Impact of United States 2017 Immigration Policy changes on missed appointments at two Massachusetts Safety-Net Hospitals

Introduction

Studies have shown mixed findings regarding the impact of immigration policy changes on immigrants’ utilization of primary care.

Methods

We used a difference-in-differences analysis to compare changes in missed primary care appointments over time across two groups: patients who received care in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole, and non-Hispanic, white patients who received care in English.

Results

After adjustment for age, sex, race, insurance, hospital system, and presence of chronic conditions, immigration policy changes were associated with an absolute increase in the missed appointment prevalence of 0.74 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 0.34, 1.15) among Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian-Creole speakers. We estimated that missed appointments due to immigration policy changes resulted in lost revenue of over $185,000.

Conclusions

We conclude that immigration policy changes were associated with a significant increase in missed appointments among patients who receive medical care in languages other than English.

     

The influence of photobiomodulation on the temperature of the brachial biceps during muscle fatigue protocol

Lasers in Medical Science - Physical activity raises body temperature. However, the literature does not contain studies about whether the employment of hotobiomodulation (PMB) could significantly...     

External beam radiation therapy improves survival in elderly metastatic prostate cancer patients with low PSA

BackgroundIt is unknown, whether metastatic prostate cancer (CaP) patients with intermediate life expectancy (5–10 years) should be considered for external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to the prostate. We addressed this void.MethodsWithin the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004–2016), we identified 835 M1a or M1b CaP substaged patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 20 ng/ml and with intermediate life expectancy (LE) 5 to 10 years, treated with EBRT or no EBRT. Inverse probability of treatment-weighting (IPTW), Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox-regression models (CRMs) were used.ResultsOverall, 179 (21.4%) patients received EBRT and 656 (78.6%) did not. EBRT rates increased from 13.9 to 23.8% (2004–2016; P= 0.04). After IPTW-adjustment, median OS was 45 vs. 35 months, in EBRT vs. no EBRT patients (P < 0.001). In IPTW-adjusted Cox-regression models, EBRT independently predicted lower overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.7, CI 0.61–0.89; P= 0.001). After stratification according to M1 substages, EBRT was associated with lower overall mortality in M1a (HR: 0.2, CI 0.05–0.91; P= 0.03) and M1b (HR: 0.7, CI 0.55–0.88; P = 0.003) substages.ConclusionEBRT was associated with lower mortality in metastatic CaP patients with low PSA and intermediate LE (5–10 years). In consequence, greater consideration for EBRT should be given in those patients. However, it is important to consider study limitations until clinical trials confirm the proposed benefit.     

The anatomy of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and its relationship with the Wagstaffe fracture

BackgroundOur aim in this study was to identify the fibular footprint of the Anterior Inferior Tibiofibular Ligament (AITFL) and its relation to Wagstaffe fracture fragment size.MethodsWe examined 25 cadaveric lower limbs which were carefully dissected to identify the lateral ankle ligaments. The AITFL anatomy was compared to 40 Wagstaffe fractures identified from our ankle fracture database.ResultsThe AITFL origin was from the anterior fibular tubercle with an average length of 21.61 mm (95% CI 20.22, 22.99). The average distance of the distal aspect of the AITFL footprint to the distal fibula margin was 11.60 mm (95% CI 10.49, 12.71). In the ankle fractures analyzed, the average length of the Wagstaffe fragment was 17.88 mm (95% CI 16.21, 19.54). The average distance from the distal tip of the fibula to the Wagstaffe fracture fragment was 21.40 mm (95% CI 19.78, 23.01).In total there were 22 syndesmosis injuries. There was no statistical difference in Wagstaffe fragment size between stable and unstable groups.ConclusionThe AITFL fibular origin was both larger and more distal than the Wagstaffe fracture fragments seen in our institution. Therefore, this suggests that a ligamentous failure will also have to occur to result in syndesmotic instability. The size of fracture fragment also did not confer to syndesmotic instability on testing.Level of Evidence - 3     

Remote intervention engagement and outcomes in the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation in Children consortium multisite trial

Remote interventions are increasingly used in transplant medicine but have rarely been rigorously evaluated. We investigated a remote intervention targeting immunosuppressant management in pediatric lung transplant recipients. Patients were recruited from a larger multisite trial if they had a Medication Level Variability Index (MLVI) ≥2.0, indicating worrisome tacrolimus level fluctuation. The manualized intervention included three weekly phone calls and regular follow-up calls. A comparison group included patients who met enrollment criteria after the subprotocol ended. Outcomes were defined before the intent-to-treat analysis. Feasibility was defined as ≥50% of participants completing the weekly calls. MLVI was compared pre- and 180 days postenrollment and between intervention and comparison groups. Of 18 eligible patients, 15 enrolled. Seven additional patients served as the comparison. Seventy-five percent of participants completed ≥3 weekly calls; average time on protocol was 257.7 days. Average intervention group MLVI was significantly lower (indicating improved blood level stability) at 180 days postenrollment (2.9 ± 1.29) compared with pre-enrollment (4.6 ± 2.10), p = .02. At 180 days, MLVI decreased by 1.6 points in the intervention group but increased by 0.6 in the comparison group (p = .054). Participants successfully engaged in a long-term remote intervention, and their medication blood levels stabilized. NCT02266888.