Resident factors associated with American board of internal medicine certification exam failure.

Introduction: Performance on the certifying examinations such as the American Board of Internal Medicine Certification Exam (ABIM-CE) is of great interest to residents and their residency programs. Identification of factors associated with certification exam result may allow residency programs to recognize and intervene for residents at risk of failing. Despite this, residency programs have few evidence-based predictors of certification exam outcome.

Outpatient Primary Care Practitioner Access: Gender-Based Preferences.

Primary care practices are evolving under the pressure of modern-day challenges, with some clinics now introducing the choice of new nontraditional care models designed to maximize patients' needs with practitioner efficiency. These changes include team models consisting of advanced practitioners and physicians, as well as new care delivery formats such as virtual care. With a growing number of options for care, it is unclear whether patients' gender affects their visit preferences; therefore, we surveyed patients presenting to an outpatient internal medicine clinic in Arizona to understand how practice variations impact patient satisfaction of their primary care.

The effects of financial incentives on diabetes prevention program attendance and weight loss among low-income patients: the We Can Prevent Diabetes cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Penetration and participation of real life implementation of lifestyle change programs to prevent type 2 diabetes has been challenging. This is particularly so among low income individuals in the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of financial incentives on attendance and weight loss among Medicaid beneficiaries participating in the 12-month Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).

Cost-Effectiveness of a Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Program with Participation Incentives for Medicaid Beneficiaries.

Objective: To examine the cost-effectiveness of a community-based Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for Medicaid beneficiaries from the perspective of the health care sector.

Data Sources/study Setting: A total of 847 Medicaid enrollees at high risk for type 2 diabetes participating in a community-based DPP.

Study Design: Pre- and post clinical outcome and cost data were used as inputs into a validated diabetes simulation model.

Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis in Colorectal Cancer: The Mayo Clinic Experience.

Background: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is an uncommon form of metastatic disease in many cancers. There remains a paucity of literature with regard to the course and management of LM in colorectal cancers (CRCs). The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of LM in patients with CRC seen at our institution over a 15-year period, and to describe the clinical course and outcome of these cases.

Association of Therapy for Autoimmune Disease With Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Importance: Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms are a potentially life-threatening consequence of treatment for autoimmune disease (AID) and an emerging clinical phenomenon.

Objective: To query the association of cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating agents to treat patients with AID with the risk for developing myeloid neoplasm.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective case-control study and medical record review included 40 011 patients with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, coded diagnosis of primary AID who were seen at 2 centers from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2014; of these, 311 patients had a concomitant coded diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Financial incentives for diabetes prevention in a Medicaid population: Study design and baseline characteristics.

Background: Medicaid beneficiaries at high risk for diabetes can benefit from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention. The We Can Prevent Diabetes (WCPD) trial examined whether financial incentives are more effective than no financial incentives in sustaining participation in the DPP and increasing weight loss. Here we describe the study design and baseline characteristics.

Phase 1 Study of ABT-751 in Combination With CAPIRI (Capecitabine and Irinotecan) and Bevacizumab in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer.

ABT-751 is an orally bioavailable sulfonamide with antimitotic properties. A nonrandomized phase 1 dose-escalation study of ABT-751 in combination with CAPIRI (capecitabine and irinotecan) and bevacizumab was conducted to define the maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and pharmacokinetics in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Patients were treated with ABT-751 daily for 7 days (alone) and then began 21-day cycles of treatment with ABT-751 daily and capecitabine twice daily for 14 days plus irinotecan on day 1 intravenously.

Randomized phase III multi-institutional study of TNFerade biologic with fluorouracil and radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: final results.

Purpose: TNFerade biologic is a novel means of delivering tumor necrosis factor alpha to tumor cells by gene transfer. We herein report final results of the largest randomized phase III trial performed to date among patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and the first to test gene transfer against this malignancy.

Patients And Methods: In all, 304 patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to standard of care plus TNFerade (SOC + TNFerade) versus standard of care alone (SOC).

Phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of cetuximab, irinotecan and sorafenib in advanced colorectal cancer.

Background This phase Ib study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated doses (MTD) and dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) of irinotecan and cetuximab with sorafenib. Secondary objectives included characterizing the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and evaluating preliminary antitumor activity in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods Patients with metastatic, pretreated CRC were treated at five dose levels.

Integrated preclinical and clinical development of S-trans, trans-Farnesylthiosalicylic Acid (FTS, Salirasib) in pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: S-trans,trans-Farnesylthiosalicylic Acid (FTS, salirasib) inhibits Ras-dependent cell growth by dislodging all isoforms of Ras, including mutant Ras, from the plasma membrane. This study evaluated the activity, safety, and toxicity of salirasib in preclinical models and patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA).

Patients And Methods: In the preclinical study, salirasib was tested, alone and in combination with gemcitabine, in patient derived xenografts (PDX) of PDA.

Results from an experimental trial at a Head Start center to evaluate two meal service approaches to increase fruit and vegetable intake of preschool aged children.

Background: Strategies to increase fruit and vegetable consumption of preschool aged children are needed.

Objectives: Evaluate the independent effects of the following meal service strategies on intake of fruits and vegetables of preschool children: 1.) Serving fruits and vegetables in advance of other menu items as part of traditional family style meal service; and 2.

The Minnesota Diabetes Plan 2015: Stemming the tide on an epidemic and improving patient care.

The Minnesota Diabetes Steering Committee, a group of experts in diabetes care and prevention from around the state, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health, is working to slow the incidence of diabetes and improve the care of Minnesotans who have the disease. The steering committee has developed a new five-year diabetes plan for the state that identifies nine areas around which stakeholders will focus energy and take action. This article describes that plan.

Tumor engraftment in nude mice and enrichment in stroma- related gene pathways predict poor survival and resistance to gemcitabine in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate prospectively the engraftment rate, factors influencing engraftment, and predictability of clinical outcome of low-passage xenografts from patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and to establish a bank of PDA xenografts.

Experimental Design: Patients with resectable PDA scheduled for resection at the Johns Hopkins Hospital were eligible. Representative pieces of tumor were implanted in nude mice.

Low awareness of overweight status among parents of preschool-aged children, Minnesota, 2004-2005.

Introduction: Many studies have found that parents of overweight children do not perceive their child to be overweight. Little is known, however, about the extent to which such misperceptions exist among parents of preschool-aged children.

Methods: We analyzed data that were collected in 2004-2005 from parents of 593 preschool-aged children in 20 child care centers in the Minneapolis-St.

Fruits and vegetables taken can serve as a proxy measure for amounts eaten in a school lunch.

This study tests the hypothesis that fruits and vegetables taken on students' lunch trays are usable proxies for fruits and vegetables eaten, and that the proxy is useful with children in the youngest school grade (ie, grade 1; ages 6 to 8 years). A total of 1,168 randomly selected students in grade 1 and grade 3 (ages 8 to 10 years) in 26 schools in the Twin Cities, MN, metropolitan area were observed before and after an intervention that was applied to 13 randomly selected schools. Trained observers recorded food quantities on a child's tray and measured food consumed during the meal.

A randomized school trial of environmental strategies to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption among children.

The Cafeteria Power Plus project examined whether a cafeteria-based intervention would increase the fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of children. Twenty-six schools were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control condition. Baseline lunch observations of a sample (N = 1668) of first- and third-grade students occurred in the spring of 2000; follow-up was in the spring of 2002.

Evaluation of a theater production about eating behavior of children.

This study evaluated "All's Well That Eats Well," a theater production performed in 20 schools in the Twin Cities, Minn., metropolitan area in winter 2000. The production sought to change food-related knowledge and food choices concerning fruits and vegetables among children in grades 1-6.