Smoking and early infliximab response in Crohn's disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab is used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD), but its efficacy varies. Although cigarette smoking worsens CD, its impact on the infliximab response is unknown. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to determine the effect of smoking on the induction response to infliximab. METHODS: A systematic search was performed of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials, the Cochrane IBD Group Specialized Trials Register for publications, and abstracts from major conferences from January 1996 to December 2010. Random effects meta-analysis using the Mantel­Haenszel method was conducted. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the Q statistic, the I2 statistic, and τ2. RESULTS: We identified 12 articles; four were excluded due to use of non-validated scoring systems.The remaining eight included a total of 1658 patients, with 649 active smokers. Luminal response was assessed by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index in four studies (three of which included fistula response) and the Harvey­Bradshaw index in two (both including fistula response), and two studies examined only the fistula response. The relative risk for response to infliximab among smokers was 0.99 (95% CI 0.88­1.11) (τ2 = 0.0143). Analyses of the five studies examining both inflammatory and fistulizing CD were similar to the analysis of all eight studies. The pooled relative risk was 0.92 (95% CI 0.80­1.06) (τ2 = 0.0154). CONCLUSION: Though smoking worsens CD, this meta-analysis does not show a negative effect of smoking on initial response to infliximab. This must be viewed in the proper context, as long-term maintenance of response may yet be influenced by smoking status.

The relationship between the timing of a palliative care consult and utilization outcomes for ventilator-assisted intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: Given the great number of chronic care patients facing the end of life and the challenges of critical care delivery, there has been emerging evidence supporting the benefit of palliative care in the intensive care unit (ICU). We studied the relationship between the timing of a palliative care consult (PCC) and two utilization outcomes - length of stay (LOS) and pharmacy costs - in ventilator-assisted ICU patients. METHOD: A retrospective chart review was conducted (N = 90). Summed pharmacy costs were compared using a paired t test before and after PCC. Spearman correlations were performed between days to PCC and ICU LOS, ventilator days, and days to death following ventilator discontinuation. RESULTS: Number of days from admission to PCC was correlated with total days on ventilator (ρ = 0.685, p < 0.0001) and total ICU LOS (ρ = 0.654, p < 0.0001). Number of days to PCC was correlated with pre-PCC total medication costs (ρ = 0.539, p < 0.0001). Median medication costs were significantly reduced after the PCC (p < 0.0001), from $230.96 to 30.62. Median medication costs decreased for all categories except for analgesics, antiemetics, and opioids. The number of patients receiving opioid infusion increased (37 vs. 90%) after PCC (p < 0.0001). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Earlier timing for PCC in the ICU is associated with a lower LOS through quicker mechanical ventilation (MV) withdrawal, presenting a unique opportunity to both decrease costs and improve patient care.

Impact on house staff evaluation scores when changing from a Dreyfus- to a Milestone-based evaluation model: one internal medicine residency program's findings.

PURPOSE: As graduate medical education (GME) moves into the Next Accreditation System (NAS), programs must take a critical look at their current models of evaluation and assess how well they align with reporting outcomes. Our objective was to assess the impact on house staff evaluation scores when transitioning from a Dreyfus-based model of evaluation to a Milestone-based model of evaluation. Milestones are a key component of the NAS. METHOD: We analyzed all end of rotation evaluations of house staff completed by faculty for academic years 2010-2011 (pre-Dreyfus model) and 2011-2012 (post-Milestone model) in one large university-based internal medicine residency training program. Main measures included change in PGY-level average score; slope, range, and separation of average scores across all six Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies. RESULTS: Transitioning from a Dreyfus-based model to a Milestone-based model resulted in a larger separation in the scores between our three post-graduate year classes, a steeper progression of scores in the PGY-1 class, a wider use of the 5-point scale on our global end of rotation evaluation form, and a downward shift in the PGY-1 scores and an upward shift in the PGY-3 scores. CONCLUSIONS: For faculty trained in both models of assessment, the Milestone-based model had greater discriminatory ability as evidenced by the larger separation in the scores for all the classes, in particular the PGY-1 class.

Increased bone fractures among elderly United States hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Fractures are an important cause of morbidity in hemodialysis patients. Multiple advances in the treatment of mineral and bone disease in hemodialysis patients have occurred. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the rate of fractures in hemodialysis patients has changed over time. METHODS: We studied US Renal Data System (USRDS) datasets to determine the rates of hospitalized fractures among hemodialysis patients. The primary outcome was incidence of fractures requiring hospitalization. The fracture rate per 1000 person-years was calculated by year from 1992 to 2009. The first 90 days after initiating dialysis were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of hip and vertebral fractures increased from 12.5 fractures per 1000 patient-years in 1992 to 25.3 per 1000 patient-years in 2004 (P < 0.0001). Arm and leg fractures increased from 3.2 per 1000 patient-years in 1992 to 7.7 per 1000 patient-years in 2009 (P < 0.0001). The greatest increase in hip and verterbral fracture rate was seen in white patients >65 years of age. After 2004, the incidence rate of these fractures stabilized and subtly declined, but did not decrease significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Fracture rates increased significantly in hemodialysis patients from 1992 to 2004, with most of the increase occurring in elderly white patients. Assessment of fracture risk and management in dialysis patients at greatest risk requires greater emphasis and further study.

Psychosis in Alzheimer's disease is associated with frontal metabolic impairment and accelerated decline in working memory: findings from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: An ascendant body of evidence suggests that Alzheimer disease with psychosis (AD+P) is a distinct variant of illness with its own genetic diathesis and a unique clinical course. Impaired frontal lobe function has been previously implicated in AD+P. The current exploratory study, presented in two parts, evaluates both the regional brain metabolic and psychometric correlates of psychosis in a longitudinal sample of subjects with AD, made available by the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). METHODS: In Part 1 of the study, 21 ADNI participants with AD who developed psychotic symptoms during the study but were not psychotic at baseline were matched with 21 participants with AD who never became psychotic during the study period, and mean brain [F(18)]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) Cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (CMRgl) by regions of interest (ROIs) were compared Additionally, 39 participants with active psychosis at the time of image acquisition were matched with 39 participants who were never psychotic during the study period, and mean brain FDG-PET CMRgl by sROI were compared. In Part 2 of the study, 354 ADNI participants with AD who were followed for 24 months with serial psychometric testing were identified, and cognitive performance and decline were evaluated for correlation with psychotic symptoms. RESULTS: Part 1: There were no regional brain metabolic differences between those with AD destined to become psychotic and those who did not become psychotic. There was a significant reduction in mean orbitofrontal brain metabolism in those with active psychosis. Part 2: Over the course of study follow-up, psychosis was associated with accelerated decline in functional performance as measured by the Functional Assessment Questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and Forward Digit Span. CONCLUSION: In a sample drawn from the ADNI dataset, our exploratory FDG-PET findings and longitudinal cognitive outcomes support the hypofrontality model of AD+P. Focal frontal vulnerability may mediate the accelerated decline seen in AD+P.

Obesity as a barrier to living kidney donation: a center-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major epidemic and may present a significant barrier to living kidney donation. The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of obesity as an exclusion factor and assess how often these donors lose weight and donate. METHODS: A single center, retrospective analysis of 104 potential living kidney donors between 2008 and 2012. RESULTS: Of the 104 donors, 19 (18%) had a normal body mass index (BMI) of <25. Eighty-five of the 104 (82%) donors spanned the overweight to morbidly obese classifications. Thirty-eight (37%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9). Twenty-four (23%) were categorized as class I obesity (BMI 30-34.9), 17 (16%) as class II obesity (BMI 35-39.9), and six (6%) as class III obesity (BMI >40). There were a total of 23 donors (22%) who were considered moderately and morbidly obese (BMI >35). Of these, only three (13%) succeeded at losing weight and donating. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity may be a frequent barrier to living kidney donation, directly leading to exclusion as a potential kidney donor in about one in five instances. Successful weight loss leading to donation appears to be infrequent, suggesting need to address obesity in the donor population.

Moving forward in GME reform: a 4 + 1 model of resident ambulatory training.

BACKGROUND: Traditional ambulatory training models have limitations in important domains, including opportunities for residents to learn, fragmentation of care delivery experience, and satisfaction with ambulatory experiences. New models of ambulatory training are needed. AIM: To compare the impact of a traditional ambulatory training model with a templated 4 + 1 model. SETTING: A large university-based internal medicine residency using three different training sites: a patient-centered medical home, a hospital-based ambulatory clinic, and community private practices. PARTICIPANTS: Residents, faculty, and administrative staff. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Development of a templated 4 + 1 model of residency where trainees do not attend to inpatient and outpatient responsibilities simultaneously. PROGRAM EVALUATION: A mixed-methods analysis of survey and nominal group data measuring three primary outcomes: 1) Perception of learning opportunities and quality of faculty teaching; 2) Reported fragmentation of care delivery experience; 3) Satisfaction with ambulatory experiences. Self-reported empanelment was a secondary outcome. Residents' learning opportunities increased (p = 0.007) but quality of faculty teaching was unchanged. Participants reported less fragmentation in the care residents provide patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting (p < 0.0001). Satisfaction with ambulatory training improved (p < 0.0001). Self-reported empanelment also increased (p < 0.0001). Results held true for residents, faculty, and staff at all three ambulatory training sites (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: A 4 + 1 model increased resident time in ambulatory continuity clinic, enhanced learning opportunities, reduced fragmentation of care residents provide, and improved satisfaction with ambulatory experiences. More studies of similar models are needed to evaluate effects on additional trainee and patient outcomes.

Image-guided percutaneous renal cryoablation: preoperative risk factors for recurrence and complications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of the R.E.N.A.L nephrometry scoring system in predicting treatment success for image-guided percutaneous cryoablation (PCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 139 patients with renal masses treated with PCA. Preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance images were reviewed by a urology resident. The primary endpoint variable was incomplete treatment or tumour recurrence. R.E.N.A.L. scores were categorized into low (4-6), moderate (7-9), and high (10-12). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict tumour recurrence. Additional variables collected included age at surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, lesion size, skin-to-tumour distance, skin-to-hilum distance, and number of treatment cryoprobes. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 24 months, there were 10 tumour recurrences (six moderate and four high R.E.N.A.L. score categories). Nephrometry score and number of probes used were not associated with recurrence (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, P = 0.9 and P = 0.53, respectively). The tumour distances for patients with recurrence and no recurrence were 10.8 cm and 8.5 cm, respectively (P ≤ 0.05), the skin-to-tumour distance was associated with treatment failure (OR 1.24, P = 0.015); for each unit increase in the mean value, patients were 1.5 times more likely to have a tumour recurrence (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.72). The model that best predicted complications included the number of probes used (P = 0.002) and R.E.N.A.L. score (OR 1.35, P = 0.027). For each additional probe used, patients were twice as likely to have complications (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.28-3.05). With each unit increase in R.E.N.A.L. score, patients were 1.5 times more likely to experience a complication (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.05-2.11). CONCLUSIONS: An increased skin-to-tumour distance is associated with a higher risk of treatment failure after PCA. Furthermore, an increase in both R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score and number of probes used was associated with an increased risk of complications after PCA. The R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score as a measure of tumour complexity was not associated with tumour recurrence.

Are antipsychotics effective for the treatment of anorexia nervosa? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of antipsychotics for weight gain and improvement of illness-related psychopathology in patients with anorexia nervosa. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, the Cochrane Library databases, and PsycINFO citations from the inception of the databases until March 27, 2012, were searched without language restrictions using the following keywords: randomized, random, randomly, and anorexia nervosa. In addition, we hand-searched for additional studies eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis and contacted authors for unpublished data. STUDY SELECTION: Included in this study were randomized placebo- or usual care-controlled trials of antipsychotics in patients with anorexia nervosa. DATA EXTRACTION: Two independent evaluators extracted data. The primary outcome of interest was body weight, expressed as the standardized mean difference (SMD) between the 2 groups in baseline to endpoint change of body mass index (BMI), endpoint BMI, or daily weight change. SMD, risk ratio (RR), and number needed to harm (NNH) ± 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Across 8 studies (mean duration = 9.6 weeks; range, 7-12 weeks), 221 patients (mean age = 22.5 years, 219 [99.1%] females) with anorexia nervosa were randomly assigned to olanzapine (n = 54), quetiapine (n = 15), risperidone (n = 18), pimozide (n = 8), sulpiride (n = 9), placebo (n = 99), or usual care (n = 18). Both individually (P = .11 to P = .47) and pooled together (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.56; P = .06, I2 = 0%; 7 studies, n = 195), weight/BMI effects were not significantly different between antipsychotics and placebo/usual care. Moreover, pooled antipsychotics and placebo/usual care did not differ regarding scores on questionnaires related to anorexia nervosa (P = .32, 5 studies, n = 114), body shape (P = .91, 4 studies, n = 100), depressive symptoms (P = .08, 4 studies, n = 103), and anxiety (P = .53, 4 studies, n = 121). Individually, quetiapine (1 study, n = 33) outperformed usual care regarding eating disorder attitudes (P = .01) and anxiety (P = .02). While rates of dropout due to any reason (P = .83, I2 = 0%) and due to adverse events (P = .54, I2 = 5%) were similar in both groups, drowsiness/sedation occurred significantly more often with antipsychotics than placebo/usual care (RR = 3.69, 95% CI, 1.37-9.95; I2 = 67%, P = .01; NNH = 2, P = .001; 5 studies, n = 129), but most other adverse effects were only sparsely reported. CONCLUSIONS: Although limited by small samples, this meta-analysis failed to demonstrate antipsychotic efficacy for body weight and related outcomes in females with anorexia nervosa.

Current antenatal management of monoamniotic twins: a survey of maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

OBJECTIVE: To assess current management of monoamniotic (MA) twins by US maternal-fetal medicine providers. METHODS: We conducted a mailed survey to members of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine regarding fetal surveillance practices and preferred gestational age (GA) for elective delivery with respect to MA twins. RESULTS: Responses from 837 (43%) were received with most (83.9%) recommending elective admission for inpatient monitoring, 53.5% favoring 26-28 weeks as earliest GA for admission and 75% performing intermittent fetal monitoring (of these 81% monitored 2-3 times/day). Respondents in practice less than 10 years were less likely to use outpatient management (p < 0.05). Median GA for elective delivery was 34 weeks but was higher for those who favored outpatient management, admitted >28 weeks, and were private practitioners (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a paucity of evidence, most practitioners admit MA to perform daily intermittent fetal monitoring and deliver at 34 weeks. Antenatal management protocols may also influence timing of delivery. Due to their rarity, a national registry may be a better tool to analyze the outcomes of these pregnancies.

Prognosis of lymphoma in patients following treatment with 6-mercaptopurine/azathioprine for inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA) are effective for induction and maintenance therapy of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). There is an increased risk of lymphoma in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with 6-MP/AZA. Little, however, is known about the prognosis of IBD patients treated with 6-MP/AZA who develop lymphoma. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 8780 records from three tertiary IBD centers and the records of 600 lymphoma patients from an academic Hematology and Oncology Center. The primary endpoint variable was survival of IBD patients with a lymphoma diagnosis treated or not treated with 6-MP/AZA. A secondary endpoint was the relative survival rate (by gender, race, and ethnicity) extrapolated from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, computed for each subject. RESULTS: Fourteen IBD patients were diagnosed with lymphoma. Twelve had CD and two had UC. Seven patients had treatment with 6-MP/AZA and seven had not. Two patients who received 6-MP/AZA died (both 1 year after diagnosis) and two patients who had not received 6-MP/AZA died (one after 2 years, another 3 years after diagnosis), all from lymphoma. Survival at last follow-up was similar to expected survival based on extrapolated SEER data for both 6-MP/AZA treated and untreated patients. CONCLUSIONS: We found no differences of survival with lymphoma between IBD patients and expected survival for the general population. Also, the prognosis for those IBD patients treated with 6-MP/AZA was not worse than lymphoma patients not treated with 6-MP/AZA. Statistical analysis, however, was limited by the small sample size and heterogeneity of the patients studied.

The comparison of three renal tumor scoring systems: C-Index, P.A.D.U.A., and R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry scores.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The centrality-index (C-Index), preoperative aspects and dimensions used for anatomic (P.A.D.U.A.) classification, and radius.exophyic/endophytic.nearness.anterior/posterior.location (R.E.N.A.L.) nephrometry schemes were developed as standardized scoring systems (SS) to quantify anatomic characteristics of kidney tumors. The objective of this study was to establish reliability and assess relationships between these three SS and perioperative and postoperative variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in 101 patients who underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. The nephrometry schemes were correlated with intraoperative and postoperative parameters using Spearman correlations. In addition, interobserver reliability was assessed on 50 of the patients by interclass correlations comparing the scores assigned by two residents and one fellow who reviewed preoperative CT studies of these patients. RESULTS: The interobserver correlation was 0.84 for the C-Index, 0.81 for the P.A.D.U.A., and 0.92 for the R.E.N.A.L. scoring systems, demonstrating excellent interobserver reliability. All three SS were significantly associated with warm ischemia time (WIT) (C-Index, P=-0.44; P.A.D.U.A., P=0.25; R.E.N.A.L., P=0.32) and percent change in creatinine level (C-Index, P=- 0.33; P.A.D.U.A., P=0.37; R.E.N.A.L., P=0.37). There were no significant associations between any of the three SS assessed and the occurrence of complications, operative time, or estimated blood loss. No significant correlation was found between the P.A.D.U.A. and R.E.N.A.L. SS and length of stay; however, C-Index did show a significant relationship for patients with lower scores having longer hospital stays (P=-0.21). CONCLUSIONS: All three scoring systems demonstrated reliability among observers and represent novel methods of quantitatively describing renal tumors. They were all associated with WIT, percent change in creatinine level, and tumor size. They did not, however, correlate with any other perioperative parameters investigated. At this time, these SS provide a common language for describing renal tumors.

Twenty-year follow-up of adults traumatized during childhood in Armenia.

BACKGROUND: Most children who experience trauma recover and display resilience; however, there are few long-term follow-up studies of traumatized children and fewer still have examined factors that may lead to resilience. This study is a 20-year follow-up of adults who experienced an earthquake as children. METHODS: Nineteen of 25 adults who experienced the earthquake in Armenia in 1988 and participated in the initial study approximately two years later (Time 1) were reinterviewed in 2008 (Time 2). Forty-four Armenian adults aged 22-37 who had not experienced the earthquake comprised the comparison group. All participants at Time 2 were administered the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) and the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index (RI) and also received a clinical interview. RESULTS: The earthquake group had clinically elevated SCL-90-R GSI, PSDI, PST and subscale scores for all but one subscale and had significantly more subscale clinical elevations than the comparison group. All earthquake survivors at Time 2 scored from 1 to 46 on the RI with 4 having probable PTSD. No comparison subjects had experienced an A1 trauma. LIMITATIONS: The small number of subjects in this follow-up, our inability to follow the comparison group in the original study and the measures used at the two time points limits the applicability of the results. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the earthquake survivors experienced anxiety disorders at follow-up but not high levels of PTSD or depression. Clinical interviews identified resilient factors that may have helped these subjects maintain functional and adaptive capacities despite clinical elevations on the SCL-90.

A placebo-controlled pilot study of adjunctive olanzapine for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore whether the addition of olanzapine versus placebo increases weight gain and improves psychological symptoms in adolescents with anorexia nervosa-restricting type who are participating in a comprehensive eating disorders treatment program. METHODS: Twenty underweight females participated in this 10-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of olanzapine. The primary efficacy measure was change in percentage of median body weight measured at baseline and weeks 5 and 10. Secondary efficacy measures included clinician-rated and self-reported measures of psychological functioning measured at 2-week intervals and eating disorder symptoms measured at baseline and weeks 5 and 10 as well as laboratory assessments (including indirect calorimetry), which were also performed at baseline and weeks 5 and 10. A mixed models approach to repeated measures analysis of variance was utilized to detect any treatment-by-time interaction. RESULTS: Fifteen of 20 enrolled females (median age, 17.1 years; range, 12.3-21.8 years; mean body mass index, 16.3) completed this 10-week pilot study. Change in % median body weight did not differ between the treatment groups at midpoint or end of study. Both groups gained weight at a similar rate and had similar improvements in eating attitudes and behaviors, psychological functioning, and resting energy expenditure. A trend of increasing fasting glucose and insulin levels was found only in the olanzapine group at week 10. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings do not support a role for adjunctive olanzapine for underweight adolescent females with anorexia nervosa-restricting type who are receiving standard care in an eating disorder treatment program (clinical trials.gov; no. NCT00592930).

Olanzapine vs. risperidone in patients with first-episode schizophrenia and a lifetime history of cannabis use disorders: 16-week clinical and substance use outcomes.

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of olanzapine and risperidone for the acute treatment of first-episode schizophrenia patients with cannabis use disorders. This secondary analysis of a previously published study included 49 first-episode patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder and a co-occurring lifetime diagnosis of cannabis use disorders randomly assigned to treatment with either olanzapine (n=28) or risperidone (n=21) for 16weeks. The olanzapine group did not differ significantly from the risperidone group for initial response rates of positive symptoms, and rates of cannabis use or alcohol use during the study. Positive symptoms and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) global asociality-anhedonia scores improved over time but did not differ between study medications. In both groups, cannabis use during the study was higher in patients who used cannabis within three months of the admission. Thus, our results suggest that olanzapine and risperidone had a similar initial efficacy on psychotic symptoms and substance use in first-episode patients with co-occurring cannabis use disorders. If clinicians are choosing between olanzapine versus risperidone treatment for this population, their decision should be based upon factors other than symptom response and short-term substance misuse.

The role of adolescent physical abuse in adult intimate partner violence.

This study's primary aims were to examine whether a sample of young adults, aged 23 to 31, who had been documented as physically abused by their parent(s) during adolescence would be more likely to aggress, both physically and verbally, against their intimate partners compared with nonabused young adults and whether abuse history was (along with other risk factors) a significant predictor of intimate partner physical and emotional violence perpetration or victimization. In this longitudinal study, 67 abused and 78 nonabused adults (of an original sample of 198 adolescents) completed the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale and the Jealousy and Emotional Control Scales. Nonabused comparison adolescents were matched for age, gender, and community income. As adults, participants with abuse histories had significantly higher rates of intimate partner physical violence and verbal aggression than did comparison participants. Multivariate logistic regressions indicated that adults with histories of physical abuse were more than twice as likely to be physically violent and almost six times more likely to be verbally aggressive to their intimate partners than were comparison participants. Having had an alcohol use disorder, being married to or living with a partner, and perceiving one's partner as controlling were also significantly associated with physical violence. Jealousy and feeling controlled by one's partner were also significant predictors of verbal aggression. These findings underscore the importance of preventing adolescent abuse as a means of decreasing the incidence of intimate partner physical violence in adulthood.

The impact of an end-of-life communication skills intervention on physicians-in-training.

The palliative medicine literature consistently documents that physicians are poorly prepared to help patients experience a "good death" and are often unaware of their ill patients' preferences for end-of-life care. The present study, enrolling 150 physicians, sought to improve their communication skills for end-of-life care. We found significant attitudinal changes and a greater degree of self-rated competence in delivering end-of-life care for those in the intervention group. This study used a novel approach to train physicians to be better equipped to conduct difficult goals of care conversations with patients and their families at end-of-life.

Physical abuse during adolescence: Gender differences in the adolescents' perceptions of family functioning and parenting.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between physical abuse of adolescents and parenting by mothers and fathers and whether the association differs by gender. METHODS: Subjects were adolescents, 51 girls and 45 boys, documented by Child Protective Services (CPS) as physically abused during adolescence. Comparison subjects were non-abused adolescents, 47 girls and 48 boys, from the same suburban communities. Subjects completed the following: Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, Parental Bonding Instrument, modified Conflict Tactics Scale (assessing physical abuse/punishment by each parent). RESULTS: Although CPS generally cited fathers as the abuse perpetrators, abused boys and girls often reported experiencing physical maltreatment from both parents. Not surprisingly, comparison subjects rated parents more positively than abused subjects. For both groups, mothers were perceived as more caring and less controlling, were reported to have closer relationships with their adolescents, and were less likely to use abuse/harsh punishment than were fathers. Differences between the adolescents' perceptions of mothers and fathers were more pronounced for abused than for comparison subjects. Boys' and girls' perceptions of parenting were generally similar except that girls, especially the abused girls, reported feeling less close to fathers. Abused girls also viewed mothers as less caring than the other groups viewed mothers. Abused girls were also less likely than abused boys to perceive that either parent, but particularly fathers, had provided them with an optimum style of parenting. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who experienced relatively mild physical abuse reported dysfunctional family relationships, which may place them at risk of poor adult outcomes. Adolescents' reports suggest that CPS reports may underestimate physical maltreatment by mothers.

What may underlie differing perceptions of family functioning between mothers and their adolescent daughters with eating disorders?

UNLABELLED: Daughters with eating disorders (ED) were found to perceive family functioning more negatively than their mothers. This study examined variables that may underlie these differences in a subgroup of adolescent girls and their mothers from the original study. METHODS: Participants were 77 mother-adolescent daughter dyads. Daughters met current DSM-IV criteria for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or ED Not Otherwise Specified. Daughters and mothers completed the Family Assessment Device (FAD), which measures perceptions of family functioning with seven subscales. Daughters also completed the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI). Backward elimination stepwise regressions were conducted on difference scores between mothers and daughters for each FAD subscale. Daughter's EDI subscales (except Bulimia) were entered as possible predictors. RESULTS: Interpersonal Distrust was the only predictor of the differences between daughters and mothers on Problem Solving, Communication, Affective Responsiveness and General Functioning, accounting for 24%, 14%, 10% and 23% of the variance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in viewpoints between mothers and daughters regarding the family environment may be understood in terms of the daughters' level of distrust of people in general and their overall feelings of inadequacy. Addressing these psychological difficulties may have powerful implications both for individual and family treatment in the recovery from an eating disorder. Could this be part of the dynamic that led to the eating disorder, a result of the stress on the whole family related to the eating disorder or some combination?