Comparison of virtual vs face-to-face medical nutrition therapy in patients with hyperlipidemia.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, utilization of telemedicine visits has increased. The outcomes of virtual compared to face-to-face (F2F) visits for treating hyperlipidemia are uncharacterized. This observational study compared pre- to post-visit change in lipid markers between 41 virtual and 151 F2F visits with a registered dietitian nutritionist at the University of Michigan Preventive Cardiology program from 3/31/2019-9/31/2022. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TG) were collected pre- and post-visit with a median 33 days between collections. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) was calculated using the Sampson equation. We used paired T-tests to evaluate mean change in lipid markers for each visit type between pre and post timepoints, and linear regression to compare virtual to F2F visits. There was a significant decrease in TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C for both visit types. There was no significant difference in mean change in lipid markers between virtual and F2F visits. Telehealth is a promising strategy for increasing access to medical nutrition therapy.

Characterization and Prediction of Short-term Outcomes in Memory After Temporal Lobe Resection in Children With Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize short-term outcomes in episodic memory, as assessed by the Children's Memory Scale (CMS), after temporal lobe resection in children with epilepsy using empirical methods for assessing cognitive change (i.e., reliable change indices [RCI] and standardized regression-based change scores [SRB]) and develop and internally validate clinically applicable models to predict postoperative memory decline. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included children aged 6-16 years who underwent resective epilepsy surgery that included the temporal lobe (temporal only: "temporal" and multilobar: "temporal plus") and who completed preoperative and postoperative neuropsychological assessments including the CMS. Change scores on the CMS delayed memory subtests (Faces, Stories, and Word Pairs) were classified as decline, no change, or improvement using epilepsy-specific RCI and SRB. Logistic regression models for predicting postoperative memory decline were developed and internally validated with bootstrapping. RESULTS: Of the 126 children included, most of them demonstrated either no significant change (54%-69%) or improvement (8%-14%) in memory performance using RCI on individual measures at a median of 7 months after surgery. A subset of children (23%-33%) showed postoperative declines. Change distributions obtained using RCI and SRB were not statistically significantly different from each other. Preoperative memory test score, surgery side, surgery extent, and preoperative full-scale IQ were predictors of memory decline. Prediction models for memory decline included subsets of these variables with bias-corrected concordance statistics ranging from 0.70 to 0.75. The models were well calibrated although slightly overestimated the probability of verbal memory decline in high-risk patients. DISCUSSION: This study used empiric methodology to characterize memory outcome in children after temporal lobe resection. Provided online calculator and nomograms may be used by clinicians to estimate the risk of postoperative memory decline for individual patients before surgery.

Changing Course of an Umbilical Cord Mass - Chasing the Diagnosis of Angiomyxoma.

Angiomyxoma of the umbilical cord is a rare benign vascular malformation with potential for fetal morbidity and mortality. Gross and histologic features of this lesion are identical to those described as "hemangioma," however "angiomyxoma" is a preferable term as current practice restricts the term "hemangioma" to infantile capillary proliferations that express glucose transporter 1. Here we describe the case of an umbilical cord angiomyxoma with associated pseudocysts diagnosed after delivery at 33 weeks. It presented as a heterogeneous-appearing mass near the fetal cord insertion and mimicked serious fetal anomalies throughout gestation. We found fetal MRI helpful for monitoring this lesion, narrowing the differential, and informing management. Proximity to the fetal end of the cord and uncertainty about diagnosis also required surgical resection of the mass after delivery with umbilicoplasty.

Cognitive outcomes following pediatric epilepsy surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize outcomes following pediatric epilepsy surgery across a broad range of cognitive domains using empirical methods (i.e., reliable change indices: RCIs), compare these outcomes with those based on traditional methods (i.e., standard deviation: SD), and identify factors associated with postoperative cognitive declines and/or improvements. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 186 children who underwent surgical resection for treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy and who completed pre- and postoperative neuropsychological assessments. Postoperative testing occurred approximately 6.5 months after surgery and included measures of intelligence, attention/working memory, processing speed, language, executive functioning, visuospatial skills, memory, and academic achievement. Change scores for each patient were classified as decline, no change, or improvement using epilepsy-specific RCIs. Chi-square goodness of fit tests were used to compare the distribution of outcomes as classified with RCIs to those obtained using a traditional one SD cutoff. Multinomial regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with cognitive decline and/or improvement. RESULTS: While 18% of children demonstrated no postoperative declines or improvements in any cognitive domain, the majority demonstrated relatively focal changes (declines and/or improvements in 1-2 cognitive domains). Rates of postoperative decline and improvement across individual cognitive domains were variable and ranged from 4-35% and 2-31%, respectively. Compared to RCIs, SD methodology often overestimated postoperative improvements and varied with respect to declines. Factors associated with RCI decline or improvement included preoperative performance, age at surgery, surgery site, and postoperative seizures. SIGNIFICANCE: Results suggest substantial variability in individual cognitive outcomes approximately 6.5 months following pediatric epilepsy surgery. The differences in change distributions obtained using epilepsy-specific RCIs versus SDs highlight the need for studies using empiric methodology to study postoperative cognitive change. Variables associated with postoperative cognitive change may be used to develop multivariable prediction models in future studies to aid clinical decision-making and patient counseling.

Conventional oral and secondary high dose vaginal metronidazole therapy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis: clinical outcomes, impacts of sex and menses.

PURPOSE: Oral metronidazole therapy is the standard of care for bacterial vaginosis (BV), yet it has alarming rates of recurrence and refractory responses among recurrent BV (RBV) patients. This study addresses whether high dose vaginal metronidazole therapy (HDM) is beneficial in RBV patients who fail after standard of care (SOC) therapy, whether diagnostic test scores proximal to the HDM predict clinical outcome, and whether menses, coitus, or race influences therapy outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 90 patients with RBV were given SOC and tracked 74 for up to 9 months. Refractory or recurrent patients (57) with symptomatic BV were given HDM and followed for up to 8 months. Patients were evaluated by Amsel criteria, Nugent score, and a qPCR assay that assesses the Lactobacillus content. RESULTS: HDM achieved at least short-term remission in 68% of the patients who were refractory to or recurred after SOC and provided a 10-day increase in the mean duration of remission among patients who eventually recurred (p=0.027). Patients with prolonged dysbiosis (pH >5 or Amsel 4) before symptomatic recurrence were more likely to recur after subsequent HDM. Most recurrence happened within 10 days of menses, but sex in this cohort was not associated with clinical outcome. Mean diagnostic BV scores of African American patients in remission were inferior to scores of a small cohort of Caucasian patients in remission. CONCLUSION: Encouraging results obtained with HDM justify a prospective, randomized study to determine if follow-up HDM is beneficial among a broader cohort of women failing conventional oral metronidazole therapy.

Prognostic Indicators of Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis.

Following all forms of therapy for bacterial vaginosis (BV), recurrence rates are extremely high. Many diagnostic tests are available that differentiate bacterial vaginosis from other types of vaginal disorders, but none predict recurrence after treatment, nor are any vetted for monitoring ongoing responses to treatment. Our goal was to determine which tests, and at what optimal times, have prognostic value in predicting recurrence. This prospective cohort study monitored 74 highly recurrent BV patients for up to 9 months. Symptomatic BV patients were treated with oral metronidazole and were evaluated at cessation of treatment and monthly. Index tests included Amsel, Nugent, BV Blue, and Affirm VPIII, as well as a quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based test under initial evaluation here. The qPCR-based LbRC ( LactobacillusRelative Composition) assay predicted BV recurrence when performed shortly after oral metronidazole treatment, with both 90% positive predictive values (PPV) and 74% negative predictive values (NPV); the Nugent scores had 93% PPV but poor NPV (57%). No test, at any other visit, was prognostic. The LbRC assay and, to a lesser extent, Nugent tests scored a week after oral metronidiazole predicted recurrence, suggesting that the recurrence in this cohort was predominantly by relapse due to incomplete restoration of eubiosis soon after therapy. This is the first study in an under evaluated population of recurrent BV patients that emphasizes the need for and a pathway to a possible prognostic modality. Given the high recurrence rates of BV, prognostic tests that could influence individualized treatment alternatives are urgently needed.