Faculty Bibliography

Most children in the United States experience nonparental child care during early childhood, and many children experience changes in their care during this period. Changes in care, or child care instability, have been argued to disrupt children's emerging relationships with others and may impede children's social-emotional development, particularly when changes occur during infancy and toddlerhood. Data for this study were drawn from the Family Life Project, a longitudinal study representative of families living in rural low-wealth areas. With a sample of 1292 children who were followed from six months to prekindergarten, this study examined the associations between cumulative child provider instability (measured as overall changes or changes across or within settings) from 6 to 36 months and children's social adjustment at prekindergarten. A number of factors were included to control for family selection into child care. Results suggested that more overall child care provider instability was negatively associated with teacher ratings of social adjustment at prekindergarten. This association was driven by provider instability across but not within settings, though effect sizes were small. These findings point to an increased need to understand how early child care instability may be related to children's subsequent development.

Aims: Implementation of substance use screening in general medical settings is hindered by the lack of a brief yet precise and comprehensive screening tool that is compatible with clinical workflows. To address this need, we developed the Substance Use Brief Screen (SUBS); a 4-item screener for tobacco, alcohol, and drug use (illicit and prescription) that is self-administered and may be easily integrated with electronic health records. Methods: Adult patients were recruited consecutively in the waiting area of an urban safety net primary care clinic. The SUBS was self-administered in English on touchscreen tablet computers. Reference standard measures of unhealthy substance use and substance use disorders were then administered, including self reported measures and saliva drug tests. The SUBS was compared against the reference standards to determine its sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) for each substance class. Results: Among the 390 participants, rates of past year use reported on the SUBS were 37% tobacco, 43% alcohol (4+ drinks/day), 20% illicit drugs, and 12% prescription drugs. Sensitivity and specificity of the SUBS for detecting past year unhealthy use were: tobacco 99% and 91% (AUC = .95); alcohol 94% and 68% (AUC = .81); drugs (illicit or prescription) 84% and 89% (AUC = .86). Sensitivity was lower for prescription drugs (57%) than for illicit drugs (78%). For detecting a substance use disorder, sensitivity and specificity were: tobacco 100% and 73% (AUC = .87); alcohol 93% and 64% (AUC = .79); drugs 85% and 82% (AUC = .84). Conclusions: The SUBS accurately identified unhealthy tobacco, alcohol, and drug use in this primary care sample, and had high sensitivity but lower specificity for identifying substance use disorders. Individuals screening positive on the SUBS should receive further assessment. Our findings support use of the SUBS for substance use screening in primary care, but additional tools may be needed for prescription drugs

Aims: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey exploring mobile phone and TM use patterns and preferences pertaining to their substance treatment in a public sector, office-based buprenorphine program. Methods: A 28-item, quantitative and qualitative semistructured survey was administered to 71 patients enrolled in a public sector, office-based buprenorphine program between June and September 2013. Survey domains included: demographic characteristics, mobile phone and TM use patterns, and mobile phone and TM use patterns and preferences pertaining to their substance treatment. Results: Mobile phone ownership was common (93%) with no significant differences in ownership among self-reported homeless, recently incarcerated, and unemployed respondents. Most reported sending or receiving TM (93%) and reporting 'very much' or 'somewhat' comfort sending TM (79%). Contacting buprenorphine providers by phone (30%) or TM (17%) was uncommon, however most preferred to use either form of communication to reach their provider (67%). Older patients received less TM (25) compared to younger age groups (128) yet were as interested as the rest of the clinic population to have their provider's mobile phone number (96%) and send TM if at risk of relapse (78%). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the acceptability of enhancing patient-provider mobile phone and TM communications in a public sector, office-based buprenorphine clinic, even among respondents that were not comfortable in using TM. Although mobile phone ownership was very common, frequent turnover in phone ownership and changing phone numbers highlights challenges in feasibility for any future m health interventions in this clinical setting

The inability of current recommendations to control the epidemic of diabetes, the specific failure of the prevailing low-fat diets to improve obesity, cardiovascular risk, or general health and the persistent reports of some serious side effects of commonly prescribed diabetic medications, in combination with the continued success of low-carbohydrate diets in the treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome without significant side effects, point to the need for a reappraisal of dietary guidelines. The benefits of carbohydrate restriction in diabetes are immediate and well documented. Concerns about the efficacy and safety are long term and conjectural rather than data driven. Dietary carbohydrate restriction reliably reduces high blood glucose, does not require weight loss (although is still best for weight loss), and leads to the reduction or elimination of medication. It has never shown side effects comparable with those seen in many drugs. Here we present 12 points of evidence supporting the use of low-carbohydrate diets as the first approach to treating type 2 diabetes and as the most effective adjunct to pharmacology in type 1. They represent the best-documented, least controversial results. The insistence on long-term randomized controlled trials as the only kind of data that will be accepted is without precedent in science. The seriousness of diabetes requires that we evaluate all of the evidence that is available. The 12 points are sufficiently compelling that we feel that the burden of proof rests with those who are opposed.

BACKGROUND: Genetic testing will soon enter care for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and for addiction. There is a paucity of data on how to disseminate genetic testing into healthcare for marginalized populations. We explored drug users' perceptions of genetic testing. METHODS: Six focus groups were conducted with 34 drug users recruited from syringe exchange programmes and an HIV clinic between May and June 2012. Individual interviews were conducted with participants reporting previous genetic testing. RESULTS: All participants expressed acceptance of genetic testing to improve care, but most had concerns regarding confidentiality and implications for law enforcement. Most expressed more comfort with genetic testing based on individual considerations rather than testing based on race/ethnicity. Participants expressed comfort with genetic testing in medical care rather than drug treatment settings and when specifically asked permission, with peer support, and given a clear rationale. CONCLUSION: Although participants understood the potential value of genetic testing, concerns regarding breaches in confidentiality and discrimination may reduce testing willingness. Safeguards against these risks, peer support, and testing in medical settings based on individual factors and with clear rationales provided may be critical in efforts to promote acceptance of genetic testing among drug users.

Physiological responses to threat occur through both the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Activity in these systems can be measured through salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and salivary cortisol, respectively. Theoretical work and empirical studies have suggested the importance of examining the coordination of these systems in relation to cognitive functioning and behavior problems. Less is known, however, about whether these systems interactively predict more automatic aspects of attention processing such as attention toward emotionally salient threatening stimuli. We used a dot probe task to assess attention bias toward threatening stimuli in 347 kindergarten children. Cortisol and sAA were assayed from saliva samples collected prior to children's participation in assessments on a subsequent day. Using regression analyses, we examined relations of sAA and cortisol to attention bias. Results indicate that cortisol and sAA interact in predicting attention bias. Higher levels of cortisol predicted greater bias toward threat for children who had high levels of sAA, but predicted greater bias away from threat for children who had low levels of sAA. These results suggest that greater symmetry in HPA and ANS functioning is associated with greater reliance on automatic attention processes in the face of threat.

Visual impairment is a key manifestation of multiple sclerosis. Acute optic neuritis is a common, often presenting manifestation, but visual deficits and structural loss of retinal axonal and neuronal integrity can occur even without a history of optic neuritis. Interest in vision in multiple sclerosis is growing, partially in response to the development of sensitive visual function tests, structural markers such as optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and quality of life measures that give clinical meaning to the structure-function correlations that are unique to the afferent visual pathway. Abnormal eye movements also are common in multiple sclerosis, but quantitative assessment methods that can be applied in practice and clinical trials are not readily available. We summarize here a comprehensive literature search and the discussion at a recent international meeting of investigators involved in the development and study of visual outcomes in multiple sclerosis, which had, as its overriding goals, to review the state of the field and identify areas for future research. We review data and principles to help us understand the importance of vision as a model for outcomes assessment in clinical practice and therapeutic trials in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND:Decreased kidney function and kidney damage may predate hypertension, but only a few studies have investigated both types of markers simultaneously, and these studies have obtained conflicting results. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Cross-sectional for prevalent and prospective observational study for incident hypertension. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS/METHODS:9,593 participants from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study, aged 53-75 years in 1996-1998. PREDICTORS/METHODS:Several markers of kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate using serum creatinine and/or cystatin C and 2 novel markers [β-trace protein and β2-microglobulin]) and 1 marker of kidney damage (urinary albumin-creatinine ratio [ACR]). Every kidney marker was categorized by its quintiles (top quintile as a reference for estimated glomerular filtration rates and bottom quintile for the rest). OUTCOMES/RESULTS:Prevalent and incident hypertension. MEASUREMENTS/METHODS:Prevalence ratios and HRs of hypertension based on modified Poisson regression and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. RESULTS:There were 4,378 participants (45.6%) with prevalent hypertension at baseline and 2,175 incident hypertension cases during a median follow-up of 9.8 years. Although all 5 kidney function markers were associated significantly with prevalent hypertension, prevalent hypertension was associated most notably with higher ACR (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.50-1.71] for the highest vs lowest ACR quintile). Similarly, ACR was associated consistently with incident hypertension in all models tested (adjusted HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.10-1.49] for top quintile), while kidney function markers demonstrated significant associations in some, but not all, models. Even mildly increased ACR (9.14-14.0mg/g) was associated significantly with incident hypertension. LIMITATIONS/CONCLUSIONS:Self-reported use of antihypertensive medication for defining incident hypertension, single assessment of kidney markers, and relatively narrow age range. CONCLUSIONS:Although all kidney markers were associated with prevalent hypertension, only elevated albuminuria was associated consistently with incident hypertension, suggesting that kidney damage is related more closely to hypertension than moderate reduction in overall kidney function.

Program/Project Purpose: Inter professional education is increasingly recognized as fundamental for health education worldwide. Although effective management is essential for health care improvement, business schools have been underrepresented in global health education. Here we report the Health Innovation Fellowship (HIF), a new training program created for practicing health professionals offered by the Central American Healthcare Initiative (CAHI) and INCAE Business School, Costa Rica. The initial period for this annual program is July 2014 to February 2015. HIF aims to catalyze improvements in the quality, efficiency, and delivery of healthcare for Central Americans in greatest need. Structure/Method/Design: HIF's goal is to provide training in management and leadership for fellows, in order to carry out an innovative health care improvement project in their local region. Participants are selected based on a submitted outline for their proposed project, and why it is innovative and relevant within their current local health care system. The initial cohort of 16 fellows represent eight health-related professions in six Central American countries. HIF is supported by CAHI stakeholders. Desired outcomes for HIF include successful completion of each fellow's project, and providing a positive impact on achieving their goals. All fellows attend four one-week on-site modular training sessions, receive ongoing mentorship, and stay connected through formal and informal networks and webinars to exchange knowledge and support each other. Viability is encouraged by creating a network of increasingly sustainable projects and health professional leaders across Central America, with each successive annual training program. Outcomes & Evaluation: Preliminary data are positive. During each on-site training module, fellows present updated project profiles, which are compared to their earlier project profiles to track progress. A "check-out" process has fellows set concrete goals and timelines to accomplish by the next module, and a "check-in" process reports whether they achieved their previous goals. After the first and second modules, 100% of the fellows considered HIF and its training sessions as "very good" or "excellent" toward meeting their project's goals. More than 50% of the projects have found either financial or political support for their implementation. Upon completion of HIF, fellows complete a quantitative-qualitative exit interview to measure 1) project outcomes and 2) the fellowship's impact on their project design, implementation, quality and effectiveness. Going Forward: Strengths include that both leadership and trainees come from the Global South, and that HIF offers a Global South platform to collaborate with partners in the Global North. Across sites, common themes are defined and unique lessons are learned. The seven-month period is a challenge, which is short for health system improvement efforts. By focusing on innovation and management within a Central American school of business, HIF is a novel capacity-building effort within global health education efforts