Faculty Bibliography

Background/Purpose: Parent anxiety can affect infant experiences of procedural pain. However, little is known about other parent psychological factors associated with parent anxiety related to infant/toddler cleft and craniofacial surgery, and to what degree preoperative parent anxiety affects infant/toddler experiences of postoperative pain. Objectives 1. To identify psychological factors associated with preoperative anxiety for parents with young infants/toddlers undergoing craniofacial surgery 2. To determine whether preoperative parent anxiety is associated with infant/toddler postoperative pain Methods/Description: This was a prospective cohort study of all patients undergoing primary cleft and craniofacial surgery at a tertiary care medical center. Seventy-one consecutive parents of infants/toddlers 2-18 months were recruited for this study. Preoperative parent assessment included: anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), coping (Brief COPE), Parent Health Locus of Control scale, de novo self-efficacy around child pain, and pain knowledge. Sociodemographic data included child's age, gender; previous surgery, NICU or feeding tube; and parent age, gender, socioeconomic status, and race. Subsequent nurse-assessed child pain scores were collected for patients admitted postoperatively. Analyses included hierarchical multivariable logistic and linear regression models. Results: Parents (n=71, 90% female) of young children (mean age 6.6 mo) undergoing cleft lip/palate (n=59) or cranial vault repair (n=13) were enrolled. Only maladaptive coping (OR 1.3, p<0.01, 95% CI 1.1, 1.6), low pain management parent self-efficacy (OR 2.4, p<0.01, 95% CI 1.3, 4.5), and external locus of control (1.74, p 0.024, 95% CI 11, 2.9) were associated with high anxiety on bivariable analysis. In the final model, odds of parent preoperative anxiety was associated with differences in maladaptive coping score (aOR). Moderate/severe preoperative parental anxiety (HADS>10) was correlated with significantly higher child mean hospital pain scores in families of children undergoing cleft lip repair (1.87 point on 0-10 scale, 95% CI.42, 3.70, p =0.045). Conclusions: Infants/toddlers undergoing cleft and craniofacial surgery with highly anxious parents prior to surgery are at greater risk for higher hospital pain. Coping and self-efficacy are modifiable factors that contribute to parent anxiety before and during hospitalization and may be targets for intervention. Health locus of control could be incorporated into preoperative screening for vulnerable families

OBJECTIVE: Hispanic parents in the United States are disproportionately affected by low health literacy and limited English proficiency (LEP). We examined associations between health literacy, LEP, and liquid medication dosing errors in Hispanic parents. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of data from a multisite randomized controlled experiment to identify best practices for the labeling/dosing of pediatric liquid medications (SAFE Rx for Kids study); 3 urban pediatric clinics. Analyses were limited to Hispanic parents of children aged 20% dose deviation. Predictor variables included health literacy (Newest Vital Sign) (limited = 0-3; adequate = 4-6) and LEP (speaks English less than "very well"). RESULTS: A total of 83.1% made dosing errors (mean [SD] errors per parent = 2.2 [1.9]). Parents with limited health literacy and LEP had the greatest odds of making a dosing error compared to parents with adequate health literacy who were English proficient (trials with errors per parent = 28.8 vs 12.9%; adjusted odds ratio = 2.2 [95% confidence interval 1.7-2.8]). Parents with limited health literacy who were English proficient were also more likely to make errors (trials with errors per parent = 18.8%; adjusted odds ratio = 1.4 [95% confidence interval 1.1-1.9]). CONCLUSIONS: Dosing errors are common among Hispanic parents; those with both LEP and limited health literacy are at particular risk. Further study is needed to examine how the redesign of medication labels and dosing tools could reduce literacy- and language-associated disparities in dosing errors.

Serodiscussion-the mutual discussion of HIV statuses between sexual partners-can be viewed as an essential prerequisite for risk-reduction behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM). The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of serodiscussion with one's most recent sexual partner and its association with sexual behaviors with these partners. Broadcast advertisements were placed on a geosocial-networking smartphone application, encouraging users to complete an online survey. A total of 200 MSM completed the survey. Serodiscussion occurred in 43.5% of dyads, and it was most common in dyads where both partners were reported to be HIV positive, chi2(5) = 60.3, P < .001. Serodiscussion was associated with engagement in both condomless insertive, chi2(1) = 3.847, P = .046, and receptive anal intercourse, chi2(1) = 6.5, P = .011. However, there were no significant differences in how recently a respondent was tested for HIV, representing potentially high-risk scenarios.

Background: Cocaine is commonly involved in unintentional drug poisoning (overdose) deaths, accounting for 41% of overdose in New York City (NYC) in 2014. However, little research exists regarding cocaine use by middle-aged and older adults, who are more likely than younger individuals to have underlying cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions and therefore may be at increased risk for adverse health consequences of cocaine use including death.
Objective(s): To describe demographic characteristics of middle-and-older-aged NYC adults who died of a cocaine-involved overdose death, and to identify potential associations by age, race, borough of residence, and concomitant drugs among deaths involving cocaine compared with overdose deaths not involving cocaine.
Method(s): We conducted a retrospective analysis of unintentional drug overdose deaths of adults aged 45 to 84 in New York City (NYC) from 2000 to 2014 using 2 linked sources, NYC death certificates and toxicology results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. We described demographic characteristics and drugs involved in overdoses, by age ranges 45 to 54, 55 to 64, and 65 to 84. Data were stratified and compared by cocaine involvement using bivariable analysis. The multivariable analysis included age, race, gender, and borough of residence to determine associations between demographic characteristics and cocaine-involved overdoses.
Result(s): From 2000 to 2014, there were 5339 unintentional drug overdose deaths among adults aged 45 to 84 in NYC. Of those, cocaine was involved in 54% (n = 2856). Co-occurring opioid involvement (heroin, methadone, or opioid analgesics) and alcohol use among deaths involving cocaine was common. Compared with decedents of noncocaine-involved overdose, decedents of cocaine-involved overdose were more likely to be younger (52.5-53.0 years, P = 0.002), male (75% vs 72%, P = 0.005), and non-Hispanic black (47% vs 26%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that male gender (AOR=1.34, 95% CI 1.17-1.52), Bronx residence (AOR= 1.278, 95% CI 1.04-1.57), and non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI 1.98-2.69) were independently associated with cocaine-involved overdose compared with none cocaine-involved overdose.
Conclusion(s): Cocaine was involved in over half of unintentional drug overdose deaths in NYC for adults aged 45 to 84. It remains unclear what the role of cocaine was in the setting of adults with underlying cardiovascular disease. Studies that examine autopsy data may be able to elucidate the underlying impact of cocaine in drug-related overdose deaths

Significance: Limited data exist regarding tobacco and nicotine containing product (TNCP) use and their association with other drugs of abuse in high-risk settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between TNCP use and other common illicit drug use among adults attending Electronic Dance Music (EDM) parties at nightclubs and festivals in New York City (NYC).
Method(s): Adults (age 18-40) were recruited outside of EDM events in NYC between May and August 2016 and completed a computer-assisted personal interview on a tablet. The survey took approximately 10 minutes and queried sociodemographic characteristics, and self-reported use of TNCPs (e-cigarettes, hookah, and "tobacco") and other drugs. Among recent (12-month) TNCP users, we compared illicit drug use according to the number of TNCPs reportedly used with the use of 1 TNCP representing mono-use, any 2 representing dual-use, and all 3 representing poly-use.
Result(s): More than half the overall sample (54%; N = 524 of 965) reported past year use of a TNCP. Participants' mean age was (25.1+4.5) years, and 55.2% were male. Almost half (46%) were mono users, 27% were dual TNCP users, and 27% were poly TNCP users. Sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with a number of TNCPs used; however, a number of products was significantly different regarding the past-year use of marijuana, powder cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA, "Molly"), LSD, and psilocybin ("magic mushrooms"). Poly users were more likely to report use of marijuana (94.4% vs 87.9% dual and 68.3% mono; P < 0.001), cocaine (69.2% vs 56.7% dual and 32.1% mono; P < 0.001), ecstasy (65.0% vs 61.0% dual and 49.6% mono; P = 0.007), LSD (46.9% vs 34.8% dual and 19.6% mono; P< 0.001), and psilocybin (44.8% vs 31.2% dual and 16.7% mono; P< 0.001).
Conclusion(s): Among this sample of EDM attendees in NYC, past-year use of TNCPs was strongly associated with the use of illicit drugs suggesting the use of more TNCPs is associated with risky behavior in high-risk settings. A limitation was that "tobacco" included all other TNCPs other than e-cigarettes and hookah. Adults' TNCP use patterns might be indicative of the extent of illicit drug use, especially among those frequenting high-risk settings. Future research needs to probe in the reasons behind the patterns of TNCP use among those in high-risk settings

HapMap imputed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed >50 loci at which common variants with minor allele frequency >5% are associated with kidney function. GWAS using more complete reference sets for imputation, such as those from The 1000 Genomes project, promise to identify novel loci that have been missed by previous efforts. To investigate the value of such a more complete variant catalog, we conducted a GWAS meta-analysis of kidney function based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in 110,517 European ancestry participants using 1000 Genomes imputed data. We identified 10 novel loci with p-value < 5 × 10^-8 previously missed by HapMap-based GWAS. Six of these loci (HOXD8, ARL15, PIK3R1, EYA4, ASTN2, and EPB41L3) are tagged by common SNPs unique to the 1000 Genomes reference panel. Using pathway analysis, we identified 39 significant (FDR < 0.05) genes and 127 significantly (FDR < 0.05) enriched gene sets, which were missed by our previous analyses. Among those, the 10 identified novel genes are part of pathways of kidney development, carbohydrate metabolism, cardiac septum development and glucose metabolism. These results highlight the utility of re-imputing from denser reference panels, until whole-genome sequencing becomes feasible in large samples.

BACKGROUND:As the approach to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering becomes increasingly intensive, accurate assessment of LDL-C at very low levels warrants closer attention in individualized clinical efficacy and safety evaluation. We aimed to assess the accuracy of LDL-C estimation at very low levels by the Friedewald equation, the de facto clinical standard, and compare its accuracy with a novel, big data-derived LDL-C estimate. METHODS:In 191,333 individuals with Friedewald LDL-C < 70 mg/dL, we compared the accuracy of Friedewald and novel LDL-C values in relation to direct measurements by Vertical Auto Profile ultracentrifugation. We examined differences (estimate minus ultracentrifugation) and classification according to levels initiating additional safety precautions per clinical practice guidelines. RESULTS:Friedewald values were less than ultracentrifugation measurement, with a median difference (25th to 75th percentile) of -2.4 (-7.4 to 0.6) at 50-69 mg/dL, -7.0 (-16.2 to -1.2) at 25-39 mg/dL, and -29.0 (-37.4 to -19.6) at < 15 mg/dL. The respective values by novel estimation were -0.1 (-1.5 to 1.3), -1.1 (-2.5 to 0.3), and -2.7 (-4.9 to 0.0) mg/dL. Among those with Friedewald LDL-C < 15, 15 to < 25, and 25 to < 40 mg/dL, the classification was discordantly low in 94.9%, 82.6%, and 59.9% of individuals as compared with 48.3%, 42.4%, and 22.4% by novel estimation. CONCLUSIONS:Estimation of even lower LDL-C values (by Friedewald and novel methods) is even more inaccurate. More often than not, a Friedewald value < 40 mg/dL is underestimated, which translates into unnecessary safety alarms that could be reduced in half by estimation using our novel method.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). The current study investigated the differential impact of a multicomponent, targeted, low-literacy educational intervention compared with a standard, nontargeted educational intervention. METHODS: Patients aged 50 to 75 years who were of average CRC risk and not up-to-date with CRC screening were recruited from either a federally qualified health center or a primary care community health clinic. Patients were randomized to the intervention condition (targeted photonovella booklet/DVD plus FIT kit) or comparison condition (standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brochure plus FIT kit). The main outcome was screening with FIT within 180 days of delivery of the intervention. RESULTS: Of the 416 participants, 54% were female; the participants were racially and ethnically diverse (66% white, 10% Hispanic, and 28% African American), predominantly of low income, and insured (the majority had county health insurance). Overall, the FIT completion rate was 81%, with 78.1% of participants in the intervention versus 83.5% of those in the comparison condition completing FIT (P = .17). In multivariate analysis, having health insurance was found to be the primary factor predicting a lack of FIT screening (adjusted odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-4.26 [P = .04]). CONCLUSIONS: The multicomponent, targeted, low-literacy materials were not found to be significantly different or more effective in increasing FIT uptake compared with the nontargeted materials. Provision of a FIT test plus education may provide a key impetus to improve the completion of CRC screening. The type of educational material (targeted vs nontargeted) may matter less. The findings of the current study provide a unique opportunity for clinics to adopt FIT and to choose the type of patient education materials based on clinic, provider, and patient preferences. Cancer 2017;123:1390-1400. (c) 2016 American Cancer Society.