Surgical Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Outcomes of 590 Consecutive Patients.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a progressive, recurrent inflammatory disease. Surgical management is potentially curative with limited efficacy data. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hidradenitis surgical patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of outcomes of 590 consecutive surgically treated patients. RESULTS: Most patients were white (91.0% [435/478]), men (337 [57.1%]), smokers (57.7% [297/515]) with Hurley Stage III disease (476 [80.7%]). Procedure types were excision (405 [68.6%]), unroofing (168 [28.5%]), and drainage (17 [2.9%]) treating disease of perianal/perineum (294 [49.8%]), axilla (124 [21.0%]), gluteal cleft (76 [12.9%]), inframammary (12 [2.0%]), and multiple surgical sites (84 [14.2%]). Postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients (2.5%) and one-fourth (144 [24.4%]) suffered postoperative recurrence, which necessitated reoperation in one-tenth (69 [11.7%]) of patients. Recurrence risk was increased by younger age (hazard ratio [HR], 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-0.9), multiple surgical sites (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5), and drainage-type procedures (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.2-10.7). Operative location, disease severity, gender, and operative extent did not influence recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Excision and unroofing procedures were effective treatments with infrequent complications and low recurrence rates. Well-planned surgical treatment aiming to remove or unroof the area of intractable hidradenitis suppurativa was highly effective in the management of this challenging disease.

Comparison of facet joint activity on 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT with facet joint signal change on MRI with fat suppression.

PURPOSE: We compared signal change on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with fat suppression and bone scan activity of lumbar facet joints to determine if these two imaging findings are correlated. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients who underwent imaging of the lumbar spine for pain evaluation using both technetium-99m methylene disphosphonate single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT) and MRI with at least one fat-suppressed T2- or T1-weighted sequence with gadolinium enhancement within a 180-day interval, at our institution between 1 January 2008 and 19 February 2013. Facet joint activity on 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT and peri-facet signal change on MRI were rated as normal or increased. Agreement between the two examination types were determined with the κ and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted κ (PABAK) statistics. RESULTS: This study included 60 patients (28 male, 47%), with a mean age of 49±19.7 years (range, 12-93 years). The κ value indicated no agreement between 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT and MRI (κ=-0.026; 95% confidence interval: -0.051, 0.000). The PABAK values were fair to high at each spinal level, which suggests that relatively low disease prevalence lowered the κ values. Together, the κ and PABAK values indicate that there is some degree of intermodality agreement, but that it is not consistent. CONCLUSION: Overall, facet joint signal change on fat-suppressed MRI did not always correlate with increased 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT activity. MRI and 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT for facet joint evaluation should not be considered interchangeable examinations in clinical practice or research.

Early prediction of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation eligibility for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults.

PURPOSE: Appropriately identifying and triaging patients with newly diagnosed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who may progress to severe ARDS is a common clinical challenge without any existing tools for assistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a retrospective cohort, a simple prediction score was developed to improve early identification of ARDS patients who were likely to progress to severe ARDS within 7 days. A broad array of comorbidities and physiologic variables were collected for the 12-hour period starting from intubation for ARDS. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) eligibility was determined based on published criteria from recent ECMO guidelines and clinical trials. Separate data-driven and expert opinion approaches to prediction score creation were completed. RESULTS: The study included 767 patients with moderate or severe ARDS who were admitted to the intensive care unit between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010. In the data-driven approach, incorporating the ARDS index (a novel variable incorporating oxygenation index and estimated dead space), aspiration, and change of Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio into a simple prediction model yielded a c-statistic (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 0.71 in the validation cohort. The expert opinion-based prediction score (including oxygenation index, change of Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, obesity, aspiration, and immunocompromised state) yielded a c-statistic of 0.61 in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The data-driven early prediction ECMO eligibility for severe ARDS score uses commonly measured variables of ARDS patients within 12 hours of intubation and could be used to identify those patients who may merit early transfer to an ECMO-capable medical center.

Long-term risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in bipolar I disorder: A population-based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the risk of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in patients with bipolar I disorder compared to people without bipolar I disorder. METHOD: Utilizing a records-linkage system spanning 30 years (1966-1996), a population-based cohort of 334 subjects with bipolar I disorder and 334 age and sex-matched referents from Olmsted County, Minnesota, U.S. was identified. Longitudinal follow-up continued until incident MI or stroke (confirmed by board-certified cardiologist/neurologist), death, or study end date (December 31, 2013). Cox proportional hazards models assessed the hazard ratio (HR) for MI or stroke, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: There was an increased risk of fatal or non-fatal MI or stroke (as a composite outcome) in patients with bipolar I disorder [HR 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 2.33; p=0.04]. However, after adjusting for baseline cardiovascular risk factors (alcoholism, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking), the risk was no longer significantly increased (HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.76, 1.86; p=0.46). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size for the study design. Findings were not retained after adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Psychotropic medication use during the follow-up was not ascertained and was not included in the analyses. CONCLUSION: This study in a geographically defined region in the U.S. demonstrated a significant increased risk of MI or stroke in bipolar I disorder, which was no longer significant after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors.

Impact of Long-Term Poor and Good Glycemic Control on Metabolomics Alterations in Type 1 Diabetic People.

CONTEXT: Poor glycemic control in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with both micro- and macrovascular complications, but good glycemic control does not fully prevent the risk of these complications. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether T1D with good glycemic control have persistent abnormalities of metabolites and pathways that exist in T1D with poor glycemic control. DESIGN: We compared plasma metabolites in T1D with poor (glycated hemoglobin ≥ 8.5%, T1D[-] and good (glycated hemoglobin < 6.5%, T1D[+]) glycemic control with nondiabetic controls (ND). SETTING: The study was conducted at the clinical research unit. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: T1D with poor (n = 14), T1D(-) and good, T1D(+) (n = 15) glycemic control and matched (for age, sex, and body mass index) ND participants were included in the study. INTERVENTION(S): There were no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison of qualitative and quantitative profiling of metabolome was performed. RESULTS: In T1D(-), 347 known metabolites belonging to 38 metabolic pathways involved in cholesterol, vitamin D, tRNA, amino acids (AAs), bile acids, urea, tricarboxylic acid cycle, immune response, and eicosanoids were different from ND. In T1D(+),154 known metabolites belonging to 26 pathways including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, bile acids, tRNA biosynthesis, AAs, branch-chain AAs, retinol, and vitamin D metabolism remained altered from ND. Targeted measurements of AA metabolites, trichloroacetic acid, and free fatty acids showed directional changes similar to the untargeted metabolomics approach. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive metabolomic profiling identified extensive metabolomic abnormalities in T1D with poor glycemic control. Chronic good glycemic control failed to normalize many of these perturbations, suggesting a potential role for these persistent abnormalities in many complications in T1D.

Tumor Cell Adhesion As a Risk Factor for Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma.

PURPOSE: Less than 20% of patients with melanoma who undergo sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy based on American Society of Clinical Oncology/Society of Surgical Oncology recommendations are SLN positive. We present a multi-institutional study to discover new molecular risk factors associated with SLN positivity in thin and intermediate-thickness melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Gene clusters with functional roles in melanoma metastasis were discovered by next-generation sequencing and validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction using a discovery set of 73 benign nevi, 76 primary cutaneous melanoma, and 11 in-transit melanoma metastases. We then used polymerase chain reaction to quantify gene expression in a model development cohort of 360 consecutive thin and intermediate-thickness melanomas and a validation cohort of 146 melanomas. Outcome of interest was SLN biopsy metastasis within 90 days of melanoma diagnosis. Logic and logistic regression analyses were used to develop a model for the likelihood of SLN metastasis from molecular, clinical, and histologic variables. RESULTS: ITGB3, LAMB1, PLAT, and TP53 expression were associated with SLN metastasis. The predictive ability of a model that included these molecular variables in combination with clinicopathologic variables (patient age, Breslow depth, and tumor ulceration) was significantly greater than a model that only considered clinicopathologic variables and also performed well in the validation cohort (area under the curve, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.97; false-positive and false-negative rates of 22% and 0%, respectively, using a 10% cutoff for predicted SLN metastasis risk). CONCLUSION: The addition of cell adhesion-linked gene expression variables to clinicopathologic variables improves the identification of patients with SLN metastases within 90 days of melanoma diagnosis.

Critical care ultrasonography differentiates ARDS, pulmonary edema, and other causes in the early course of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic causes of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) can be difficult to identify at early clinical presentation. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of combined cardiac and thoracic critical care ultrasonography (CCUS). METHODS: Adult patients in the ICU were prospectively enrolled from January through September 2010 with a Pao2/Fio2 ratio < 300 on arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis within 6 h of a new hypoxemic event or the ICU admission. Focused cardiac and thoracic CCUS was conducted within 6 h of ABG testing. Causes of AHRF were categorized into cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE), ARDS, and miscellaneous causes after reviewing the hospitalization course in electronic medical records. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four patients were enrolled (median Pao2/Fio2 ratio, 191; interquartile range, 122-253). Fifty-nine patients (44%) received a diagnosis of CPE; 42 (31%), ARDS; and 33 (25%), miscellaneous cause. Analysis of CCUS findings showed that a low B-line ratio (proportion of chest zones with positive B-lines relative to all zones examined) was predictive of miscellaneous cause vs CPE or ARDS (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve [AUC], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88). For further differentiation of CPE from ARDS, left-sided pleural effusion (> 20 mm), moderately or severely decreased left ventricular function, and a large inferior vena cava minimal diameter (> 23 mm) were predictive of CPE (AUC, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Combined cardiac and thoracic CCUS assists in early bedside differential diagnosis of ARDS, CPE, and other causes of AHRF.

Adverse in-hospital events are associated with increased in-hospital mortality and length of stay in patients with or at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of various adverse hospital events on short- and long-term outcomes in a cohort of acutely ill hospitalized patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort of acutely ill hospitalized patients with sepsis, shock, or pneumonia or undergoing high-risk surgery who were at risk for or had developed acute respiratory distress syndrome between 2001 and 2010, the effects of potentially preventable hospital exposures and adverse events (AEs) on in-hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, length of stay, and long-term survival were analyzed. Adverse effects chosen for inclusion were inadequate empiric antimicrobial coverage, hospital-acquired aspiration, medical or surgical misadventure, inappropriate blood product transfusion, and injurious tidal volume while on mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: In 828 patients analyzed, the distribution of 0, 1, 2, and 3 or more cumulative AEs was 521 (63%), 126 (15%), 135 (16%), and 46 (6%) patients, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for in-hospital mortality in patients who had 1, 2, and 3 or more AEs were 0.9 (0.5-1.7), 0.9 (0.5-1.6), and 1.4 (0.6-3.3), respectively. One AE increased the length of stay, difference between means (95% CI), in the hospital by 8.7 (3.8-13.7) days and in the ICU by 2.4 (0.6-4.2) days. CONCLUSION: Potentially preventable hospital exposure to AEs is associated with prolonged ICU and hospital lengths of stay. Implementation of effective patient safety interventions is of utmost priority in acute care hospitals.

A population-based study of the incidence of burning mouth syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the incidence of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 2000 through 2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: By using the medical record linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified newly diagnosed cases of BMS from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2010. Diagnoses were confirmed through the presence of burning pain symptoms of the oral mucosa with normal oral examination findings and no associated clinical signs. Incidence was estimated using decennial census data for Olmsted County. RESULTS: In total, 169 incident cases were identified, representing an annual age- and sex-adjusted incidence of BMS of 11.4 per 100,000 person-years. Age-adjusted incidence was significantly higher in women than in men (18.8 [95% CI, 16.4-22.9] per 100,000 person-years vs 3.7 [95% CI, 2.6-5.7] per 100,000 person-years; P<.001). Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 89 years had the highest incidence of the disease, with the maximal rate observed in women aged 70 to 79 years (70.3 per 100,000 person-years). After the age of 50 years, the incidence of BMS in men and women significantly increased across age groups (P=.02). Study participants residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, were predominantly white, which is a study limitation. In addition, diagnostic criteria for identifying BMS in the present study may not apply for all situations because no diagnostic criteria are universally recognized for identifying BMS. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first population-based incidence study of BMS reported to date. The data reveal that BMS is an uncommon disease highly associated with female sex and advancing age.

Predicting renal cryoablation complications: new risk score based on tumor size and location and patient history.

PURPOSE: To identify tumor and patient-related risk factors for major complications following renal cryoablation and to develop a model for predicting these adverse events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed patient consent were obtained for this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study. All 398 renal cryoablation procedures performed from 2003 through 2011 were reviewed to identify tumor and patient-related risk factors associated with major complications (Clavien-Dindo classification, ≥ grade III). A scoring system for predicting these adverse events was then developed using risk factor weighting obtained from a multivariate logistic regression model. To internally validate this model, the scoring system was then applied to all 73 renal cryoablation procedures performed during 2012. RESULTS: Among tumor-related factors evaluated, Maximal tumor diameter (P = .0006) and Central tumor location (P = .02) were significantly associated with major complications. Among patient-related factors evaluated, prior Myocardial infarction (MI) (P = .002) and Complicated diabetes mellitus (P = .01) were significantly associated with major complications. This resulted in the (MC)2 risk scoring system, with (MC)2 risk score = 2.5 points (for tumors ≤ 2.5 cm in maximal diameter) or 0.1 points for each millimeter of maximal tumor diameter (for tumors > 2.5 cm) + 1.5 points (if central tumor location) + 2.5 points (if patient history of prior MI) + 3.0 points (if patient history of complicated diabetes). Mean (MC)2 risk score for all renal cryoablations was 4.7 (standard deviation, 1.9; range, 2.5-15.3). The observed major complication rates were 2.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6%, 4.6%) in the low-risk group (score < 5.0), 12.8% (95% CI: 7.5%, 19.9%) in the moderate-risk group (score of 5.0-8.0), and 39.1% (95% CI: 19.7%, 61.5%) in the high-risk group (score > 8.0). Application of the (MC)2 scoring system to the validation group yielded a concordance index of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.00). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the (MC)2 risk score is a valuable tool for predicting major complications in patients undergoing renal cryoablation. However, external validation is warranted.