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Understanding Disparities in Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Sustained Viral Suppression among Black, Hispanic/Latina, and White Women in the United States – Medical Monitoring Project, United States, 2015-2019

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2023 May 1. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003214. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic disparities in antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and sustained viral suppression (SVS) have been documented among women with HIV. We examined factors that may account for these racial/ethnic differences among women to inform interventions that increase health equity.

METHODS: We used data from the 2015-2019 cycles of the Medical Monitoring Project, a probability sample of U.S. adults with diagnosed HIV. Using logistic regression with predicted marginal means, we calculated weighted prevalence differences (PDs) of ART adherence and SVS among Black, Hispanic/Latina, and White women taking ART. Using modeling with forward stepwise selection, we adjusted PDs for selected variables, including social determinants of health (SDOH) factors, to examine whether magnitude of PDs was attenuated by their inclusion. We assessed relative changes between unadjusted and adjusted PDs.

RESULTS: After adjusting for poverty, transportation needs, health literacy, and gap in health insurance/coverage, the Black-White PD in adherence decreased by 11% (-16.0% to -14.2%). After adjusting for adherence, poverty, type of health insurance, and gap in health insurance/coverage, the Black-White PD in SVS reduced 37% (-7.9% to -5.0%) and was no longer statistically different. The Hispanic/Latina-White PD in adherence reduced 24% (-12.7% to -9.6%) after adjusting for poverty, health literacy and transportation needs. The unadjusted Hispanic/Latina-White PD in SVS was not significantly different.

CONCLUSION: Racial/ethnic disparities in HIV outcomes among women taking ART were substantially reduced after accounting for SDOH and other factors, although differences remained. Structural interventions to improve SDOH are needed to improve health equity for women with HIV.

PMID:37129907 | DOI:10.1097/QAI.0000000000003214

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Efficacy of Olanzapine in Addition to Standard Triplet Antiemetic Therapy for Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy: A Secondary Analysis of the J-FORCE Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Netw Open. 2023 May 1;6(5):e2310894. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.10894.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: It is unknown whether olanzapine combined with triplet antemetic therapy is effective for all patients undergoing highly emetogenic chemotherapy. A secondary analysis of randomized clinical trials using olanzapine may provide insight into the effectiveness of olanzapine for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), including cisplatin.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the add-on effect of olanzapine according to risk factors for CINV.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This preplanned secondary analysis evaluated results of the J-FORCE trial, a large double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 randomized clinical trial conducted in Japan from February 9, 2017, to July 18, 2018. Participants were enrolled from 26 participating hospitals across Japan and included patients aged 20 to 75 years who had a malignant tumor and were cisplatin-naive. The efficacy analysis population of the J-FORCE trial was analyzed according to allocation adjustment factors (sex [male or female], age [≥55 years or <55 years], and cisplatin dose [≥70 mg/m2 or <70 mg/m2]) and patient-related risk factors (history of motion sickness, drinking habit [defined as alcoholic drinks consumption in excess of occasional drinking], and history of morning sickness during pregnancy). Statistical analysis was performed from February 18 to April 18, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive 5 mg of olanzapine or placebo combined with standard triplet antiemetic therapy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point was complete response (CR, defined as no vomiting and no use of rescue medication) in the delayed phase (24-120 hours after cisplatin-based chemotherapy administration). Secondary end points were CR, complete control, and total control in the acute, delayed, and overall phases for 6 CINV risk factors as well as time to treatment failure. The CR point estimates and 95% CIs of the differences between groups were calculated, and a Mantel-Haenszel test was performed.

RESULTS: Of the 705 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.0 [9.2] years; 471 males [66.8%]) included in the efficacy analysis population; 581 patients (82.4%) were 55 years or older, and 526 (74.6%) were treated with a cisplatin dose of 70 mg/m2 or more. Risk difference (RD) for a CR in the delayed phase was significantly greater in the olanzapine group than the placebo group in males (RD, 12.6% [95% CI, 5.0%-20.1%]; P = .001); in females (RD, 14.5% [95% CI, 2.2%-26.3%]; P = .02); in those 55 years or older (RD, 11.1% [95% CI, 3.9%-18.2%]; P = .003) or younger than 55 years (RD, 23.6% [95% CI, 7.3%-38.3%]; P = .005); for a cisplatin dose of 70 mg/m2 or more (RD, 13.5% [95% CI, 5.9%-21.0%]; P < .001); for those without a history of motion sickness (RD, 13.9% [95% CI, 6.9%-20.6%]; P < .001); for those with a drinking habit (RD, 14.9% [95% CI, 6.1%-23.4%]; P = .001) or without a drinking habit (RD, 12.0% [95% CI, 2.5%-21.3%]; P = .01); and for those with a history of morning sickness during pregnancy (RD, 27.2% [9.7%-42.6%]; P = .002). In other subgroups, a delayed CR was higher in the olanzapine group than the placebo group, although not significantly higher.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this study suggest a benefit of using 5 mg of olanzapine plus triplet antiemetic therapy to counter CINV regardless of the presence or absence of risk factors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry Identifier: UMIN000024676.

PMID:37129897 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.10894

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Longitudinal Outcomes of Cumulative Impact Exposure on Oculomotor Functioning in Professional Motorsport Drivers

JAMA Netw Open. 2023 May 1;6(5):e2311086. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11086.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Professional motorsport drivers are regularly exposed to biomechanical forces comparable with those experienced by contact and collision sport athletes, and little is known about the potential short-term and long-term neurologic sequelae.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cumulative impact exposure is associated with oculomotor functioning in motorsport drivers from the INDYCAR professional open-wheel automobile racing series.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This is a longitudinal retrospective cohort study conducted across 3 racing seasons (2017-2019). Statistical analyses were conducted in November 2021. Data were retrieved from a secondary care setting associated with the INDYCAR series. INDYCAR series drivers who participated in 3 professional level racing seasons and were involved in at least 1 contact incident (ie, crash) in 2 of the 3 seasons were included in the study.

EXPOSURE: Cumulative acceleration and deceleration forces and total contact incidents (ie, crashes) measured via accident data recorder third generation chassis and ear accelerometers.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Postseries oculomotor performance, including predictive saccades, vergence smooth pursuit, and optokinetic nystagmus, was measured annually with a head-mounted, clinical eye tracking system (Neurolign Dx 100).

RESULTS: Thirteen drivers (mean [SD] age, 29.36 [7.82] years; all men) sustained median resultant acceleration forces of 38.15 g (observed range, 12.01-93.05 g; 95% CI, 30.62-65.81 g) across 81 crashes. A 2-way multivariate analysis of variance did not reveal a statistically significant association between ear and chassis average resultant g forces, total number of contact incidents, and racing season assessed (F9,12 = 0.955; P = .54; Wilks Λ = 0.44).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study of professional drivers from the INDYCAR series, there were no statistically significant associations among cumulative impact exposure, racing season assessed, and oculomotor performance. Longitudinal studies across racing seasons using multidimensional examination modalities (eg, neurocognitive testing, advanced imaging, biomarkers, and physical examination) are critical to understand potential neurological and neurobehavioral sequelae and long-term consequences of cumulative impact exposure.

PMID:37129896 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11086

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Helpfulness of Question Prompt Sheet for Patient-Physician Communication Among Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Netw Open. 2023 May 1;6(5):e2311189. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11189.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: There are few robust evaluations of disease-specific question prompt sheets (QPS) in patient-physician communication among patients with advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the patient perception of helpfulness, global evaluation, and preference for the QPS vs a general information sheet (GIS), and to examine the effect of the QPS on participants’ anxiety, participants’ speaking time, number of questions asked, and length of the clinical encounter.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted at an outpatient palliative and supportive care clinic in a cancer center in the US. Eligible patients were 18 years or older, had a cancer diagnosis, and were undergoing their first outpatient consultation visit with a palliative care physician from September 1, 2017, to May 31, 2019. Data analysis used a modified intention-to-treat design. Data were analyzed from May 18 to June 27, 2022.

INTERVENTION: QPS, a 25-item list of questions developed by expert palliative care clinicians using a Delphi process and tested among ambulatory advanced cancer patients. The control was GIS, generic information material given routinely to patients seen at the supportive care clinic.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcome was patient perception of helpfulness. Secondary outcomes included global evaluation and preference of QPS compared with GIS immediately after the encounter.

RESULTS: A total of 130 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.6 [13.3] years; 79 [60.8%] female) were randomized to receive either QPS (67 patients [51.5%]) or GIS (63 patients [48.5%]). Patients considered QPS and GIS equally helpful, with no statistically significant difference (mean [SD] helpfulness score, 7.2 [2.3] points vs 7.1 [2.7] points; P = .79). The QPS group, compared with the GIS group, had a higher global positive view of the material (mean [SD] global perception score, 7.1 [1.3] vs 6.5 [1.7]; P = .03) and felt it prompted them more to generate new questions (mean [SD] rating, 7.0 [2.9] vs 5.3 [3.5]; P = .005). Of 47 patients asked their preference between the items, more participants preferred the QPS to the GIS in communicating with their physicians (24 patients [51.1%] vs 7 patients [14.9%]; P = .01) at the 4-week follow-up. No significant differences between the QPS and GIS groups were observed regarding participant anxiety, speaking time, number of questions asked, or consultation length (eg, mean [SD] anxiety rating, 2.3 [3.7] vs 1.6 [2.7]; P = .19).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial, participants perceived both QPS and GIS as equally helpful, but they had a more positive global view of and preferred the QPS. QPS facilitated generation of new questions without increasing patient anxiety nor prolonging the consultation. The findings provide support for increased adoption and integration of QPS into routine oncologic care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03287492.

PMID:37129892 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11189

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Use of Objective Rating Scales for Generalized Anxiety by Psychiatry Specialists in Pediatric Populations: A Research Review

J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2023 May;61(5):11-16. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20230417-03. Epub 2023 May 1.

ABSTRACT

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions affecting pediatric populations. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, recommends objective measurement of pediatric anxiety for evaluation of symptomatology and treatment response. The objective of the current review was to summarize recommendations and resources for measuring pediatric anxiety, and to quantify and characterize use of outcome measures for generalized anxiety in pediatric psychiatry. These findings represent an essential step toward understanding how and to what extent anxiety rating scales are used in pediatric psychiatry and where quality improvement initiatives may be needed. Education, training, and further research are warranted to optimize use of measurement-based care for generalized anxiety in pediatric psychiatry settings and to determine which scales are optimal for use in this context. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(5), 11-16.].

PMID:37129880 | DOI:10.3928/02793695-20230417-03

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The EURO-FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) List Version 2: Consensus Validation of a Clinical Tool for Improved Pharmacotherapy in Older Adults

Drugs Aging. 2023 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s40266-023-01024-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aging of our societies leads to a higher prevalence of multimorbidity and therefore polypharmacy, which often results in inappropriate drug treatment. To address this issue, numerous listing approaches, such as the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) list have been developed. FORTA’s positive impact on the quality of medications and relevant clinical outcomes has been shown. Based on new emerging evidence and experiences with the existing FORTA lists, we aimed to update the FORTA lists in several European countries/regions.

METHODS: Two-step Delphi consensus procedures were conducted in Poland, UK/Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic countries, The Netherlands and France. The existing European FORTA lists served as survey proposals.

RESULTS: Thirty-two experts agreed to take part in this study (return rate: 96.9%). The country/region-specific overall consensus for all items and participants after the first round was > 90%. FORTA lists from six participating countries, plus the FORTA list for the German-speaking countries, were collated into the new EURO-FORTA List, which now contains 267 items aligned to 27 indications. Three items were added to the EURO-FORTA List, and no drugs were deleted. Eight FORTA items were relabeled, and 96.9% of the labels remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION: In this study, seven new country/region specific FORTA lists, as well as a new overarching EURO-FORTA List, were developed. An overall increase in the mean consensus coefficient and increases for all disease-specific mean consensus coefficients show a wider consensus among participants. The new lists have the potential to improve drug therapy in older people internationally.

PMID:37129833 | DOI:10.1007/s40266-023-01024-6

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Artificial Intelligence in Colonoscopy

Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2023 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s11894-023-00872-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field in gastrointestinal endoscopy, and its potential applications are virtually endless, with studies demonstrating use of AI for early gastric cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Barrett’s esophagus, capsule endoscopy, as well as other areas in gastroenterology. Much of the early studies and applications of AI in gastroenterology have revolved around colonoscopy, particularly with regards to real-time polyp detection and characterization. This review will cover much of the existing data on computer-aided detection (CADe), computer-aided diagnosis (CADx), and briefly discuss some other interesting applications of AI for colonoscopy, while also considering some of the challenges and limitations that exist around the use of AI for colonoscopy.

RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple randomized controlled trials have now been published which show a statistically significant improvement when using AI to improve adenoma detection and reduce adenoma miss rates during colonoscopy. There is also a growing pool of literature showing that AI can be helpful for characterizing/diagnosing colorectal polyps in real time. AI has also shown promise in other areas of colonoscopy, including polyp sizing and automated measurement and monitoring of quality metrics during colonoscopy. AI is a promising tool that has the ability to shape the future of gastrointestinal endoscopy, with much of the early data showing significant benefits to use of AI during colonoscopy. However, there remain several challenges that may delay or hamper the widespread use of AI in the field.

PMID:37129831 | DOI:10.1007/s11894-023-00872-x

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Decomposition of Quality-Adjusted Life Expectancy Inequalities by Mortality and Health-Related Quality of Life Dimensions

Pharmacoeconomics. 2023 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s40273-023-01264-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) combines mortality risk and multidimensional health-related quality of life (HRQoL) information to measure healthy life expectancy in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). This paper estimates the relative importance of individual quality of life dimensions in explaining inequalities in QALE.

METHODS: We combined EQ-5D-5L data from the Health Survey for England for 2017 and 2018 (N = 14,412) with full population mortality data from the Office for National Statistics to calculate QALE by age, sex and deprivation quintile. The effect of HRQoL dimensions on the socioeconomic gradient in QALE was decomposed using an iterative imputation approach, in which inequalities associated with socioeconomic status in each domain were removed by imputing the response distribution of the richest quintile for all participants. Sampling uncertainty in the HRQoL data was evaluated using bootstrapping.

RESULTS: People in the least deprived fifth of neighbourhoods in England can expect to live 7.0 years longer and experience 11.1 more QALYs than those in the most deprived fifth. Inequalities in HRQoL accounted for 28.0% and 45.7% of QALE inequalities for males and females, respectively. Pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression and mobility were the most influential HRQoL domains.

DISCUSSION: Our results identify the extent of inequalities associated with socioeconomic status in lifetime health and the relative importance of inequalities by mortality and HRQoL. The contributions of the individual dimensions of HRQoL towards lifetime inequalities vary substantially by sex. Our findings can help to identify the types of interventions most likely to alleviate health inequalities, which may be different for males and females.

PMID:37129775 | DOI:10.1007/s40273-023-01264-9

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Lutein Production by Halophilic Microalgae Using Anaerobic Digestate as the Substrate and Its Potential Application as a Biopesticide

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2023 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s12010-023-04502-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Production of value-added products from waste anaerobic digestate is economically and environmentally important for sustainable development of industrial process and products. In this study halophilic microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris 92001, Chlorella vulgaris 50291, Chlorella vulgaris 10241 and Tetraselmis indica, were initially screened for lutein production using synthetic dairy digestate (DD), municipal digestate (MD) and poultry digestate (PD) as no-cost substrates. Screening and optimization of parameters, such as dilution, pH, MgCl2, NaCl, NaHCO3 and inoculum concentration for maximum lutein production were further performed employing statistically designed Plackett-Burman and response surface methodology. Cultivation of C. vulgaris 92001 in a split column photobioreactor under optimum culture condition showed increase in lutein production by 2.36-fold in batch mode. The influence of different hydraulic retention time (HRT) values of 150, 130, 100 and 90 h on lutein production was evaluated in continuous mode with the split column photobioreactor. Lutein produced using the synthetic poultry digestate showed good potential biopesticide activity against Spodoptera litura (fall armyworm). Overall, this study demonstrated bioprocess development to produce lutein using synthetic anaerobic digestate from marine algae and its potential application as a biopesticide.

PMID:37129741 | DOI:10.1007/s12010-023-04502-0

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Is the CRAFITY score a superior predictor of prognosis and adverse events in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with locoregional-immunotherapy?

Hepatol Int. 2023 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s12072-023-10535-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The level of C‑reactive protein (CRP) and alpha‑fetoprotein (AFP) in immunotherapy (CRAFITY) score was associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with immunotherapy. Based on the CRAFITY score, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of locoregional-immunotherapy for treating HCC patients.

METHODS: HCC patients who received locoregional-immunotherapy were consecutively recruited at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in 2019. CRAFITY 0 score was defined as the AFP level below 100 ng/ml and a CRP level of less than 1 mg/dl, CRAFITY 1 score was defined as the AFP level of at least 100 ng/ml or the CRP level of at least 1 mg/dl, and CRAFITY 2 score was defined as both the AFP level over 100 ng/ml and the CRP level of more than 1 mg/dl. The primary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The second outcomes were tumor response rate and treatment-related adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS: The median PFS for HCC patients with the CRAFITY 0 score was not estimable. The PFS was 11.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.2-14.9] and 6.0 months (95% CI 4.2-7.8) for patients with CRAFITY 1 and 2 scores, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.001). HCC patients with CRAFITY 0, 1, and 2 scores had 3 years OS rates of 63.8%, 60.8%, and 32.1%, respectively, with statistical differences among the three groups (p < 0.001). Patients with the CRAFITY 2 score were more likely to experience fever than those with other scores (p < 0.05). A greater CRAFITY score was correlated with a higher incidence of grade 3 and above liver injury (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The CRAFITY score is a superior predictor of prognosis and treatment-related AEs in HCC patients treated with locoregional-immunotherapy.

PMID:37129721 | DOI:10.1007/s12072-023-10535-8