OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and the second most abundant intracellular cation. It plays an important role in different organ systems at the cellular and enzymatic levels. Despite its importance, it still has not received the needed attention either in the medical literature or in clinical practice in comparison to other electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and calcium. Hypomagnesemia can lead to many clinical manifestations with some being life-threatening. The reported incidence is less likely than expected in the general population. We present a comprehensive review of different aspects of magnesium physiology and hypomagnesemia which can help clinicians in understanding, identifying, and treating this disorder.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was a psychometric evaluation of the PAINAD to assess pain in hospitalized cognitively impaired and intact older adults admitted for surgical repair of a hip fracture. METHOD: A descriptive correlational design was used. A convenience sample of older patients hospitalized for surgical repair of a hip fracture was used. Twelve of the patients had cognitive impairment and 13 were cognitively intact. All were assessed for pain using both the self-report numeric rating scale and an observational assessment tool, the PAINAD. FINDINGS: A positive correlation was found between the PAINAD and a self-report pain scale, providing evidence of concurrent validity. PAINAD scores were higher when patients were likely to experience pain than when unlikely, providing evidence of discriminant validity. The results of this study provide evidence supporting the validity and reliability of the PAINAD in the pain assessment of hospitalized post-orthopaedic surgical older adults who are unable or reluctant to self-report pain.

BACKGROUND: Recent scientific advances provide the opportunity to identify women in the general population at increased breast cancer risk and to offer effective early detection and disease prevention interventions. METHODS: A pedigree assessment tool (PAT) was designed to identify women in primary care settings who are at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer, including potential BRCA mutation carriers. The PAT is a simple point-scoring system based on family cancer history with points weighted to account for features associated with a higher probability that a BRCA mutation is present. The ability of the PAT and the Gail model to accurately identify potential BRCA mutation carriers in 3,906 women without a personal history of breast cancer presenting for a screening mammogram at a community hospital was tested. RESULTS: Eighty-six (2.2%) women had a family history indicative of a high probability (>10%) that a BRCA mutation was present within the family. The PAT performed better than the Gail model in correctly assigning women to the "high BRCA probability" cohort. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the PAT was 0.9625 compared with 0.389 and 0.5861 for the Gail model 5-year and lifetime risk estimates, respectively. At the optimal threshold score, the PAT performed with 100% sensitivity and 93% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The PAT is a simple and accurate tool for identifying women at risk for the hereditary breast cancer syndromes that can be employed as part of a comprehensive breast cancer risk-screening strategy in the primary care setting.

The practice of hiring new graduate nurses to work in the OR is becoming more the norm than the exception. If left to transition into this environment alone, new nurses can quickly become overwhelmed and feel isolated and discouraged. This article details a mentoring program for new nurses in the OR. The purpose of the program is twofold: to help new nurses transition into the surgical environment and to increase the facility's nurse retention rate.

NSCLC treatment includes targeting of EGFR with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as Erlotinib; however, resistance to TKIs is commonly acquired through T790M EGFR mutations or overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). We investigated the mechanisms of EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC cell lines with EGFR mutations or acquired resistance to Erlotinib. These studies showed upregulated gene and protein expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2, and a VEGF co-receptor neuropilin-1 (NP-1) in Erlotinib-resistant (1.4-5.3-fold) and EGFR double-mutant (L858R and T790M; 4.1-8.3-fold) NSCLC cells compared to parental and EGFR single-mutant (L858R) NSCLC cell lines, respectively. Immunofluorescence and FACS analysis revealed increased expression of VEGFR-2 and NP-1 in EGFR-TKI-resistant cell lines compared to TKI-sensitive cell lines. Cell proliferation assays showed that treatment with a VEGFR-2 inhibitor combined with Erlotinib lowered cell survival in EGFR double-mutant NSCLC cells to 9% compared to 72% after treatment with Erlotinib alone. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed shorter median survival in late-stage NSCLC patients with high vs. low VEGFR-2 expression (14 mos vs. 21 mos). The results indicate that VEGFR-2 may play a key role in EGFR-TKI resistance and that combined treatment of Erlotinib with a VEGFR-2 inhibitor may serve as an effective therapy in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations.

Correctional health nurses are not exempt from vicarious traumatization, but this concept has yet to be explored. Correctional health nurses practice in environments that come with significant risk for traumatic exposure from inmates and coworkers. The Professional Quality of Life Scale was used as a proxy to measure vicarious trauma. Surveys were mailed to 2,000 correctional health nurses that were on the mailing list of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, with a total response rate of 10.1%. Respondents were asked to complete the Professional Quality of Life Scale and a short demographic survey. Findings reveal that vicarious traumatization does exist among correctional health nurses.

Compared to younger individuals, the prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in elders is notably higher. While renal replacement therapy, usually with hemodialysis, is accepted therapy in younger patients with ESRD, decisions regarding the treatment of advanced kidney disease in the elderly population are more complex, secondary to the physiologic changes of aging, concurrent geriatric syndromes, and varying goals of care. Evaluation for possible initiation of dialysis in geriatric patients should be multidisciplinary in nature and patient-focused, including a consideration of physical, cognitive, and social function. If renal replacement therapy is not pursued, optimization of medical management or symptom management needs to be the goal of care.

Vestibular hearing in human is evoked as a result of the auditory sensitivity of the saccule to low-frequency high-intensity tone. The objective was to investigate the relationship between vestibular hearing using cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) and speech processing via word recognition scores in white noise (WRSs in wn). Intervention comprised of audiologic examinations, cVEMPs, and WRS in wn. All healthy subjects had detectable cVEMPs (safe vestibular hearing). WRSs in wn were obtained for them (66.9 ± 9.3% in the right ears and 67.5 ± 11.8% in the left ears). Dizzy patients in the affected ears, had the cVEMPs abnormalities (insecure vestibular hearing) and decreased the WRS in wn (51.4 ± 3.8% in the right ears and 52.2 ± 3.5% in the left ears). The comparison of the cVEMPs between the subjects revealed significant differences (P < 0.05). Therefore, the vestibular hearing can improve the speech processing in the competing noisy conditions.

Background: EGFR/c-Met activation/amplification and co-expression, mTOR upregulation/activation, and Akt/Wnt signaling upregulation have been individually associated with more aggressive disease and characterized as potential prognostic markers for lung cancer patients. Methods: Tumors obtained from 109 participants with stage I–IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were studied for EGFR/c-Met co-localization as well as for total and active forms of EGFR, c-Met, mTOR, S6K, beta-catenin, and Axin2. Slides were graded by two independent blinded pathologists using a validated scoring system. Protein expression profile correlations were assessed using Pearson correlation and Spearman’s rho. Prognosis was assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: Protein expression profile analysis revealed significant correlations between EGFR/p-EGFR ( p = 0.0412) and p-mTOR/S6K ( p = 0.0044). Co-localization of p-EGFR/p-c-Met was associated with increased p-mTOR ( p = 0.0006), S6K ( p = 0.0018), and p-S6K ( p &lt; 0.0001) expression. In contrast, active beta-catenin was not positively correlated with EGFR/c-Met nor any activated proteins. Axin2, a negative regulator of the Wnt pathway, was correlated with EGFR, p-EGFR, p-mTOR, p-S6K, EGFR/c-Met co-localization, and p-EGFR/p-c-Met co-localization (all p-values &lt;0.03). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed shorter median survival in participants with high expression of Axin2, total beta-catenin, total/p-S6K, total/p-mTOR, EGFR, and EGFR/c-Met co-localization compared with low expression. After controlling for stage of disease at diagnosis, subjects with late-stage disease demonstrated shorter median survival when exhibiting high co-expression of EGFR/c-Met (8.1 month versus 22.3 month, p = 0.050), mTOR (6.7 month versus 22.3 month, p = 0.002), and p-mTOR (8.1 month versus 25.4 month, p = 0.004) compared with low levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that increased EGFR/c-Met signaling is correlated with upregulated mTOR/S6K signaling, which may in turn be associated with shorter median survival in late-stage NSCLC.

Introducing a new competency into nursing practice requires the support of nursing leadership. A knowledge survey was used to assess nurses' knowledge following a yearlong genomics education initiative. Findings indicate that nurses benefit from repeated exposure to genetics-related content. Recommendations from this study include development and implementation of strategies that can be used to prepare nurses at all levels for the application of genetics and genomics. Clinical nurses with knowledge of genetics will be able to implement evidence-based interventions to manage acute and chronic illnesses. These nurses will then be able to engage patients more fully, thereby helping them to understand the relationship of genetics to healthy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Studies have cited possible complications and increased fluid accumulation in implant-based breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrix. The authors propose a novel approach, manually meshing acellular dermal matrix using a skin graft mesher before use in expander-based breast reconstruction. The authors investigated postoperative drain time, complication rates, pain, and length of hospital stay in meshed versus unmeshed acellular dermal matrix cohorts. METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients and 194 reconstructed breasts were included overall. Of these, 99 patients were included in the pain and postoperative length of hospital stay analysis. Independent t test and chi-square analyses were used for bivariate comparisons. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to further delineate impact of meshing acellular dermal matrix on drain time, postoperative parenteral narcotic requirements, and length of stay between the two cohorts. RESULTS: The meshed acellular dermal matrix cohort had lower overall complication rates compared with the unmeshed cohort. Multiple linear regression analyses showed meshing the acellular dermal matrix alone decreased drain time by 7.3 days, and decreased postoperative parenteral narcotic requirements by 77 percent (20 mg morphine). Furthermore, it was the only significant predictor for a decrease in length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Meshing acellular dermal matrix significantly decreased the time needed for postoperative drains. Statistical analysis showed significantly decreased overall and minor complication rates in the meshed cohort. Meshing significantly decreased parenteral narcotic requirements and, importantly, also decreased length of stay. All of these factors have important implications regarding cost and quality of care in expander-based breast reconstruction. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have reshaped and have become a well-established treatment modality for multiple advanced-stage malignancies. ICIs block the immune system regulatory checkpoints, namely CTLA-4 and PD-1/PDL1, which provokes excess immune response against self-antigens. Immune modulation with ICIs can result in diverse immune-related adverse events targeting organ systems. Several cases of ICI-related cardiotoxicity were reported, while the actual incidence was likely underestimated due to heterogeneous clinical presentation. These include, but are not limited to, myocarditis, pericarditis, atherosclerosis, and arrhythmia. EKG, Troponin, Echocardiogram (TTE), and Cardiac MRI (CMRI) are indispensable diagnostic tools to aid in the management of cardiac adverse effects. Herein, we review the ICI-mediated cardiovascular adverse events, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and reintroduction of ICIs post-cardiotoxicity.

The population in the United States is aging and presents many challenges in the healthcare world. According to the report released by United States Census Bureau in June 2017, there are around 50 million residents aged 65 years and over as of 2016. Among the multiple healthcare challenges, kidney disease is a significant one because of its high burden, high cost and low awareness. Medicare spending on chronic kidney disease for 65 plus aged patients exceeded $ 50 billion in 2013. Different studies based on different calculations have estimated that at least one-third of chronic kidney disease patients are aged above 65 years. Most of the chronic kidney disease patients have multiple medical co-morbidities but geriatric syndromes are added factors that may be challenging for nephrologists. There is scarcity of well-trained geriatricians and in most instances, nephrologists take over the role of internist or geriatrician. This article outlines the need and importance of collaboration and coordination between geriatrics and nephrology for the best patient care and better healthcare outcomes.

Immunoglobulin M nephropathy (IgMN) is a primary glomerulonephritis which is characterized by variable degrees of morphological features ranging from minimal glomerular involvement to segmental or global sclerosis. No specific treatment is known to date for this disease because of uncertainties in etiopathogenesis. The mainstay treatment for this disease has been corticosteroids, which has varying degrees of resistance ranging from 0% to 50%. We present the case of a 59-year-old Caucasian male who was referred to the outpatient nephrology clinic for the evaluation of proteinuria and was diagnosed with IgMN. We successfully treated the patient with rituximab with resolution of his proteinuria.

Robotic kidney transplantation is a safe, reproducible, and less morbid technique in high body mass index and end-stage renal disease. Polycystic kidney disease is a relative contraindication to robotic-assisted kidney transplantation because of the mass effect of the native kidneys on the patient's pelvis that prevents ideal exposure. We report the first 2 cases of robotic-assisted simultaneous bilateral nephrectomy and kidney transplantation for patients with obesity and adult polycystic kidney disease. The recipients were 2 males, 50 and 53 years old, with a body mass index of 35.1 41.6 kg/m2 and 41.6 kg/m2, respectively. Both recipients had suitable living donors. The average operating time was 395 minutes and the estimated blood loss was on average 250 mL. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patients were discharged home on days 4 and 5. Performing robotic nephrectomies simultaneously with kidney transplantation can be done safely, allowing patients with obesity and polycystic kidney disease needing bilateral nephrectomy, to take full advantage of minimally invasive kidney transplantation.

Patient outcomes measure quality of life, functional improvement, and cost effectiveness of diagnostic and treatment services.

Background and Aims: In the REALM (Randomized, Observational Study of Entecavir to Assess Long-Term Outcomes Associated with Nucleoside/Nucleotide Monotherapy for Patients with Chronic HBV Infection) study, 12,378 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection received up to 10 years of randomized therapy with entecavir or another HBV nucleos(t)ide analogue. Monitored clinical outcome events (COEs) included malignant neoplasms, HBV disease progression events, and deaths. An external event adjudication committee (EAC) was convened to provide real-time review of reported COEs to optimize data quality, and minimize potential adverse effects of the large cohort, interdisciplinary outcome assessments, geographic scope, and long duration. Methods: The EAC comprised an international group of hepatologists and oncologists with expertise in diagnosis of targeted COEs. The EAC reviewed and adjudicated COEs according to prospectively defined diagnostic criteria captured in the EAC charter. Operational processes, including data collection and query procedures, were implemented to optimize efficiency of data recovery to maximize capture of adjudicated COEs, the primary study outcome measure. Results: A total of 1724 COEs were reported and 1465 of these events were adjudicated by the EAC as reported by the investigators (85.0% overall concordance). Concordance by COE type varied: deaths, 99.6%; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 83.3%; non-HCC malignancies, 88.0%; non-HCC HBV disease progression, 68.2%. Reasons for lack of concordance were most commonly lack of adequate supporting data to support an adjudicated diagnosis or evidence that the event pre-dated the study. Conclusions: The REALM EAC performed a critical role in ensuring data quality and consistency; EAC performance was facilitated by well-defined diagnostic criteria, effective data capture, and efficient operational processes.

Patients begin to formulate their expectations of the postoperative hospitalization during the preadmission program. The challenge is to better understand the factors patients consider when formulating judgments about the quality of preadmission education. For example, it may be that perceptions of the preadmission program are influenced by what patients believe about their postoperative pain and functional abilities. Specific attention needs to be given both preoperatively and postoperatively to instructing patients on realistic expectations for recovery. One other method of measuring patient outcomes is with the Health Status Profile (SF-36) (Response Healthcare Information Management, 1995). The SF-36 approach emphasizes the outcome of medical care as the patient sees it, in addition to a clinical evaluation of successful health care. This form is currently initiated in the physician's office and returned for scanning at the preadmission class. The patient then completes another SF-36 at 6 months and every year thereafter to compare measurable outcomes. Patients intending to have elective total joint replacements experience anxiety and require much support and education. An effective preadmission program is a major investment in a patient's recovery, as well as a unique marketing tool to customers. Preadmission programs can be viewed as an opportunity to enhance customer satisfaction. Preadmission clinics are an excellent means for nurses to improve the quality of patient care through patient education. the overall goal of preadmission testing programs is to ensure patient preparedness while increasing quality health care and overall customer satisfaction. To enhance program effectiveness, health care providers must lead collaborative efforts to improve the efficiency of systems.

A case of May-Thurner-like syndrome was found to be a result of a pelvic kidney compressing the left common iliac vein. Cross-sectional imaging demonstrated transverse mobility of the pelvic kidney which has not been described previously. The ectopic kidney's mobility resulted in intermittent venous compression. In a patient with recurrent lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and a pelvic kidney, the possibility of movement of the kidney resulting in venous compression needs to be considered.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has grown exponentially since its introduction to the US market in 2007.1 Sales went largely unregulated until 2016, when the Food and Drug Administration expanded tobacco laws to encompass the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of e-cigarette products.2,3 Production safety standards are still being established. Rechargeable lithium batteries used have been reported to combust. The US Fire Administration reported 195 cases of e-cigarette explosions and fires from 2009 to 2016. The proximity of the explosions can cause serious burns and facial trauma to the user.3,4 We present a case report of a 30-year-old woman with oral soft tissue and dental injuries, C1 fracture, and left vertebral artery dissection from an e-cigarette explosion.