Effect of bromhexine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Bromhexine is a potent inhibitor of transmembrane serine protease 2 and appears to have an antiviral effect in controlling influenza and parainfluenza infection; however, its efficacy in COVID-19 is controversial.

METHODS

A group of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were randomized using 1:1 allocation to either standard treatment lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon beta-1a or bromhexine 8 mg four times a day in addition to standard therapy. The primary outcome was clinical improvement within 28 days, and the secondary outcome measures were time to hospital discharge, all-cause mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, the temporal trend in 2019-nCoV reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction positivity and the frequency of adverse drug events within 28 days from the start of medication.

RESULTS

A total of 111 patients were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial and data from 100 patients (48 patients in the treatment arm and 52 patients in the control arm) were analyzed. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of this study, which was clinical improvement. There was no significant difference in the average time to hospital discharge between the two arms. There were also no differences observed in the mean intensive care unit stay, frequency of intermittent mandatory ventilation, duration of supplemental oxygenation or risk of death by day 28 noted between the two arms.

CONCLUSION

Bromhexine is not an effective treatment for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The potential prevention benefits of bromhexine in asymptomatic postexposure or with mild infection managed in the community remain to be determined.

Mediation Analysis of Maternal Smoking, Gestational Age, and Birth Weight on the Texas-Mexico Border

OBJECTIVES

Published data on the indirect effect of maternal smoking on birth weight as mediated by gestational age in Hispanic populations are lacking. Our goal was to conduct such a mediation analysis using data from El Paso County, Texas.

METHODS

El Paso County is located on the US-Mexico border. A simple mediation analysis was conducted using year 2010 El Paso County birth certificate data. The SAS macro PROCESS 3.5.3 was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects of active maternal smoking (by trimester) on birth weight (in grams) in the setting of linear regression. The single mediator was gestational age in weeks. A direct or indirect effect was deemed to be present if the 95% confidence limits (CLs) excluded 0. Analyses were adjusted for multiple variables, including maternal prepregnancy body mass index. The indirect effect was reported along with a 95% bootstrap CL.

RESULTS

A total of 16,654 singleton births were included in the cohort. The majority of the mothers were White Hispanic (87.2%). The mean (standard deviation) birth weight was 3198.6 g (517.2). A direct effect of maternal smoking during each trimester on birth weight was detected. An indirect effect of maternal smoking on birth weight was not detected in any of the trimesters. In adjusted analyses for the third trimester, the indirect effect for every 1-U increase in the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was -4.18 (95% bootstrap CL -10.64 to 1.99).

CONCLUSIONS

In our large, predominantly Hispanic cohort, it appears that gestational age is not a mediator of the effect of maternal smoking on birth weight. Future studies in our population should explore other possible mediators of this association.

Sex and diet-dependent gene alterations in human and rat brains with a history of nicotine exposure

Introduction

Chronic nicotine exposure induces changes in the expression of key regulatory genes associated with metabolic function and neuronal alterations in the brain. Many bioregulatory genes have been associated with exposure to nicotine, but the modulating effects of sex and diet on gene expression in nicotine-exposed brains have been largely unexplored. Both humans and rodents display motivation for nicotine use and the emergence of withdrawal symptoms during abstinence. Research comparing pre-clinical models with human subjects provides an important opportunity to understand common biomarkers of the harmful effects of nicotine as well as information that may help guide the development of more effective interventions for nicotine cessation.

Methods

Human postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dLPFC) tissue BA9 was collected from female and male subjects, smokers and non-smokers (N = 12 per group). Rat frontal lobes were collected from female and male rats that received a regular diet (RD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) (N = 12 per group) for 14 days following implantation of a osmotic mini-pump (Alzet) that delivered nicotine continuously. Controls (control-s) received a sham surgical procedure. RNA was extracted from tissue from human and rat samples and reversed-transcribed to cDNA. Gene expression of CHRNA10 (Cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 10), CERKL (Ceramide Kinase-Like), SMYD1 (SET and MYD Domin Containing 1), and FA2H (Fatty Acid 2-Hydrolase) in humans was compared to rats in each subset of groups and quantified by qPCR methods. Additionally, protein expression of FA2H was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in human dLPFC.

Results

Humans with a history of smoking displayed decreased CHRNA10 (p = 0.0005), CERKL (p ≤ 0.0001), and SMYD1 (p = 0.0005) expression and increased FA2H (p = 0.0097) expression compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05). Similar patterns of results were observed in nicotine exposed vs. control rats. Interestingly, sex-related differences in gene expression for CERKL and FA2H were observed. In addition, ANCOVA analysis showed a significant effect of nicotine in a sex-different manner, including an increase in CERKL in male and female rats with RD or HFD. In rats exposed to an HFD, FA2H gene expression was lower in nicotine-treated rats compared to RD rats treated with nicotine. Protein expression of FA2H (p = 0.001) by IHC was significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers.

Conclusion

These results suggest that a history of long-term nicotine exposure in humans alters the expression of sphingolipid metabolism-related (CERKL, SMYD1, and FA2H) and neuronal (CHRNA10) marker genes similarly as compared to rats. Sex- and diet-dependent differences appear in nicotine-exposed rats, critical in regulating sphingolipid metabolism and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This research enhances the construct validity of rat models of nicotine usage by showing a similar pattern of changes in gene expression in human subjects with a smoking history.

Mobile app in oncology: A pilot survey on Latina patients with gynecological cancers and their perception on utilizing a mobile app

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Background: Mobile applications have changed the way that users access information and revolutionized healthcare by allowing patients to educate themselves regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Challenges in developing a mobile health application include patient satisfaction and usage over time. Barriers to usage include trust, personalization, and accessibility. Investigating the patient population’s preferences on app content and ease of use is imperative. The use of mobile applications specifically for Latina Gynecologic Oncology patients undergoing treatment has yet to be investigated. Methods: Fifty-six patients were recruited from the Gynecologic Oncology clinic at an urban academic health sciences center located on the Texas-Mexico border. Cross-sectional analyses were performed. Subjects were asked a series of 10-point Likert scale questions including how comfortable they would feel using medical applications on their smartphones. Linear regression models were fit with this scale score as the outcome. Results: The age of the 56 patients ranged from 28 to 77 years with a mean of 53.9 years (SD: 11.1). Spanish was the preferred language of 53.8% of the patients (28/52). Forty-four subjects were available for the regression analyses. Subjects were asked, “Would you feel comfortable using medical applications on your smartphone,” where 1 represented “not at all comfortable” and 10 represented “very comfortable”. The mean comfort scale score was 7.39 (SD: 2.85). Thirty of the 44 subjects (68.2%) replied “Multiple times per day” to the question about how frequently they use mobile apps on their phone. After controlling for the patient’s age in a regression model, patients who used mobile apps multiple times per day had an average comfort scale score that was 1.75 points higher than that of women who did not use mobile apps on their phone multiple times per day (p = 0.03). After adjusting for the frequency of mobile app use, there was a reduction of 0.11 points (p = 0.002) in the comfort scale score for every one year increase in the patient’s age. Conclusions: Our unique pilot study found a positive association between the frequency of current app use and anticipated comfort in using smartphone medical applications. Overall, patients demonstrated a considerable amount of comfort with the prospect of using a mobile app. These findings support the idea of creating a mobile app designed to monitor Latina Gynecologic Oncology patients in efforts to lessen patients’ postoperative burden, improve mortality and morbidity outcomes, and decrease health care system costs.[Table: see text]

An imbalance-aware deep neural network for early prediction of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive complication affecting 8-10% of US pregnancies annually. While there is no cure for PE, aspirin may reduce complications for those at high risk for PE. Furthermore, PE disproportionately affects racial minorities, with a higher burden of morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have shown early prediction of PE would allow for prevention. We approached the prediction of PE using a new method based on a cost-sensitive deep neural network (CSDNN) by considering the severe imbalance and sparse nature of the data, as well as racial disparities. We validated our model using large extant rich data sources that represent a diverse cohort of minority populations in the US. These include Texas Public Use Data Files (PUDF), Oklahoma PUDF, and the Magee Obstetric Medical and Infant (MOMI) databases. We identified the most influential clinical and demographic features (predictor variables) relevant to PE for both general populations and smaller racial groups. We also investigated the effectiveness of multiple network architectures using three hyperparameter optimization algorithms: Bayesian optimization, Hyperband, and random search. Our proposed models equipped with focal loss function yield superior and reliable prediction performance compared with the state-of-the-art techniques with an average area under the curve (AUC) of 66.3% and 63.5% for the Texas and Oklahoma PUDF respectively, while the CSDNN model with weighted cross-entropy loss function outperforms with an AUC of 76.5% for the MOMI data. Furthermore, our CSDNN model equipped with focal loss function leads to an AUC of 66.7% for Texas African American and 57.1% for Native American. The best results are obtained with 62.3% AUC with CSDNN with weighted cross-entropy loss function for Oklahoma African American, 58% AUC with DNN and balanced batch for Oklahoma Native American, and 72.4% AUC using either CSDNN with weighted cross-entropy loss function or CSDNN with focal loss with balanced batch method for MOMI African American dataset. Our results provide the first evidence of the predictive power of clinical databases for PE prediction among minority populations.

Predictors of timely diagnostic follow-up after an abnormal Pap test among Hispanic women seeking care in El Paso, Texas

BACKGROUND

Diagnostic follow-up of women with an abnormal Pap test is necessary to resolve the risk developing cervical cancer. The purpose of this study is to describe patient characteristics associated with timely receipt of a diagnostic colposcopy after an abnormal Pap test among Hispanic women in El Paso, a Texas-Mexico border city.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of Hispanic patients seen at an academic colposcopy clinic following an abnormal Pap test. An optimal diagnostic interval to colposcopy was based on a National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) quality indicator and was defined as receipt of colposcopy within 90 days or less from the date of an abnormal Pap test. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated by building a generalized linear model fit using a Poisson distribution, log link, and robust variance.

RESULTS

Overall, 177 of the 270 women (65.6%) received follow-up within an optimal diagnostic interval. After adjusting for other variables in the model, women who were 30 years of age or older were 32% more likely to have an optimal interval than younger women (adjusted RR = 1.32, P < 0.01). High school graduates were less likely than more educated women to have an optimal interval (adjusted RR = 0.68, P < 0.01). Participation in the NBCCEDP was not associated with receipt of follow-up within an optimal diagnostic interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with women with greater educational attainment, high school graduates were less likely to receive follow-up within an optimal diagnostic interval, as were younger (≤ 30 years) women compared with older women. Participation in the NBCCEDP was not associated with receipt of care within an optimal diagnostic interval.

Ethnic and border differences on blood cancer presentation and outcomes: A Texas population-based study

BACKGROUND

The Texas/Chihuahua (US/Mexico) border is a medically underserved region with many reported barriers for health care access. Although Hispanic ethnicity is associated with health disparities for many different diseases, the population-based estimates of incidence and survival for patients with blood cancer along the border are unknown. The authors hypothesized that Hispanic ethnicity and border proximity is associated with poor blood cancer outcomes.

METHODS

Data from the Texas Cancer Registry (1995-2016) were used to investigate the primary exposures of patient ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic) and geographic location (border vs non-border). Other confounders and covariates included sex, age, year of diagnosis, rurality, insurance status, poverty indicators, and comorbidities. The Mantel-Haenszel method and Cox regression analyses were used to determine adjusted effects of ethnicity and border proximity on the relative risk (RR) and survival of patients with different blood cancer types.

RESULTS

Hispanic patients were diagnosed at a younger age than non-Hispanic patients and presented with increased comorbidities. Whereas non-Hispanics had a higher incidence of developing blood cancer compared with Hispanics overall, Hispanics demonstrated a higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (RR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.79-2.08; P < .001) with worse outcomes. Hispanics from the Texas/Chihuahua border demonstrated a higher incidence of chronic myeloid leukemia (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.51; P = .02) and acute myeloid leukemia (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04-1.33; P = .0009) compared with Hispanics living elsewhere in Texas.

CONCLUSIONS

Hispanic ethnicity and border proximity were associated with a poor presentation and an adverse prognosis despite the younger age of diagnosis. Future studies should explore differences in disease biology and treatment strategies that could drive these regional disparities.

Analysis of count data in the setting of cervical cancer detection

Women with an abnormal Pap smear are often referred to colposcopy, a procedure during which endocervical curettage (ECC) may be performed. ECC is a scraping of the endocervical canal lining. Our goal was to compare the performance of a naïve Poisson (NP) regression model with that of a zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model when identifying predictors of the number of distress/pain vocalizations made by women undergoing ECC. Data on women seen in the colposcopy clinic at a medical school in El Paso, Texas, were analyzed. The outcome was the number of pain vocalizations made by the patient during ECC. Six dichotomous predictors were evaluated. Initially, NP regression was used to model the data. A high proportion of patients did not make any vocalizations, and hence a ZIP model was also fit and relative rates (RRs) and 95% CIs were calculated. AIC was used to identify the best model (NP or ZIP). Of the 210 women, 154 (73.3%) had a value of 0 for the number of ECC vocalizations. NP identified three statistically significant predictors (language preference of the subject, sexual abuse history and length of the colposcopy), while ZIP identified one: history of sexual abuse (yes vs no; adjusted RR=2.70, 95% CI 1.47 to 4.97). ZIP was preferred over NP. ZIP performed better than NP regression. Clinicians and epidemiologists should consider using the ZIP model (or the zero-inflated negative binomial model) for zero-inflated count data.

Novel coronavirus, novel faculty development programs: rapid transition to eLearning during the pandemic

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a rapid and massive transition to online education. We describe the response of our Office of Faculty Development at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC EP) to this unprecedented challenge during and after this post-pandemic crisis. The initiatives for emergency transition to eLearning and faculty development described in this paper may serve as a model for other academic health centers, schools, colleges and universities.

The Cost of Hospitalized Ocular Injuries in Texas, 2013-2014

PURPOSE

Healthcare costs are a continual concern. To improve our cost-efficiency we must identify the direct costs of ocular injuries requiring hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the direct costs of hospitalized ocular injuries in Texas.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study using the Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Public Use Data File, 2013-2014. Persons hospitalized for ocular trauma were identified using ICD-9-CM codes. Injuries were subcategorized as ocular adnexal, open globe, or closed globe based on diagnosis and procedure codes and analyzed across three age groups: 18-44, 45-64, and >65 years.

RESULTS

From 2013 to 2014, 1498 patients were hospitalized with ocular adnexal injuries, 644 with open globe injuries, and 2877 with closed globe injuries. Length of stay ranged from 2 to 4 days. The median total charges ranged between $34,576 and $55,409 across all injuries and groups. The largest portion of medical costs were due to radiology in the ocular adnexal and closed globe groups, and operating room charges in the open globe group.

CONCLUSIONS

Median hospitalization costs for ocular injuries were between $34,576 and $55,409 for a 2-4 day length of stay. Open globe injuries had the shortest median lengths of stay, 2-3 days, and lower median total costs. Only in the open globe group were operative costs higher than radiology costs. Operative charges were lowest in the oldest age group, who also had longer lengths of stay. Our reported costs were lower than other nationally reported ocular injury costs for similar lengths of hospital stay.

Evaluating the performance of a low-cost mobile phone attachable microscope in cervical cytology

Background

Cervical cancer remains a global health problem especially in remote areas of developing countries which have limited resources for cervical cancer screening. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a low-cost, smartphone attachable paper-based microscope when used for classifying images of cervical cytology.

Methods

Cervical cytology samples included: 10 Normal, 10 Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 10 High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and 10 Malignant Pap Smears. The agreement between conventional microscopy vs. Foldscope imaging was calculated using a weighted kappa coefficient. A confusion matrix was created with three classes: Normal, LSIL, and HSIL/malignant, to evaluate the performance of the Foldscope by calculating the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.

Results

We observed a kappa statistic of 0.68 for the agreement. This translates into a substantial agreement between the cytological classifications by the Foldscope vs. conventional microscopy. The accuracy of the Foldscope was 80%, with a sensitivity and specificity of 85 and 90% for the HSIL/Mal category, 80 and 83.3%, for LSIL, and 70 and 96.7% for Normal.

Conclusions

This study highlights the usefulness of the Foldscope in cervical cytology, demonstrating it has substantial agreement with conventional microscopy. Its use could improve cytologic interpretations in underserved areas and, thus, improve the quality of cervical cancer screening. Improvements in existing limitations of the device, such as ability to focus, could potentially increase its accuracy.

Predictors of Oophorectomy in Girls Hospitalized in Texas With Ovarian Torsion

OBJECTIVES

Inconsistent results have been reported by authors of studies of the management of pediatric patients with ovarian torsion (OT). Our objective was to identify predictors of oophorectomy in girls hospitalized throughout Texas with OT.

METHODS

The Texas Public Use Data File (years 2013-2014) was queried for the records of girls under the age of 18 years who had a principal or secondary discharge diagnosis of OT (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 620.5). Adjusted odds ratios were estimated from a logistic regression model by using Firth's bias-reducing penalized likelihood. Variables for inclusion in the final model were identified by using a directed acyclic graph.

RESULTS

A sample of 158 girls was identified with an overall risk of oophorectomy during the hospital stay of 41.1% (65 out of 158). After adjusting for the patient's age, health insurance status, and the presence of an ovarian cyst, girls who were treated at a nonteaching hospital were more than twice as likely to undergo oophorectomy than girls who were treated at a teaching hospital (odds ratio = 2.22; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-4.69).

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis of a statewide database revealed that girls with OT who presented at nonteaching hospitals were significantly more likely to undergo oophorectomy compared with girls who presented at teaching hospitals.

Role of pelvic ultrasound simulation

BACKGROUND

Pelvic ultrasound is a critical diagnostic imaging tool in obstetrics and gynaecology. Training opportunities in transvaginal ultrasound have not kept pace with the demand among learners because of the increased complexity of modern ultrasound technology and duty-hour restrictions. Ultrasound simulation training has the potential to overcome this gap. Training opportunities in transvaginal ultrasound have not kept pace with the demand OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to determine the usefulness, applicability and attitudes toward pelvic ultrasound simulation training among residents, sonographers and practising doctors.

METHODS

Pelvic ultrasound simulation activity using high-fidelity virtual reality ultrasound simulators lasted 4 hours and consisted of three modules: abnormal uterine bleeding, adnexal masses and bleeding in pregnancy. All learners completed a pre- and post-encounter quiz, and an anonymous post-simulation survey on the relevance of ultrasound simulation to clinical learning, and its usefulness to improve scanning performance and interpretation skills.

RESULTS

Thirty-one participants attended the workshop, and 28 (90.3%) of them responded to the survey. Five respondents agreed and 23 strongly agreed that pelvic ultrasound simulation applies to their clinical ultrasound practice, and seven of them agreed and 21 strongly agreed that their performance of ultrasound and interpretation skills will be improved following their simulation training. The average post-activity knowledge score for all three topics significantly increased (paired Student's t-test, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

All 28 respondents believe that ultrasound simulation is a useful complement to learning with real patients, with the potential to improve their pelvic ultrasound performance, interpretation skills and clinical reasoning.

Ovulation induction and controlled ovarian stimulation using letrozole gonadotropin combination: A single center retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of letrozole in combination with low dose gonadotropins for ovulation induction in anovulatory infertility from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and controlled ovarian stimulation for endometriosis, and unexplained infertility patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study in a setting of private Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Clinic affiliated with the University. Three hundred couples (650 cycles) requiring OI/COS for PCOS (92 patients, 195 cycles), endometriosis (89 patients, 217 cycles), and unexplained infertility (119 patients, 238 cycles). Patients received 2.5mg or 5mg letrozole for 5days (D3-D7) and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone on alternating D3-D7 and human menopausal gonadotropin-highly purified alternating D5-D10 until growth of ideally 2 mature follicles. Ovulation was triggered with 10,000 IU of HCG. Maximum number of cycles per patient was four.

RESULTS

Main outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rates, multiple order pregnancy rates, miscarriage rates, number of follicles and endometrial thickness on the day of HCG administration. The cumulative incidence of pregnancy was estimated as 35% (95%CI: 29%-41%) overall and was highest in patients with PCOS (36.6%), followed by unexplained infertility (34.6%) and endometriosis (32.5%). The pregnancy rates per cycle in PCOS, endometriosis and unexplained infertility patients were 17%, 13.2% and 17.2% respectively, no statistically significant difference between the groups. There were three twin pregnancies in PCOS, and one in unexplained infertility group. Monofolliculogenesis was noted in 48% of patients.

CONCLUSION(S)

Letrozole-low dose gonadotropins combination appears to be effective across different causes of infertility for superovulation. The letrozole-low dose gonadotropin combination resulted in high rate of monofolliculogenesis, low occurrence of multiple gestations and no case of OHSS or cycle cancellation.

Detection of Biased Rating of Medical Students by Standardized Patients: Opportunity for Improvement

OBJECTIVES

To assess the inter-rater reliability of standardized patients (SPs) as they assess the clinical skills of medical students and to detect possible rating bias in SPs.

METHODS

The ratings received by 6 students examined in 4 clinical stations by 13 SPs were examined. Each SP contributed at least 3 and at most 10 pairwise ratings, with an average of approximately 5 ratings per SP. The standard Cohen' kappa statistic was calculated and the distribution of scores among SPs was compared via both ANOVA the Kruskal-Wallis H test (one-way ANOVA by ranks). Furthermore, the number of discrepancies between pairwise raters (showing either "positive" or "negative" bias in the rating) were analyzed using ANOVA and a χ2 goodness-of-fit test.

RESULTS

The conventional method, which compared the statistics of kappa scores of the raters (including the prevalence-adjusted-bias adjusted kappa scores) did not reject the null hypothesis, that the raters (SPs) are similar. However, the analysis of the distribution of the discrepancies among the raters revealed that the differences between raters cannot be attributed to chance, particularly when a distinction was made between their overall "positive" and "negative" bias. A strong (p<0.001) "negative" bias was detected, and the SPs responsible for this bias have been identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The statistical method suggested here, which takes into account explicitly the "positive" and the "negative" bias of the raters, is more sensitive than the conventional method (Cohens' kappa). Since the outliers (the biased SPs) affect the fairness of the grading of the medical students, it is important to detect any statistically-significant bias in the rating and to adjust correspondingly the SP's assessment.

Predictors of a Prolonged Length of Stay in Children with Perforated Appendicitis

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about the factors that affect the length of stay (LOS) of children hospitalized for perforated appendicitis. The objective of this study was to identify clinical and demographic factors associated with a prolonged LOS (PLOS) in children with perforated appendicitis.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the records of 197 children 0 to 17 years old with perforated appendicitis. The children were hospitalized at one of two teaching hospitals located in El Paso, Texas, and were discharged between January 2008 and January 2014. PLOS was defined as an LOS greater than the 75th percentile value in our patient cohort, which was 7 days. An initial log-binomial regression model failed to converge, and hence logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted incidence odds ratios (OR) for PLOS, 95% confidence intervals, P values, and a receiver operating characteristic curve. The best subset method was used to identify predictors for inclusion in the final model.

RESULTS

The overall risk of PLOS was 23.4% (46/197). Approximately 76% of the children who experienced PLOS and 94% of those who did not have PLOS were Hispanic. After adjusting for insurance status, presence of an abscess, asthma, consulting interventional radiology, and various antibiotics, Hispanics were less likely than non-Hispanics to experience PLOS (adjusted OR 0.20; P = 0.003). Children whose providers consulted the interventional radiologist had an increased odds of PLOS (adjusted OR 3.64; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a lower odds of PLOS, whereas children who required the services of an interventional radiologist were more likely to experience PLOS.

Liver and Cardiac Iron Deposition in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2

INTRODUCTION

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence acquisition techniques for iron assessment have revolutionized the study of iron overload in different organs. We hypothesized that MRI can accurately and reliably assess possible iron deposition in the myocardium and liver by measurement of T2* value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventeen patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis were enrolled. An electrocardiography-gated single breath hold fast multiecho T2* sequence was acquired in the short axis at basal and mid-ventricular levels. The same technique was utilized to estimate liver parenchyma iron content.

RESULTS

Iron deposition in the liver was present in 50% of the hemodialysis patients. No iron deposition was found in the myocardium. A strong univariable inverse linear association was detected between serum albumin and T2* in the liver (r = -0.84, P < .001). Patients who had been on dialysis for 10 years and longer had a 91% reduction in their odds of developing iron overload in the liver compared to the referent group (exact odds ratio, 0.09; P = .048).

CONCLUSIONS

Even though using intravenous iron infusion is a common practice in chronic dialysis patients, it seems the myocardium as opposed to the liver is resistant to or protected against iron deposition. There were no meaningful differences in the relationship between iron overload in the liver and the dialysis time vintage. A more aggressive trend of iron therapy and different formulations of iron infusion could be an explanation of iron deposition in the liver.

Video Capsule Endoscopy: A Tool for the Assessment of Small Bowel Transit Time

Purpose

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a procedure that uses a wireless camera to take pictures of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A wireless motility capsule (WMC) of a similar size has been developed, which measures pH, pressure, and temperature and can be used to assess regional and total GI transit times. VCE could also potentially be used as a tool for measuring small bowel transit time (SBTT).

Methods

This study was designed to obtain SBTT from VCE and compare it with historical data generated by WMC. Gastric transit time (GTT) was also measured. Patients were included if the indication for VCE was either iron deficiency anemia (IDA) or overt obscure GI bleed (OOGIB), and they did not have any known motility disorder. Results from VCE were also compared in diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients.

Results

There were a total of 147 VCE studies performed, including 42 for OOGIB and 105 for IDA. Median GTT and SBTT were 0.3 and 3.6 h, respectively. The overall median GTT and SBTT were 0.3 and 3.6 h, respectively, in the IDA group compared with 0.3 and 3.4 h in the OOGIB group. When compared with WMC, the GTT and SBTT were significantly faster in both groups (GTT: 3.6 h and SBTT: 4.6 h). The median GTT and SBTT were not significantly different in diabetics vs. non-diabetics [GTT: 17.5 vs. 18.0 min (P = 0.86) and SBTT: 3.9 h (237 min) vs. 3.8 h (230 min), respectively (P = 0.90)].

Conclusion

SBTT as measured using VCE is not significantly different in OOGIB compared with IDA. Both GTT and SBTT are significantly faster as assessed by VCE, which is initiated in the fasting state, compared with WMC measurement, which is initiated after a standard meal. In summary, VCE could potentially be used for measuring SBTT in the fasting state.

HIV-1 Env Glycoprotein Phenotype along with Immune Activation Determines CD4 T Cell Loss in HIV Patients

The mechanism behind the selective depletion of CD4(+) cells in HIV infections remains undetermined. Although HIV selectively infects CD4(+) cells, the relatively few infected cells in vivo cannot account for the extent of CD4(+) T cell depletion, suggesting indirect or bystander mechanisms. The role of virus replication, Env glycoprotein phenotype, and immune activation (IA) in this bystander phenomenon remains controversial. Using samples derived from HIV-infected patients, we demonstrate that, although IA in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets correlates with CD4 decline, apoptosis in CD4(+) and not CD8(+) cells is associated with disease progression. Because HIV-1 Env glycoprotein has been implicated in bystander apoptosis, we cloned full-length Envs from plasma of viremic patients and tested their apoptosis-inducing potential (AIP). Interestingly, AIP of HIV-1 Env glycoproteins were found to correlate inversely with CD4:CD8 ratios, suggesting a role of Env phenotype in disease progression. In vitro mitogenic stimulation of PBMCs resulted in upregulation of IA markers but failed to alter the CD4:CD8 ratio. However, coculture of normal PBMCs with Env-expressing cells resulted in selective CD4 loss that was significantly enhanced by IA. Our study demonstrates that AIP of HIV-1 Env and IA collectively determine CD4 loss in HIV infection.

Disparities in cervical cancer survival among Asian-American women

PURPOSE

We compared overall survival and influencing factors between Asian-American women as a whole and by subgroup with white women with cervical cancer.

METHODS

Cervical cancer data were from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry; socioeconomic information was from the Area Health Resource File. We used standard tests to compare characteristics between groups; the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test to assess overall survival and compare it between groups; and Cox proportional hazards models to determine the effect of race and other covariates on overall survival (with and/or without age stratification).

RESULTS

Being 3.3 years older than white women at diagnosis (P < .001), Asian-American women were more likely to be in a spousal relationship, had more progressive disease, and were better off socioeconomically. Women of Filipino, Japanese, and Korean origin had similar clinical characteristics compared to white women. Asian-American women had higher 36- and 60-month survival rates (P = .004 and P = .013, respectively), higher overall survival rates (P = .049), and longer overall survival durations after adjusting for age and other covariates (hazard ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval: 0.68-0.86). Overall survival differed across age strata between the two racial groups. With the exception of women of Japanese or Korean origin, Asian-American women grouped by geographic origin had better overall survival than white women.

CONCLUSIONS

Although Asian-American women, except those of Japanese or Korean origin, had better overall survival than white women, their older age at cervical cancer diagnosis suggests that they have less access to screening programs.

Abstract B10: Predictors of timely attendance for colposcopy following an abnormal Pap test among Hispanic women on the Texas-Mexico border

Introduction: Organized Pap test screening programs have led to a dramatic decrease in cervical cancer incidence in the U.S. and other developed countries. However, the success of screening relies on subsequent attendance for colposcopy and other follow-up procedures among women with an abnormal Pap test. Timely follow-up to colposcopy is a common problem in many populations, especially ethnic minorities and the medically underserved. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics associated with timely follow-up to colposcopy among Hispanic women living on the Texas-Mexico border.

Methods: We analyzed data on 244 Hispanic patients attending a colposcopy clinic at an academic medical center in El Paso, Texas. The dichotomous outcome variable was timely follow-up to colposcopy following an abnormal Pap. Specifically, participants were considered to have timely follow-up if the interval between the date of their last abnormal Pap test and the date of their colposcopy was 90 days or less. A generalized linear model was fit using a binomial distribution and log link. Risk ratios (RR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and P values for an optimal interval were calculated from this log-binomial model.

Results: Overall, 115 (47.1%) of women were born in Mexico. The median age was 30.9 years (52.9% of the sample was 30 years or older), 15.6% had completed 4 or more years of college 50.4 % were participants in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Services (BCCS) program, 47.1% were more acculturated versus less acculturated according to the Marín Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics, 13.5% had an immediate family member who had developed cervical cancer, 23.4% had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in her life, approximately 16% had a Pap smear with one of the following results: atypical squamous cells where a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) can't be excluded, high-grade SIL, cervical cancer. Overall, 160 of the 244 women (65.6%) had timely follow-up to colposcopy. No associations were detected between timely follow-up and acculturation, education, smoking history, family history of cervical cancer, Pap smear grade, and BCCS participant status. Women who were 30 years of age or older were 33% more likely to have an optimal interval than younger women after adjusting for the remaining variables (RR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.09-1.63, P=0.01).

Conclusions: Over one-third of Hispanic women in our sample did not obtain timely follow-up to colposcopy following an abnormal Pap. Consistent with other studies, older women (age ≥30 years in our study) were more likely than younger women to have timely follow-up. Further research is needed to better understand barriers to timely follow-up to colposcopy among Hispanic women seeking care on the Texas-Mexico border.

Citation Format: Thelma Carrillo, Jane Montealegre, Tara G. Perkins, Christina M. Gutierrez, Leonid Fradkin, Javier Palomino, Felipe Castro, Michele Follen, Zuber D. Mulla. Predictors of timely attendance for colposcopy following an abnormal Pap test among Hispanic women on the Texas-Mexico border. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B10.

Is maternal colonization with group B streptococci a risk factor for preeclampsia?

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between maternal rectovaginal colonization with group B Streptococcus (GBS) and the outcome of preeclampsia, and to identify other factors such as maternal chocolate consumption that may be associated with preeclampsia on the Texas-Mexico border.

STUDY DESIGN

A case-control study was conducted among 330 women who delivered at a teaching hospital in El Paso, Texas, during the time period April 2010 to April 2012. Preeclamptic cases (n = 165) and controls free of preeclampsia (n = 165) were matched by gestational age and date of delivery. Conditional logistic regression (with multiple imputation for missing data) was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) that were adjusted for maternal age and other factors.

RESULTS

Cases (94.6%) and controls (97.0%) were predominantly Hispanic. GBS colonization was not associated with preeclampsia: adjusted OR = 1.73 (95% CI 0.63-4.74, p = 0.29). Maternal consumption of chocolate desserts once daily or more frequently as compared to < 7 times weekly was associated with a 76% reduction in the odds of preeclampsia: adjusted OR = 0.24 (95% CI 0.09-0.63, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Our study did not confirm the protective association between GBS and preeclampsia that was found in 2 existing state hospital datasets. Chocolate consumption during pregnancy was inversely associated with preeclampsia.

Acute myocardial infarction in pregnancy: a statewide analysis

OBJECTIVE

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during pregnancy and the puerperium is a rare but devastating event. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological features of pregnancy-related AMI.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted using Texas hospital inpatient data (years 2004-2007). Diagnoses and procedures had been coded using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for hospital mortality and length of stay >4 days (prolonged length of stay [PLOS]) were calculated using logistic regression with Firth's bias correction and multiple imputation.

RESULTS

103 women with pregnancy-related AMI were identified in the statewide hospital database (6.5 cases per 100,000 births). The prevalence of cardiomyopathy was 16.5%. Approximately 14% of the pregnancies were complicated by preeclampsia/eclampsia. A history of cocaine use was noted in 3 patients. Congestive heart failure was present in 18 patients (17.5%). Two patients had attempted suicide and 1 died in the hospital. The overall hospital mortality rate was 9.7%. Placement of coronary artery stents was the most common coronary revascularization procedure (11 patients or 10.7%). The adjusted hospital mortality OR for women 35-39 years old (versus 30-34 years old) was 6.29 (P = .07). Patients with preeclampsia were more likely to have PLOS than patients whose deliveries were not complicated by preeclampsia (OR, 3.84; P = .06).

CONCLUSIONS

While AMI in pregnancy remains a rare occurrence, it is associated with significant morbidity and a high case-fatality rate.

Abstract B51: Ethnic differences in cervical cancer survival in women living along the Texas-Mexico border

Background and objective: Ethnicity-specific estimates of survival after the diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer in women residing on the Texas-Mexico border are lacking. The objective of this analysis was to examine ethnic differences (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic) in survival after diagnosis with invasive cervical cancer in women residing in 32 Texas counties located within 100 km of the Texas-Mexico border.

Methods: Data from the Texas Cancer Registry's Limited-Use SAS File covering the years 1995-2009 were analyzed. Cases of invasive cervical cancer were identified using the primary site, histology, and tumor behavior variables, which had been coded using the ICD-O-3. The sample was restricted to 1634 women who were residents of Texas border counties at the time they were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer. Univariate associations were explored initially and followed by survival analyses. Ethnicity hazard ratios (HR) for mortality adjusted for age at diagnosis (65+ years vs. &lt;65 years) were calculated using Cox regression after stratifying by stage at diagnosis (localized vs. other stage) and surgery status (whether or not surgery was performed as a first course of treatment). The other stage category was composed of women who were at a regional stage or had distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. The censoring variable took on three values: alive (censored), died of causes other than cervical cancer (censored), and died of cervical cancer. HRs are reported along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P values. Correlation coefficients of scaled Schoenfeld residuals vs. time indicated that the assumption of proportional hazards was met for both covariates in each of the four stage-surgery strata.

Results: A total of 1459 Hispanics and 175 non-Hispanics were identified. Approximately 93% of the non-Hispanics and 99.9% of the Hispanics were of white race. Hispanics were more likely to be under 65 years of age at the time of diagnosis than non-Hispanics: 77.6% vs. 70.9% (P=0.046). Ethnicity was not associated with tumor grade in a univariate analysis (P=0.96). Slightly less than half of the Hispanic cases (48.5%) and 53.1% of the non-Hispanics were at a localized stage at the time of diagnosis (P=0.25). The remaining results are stratified by stage and surgery status: cases who were at a localized stage and had surgery as a first course of treatment (group 1), localized stage and did not have surgery as a first course of treatment (group 2), other stage and had surgery as a first course of treatment (group 3), and other stage and did not have surgery as a first course of treatment (group 4). The total number of cervical cancer deaths in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 38, 46, 53, and 225, respectively. HRs comparing Hispanics with non-Hispanics for groups 1 through 4, respectively, were HR=1.13 (95% CI: 0.40-3.17, P=0.82); HR=0.55 (95% CI: 0.24-1.24, P=0.15); HR=0.70 (95% CI: 0.33-1.45, P=0.35); and HR=0.59 (95% CI: 0.39-0.87, P=0.01).

Conclusions: Among women who were not at a localized stage at the time of diagnosis and had not undergone surgery as a first course of treatment, Hispanics experienced a 41% reduction in their hazard of mortality compared to non-Hispanics. Social support may partially explain this protective association. In addition, there could be strong social ties to Mexico that lead women with more advanced disease to return to Mexico thereby limiting the reporting of vital status back to the Texas Cancer Registry. We are exploring how this lack of definitive follow-up data could have also produced the results we see.

Citation Format: Thelma Carrillo, Leonid Fradkin, Loretta L. Hernandez, Christina M. Gutierrez, Maria Haynes, Irma Hernandez, Michael Scheurer, Christina Melendez, Michele Follen, Zuber D. Mulla. Ethnic differences in cervical cancer survival in women living along the Texas-Mexico border. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B51. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-B51

Concomitant chronic pulmonary diseases and their association with hospital outcomes in patients with anaphylaxis and other allergic conditions: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To determine if chronic pulmonary diseases adversely impact selected outcomes in hospitalised patients who have various allergic conditions including anaphylaxis.

DESIGN

A population-based cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

A statewide hospital inpatient discharge database from Texas, USA, covering the years 2004-2007 was analysed. Patients with anaphylaxis and other allergic conditions were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Within each group of patients (the overall group with various selected allergic conditions and the subgroup with anaphylaxis), the exposure variables were 11 chronic pulmonary diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Admission to an intensive care unit, a prolonged (>3 days) hospital stay, receipt of mechanical ventilation and death in hospital. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted OR and 95% CI for these four outcomes.

RESULTS

30 390 patients with allergic conditions were identified, of whom 2410 had anaphylaxis. The following results pertain to the subcohort of patients with anaphylaxis. Median age was 50 years (range 0-95 years) and 1470 (61%) were female. The hospital mortality was 2.7%. Although asthma was not associated with hospital mortality (OR=1.27, 95% CI 0.55 to 2.90), asthmatics had more than twice the odds of non-asthmatics of receiving mechanical ventilation (OR=2.45, 95% CI 1.81 to 3.33). Chronic bronchitis, COPD, emphysema and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) were also associated with an increased risk of requiring mechanical ventilation. Chronic bronchitis and COPD were associated with a prolonged length of stay: OR=2.69 (95% CI 1.45 to 4.98) and OR=1.86 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.66), respectively. ILD was the only chronic pulmonary disease associated with an elevated risk of hospital mortality: OR=8.71 (95% CI 1.48 to 51.20).

CONCLUSIONS

In this unique analysis of a large database, we found that asthma, COPD and other chronic pulmonary diseases increased the risk of adverse outcomes among hospitalised patients with anaphylaxis.

Risk of postoperative hypoglycemia in cardiovascular surgical patients receiving computer-based versus paper-based insulin therapy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of replacing a paper-based protocol with a computer-guided glucose management system (CGMS) for the treatment of postoperative hyperglycemia in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU).

METHODS

With use of a before-and-after analysis, adult patients (≥18 years) discharged from the CVICU and treated with the paper protocol were compared with patients discharged from the CVICU and treated with the CGMS. Of the 1,648 patients analyzed, 991 were in the CGMS group. Clinical end points were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon test. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for each hypoglycemic end point were calculated from Cox models with use of the proportional hazards regression procedure, and clinical end points were adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Patients treated with the paper protocol were 6 times as likely to experience clinical hypoglycemia (blood glucose ≤70 mg/dL) as patients treated with the CGMS (adjusted HR = 6.06; P<.0001) and more than 7 times as likely to experience severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose ≤40 mg/dL) (adjusted HR = 7.59; P=.01). Despite the increased risk of hypoglycemia, no significant difference in length of stay or mortality was observed between the groups.

CONCLUSION

CGMS treatment of postoperative hyperglycemia in CVICU patients can successfully attain goal glucose levels with a significant reduction in hypoglycemia in comparison with a paper protocol. This association persists after controlling for covariates.

Emergency department eye care in Florida: a study of principal payer sources 2005 through 2009

OBJECTIVE

To describe trends in health insurance coverage for emergency department (ED) eye care in Florida from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2009.

METHODS

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration ED data sets for ED outpatient visits and ED admissions for eye care were analyzed for type of insurance coverage and stratified according to age younger than 18 years and 18 years or older. Negative binomial regression models were used to measure the percentage of change in payer distribution for each 1-year increase in calendar year.

RESULTS

During the 5-year study period, commercial insurance was the most frequent payer of ED outpatient services (31.1%), followed by self-pay (26.2%) and Medicaid (22.0%). For persons younger than 18 years, Medicaid and self-payment made up 67.7% of principal payers. For outpatient ED visits, the percentage of change in Medicaid increased 5.9% for each calendar year (P < .001) and commercial coverage declined 4.5% (P < .001 ). The proportion of Florida residents receiving Medicaid during the study period was less than the national average.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of ED eye care in Florida is reimbursed through Medicaid or is paid for out of pocket. How the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the national economic recovery will affect safety-net institutions such as EDs and hospital staff is speculative, but the effect could be substantial.

Association between increased yolk sac diameter and abnormal karyotypes

AIMS

To investigate the association between increased yolk sac diameter and abnormal karyotype.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 42 patients with no history of diabetes between 6 and 12 weeks of gestation with increased yolk sac diameter measuring ≥6 mm was evaluated by transvaginal ultrasound. Sonographic findings were correlated with karyotype. The Fisher's exact test and exact conditional logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Chromosome abnormalities were found in 76.2% of chorionic villi samples. A statistically significant relationship between karyotype and missed abortion was detected (P=0.001). None of the patients with a yolk size diameter ≥8 mm and viable pregnancy had a normal karyotype. Trisomy 15 or 16 was strongly associated with missed abortion (unadjusted odds ratio=14.97, P=0.01). Nine patients with viable pregnancy had a yolk sac ≥6 mm (six patients with normal karyotype, one patient with monosomy X, one patient with trisomy 16, and one patient with trisomy 21).

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that enlarged yolk sac may also be visualized in viable pregnancies. Patients with an enlarged yolk sac and normal karyotype require detailed ultrasound evaluation in the second and third trimester.

Avoiding sparse data bias: an example from gynecologic oncology

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to review the use of 3 statistical techniques that can be employed when analyzing sparse data.

METHODS

A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted using an incidence file from the Texas Cancer Registry covering the years 1995-2006. The records of women who were diagnosed with primary ovarian carcinosarcoma, a rare malignancy with poor survival, were extracted. The exposure variable was race: white patients were compared to black patients. The dichotomous outcome was the presence of distant metastasis at the time of the diagnosis. Given the small sample size and the unbalanced nature of the outcome, we performed the following 3 types of analyses as alternatives to ordinary logistic regression using SAS 9.3 software: Bayesian logistic regression (Monte Carlo sample size of 30,000), exact logistic regression, and logistic regression using penalized maximum likelihood estimation. The race odds ratios (OR) were adjusted for age.

RESULTS

A total of 52 women with carcinosarcoma primary to the ovary were included (47 white, 5 black). The prevalence of distant metastasis was 66% and 60% in the white and black patients, respectively (crude OR, whites compared to blacks: 1.29). None of the adjusted ORs were statistically significant. The adjusted race OR from the Bayesian analysis (1.16) was closer to the null value of 1 than the ORs from the exact logistic model (1.24) and penalized model (1.31).

CONCLUSIONS

The most common statistical tests and models encountered in clinical and public health research depend on "large-sample" approximations. However, there are situations in which the minimum number of subjects required is not reached and hence ordinary logistic regression is not appropriate. In these situations, it is beneficial to adopt an alternative strategy such as performing a Bayesian analysis, fitting an exact logistic regression model, or using penalized maximum likelihood estimation.

Preeclampsia mortality in Texas: a capture-recapture analysis

OBJECTIVE

Public health professionals and clinicians rely on hospital discharge data to explore the epidemiology of preeclampsia. Our objective was to compare the concordance in preeclampsia inpatient mortality between hospital inpatient discharge data and death certificate data in Texas during a 2-year period using the capture-recapture technique.

METHODS

The statewide Texas hospital inpatient discharge dataset and a statewide death certificate dataset were searched for fatal episodes of preeclampsia or eclampsia. Women who were Texas residents and expired in a hospital in 2006 or 2007 were identified using ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 codes. Using the capture-recapture sampling technique, we estimated the number of inpatient preeclamptic deaths that were missed by both databases, the death certificate database and the hospital inpatient database.

RESULTS

The hospital inpatient dataset captured 17 fatal episodes of preeclampsia while the inpatient death certificate database captured 9. Six patients were found in both datasets. Application of the capture-recapture method revealed that the total number of statewide inpatient preeclamptic deaths was 26 during this period.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study found that 2 prominent sources of statewide health data underestimated the frequency of inpatient deaths in Texas due to preeclampsia.

Prevalence of gestational fasting and postload single dysglycemia in Mexican-American women and their relative significance in identifying carbohydrate intolerance

This study investigated the prevalence of gestational dysglycemia in a largely Hispanic population in a U.S.-Mexico border city and the influence of single plasma glucose (PG) result on the identification of gestational carbohydrate intolerance. Gestational dysglycemia was studied in a largely Mexican-American population using retrospective data. Gestational diabetes (GDM), gestational impaired fasting glucose (GIFG), and gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT) were identified with Carpenter-Coustan thresholds. Glucose challenge test result was abnormal in 32.7% of 18307 women screened; 47% of them had one or more dysglycemic results in the confirmatory oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The prevalence of GDM, GIFG, and GIGT in these women was 8.7, 2.2, and 4.5%, respectively. Fasting, 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour PGs were elevated in 20.5, 28.5, 25.0, and 15.0% of OGTT, respectively (GIFG: 6.0%; 1-hour GIGT: 6.5%; 2-hour GIGT: 4.4%; and 3-hour GIGT: 3.1%). Twelve percent of OGTTs showed dysglycemia at 1 hour with normal 2-hour PG. Isolated dysglycemia, similar to GDM, is prevalent in Mexican-American women. The minimal impact of 3-hour PG supports a 2-hour OGTT. But our results question the use of an "OGTT protocol without a first-hour specimen."

Hospitalizations for pelvic inflammatory disease in Texas. A population-based analysis

OBJECTIVE

To calculate pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) hospitalization rates for Texas and identify risk factors for prolonged length of stay (PLOS) among women hospitalized for PID throughout Texas and discharged during a 2-year period.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study of 6,421 women discharged from Texas hospitals in 2004 and 2005 with a diagnosis of PID was conducted. Data for 2004 and 2005 were obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Diagnoses had been coded using the ICD-9-CM. Odds ratios for PLOS adjusted for age, insurance status, race, diabetes, hypertension, and receipt of oophorectomy during hospitalization were calculated.

RESULTS

Blacks experienced the highest unadjusted hospitalization and were more likely than whites to have PLOS. Presence of diabetes was the strongest risk factor for PLOS. Undergoing an oophorectomy during the hospital stay was not significantly correlated with PLOS.

CONCLUSION

This unique statewide study found that among a large group of women hospitalized for PID, blacks were significantly more likely than whites to have PLOS. The presence of diabetes was the strongest factor associated with a PLOS.

Anaphylaxis in the obstetric patient: analysis of a statewide hospital discharge database

BACKGROUND

Previous reports of anaphylaxis during pregnancy typically have involved single institutions and a few cases.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiologic features of anaphylaxis in women who gave birth in Texas.

METHODS

Statewide public use hospital discharge data for 2004 and 2005 provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services were accessed. Diagnoses and procedures in this data set were recorded using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The records of women who delivered a neonate and simultaneously had a diagnosis of anaphylaxis were selected for study. The prevalence of maternal anaphylaxis noted at the time of delivery of the neonate and the 95% Wilson's confidence interval were calculated. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification E codes were examined to determine the possible anaphylactic trigger. Finally, the impact of 4 selected maternal comorbidities and complications on length of stay was assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 19 maternal anaphylaxis cases were identified. The prevalence was 2.7 cases per 100,000 deliveries (95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.2 cases per 100,000 deliveries). Penicillins and cephalosporins were the anaphylactic trigger in 11 of the patients. Five patients were emergent admissions. There were no maternal deaths. Most of the patients (14 [74%]) delivered by cesarean section. Patients who had 1 or more of 4 selected comorbidities or complications had a median length of stay of 5 days, whereas those patients free of these conditions had a median length of stay of 3 days (P = .07, exact Wilcoxon rank sum test).

CONCLUSIONS

Anaphylaxis during pregnancy is a rare event. In this large case series, we found that beta-lactam antibiotics were the most common triggers of anaphylaxis.

A case-control study of asthma and ovarian cancer

Epidemiologic studies have found inverse associations between allergy and the development of certain tumors. The authors sought to determine if there was an association between asthma and ovarian cancer. A case-control study was conducted using Florida hospital data (year 2001). Discharge diagnoses were coded using the ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification). Cases were 1,582 women whose principal discharge diagnosis was a malignant neoplasm of the ovary. Two control series were used: 4,744 women whose principal diagnosis was an upper limb bone fracture, and 21,830 women whose principal diagnosis was an acute myocardial infarction. Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for age, race-ethnicity, Medicaid status, obesity, and smoking were calculated. Cases were 30% less likely than fracture control to be asthmatics (adjusted OR = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-0.99, p = .04). Similarly, cases when compared to acute myocardial infarction controls were significantly less likely to have asthma (adjusted OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.45-0.87, p = .005). The results of this statewide exploratory study suggest that individuals with asthma may have a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer than nonasthmatics.

Risk factors for a prolonged length of stay in women hospitalized for preeclampsia in Texas

OBJECTIVES

To identify correlates of a prolonged length of stay (PLOS) in women hospitalized for preeclampsia/eclampsia in Texas, USA.

METHODS

Statewide hospital data were obtained, and the records of women who were discharged in 2004 and/or 2005 with a principal discharge diagnosis of preeclampsia or eclampsia were extracted using ICD-9-CM codes. PLOS was defined as a stay greater than 5 days. Odds ratios (OR) for PLOS were calculated. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for a small group of women who were hospitalized multiple times during the study period for preeclampsia. A total of 21,203 records were analyzed.

RESULTS

The crude incidence of PLOS was 17.5%. Advancing maternal age was positively associated with PLOS: for every 10-year increase, there was a 20% increase in the odds of PLOS (adjusted OR = 1.20,95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 1.28). The strongest risk factor for PLOS was the presence of renal disease: adjusted OR 5.81 (95% CI: 3.97, 8.50). Protective factors included Medicaid beneficiary status, and being admitted from the emergency department.

CONCLUSIONS

The strongest correlate of PLOS in a large cohort of women hospitalized for preeclampsia was the presence of renal disease.