Citations

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated colitis (ICIC) affects approximately 15% of cancer patients treated with immunotherapy. Although histological evaluation is potentially valuable for both the diagnosis of ICIC and evaluation of disease activity, use in clinical practice is heterogeneous. We aimed to develop expert recommendations to standardize histological assessment of disease activity in patients with ICIC. Using the modified Research and Development/University of California Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA) appropriateness methodology, an international panel of 11 pathologists rated the appropriateness of 99 statements on a 9-point Likert scale during two rounds of anonymous voting. Results were discussed between rounds using moderated videoconferences. There are currently no disease-specific instruments for assessing histological features of ICIC. The panel considered that colonoscopy with at least three biopsies per segment from a total of at least five segments, including both endoscopically normal and inflamed areas, was appropriate for tissue acquisition. They agreed that biopsies should be oriented such that the long axis of the colonic crypts is visualized and should be stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histological items that the panel voted were appropriate to evaluate in ICIC included the degree of structural/architectural change, chronic inflammatory infiltrate, lamina propria and intraepithelial neutrophils, crypt abscesses and destruction, erosions/ulcerations, apoptosis, surface intraepithelial lymphocytosis, and subepithelial collagen thickness. The appropriateness of routine immunohistochemistry was uncertain. These expert recommendations will help standardize assessment of histological activity in patients with ICIC. The panel also identified the development and validation of an ICIC-specific histological index as a research priority.

Routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of Helicobacter pylori by agar dilution is difficult to perform and not practical in most clinical microbiology laboratories. The Etest gradient diffusion method can be a reliable alternative for H. pylori AST with the advantage of being a less laborious quantitative method. This work reveals that an optimized Etest method can provide acceptable performance for H. pylori AST and describes the challenges associated with this methodology.

Objectives Determine whether there are different longitudinal patterns of treatment burden in people living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and, if so, explore predictors that might reveal potential routes of intervention. Methods We analyzed data from a prospective mailed survey study of 396 adults living with MCC in southeastern Minnesota, USA. Participants completed a measure of treatment burden, the Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-management (PETS), and valid measures of health-related and psycho-social concepts at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. Latent class growth mixture modeling (LCGM) determined trajectories of treatment burden in two summary index scores of the PETS: Workload and Impact. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify independent predictors of the trajectories. Results LCGM supported a 2-class model for PETS Workload, including a group of consistently high workload ( N = 69) and a group of consistently low workload ( N = 311) over time. A 3-class model was supported for PETS Impact, including groups of consistently high impact ( N = 62), consistently low impact ( N = 278), and increasing impact ( N = 51) over time. Logistic regression analyses showed that the following factors were associated with patterns of consistently high or increasing treatment burden over time: lower health literacy, lower self-efficacy, more interpersonal challenges with others, and worse subjective reports of physical and mental health (all p < .05). Conclusions Different longitudinal patterns of treatment burden exist among people with MCC. Raising health literacy, enhancing self-efficacy, and lessening the effects of negative social interactions might help reduce treatment burden.

AbstractBackgroundNodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) is a rare condition characterized clinically by the development of non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension. NRH is the histopathological result in the liver of various systemic disease processes including autoimmune disorders, haematological malignancies and medications. However, natural history of this condition has been limited to small case series while patient outcomes pertaining to different aetiologies of NRH are largely unknown.MethodsA retrospective cohort of consecutive patients diagnosed with pathology‐confirmed NRH at Mayo Clinic between 2002 and 2017 was identified. The histological diagnosis of NRH was determined by expert liver pathologists. Patients with metastatic liver disease, history of liver transplantation or younger than 18 were excluded. Potential aetiologies of NRH were classified as haematological, rheumatological, drug‐associated, miscellaneous or idiopathic. Long‐term mortality was analysed using Kaplan‐Meier estimation and Cox regression models.ResultsOne hundred and sixty‐seven consecutive patients with pathology‐confirmed NRH were analysed over a 15‐year period and followed for a median time of 50 months (1–306 months). The mean age at diagnosis was 53 years. No aetiology or risk factor for NRH was identified in the majority of patients (94, 56.3%), whereas an associated, possibly causal, condition was found in 73 patients (secondary NRH). The most common presenting feature was elevated liver tests (80%), but no significant differences in laboratory tests were seen based on aetiology of NRH. Compared to idiopathic NRH, those with an identified cause had a higher rate of splenomegaly at presentation (54% vs. 27%, p = 0.002). Portal hypertension‐related complications at diagnosis were common, with ascites present in one‐third of patients. Overall transplant‐free survival was 63% at 5 years. Median survival in idiopathic NRH was 9.4 years compared to 7.3 years in secondary NRH. Age, renal function and volume status at presentation were significantly associated with survival; however, MELD score was not.ConclusionsThe rates of liver‐related complications and mortality in NRH are low, and only a small number of patients ultimately require liver transplantation. Most patients do not have an identified risk factor or aetiology for NRH, and liver‐related outcomes do not appear to differ based on associated, possibly causal, conditions.

Background: Question prompt lists (QPLs) are structured sets of disease-specific questions that enhance patient-physician communication by encouraging patients to ask questions during consultations. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a preliminary achalasia-specific QPL created by esophageal experts. Methods: The QPL content was derived through a modified Delphi method consisting of 2 rounds. In round 1, experts provided 5 answers to the prompts “What general questions should patients ask when given a new diagnosis of achalasia” and “What questions do I not hear patients asking, but given my expertise, I believe they should be asking?” In round 2, experts rated questions on a 5-point Likert scale. Questions considered “essential” or “important” were accepted into the QPL. Feedback regarding the QPL was obtained in a pilot study wherein patients received the QPL before their consultation and completed surveys afterwards. Results: Nineteen esophageal experts participated in both rounds. Of 148 questions from round 1, 124 (83.8%) were accepted into the QPL. These were further reduced to 56 questions to minimize redundancy. Questions were categorized into 6 themes: “What is achalasia,” “Risks with achalasia,” “Symptom management in achalasia,” “Treatment of achalasia,” “Risk of reflux after treatment,” and “Follow-up after treatment.” Nineteen patients participated in the pilot, most of whom agreed that the QPL was helpful (84.2%) and recommended its wider use (84.2%). Conclusions: This is the first QPL developed specifically for adults with achalasia. Although well-received in a small pilot, follow-up studies will incorporate additional patient feedback to further refine the QPL content and assess its usability, acceptability, and feasibility.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women. Given accumulating evidence on sex- and gender-based differences in cardiovascular disease development and outcomes, the need for more effective approaches to screening for risk factors and phenotypes in women is ever urgent. Public health surveillance and health care delivery systems now continuously generate massive amounts of data that could be leveraged to enable both screening of cardiovascular risk and implementation of tailored preventive interventions across a woman’s life span. However, health care providers, clinical guidelines committees, and health policy experts are not yet sufficiently equipped to optimize the collection of data on women, use or interpret these data, or develop approaches to targeting interventions. Therefore, we provide a broad overview of the key opportunities for cardiovascular screening in women while highlighting the potential applications of artificial intelligence along with digital technologies and tools.

Study Design. Delphi expert panel consensus. Objective. To obtain expert consensus on best practices for appropriate telemedicine utilization in spine surgery. Summary of Background Data. Several studies have shown high patient satisfaction associated with telemedicine during the COVID-19 peak pandemic period as well as after easing of restrictions. As this technology will most likely continue to be employed, there is a need to define appropriate utilization. Methods. An expert panel consisting of 27 spine surgeons from various countries was assembled in February 2021. A two-round consensus-based Delphi method was used to generate consensus statements on various aspects of telemedicine (separated as video visits or audio visits) including themes, such as patient location and impact of patient diagnosis, on assessment of new patients. Topics with ≥75% agreement were categorized as having achieved a consensus. Results. The expert panel reviewed a total of 59 statements. Of these, 32 achieved consensus. The panel had consensus that video visits could be utilized regardless of patient location and that video visits are appropriate for evaluating as well as indicating for surgery multiple common spine pathologies, such as lumbar stenosis, lumbar radiculopathy, and cervical radiculopathy. Finally, the panel had consensus that video visits could be appropriate for a variety of visit types including early, midterm, longer term postoperative follow-up, follow-up for imaging review, and follow-up after an intervention (i.e., physical therapy, injection). Conclusion. Although telemedicine was initially introduced out of necessity, this technology most likely will remain due to evidence of high patient satisfaction and significant cost savings. This study was able to provide a framework for appropriate telemedicine utilization in spine surgery from a panel of experts. However, several questions remain for future research, such as whether or not an in-person consultation is necessary prior to surgery and which physical exam maneuvers are appropriate for telemedicine. Level of Evidence: 4

Rationale: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women. To address its determinants including persisting cardiovascular risk factors amplified by sex and race inequities, novel personalized approaches are needed grounded in the engagement of participants in research and prevention. Objective: To report on a participant-centric and personalized dynamic registry designed to address persistent gaps in understanding and managing cardiovascular disease in women. Methods and Results: The American Heart Association and Verily launched the Research Goes Red registry (RGR) in 2019, as an online research platform available to consenting individuals over the age of 18 years in the United States. RGR aims to bring participants and researchers together to expand knowledge by collecting data and providing an open-source longitudinal dynamic registry for conducting research studies. As of July 2021, 15 350 individuals have engaged with RGR. Mean age of participants was 48.0 48.0±0.2 years with a majority identifying as female and either non-Hispanic White (75.7%) or Black (10.5%). In addition to 6 targeted health surveys, RGR has deployed 2 American Heart Association-sponsored prospective clinical studies based on participants’ areas of interest. The first study focuses on perimenopausal weight gain, developed in response to a health concerns survey. The second study is designed to test the use of social media campaigns to increase awareness and participation in cardiovascular disease research among underrepresented millennial women. Conclusions: RGR is a novel online participant-centric platform that has successfully engaged women and provided critical data on women’s heart health to guide research. Priorities for the growth of RGR are centered on increasing reach and diversity of participants, and engaging researchers to work within their communities to leverage the platform to address knowledge gaps and improve women’s health.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine overall trends and center-level variation in utilization of completion lymph node dissection (CLND) and adjuvant systemic therapy for sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma. Summary Background Data: Based on recent clinical trials, management options for SLN-positive melanoma now include effective adjuvant systemic therapy and nodal observation instead of CLND. It is unknown how these findings have shaped practice or how these contemporaneous developments have influenced their respective utilization. Methods: We performed an international cohort study at 21 melanoma referral centers in Australia, Europe, and the United States that treated adults with SLN-positive melanoma and negative distant staging from July 2017 to June 2019. We used generalized linear and multinomial logistic regression models with random intercepts for each center to assess center-level variation in CLND and adjuvant systemic treatment, adjusting for patient and disease-specific characteristics. Results: Among 1109 patients, performance of CLND decreased from 28% to 8% and adjuvant systemic therapy use increased from 29 to 60%. For both CLND and adjuvant systemic treatment, the most influential factors were nodal tumor size, stage, and location of treating center. There was notable variation among treating centers in management of stage IIIA patients and use of CLND with adjuvant systemic therapy versus nodal observation alone for similar risk patients. Conclusions: There has been an overall decline in CLND and simultaneous adoption of adjuvant systemic therapy for patients with SLN-positive melanoma though wide variation in practice remains. Accounting for differences in patient mix, location of care contributed significantly to the observed variation.