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Continuity of care has been an identifying characteristic of family medicine since its inception and is an essential ingredient for high-functioning health care teams. Many benefits, including the quadruple aim of enhancing patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs, and improving care team well-being, are ascribed to continuity of care. In 2023, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) added two new continuity requirements—annual patient-sided continuity and annual resident-sided continuity—in family medicine training programs. This article reviews continuity of care as it applies to family medicine training programs. We discuss the various types of continuity and issues surrounding the measurement of continuity. A generally agreed upon definition of patient-sided and resident-sided continuity is presented to allow programs to begin to collect the necessary data. Especially within resident training programs, intricacies associated with maintaining continuity of care, such as empanelment, resident turnover, and scheduling, are discussed. The importance of right-sizing resident panels is highlighted, and a mechanism for accomplishing this is presented. The recent ACGME requirements represent a cultural shift from measuring resident experience based on volume to measuring resident continuity. This cultural shift forces family medicine training programs to adapt their various systems, policies, and procedures to emphasize continuity. We hope this manuscript’s review of several facets of contuinuity, some unique to training programs, helps programs ensure compliance with the ACGME requirements.

Background: The presence of various growth factors in platelets makes platelet-rich plasma (PRP) a powerful tool in the stimulation of collagen regeneration in aging skin. The main objective of this study was to determine efficacy and safety of PRP compared with saline solution in women with aging skin of the hands. Methods: In this prospective, randomized clinical trial, 18 women with hand aging received PRP injections every 4 weeks into the unilateral dorsal hand for 12 weeks total; with saline injections into the contralateral hand in a randomized, controlled, single-blind fashion. Physician assessment, photographs, and quality-of-life questionnaires were used for assessment at baseline and at 12-week and 24-week follow-up. Results: The majority of patients reported pain and discomfort along with a burning/stinging sensation in both PRP- and saline-treated hands, with no significant differences noted in any patient outcome measures between the 2 treatments (all P ≥ 0.25). No differences were reliably detected between the treatment hands by a blinded investigator comparing before-and-after clinical photographs of the hands. Conclusions: Three injections of PRP spaced 4 weeks apart did not appear to be effective for treatment of aging skin of the hands in women, with no noted difference as compared with baseline, or saline injection. Although age older than 45 years may be a factor accounting for nonresponse (ie, subtle skin changes are difficult to appreciate, and possible limited platelet regenerative capacity in advanced age), it appears that PRP is not a reliable cosmetic option for management of hand aging. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.

Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) is a group of rare neurodevelopmental disorders with limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. Mutations in WDR11, a subunit of the FAM91A1 complex, have been found in patients with PCH-like symptoms; however, definitive evidence that the mutations are causal is still lacking. Here, we show that depletion of FAM91A1 results in developmental defects in zebrafish similar to that of TBC1D23, an established PCH gene. FAM91A1 and TBC1D23 directly interact with each other and cooperate to regulate endosome-to-Golgi trafficking of KIAA0319L, a protein known to regulate axonal growth. Crystal structure of the FAM91A1–TBC1D23 complex reveals that TBC1D23 binds to a conserved surface on FAM91A1 by assuming a Z-shaped conformation. More importantly, the interaction between FAM91A1 and TBC1D23 can be used to predict the risk of certain TBC1D23-associated mutations to PCH. Collectively, our study provides a molecular basis for the interaction between TBC1D23 and FAM91A1 and suggests that disrupted endosomal trafficking underlies multiple PCH subtypes.

The objective was to assess the value of routinely collected patient-reported health-related social needs (HRSNs) measures for predicting utilization and health outcomes. The authors identified Mayo Clinic patients with cancer, diabetes, or heart failure. The HRSN measures were collected as part of patient-reported screenings from June to December 2019 and outcomes (hospitalization, 30-day readmission, and death) were ascertained in 2020. For each outcome and disease combination, 4 models were used: gradient boosting machine (GBM), random forest (RF), generalized linear model (GLM), and elastic net (EN). Other predictors included clinical factors, demographics, and area-based HRSN measures—area deprivation index (ADI) and rurality. Predictive performance for models was evaluated with and without the routinely collected HRSN measures as change in area under the curve (AUC). Variable importance was also assessed. The differences in AUC were mixed. Significant improvements existed in 3 models of death for cancer (GBM: 0.0421, RF: 0.0496, EN: 0.0428), 3 models of hospitalization (GBM: 0.0372, RF: 0.0640, EN: 0.0441), and 1 of death (RF: 0.0754) for diabetes, and 1 model of readmissions (GBM: 0.1817), and 3 models of death (GBM: 0.0333, RF: 0.0519, GLM: 0.0489) for heart failure. Age, ADI, and the Charlson comorbidity index were the top 3 in variable importance and were consistently more important than routinely collected HRSN measures. The addition of routinely collected HRSN measures resulted in mixed improvement in the predictive performance of the models. These findings suggest that existing factors and the ADI are more important for prediction in these contexts. More work is needed to identify predictors that consistently improve model performance.

IMPORTANCE: The outcomes of critically ill adults with obesity on continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) are poorly characterized. The impact of CRRT dose on these outcomes is uncertain. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine if obesity conferred a survival advantage for critically ill adults with acute kidney injury (AKI) on CRRT. Secondarily, we evaluated whether the dose of CRRT predicted mortality in this population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective, observational cohort study performed at an academic medical center in Minnesota. The study population included critically ill adults with AKI managed with CRRT. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome of 30-day mortality was compared between obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) and nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) patients. Multivariable regression assessed was used to assess CRRT dose as a predictor of outcomes. An analysis included dose indexed according to actual body weight (ABW), adjusted body weight (AdjBW), or ideal body weight (IBW). RESULTS: Among 1033 included patients, the median (interquartile range) BMI was 26 kg/m2 (23–28 kg/m2) in the nonobese group and 36 kg/m2 (32–41 kg/m2) in the obese group. Mortality was similar between groups at 30 days (54% vs. 48%; p = 0.06) but lower in the obese group at 90 days (62% vs. 55%; p = 0.02). CRRT dose predicted an increase in mortality when indexed according to ABW or AdjBW (hazard ratio [HR], 1.2–1.16) but not IBW (HR, 1.04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In critically ill adults with AKI requiring CRRT, short-term mortality appeared lower in obese patients compared with nonobese patients. Among weight calculations, IBW appears to be preferred to promote safe CRRT dosing in obese patients.

Objective Animal data suggest that exercise during chemotherapy is cardioprotective, but clinical evidence to support this is limited. This study evaluated the effect of exercise during chemotherapy for breast cancer on long-term cardiovascular toxicity. Methods This is a follow-up study of two previously performed randomised trials in patients with breast cancer allocated to exercise during chemotherapy or non-exercise controls. Cardiac imaging parameters, including T1 mapping (native T1, extracellular volume fraction (ECV)), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS), cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical activity levels, were acquired 8.5 years post-treatment. Results In total, 185 breast cancer survivors were included (mean age 58.9±7.8 years), of whom 99% and 18% were treated with anthracyclines and trastuzumab, respectively. ECV and Native T1 were 25.3%±2.5% and 1026±51 ms in the control group, and 24.6%±2.8% and 1007±44 ms in the exercise group, respectively. LVEF was borderline normal in both groups, with an LVEF<50% prevalence of 22.5% (n=40/178) in all participants. Compared with control, native T1 was statistically significantly lower in the exercise group (β=−20.16, 95% CI −35.35 to −4.97). We found no effect of exercise on ECV (β=−0.69, 95% CI −1.62 to 0.25), LVEF (β=−1.36, 95% CI −3.45 to 0.73) or GLS (β=0.31, 95% CI −0.76 to 1.37). Higher self-reported physical activity levels during chemotherapy were significantly associated with better native T1 and ECV. Conclusions In long-term breast cancer survivors, exercise and being more physically active during chemotherapy were associated with better structural but not functional cardiac parameters. The high prevalence of cardiac dysfunction calls for additional research on cardioprotective measures, including alternative exercise regimens. Trial registration number NTR7247.

Objective CT aortic valve calcium score (AVCscore) and density (AVCdensity) thresholds have been recommended for aortic stenosis (AS) severity assessment in tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). We aimed to compare AVCscore and AVCdensity in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) versus TAV. Methods Retrospective single-centre study of patients with echocardiographic AS-severity and CT-AVC assessments within 6 months, and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%, all referred for clinical AS evaluation. Severe AS was defined as aortic valve area (AVA) ≤1 cm2 or indexed AVA ≤0.6cm2/m2 plus mean gradient ≥40 mm Hg or peak velocity ≥4 m/s. AVC was assessed by Agatston method. Results Of the 1957 patients, 328 had BAV and 1629 had TAV, age 65±11 vs 80±9 years (p<0.001), men 65% vs 56% (p=0.006), respectively. BAV morphology was associated with higher AVCscore and AVCdensity independent of age, comorbidities and AS severity (p<0.001) in men only (sex and BAV interaction p<0.001). In patients with severe AS, mean AVCscore and AVCdensity were higher in BAV-men than that in TAV-men (both p<0.001), but similar in BAV-women and TAV-women (both p≥0.4). Such patterns remained the same after adjustment for clinical covariates and AS severity. Best thresholds for severe AS diagnosis in BAV-men were 2916 AU by AVCscore and 600 AU/cm2 by AVCdensity which were higher than the guideline-recommended thresholds, while thresholds in BAV-women (1036 AU and 282 AU/cm2) were similar to guideline-recommended ones. Conclusion Valve calcification in AS differs according to valve morphology and sex. BAV-men with severe AS exhibit greater AVCscore and AVCdensity than TAV-men. This presents a diagnostic challenge to the current guidelines, which needs confirmation in larger studies.

ABSTRACT Human infections with the protozoan Lophomonas have been increasingly reported in the medical literature over the past three decades. Initial reports were based on microscopic identification of the purported pathogen in respiratory specimens. Later, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect Lophomonas blattarum , following which there has been a significant increase in reports. In this minireview, we thoroughly examine the published reports of Lophomonas infection to evaluate its potential role as a human pathogen. We examined the published images and videos of purported Lophomonas, compared its morphology and motility characteristics with host bronchial ciliated epithelial cells and true L. blattarum derived from cockroaches, analyzed the published PCR that is being used for its diagnosis, and reviewed the clinical data of patients reported in the English and Chinese literature. From our analysis, we conclude that the images and videos from human specimens do not represent true Lophomonas and are predominantly misidentified ciliated epithelial cells. Additionally, we note that there is insufficient clinical evidence to attribute the cases to Lophomonas infection, as the clinical manifestations are non-specific, possibly caused by other infections and comorbidities, and there is no associated tissue pathology attributable to Lophomonas . Finally, our analysis reveals that the published PCR is not specific to Lophomonas and can amplify DNA from commensal trichomonads. Based on this thorough review, we emphasize the need for rigorous scientific scrutiny before a microorganism is acknowledged as a novel human pathogen and discuss the potential harms of misdiagnoses for patient care and scientific literature.

The European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guideline on Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System (PACNS), developed according to ESO standard operating procedures (SOP) and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, was elaborated to assist clinicians in the diagnostic and treatment pathway of patients with PACNS in their decision making. A working group involving vascular neurologists, neuroradiologists, rheumatologists, a neuropathologist and a methodologist identified 17 relevant clinical questions; these were addressed according to the patient/population, intervention, comparison and outcomes (PICO) framework and systematic literature reviews were performed. Notably, each PICO was addressed with respect to large vessel (LV)-PACNS and small vessel (SV)-PACNS. Data to answer many questions were scarce or lacking and the quality of evidence was very low overall, so, for some PICOs, the recommendations reflect the ongoing uncertainty. When the absence of sufficient evidence precluded recommendations, Expert Consensus Statements were formulated. In some cases, this applied to interventions in the diagnosis and treatment of PACNS which are embedded widely in clinical practice, for example patterns of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) abnormalities. CSF analysis for hyperproteinorrachia and pleocytosis does not have evidence supporting their use as diagnostic tools. The working group recommended that caution is employed in the interpretation of non-invasive vascular imaging due to lack of validation and the different sensitivities in comparison with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and histopathological analyses. Moreover, there is not a neuroimaging pattern specific for PACNS and neurovascular issues are largely underreported in PACNS patients. The group’s recommendations on induction and maintenance of treatment and for primary or secondary prevention of vascular events also reflect uncertainty due to lack of evidence. Being uncertain the role and practical usefulness of current diagnostic criteria and being not comparable the main treatment strategies, it is suggested to have a multidisciplinary team approach in an expert center during both work up and management of patients with suspected PACNS. Highlighting the limitations of the currently accepted diagnostic criteria, we hope to facilitate the design of multicenter, prospective clinical studies and trials. A standardization of neuroimaging techniques and reporting to improve the level of evidence underpinning interventions employed in the diagnosis and management of PACNS. We anticipate that this guideline, the first comprehensive European guideline on PACNS management using GRADE methodology, will assist clinicians to choose the most effective management strategy for PACNS.

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