Asynchronous web-based learning, a practical method to enhance teaching in emergency medicine

Objective: To compare medical knowledge acquisition among emergency medicine (EM) residents who attend weekly core content lectures with those absent but asynchronously viewing the same lectures in a Web-based electronic platform. Subjects and Methods: During the study period all EM residents attending or absent from weekly educational conferences were given a quiz on the covered material. During Phase 1, absentees were not given supplemental educational content for missed lectures. During Phase 2, absentees were sent a link to an online multimedia module containing an audiovisual recording of the actual missed lecture with presentation slides. Scores between attendees and absentees during both phases were compared using a repeated-measures analysis to evaluate the effect of the supplemental online module on knowledge acquisition. Results:Thirty-nine EM residents (equally distributed in postgraduate years 1–4) were studied during a 15-week period. Overall and after adjusting for sex and postgraduate year level, both lecture attendance (b=27; 95% confidence interval, 22–32;p Conclusions: In an EM residency program, asynchronous Web-based learning may result in medical knowledge acquisition similar to or better than attending traditional core content lectures. The percentage of curriculum delivery by asynchronous learning that may be used to achieve overall terminal learning objectives in medical knowledge acquisition requires further study

Increased MACC1 levels in tissues and blood identify colon adenoma patients at high risk

Background Colorectal cancer is a preventable disease if caught at early stages. This disease is highly aggressive and has a higher incidence in African Americans. Several biomarkers and mutations of aggressive tumor behavior have been defined such as metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) that was associated with metastasis in colorectal cancer patients. Here, we aim to assess colon tissue MACC1 protein and circulating MACC1 transcripts in colon preneoplastic and neoplastic African American patients. Methods Patients’ tissue samples (n = 143) have been arranged on three tissue microarrays for normal (n = 26), adenoma (n = 68) and cancer (n = 49) samples. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MACC1 expression. Blood samples (n = 93) from normal (n = 45), hyperplastic (n = 15) and tubular adenoma (n = 33) patients were used to assess MACC1 transcripts using qRT-PCR. Distribution of continuous variables was tested between different diagnoses with Kruskal–Wallis test. Categorical variables were tested by Chi square test. We assessed the prognostic ability of IHC staining by calculating area under receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) for adenoma and cancer separately. Differences between groups in terms of MACC1 transcript levels in plasma were calculated by using non-parametric (exact) Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney tests. We performed all calculations with SPSS, version 21. Results In patient tissues, there was a statistically significant difference in MACC1 expression in normal vs. adenoma samples (p = 0.004) and normal vs. cancer samples (p < 0.001). There was however no major difference in MACC1 expression between adenoma vs. cancer cases or tubular adenomas vs tubulovillous adenomas. The area under the curve for both normal vs. adenoma and normal vs. cancer cases were 70 and 67 %, respectively. MACC1 expression was not correlated to age, gender or anatomical sample location. In patient plasma, MACC1 transcripts in adenoma patients were significantly higher than in plasma from normal patients (p = 0.014). However, the difference between normal and hyperplastic plasma MACC1 transcripts was not statistically significant. Conclusion Metastasis- associated in colon cancer 1 is expressed at early stages of colorectal oncogenesis within the affected colonic tissue in this patient cohort. The plasma transcripts can be used to stratify African American patients at risk for potential malignant colonic lesions

Distinct High-Profile Methylated Genes in Colorectal Cancer

Background: Mutations and promoters ’ methylation of a set of candidate cancer genes (CAN genes) are associated with progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). We hypothesized that these genes ’ promoters are inactivated through epigenetic silencing and may show a different profile in high-risk populations. We investigated the status of CAN gene methylation and CHD5 protein expression in African American CRC tissue microarrays (TMA) using immunohistochemical staining. Methodology/Principal Findings: The promoter methylation status of the CAN genes was studied by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in 51 Iranians (a white population) and 51 African Americans (AA). Microsatellite instability (MSI) was analyzed as well. The differential frequency of methylation for each gene was tested by chi-square analysis between the two groups based on matched age and sex. CHD5 protein expression was evaluated in moderate to well differentiated and poorly differentiated carcinomas compared to matched normal tissue using TMA. In addition, the correlation between these epigenetic biomarkers and various clinicopathological factors, including, age, location, and stage of the disease were analyzed. Seventy-seven and 34 % of tumors were distal in Iranian and African American patients, respectively. In both populations, the percentage of methylation was.65 % for SYNE1, MMP2, APC2, GPNMB, EVL, PTPRD, and STARD8, whereas methylation was,50 % for LGR6, RET, CD109, and RNF. The difference in methylation between the two populations was statistically significant for CHD5, ICAM5 and GPNMB. Thirty-one percent AA tumors showed MSI-H, compared to 28 % i

Subanesthetic ketamine infusions for the treatment of children and adolescents with chronic pain: a longitudinal study

Background Chronic pain is common in children and adolescents and is often associated with severe functional disability and mood disorders. The pharmacological treatment of chronic pain in children and adolescents can be challenging, ineffective, and is mostly based on expert opinions and consensus. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, has been used as an adjuvant for treatment of adult chronic pain and has been shown, in some instances, to improve pain and decrease opioid-requirement. We examined the effects of subanesthetic ketamine infusions on pain intensity and opioid use in children and adolescents with chronic pain syndromes treated in an outpatient setting. Methods Longitudinal cohort study of consecutive pediatric patients treated with subanesthetic ketamine infusions in a tertiary outpatient center. Outcome measurements included self-reported pain scores (numeric rating scale) and morphine-equivalent intake. Results Over a 15-month period, 63 children and adolescents (median age 15, interquartile range 12–17 years) with chronic pain received 277 ketamine infusions. Intravenous administration of subanesthetic doses of ketamine to children and adolescents on an outpatient basis was safe and not associated with psychotropic effects or hemodynamic perturbations. Overall, ketamine significantly reduced pain intensity (p \u3c0.001) and yielded greater pain reduction in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) than in patients with other chronic pain syndromes (p = 0.029). Ketamine-associated reductions in pain scores were the largest in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and trauma patients and the smallest in patients with chronic headache (p = 0.007). In 37 % of infusions, patients had a greater than 20 % reduction in pain score. Conversely, ketamine infusions did not change overall morphine-equivalent intake (p = 0.3). Conclusions These data suggest that subanesthetic ketamine infusion is feasible in an outpatient setting and may benefit children and adolescents with chronic pain. Further, patients with CRPS, POTS, and

HIV infection is an independent risk factor for decreased 6-minute walk test distance.

BackgroundAmbulatory function predicts morbidity and mortality and may be influenced by cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Persons living with HIV (PLWH) suffer from a high prevalence of cardiac and pulmonary comorbidities that may contribute to higher risk of ambulatory dysfunction as measured by 6-minute walk test distance (6-MWD). We investigated the effect of HIV on 6-MWD.MethodsPLWH and HIV-uninfected individuals were enrolled from 2 clinical centers and completed a 6-MWD, spirometry, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results of 6-MWD were compared between PLWH and uninfected individuals after adjusting for confounders. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to determine predictors of 6-MWD.ResultsMean 6-MWD in PLWH was 431 meters versus 462 in 130 HIV-uninfected individuals (p = 0.0001). Older age, lower forced expiratory volume (FEV1)% or lower forced vital capacity (FVC)%, and smoking were significant predictors of decreased 6-MWD in PLWH, but not HIV-uninfected individuals. Lower DLCO% and higher SGRQ were associated with lower 6-MWD in both groups. In a combined model, HIV status remained an independent predictor of decreased 6-MWD (Mean difference = -19.9 meters, p = 0.005).ConclusionsHIV infection was associated with decreased ambulatory function. Airflow limitation and impaired diffusion capacity can partially explain this effect. Subjective assessments of respiratory symptoms may identify individuals at risk for impaired physical function who may benefit from early intervention

Characteristics and survival of patients diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis: A case series

BackgroundSarcoidosis is a multiorgan system granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. It is hypothesized that a combination of environmental, occupational, and/or infectious factors provoke an immunological response in genetically susceptible individuals, resulting in a diversity of manifestations throughout the body. In the United States, cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is diagnosed in 5% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis, however, autopsy results suggest that cardiac involvement may be present in &gt; 50% of patients. CS is debilitating and significantly decreases quality of life and survival. Currently, there are no gold-standard clinical diagnostic or monitoring criteria for CS.MethodsWe identified patients with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis who were seen at the Simmons Center from 2007 to 2020 who had a positive finding of CS documented with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and/or endomyocardial biopsy as found in the electronic health record. Medical records were independently reviewed for interpretation and diagnostic features of CS including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns, increased signal on T2-weighted imaging, and non-caseating granulomas, respectively. Extracardiac organ involvement, cardiac manifestations, comorbid conditions, treatment history, and vital status were also abstracted.ResultsWe identified 44 unique patients with evidence of CS out of 246 CMR reports and 9 endomyocardial biopsy pathology reports. The first eligible case was diagnosed in 2007. The majority of patients (73%) had pulmonary manifestations, followed by hepatic manifestations (23%), cutaneous involvement (23%), and urolithiasis (20%). Heart failure was the most common cardiac manifestation affecting 59% of patients. Of these, 39% had a documented left ventricular ejection fraction of &lt; 50% on CMR. Fifty eight percent of patients had a conduction disease and 44% of patients had documented ventricular arrhythmias. Pharmacotherapy was usually initiated for extracardiac manifestations and 93% of patients had been prescribed prednisone. ICD implantation occurred in 43% of patients. Patients were followed up for a median of 5.4 (IQR: 2.4–8.5) years. The 10-year survival was 70%. In addition to age, cutaneous involvement was associated with an increased risk of death (age-adjusted OR 8.47, 95% CI = 1.11–64.73).ConclusionCMR is an important tool in the non-invasive diagnosis of CS. The presence of LGE on CMR in a pattern consistent with CS has been shown to be a predictor of mortality and likely contributed to a high proportion of patients undergoing ICD implantation to decrease risk of sudden cardiac death.Clinical implicationsAdditional studies are necessary to develop robust criteria for the diagnosis of CS with CMR, assess the benefit of serial imaging for disease monitoring, and evaluate the effect of immunosuppression on disease progression

Risk factors for mortality in adult patients with sickle cell disease: a meta-analysis of studies in North America and Europe

Although recent studies show an improved survival of children with sickle cell disease in the US and Europe, for adult patients mortality remains high. This study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with mortality in adult patients following the approval of hydroxyurea. We first evaluated the association between selected variables and mortality at an academic center (University of North Carolina). Data sources were then searched for publications from 1998 to June 2016, with meta-analysis of eligible studies conducted in North America and Europe to evaluate the associations of selected variables with mortality in adult patients. Nine studies, combined with the UNC cohort (total n=3257 patients) met the eligibility criteria. Mortality was significantly associated with age (per 10-year increase in age) [7 studies, 2306 participants; hazard ratio (HR): 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–1.50], tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity 2.5 m/s or more (5 studies, 1577 participants; HR: 3.03; 95%CI: 2.0–4.60), reticulocyte count (3 studies, 1050 participants; HR: 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01–1.10), log(N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide) (3 studies, 800 participants; HR: 1.68; 95%CI: 1.48–1.90), and fetal hemoglobin (7 studies, 2477 participants; HR: 0.97; 95%CI: 0.94–1.0). This study identifies variables associated with mortality in adult patients with sickle cell disease in the hydroxyurea era

Impact of BRAF, MLH1 on the incidence of microsatellite instability high colorectal cancer in populations based study

We have identified an alternative pathway of tumorigenesis in sporadic colon cancer, involving microsatellite instability due to mismatched repair methylation, which may be driven by mutations in the BRAF gene (V600E). Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer in the world, and African Americans show a higher incidence than other populations in the United States. We analyzed sporadic CRCs in Omani (of African origin, N = 61), Iranian (of Caucasian origin, N = 53) and African American (N = 95) patients for microsatellite instability, expression status of mismatched repair genes (hMLH1, hMSH2) and presence of the BRAF (V600E) mutation. In the Omani group, all tumors with BRAF mutations were located in the left side of the colon, and for African Americans, 88% [7] of tumors with BRAF mutations were found in the right side of the colon. In African Americans, 31% of tumors displayed microsatellite instability at two or more markers (MSI-H), while this rate was 26% and 13% for tumors in the Iranian and Omani groups, respectively. A majority of these MSI-H tumors were located in the proximal colon (right side) in African American and Iranian subjects, whereas most were located in the distal colon (left side) in Omani subjects. Defects in hMLH1 gene expression were found in 77% of MSI-H tumors in both African Americans and Iranians and in 38% of tumors in Omanis. BRAF mutations were observed in all subjects: 10% of tumors in African Americans (8/82), 2% of tumors in Iranians (1/53), and 19% of tumors in Omanis (11/59). Our findings suggest that CRC occurs at a younger age in Omani and Iranian patients, and these groups showed a lower occurrence of MSI-H than did African American patients. Our multivariate model suggests an important and significant role of hMLH1 expression and BRAF mutation in MSI-H CRC in these populations. The high occurrence of MSI-H tumors in African Americans may have significant implications for treatment, since patients with MSI-H lesions display a different response to chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil

Association of G6PD 202A,376G with lower haemoglobin concentration but not increased haemolysis in patients with sickle cell anaemia

The genetic bases of the highly variable degrees of anaemia and haemolysis in persons with Hb SS are not fully known, but several studies have indicated that G6PD deficiency is not a factor. The G6PD 202A and G6PD 376G alleles and α-thalassaemia were determined by molecular genetic testing in 261 children and adolescents with Hb SS in a multicentre study. G6PD 202A,376G (G6PD A−) was defined as hemizygosity for both alleles in males and homozygosity in females. Among the participants 41% were receiving hydroxycarbamide. The prevalence of G6PD 202A,376G was 13·6% in males and 3·3% in females with an overall prevalence of 8·7%. G6PD 202A,376G was associated with a 10 g/l decrease in haemoglobin concentration ( P  = 0·008) but not with increased haemolysis as measured by lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, aspartate-aminotransferase, reticulocyte count or a haemolytic component derived from these markers ( P  > 0·09). Similar results were found within a sub-group of children who were not receiving hydroxycarbamide. By comparison, single and double α-globin deletions were associated with progressively higher haemoglobin concentrations ( P  = 0·005 for trend), progressively lower values for haemolytic component ( P  = 0·007), and increased severe pain episodes ( P  < 0·001). In conclusion, G6PD 202A,376G may be associated with lower haemoglobin concentration in sickle cell anaemia by a mechanism other than increased haemolysis.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79250/1/j.1365-2141.2010.08215.x.pd

Role of life events in the presence of colon polyps among African Americans

African Americans have disproportionately higher incidence and death rates of colorectal cancer among all ethnic groups in the United States. Several lifestyle factors (e.g. diet, physical activity and alcohol intake) have been suggested as risk factors for colorectal cancer. Stressful life events have also been identified as risk factors for colorectal cancer. The association between stressful life events and colon polyps, which are precursors of colorectal cancer, has yet to be determined. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between stressful life events and the presence of colon polyps and adenomas in African American men and women. In this cross-sectional study, 110 participants were recruited from a colon cancer screening program at Howard University Hospital. Participants completed an 82-item Life Events Questionnaire (Norbeck 1984), assessing major events that have occurred in the participants’ life within the past 12 months. Participants also reported whether the event had a positive or negative impact. Three scores were derived (total, positive, and negative). Total life events scores were higher (Median [M] = 29 and Interquartile range [IQR] = 18-43) in patients with one or more polyps compared to patients without polyps (M, IQR = 21,13-38; P = 0.029). Total, positive or negative Life Events scores did not differ significantly between normal and adenoma patients. Total, negative and positive Life Events scores did not differ between patients who underwent diagnostic colonoscopy (symptomatic) and patients who underwent colonoscopy for colon cancer screening (asymptomatic) and patients for surveillance colonoscopies due to a personal history of colon polyps. Linear regression analysis indicated that male gender is associated with 9.0 unit lower total Life Events score (P = 0.025). This study suggests that patients who experienced total life events may be at higher risk of having colon polyps and adenomas which indicates an association between stress and the development of colorectal polyps.https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-13-10