A Rare but Morbid Occurrence: Development of Glioblastoma Multiforme During Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy.

The use of biologic therapies continues to become more prevalent in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly for more severe disease. Although generally safe and effective, specific biologic classes such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (anti-TNF) medications are known to increase the risk of certain cancers. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor which tends to arise sporadically but may be associated with anti-TNF therapies. Here, we present a case of a 69-year-old male with Crohn's disease who developed GBM while on adalimumab therapy. This case report highlights the potential rare association between GBM and anti-TNF therapy and further discusses the difficulty of managing active Crohn's disease with concomitant GBM, specifically the difficulty encountered in managing a disease flare.

Systems-based Strategies Improve Positive Screening Fecal Immunochemical Testing Follow-up and Reduce Time to Diagnostic Colonoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is the most commonly used colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tool worldwide and accounts for 10% of all CRC screening in the United States. Potential vulnerabilities for patients enrolled to facilities within the military health system have recently come to light requiring reassessment of best practices. We studied the impact of a process improvement initiative designed to improve the safety and quality of care for patients after a positive screening FIT given previously published reports of poor organization performance. METHODS: During a time of increased utilization of nonendoscopic means of screening, we assessed rates of colonoscopy completion and time to colonoscopy after positive FIT after a multi-faceted process improvement initiative was implemented, compared against an institutional control period. The interventions included mandatory indication labeling at the time of order entry, as well as utilization of subspecialty nurse navigators to facilitate rapid follow-up even the absence of a referral from primary care. RESULTS: Preintervention, 34.8% of patients did not have appropriate follow-up of a positive FIT. Those that did had a variable and prolonged wait time of 140.1 ± 115.9 days. Postintervention, a standardized order mandating test indication labeling allowed for proactive gastroenterology involvement. Colonoscopy follow-up rate increased to 91.9% with an average interval of 21.9 ± 12.3 days. CONCLUSION: The addition of indication labels and patient navigation after positive screening FIT was associated with 57.1% absolute increase in timely diagnostic colonoscopy. Similar highly reliable systems-based solutions should be adopted for CRC screening, and further implementation for other preventative screening interventions should be pursued.

A retrospective review of the medical management of hypertension and diabetes mellitus following sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is being performed with increasing frequency in the USA as a definitive treatment for morbid obesity and associated comorbidities. Management strategies of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HTN) medications in sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients postoperatively are unclear, specifically in the immediate postoperative period and 6 months following surgery. METHODS: From 01 June 2010 to 30 June 2011, at a single military medical facility, a retrospective review of 88 consecutive SG patients was conducted to examine the postoperative medical management of HTN and T2DM. Patient's HTN and T2DM medication regimens were evaluated for 6 months postoperatively. Categorical data was analyzed using chi-square, and continuous data was compared using the Student t test. Statistical analyses were completed with Stata, version 12. RESULTS: Fifty patients were prescribed an average of 2.21 HTN medications at baseline which was reduced to an average of 1.23 (p < 0.01) medications per patient at 1 month. Twenty-four patients received an average of 1.41 oral T2DM medications with a reduction to 0.70 (p < 0.01) on average at 1 month postoperatively. Medication changes persisted throughout the 6-month follow-up. Among T2DM patients requiring insulin therapy, the mean insulin dose was 42.1 units reduced to 16.8 units immediately postoperatively (p < 0.01) which persisted at 1 month. At 6 months, the mean insulin dose was 13.3 units. CONCLUSIONS: Medication adjustments for HTN and T2DM made immediately in the postoperative period following SG persisted throughout the 6-month follow-up period and in some patients, required further adjustments.