Cross-sectional analysis of avoidable emergency department visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 had a significant impact on Emergency Departments (ED) with early data suggesting an initial decline in avoidable ED visits. However, the sustained impact over time is unclear. In this study, we analyzed ED discharges over a two-year time period after the COVID-19 pandemic began and compared it with a control time period pre-pandemic to evaluate the difference in ED visit categories, including total, avoidable, and unavoidable visits. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study assessing the distribution of visits with ED discharges from two hospitals within a health system over a three-year time period (1/1/2019-12/31/2021). Visits were categorized using the expanded NYU-EDA algorithm modified to include COVID-19-related visits. Categories included: Emergent - Not Preventable/Avoidable, Emergent - Preventable/Avoidable, Emergent - Primary Care Treatable, Non-Emergent, Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Abuse, Injury, and COVID-19. Chi-square testing was conducted to investigate differences within the time period before COVID-19 (1/1/2019-12/31/2019) and both initial (1/1/2020-12/31/2020) and delayed (1/1/2021-12/31/2021) COVID-19 time frames and ED visit categories, as well as post hoc testing using Fisher's exact tests with Bonferroni correction. ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni testing was used to determine differences based on daily census for each ED visit category. RESULTS: A total of 228,010 ED discharges (Hospital #1 = 126,858; Hospital #2 = 101,152) met our inclusion criteria over the three-year period. There was a significant difference in the distribution of NYU-EDA categories between the two time periods (pre-COVID-19 versus during COVID-19) for the combined hospitals (p < 0.001), Hospital #1 (p < 0.001), and Hospital #2 (p < 0.001). When examining daily ED discharges, there was a decline in all categories from 2019 to 2020 except for "Emergent - Not Preventable/Avoidable" which remained stable and "Substance Abuse" which increased. From 2020 to 2021, there were no differences in ED avoidable visits. However, there were increases in discharged visits related to "Injuries", "Alcohol", and "Mental health" and a decrease in "COVID-19". CONCLUSION: Our study identified a sustained decline in discharged avoidable ED visits during the two years following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was partially offset by the increase in COVID-19 visits. This work can help inform ED and healthcare systems in resource allocation, hospital staffing, and financial planning during future COVID-19 resurgences and pandemics.

Training to Enhance the Knowledge and Comfort Level of Emergency Physicians Providing Care for Survivors of Sexual Assault.

INTRODUCTION: Although sexual assault (SA) is a substantial public health problem, emergency physicians do not universally undergo continuing education on caring for survivors of SA. The goal of this intervention was to develop a training course that improves physician understanding of trauma-sensitive care in the emergency department and equips physicians with knowledge of the specialized care required to treat SA survivors. METHODS: Thirty-nine attending emergency physicians underwent a 4-hour training on trauma-sensitive care for survivors of SA and completed prequestionnaires and postquestionnaires to assess training efficacy in improving knowledge base and comfort level providing care. The training consisted of didactic portions focused on the neurobiology of trauma, communication skills, and forensic evidence collection techniques and a simulation portion with standardized patients to practice evidence collection and a trauma-sensitive anogenital examination. RESULTS: Physicians demonstrated significantly improved performance (P < .05) on 12 of 18 knowledge-based questions. Physicians also showed significant improvement (P < .001) on 11 of 11 Likert scale questions that assessed comfort level communicating with survivors and using trauma-sensitive techniques during medical and forensic examinations. CONCLUSION: Physicians who received the training course demonstrated a significantly improved knowledge base and comfort level treating survivors of SA. Considering the prevalence of sexual violence, it is imperative that physicians are appropriately educated on trauma-sensitive care.

Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesic Prescriptions for Dental Visits in the Emergency Department, 2015-2017 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Prescription and nonprescription opioid misuse and the rising number of dental visits in emergency departments (EDs) are growing public health concerns in the US. Our study objective was to examine the relationship between prescription analgesics (opioids and nonopioids) and the type of ED visits (dental and nondental) at the national level. METHODS: We used data from the 2015-2017 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to examine the association between opioid, nonopioid, and combination of opioid and nonopioid analgesic prescriptions and dental and nondental visits in the ED. Covariates included socioeconomic variables, time of visit, provider type, triage level, hospital location (urban vs rural), and pain level. We conducted descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analyses using weighted estimates. RESULTS: The final study sample included 57,098 ED visits from approximately 6 million dental and 414 million nondental visits to EDs during 2015-2017 nationally. Among dental visits, 20.8% received nonopioid analgesics (vs 23.4% among nondental visits), 36.6% received opioid analgesics (vs 14.0% among nondental visits), and 17.7% received both opioids and nonopioid analgesics (vs 8.7% among nondental visits). Adjusted multinomial logistic regression model indicated that, compared with nondental visits, dental visits had 4.8, 1.9, and 3.4 times higher likelihood of receipt of an opioid, nonopioid, or both opioid and nonopioid analgesic prescription, respectively, in the ED than no analgesic prescriptions. CONCLUSION: Dental visits resulted in receipt of a significantly higher proportion of opioid prescriptions compared with nondental visits during 2015-2017. The study findings highlight the need for developing interventions to reduce opioid prescriptions in the ED, especially for dental visits.

Comparison of Two Simulated Procedural Assessment Formats in Attending Emergency Physicians.

Background Emergency physicians must be proficient at inserting central venous catheters and performing lumbar punctures to provide life-saving therapies to critically ill patients. An assessment of procedural skill is rarely performed after an emergency physician has completed residency. Current board certification exams for emergency medicine focus only on verbal descriptions of procedures to assess skill. We compared two methods of procedural skill assessment, simulated task trainer and verbal description, to assess the range of skill in central venous catheter insertion and lumbar punctures of emergency attending physicians at a large, urban, academic tertiary care institution. Methodology This is a prospective cohort study of simulated internal jugular central venous catheter insertion and lumbar puncture skill by emergency attending physicians on a task trainer versus verbal description. A total of 17 attending emergency medicine physicians consented to participate in the study during a yearly procedural skills session. For each subject, two expert raters used previously published checklists to assess procedural skill and give a global rating score. Results More checklist items were performed correctly on the task trainer than on verbal assessment for central line (task trainer = 78.4% ± 8.32% and verbal = 68.26% ± 8.9%) and lumbar puncture (task trainer = 85.57% ± 7.6% and verbal = 73.53%4 ± 10.34%) procedures, both with significant differences (p < 0.001). Of the participants, 82% strongly preferred the task trainer format to the verbal description assessment format. Conclusions The higher scores on the simulated format compared to the current verbal format imply that a shift towards simulated procedural assessment techniques may benefit examinees. More work is needed to determine if objective checklist scores for practicing attending emergency physicians correlate with subjective expert assessments of their procedural skills.

Mass-Casualty Training Exercise Using High-Fidelity Computerized Simulators and Involving Time and Resource Limitation.

PURPOSE: Training emergency department (ED) personnel in the care of victims of mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) is a highly challenging task requiring unique and innovative approaches. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively explore the value of high-fidelity simulators in an exercise that incorporates time and resource limitation as an optimal method of training health care personnel in mass-casualty care. METHODS: Mass-casualty injury patterns from an explosive blast event were simulated for 12 victims using high-fidelity computerized simulators (HFCS). Programmed outcomes, based on the nature of injuries and conduct of participants, ranged from successful resuscitation and survival to death. The training exercise was conducted five times with different teams of health care personnel (n = 42). The exercise involved limited time and resources such as blood, ventilators, and imaging capability. Medical team performance was observed and recorded. Following the exercise, participants completed a survey regarding their training satisfaction, quality of the exercise, and their prior experiences with MCI simulations. The Likert scale responses from the survey were evaluated using mean with 95% confidence interval, as well as median and inter-quartile range. For the categorical responses, the frequency, proportions, and associated 95% confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: The mean rating on the quality of experiences related trainee survey questions (n = 42) was between 4.1 and 4.6 on a scale of 5.0. The mean ratings on a scale of 10.0 for quality, usefulness, and pertinence of the program were 9.2, 9.5, and 9.5, respectfully. One hundred percent of respondents believed that this type of exercise should be required for MCI training and would recommend this exercise to colleagues. The five medical team (n = 5) performances resulted in the number of deaths ranging from two (including the expectant victims) to six. Eighty percent of medical teams attempted to resuscitate the "expectant" infant and exhausted the O- blood supply. Sixty percent of medical teams depleted the supply of ventilators. Forty percent of medical teams treated "delayed" victims too early. CONCLUSION: A training exercise using HFCS for mass casualties and employing limited time and resources is described. This exercise is a preferred method of training among participating health care personnel.

Vitamin D status and outcomes for hospitalised older patients with COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Older adults are more likely to be vitamin D deficient. The aim of the study was to determine whether these patients have worse outcomes with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study between 1 March and 30 April 2020 to assess the importance of vitamin D deficiency in older patients with COVID-19. The cohort consisted of patients aged ≥65 years presenting with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (n=105). All patients were tested for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels during acute illness. Diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed via viral reverse transcriptase PCR swab or supporting radiological evidence. COVID-19-positive arm (n=70) was sub-divided into vitamin D-deficient (≤30 nmol/L) (n=39) and -replete groups (n=35). Subgroups were assessed for disease severity using biochemical, radiological and clinical markers. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were laboratory features of cytokine storm, thoracic imaging changes and requirement of non-invasive ventilation (NIV). RESULTS: COVID-19-positive arm demonstrated lower median serum 25(OH)D level of 27 nmol/L (IQR=20-47 nmol/L) compared with COVID-19-negative arm, with median level of 52 nmol/L (IQR=31.5-71.5 nmol/L) (p value=0.0008). Among patients with vitamin D deficiency, there was higher peak D-dimer level (1914.00 µgFEU/L vs 1268.00 µgFEU/L) (p=0.034) and higher incidence of NIV support and high dependency unit admission (30.77% vs 9.68%) (p=0.042). No increased mortality was observed between groups. CONCLUSION: Older adults with vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 may demonstrate worse morbidity outcomes. Vitamin D status may be a useful prognosticator.

Trends and risk factors in tribal vs nontribal preterm deliveries in Gujarat, India.

BACKGROUND: Although risk factors of preterm deliveries across the world have been extensively studied, the trends and risk factors of preterm deliveries for the population of rural India, and specifically tribal women, remain unexplored. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the preterm delivery rates among women from a rural area in Gujarat, India, based on socioeconomic and clinical factors. The second aim of the study was to assess and identify predictors or risk factors for preterm deliveries. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective medical record review study investigating deliveries that took place at the Kasturba Maternity Hospital in Jhagadia, Gujarat, from January 2012 to June 2019 (N=32,557). We performed odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio analyses of preterm delivery risk factors. Lastly, we also considered the neonatal outcomes of preterm deliveries, both overall and comparing tribal and nontribal mothers. RESULTS: For the study period, the tribal preterm delivery rate was 19.7% and the nontribal preterm delivery rate was 13.9%; the rate remained consistent for both groups over the 7-year study period. Adjusted odds ratios indicated that tribal status (adjusted odds ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.24), maternal illiteracy ((adjusted odds ratio, 1.29, 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.42), paternal illiteracy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.410), hemoglobin <10 g/dL (adjusted odds ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-1.51), and a lack of antenatal care (adjusted odds ratio, 2.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.94-2.37) are significantly associated with higher odds of preterm delivery. The overall stillbirth rate among tribal women was 3.06% and 1.73% among nontribal women; among preterm deliveries, tribal women have a higher proportion of stillbirth outcomes (11.77%) than nontribal women (8.86%). CONCLUSION: Consistent with existing literature, risk factors for preterm deliveries in rural India include clinical factors such as a lack of antenatal care and low hemoglobin. In addition, sociodemographic factors, such as tribal status, are independently associated with higher odds of delivering preterm. The higher rates of preterm deliveries among tribal women need to be studied further to detail the underlying reasons of how it can influence a woman's delivery outcome.

Impact of endotracheal tube twisting on the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for intubation confirmation.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound is a readily-available technique used to identify accurate placement of an endotracheal tube (ETT) after an intubation attempt. There is limited research on using manipulation of the ETT to improve the diagnostic accuracy of ETT location confirmation. Our study sought to directly assess whether ETT twisting during the standard grayscale technique influenced the accuracy of intubation confirmation by ultrasound. METHODS: The study was performed using two different fresh cadavers. During each trial, the cadavers were randomized to either tracheal or esophageal intubation. Three blinded, ultrasound fellowship-trained sonographers assessed the location of the ETT post-intubation alternating between using either a technique with no ETT movement or a technique with ETT twisting. In the latter technique, the sonographers manipulated the ETT in using a side-to-side, twisting motion while performing the ultrasound exam. The study measured the accuracy of ETT location identification, time to identification, and sonographer confidence. RESULTS: 540 assessments were performed with equal numbers of tracheal and esophageal intubations. The accuracy of ultrasound using the static technique was 97.8% (95% CI 95.2% to 99.0%) and the accuracy using the ETT twisting technique was 100% (95% CI 98.6% to 100%). The ETT twisting group showed a faster time to identification with a mean time to identification of 4.97 s (95% CI 4.36 to 5.57 s) compared to 6.87 s (95% CI 6.30 to 7.44 s) for the static ETT group. Operator confidence was also higher in the ETT twisting group at 4.84/5.0 (95% CI 4.79 to 4.90) compared to 4.71/5.0 (95% CI 4.63 to 4.78) in the static ETT group. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in the accuracy of ETT location identification between the two groups. However, utilizing the ETT twisting technique showed a statistically significant improvement in the time to identification and sonographer confidence.

Accuracy of ultrasound for endotracheal intubation between different transducer types.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound has been increasingly utilized for the identification of endotracheal tube (ETT) location after an intubation attempt, particularly among patients in cardiac arrest. However, prior studies have varied with respect to the choice of transducer and no studies have directly compared the accuracy between transducer types. Our study is the first to directly compare the accuracy of ETT confirmation between the linear and curvilinear transducer. METHODS: This study was performed in a cadaver lab using three different cadavers chosen to represent varying neck circumferences. Cadavers were randomized to tracheal or esophageal intubation. Blinded sonographers assessed the location of the ETT using either a linear or curvilinear transducer in an alternating sequence. Accuracy of sonographer identification, time to identification, and operator confidence were assessed. RESULTS: Four hundred and five assessments were performed with 198 (48.9%) tracheal and 207 (51.1%) esophageal intubations. The linear transducer was 98% (95% CI 95.1% to 99.2%) accurate. The curvilinear transducer was 95% (95% CI 91.1% to 97.3%) accurate. The mean time to identification was significantly lower with the linear transducer [7.46 s (95% CI 6.23 to 8.7 s)] as compared with the curvilinear transducer [11.63 s (95% CI 9.05 to 14.2 s)]. The mean operator confidence was significantly higher with the linear transducer [4.84/5.0 (95% CI 4.76 to 4.91)] than with the curvilinear transducer [4.44/5.0 (95% CI 4.3 to 4.57)]. All operators preferred the linear transducer over the curvilinear transducer. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for ETT confirmation did not significantly differ between ultrasound transducer types, but the curvilinear transducer was associated with a longer time to confirmation and lower operator confidence. Further studies are needed to determine if the accuracy would change with more novice providers or in specific patient populations.

Variation in the accuracy of ultrasound for the detection of intubation by endotracheal tube size.

INTRODUCTION: Rapid and accurate confirmation of endotracheal tube (ETT) placement is a fundamental step in definitive airway management. Multiple techniques with different limitations have been reported. Recent studies have evaluated the accuracy, time to performance, and physician confidence for ultrasound in both cadaveric models and live patients. However, no study to date has measured the effect of ETT size. Our study is the first to measure the accuracy of ultrasound for ETT confirmation based on ETT size. METHODS: This study was performed in a cadaver lab using three different cadavers chosen to represent varying neck circumferences. Cadavers were intubated in a random sequence with respect to both the location of intubation (i.e., tracheal vs esophageal) and sizes of ETT. Three ETT sizes were utilized: 6.0-, 7.0-, and 8.0-mm. Blinded sonographers assessed the location of the ETT using the static technique. Accuracy of sonographer identification, time to identification, and operator confidence were assessed. RESULTS: 453 assessments were performed. Overall, ultrasound was 99.1% (95% CI 97.8% to 99.7%) accurate in identification of correct location of intubation. The mean time to placement was 6.45 s (95% CI 5.62 to 7.28). The mean operator confidence level was 4.72/5.0 (95% CI 4.65 to 4.78). There was no significant difference between ETT sizes with respect to any of the outcomes. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for ETT confirmation did not vary with the use of different ETT sizes. Further studies are needed to determine if the accuracy would change with more novice providers or in specific patient populations.

Comparison of Static versus Dynamic Ultrasound for the Detection of Endotracheal Intubation.

INTRODUCTION: In the emergency department setting, it is essential to rapidly and accurately confirm correct endotracheal tube (ETT) placement. Ultrasound is an increasingly studied modality for identifying ETT location. However, there has been significant variation in techniques between studies, with some using the dynamic technique, while others use a static approach. This study compared the static and dynamic techniques to determine which was more accurate for ETT identification. METHODS: We performed this study in a cadaver lab using three different cadavers to represent variations in neck circumference. Cadavers were randomized to either tracheal or esophageal intubation in equal proportions. Blinded sonographers then assessed the location of the ETT using either static or dynamic sonography. We assessed accuracy of sonographer identification of ETT location, time to identification, and operator confidence. RESULTS: A total of 120 intubations were performed: 62 tracheal intubations and 58 esophageal intubations. The static technique was 93.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] [84.3% to 98.2%]) sensitive and 98.3% specific (95% CI [90.8% to 99.9%]). The dynamic technique was 92.1% (95% CI [82.4% to 97.4%]) sensitive and 91.2% specific (95% CI [80.7% to 97.1%]). The mean time to identification was 6.72 seconds (95% CI [5.53 to 7.9] seconds) in the static technique and 6.4 seconds (95% CI [5.65 to 7.16] seconds) in the dynamic technique. Operator confidence was 4.9/5.0 (95% CI [4.83 to 4.97]) in the static technique and 4.86/5.0 (95% CI [4.78 to 4.94]) in the dynamic technique. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for any of the outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that both the static and dynamic sonography approaches were rapid and accurate for confirming ETT location with no statistically significant difference between modalities. Further studies are recommended to compare these techniques in ED patients and with more novice sonographers.

Comparison of color flow with standard ultrasound for the detection of endotracheal intubation.

INTRODUCTION: Intubation is a frequently performed procedure in emergency medicine that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality when unrecognized esophageal intubation occurs. However, it may be difficult to visualize the endotracheal tube (ETT) in some patients. This study assessed whether the addition of color Doppler was able to improve the ability to visualize the ETT location. METHODS: This study was performed in a cadaver lab using three different cadavers chosen to represent varying neck circumference. Cadavers were randomized to tracheal or esophageal intubation. Blinded sonographers then assessed the location of the ETT using either grayscale or color Doppler imaging. Accuracy of sonographer identification of ETT location, time to identification, and operator confidence were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty intubations were performed and each was assessed by both standard and color Doppler techniques. There were 78 tracheal intubations and 72 esophageal intubations. The standard technique was 99.3% (95% CI 96.3 to 99.9%) accurate. The color flow technique was also 99.3% (95% CI 96.3 to 99.9%) accurate. The mean operator time to identification was 3.24s (95% CI 2.97 to 3.51s) in the standard approach and 5.75s (95% CI 5.16 to 6.33s) in the color flow technique. The mean operator confidence was 4.99/5.00 (95% CI 4.98 to 5.00) in the standard approach and 4.94/5.00 (95% CI 4.90 to 4.98) in the color flow technique. CONCLUSION: When added to standard ultrasound imaging, color flow did not improve accuracy or operator confidence for identifying ETT location and resulted in a longer examination time.

A Comparison of Insulin Doses for the Treatment of Hyperkalemia in Patients with Renal Insufficiency.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of 5 units versus 10 units of insulin for the treatment of hyperkalemia in patients with renal insufficiency. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Large academic medical center emergency department. PATIENTS: Between March 1, 2008, and February 29, 2016, 675 patients met the inclusion criteria of age 18 years and older, serum potassium greater than 5 mEq/L, renal insufficiency, 5 units or 10 units of intravenous regular insulin administered in the emergency department, and blood glucose documented within 5 hours after insulin administration. Of these patients, 133 (19.7%) received 5 units of insulin and 542 (80.3%) received 10 units of insulin. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The primary outcome was incidence of hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 70 mg/dl). Secondary outcomes were incidence of severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 40 mg/dl) and change in serum potassium after insulin therapy. Hypoglycemia occurred in 26 of 133 patients receiving 5 units of insulin (19.5%) and in 155 of 542 patients receiving 10 units (28.6%) (difference = -9.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -16.8% to -1.3%). Severe hypoglycemia occurred in 4 of 133 patients (3.0%) and 37 of 542 patients (6.8%) receiving insulin 5 units and 10 units, respectively (difference = -3.8%, 95% CI -7.4% to 0%). Change in serum potassium was similar between groups (-1.0 ± 0.8 vs -1.0 ± 0.7 mEq/L, difference = 0, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.1). CONCLUSION: In patients with renal insufficiency and hyperkalemia, 5 units of insulin reduced serum potassium to the same extent as 10 units of insulin but with a lower rate of hypoglycemia. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Prosthodontic Approach in Management of Prolonged Neonatal Intubation.

Intubation is a routine intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for preterm neonates with respiratory distress, inadequate gag reflex, poor sucking and swallowing. Prolonged intubation in neonates can be done by nasal or oral route. Although naso-tracheal intubation may reduce movement of the tube, it may contribute to airway obstruction, possible hypoxia, and occlusion of the nasal aperture during a crucial period of development further contributing to laboured breathing. Being obligate nasal breathers, oro-tracheal route is the preferred method of intubation in premature infants as oral mucosa is less susceptible to damage than nasal mucosa. Ineffective stabilization of the tubes is a frequent problem often resulting in accidental extubation and displacement of orotracheal and orogastric tube. Hence, these tubes must be stabilized against displacement from tongue and jaw movements to prevent discomfort and subsequent tissue trauma. Complications of prolonged endotracheal intubation include palatal groove formation by pressure against the hard palate, infection, accidental extubation, malposition, laryngeal or tracheal edema and ulceration, tracheal stenosis, vocal cord injury. Various oral appliances are used for infants to stabilize the tubes and prevent complications associated with long term intubation. This case report describes a prosthodontic approach in management of prolonged neonatal intubation.

Spindle Assembly and Chromosome Segregation Requires Central Spindle Proteins in Drosophila Oocytes.

Oocytes segregate chromosomes in the absence of centrosomes. In this situation, the chromosomes direct spindle assembly. It is still unclear in this system which factors are required for homologous chromosome bi-orientation and spindle assembly. The Drosophila kinesin-6 protein Subito, although nonessential for mitotic spindle assembly, is required to organize a bipolar meiotic spindle and chromosome bi-orientation in oocytes. Along with the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), Subito is an important part of the metaphase I central spindle. In this study we have conducted genetic screens to identify genes that interact with subito or the CPC component Incenp. In addition, the meiotic mutant phenotype for some of the genes identified in these screens were characterized. We show, in part through the use of a heat-shock-inducible system, that the Centralspindlin component RacGAP50C and downstream regulators of cytokinesis Rho1, Sticky, and RhoGEF2 are required for homologous chromosome bi-orientation in metaphase I oocytes. This suggests a novel function for proteins normally involved in mitotic cell division in the regulation of microtubule-chromosome interactions. We also show that the kinetochore protein, Polo kinase, is required for maintaining chromosome alignment and spindle organization in metaphase I oocytes. In combination our results support a model where the meiotic central spindle and associated proteins are essential for acentrosomal chromosome segregation.

Medicaid beneficiaries who continue to use the ED: a focus on the Illinois Medical Home Network.

OBJECTIVES: Frequent, nonurgent emergency department use continues to plague the American health care system through ineffective disease management and unnecessary costs. In 2012, the Illinois Medical Home Network (MHN) was implemented to, in part, reduce an overreliance on already stressed emergency departments through better care coordination and access to primary care. The purpose of this study is to characterize MHN patients and compare them with non-MHN patients for a preliminary understanding of MHN patients who visit the emergency department. Variables of interest include (1) frequency of emergency department use during the previous 12 months, (2) demographic characteristics, (3) acuity, (4) disposition, and (5) comorbidities. METHODS: We performed a retrospective data analysis of all emergency department visits at a large, urban academic medical center in 2013. Binary logistic regression analyses and analysis of variance were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Medical Home Network patients visited the emergency department more often than did non-MHN patients. Medical Home Network patients were more likely to be African American, Hispanic/Latino, female, and minors when compared with non-MHN patients. Greater proportions of MHN patients visiting the emergency department had asthma diagnoses. Medical Home Network patients possessed higher acuity but were more likely to be discharged from the emergency department compared with non-MHN patients. CONCLUSIONS: This research may assist with developing and evaluating intervention strategies targeting the reduction of health disparities through decreased use of emergency department services in these traditionally underserved populations.

Dietary modifications in Parkinson's disease: A neuroprotective intervention?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, with the prevalence increasing as the population ages. Many mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, and inflammation. Current treatment strategies focus on symptomatic improvement. However, therapies to modify disease progression are lacking. A whole food, plant-based diet contains many compounds that fight oxidative stress and inflammation. Evidence from animal models show that various phytochemicals may alter the mechanisms contributing to PD pathophysiology. Epidemiological studies show a relationship between reduced risk of PD and diet. We hypothesize that phytochemicals in plant-based foods may contribute to neuroprotection in PD and that adopting a plant-based diet may provide symptomatic improvement and alter disease progression in PD.

Continuous non-invasive monitoring to detect covert autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Lightheadedness on standing is a disabling symptom in Parkinson's disease associated with orthostatic hypotension and is thought to represent cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Traditional orthostatic blood pressures are normal in some patients with lightheadedness and other measures of cardiovascular dysautonomia can be insensitive. In this study, we used continuous non-invasive arterial pressure monitoring to measure beat-to-beat changes in blood pressure and heart rate on standing and during Valsalva as a potential marker of autonomic dysfunction. METHODS: Subjects had a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease with or without documented orthostatic hypotension. Each participant underwent traditional measurement of orthostatic blood pressure and heart rate as well as measurement of beat-to-beat blood pressure and heart rate using continuous non-invasive arterial pressure monitoring during Valsalva maneuver and in response to standing. Orthostatic change in blood pressure and heart rate, and frequencies of normal and abnormal blood pressure responses to Valsalva maneuver were analyzed. RESULTS: In subjects without documented orthostatic hypotension, there was a higher proportion of abnormal blood pressure responses to Valsalva in subjects with symptoms of lightheadedness or dizziness upon standing compared to those without symptoms (p = 0.03). Additionally, the proportion of abnormal blood pressure responses during Valsalva observed in symptomatic subjects without orthostatic hypotension was indistinguishable from those with documented orthostatic hypotension (p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that continuous non-invasive arterial pressure monitoring may be more sensitive than traditional measurement of orthostatic blood pressure to detect subtle cardiac dysautonomia in Parkinson's disease and helpful in the diagnosis of unexplained lightheadedness.

Caregiver tele-support group for Parkinson's disease: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disabling neurodegenerative disease that typically affects the geriatric population and requires a caregiver. Although caregiver burden reduces quality of life of the caregiver, support groups for caregivers have not been studied. Offering a tele-support group to PD caregivers would be an innovative approach to extending a novel resource. METHODS: A single-center pilot study was conducted, enrolling caregivers in an 8-week tele-support group program. Mood state and caregiver burden were assessed at baseline and conclusion of the program using self-report questionnaires. Qualitative feedback was obtained at the conclusion of the program. RESULTS: Seven female spouse caregivers enrolled; 86% completed the program. Although no statistically significant changes in questionnaire scores were found, the mean Geriatric Depression Scale decreased from 4.2 to 3 and qualitative feedback was universally positive. CONCLUSIONS: The use of tele-support groups for PD caregivers is a feasible and innovative resource to address caregiver burden.