Recent Publications by CFE Educators

CONTEXT

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients 45 years old are considered to have an excellent prognosis; however, current guidelines recommend total thyroidectomy for PTC tumors >1.0 cm, regardless of age.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to examine the impact of extent of surgery on overall survival (OS) in patients 45 years old with stage I PTC of 1.1 to 4.0 cm.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS

Adult patients 45 years of age undergoing surgery for stage I PTC were identified from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB, 1998-2006) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End RESULTS dataset (SEER, 1988-2006).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Multivariable modeling was used to compare OS for patients undergoing total thyroidectomy vs lobectomy.

RESULTS

In total, 29 522 patients in NCDB (3151 lobectomy, 26 371 total thyroidectomy) and 13 510 in SEER (1379 lobectomy, 12 131 total thyroidectomy) were included. Compared with patients undergoing lobectomy, patients having total thyroidectomy more often had extrathyroidal and lymph node disease. At 14 years, unadjusted OS was equivalent between total thyroidectomy and lobectomy in both databases. After adjustment, OS was similar for total thyroidectomy compared with lobectomy across all patients with tumors of 1.1 to 4.0 cm (NCDB: hazard ratio = 1.45 [confidence interval = 0.88-2.51], P = 0.19; SEER: 0.95 (0.70-1.29), P = 0.75) and when stratified by tumor size: 1.1 to 2.0 cm (NCDB: 1.12 [0.50-2.51], P = 0.78; SEER: 0.95 [0.56-1.62], P = 0.86) and 2.1 to 4.0 cm (NCDB: 1.93 [0.88-4.23], P = 0.10; SEER: 0.94 [0.60-1.49], P = 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

After adjusting for patient and clinical characteristics, total thyroidectomy compared with thyroid lobectomy was not associated with improved survival for patients 45 years of age with stage I PTC of 1.1 to 4.0 cm. Additional clinical and pathologic factors should be considered when choosing extent of resection.

OBJECTIVE

Data describing relationships between muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical disability among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are limited. The present study examines the relationship of muscle strength and muscle mass with physical disability among adult women with SLE.

METHODS

A total of 146 women from a longitudinal SLE cohort participated in the study. All measures were collected during an in-person research visit. Lower extremity muscle strength was assessed by peak knee torque of extension and flexion and by chair-stand time. Total lean body mass, appendicular lean mass, and fat mass (kg/m(2) ) were measured by whole-body dual x-ray absorptiometry. Self-reported physical disability was assessed using the Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36) physical functioning subscale, and the Valued Life Activities (VLA) disability scale. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients tested the correlations between muscle strength, muscle mass, and disability scores. Regression analyses modeled the effect of lower extremity muscle strength and mass on SF-36 and VLA disability scores controlling for age, SLE duration, SLE disease activity measured with the Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire, physical activity level, prednisone use, body composition, and depression.

RESULTS

On all measures, reduced lower extremity muscle strength was associated with poorer SF-36 and VLA disability scores. Trends persisted after adjustment for covariates. Muscle mass was moderately correlated with muscle strength, but did not contribute significantly to adjusted regression models.

CONCLUSION

Lower extremity muscle strength, but not muscle mass, was strongly associated with physical disability scores. While further studies are needed, these findings suggest that improving muscle strength may reduce physical disability among women with SLE.

IMPORTANCE

Brain biopsy specimens that exhibit encephalitis without specific histopathologic features pose a diagnostic challenge to neuropathologists and neurologists. Such cases are generally referred to pathologically as encephalitis, not otherwise specified (ENOS). A systematic approach to diagnostic evaluation in such patients is challenging, and currently there is no generally accepted algorithm.

OBJECTIVE

To examine ultimate diagnostic outcomes in patients with ENOS diagnosed by brain biopsy.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective case series at the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center, a tertiary care urban neurosciences center, studied patients with encephalitis diagnosed by brain biopsy from January 1, 1983, through December 31, 2011.

EXPOSURES

Brain biopsy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Clinical and neuropathologic diagnosis.

RESULTS

Among 58 patients who met the inclusion criteria for the study, the original pathologic diagnosis was ENOS in 49 patients (84%). The median age was 40 years (interquartile range, 27-53 years), 35 patients were male, and 13 had known human immunodeficiency virus or AIDS. Median time from onset of symptoms to brain biopsy was 66 days (interquartile range, 18-135 days). For the 29 patients in whom material for pathologic analysis was still available, additional neuropathologic review led to a more specific categorization in 10 (34%). Clinical detail and follow-up information was available for 42 patients, and a specific diagnosis was reached with the help of ancillary testing and/or clinical follow-up in 12 patients. Despite a comprehensive neuropathologic review with additional studies and information, 27 patients still had to be classified in the ENOS category at the end of the study.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

ENOS is the most common initial type of encephalitis diagnosed by brain biopsy. In such patients, it may be worth having the biopsy materials reviewed again in a comprehensive fashion by a neuropathologist because additional review led to a more specific categorization in one-third of our cases. Ancillary testing, clinical correlation, and clinical follow-up establish more specific diagnoses in some patients. ENOS still remains a diagnostic challenge after all these efforts in many cases. Current algorithms are of limited value. More advanced methods and better diagnostic algorithms are needed to characterize these patients.

For decades, it has been recognized that men have a higher age-adjusted risk of ischemic cardiovascular (CVD) events compared to women, thus generating hypotheses that sex steroids contribute to CVD risk. Potential mechanisms include genomic and non-genomic effects of sex steroids as well as mediation through classic CVD risk factors and obesity. However, results from randomized studies suggest that sex steroid supplementation in men and women do not result in improved CVD outcomes and may increase CVD risk. In contrast, prospective observations from endogenous sex steroid studies, i.e. among participants not using sex steroids, have suggested the opposite relationship. We reviewed the findings of prospective observational studies in men (17 studies) and women (8 studies) that examined endogenous sex steroids and CVD risk. These studies suggested a lack of association or that lower levels of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone are associated with higher CVD risk in both men and women. Higher, rather than lower, estradiol levels were associated with higher CVD risk in women. There were several significant gaps in the literature. First, it is unclear whether more sensitive measures of sex steroid levels might detect significant differences. Second, there are few prospective studies in women. Similarly, no studies report outcomes for high-risk groups such as African-Americans and Hispanics. Finally, few studies report upon ischemic coronary disease as opposed to ischemic stroke separately, although relationships between sex steroids and CVD may vary by vascular bed. Future investigations need to examine high risk groups and to distinguish between subtypes of CVD.

BACKGROUND

Simulation-based interprofessional team training is thought to improve patient care. Participating teams often consist of both experienced providers and trainees, which likely impacts team dynamics, particularly when a resident leads the team. Although similar team composition is found in real-life, debriefing after simulations puts a spotlight on team interactions and in particular on residents in the role of team leader. The goal of the current study was to explore residents' perceptions of simulation-based interprofessional team training.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a study of residents in the pediatric residency training program at the University of California, San Francisco (United States) leading interprofessional teams in simulated resuscitations, followed by facilitated debriefing. Residents participated in individual, semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews within one month of the simulation. The original study aimed to examine residents' self-assessment of leadership skills, and during analysis we encountered numerous comments regarding the interprofessional nature of the simulation training. We therefore performed a secondary analysis of the interview transcripts. We followed an iterative process to create a coding scheme, and used interprofessional learning and practice as sensitizing concepts to extract relevant themes.

RESULTS

16 residents participated in the study. Residents felt that simulated resuscitations were helpful but anxiety provoking, largely due to interprofessional dynamics. They embraced the interprofessional training opportunity and appreciated hearing other healthcare providers' perspectives, but questioned the value of interprofessional debriefing. They identified the need to maintain positive relationships with colleagues in light of the teams' complex hierarchy as a barrier to candid feedback.

DISCUSSION

Pediatric residents in our study appreciated the opportunity to participate in interprofessional team training but were conflicted about the value of feedback and debriefing in this setting. These data indicate that the optimal approach to such interprofessional education activities deserves further study.

UNLABELLED

PHENOMENON: Medical students receive much of their inpatient teaching from residents who now experience restructured teaching services to accommodate the 2011 duty-hour regulations (DHR). The effect of DHR on medical student educational experiences is unknown. We examined medical students' and clerkship directors' perceptions of the effects of the 2011 DHR on internal medicine clerkship students' experiences with teaching, feedback and evaluation, and patient care.

APPROACH

Students at 14 institutions responded to surveys after their medicine clerkship or subinternship. Students who completed their clerkship (n = 839) and subinternship (n = 228) March to June 2011 (pre-DHR historical controls) were compared to clerkship students (n = 895) and subinterns (n = 377) completing these rotations March to June 2012 (post-DHR). Z tests for proportions correcting for multiple comparisons were performed to assess attitude changes. The Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine annual survey queried institutional members about the 2011 DHR just after implementation.

FINDINGS

Survey response rates were 64% and 50% for clerkship students and 60% and 48% for subinterns in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and 82% (99/121) for clerkship directors. Post-DHR, more clerkship students agreed that attendings (p =.011) and interns (p =.044) provided effective teaching. Clerkship students (p =.013) and subinterns (p =.001) believed patient care became more fragmented. The percentage of holdover patients clerkship students (p =.001) and subinterns (p =.012) admitted increased. Clerkship directors perceived negative effects of DHR for students on all survey items. Most disagreed that interns (63.1%), residents (67.8%), or attendings (71.1%) had more time to teach. Most disagreed that students received more feedback from interns (56.0%) or residents (58.2%). Fifty-nine percent felt that students participated in more patient handoffs. INSIGHTS: Students perceive few adverse consequences of the 2011 DHR on their internal medicine experiences, whereas their clerkship director educators have negative perceptions. Future research should explore the impact of fragmented patient care on the student-patient relationship and students' clinical skills acquisition.

Depression and anxiety disorders are common conditions with significant morbidity. Many screening tools of varying length have been well validated for these conditions in the office-based setting. Novel instruments, including Internet-based and computerized adaptive testing, may be promising tools in the future. The best evidence for cost-effectiveness currently is for screening of major depression linked with the collaborative care model for treatment. Data are not conclusive regarding comparative cost-effectiveness of screening for multiple conditions at once or for other conditions. This article reviews screening tools for depression and anxiety disorders in the ambulatory setting.

Changes in basal ganglia plasticity at the corticostriatal and thalamostriatal levels are required for motor learning. Endocannabinoid-dependent long-term depression (eCB-LTD) is known to be a dominant form of synaptic plasticity expressed at these glutamatergic inputs; however, whether eCB-LTD can be induced at all inputs on all striatal neurons is still debatable. Using region-specific Cre mouse lines combined with optogenetic techniques, we directly investigated and distinguished between corticostriatal and thalamostriatal projections. We found that eCB-LTD was successfully induced at corticostriatal synapses, independent of postsynaptic striatal spiny projection neuron (SPN) subtype. Conversely, eCB-LTD was only nominally present at thalamostriatal synapses. This dichotomy was attributable to the minimal expression of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors on thalamostriatal terminals. Furthermore, coactivation of dopamine receptors on SPNs during LTD induction re-established SPN-subtype-dependent eCB-LTD. Altogether, our findings lay the groundwork for understanding corticostriatal and thalamostriatal synaptic plasticity and for striatal eCB-LTD in motor learning.