Nicky Lieberman

Sensitivity, but Not Specificity, of a Quantitative Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Test for Neoplasia Is Slightly Increased by the Use of Low-Dose Aspirin, NSAIDS, and Anticoagulants

OBJECTIVES:We evaluated the effect of the use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and anticoagulants on the performance of immunochemical fecal occult blood test (I-FOBT).METHODS:A prospective, cross-sectional study of 1,221 ambulatory patients having total colonoscopy after preparing three I-FOBTs. Information regarding the use of medications was collected from the health medical organization (HMO) database. I-FOBT was analyzed with the OC-MICRO instrument using both ≥75 and 100 ngHb/ml of buffer thresholds to determine positivity.RESULTS:Colorectal cancer (CRC) was found in 17 and advanced adenomatous polyp (AAP) in 97 patients. A total of 212 patients were using aspirin/NSAIDS at the time of I-FOBT testing. Qualitative analysis for the detection of AAP/CRC reveals a trend for an increased sensitivity with aspirin/NSAIDS use. At the threshold 75 ng/ml for positivity, the sensitivity for the detection of AAP/CRC was 66.7% for aspirin/NSAIDS use vs. 51.2% for nondrug takers (P=0.20), and at the threshold of 100 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 66.7 vs. 46.5% (P=0.09). The specificity, however, was not affected by the use of aspirin/NSAIDS. At the threshold of 75 ng/ml for positivity, the specificity for the detection of AAP/CRC was 89.5% for aspirin/NSAIDS use vs. 91.2% for nondrug takers (P=0.47), and at the threshold of 100 ng/ml, the specificity was 92.17 vs. 93.0% (P=0.69). A total of 33 patients were using antithrombotics/coagulants at the time of I-FOBT testing. This group was small; however, it appears that their use was also associated with a trend for increased sensitivity and no change in specificity.CONCLUSIONS:The use of aspirin/NSAIDS and anticoagulants was associated with a trend for increased sensitivity with no change in specificity for the detection of AAP/CRC. This study suggests that there is no need to stop these agents before I-FOBT testing.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcome after bariatric surgery.

The global obesity epidemic is changing the face of maternal-fetal medicine. One in five women is obese at time of conception, and increasing numbers of parturients have undergone bariatric surgery. Recent publication of large, population-based studies and comparison studies of preoperative and post-operative pregnancies have highlighted new risks and benefits to the mother and child. Pregnancy after bariatric surgery appears to effectively reduce the risk of complications such as fetal macrosomia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; however, women who become pregnant after bariatric surgery may constitute a unique obstetric population with an increased risk for preterm and small-for-gestational-age infants. In this article, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of the impact of maternal bariatric surgery on neonatal and pregnancy outcomes.

The cost-effectiveness of gestational diabetes screening including prevention of type 2 diabetes: application of a new model in India and Israel

Abstract Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with elevated risks of perinatal complications and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and screening and intervention can reduce these risks. We quantified the cost, health impact and cost-effectiveness of GDM screening and intervention in India and Israel, settings with contrasting epidemiologic and cost environments. Methods: We developed a decision-analysis tool (the GeDiForCE™) to assess cost-effectiveness. Using both local data and published estimates, we applied the model for a general medical facility in Chennai, India and for the largest HMO in Israel. We computed costs (discounted international dollars), averted disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and net cost per DALY averted, compared with no GDM screening. Results: The programme costs per 1000 pregnant women are

Defining the Role of Medication Adherence in Poor Glycemic Control among a General Adult Population with Diabetes

259 139 in India and

Reducing health disparities: strategy planning and implementation in Israel's largest health care organization.

259 929 in Israel. Net costs, adjusted for averted disease, are

Reduction in sex-based mortality difference with implementation of new cardiology guidelines.

194 358 and

Twelve-year follow-up of a population-based primary care diabetes program in Israel

76 102, respectively. The cost per DALY averted is

Global adaptation of IADPSG recommendations: A national approach

1626 in India and

Sustained Reduction in Health Disparities Achieved through Targeted Quality Improvement: One-Year Follow-up on a Three-Year Intervention

1830 in Israel. Sensitivity analysis findings range from

Effectiveness of dasabuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir for hepatitis C virus in clinical practice: A population-based observational study

628 to