Citations

Chronic Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection is a major gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) risk factor. GA disproportionately affects U.S. Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Since H. pylori infection studies in Hispanics are few, infection rates in Hispanic and NHW men in Bexar County were compared, and relationships with ethnicity and obesity examined. Age- and zip code-matched participants from a community-dwelling cohort were randomly selected. Sera from 284 men were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay for H. pylori antibodies. Adjusted risk ratio estimation for matched data was conducted to identify differences. Hispanics had a markedly higher prevalence of infection (30.3%) than NHWs (9.2%). Matched risk ratio (mRR) analyses revealed a strong association between H. pylori seropositivity and Hispanic ethnicity (mRR = 3.31; 95% CI [1.91, 5.73], adjusted by BMI, smoking status, and family history of cancer (mRR range = 3.28-3.89). BMI mRRs (range = 1.19-1.22) were significant in all models. In this cohort, Hispanic men had higher H. pylori infection rates than NHWs, and parallel the disproportionately higher rates of GA; obesity contributes to this higher prevalence. Future studies should address country of origin, acculturation, and other factors influencing obesity to further elucidate risk of GA in Hispanic populations.

ABSTRACT Background The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) is an innovative element of the ACGME's new accreditation system. To date, little information has been collected regarding the value of CLER. Objective The purpose of this study is to collect information on designated institutional officials' (DIOs') perspectives about the initial CLER visits conducted at their institutions. Methods The authors created and distributed a survey to DIOs about their initial CLER visits. Demographic data were compared across survey responses with Spearman's rank correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results The authors received responses from 63% of DIOs (186 of 297) at institutions that participated in the initial CLER visits, with 88% (164 of 186) having served as DIO during the visit. Seventy-two percent (114 of 158) reported institutional changes to address CLER focus areas prior to the visit, yet only 32% (51 of 157) reported that additional resources were allocated to these areas after the site visit. Sixty-five percent (102 of 156) reported institutional executive leadership was positive about participating in CLER; 85% (134 of 158) reported that ACGME conducted the visits efficiently; 84% (133 of 158) reported that the site visit accurately assessed the institution's performance in the CLER focus areas; and 60% (93 of 156) reported CLER provided high-value information. Conclusion Survey results from DIOs suggest that CLER is an effective mechanism to improve the learning environment. Common concerns included limited advance notice for the site visit and disruptions of clinical practice.

364 Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been reported to occur in 2-5% of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). While VTE is an important cause of perioperative morbidity, the association of these events with long-term cancer prognosis has not been established. Herein, we evaluated the association of perioperative VTE with patients’ risk of subsequent disease recurrence and mortality. Methods: We reviewed 2889 patients undergoing RC between 1980−2009 at the Mayo Clinic to identify patients diagnosed with a VTE within 90 days of RC. These cases were then matched in a 1:2 fashion to control patients undergoing RC who did not develop VTE. Matching was performed on the basis of age, BMI, receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and pathologic T and N stages. Recurrence-free (RFS), cancer-specific (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated utilizing the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Results: A total of 132 patients with a VTE within 90 days of RC were identified, accounting for 4.6% of all patients analyzed. These cases were matched to 257 controls per criteria noted above, and were overall well-matched. Of the 389 patients in this study, median follow-up after RC was 9.2 years, during which time 152 (39%) patients experienced recurrence and 306 (78%) died, including 157 (40%) who died of bladder cancer. We found no significant difference in 5-year RFS (59% versus 61%; p = 0.75); CSS (57% versus 64%; p = 0.13); or OS (45% versus 50%; p = 0.15) between patients with versus without perioperative VTE, respectively. Conclusions: We found that VTE within 90 days of RC did not significantly impact long-term cancer outcomes. While these events represent an important cause of perioperative morbidity, no interaction with oncologic control was noted, and patients may be counseled accordingly.

308 Background: Receipt of pelvic radiotherapy (PRT) prior to radical cystectomy (RC) has unclear association on oncologic outcomes. Methods: The Mayo Clinic Cystectomy Registry was queried to review 2139 patients undergoing RC for M0 bladder cancer between 1990 and 2010. We then identified patients receiving PRT prior to RC, and matched these cases to non-radiated controls (~1:2) on the basis of age, sex, receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and pathologic T and N stages. Cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Results: Of 2139 patients undergoing RC, 104 (4.9%) had received PRT prior to surgery. These patients were matched to 191 non-radiated control patients (no PRT). Overall, patients were well-matched on disease and patient characteristics. Median follow-up was 9.6 years (IQR 6.0, 14.8). During this time, 108 patients experienced disease recurrence and 218 died, including 122 who died from bladder cancer. Five-year CSS among patients who did versus did not receive PRT was 55% versus 63% (p=0.10), while the 5-year PFS was 55% versus 61% (p=0.32). Furthermore, the pattern of disease recurrence (abdominal/visceral, urothelial, local/pelvic, thoracic, soft tissue/other) did not differ between the no PRT and PRT groups (all p>0.05). Conclusions: Receipt of PRT prior to RC is not associated with worse oncologic outcomes. While prior PRT may increase surgical complexity, CSS, PFS, and patterns of recurrence are similar to patients who have not received PRT.

106 Background: Pharmacoepidemiologic studies suggest prognostic benefits of aspirin in prostate cancer. We hypothesized that prostate cancer tissue from regular aspirin users at cancer diagnosis compared to nonusers is characterized by specific transcriptional changes. Methods: We analyzed tumor whole-transcriptome data from men diagnosed with prostate cancer during prospective follow up of the Physicians Health Study 1 (PHS1, n1 = 150), initially a randomized-controlled trial of aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. We compared the expression of putative aspirin target genes ( PTGS2, CTNNB1, MYC, AXIN2, PTGER3) between regular aspirin users ( ≥ 3 x 324 mg/week) and non-users at cancer diagnosis. We used Gene Set Enrichment Analysis to identify Gene Ontology biological process gene sets (total, 3609) associated with aspirin use. Leading edge genes of ≥ 3 functionally related gene sets were summarized in a meta-gene score. Results were validated among prostate cancer patients from the Health-Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS, n2 = 254; aspirin use, ≥ 2 x/week). Results: Regular aspirin use was common (65% in PHS1; 45% in HPFS) and not associated with age, stage, and Gleason grade. In PHS1, none of the predefined genes were associated with aspirin use (all p > 0.05). 26 gene sets were downregulated in aspirin users at a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.25 (9 at FDR < 0.05). 11 gene sets were clustered functionally around ribosome function and protein translation. A “ribosome” score of 96 genes was higher in aspirin users compared to nonusers (difference, 35.5 standard deviations [SD]; p = 0.0001). There was no dose-dependency for cumulative duration of aspirin use before cancer diagnosis ( ptrend = 0.17) or time since stopping use among non-users at diagnosis ( p = 0.32). In HPFS, neither the pre-defined target genes (all p > 0.18) nor the score were associated with aspirin use (difference, –9.8 SD; p = 0.18). Conclusions: Although RNA acetylation and resulting intratumoral gene expression changes due to aspirin use may be biologically plausible, we were unable to corroborate this association in two-long term prospective studies. Short-term trials might assess if aspirin has direct effects on tumor gene expression.

576 Background: Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is rare, accounting for 1% of gastrointestinal malignancies, but the incidence is rising. Risk factors for the development of ASCC in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) include immunotherapy, increased duration of disease, and chronic fistulizing perianal disease. We sought to understand management strategies for ASCC in the setting of CD. Methods: A retrospective review from 2001-2016 was conducted for ICD-9/10 codes pertaining to Crohn’s disease (CD) (555.9/ K50) and ASCC (154.3/C44.520). Adult patients with a diagnosis of CD at the time of ASCC diagnosis were included. Results: A total of 7 patients (5 female) were included with a median age of 50 years. The majority presented with perianal pain (4) and bleeding (3). The mean duration of CD was 20 years, and all patients had perianal disease for > 10 years. Five patients had perianal fistulizing disease at the time of ASCC presentation. Clinical stage at diagnosis of ASCC was stage 0 (n = 1), I (n = 1), II (n = 1), III (n = 2), IV (n = 1), and unknown (n = 1). All patients were treated with Nigro protocol which included radiation (50-55Gy), 5-fluorouracil, and mitomycin; 1 patient received cisplatin due to concurrent Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Three patients required fecal diversion during radiation due to significant perianal disease. Two patients experienced complications related to radiation including anal and vaginal stenosis and an anovaginal fistula. One additional patient required an APR with rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for uncontrolled CD after treatment. During follow-up, 3 of the 7 patients undergoing definitive chemoradiation developed residual or recurrent disease and required salvage APR. All patients were alive at last follow-up, 2 with metastatic disease. 5-year disease free survival was 56%. Conclusions: Patients with ASCC in the setting of CD may be managed with the standard Nigro protocol, but complications from radiation are common in this setting. Three of seven patients required salvage surgery for residual or recurrent disease, and an additional patient required APR for palliation of CD symptoms. Given the aggressive nature of ASCC in this population, surveillance guidelines are necessary.

IntroductionDofetilide is a class III antiarrhythmic prescribed to cardiovert persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm (SR).HypothesisTo determine the clinical predictors of cardioversion and readmission in persistent AF patients on dofetilide.MethodsWe analyzed 160 patients with persistent AF who were started on dofetilide and followed for 1 year. We examined age, sex, race, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia, CAD, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), creatinine, BMI and concomitant use of calcium channel blockers (CCB), β‐blockers in a multivariable logistic regression model. We also examined the same predictors in Cox regression model for AF‐related readmission within 1 year of follow‐up.Results13.5% individuals did not convert to SR on dofetilide. 55.6% converted on the first dose and 83.1% converted by the fourth dose. In multivariable logistic models, dyslipidemia (OR: 2.4, CI: 1.12‐5.16) and LVEF (OR: 3.83,CI: 1.37‐10.8) were associated with failure to convert with the first dose. Female sex and LVEF also were associated with increased risk of failure to convert at all. Concomitant use of CCB associated with decreased risk of failure to convert to SR. In Cox proportional model, female sex, age <63 years and CAD were associated with increased AF readmission within 1 year.ConclusionsDyslipidemia and LVEF <40% were associated with failure to cardiovert after first dose, and female sex and LVEF 40% were related to failure to convert at all on dofetilide in persistent AF patients. After 1‐year follow‐up, female sex, known CAD, and age <63 years were associated with increased AF readmissions.

Background Variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance between individuals with identical long QT syndrome (LQTS) causative mutations largely remain unexplained. Founder populations provide a unique opportunity to explore modifying genetic effects. We examined the role of a novel synonymous KCNQ1 p.L353L variant on the splicing of exon 8 and on heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc) in a population known to have a pathogenic LQTS type 1 (LQTS1) causative mutation, p.V205M, in KCNQ1-encoded Kv7.1. Methods 419 adults were genotyped for p.V205M, p.L353L and a previously described QTc modifier (KCNH2-p.K897T). Adjusted linear regression determined the effect of each variant on QTc, alone and in combination. In addition, peripheral blood RNA was extracted from three controls and three p.L353L-positive individuals. The mutant transcript levels were assessed via qPCR and normalised to overall KCNQ1 transcript levels to assess the effect on splicing. Results For women and men, respectively, p.L353L alone conferred a 10.0 (p=0.064) ms and 14.0 (p=0.014) ms increase in QTc and in men only a significant interaction effect in combination with the p.V205M (34.6 ms, p=0.003) resulting in a QTc of ∼500 ms. The mechanism of p.L353L's effect was attributed to approximately threefold increase in exon 8 exclusion resulting in ∼25% mutant transcripts of the total KCNQ1 transcript levels. Conclusions Our results provide the first evidence that synonymous variants outside the canonical splice sites in KCNQ1 can alter splicing and clinically impact phenotype. Through this mechanism, we identified that p.L353L can precipitate QT prolongation by itself and produce a clinically relevant interactive effect in conjunction with other LQTS variants.