Faculty Bibliography

Introduction: Task-shifting to non-physician health workers (NPHWs) has been an effective model for managing infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health. There is inadequate evidence to show the effectiveness of NPHWs to manage cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Objectives: The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases funded twelve studies in 2012 of which six focussed on task-shifting to NPHWs for the management of hypertension. We report the lessons learnt from the field. Methods: All six studies were cluster randomised control trials aimed at using NPHWs, within the local health care system, to improve the management of hypertension. The studies were conducted in Colombia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia and South Africa. From each of the studies we obtained information on the types of tasks shifted, the professional level from which the task was shifted, the training provided and the challenges faced. These details were collated and mapped for analysis. Results: The tasks shifted to NPHWs included screening of individuals, referral to physicians for diagnosis and management, patient education for lifestyle improvement, followup and patient reminders for medication adherence and appointments. In four studies, tasks were shifted from physicians to NPHWs and in two studies tasks were shared between two different levels of NPHWs. Training programs ranged between 3 and 7 days with refresher training at regular intervals. Two studies involved the use of clinical decision support tools. Challenges faced by the studies included system level barriers such as inability to prescribe evidence based medications, varying capacity and skill sets of NPHWs, high workload and staff turnover. Conclusion: With the acute shortage and mal-distribution of the health workforce in low and middle income countries (LMIC), achieving better health outcomes for the prevention and control of CVD is a major challenge. Task-shifting provides a potentially cost-effective and viable model for the management of CVD in LMICs

Background: Invasive melanoma is the second most common cancer in young adults, yet they exhibit poor skin-protective behavior. We previously demonstrated a significant association between melanoma risk, melanocortin receptor (MC1R) polymorphisms, and indoor ultraviolet light (UV) exposure. As existing melanoma risk models do not take these factors into account, we investigated whether these variables would improve the predictive ability of a clinical risk model, especially in a younger population. Methods: We determined MC1R genotype and collected self-reported phenotypic and UV (indoor and outdoor) exposure variables from 923 melanoma cases and 813 healthy controls between ages 25 - 59 from the Minnesota Skin Health Study. These data were initially used to develop a clinical melanoma risk model (Model A) with conventional risk factors (i.e. age; gender; hair, skin, and eye color; mole count, freckling, and family melanoma history). We then developed a second model (Model B) combining outdoor UV, indoor UV, and MC1R genotype variables with those in Model A to determine if the model's predictive ability improved. Finally, we assessed the predictive ability of both models when confined to younger subjects (ages 25-35). Results: The clinical model, combining conventional melanoma risk factors (Model A), yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.72 (95% CI 0.70 - 0.75). Incorporating outdoor UV, indoor UV, and MC1R genotype variables (Model B) increased the AUC to 0.75 (p=0.001, 0.72 - 0.77). Confining the analyses to younger subjects substantially increased the AUC of Model A to 0.78 (0.72 - 0.84) and Model B to 0.83 (p=0.007, 0.78-0.88). Conclusions: This preliminary risk model is the first in melanoma to demonstrate that the addition of genotypic data and indoor UV exposure results in a measurable increase in predictive ability when compared to models comprised only of clinical and outdoor UV exposure variables. The enhanced predictive ability of the model (AU!

Our study aimed to identify perceptions Latina women have about four different contraceptive methods and to investigate whether religiosity and acculturation play a role in their contraceptive choice. An observational cross-sectional study was performed at Bellevue Hospital. A questionnaire was given to women in the gynecology outpatient clinics asking about: oral contraceptive pills (OCP's), injectable contraception (DMPA), the Intrauterine device (IUD) and the Ortho-Evra Patch (Patch). In the 102 complete surveys, self identified Latina women were not convinced of the safety of OCPs and DMPA (less than 50% perceived them to be safe) and largely uncertain about the Patch and IUD. Latinas also demonstrated more negative beliefs about the side effects of OCPs and DMPA. In particular, they were concerned about weight gain, method reversibility, and bleeding. There was no substantial correlation between religiosity and contraceptive beliefs. Low level acculturated women were more likely to believe that the IUD and OCPs were harmful, as opposed to their more acculturated counterparts who demonstrated more negative beliefs about the Patch. Overall, Latina women in this study tended to overrate the risks associated with contraceptive use, particularly OCPs and DMPA. The markedly low method confidence suggested by high rates of 'unsure' answers is a possible explanation for why Latinas are less adherent with birth control than their white counterparts

PURPOSE:: The embryological origin of the utricle is thought to be a remnant of the fused caudal ends of the mullerian ducts (MDs). Others propose that the urogenital sinus (UGS) contributes either partially or totally to the development of this structure. Using immunohistochemical probes, we provide strong evidence that the utricle is of UGS origin only. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: Human fetal prostates, gestational ages 9 to 24 weeks, were serially cross-sectioned. Representative sections were stained with antibodies to p63 (basal cell marker), vimentin (mesoderm marker), uroplakins (marker for urothelium) Pax-2 (expressed in ductal and mesenchyme of urogenital system including the MDs and wolffian ducts) and Ki67 (proliferation). Apoptosis was detected with the TUNEL assay. RESULTS:: By 9 weeks there was weak expression of p63 in the basal layer of the UGS. At 11 weeks there was increased staining of p63 in the UGS and some p63 staining of the fused MDs, which expressed Pax-2 at this time. At 14 to 15 weeks as the MDs were undergoing apoptosis, there was an ingrowth of uroplakin-expressing UGS epithelium into the periurethral stroma, which formed a plate of p63 positive cells just beneath the UGS that was Ki67 positive. The remaining caudal MD epithelium was p63 negative and expressed vimentin and Pax-2. By 17 weeks the plate of p63 positive cells elongated forming the utricle that remained p63 positive but Pax-2 and vimentin negative. CONCLUSIONS:: We show that the utricle forms as an ingrowth of specialized cells from the dorsal wall of the UGS as the caudal MDs regress

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new device that couples any standard transvaginal ultrasound transducer to a special tenaculum by means of a specially designed adaptor that enables real-time ultrasound imaging and guidance of intrauterine surgical procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-five patients who underwent intrauterine surgical interventions were evaluated. Forty of these patients had pregnancy terminations. Three patients had curettage for early pregnancy complications. One patient had a polyp removed, and one patient underwent hysteroscopic submucous myomectomy. Five attending physicians performed 26 procedures. Four residents in training performed 19 procedures. All operators were instructed in the assembly and use of the device before their first procedure. Evaluation of the device was done by means of a detailed questionnaire. RESULTS: The procedures were completed successfully and without complications. The time that was involved for the various components of the surgical procedures was recorded; 83% to 90% of the time the operators felt that the technique increased safety and accuracy for the parameters that were evaluated. They required fewer intrauterine instrument manipulations; in 85% of the cases, they could detect the exact end point of the procedure more accurately. In 12% of cases, the operators felt that the device interfered with the performance of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The transvaginal ultrasound-assisted gynecological surgery system provided high-resolution images of the cervical canal and the uterine cavity during all stages of the procedure and provided improved indication of the procedure's end point. The increased safety and accuracy that was reported by most users was encouraging. The transvaginal ultrasound-assisted gynecologic surgery system appears to provide an enhanced alternative to transabdominal ultrasound guidance for intrauterine surgical procedures