William N. Robiner

The Synergistic Effect of Class II HLA Epitope-Mismatch and Nonadherence on Acute Rejection and Graft Survival

Predicting long‐term outcomes in renal transplant recipients is essential to optimize medical therapy and determine the frequency of posttransplant histologic and serologic monitoring. Nonadherence and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch are risk factors that have been associated with poor long‐term outcomes and may help individualize care. In the present study, class II HLA mismatches were determined at the HLA epitope level in 195 renal transplant recipients in whom medication adherence was prospectively measured using electronic monitors in medication vial caps. Recipients were grouped by medication adherence and high (≥10 HLA‐DR, ≥17 HLA‐DQ) or low epitope‐mismatch load. We found that the combination of higher epitope mismatch and poor adherence acted synergistically to determine the risk of rejection or graft loss. Nonadherent recipients with HLA‐DR epitope mismatch ≥10 had increased graft loss (35% vs. 8%, p < 0.01) compared to adherent recipients with low epitope mismatch. At the HLA‐DQ locus nonadherent recipients with HLA‐DQ epitope mismatch ≥17 had increased graft loss (33% vs. 10%, p < 0.01) compared to adherent recipients with low epitope mismatch. Subclinical nonadherence early posttransplant combined with HLA class II epitope mismatch may help identify recipients that could benefit from increased clinical, histologic, and serologic monitoring.

Predictive Patterns of Early Medication Adherence in Renal Transplantation

Background Patients’ adherence with posttransplant immunosuppression is known to affect renal transplant outcomes. Methods Prospectively, individual medication adherence patterns in 195 kidney transplant recipients were quantified with electronic medication monitors. Monitored drugs were mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus, or azathioprine. Monitoring began at hospital discharge and continued an average of 15±8 months. Patient follow-up for clinical outcomes averaged 8±3 years. Each month’s adherence percentage was calculated as the sum of daily adherence percents, divided by the number of evaluable days. Results During the first 3 months after transplantation, patients (n=44) with declining medication adherence, defined as dropping by 7% or higher (equal to missing 2 days) between months 1 and 2, later experienced lower mean medication adherence for months 6 to 12, 73% versus 92% respectively (P<0.0001). Compared to patients with stable adherence, they also had more frequent (P=0.034) and earlier (P=0.065) acute rejection episodes. This was additionally associated with more frequent (P=0.017) and earlier (P=0.046) death-censored graft loss. In addition, daily medication adherence, expressed as the percentage of doses taken, decreased as the number of prescribed daily doses increased. During the first 3 months after transplantation, adherence with four doses per day averaged 84%, compared to 91% for patients on twice-daily dosing (P=0.024) and 93.5% for patients on once-daily dosing (P=0.008). Conclusions Early declining medication nonadherence is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. This pattern is detectable during the first 2 months after transplantation. Early detection of nonadherence provides opportunities to target interventions toward patients at the highest risk for adverse behaviors and events.

The design of an Internet-based system to maintain home monitoring adherence by lung transplant recipients

Regimen adherence is a key factor in the success of home monitoring of lung transplant recipients. Patients generally adhere satisfactorily with home spirometry in the short-term, but adherence tends to decline over time. Telehealth and Internet technology provide new methods to address this issue. The unique contribution of the Adherence Enhancement Internet Program (AEIP) is the integration of multiple adherence enhancement strategies operating in a unified approach to the adherence problem, while meshing all user groups to facilitate interactions. This Internet-based program focused on promoting subject specific strategies was developed to maintain the initial high levels of adherence beyond the first year post transplant. The program provides more immediate subject feedback related to home monitoring data, reminders from the patients health care providers, educational material, and guidance in dealing with subject specific barriers to maintaining adherence. It also simplifies communication between patients and health care providers, and supports providers in certain patient care tasks. A feasibility trial involving 12 lung transplant recipients demonstrated that subjects were able to use the AEIP with little training, found it acceptable, and were generally enthusiastic regarding it as a tool to maintain or enhance adherence

Barriers to clinical research participation in a diabetes randomized clinical trial.

Little is known about how barriers to research participation are perceived, affected by or interact with patient characteristics, or how they vary over the course of a clinical trial. Participants (285) in the Renin-Angiotensin System Study (RASS), a randomized clinical primary prevention study of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy at 2 Canadian and 1 US university, rated potential barriers to research participation yearly for 5 years. Baseline barriers rated as most adversely affecting participation were: missing work; frequency of appointments and procedures; study length; number of appointments and procedures; access to study location; and physical discomfort associated with procedures. Inadequate social support, unstable job, and the use of alcohol and drugs were cited relatively infrequently, suggesting that although they may be important, candidates for whom these might be issues likely self-selected out of the study. Gender and gender by age interactions were found for specific perceived barriers, such as work and child care, and baseline barriers correlated with adherence. Elucidating the natural history of barriers to research participation is a step toward identifying strategies for helping participants overcome them, and ultimately may enhance the conduct of research.

Abbreviated WAIS-R procedures: Use and limitations with head-injured patients

Abstract The utility of the Satz-Mogel and Silverstein (two and four subtest) short forms of the WAIS-R was assessed on a group of 49 recently head-injured patients. The Satz-Mogel procedure yielded correct categorical classification of IQ in 92% of the cases and correlated highly with WAIS-R FSIQ (r = .97). Silverstein two-and four-subtest forms correlated highly with WAIS-R FSIQ (r = .82; r = .86) but resulted in a larger number of IQ classification errors. These data support the superiority of the Satz-Mogel procedure for abbreviating the WAIS-R with head-injured patients. Applications and limitations of short forms in the assessment of intelligence with head-injured patients are discussed.

Development of a remote monitoring satisfaction survey and its use in a clinical trial with lung transplant recipients

We developed an instrument to measure the satisfaction of lung transplant recipients with home monitoring. The survey comprised 15 items, each scored on a five-point Likert-type scale (from strongly disagree to strongly agree). Three additional free-text items enabled subjects to provide comments. The survey had a scoring range of 15–75. In a test group of 43 patients, the internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha) was 0.93 overall for all questions. The intra-class correlation for scores from the same 27 patients approximately 2.5 months apart was 0.77 for the total score. The survey was used to evaluate subject satisfaction in a randomized controlled trial of a computerized algorithm for triaging lung transplant recipients. Surveys were mailed to 50 study subjects and were returned by 32 (64% return rate). Ninety percent of respondents were satisfied with the home monitoring programme and would recommend it to other patients.

Effect of bupropion on physiological measures of stress in smokers during nicotine withdrawal

Studies suggest that among cigarette smokers trying to quit, stress undermines abstinence. Little research has assessed if therapies that increase smoking cessation rates impact physiological measures of stress response. Forty-three subjects completed this repeated-measures study in which a laboratory assessment was completed at baseline and after 17 days of treatment with either placebo (n=15), bupropion sustained release (150 mg twice daily) (n=14) or bupropion with stress reduction counseling (n=14). All subjects quit smoking 3 days prior to the second laboratory assessment. At each laboratory assessment physiological measures of stress (i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol concentrations) were measured during rest periods and in response to a speech, a math and a cold pressor task. Among subjects taking placebo, physiological measures of stress were generally lower at rest and during the stressors after smoking cessation. In those taking bupropion these measures were equivalent at the two assessments. Additionally, compared to placebo, those on bupropion had a greater diastolic blood pressure response to the speech stressor and greater systolic blood pressure response to the math stressor during the second laboratory session. This study suggests that bupropion may be maintaining physiological measures of stress during the nicotine withdrawal period.

Self-care behaviors and adherence in diabetes mellitus.

Self-care behaviors are essential in managing diabetes. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that intensive self-care regimens can slow the progression of microangiopathy and delay onset of long-term complications. Increased attention to adherence with specific components of personal regimens is needed to help diabetics achieve maximal benefits. Self-management in terms of medication-taking, self-monitoring, diet, and excercise is inconsistent. Factors contributing to self-care and non-compliance are discussed. Recommendations for enhancing self-care and adherence research are offered.

The basis of the doctoral degree for psychology licensure

Abstract The doctoral degree has been established as the educational requirement for psychology licensure in most states. It has been accepted as the standard for independent practice by most psychological organizations since the profession emerged, but it continues to be a source of controversy. The rationale for the doctoral standard and historical developments are reviewed. The benefits of maintaining the doctoral standard are also presented. Comparisons between masters and doctoral-level training and practitioners are reviewed. Potential roles for nondoctoral practitioners are discussed.

Psychologists in Academic Health Centers and Medical Centers: Being Visible, Relevant and Integral.

Psychologists play key roles in academic health centers. This article is an outgrowth of a presentation at the 2015 Conference of the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers addressing various strategies by which psychologists can effectively adapt to and develop successful careers in medical schools, academic health centers, and teaching hospitals. The authors encourage early career and mid-career psychologists in academic health centers to be active, engaged members of their institutions and to participate in multiple aspects of the research, educational, and clinical missions.