Impact of minimal sufficient balance, minimization, and stratified permuted blocks on bias and power in the estimation of treatment effect in sequential clinical trials with a binary endpoint.

Minimization is among the most common methods for controlling baseline covariate imbalance at the randomization phase of clinical trials. Previous studies have found that minimization does not preserve allocation randomness as well as other methods, such as minimal sufficient balance, making it more vulnerable to allocation predictability and selection bias. Additionally, minimization has been shown in simulation studies to inadequately control serious covariate imbalances when modest biased coin probabilities (≤0.

Ixekizumab improves sleep and work productivity in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: results from the COAST-X trial at 52 weeks.

Background: Patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis experience negative impacts on sleep, work productivity, and activity impairment. Ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody selectively targeting interleukin-17A, has shown efficacy in treating the signs and symptoms of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. This analysis evaluated the effect of ixekizumab treatment on sleep, work productivity, and activity impairment in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Which adults with sickle cell disease need an evaluation for pulmonary embolism?

Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at an increased risk of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) including pulmonary embolisms (PEs). There is a high mortality associated with PE in individuals with SCD. It can be difficult to diagnose PE since presenting symptoms of PE often mimic those of other forms of vaso-occlusive crisis in SCD.

Dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene in combat veterans with PTSD: A case-control study.

The dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene has been postulated to be involved in PTSD; however, existing studies have shown inconsistencies when examining genotypic and allelic associations. The primary objective of this study was to examine whether DAT1-40bp-VNTR (DAT1) 9R polymorphism might increase the risk of PTSD development in combat veterans, utilizing a case-control gene association study with both control and PTSD cases having previous exposure to combat traumas. Participants with PTSD (N = 365) and combat-exposed controls without PTSD (N = 298) were included in analysis.

Impact of Clinical, Laboratory and Fluid Therapy Variables on Hospital Length of Stay for Children with Acute Pancreatitis.

Purpose: There have been many efforts to develop generalizable severity markers in children with acute pancreatitis (AP). Expert opinion panels have developed consensus guidelines on management but it is unclear if these are sufficient or valid. Our study aims to assess the effect of clinical and laboratory variables, in addition to treatment modality on hospital length of stay (LOS) as a proxy variable for severity in pediatric patients admitted with AP.

A thematic analysis of health information technology use among cancer genetic counselors.

As precision medicine becomes a mainstay in health care, the use of health information technology (IT) platforms will play an important role in the delivery of services across the cancer care continuum. Currently, there is both limited understanding about perceptions of health IT tools and barriers to their use among cancer genetic counselors. We assessed open-ended responses from a survey conducted among 128 board-certified cancer genetic counselors in the United States.

Utilization of health information technology among cancer genetic counselors.

Background: Health information technology (IT) is becoming increasingly utilized by cancer genetic counselors (CGCs). We sought to understand the current engagement, satisfaction, and opportunities to adopt new health IT tools among CGCs.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-mode survey among 128 board-certified CGCs using both closed- and open-ended questions.

Statistical properties of minimal sufficient balance and minimization as methods for controlling baseline covariate imbalance at the design stage of sequential clinical trials.

When the number of baseline covariates whose imbalance needs to be controlled in a sequential randomized controlled trial is large, minimization is the most commonly used method for randomizing treatment assignments. The lack of allocation randomness associated with the minimization method has been the source of controversy, and the need to reduce even minor imbalances inherent in the minimization method has been challenged. The minimal sufficient balance (MSB) method is an alternative to the minimization method.

Self-reported cognition and marijuana use in older adults: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions-III.

Marijuana use among older adults is on an unprecedented rise, yet little is known about its effects on cognition in this population where, due to advanced age, risk for cognitive decline is high. Thus, we investigated whether marijuana use and use characteristics were associated with self-reported cognition among older adults ages ≥ 50 years using the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Respondents either had never used marijuana ("never": n = 10,976), used but not in the past 12 months ("former": n = 2990), or used in the past 12 months ("current": n = 712).

Cirrhotic Patients on Mechanical Ventilation Have a Low Rate of Successful Extubation and Survival.

Background And Aims: We hypothesized that mechanically ventilated cirrhotic patients not only have poor outcomes, but also that certain clinical variables are likely to be associated with mortality. We aimed to describe the predictors of mortality in these patients.

Methods: This observational study examined 113 mechanically ventilated cirrhotic patients cared for at our institution between July 1, 2014, and February 28, 2018.

Primary cilia and the exocyst are linked to urinary extracellular vesicle production and content.

The recently proposed idea of "urocrine signaling" hypothesizes that small secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain proteins that transmit signals to distant cells. However, the role of renal primary cilia in EV production and content is unclear. We previously showed that the exocyst, a highly conserved trafficking complex, is necessary for ciliogenesis; that it is present in human urinary EVs; that knockdown (KD) of exocyst complex component 5 (EXOC5), a central exocyst component, results in very short or absent cilia; and that human EXOC5 overexpression results in longer cilia.

Diffuse dermal angiomatosis associated with calciphylaxis: A 5-year retrospective institutional review.

Background: Although diffuse dermal angiomatosis (DDA), a rare acquired reactive cutaneous vascular disorder, has been previously reported in association with calciphylaxis (CP), the clinical significance of this relationship has not yet been elucidated.

Methods: A total of 24 cases of CP diagnosed from 2013 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of associated DDA. Pertinent clinical information for each patient was also collected, and statistical analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression, Student t test and Fisher exact test.

An Exploration of Useful Telemedicine-Based Resources for Clinical Research.

Clinical trials are key to ensuring high-quality, effective, and safe health care interventions, but there are many barriers to their successful and timely implementation. Difficulties with participant recruitment and enrollment are largely affected by difficulties with obtaining informed consent. Teleconsent is a telemedicine- based approach to obtaining informed consent and offers a unique solution to limitations of traditional consent approaches.