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27 Neuropsychiatric Sequela of COVID-19 Among Persons with MS
- Anjali Patel, Yixuan Sun, Michelle Chen
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 543-544
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Objective:
To evaluate changes in neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) following coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection using the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). The N3C represents the largest cohort of COVID-19 cases, through the unification of electronic health records from over 60 medical centers.
Participants and Methods:Out of 5,631,225 COVID-19 confirmed positive patients, we identified a cohort of patients with MS who were diagnosed with COVID-19. Conditions were searched using terms denoting common neuropsychiatric comorbid diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, pain, sleep disorders, fatigue, and cognitive disorders. We examined descriptively the percentages of patients who were newly diagnosed with each comorbid condition after COVID-19 infection. Additionally, we searched for various patient-reported outcome measures in the N3C dataset; only the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) had an adequate sample size in our cohort for analysis. To control for variability due to non-COVID-19 factors, we only included PHQ-9 scores that were reported one year before and after COVID-19 infection. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to analyze the difference between PHQ-9 scores before and after COVID-19 diagnosis among MS patients.
Results:In our final dataset, there were 40,690 patients who were diagnosed with MS and COVID-19. Among patients without pre-existing anxiety conditions, 9.18% were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder after COVID-19 infection. Among those who did not have a pre-existing cognitive disorder, 1.73% had such diagnoses after COVID-19 infection. Among those without previous depressive disorders, 8.89% were diagnosed with a depressive disorder after COVID-19 infection. Of those without fatigue conditions prior to COVID-19 in their medical records, 8.81% had documented fatigue in their records after contracting COVID-19. Of those without pain conditions in their medical records, 11.37% had documented pain in their records after COVID-19 infection. Finally, among patients without pre-existing sleep disorders, 8.71% were diagnosed with sleep disorders after COVID-19 infection. Regarding PHQ-9 scores, 50 patients had documented scores before their COVID-19 diagnosis and 50 after COVID-19 diagnosis (17 had scores for both before and after COVID-19 diagnosis). There was no significant difference in PHQ-9 scores before and after COVID-19 diagnosis (F(df) = 0.326, p = 0.572; meanbefore = 8.77, meanafter = 9.32).
Conclusions:Approximately 2-11% of MS patients developed new neuropsychiatric conditions after COVID-19 infection, with pain being the most common, followed by anxiety, fatigue, depression, and sleep disorders. Cognitive disorders were the least prevalent new onset neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 in this cohort. Additionally, there was a non-significant increase in severity of depressive symptoms, as indicated by a 1.36-point increase in PHQ-9 scores. These results suggest that patients with MS who have also been diagnosed with COVID-19 may be at risk for developing newly onset neuropsychiatric symptoms.
361 WDR5 represents a therapeutically exploitable target for cancer stem cells in glioblastoma
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- Christopher Hubert, Kelly Mitchell, Samuel Sprowls, Sajina Shakya, Sonali Arora, Daniel J. Silver, Christopher M. Goins, Lisa Wallace, Gustavo Roversi, Rachel Schafer, Kristen Kay, Tyler E. Miller, Adam Lauko, John Bassett, Anjali Kashyap, J. D’Amato Kass, Erin E. Mulkearns-Hubert, Sadie Johnson, Joseph Alvarado, Jeremy N. Rich, Patrick J. Paddison, Anoop P. Patel, Shaun R. Stauffer, Christopher G. Hubert, Justin D. Lathia
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 7 / Issue s1 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 24 April 2023, p. 107
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Glioblastomas (GBMs) are heterogeneous, treatment-resistant tumors that are driven by populations of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, we perform an epigenetic-focused functional genomics screen in GBM organoids and identify WDR5 as an essential epigenetic regulator in the SOX2-enriched, therapy resistant cancer stem cell niche. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Despite their importance for tumor growth, few molecular mechanisms critical for CSC population maintenance have been exploited for therapeutic development. We developed a spatially resolved loss-of-function screen in GBM patient-derived organoids to identify essential epigenetic regulators in the SOX2-enriched, therapy resistant niche. Our niche-specific screens identified WDR5, an H3K4 histone methyltransferase responsible for activating specific gene expression, as indispensable for GBM CSC growth and survival. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In GBM CSC models, WDR5 inhibitors blocked WRAD complex assembly and reduced H3K4 trimethylation and expression of genes involved in CSC-relevant oncogenic pathways. H3K4me3 peaks lost with WDR5 inhibitor treatment occurred disproportionally on POU transcription factor motifs, required for stem cell maintenance and including the POU5F1(OCT4)::SOX2 motif. We incorporated a SOX2/OCT4 motif driven GFP reporter system into our CSC cell models and found that WDR5 inhibitor treatment resulted in dose-dependent silencing of stem cell reporter activity. Further, WDR5 inhibitor treatment altered the stem cell state, disrupting CSC in vitro growth and self-renewal as well as in vivo tumor growth. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results unveiled the role of WDR5 in maintaining the CSC state in GBM and provide a rationale for therapeutic development of WDR5 inhibitors for GBM and other advanced cancers. This conceptual and experimental framework can be applied to many cancers, and can unmask unique microenvironmental biology and rationally designed combination therapies.
What Is the Future of Primary Mental Health Care?: A Post COVID-19 Service Evaluation
- Ahmad Zarif, Imaduldin Nazir, Azad Mahmod, Hajira Bibi, Reshma Rasheed, Anjali Patel, Yathorshan Shanthakumaran
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, p. S143
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Aims
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many service lines needed to be transformed to enable more telemedicine and virtual consultations. This enabled seamless care across many service boundaries as all services adapted to operate virtually. During COVID-19, the mental health of many patients deteriorated. With easing of restrictions, we wanted the patient voice to be heard and to ensure our service was patient-centred. We undertook a service evaluation to understand our patients preferences. Our cross-sectional study evaluated patient preferences for their care which we felt was important as earlier during pandemic, patients did not have the choice to choose between virtual vs face-to-face consultations. We felt this was important to our patients so they could exercise choice of consultation and this would enable the patient voice to be heard.
Methods591 patients across three practices in primary care were identified from the Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and on the depression register. They were asked about their preference of care: telemedicine vs face-to-face consultations. Using a simple questionnaire, in order to record their preference on the patient screen. Of these a total of 495 patients (83%) participated in the study.
ResultsOf the 495 respondents, 308 (52%) declined virtual telemedicine consultations and 175 (29%) patients were content with virtual consultations. Of the 175 patients who wanted telemedicine were 20 to 40 years of age. Reasons given included convenience (allows family and work commitment) and overall time management (reluctancy to travel). The 308 patients (52%) wanted face-to-face consultations because they wanted human contact, validation of their mental health problems, reassurance and were uncomfortable about discussions on the phone. They also had poor mobility especially the elderly who chose traditional models of care.
ConclusionAs services are restored to the new norm of patient care, patient choice should remain paramount if services are to remain patient centric. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many services transformed to virtual consultation of necessity without recognising the impact on patients themselves. Patients with serious mental health and depression are inherently vulnerable and our evaluation goes to show that despite the popularity of telemedicine. Patient choice should enable patients to access face-to-face care for greater patient satisfaction.
An Observational Study of the Mental Health Burden in Frail and Elderly Patients
- Yathorshan Shanthakumaran, Reshma Rasheed, Anjali Patel
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, p. S66
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Aims
Psychiatric illnesses are common among older adults and are associated with increased mortality and physical comorbidities. It is suggested that patients with frailty have a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms. (1) The eFI (electronic Frailty Index) is a tool used to assess the severity of frailty in elderly frail patients using a cumulative deficit model based on routine interactions with their GP.
MethodsPatients were selected for annual frailty assessments by searching the electronic clinical system (SystmOne) using the eFI tool. Patients were assessed using the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) framework. In addition, all patients were screened for coexisting anxiety and depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire.
ResultsOf the 118 patients who ranged from mild to severe frailty, we found there was a positive correlation of the frailty severity eFI scores with increased rates of anxiety and depression evidenced by higher scores on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scoring tools. We found a positive correlation of the eFI with the PHQ-9 depression scores of (r = 0.819 p < 0.001). Within the same data set, we found correlation coefficients of eFI and anxiety GAD-7 scores (r = 0.651 p < 0.001). Increasing frailty was found to be associated with a higher rate of depression and anxiety.
ConclusionWe found in this study higher (eFI) electronic frailty indices are associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. We would recommend annual frailty assessments in patients with high electronic frailty indices and this should include screening for mental health deterioration. Early detection of deterioration will enable patient centered supportive measures and targeted treatment strategies. Health maintenance programs should ensure patient centered holistic assessment of both physical and mental health needs for early identification to avoid deterioration of both physical and mental health.
A Quality Improvement of the Identification of Obesity in Patients With Mental Health Morbidity and Referral to Weight Management Services
- Anjali Patel, Reshma Rasheed, Yathorshan Shanthakumaran
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, pp. S107-S108
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Aims
A quality improvement project was undertaken to counteract obesity in patients with mental health morbidity. The exponential trend of increased antidepressant prescribing (SSRI, SNRI and anti-psychotic medication) has created a trend towards weight gain in patients. An audit of the Serious Mental Illness (SMI) register and depression registers was conducted in a population of 591 patients. Those patients identified as obese were offered referral to the local authority weight management services.
MethodsPatients have a body weight and BMI calculation with their twice yearly mental health and medication review and those whose BMI met the obesity criteria were offered referral to the local authority for 12 weeks weight management services.
ResultsOf the SMI and depression register 189 (32%) patients met the criteria for referral to the weight management program. Of these 154 (81%) patients accepted the local NHS weight management program, 35 (18%) of patients declined the NHS weight management program.
ConclusionWeight gain is a known side effect of antidepressant medication SSRI and SNRIs and Anti psychotic medication resulting in increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular and metabolic disease. The QI program was undertaken to counteract these changes with referral to weight management services to address the weight gain the patients were experiencing.
This quality improvement service was done to help patients across three surgeries lose weight in an effective and educational manner. We found a high rate of acceptability of referral to weight management services when offered as patients themselves were aware of the weight gain. A review of positive changes in the BMI after referral to the weight management program will be undertaken at 6 and 12 months to evaluate its acceptability and effectiveness. We advocate sensitive counselling of the risks of weight gain and regular monitoring of body weight throughout the span of the prescribing of these weight gaining agents.
Metabolic Effects of Antidepressants; Is It Time to Change the Conversation?
- Anjali Patel, Yathorshan Shanthakumaran, Reshma Rasheed, Imaduldin Nazir
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, p. S66
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Aims
The incidence of depression has risen both nationally and internationally. The mainstay of management remains referral to IAPT and treatment with SSRI and SNRIs and the rates of prescribing are rising exponentially. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more people faced mental health challenges. In the last ten years, the incidence of SSRI prescribing rose from 6.8% to 100%. A known side effect of antidepressant medication is weight gain, dyslipidemia, increasing risk of impaired fasting glycaemia and diabetes. Our study was conducted to assess the actual risk incurred in our population from the point of starting therapy till date.
MethodsPatients were identified from the GP clinical system (SystmOne) to identify those with a current prescription of antidepressants and antipsychotics. A retrospective analysis of 591 patients' case records was undertaken. Body weight, BMI, fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting lipids and Q risk were analysed at the time of prescription initiation, post treatment and any rise in cardiovascular risk over a period of years. The data were analysed to see the trajectory of deterioration in metabolic risk. All patients were assessed to ensure they had been signposted and referred to weight management services.
ResultsThe data show a positive correlation between the onset of antidepressant and antipsychotic prescribing, worsening of BMI, increase of cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The data show an exponential rise in BMI and metabolic risk (cardiovascular Q risk, dyslipidemia, imparied fasting glycaemia, diabetes and ischaemic heart disease) for patients taking SSRI and SNRI within 12 months. This effect continues for the length of the prescribing interval. We also found that with the rise of BMI dose, escalation was common due to reduced effectiveness. The average rise in cardiovascular Q risk average was 14.05% over three years. Patients need careful counselling at the outset and need regular reassessment of metabolic risks at each medication review. Informed consent must be obtained - risks of SSRI, SNRI and antipsychotic risk should be stated.
ConclusionA known iatrogenic risk of antidepressant medication is weight gain, dyslipidemia, increasing risk of impaired fasting glycaemia and diabetes. Careful counselling and metabolic risk assessment is required when initiating these medications. Throughout the length of prescribing patients need re-assessment of their cardiovascular and diabetes risk with timely referral to weight management services to counterbalance metabolic risks.
Using fundraising incentives and point-of-purchase nutrition promotion to improve food choices among school families in restaurants: a pilot and feasibility study
- Shawna L McNally, Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, Kelly Bowman, Mariana Beleche, Sara C Folta, Anjali A Patel
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- Journal:
- Public Health Nutrition / Volume 23 / Issue 11 / August 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 April 2020, pp. 2006-2015
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Objective:
To assess the feasibility and efficacy of in-restaurant interventions aiming to promote healthy choices via fundraising incentives benefiting school wellness programmes and point-of-purchase nutrition promotion.
Design:Twelve schools were randomly assigned to one of the two intervention periods: Fundraising Incentive (FI) donated funds for visiting the study restaurant and Fundraising-Healthy Eating Incentive (F-HEI) included FI with additional funds given when selecting a healthier item. Both conditions included point-of-purchase nutrition promotions. Families were recruited to attend their designated intervention and complete a survey. Feasibility was assessed based on recruitment and participation, implementation fidelity and intervention acceptability. Efficacy was assessed by comparing participant receipts between intervention periods and by comparing overall restaurant sales during intervention v. two no-intervention time frames.
Setting:Fast-casual restaurant in Southern California.
Participants:Parents with children attending participating schools.
Results:Eighty-one families visited the restaurant during the intervention, with sixty-six completing surveys. All study activities were implemented successfully, but school family participation in the intervention was low (0·95 %). Among participants completing surveys, all indicated satisfaction with the programme. The percentage of healthier items ordered was significantly greater during both FI (χ2 = 5·97, P = 0·01) and F-HEI (χ2 = 8·84, P = 0·003) v. Comparison 2. Results were similar but did not reach statistical significance when comparing the interventions to Comparison 1.
Conclusions:Results support potential efficacy of this programme, but more research is needed to inform feasibility. Fidelity and acceptability data supported feasibility, but participation rates were low in this initial study. Methods evaluating this intervention with a greater proportion of parents should be considered.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS & CASE STUDIES: Halting the Invasion: Maintaining the Health of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins by Preventing Further Exchange of Aquatic Invasive Species
- Anjali G. Patel, Katherine Glassner-Shwayder, Tim Eder
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- Journal:
- Environmental Practice / Volume 12 / Issue 4 / December 2010
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 January 2011, pp. 342-356
- Print publication:
- December 2010
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Over the past century, both the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins have been economically and ecologically devastated by the establishment of self-sustaining populations of aquatic invasive species. In the Mississippi River basin, some of the most significant damage has been attributed to the presence of reproducing populations of Asian carp in the main waterway and its tributaries. The ability of this nonindigenous invasive fish to outcompete native fish for food and habitat has led to the widespread establishment of Asian carp in the Mississippi River, impacting the natural balance of the aquatic ecosystem. Stakeholders in the Great Lakes region are acutely aware of the destructive impacts that could result if Asian carp become established as self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes ecosystem, and are particularly concerned with the risk of a potential interbasin exchange of Asian carp through the canals and waterways that connect the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. A regional consensus has been emerging that ecological separation is the primary long-term solution needed to minimize the potential of a future invasion. However, underlying economic, environmental, social, and political realities raise a complex set of issues that must be addressed in the course of enacting this solution. Through an examination of Asian carp life cycle and behavior, current Asian carp management and prevention efforts, and the implications surrounding the potential invasion of Asian carp, this report explores the multifaceted problems posed by this highly aggressive nonindigenous invader. It also discusses the fundamental reasons why permanent and equitable measures are needed to minimize the potential for an interbasin transfer of all aquatic invasive species for every life stage between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.
Environmental Practice 12:342–356 (2010)
Contributors
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- By Shamsuddin Akhtar, Greg Albert, Sidney Allison, Muhammad Anwar, Haruo Arita, Amanda Barker, Mary Hanna Bekhit, Jeanna Blitz, Tyson Bolinske, David Burbulys, Asokumar Buvanendran, Gregory Cain, Keith A. Candiotti, Daniel B. Carr, Derek Chalmers, John Charney, Rex Cheng, Roger Chou, Keun Sam Chung, Anna Clebone, Frederick Conlin, Susan Dabu-Bondoc, Tiffany Denepitiya-Balicki, Jeanette Derdemezi, Anahat Kaur Dhillon, Ho Dzung, Juan Jose Egas, Stephen M. Eskaros, Zhuang T. Fang, Claudia R. Fernandez Robles, Victor A. Filadora, Ellen Flanagan, Dan Froicu, Allison Gandey, Nehal Gatha, Boris Gelman, Christopher Gharibo, Muhammad K. Ghori, Brian Ginsberg, Michael E. Goldberg, Jeff Gudin, Thomas Halaszynski, Martin Hale, Dorothea Hall, Craig T. Hartrick, Justin Hata, Lars E. Helgeson, Joe C. Hong, Richard W. Hong, Balazs Horvath, Eric S. Hsu, Gabriel Jacobs, Jonathan S. Jahr, Rongjie Jaing, Inderjeet Singh Julka, Zeev N. Kain, Clinton Kakazu, Kianusch Kiai, Mary Keyes, Michael M. Kim, Peter G. Lacouture, Ryan Lanier, Vivian K. Lee, Mark J. Lema, Oscar A. de Leon-Casasola, Imanuel Lerman, Philip Levin, Steven Levin, JinLei Li, Eric C. Lin, Sharon Lin, David A. Lindley, Ana M. Lobo, Marisa Lomanto, Mirjana Lovrincevic, Brenda C. McClain, Tariq Malik, Jure Marijic, Joseph Marino, Laura Mechtler, Alan Miller, Carly Miller, Amit Mirchandani, Sukanya Mitra, Fleurise Montecillo, James M. Moore, Debra E. Morrison, Philip F. Morway, Carsten Nadjat-Haiem, Hamid Nourmand, Dana Oprea, Sunil J. Panchal, Edward J. Park, Kathleen Ji Park, Kellie Park, Parisa Partownavid, Akta Patel, Bijal Patel, Komal D. Patel, Neesa Patel, Swati Patel, Paul M. Peloso, Danielle Perret, Anthony DePlato, Marjorie Podraza Stiegler, Despina Psillides, Mamatha Punjala, Johan Raeder, Siamak Rahman, Aziz M. Razzuk, Maggy G. Riad, Kristin L. Richards, R. Todd Rinnier, Ian W. Rodger, Joseph Rosa, Abraham Rosenbaum, Alireza Sadoughi, Veena Salgar, Leslie Schechter, Michael Seneca, Yasser F. Shaheen, James H. Shull, Elizabeth Sinatra, Raymond S. Sinatra, Neil Singla, Neil Sinha, Denis V. Snegovskikh, Dmitri Souzdalnitski, Julie Sramcik, Zoreh Steffens, Alexander Timchenko, Vadim Tokhner, Marc C. Torjman, Co T. Truong, Nalini Vadivelu, Ashley Vaughn, Anjali Vira, Eugene R. Viscusi, Dajie Wang, Shu-ming Wang, J. Michael Watkins-Pitchford, Steven J. Weisman, Ira Whitten, Bryan S. Williams, Jeremy M. Wong, Thomas Wong, Christopher Wray, Yaw Wu, Anthony T. Yarussi, Laurie Yonemoto, Bita H. Zadeh, Jill Zafar, Martha Zegarra, Keren Ziv
- Edited by Raymond S. Sinatra, Jonathan S. Jahr, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, J. Michael Watkins-Pitchford
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- Book:
- The Essence of Analgesia and Analgesics
- Published online:
- 06 December 2010
- Print publication:
- 14 October 2010, pp xi-xviii
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