Charlson score as a single pertinent criterion to select candidates for active surveillance among patients with small renal masses

Purpose

The aim of the study was to assess the outcome after nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) of patients with small renal masses (SRMs) who would have been eligible for active surveillance (AS).

Methods

Data were collected retrospectively for 758 patients who underwent NSS over a 5-year period. Outcomes were assessed in two groups of patients who were eligible for AS according to different criteria. Group 1 criteria were as follows: age >75 years, renal mass ≤4 cm, significant comorbidities [Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) >2]. Group 2 criteria were as follows: any SRM ≤ 4 cm regardless of age, severe comorbidities with a 10-year mortality risk >50 % (CCI > 4). The two groups were not compared statistically because some patients were included in both.

Results

Fifty-five patients (7.3 %) were included in Group 1 and 62 (8.2 %) in Group 2. There was a significant proportion of benign tumours in Group 1 (N = 6; 11 %) and Group 2 (N = 6; 10 %). Six (11 %) positive margins were observed in Group 1 and 8 (13 %) in Group 2. The 2- and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 100 and 77.4 %, respectively, in Group 1, and 88.5 and 79.6 % in Group 2. The 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 100 and 74.7 % in Group 1, and 96.7 and 78.1 % in Group 2.

Conclusions

The majority of patients with SRMs who would have been eligible for AS had no recurrence after initial tumour removal. In these patients, a CCI > 4 appeared to be a pertinent criterion to identify those patients less likely to benefit from immediate surgery.     

Effects of knee extensor muscle strength on the incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis after 6 years

The association of knee extensor muscle strength with bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in cross-sectional epidemiological studies, but it remains unclear whether or not this is the case with longitudinal change. Thus, we investigated whether or not the knee extension strength can predict the incidence of osteopenia or osteoporosis after 6 years, then compared the difference between sexes. Subjects were 1255 community-dwelling Japanese men and menopaused women, aged 40–81 years. BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry twice at 6-year intervals. Subjects were divided into three groups, normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis, depending on their young adult mean BMD % value. In the cross-sectional analysis the correlations between the knee extension strength and BMD of the two regions were examined, using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Longitudinal analyses were then conducted to determine the odds ratio, controlled for age and BMI, given that those who were normal in the initial stage developed osteopenia or osteoporosis after 6 years, for every 1 SD decrease in knee extension strength, as well as those who first had normal or osteopenia and then developed osteoporosis. Cross-sectional analysis showed a statistically significant relation between knee extensor muscle strength and BMD at both the lumbar spine (p = 0.02) and the femoral neck (p < 0.0001) only in men. The longitudinal analysis showed the significant effect of muscle strength on the loss of femoral neck BMD from normal to osteopenia or osteoporosis both in men (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.36–2.48, p < 0.0001) and in women (OR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.002–1.65, p < 0.05), as well as on the loss of spinal BMD from normal or osteopenia to osteoporosis only in men (OR 2.97, 95 % CI 1.07–8.23, p < 0.05). The results suggest the importance of knee extension strength to maintain the bone health of the proximal femur and spine in aging particularly in men.     

Description of a multidisciplinary initiative to improve SCIP measures related to pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis compliance: a single-center success story

Background

The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) was launched in 2005. The core prophylactic perioperative antibiotic guidelines were created due to recognition of the impact of proper perioperative prophylaxis on an estimated annual one million inpatient days and $1.6 billion in excess health care costs secondary to preventable surgical site infections (SSIs). An internal study was conducted to create low cost, standardized processes on an institutional level to improve compliance with prophylactic antibiotic administration.

Methods

We assessed the impact of auditing and notifying providers of SCIP errors on overall compliance with inpatient antibiotic guidelines and on net financial gain or loss to a large tertiary center between March 1st 2010 and September 31st 2013. We hypothesized that direct physician-to-physician feedback would result in significant compliance improvements.

Results

Through physician notification, our hospital was able to significantly improve SCIP compliance and emphasis on patient safety within a year of intervention implementation. The hospital earned an additional $290,612 in 2011 and $209,096 in 2012 for re-investment in patient care initiatives.

Conclusions

Provider education and direct notification of SCIP prophylactic antibiotic dosing errors resulted in improved compliance with national patient improvement guidelines. There were differences between the anesthesiology and surgery department feedback responses, the latter likely attributed to diverse surgical department sub-divisions, frequent changes in resident trainees and supervising attending staff, and the comparative ability. Provider notification of guideline non-compliance should be encouraged as standard practice to improve patient safety. Also, the hospital experienced increased revenue for re-investment in patient care as a secondary result of provider notification.

     

Receptor occupancy of nonpeptide corticotropin-releasing factor 1 antagonist DMP696: correlation with drug exposure and anxiolytic efficacy

4-(1,3-Dimethoxyprop-2-ylamine)-2,7-dimethyl-8-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine (DMP696) is a highly selective and potent, nonpeptide corticotropin-releasing factor 1 (CRF(1)) antagonist. In this study, we measured in vivo CRF(1) receptor occupancy of DMP696 by using ex vivo ligand binding and quantitative autoradiography and explored the relationship of receptor occupancy with plasma and brain exposure and behavioral efficacy. In vitro affinity (IC(50)) of DMP696 to brain CRF(1) receptors measured using the brain section binding autoradiography in this study is similar to that assessed using homogenized cell membrane assays previously. The ex vivo binding assay was validated by demonstrating that potential underestimation of receptor occupancy with this procedure could be minimized by identifying an appropriate in vitro incubation time (40 min) based upon the dissociation kinetics of DMP696. Orally administrated DMP696 dose dependently occupied CRF(1) receptors in the brain, with ~60% occupancy at 3 mg/kg. In the defensive withdrawal test of anxiety, this dose of DMP696 produced approximately 50% reduction in the exit latency. The time course of plasma and brain drug levels paralleled that of receptor occupancy, with peak exposure at 90 min after dosing. The plasma-free concentration of DMP696 corresponding to 50% CRF(1) receptor occupancy (in vivo IC(50), 1.22 nM) was similar to the in vitro IC(50) (~1.0 nM). Brain concentrations of DMP696 were over 150-fold higher than the plasma-free levels. In conclusion, doses of DMP696 occupying over 50% brain CRF(1) receptors are consistent with doses producing anxiolytic efficacy in the defense withdrawal test of anxiety, and the IC(50) value estimated in vivo based on plasma-free drug concentrations is consistent with the in vitro IC(50) value.     

The influence of patient acuity on satisfaction with emergency care: perspectives of family, friends and carers

Aims and objectives. To investigate the factors that influence satisfaction with emergency care among individuals accompanying patients to the emergency department and explore agreement between the triage nurse and accompanying person regarding urgency. Background. Many patients seeking treatment in hospital are escorted by an accompanying person, who may be a friend, family member or carer. Several factors influence patient satisfaction with emergency care, including waiting time and time to treatment. It is also influenced by provision of information and interpersonal relations between staff and patients. Research on satisfaction has focused on the patient perspective; however, individuals who accompany patients are potential consumers. Knowledge about the ways accompanying persons perceive the patient's medical condition and level of urgency will identify areas for improved patient outcomes. Design and methods. A prospective cross‐sectional survey with a consecutive sample (n = 128 response rate 83·7%) was undertaken. Data were collected in an Australian metropolitan teaching hospital with about 32,000 visits to the emergency department each year. The Consumer Emergency Satisfaction Scale was used to measure satisfaction with nursing care. Results. Significant differences in perceptions of patient urgency between accompanying persons and nurses were found. Those people accompanying patients of a higher urgency were significantly more satisfied than those accompanying patients of a lower urgency. These results were independent of real waiting time or the accompanying person's knowledge of the patients’ triage status. In addition, older accompanying persons were more satisfied with emergency care than younger accompanying persons. Discussion. Little attention has been paid to the social interactions that occur between nurses and patients at triage and the ways in which these interactions might impact satisfaction with emergency care. Relevance to clinical practice. Good interpersonal relationships can positively influence satisfaction with the emergency visit. This relationship can contribute to improved patient care and health outcomes.