Benefits of implementing a rapid access clinic in a high-volume inflammatory bowel disease center:Access,resource utilization and outcomes

BACKGROUND Emergency situations in inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)put significant burden on both the patient and the healthcare system.AIM To prospectively measure Quality-of-Care indicators and resource utilization after the implementation of the new rapid access clinic service(RAC)at a tertiary IBD center.METHODS Patient access,resource utilization and outcome parameters were collected from consecutive patients contacting the RAC between July 2017 and March 2019 in this observational study.For comparing resource utilization and healthcare costs,emergency department(ED)visits of IBD patients with no access to RAC services were evaluated between January 2018 and January 2019.Time to appointment,diagnostic methods,change in medical therapy,unplanned ED visits,hospitalizations and surgical admissions were calculated and compared.RESULTS 488 patients(Crohn’s disease:68.4%/ulcerative colitis:31.6%)contacted the RAC with a valid medical reason.Median time to visit with an IBD specialist following the index contact was 2 d.Patients had objective clinical and laboratory assessment(C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin in 91%and 73%).Fast-track colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy was performed in 24.6%of the patients,while computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in only 8.1%.Medical therapy was changed in 54.4%.ED visits within 30 d following the RAC visit occurred in 8.8%(unplanned ED visit rate:5.9%).Diagnostic procedures and resource utilization at the ED(n=135 patients)were substantially different compared to RAC users:Abdominal computed tomography was more frequent(65.7%,P<0.001),coupled with multiple specialist consults,more frequent hospital admission(P<0.001),higher steroid initiation(P<0.001).Average medical cost estimates of diagnostic procedures and services per patient was$403 CAD vs$1885 CAD comparing all RAC and ED visits.CONCLUSION Implementation of a RAC improved patient care by facilitating easier access to IBD specific medical care,optimized resource utilization and helped avoiding ED visits and subsequent hospitalizations.     

Image-guided bronchoscopy for histopathologic diagnosis of pure ground glass opacity: a case report

Guided bronchoscopy has been found to be useful for the diagnosis of solid peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) but more evidence on ground glass opacities (GGOs), especially those without a solid component, are lacking. A 69-year-old male, asymptomatic, heavy smoker was referred to our department for non-surgical diagnosis of a focal pure GGO in the right upper lobe that was found incidentally on computed tomography (CT). Transbronchial biopsy (TBB) with the aide of endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS), virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN), and fluoroscopy was performed for sampling. There were no complications after the procedure. The diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth pattern was established from the fourth and fifth TBB specimens and was confirmed on subsequent surgical resection. Image-guided bronchoscopy with TBB was successful for the diagnosis of a pure GGO. Use of a larger biopsy device may be helpful for the histopathologic diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth.     

Comparing human and mouse salivary glands: A practice guide for salivary researchers

Mice are a widely utilized in vivo model for translational salivary gland research but must be used with caution. Specifically, mouse salivary glands are similar in many ways to human salivary glands (i.e., in terms of their anatomy, histology, and physiology) and are both readily available and relatively easy and affordable to maintain. However, there are some significant differences between the two organisms, and by extension, the salivary glands derived from them must be taken into account for translational studies. The current review details pertinent similarities and differences between human and mouse salivary glands and offers practical guidelines for using both for research purposes.     

MicroRNA‐21 (miR‐21) expression in hypothermic machine perfusate may be predictive of early outcomes in kidney transplantation

Hypothermic machine perfusion is effective in improving outcome following kidney transplantation. Molecular analyses of hypothermic machine perfusate (HMP) have the potential to identify biomarkers of organ viability prior to transplantation, offering significant advantages to the transplant surgeon, and leading to a potential increase in the organ donor pool. MicroRNAs are emerging as important biomarkers in the context of kidney injury and transplantation. Recent data demonstrate increased microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) expression in the kidney following acute kidney injury. This study investigated the potential of miR‐21 detected in HMP to act as a sentinel for early kidney transplant outcomes. MiR‐21 was found to be readily detectable in HMP by RT‐qPCR. Eleven ECD kidneys were maintained on a hypothermic machine perfusion system for a median 627 (range 117–1027) minutes, and evaluation of flow and resistance characteristics suggested stability on the machine from 60 min post‐perfusion. MiR‐21 quantification at 60 min post‐perfusion correlated with eGFR at 6 and 12 months post‐transplantation. These data suggest that miR‐21 expression in HMP may be predictive of early outcomes following kidney transplantation. In the era of ECD kidneys, a reliable measure of organ quality is urgently needed, and this study suggests miR‐21 may be such a marker.