Breast Cancer Screening in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Lung and Colorectal Cancer: A Population-Based Study of Utilization

Purpose—To assess breast cancer screening utilization in Medicare beneficiaries with colorectal and lung cancer versus cancer-free controls. Methods—Female fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who were ≥ 67 years old and diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer between 2000 and 2011 and who reported to a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry (case group) were followed for 2 years after their diagnoses, unless death, a diagnosis of breast cancer, or the end of 2013 came first. A similar number of cancer-free controls were individually matched to cases by age, race, registry region, and follow-up time. Screening utilization was defined as the percentage of women with ≥1 screening mammogram during follow-up. Results—Overall, 104,164 cases (48% colorectal, 52% lung; 30% advanced cancer) and 104,164 controls were included. Among women with lung or colorectal cancer, 22% underwent ≥ 1 screening mammogram versus 26% of controls (odds ratio [OR] 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78–0.82). Stratified by cancer type, 28% of colorectal cancer cases versus 29% of controls (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.95–1.01) and 17% of lung cancer cases versus 23% of controls (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.60–0.65) received ≥ 1 mammogram. When stratified by stage, 8% with advanced cancer versus 18% of controls (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.31–0.35) and 30% with early-stage cancer versus 30% of controls (OR 1; 95% CI 0.97–1.02) underwent ≥ 1 mammogram. Conclusion—Screening mammography utilization rates are similar between Medicare beneficiaries with early-stage cancer versus controls. Although the majority of patients with advanced-stage cancer appropriately do not pursue screening mammography, a small number (8%) continue with screening

The Link Between Everyday Discrimination, Healthcare Utilization, and Health Status Among a National Sample of Women

Background: Research has not adequately examined the potential negative effects of perceiving routine discrimination on general healthcare utilization or health status, especially among reproductive-aged women. We sought to evaluate the association between everyday discrimination, health service use, and perceived health among a national sample of women in the United States. Materials and Methods: Data were drawn from the Women's Healthcare Experiences and Preferences survey, a randomly selected, national probability sample of 1078 U.S. women aged 18?55 years. We examined associations between everyday discrimination (via a standardized scale) on frequency of health service utilization and perceived general health status using chi-square and multivariable logistic regression modeling. Results: Compared with women who reported healthcare visits every 3 years or less (reference group), each one-point increase in discrimination score was associated with higher odds of having healthcare visits annually or more often (odds ratio [OR]?=?1.36, confidence interval [95% CI]?=?1.01?1.83). Additionally, each one-point increase in discrimination score was significantly associated with lower odds of having excellent/very good perceived health (OR?=?0.65; 95% CI?=?0.54?0.80). Conclusion: Perceived discrimination was associated with increased exposure to the healthcare setting among this national sample of women. Perceived discrimination was also inversely associated with excellent/very good perceived health status.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140141/1/jwh.2015.5522.pd

Transvaginal Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography for the Evaluation of Benign Uterine Pathologies: A Prospective Pilot Study

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147163/1/jum14676.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147163/2/jum14676_am.pd

Food intake regulating-neuropeptides are expressed and regulated through pregnancy and following food restriction in rat placenta

Background Neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti related peptide (AgRP), cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and melanocortins, the products of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC), are hypothalamic peptides involved in feeding regulation and energy homeostasis. Recent evidence has demonstrated their expression in rat and human placenta. Methods In the current study, we have investigated the expression of those neuropeptides in the rat placenta by real-time PCR using a model of maternal food restriction. Results Our results showed that placental-derived neuropeptides were regulated through pregnancy and following food restriction. Conclusion These data could indicate that placental-derived neuropeptides represent a local regulatory circuit that may fine-tune control of energy balance during pregnancyThis work has been supported by grants from Xunta de Galicia (ML: GRC2006/66), Fondo Investigationes Sanitarias (ML: PI061700), Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (CD: BFU2005), Mútua Madrileña (CD and ML) and European Union (CD: LSHM-CT-2003-503041)S

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake After a Tailored, Online Educational Intervention for Female University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Educational interventions may be a strategy to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among female university students, but studies to date have shown mixed results. This study evaluated the effect of MeFirst, an individually tailored, online educational intervention, on HPV vaccine-related knowledge, vaccination intention, and uptake among previously unvaccinated female university students. Methods: All female students aged 18?26 years who reported being unvaccinated against HPV at a midwestern university were invited via email to enroll. Participants completed an online survey that assessed baseline HPV vaccine-related knowledge, attitudes and vaccination intention. Participants (n?=?661) were then randomized to receive either an educational website automatically tailored to their baseline survey responses (MeFirst intervention) or a standard CDC information factsheet on HPV vaccine (control). Vaccine uptake and repeat knowledge and attitude measures were assessed with online surveys 3 months following the intervention and analyzed using logistic regression models. Results: HPV vaccine uptake was similar in both the MeFirst and control groups at 3 months following the intervention (p?=?0.98). Three months after the intervention, the proportion of participants with high knowledge regarding HPV vaccination increased from baseline (32% to 50%; p?Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140136/1/jwh.2015.5251.pd

Oncology clinical trials and insurance coverage: An update in a tenuous insurance landscape

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151873/1/cncr32360_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151873/2/cncr32360.pd

3D excretory MR urography: Improved image quality with intravenous saline and diuretic administration

Purpose To assess the effect of diuretic administration on the image quality of excretory magnetic resonance urography (MRU) obtained following intravenous hydration, and to determine whether intravenous hydration alone is sufficient to produce diagnostic quality studies of nondilated upper tracts. Materials and Methods A total of 22 patients with nondilated upper tracts were evaluated with contrast-enhanced MRU. All patients received 250 mL of saline intravenously immediately prior to the examination. A total of 11 patients received 10–20 mg furosemide in addition to saline. Imaging was performed with a three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) breathhold spoiled gradient-echo sequences. Excretory MRU images were acquired five minutes after the administration of 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium and were independently reviewed by two radiologists, who were blinded to the MRU technique. Readers evaluated the calyces, renal pelvis, and ureters qualitatively for degree of opacification, distention, and artifacts on a four-point scale. Statistical analysis was performed using a permutation test. Results There was no significant disagreement between the two readers ( P = 0.14). Furosemide resulted in significant improvement in calyceal and renal pelvis distention ( P < 0.005), and significant artifact reduction in all upper tract segments ( P < 0.001) compared to the effect of saline alone. Conclusion Intravenous furosemide significantly improves the image quality of excretory MRU studies obtained following intravenous hydration. Intravenous saline alone is insufficient to produce diagnostic quality studies of the non-dilated upper tracts. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56023/1/20875_ftp.pd

Can endoscopic ultrasound or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography replace ERCP in patients with suspected biliary disease? A prospective trial and cost analysis

ERCP is the gold standard for pancreaticobiliary evaluation but is associated with complications. Less invasive diagnostic alternatives with similar capabilities may be cost-effective, particularly in situations involving low prevalence of disease. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and ERCP in the same patients with suspected extrahepatic biliary disease. The economic outcomes of EUS-, MRCP-, and ERCP-based diagnostic strategies were evaluated. METHODS : Prospective cohort study of patients referred for ERCP with suspected biliary disease. MRCP and EUS were performed within 24 h before ERCP. The investigators were blinded to the results of the alternative imaging studies. A cost-utility analysis was performed for initial ERCP, MRCP, and EUS strategies for these patients. RESULTS : A total of 30 patients were studied. ERCP cholangiogram failed in one patient, and another patient did not complete MRCP because of claustrophobia. The final diagnoses ( n = 28 ) were CBD stone (mean = 4 mm; range = 3–6 mm) in five patients; biliary stricture in three patients, and normal biliary tree in 20. Two patients had pancreatitis after therapeutic ERCP, one after precut sphincterotomy followed by a normal cholangiogram. EUS was more sensitive than MRCP in the detection of choledocolithiasis (80% vs 40%), with similar specificity. MRCP had a poor specificity and positive predictive value for the diagnosis of biliary stricture (76%/25%) compared to EUS (100%/100%), with similar sensitivity. The overall accuracy of MRCP for any abnormality was 61% (95% CI = 0.41–0.78) compared to 89% (CI = 0.72–0.98) for EUS. Among those patients with a normal biliary tree, the proportion correctly identified with each test was 95% for EUS and 65% for MRCP ( p < 0.02 ). The cost for each strategy per patient evaluated was $1346 for ERCP,$1111 for EUS, and $1145 for MRCP. CONCLUSIONS : In this patient population with a low disease prevalence, EUS was superior to MRCP for choledocholithiasis. EUS was most useful for confirming a normal biliary tree and should be considered a low-risk alternative to ERCP. Although MRCP had the lowest procedural reimbursement, the initial EUS strategy had the greatest cost-utility by avoiding unnecessary ERCP examinations.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73885/1/j.1572-0241.2001.04245.x.pd

Multimodal MRI as a diagnostic biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective Reliable biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) are needed, given the clinical heterogeneity of the disease. Here, we provide proof‐of‐concept for using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) as a diagnostic biomarker for ALS . Specifically, we evaluated the added diagnostic utility of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( MRS ) to diffusion tensor imaging ( DTI ). Methods Twenty‐nine patients with ALS and 30 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls underwent brain MRI which used proton MRS including spectral editing techniques to measure γ‐aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) and DTI to measure fractional anisotropy of the corticospinal tract. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, t ‐tests, and generalized linear models with leave‐one‐out analysis to generate and compare the resulting receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curves. Results The diagnostic accuracy is significantly improved when the MRS data were combined with the DTI data as compared to the DTI data only (area under the ROC curves ( AUC ) = 0.93 vs. AUC  = 0.81; P  = 0.05). The combined MRS and DTI data resulted in sensitivity of 0.93, specificity of 0.85, positive likelihood ratio of 6.20, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.08 whereas the DTI data only resulted in sensitivity of 0.86, specificity of 0.70, positive likelihood ratio of 2.87, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.20. Interpretation Combining multiple advanced neuroimaging modalities significantly improves disease discrimination between ALS patients and healthy controls. These results provide an important step toward advancing a multimodal MRI approach along the diagnostic test development pathway for ALS.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106065/1/acn330.pd

Yellow sea mine hunting using the Navy's CASS/GRAB model

The purpose of this work is to determine the necessity of a near real time ocean modeling capability such as the Naval Oceanographic Office's (NAVOCENANO) Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System (MODAS) model in shallow water (such as the Yellow Sea) mine hunting applications using the Navy's Comprehensive Acoustic Simulation System/Gaussian Ray Bundle (CASS/GRAB) Mode. Sound speed profiles inputted into CASS/GRAB were calculated from observational (MOODS) and climatological (GDEM) data sets for different seasons and regions of four different bottom types (sand, gravel, mud and rock). The CASS/GRAB model outputs were compared to the outputs from corresponding MODAS data sets. The results of the comparisons domonstrated in many cases a significant acoustic difference between the alternate profiles. These results demonstrated that there is a need for a predictive modeling capability such as MODAS to address the mine warfare (MIW) needs in the Yellow Sea region. There were some weaknesses detected in the profiles the MODAS model produces in the Yellow Sea, which must be resolved before it can reliably address the MIW needs in the regionNAVOCEANO, Stennis Space Center, MS 39522-5001Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited