Faculty Bibliography

Introduction: Educators have theorized that interventions grounded in dual process theory (DPT) and script theory (ST) may improve the diagnostic reasoning process of physicians but little empirical evidence exists. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, we assessed the impact of a clinical reasoning (CR) curriculum grounded in DPT and ST on medicine residents participating in one of three groups during a 6-month period: no, partial, or full intervention. Residents completed the diagnostic thinking inventory (DTI) at baseline and 6 months. At 6 months, participants also completed a post-survey assessing application of concepts to cases. Results: There was a significant difference between groups in application of concepts (no intervention 1.6 (0.65) compared to partial 2.3 (0.81) and full 2.2 (0.91), p = 0.05), as well as describing cases in problem representation format (no intervention 1.2 (0.38) and partial 1.5 (0.55) compared to full 2.1 (0.93), p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in change in DTI scores (no intervention 7.0 (16.3), partial 8.8 (9.8), full 7.8 (12.0)). Conclusions: Residents who participated in a CR curriculum grounded in DPT and ST were effective in applying principles of CR in cases from their practice. To our knowledge, this is the first workplace-based CR educational intervention study showing differences in the reasoning process residents apply to patients.

With current life expectancies exceeding 78 years on average, to be confronted with the discovery of a rare cancer often found in advanced stages is a startling devastation. Angiosarcoma of the intestine is a rare and aggressive tumor that is not often considered in the differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. Once found and accurately diagnosed, it is a bewildering race against time as its median survival time is 150 days from diagnosis. This case report details a rare small intestinal angiosarcoma with its host surpassing current epidemiological standards of survival time despite only being eligible for chemotherapy.

Internationally educated nurses (IENs) are an important part of the U.S. nursing workforce. Optimizing their transition-to-practice (TTP) experiences in the United States is crucial for ensuring high-quality patient and IENs' outcomes. The purpose of this integrative review is to analyze and synthesize the current evidence surrounding IEN TTP experiences in the United States from 2000 to 2018 to inform improvements in TTP. Eighteen studies were included. TTP was defined through IENs' description of facilitators and barriers of the transition process and presented in seven themes. Two themes were facilitators: support from family and nursing colleagues, and perceptions of self-efficacy. The remaining five themes were barriers: (a) the stigma associated with educational preparation, (b) communication and language, (c) differences in culture, (d) differences in nursing practice, and (e) legal issues. Findings are important for improving TTP programs. Further research focusing on the outcomes of transition programs is needed to inform policymaking surrounding IEN recruitment and retention.

Importance:The level of coronary artery calcium (CAC) can effectively stratify cardiovascular risk in middle-aged and older adults, but its utility for young adults is unclear. Objectives:To determine the prevalence of CAC in adults aged 30 to 49 years and the subsequent association of CAC with coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants:A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among 22 346 individuals from the CAC Consortium who underwent CAC testing (baseline examination, 1991-2010, with follow-up through June 30, 2014; CAC quantified using nonconrast, cardiac-gated computed tomography scans) for clinical indications and were followed up for cause-specific mortality. Participants were free of clinical CVD at baseline. Statistical analysis was performed from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures:The prevalence of CAC and the subsequent rates of CHD, CVD, and all-cause mortality. Competing risks regression modeling was used to calculate multivariable-adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios for CHD and CVD mortality. Results:The sample of 22 346 participants (25.0% women and 75.0% men; mean [SD] age, 43.5 [4.5] years) had a high prevalence of hyperlipidemia (49.6%) and family history of CHD (49.3%) but a low prevalence of current smoking (11.0%) and diabetes (3.9%). The prevalence of any CAC was 34.4%, with 7.2% having a CAC score of more than 100. During follow-up (mean [SD], 12.7 [4.0] years), there were 40 deaths related to CHD, 84 deaths related to CVD, and 298 total deaths. A total of 27 deaths related to CHD (67.5%) occurred among individuals with CAC at baseline. The CHD mortality rate per 1000 person-years was 10-fold higher among those with a CAC score of more than 100 (0.69; 95% CI, 0.41-1.16) compared with those with a CAC score of 0 (0.07; 95% CI, 0.04-0.12). After multivariable adjustment, those with a CAC score of more than 100 had a significantly increased risk of CHD (subdistribution hazard ratio, 5.6; 95% CI, 2.5-12.7), CVD (subdistribution hazard ratio, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.8-6.2), and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.9-3.6) compared with those with a CAC score of 0. Conclusions and Relevance:In a large sample of young adults undergoing CAC testing for clinical indications, 34.4% had CAC, and those with elevated CAC scores had significantly higher rates of CHD and CVD mortality. Coronary artery calcium may have potential utility for clinical decision-making among select young adults at elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.

Metabolic complications relating to complex effects of viral and immune mediated mechanisms are now a focus of clinical care among persons living with HIV (PWH) and obesity is emerging as a critical problem. To address knowledge gaps, the NIH sponsored a symposium in May 2018 entitled "Obesity and Fat Metabolism in HIV-infected Individuals." Mechanisms relating to adipose dysfunction and fibrosis, immune function, inflammation, and gastrointestinal integrity were highlighted as contributors to obesity among PWH. Fibrotic subcutaneous adipose tissue is metabolically dysfunctional and loses its capacity to expand leading to fat redistribution, including visceral obesity and ectopic fat accumulation, promoting insulin resistance. Viral proteins, including viral-protein-r (vpr) and negative-regulatory-factor (nef) have effects on adipogenic pathways and cellular metabolism in resident macrophages and T-cells. HIV also affects immune cell trafficking into the adipose compartments, with effects on adipogenesis, lipolysis, and ectopic fat accumulation. Key cellular metabolic functions are likely to be affected in PWH by gut derived cytokines and altered microbiota. There are limited strategies to reduce obesity specifically in PWH, enhancing our understanding of critical pathogenic mechanisms will enable the development of novel therapeutics which may normalize adipose tissue function and distribution, reduce inflammation, and improve insulin sensitivity in PWH.

Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the effects of a Transtheoretical model (TTM)-based tailored behavioral intervention (TBI), a non-tailored intervention (NTI) or usual care (UC) on: (1) the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern in 533 individuals with uncontrolled hypertension; and (2) the change from baseline to 6 months in proportion of participants in action or maintenance stages of change (SOC). Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial. Diet was evaluated using the validated Harvard DASH score calculated from Willett Food Frequency Questionnaires (range 8-40). The randomized groups were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, with adjustment for clustering by physician and baseline DASH scores. Results: At 6 months, compared to UC, TBI had a 1.28 point increase in DASH score (p ≤ .01) while NTI was not significant. At 6-month follow-up, TBI was more effective in advancing dietary SOC when compared to UC (56% vs 43%, p < .01) and NTI was not effective (46% vs 43%, p = .64). Conclusions: A phone-delivered tailored TTM-based intervention achieved greater improvement in DASH score and dietary SOC, suggesting that TTM-based tailored interventions can increase patients' dietary adherence.

Sedative-hypnotic medications are frequently prescribed for hospitalized patients with insomnia, but they can result in preventable harm such as delirium, falls, hip fractures, and increased morbidity. Furthermore, sedative-hypnotic initiation while in the hospital carries a risk of chronic use after discharge. Disrupted sleep is a major contributor to sedative-hypnotic use among patients in the hospital and other institutional settings. Numerous multicomponent studies on improving sleep quality in these settings have been described, some demonstrating an associated reduction of sedative-hypnotic prescriptions. This selected review summarizes effective interventions aimed at promoting sleep and reducing inappropriate sedative-hypnotic initiation and proposes an implementation strategy to guide quality improvement teams.

Patients with limited English proficiency skills are accessing health care services more frequently around the world. Language barriers increase patient vulnerability for adverse events, and health care interpreters may mitigate this risk. Nursing education regarding the effective and appropriate use of health care interpreters has been limited. Interpreters are natural partners for nurses as a strategy to bridge language barriers with patients and could be integrated more regularly into nursing education using clinical simulation strategies. This article offers an overview of the different types of interpreters in health care, proposes recommendations for integrating them into simulation education, and provides a case example to illustrate implementation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW/OBJECTIVE:The effect of the intestinal microbiome on urine chemistry and lithogenicity has been a popular topic. Here we review the evidence for exposure to antibiotics increasing the risk of nephrolithiasis. RECENT FINDINGS/RESULTS:Studies of the intestinal microbiome have focused on Oxalobacter formigenes, an anaerobe that frequently colonizes the human colon. As a degrader of fecal oxalate its presence is associated with lower urinary oxalate, which would be protective against calcium oxalate stone formation. It also appears capable of stimulating colonic oxalate secretion. A recent study showed that antibiotics can eliminate colonization with O. formigenes. In a case-control study, exposure to sulfa drugs, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurantoin/methenamine, and broad spectrum penicillins prospectively increased the odds of nephrolithiasis. The effect was greatest for those exposed at younger ages and 3-6 months before being diagnosed with nephrolithiasis. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS:Recent evidence suggests a possible, causal role of antibiotics in the development of kidney stones. A possible explanation for this finding includes alterations in the microbiome, especially effects on oxalate-degrading bacteria like O. formigenes. Ample reasons to encourage antibiotic stewardship already exist, but the possible role of antibiotic exposure in contributing to the increasing prevalence of kidney stones in children and adults is another rationale.