Modeling undetected poliovirus circulation following the 2022 outbreak in the United States.

BACKGROUND: New York State (NYS) reported a polio case (June 2022) and outbreak of imported type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) (last positive wastewater detection in February 2023), for which uncertainty remains about potential ongoing undetected transmission. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Extending a prior deterministic model, we apply an established stochastic modeling approach to characterize the confidence about no circulation (CNC) of cVDPV2 as a function of time since the last detected signal of transmission (i.e. poliovirus positive acute flaccid myelitis case or wastewater sample). RESULTS: With the surveillance coverage for the NYS population majority and its focus on outbreak counties, modeling suggests a high CNC (95%) within 3-10 months of the last positive surveillance signal, depending on surveillance sensitivity and population mixing patterns. Uncertainty about surveillance sensitivity implies longer durations required to achieve higher CNC. CONCLUSIONS: In populations that maintain high overall immunization coverage with inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), rare polio cases may occur in un(der)-vaccinated individuals. Modeling demonstrates the unlikeliness of type 2 outbreaks reestablishing endemic transmission or resulting in large absolute numbers of paralytic cases. Achieving and maintaining high immunization coverage with IPV remains the most effective measure to prevent outbreaks and shorten the duration of imported poliovirus transmission.

Outcome comparison between primary and revisional bariatric surgery: A propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Revisional bariatric procedures for weight recurrence are rising but are considered higher risk and less effective than primary bariatric procedures. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes between primary and revisional bariatric surgery for weight recurrence. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from adult patients who underwent revisional or primary bariatric surgery from 2016 to 2020 in an academic institution were reviewed. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy were performed primarily or as conversion procedures after laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, vertical banded gastroplasty, and sleeve gastrectomy. 1:1 propensity score matching was performed between revisional bariatric surgery and primary bariatric surgery, and logistic regression analysis was used to compare up to 2-year weight loss and comorbidity resolution outcomes. RESULTS: A total of172 cases (86 revisional bariatric surgery versus 86 primary bariatric surgery) were included. Groups were matched for age, sex, preoperative body mass index, bariatric procedure, diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. Procedure duration (203 ± 78 vs 154 ± 69 minutes; P < .001) and length of stay (2.3 ± 2.1 vs 1.7 ± 1 days; P = .02) were longer for revisional bariatric surgery versus primary bariatric surgery, respectively. Total weight loss was less in revisional bariatric surgery compared with primary bariatric surgery at 1 year (23 ± 10% vs 32 ± 9%; P < .001) and 2 years (21 ± 12.% vs 32 ± 10%; P < .001) of follow-up; however, no differences were detected in postoperative occurrences, emergency department visits, readmissions, reintervention and reoperation rates, and comorbidity resolution. CONCLUSION: Although revisional bariatric surgery was associated with longer operation times, prolonged hospitalization, and lower weight loss than primary bariatric surgery, it was accomplished safely and led to substantial weight loss and comorbidity resolution. This information can guide patient counseling before revisional surgery for weight recurrence.

Modeling Poliovirus Transmission and Responses in New York State.

BACKGROUND: In July 2022, New York State (NYS) reported a case of paralytic polio in an unvaccinated young adult, and subsequent wastewater surveillance confirmed sustained local transmission of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV2) in NYS with genetic linkage to the paralyzed patient. METHODS: We adapted an established poliovirus transmission and oral poliovirus vaccine evolution model to characterize dynamics of poliovirus transmission in NYS, including consideration of the immunization activities performed as part of the declared state of emergency. RESULTS: Despite sustained transmission of imported VDPV2 in NYS involving potentially thousands of individuals (depending on seasonality, population structure, and mixing assumptions) in 2022, the expected number of additional paralytic cases in years 2023 and beyond is small (less than 0.5). However, continued transmission and/or reintroduction of poliovirus into NYS and other populations remains a possible risk in communities that do not achieve and maintain high immunization coverage. CONCLUSIONS: In countries such as the United States that use only inactivated poliovirus vaccine, even with high average immunization coverage, imported polioviruses may circulate and pose a small but nonzero risk of causing paralysis in nonimmune individuals.

High-risk bariatric candidates: does red-flagging predict the post-operative course?

BACKGROUND: Standards for preoperative bariatric patient selection include a thorough psychological evaluation. Using patients "red-flagged" during preoperative evaluations, this study aims to identify trends in long-term follow-up and complications to further optimize bariatric patient selection. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team held a case review conference (CRC) to discuss red-flagged patients. A retrospective chart review compared CRC patients to control patients who underwent bariatric surgery in the same interval. Patients under 18 years old, undergoing revisional bariatric surgery, or getting band placement were excluded. High-risk characteristics causing CRC inclusion, preoperative demographics, percent follow-up and other postoperative outcomes were collected up to 5 years postoperatively. If univariate analysis revealed a significant difference between cohorts, multivariable analysis was performed. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty three patients were red-flagged from 2012 to 2013, of which 79 underwent surgery. After excluding 21 revisions, 3 non-adult patients, and 6 band patients, 55 red-flagged patients were analyzed in addition to 273 control patients. Patient age, sex, initial BMI, ASA, and co-morbidities were similar between groups, though flagged patients underwent RYGB more frequently than control patients. Notably, percent excess BMI loss and percent follow-up (6 months-5 years) were similar. In multivariable analysis, minor complications were more common in flagged patients; and marginal ulcers, endoscopy, and dilation for stenosis were more common in flagged versus control patients who underwent RYGB. Perforation, reoperation, revision, incisional hernia, and internal hernia were statistically similar in both groups, though reoperation was significantly more common in patients with multiple reasons to be flagged compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Bariatric patients deemed high risk for various psychosocial issues have similar follow-up, BMI loss, and major complications compared to controls. High-risk RYGB patients have greater minor complications, warranting additional counseling of high-risk patients.

How are bariatric patients coping during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic? Analysis of factors known to cause weight regain among postoperative bariatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is wreaking havoc on society. Bariatric patients are more prone to severe infection due to their high body mass index (BMI) and are more vulnerable to the effects of isolation, such as depression or disruption of their health habits. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the impact of self-quarantine on bariatric patients and self-quarantine's relationship with weight gain. SETTING: Academic hospital, United States. METHODS: A 30-item survey examining several known contributors to weight regain was distributed among the postoperative bariatric patients of our clinic. Changes in eating habits, exercise, depression, social support, loneliness, and anxiety were studied, among others. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients completed the survey (29.3% response rate). A large percentage of patients reported increases in their depression (44.2%), loneliness (36.2%), nervousness (54.7%), snacking (62.6%), loss of control when eating (48.2%), and binge eating (19.5%) and decreases in their social support (23.2%), healthy food eating (45.5%), and activity (55.2%). Difficulty in accessing vitamins was reported by 13%. Patients more than 18 months out of surgery regained more than 2 kg during an average of 47 days. Risk factors for weight regain were found to be loss of control when eating, increases in snacking and binge eating, reduced consumption of healthy food, and reduced physical activity. CONCLUSION: Bariatric patients are negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social isolation on many levels. This patient population is vulnerable to crisis situations; thus, additional intervention is needed to address behaviors that lead to weight regain.

Facebook groups provide effective social support to patients after bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Social support after bariatric surgery is considered essential. Unfortunately, patient participation in such groups tends to be limited threatening their effectiveness. Facebook groups may provide a social support option that attracts more participation. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with the administration of a Facebook social support group and evaluate its perceived value by our bariatric patients. METHODS: After IRB approval, all Facebook group posts since its establishment in 2015 were reviewed and a thematic analysis was undertaken. Group members also completed a survey related to their Facebook group experience and its perceived value. Responses were collected using 5-point Likert scales. In addition, 30 members were phone interviewed using open-ended questions and their responses were analyzed. RESULTS: Over 4 years, the group accumulated 12,507 posts, 104,053 comments, and 197,594 reactions. On average, members check the group page more than once per day. Ten common themes were identified in the submitted posts: questions, motivation related, education related, diet related, physical activity related, current status updates, sharing failures, social, random/humorous and other. Members reported that the group helped them do well with their procedure (3.3/5) particularly due to the motivation of others' successful stories (3.5/5) and made them feel understood (3.9/5) even though it offered limited help controlling their eating habits (2.7/5). The phone interviews suggested that the Facebook group offered constant support, was simple to use, and provided the sole social support for many patients. They most appreciated the motivational posts that kept them on track and the assistance/comments of clinical staff. In contrast, they disliked repeated questions/spam and negative stories shared by some members. CONCLUSIONS: Facebook groups can provide effective social support to patients after bariatric surgery. Peers educate, answer questions, and motivate patients by sharing their positive experiences. Whether this online connectedness also positively impacts patient outcomes requires further study.

High Rates of Nicotine Use Relapse and Ulcer Development Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

PURPOSE: Given that smoking is known to contribute to gastrojejunal anastomotic (GJA) ulcers, cessation is recommended prior to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). However, smoking relapse rates and the exact ulcer risk remain unknown. This study aimed to define smoking relapse, risk of GJA ulceration, and complications after LRYGB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent primary LRYGB during 2011-2015. Initially, three patient categories were identified: lifetime non-smokers, patients who were smoking during the initial visit at the bariatric clinic or within the prior year (recent smokers), and patients who had ceased smoking more than a year prior to their initial clinic visit (former smokers). Smoking relapse, GJA ulcer occurrences, reinterventions, and reoperations were recorded and compared. RESULTS: A total of 766 patients were included in the analysis. After surgery, 53 (64.6%) recent smokers had resumed smoking. Out of these relapsed smokers, 51% developed GJA ulcers compared with 14.8% in non-relapsed recent smokers, 16.1% in former smokers, and 6% in lifetime nonsmokers (p < 0.001). Furthermore, relapsed smokers required more frequently endoscopic reinterventions (60.4%) compared with non-relapsed smokers (20.8%, p < 0.001), former smokers (20.7%, p < 0.001), and lifetime non-smokers (15.4%, p < 0.001). Additionally, relapsed smokers required a reoperation (18.9%) more often than non-relapsed recent smokers (5.7%, p < 0.001) and lifetime non-smokers (1.3%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Smokers relapse frequently after LRYGB, and the majority experience GJA complications. They should be counseled about this risk preoperatively and directed towards less ulcerogenic procedures when possible. Alternatively, longer periods of preoperative smoking abstinence might be needed.

Consequences of Undervaccination - Measles Outbreak, New York City, 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but the risk of outbreaks owing to international importations remains. An outbreak of measles in New York City began when one unvaccinated child returned home from Israel with measles; onset of rash occurred on September 30, 2018, 9 days after the child returned home. METHODS: We investigated suspected cases of measles by conducting interviews, reviewing medical and immunization records, identifying exposed persons, and performing diagnostic testing. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine (given as either MMR or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine and collectively referred to as MMR vaccine) uptake was monitored with the use of the Citywide Immunization Registry. The total direct cost to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 649 cases of measles were confirmed, with onsets of rash occurring between September 30, 2018, and July 15, 2019. A majority of the patients (93.4%) were part of the Orthodox Jewish community, and 473 of the patients (72.9%) resided in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, New York. The median age was 3 years; 81.2% of the patients were 18 years of age or younger, and 85.8% of the patients with a known vaccination history were unvaccinated. Serious complications included pneumonia (in 37 patients [5.7%]) and hospitalization (in 49 patients [7.6%]); among the patients who were hospitalized, 20 (40.8%) were admitted to an intensive care unit. As a result of efforts to promote vaccination, the percentage of children in Williamsburg who received at least one dose of MMR vaccine increased from 79.5% to 91.1% among children 12 to 59 months of age. As of September 9, 2019, a total of 559 staff members at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (7% of the agency) had been involved in the measles response. The cost of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene response was $8.4 million. CONCLUSIONS: Importation of measles and vaccination delays among young children led to an outbreak of measles in New York City. The outbreak response was resource intensive and caused serious illness, particularly among unvaccinated children.

Can a gastric cancer risk survey identify high-risk patients for endoscopic screening? A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: A questionnaire that distinguishes how variability in gastric cancer prevalence is associated with ethnicity/birth country/immigration/cultural diet along with known risk factors may improve targeting populations for gastric cancer screening in the United States. METHODS: Existing literature was used to identify the item pool. Cluster analysis, focus groups, and cognitive interviewing were used to reduce collinear items and refine the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine which items distinguished gastric cancer cases from the primary care and community controls. RESULTS: The results of analysis of data from 40 cases and 100 controls (primary care = 47; community = 53) were used to reduce the 227 item pool to 12 items. After ranking these variables using model bootstrapping, a logistic regression model using the highest ranked eight variables was chosen as the final model. Older age, foreign nativity, daily consumption of cultural food at ages 15-18, less than high-school education, and greater acculturation were significantly associated with being a gastric cancer case compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS: An eight-item survey that addresses gastric cancer risk factors, ethnicity, cultural habits, and immigration patterns has potential to identify high-risk persons from multicultural areas within the US, who might benefit from endoscopic screening for gastric cancer.

The newly proposed clinical and post-neoadjuvant treatment staging classifications for gastric adenocarcinoma for the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging.

PURPOSE: New stage grouping classifications for clinical (cStage) and post-neoadjuvant treatment (ypStage) stage for gastric adenocarcinoma have been proposed for the eighth edition of the AJCC manual. This article summarizes the analysis for these stages. METHODS: Gastric adenocarcinoma patients diagnosed in 2004-2009 were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). The cStage cohort included both surgical and nonsurgical cases, and the ypStage cohort included only patients who had chemotherapy or radiation therapy before surgery. Survival differences between the stage groups were determined by the log-rank test and prognostic accuracy was assessed by concordance index. Analysis was performed using SAS 9.4 (SAS, Cary, NC, USA). RESULTS: Five strata for cStage and four strata for ypStage were developed. The 5-year survival rates for cStages were 56.77%, 47.39%, 33.1%, 25.9%, and 5.0% for stages I, IIa, IIb, III, and IV, respectively, and the rates for ypStage were 74.2%, 46.3%, 19.2%, and 11.6% for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The log-rank test showed that survival differences were well stratified and stage groupings were ordered and distinct (p < 0.0001). The proposed cStage and ypStage classification was sensitive and specific and had high prognostic accuracy (cStage: c index = 0.81, 95% CI, 0.79-0.83; ypStage: c index = 0.80, 95% CI, 0.73-0.87). CONCLUSION: The proposed eighth edition establishes two new staging schemata that provide essential prognostic data for patients before treatment and for patients who have undergone surgery following neoadjuvant therapy. These additions are a significant advance to the AJCC staging manual and will provide critical guidance to clinicians in making informed decisions throughout the treatment course.