Improving the capacity of researchers and bereaved parents to co-design and translate stillbirth research together

BACKGROUND

Working with bereaved parents in co-designed stillbirth research, policy and practice is essential to improving care and outcomes.

PROBLEM

Effective parent engagement is often lacking. This may be due to bereaved parents not feeling adequately and appropriately supported to be involved.

AIM

To consult bereaved parents with the aim to understand their experiences, attitudes, and needs around involvement in stillbirth research and gain feedback about the usefulness and appropriateness of a proposed co-designed guide to support their involvement, including content and design aspects of this resource.

METHODS

An online co-designed survey was disseminated via Australian parent support organisations social media in August 2022.

FINDINGS

All 90 respondents were bereaved parents, 94% (n = 85) were female. Two-thirds (67%, n = 60) had never participated in stillbirth research, 80% (n = 72) agreed involvement of bereaved parents in research was important or extremely important and 81% (n = 73) were interested in future research involvement. Common motivations for involvement were wanting to leave a legacy for their baby and knowing research outcomes. Common barriers included not having been asked to participate or not knowing how. Most (89%, n = 80) agreed the proposed guide would be useful. Highly valued topics were the importance of bereaved parents' voices in stillbirth research and how they can make a difference.

CONCLUSION

The majority of bereaved parents we surveyed want to be involved in stillbirth research and would value a resource to support this. The proposed concept and content for a co-designed guide to aid engagement was well supported.

Evaluation of practice change following SAFE obstetric courses in Tanzania: a prospective cohort study

Anaesthesia has been shown to contribute disproportionately to maternal mortality in low-resource settings. This figure exceeds 500 per 100,000 live births in Tanzania, where anaesthesia is mainly provided by non-physician anaesthetists, many of whom are working as independent practitioners in rural areas without any support or opportunity for continuous medical education. The three-day Safer Anaesthesia from Education (SAFE) course was developed to address this gap by providing in-service training in obstetric anaesthesia to improve patient safety. Two obstetric SAFE courses with refresher training were delivered to 75 non-physician anaesthetists in the Mbeya region of Tanzania between August 2019 and July 2020. To evaluate translation of knowledge into practice, we conducted direct observation of the SAFE obstetric participants at their workplace in five facilities using a binary checklist of expected behaviours, to assess the peri-operative management of patients undergoing caesarean deliveries. The observations were conducted over a 2-week period at pre, immediately post, 6-month and 12-month post-SAFE obstetric training. A total of 320 cases completed by 35 participants were observed. Significant improvements in behaviours, sustained at 12 months after training included: pre-operative assessment of patients (32% (pre-training) to 88% (12 months after training), p < 0.001); checking for functioning suction (73% to 85%, p = 0.003); using aseptic spinal technique (67% to 100%, p < 0.001); timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics (66% to 95%, p < 0.001); and checking spinal block adequacy (32% to 71%, p < 0.001). Our study has demonstrated positive sustained changes in the clinical practice amongst non-physician anaesthetists as a result of SAFE obstetric training. The findings can be used to guide development of a checklist specific for anaesthesia for caesarean section to improve the quality of care for patients in low-resource settings.

PSMA PET Guided Salvage Radiotherapy Among Prostate Cancer Patients in the Post-Prostatectomy Setting: A Single Center Post-Hoc Analysis

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) shows improved sensitivity and specificity for detection of locoregional and distant metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) compared to conventional imaging, especially at lower PSA levels as is often the case in the biochemically recurrent (BCR), post radical prostatectomy (RP) setting. Providers are now utilizing PSMA PET findings to guide their salvage radiotherapy (sRT) treatment fields and doses, although it is not well understood how PSMA PET guided sRT impacts patient outcomes.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This was a post-hoc analysis of 5 prospective studies of PSMA PET conducted at UCLA from 2016 to 2021 that included patients with recurrent PCa following RP. Patients were included in this retrospective study if they initiated sRT within 3 months of PSMA PET, had at least 12 months of follow up after sRT completion, had available sRT treatment details, and did not have distant metastases (DM) by conventional imaging on upfront staging. Patients treated with palliative RT were excluded. BCR following sRT was defined as an increase in PSA of 0.2 ng/ml above the post sRT nadir. Metastasis directed therapy (MDT) was defined as sRT to all PSMA+ N1 and M1 lesions. Baseline patient demographics, PSMA PET findings, sRT & ADT treatment details, and patient outcome data were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 176 patients were included in this study. Median time between RP and PSMA PET was 38 months (range 1-329). Median PSA at the time of the PSMA PET was 0.625 ng/mL (range 0.063-35). PSMA PET was positive in 128 patients (73%): 21 (12%) miT+N0M0, 55 (31%) miTxN1M0 and 52 (30%) miTxNxM1 with 19 (11%) miTxNxM1a, 31 (18%) miTxNxM1b, and 2 (1%) miTxNxM1c. Median number of lesions seen on positive PSMA scans was 1 (range 1-8). 39 (22%) patients were subsequently treated with sRT to the prostate bed (PB) only, 59 (34%) to PB + pelvic lymph nodes (PLNs), 33 (19%) to PLNs only, 7 (4%) to PB + PLNs + DM, 7 (4%) to PLNs + DM, and 31 (18%) to DM only. 59 (34%) patients were treated with concurrent ADT at a median duration of 6 months (range 1-39). At a median follow-up of 32 months (range 12-70) after sRT, 80 patients (45%) did not develop BCR or imaging relapse (IR) following sRT, 24 patients (14%) developed BCR but not IR, 1 patient (<1%) developed IR only, and 70 patients (40%) developed both BCR and IR. The median time to BCR and IR following sRT was 15 months (range 1-48) and 19 months (range 6-61), respectively. 1 year post sRT biochemical recurrence free survival was 77%. Of the 83 patients treated with MDT, 32 (39%) did not develop subsequent disease relapse.

CONCLUSION

This post hoc analysis assessed the outcomes of 176 patients treated with PSMA PET guided salvage RT, proving it to be an effective method for treating both pelvic and extrapelvic recurrent PCa. Further investigation is needed to assess the full extent of patient outcomes in this population.

Human pelvis injury risk curves from underbody blast impact

INTRODUCTION

Underbody blast loading can result in injuries to the pelvis and the lumbosacral spine. The purpose of this study was to determine human tolerance in this region based on survival analysis.

METHODS

Twenty-six unembalmed postmortem human surrogate lumbopelvic complexes were procured and pretest medical images were obtained. They were fixed in polymethylmethacrylate at the cranial end and a six-axis load cell was attached. The specimens were aligned in a seated soldier posture. Impacts were applied to the pelvis using a custom vertical accelerator. The experimental design consisted of non-injury and injury tests. Pretest and post-test X-rays and palpation were done following non-injury test, and after injury test medical imaging and gross dissections were done. Injuries were scored using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Axial and resultant forces were used to develop human injury probability curves (HIPCs) at AIS 3+ and AIS 4 severities using survival analysis. Then ±95% CI was computed using the delta method, normalised CI size was obtained, and the quality of the injury risk curves was assigned adjectival ratings.

RESULTS

At the 50% probability level, the resultant and axial forces at the AIS 3+ level were 6.6 kN and 5.9 kN, and at the AIS 4 level these were 8.4 kN and 7.5 kN, respectively. Individual injury risk curves along with ±95% CIs are presented in the paper. Increased injury severity increased the HIPC metrics. Curve qualities were in the good and fair ranges for axial and shear forces at all probability levels and for both injury severities.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to develop axial and resultant force-based HIPCs defining human tolerance to injuries to the pelvis from vertical impacts using parametric survival analysis. Data can be used to advance military safety under vertical loading to the seated pelvis.

Patient-specific cylinder templates for hybrid interstitial vaginal brachytherapy: Feasibility of automated 3-D design, 3D printing, and dosimetric outlook

PURPOSE

Delivering highly conformal treatment plans for high-dose rate vaginal brachytherapy using commercially available applicators can be challenging. A partially automated workflow is presented for the in-house modeling and 3D printing of patient-specific cylindrical templates (PSCTs), which facilitate placement of flexible intracavitary and interstitial needles. To demonstrate feasibility, we compare PSCT treatment plans to retrospective interstitial brachytherapy plans delivered at our center. PSCTs derived from these plans were 3D printed to test the validity of the auto-design process. To facilitate clinical implementation, we validated the steam sterilization compatibility of PSCTs printed using polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Plans for ten patients treated using a combination of vaginal cylinder and interstitial needles were compared to PSCT-based plans created for the same patient. DVH parameters for the HRCTV (V100, V150, V200, D90) and OARs (D2 cm3) were evaluated, as well as the number of needles used and the total interstitial length. Each planned PSCT was printed and compared to the intended needle geometry. 3D printed models were sterilization validated by an independent contractor for an autoclave protocol.

RESULTS

PSCT plans demonstrated advantages over template based perineal BT in reducing the total interstitial needle length required while preserving or improving HRCTV and OAR dosimetry. All printed PSCTs matched planned geometry.

CONCLUSIONS

PSCTs stand to be an alternative to current HDR-BT templates/applicators for patients with vaginal and locally recurrent endometrial cancers. Clinically equivalent or improved treatment plans can be created and devices to deliver these plans can be accurately printed and sterilized.

Global survival trends for brain tumors, by histology: analysis of individual records for 556,237 adults diagnosed in 59 countries during 2000-2014 (CONCORD-3)

BACKGROUND

Survival is a key metric of the effectiveness of a health system in managing cancer. We set out to provide a comprehensive examination of worldwide variation and trends in survival from brain tumors in adults, by histology.

METHODS

We analyzed individual data for adults (15-99 years) diagnosed with a brain tumor (ICD-O-3 topography code C71) during 2000-2014, regardless of tumor behavior. Data underwent a 3-phase quality control as part of CONCORD-3. We estimated net survival for 11 histology groups, using the unbiased nonparametric Pohar Perme estimator.

RESULTS

The study included 556,237 adults. In 2010-2014, the global range in age-standardized 5-year net survival for the most common sub-types was broad: in the range 20%-38% for diffuse and anaplastic astrocytoma, from 4% to 17% for glioblastoma, and between 32% and 69% for oligodendroglioma. For patients with glioblastoma, the largest gains in survival occurred between 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. These improvements were more noticeable among adults diagnosed aged 40-70 years than among younger adults.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the largest account to date of global trends in population-based survival for brain tumors by histology in adults. We have highlighted remarkable gains in 5-year survival from glioblastoma since 2005, providing large-scale empirical evidence on the uptake of chemoradiation at population level. Worldwide, survival improvements have been extensive, but some countries still lag behind. Our findings may help clinicians involved in national and international tumor pathway boards to promote initiatives aimed at more extensive implementation of clinical guidelines.

The role of perceived patient injustice on pain related and functional outcomes in orthopaedic patients; a systematic review

Introduction

Higher levels of perceived patient injustice has been associated with higher levels of pain and poor functional outcomes in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. We wanted to investigate if there was any evidence of this association in patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery.

Materials and methods

A systematic search of the literature was performed independently by two researchers on the electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and data extracted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. Outcomes of interest were pain, pain intensity, pain interference, opiate use, disability, physical function, return to work, quality of life, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, social functioning and quality of life.

Results

Five studies were identified for qualitative analysis involving elective and trauma orthopaedic patients. All studies identified a positive correlation between higher levels of perceived injustice and depression, pain intensity and interference as well as reduced function and higher levels of disability.

Conclusions

Higher levels of perceived patient injustice is associated with worse pain and functional outcomes in patients who undergo orthopaedic surgery in the traumatic and elective setting. Further research is warranted to further elucidate this association and identify potential therapeutic interventions.

Systematic development and feasibility testing of a multibehavioural digital prehabilitation intervention for patients approaching major surgery (iPREPWELL): A study protocol

Improving outcomes for people undergoing major surgery, specifically reducing perioperative morbidity and mortality remains a global health challenge. Prehabilitation involves the active preparation of patients prior to surgery, including support to tackle risk behaviours that mediate and undermine physical and mental health and wellbeing. The majority of prehabilitation interventions are delivered in person, however many patients express a preference for remotely-delivered interventions that provide them with tailored support and the flexibility. Digital prehabilitation interventions offer scalability and have the potential to benefit perioperative healthcare systems, however there is a lack of robustly developed and evaluated digital programmes for use in routine clinical care. We aim to systematically develop and test the feasibility of an evidence and theory-informed multibehavioural digital prehabilitation intervention 'iPREPWELL' designed to prepare patients for major surgery. The intervention will be developed with reference to the Behaviour Change Wheel, COM-B model, and the Theoretical Domains Framework. Codesign methodology will be used to develop a patient intervention and accompanying training intervention for healthcare professionals. Training will be designed to enable healthcare professionals to promote, support and facilitate delivery of the intervention as part of routine clinical care. Patients preparing for major surgery and healthcare professionals involved with their clinical care from two UK National Health Service centres will be recruited to stage 1 (systematic development) and stage 2 (feasibility testing of the intervention). Participants recruited at stage 1 will be asked to complete a COM-B questionnaire and to take part in a qualitative interview study and co-design workshops. Participants recruited at stage 2 (up to twenty healthcare professionals and forty participants) will be asked to take part in a single group intervention study where the primary outcomes will include feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of intervention delivery, receipt, and enactment. Healthcare professionals will be trained to promote and support use of the intervention by patients, and the training intervention will be evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The multifaceted and systematically developed intervention will be the first of its kind and will provide a foundation for further refinement prior to formal efficacy testing.

Short-term risk prediction after major lower limb amputation: PERCEIVE study

BACKGROUND

The accuracy with which healthcare professionals (HCPs) and risk prediction tools predict outcomes after major lower limb amputation (MLLA) is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of predicting short-term (30 days after MLLA) mortality, morbidity, and revisional surgery.

METHODS

The PERCEIVE (PrEdiction of Risk and Communication of outcomE following major lower limb amputation: a collaboratIVE) study was launched on 1 October 2020. It was an international multicentre study, including adults undergoing MLLA for complications of peripheral arterial disease and/or diabetes. Preoperative predictions of 30-day mortality, morbidity, and MLLA revision by surgeons and anaesthetists were recorded. Probabilities from relevant risk prediction tools were calculated. Evaluation of accuracy included measures of discrimination, calibration, and overall performance.

RESULTS

Some 537 patients were included. HCPs had acceptable discrimination in predicting mortality (931 predictions; C-statistic 0.758) and MLLA revision (565 predictions; C-statistic 0.756), but were poor at predicting morbidity (980 predictions; C-statistic 0.616). They overpredicted the risk of all outcomes. All except three risk prediction tools had worse discrimination than HCPs for predicting mortality (C-statistics 0.789, 0.774, and 0.773); two of these significantly overestimated the risk compared with HCPs. SORT version 2 (the only tool incorporating HCP predictions) demonstrated better calibration and overall performance (Brier score 0.082) than HCPs. Tools predicting morbidity and MLLA revision had poor discrimination (C-statistics 0.520 and 0.679).

CONCLUSION

Clinicians predicted mortality and MLLA revision well, but predicted morbidity poorly. They overestimated the risk of mortality, morbidity, and MLLA revision. Most short-term risk prediction tools had poorer discrimination or calibration than HCPs. The best method of predicting mortality was a statistical tool that incorporated HCP estimation.

Erector spinae plane block with catheter infusion for analgesia in a patient undergoing transaxillary first rib resection

Analgesia for first rib resection can be challenging with short- and long-term consequences for patients such as acute distress, difficulty participating in physiotherapy and chronic pain. We report utilising an erector spinae plane block with a continuous infusion catheter as analgesia for a transaxillary first rib removal in a patient with venous thoracic outlet syndrome (Paget-Schroetter syndrome). We could find no reports of erector spinae plane block in transaxillary rib resection, and a limited number of reports using a paravertebral approach to analgesia for this procedure. In our case, an erector spinae plane block provided effective analgesia, allowing the patient to participate freely in postoperative physiotherapy; no complications of erector spinae plane block were encountered. Further research into the safety and efficacy of erector spinae plane block for first rib resection is warranted.

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC).

FINDINGS

In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683-0·717]).

INTERPRETATION

In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required.

FUNDING

British Journal of Surgery Society.

What role can decentralized trial designs play to improve rare disease studies?

People affected by rare diseases want to be involved in research and the search for new treatments. Randomized controlled trials remain the best way of finding new interventions, but many elements of traditional study design are not best suited for rare diseases. Barriers to patients and families include the use of specialist hospital sites for recruitment, requiring frequent site-based study visits for data collection, and a high burden of tests and outcome measures in research. While decentralized clinical trial (DCT) designs have been developed in some rare disease trials, changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic present an opportunity for them to become a standard approach. DCT approaches have been shown to be more resilient to changes in enrolment and attrition during COVID-19 than traditional designs and offer benefits in terms of patient burden, convenience, inclusion, and data quality. Digital tools such as wearable devices and electronic clinical outcome assessments may also provide more convenient and environmentally valid measures of how a condition affects the life of an individual in their regular environment (e.g. mobility around the home versus a hospital corridor). Digital solutions have greater ability to support language localization, accessibility, and may lead to increase access to global rare disease trials. In parallel, challenges exist, such as the technical support, the digital divide, ensuring high quality data, and delivering safe trials.

ACU193, a Monoclonal Antibody that Selectively Binds Soluble Aß Oligomers: Development Rationale, Phase 1 Trial Design, and Clinical Development Plan

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease is a large and growing unmet medical need. Clinical trial designs need to assess disease-related outcomes earlier to accelerate the development of better treatments for Alzheimer's disease. ACU193 is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets amyloid β oligomers, thought to be the most toxic species of Aβ that accumulates early in AD and contributes to downstream pathological effects. Nonclinical data indicate that ACU193 can reduce the toxic effects of amyloid β oligomers. ACU193 is currently being investigated in a phase 1 clinical trial designed with the properties described in this report. This phase 1 trial is designed to provide data to enable a go/no-go decision regarding the initiation of a subsequent phase 2/3 study.

OBJECTIVES

To design a phase 1 study that assesses target engagement and incorporates novel measures to support more rapid development of a potential disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

DESIGN

The INTERCEPT-AD trial for ACU193 is an ongoing randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1a/b study that assesses safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, target engagement, clinical measures, and several Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, including novel digital and imaging biomarkers.

SETTING

For INTERCEPT-AD, brief inpatient stays for patients in the single ascending dose portion of the study, with the remainder of the evaluations being performed as outpatients at multiple clinical trial sites in the U.S.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with early Alzheimer's disease (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia with a positive florbetapir positron emission tomography scan).

INTERVENTION

ACU193 administered intravenously at doses of 2- 60 mg/kg.

MEASUREMENTS

Safety assessments including magnetic resonance imaging for the presence of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, clinical assessments for Alzheimer's disease including the Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale-cognition and Clinical Dementia Rating scale, pharmacokinetics, a measure of target engagement, and digital and imaging biomarkers, including a computerized cognitive test battery and a measure of cerebral blood flow using arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

A phase 1 study design was developed for ACU193 that allows collection of data that will enable a go/no-go decision for initiation of a subsequent adaptive phase 2/3 study.

CONCLUSIONS

A phase 1a/b trial and an overall clinical development plan for an Alzheimer's disease treatment can be designed that maintains patient safety, allows informed decision-making, and achieves an accelerated timeline by using novel biomarkers and adaptive study designs.

Cardiometabolic health after first pregnancy: Associations with social determinants of health. A nuMoM2b-HHS study

Study objective

This study sought to evaluate the associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) at the time of first pregnancy and subsequent cardiometabolic health, defined as the development of metabolic syndrome.

Design

nuMoM2b-HHS (Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study- Monitoring Mothers-to-Be-Heart Health Study) is an ongoing prospective cohort study.

Setting

Eight academic medical centers enrolled and continue to follow participants.

Participants

4484 participants followed a mean of 3.2 years from the time of their first pregnancy.

Interventions

N/a.

Main outcome measure

Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were used to obtain relative risks and 95% confidence intervals estimating the risk of metabolic syndrome for each baseline SDOH. In secondary analyses we examined the associations between SDOH and incident hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus.

Results

Metabolic syndrome developed in 13.6% of participants. Higher socioeconomic position at the time of pregnancy was associated with lower rates of metabolic syndrome [income > 200% poverty level aRR 0.55 (95% CI, 0.42-0.71), attainment of a bachelor's degree aRR 0.62 (0.46-0.84) or higher aRR 0.50 (0.35-0.71)], while being single [aRR 1.45 (95% CI, 1.18-1.77)] and having low health literacy were associated with a greater risk of metabolic syndrome [aRR 1.98 (95% CI, 1.28-3.07)].

Conclusions

Over a short interval following first pregnancy, participants accumulated high proportions of cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome, with some risk associated with SDOH. The impact of interventions addressing SDOH in pregnant people on cardiometabolic health should be tested as a means of reducing health inequities at the population level.

A case of incidental STUMP discovery in a patient with concurrent prostatic adenocarcinoma

Stromal tumours of the prostate are exceedingly rare, often presenting in patients in their fifth decade of life. They are classified as either stromal sarcomas, or stromal tumours of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), the latter of which is known to have diverse clinical behaviour and thus surgical excision is often warranted. We present a case of a 71-year-old male, initially worked up by his family doctor due to mild obstructive voiding symptoms. Following a more thorough urologic workup, including a prostate biopsy, he was found to have a markedly elevated prostate specific antigen and positive cores on prostate biopsy demonstrating prostatic adenocarcinoma. The decision was made to treat with retropubic radical prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. Resulting pathology showed concurrent prostatic adenocarcinoma in addition to STUMP. The patient continues to be followed by oncology as well as a sarcoma specialist due to the unique nature of his case.

231 ESTABLISHING AN INTERVENTIONS BUNDLE TO IMPROVE INPATIENT CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Background

Patients with Parkinson’s (PwP) are at a higher risk of complications once admited to hospital compared to their age-matched peers. Medication mismanagement is a well-known obstacle, which puts PwP at risk of sub-optimal treatment leading to an unnecessary deterioration of baseline and potentially increases risk of adverse sequelae.

Methods

Retrospective electronic patient records (EPR)/chart review of 47 admissions was conducted, across three hospital sites.

Data attaining to correct prescribing of medication on admission and discharge, prescribing of contraindicated medications, reasons for medication lapses and complications of inpatient stay were collected. EPR of 17 patients’ were reviewed to assess if Parkinson’s disease (PD) medication administrations occurred within 30 minutes of patient schedule, as recommended by NICE guidelines. Key areas for improvement were identified based on the results.

Results

47 charts (30 Males, 17 Females) with mean age 72 (range:57–90), were reviewed. Average number of co-morbidities:4.5 and Clinical Frailty Scale ranged 5–9 (n = 30). LOS averaged 12.4 days and 43% of patients had ≥2 hospital admissions in the preceeding year.

38% (17/44) of admissions correctly documented patient specific medication times. Only 48% of patients (n = 638) received their medications within 30 minutes of the scheduled time. 47% (22/47) experienced complications attributable to PD. Contraindicated medications were noted in 5 cases. 84% of discharging prescriptions did not mention timing of PD medication and 3 prescriptions had errors with regards to dosage/omission of medication.

Conclusion

We implemented across two sites: 1) Care protocol flag in patient’s chart highlighting simple avoidable complications. 2) Laminated over the bed signpost alerting ‘time critical medication’. 3) ‘Time critical medication’ stickers in drug kardex 4) Education sessions for Medical, Nursing and Ward staff. 6) Establishing out of hours access to PD medications and protocols for NPO/poor swallow. We plan to reassess significance of efforts post intervention.

A rapid review investigating the potential impact of a pandemic on the mental health of young people aged 12-25 years

OBJECTIVES

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic. Adolescence and early adulthood are peak times for the onset of mental health difficulties. Exposure to a pandemic during this vulnerable developmental period places young people at significant risk of negative psychological experiences. The objective of this research was to summarise existing evidence on the potential impact of a pandemic on the mental health of 12-25 year olds.

METHODS

A rapid review of the published peer-reviewed literature, published between 1985 and 2020, using PsycINFO (Proquest) and Medline (Proquest) was conducted. Narrative synthesis was used across studies to identify key themes and concepts.

RESULTS

This review found 3,359 papers, which was reduced to 12 papers for data extraction. Results regarding the prevalence of psychological difficulties in youth were mixed, with some studies finding this group experience heightened distress during an infectious disease outbreak, and others finding no age differences or higher distress among adults. Gender, coping, self-reported physical health and adoption of precautionary measures appear to play a role in moderating the psychological impact of an infectious disease outbreak. Most studies were conducted after the peak of an epidemic/pandemic or in the recovery period.

CONCLUSIONS

More longitudinal research with young people, particularly adolescents in the general population, before and during the early stages of an infectious disease outbreak is needed to obtain a clear understanding of how best to support young people during these events.

Long-term cerebrovascular dysfunction in the offspring from maternal electronic cigarette use during pregnancy

Electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) have been promoted as harm-free or less risky than smoking, even for women during pregnancy. These claims are made largely on E-cig aerosol having fewer number of toxic chemicals compared with cigarette smoke. Given that even low levels of smoking are found to produce adverse birth outcomes, we sought to test the hypothesis that vaping during pregnancy (with or without nicotine) would not be harm-free and would result in vascular dysfunction that would be evident in offspring during adolescent and/or adult life. Pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to E-cig aerosol (1 h/day, 5 days/wk, starting on gestational day 2 until pups were weaned) using e-liquid with 0 mg/mL (E-cig0) or 18 mg/mL nicotine (E-cig18) and compared with ambient air-exposed controls. Body mass at birth and at weaning were not different between groups. Assessment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) reactivity revealed a 51%-56% reduction in endothelial-dependent dilation response to acetylcholine (ACh) for both E-cig0 and E-cig18 in 1-mo, 3-mo (adolescent), and 7-mo-old (adult) offspring (P < 0.05 compared with air, all time points). MCA responses to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and myogenic tone were not different across groups, suggesting that endothelial-independent responses were not altered. The MCA vasoconstrictor response (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) was also not different across treatment and age groups. These data demonstrate that maternal vaping during pregnancy is not harm-free and confers significant cerebrovascular health risk/dysfunction to offspring that persists into adult life. NEW & NOTEWORTHY These data established that vaping electronic cigarettes during pregnancy, with or without nicotine, is not safe and confers significant risk potential to the cerebrovascular health of offspring in early and adult life. A key finding is that vaping without nicotine does not protect offspring from cerebrovascular dysfunction and results in the same level of cerebrovascular dysfunction (compared with maternal vaping with nicotine), indicating that the physical and/or chemical properties from the base solution (other than nicotine) are responsible for the cerebrovascular dysfunction that we observed. Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at https://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/maternal-vaping-impairs-vascular-function-in-theoffspring/.

A Combined sEMG and Accelerometer System for Monitoring Functional Activity in Stroke

Remote monitoring of physical activity using bodyworn sensors provides an alternative to assessment of functional independence by subjective, paper-based questionnaires. This study investigated the classification accuracy of a combined surface electromyographic (sEMG) and accelerometer (ACC) sensor system for monitoring activities of daily living in patients with stroke. sEMG and ACC data were recorded from 10 hemi paretic patients while they carried out a sequence of 11 activities of daily living (Identification tasks), and 10 activities used to evaluate misclassification errors (non-Identification tasks). The sEMG and ACC sensor data were analyzed using a multilayered neural network and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system to identify the minimal sensor configuration needed to accurately classify the identification tasks, with a minimal number of misclassifications from the non-Identification tasks. The results demonstrated that the highest sensitivity and specificity for the identification tasks was achieved using a subset of 4 ACC sensors and adjacent sEMG sensors located on both upper arms, one forearm, and one thigh, respectively. This configuration resulted in a mean sensitivity of 95.0 %, and a mean specificity of 99.7 % for the identification tasks, and a mean misclassification error of < 10% for the non-Identification tasks. The findings support the feasibility of a hybrid sEMG and ACC wearable sensor system for automatic recognition of motor tasks used to assess functional independence in patients with stroke.

A service evaluation of an occupational health Covid-19 referral pathway

Background

A rapid management referral pathway was established by a private UK occupational health (OH) provider to offer assessments and advice on managing individual risk relating to Covid-19 in the workplace.

Aims

The aim of this service evaluation was to assess the utilization and effectiveness of the pathway in supporting referrers during a pandemic.

Methods

Referrals between March–August 2020 were analysed by date and industry to assess service utilization. A survey was sent to a convenience sample of referrers throughout this period, requesting feedback on whether the report led to a change in how the worker was managed, and whether it increased referrer confidence in managing the worker.

Results

Five hundred and seventy referrals were made, predominantly from wholesale and retail; professional, scientific and technical; and food and drink production. There was a small peak of referrals from manufacturing in April and a larger peak in July–August from wholesale and retail, and food and drink production. Of 166 surveys sent, 58 were completed (35% response rate). In 71% of cases, referrers indicated that the report led to change in how the worker was managed, and in 86% of cases, referrers reported being more confident in managing the worker.

Conclusions

The pathway was well-utilized. OH assessments and advice have an important role to play in a pandemic, with useful impact on how workers are managed and how confident managers feel in managing workers.

Behavioral and neuroanatomical outcomes following altered serotonin expression in a hypoxic-ischemic injury neonate rodent model

BACKGROUND

Children born prematurely (<37 gestational weeks) are at risk for a variety of adverse medical events. They may experience ischemic and/or hemorrhagic events leading to negative neural sequelae. They are also exposed to repeated stressful experiences as part of life-saving care within the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These experiences have been associated with methylation of SLC6A4, a gene which codes for serotonin transport proteins, and is associated with anxiety, depression, and increased incidence of autism spectrum disorders.The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of altered serotonin levels on behavioral and neuroanatomical outcomes in a neonatal rodent model with or without exposure to hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury.

METHODS

Wistar rat pups were randomly assigned to either HI injury or sham groups. Pups within each group were treated with a chronic SSRI (Citalopram HBr) to simulate the effects of SLC6A4 methylation, or saline (NS). Subjects were assessed on behavioral tasks and neuropathologic indices.

RESULTS

HI injured subjects performed poorly on behavioral tasks. SSRI subjects did not display significantly greater anxiety. HI + SSRI subjects learned faster than HI+NS. Histologically, SSRI subjects had predominantly larger brain volumes than NS.

CONCLUSION

SSRI treated subjects without injury showed patterns of increased anxiety, consistent with theories of SLC6A4 methylation. The paradoxical trend to improved cognition in HI+SSRI subjects relative to HI alone, may reflect an unexpected SSRI neuroprotective effect in the presence of injury, and may be related to serotonin-induced neurogenesis.

Clostridium difficile toxins or infection induce upregulation of adenosine receptors and IL-6 with early pro-inflammatory and late anti-inflammatory pattern

Clostridium difficile causes intestinal inflammation, which increases adenosine. We compared the expression of adenosine receptors (AR) subtypes A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 in HCT-8, IEC-6 cells, and isolated intestinal epithelial cells, challenged or not with Clostridium difficile toxin A and B (TcdA and TcdB) or infection (CDI). In HCT-8, TcdB induced an early A2BR expression at 6 h and a late A2AR expression at 6 and 24 h. In addition, both TcdA and TcdB increased IL-6 expression at all time-points (peak at 6 h) and PSB603, an A2BR antagonist, decreased IL-6 expression and production. In isolated cecum epithelial cells, TcdA induced an early expression of A2BR at 2s and 6 h, followed by a late expression of A2AR at 6 and 24 h and of A1R at 24 h. In CDI, A2AR and A2BR expressions were increased at day 3, but not at day 7. ARs play a role in regulating inflammation during CDI by inducing an early pro-inflammatory and a late anti-inflammatory response. The timing of interventions with AR antagonist or agonists may be of relevance in treatment of CDI.

The logistical management of tertiary urethral disease in the United Kingdom: Implications from an online audit of male reconstructive urethral surgery

Objective:

To determine those patient groupings, based on volume and risk, whose optimal urethral reconstructive management might be provided by a reorganisation of UK reconstructive surgeons.

Methods:

Between 2010 and 2017, ~689 men/year were enrolled onto an online audit platform collecting data about urethral reconstruction in the UK; this accrual was compared against hospital episode statistics (HES). The available workforce, and where this was based, was collected. Individual and institutional incumbent patient volumes, pathology, surgical complexity and outcomes from treatment were collated to stratify volume/risk groups.

Results:

More than 90% of all HES-recorded data were accrued, being provided by 50 surgeons at 39 operative sites. Most reconstructive surgery was provided at 10 centres performing >20 procedures/year. More than 50% of all interventions were of a high-volume low-risk type. Of activity, 32.3% was intermediate volume or moderate risk, and 12.5% of men presented for lower-volume or higher-risk procedures.

Conclusion:

Correlation of detailed volume/outcome data allows the definition of patient populations presenting for urethral reconstruction. Stratification of each group’s management, to optimise the surgical outcome, may be applied to a hierarchical service delivery model based on the complexity of the patient’s presenting urethral pathology.

Level of evidence:

Level IV

1212 A Systematic Assessment Of Engagement, Functionality, Aesthetics, Information, And Recommendation Features In Sleep Mobile Applications

Introduction

Initial download and use of sleep tracking is very high, but prolonged use is very low. Poor prolonged use may be attributable to several factors such as engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information, and recommendation. We appraised these five factors in 16 consumer- and research/medical- grade digital sleep devices.

Methods

Three reviewers independently assessed 16 consumer- and medical-grade sleep digital devices using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) App quality ratings, which measures engagement (engagement, entertainment, interest, customization, interactivity, target group), functionality (functionality, performance, ease of use, navigation, gestural design), aesthetics (layout, graphics, visual appeal), information (Accuracy. Goals, Quality of information, Quantity of information, Visual information, Credibility, and Evidence base) and recommended on a Likert scale, with 1- Inadequate to 5 Excellent. Each subcategory is rated on a 1-5 Likert scale which is summed for each category: engagement (30), functionality (25), aesthetics (15), information (35) and recommended (yes or no).

Results

Devices that had the highest engagement score were Fitbit (27), Apple Watch (27), Garmin (27), and Dreem 2 headband (25.5). Apple Watch (30) had highest score; while Fitbit (13), Apple Watch (13), Garmin (13), Samsung Gear (13) had highest aesthetic score. While for information, ActiGraph (35), SOMNOwatch plus (35), CleveMed SleepView Monitor (35), CleveMed Sapphire PSG (35), SOMNOscreen plus (35), Nox T3 Sleep Monitor (35) and Nox A1 PSG System (35) had the highest ratings. The Dreem 2 headband has the potential induce prolong use among users with and without sleep disorders, based on high scores on engagement (25.5), Functionality (20.5), and Information (26.5).

Conclusion

Consumer- and research-grade digital devices that measure sleep have varying levels of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information and recommendations to facilitate prolong use. Consumer grade devices had higher engagement, functionality and aesthetics scores, while research grade devices had higher information and recommendation scores. If consumer- and research-grade devices are to have prolonged use, standardization is needed across the five MARS components.

Support

K01HL135452, R01MD007716, R01HL142066, and K07AG052685

1102 Relationship Between Emotional Distress And Sleep Duration Among Hispanics Using The 2018 National Health Interview Survey Dataset

Introduction

Although Hispanics experience a high level of shorter sleep duration (&lt; 7 hrs./24 period), a clear mechanism or cause is lacking. Previous research indicate that emotional distress may explain the burden of shorter sleep among blacks. Applying these findings to Hispanics, we investigated whether emotional distress explains the burden of short sleep duration (&lt; 7 hrs.) among Hispanics and if this relationship varies by sex

Methods

We used data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) dataset, a nationally representative sample, in which only Hispanic ethnicity participants (N=3,091) were analyzed. Average sleep duration was self-reported and measured in hours. Emotional distress was measured using Kessler 6, which measures how an individual felt over the past 30 days: nervous, hopeless, restless/fidgety, depressed, effortful and worthless. To assess the association between short sleep duration and emotional distress, we performed Pearson correlation, hierarchical regression analyses, and stratified this relationship by sex to determine if this relationship differed between males and females, adjusting for covariates.

Results

Of the total sample of 3,091 Hispanics, 1,762 were female, and 1,329 were male. Sleep duration and emotional distress were negatively correlated among females (r = -.27, p &lt;.001) and males (r=-.18, p &lt;.001). Among Hispanic females, sleep duration significantly predicted emotional distress, β = -.27, t = -11.60, p &lt;.001, and explained a significant portion of variance in emotional distress, R2 = .07, F= 134.63, p &lt;.001. While, among Hispanic males, sleep significantly predicted emotional distress (β = -.18, t =-6.5, p &lt;.001) and explained a significant portion of the variance in emotional distress (R2 = .03, F= 42.37, p &lt;.001).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that a negative sleep-ED relationship, suggesting that shorter sleep was predictive of higher levels of emotional distress among Hispanics and that this relationship is greater among Hispanic females, compared males.

Support

K01HL135452, R01MD007716, R01HL142066, and K07AG052685

1113 Physical Activity Moderates The Sleep-emotional Distress Relationship, But Less So Among Blacks Vs. Whites

Introduction

Emotional distress (ED) is associated with poor sleep. Research shows that minority populations experience greater vulnerabilities to both ED and poor sleep. Interventions such as relaxation training and behavioral therapy address this relationship but are not always successful. Research shows that physical activity (PA) is negatively associated with ED and positively associated with sleep duration. However, it is unclear whether PA attenuates the relationship between ED and sleep, and if this relationship differs by race/ethnicity.

Methods

We analyzed data from the 2005-2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative dataset of 416,152 participants. ED, hours of PA per day, and average sleep duration were collected. Regression models with covariates (age, sex, employment status, BMI) were used to analyze the moderation effect of PA within sleep and ED. Regression models were stratified by race/ethnicity.

Results

261,686 participants (45,926 blacks, 17.55%, and 215,760 whites, 82.45%) responded with the required variables for analysis. 63% of participants reported at least some physical activity. The results of the regression showed that a significant amount of variance in ED stemmed from sleep duration; F (7, 121088) = 1,619.72, p &lt; 0.001. PA was found to have a significant main effect, t(121,088) = 9.01, p= &lt;0.001. There was a significant moderation effect of PA, t(121088) =7.26, p &lt; 0.001. Stratification showed that the moderation effect of PA was not significant among blacks t(121,088) = -1.45, p=0.149 and significant among whites b = -.08, t(101,754) = -7.82, p &lt; 0.001.

Conclusion

The present study found support for moderation of PA in the sleep-ED relationship. However, it found that blacks do not experience the same benefits of PA in this relationship as whites. Further research should be performed to understand the connection of PA to sleep duration and ED.

Support

This study was supported by funding from the NIH: R01MD007716, R01HL142066, R01AG056531, K01HL135452, and K07AG052685

1189 Recruiting, Training, And Implementing Sleep Health Educators In Community-based Research To Improve Sleep Health

Introduction

Adherence to OSA assessment and treatment is low among racial/ethnic minorities, particularly among blacks. Navigating patients along the continuum of care from assessment to treatment adherence requires motivation, social support, and self-efficacy. Previous studies indicate that community health educators can provide motivation, social support, and skills to patients to better navigate the complex OSA care continuum. However, recruiting, training, and implementing sleep health educators in clinical or research settings is complex. For the current study, we describe how we recruit, train, and implement sleep health educators in research and clinical settings and assess what makes a sleep health educator successful.

Methods

We recruited and trained twenty-five self-identified black sleep health educators for a randomized clinical trial (R01MD007716) focused on increasing OSA assessment and treatment adherence among blacks. During recruitment, we assessed key personality attributes that translate to being an effective sleep health educator, via behavioral and personality surveys, focused groups, and process forms filled out by educators. Sleep health educators underwent an 8-week training program on sleep health and motivational interviewing. In order to be certified, sleep health educators had to pass a written and scenario-based assessment. During the implementation phase of the trial, we assessed how many interviews each health educator conducted and whether individual characteristics were related to how many interviews.

Results

Of the trained educators, 80% were female, ranging from 25 to 58 years old. They all completed at least high school. All educators rated the program highly and were very satisfied with dispensing tailored sleep health education. Educators who displayed the highest knowledge about sleep health, provided frequent emotional and strategic support, committed to helping their assigned participants, and who rated their rapport highly with their assigned participants were most effective in getting their participant to adhere to OSA assessment and treatment.

Conclusion

Sleep health educators can be vital to increasing OSA assessment and treatment adherence among blacks. In order to ensure success, sleep health educators must undergo a thorough recruitment, training, and implementation and dissemination process.

Support

K01HL135452, R01MD007716, R01HL142066, K01HL135452,and K07AG052685

0621 Utilization of the Ares to Predict OSA Among Blacks Using Home-Based Watchpat Recording

Introduction

In two waves of data we collected in Brooklyn New York, we observed blacks were at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In the NIH-funded study ‘Metabolic Syndrome Outcome Study (MetSO), blacks enrolled from primary-care settings had a 59% risk of OSA. Similarly, blacks surveyed in churches and barbershops had a 43% risk of OSA. While these studies showed higher than expected risk as noted in the general population (29%), it remains uncertain how many of those blacks would be diagnosed with OSA in that population. The purpose of this study was to explore the rate of OSA using the WatchPat device in a community-based setting.

Methods

Data were collected from an NIH-funded study ‘Peer-Enhanced Education to Reduce Sleep Ethnic Disparities, designed to navigate blacks at risk of OSA to receive timely diagnosis and treatment using peer-delivered linguistically and culturally tailored sleep health education. Blacks were screened for OSA using the Apnea Risk Evaluation System (ARES) Questionnaire; a score ≥6 denoted moderate-high OSA risk. Individuals were asked to wear the WatchPAT 200 for one night during a week-long sleep assessment. WatchPat 200 measures SaO2 to determine respiratory-related arousals, defined as an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) ≥5, which is used to identify and diagnose OSA. We used SPSS 25.0 to perform logical regression analysis to assess associations between ARES and WatchPat AHI.

Results

A sample of 111 blacks provided valid ARES and WatchPat data for the present analyses. Of the sample, the mean age was 62.26 (SD=13.52 years; female = 55%); 49% reported annual income &gt;20K and 79.5% reported a high school education. Moreover, 27% reported high blood pressure, 13%, diabetes, and 65% were overweight/obese. Multivariate-adjusted logical regression analyses indicated that blacks at risk for OSA were 66% more likely to receive an OSA diagnosis based on WatchPat AHI data (OR = 1.662, p &lt; 0.01). The model adjusted for age, sex, income, and education.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that blacks at risk for OSA at the community level have a significant likelihood of receiving an OSA diagnosis using home-based recordings.

Support

NIH Support (T32HL129953, RO1MD007716, K01HL135452 and K07AG052685).

1114 Urbanicity And The Sleep-mental Health Relationship

Introduction

Inadequate sleep has been found to be associated with poor mental health. This is especially true in low-income and minority populations, who are concentrated in cities. It is not understood to what degree living in a city vs. a rural environment affects sleep and resulting mental health outcomes. This study seeks to understand how living in an urban environment affects the relationship between inadequate sleep and mental health.

Methods

The study used data from the 2018 US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS,) a nationwide health dataset collected by telephone. Respondents were classified as living in either an urban or rural environment based on their zip code. Respondents reported hours of sleep per night and mental health status. This study classified mental health status based on whether the respondent reported one or more incidences of poor mental health in the previous 30 days.

Results

After filtration, 348,540 respondents were split into urban and rural groups. Binary logistic regression was run in each group to compare how much living in an urban environment contributed to the relationship between sleep duration and mental health. Sleep in the analysis was found to significantly contribute to both models; urban X2(15, N=295,796) = 11,485.70, p &lt;0.001 rural X2(15, N=52,744) = 2,465.64, p &lt;0.001. The estimated odds ratio resulted in a decrease of 13.9% [Exp(B) = 0.861] in reported poor mental health for every unit increase of sleep in the urban population, and decrease of 14.9% [Exp(B) = 0.851] in the rural population.

Conclusion

In urban and rural dwellers, sleep duration predicted poor mental health. Contrary to expectations, sleep was more strongly tied to mental health in rural than urban populations. This was true even after controlling for sex, income, and education level. Further research should seek to understand how environment affects sleep and mental health.

Support

This study was supported by funding from the NIH: R01MD007716, R01HL142066, R01AG056531, K01HL135452, and K07AG052685.

Nutritional geometry of mitochondrial genetic effects on male fertility

Organismal fitness is partly determined by how well the nutritional intake matches sex-specific metabolic requirements. Metabolism itself is underpinned by complex genomic interactions involving products from both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Products from these two genomes must coordinate how nutrients are extracted, used and recycled, processes vital for fuelling reproduction. Given the complicated nature of metabolism, it is not well understood how the functioning of these two genomes is modulated by nutrients. Here we use nutritional geometry techniques on Drosophila lines that only differ in their mtDNA, with the aim to understand if there is nutrient-dependent mitochondrial genetic variance for male reproduction. We first find genetic variance for diet consumption, indicating that flies are consuming different amounts of food to meet new physiological requirements. We then find an interaction between mtDNA and diet for fitness, suggesting that the mtDNA plays a role in modulating diet-dependent fitness. Our results enhance our basic understanding of nutritional health and our chimeric genomes.

Dry Rehydratable Film Method for Enumerating Confirmed Escherichia coli in Poultry, Meats, and Seafood: Collaborative Study

A rehydratable dry-film plating method for Escherichia coli, the Petrifilm E. coli/Coliform (EC) Count Plate in foods, has been compared with the AOAC INTERNATIONAL most probable number (MPN) method. Eleven laboratories participated in the collaborative study. Three E. coli levels in 8 samples each of frozen raw ground turkey, frozen raw ground beef, and frozen cooked fish were tested in duplicate. Mean log counts for the Petri film plate procedure were not significantly different from those for the MPN procedure for cooked fish samples inoculated with low or high inocula levels, for samples of raw turkey inoculated at medium level, and for beef inoculated at low, medium, and high levels. Repeatability and reproducibility vari ances of the Petrifilm EC Plate method recorded at 24 h were as good as or better than those of the MPN method. The dry rehydratable film method for enumerating confirmed E. coli in poultry, meats, and seafood has been adopted first action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL.

Association of human papilloma virus status and response to radiotherapy in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma develops through two separate pathways, associated with the presence or absence of high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV). The objective of this study was to evaluate treatment response and clinical outcomes in women with HPV-associated versus HPV-independent vulvar squamous cell carcinoma treated with primary radiation therapy, in order to determine the ability to use HPV status as a predictor of response to radiation therapy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study combining data from British Columbia Cancer, Canada and Duke University, USA. Patients were included who had been treated with radiation therapy but excluded if they had received major surgical interventions. Immunohistochemistry for p16 (as a surrogate for high-risk HPV infection) and p53 was performed. We analyzed the univariable association between p16 status and clinico-pathological features and performed univariable survival analysis for p16.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma treated with primary radiation therapy were identified: 26 p16 positive/HPV-associated patients and 22 p16 negative/HPV-independent patients. p16 positive vulvar squamous cell carcinoma demonstrated a significantly improved overall survival (HR 0.39, p=0.03) and progression-free survival (HR 0.35, p=0.02). In women treated with definitive radiation therapy, p16 positivity was associated with improved overall survival (HR 0.29, p<0.01) and progression-free survival (HR 0.21, p<0.01). Among patients who received sensitizing chemotherapy, a significant association was observed with p16 positive tumors and overall survival (HR 0.25, p=0.03) and progression-free survival (HR 0.09, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that HPV status in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma has both prognostic and predictive implications, with increased radiosensitivity demonstrated in HPV-associated vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Implications may include radiation dose de-escalation for HPV-associated vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and increased surgical aggressiveness for HPV-independent vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

Country Report: The Report of Transplant Activity and Outcome During the First 12 Months at the First National Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Center in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a developing country with a population of 21 million. Nation Cancer Institute (NCI) is the largest tertiary cancer centre with universal health coverage. Absence of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) was a major deficiency as most patients cannot afford transplant abroad. In 2013-14, NCI decided to establish the first National HSCT center in collaboration with St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney. Eventually, the first Autologous HSCT was established at NCI in December 2016. Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in very good partial remission or better remission, and patients with relapsed Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), who were less than 65 years with good performance status were selected. Stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and G-CSF and the products were cryopreserved. Melphalan was the conditioning regime for MM while BEAM was used for HL and NHL. Twenty autologous transplants were performed in the first year. Mean age was 47 years (range: 17-62) and male to female ratio was 3: 2. There were 17 MM and one each of NHL, HL and POEMS syndrome patients. Median CD34＋ stem cells collected was 12.72×106/kg (range: 3-31) and median infused cell dose was 4.07×106/kg (range: 2-7.4). Median engraftment day was 13 (range: 11-19) and median hospitalization was 16 days (range: 14-20). All developed febrile neutropenia and GradeⅢ thrombocytopenia. Zero transplant-related mortality was observed with acceptable morbidity. At the median follow-up of 47 weeks, the overall survival was 100% with all the patients still in remission.

A-21 Inhibition of Overlearned Verbal Responses and Quantity of Speech Among Age Cohorts

Objective

Off-topic speech (OTS) has been linked with deficits in executive functioning, and specifically inhibition. OTS research has focused primarily on tangentiality, whereas in this study we focused on quantity of speech. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between inhibition of overlearned responses using a Stroop task and quantity of speech.

Method

A college sample of young adults (n = 63; age 18-28) and healthy, community-dwelling older adults (n = 76; age 60-99) completed the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function Systems (D-KEFS) Color-Word Interference Test and provided a verbal sample in which they recounted a procedural memory and an episodic memory. These samples were transcribed and rated for quantity of speech by three independent judges.

Results

Among all participants, longer time to complete color naming (r = -.21, p = .02) and inhibition (r = -.21, p = .01) was associated with lower quantity of speech on procedural memory. Among young adults, longer time to complete inhibition was associated with lower quantity of speech (r = -.26, p = .04). Among older adults, longer time to complete color naming (r = -.32, p = .005), word reading (r = -.27, p = .02), and inhibition (r = -.35, p = .002) was associated with lower quantity of speech. No relationships were found between performance on Stroop conditions and quantity of speech for episodic memory.

Conclusions

Results suggest that among both age cohorts, difficulty inhibiting overlearned verbal responses is associated with lower quantity of speech regarding a procedural memory but not an episodic memory.