Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Social determinants of health (SDOH) influence cancer prevention and outcomes. Among SDOH, economic stability-including food insecurity, income, employment, and housing stability-has a major impact on health. However, data linking food security status with cancer screening completion remain limited. We examined whether lower food security status was associated with lower completion of colorectal, breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screening. METHODS:We performed a retrospective analysis of the 2018-2023 National Health Interview Survey. Analyses were limited to cancer-specific complete-case cohorts: colorectal (N = 59,849), breast (N = 30,867), cervical (N = 56,229), and prostate (N = 20,518). Food security was categorized as high, marginal, or low/very low. Screening completion was the dependent variable. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for screening by food security status, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical covariates. Sensitivity analyses used age-stratified eligibility definitions across survey years. RESULTS:Compared with high food security, marginal food security was associated with lower odds of screening across cancers (aOR range, 0.63-0.88), and low/very low food security showed similar or larger deficits (aOR range, 0.60-0.88). Associations were significant for all four cancers and were similar in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS:Lower food security status was associated with lower completion of cancer screening. Addressing food insecurity may improve screening equity and reduce cancer disparities. IMPACT/CONCLUSIONS:Lower food security status was associated with lower completion of guideline-recommended screening across four cancers, even after multivariable adjustment. Future work should test whether interventions addressing food insecurity can improve screening.

BACKGROUND:Despite the important role of Geriatricians in our society, there is a shortage of Geriatric Medicine specialists. This study surveyed fellows enrolled in ACGME approved Geriatric Medicine fellowships in the United States for insight into why they joined a Geriatric Medicine fellowship. METHODS:Survey links were sent to all Geriatric Medicine Program Directors from July-Sept in 2019 and 2020 and we asked them to share the surveys with their fellows. Survey responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. The Likert-scaled dataset was analyzed with percentage of responses for each item related to "influence" and "barrier" domains. We examined the associations between variables using the Chi-Square test. The free-text fields were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS:There were 149 respondents (80% female) and approximately half of the respondents were from foreign medical schools (52%). Geriatric Medicine was the first fellowship choice for 75% of respondents. Among respondents who were US medical graduates, 89% chose Geriatric Medicine as first-choice specialty for fellowship, in contrast to 61.5% among the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) (p < 0.001). Major reasons why fellows chose Geriatric Medicine were unique career opportunities and care of complex patients. The largest barrier/concern for pursuing Geriatric Medicine fellowship was the low salary associated with the field. CONCLUSIONS:As the first national survey of Geriatric Medicine fellows evaluating their reasons for pursuing a Geriatric Medicine fellowship, these results can be used by Geriatric Medicine fellowship programs and health care systems to improve recruitment into Geriatric Medicine fellowships.

OBJECTIVE:We implemented and evaluated a novel score called the blunt thoracic trauma score (BTTS) for the triage of chest wall injury (CWI) patients to optimize utilization of the intensive care unit (ICU). METHOD/METHODS:or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Logistic/negative binomial regression models were used to find predictors for ICU admission and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS:Six hundred thirty-three patients were included; 407 pre-BTTS/226 post-BTTS. Pre-BTTShigher median ISS (p < 0.001), more rib fractures (p < 0.001). Post-BTTS older (p < 0.001), more comorbidities (coronary artery disease [p = 0.028], hyperlipidemia [p = 0.004], pulmonary disease [p = 0.038]). Post-BTTS cohort had lower rates of ICU admission (p = 0.008), shorter ICU-LOS (p < 0.001), and Hospital-LOS (p < 0.001). Post-BTTS cohort was associated with shorter Hospital-LOS after adjusting for other factors (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS:Implementation of a novel BTTS for triage of CWI was associated with decreased ICU admission rates and shorter ICU-LOS and Hospital-LOS. The decreased Hospital-LOS persisted even after controlling for other factors.

BACKGROUND:Nondiagnostic cytology for thyroid nodules, consistent with The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology category I (B1) poses a management dilemma for clinicians. The objective of this study was to define the malignancy risk of nodules with B1 cytology using American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting & Data System (TI-RADS) and to assess whether TI-RADS can help guide the decision to perform a repeat biopsy of these nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:This retrospective cohort study evaluated 139 B1 nodules that had a definitive diagnosis on repeat biopsy or surgical excision. Sonographic features were evaluated and classified according to TI-RADS. TI-RADS category and total points were compared to the final diagnosis to determine the malignancy risk of B1 thyroid nodules. RESULTS:Of the 139 nodules, 11 (7.9%) were malignant. The malignancy risk of nodules assigned TI-RADS category 1 and 2 were both 0%, TI-RADS 3 was 2.9%, whereas TI-RADS 4 and 5 were 5.9% and 46.2%, respectively. The optimal cutoff for TI-RADS points predicting malignancy was 5 points. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:B1 thyroid nodules in TI-RADS categories 1-3 may not require repeat biopsy given low malignancy risk. However, B1 nodules in TI-RADS categories 4 and 5 have a higher malignancy risk and thus should undergo repeat biopsy.

BACKGROUND:Tools for predicting heart failure (HF) in CKD patients remain limited. We aimed to study whether standard ECG features or heart rate variability parameters predict de novo HF hospitalization in individuals with CKD. METHODS:Utilizing a large NYU ECG database linked with electronic health records (2012-2021), we analyzed a cohort of patients with pre-existing CKD. Besides standard ECG features, we extracted heart rate variability (measures the time between consecutive heart beats in milliseconds) features from the ECGs as predictors. The index ECG was the first ECG performed after the index eGFR date (baseline) and was required to be done prior to initiation of dialysis, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), or transplant. The primary outcome was time to index HF hospitalization (≥30 days after the index ECG) based on discharge ICD-10 codes. LASSO-penalized Cox regression was used to identify predictors. Sensitivity analyses used Fine-Gray competing risk models for death and ESKD. RESULTS:Among 11,409 individuals (median age: 72; ∼50% male) with a median of 976 days, 880 individuals (8%) experienced an index HF hospitalization. Models incorporating ECG and clinical parameters had excellent discrimination (C-statistic 0.76 in the training set and 0.73 in the validation set). Among ECG features, the PR interval, corrected QT, and T axis were independently associated with higher risks of index HF hospitalization ≥30 days after the index ECG in both primary models (p<0.001 for all) and in models accounting for competing risks (p<0.01 for all). History of arrhythmia (hazard ratio (HR, 1.60, 95% CI: 1.36-1.88), valvular disease (HR1.51, 95% CI: 1.27-1.81), and diabetes (HR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.22-1.65) were the strongest clinical predictors. HRV parameters were not independently associated with HF. CONCLUSIONS:Although ECG-derived HRV indices were not independently associated with risk of HF, several standard ECG features are associated with HF hospitalization in CKD.

CONTEXT/BACKGROUND:Traumatic musculoskeletal injuries may result in chronic pain and mobility limitations, decreasing quality of life, and increasing predisposition to comorbid disorders. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) utilizes palpatory assessment and application of manual forces as an adjunct intervention for musculoskeletal disease. Multiple studies have demonstrated OMT's potential benefits for a range of disease states, but data on osteopathic OMT are limited. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The objective of our study was to understand the potential benefits of a novel OMT for trauma outpatient program for the care of injured patients suffering chronic pain and mobility limitations. METHODS:In 2021, the New York University (NYU) Langone Hospital - Long Island Level 1 Trauma Center established a novel outpatient OMT for Trauma Program (OTP). We performed a retrospective analysis of OTP patients seen from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022 with the chief complaint of refractory chronic (persistent ≥3 months since inciting injury) postinjury pain and mobility limitations (inclusion criterion). We excluded patients missing follow-up, then extracted and analyzed patient demographic, injury-specific, and OMT data. Data are presented as frequencies (percentages) or medians (interquartile range [IQR]). RESULTS:Forty-three patients (75.4 % of patients treated at the outpatient OTP) reported a mechanism of injury (MOI). Of these, 30 (69.8 %) met the inclusion criteria, and seven met the exclusion criterion, yielding 23 total patients for the analysis (40.3 % of the total OTP population). 73.9 % were female aged 46 (39-59) years old. Patients presented 3.00 (0.58-20) years since etiologic injury. MOIs included 56.5 % motor vehicle collisions (MVC), 21.7 % falls, 8.7 % penetrating, and 13.0 % sports-related or lifting injuries. Patients reported 3 (2-4) treatment modalities tried and 2 (1-3) medications attempted prior to the OTP. After the first OMT session, 95.7 % of patients reported subjective improvement in pain with a decrease in pain score 3 (3-7) out of 10. After OMT, patients also self-reported ease of activities of daily living (ADLs, 82.6 %), improved sleep hygiene (26.1 %), improved anxiety/mood (65.2 %), and decreased use of analgesic medication (13.0 %). Four (17.4 %) reported post-OMT complication of 2-3 days of self-limited, mild musculoskeletal pain. Univariate logistic regression models demonstrate that OMT benefited patients regardless of time since inciting injury. CONCLUSIONS:OMT may benefit refractory chronic traumatic pain and mobility limitations regardless of the time since inciting the injury. This is the first major publication from the OTP and bolsters proof-of-concept for an organized OMT program at a level 1 trauma center. Further study, including comparative analysis with more formalized pain assessments utilizing validated tools as well as standardized OMT session surveys, is warranted.

BACKGROUND & AIM/UNASSIGNED:Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing health issue. Identifying factors that prevent hepatic lipid accumulation could inform new MASLD prevention or treatment strategies. We previously demonstrated that adipocyte microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) regulates intracellular lipolysis by inhibiting adipose triglyceride lipase activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of adipose MTP deficiency on MASLD. METHODS/UNASSIGNED: RESULTS/UNASSIGNED: CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:These findings highlight the importance of regulated FA flux from adipose tissue to the liver and the liver's adaptive capacity to utilize adipose-derived FAs in maintaining hepatic health. Modulation of adipocyte FA release may represent a therapeutic strategy to reduce hepatic steatosis. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS/UNASSIGNED:This study provides significant insights into the role of adipose-specific microsomal triglyceride transfer protein in regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and its potential implications for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. By demonstrating that microsomal triglyceride transfer protein deficiency in adipose tissue leads to increased fatty acid oxidation and reduced hepatic steatosis through enhanced PPARα activation, the research underscores the importance of adipose-liver crosstalk in maintaining liver health. These findings suggest that targeting adipocyte fatty acid release could be a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate hepatic lipid accumulation and combat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, offering a novel approach to addressing this growing health issue.

BACKGROUND:This pilot study aimed to evaluate the presence and use of Instagram among podiatric medicine residency programs and its effect on the 2023 match process. METHODS:Council on Podiatric Medical Education-approved residency programs in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut were evaluated for the presence of an Instagram account and metrics including number of posts, number of followers, use of highlights, use of reels, and date of last post (to determine account activity). Programs were also analyzed for regional or national ranking (as per the U.S. News & World Report) and total number of adult hospital beds (a proxy for facility size, staff support, and resources). Programs were then evaluated to determine whether they entered Match Phase II (MPII), otherwise known as "the scramble." RESULTS:Podiatric medicine residency programs with an Instagram account had a lower likelihood of entering MPII (P = .006). Individual Instagram metrics did not correlate with whether a program entered MPII. Regionally or nationally ranked programs tended to have an Instagram account. There was no correlation between total number of adult hospital beds and whether a podiatric medicine residency program has an Instagram account. CONCLUSIONS:This pilot study suggests that podiatric medicine residency programs without an Instagram account should consider establishing one, and those with an account should keep their page current, as Instagram may be an impactful resource for prospective applicants in the match process. Instagram presence of podiatric medicine residency programs in the United States has not been studied to date, making this study the first of its kind.

BACKGROUND:Increased efforts to understand the reasons for the rise in pedestrian related traffic fatalities have demonstrated that these injuries occur in minority and lower income neighborhoods. The purpose of our study was to characterize the patient population suffering from pedestrian injuries in suburban setting, to determine whether the incidence of pedestrian injuries is associated with the social deprivation index (SDI) and to identify zip codes with a higher incidence of pedestrian injuries. METHODS:Single center, descriptive, retrospective cohort study of all patients suffering from pedestrian injuries admitted to our Level I Trauma Center (01/2014-10/2022). Demographic characteristics were summarized by groups and presented using the median (IQR) or frequency (%). Spearman's rank correlation was computed to assess the relationship between incidence of pedestrian injuries and SDI. ArcGIS was utilized to map the number of pedestrians injured, SDI, and percentage of households without a vehicle by zip code. RESULTS:719 patients identified had suffered pedestrian injuries. Median age of injury was 49(IQR 29-64), and median ISS was 8(IQR 4-14). There was a weak, but significant positive correlation between incidence of pedestrian injuries and SDI [r = .16; p-value = 0.02]. The zip code with the most injuries was Hempstead. CONCLUSIONS:Hempstead has the highest number of pedestrian injuries, highest SDI and highest percentage of households without a vehicle. However, overall correlation between incidence of pedestrian injuries and SDI was weak, suggesting that SDI may not be the only factor. Future research should focus on investigating other factors such as the presence of multilane arterial roads in these areas.