Long-term survival after traumatic brain injury: a population-based analysis controlled for nonhead trauma

OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of co-occurring nonhead injuries to hazard of death after traumatic brain injury (TBI). PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents with confirmed TBI from 1987 through 1999 was identified. DESIGN: Each case was assigned an age- and sex-matched, non-TBI "regular control" from the population. For "special cases" with accompanying nonhead injuries, 2 matched "special controls" with nonhead injuries of similar severity were assigned. MEASURES: Vital status was followed from baseline (ie, injury date for cases, comparable dates for controls) through 2008. Cases were compared first with regular controls and second with regular or special controls, depending on case type. RESULTS: In total, 1257 cases were identified (including 221 special cases). For both cases versus regular controls and cases versus regular or special controls, the hazard ratio was increased from baseline to 6 months (10.82 [2.86-40.89] and 7.13 [3.10-16.39], respectively) and from baseline through study end (2.92 [1.74-4.91] and 1.48 [1.09-2.02], respectively). Among 6-month survivors, the hazard ratio was increased for cases versus regular controls (1.43 [1.06-2.15]) but not for cases versus regular or special controls (1.05 [0.80-1.38]). CONCLUSIONS: Among 6-month survivors, accounting for nonhead injuries resulted in a nonsignificant effect of TBI on long-term mortality

Attitudes toward cost-conscious care among U.S. physicians and medical students: analysis of national cross-sectional survey data by age and stage of training

Abstract Background The success of initiatives intended to increase the value of health care depends, in part, on the degree to which cost-conscious care is endorsed by current and future physicians. This study aimed to first analyze attitudes of U.S. physicians by age and then compare the attitudes of physicians and medical students. Methods A paper survey was mailed in mid-2012 to 3897 practicing physicians randomly selected from the American Medical Association Masterfile. An electronic survey was sent in early 2015 to all 5,992 students at 10 U.S. medical schools. Survey items measured attitudes toward cost-conscious care and perceived responsibility for reducing healthcare costs. Physician responses were first compared across age groups (30–40 years, 41–50 years, 51–60 years, and > 60 years) and then compared to student responses using Chi square tests and logistic regression analyses (controlling for sex). Results A total of 2,556 physicians (65%) and 3395 students (57%) responded. Physician attitudes generally did not differ by age, but differed significantly from those of students. Specifically, students were more likely than physicians to agree that cost to society should be important in treatment decisions (p < 0.001) and that physicians should sometimes deny beneficial but costly services (p < 0.001). Students were less likely to agree that it is unfair to ask physicians to be cost-conscious while prioritizing patient welfare (p < 0.001). Compared to physicians, students assigned more responsibility for reducing healthcare costs to hospitals and health systems (p < 0.001) and less responsibility to lawyers (p < 0.001) and patients (p < 0.001). Nearly all significant differences persisted after controlling for sex and when only the youngest physicians were compared to students. Conclusions Physician attitudes toward cost-conscious care are similar across age groups. However, physician attitudes differ significantly from medical students, even among the youngest physicians most proximate to students in age. Medical student responses suggest they are more accepting of cost-conscious care than physicians and attribute more responsibility for reducing costs to organizations and systems rather than individuals. This may be due to the combined effects of generational differences, new medical school curricula, students’ relative inexperience providing cost-conscious care within complex healthcare systems, and the rapidly evolving U.S. healthcare system.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146517/1/12909_2018_Article_1388.pd

Race-ethnic Variation in Carotid Bifurcation Geometry

Disturbances in local blood flow influenced by arterial geometry contribute to atherogenesis. Carotid bifurcation hemodynamics depend on the relative sizes of the common carotid artery (CCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), and external carotid artery (ECA), which vary considerably among individuals. The prevalence of carotid bifurcation atherosclerosis differs among race-ethnic groups and is generally lower in African Americans despite a more adverse vascular risk factor profile. We here examine whether there are race-ethnic differences in carotid bifurcation anatomy. The diameters of the CCA, carotid bulb, ICA, and ECA were measured from consecutive cerebral angiograms of African American, white, and Caribbean Hispanic patients. The bulb/CCA, ICA/CCA, ECA/CCA, ECA/ICA, and total cross-sectional outflow/inflow ratio ([ICA 2 + ECA 2]/CCA 2) were calculated. The final analysis included 272 bifurcations of which 103 were among white, 87 Hispanic, and 82 African American patients. The mean age of the population was 59.8 ± 15.8 years and 148 (54.4%) were men. African Americans had a lower ICA/CCA ratio ( P < .001) and ICA/ECA ratio ( P < .0001) and a higher ECA/CCA ratio ( P < .0001) in comparison with the other two groups. We found significant differences in the relative sizes of the ICA, ECA, and CCA among race-ethnic groups. African Americans had a proportionally smaller ICA and larger ECA in comparison with whites and Caribbean Hispanics

Fibromyalgia in migraine: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background Migraine is a common and disabling disorder. Fibromyalgia has been shown to be commonly comorbid in patients with migraine and can intensify disability. The aim of this study was to determine if patients with co-morbid fibromyalgia and migraine report more depressive symptoms, have more headache related disability, or report higher intensity of headache as compared to patients with migraine only. Cases of comorbid fibromyalgia and migraine were identified using a prospectively maintained headache database at Mayo Clinic Rochester. One-hundred and fifty seven cases and 471 controls were identified using this database and the Mayo Clinic electronic medical record. Findings Depressive symptoms as assessed by PHQ-9, intensity of headache, and migraine related disability as assessed by MIDAS were primary measures used to compare migraine patients with comorbid fibromyalgia versus those without. Patients with comorbid fibromyalgia reported significantly higher PHQ-9 scores (OR 1.08, p < .0001) and headache intensity scores (OR 1.149, p = .007). There was no significant difference in migraine related disability (OR 1.002, p = .075). Patients with fibromyalgia were more likely to score in a higher category of depression severity (OR 1.467, p < .0001) and more likely to score in a higher category of migraine related disability (OR 1.23, p = .004). Conclusion Patients with comorbid fibromyalgia and migraine report more depressive symptoms, higher headache intensity, and are more likely to have severe headache related disability as compared to controls without fibromyalgia. Clinicians who care for patients with migraine may consider screening for comorbid fibromyalgia particularly in patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms, high headache intensity and/or high headache related disability. This is the first matched study to look at these characterisitcs, and it replicates previous findings from unmatched studies

In vitro activity of exebacase against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on orthopedic Kirschner wires

Abstract Orthopedic foreign body-associated infection can be difficult to treat due to the formation of biofilms protecting microorganisms from both antimicrobials and the immune system. Exebacase is an antistaphylococcal lysin (cell wall hydrolase) under consideration for local treatment for biofilm-based infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To determine the activity of exebacase, we formed MRSA biofilms on orthopedic Kirschner wires and exposed them to varying concentrations (0.098, 0.98, 9.8 mg/ml) of exebacase and/or daptomycin over 24 h. The biofilm consisted of 5.49 log10 colony forming units (cfu)/K-wire prior to treatment and remained steady throughout the experiment. Exebacase showed significant biofilm reduction at all timepoints (up to 5.78 log10 cfu/K-wire; P  3 log10 cfu/K-wire reduction) observed for up to 12 h for the 0.098 and 0.98 mg/ml concentrations and at 24 h for 9.8 mg/ml. Daptomycin showed significant biofilm reduction, although non-bactericidal, at all time points for 0.98 and 9.8 mg/ml and at 4 and 8 h with 0.098 mg/ml (P < 0.0495). This study supports further evaluation of local administration of exebacase as a potential treatment for orthopedic implant infections

Nurses’ Attitudes and Practices Related to Sedation: A National Survey

Background Nurses are fundamental to the implementation of sedation protocols for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. A 2005 survey showed that nurses’ attitudes toward sedation affected their sedation practices. Since then, updated guidelines on managing pain, agitation, and delirium have been published. Objective To explore nurses’ self-reported attitudes and practices related to sedation and determine whether they have changed in the past decade. Methods Members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses were invited to complete the Nurse Sedation Practices Scale, which measures nurses’ self-reported sedation practices and factors that affect them. Item and subscale responses were analyzed, and differences in item responses by respondent characteristics were determined. Results Respondents (N = 177) were mostly staff nurses (68%) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (63%). Nurses’ attitudes toward the effectiveness of sedation in relieving patients’ distress during mechanical ventilation correlated positively with their intention to administer sedatives (rs = 0.65). Sixty-six percent of nurses agreed that sedation was necessary for patients’ comfort, and 34% agreed that limiting patients’ recall was a desired outcome of sedation. Respondents with more experience or CCRN certification had a less positive evaluation of the effectiveness of sedation in minimizing distress. Conclusions Nurses’ attitudes toward sedating patients receiving mechanical ventilation have shifted in the past decade, with fewer nurses now believing that all patients should be sedated. However, more than half of nurses still agree that sedation is needed for patients’ comfort, highlighting the need to consider nurses’ attitudes when seeking to optimize sedation practices during mechanical ventilation

Burden and causes of readmissions following initial discharge after aortic syndromes

Abstract Introduction: Aortic syndromes (AS), including aortic dissection (AD), intramural hematoma (IMH), and penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU), carry significant morbidity and mortality; little data exist regarding burden and causes of related rehospitalizations following initial discharge. Methods: The study was conducted using the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP). All adult residents (age≥18 years) with an incident diagnosis of AD/IMH/PAU (1995-2015) were identified from the REP using the International Classification of Disease (ICD), 9th and 10th revision, codes and Hospital Adaptation of the ICD, 2nd edition, codes. Assessment of any-cause (aortic+cardiovascular), aortic-related, or cardiovascular-related readmissions was determined following date of hospital discharge or diagnosis date (i.e. the index event). Results: A total of 117 patients out of 130 cases of AD/IMH/PAU included in the initial study population survived the index event and were evaluated. The median age of diagnosis was 74 years and 70 (60%) were male. A total of 79 patients (68%) experienced at least one readmission. The median time to first any-cause, cardiovascular and aortic readmission was 143, 861 and 171 days, respectively. The cumulative incidence of any-cause readmissions at 2, 4 and 10 years was 45%, 55% and 69%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of cardiovascular readmissions at 2, 4 and 10 years was 15%, 20% and 28%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of aortic readmissions at 2, 4 and 10 years was 38%, 46% and 59%, respectively. Overall survival for the entire cohort at 2, 4 and 10 years was 84%, 75% and 50%, respectively. Conclusion: Readmissions following initial discharge after diagnosis of AS are common and not different across specific disease types. While aortic-related rehospitalization occur in more than half of patients but tend to be earlier, cardiovascular-related rehospitalizations tend to happen later in about one third of subjects. This may suggest the need for early follow-up focused on aortic complications while later follow-up should address cardiovascular events