Utilising dynamic motor control index to identify age-related differences in neuromuscular control

PURPOSE

Considering the relationship between aging and neuromuscular control decline, early detection of age-related changes can ensure that timely interventions are implemented to attenuate or restore neuromuscular deficits. The dynamic motor control index (DMCI), a measure based on variance accounted for (VAF) by one muscle synergy (MS), is a metric used to assess age-related changes in neuromuscular control. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of one-synergy VAF, and consecutively DMCI, in assessing age-related changes in neuromuscular control over a range of exercises with varying difficulty.

METHODS

Thirty-one subjects walked on a flat and inclined treadmill, as well as performed forward and lateral stepping up tasks. Motion and muscular activity were recorded, and muscle synergy analysis was conducted using one-synergy VAF, DMCI, and number of synergies.

RESULTS

Difference between older and younger group was observed for one-synergy VAF, DMCI for forward stepping up task (one-synergy VAF difference of 2.45 (0.22, 4.68) and DMCI of 9.21 (0.81, 17.61), p = 0.033), but not for lateral stepping up or walking.

CONCLUSION

The use of VAF based metrics and specifically DMCI, rather than number of MS, in combination with stepping forward exercise can provide a low-cost and easy to implement approach for assessing neuromuscular control in clinical settings.

Plasma and rectal mucosal oxylipin levels during aspirin and eicosapentaenoic acid treatment in the seAFOod polyp prevention trial

BACKGROUND

Aspirin and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have colorectal polyp prevention activity, alone and in combination. This study measured levels of plasma and rectal mucosal oxylipins in participants of the seAFOod 2 × 2 factorial, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, who received aspirin 300 mg daily and EPA 2000 mg free fatty acid, alone and in combination, for 12 months.

METHODS

Resolvin (Rv) E1, 15-epi-lipoxin (LX) A₄ and respective precursors 18-HEPE and 15-HETE (with chiral separation) were measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in plasma taken at baseline, 6 months and 12 months, as well as rectal mucosa obtained at trial exit colonoscopy at 12 months, in 401 trial participants.

RESULTS

Despite detection of S- and R- enantiomers of 18-HEPE and 15-HETE in ng/ml concentrations, RvE1 or 15‑epi-LXA₄ were not detected above a limit of detection of 20 pg/ml in plasma or rectal mucosa, even in individuals randomised to both aspirin and EPA. We have confirmed in a large clinical trial cohort that prolonged (12 months) treatment with EPA is associated with increased plasma 18-HEPE concentrations (median [inter-quartile range] total 18-HEPE 0.51 [0.21-1.95] ng/ml at baseline versus 0.95 [0.46-4.06] ng/ml at 6 months [P<0.0001] in those randomised to EPA alone), which correlate strongly with respective rectal mucosal 18-HEPE levels (r = 0.82; P<0.001), but which do not predict polyp prevention efficacy by EPA or aspirin.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of seAFOod trial plasma and rectal mucosal samples has not provided evidence of synthesis of the EPA-derived specialised pro-resolving mediator RvE1 or aspirin-trigged lipoxin 15‑epi-LXA₄. We cannot rule out degradation of individual oxylipins during sample collection and storage but readily measurable precursor oxylipins argues against widespread degradation.

The psychedelic renaissance: the next trip for psychiatry?

The psychedelic research renaissance is gaining traction. Preliminary clinical studies of the hallucinogenic fungi, psilocybin, with psychological support, have indicated improvements in mood, anxiety and quality of life. A seminal, open-label study demonstrated marked reductions in depression symptoms in participants with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The associated neurobiological processes involve alterations in brain connectivity, together with altered amygdala and default mode network activity. At the cellular level, psychedelics promote synaptogenesis and neural plasticity. Prompted by the promising preliminary studies, a randomized, double-blind trial has recently been launched across Europe and North America to investigate the efficacy of psilocybin in TRD. One of these centres is based in Ireland - CHO Area 7 and Tallaght University Hospital. The outcome of this trial will determine whether psilocybin with psychological support will successfully translate into the psychiatric clinic for the benefit of patients.

Improved diagnostic accuracy for apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Introduction

The diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is contingent on demonstrating apical maximum wall thickness (MWT) of ≥15mm; the same threshold as other HCM subtypes. However, the myocardium naturally tapers towards the apex in healthy individuals, so ≥15mm MWT is proportionately higher in the apex than in naturally thicker basal segments. Using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), relative ApHCM has been described (typical ECG features, loss of apical tapering, cavity obliteration but hypertrophy &lt;15mm). Wall thickness measurement using machine learning now exceeds human performance.

Purpose

We aimed to redefine the optimal diagnostic threshold for ApHCM using segment-specific criteria based on a large cohort of healthy control subjects.

Methods

Segmental wall thickness was measured using healthy subjects from the UK Biobank using a clinically validated machine learning algorithm1,2. A normative reference range was established for all 16 segments, conditioned to body surface area (BSA), sex and age. Derived segment-specific wall thickness thresholds were used to define optimal disease thresholds for patients clinically managed with overt (MWT ≥15mm) and relative ApHCM (MWT &lt;15mm, but typical ECG and imaging findings).

Results

4118 UK biobank subjects were used to define normal segmental thicknesses and reference ranges. These were applied to ApHCM (73 overt, 31 relative). There were no apical wall thickness age related differences. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval corresponded to a combined maximum apical MWT for both males and females of 10.4mm using non-indexed measurement, or 5.6mm/m2 when indexed to BSA. Non-indexed segmental threshold identified 100% of ApHCM patients (true positives), 81% (25 of 31) relative ApHCM and 3% (115 of 4118) of healthy UK biobank subjects (false positives). Indexed segmental thresholds improved the diagnostic potential in relative ApHCM without an increase in false positives (100% of ApHCM patients, 84% (26 of 31) of relative ApHCM patients, and 3% healthy UK biobank (127 of 4118).

Conclusion

We propose new diagnostic criteria for ApHCM using segmental indexed apical wall thickness of &gt;5.6 mm/m2 to better identify inappropriate apical hypertrophy in those whose wall thickness does not meet current criteria for diagnosis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation

Asymmetric septal thickening is observed in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation carriers without left ventricular hypertrophy: insights from AI analysis

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Dr Hughes is supported by the British Heart Foundation (grant number FS/17/82/33222).

Background

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited cardiac disease characterised by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), often, with asymmetric septal thickening. Despite the prevalence of inherited mutations present in &gt;50% of cases, there is variable phenotypic expression in those with abnormal sarcomere protein genes. In individuals with abnormal genes but without LVH, we hypothesised that there is subtle asymmetric septal hypertrophy, detectable by the increased precision offered by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for measuring wall thickness.

Purpose

We explored the septal-lateral ratio measured by AI in individuals with an identified genotype but no left ventricular hypertrophy as a component of sub-clinical HCM.

Methods

43 individuals with identified genotype, but no left ventricular hypertrophy (G+LVH-) and 97 age-, sex- and disease-matched controls underwent CMR. Patients were excluded if they had a maximum wall thickness (MWT) of ≥13mm. A clinically validated AI tool was used to measure the MWT, for each segment in the 16-segment AHA model. The septal-lateral ratio was calculated using the septal segment with the largest MWT and the lateral segment with the largest MWT.

Results

The mean septal-lateral ratio of the G+LVH- patients was 1.22 (SD 0.22) and the mean septal-lateral ratio of the matched controls was 1.14 (SD 0.15) with a statistically significant mean difference of 0.08 (p=0.01). There was no significant difference between the MWT of the G+LVH- patients at 10.3mm (SD 2.2) and healthy volunteers at 10.1mm (SD 1.8) (p = 0.61).

Conclusion

G+LVH- patients have a 7% increase in their septal-lateral ratio compared with age-matched controls despite the lack of difference in the MWT. Using increased precision offered by AI, early features of HCM can be observed in patients without overt LVH.

Improving the diagnostic accuracy of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using machine learning

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Dr Hughes is supported by the British Heart Foundation (grant number FS/17/82/33222).

Introduction

The imaging criteria for diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is a maximum wall thickness (MWT) ≥15mm. CMR enables detection of subtle phenotypic features (e.g. loss of apical tapering, cavity obliteration) and coupled with characteristic electrocardiogram changes, ApHCM can be diagnosed without overt hypertrophy. However, these patients are not captured by current diagnostic criteria.

Purpose

We sought to use a machine learning tool to quantify wall thickness and identify patients with ‘relative’ ApHCM that do not reach current diagnostic thresholds.

Methods

CMR images from 4118 healthy participants from the UK Biobank were segmented automatically with a clinically validated machine learning algorithm and wall thickness measured at all point in the myocardium by solving a solution to Laplace’s equation. MWT were pooled into 16 AHA segments and indexed to body surface area (BSA). The non-indexed and indexed segmental upper limit of normal was calculated as the mean + 3 standard deviations (the equivalent of 95% confidence interval after correcting for multiple [16] comparisons using the Bonferroni method).

Results

73 overt ApHCM subjects (MWT&gt;15mm) and 31 relative ApHCM subjects underwent CMR scanning. In healthy controls, the non-indexed (and indexed) upper limits were calculated for the apical-anterior 10.2mm (5.2 mm/m2), apical-septal 11.1mm (5.6 mm/m2), apical-inferior 10.5mm (5.3 mm/m2) and apical-lateral 10.1mm (5.2 mm/m2) segments. With a non-indexed cut-off, all (73 of 73) overt ApHCM and 84% (26 of 31) relative ApHCM were classified as having an abnormally thick apex. 3% (127 of 4118) of the healthy UK Biobank cohort were classified as abnormal, as expected. Using an indexed cut-off, all overt ApHCM and 87% (27/31) relative ApHCM were classified as abnormal, and 3% (123 of 4118) of the healthy UK Biobank cohort were misclassified.

Conclusion

We can successfully classify 87% of relative ApHCM patients from a normative reference range derived from a large cohort of healthy patients – a significant improvement on existing methods. We show that the specificity and sensitivity is increased when MWT is indexed to BSA. For practical clinical application, we recommend a cut-off of 10mm or an indexed cut-off of 5mm/m2 in any apical segment to diagnose apical LVH. Overt and relative apical HCM examplesHealthy controls AHA maps (non-indexed)

The National Audit of Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) in the United Kingdom: Defining the Audit Dataset and Data Collection System

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a debilitating chronic liver disease that progresses to cirrhosis with attendant complications in a substantial proportion of patients. It is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in the United Kingdom (UK). The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) published guidelines on PBC management, which included key audit standards. Therefore, we propose the first UK-wide audit of the management of PBC, sanctioned by the BSG and the British Association for Study of the Liver (BASL), to benchmark NHS trusts and health boards against these audit standards as a guide to targeted improvement in the delivery of PBC-related health care.

A Mixed Methods Study Examining Citizenship Among Youth With Mental Health Challenges

Introduction

Multiple stakeholders have recently called for greater research on the barriers to citizenship and community belonging faced by people with mental health challenges. Citizenship has been defined as a person's access to the rights, roles, responsibilities, resources and relationships that help people feel a sense of belonging. Factors that may impact citizenship include financial precarity; intersecting forms of marginalization and oppression (e.g., racism); and the mental health care people receive. Research has yet to examine experiences of citizenship among youth with mental health challenges. To address this gap, this study will examine how youth experience citizenship; predictors of citizenship; how citizenship shapes recovery; and the degree to which youth are receiving citizenship-oriented care.

Methods

The research objectives will be evaluated using a multiphase mixed methods research design. Quantitative data will be collected cross-sectionally using validated self-report questionnaires. Qualitative data will be collected using a hermeneutic phenomenological method using semi-structured interviews and focus groups.

Analyses

Multiple stepwise regression analyses will be used to determine predictors of citizenship and if of citizenship predict recovery. Pearson correlations will be computed to determine the relationship between participants' perceived desire for, and receipt of citizenship-oriented care. Phenomenological analysis will be used to analyze qualitative data. Findings will then be mixed using a weaving method in the final paper discussion section.

Conclusion

Findings from this study may support the development of citizenship-oriented healthcare in Canada.

Cryptosporidium spp. in groundwater supplies intended for human consumption - A descriptive review of global prevalence, risk factors and knowledge gaps

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the leading causes of diarrhoeal illness and mortality induced by protozoan pathogens worldwide. As a largely waterborne disease, emphasis has been given to the study of Cryptosporidium spp. in surface waters, readily susceptible to pathogenic contamination. Conversely, the status of Cryptosporidium in potable groundwater sources, generally regarded as a pristine and "safe" drinking-water supply owing to (sub)-soil protection, remains largely unknown. As such, this investigation presents the first literature review aimed to ascertain the global prevalence of Cryptosporidium in groundwater supply sources intended for human consumption. Thirty-seven peer-reviewed studies were identified and included in the review. Groundwater sample and supply detection rates (estimated 10-20%) indicate Cryptosporidium is frequently present in domestic groundwater sources, representing a latent health concern for groundwater consumers. Specifically, sample (10.4%) and source (19.1%) detection rates deriving from comprehensive "temporal" investigations are put forward as representative of a contamination 'baseline' for Cryptosporidium in 'domestic' groundwater supplies. Proposed 'baseline' prevalence figures are largely applicable in preventive risk-based catchment and groundwater quality management including the formulation of Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA). Notwithstanding, a large geographical disparity in available investigations and lack of standardized reporting restrict the transferability of research findings. Overall, the mechanisms responsible for Cryptosporidium transport and ingress into groundwater supplies remain ambiguous, representing a critical knowledge gap, and denoting a distinctive lack of integration between groundwater and public-health sub-disciplines among investigations. Key recommendations and guidelines are provided for prospective studies directed at more integrative and multi-disciplinary research.

0686 Diabetes Sleep Treatment Trial: The Effect Of Treatment Of OSA With CPAP On Glycemic Control In Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction

Evidence remains unclear whether treatment of OSA with CPAP results in improved glycemic control. This study evaluated if CPAP improved glucose control compared to sham-CPAP and the effect of adherence to active CPAP on glucose control after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment.

Methods

This was a multi-center, double-blind clinical trial. Participants were adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), A1C≥6.5%, apnea + hypopnea index (AHI)≥10, and naïve to CPAP. All participants received diabetes education. Glucose control was evaluated with frucostamine and A1C levels; CPAP adherence with a wireless modem system. Statistical analysis followed an “intent-to-treat” approach with linear mixed modeling. The dose of active CPAP was calculated as the percentage of days with active CPAP use≥4 hours and the average adherence of active CPAP with sham coded as “0”dose”.

Results

Randomized participants (N=98, CPAP=50; sham-CPAP=48) were primarily middle-aged (age=58.7±9.8 years), White (75%), males (57%) obese (BMI=36.2±6.6), suboptimal glucose control (A1C=7.9%±0.9) and OSA (AHI=23.9±14.4). There were no significant baseline differences except in A1C (Active CPAP=7.7%±0.8; sham-CPAP=8.1%±1.0). There was no significant difference in use of their devices at 6 or 12 weeks. Based on linear mixed modeling, participants on active CPAP had improved A1C (b (SE): -.76 (.24), P&lt;.01) and frucostamine (-21.8 (10.5), P=.04) at 6 weeks with A1C trending to significance at 12 weeks (p=0.10). Both the % of cumulative days of active CPAP usage (≥4 hours/day) (.002 (.003), P=.09) and cumulative hours of active CPAP use (.03 (.03), P=.08) showed a trend being associated with greater change in A1C but not in frucostamine (P=.61, P=.51). The rate of change in A1C varied by time, increasing the % of cumulative days of CPAP use (≥4 hours/day) at week 6 predicted greater change in A1C (.006 (.002), P=.01) than week 12 (.002 (.003), P=.38). Higher average hours of CPAP usage were associated with greater change in A1C (.08 (.03), P=.01) at week 6 compared to week 12 (.03 (.03), P=.47).

Conclusion

In our study, individuals with T2D and OSA, adherence to active CPAP use improved glycemic control over 6 weeks.

Support

NIDDK grant R01DK096028; CTRI grant UL1TR001857 and UL1TR000005.

The Maudsley Early Onset Schizophrenia Study: The effect of age of onset and illness duration on fronto-parietal gray matter

Objective

In Early Onset Schizophrenia (EOS; onset before the 18th birthday) late brain maturational changes may interact with disease mechanisms leading to a wave of back to front structural changes during adolescence. To further explore this effect we examined the relationship between age of onset and duration of illness on brain morphology in adolescents with EOS.

Subjects and methods

Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from 40 adolescents with EOS. We used Voxel Based Morphometry and multiple regressions analyses, implemented in SPM, to examine the relationship between gray matter volume with age of onset and illness duration.

Results

Age of onset showed a positive correlation with regional gray matter volume in the right superior parietal lobule (Brodmann Area 7). Duration of illness was inversely related to regional gray matter volume in the left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 11/47).

Conclusions

Parietal gray matter loss may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia while orbitofrontal gray matter loss is associated with illness duration.

Do Academic Medical Centers Disproportionately Benefit The Sickest Patients?

Academic medical centers are widely considered to have higher costs than nonteaching hospitals, which has led some policy makers to suggest that the centers should be reserved for patients with the most complex conditions. While prior studies have shown lower mortality at the centers, it is unclear how this varies by patient severity. We examined more than 11.8 million hospitalizations in the period 2012-14 for Medicare beneficiaries ages sixty-five and older and found that, after adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics, high-severity patients had 7 percent lower odds, medium-severity patients had 13 percent lower odds, and low-severity patients had 17 percent lower odds of thirty-day mortality when treated at an academic medical center for common medical conditions, compared to similar patients treated at a nonteaching hospital. For surgical procedures, high-severity patients had 17 percent lower odds of mortality, medium-severity patients had 10 percent lower odds, and there was no difference for low-severity patients. The availability of technology explained some, but not all, of these differences. Taken together, these findings suggest that efforts to limit care at academic medical centers have the potential to lead to worse outcomes, as mortality rates for even low-severity patients seem to be lower at the centers.

Patient acceptable symptom state in scleroderma: results from the tocilizumab compared with placebo trial in active diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis

Objectives

Patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) as an absolute state of well-being has shown promise as an outcome measure in many rheumatologic conditions. We aimed to assess whether PASS may be effective in active diffuse cutaneous SSc differentiating active from placebo.

Methods

Data from the phase 2 Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Tocilizumab in Adults with Systemic Sclerosis (faSScinate) trial were used, which compared tocilizumab (TCZ) vs placebo over 48 weeks followed by an open-label TCZ period to 96 weeks. Three different types of PASS questions were evaluated at weeks 8, 24, 48 and 96, including if a current state would be acceptable over time as a yes vs no response and Likert scales about how acceptable a current state is if remaining over time. Additional outcomes assessed included modified Rodnan skin score, HAQ disability index (HAQ-DI), physician and patient global assessments on a visual analogue scale, CRP and ESR.

Results

The placebo group consisted of 44 patients and the TCZ group had 43 patients. At baseline, 33% achieved a PASS for all three PASS questions, with the proportion increasing to 69, 71 and 78%, respectively, at 96 weeks. Changes in PASS scores showed a moderately negative correlation with HAQ-DI and patient and physician global assessments visual analogue scales, which indicates expected improvements as PASS improved. The PASS question, 'Considering all of the ways your scleroderma has affected you, how acceptable would you rate your level of symptoms?' showed significant correlations with patient-reported outcomes and differentiating placebo vs TCZ at 48 weeks (P = 0.023).

Conclusion

PASS may be used as a patient-centred outcome in SSc, especially as a 7-point Likert scale. Further validation is required to determine the utility as an outcome measure in trials and clinical practice.

Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous tocilizumab in systemic sclerosis: results from the open-label period of a phase II randomised controlled trial (faSScinate)

Objectives

Assess the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a phase II study.

Methods

Patients with SSc were treated for 48 weeks in an open-label extension phase of the faSScinate study with weekly 162 mg subcutaneous tocilizumab. Exploratory end points included modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) and per cent predicted forced vital capacity (%pFVC) through week 96.

Results

Overall, 24/44 (55%) placebo-tocilizumab and 27/43 (63%) continuous-tocilizumab patients completed week 96. Observed mean (SD (95% CI)) change from baseline in mRSS was –3.1 (6.3 (–5.4 to –0.9)) for placebo and –5.6 (9.1 (–8.9 to–2.4)) for tocilizumab at week 48 and –9.4 (5.6 (–8.9 to –2.4)) for placebo-tocilizumab and –9.1 (8.7 (–12.5 to –5.6)) for continuous-tocilizumab at week 96. Of patients who completed week 96, any decline in %pFVC was observed for 10/24 (42% (95% CI 22% to 63%)) placebo-tocilizumab and 12/26 (46% (95% CI 27% to 67%)) continuous-tocilizumab patients in the open-label period; no patients had >10% absolute decline in %pFVC. Serious infection rates/100 patient-years (95% CI) were 10.9 (3.0 to 27.9) with placebo and 34.8 (18.0 to 60.8) with tocilizumab during the double-blind period by week 48 and 19.6 (7.2 to 42.7) with placebo-tocilizumab and 0.0 (0.0 to 12.2) with continuous-tocilizumab during the open-label period.

Conclusions

Skin score improvement and FVC stabilisation in the double-blind period were observed in placebo-treated patients who transitioned to tocilizumab and were maintained in the open-label period. Safety data indicated increased serious infections in patients with SSc but no new safety signals with tocilizumab.

Trial registration number

NCT01532869; Results.

Facilitating anaplastic thyroid cancer specialized treatment: A model for improving access to multidisciplinary care for patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a highly aggressive thyroid cancer. Several treatment trials are available, but the number of eligible patients to participate is very low because of the rarity and aggressiveness of the disease.

METHODS

Facilitating Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Specialized Treatment (FAST) is a quality improvement project aimed at decreasing time from referral to disposition (scheduling of first appointment) to our institution. After identifying reasons for delays, we created a new process flow specifically for patients with ATC allowing patients to be scheduled immediately.

RESULTS

Historical data revealed a mean referral to disposition time for patients with ATC of 8.7 days before our intervention. After the intervention, the mean referral to disposition time was reduced to 0.5 days. Participation in treatment trials for all patients with ATC was 34%.

CONCLUSION

Since the implementation of FAST, the access time has decreased and the number of successful referrals for ATC has increased significantly.

A regional analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutated lung cancer for HSE South

BACKGROUND

EGFR mutated lung cancer represents a subgroup with distinct clinical presentations, prognosis, and management requirements. We investigated the survival, prognostic factors, and real-world treatment of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation in clinical practice.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all specimens sent for EGFR analysis from December 2009 to September 2015 was performed. Patient demographics, specimen type, EGFR mutation status/type, stage at diagnosis, treatment, response rate, and survival data were recorded.

RESULTS

27/334 (8%) patient specimens sent for EGFR testing tested positive for a sensitising EGFR mutation. The median age was 65 years (40-85 years). Exon 19 deletion represented the most commonly detected alteration, accounting for 39% (n = 11). First-line treatment for those with Exon 18, 19, or 21 alterations (n = 24) was with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in 79% (n = 19). Objective response rate among these patients was 74% and median duration of response was 13 months (range 7-35 months).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of EGFR mutation in our cohort of NSCLC is 9% which is consistent with mutation incidence reported in other countries. The rate of EGFR mutation in our population is slightly below that reported internationally, but treatment outcomes are consistent with published data. Real-world patient data have important contributions to make with regard to quality measurement, incorporating patient experience into guidelines and identifying safety signals.

Abstract 2755: Germline copy number variations in melanoma families with/without CDKN2A/CDK4 mutations

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is an etiologically heterogeneous disease with genetic, host, environmental factors, and their interactions contributing to its development. CDKN2A and CDK4 are the two established major susceptibility genes for melanoma identified so far. Recent evidence suggests that copy number variations (CNVs) may contribute to disease susceptibility in several inherited diseases including cancer. The goals of this study were 1) to assess whether the frequency of CNVs varied by CMM or CDKN2A/CDK4 mutation status; and 2) to identify rare CNVs that were related to melanoma predisposition in these high-risk families. We used genome-wide tiling CGH arrays (Nimblegen 720K exon-focused) to investigate characteristics of CNVs in 174 CMM cases, 44 high-risk unaffected family members (with dysplastic nevi/large number of moles or germline CDKN2A mutations), and 48 unrelated spouses from 50 American melanoma-prone families (21 CDKN2A+, 2 CDK4+, 27 mutation negative). We used the Nexus Copy Number™ built-in FASST2 algorithm to identify significant CNVs (significant threshold = 0.000001; minimal number of probes per segment = 5; log2 ratio&gt;0.3 for gains and -0.3 for losses). We found that the median number of total CNVs, or gains or losses separately, did not show significant differences in CMM cases, high-risk unaffected family members, and unrelated controls. Among CMM cases, CNV frequencies were not significantly associated with germline CDKN2A/CDK4 mutation status, age at melanoma diagnosis, or number of melanomas. Similar results were obtained when number of genes and lengths of DNA segments affected by CNVs were analyzed. Restriction to large CNVs (&gt;10 kb or &gt;100 kb) or rare CNVs (not reported in the Toronto CNV database) did not change results significantly. On the other hand, we identified several rare large CNVs (&gt;10 kb, not reported in unrelated controls) that either involved known melanoma genes or co-segregated with melanoma (observed in multiple CMM cases) within families. These included a 1.3Mb deletion in PARP1 in a single CMM case, a 10 kb deletion in CDKN2A in 4 of 5 CMM cases and two obligate gene carriers in a large family that was negative for CDKN2A mutations by sequencing, a 175 kb deletion in LINGO2 in 2 of 3 CMM cases in one family, a 10 kb deletion in 8q24 in 3 of 4 CMM cases in one family, a 110 kb deletion in 2q22.1 in all three cases in a family, and a 57 kb duplication in 4q32.2 in all five cases in a CDKN2A mutation positive family. The role of these CNVs, particularly those involving genes that have unknown function related to CMM development, in CMM susceptibility remain to be investigated.

Citation Format: Xiaohong (Rose) Yang, Jianxin Shi, Hunter Bennett, Laura Burke, Casey Dagnall, Laurie Burdette, Belynda Hicks, Margaret Tucker, Alisa Goldstein. Germline copy number variations in melanoma families with/without CDKN2A/CDK4 mutations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2755. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2755

Continuity of care: A program for multidisciplinary post-treatment surveillance after definitive treatment for head and neck cancer

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Background: Patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) are treated with a combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. With the epidemic of HPV-related oropharynx cancers, patients are younger and healthier; they will require routine surveillance and management of long-term toxicity for many years. There is little data on optimal follow-up and significant duplication of efforts with multiple appointments. Our goal was to create a multidisciplinary post-treatment surveillance program for patients with HNC treated with organ preservation to standardize their evaluation, decompress clinics, reduce duplication of testing, and improve patient satisfaction. Methods: A consensus schema to standardize follow-up was created, consistent with the institutional practice and NCCN guidelines. All services agreed to standardized testing with a rotation between the treating physicians for each follow-up. For the first year, testing occurred at 8 weeks and then every 3 months; for the second year, it occurred every 4 months. Deemed the Continuity of Care (COC) program, patients were identified at the time of tumor board, labeled as eligible at treatment initiation, and followed per its rules on completion. Results: A total of 360 new patients were identified that were eligible for follow-up on COC. In total, 237 (65%) of them had been treated at MD Anderson and reached or surpassed their 3 month follow-up visit. Of these, 209 patients (88%) were following the pathway. Overall, compliance with the pathway has been stable, and follow-up clinics have been streamlined for patients and providers. A 28% reduction in appointment duplications within 3 months of the past appointment has been measured. Conclusions: A model program for surveillance after treatment for HNC was designed and implemented. Patients enrolled had standardized testing and streamlined follow-up appointments during the first two years of surveillance, resulting in a significant decrease in appointment duplication. In addition, significant data was collected in this cohort, allowing for future studies of the optimal utilization of imaging, outcomes, and best practices for this growing group of patients.

Increasing the accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT interpretation of "mildly positive" mediastinal nodes in the staging of non-small cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to identify radiological factors that may reduce false-positive results and increase diagnostic accuracy when staging the mediastinum of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

METHODS

This was a retrospective, interdisciplinary, per-node analysis study. We included patients with NSCLC and mediastinal nodes with an SUV max in the range of 2.5-4.0 on PET-CT. We hypothesized that the greatest number of false positive cases would occur in this cohort of patients.

RESULTS

A total of 92 mediastinal lymph nodes were analyzed in 44 patients. Mediastinal disease (N2/N3) was histologically confirmed in 15 of 44 patients and in 34 of 92 lymph nodes; positive predictive value of 37% and false positive rate of 63%. Lymph node SUV max, tumor size, ratio of node SUV max to tumor SUV max (SUVn/SUVp), and ratio of node SUV max to node size (SUV n/SADn) were significantly higher in true positive cases. Using a threshold of 0.3 for SUV node/tumor and 3 for SUV node/size yielded sensitivities of 91% and 71% and specificities of 71% and 69% respectively for the detection of mediastinal disease. Using both ratios in combination resulted in a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 88%. Concurrent benign lung disease was observed significantly more frequently in false-positive cases.

CONCLUSION

SUVn/SUVpt and SUVn/SADn may be complimentary to conventional visual interpretation and SUV max measurement in the assessment of mediastinal disease in patients with NSCLC.

Abstract 2553: Characterization of rare germline variants in somatically mutated melanoma genes in melanoma-prone families

CDKN2A and CDK4 are the two major susceptibility genes for melanoma identified so far. However, these two genes only account for melanoma susceptibility in a small proportion of melanoma-prone families, suggesting the existence of other susceptibility genes. In addition, melanoma is among the tumors with the highest mutation rate and a large number of mutated genes have been identified that affect multiple key biological pathways. The goal of this study is to examine whether rare germline sequence variants and/or copy number variations (CNVs) in these genes may influence melanoma risk in melanoma-prone families without known CDKN2A/CDK4 mutations. Methods: We conducted exome sequencing in blood-derived DNA in 75 melanoma cases from 23 American melanoma families with ≥3 affected members. We evaluated rare non-synonymous variants, defined as allele frequency less than 0.1% reported in public databases (dbSNP, 1000 Genomes, or NHLBI's Exome Variant Server), in 37 genes (including BRAF, NRAS, KIT,PTEN, CDKN2A, GRIN2A, etc.) that are frequently mutated in melanoma. We also screened CNVs in these genes using data from the Nimblegen 3x720k exon-focused CGH tiling arrays, in which blood-derived DNA from 79 melanoma cases and 25 spouses were analyzed in the same mutation-negative families. We used the Nexus Copy Number™ built-in FASST2 algorithm to identify significant CNVs (significant threshold=0.000001; minimal number of probes per segment=5; log2 ratio&gt;0.3 for gains and -0.3 for losses). Results: We identified 10 rare variants in 10 genes that showed partial/complete co-segregation with disease and were absent in our internal controls (N∼400). Four of these variants occurred in all cases within their respective families and 3 of them were novel. We did not identify any disease-related CNVs in these genes except for a deletion in exon 1β of CDKN2A/ p14ARF in 6 out of 7 melanoma cases in one big family. Our findings suggest that rare variants in somatically mutated genes may confer susceptibility to melanoma risk in a subset of families. However, these variants need to be validated, checked for functional relevance, and evaluated in a large number of cases and controls to determine their role in disease susceptibility.

Citation Format: Xiaohong (Rose) Yang, Laura Burke, Kevin Jacobs, Michael Cullen, Joseph Boland, Laurie Burdett, Michael Malasky, Melissa Rotunno, Meredith Yeager, Stephen Chanock, Margaret Tucker, Alisa Goldstein. Characterization of rare germline variants in somatically mutated melanoma genes in melanoma-prone families. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2553. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2553

Sustainability of a physical activity and nutrition program for seniors

OBJECTIVE

This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the impact of a low cost, home-based physical activity and nutrition program for older adults at 6 months follow-up.

DESIGN

A follow-up survey was conducted 6 months after program completion via computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Fat and Fibre Barometer were used to measure physical activity levels and dietary behaviours, respectively. Self-reported height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were obtained. Changes over three time points of data collection (baseline, post-program, follow-up) and differences between the intervention and control groups were assessed. The use of program materials was also evaluated.

SETTING

Community and home-based.

PARTICIPANTS

Insufficiently active 60 to 70 year olds (n = 176, intervention and n = 198, control) residing in suburbs within the Perth metropolitan area.

RESULTS

A sustained improvement was observed for the intervention group in terms of fat avoidance behaviours (p interaction = .007). Significant improvements were found for strength exercises, fibre intake, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio at either post-program or follow-up, however the overall effect was not significant. At post-program, the intervention group increased time spent participating in moderate activity by 50 minutes (p > .05), which was followed by a significant decline at follow-up (p < .05). Among intervention group participants, males and females differed with respect to strength exercises and moderate physical activity.

CONCLUSION

This low-cost physical activity and nutrition intervention resulted in a sustained improvement in fat avoidance behaviours and overall short-term gains in physical activity. Future studies for older adults are recommended to investigate gender-specific behavioural barriers as well as booster interventions which focus on physical activity.

On the interplay of telomeres, nevi and the risk of melanoma

The relationship between telomeres, nevi and melanoma is complex. Shorter telomeres have been found to be associated with many cancers and with number of nevi, a known risk factor for melanoma. However, shorter telomeres have also been found to decrease melanoma risk. We performed a systematic analysis of telomere-related genes and tagSNPs within these genes, in relation to the risk of melanoma, dysplastic nevi, and nevus count combining data from four studies conducted in Italy. In addition, we examined whether telomere length measured in peripheral blood leukocytes is related to the risk of melanoma, dysplastic nevi, number of nevi, or telomere-related SNPs. A total of 796 cases and 770 controls were genotyped for 517 SNPs in 39 telomere-related genes genotyped with a custom-made array. Replication of the top SNPs was conducted in two American populations consisting of 488 subjects from 53 melanoma-prone families and 1,086 cases and 1,024 controls from a case-control study. We estimated odds ratios for associations with SNPs and combined SNP P-values to compute gene region-specific, functional group-specific, and overall P-value using an adaptive rank-truncated product algorithm. In the Mediterranean population, we found suggestive evidence that RECQL4, a gene involved in genome stability, RTEL1, a gene regulating telomere elongation, and TERF2, a gene implicated in the protection of telomeres, were associated with melanoma, the presence of dysplastic nevi and number of nevi, respectively. However, these associations were not found in the American samples, suggesting variable melanoma susceptibility for these genes across populations or chance findings in our discovery sample. Larger studies across different populations are necessary to clarify these associations.

Matching physician resources with demand in a cancer hospital emergency center

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Background: In early 2010 the Emergency Center (EC) at MD Anderson Cancer Center identified a need to adjust the physician staffing to better meet the demand of increasing patient work-load and improve physician satisfaction. There was also a strong interest in learning more about variations in work methods and how physician time was spent in the EC. Methods: The EC partnered with the Office of Performance Improvement (OPI) to perform a work sampling study and analyze how physicians’ time is spent by physician, time of day, and day of week. Also needed to properly match resources to demand was how the patient demand varied with time of day and day of week. Before the study was performed the tasks and categories of interest were established and training as well as a measurement study to ensure consistency from one data collector to another. A sampling plan and method were then developed to identify and record the frequency of tasks performed to be studied by shift, day, and physician. Patient data was collected through the internal computerized whiteboard to identify patient arrivals and occupancy. Results: The results showed the variation in tasks performed was most highly attributable to the individual physician rather than time of day and day of week. Percentages of the shifts were calculated, summarized, and presented to the EC leadership. This data was then combined with the patient volumes data in an interactive spreadsheet to simulate different scheduling patterns and provide recommendations to best match resources with workload. Conclusions: The project provided a valuable resource to contribute to identifying the best scheduling pattern for the EC including start times and shift length. The results have been further used to strive towards inter-physician consistency over the past two years and have led to additional studies and opportunities for improvement. By using a data based methods, even for qualitative studies, important process understanding and opportunities are available which can help break through barriers and improve data based decision making in health care.

The revolving door between hospital and community: extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in Dublin

BACKGROUND

Escherichia coli that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are an increasing cause of healthcare-associated infection, and community healthcare facilities may be a reservoir for important epidemic clones.

AIM

To characterize retrospectively and investigate the epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli collected in a Dublin hospital, during 2009 and 2010, and to investigate the dissemination of specific clones within hospital and community healthcare facilities.

METHODS

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to determine the genetic relatedness of 100 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates. Phylogenetic groups were determined and the O25b-ST131 clone identified in the collection. The genetic data were correlated with antimicrobial susceptibility, clinical and demographic data to explore the epidemiology of specific clones.

FINDINGS

Phylogenetic groups B2 (62%) and D (18%) were the most common and were associated with non-urinary isolates (P<0.0001 by Fisher's exact test). PFGE revealed 12 clusters (≥ 80% similarity), the largest of which clustered with the epidemic UK strain A. Residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in the community exclusively carried the O25b-ST131 clone and phylogenetic groups B2 and D.

CONCLUSIONS

E. coli O25b-ST131 is largely responsible for ESBL-producing E. coli in LTCFs in Dublin. The distribution of ESBL-producing E. coli in our hospital and community highlights a 'revolving door' through which these resistant bacteria spread and disseminate.

Emergency department utilization after the implementation of Massachusetts health reform

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Health care reform in Massachusetts improved access to health insurance, but the extent to which reform affected utilization of the emergency department (ED) for conditions potentially amenable to primary care is unclear. Our objective is to determine the relationship between health reform and ED use for low-severity conditions.

METHODS

We studied ED visits, using a convenience sample of 11 Massachusetts hospitals for identical 9-month periods before and after health care reform legislation was implemented in 2006. Individuals most affected by the health reform law (the uninsured and low-income populations covered by the publicly subsidized insurance products) were compared with individuals unlikely to be affected by the legislation (those with Medicare or private insurance). Our main outcome measure was the rate of overall and low-severity ED visits for the study population and the comparison population during the period before and after health reform implementation.

RESULTS

Total visits increased from 424,878 in 2006 to 442,102 in 2008. Low-severity visits among publicly subsidized or uninsured patients decreased from 43.8% to 41.2% of total visits for that group (difference=2.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.25% to 2.85%), whereas low-severity visits for privately insured and Medicare patients decreased from 35.7% to 34.9% of total visits for that group (difference=0.8%; 95% CI 0.62% to 0.98%), for a difference in differences of 1.8% (95% CI 1.7% to 1.9%).

CONCLUSION

Although overall ED volume continues to increase, Massachusetts health reform was associated with a small but statistically significant decrease in the rate of low-severity visits for those populations most affected by health reform compared with a comparison population of individuals less likely to be affected by the reform. Our findings suggest that access to health insurance is only one of a multitude of factors affecting utilization of the ED.