Current Priority Research Projects

TEC Project List

1. Temporal trend of uterine prolapse hospitalizations from 1993 to 2013

PI: Padmasini Kandadai

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan, Yi Zuo

Description: We described trends in the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse based on ethnicity (race) and socio-economic status based on National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 1993 to 2013. Then we stratified mesh and non-mesh surgery based on prolapse location: apex, alternate location, and uncategorized. We examined trends of mesh surgery following the July 2011 FDA mesh and compared differences based on ethnicity (race): Especially Black and Non-black Hispanic patients compared with White patients

2. Temporal trend of surgical repair of uterine prolapse hospitalizations from 2007 to 2013

PI: Padmasini Kandadai

TEC personnel: Yi Zuo

Description: We described the temporal trends in the use of surgical mesh for the treatment of uterovaginal prolapse regarding 2008 and 2013 FDA Warnings on mesh use based on National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2007 to 2013, and described differences in those trends by payer, racial, and geographic factors.

3. Temporal trend of opiate use from 1996 to 2013

PI: Allan Walkey

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan, Yi Zuo

Description: We described the temporal trend of opiate use using Negative Binomial Regression Model and Interrupted Time Series regarding the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) pain mandate on Jan. 1st, 2001, based on Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 1996 to 2013.

4. Comparison of 30- and 90- day readmission rate of Whipple procedure and mix procedures in treating pancreas cancer

PI: Teviah Sachs

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan, Yi Zuo, Nikita

Description: We compared 30- and 90- day readmission rate of these patients from hospitals of three categories: low Whipple and low mix procedure volume, low Whipple and high mix procedure volume, and high PD and high mix procedure volume, based on Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) in 2013.

5. A 12-month retrospective medical record review study of women at psychiatric risk and their newborns during pregnancy and postpartum

PI: Milanovic, Snezana M

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan

Description: We defined the volume of women who have psychiatric diagnoses and are being followed up through Obstetrics and Gynecology practices within the past 12 months (May 1, 2015  through May 1, 2016), as well as specific diagnostic categories (i.e. Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, etc.). And we evaluated access to various psychiatric care resources such as medication management, psychotherapy, and/or case management and associated costs. We also assessed outcomes of pregnancy such as mothers’ psychiatric improvement (or thereof) and infant outcomes.

6. A 13-year retrospective medical record review study of women at psychiatric risk and their newborns during pregnancy and postpartum.

PI: Milanovic, Snezana M

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan, Yi Zuo

Description: We defined the volume of women who have psychiatric diagnoses and are being followed up through Obstetrics and Gynecology practices within the past 13 years (May 1, 2003 through May 1, 2016), as well as specific diagnostic categories (i.e. Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, etc.) We evaluated access to various psychiatric care resources such as medication management, psychotherapy, and/or case management and associated costs. We assessed outcomes of pregnancy such as mothers’ psychiatric improvement (or thereof) and infant outcomes.

7. The effect of early life socioeconomic status (SES) on depression in late adulthood

PI: Karla Damus

TEC personnel: Elizabeth Pino

Description: Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study we conducted structural equation modeling analysis to determine how mid-life mediating events such as marriage, income level, and graduating from college affect the relationship between childhood SES and depression in late adulthood.

8. Effect of statins on health outcomes among ER+ breast cancer patients treated with Tamoxifen: A meta-analysis

PI: Norman Javitt, Sheldon Feldman

TEC personnel: Elizabeth Pino, Nikita

Description: We investigated the short- and long-term survival and recurrence rate associated with statin treatment among ER+ breast cancer patients treated with Tamoxifen.  Using a meta-analysis approach, we determined whether relative risk and benefits of statin versus no statins varies with time.

9. Explaining the obesity paradox in a diabetes-free cohort: a multi-cohort approach

PI: Vasan Ramachandran

TEC personnel: Elizabeth Pino

Description: obesity is paradoxically associated with decreased mortality among individuals with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.  Using longitudinal data from the Framingham Heart Study, we examined the obesity paradox in a cohort of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and the absence of the obesity paradox in a cohort of patients free of T2D.  We also analyzed gender differences in the obesity paradox.

10. Evaluation of the use of stress testing in the pre-operative evaluation for non-cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis

PI: Gary Balady

TEC personnel:  Elizabeth Pino, Nikita

Description: Using a meta-analysis approach, we evaluated the effect of standardized cardiac assessment on the incidence of perioperative cardiac events.

11. Relative Contributions of Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension to Cardiovascular Disease

PI: Teemu J. Niiranen

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan

Description: We measured carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and classical CVD risk factors in 2127 community-dwelling participants (mean age 60 years, 57% women) of The Framingham Offspring Cohort.  A substantial proportion of treated hypertensives have high arterial stiffness, a finding that may explain some of the notable residual CVD risk associated with even well-controlled hypertension.

12. Aortic-Brachial Stiffness Mismatch and Cardiovascular Outcomes in the General Population

PI: Teemu J. Niiranen

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan

Description: Aortic-brachial stiffness mismatch offers improved prognostic accuracy for cardiovascular disease over and above other measures of arterial stiffness, such as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid-radial pulse wave velocity, augmentation index and pulse pressure.

13. BEST database: Data management, preparation and analysis of psychiatry data from 1998 to 2016.

PI: David Henderson

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan, Elizabeth Pino, Yi Zuo

Description: TEC will host Department of Psychiatry electronic health record data from 2003 until 2015. This data will be prepared and managed at TEC to be presented as year-specific cohorts with link identifier. The prepared data will be made available for analysis.

14. Under diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorders among acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations: Results from Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2004-2013

PI: David Henderson at Boston Medical Centre

TEC personnel: Nikita, Yi Zuo, Elizabeth Pino

Description: Using nationally representative hospitalization data, the association between revascularization and clinically diagnosed depression and anxiety among acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations was assessed. Additionally, the risk of in-hospital mortality related to depression and anxiety in this population was also assessed.

15. Impact of comorbid diabetes and renal failure among ST elevation myocardial infarction hospitalizations treated with revascularization using Nationwide inpatient Sample, 2004-2013

PI: Guilio Stefanini at Humanitas Reasearch Hospital, Italy

TEC Personnel: Nikita, Yi Zuo, Elizabeth Pino

Description: Using nationally representative hospitalization data, the comorbidities that exist in STEMI patients in categories of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and renal failure (RF), DM only, RF only and both DM and RF was assessed. Additionally, the risk of adverse discharge outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome was assessed.

16. Readmissions after Thoracic Endovascular Aorta Repair (TEVAR) using Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD), 2013

PI: Jeffery Siracuse

TEC Personnel: Nikita

Description: Using nationally representative hospitalization data, comorbidities in patients with aortic dissection, outcomes after surviving index surgery of TEVAR were assessed. Kaplan Meier curve was made for first re-admission among those who had a re-hospitalization.

17. Age and gender differences in the association between race/ethnicity and revascularization of ST- and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2009-2013

PI: Guilio Stefanini at Humanitas Reasearch Hospital, Italy

TEC personnel: Elizabeth Pino, Yi Zuo, Nikita

Description: Using nationally representative hospitalization data, we assessed the race/ethnicity differential related to revascularization among patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of STEMI and NSTEMI by combined categories of age-gender and the association between race/ethnicity and risk of in-hospital mortality among those who received revascularization in these groups.

18. Diabetes Cohort Consortium: A cohort consortium of various datasets in order to assess the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes of Type-2 diabetes.

PI: Olivia Keiser at Bern University, Switzerland, Bindu Kalesan and others

TEC personnel: Nikita

Description: Develop a cohort consortium using data from various database and develop and algorithm to understand the treatment modalities and the outcomes in patients who have Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes.

19. RUDI FREE: A polymer free biolimus eluting stent implantation in all comers population: Analysis of DAPT cessation and clinical outcome after Biofreedom stent implantation (RUDI FREE REGISTRY)

PI: Guilio Stefanini at Humanitas Reasearch Hospital, Italy

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan

Description: From a registry of PCI patients treated at Humanitas Reasearch Hospital, Italy, a single arm study was done with Biolimus eluting stent in order to investigate their outcomes, all-cause mortality, any myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis.

20. Clinical outcomes in patients treated with Biolimus eluting stent versus Everolimus eluting stent for acute myocardial infarction: a propensity score matched analysis

PI: Guilio Stefanini at Humanitas Reasearch Hospital, Italy

TEC personnel: Bindu Kalesan

Description: From a registry of PCI patients treated at Humanitas Reasearch Hospital, Italy, we compared patients treated with Biolimus eluting stent versus Everolimus eluting stent using propensity score matched analysis, during long-term follow up (4-years) to investigate the clinical outcomes such as all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal MI, TLR, TVR and stent thrombosis.

21. Performance of bioresorbable polymer coated everolimus-eluting synergy stent in patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization followed by 1- month dual antiplatelet therapy.

PI: Guilio Stefanini at Humanitas Reasearch Hospital, Italy

Description: A clinical trial to assess the performance of everolimus-eluting synergy stents and assess the outcomes of cardiac death, myocardial infarction or definite/probable stent thrombosis at 1-year follow up.

22. One Million Medicaid: A cohort consortium of Medicaid MAX dataset from 2001 to 2013.

PI: Padmasini Kandadai, Donald Hess, Bindu Kalesan and Others

TEC personnel: Nikita

Description: A combined Medicaid cohort is being formed in collaboration with other investigators to do a comparative effectiveness research to understand the disparities that exist in the minority population.

23. A retrospective study in patients hospitalized with Aortic dissection and undergoing TEVAR at BMC and assess their readmission rates and in-hospital mortality.

PI: Jefferey Siracuse

TEC personnel: Nikita

Description: Using the data from the BMC clinical data warehouse, the outcomes and comorbidities of TEVAR procedure on patients diagnosed with aortic dissection. A comparative effectiveness research would also be performed in order to address the disparities in the treatment strategy.

24. Examination of the cardiovascular disease risk, progression, and outcomes for patients exposed to violence, trauma, and injury (VTI): a multi-state analysis

PI: Bindu Kalesan

TEC personnel: Elizabeth Pino

Description: Using a multi-cohort approach, we determined the risk of CVD outcomes and the associated individual factors in patients exposed to VTI.  In a multi-state model, we examined the disease progression from index event of VTI through changes in BMI, physical activity, metabolic disorders, CVD to death or end of follow up (disease states).

25. Data Cataloging and Harmonization in partnership with Maelstrom Research

PI: Bindu Kalesan

TEC personnel: Elizabeth Pino

Description: Maelstrom Research offers a range of services to meet the needs of collaborative research in epidemiology. Maelstrom services make research collaborations easier for study networks and consortia by facilitating each step of a multi-center research project, from data documentation, cataloging and harmonization to analysis and dissemination.  Our goals of this partnership are to curate and catalog all data on our servers, and harmonize key datasets for combined analysis.

26. Patterns of injury severity in firearm hospitalizations from 1993 to 2013

PI: Bindu Kalesan

TEC personnel: Yi Zuo

Description: We described the overall, intent- and age- specific temporal trend of injury severity using survey weighted multinomial logistic regression and linear regression based on National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 1993 to 2013.

27. Comparison of in hospital mortality of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR)

PI: Bindu Kalesan

TEC personnel: Yi Zuo

Description: We compared the in hospital mortality of TAVR and SAVR in hospital level using Propensity Score Matching and Propensity Score Weighting based on based on National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 1993 to 2013.

28. Gender differences in firearm and motor vehicle research in young adults using Medicaid data, 2001 to 2015.

PI: Bindu Kalesan

Collaborated with Sandro Galea at the Boston University School of Public Health

TEC personnel: Nikita

Description: Using Medicaid data, the impact of firearm injury and motor vehicle accidents in survivors would be assessed along with their short-, medium-, long-term outcomes in categories of physical disability, social outcomes, mental or emotional outcomes.

29. FIRE-1: A retrospective cohort study using Clinical Data Warehouse data from Boston Medical Centre.

PI: Bindu Kalesan, Sandro Galea

TEC personnel: Nikita, Yi Zuo

Description: Using BMC clinical data warehouse data, the impact of gun violence in trauma patients would be assessed. A comparative effectiveness research would be done in order to address the disparities that exist in the management and treatment of the minority populations.

30. FIRE-2: A longitudinal e-cohort study to assess the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes in gun violence survivors.

PI: Bindu Kalesan

TEC personnel: Nikita

Description: An e-cohort of gun violence survivors to describe and assess their physical, mental/emotional and social disabilities in daily life.