Cervical spine disease in surgeons performing arthroscopy or laparoscopy.

Minimal research exists regarding cervical spine disorders in surgeons who perform endoscopy. A confidential on-line survey regarding neck pain (NP), spine disease (SD), and radiculopathy/myelopathy (R/M) was sent to 722 surgeons from a managed, group-based health care system. 415 responded.

Understanding the Capacity for Exercise in Post-Bariatric Patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized trial testing an exercise program specifically adapted for post-bariatric patients.

Methods: A total of 51 post-bariatric patients, 6-24 months post-surgery, were randomly assigned to usual care control (n = 25) or the exercise intervention (n = 26). The intervention included twice weekly 60-min group exercise classes with functional strength, flexibility, and aerobic activities; at least 3 days per week of self-directed exercise; daily pedometer; recording of steps and activities; and weekly telephone counseling.

Hypertension and Asthma: A Comorbid Relationship.

Background: An increased prevalence of hypertension has been described in adult asthmatic patients. However, there is no information regarding the interaction of hypertension as a comorbidity with asthma severity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether a concomitant diagnosis of hypertension had any impact on markers of asthma severity in adult asthmatic patients.

Associations between physical activity and cardiometabolic risk factors assessed in a Southern California health care system, 2010-2012.

Introduction: Risk factors associated with many chronic diseases can be improved through regular physical activity. This study investigated whether cross-sectional associations between physical activity, assessed by the Exercise Vital Sign (EVS), and cardiometabolic risk factors can be detected in clinical settings.

Methods: We used electronic records from Kaiser Permanente Southern California members (N = 622,897) to examine the association of EVS category with blood pressure, fasting glucose, random glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin.

Safely diagnosing clinically significant penicillin allergy using only penicilloyl-poly-lysine, penicillin, and oral amoxicillin.

Background: Penicillin skin testing is rarely used to undiagnose penicillin "allergy" in the United States, partially because of concern that commercially available materials are inadequate.

Objective: We determined whether skin testing with only commercially available penicilloyl-poly-lysine and penicillin followed by an oral amoxicillin challenge, if skin test-negative, can safely identify clinically significant penicillin allergy.

Methods: Five hundred sequential persons with positive history of penicillin "allergy" were evaluated by skin testing with penicilloyl-poly-lysine and penicillin between June 8, 2010, and March 29, 2012.

Prediction of malignancy in cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) are being detected with increased frequency. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of malignancy and develop an imaging-based system for prediction of malignancy in PCN.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients ≥18 years of age with confirmed PCN from January 2005 to December 2010 in a community-based integrated care setting in Southern California.

Recommendations for the management of beta-lactam intolerance.

Beta-lactam intolerance, most of which is not IgE or even immunologically mediated even though it is commonly called an "allergy," can be safely managed using the following seven steps: 1. Avoid testing, re-challenging, or desensitizing individuals with histories of beta-lactam associated toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome, severe hepatitis, interstitial nephritis, or hemolytic anemia. 2.

Initial validation of an exercise "vital sign" in electronic medical records.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to describe the face and discriminant validity of an exercise vital sign (EVS) for use in an outpatient electronic medical record.

Methods: Eligible patients were 1,793,385 adults 18 yr and older who were members of a large health care system in Southern California. To determine face validity, median total self-reported minutes per week of exercise as measured by the EVS were compared with findings from national population-based surveys.

Development and validation of the Individual Burden of Illness Index for Major Depressive Disorder (IBI-D).

This study aims at developing a single numerical measure that represents a depressed patient's individual burden of illness. An exploratory study examined depressed outpatients (n = 317) followed by a hypothesis confirmatory study using the NIMH STAR*D trial (n = 2,967). Eigenvalues/eigenvectors were obtained from the Principal Component Analyses of patient-reported measures of symptom severity, functioning, and quality of life.

Impact of median lobe anatomy: does its presence affect surgical margin rates during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy?

Purpose: To measure and describe the impact of median lobe anatomy on surgical margin status after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).

Patients And Methods: We prospectively collected median lobe status, surgical margin status, and other perioperative data on 791 patients who underwent RALP at our institution by 12 surgeons between August 2008 and December 2010. We performed univariable and multivariable analysis to measure the association between median lobe status and positive surgical margin rates, including site.