Recent Publications by CFE Educators

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Surveillance intervals after colonoscopic resection of serrated polyps are partially predicated on the histology of the polyp(s) removed during the index exam. Histologic discrimination between sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/P) and hyperplastic polyps is challenging. We devised and tested a simple tool--an envelope--that gastroenterologists can integrate into routine colonoscopy practice to address this problem.

METHODS

In the "modified protocol," immediately after polypectomy each serrated polyp was flattened and enclosed in a paper envelope before being placed in formalin. In the pathology laboratory, each polyp was sectioned after processing. A two-site, prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial was performed to compare this modified protocol with the conventional protocol. Serrated polyps located proximal to the splenic flexure and 5-20 mm in diameter were included. A novel orientation score that measured the number of well-oriented crypts per unit area of polyp (higher orientation score = better orientation) was validated. Orientation score, SSA/P diagnosis rate, and inter-pathologist agreement were measured.

RESULTS

A total of 375 polyps were enrolled, of which 264 were identified for analysis. The mean orientation scores in the modified and conventional protocol groups were 3.11 and 1.13, respectively (P 0.0001). SSA/Ps were diagnosed in 103/135 cases (76.3%) in the modified protocol group vs. 54/129 (41.9%) in the conventional protocol group (P 0.0001). Inter-pathologist agreement was higher with the modified than the conventional protocol (77.0% vs. 62.8%; P = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Standard polyp handling techniques may be sub-optimal for interpretation of serrated polyps resected at colonoscopy, and may lead to inadvertent histologic "under-grading" of many lesions. Our intervention improved histopathologic interpretation and increased the SSA/P diagnosis rate.

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), an autosomal dominant disorder with a prevalence of 1 in 1,000,000 individuals, is mainly caused by mutations in Runx2, a gene required for osteoblastic differentiation. It is generally characterized by hypoplastic clavicles, narrow thorax, and delayed or absent fontanel closure. Importantly, its orofacial manifestations, including midfacial hypoplasia, retained primary teeth, and impacted permanent and supernumerary teeth, severely impede the well-being of affected individuals. Successful treatment of the orofacial problems requires the combined efforts of dental specialists. However, only a few successfully treated cases have been reported because of the rarity of CCD and complexity of the treatment. This article presents the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) treatment protocol for the dentofacial manifestations of CCD based on two treated and 17 diagnosed cases. The records of two patients with CCD who had been treated at the UCSF School of Dentistry and the treatment options reported in the literature were reviewed. The UCSF treatment protocol produced a successful case and a partially successful one (inadequate oral hygiene in the retention stage resulted in decay and loss of teeth). It provides general guidelines for successfully treating the orofacial manifestations of CCD.

Risks of noncancer causes of death, particularly cardiovascular disease, associated with exposures to high-dose ionizing radiation, are well known. Recent studies have reported excess risk in workers who are occupationally exposed to low doses at a low dose rate, but the risks of moderately fractionated exposures, such as occur during diagnostic radiation procedures, remain unclear. The Canadian Fluoroscopy Cohort Study includes 63,707 tuberculosis patients exposed to multiple fluoroscopic procedures in 1930-1952 and followed-up for death from noncancer causes in 1950-1987. We used a Poisson regression to estimate excess relative risk (ERR) per Gy of cumulative radiation dose to the lung (mean dose = 0.79 Gy; range, 0-11.60). The risk of death from noncancer causes was significantly lower in these subjects compared with the Canadian general population (P 0.001). We estimated small, nonsignificant increases in the risk of death from noncancer causes with dose. We estimated an ERR/Gy of 0.176 (95% confidence interval: 0.011, 0.393) (n = 5,818 deaths) for ischemic heart disease (IHD) after adjustment for dose fractionation. A significant (P = 0.022) inverse dose fractionation effect in dose trends of IHD was observed, with the highest estimate of ERR/Gy for those with the fewest fluoroscopic procedures per year. Radiation-related risks of IHD decreased significantly with increasing time since first exposure and age at first exposure (both P 0.05). This is the largest study of patients exposed to moderately fractionated low-to-moderate doses of radiation, and it provides additional evidence of increased radiation-associated risks of death from IHD, in particular, significantly increased radiation risks from doses similar to those from diagnostic radiation procedures. The novel finding of a significant inverse dose-fractionation association in IHD mortality requires further investigation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and correlates of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among returned Iraq and Afghanistan veterans; in particular its association with mental health diagnoses and medication use.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who were new users of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care. Mental health diagnoses were defined by International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes from medical records. LUTS was defined by ICD-9-CM code, use of prescription medication for LUTS, or procedure for LUTS. We determined the independent association of mental health diagnoses and LUTS after adjusting for sociodemographic and military service characteristics, comorbidities, and medications.

RESULTS

Of 519,189 veterans, 88% were men and the mean age was 31.8 years (standard deviation ± 9.3). The overall prevalence of LUTS was 2.2% (11,237/519,189). Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were significantly more likely to have a LUTS diagnosis, prescription, or related procedure (3.5%) compared with veterans with no mental health diagnoses (1.3%) or a mental health diagnosis other than PTSD (3.1%, P .001). In adjusted models, LUTS was significantly more common in veterans with PTSD with and without other mental health disorders vs those without mental health disorders (adjusted relative risk [ARR] = 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.94-2.15) and in veterans prescribed opioids (ARR = 2.46, 95% CI = 2.36-2.56).

CONCLUSION

In this study of young returned veterans, mental health diagnoses and prescription for opioids were independently associated with increased risk of receiving a diagnosis, treatment, or procedure for LUTS. Provider awareness may improve the detection and treatment of LUTS, and improve patient care and quality of life.

A 57-year-old man presented with a 16-month history of right parotid swelling since undergoing a transoral sialolithotomy of the parotid duct. An ultrasound and a computed tomography scan showed a 6 cm-long dilated parotid duct without evidence of sialolithiasis or tumor mass. The complete Stensen's duct stenosis that was found was managed by a surgeon-performed ultrasound-guided transfacial needle catheterization of the dilated parotid duct, anterograde sialoendoscopy, recanalization of the duct, and stent placement. At 15 month follow-up, the patient reported no recurrent facial swelling or discomfort. Surgeon-performed ultrasound, combined with sialoendoscopy, can provide unique advantages for managing parotid duct stenosis and obstructive sialadenitis.

There is a paucity of research demonstrating how best to address inequalities in health and access to specialist care faced by rural disadvantaged populations in high HIV-prevalent settings in Sub Saharan Africa. Delivering equitable and cost-effective specialist clinical services in many parts of Africa is challenging, given human resource shortages, poor transport infrastructure and competing health priorities. In this report we describe how an airborne outreach program to provide HIV services to high HIV burden health facilities in rural Botswana has been an important catalyst for improving specialist service delivery across the spectrum of clinical care. The success of Botswana's airborne program is a consequence of many country-specific determinants as well as external funding support. We argue that lessons learned from the experience in Botswana are normative for other African settings. Specialist medical airborne outreach to rural hospitals can improve access to and quality of care, when part of a multifaceted, multidisciplinary intervention. Furthermore, we demonstrate how an HIV funded program can be a vehicle for enhanced access to essential sub-specialist clinicians in rural Botswana.

OBJECT

Given economic limitations and burgeoning health care costs, there is a need to minimize unnecessary diagnostic laboratory tests.

METHODS

The authors studied whether a financial incentive program for trainees could lead to fewer unnecessary laboratory tests in neurosurgical patients in a large, 600-bed academic hospital setting. The authors identified 5 laboratory tests that ranked in the top 13 of the most frequently ordered during the 2010-2011 fiscal year, yet were least likely to be abnormal or influence patient management.

RESULTS

In a single year of study, there was a 47% reduction in testing of serum total calcium, ionized calcium, chloride, magnesium, and phosphorus. This reduction led to a savings of $1.7 million in billable charges to health care payers and $75,000 of direct costs to the medical center. In addition, there were no significant negative changes in the quality of care delivered, as recorded in a number of metrics, showing that this cost savings did not negatively impact patient care.

CONCLUSIONS

Engaging physician trainees in quality improvement can be successfully achieved by financial incentives. Through the resident-led quality improvement incentive program, neurosurgical trainees successfully reduced unnecessary laboratory tests, resulting in significant cost savings to both the medical center and the health care system. Similar programs that engage trainees could improve the value of care being provided at other academic medical centers.

BACKGROUND

There is little in the literature on HIV and diabetes mellitus (DM) in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the characteristics of HIV and DM in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Botswana.

METHODS

A retrospective case-control study was conducted at 4 sites. Each HIV-infected patient with DM (n=48) was matched with 2 HIV-infected controls (n=108) by age (±2 years) and sex. Primary analysis was conditional logistic regression to estimate univariate odds and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each characteristic.

RESULTS

There was no significant association between co-morbid diseases, tuberculosis, hypertension or cancer and risk of diabetes. DM patients were more likely to have higher pre-ART weight (odds ratio (OR) 1.09; 95% CI 1.04 - 1.14). HIV-infected adults >70 kg were significantly more likely to have DM (OR 12.30; 95% CI 1.40 - 107.98). Participants receiving efavirenz (OR 4.58; 95% CI 1.44 - 14.57) or protease inhibitor therapy (OR 20.7; 95% CI 1.79 - 240.02) were more likely to have DM. Neither mean pre-ART CD4 cell count (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.99 - 1.01) nor pre-ART viral load >100 000 copies/ml (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.21 - 2.43) were associated with a significant risk of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest a complex interrelation among traditional host factors and treatment-related metabolic changes in the pathogenesis of DM inpatients receiving ART. Notably, pre-ART weight, particularly if >70 kg, is associated with the diagnosis of diabetes in HIV-infected patients in Botswana.