Validity of claims-based algorithms for selected cancers in Japan: Results from the VALIDATE-J study

Cynthia de Luise, Naonobu Sugiyama, Toshitaka Morishima, Takakazu Higuchi, Kayoko Katayama, Sho Nakamura, Haoqian Chen, Edward Nonnenmacher, Ryota Hase, Sadao Jinno, Mitsuyo Kinjo, Daisuke Suzuki, Yoshiya Tanaka, Soko Setoguchi 05/07/2021

Purpose: Real-world data from large administrative claims databases in Japan have recently become available, but limited evidence exists to support their validity. VALIDATE-J validated claims-based algorithms for selected cancers in Japan. Methods: VALIDATE-J was a multicenter, cross-sectional, retrospective study. Disease-identifying algorithms were used to identify cancers diagnosed between January or March 2012 and December 2016 using claims data from two hospitals in Japan…

The Associations Between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Trust in Physician With Immunization Service Use in U.S. Chinese Older Adults

Mengxiao Wang, Mengting Li, Xin Qi Dong 05/03/2021

This study investigated sociodemographic factors for immunization care use and the relationship between trust in physician (TIP) and immunization service use in older Chinese Americans.

COVID vaccine efficacy against the B.1.351 (“South African”) variant—The urgent need to lay the groundwork for possible future challenge studies

Nir Eyal, Arthur Caplan, Stanley Plotkin 04/27/2021

SARS-CoV-2’s B.1.351 (“South African”) variant “is markedly more resistant to neutralization by convalescent plasma (9.4 fold) and vaccinee sera (10.3–12.4 fold),”1,2 raising the specter that that variant could resist the leading authorized spike-based vaccines.2 Indeed, in earlier lab exams, Moderna’s vaccine showed “A six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers … with the B.1.351 variant relative to prior variants.”3 Pfizer-BioNTech’s “neutralization of the B.1.351-spike virus was weaker by approximately two thirds.”4 When tested in human volunteers, AstraZeneca’s vaccine provided only 10% protection from mild to moderate disease caused by that variant, and its distribution in South Africa was suspended.5 Janssen’s vaccine also did less well in South Africa than elsewhere, presumably due to lower neutralization of infecting viruses…

Natural History of “Pure” Primary Lateral Sclerosis

Anhar Hassan, Shivam Om Mittal, William T. Hu, Keith A. Josephs, Eric J. Sorenson, J. Eric Ahlskog 04/27/2021

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), classified as pure when the EMG is normal, converts to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after longitudinal follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed of patients with pure PLS at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (1990-2016). Inclusion criteria required a normal EMG during the first 4 years of symptoms…

What is the research question?

Elizabeth A. Suarez, Soko Setoguchi 04/23/2021

Abstract: A well-articulated research question will clearly define the hypothesis, the research rationale, and core elements of the study: the population, the intervention, the comparator, the outcome, the timing or duration of study, the setting, and the effect to be estimated. Clear definition of these elements will facilitate a research design that answers the intended clinical question…

Corrigendum to “Using ICD-10 codes to identify elective epilepsy monitoring unit admissions from administrative billing data: A validation study” [Epilepsy Behav 111 (2020) 107194] (Epilepsy & Behavior (2020) 111, (S1525505020303735), (10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107194))

Brad K. Kamitaki, Shelly Rishty, Ram Mani, Stephen Wong, Lisa M. Bateman, Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins, Joel C. Cantor, Lawrence C. Kleinman 04/13/2021

Abstract: The authors regret that they did not acknowledge Dr. Kleinman’s funding source. Dr. Kleinman was supported by grant U3DMC32755-02 from the Health Resources & Services Administration. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused…

Acute respiratory distress syndrome and COVID-19 in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus

Simone Sukhdeo, Emily Negroponte, Hariprem Rajasekhar, Sunanda Gaur, Daniel B. Horton, Amisha Malhotra, L. Nandini Moorthy 04/01/2021

We report a case of COVID-19 in a pediatric patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who presented with respiratory distress marked by increased work of breathing and low oxygen saturation. Lab tests confirmed COVID-19, and showed lymphocytopenia and elevated markers of inflammation and coagulopathy. Chest X-ray showed bilateral mid-lung opacities, and the patient required intubation early in his disease course…

Lower urinary tract symptoms in older Chinese American women: prevalence and risk factors

Tsung Mou, Oluwateniola Brown, Melissa Simon, Xin Qi Dong, Kimberly Kenton, C. Emi Bretschneider 03/17/2021

Introduction and hypothesis: The aim was to examine the prevalence of and risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a community-dwelling cohort of older Chinese American women.

Racial disparities in post-acute home health care referral and utilization among older adults with diabetes

Jamie M. Smith, Olga F. Jarrín, Haiqun Lin, Jennifer Tsui, Tina Dharamdasani, Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins 03/02/2021

Abstract: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in diabetes prevalence, health services utilization, and outcomes including disabling and life-threatening complications among patients with diabetes. Home health care may especially benefit older adults with diabetes through individualized education, advocacy, care coordination, and psychosocial support for patients and their caregivers…

Making Decisions About Stopping Medicines for Well-Controlled Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Mixed-Methods Study of Patients and Caregivers

Daniel B. Horton, Jomaira Salas, Aleksandra Wec, Melanie Kohlheim, Pooja Kapadia, Timothy Beukelman, Alexis Boneparth, Ky Haverkamp, Melissa L. Mannion, L. Nandini Moorthy, Sarah Ringold, Marsha Rosenthal 03/01/2021

Objective: Improved treatments for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have increased remission rates. We conducted this study to investigate how patients and caregivers make decisions about stopping medications when JIA is inactive. Methods: We performed a mixed-methods study of caregivers and patients affected by JIA, recruited through social media and flyers, and selected by purposive sampling. Participants discussed their experiences with JIA, medications, and decision-making through recorded telephone interviews…

Broad cross-national public support for accelerated COVID-19 vaccine trial designs

David Broockman, Joshua Kalla, Alexander Guerrero, Mark Budolfson, Nir Eyal, Nicholas P. Jewell, Monica Magalhaes, Jasjeet S. Sekhon 01/08/2021

Abstract: A vaccine for COVID-19 is urgently needed. Several vaccine trial designs may significantly accelerate vaccine testing and approval, but also increase risks to human subjects. Concerns about whether the public would see such designs as ethical represent an important roadblock to their implementation; accordingly, both the World Health Organization and numerous scholars have called for consulting the public regarding them…

Precision medicine with multi-omics strategies, deep phenotyping, and predictive analysis

Zeeshan Ahmed 01/01/2021

Precision medicine is driven by the paradigm shift of empowering clinicians to predict the most appropriate course of action for patients with complex diseases and to improve routine medical and public health practice. Understanding patients’ multi-omics make-up in conjunction with the clinical data will lead to determining predisposition, diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers and to optimal paths providing personalized care for diverse and targeted chronic, acute, and infectious diseases…

Antibody profiles according to mild or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 2020

William T. Hu, J. Christina Howell, Tugba Ozturk, Karima Benameur, Leda C. Bassit, Richard Ramonell, Kevin S. Cashman, Shama Pirmohammed, John D. Roback, Vincent C. Marconi, Irene Yang, Valerie V. Mac, Daniel Smith, Ignacio Sanz, Whitney Wharton, F. Eun-Hyung Lee, Raymond F. Schinazi 12/01/2020

Abstract : Among patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), IgM levels increased early after symptom onset for those with mild and severe disease, but IgG levels increased early only in those with severe disease. A similar pattern was observed in a separate serosurveillance cohort. Mild COVID-19 should be investigated separately from severe COVID-19…

In-Person Contacts and Their Relationship With Alcohol Consumption Among Young Adults With Hazardous Drinking During a Pandemic

Brian Suffoletto, Nilam Ram, Tammy Chung 11/01/2020

Purpose: Social distancing strategies such as “stay-at-home” (SAH) orders can slow the transmission of contagious viruses like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but require population adherence to be effective. This study explored adherence to SAH orders by young adults with hazardous drinking, and the role of alcohol consumption with in-person contacts on adherence…

Filial expectation among Chinese immigrants in the United States of America: A cohort comparison

Man Guo, Elizabeth Byram, Xinqi Dong 10/10/2020

Relying on two unique data-sets on Chinese older immigrants (N = 3,157) and younger immigrants with ageing parents (N = 469) in Chicago, this study compared the level of filial expectation …

“Medication Is Just One Piece of the Whole Puzzle”: How Nursing Homes Change Their Use of Antipsychotic Medications

Marsha Rosenthal, Jessica Poling, Aleksandra Wec, Elizabeth Connolly, Beth Angell, Stephen Crystal 09/30/2020

Abstract: Antipsychotic medication use for nursing home residents with dementia poses major patient safety challenges. This article investigates health professionals’ experiences with decision-making during changes under the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes (National Partnership) and its companion state coalitions. These programs were introduced in 2012 to encourage reductions in antipsychotic use and increased use of nonpharmacological treatments for dementia…

Elder mistreatment and psychological distress among U.S. Chinese older adults

Ying Yu Chao, Mengting Li, Shou En Lu, Xin Qi Dong 09/04/2020

Objective: This study aimed to examine the associations between different types of elder mistreatment, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms among U.S. Chinese older adults …

Application of Healthcare ‘Big Data’ in CNS Drug Research: The Example of the Neurological and mental health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN)

Jenni Ilomäki, J. Simon Bell, Adrienne Y.L. Chan, Anna Maija Tolppanen, Hao Luo, Li Wei, Edward Chia Cheng Lai, Ju Young Shin, Giorgia De Paoli, Romin Pajouheshnia, Frederick K. Ho, Lorenna Reynolds, Kui Kai Lau, Stephen Crystal, Wallis C.Y. Lau, Kenneth K.C. Man, Ruth Brauer, Esther W. Chan, Chin Yao Shen, Ju Hwan Kim, Terry Y.S. Lum, Sirpa Hartikainen, Marjaana Koponen, Evelien Rooke, Marloes Bazelier, Olaf Klungel, Soko Setoguchi, Jill P. Pell, Sharon Cook, Ian C.K. Wong 09/01/2020

Abstract: Neurological and psychiatric (mental health) disorders have a large impact on health burden globally. Cognitive disorders (including dementia) and stroke are leading causes of disability. Mental health disorders, including depression, contribute up to one-third of total years lived with disability. The Neurological and mental health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN) is an international multi-database network that harnesses administrative and electronic medical records from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America.

Adolescent childbirth, miscarriage, and abortion: associations with changes in alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use

Irene Tung, Jordan Beardslee, Dustin Pardini, Tammy Chung, Kate Keenan, Alison E. Hipwell 08/19/2020

Background: Adolescent girls who become pregnant demonstrate greater risk for substance use than same-aged peers. However, it remains unclear how risk relates to normative changes in adolescence. Few studies have examined adolescent substance use changes before, during, and after pregnancy and considered how pregnancy outcomes (childbirth, miscarriage, abortion) differentially influence substance use changes. The present study examined associations between different adolescent pregnancy outcomes and within-person changes in substance use from prepregnancy to postpregnancy. Methods: Participants included 2,450 girls (52% Black) oversampled from low-income urban neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, PA. Participants self-reported pregnancy outcomes and substance use frequency (alcohol, cigarette, marijuana) annually from ages 11–20. Fixed effects regressions focused on first births, first miscarriages, and first abortions occurring from ages 12–19 to test the associations between pregnancy outcomes and within-individual changes in substance use from prepregnancy to postpregnancy…

Are Hispanic, Black, and Asian Physicians Truly Less Burned out Than White Physicians? Individual and Institutional Considerations

Joel C. Cantor, Dawne M. Mouzon 08/07/2020

Garcia and colleagues1 delve into an understudied but vitally important physician workforce concern: professional burnout. Their work draws on a national survey of physicians with a sample large enough to examine differences in important metrics by race/ethnicity. Given the long-standing struggle to improve the diversity of the medical profession, examining the extent of burnout among physicians of minority racial/ethnic groups is imperative…