A Case Report of Pulmonary Edema Secondary to Large Volume Bowel Preparation in a High-Risk Patient with Multiple Cardiopulmonary Co-Morbidities.

Introduction: Polyethylene glycol 3,350 and electrolytes is a commonly prescribed bowel regimen for colonoscopy preparation with an overall excellent safety profile, though prior reports have demonstrated risk of volume overload. Case Presentation: A 55-year-old man with significant cardiopulmonary co-morbidities was admitted for acute hypoxic respiratory failure and subsequent evaluation for lung transplant. As part of his pretransplant evaluation, colon cancer screening was advised. Despite multiple days of bowel preparation, his stools contained sediment. Unfortunately, he developed pulmonary edema due to prolonged bowel preparation. Conclusion: While bowel preparation is considered generally safe, our case report highlights the importance of judicious use with monitoring in high-risk individuals.

Longitudinal Trends in Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Era of Biologics: A 20-Year Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are diagnosed by their reproductive years. Prior literature suggests that women with IBD may be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Biologics have revolutionized IBD treatment, and current evidence favors continuation during pregnancy. We sought to examine trends in pregnancy outcomes over 20 years with the evolution of IBD treatment. METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample, IBD and non-IBD obstetric hospitalizations were identified between 1998 and 2018 using International Classification of Diseases 9 and 10 codes. Outcomes of interest included cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia/eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction (FGR), fetal distress, and stillbirth. Stratified by Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and non-IBD deliveries, temporal trends and multivariable logistic regression were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 48 986 CD patients, 30 998 UC patients, and 69 963,805 non-IBD patients. Between 1998 and 2018, CD deliveries increased from 3.3 to 12.9 per 10 000 deliveries (P < 0.001) and UC deliveries increased from 2.3 to 8.6 per 10 000 deliveries (P < 0.001). Cesarean deliveries, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia/eclampsia, PROM, FGR, and fetal distress increased over time for IBD and non-IBD women, while preterm deliveries decreased (P < 0.001). Multivariable analyses demonstrated that IBD patients had higher risk of cesarean delivery, preeclampsia/eclampsia, PROM, and preterm delivery compared with non-IBD patients. CONCLUSION: Over a 20-year period, live deliveries amongst women with IBD have increased. Trends in pregnancy outcomes have followed a similar trajectory in patients with and without IBD. However, there is still demonstrable risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with IBD.

In this study examining pregnancy trends over 20 years, the proportion of live deliveries amongst women with IBD increased steadily. Despite advances in treatment, we found that IBD still confers a higher risk for many adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Clinical epidemiology and outcomes of patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia in the Los Angeles County System.

BACKGROUND: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a precursor to gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). In the United States, there is no consensus on the utility of surveillance for GIM, and minority populations most affected by GAC are understudied. Our aims were to define clinical and endoscopic features, surveillance practices, and outcomes in patients with GIM in a multicenter safety-net system. METHODS: We identified patients with biopsy-proven GIM between 2016-2020 at the three medical centers comprising Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Demographics, findings at index esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) first showing GIM, recommended interval for repeat EGD, and findings at repeat EGD were abstracted. Descriptive statistics were performed to characterize our cohort. T-tests and chi-squared (χ2) tests were used to compare patients with and without multifocal GIM. RESULTS: There were 342 patients with newly-diagnosed biopsy-proven GIM, 18 (5.2%) of whom had GAC at index EGD. Hispanic patients comprised 71.8% of patients. For most patients (59%), repeat EGD was not recommended. If recommended, 2-3 years was the most common interval. During a median time to repeat EGD of 13 months and cumulative follow-up of 119 patient-years, 29.5% of patients underwent at least one repeat EGD, of whom 14% had multifocal GIM not previously detected. Progression to dysplasia or GAC was not detected in any patients. CONCLUSION: In a predominantly minority population with biopsy-proven GIM, there was a 5% incidence of GAC on index EGD. Though progression to neither dysplasia nor GAC was detected, there was significant variability in endoscopic sampling and surveillance practices.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Across the United States: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background and Aims: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms occur among patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and there is clear evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen, infects the GI tract. In this large, multicenter cohort study, we evaluated variations in gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of COVID-19 throughout the United States (US). Methods: Patients hospitalized with a positive COVID-19 test prior to October 2020 were identified at 7 US academic centers. Demographics, presenting symptoms, laboratory data, and hospitalization outcomes were abstracted. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to evaluate GI manifestations and their potential predictors. Results: Among 2031 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, GI symptoms were present in 18.9%; diarrhea was the most common (15.2%), followed by nausea and/or vomiting (12.6%) and abdominal pain (6.0%). GI symptoms were less common in the Western cohort (16.0%) than the Northeastern (25.6%) and Midwestern (26.7%) cohorts. Compared to nonintensive care unit (ICU) patients, ICU patients had a higher prevalence of abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (58.1% vs 37.3%; P < .01), alanine aminotransferase (37.5% vs 29.3%; P = .01), and total bilirubin (12.7% vs 9.0%; P < .01). ICU patients also had a higher mortality rate (22.7% vs 4.7%; P < .01). Chronic liver disease was associated with the development of GI symptoms. Abnormal aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase was associated with an increased risk of ICU admission. Conclusion: We present the largest multicenter cohort of patients with COVID-19 across the United States. GI manifestations were common among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, although there was significant variability in prevalence and predictors across the United States.

Contrast-Enhanced, Fluoroscopically Guided Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Placement for the High-Risk Patient.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes can facilitate enteric feeding in patients with severe malnutrition but may be technically challenging to place. We present a man with disseminated tuberculosis and severe cachexia refractory to oral intake and nasogastric tube placement. PEG placement was initially deemed high-risk, through endoscopic, interventional radiologic, or surgical approach, because of severe cachexia and dilated bowel loops interposed between the abdominal wall and stomach. We describe a novel, minimally invasive technique to enhance safety and feasibility of PEG placement, which led to significant improvement in nutritional status and facilitated successful response to tuberculosis therapy.

Outcomes Among Minority Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in a Safety-net Health Care System.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes continue to improve, but they vary significantly by race and ethnicity. We hypothesize that these disparities arise from unequal access to care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Harris Health System (HHS) is an integrated health delivery network that provides medical care to the underserved, predominantly minority population of Harris County, Texas. As the largest HHS facility and an affiliate of Baylor College of Medicine's Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ben Taub Hospital (BTH) delivers cancer care through multidisciplinary subspecialty that prioritize access to care, adherence to evidence-based clinical pathways, integration of supportive services, and mitigation of financial toxicity. We performed a retrospective analysis of minority patients diagnosed with and treated for metastatic CRC at BTH between January 2010 and December 2012. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were compared with survival curves from randomized control trials reported during that time period. RESULTS: We identified 103 patients; 40% were black, 49% were Hispanic, and 12% were Asian or Middle Eastern. Thirty-five percent reported a language other than English as their preferred language. Seventy-four percent of patients with documented coverage status were uninsured. Eighty-four percent of patients received standard chemotherapy with a clinician-reported response rate of 63%. Overall survival for BTH patients undergoing chemotherapy was superior to that of subjects enrolled in the CRYSTAL (Cetuximab Combined with Irinotecan in First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer) trial (median, 24.0 vs. 19.9 months; P = .014). CONCLUSION: HHS provides a health delivery infrastructure through which minority patients with socioeconomic challenges experience clinical outcomes comparable with highly selected patients enrolled in randomized control trials. Efforts to resolve CRC disparities should focus on improving access of at-risk populations to high-quality comprehensive cancer care.

Quality improvement of clinic flow for complex genetic conditions: Using Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as a model.

BACKGROUND: Genetic providers face the challenge of having adequate time to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos (hEDS) syndrome has a complex array of symptoms. An initial visit can involve approximately 60-80 min and an additional 45 min for the check-in and checkout process. We propose a model to improve clinic flow and patient satisfaction by using: (a) pre-appointment questionnaire (b) disease information sheet outlining basic management and (c) itinerary detailing the visit. METHODS: New patients were given a questionnaire, an EDS information sheet, and a visit itinerary. In the end, a patient satisfaction survey was administered containing 18 questions pertaining to their satisfaction with the questionnaire, the information sheet, and their overall visit. Completed surveys were turned in to the front desk to maintain anonymity. RESULTS: Based on the survey results, patient satisfaction toward the implementation of a questionnaire was overwhelmingly positive. Survey responders found that the itinerary was added to their understanding of the appointment process and that the hEDS information sheets were helpful, understandable, and appropriate in length. Respondents said that they strongly agreed or agreed with the following statements: (a) I was satisfied with the visit; (b) I now have a better understanding of my condition; (c) This visit was successful in addressing my most pressing concerns; and (d) I would recommend this clinic to others. CONCLUSION: Designing a disease-centered model that implements patient-centered resources improves patient understanding and satisfaction for new hEDS patient visits. This model can be emulated in diagnosis and management of other complex genetic and nongenetic conditions.

Maternal age-based prenatal screening for chromosomal disorders: attitudes of women and health care providers toward changes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore views of women and health care providers (HCPs) about the changing recommendations regarding maternal age-based prenatal screening. DESIGN: Mixed-methods design. SETTING: Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of women who had given birth within the previous 2 years and who had attended a family medicine centre, midwifery practice, or baby and mother wellness program (n = 42); and a random sample of family physicians (n = 1600), and all Ontario obstetricians (n = 694) and midwives (n = 334) who provided prenatal care. METHODS: We used focus groups (FGs) to explore women's views. Content analysis was used to uncover themes and delineate meaning. To explore HCPs' views, we conducted a cross-sectional self-completion survey. MAIN FINDINGS: All FG participants (42 women in 6 FGs) expressed the importance of individual choice of prenatal screening modality, regardless of age. They described their perception that society considers women older than 35 to be at high obstetric risk and raised concerns that change in the maternal age-related screening policy would require education. The HCP survey response rate was 40%. Results showed 24% of HCPs agreed that women of any age should be eligible for invasive diagnostic testing regardless of prenatal screening results; 15% agreed that the age for diagnostic testing should be increased to 40 years, 14% agreed that diagnostic testing should be reserved for women with positive prenatal screening results, and 45% agreed that prenatal screening should remain unchanged. CONCLUSION: Maternity care organizations have recommended that maternal age-based prenatal screening is no longer appropriate. Informed choice is of paramount importance to women and should be part of any change. Health care providers need to be engaged in and educated about any change to screening guidelines to offer women informed choices.

Dentists' attitudes, behaviors, and barriers related to tobacco-use cessation in the dental setting.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed attitudes, behaviors, and barriers among general dentists in California, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, related to patient tobacco cessation counseling. METHODS: From 2004 to 2008, a baseline survey was mailed to 271 study dentists randomly selected from a master Delta Dental Insurance Company provider list in each state who had agreed to participate in a tobacco cessation randomized clinical trial. Four backward logistic regression models assessed correlates of the five As related to tobacco cessation: Asking about tobacco use, Advising users to quit, Assessing readiness to quit, Assisting with quitting, and Arranging follow-up. RESULTS: Most respondents (n=265) were male, had practiced dentistry for over 15 years, asked about tobacco use (74%), and advised tobacco users to quit (78%). Only 19% assessed readiness to quit; 39% assisted with quitting; 4% arranged follow-up; and 42% had formal training in tobacco cessation. Believing that tobacco cessation counseling was an important professional responsibility, practicing <15 years, and asking about tobacco use significantly related to advising users to quit. Providing cessation advice and feeling effective intervening related to assessing readiness to quit. Advising users to quit, assessing readiness to quit, feeling effective intervening, and having had formal tobacco cessation training related to assisting with quitting. Barriers to cessation counseling were perceived patient resistance (66%), lack of insurance reimbursement (56%), not knowing where to refer (49%), and lack of time (32%). CONCLUSION: Study dentists reported not fully performing the five As. Advising, assessing, having formal training, and feeling effective increased the likelihood of cessation counseling.

The effect of training on the use of tobacco-use cessation guidelines in dental settings.

BACKGROUND: An increase in the number of dentists conducting tobacco-use cessation treatment is needed. The authors assessed the effects of high-intensity training (HIT) or low-intensity training (LIT) and reimbursement on general dentists' tobacco-use-related attitudes and treatment behaviors. METHODS: The authors randomly selected 265 dentists in three states and assigned them to one of five groups: HIT workshop groups with and without tobacco-use cessation counseling reimbursement, LIT mailed self-study groups with and without reimbursement or a control group. Outcomes at follow-up were dentists' self-reported tobacco-use-related attitudes and behaviors and patients' reports of dentists' behaviors. RESULTS: Significantly more dentists in the intervention groups reported having positive attitudes and behaviors at follow-up than did dentists in the control group. Dentists in the HIT groups, however, reported assessing patients' willingness to quit and assisting them with the quitting process significantly more often than did dentists in the LIT groups. Significantly more patients of dentists in the intervention groups who used tobacco reported receiving advice and assistance from their dentists than did patients of dentists in the control group. Adding reimbursement to HIT or LIT conditions did not provide additional intervention effect. CONCLUSION: Dentists trained by means of a workshop or self-study program used components of a recommended guideline more frequently and felt more positive toward tobacco-use cessation counseling than did dentists in the control group. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although the workshop training was more successful than the self-study training, the latter's reach among dentists could have a more significant public health impact. The effect of reimbursement needs further study.

Oral health-related quality of life of children with oligodontia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the functional and psychosocial impact of oligodontia in children aged 11-14 years. METHODS: Children aged 11-14 years with oligodontia were recruited from orthodontic clinics when they presented for orthodontic evaluation. All completed a copy of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire for 11- to 14-year olds, a measure of the functional and psychosocial impact of oral disorders. Information on the number and pattern of missing teeth for each child were obtained from charts and radiographs. RESULTS: Thirty-six children were included in the study. The number of missing teeth ranged from one to 14 (mean = 6.8). Just over three-quarters of the subjects reported experiencing one or more functional and psychosocial impacts 'Often' or 'Everyday/almost everyday'. Correlations between scale and sub-scale scores and the number of missing teeth were weak and nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Children with oligodontia experience substantial functional and psychosocial impacts from the condition. When compared with other clinical groups, children with oligodontia appear to have worse oral health-related quality of life than children with dental decay and malocclusion, but better oral health-related quality of life than children with oro-facial conditions.

Genetic education for primary care providers: improving attitudes, knowledge, and confidence.

OBJECTIVE: To increase primary care providers' awareness and use of genetic services; increase their knowledge of genetic issues; increase their confidence in core genetic competencies; change their attitudes toward genetic testing for hereditary diseases; and increase their confidence as primary care genetic resources. DESIGN: Participants completed a workshop and 3 questionnaires: a baseline questionnaire, a survey that provided immediate feedback on the workshop itself, and a follow-up questionnaire 6 months later. SETTING: Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: Primary care providers suggested by deans of nursing, midwifery, family medicine, and obstetric programs, as well as coordinators of nurse practitioner programs, in Ontario and by the Ontario College of Family Physicians. INTERVENTION: A complex educational intervention was developed, including an interactive workshop and PowerPoint educational modules on genetic topics for participants' use (available at www.mtsinai.on.ca/FamMedGen/). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Awareness and use of genetic services, knowledge of genetics, confidence in core clinical genetic skills, attitudes toward genetic testing, and teaching activities related to genetics. RESULTS: The workshop was attended by 29 participants; of those, 21 completed the baseline questionnaire and the 6-month follow-up questionnaire. There was no significant change found in awareness or reported use of genetic services. There was significant improvement in self-assessed knowledge of (P = .001) and confidence in (P = .005) skills related to adult-onset genetic disorders. There were significant increases in confidence in many core genetic competencies, including assessing risk of hereditary disorders (P = .033), deciding who should be offered referral for genetic counseling (P = .003), discussing prenatal testing options (P = .034), discussing benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing (P = .033), and describing what to expect at a genetic counseling session (P = .022). There was a significant increase in the number of primary care providers agreeing that genetic testing was beneficial in the management of adult-onset diseases (P = .031) and in their confidence in being primary care genetic resources for adult-onset genetic disorders (P = .006). CONCLUSION: Educational interventions that include interactive peer resource workshops and educational modules can increase knowledge of and confidence in the core competencies needed for the delivery of genetic services in primary care.

Is the child oral health quality of life questionnaire sensitive to change in the context of orthodontic treatment? A brief communication.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the ability of the Child Oral Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (COHQoL) to detect change following provision of orthodontic treatment. METHODS: Children were recruited from an orthodontic clinic just prior to starting orthodontic treatment. They completed a copy of the Child Perception Questionnaire, while their parents completed a copy of the Parents Perception Questionnaire and the Family Impact Scale. Normative outcomes were assessed using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index. Change scores and effect sizes were calculated for all scales. RESULTS: Complete data were collected for 45 children and 26 parents. The mean age was 12.6 years (standard deviation = 1.4). There were significant pre-/posttreatment changes in DAI and PAR scores and significant changes in scores on all three questionnaires (P < 0.05). Effect sizes for the latter were moderate. Global transition judgments also confirmed pre-/posttreatment improvements in oral health and wellbeing. CONCLUSION: The results provide preliminary evidence of the sensitivity to change of the COHQoL questionnaires when used with children receiving orthodontic treatment. However, the study needs to be repeated in different treatment settings and with a larger sample size in order to confirm the utility of the measure.

The management of acute uncomplicated cystitis in adult women by family physicians in Canada.

INTRODUCTION: There are few Canadian studies that have assessed prescribing patterns and antibiotic preferences of physicians for acute uncomplicated cystitis. A cross-Canada study of adult women with symptoms of acute cystitis seen by primary care physicians was conducted to determine current management practices and first-line antibiotic choices. METHODS: A random sample of 2000 members of The College of Family Physicians of Canada were contacted in April 2002, and were asked to assess two women presenting with new urinary tract symptoms. Physicians completed a standardized checklist of symptoms and signs, indicated their diagnosis and antibiotics prescribed. A urine sample for culture was obtained. RESULTS: Of the 418 responding physicians, 246 (58.6%) completed the study and assessed 446 women between April 2002 and March 2003. Most women (412 of 420, for whom clinical information about antibiotic prescriptions was available) reported either frequency, urgency or painful urination. Physicians would have usually ordered a urine culture for 77.0% of the women (95% CI 72.7 to 80.8) and prescribed an antibiotic for 86.9% of the women (95% CI 83.3 to 90.0). The urine culture was negative for 32.8% of these prescriptions. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (40.8%; 95% CI 35.7 to 46.1), followed by fluoroquinolones (27.4%; 95% CI 22.9 to 32.3) and nitrofurantoin (26.6%; 95% CI 22.1 to 31.4). CONCLUSION: Empirical antibiotic prescribing is standard practice in the community, but is associated with high levels of unnecessary antibiotic use. While trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is the first-line empirical antibiotic choice, fluoroquinolone antibiotics have become the second most commonly prescribed empirical antibiotic for acute cystitis. The effect of current prescribing patterns on community levels of quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli may need to be monitored.

Is the Child Perceptions Questionnaire for 11-14 year olds sensitive to clinical and self-perceived variations in orthodontic status?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between scores on the Child Perceptions Questionnaire for 11-14 year olds (CPQ11-14) and clinical and self-perceived measures of malocclusion. METHODS: Children were recruited from an orthodontic clinic just prior to starting orthodontic treatment. They completed a copy of the CPQ11-14 and a short questionnaire concerning their feelings about the condition of their teeth. Study models were taken and rated according to the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index by two sets of three examiners. Intra and inter-rater reliabilities for the two sets of examiners ranged from 0.80 to 0.99. CPQ11-14 scores were calculated for the full 35-item version and for 16 and 8-item short forms by summing the item response codes. The association between these scores, the DAI and PAR ratings and self-perceived measures of malocclusion were examined using appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Complete data were collected for 141 children, 63 boys and 78 girls. The mean age was 12.5 (SD = 1.0). DAI scores ranged from 17.0 to 58.0 with a mean of 35.0 (SD = 8.0). The distribution of subjects across the four severity categories was minor/none - 6.6%, definite - 35.2%, severe - 15.6% and handicapping 42.6%. PAR scores ranged from 8.0 to 66.0 with a mean of 31.4 (SD = 11.1). Eight percent had scores of 50 or above indicating marked deviation from an ideal occlusion. Both the long and the short forms of the CPQ11-14 identified substantial variability in the impacts of malocclusion. Correlations between CPQ11-14 scores and the orthodontic indices ranged from 0.26 to 0.31 (P < 0.01). There was a clear gradient in CPQ11-14 scores across four categories of the PAR based on quartiles. The gradient across the DAI categories was less clear. There were significant associations between all CPQ11-14 scores and the children's self-ratings of oral health, ratings of the extent to which the condition of the teeth affected life overall and expressions of happiness with the appearance and arrangement of the teeth. CONCLUSION: The results provide some evidence of the validity of the CPQ11-14 when used with children needing orthodontic treatment. However, because clinical samples are biased the study needs to be repeated in different treatment settings in order to confirm the utility of the measure.

Early childhood caries and infant oral health: Paediatricians' and family physicians' knowledge, practices and training.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge of early childhood caries and to examine the current preventive oral health-related practices and training among Canadian paediatricians and family physicians who provide primary care to children younger than three years. METHODS: A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was mailed to a random sample of 1928 paediatricians and family physicians. RESULTS: A total of 1044 physicians met the study eligibility criteria, and of those, 537 returned completed surveys, resulting in an overall response rate of 51.4% (237 paediatricians and 300 family physicians). Six questions assessed knowledge of early childhood caries; only 1.8% of paediatricians and 0.7% of family physicians answered all of these questions correctly. In total, 73.9% of paediatricians and 52.4% of family physicians reported visually inspecting children's teeth; 60.4% and 44.6%, respectively, reported counselling parents or caregivers regarding teething and dental care; 53.2% and 25.6%, respectively, reported assessing children's risk of developing tooth decay; and 17.9% and 22.3%, respectively, reported receiving no oral health training in medical school or residency. Respondents who felt confident and knowledgeable and who considered their role in promoting oral health as "very important" were significantly more likely to carry out oral health-related practices. CONCLUSION: Although the majority of paediatricians and family physicians reported including aspects of oral health in children's well visits, a reported lack of dental knowledge and training appeared to pose barriers, limiting these physicians from playing a more active role in promoting the oral health of children in their practices.