Tag: nevin manimala

J Drugs Dermatol. 2021 Jul 1;20(7):767-770. doi: 10.36849/JDD.5732.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dermatology is among the least racially/ethnically diverse medical specialties in the US Dermatology Interest Groups (DIGs). DIGs may play a critical role in addressing these disparities by facilitating early exposure and mentorship, both associated with higher rates of medical students pursuing specific fields.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to characterize the activities, goals, and challenges of DIGs in medical schools nationwide.

METHODS: A 15-question survey was distributed electronically to 92 DIG leaders enrolled in four-year accredited allopathic/osteopathic medical schools nationwide. Data collected included DIG leaders’ demographic information, medical training stage, DIG size/age, number/type of DIG activities hosted, presence of faculty/resident mentors, and goals/challenges.

RESULTS: There were 48 total and 46 complete responses (52% response rate). Most DIG leaders were female (81%), white (63%), and from allopathic medical schools of roughly equal geographic distribution. Over three-quarters of DIGs had affiliated dermatology departments and residencies. Most had faculty advisors; few had resident mentors. Presence of an affiliated dermatology department was associated with statistically significant increase in mentoring opportunities (P=0.034), significantly increased odds of having dedicated faculty mentors (OR=6.10, 95%CI 1.11–33.56), and non-significantly increased odds of having dedicated resident mentors (OR=2.96, 95%CI 0.33–26.79). DIG leaders self-identified early dermatology exposure, aiding in the match, relationship-building, and community engagement as main objectives and mismatches in opportunities, time, funding, and interest as main challenges.

CONCLUSIONS: DIGs provide valuable opportunities to medical students exploring the field and may play a role in reducing future dermatology workforce disparities. Dermatology departments, residencies, and medical schools should support their aims and reduce structural barriers to success. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(7):767-770. doi:10.36849/JDD.5732.

PMID:34231994 | DOI:10.36849/JDD.5732

J Drugs Dermatol. 2021 Jul 1;20(7):744. doi: 10.36849/JDD.735.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined topical psoriasis therapies in patients with skin of color. Fixed-combination halobetasol propionate (0.01%) and tazarotene (0.045%) lotion (HP/TAZ) was investigated in two phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials (NCT02462070; NCT02462122). This post hoc analysis evaluated HP/TAZ in subgroups of non-White and White participants, including Hispanic/Latino participants, from these trials.

METHODS: Adult participants were randomized (2:1) to receive HP/TAZ or vehicle lotion once daily for 8 weeks. Data were pooled and analyzed in non-mutually exclusive subgroups of self-identified non-White or White and Hispanic/Latino participants. Efficacy assessments included treatment success (≥2-grade improvement from baseline in investigator’s global assessment [IGA] and score of clear/almost clear), reduction from baseline in affected body surface area (BSA), and reduction in mean IGA × BSA. Safety was evaluated via treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

RESULTS: Of 418 participants, 60 and 358 self-identified as non-White and White, respectively; 115 of 418 participants self-identified as Hispanic/Latino. At week 8, a higher percentage of HP/TAZ-treated participants achieved treatment success vs vehicle (non-White, 34.4% vs 19.0%; White, 41.8% vs 8.7%; Hispanic/Latino, 39.3% vs 9.3%); rates for White and Hispanic/Latino participants were statistically significant. Compared with vehicle, HP/TAZ-treated participants in each subgroup experienced numerically greater reductions in affected BSA and IGA × BSA at week 8. The most common TEAEs were contact dermatitis, pruritus, nasopharyngitis, and application-site pain; discontinuations due to TEAEs were few.

CONCLUSIONS: HP/TAZ reduced disease severity in non-White, White, and Hispanic/Latino participants with psoriasis, with good tolerability and safety over 8 weeks of treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(7):735-744. doi:10.36849/JDD.6158.

PMID:34232005 | DOI:10.36849/JDD.735

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2021 Jun 14;59(2):110-118.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Occupational accidents represent an important problem that affects workers, families, society, industry, social security institutions and the nation as a whole, which affects directly the global economy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the direct costs of occupational accidents at the Baja California Local Office of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS -Mexican Institute for Social Security-) in 2017.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study; the information was obtained from IMSS 2017 Statistical Memory and Baja California Local Office database. We analyzed 26,657 cases of work-related accidents and diseases. Years of potential productive life lost were calculated with the years of potential productive life lost indicator and the accumulated years of potential productive life lost indicator.

RESULTS: 97,901 certificates of temporary incapacity for work were issued in Baja California with a total amount of 150,284,001 Mexican pesos. 1593 permanent disabilities were granted with an average monthly amount of 3830 pesos and a total of 8982 accumulated years of potential productive life lost. 38 death certificates by work-related risks were issued and accounted for a total of 1048 years of potential productive life lost and 182 491 pesos for funeral expenses.

CONCLUSIONS: Direct costs of occupational accidents and diseases in the Baja California Local Office of IMSS have an impact on economic growth. Concerted efforts are needed to achieve a progressive reduction of work-related fatalities, accidents and diseases.

PMID:34231982

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2021 Jun 14;59(2):119-126.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic degenerative diseases have become a challenge for the Mexican health system. Faced with this problem, health institutions have focused on the therapeutic potential of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the experience of the donation program and to identify areas of opportunity at the Hospital de Cardiología No. 34 (Hospital of Cardiology Number 34), in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study. The study population was made up by deaths and successful interviews. Only groupings with values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A global of 1947 deaths were registered and a total of 210 interviews were carried out; 83 (39.5%) family members accepted to donate and 127 (60.5%) refused to donate. Only 3 associations between variables had significant statistical value. The year was an important determinant in the increase in effective donations (p = 0.010), and so was the month of the year (p = 0.037), obtaining more positive interviews in the second half of the year; finally, the shift also contributed to the family response (p = 0.012), with the morning shift being the best shift to conduct a successful family interview.

CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative to conduct studies that analyze and describe the experience of donation programs to promote and encourage the value of donation.

PMID:34231983

J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1002/acm2.13340. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To estimate the overall spatial distortion on clinical patient images for a 0.35 T MR-guided radiotherapy system.

METHODS: Ten patients with head-and-neck cancer underwent CT and MR simulations with identical immobilization. The MR images underwent the standard systematic distortion correction post-processing. The images were rigidly registered and landmark-based analysis was performed by an anatomical expert. Distortion was quantified using Euclidean distance between each landmark pair and tagged by tissue interface: bone-tissue, soft tissue, or air-tissue. For baseline comparisons, an anthropomorphic phantom was imaged and analyzed.

RESULTS: The average spatial discrepancy between CT and MR landmarks was 1.15 ± 1.14 mm for the phantom and 1.46 ± 1.78 mm for patients. The error histogram peaked at 0-1 mm. 66% of the discrepancies were <2 mm and 51% <1 mm. In the patient data, statistically significant differences (p-values < 0.0001) were found between the different tissue interfaces with averages of 0.88 ± 1.24 mm, 2.01 ± 2.20 mm, and 1.41 ± 1.56 mm for the air/tissue, bone/tissue, and soft tissue, respectively. The distortion generally correlated with the in-plane radial distance from the image center along the longitudinal axis of the MR.

CONCLUSION: Spatial distortion remains in the MR images after systematic distortion corrections. Although the average errors were relatively small, large distortions observed at bone/tissue interfaces emphasize the need for quantitative methods for assessing and correcting patient-specific spatial distortions.

PMID:34231963 | DOI:10.1002/acm2.13340

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1002/oby.23197. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Classifying adiposity based on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) muscle and fat mass phenotypes has been proposed. Whether these phenotypes are more accurate in predicting cardiometabolic risk than BMI weight status is unknown.

METHODS: Data were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 1999-2006 cycles, n = 5,475). Weight status was defined by BMI. Phenotypes of adiposity and muscle were based on high (≥50th percentile) and low (<50th percentile) permutations of sex- and age-specific fat and muscle mass population curves. The area under the curves of receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC-AUCs), which predicted the presence of abnormal lipids, glucose, and blood pressure, were compared. All analyses were stratified by sex and incorporated the complex survey design and weighting of NHANES.

RESULTS: The ROC-AUCs from weight status models used to correctly identify cardiometabolic risk ranged from 0.57 to 0.68, indicating generally weak predictive power. However, the ROC-AUCs from DXA phenotypes were lower (ranging from 0.53-0.68), indicating weaker predictive power than weight status, and were statistically inferior for nearly all of the comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite DXA’s high cost and detailed output regarding body composition, its phenotype classification was inferior to weight status in predicting cardiometabolic risk. Further studies investigating the utility of the phenotypes are needed.

PMID:34231966 | DOI:10.1002/oby.23197

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1002/ppul.25503. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To provide a systematic review of the existing pediatric decannulation protocols, including the role of polysomnography, and their clinical outcomes.

METHODS: Five online databases were searched from database inception to May 29, 2020. Study inclusion was limited to publications that evaluated tracheostomy decannulation in children 18 years of age and younger. Data extracted included patient demographics and primary indication for tracheostomy. Methods used to assess readiness for decannulation were noted including the use of bronchoscopy, tracheostomy tube modifications, and gas exchange measurements. After decannulation, details regarding mode of ventilation, location, and length of observation period, and clinical outcomes were also collected. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS: A total of 24 studies including 1395 children were reviewed. Tracheostomy indications included upper airway obstruction at a well-defined anatomic site (35%), upper airway obstruction not at a well-defined site (12%) and need for long-term ventilation and pulmonary care (53%). Bronchoscopy was routinely used in 23 of 24 (96%) protocols. Tracheostomy tube modifications in the protocols included capping (n = 20, 83%), downsizing (n = 14, 58%), and fenestrations (n = 2, 8%). Measurements of gas exchange included polysomnography (n = 13/18, 72%), oximetry (n = 10/18, 56%), blood gases (n = 3,17%), and capnography (n = 3, 17%). After decannulation, children in 92% of protocols were transitioned to room air. Observation period of 48 h or less was used in 76% of children.

CONCLUSIONS: There exists large variability in pediatric decannulation protocols. Polysomnography plays an integral role in assessing most children for tracheostomy removal. Evidence-based guidelines to standardize pediatric tracheostomy care remain an urgent priority.

PMID:34231976 | DOI:10.1002/ppul.25503

J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1002/acm2.13331. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Deep-learning-based segmentation models implicitly learn to predict the presence of a structure based on its overall prominence in the training dataset. This phenomenon is observed and accounted for in deep-learning applications such as natural language processing but is often neglected in segmentation literature. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the significance of class imbalance in deep-learning-based segmentation and recommend tuning of the neural network optimization objective.

METHODS: An architecture and training procedure were chosen to represent common models in anatomical segmentation. A family of 5-block 2D U-Nets were independently trained to segment 10 structures from the Cancer Imaging Archive’s Head-Neck-Radiomics-HN1 dataset. We identify the optimal threshold for our models according to their Dice score on the validation datasets and consider perturbations about the optimum. A measure of structure prominence in segmentation datasets is defined, and its impact on the optimal threshold is analyzed. Finally, we consider the use of a 2D Dice objective in addition to binary cross entropy.

RESULTS: We observe significant decreases in perceived model performance with conventional 0.5-thresholding. Perturbations of as little as ±0.05 about the optimum threshold induce a median reduction in Dice score of 11.8% for our models. There is statistical evidence to suggest a weak correlation between training dataset prominence and optimal threshold (Pearson $r=0.92$ and $p\approx {10}^{–4}$ ). We find that network optimization with respect to the 2D Dice score itself significantly reduces variability due to thresholding but does not unequivocally create the best segmentation models when assessed with distance-based segmentation metrics.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that those practicing deep-learning-based contouring should consider their postprocessing procedures as a potential avenue for improved performance. For intensity-based postprocessing, we recommend a mixed objective function consisting of the traditional binary cross entropy along with the 2D Dice score.

PMID:34231950 | DOI:10.1002/acm2.13331

Eur J Heart Fail. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2291. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Recent evidence points towards a distinct obese phenotype among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed to identify differentially expressed circulating biomarkers in obese HFpEF patients and link them to disease severity and outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS: From the LIFE-Heart study, 999 patients with HFpEF and 999 patients without heart failure (no-HF) were selected and 92 circulating serum biomarkers were measured using a proximity extension assay. Elevation of identified biomarkers was validated in 220 patients from the Aldo-DHF trial with diagnosed HFpEF. HFpEF patients were older and had more comorbidities including coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes as compared to no-HF patients (p<0.05 for all). After adjusting for covariates, Adrenomedullin (ADM), Galectin-9 (Gal-9), Thrombospondin-2 (THBS-2), CD4, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2) were significantly higher in obese HFpEF (BMI≥30 kg/m² , n=464) patients as compared to lean HFpEF (BMI<30 kg/m² , n=535) and obese no-HF patients (BMI≥30 kg/m² , n=387) (p<0.001 for both), those findings were verified in the Aldo-DHF validation cohort (p<0.001). Except for CD4 these proteins were associated with increased estimates of left atrial pressure in a linear fashion. Importantly, ADM, TRAIL-R2 and CD4 were associated with increased mortality in obese HFpEF patients after adjusting for covariates.

CONCLUSION: Obese HFpEF patients exhibit higher circulating biomarkers of volume expansion (ADM), myocardial fibrosis (THBS-2) and systemic inflammation (Gal-9, CD4) compared to obese non-HFpEF or lean HFpEF. These findings support the clinical definition of a distinct obese HFpEF phenotype and might merit further investigation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34231954 | DOI:10.1002/ejhf.2291

Pathol Int. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1111/pin.13144. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CD163 is one of the scavenger receptors expressed on macrophages. However, several immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated that CD163 is also detected on cancer cells, and is associated with a poor prognosis. In the present study, we detected CD163 staining on cancer cells in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and investigated the relationship between CD163 on cancer cells and the clinical prognosis. CD163 staining was seen in 128 of 342 adenocarcinoma cases and 35 of 103 SCC cases. Among the lung adenocarcinoma cases, the progression-free survival and overall survival were significantly shorter in the CD163 high group than the CD163 low group. A similar trend was observed among the SCC cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. Additionally, a higher number of macrophages was detected in areas with CD163-positive cancer cells when compared to areas with CD163-negative cancer cells. In summary, we found that CD163-positive cancer cells are a predictor of a worse clinical course in lung adenocarcinoma and SCC.

PMID:34231937 | DOI:10.1111/pin.13144