Faculty Bibliography

Although they are critical to models of coordinated care, the relationship and communication between primary care providers (PCPs) and cancer specialists throughout the cancer continuum are poorly understood. By using predefined search terms, the authors conducted a systematic review of the literature in 3 databases to examine the relationship and communication between PCPs and cancer specialists. Among 301 articles identified, 35 met all inclusion criteria and were reviewed in-depth. Findings from qualitative, quantitative, and disaggregated mixed-methods studies were integrated using meta-synthesis. Six themes were identified and incorporated into a preliminary conceptual model of the PCP-cancer specialist relationship: 1) poor and delayed communication between PCPs and cancer specialists, 2) cancer specialists' endorsement of a specialist-based model of care, 3) PCPs' belief that they play an important role in the cancer continuum, 4) PCPs' willingness to participate in the cancer continuum, 5) cancer specialists' and PCPs' uncertainty regarding the PCP's oncology knowledge/experience, and 6) discrepancies between PCPs and cancer specialists regarding roles. These data indicate a pervasive need for improved communication, delineation, and coordination of responsibilities between PCPs and cancer specialists. Future interventions aimed at these deficiencies may improve patient and physician satisfaction and cancer care coordination. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:156-169. (c) 2016 American Cancer Society.

Research investigating facilitators of survivorship care among underserved breast cancer survivors (BCS) is sparse. This study aimed to explore facilitators of survivorship care among underserved BCS within the first 5 years following chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for breast cancer. In-depth interviews were conducted, using a semi-structured interview guide, with underserved BCS exploring survivorship care experiences. Content analysis of the verbatim transcripts was applied, and results were summarized according to themes related to facilitators of breast cancer survivorship care. Interviews were conducted with 25 BCS. Eight main themes were identified: coordination of care; positive perceptions of health care providers; communication between patient and health care providers; financial and insurance facilitators; information, classes, and programs provided; assistance provided by organizations and health care professionals; transportation facilitators; and job flexibility. This study provides a comprehensive look at facilitators of survivorship care among underserved BCS. BCS endorsed several facilitators of their survivorship care, mainly at the interpersonal, organizational, and societal level. This study adds to the research literature on catalysts of care among underserved BCS. Results from this study are currently being used to inform a patient navigation intervention to facilitate care among this population.

Introduction: Racial and socioeconomic disparities are known to negatively affect sleep duration in school-aged children and adults. Little is known about how very young African American (AA) and Caucasian (C) children (1-year-olds) differ in nocturnal and daytime sleep duration and how this may affect daytime behavioral patterns. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in total sleep duration between AA and C 1-year-olds and how nighttime and daytime total sleep hours and number of minutes awake during the night relates to objective behavioral performance measures. Methods: We analyzed data from the first-year clinic visits (N=1056) (mean SD) (1.08 years 0.12) of predominantly AA (n=663) and C (n=393) children living in Shelby County, TN enrolled in the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) study. T-tests for differences between total nocturnal and daytime sleep hours and number of minutes awake during the night (all reported by parent) between races and bivariate correlations determined if sleep periods were associated with Brief Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) total and subscale scores for externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. Results: AA children slept significantly fewer hours than C children during daytime (7am-7pm) (2.6 1.5 v 2.9 1.1, p<0.001) and nighttime (7pm - 7am) hours (9.2 1.4 v 10.4 1.1) respectively. AA were awake more minutes during the night (18.7 40.9) than C (8.9 25.3, p <0.001). Total nighttime sleep hours were significantly correlated with Externalizing (r= -.20, p < 0.001) and Internalizing BITSEA subscales (r= -.20, p < 0.001) as were nighttime wake minutes (r= .14, p<0.001 and r= .11, p<0.001, respectively). Daytime hours of sleep were non-significantly correlated to the BITSEA scores. Conclusion: Urban 1-year-old AA children sleep significantly less during nighttime and daytime hours than their C counterparts. Fewer total night minutes of sleep corresponded with higher (i.e, more impaired) scores for externalizing and internalizing behaviors while more minutes of wake during the night resulted in similar behavior patterns. More focus must be given to alerting urban communities of the importance of adequate nighttime sleep for their very young children

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the relations of early socialization of anger with change in adolescent depression, and moderation by child anger. Using a sample of low-income, ethnic minority children at familial risk for psychopathology in the United States (n = 92; ages 3-5; 53% female; 65% African American; 27% Latina/o), early anger socialization (i.e., parent response to child anger) was tested as a predictor of change in depression from preadolescence to adolescence [i.e., age 8 (n = 63), 11 (n = 58), and 13 (n = 44)]. A videotaped parent-child interaction was coded for parental socialization of preschooler anger, and psychiatric interviews of depression were conducted three times across preadolescence and adolescence. Major depression diagnoses increased from preadolescence to adolescence. Latent growth modeling indicated parent discouragement of child anger was a significant predictor of an increase in the child's later depression from preadolescence to adolescence, and child anger intensity was a significant moderator.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome poses an increased burden of disease, warranting heightened public health attention. This study assessed effects of birthplace on cardiometabolic profile among blacks with metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea risk, while exploring potential gender-based effects. Methods: This analysis is based on data from 610 black patients (mean age= 63 +/- 11 years female=65%) with evidence of metabolic syndrome and were at risk for sleep apnea using the ARES. Participants from four community-based clinics in Brooklyn, NY provided sociodemographic, medical, and clinical data. Clinical data included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or hemoglobin (HbA1c) for those who had a diagnosis of diabetes. General Linear Model (GLM) was used to assess effects of birthplace and gender on cardiometabolic parameters, adjusting for age effects. Results: Of the sample, 61.6 % were foreign-born blacks (FBB) and 38.4 % were US-born blacks (USB). FBB had significantly lower BMI compared with USB (32.76 +/- 0.35 vs. 35.41 +/- 0.44, F=22.57), but had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (136.70 +/- 0.77 vs. 132.83 +/- 0.98; F=9.60) and fasting glucose levels than did USB (146.46 +/- 3.37 vs. 135.02 +/- 4.27; F=4.40). Men had higher diastolic BP (76.67 +/- 0.65 vs. 75.05 +/- 0.45; F=4.20), glucose (146.53 +/- 4.48 vs. 134.95 +/- 3.07; F=4.55) and triglyceride levels (148.10 +/- 4.51 vs. 130.60 +/- 3.09; F=10.25) compared with women, but women had higher LDL-cholesterol (109.24 +/- 1.49 vs. 98.49 +/- 2.18; F=16.60) and HDLcholesterol levels (50.71 +/- 0.66 vs. 42.77 +/- 0.97; F=46.01) than did men. Conclusion: FBB have lower levels of obesity, similar rates of hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke history, but higher rates of diabetes, history of heart disease, and systolic BP compared with USB. Findings may have implications for addressing effects of birthplace and gender on cardiovascular disease outcomes

Introduction: Sleep may play a role in AD pathogenesis, but the timing, role, and extent to which sleep disturbances in late-life are associated with increasing burden of AD neuropathology remains unclear. Sleep spindles have been implicated in sleep quality. Wakefulness is mediated by an arousal system beginning in the brainstem and continuing on to the diencephalon and innervating the thalamus, the region where sleep spindle oscillations are generated. In AD pathology, hyperphosphorylated tau (P-Tau) protein accumulates in the brainstem, from where it spreads to the entorhinal cortices, hippocampi and other brain regions. These tau aggregates may interfere with the sleep-wake cycle resulting in down-regulation of sleep spindles and associated sleep disruption. Increased CSF P-tau and T-tau levels are likely related to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brainstem and limbic system (Braak stages I-IV). Methods: 49 cognitively normal (CDR=0) elderly (66.95 +/- 7.76 years) subjects completed a structural MRI, lumbar puncture (LP) and nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) within 4.65 +/- 6.81 months of the LP. From the NPSG, spindle frequency and density were analyzed for stages NREM1, NREM2 and NREM3, using an automated optimization algorithm which decomposes the EEG as a sum of transient and oscillatory components. This was used to detect the spindles and a Fourier analysis was performed to evaluate the spindle frequency in Hz. Results: Spindle frequency and density in NREM2 sleep were inversely associated with CSF P-tau (r= -0.355, p<0.05; r=-0.476, p<0.05) and CSF T-tau (r=-0.405, p<.05; r=-0.542, p<.05) using partial correlation controlling for age and ApoE4 allele. There were no associations between spindle frequency or density and CSF P-tau or CSF T-tau in stages NREM1, NREM3. Conclusion: The association of spindle frequency and density in NREM2 to CSF P-tau and CSF T-tau in cognitively normal elderly suggest either that tau pathology may produce an early downstream effect on sleep spindles, or that changes in sleep spindles can identify a process relating to tau pathology. Whether the association of tau to spindles is a non-specific effect of tau on increasing sleep fragmentation in general remains an area of active investigation

BACKGROUND: Given that post-traumatic headache is one of the most prevalent and long-lasting post-concussion sequelae, causes significant morbidity, and might be associated with slower neurocognitive recovery, we sought to evaluate the use of concussion screening scores in a concussion clinic population to assess for post-traumatic headache. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 254 concussion patients from the New York University (NYU) Concussion Registry. Data on the headache characteristics, concussion mechanism, concussion screening scores were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: 72% of the patients had post-traumatic headache. About half (56.3%) were women. The mean age was 35 (SD 16.2). 90 (35%) patients suffered from sport-related concussions (SRC). Daily post-traumatic headache patients had higher Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT)-3 symptom severity scores than the non-daily post-traumatic headache and the headache-free patients (50.2 [SD 28.2] vs. 33.1 [SD 27.5] vs. 21.6 SD23], p < 0.001). Patients with SRC had lower headache intensity (4.47 [SD 2.5] vs. 6.24 [SD 2.28], p < 0.001) and SCAT symptom severity scores (33.9 [SD 27.4] vs. 51.4 [SD 27.7], p < 0.001) than the other patients, but there were no differences in post-traumatic headache prevalence, frequency, and Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) scores. CONCLUSION: The presence and frequency of post-traumatic headache are associated with the SCAT-3 symptom severity score, which is the most important predictor for post-concussion recovery. The SCAT-3 symptom severity score might be a useful tool to help characterize patients' post-traumatic headache.

Background: There is little data on presentation of and care for oncology patients in the ED. Our goal was to describe the characteristics and dispositions of patients with active cancer who present to EDs of the Comprehensive ONCologic Emergencies Research Network. Methods: Prospective, observational study of patients >=18 years of age with active cancer in 19 US tertiary-care EDs. A patient survey was administered in the ED, and a 30-day chart review identified ED course, comorbidities, revisits, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: We enrolled 616 patients, with 364 having complete 30 day chart reviews. The population was 50% female, 13% African-American, 3% Asian, and 7% Hispanic. Mean age was 63 years with 291 >=65. The most common cancer types were gastrointestinal (22%), breast (12%), and lung (10%). Almost half (47%) had no living will or advanced directive. In the week prior to ED visit, symptoms reported as present "quite a bit" or "very much" included pain (47%), shortness of breath (24%), and nausea (20%). ED symptom-related complaints were common including pain (69%), shortness of breath (38%), and nausea (34%). Ten percent reported fever >=100.4degree F prior to ED arrival. In the 364 subjects with completed chart reviews, 52% received pain medication and 31% nausea medication in the ED. Antibiotics were administered to 28% (n=99). ED disposition included admission in 64% (12% to step-down or ICU), observation in 7%, and discharge in 28%. 30-day mortality was 5.7% (95% CI 3.4-8.7%). 30-day ED revisit and hospital readmission rates were 27% and 23%.< Conclusion: ED patients with active cancer present with high acuity and substantial symptom burden including pain, nausea, and shortness of breath. Infection is a frequent concern in the ED with high rates of antibiotic administration. These patients have high admission, mortality, and revisit rates. Additional studies to identify optimal ED care and disposition practices for this population are warranted

BACKGROUND: The Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medication, and Other Substance use (TAPS) tool is a combined two-part screening and brief assessment developed for adult primary care patients. The tool's first-stage screening component (TAPS-1) consists of four items asking about past 12-month use for four substance categories, with response options of never, less than monthly, monthly, weekly, and daily or almost daily. OBJECTIVE: To validate the TAPS-1 in primary care patients. DESIGN: Participants completed the TAPS tool in self- and interviewer-administered formats, in random order. In this secondary analysis, the TAPS-1 was evaluated against DSM-5 substance use disorder (SUD) criteria to determine optimal cut-points for identifying unhealthy substance use at three severity levels (problem use, mild SUD, and moderate-to-severe SUD). PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand adult patients at five primary care sites. MAIN MEASURES: DSM-5 SUD criteria were determined via the modified Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Oral fluid was used as a biomarker of recent drug use. KEY RESULTS: Optimal frequency-of-use cut-points on the self-administered TAPS-1 for identifying SUDs were >/= monthly use for tobacco and alcohol (sensitivity = 0.92 and 0.71, specificity = 0.80 and 0.85, AUC = 0.86 and 0.78, respectively) and any reported use for illicit drugs and prescription medication misuse (sensitivity = 0.93 and 0.89, specificity = 0.85 and 0.91, AUC = 0.89 and 0.90, respectively). The performance of the interviewer-administered format was similar. When administered first, the self-administered format yielded higher disclosure rates for past 12-month alcohol use, illicit drug use, and prescription medication misuse. Frequency of use alone did not provide sufficient information to discriminate between gradations of substance use problem severity. Among those who denied drug use on the TAPS-1, less than 4% had a drug-positive biomarker. CONCLUSIONS: The TAPS-1 can identify unhealthy substance use in primary care patients with a high level of accuracy, and may have utility in primary care for rapid triage.