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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). This study evaluated its antidepressant and cognitive effects as a safe, effective, home-based therapy for MDD.
Methods
This double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized trial divided participants into low-intensity (1 mA, n = 47), high-intensity (2 mA, n = 49), and sham (n = 45) groups, receiving 42 daily tDCS sessions, including weekends and holidays, targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 30 minutes. Assessments were conducted at baseline and weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary outcome was cognitive improvement assessed by changes in total accuracy on the 2-back test from baseline to week 6. Secondary outcomes included changes in depressive symptoms (HAM-D), anxiety (HAM-A), and quality of life (QLES). Adverse events were monitored. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04709952).
Results
In the tDCS study, of 141 participants (102 [72.3%] women; mean age 35.7 years, standard deviation 12.7), 95 completed the trial. Mean changes in the total accuracy scores from baseline to week 6 were compared across the three groups using an F-test. Linear mixed-effects models examined the interaction of group and time. Results showed no significant differences among groups in cognitive or depressive outcomes at week 6. Active groups experienced more mild adverse events compared to sham but had similar rates of severe adverse events and dropout.
Conclusions
Home-based tDCS for MDD demonstrated no evidence of effectiveness but was safe and well-tolerated. Further research is needed to address the technical limitations, evaluate broader cognitive functions, and extend durations to evaluate its therapeutic potential.
We investigate the concentration fluctuations of passive scalar plumes emitted from small, localised (point-like) steady sources in a neutrally stratified turbulent boundary layer over a rough wall. The study utilises high-resolution large-eddy simulations for sources of varying sizes and heights. The numerical results, which show good agreement with wind-tunnel studies, are used to estimate statistical indicators of the concentration field, including spectra and moments up to the fourth order. These allow us to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the production, transport and dissipation of concentration fluctuations, with a focus on the very near field, where the skewness is found to have negative values – an aspect not previously highlighted. The gamma probability density function is confirmed to be a robust model for the one-point concentration at sufficiently large distances from the source. However, for ground-level releases in a well-defined area around the plume centreline, the Gaussian distribution is found to be a better statistical model. As recently demonstrated by laboratory results, for elevated releases, the peak and shape of the pre-multiplied scalar spectra are confirmed to be independent of the crosswind location for a given downwind distance. Using a stochastic model and theoretical arguments, we demonstrate that this is due to the concentration spectra being directly shaped by the transverse and vertical velocity components governing the meandering of the plume. Finally, we investigate the intermittency factor, i.e. the probability of non-zero concentration, and analyse its variability depending on the thresholds adopted for its definition.
Accordingly, the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) working committee, composed of domestic experts, developed Korea’s first KMAP-BP in 2002 and later in 2006, 2010, and 2010. A revised version of KMAP-BP was announced every four years four times in 2014 and 2018.6-10). The treatment strategy considering the safety and tolerability of KMAP-BP 2022 was developed by collecting opinions from domestic bipolar disorder experts.
Objectives
Safety and tolerability of drugs are very important factors in the treatment of bipolar disorder. An expert opinion survey was conducted on treatment strategies in various special clinical situations, such as significant weight gain, characteristic drug side effects, low drug adherence, pregnant and reproductive women, and genetic counseling.
Methods
A written survey about treatment strategies related to safety and tolerability was prepared and focused on significant weight gain, characteristic drug side effects, low drug adherence, pregnant and reproductive women, and genetic counseling. Ninety-three experts of the review committee completed the survey.
Results
In the case of weight gain occurring during drug treatment, it was preferred to replace it with a drug that caused less weight gain, such as lamotrigine, aripiprazole, or ziprasidone. If there was a significant weight gain due to the treatment drug, it was preferred to intervene as soon as possible. In the case of hyperprolactinemia, it was selected to change the medication and discontinue it for benign rash caused by lamotrigine. In improving drug adherence, the preference for long-acting injections increased. Antipsychotics can be used with great caution in pregnant or reproductive women.
Conclusions
Treatment strategies in various clinical situations related to safety and tolerability in drug treatment for bipolar disorder were described. It is hoped that it will be useful in practical clinical situations.
Background: After a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke, the long-term risk of subsequent stroke is uncertain. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for observational studies reporting subsequent stroke during a minimum follow-up of 1 year in patients with TIA or minor stroke. Unpublished data on number of stroke events and exact person-time at risk contributed by all patients during discrete time intervals of follow-up were requested from the authors of included studies. This information was used to calculate the incidence of stroke in individual studies, and results across studies were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Fifteen independent cohorts involving 129794 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled incidence rate of subsequent stroke per 100 person-years was 6.4 events in the first year and 2.0 events in the second through tenth years, with cumulative incidences of 14% at 5 years and 21% at 10 years. Based on 10 studies with information available on fatal stroke, the pooled case fatality rate of subsequent stroke was 9.5% (95% CI, 5.9 – 13.8). Conclusions: One in five patients is expected to experience a subsequent stroke within 10 years after a TIA or minor stroke, with every tenth patient expected to die from their subsequent stroke.
Faecal examinations for helminth eggs were performed on 1869 people from two riverside localities, Vientiane Municipality and Saravane Province, along the Mekong River, Laos. To obtain adult flukes, 42 people positive for small trematode eggs (Opisthorchis viverrini, heterophyid, or lecithodendriid eggs) were treated with a 20–30 mg kg−1 single dose of praziquantel and purged. Diarrhoeic stools were then collected from 36 people (18 in each area) and searched for helminth parasites using stereomicroscopes. Faecal examinations revealed positive rates for small trematode eggs of 53.3% and 70.8% (average 65.2%) in Vientiane and Saravane Province, respectively. Infections with O. viverrini and six species of intestinal flukes were found, namely, Haplorchistaichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus caninus,Prosthodendrium molenkampi, and Phaneropsolus bonnei. The total number of flukes collected and the proportion of fluke species recovered were markedly different in the two localities; in Vientiane, 1041 O. viverrini (57.8 per person) and 615 others (34.2 per person), whereas in Saravane, 395 O. viverrini (21.9 per person) and 155207 others (8622.6 per person). Five people from Saravane harboured no O. viverrini but numerous heterophyid and/or lecithodendriid flukes. The results indicate that O. viverrini and several species of heterophyid and lecithodendriid flukes are endemic in these two riverside localities, and suggest that the intensity of infection and the relative proportion of fluke species vary by locality along the Mekong River basin.
Stroke outcomes research requires risk-adjustment for stroke severity, but this measure is often unavailable. The Passive Surveillance Stroke SeVerity (PaSSV) score is an administrative data-based stroke severity measure that was developed in Ontario, Canada. We assessed the geographical and temporal external validity of PaSSV in British Columbia (BC), Nova Scotia (NS) and Ontario, Canada.
Methods:
We used linked administrative data in each province to identify adult patients with ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage between 2014-2019 and calculated their PaSSV score. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the association between the PaSSV score and the hazard of death over 30 days and the cause-specific hazard of admission to long-term care over 365 days. We assessed the models’ discriminative values using Uno’s c-statistic, comparing models with versus without PaSSV.
Results:
We included 86,142 patients (n = 18,387 in BC, n = 65,082 in Ontario, n = 2,673 in NS). The mean and median PaSSV were similar across provinces. A higher PaSSV score, representing lower stroke severity, was associated with a lower hazard of death (hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals 0.70 [0.68, 0.71] in BC, 0.69 [0.68, 0.69] in Ontario, 0.72 [0.68, 0.75] in NS) and admission to long-term care (0.77 [0.76, 0.79] in BC, 0.84 [0.83, 0.85] in Ontario, 0.86 [0.79, 0.93] in NS). Including PaSSV in the multivariable models increased the c-statistics compared to models without this variable.
Conclusion:
PaSSV has geographical and temporal validity, making it useful for risk-adjustment in stroke outcomes research, including in multi-jurisdiction analyses.
Self-compassion (SC) describes an emotionally positive attitude extended toward ourselves when we suffer, consisting of three main components; self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness (Germer & Neff, 2013). SC entails being warm and understanding towards ourselves when encountering pain or personal shortcomings, rather than ignoring them or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism. SC also involves recognizing that suffering and failure are part of the shared human experience rather than isolating. In addition, SC requires taking a mindful approach to one’s feelings and thoughts, without judgment of them.
Objectives
Self-compassion (SC) involves taking an emotionally positive attitude towards oneself when suffering. Although SC has positive effects on mental well-being as well as a protective role in preventing depression and anxiety in healthy individuals, few studies on white matter (WM) microstructures in neuroimaging studies of SC has been studied.
Methods
Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 71 healthy participants with measured levels of SC and its six subscales. Mirroring network as WM regions of interest were analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). After the WM regions associated with SC were extracted, exploratory correlation analysis with the self-forgiveness scale, the coping scale, and the world health organization quality of life scale abbreviated version was performed.
Results
We found that self-compassion scale (SCS) total scores were negatively correlated with the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) in healthy individuals. The self-kindness and mindfulness subscale scores of SCS were also negatively correlated with FA values of the same regions. The FA values of SLF related to SC were found to be negatively correlated with the total scores of self-forgiveness scale, and self-control coping strategy and confrontation coping strategy.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that levels of SC and its self-kindness and mindfulness components may be negatively associated with DMN-related WM microstructures in healthy individuals. These less WM microstructures may be associated with positive personal attitudes, such as self-forgiveness, self-control and active confrontational strategies.
This study investigated the prevalence and comorbidities of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adults and children/adolescents in Korea.
Methods
This study used data from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service collected from 2008 to 2018. Study participants comprised patients with at least one diagnosis of ADHD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Provisions, 10th revision code F90.0). Prevalence rates and psychiatric comorbidities were also analyzed.
Results
We identified 878,996 patients diagnosed with ADHD between 2008 and 2018. The overall prevalence rate of diagnosed ADHD increased steeply from 127.1/100,000 in 2008 to 192.9/100,000 in 2018; it increased 1.47 times in children/adolescents (≤ 18 years) and 10.1 times in adults (> 18 years) during this period. Among children/adolescent and adult ADHD patients, 61.84% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 61.74−61.93) and 78.72% (95% CI 78.53−78.91) had at least one psychiatric comorbidity, respectively.
Conclusions
Our results showed that the prevalence rate of diagnosed ADHD has increased in Korea; however, it is lower than the global average. Further studies are required to identify and treat vulnerable populations appropriately.
Nurses are at an increased risk for work-related stress resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They are susceptible due to frequent exposure to traumatic situations providing care for patients.
Objectives
The purpose of this systematic review is to comprehensively review the content and characteristics of intervention programs for reducing the post-traumatic stress of nurses or nursing students, providing a basis for developing a standardized protocol for programs to promote the integrated health of nurses and protect them from stress events in clinical environments.
Methods
This is a systematic review. Participants (P) targeted nurses or nursing students; Intervention (I) included intervention programs for reducing post-traumatic stress; Comparison (C) was control groups provided with usual or no interventions ; and Outcomes (O) referred to changes in physical or emotional reactions toward post-traumatic stress. Two researchers searched four databases including PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and EMBASE with keywords such as “nurse,” “post-trumatic stress disorder,” “program,” and “intervention”. A total of 7,523 studies were searched and 10 studies were included for final analysis (Image 1). The Risk of Bias2 (Image 2) and the Risk of Bias for Non-randomized Study I (Image 3) were used to evaluate the quality the included studies.
Results
The number of studies is increasing, with four studies published before 2020, and six studies published since, of which three in 2022. Definitions of trauma situations to which nurses are exposed included diverse elements such as patient death, workplace violence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and complex trauma experiences due to working environments. Most studies have provided multiple intervention sessions, which is appropriate considering the characteristics of PTSD. Most studies examined the secondary effects on mental health such as anxiety, depression, and burnout caused by stress rather than evaluating stress itself. The quality of the study was generally highly biased. The risk of bias increased for the two randomized controlled trials in terms of measurement outcomes and outcome description. The other eight non-randomized studies all included a self-reporting questionnaire of participants, leading to a risk of bias in terms of measurement outcomes.
Image:
Image 2:
Image 3:
Conclusions
Studies have been conducted to confirm the effectiveness of interventions given heightened concerns about PTSD in nurses. However, the concept of the trauma experienced by nurses was not integrally defined, and information on interventions was often limited. Efforts are required to improve the quality of research in terms of experimental study design.
Bladder cancer, which is primarily a non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), is prevalent worldwide and its incidence is increasing. NMIBC shows a high recurrence rate of 50-70%, and in 25% of cases, progresses to muscle-invasive disease (Saginala K et al. Med Sci 2020; 15) (Fernandez-Gomez, J et al. J Urol 2009; 182(5) 2195-2203). Frequent recurrence and consecutive medical interventions in patients with NMIBC lead to psychological problems such as anxiety, fear of recurrence, depression, and stress, resulting in reduced quality of life (Chung et al. Support Care Cancer 2019; 27(10), 3877-3885). It is expected that the increased accessibility and convenience of mobile health (mHealth) will be effective in providing a mobile-based psychological intervention program to promote the mental health of patients with NMIBC.
Objectives
This study aims to develop a mobile-based mental health improvement program for NMIBC patients, design a protocol for evaluating feasibility, and provide preliminary evidence of the efficacy of the developed program.
Methods
The program content was developed based on the results of a needs assessment conducted among patients with NMIBC through a cross-sectional study. The draft program was prepared by referring to the guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and publications of the International Continence Society. Based on the developed draft, two professors of nursing, a professor of counseling psychology, a registered nurse, and a counseling practitioner verified the validity of the content before finalizing the program. The final version of the developed program consisted of one session on NMIBC knowledge and symptom management and five sessions on mental health improvement. Researchers sent an online link to the YouTube video comprising lecture materials and voice recordings of health professionals weekly using a mobile messenger (Kakao Talk) (Image 1). The topics of each session were as follows: Session 1 (Understanding of bladder cancer and treatment), Session 2 (Understanding and respecting myself), Session 3 (Maintaining reasonable thoughts and positive emotions), Session 4 (Benefits of positive emotions and healthy communication), Session 5 (Living in a healthy way through stress management), and Session 6 (Finding happiness and meanings in daily life).
Results
The protocol for evaluating the feasibility of the developed program is outlined in Image 2.
Image:
Image 2:
Conclusions
The feasibility of the mental health improvement program for patients with NMIBC based on mobile messenger (KakaoTalk) will be evaluated through the developed protocol. Moreover, by introducing a program that reflects the feasibility of test results into practice, the results of this study can contribute to improving the quality of life of patients with NMIBC.
Olanzapine (OLA) is a common first-prescribed antipsychotic and has shown favorable efficacy in acutely exacerbated patients with schizophrenia. The mixed receptor activity of OLA and its greater affinity for serotonin 5-HT2A rather than dopamine D2 receptors are similar to those of clozapine. Pharmacokinetically, OLA is metabolized mainly by hepatic cytochrome enzyme P450 1A2 (CYP1A2). Because risks of antipsychotic polypharmacy include increased drug-drug interactions, pharmacokinetic considerations are important for selection of antipsychotics to be combined. Due to its pharmacological characteristics, amisulpride (AMI), another atypical antipsychotic with proven efficacy, is a promising adjuvant agent of special interest. AMI is unlikely to interact with other drugs due to the low plasma protein binding and metabolism and does not affect the activity of the CYP system. Furthermore, AMI is highly selective for dopamine D2/D3 receptors; has minimal or no affinity for D1, D4, or D5 receptors. Despite the potential benefits of the combination of OLA and AMI, only a few open-label studies have been conducted, and no randomized clinical trial has been performed to date to examine the efficacy and tolerability of the combination. Hence, the goals of this study were to test the hypothesis that AMI augmentation would improve psychotic symptoms and be well tolerated in schizophrenic patients who showed poor response to OLA monotherapy.
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of continued olanzapine (OLA) versus amisulpride (AMI) augmentation in schizophrenic patients with poor response to OLA monotherapy.
Methods
The present 4-week, randomized, rater-blinded study included 25 patients with schizophrenia who were partially or completely unresponsive to treatment with OLA monotherapy. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to continuation of OLA monotherapy (OLA group) or OLA with AMI augmentation (AMI group). Efficacy was primarily evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks.
Results
The changes in PANSS total score and PANSS-positive subscale score were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the OLA and AMI groups. The differences between the two groups in PANSS-negative subscale, PANSS-general subscale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale scores were not statistically significant.
Conclusions
AMI augmentation could be an effective strategy for patients with schizophrenia who show inadequate early response to OLA monotherapy.
Disclosure of Interest
W.-M. Bahk Grant / Research support from: Handok Pharmaceuticals, Seoul, Korea, Y. S. Woo: None Declared, S.-Y. Park: None Declared, B.-H. Yoon: None Declared, S.-M. Wang: None Declared, M.-D. Kim: None Declared
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia are often reported as co-morbid conditions. However, the evidence of an association between OCD and the risk of schizophrenia is limited. This study investigated the risk of schizophrenia in patients newly diagnosed with OCD using a nationally representative sample cohort in South Korea.
Methods
Data were obtained from the 2002–2013 Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort of the National Health Insurance Service. Using propensity score matching, 2509 patients with OCD and a control group of 7527 patients were included in the analysis. Chi-squared tests were used to investigate and compare the general characteristics of the study population. The risk of schizophrenia was analysed using the Cox proportional hazard model.
Results
The incidence rate was 45.79/10 000 person-year for patients with OCD and 4.19/10 000 person-year for patients without OCD. Patients with OCD had a higher risk of schizophrenia compared to the control group after adjusting for covariates (hazard ratio = 10.46, 95% confidence interval = 6.07–18.00).
Conclusions
This study identified an association between the diagnosis of OCD and the risk of schizophrenia in a South Korean national representative cohort. Further research using a prospective design to clarify the causality of OCD in schizophrenia in a controlled environment should be conducted to validate these findings.
Hwa-Byung is a cultural-related mental syndrome that reflects the cultural characteristics of Korean in DSM-IV. This syndrome is caused by anger or resentment towards unreasonable social violence and trauma.
Objectives
The purpose of this study is to revise and validate the ’Hwa-Byung scale’, which can be used to diagnose Hwa-Byung and evaluate the severity of its symptoms.
Methods
To begin with, the factors of the Hwa-Byung scale were set based on the previous studies. Additionally, the respective subfactors were generated by the semi-structured interviews with these patients. Based on these factors and previous studies, a 142-item pool was developed and verified by six Oriental Neuropsychiatrists. A pilot study was conducted on 50 patients with Hwa-Byung and the main study for the validation was conducted on 200 Hwa-Byung patients. Item analysis, internal consistency, and exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis were performed. Lastly, this study analyzed the ROC curve to present the diagnostic cut-off score of the scale.
Results
As a result of analyzing the content validity of the item pool, we constructed a preliminary scale. We excluded the inadequate questions from the pilot study results. In the main study, The Hwa-Byung scale showed high internal consistency and its items were suitable for the factor structure. Finally, we suggest an optimal cut-off score of the symptoms sub-scale for screening Hwa-Byung.
Conclusions
Overall, the results of this study indicated the reliability and validity of the Hwa-Byung Scale. Based on these results, we discussed several values and limitations of this study and provided suggestions for further research.
Hwa-Byung is a mental syndrome classified as a “cultural-related syndrome” which reflects the cultural characteristics of Korea in DSM-IV. Hwa-Byung is caused by anger, which is characterized by feelings of anger or resent about unreasonable social violence and trauma. Kwon et al (2008) had developed self-report measure to assess severity of Hwa-Byung but it has several limitations to use in current clinical settings. Therefore, we investigated opinions of experts who have professionality in giving treatment of Hwa-Byung patients in the clinical settings.
Objectives
The present study aimed to reach consent of oriental neuropsychiatrists’ opinions about the direction of revision of the Hwa-Byung scale.
Methods
The Delphi method is a survey method that induces people to freely present their opinions without face-to-face processes and reaches consent through continuous feedback of survey results while ensuring anonymity. The Consensus Panel consists of 16 experts who are Oriental neuropsychiatrists and have experience in diagnosing patients with Hwa-Byung. A total of four surveys were conducted as consensus was reached on the fourth round. Each questionnaire was distributed by mail to a panel of experts and was asked to submit a response after receiving the questionnaire.
Results
The results of the study are as follows. First, common factors for Hwa-Byung include anger, resent/blame, modify memory bias and attention bias for anger events. Second, characteristics of young Hwa-Byung patients include stress caused by social factors and excessive immersion in certain things such as drinking or smoking.
Conclusions
Therefore, when revising the Hwa-Byung scale, it would be necessary to include these factors.
Childhood behavioral problems are highly prevalent in school-aged children and are associated with poor long-term outcomes. Yet little is known about their association with patterns of partnering in adulthood.
Objectives
To (1) describe patterns of partnering from age 18-35 years in a large population-based sample, and (2) examine the association between childhood behavioural problems and adult partnering patterns.
Methods
Behavioural ratings were prospectively obtained from teachers when children (n=2960) were aged 10-12 years – for inattention, hyperactivity, aggression-opposition, anxiety and prosociality – and linked to their tax return records from age 18-35 years. We used group-based trajectory modelling to identify distinct trajectories of partnering (married or cohabitating) and multinomial regression models to examine the association between childhood behaviour and trajectory group membership.
Results
Five distinct trajectories of partnering were identified: early-partnered (n=420, 14.4%), mid-partnered (n=620, 21.3%), late-partnered (n=570, 19.2%), early-separated (n=460, 15.5%), and delayed-or-unpartnered (n=890, 30.0%). After adjustment for sex and family background, children rated as being anxious or inattentive were more likely to remain unpartnered from age 18 to 35 years, while those rated as aggressive-oppositional or inattentive were more likely to separate and return to unpartnered status. Prosocial behaviours were consistently associated with earlier and more sustained partnership. Participants in the early-separated and delayed-or-unpartnered trajectories were also more likely to have left high school without a diploma and to have lower earnings.
Conclusions
Childhood behavioural problems were associated with increased likelihood of being unpartnered and of partnership dissolution, which has implications for the psychological health and wellbeing of individuals and their families.
To investigate the association between parity and the risk of incident dementia in women.
Methods
We pooled baseline and follow-up data for community-dwelling women aged 60 or older from six population-based, prospective cohort studies from four European and two Asian countries. We investigated the association between parity and incident dementia using Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for age, educational level, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cohort, with additional analysis by dementia subtype (Alzheimer dementia (AD) and non-Alzheimer dementia (NAD)).
Results
Of 9756 women dementia-free at baseline, 7010 completed one or more follow-up assessments. The mean follow-up duration was 5.4 ± 3.1 years and dementia developed in 550 participants. The number of parities was associated with the risk of incident dementia (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–1.13). Grand multiparity (five or more parities) increased the risk of dementia by 30% compared to 1–4 parities (HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.02–1.67). The risk of NAD increased by 12% for every parity (HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02–1.23) and by 60% for grand multiparity (HR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.00–2.55), but the risk of AD was not significantly associated with parity.
Conclusions
Grand multiparity is a significant risk factor for dementia in women. This may have particularly important implications for women in low and middle-income countries where the fertility rate and prevalence of grand multiparity are high.
To assess the Framingham risk score as a prognostic tool for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients.
Methods
Medical records were reviewed for unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients between January 2010 and October 2017. The 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease was calculated. Patients were subdivided into groups: group 1 – Framingham risk score of less than 10 per cent (n = 28); group 2 – score of 10 to less than 20 per cent (n = 6); and group 3 – score of 20 per cent or higher (n = 5).
Results
Initial pure tone average and Framingham risk score were not significantly associated (p = 0.32). Thirteen patients in group 1 recovered completely (46.4 per cent), but none in groups 2 and 3 showed complete recovery. Initial pure tone average and Framingham risk score were significantly associated in multivariable linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.36). The regression coefficient was 0.33 (p = 0.003) for initial pure tone average and −0.67 (p = 0.005) for Framingham risk score.
Conclusion
Framingham risk score may be useful in predicting outcomes for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients, as those with a higher score showed poorer hearing recovery.
There are two major forms of long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, which require activation of either N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) or metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). In synapses in the perirhinal cortex we have directly compared the Ca2+ signalling mechanisms involved in NMDAR-LTD and mGluR-LTD. Whilst both forms of LTD involve Ca2+ release from intracellular stores the Ca2+ sensors involved are different; NMDAR-LTD involves calmodulin, whilst mGluR-LTD involves the neuronal Ca2+ sensor (NCS) protein NCS-1. In addition, there is a specific requirement for IP3 and PKC as well as protein interacting with C-kinase (PICK-1) in mGluR-LTD. NCS-1 binds directly to PICK1, via its BAR domain, in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Furthermore, the NCS-1-PICK1 association is stimulated by activation of mGluRs, but not NMDARs, and introduction of a PICK1 BAR domain fusion protein specifically blocks mGluR-LTD. Thus, NCS-1 is a component of a novel mechanism involved in mGluR-LTD.
The aim of this study was to evaluate theprevalence of night eating syndrome (NES) and its correlates in schizophrenicoutpatients.
Methods
The 14 items of self-reported night eatingquestionnaire (NEQ) was administered to 201 schizophrenic patients in psychiatricoutpatient clinic. We examined demographic and clinical characteristics, bodymass index (BMI), subjective measures of mood, sleep, binge eating, andweight-related quality of life using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Binge Eating Scale (BES) and Koreanversion of Obesity-Related Quality of Life Scale (KOQoL), respectively.
Results
The prevalence of night eaters in schizophrenicoutpatients was 10.4% (21 of 201). Comparisons between NES group and non-NES grouprevealed no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics, clinical status and BMI. Compared to non-NES, patients with NES reportedsignificantly greater depressed mood and sleep disturbance, more binge eatingpattern, and decreased weight-related quality of life. While 'morning anorexia'and 'delayed morning meal' (2 of 5 NES core components in NEQ) were notdiffered between groups, 'nocturnal ingestions', 'evening hyperphagia', and'mood/sleep' were more impaired in NES group.
Conclusion
These findings are the first to describe theprevalence and its correlates of night eaters in schizophrenic outpatients. These results suggest that NES has negative mental health implications, although it was not associated with obesity. Further study to generalize theseresults is required.
Thisstudy was to assess the prevalence and its correlates of restless legs syndrome(RLS) in outpatients with bipolar disorder.
Method
A total of 100clinical stabilized bipolar outpatients were examined. The presence of RLS andits severity were assessed using the International Restless Legs Sydrome StudyGroup (IRLSSG) diagnostic criteria. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberg's StateAnxiety Inventory (STAI-X-1), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Koreanversion Drug Attitude Inventory (KDAI-10), Subjective Well-Beings under NeurolepticTreatment Scale-Short Form(SWN-K) and Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) wereused to evaluate the depressive symptomatology, level of anxiety, subjectivequality of sleep, subjective feeling of well-being, drug attitude, presence ofakathisia, respectively.
Results
Of the 100 bipolar outpatients,7 (7%) were met to full criteria of IRLSSG and 36 (36%) have at least one ofthe 4 IRLSSG criterion. Because of relatively small sample size, non-parametricanalysis were done to compare the characteristics among 3 groups (full-RLS, 1≥positiveRLS-symptom and Non-RLS). There were no significant differences in sex, age, and other sociodemographic and clinical data among 3 groups. BDI, STAI-X-1 andPSQI are tended to be impaired in RLS and 1≥positive RLS-symptomgroups.
Conclusion
This is the first preliminarystudy for studying the prevalence and its correlates of RLS in bipolardisorder. The results shows that RLS was relatively smaller presentin bipolar disorder than schizophrenia. Sametendencies shown in schizophrenic patients were found that bipolar patientswith RLS had more depressive symptoms, state anxiety and poor subjective sleepquality.