US Medical Student Plans to Practice in Underserved Areas

This study explores US medical students’ intent to practice in underserved areas, analyzed by demographic characteristics.

Differences in Motor Features of C9orf72, MAPT, or GRN Variant Carriers With Familial Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration (f-FTLD) is a phenotypically heterogeneous spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders most often caused by variants within chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), or granulin (GRN). The phenotypic association with each of these genes is incompletely understood. We hypothesized that the frequency of specific clinical features would correspond with different genes.

METHODS

We screened the Advancing Research and Treatment in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ARTFL)/Longitudinal Evaluation of Familial Frontotemporal Dementia Subjects (LEFFTDS)/ARTFL LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Consortium for symptomatic carriers of pathogenic variants in C9orf72, MAPT, or GRN. We assessed for clinical differences among these 3 groups based on data recorded as part of a detailed neurologic examination, the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy-Quality of Life Rating Scale, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (motor items), and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, revised version. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

We identified 184 symptomatic participants who had a single pathogenic variant in C9orf72 (n = 88), MAPT (n = 53), or GRN (n = 43). Motor symptom age at onset was earliest in the MAPT participants followed by C9orf72, whereas the GRN pathogenic variant carriers developed symptoms later. C9orf72 participants more often had fasciculations, muscle atrophy, and weakness, whereas parkinsonism was less frequent. Vertical oculomotor abnormalities were more common in the MAPT cohort, whereas apraxia and focal limb dystonia occurred more often in participants with GRN variants.

DISCUSSION

We present a large comparative study of motor features in C9orf72, MAPT, and GRN pathogenic variant carriers with symptomatic f-FTLD. Our findings demonstrate characteristic phenotypic differences corresponding with specific gene variants that increase our understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationship in this complex spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION

NCT02365922, NCT02372773, and NCT04363684.

Dynamic stabilization home exercise program for treatment of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A prospective randomized control trial

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized control trial.

INTRODUCTION

Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of hand pain and disability. Standard conservative therapy (SCT) for thumb CMC OA includes an orthosis and instruction in joint protection, adaptive equipment, and pain relieving modalities. The dynamic stability home exercise (HE) program is complementary conservative therapy designed to strengthen the stabilizing muscles of the thumb CMC.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To investigate whether the addition of HE to SCT (SCT+HE) was more effective at reducing pain and disability in thumb CMC OA compared to SCT alone.

METHODS

The study compared 2 groups: SCT and SCT+HE. The SCT group received SCT with in-home pain management instructions, joint protection strategies with adaptive equipment, and a hand-based thumb-spica orthosis. The SCT+HE group received HE program instructions for adductor stretching and opponens and first dorsal interosseous strengthening in addition to SCT. Our primary outcome measure was the numerical rating scale (NRS) with secondary outcome measures of QuickDASH (shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire), range of motion, grip strength, and pinch strength. Outcome measurements were assessed at first visit, 6 weeks, and 6 months.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups for NRS and QuickDASH at 6 weeks (P = .28 and P = .36, respectively) or 6 months (P = .52 and P = .97, respectively). However, there was a statistically significant decrease in NRS and QuickDASH scores at 6 weeks and 6 months within both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both SCT and SCT+HE are effective at reducing pain and disability in OA of the thumb CMC joint. Neither therapy program was superior to the other at improving NRS or QuickDASH scores at 6-week or 6-month follow-up.

A Retrospective Analysis of Gender-Based Difference in Adherence to Influenza Vaccination during the 2018-2019 Season

Introduction:

Improving flu vaccination rates in the general population is an important and effective strategy toward reducing morbidity, mortality, and the cost of seasonal influenza. In order to optimize immunization strategies, factors associated with decreased vaccination rates need to be explored. The literature suggests that there is a gender difference in the rate of influenza vaccination but is limited to population-based survey studies and also is inconsistent as to which gender has a higher rate of vaccination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for a gender-based difference in the rate of influenza vaccination among patients who presented for an annual physical examination during the 2018 to 2019 influenza season.

Methods:

In this multi-site, retrospective chart review, a total of 1193 patients (608 female and 585 male) who underwent an annual physical examination in April of 2019 were included. Baseline medical information was collected, as well as demographic characteristics and influenza vaccination status. The proportion of patients who underwent influenza vaccination was compared between males and females using multivariable logistic regression models; odds ratios (ORs) were estimated.

Results:

The likelihood of influenza vaccination was significantly higher in females (62.8%) compared to males (53.2%) in both unadjusted analysis (OR = 1.49, P < .001) and in multivariable analysis adjusting for the potential confounding influences of clinic location, BMI, insurance type, and occupation (OR = 1.42, P = .005). Interestingly, a higher influenza vaccination rate for females compared to males was observed in patients age<60 years (OR = 1.70, P = .025) and between ages 60 and 75 (OR = 1.66, P = .009), but not for patients older than 75 years (OR = 1.12, P = .66).

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate that the rate of influenza vaccination is higher for females than for males who presented for an annual preventive physical exam and who are younger than 75 years old.

Brain volumetric deficits in MAPT mutation carriers: a multisite study

OBJECTIVE

MAPT mutations typically cause behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia with or without parkinsonism. Previous studies have shown that symptomatic MAPT mutation carriers have frontotemporal atrophy, yet studies have shown mixed results as to whether presymptomatic carriers have low gray matter volumes. To elucidate whether presymptomatic carriers have lower structural brain volumes within regions atrophied during the symptomatic phase, we studied a large cohort of MAPT mutation carriers using a voxelwise approach.

METHODS

We studied 22 symptomatic carriers (age 54.7 ± 9.1, 13 female) and 43 presymptomatic carriers (age 39.2 ± 10.4, 21 female). Symptomatic carriers' clinical syndromes included: behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (18), an amnestic dementia syndrome (2), Parkinson's disease (1), and mild cognitive impairment (1). We performed voxel-based morphometry on T1 images and assessed brain volumetrics by clinical subgroup, age, and mutation subtype.

RESULTS

Symptomatic carriers showed gray matter atrophy in bilateral frontotemporal cortex, insula, and striatum, and white matter atrophy in bilateral corpus callosum and uncinate fasciculus. Approximately 20% of presymptomatic carriers had low gray matter volumes in bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, and lateral temporal cortex. Within these regions, low gray matter volumes emerged in a subset of presymptomatic carriers as early as their thirties. Low white matter volumes arose infrequently among presymptomatic carriers.

INTERPRETATION

A subset of presymptomatic MAPT mutation carriers showed low volumes in mesial temporal lobe, the region ubiquitously atrophied in all symptomatic carriers. With each decade of age, an increasing percentage of presymptomatic carriers showed low mesial temporal volume, suggestive of early neurodegeneration.

Association of uterine dimensions and route of contained morcellation following laparoscopic hysterectomy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine if uterine dimensions on preoperative imaging are associated with route of contained morcellation during laparoscopic hysterectomy.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy and requiring morcellation for specimen extraction from March 2017 through August 2019. A contained extraction system was inserted and manual morcellation was performed vaginally, abdominally, or via a combination of both methods in cases of failed vaginal extraction.

RESULTS

A total of 47 patients were treated. Median age was 47 (range 38-70). Morcellation was performed vaginally for 29 patients (61.7%), abdominally for 13 patients (27.7%), and via combined approach for 5 patients (10.6%). The combined group had the highest frequency of patients who were black (vaginal: 24%, abdominal: 31%, combined: 100%; P=0.005), the longest median total operating time (vaginal: 167 minutes, abdominal: 183 minutes, combined: 268 minutes; P=0.006) and the longest median time of uterine morcellation (vaginal: 14 minutes, abdominal: 37 minutes, combined: 85 minutes; P<0.001). There was strong evidence of a positive correlation with time of uterine morcellation for both largest uterine diameter (Spearman's r: 0.62, P<0.001) and uterine volume (Spearman's r: 0.70, P<0.001). These associations remained consistent after multivariable linear regression models that were adjusted for route of morcellation, hysterectomy type, and BMI (both P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Larger uterine dimensions are associated with increased total operating and morcellation times. Uterine size and volume on preoperative imaging were not associated with route of morcellation, but there was a trend towards failed vaginal extraction when uterine dimensions exceeded 16 centimeters.

A Retrospective Analysis of Gender-Based Difference in Adherence to Initial Colon Cancer Screening Recommendations

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, despite being largely preventable and treatable. Improving overall screening rates among both men and women is considered an important and effective strategy toward reducing morbidity and mortality from CRC. In order to optimize screening strategies, factors associated with decreased compliance need to be understood. This study aimed to compare initial CRC screening rates between males and females in a population of patients who presented for an annual physical examination. Methods: A retrospective chart review study of 380 patients designed to compare rates of initial CRC screening between males and females was conducted. Patients who were seen at our institution for an annual physical examination and were between 51 and 60 years of age were included. Results: There was no evidence of a difference in the rate of initial colon cancer screening between females (83.0%) and males (80.9%) in either unadjusted analysis (odds ratio = 1.16, P = .59) or in multivariable analysis adjusting for potential confounding variables (odds ratio = 1.16, P = .61). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the rate of initial CRC screening between males and females who presented for an annual physical examination. This suggests that designing interventions to improve screening specific to gender may not be needed in a population of patients who attend routine preventive health examinations. Further study is needed in the general population to examine for gender-based differences in initial CRC screening among patients who do not regularly follow up for preventive examinations.

Association of Tripartite Motif Containing 11 rs564309 With Tau Pathology in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

BACKGROUND

Intronic variant rs564309 in tripartite motif containing 11 (TRIM11) is associated with clinical phenotypic differences in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), whereby the minor allele (A) is more common in atypical PSP than typical PSP (PSP-Richardson's syndrome). However, rs564309 has not been investigated relative to neuropathological outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the association of rs564309 with the neuropathologically assessed severity of tau pathology, as measured by semi-quantitative scores for neurofibrillary tangles, tufted astrocytes, neuropil threads, and oligodendroglial coiled bodies.

METHODS

797 neuropathologically confirmed PSP cases were genotyped for TRIM11 rs564309 and assessed for tau pathology across 20 neuroanatomical regions. Tau pathology measures and age at death were examined for association with TRIM11 rs564309-A using multivariable linear regression models.

RESULTS

TRIM11 rs564309-A was associated with increased neurofibrillary tangles pathology (P = 0.050), but was not significantly associated with age at death, neuropil threads, coiled bodies, or tufted astrocytes tau pathology scores.

CONCLUSIONS

TRIM11 rs564309 may influence burden of neurofibrillary tangles tau pathology in PSP; further study is warranted. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Genetic screening of a large series of North American sporadic and familial frontotemporal dementia cases

INTRODUCTION

The Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ARTFL) and Longitudinal Evaluation of Familial Frontotemporal Dementia Subjects (LEFFTDS) consortia are two closely connected studies, involving multiple North American centers that evaluate both sporadic and familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) participants and study longitudinal changes.

METHODS

We screened the major dementia-associated genes in 302 sporadic and 390 familial (symptomatic or at-risk) participants enrolled in these studies.

RESULTS

Among the sporadic patients, 16 (5.3%) carried chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), and progranulin (GRN) pathogenic variants, whereas in the familial series we identified 207 carriers from 146 families. Of interest, one patient was found to carry a homozygous C9orf72 expansion, while another carried both a C9orf72 expansion and a GRN pathogenic variant. We also identified likely pathogenic variants in the TAR DNA binding protein (TARDBP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1), and valosin containing protein (VCP) genes, and a subset of variants of unknown significance in other rare FTD genes.

DISCUSSION

Our study reports the genetic characterization of a large FTD series and supports an unbiased sequencing screen, irrespective of clinical presentation or family history.

Comparison of sporadic and familial behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in a North American cohort

INTRODUCTION

Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) may present sporadically or due to an autosomal dominant mutation. Characterization of both forms will improve understanding of the generalizability of assessments and treatments.

METHODS

A total of 135 sporadic (s-bvFTD; mean age 63.3 years; 34% female) and 99 familial (f-bvFTD; mean age 59.9; 48% female) bvFTD participants were identified. f-bvFTD cases included 43 with known or presumed chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) gene expansions, 28 with known or presumed microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mutations, 14 with known progranulin (GRN) mutations, and 14 with a strong family history of FTD but no identified mutation.

RESULTS

Participants with f-bvFTD were younger and had earlier age at onset. s-bvFTD had higher total Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) scores due to more frequent endorsement of depression and irritability.

DISCUSSION

f-bvFTD and s-bvFTD cases are clinically similar, suggesting the generalizability of novel biomarkers, therapies, and clinical tools developed in either form to the other.

Progressive supranuclear palsy is not associated with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension

Objective

To evaluate the pattern and severity of autonomic dysfunction in autopsy-confirmed progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) compared to α-synuclein pathology.

Methods

Autopsy-confirmed cases of 14 patients with PSP, 18 with multiple system atrophy (MSA), and 24 with Lewy body disease (LBD) with antemortem autonomic testing were reviewed retrospectively. All patients underwent comprehensive clinical evaluations by a movement disorder specialist, formal autonomic testing, and postmortem examinations at Mayo Clinic.

Results

The absence of orthostatic hypotension (OH) was the strongest autonomic parameter that distinguished PSP from α-synucleinopathies (0% vs 69%, p < 0.0001). Tests of adrenergic failure, which distinguish neurogenic OH, also differentiated PSP from other groups. These included the pressure recovery time (p = 0.0008), adrenergic impairment score (p = 0.001), and magnitude of change of systolic (p = 0.0002) and diastolic (p = 0.0001) blood pressures (BPs) during upright tilt. In addition, REM sleep behavior disorder was seen less frequently (p = 0.006) in PSP (33%) compared to MSA (87%) and LBD (90%). Antemortem clinical diagnostic accuracy for these phenotypically variable disorders was 57% for PSP and 83% for α-synucleinopathies.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the cardiovascular adrenergic system, which sustains BP during standing, is relatively unaffected, if not spared, in PSP. These findings increase our understanding of the clinical signature of PSP and have the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy in atypical parkinsonisms by distinguishing PSP from the α-synucleinopathies.