicosis at a median of 42 days from the first ICI dose while the TT group took significantly longer at 56 days. Thyroidal PET uptake was increased in 18.9% of the PH group versus 6.0% of the TT group (P=0.04). Three different survival models consistently demonstrated a trend towards increased survival in the PH group, compared to the TT group., Conclusion: Our results suggest that PH developing after ICI-induced destructive thyroiditis may be associated with a more robust inflammatory and antitumor response to ICI therapy. The results suggests that PH may be a potential clinical predictor of improved survival., Competing Interests: YT declares that he was previously 1/2015 - 6/2017 the principal investigator on a basic research project jointly funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Pfizer. The current manuscript is not related to that research project. YT has a patent and patent applications that are not related to the content of this manuscript. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Lee, Manavalan, Stefan-Lifshitz, Schechter, Maity and Tomer.)

Background: Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) represent the most common autoimmune diseases. However, current therapies focus on relieving the symptoms instead of curing AITD, and new therapies to reverse the autoimmune attack on the thyroid are needed. HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 is the key HLA class II allele that triggers AITD by presenting pathogenic thyroglobulin (Tg) peptides that activate thyroid self-reactive T cells. We hypothesized that blocking the presentation of Tg peptides to T cells within the HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 peptide binding cleft could reverse the autoimmune response to the thyroid in AITD. Methods: The approach we used to block Tg peptide presentation within HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 is to design retro-inverso D-amino acid (RID) peptides that have high affinity to the HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 peptide binding pocket. Results: By using computational approaches and molecular dynamics simulations, we designed two RID peptides, RT-15 and VT-15, that blocked peptide binding to recombinant HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 molecule, as well as T cell activation in vitro . Furthermore, RT-15 and VT-15 blocked in vivo T cell activation by thyroglobulin in humanized NOD-DR3 mice induced with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. Conclusions: In summary, we discovered two RID peptides that block thyroglobulin peptide binding to HLA-DRβ1-Arg74 and their presentation to T cells in AITD. These findings set the stage for a personalized medicine therapeutic approach for AITD patients who carry the DRβ1-Arg74 allele. This antigen-specific therapeutic strategy can potentially be extended to other autoimmune diseases.

Purpose: Recent studies, including a meta-analysis of 88 trials, have shown higher than expected rates of recurrence and death in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. These new findings suggest a need to re-evaluate the use of risk-reducing medication to avoid invasive breast cancer and breast cancer death in high-risk women., Methods: We adapted an established Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network model to evaluate the lifetime benefits and harms of risk-reducing medication in women with a ≥ 3% 5-year risk of developing breast cancer according to the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium risk calculator. Model input parameters were derived from meta-analyses, clinical trials, and large observational data. We evaluated the effects of 5 years of risk-reducing medication (tamoxifen/aromatase inhibitors) with annual screening mammography ± magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with no screening, MRI, or risk-reducing medication. The modeled outcomes included invasive breast cancer, breast cancer death, side effects, false positives, and overdiagnosis. We conducted subgroup analyses for individual risk factors such as age, family history, and prior biopsy., Results: Risk-reducing tamoxifen with annual screening (± MRI) decreased the risk of invasive breast cancer by 40% and breast cancer death by 57%, compared with no tamoxifen or screening. This is equivalent to an absolute reduction of 95 invasive breast cancers, and 42 breast cancer deaths per 1,000 high-risk women. However, these drugs are associated with side effects. For example, tamoxifen could increase the number of endometrial cancers up to 11 per 1,000 high-risk women. Benefits and harms varied by individual characteristics., Conclusion: The addition of risk-reducing medication to screening could further decrease the risk of breast cancer death. Clinical guidelines for high-risk women should consider integrating shared decision making for risk-reducing medication and screening on the basis of individual risk factors.

Objective: Diabetes and the outpatient diabetes treatment regimen have been identified as risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with sepsis. However, little is known about the effect of tight inpatient glycemic control in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, we examined the effect of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes hospitalized because of COVID-19., Research Design and Methods: We analyzed data from 1,938 COVID-19 patients with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19 from March to May 2020 at a large academic medical center in New York City. Patients were divided into two groups based on their inpatient glycemic values, and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the independent association of inpatient glucose levels with mortality (primary outcome) and the risk of requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) (secondary outcome)., Results: In our analysis, 32% of the patients were normoglycemic and 68% hyperglycemic. Moreover, 31% of the study subjects died during hospitalization, and 14% required MV, with inpatient hyperglycemia being significantly associated with both mortality and the requirement for MV. Additionally, in the Cox regression analysis, after adjustment for potential confounders, including age, sex, race, BMI, HbA1c, comorbidities, inflammatory markers, and corticosteroid therapy, patients with uncontrolled hyperglycemia had a higher risk of dying (hazard ratio [HR] 1.54, 95% CI 1.00-2.36, P = 0.049) and of requiring MV (HR 4.41, 95% CI 1.52-2.81, P = 0.006) than those with normoglycemia., Conclusions: A tight control of inpatient hyperglycemia may be an effective method for improving outcomes in patients with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19., (© 2022 by the American Diabetes Association.)

Background: Suicidal ideation (SI) is an early risk factor for suicide among disaster responders. To date, however, no known study has examined the prevalence, and pre-, peri-, and post-disaster risk correlates of SI in World Trade Center (WTC) responders, one of the largest disaster response populations in U.S., Methods: The prevalence, and pre-, peri- and post-event correlates of SI were assessed in a population-based health monitoring cohort of 14,314 police responders and 16,389 non-traditional responders (e.g., construction workers) who engaged in response, recovery, and clean-up efforts following the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks on the WTC. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify correlates and individual psychiatric symptoms associated with SI in each group., Results: A total 12.5% of non-traditional and 2.2% of police WTC responders reported SI. Depression, functional impairment, alcohol use problems, and lower family support while working at the WTC site were associated with SI in both groups of responders. Symptom-level analyses revealed that three symptoms accounted for approximately half of the variance in SI for both groups-feeling bad about oneself, or that one has let down oneself or family; feeling down, depressed, or hopeless; and sense of foreshortened future (44.7% in non-traditional and 71% in police)., Limitations: Use of self-report measures and potentially limited generalizability., Conclusions: SI is prevalent in WTC disaster responders, particularly non-traditional responders. Post-9/11 psychiatric symptoms reflecting guilt, shame, hopelessness, and associated functional impairment are most strongly linked to SI, suggesting that interventions targeting these factors may help mitigate suicide risk in this population., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been established as a standard of care for patients with acute ischemic stroke for the past five years. However, the direct benefits of this treatment in patients with baseline disability remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the cost impact of performing MT on patients with moderate-to-severe baseline disability to work towards an optimized system of care for acute ischemic stroke. We developed a Markov economic model with a life-time horizon analysis of costs associated with mechanical thrombectomy in patients grouped on baseline disability as defined by modified Rankin Score. Our clinical and economic data is based on an American payer perspective. Our results identified a marginal cost-effective ratio (mCER) of $18,835.00 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) when mechanical thrombectomy is reserved as a treatment only for patients with no-to-minimal baseline disability as compared to those with any level of baseline disability. Our results provide a framework for these future studies and highlight key sectors that drive cost in the surgical treatment and life-long care of patients with acute ischemic stroke., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context: Hospice utilization in New York State (NYS) is low compared to the rest of the U.S., Objectives: The first part of a mixed-methods study elicited information from New York State stakeholders and identified 54 hospice-related barriers in nine categories, some specific to NYS. This second part used national data to examine the differences between NYS and the rest of the country by evaluating the variables associated with low NYS hospice utilization., Methods: Ten Medicare or publicly available datasets provided data from the year prior to death for all traditional Medicare-insured patients dying in 2018. Multivariate analyses identified variables independently associated with differences in hospice enrollment or length of stay between NYS and the rest of the country., Results: The NYS population was relatively older, included more women and minorities, had higher socioeconomic status (SES), and saw more physicians during the last two years of life. NYS had more physicians, more skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds, and fewer for-profit hospitals, SNFs, home care agencies, and hospice agencies. In multivariate analyses, lower NYS hospice utilization was associated with higher SES; more physicians seen during the last two years of life; more SNF beds and fewer for-profit SNF facilities; and fewer hospice agencies., Conclusion: NYS's low hospice utilization is independently associated with diverse factors, including those related to the health care system. Combined with information from stakeholders, these findings may help target, and inform initiatives to improve hospice utilization., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests No competing interests declared., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Despite experiencing a significant trauma, only a subset of World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identification of biomarkers is critical to the development of targeted interventions for treating disaster responders and potentially preventing the development of PTSD in this population. Analysis of gene expression from these individuals can help in identifying biomarkers of PTSD. We established a well-phenotyped sample of 371 WTC responders, recruited from a longitudinal WTC responder cohort using stratified random sampling, by obtaining blood, self-reported and clinical interview data. Using bulk RNA-sequencing from whole blood, we examined the association between gene expression and WTC-related PTSD symptom severity on (i) highest lifetime Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score, (ii) past-month CAPS score, and (iii) PTSD symptom dimensions using a 5-factor model of re-experiencing, avoidance, emotional numbing, dysphoric arousal and anxious arousal symptoms. We corrected for sex, age, genotype-derived principal components and surrogate variables. Finally, we performed a meta-analysis with existing PTSD studies (total N = 1016), using case/control status as the predictor and correcting for these variables. We identified 66 genes significantly associated with total highest lifetime CAPS score (FDR-corrected p < 0.05), and 31 genes associated with total past-month CAPS score. Our more granular analyses of PTSD symptom dimensions identified additional genes that did not reach statistical significance in our analyses with total CAPS scores. In particular, we identified 82 genes significantly associated with lifetime anxious arousal symptoms. Several genes significantly associated with multiple PTSD symptom dimensions and total lifetime CAPS score (SERPINA1, RPS6KA1, and STAT3) have been previously associated with PTSD. Geneset enrichment of these findings has identified pathways significant in metabolism, immune signaling, other psychiatric disorders, neurological signaling, and cellular structure. Our meta-analysis revealed 10 genes that reached genome-wide significance, all of which were downregulated in cases compared to controls (CIRBP, TMSB10, FCGRT, CLIC1, RPS6KB2, HNRNPUL1, ALDOA, NACA, ZNF429 and COPE). Additionally, cellular deconvolution highlighted an enrichment in CD4 T cells and eosinophils in responders with PTSD compared to controls. The distinction in significant genes between total lifetime CAPS score and the anxious arousal symptom dimension of PTSD highlights a potential biological difference in the mechanism underlying the heterogeneity of the PTSD phenotype. Future studies should be clear about methods used to analyze PTSD status, as phenotypes based on PTSD symptom dimensions may yield different gene sets than combined CAPS score analysis. Potential biomarkers implicated from our meta-analysis may help improve therapeutic target development for PTSD., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Importance: Screening mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are recommended for women with ATM, CHEK2, and PALB2 pathogenic variants. However, there are few data to guide screening regimens for these women., Objective: To estimate the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening strategies using mammography and MRI at various start ages for women with ATM, CHEK2, and PALB2 pathogenic variants., Design, Setting, and Participants: This comparative modeling analysis used 2 established breast cancer microsimulation models from the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) to evaluate different screening strategies. Age-specific breast cancer risks were estimated using aggregated data from the Cancer Risk Estimates Related to Susceptibility (CARRIERS) Consortium for 32 247 cases and 32 544 controls in 12 population-based studies. Data on screening performance for mammography and MRI were estimated from published literature. The models simulated US women with ATM, CHEK2, or PALB2 pathogenic variants born in 1985., Interventions: Screening strategies with combinations of annual mammography alone and with MRI starting at age 25, 30, 35, or 40 years until age 74 years., Main Outcomes and Measures: Estimated lifetime breast cancer mortality reduction, life-years gained, breast cancer deaths averted, total screening examinations, false-positive screenings, and benign biopsies per 1000 women screened. Results are reported as model mean values and ranges., Results: The mean model-estimated lifetime breast cancer risk was 20.9% (18.1%-23.7%) for women with ATM pathogenic variants, 27.6% (23.4%-31.7%) for women with CHEK2 pathogenic variants, and 39.5% (35.6%-43.3%) for women with PALB2 pathogenic variants. Across pathogenic variants, annual mammography alone from 40 to 74 years was estimated to reduce breast cancer mortality by 36.4% (34.6%-38.2%) to 38.5% (37.8%-39.2%) compared with no screening. Screening with annual MRI starting at 35 years followed by annual mammography and MRI at 40 years was estimated to reduce breast cancer mortality by 54.4% (54.2%-54.7%) to 57.6% (57.2%-58.0%), with 4661 (4635-4688) to 5001 (4979-5023) false-positive screenings and 1280 (1272-1287) to 1368 (1362-1374) benign biopsies per 1000 women. Annual MRI starting at 30 years followed by mammography and MRI at 40 years was estimated to reduce mortality by 55.4% (55.3%-55.4%) to 59.5% (58.5%-60.4%), with 5075 (5057-5093) to 5415 (5393-5437) false-positive screenings and 1439 (1429-1449) to 1528 (1517-1538) benign biopsies per 1000 women. When starting MRI at 30 years, initiating annual mammography starting at 30 vs 40 years did not meaningfully reduce mean mortality rates (0.1% [0.1%-0.2%] to 0.3% [0.2%-0.3%]) but was estimated to add 649 (602-695) to 650 (603-696) false-positive screenings and 58 (41-76) to 59 (41-76) benign biopsies per 1000 women., Conclusions and Relevance: This analysis suggests that annual MRI screening starting at 30 to 35 years followed by annual MRI and mammography at 40 years may reduce breast cancer mortality by more than 50% for women with ATM, CHEK2, and PALB2 pathogenic variants. In the setting of MRI screening, mammography prior to 40 years may offer little additional benefit.

Background: Extending endocrine therapy from 5 to 10 years is recommended for women with invasive estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers. We evaluated the benefits and harms of the five additional years of therapy., Methods: An established Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Network (CISNET) model used a lifetime horizon with national and clinical trial data on treatment efficacy and adverse events and other-cause mortality among multiple birth cohorts of U.S. women ages 25-79 newly diagnosed with ER+, non-metastatic breast cancer. We assumed 100% use of therapy. Outcomes included life years (LYs), quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and breast cancer mortality. Results were discounted at 3%. Sensitivity analyses tested a 15-year time horizon and alternative assumptions., Results: Extending tamoxifen therapy duration among women ages 25-49 reduced the lifetime probability of breast cancer death from 11.9% to 9.3% (absolute difference 2.6%). This translates to a gain of 0.77 LYs (281 days)/woman (undiscounted). Adverse events reduce this gain to 0.44 QALYs and after discounting, gains are 0.20 QALYs (73 days)/woman. Extended aromatase inhibitor therapy in women 50-79 had small absolute benefits and gains were offset by adverse events (loss of 0.06 discounted QALYs). There were greater gains with extended endocrine therapy for women with node-positive versus negative cancers, but only women ages 25-49 and 50-59 had a net QALY gain. All gains were reduced with less than 100% treatment completion., Conclusion: The extension of endocrine therapy from 5 to 10 years modestly improved lifetime breast cancer outcomes, but in some women, treatment-related adverse events may outweigh benefits., (© 2021 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Recent studies highlight racial-ethnic disparities in insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but drivers of disparities remain poorly understood beyond socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: We recruited a diverse sample of young adults (YA) with T1D from six diabetes centers across the United States, enrolling equal numbers of non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH Black, and Hispanic YA. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine to what extent SES, demographics, health care factors (care setting, clinic attendance), and diabetes self-management (diabetes numeracy, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and Self-Care Inventory score) explained insulin pump and CGM use in each racial-ethnic group. Results: We recruited 300 YA with T1D, aged 18-28 years. Fifty-two percent were publicly insured, and the mean hemoglobin A1c was 9.5%. Large racial-ethnic disparities in insulin pump and CGM use existed: 72% and 71% for NH White, 40% and 37% for Hispanic, and 18% and 28% for NH Black, respectively. After multiple adjustment, insulin pump and CGM use remained disparate: 61% and 53% for NH White, 49% and 58% for Hispanic, and 20 and 31% for NH Black, respectively. Conclusions: Insulin pump and CGM use was the lowest in NH Black, intermediate in Hispanic, and highest in NH White YA with T1D. SES was not the sole driver of disparities nor did additional demographic, health care, or diabetes-specific factors fully explain disparities, especially between NH Black and White YA. Future work should examine how minority YA preferences, provider implicit bias, systemic racism, and mistrust of medical systems help to explain disparities in diabetes technology use.

Objective: To examine whether HbA 1c , outpatient diabetes treatment regimen, demographics, and clinical characteristics are associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with diabetes and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)., Research Design and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with diabetes hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 infection from 11 March to 7 May 2020 at a large academic medical center in New York City. Multivariate modeling was used to assess the independent association of HbA 1c levels and outpatient diabetes treatment regimen with mortality, in addition to independent effects of demographic and clinical characteristics., Results: We included 1,126 hospitalized patients with diabetes and COVID-19 for analysis, among whom mean age was 68 years, 50% were male, 75% were Black, mean BMI was 30 kg/m 2 , 98% had type 2 diabetes, mean HbA 1c was 7.5%, and 33.1% died. HbA 1c levels were not associated with mortality in unadjusted or adjusted analyses, but an outpatient regimen with any insulin treatment was strongly predictive. Additionally, age, sex, and BMI interacted such that in all age categories, mortality was higher with increasing BMI in males compared with females., Conclusions: In this large U.S. cohort of hospitalized patients with diabetes and COVID-19, insulin treatment, as a possible proxy for diabetes duration, and obesity rather than long-term glycemic control were predictive of mortality. Further investigation of underlying mechanisms of mortality and inpatient glycemic control is needed., (© 2020 by the American Diabetes Association.)

Nearly two decades after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC), the prevalence of mental disorders remains elevated among traditional (e.g., police) and non-traditional (e.g., construction workers) responders who were involved in the WTC rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts. To date, however, scarce research has examined factors associated with perceived need for mental health care, which is critical to promoting engagement in mental health treatment in this population. Data were analyzed from 16,170 WTC responders, including 8881 police responders and 7289 non-traditional responders, who completed their first annual health monitoring visit with the WTC Health Program an average of 6.5 years after September 11, 2001. Predisposing, enabling, and need-based factors associated with perceived need for mental health care were examined using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Nearly half (48.7%) of non-traditional responders and a fifth (20.6%) of police responders reported a need for mental health care. The most common perceived needs were for psychotropic medication, individual psychotherapy, and stress management counseling. Predisposing (e.g., female gender) and need-based factors (e.g., WTC-related posttraumatic stress disorder) predicted perceived need for mental health care in both groups. Among non-traditional responders, Hispanic ethnicity and current suicidal ideation were additionally associated with this outcome. Non-traditional WTC responders are substantially more likely than police WTC responders to perceive a need for mental health treatment. Characterization of factors associated with perceived need for treatment can help inform population-based outreach and monitoring efforts designed to promote engagement in mental health treatment in WTC responders.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence, risk and protective correlates, and clinical characteristics associated with probable subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in police and nontraditional (eg, construction workers) World Trade Center (WTC) responders a median of 12.2 years after September 11, 2001., Methods: A total of 4,196 WTC responders, monitored via the WTC Health Program, completed a web-based survey between 2012 and 2014 assessing a range of variables, including demographics, WTC exposures, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and mental health services use. The sample included 2,029 police responders and 2,167 nontraditional responders. Current (past-month) probable WTC-related PTSD level (none, subthreshold, or full PTSD) was assessed based on DSM-IV criteria using the PTSD Checklist-Specific Stressor version (PCL-S)., Results: The prevalence of current probable full and subthreshold WTC-related PTSD in police responders was 9.3% and 17.5%, respectively, and in nontraditional responders was 21.9% and 24.1%, respectively. Risk and protective correlates for subthreshold PTSD included post-9/11 medical comorbidities and traumatic events (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.1-1.2). Clinical characteristics included elevated rates of comorbid depression (OR = 3.2 and 3.9 for subthreshold PTSD and 17.2 and 30.3 for full PTSD for nontraditional and police responders, respectively). Among responders with subthreshold PTSD, police were more likely to have accessed mental health services and utilized a greater variety of treatments than nontraditional responders., Conclusions: Overall, 26.8% of police and 46.0% of nontraditional responders met criteria for probable WTC-related full or subthreshold PTSD an average of 12 years after 9/11. Probable subthreshold PTSD, which is not typically assessed in clinical settings, was more prevalent than probable full PTSD and was associated with significantly elevated rates of psychiatric comorbidities, functional impairment, and reduced quality of life. These findings underscore the importance of assessing, monitoring, and possibly treating subthreshold PTSD in WTC and other disaster responders., (© Copyright 2020 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.)

Objectives: Behavioral sleep problems (BSPs) are prevalent and consequential in young children. There is a need for screening tools that identify BSPs-which are often rooted in the parent-young child relationship-and typically respond to behavior management. Such a tool would increase capacity to identify and treat BSPs. We sought to validate a short-form version of the widely used Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (SF-CSHQ) that omitted items that would not be responsive to behavioral strategies., Methods: The original 33-item CSHQ elicits parent report of "behaviorally-based" and "medically-based" sleep items (eg, parasomnias and sleep disordered breathing). We conducted analyses to develop a SF-CSHQ that excludes its "medically-based" items, to determine (a) the SF-CSHQ threshold score corresponding to the full CSHQ clinical cut-off score (≥41), and (b) preliminary validity of this SF-CSHQ. Data were re-analyzed from the original data that established the CSHQ's psychometric properties in 4-10 year olds, and a second dataset that established its validity in 24-66 month olds., Results: In both datasets, a threshold score of 30 had correlations of 0.90-0.94 with the original cut-off. This 23-item SF-CSHQ cut-off functioned as well as the full CSHQ cut-off in discriminating between children with vs without a parent-reported behavioral sleep problem, and with vs without prolonged sleep latency (per actigraphy)., Conclusion: We established preliminary validity of modified version of the widely-used CSHQ. This SF-CSHQ may be useful for widening screening and first-line guidance for behavioral sleep problems in young children, among professionals who are not sleep medicine specialists., (Copyright © 2017 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating and often chronic psychiatric disorder. Following the 9/11/2001 World Trade Center (WTC) attacks, thousands of individuals were involved in rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts. While a growing body of literature has documented the prevalence and correlates of PTSD in WTC responders, no study has evaluated predominant typologies of PTSD in this population. Participants were 4352 WTC responders with probable WTC-related DSM-IV PTSD. Latent class analyses were conducted to identify predominant typologies of PTSD symptoms and associated correlates. A 3-class solution provided the optimal representation of latent PTSD symptom typologies. The first class, labeled "High-Symptom (n = 1,973, 45.3%)," was characterized by high probabilities of all PTSD symptoms. The second class, "Dysphoric (n = 1,371, 31.5%)," exhibited relatively high probabilities of emotional numbing and dysphoric arousal (e.g., sleep disturbance). The third class, "Threat (n = 1,008, 23.2%)," was characterized by high probabilities of re-experiencing, avoidance and anxious arousal (e.g., hypervigilance). Compared to the Threat class, the Dysphoric class reported a greater number of life stressors after 9/11/2001 (OR = 1.06). The High-Symptom class was more likely than the Threat class to have a positive psychiatric history before 9/11/2001 (OR = 1.7) and reported a greater number of life stressors after 9/11/2001 (OR = 1.1). The High-Symptom class was more likely than the Dysphoric class, which was more likely than the Threat class, to screen positive for depression (83% > 74% > 53%, respectively), and to report greater functional impairment (High-Symptom > Dysphoric [Cohen d = 0.19], Dysphoric > Threat [Cohen d = 0.24]). These results may help inform assessment, risk stratification, and treatment approaches for PTSD in WTC and disaster responders., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context: Healthy child development requires sufficient, quality sleep. Sleep problems in early childhood impair social-emotional and cognitive function and increase obesity risk. From a health literacy framework, "sleep health literacy" denotes the knowledge, motivation, and competencies to promote healthy sleep and to recognize a sleep problem., Design: To explore the untapped potential of early childhood education (ECE) programs to promote sleep health literacy, we surveyed staff (n=63) and parents (n=196) in Head Start about sleep-related knowledge, attitudes/beliefs, sleep hygiene, and sleep problems. Head Start is the largest ECE program in the United States., Results: Most parents believed that their child had healthy sleep habits (81%); few believed that he or she had a sleep problem (10%). Yet, unhealthy bedtime practices and insufficient sleep for age were reported in 50% and 33% of children, respectively. Between 10% and 12% of children had 1 or more sleep onset or awakening problems. Every unhealthy bedtime practice but one was associated with a sleep problem; parental presence at bedtime was associated with the most problems. Insufficient sleep was significantly associated with unhealthy sleep practices. More children with late vs early bedtimes (48% vs14%, P < .01) and frequent vs less frequent parental presence at bedtime (50% vs 26%-30%, P < .02) failed to obtain sufficient sleep. Staff members are more comfortable discussing healthy sleep with parents (87%) than counseling them (45%)., Conclusion: Among parents, there is a "disconnect" between actual and perceived sleep hygiene. Similarly, staff perceived a gap between their competencies to promote healthy sleep in families and their capacity to address sleep problems. US health literacy goals include the need to embed accurate, accessible, and actionable health information in ECE programs. Study findings strongly support the need to work toward sleep health literacy in ECE programs.

Background: Because there can be no delay in providing identification wristbands to newborns, some hospitals assign newborns temporary first names such as Babyboy or Babygirl. These nondistinct naming conventions result in a large number of patients with similar identifiers in NICUs. To determine the level of risk associated with nondistinct naming conventions, we performed an intervention study to evaluate if assigning distinct first names at birth would result in a reduction in wrong-patient errors., Methods: We conducted a 2-year before/after implementation study to examine the effect of a distinct naming convention that incorporates the mother's first name into the newborn's first name (eg, Wendysgirl) on the incidence of wrong-patient errors. We used the Retract-and-Reorder (RAR) tool, an established, automated tool for detecting the outcome of wrong-patient electronic orders. The RAR tool identifies orders placed on a patient that are retracted within 10 minutes and then placed by the same clinician on a different patient within the next 10 minutes., Results: The reduction in RAR events post- versus preintervention was 36.3%. After accounting for clusters of orders within order sessions, the odds ratio of an RAR event post- versus preintervention was 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.97)., Conclusions: The study results suggest that nondistinct naming conventions are associated with an increased risk of wrong-patient errors and that this risk can be mitigated by changing to a more distinct naming convention., (Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with high medical morbidity, but the nature of this association remains unclear. Among responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster, PTSD is highly comorbid with lower respiratory symptoms (LRS), which cannot be explained by exposure alone. We sought to examine this association longitudinally to establish the direction of the effects and evaluate potential pathways to comorbidity., Methods: 18,896 responders (8466 police and 10,430 nontraditional responders) participating in the WTC-Health Program were first evaluated between 2002 and 2010 and assessed again 2.5 years later. LRS were ascertained by medical staff, abnormal pulmonary function by spirometry, and probable WTC-related PTSD with a symptom inventory., Results: In both groups of responders, initial PTSD (standardized regression coefficient: β = 0.20 and 0.23) and abnormal pulmonary function (β = 0.12 and 0.12) predicted LRS 2.5 years later after controlling for initial LRS and covariates. At follow-up, LRS onset was 2.0 times more likely and remission 1.8 times less likely in responders with initial PTSD than in responders without. Moreover, PTSD mediated, in part, the association between WTC exposures and development of LRS (p < .0001). Initial LRS and abnormal pulmonary function did not consistently predict PTSD onset., Conclusions: These analyses provide further evidence that PTSD is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms and are consistent with evidence implicating physiological dysregulation associated with PTSD in the development of medical conditions. If these effects are verified experimentally, treatment of PTSD may prove helpful in managing physical and mental health of disaster responders.

Background: Many states have laws requiring mammography facilities to tell women with dense breasts and negative results on screening mammography to discuss supplemental screening tests with their providers. The most readily available supplemental screening method is ultrasonography, but little is known about its effectiveness., Objective: To evaluate the benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of supplemental ultrasonography screening for women with dense breasts., Design: Comparative modeling with 3 validated simulation models., Data Sources: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium; and medical literature., Target Population: Contemporary cohort of women eligible for routine screening., Time Horizon: Lifetime., Perspective: Payer., Intervention: Supplemental ultrasonography screening for women with dense breasts after a negative screening mammography result., Outcome Measures: Breast cancer deaths averted, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained, biopsies recommended after a false-positive ultrasonography result, and costs., Results of Base-Case Analysis: Supplemental ultrasonography screening after a negative mammography result for women aged 50 to 74 years with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts averted 0.36 additional breast cancer deaths (range across models, 0.14 to 0.75), gained 1.7 QALYs (range, 0.9 to 4.7), and resulted in 354 biopsy recommendations after a false-positive ultrasonography result (range, 345 to 421) per 1000 women with dense breasts compared with biennial screening by mammography alone. The cost-effectiveness ratio was $325,000 per QALY gained (range, $112,000 to $766,000). Supplemental ultrasonography screening for only women with extremely dense breasts cost $246,000 per QALY gained (range, $74,000 to $535,000)., Results of Sensitivity Analysis: The conclusions were not sensitive to ultrasonography performance characteristics, screening frequency, or starting age., Limitation: Provider costs for coordinating supplemental ultrasonography were not considered., Conclusion: Supplemental ultrasonography screening for women with dense breasts would substantially increase costs while producing relatively small benefits., Primary Funding Source: National Cancer Institute.

Background: To assess safety of early discharge following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Methods and Results: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 2448 STEMI patients treated with PPCI surviving to hospital discharge. Post-discharge all-cause mortality was reported at 1, 7, and 30 days and long-term follow up. A total of 1542 patients (63.0%) were discharged within 2 days of admission (early discharge group) and 906 patients (37.0%) after 2 days (late discharge group). In both groups, no deaths were recorded 1 day post discharge. The early and late discharge group mortality figures for 7 days were 0 and 4 patients (0.04%) and between 7 and 30 days were 11 (0.7%) and 11 patients (1.2%), respectively. During a mean follow up of 584 days, 178 patients (7.3%) died: 67 in the early discharge group (4.3%) and 111 in the late discharge group (12.3%)., Conclusions: This exploratory, observational study demonstrates that discharging low-risk STEMI patients within 2 days following PPCI is safe. For providers of health care, early discharge can help to allay the cost of providing a 24-hour PPCI service and adds to the recognized benefits arising from PPCI.

Background: US breast cancer mortality is declining, but thousands of women still die each year., Methods: Two established simulation models examine 6 strategies that include increased screening and/or treatment or elimination of obesity versus continuation of current patterns. The models use common national data on incidence and obesity prevalence, competing causes of death, mammography characteristics, treatment effects, and survival/cure. Parameters are modified based on obesity (defined as BMI  ≥  30 kg/m(2) ). Outcomes are presented for the year 2025 among women aged 25+ and include numbers of cases, deaths, mammograms and false-positives; age-adjusted incidence and mortality; breast cancer mortality reduction and deaths averted; and probability of dying of breast cancer., Results: If current patterns continue, the models project that there would be about 50,100-57,400 (range across models) annual breast cancer deaths in 2025. If 90% of women were screened annually from ages 40 to 54 and biennially from ages 55 to 99 (or death), then 5100-6100 fewer deaths would occur versus current patterns, but incidence, mammograms, and false-positives would increase. If all women received the indicated systemic treatment (with no screening change), then 11,400-14,500 more deaths would be averted versus current patterns, but increased toxicity could occur. If 100% received screening plus indicated therapy, there would be 18,100-20,400 fewer deaths. Eliminating obesity yields 3300-5700 fewer breast cancer deaths versus continuation of current obesity levels., Conclusions: Maximal reductions in breast cancer deaths could be achieved through optimizing treatment use, followed by increasing screening use and obesity prevention., (© 2013 American Cancer Society.)

Objectives: The objective was to assess the efficacy of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in the emergency department (ED) and to compare two PCA dosing regimens., Methods: A randomized controlled trial with three treatment arms was performed in an urban ED. A convenience sample of ED patients ages 18 to 65 years with abdominal pain of 7 days or less duration requiring intravenous (IV) opioid analgesia was enrolled between April 2009 and June 2010. All patients received an initial dose of 0.1 mg/kg IV morphine followed by physician-managed analgesia as needed. Patients in the PCA arms also received IV morphine with on-demand doses of 1 or 1.5 mg, with a 6-minute lockout between doses. Pain intensity was rated by patients on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS). Satisfaction with pain treatment, desire for the same treatment in the future, and need for additional analgesia were assessed at study end. Adverse events (O(2) sat < 92%, respiratory rate [RR] < 10/min, systolic blood pressure [sBP] < 90 mm Hg, and naloxone use) were counted. One-way analysis of variance was used to test the difference among groups in short-term pain relief, as assessed by mean change in NRS pain intensity from baseline to 30 minutes and pain over the entire 2-hour study period measured by area under the curve (AUC) of NRS pain ratings. A post hoc hierarchical linear model was used to test the observed difference in NRS between the groups between 30 and 120 minutes., Results: A total of 211 patients were enrolled. A sharp, nearly identical decline in mean NRS scores occurred from baseline to 30 minutes in the three groups (p = 0.82). Between 30 and 120 minutes, there was little further decline in the non-PCA NRS scores, while both PCA groups continued to decline (p = 0.004). The net treatment effect over the entire 2 hours was smallest in the non-PCA group and largest in the group receiving 1.5 mg of morphine (p = 0.06). The mean decline in pain from baseline to 120 minutes postbaseline in both PCA groups was 1.4 NRS units (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.3 to 2.4) greater than the decline in patients treated without PCA. More patients in the PCA arms reported satisfaction, wanting the same pain management in the future, and not wanting further analgesics at 120 minutes than patients who did not receive PCA. There were no clinically or statistically significant differences in any outcomes between the two PCA groups. One PCA patient had a transient oxygen saturation of 88% after the initial bolus only, and one non-PCA patient had a brief drop in sBP to 87 mm Hg., Conclusions: This study provides support for efficacy of PCA when applied to the ED setting. Future studies designed to assess implementation of this modality in the context of conditions of actual ED staffing and competing patient demands are warranted., (© 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.)

Introduction: To assess two different dosing strategies of unfractionated heparin (UFH) during elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Aims: The optimal dose of heparin during elective PCI in patients with stable angina is unknown. Existing guidelines are based on limited data. We interrogated data from the PCI database. Patients with stable angina undergoing planned transradial PCI for uncomplicated single lesions were included. The main endpoint was troponin I release. We compared a fixed heparin dose (3000 U) UFH to a weight-adjusted dose., Results: Of 698 patients 244 (35.0%) received fixed dose (3000 U) and 454 (65.0%) 70 U/kg weight-adjusted UFH. There was no significant difference in median troponin between the fixed dose and the weight-adjusted groups; 0.17 ng/mL versus 0.14; P= 0.21. The proportion of troponin positive patients was similar in both groups (61.9% in the fixed dose group vs. 58.1%; P= 0.37). There were no deaths or major ischemic events during hospitalization. There was no bleeding requiring transfusion or delaying hospital discharge., Conclusion: In conclusion, this retrospective observational study of elective transradial PCI demonstrated that a reduced, fixed dose of periprocedural heparin was associated with similar postprocedural troponin levels when compared to a standard weight-adjusted regime. Our study further questions the optimal dose of heparin required during elective PCI and suggests a need for further trials., (© 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Deep inspirations modulate airway caliber and airway closure and their effects are impaired in asthma. The association between asthma and obesity raises the question whether the deep inspiration (DI) effect is also impaired in the latter condition. We assessed the DI effects in obese and nonobese nonasthmatics. Thirty-six subjects (17 obese, 19 nonobese) underwent routine methacholine (Mch) challenge and 30 of them also had a modified bronchoprovocation in the absence of DIs. Lung function was monitored with spirometry and forced oscillation (FO) [resistance (R) at 5 Hz (R5), at 20 Hz (R20), R5-R20 and the integrated area of low-frequency reactance (AX)]. The response to Mch, assessed with area under the dose-response curves (AUC), was consistently greater in the routine challenge in the obese (mean ± SE, obese vs. nonobese AUC: R5: 15.7 ± 2.3 vs. 2.4 ± 2.0, P < 0.0005; R20: 5.6 ± 1.4 vs. 1.4 ± 1.2, P = 0.027; R5-R20: 10.2 ± 1.6 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1.4, P < 0.0005; AX: 115.6 ± 22.0 vs. 1.5 ± 18.9, P < 0.0005), but differences between groups in the modified challenge were smaller, indicating reduced DI effects in obesity. Given that DI has bronchodilatory and bronchoprotective effects, we further assessed these components separately. In the obese subjects, DI prior to Mch enhanced Mch-induced bronchoconstriction, but DI after Mch resulted in bronchodilation that was of similar magnitude as in the nonobese. We conclude that obesity is characterized by increased Mch responsiveness, predominantly of the small airways, due to a DI effect that renders the airways more sensitive to the stimulus.

We sought to develop and pilot an intervention to improve blood pressure (BP) and other intermediate outcomes (hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) of diabetes in a low-income, ethnically diverse population. English- or Spanish-speaking primary care patients with BP ≥ 140/90 on 2 visits in the past 12 months and any level of A1c were randomized to usual care (n = 24) or intervention (n = 31). Home health nurses assessed self-management and medication adherence, and they performed health behavior counseling. Participants transmitted daily BP and glucose results using simple home telemetry units to the nurse coordinator; these results were then aggregated and transmitted weekly to primary care providers to facilitate intensified treatment. After controlling for baseline levels, a significantly larger proportion of the intervention group was at goal for BP (adjusted OR = 9.3, P = .006) and A1c (AOR = 4.3, P = .049), but not for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (AOR = 1.1, P =.86). Clinicians made more BP medication changes in the intervention group compared to the control group (8.3 vs 3.8, approaching significance at P = .06). Self-reported medication adherence and self-care behaviors were not significantly improved. We successfully developed a telephone- and email-based collaboration between home health nurses and primary care clinicians to address poorly controlled hypertension in an ethnically diverse population. The intervention, combining enhanced feedback to patients and their primary care providers and individualized behavior change support by home health nurses, is effective for improving BP and glucose in this setting.

Objective: To highlight complexities in defining vitamin D sufficiency in children., Study Design: Serum 25-(OH) vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels from 140 healthy obese children age 6 to 21 years living in the inner city were compared with multiple health outcome measures, including bone biomarkers and cardiovascular risk factors. Several statistical analytic approaches were used, including Pearson correlation, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and "hockey stick" regression modeling., Results: Potential threshold levels for vitamin D sufficiency varied by outcome variable and analytic approach. Only systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly correlated with 25(OH)D (r = -0.261; P = .038). ANCOVA revealed that SBP and triglyceride levels were statistically significant in the test groups [25(OH)D <10, <15 and <20 ng/mL] compared with the reference group [25(OH)D >25 ng/mL]. ANCOVA also showed that only children with severe vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D <10 ng/mL] had significantly higher parathyroid hormone levels (Δ = 15; P = .0334). Hockey stick model regression analyses found evidence of a threshold level in SBP, with a 25(OH)D breakpoint of 27 ng/mL, along with a 25(OH)D breakpoint of 18 ng/mL for triglycerides, but no relationship between 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone., Conclusions: Defining vitamin D sufficiency should take into account different vitamin D-related health outcome measures and analytic methodologies., (Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Social Security is the most important and effective income support program ever introduced in the United States, alleviating the burden of poverty for millions of elderly Americans. We explored the possible role of Social Security in reducing mortality among the elderly. In support of this hypothesis, we found that declines in mortality among the elderly exceeded those among younger age groups following the initial implementation of Social Security in 1940, and also in the periods following marked improvements in Social Security benefits via legislation and indexing of benefits that occurred between the mid-1960s and the early 1970s. A better understanding of the link between Social Security and health status among the elderly would add a significant and missing dimension to the public discourse over the future of Social Security, and the potential role of income support programs in reducing health-related socioeconomic disparities and improving population health.

Background: More than 20,000 responders have been examined through the World Trade Center (WTC) Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program since September 11, 2001. Studies on WTC firefighters have shown elevated rates of sarcoidosis. The main objective of this study was to report the incidence of "sarcoid like" granulomatous pulmonary disease in other WTC responders., Methods: Cases of sarcoid like granulomatous pulmonary disease were identified by: patient self-report, physician report and ICD-9 codes. Each case was evaluated by three pulmonologists using the ACCESS criteria and only "definite" cases are reported., Results: Thirty-eight patients were classified as "definite" cases. Six-year incidence was 192/100,000. The peak annual incidence of 54 per 100,000 person-years occurred between 9/11/2003 and 9/11/2004. Incidence in black responders was nearly double that of white responders. Low FVC was the most common spirometric abnormality., Conclusions: Sarcoid like granulomatous pulmonary disease is present among the WTC responders. While the incidence is lower than that reported among firefighters, it is higher than expected., (Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Objective: Determine if World Trade Center (WTC) disaster responders had lower lung function and higher bronchodilator responsiveness than those with respiratory symptoms and conditions., Methods: We evaluated cardinal respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, wheezing, dry cough, productive cough) and determined the difference in FEV1, FVC, and bronchodilator responsiveness., Results: All respiratory symptoms were associated with a lower FEV1 and FVC, and a larger bronchodilator response. Responders reporting chronic productive cough, starting during WTC work and persisting, had a mean FEV1 109 mL lower than those without chronic persistent cough; their odds of having abnormally low FEV1 was 1.40 times higher; and they were 1.65 times as likely to demonstrate bronchodilator responsiveness., Conclusions: Responders reporting chronic persistent cough, wheezing or dyspnea at first medical examination were more likely to have lower lung function and bronchodilator responsiveness.

Racial and ethnic disparities in obesity persist despite a narrowing in obesity risk associated with socioeconomic status. The household environment has been shown to be important in understanding obesity-promoting behaviors in diverse populations. Our current study was designed to examine the relationship between household density and obesity in young Black and White adults aged 18-30 years from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort. All sociodemographic and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) information for this study was collected by questionnaire between 1990-1991. Height was collected using a mounted centimeter ruler. Weight was measured on a balance beam scale. Obesity was defined as a body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2. Household density (HD) was defined as the ratio of people to bedrooms in the home. High HD was defined as a ratio > 1. Bivariate analysis showed that more women tend to live in high density households compared to men (45.4% vs 38.9%; P < .01) and more Blacks tend to live in high density households compared to Whites (53.7% vs 31.8%). Leisure-time physical activity index was lower in Blacks than in Whites (2.5% vs 2.6%; P < .01). Blacks had a higher prevalence of obesity than Whites (27.1% vs 11.8%; P < .01). Logistic regression analysis showed that Black women within high HD were at highest risk for obesity compared to White women living within low HD (OR = 4.88%; 95% CI: 3.56-6.67). HD may provide an important context in understanding racial disparities in obesity-promoting behaviors.

Objective: To compare the effects of a 1-year intervention with a low-carbohydrate and a low-fat diet on weight loss and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes., Research Design and Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial of 105 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes. Primary outcomes were weight and A1C. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure and lipids. Outcome measures were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months., Results: The greatest reduction in weight and A1C occurred within the first 3 months. Weight loss occurred faster in the low-carbohydrate group than in the low-fat group (P = 0.005), but at 1 year a similar 3.4% weight reduction was seen in both dietary groups. There was no significant change in A1C in either group at 1 year. There was no change in blood pressure, but a greater increase in HDL was observed in the low-carbohydrate group (P = 0.002)., Conclusions: Among patients with type 2 diabetes, after 1 year a low-carbohydrate diet had effects on weight and A1C similar to those seen with a low-fat diet. There was no significant effect on blood pressure, but the low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater increase in HDL cholesterol.

The principal objective of our research is to examine whether the earned income tax credit (EITC), a broad-based income support program that has been shown to increase employment and income among poor working families, also improves their health and access to care. A finding that the EITC has a positive impact on the health of the American public may help guide deliberations about its future at the federal, state, and local levels. The authors contend that a better understanding of the relationship between major socioeconomic policies such as the EITC and the public's health will inform the fields of health and social policy in the pursuit of improving population health.

Background: There is little agreement about a differential response of men and women to opioid analgesics. Some experimental and clinical studies have shown that women have a better response to opioids, others have found no difference, and still others have found opioids to be more effective analgesics for men than women., Objectives: To assess sex differences in analgesic response to morphine and incidence of adverse events in patients receiving a dose of 0.1 mg intravenous morphine/kg., Methods: Secondary analysis of the control arms of 6 randomized clinical trials that compared 0.1 mg/kg intravenous morphine with other opioids or other doses of morphine in patients aged 21 to 65 with acute pain. The setting was an academic medical center Emergency Department serving primarily Latino and African-American patients. Change in self-reported pain intensity from baseline to 30 minutes postbaseline on a validated and reproducible 11-point numerical rating scale and count of adverse events were the primary outcomes., Results: The sample consisted of 211 women and 144 men. The mean change in pain from baseline to 30 minutes postbaseline was 3.7 in women, 3.6 men (difference=0.04; 95% confidence interval: -0.52, 0.60). In women without nausea before administration of morphine, the incidence of adverse events was 18.3% versus 10.7% in men without initial nausea (difference=7.6%; 95% confidence interval: -2.0, 17.2)., Discussion: Men and women presenting to the Emergency Department did not have a differential response to a single weight-based dose of morphine for alleviation of acute pain. Women without baseline nausea had more adverse events than men.

Background: Breast cancer surgery is associated with side effects, including postsurgical pain, nausea, and fatigue. We carried out a randomized clinical trial to test the hypotheses that a brief presurgery hypnosis intervention would decrease intraoperative anesthesia and analgesic use and side effects associated with breast cancer surgery and that it would be cost effective., Methods: We randomly assigned 200 patients who were scheduled to undergo excisional breast biopsy or lumpectomy (mean age 48.5 years) to a 15-minute presurgery hypnosis session conducted by a psychologist or nondirective empathic listening (attention control). Patients were not blinded to group assignment. Intraoperative anesthesia use (i.e., of the analgesics lidocaine and fentanyl and the sedatives propofol and midazolam) was assessed. Patient-reported pain and other side effects as measured on a visual analog scale (0-100) were assessed at discharge, as was use of analgesics in the recovery room. Institutional costs and time in the operating room were assessed via chart review., Results: Patients in the hypnosis group required less propofol (means = 64.01 versus 96.64 microg; difference = 32.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.95 to 61.30) and lidocaine (means = 24.23 versus 31.09 mL; difference = 6.86; 95% CI = 3.05 to 10.68) than patients in the control group. Patients in the hypnosis group also reported less pain intensity (means = 22.43 versus 47.83; difference = 25.40; 95% CI = 17.56 to 33.25), pain unpleasantness (means = 21.19 versus 39.05; difference = 17.86; 95% CI = 9.92 to 25.80), nausea (means = 6.57 versus 25.49; difference = 18.92; 95% CI = 12.98 to 24.87), fatigue (means = 29.47 versus 54.20; difference = 24.73; 95% CI = 16.64 to 32.83), discomfort (means = 23.01 versus 43.20; difference = 20.19; 95% CI = 12.36 to 28.02), and emotional upset (means = 8.67 versus 33.46; difference = 24.79; 95% CI = 18.56 to 31.03). No statistically significant differences were seen in the use of fentanyl, midazolam, or recovery room analgesics. Institutional costs for surgical breast cancer procedures were $8561 per patient at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Patients in the hypnosis group cost the institution $772.71 less per patient than those in the control group (95% CI = 75.10 to 1469.89), mainly due to reduced surgical time., Conclusions: Hypnosis was superior to attention control regarding propofol and lidocaine use; pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset at discharge; and institutional cost. Overall, the present data support the use of hypnosis with breast cancer surgery patients.