Author Interviews, MRSA, PNAS, UCLA, Vaccine Studies / 14.12.2014

Dr. Michael Yeaman Ph.D. Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Specialist Chief, Division of Molecular Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical CenterMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Michael Yeaman Ph.D. Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Specialist Chief, Division of Molecular Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Yeaman: In the U.S. and around the globe, skin and soft tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continue to endanger the health and lives of patients and otherwise healthy individuals. Treatment is difficult because MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics, and the infections can recur, placing family members and other close contacts at risk of infection. Infectious disease specialists at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) tested a new investigational vaccine, NDV-3, and found it holds new hope for preventing or reducing the severity of infections caused by the "superbug" MRSA. In the study, which was published Dec. 8 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, the researchers reported that NDV-3, employing the recombinant protein Als3, can mobilize the immune system to fight off MRSA skin infections in an experimental model. The researchers found the vaccine works by enhancing molecular and cellular immune defenses of the skin in response to MRSA and other S. aureus bacteria in disease models. This is the first published study to demonstrate the effectiveness of a cross-kingdom recombinant vaccine against MRSA skin infections. NDV-3 is unique as it is the first vaccine to demonstrate it can be effective in protecting against infections caused by both S. aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. NDV-3 represents a novel approach to vaccine design that pioneers an approach termed convergent immunity. (more…)
Author Interviews, Imperial College, Sugar, Weight Research / 13.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr James Gardiner Reader in Molecular Physiology Imperial College Hammersmith Campus London 0NN Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: It is well known that glucose is a preferred food and is consumed in preference to other nutrients. Food intake is controlled by the brain in part this it is regulated by part of the brain called the hypothalamus.   Glucokinase is an important component of glucose sensing and is expressed in the hypothalamus and specifically in the arcuate nucleus. A hypothalamic mechanism regulating glucose intake has not previously been identified. Using a rodent model we demonstrated that increasing glucokinase activity in the arcuate nucleus increased food intake and body weight. If glucose was available as separately then glucose intake is increased but not weight. Decreasing glucokinase activity in the arcuate nucleus had the opposite effect, reducing glucose intake when it was available.   Our results suggest that glucokinase controls glucose appetite and hence the amount of glucose consumed. This is the first time a mechanism controlling the intake of a specific nutrient has been described. (more…)
Author Interviews, BMJ, Heart Disease, Nutrition, Sugar, Weight Research / 13.12.2014

Dr James J DiNicolantonio PharmD Ithaca, New YorkMedicalResearch.com Interview with: James J. DiNicolantonio, PharmD Associate Editor BMJ Open Heart Cardiovascular Research Scientist Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. DiNicolantonio: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature mortality in the developed world, and hypertension is its most important risk factor. Controlling hypertension is a major focus of public health initiatives, and dietary approaches have historically focused on sodium. A reduction in the intake of added sugars, particularly fructose, and specifically in the quantities and context of industrially-manufactured consumables, would help not only curb hypertension rates, but would also help address broader problems related to cardiometabolic disease. (more…)
Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Genetic Research, JAMA / 13.12.2014

David H. Ledbetter, Ph.D., FACMG Executive Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer, Geisinger Health System Danville, PA 17822MedicalResearch.com Interview with: David H. Ledbetter, Ph.D., FACMG Executive Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer, Geisinger Health System Danville, PA 17822 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Ledbetter: One of the biggest challenges in clinical care and research of children with autism and related neurodevelopment disorders is the remarkable clinical variability between individuals. This heterogeneity is reduced, but still significant, when considering individuals who have neurodevelopment disorders due to the identical genetic mutation such as deletion 16p11.2. We proposed that family background, genetic or environmental, may contribute to the variability in cognitive, behavioral and motor performance profiles of children with a sporadic (new) mutation in 16p11.2. Our study confirmed that a significant portion of the clinical variability seen in these children is due to the performance level of their parents and unaffected siblings and suggested that this may be due in part to genetic background effects as these traits are all known to have very high heritability. (more…)
Author Interviews, Biomarkers, Heart Disease / 13.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Mette Bjerre, Associate Professor, PhD Medical Research Laboratory Aarhus University Hospital & Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr.Bjerre: Recently, a connection between bone regulatory proteins and vascular biology has attracted attention, suggesting osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted glycoprotein that regulates bone resorption, as a possible mediator of vascular calcification. Indeed, we and others has shown that high levels of circulating OPG predicts long-term outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the mechanism remains poorly understood. In order to elucidate the role of OPG in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), our study aimed to evaluate the progression of OPG levels, in four consecutive blood-samples obtained pre-PCI, post-PCI, day 1 and day 2. OPG levels did indeed change during treatment. OPG levels peaked post-PCI and then decreased; mean concentrations (95% confidence interval) pre-PCI 2650ng/L (2315-3036ng/L), post-PCI 2778ng/L (2442-3363ng/L), day 1 2024ng/L (1775-2306ng/L) and day 2 1808ng/L (1551-2106), (repeated measures ANOVA, F=33.192, p<0.001). Additional, high OPG level is independently associated with impaired LVEF (LVEF < 40%). Adjustment for BMI and traditional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and current smoking) did not significantly impact the association between OPG response and reduced LVEF. (more…)
Addiction, ADHD, Author Interviews / 13.12.2014

William Brinkman, MD, MEd, MSc Associate Professor of Pediatrics Director, Research Section, Division of General & Community Pediatrics Research Director, Cincinnati Pediatric Research Group James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical CenterMedicalResearch.com Interview with: William Brinkman, MD, MEd, MSc Associate Professor of Pediatrics Director, Research Section, Division of General & Community Pediatrics Research Director, Cincinnati Pediatric Research Group James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Dr. Brinkman: Early onset of substance use is a significant public health concern as those who use substances before the mid-teen years are more likely to develop dependence than those who start later. The association of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD) with tobacco and alcohol use has not been assessed in a young adolescent sample representative of the U.S. population. (more…)
Author Interviews, Brain Injury, NEJM / 13.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Brett E. Skolnick PhD Department of Neurosurgery Cushing Neuroscience Institute Hofstra North Shore–LIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Skolnick: The experimental evidence for a role of progesterone is based on extensive non-clinical studies in non-primate species (4 animal species such as rat, mice) the majority of which indicate that progesterone has a variety of neuroprotective properties. The animal models of injury in traumatic brain injury (TBI) have included models of blunt trauma, fluid percussion injury, cortical aspiration but similar effects have been seen stroke models and models of spinal cord injury. In these experiments progesterone has been shown to reduce cerebral edema thus limiting the effects or preventing intracranial pressure increases which can lead to secondary injury. Progesterone has also been shown to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-apopotic and perhaps even anti-oxidant effects. All of these effect are postulated to work synergistically to prevent cell death which could result in improved functional outcomes. Two small single center clinical trials provided the support in traumatic brain injury patients that progesterone could have impact on functional outcomes in larger, properly powered trials.  The results of which are summarized in the NEJM article. In the current trial evaluated the Glasgow Outcome Scale and the extended version of the Glasgow Outcome scale at 6 months following injury. These scales are well validated scales that are used to determine the degree of recovery in terms of disability and handicap due to TBI rather than the degree of impairment. The GOS has 5 levels: death, vegetative state, severe disability, moderate disability and good recovery with death and vegetative state typically collapsed because they are considered equally undesirable. The Extended GOS takes the three best levels of recovery and subdivides these into a upper and lower category to increase the granularity of the outcome measure. Progesterone was administered within 8 hour of injury (loading dose followed by continuous infusions) for a total of 120 hours.  Careful assessments were performed to ensure optimal patient management during the trial to provide the best background to evaluate the impact of the addition of progesterone or placebo (1  to 1 randomization).  No effect was seen on the GOS or the extended GOS. In addition a fairly new approach of categorizing patients based on prognostic factors known at time of randomization (such as Age, baseline GCS, pupillary response, hypoxia, hypotension, Marshall Classification or presence/absence of subarachnoid hemorrhage) as developed by Hukkelhoven and colleagues was used. This was expected to tease out improvements, if they existed in subgroups of patients where perhaps progesterone could work better in the most severe or less severe traumatic brain injury patients. But again no effects were seen. The unfavorable outcomes (see NEJM paper for details) were essentially identical between progesterone and placebo groups whether they had the worst prognosis or the best prognosis. (more…)
Author Interviews, Genetic Research, NEJM, NIH / 13.12.2014

Dr. Constantine A. Stratakis, M.D., D.Sc National Institutes of Health, Clinical Research Center Bethesda, MD 20892-1862MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Constantine A. Stratakis, M.D., D.Sc National Institutes of Health, Clinical Research Center Bethesda, MD 20892-1862 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Stratakis: We have been working for years on the genetics of pituitary tumors in association with other conditions. A few years ago (attached), we studied for the first time a series of pediatric giants that we sequenced for then known genes. We found a few MEN1 and AIP mutations but all mutations were present in older kids with gigantism. This left out the youngest among the giants without any genetic defect. This was the first time I realized that I was dealing with a different disease. We started looking for additional genetic defects and when we found the Xq26 microduplications in 3 kindreds. We contacted the custodians of the largest series in the world - Dr. Beckers in Liege. He screened his cases, once we gave him the coordinates, and boom - it was there... The most significant thing here is that this is a new disease really: the early pediatric gigantism is almost exclusively due to Xq26 microduplications unless it is part of a family with another syndrome (AIP, MEN1, Carney complex). If there is no family history and you are dealing with a toddler with gigantism, based in these data, there is a more than 80% chance of having an Xq26 defect. This is pretty amazing! In addition, assuming that GPR101 is the responsible gene (which needs to be confirmed with additional studies) this identifies a new molecular pathway of increasing growth hormone secretion, most likely due to upregulation of GHRH - all of this needs to be confirmed in further human and animal studies. The Xq26 genomic micro-arrangements (which contain the GPR101, but also 3 other genes) is the big news here... (more…)
Author Interviews, Ophthalmology, Weight Research / 13.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Rui Azevedo Guerreiro Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central Portugal Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: This article aims to summarise the current state of understanding on the possible ophthalmic complications that can occur after a bariatric surgery. The main finding of this review article is that ophthalmic complications after bariatric surgeries are more frequent that we could thought initially, especially in patients not adherent to their vitamin supplements. In one study, the percentage of patients with vitamin A deficiency 4 years after the surgery reached up to 69%. (more…)
Author Interviews, Erasmus, JACC, Memory, Stroke / 13.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: M. Arfan Ikram, MD, PhD,and Ayesha Sajjad, MD Department of Epidemiology Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam Rotterdam, The Netherlands Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: The occurrence of cognitive impairment and dementia after a stroke event are already known. Since these neuro-degenerative processes and stroke share vascular pathways in their pathogenesis such as small vessel disease, we aimed to study whether early cognitive impairment can be predictive of stroke onset in the elderly. We also hypothesized that a higher cognitive reserve (due to higher education attainment) may mask early symptoms of memory loss and thus put these older individuals at a higher risk of stroke. We found that self-reported subjective memory complaints as answered by a single question: “ Do you have memory complaints?” was highly predictive of stroke especially in older persons who were highly educated. In comparison, objective measures of cognitive impairment such as MMSE did not show any association with the risk of stroke. (more…)
Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Imperial College, JACC / 13.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Jane A. Mitchell National Heart and Lung Institute Imperial College, London, UK Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Mitchell: Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work by inhibiting the enzyme COX-2. COX-2 selective anti-inflammatory drugs, like Vioxx, were introduced to reduce gastrointestinal side effects associated with these drugs. However, COX-2 inhibitors as well as most older NSAIDs are associated with increased risk of heart attacks although the precise mechanisms underlying these side effects are not completely understood. The main findings of this study are: 1) COX-2 is highly expressed in the kidney where its genetic deletion leads to changes in more than 1000 genes. 2) Analysis of these genes revealed changes in 2-3 specific genes that regulate levels of ADMA, an endogenous inhibitor of the nitric oxide released by vessels, that can be reversed by giving more of the substrate for NO, L-arginine. 3) Further studies showed that ADMA was indeed increased in the plasma of mice where COX-2 gene was knocked out or in normal mice given a COX-2 inhibitor. 4) In mice where COX-2 was knocked out the release of nitric oxide from vessels was reduced and this could be reversed by supply L-arginine. 5) ADMA was also increased in human volunteers taking a COX-2 inhibitor (more…)
Author Interviews, Education, JAMA / 13.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: John Hayes, MD Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Prominent in the discussions about ABIM MOC and recertification has been an ongoing debate about the evidence that supports a relationship between recertification, MOC and patient care. Since many healthcare organizations use board certification as a criteria for employment consideration, the new status of “certified” but not meeting MOC throws considerable disarray into credentialing and hiring committees. We can now have ABIM labeling a physician who boarded eleven years ago as “not certified” but a physician who boarded 25 years ago as “certified” with an asterisk. And of course discussions like this bring employers and healthcare organizations back to the question: What is the additive value of MOC and recertification on patient care? The integrated Veterans Health Administration electronic health record generates performance reports for primary care physicians at regular intervals. In our study, we were able to observe for any difference based on certification groups. We reviewed ten industry-standard quality care measures in approximately 68,000 patients across 4 VA medical centers and found that internists holding time-unlimited certificates performed just as well as those holding time-limited certificates. (more…)
Author Interviews, Nutrition / 12.12.2014

Refaat Hegazi, MD, PhD, MS, MPH Medical Director at Abbott Nutrition and an author of the FeedM.E. study. Affiliate Research Associate Professor Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina UniversityMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Refaat Hegazi, MD, PhD, MS, MPH Medical Director at Abbott Nutrition and an author of the FeedM.E. study.  Affiliate Research Associate Professor Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Hegazi: When we think about malnutrition, we don’t believe it can impact us and our families. But malnutrition is a widespread condition that can affect anyone, especially when sick or injured, and exists in every country of the world - both in emerging and developed nations. In fact, an estimated one in three patients who enter a hospital are malnourished and up to one out of two older adults are at risk for malnutrition. The consequences of malnutrition are serious and include increased complications, (pressure ulcers, infections, falls), longer hospital stays, frequent readmissions, increased cost of care and higher risk of mortality. However, the condition often goes undiagnosed despite being preventable and treatable if identified early. This is why we authored “Evidence-Based Recommendations for Addressing Malnutrition in Health Care: An Updated Strategy From the feedM.E. Global Study Group”. It aims to create a call to action for clinicians worldwide and provides a simple clinical nutrition care pathway that can be implemented in any health care setting, in any part of the world. (more…)
Author Interviews, Breast Cancer, Yale / 12.12.2014

Dr. James Yu Yale School of Medicine Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center Yale School of Medicine Department of Therapeutic Radiology New Haven, Connecticut MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. James Yu Yale School of Medicine Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center Yale School of Medicine Department of Therapeutic Radiology New Haven, Connecticut Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Hypo fractionated radiation has been shown to be safe and effective, and more convenient for women with early stage breast cancer after lumpectomy.  It also has been identified by ASTRO as a practice that physicians can adopt to reduce healthcare expenses for patients and for society.  We looked at the National Cancer Database, a database created by the American College of Surgeons for trends in the use of hypo fractionated radiation for breast cancer through 2011.  We found that the use of hypofractionated radiation had increased to 22.8% in 2011.  I found this remarkable as it predated the ASTRO choosing widely guidelines, and indicated to me that physicians were already thinking of ways of making treatment more convenient and affordable for patients and insurers. (more…)
Author Interviews, Diabetes, Nature, Weight Research / 12.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Prof. Dr. Patrice D. Cani PhD, Research Associate FRS-FNRS Louvain Drug Research Instiute, Metabolism and Nutrition WELBIO, Walloon Excellence in Life sciences and BIOtechnology NeuroMicrobiota lab, European Associated Laboratory (INSERM/UCL) and Dr Amandine Everard Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Life sciences and BIOtechnology), Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Brussels, Belgium Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Our intestine harbors more than 100 trillions of bacteria. This huge number of bacteria permanently interacts with our own human cells. Among the systems involved in this crosstalk, the immune system plays a key role in these interactions. We previously showed that specific gut bacteria are able to control energy metabolism, harmful inflammation associated with obesity, body weight gain and type-2 diabetes. However mechanisms involved these effects of gut bacteria on the host during obesity and type-2 diabetes were poorly understood. We identify the essential role of the intestinal immune system in the onset of obesity and type-2 diabetes both induced by a high dose of fat in the diet. This discovery highlights an unexpected mechanism for the control of energy metabolism during obesity and type-2 diabetes. We demonstrate for the first time that the inactivation of a part of the intestine immune system (more specifically the protein MyD88), which is overstimulated by a diet rich in fat, allows to induce weight-loss and to reduce type-2 diabetes associated with obesity. When we tune the immune system by disabling the protein MyD88 specifically in cells covering the intestine, we are able to limit the adipose tissue development induced by the diet rich in fat, to slow down diabetes, to reduce harmful inflammation associated with obesity, to reinforce gut barrier function assumed by our intestine to avoid the inappropriate translocations of bacteria compounds from our intestine in our body. We reveal various mechanisms explaining the partial protection against obesity induced by the inactivation of this protein of the immune system. Among them, we point out that mice that do not have this protein of the immune system (i.e. MyD88) in their intestine are partially protected against obesity because they spend more energy than other obese mice. Moreover, our study shows that this protein of the immune system is able to shape the composition of the gut microbiota residing in our intestine under a high-fat diet. These changes observed in mice deleted for this protein also explain their protection against obesity because when we transfer intestinal bacteria of these mice into other mice that are axenic (without flora), these latest mice are also partially protected against obesity. In conclusions, our studies published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, demonstrated that during consumption of fat food, the intestinal immune system plays an important role in fat storage regulation in the body and is capable to modify the composition of intestinal bacteria (including some which are still unidentified), confirm the implication of intestinal bacteria in the onset of obesity. (more…)
Accidents & Violence, Author Interviews, Pediatrics / 12.12.2014

Dr. Gary A. Smith Center for Injury Research and Policy Nationwide Children’s HospitalMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Gary A. Smith Center for Injury Research and Policy Nationwide Children’s Hospital   Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Smith: The study found that from 1990 through 2011, an estimated 3,278,073 children younger than 18 years of age were treated in United States emergency departments for toy related injuries. The annual injury rate per 10,000 children increased by nearly 40% during that time period. The increase was largely associated with ride-on toys, particularly foot-powered scooters. Ride-on toys accounted for 34.9% of all injuries and 42.5% of hospital admissions. The study is the first to comprehensively investigate toy-related injuries among children using a nationally representative data set, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). (more…)
Author Interviews, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Duke / 12.12.2014

Rachel Blitzblau, M.D., Ph.D. Butler Harris Assistant Professor Department of Radiation Oncology Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Rachel Blitzblau, M.D., Ph.D. Butler Harris Assistant Professor Department of Radiation Oncology Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Blitzblau: Radiation reduces the risk of loco-regional recurrence. Data from the CALGB 9343 study suggests that the local benefit from adjuvant radiation is less in older women with small, . The potential acute and late toxicities of radiotherapy, patient inconvenience and healthcare costs must be considered given the small clinical benefit associated with adjuvant radiotherapy in this patient group. We looked at rates of radiotherapy in women fitting the entry criteria of this trial before and after publication of 5 year results of the CALGB trial. We found an approximately 5% decrease in use of radiotherapy overall, and noted that there seemed to be a small but significant shift in the type of radiotherapy used for these patients. Less patients received standard whole breast radiotherapy, and more received a short course of treatment to just the tumor bed plus margin called accelerated partial breast irradiation. We concluded that the publication of the trial therefore had only a very small impact on practice patterns. (more…)
Author Interviews, NYU, Surgical Research / 12.12.2014

Ganesh Sivarajan, MD Department of Urology New York University Langone Medical CenterMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ganesh Sivarajan, MD Department of Urology New York University Langone Medical Center

  Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Sivarajan: The surgical robot was designed to facilitate laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon sits at a console several feet away from the patient and is linked to a multi-armed robot which translates the surgeon’s movements from the console to surgical instruments inside the patient’s insufflated abdomen. The robot is equipped with a high resolution three dimensional camera which improves visualization over traditional open surgery and allows the manipulation of instruments in directions and angles which are difficult in traditional open surgery. In light of these apparent advancements, the robot was rapidly adopted for use during radical prostatectomy. The outcomes data for men undergoing robotic versus open prostatectomy, however, have not demonstrated any clear advantage of robotic surgery, with some studies demonstrating benefit and other demonstrating harm. This fact coupled with the relatively high cost of the robot and its disposable equipment have led many to criticize robotic surgery and its rapid adoption. Partial nephrectomy is a procedure performed for renal cancer in which just the malignant tumor is excised while the remaining healthy kidney is saved. It is increasingly considered to be preferable to the previous gold standard operation – radical nephrectomy or removal of the entire kidney largely secondary to the benefits accrued from preserving renal function. Despite actual changes in the treatment guideline recommending increased use of partial nephrectomy it remains vastly underutilized nationwide likely because of the technical challenges associated with its performance. It has been suggested that the surgical robot facilitates the performance of partial nephrectomy, but this has not been definitively demonstrated in a model which controls for important variables as the effects of changing guidelines, secular trends supporting increased utilization over time and a variety of other hospital-level characteristics. We sought to determine whether acquisition of the surgical robot was independently associated with increased utilization of partial nephrectomy – a guideline-supported procedure. If true, it would suggest that the acquisition of the surgical robot may have improved the quality of care of renal cell carcinoma patients. (more…)
Aging, Author Interviews, FASEB / 11.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Jane Tarry-Adkins BSc Biochemistry Research Assistant University of Cambridge · Institute of Metabolic Science

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: From epidemiological and animal studies, it has been known for several years that a suboptimal in utero environment that causes low birth weight combined with accelerated postnatal growth is strongly linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However underlying molecular mechanisms for this phenomenon, known as ‘developmental programming’ are still unknown. In this study, we used a rat model where animals are born small because their mother ate a low protein diet during pregnancy but grow quickly during lactation when they are suckled by a control diet fed mum. These ‘recuperated’ rats displayed indices of accelerated aortic cellular aging and damage which was associated with a deficit in coenzyme Q (CoQ); (the most abundant endogenous antioxidant in the body), compared to offspring of a normal birth-weight. When these ‘recuperated’ offspring were supplemented with a clinically relevant dose of coenzyme Q, this corrected these markers of aortic cellular aging and aortic damage. Importantly, measurement of CoQ in white blood cells (WBCs) a clinically accessible tissue demonstrated a coenzyme Q deficit in these ‘recuperated’ offspring. Importantly, this strongly correlated with aortic CoQ levels. Furthermore, we also showed a highly significant relationship between CoQ levels and aortic telomere length in WBCs, suggesting that low WBC CoQ levels can predict short aortic telomeres, and therefore susceptibility to aortic disease. (more…)
Author Interviews, Cost of Health Care, Geriatrics, Nursing / 11.12.2014

Karen Dorman Marek, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN Bernita 'B' Steffl Professor of Geriatric Nursing Arizona State University College of Nursing & Health Innovation Phoenix, AZ 85004-0696MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Karen Dorman Marek, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN Bernita 'B' Steffl Professor of Geriatric Nursing Arizona State University College of Nursing & Health Innovation Phoenix, AZ 85004-0696 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: For many older adults, self-management of chronic illness is an overwhelming task, especially for those with mild cognitive impairment or complex medication regimens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cost outcomes of a home-based program that included both nurse care coordination and technology to support self-management of chronic illness, with as an emphasis on medications in frail older adults. A total of 414 older adults, identified as having difficulty self-managing their medications, were recruited at discharge from three Medicare-certified home health care agencies in a large Midwestern urban area. A prospective, randomized, controlled, three-arm, longitudinal design was used. A team consisting of both Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) coordinated care to two groups: home-based nurse care coordination (NCC) plus mediplanner group and NCC plus the MD.2 medication-dispensing machine group. Major findings were:
  • Total Medicare costs were $447 per month lower in the NCC + mediplanner group (p=0.11) when compared to the control group.
  • For participants in the study at least 3 months, total Medicare costs were $491 lower per month in the NCC + mediplanner group (p=0.06) compared to the control group.
  • The cost of the NCC intervention was $151 per month, yielding a net savings of $296 per month or $3552 per year for the NCC + mediplanner group.
  • Participants who received the nurse care coordination intervention scored significantly better than the control group in depression (p < 0.001), functional status (p < 0.001), cognition (p < 0.001), and quality of life (p < 0.001) than participants in the control group.
(more…)
Author Interviews, PLoS, Weight Research / 11.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Peter Würtz, PhD, Docent Head of Molecular Epidemiology, Computational Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Würtz: Obesity is linked with unfavorable cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but the fine-grained metabolic consequences of excess body weight remain unclear. We used a novel profiling technology developed in our research group to examine the metabolic consequences of excess body weight. We profiled over 12,000 healthy young volunteers from the general population to determine the detailed metabolic effects of having higher BMI (body mass index). We found that higher BMI is causing adverse metabolic changes in the blood levels of many amino acids and lipids, as well as an altered balance of omega-fatty acids and sex hormones. These measures have been linked with higher risk for developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Importantly, the metabolic deviations were not limited to obese individuals, but were observed in a continuous manner including for those who are lean or overweight. In other words, the metabolic profile becomes more adverse for any increase in BMI, with no threshold below which an increase in BMI would not affect the cardiometabolic risk profile. Genetic information was used to demonstrate that the metabolic effects are actually caused by having higher BMI. On the positive side, even a modest weight loss helped to diminish the adverse metabolic influences of excess body fat. (more…)
Author Interviews, Hepatitis - Liver Disease, JAMA, University of Pittsburgh / 11.12.2014

Adeel A. Butt, MD, MS, FACP, FIDSA Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs Department of Medicine Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine and Clinical and Translational Science University of Pittsburgh School of MedicineMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Adeel A. Butt, MD, MS, FACP, FIDSA Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs Department of Medicine Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine and Clinical and Translational Science University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Butt: Precise rate of progression of liver disease in Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is unknown because the precise time of infection with HCV is seldom known. Knowledge of liver disease progression is critical to determine the optimal time for treatment. We found that progression of liver disease starts early after acquiring HCV infection. This is more rapid than was previously thought. About 18% of HCV infected persons develop cirrhosis within 10 years of acquiring HCV infection, which is 3-fold higher than demographically similar HCV uninfected persons. (more…)
Author Interviews, Opiods, Pharmacology, University Texas / 11.12.2014

Barbara J Turner MD, MSEd, MA, MACP James D and Ona I Dye Professor of Medicine Director, Center for Research to Advance Community Health (ReACH) University of Texas Health Science Center San AntonioMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Barbara J Turner MD, MSEd, MA, MACP James D and Ona I Dye Professor of Medicine Director, Center for Research to Advance Community Health (ReACH) University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Turner: Daily dose of opioid analgesics has been widely used to assess the risk of overdose death and this risk has been reported to be greatest for a morphine equivalent dose at least 100 to 120 mg per day. However, the total dose of filled opioid prescriptions over a period of time may offer a complementary measure of the risk to that provided by the daily dose. In fact, the total dose is not necessarily a simple linear transformation of the daily dose because not all patients use opioids every day, instead it reflects the total amount of opioids available to a patient. Among 206,869 national HMO patients aged 18-64 with non-cancer pain filling at least 2 schedule II or III opioid analgesic prescriptions, the rate of overdose was 471 per 100,000 person-years. Over the study period of 3.5 years, risk of drug overdose was two to three times greater for patients with a daily dose >100 mg regardless of the total dose filled or a daily dose of 50-99 mg with a high total dose (>1830 mg) filled a six month interval (versus no opioids). The overdose risk was increased slightly for 50-99 mg per day with a lower total dose and not increased at all for daily doses under 20 mg regardless of the total dose. (more…)
Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Lipids, PLoS / 11.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Prof. Erik Ingelsson, MD, PhD, FAHA Professor of Molecular Epidemiology and Andrea Ganna PhD student Uppsala University Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Coronary heart disease (CHD) comprises a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Measurement of metabolites, small molecules, in the blood could allow earlier diagnosis and inform about mechanisms leading to CHD. We examined the metabolic profiles (including thousands of metabolites) of blood samples from more than 3,600 individuals from Sweden that had been followed-up for up to 10 years, and found two lipid-related metabolites, lysophosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin that reduced the risk of developing coronary heart disease and another lipid metabolite, monoglycerides, that was instead associated with increased risk. (more…)
Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease / 11.12.2014

Anders Nissen Bonde MBs Department of Cardiology Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Gentofte, Denmark MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Anders Nissen Bonde MBs Department of Cardiology Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Gentofte, Denmark Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Patients with severe chronic kidney disease have been excluded from randomized trials of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation.They represent a very fragile group as they are both at increased risk of stroke/thromboembolism and major bleedings, and previous observational studies have had conflicting conclusions regarding the safety and benefits of the treatment. A previous study from our department reported both increased risk of bleeding and reduced risk of stroke with warfarin. We wanted to assess the net clinical benefit of aspirin and warfarin in these patients, balancing stroke and major bleeding associated with the treatment. (more…)
Author Interviews, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, Toxin Research / 10.12.2014

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Yun-Chul Hong MD, PhD Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine Director, Institute of Environmental Medicine College of Medicine Seoul National University MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Yun-Chul Hong: Because there are some reports showing Bisphenol-A exposure increase when we eat or drink canned food or beverage and at the same time it has been known that Bisphenol-A exposure is associated with blood pressure increase, we conducted this study to examine whether consuming canned beverage and consequent increase of Bisphenol-A exposure actually increase blood pressure. We found that drinking 2 canned beverages increase in 5 mmHg of systolic blood pressure. (more…)
Author Interviews, Case Western, Education, JAMA, Surgical Research / 10.12.2014

Ravi Rajaram MD Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC), Department of Surgery and Center for Healthcare Studies in the Institute for Public Health and Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IllinoisMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ravi Rajaram MD Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC), Department of Surgery and Center for Healthcare Studies in the Institute for Public Health and Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Rajaram: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medication Education (ACGME) first implemented restrictions to resident duty hours in 2003. In surgical populations, these reforms have not been associated with a change in patient outcomes. However, in 2011, the ACGME further restricted resident duty hours to include: a maximum of 16 hours of continuous duty for first-year residents (interns), direct supervision of interns at all times, a maximum of 4 hours for transitions in care activities for residents in-house for 24 hours, and that these residents be given 14 hours off prior to returning to work. The association between the 2011 ACGME resident duty hour reform with surgical patient outcomes and resident education has not previously been reported. The 2011 resident duty hour reform was not associated with a change in death or serious morbidity in the two years after the reform was implemented. Additionally, the 2011 duty hour reform was not associated with a change in any of the secondary outcomes examined, including any morbidity, failure to rescue, surgical site infection, and sepsis. Furthermore, common measures of surgical resident education, such as in-training examination scores and board certification pass rates, were unchanged after the implementation of the 2011 duty hour reform when compared to scores prior to the reform. (more…)
Author Interviews, Education, JAMA / 10.12.2014

Lisa Diamond, MD, MPH, FACP | Assistant Attending Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences | Department of Medicine Evelyn Lauder Breast Center New York, NY 10065MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Lisa Diamond, MD, MPH, FACP | Assistant Attending Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences | Department of Medicine Evelyn Lauder Breast Center New York, NY 10065 Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Diamond: More than 25 million U.S. residents have limited English proficiency, an 80 percent increase from 1990 to 2010. Limited English proficiency (LEP) may impede participation in the English­ language-dominant health care system. Little is known about the non-English-language skills of physicians in training. In our analysis of the non-English-language skills of applicants to residency programs in the U.S., we found that although applicants are linguistically diverse, most of their languages do not match the languages spoken by the U.S. population with Limited English proficiency. (more…)
Author Interviews, Autism, JAMA, OBGYNE, UC Davis / 10.12.2014

Cheryl K. Walker, MD Associate Professor Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty, The MIND Institute School of Medicine, University of California, Davis MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Cheryl K. Walker, MD Associate Professor Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty, The MIND Institute School of Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Walker: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurobehavioral condition identified in 1 in 68 U.S. children and is part of a broader group of developmental disabilities that affects 1 in 6 children.  Growing evidence suggests that Autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay originate during fetal life.  Preeclampsia is a complicated and frequently dangerous pregnancy condition that appears to arise from a shallow placental connection and may increase the risk of abnormal neurodevelopment through several pathways. Medical Research: What are the main findings? Dr. Walker: Children with Autism spectrum disorder were more than twice as likely to have been exposed to preeclampsia compared with children with typical development.  Risk for ASD was increased further in children born to mothers with more severe presentations of preeclampsia.  Mothers of children with developmental delay were more than 5 times more likely to have had severe forms preeclampsia – often with evidence of reduced placental function – compared with mothers of children with typical development. (more…)
Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, Breast Cancer, Radiology / 09.12.2014

Brian L. Sprague, PhD Office of Health Promotion Research, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT MedicalResearch.com Interview with:  Brian L. Sprague, PhD Office of Health Promotion Research, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? Dr. Sprague: Mammographic breast density refers to the appearance of breast tissue on a mammogram.  High breast density means that there is a greater amount of glandular tissue and connective tissue, which appears white on a mammogram.  It is more difficult to detect breast cancer on a mammogram when there is greater breast density.  It has also been shown that women with dense breasts are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.  Because of these two factors, women with dense breasts have a greater chance of developing breast cancer after a normal screening mammogram than women whose breasts are not dense.  Many states have now passed laws that require mammography facilities to inform women with dense breasts so that they are aware of this.  Similar legislation is now under consideration at the national level.  More than 40% of women undergoing mammography screening have dense breasts. Researchers are trying to determine whether supplemental breast cancer screening with other tools would improve outcomes for women with dense breasts.  One possible approach is to use ultrasound imaging to screen for breast cancer in women with dense breasts after they have had a normal mammogram.  We wanted to estimate the benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of this approach compared to mammography screening only.  No randomized trials or observational studies have assessed long term outcomes after ultrasound screening for women with dense breasts, but we have short term data on how often cancer is diagnosed by ultrasound screening and how often false positive exams occur.  We used computer simulation modeling to estimate long term outcomes by combining the currently available data on mammography and ultrasound screening with the best available data on breast cancer risk and survival. (more…)