Medication Abortion Follow-Up Rates in a Rural Population Before and After Introduction of a Remote Follow-Up Option.

Background: Medication abortion (MAB) follow-up historically involves visiting a health care facility for ultrasonography or laboratory testing. In rural states such as New Mexico, many patients travel hours for MAB, making two visits burdensome. Studies demonstrate feasibility, safety, and patient preference for remote follow-up. Materials and Methods: We evaluated whether MAB follow-up by telephone had noninferior loss-to-follow-up (LTFU) rates compared with ultrasonography or laboratory follow-up in a rural population. This was a retrospective chart review of University of New Mexico MAB LTFU rates after changing to telephone follow-up (home group, n = 136). Patients were propensity-matched in a 1:2 ratio to a historical cohort (health care group, n = 272) to eliminate significant differences. We defined LTFU as no contact within 50 days. We evaluated complications requiring intervention, possible ongoing pregnancy, completion of the home follow-up protocol (7- and 30-day calls, high-sensitivity urine pregnancy test [UPT]), follow-up by intended method (home or health care), and number of call attempts. Results: LTFU rates for the home group (n = 23, 17%) were noninferior to the health care group (n = 60, 22%, p = 0.24). Rates of complications requiring intervention (p = 0.83) and possible ongoing pregnancy (p = 0.72) among the home group were similar to the health care group. Ninety-seven (71%) home group patients completed the initial call, 79 (58%) completed the UPT, and 86 (69%) completed the 30-day call. Ninety-five (70%) home group patients followed up by intended method, comparable with the health care group (n = 199, 73%, p = 0.56). Staff made a median of 3 (interquartile range: 2-4) calls per home group patient. Conclusions: Remote MAB LTFU rates were noninferior to in-person LTFU rates.

Risk of contrast-induced nephropathy for patients receiving intravenous vs. intra-arterial iodixanol administration.

PURPOSE: To compare the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) for intravenous vs. intra-arterial administration of iodixanol, compared to non-administration. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 650 patients who had intravenous iodixanol-enhanced CT, 695 with intra-arterial iodixanol cardiac catheterization, 651 with unenhanced CT, and those who also had baseline and follow-up serum creatinine within 5 days of the exam. From the medical records, we recorded the gender, age, baseline and follow-up serum creatinine/eGFR; underlying renal injury risk factors; indication for imaging; contrast material administration volume, concentration, and route of administration; and use of pre-imaging prophylactic measures for CIN. Univariate and multivariate models were used to determine predictors of CIN. RESULTS: Baseline eGFR was lower for patients undergoing unenhanced CT than intravenous or intra-arterial patients (68 vs. 74.6 and 72.2, respectively, p < 0.01) and not different between intravenous and intra-arterial patients (p = 0.735). Simple logistic regression did not show a difference in the rate of CIN in patients who received intravenous vs. intra-arterial iodixanol (28 of 650, 4%, vs. 28 of 695, 4%, respectively, p = 0.798), nor a higher rate of CIN than seen with unenhanced CT (45 of 651, 7%, p = 0.99 and p = 0.98 by one-sided t test). Multivariate regression modeling showed that only elevated baseline creatinine or decreased eGFR and low hematocrit/hemoglobin were associated with CIN incidence (odds ratio 1.28 and 2.5; p < 0.023 and <0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Elevation in serum creatinine due to intravenous and intra-arterial iodixanol administration is infrequent and is not more common than after unenhanced CT scans.

Analysis of nutritional habits and intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids in veterans with peripheral arterial disease.

Inadequate nutrient intake may contribute to the development and progression of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This study's aim was to assess intake of essential fatty acids and nutrients among veterans with PAD. All 88 subjects had ankle-brachial indices of <0.9 and claudication. A validated food frequency questionnaire evaluated dietary intake, and values were compared to guidelines established by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC), as well as the AHA/ACC endorsed Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan. The mean age was 69 ± 8 years. Compared to the AHA/ACC guidelines, subjects with PAD had an inadequate intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA; 59% consumed >1 gram daily). Our subjects with PAD had an increased intake of cholesterol (31% met the cut-off established in the DASH plan), total fat (5%) and sodium (53%). They had an inadequate intake of magnesium (3%), calcium (5%), and soluble fiber (3%). Dietary potassium intake met the recommended guidelines. In our subjects with PAD, intake of critical nutrients deviated substantially from the recommended amounts. Further prospective studies should evaluate whether PAD patients experience clinical benefit if diets are modified to meet the AHA/ACC recommendations.

Relationship between kidney disease and endothelial function in peripheral artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: We have previously shown that peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with marked impairment of endothelial function (EF). Given that poor EF is associated with functional status of PAD patients as well as with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing vascular procedures, determination of factors associated with poor EF in a PAD cohort is important. We hypothesized that decreased kidney function is associated with impaired EF in patients with PAD. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of PAD patients presenting to a vascular surgery outpatient clinic at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center including patients enrolled in the OMEGA-PAD I trial (NCT01310270) and the OMEGA-PAD Cohort. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation was performed to assess EF. Kidney function was characterized by estimated glomerular filtration rate with the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Linear regression was performed to assess the relationship between EF and kidney function in claudicants. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients with intermittent claudication participated in this study. Mean age was 69 ± 8 years, 97% were male, and 79% were white. Comorbidities included hypertension (91%), dyslipidemia (87%), coronary artery disease (42%), and diabetes mellitus (38%). Mean ankle-brachial index was 0.73 ± 0.14 and mean flow-mediated vasodilation was 7.0% ± 3.8%, indicating impaired EF. Linear regression showed an association between kidney function and EF (by 10 mL/min/1.73 m(2); ß, 0.12; confidence interval, 0.05-0.20; P = .001). After multivariable regression adjusting for age, race, log tumor necrosis factor α, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate remained significantly associated with EF (P = .033). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PAD, decreased kidney function is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Further longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the impact of kidney function on PAD progression and the role of endothelial dysfunction in this process.

Clinical correlates of red blood cell omega-3 fatty acid content in male veterans with peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: Despite available medical therapies, patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remain at high risk for cardiovascular events. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), derived from marine sources, have been shown to improve cardiovascular mortality. The Omega-3 Index (O3I), a proportion of the n-3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the red blood cell membrane, correlates with cardiovascular risk. Previous investigations have found that n-3 PUFA supplementation, fish consumption, older age, and smoking history affect the O3I in different patient populations, although similar correlations have never been explored in PAD. We hypothesized that in our PAD cohort, blood content of omega-3 fatty acids would directly and positively correlate with a history of fish oil supplementation and older age and inversely correlate with a smoking history and obesity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 111 patients who had an ankle-brachial index of <0.9 associated with claudication symptoms. We used linear regression to determine the association between clinical factors and the O3I. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 69 ± 8 years; 37% had diabetes mellitus (hemoglobin A1c, 7% ± 1%), and 94% reported current smoking or a history of smoking. The mean O3I was 5% ± 2%. In multivariate linear regression analysis, the O3I was associated with older age, increasing body mass index, and a history of smoking and fish oil intake. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the relation between blood content of omega-3 fatty acids and clinical factors in a PAD population. In patients with PAD, older age, elevated body mass index, and prior fish oil supplementation predicted a higher O3I. A history of smoking correlated with a lower O3I. These results demonstrate that the O3I is a reliable measure of dietary n-3 PUFA intake and that clinical factors related to the O3I in PAD are similar to those observed in other populations.

Short-term physical inactivity impairs vascular function.

BACKGROUND: Sedentarism, also termed physical inactivity, is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Mechanisms thought to be involved include insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and increased inflammation. It is unknown whether changes in vascular and endothelial function also contribute to this excess risk. We hypothesized that short-term exposure to inactivity would lead to endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffening, and increased vascular inflammation. METHODS: Five healthy subjects (four men and one woman) underwent 5 d of bed rest (BR) to simulate inactivity. Measurements of vascular function (flow-mediated vasodilation to evaluate endothelial function; applanation tonometry to assess arterial resistance), inflammation, and metabolism were made before BR, daily during BR, and 2 d after BR recovery period. Subjects maintained an isocaloric diet throughout. RESULTS: BR led to significant decreases in brachial artery and femoral artery flow-mediated vasodilation (brachial: 11 ± 3% pre-BR versus 9 ± 2% end-BR, P = 0.04; femoral: 4 ± 1% versus 2 ± 1%, P = 0.04). The central augmentation index increased with BR (-4 ± 9% versus 5 ± 11%, P = 0.03). Diastolic blood pressure increased (58 ± 7 mm Hg versus 62 ± 7 mm Hg, P = 0.02), whereas neither systolic blood pressure nor heart rate changed. 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, an arachidonic acid metabolite, increased but the other inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that acute exposure to sedentarism results in decreased endothelial function, arterial stiffening, increased diastolic blood pressure, and an increase in 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. We speculate that inactivity promotes a vascular "deconditioning" state characterized by impaired endothelial function, leading to arterial stiffness and increased arterial tone. Although physiologically significant, the underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance of these findings need to be further explored.

Isolation of an extremely boron-tolerant strain of Bacillus firmus.

A strain of Bacillus firmus (designated strain KC) isolated from a boron (B) mine in California exhibited extreme tolerance to B, provided it was first acclimated at intermediate B supply concentrations. Strain KC tolerated up to 1000 mmol/L B (boric acid-B) and 1800 mmol/L B (sodium tetraborate-B), and attained the greatest growth (as measured by absorbance) at 300 mmol/L B. Despite its extreme tolerance to high B, there was no evidence that it was able to remove significant quantities of B from the growth media, suggesting that strain KC is not likely to be useful for the removal of B from wastewaters in an engineered bioreactor.