Background Patient activation—the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage one’s health—is associated with improved self-management behaviors for several chronic conditions. This study assesses rates of patient activation in breast and prostate cancer survivors and explores the characteristics associated with patient activation. Methods A cross-sectional study of survivors with localized (Stage I or II) breast and prostate cancers who are post-treatment (between 1–10+ years) were recruited from four community-hospital sites in New Jersey. Survey data on patient characteristics (demographic and psychosocial) and clinical factors were assessed to the explore relationships with patient activation using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13). Results Among 325 survivors (112 prostate; 213 breast) overall patient activation was high (M=3.25). Activation was significantly lower among prostate survivors when compared to breast cancer survivors (M=3.25 [SD 0.38] vs. M=3.34 [SD 0.37], p <0.05). For prostate survivors, race (p< 0.05), marital status (p<0.001), employment status (p<0.01), household income (p<0.05), and fear of recurrence (p<0.01) were significantly associated with patient activation. For both groups ease of access to oncology team and primary care physicians (PCPs) (all p-values < 0.001) and perceptions of time spent with oncologists team and PCPs (all P-values <.01) were positive predictors of activation. Conclusions In both breast and prostate survivors’ access to providers (both PCPs and oncologists) and perception that adequate time spent with providers were associated with activation. Therefore, clinical interventions maybe a promising avenue to improve patient activation. Research is needed to develop and test tailored patient activation interventions to improve self-management among cancer survivors.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can present as unique conditions or as a combination known as asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS). These condition(s) can be categorized as obstructive conditions, causing inflammation of small airways leading to decrease airflow, mucus production, and bronchoconstriction. Asthma and COPD affect every age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, thus increasing mortality and morbidity burden in our society. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is an endogenous gaseous molecule which can be measured in the human breath test because of airway inflammation. It has been studied extensively as a marker of inflammation and has been incorporated into an algorithm for asthma management. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether FeNO testing can lead to a change in the diagnosis. A retrospective chart review of 95 patients with asthma, COPD, and ACOS was performed, and FeNO levels were recorded. Out of 95 patients, 36%, 24%, and 22% of the patients had an initial diagnosis of asthma, COPD, and ACOS, respectively. After the FeNO testing, the number of patients with the final diagnosis of asthma and ACOS increased, and COPD decreased. Our results support the utility of FeNO as a viable marker in diagnosing and managing complex cases of asthma, COPD, and ACOS.

Studies have suggested that perineural invasion (PNI) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) serve as independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer (CRC). Currently, little is known regarding the combination of PNI and LVI as prognostic factors, independent of stage. We hypothesized that this combination was a better prognostic marker than either PNI or LVI alone, and that S100 staining would detect PNI not seen with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Surgical pathology slides were retrospectively reviewed for 151 stages I to IV CRC patients who had surgery between January 1, 2008 and December 8, 2008 at 3 Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals in New Jersey. PNI and LVI were detected by H&E staining and a subset of 127 patient samples were additionally examined for PNI by S100 staining. Correlation between staining characteristics and patient outcomes was assessed using the Pearson χ2 tests and the Fisher exact tests. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods. Of the 151 cases reviewed, 30.5% were positive for PNI and 35.1% were positive for LVI by H&E. The use of S100 staining for PNI enabled its detection in 27 additional cases. Median time from patient diagnosis to death was significantly shorter for patients who were positive for both PNI and LVI (P<0.001). PNI and LVI were individual markers for poor survival in CRC patients and their combined presence had an even worse outcome. Failure to detect PNI on H&E can be overcome by S100 staining.

This study finds that nearly one-third of the patients undergoing transradial percutaneous coronary interventions have advanced chronic kidney disease. Because many of these patients may require dialysis, the use of radial artery to conduct percutaneous coronary interventions must be carefully considered in chronic kidney disease population.

Dispatch data can inform natural disaster planning. Education efforts can focus on geriatric patients, as well as resource distribution planning for an increase in geriatric populations. However, pattern variability between storms shows further study is needed to clarify exactly which resources should be utilized in order to maintain an ideal response to a natural disaster.