Service Dogs for Veterans and Military Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Military members and veterans (hereafter, veterans) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increasingly seek psychiatric service dogs as a complementary intervention, yet the effectiveness of service dogs is understudied.

Objective: To estimate the associations between psychiatric service dog partnership and self-reported and clinician-rated PTSD symptom severity, depression, anxiety, and psychosocial functioning after 3 months of intervention among veterans.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This nonrandomized controlled trial used standardized and validated assessment instruments completed by participants and administered by blinded clinicians.

Coccidioides Serologic Screening Practices in Individuals With Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases.

Objective: We aimed to estimate Coccidioides serologic screening rates before initiation of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs including tofacitinib (b/tsDMARDs), conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), and/or noninhaled corticosteroids.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used 2011 to 2016 US Medicare claims data and included beneficiaries with rheumatic or autoimmune disease residing in regions within Arizona, California, and Texas endemic for Coccidioides spp. with ≥1 prescription for a b/tsDMARD, csDMARD, and/or noninhaled corticosteroid.

Risk of Coccidioidomycosis Infection Among Individuals Using Biologic Response Modifiers, Corticosteroids, and Oral Small Molecules.

Objective: The study objective was to examine associations between the use of biologic response modifiers (BRMs), corticosteroids, and oral small molecules (OSMs) and subsequent coccidioidomycosis infection risk among US Medicare beneficiaries with rheumatic or autoimmune diseases.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used US 2011 to 2016 Medicare claims data. We identified geographic areas with endemic coccidioidomycosis (≥25 cases per 10,000 beneficiaries).

Reliability and Validity of Single Axial Slice vs. Multiple Slice Quantitative Measurement of the Volume of Effusion-Synovitis on 3T Knee MRI in Knees with Osteoarthritis.

Effusion-synovitis (ES) is recognized as a component of osteoarthritis, creating a need for rapid methods to assess ES on MRI. We describe the development and reliability of an efficient single-slice semi-automated quantitative approach to measure ES. We used two samples from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI): 50 randomly selected OAI participants with radiographic osteoarthritis (i.

Cartilage Topography Assessment With Local-Area Cartilage Segmentation for Knee Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: Local-area cartilage segmentation (LACS) software was developed to segment medial femur (MF) cartilage on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our objectives were 1) to extend LACS to the lateral femur (LF), medial tibia (MT), and lateral tibia (LT), 2) to compare LACS to an established manual segmentation method, and 3) to visualize cartilage responsiveness over each cartilage plate.

Methods: Osteoarthritis Initiative participants with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) were selected, including knees selected at random (n = 40) and knees identified with loss of cartilage based on manual segmentation (Chondrometrics GmbH), an enriched sample of 126 knees.

Widespread Pain Is Associated with Increased Risk of No Clinical Improvement After TKA in Women.

Background: When conservative treatments do not work, TKA may be the best option for patients with knee osteoarthritis, although a relatively large proportion of individuals do not have clinically important improvement after TKA. Evidence also suggests that women are less likely to benefit from TKA than men, but the reasons are unclear. Widespread pain disproportionately affects women and has been associated with worse outcomes after joint arthroplasty, yet it is unknown if the effect of widespread pain on TKA outcomes differs by patient gender.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH1 regulates glucose-tolerance and lipid storage in a sex-specific manner.

Type 2 diabetes is typified by insulin-resistance in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver, leading to chronic hyperglycemia. Additionally, obesity and type 2 diabetes are characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation. Membrane-associated RING-CH-1 (MARCH1) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase best known for suppression of antigen presentation by dendritic and B cells.

Race, sex, and risk factors in radiographic worsening of knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Characterize radiographic worsening in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by race and sex over 4 years and evaluate the role of established risk factors in observed race/sex differences.

Methods: Whites (WHs) (694 males and 929 females) and African-Americans (AAs) (92 males and 167 females) at risk for radiographic KOA were eligible. Cox shared frailty models were used to estimate race and sex group differences in radiographic worsening, defined by Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) and OARSI joint space narrowing (JSN).

Relationship Between Knee Pain and Patient Preferences for Joint Replacement: Health Care Access Matters.

Objective: To determine if severity of osteoarthritis-related knee pain is associated with a willingness to undergo total knee replacement (TKR) and whether this association is confounded or modified by components of socioeconomic status and health care coverage.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 3,530 Osteoarthritis Initiative study participants. Logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of knee pain severity (where 0 = none, 1-3 = mild, 4-7 = moderate, and 8-10 = severe) on willingness to undergo TKR.

Selenium Supplementation for Prevention of Colorectal Adenomas and Risk of Associated Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Selenium supplementation may help to prevent colorectal cancer; as precursors of colorectal cancer, colorectal adenomas are a surrogate for colorectal cancer. Selenium supplementation may increase risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: The Selenium and Celecoxib (Sel/Cel) Trial was a randomized, placebo controlled trial of selenium 200 µg daily as selenized yeast and celecoxib 400 mg once daily, alone or together, for colorectal adenoma prevention.

Celecoxib for the Prevention of Colorectal Adenomas: Results of a Suspended Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib were designed to preserve anti-inflammatory activity without inhibiting COX-1. Downregulation of COX-2 inhibits colorectal carcinogenesis.

Methods: The Selenium and Celecoxib Trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of once-daily selenium 200 µg and celecoxib 400 mg, alone or together, for colorectal adenoma prevention.

Patient preferences for total knee replacement surgery: Relationship to clinical outcomes and stability of patient preferences over 2 years.

Objective: Evaluate the relationship between patient preferences for total knee replacement (TKR) with receipt of TKR, and assess participant characteristics that may influence change in willingness to undergo TKR.

Methods: Structured interviews of knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients were conducted. Logistic regression models were conducted to assess the association between baseline willingness and eventual receipt of TKR, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Single time point comparisons in longitudinal randomized controlled trials: power and bias in the presence of missing data.

Background: The primary analysis in a longitudinal randomized controlled trial is sometimes a comparison of arms at a single time point. While a two-sample t-test is often used, missing data are common in longitudinal studies and decreases power by reducing sample size. Mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) can test treatment effects at specific time points, have been shown to give unbiased estimates in certain missing data contexts, and may be more powerful than a two sample t-test.

Dietary polyamine intake and colorectal cancer risk in postmenopausal women.

Background: Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine (i.e., polyamines) are small cationic amines synthesized by cells or acquired from the diet or gut bacteria.

Dietary polyamine intake and polyamines measured in urine.

Dietary polyamines have recently been associated with increased risk of pre-malignant colorectal lesions. Because polyamines are synthesized in cells and taken up from dietary sources, development of a biomarker of exposure is challenging. Excess polyamines are primarily excreted in the urine.

Sedentary behavior is associated with colorectal adenoma recurrence in men.

Purpose: The association between physical activity and colorectal adenoma is equivocal. This study was designed to assess the relationship between physical activity and colorectal adenoma recurrence.

Methods: Pooled analyses from two randomized, controlled trials included 1,730 participants who completed the Arizona Activity Frequency Questionnaire at baseline, had a colorectal adenoma removed within 6 months of study registration, and had a follow-up colonoscopy during the trial.

One-year risk for advanced colorectal neoplasia: U.S. versus U.K. risk-stratification guidelines.

Background: Guidelines from the United Kingdom and the United States on risk stratification after polypectomy differ, as do recommended surveillance intervals.

Objective: To compare risk for advanced colorectal neoplasia at 1-year colonoscopy among patients cross-classified by U.S.

Design and baseline characteristics of participants in a phase III randomized trial of celecoxib and selenium for colorectal adenoma prevention.

COX inhibitors reduce colorectal adenoma recurrence by up to 45% and selenium supplementation may prevent colorectal cancer. Following colonoscopic adenoma resection, 1,600 men and women, ages 40 to 80 years, were randomized to celecoxib (400 mg daily), a selective COX-2 inhibitor, and/or selenium (200 μg daily as selenized yeast), or double placebo. The trial was initiated in November 2001.

Primary care physician compliance with colorectal cancer screening guidelines.

Objective: To assess self-reported compliance to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines among primary care physicians (PCPs) and to assess physician and practice characteristics associated with reported compliance.

Methods: Survey data from 984 PCPs in Arizona were used. Self-reported CRC screening practices, recommendations, and compliance with guidelines were assessed.

Genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor VDR/RXRA influence the likelihood of colon adenoma recurrence.

Low circulating levels of vitamin D affect colorectal cancer risk. The biological actions of the hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), are mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which heterodimerizes with retinoid X receptors (RXR). Using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) tagging approach, we assessed the association between genetic variations in RXRA and VDR and odds of recurrent (metachronous) colorectal neoplasia in a pooled population of two studies.

Gender modifies the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in a randomized controlled trial in colorectal adenoma patients.

Purpose: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was one of the earliest agents investigated as a drug for colorectal cancer prevention. However, UDCA failed to show efficacy to prevent the development of colorectal adenomas in a large, phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. We re-evaluated the effect of UDCA in men and women separately, based on sex-specific differences in bile acid metabolism and suspected variation in etiologic factors contributing to colorectal cancer risk.

Physical activity as a determinant of fecal bile acid levels.

Physical activity is protective against colon cancer, whereas colonic bile acid exposure is a suspected risk factor. Although likely related, the association between physical activity and bile acid levels has not been well-studied. Furthermore, the effect of triglycerides, which are known to modify bile acid levels, on this relationship has not been investigated.

Components of metabolic syndrome and metachronous colorectal neoplasia.

Background: The consistent association between obesity and colorectal cancer is thought to be explained by metabolic disturbances common, but not exclusive, to the obese.

Methods: We assessed the relation between metachronous neoplasia and the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III in 2,392 participants of two previously conducted chemoprevention trials. Waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, trigylcerides, high-density lipoprotein, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at baseline.

Association between body mass index and colorectal neoplasia at follow-up colonoscopy: a pooling study.

A direct relation between body mass index (BMI) and risk of colorectal adenomas and cancer has been reported, but few studies have had adequate sample size for conducting stratified analyses by sex, family history, colorectal subsite, or features of metachronous lesions. Data from 8,213 participants in 7 prospective studies of metachronous colorectal adenomas were pooled to assess whether the association between BMI and metachronous neoplasia varied by these factors. A statistically significant direct association between BMI and the odds of nonadvanced adenomas (P(trend) < 0.

Plasma insulin-like growth factor I is inversely associated with colorectal adenoma recurrence: a novel hypothesis.

The insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis has been proposed to be a significant factor in the development of certain cancers, including colorectal. However, results from epidemiologic studies suggest modest effects on colorectal cancer risk. Using cross-sectional and prospective study designs within the same cohort of men who had at least one adenoma at baseline, we investigated whether plasma IGF-I, IGF-I binding protein 1, and IGF-I binding protein 3 were associated with colorectal adenoma characteristics at baseline and whether their levels were related to odds for adenoma recurrence.