Social contacts and loneliness in people with psychotic and mood disorders

BackgroundSocial relations can be measured through: a) objective indicators, i.e. the number of social contacts in a given time interval or b) subjective indicators, i.e. feelings of loneliness. Comparing subjective and objective indicators in patients with psychotic and mood disorders may help to understand whether diagnosis-specific interventions should be designed for increasing their social relations. In this study we assessed social contacts outside home, work environments and mental health services, which may be increased by these interventions. We also explored feelings of loneliness which could influence readiness of patients to participate in interventions.Methods100 patients in outpatient mental health care were asked to: a) list their social contacts; b) report their feelings of loneliness on a validated five point Likert scale. Multiple logistic regression models were used to test associations of diagnostic categories with: a) having more than one social contact in the previous week; b) reporting at least moderate feelings of loneliness.ResultsPatients had on average 1.7 (SD = 1.7) social contacts in the previous week (median = 1.0); 77 patients reported at least moderate feelings of loneliness. Patients with psychotic disorders (n = 30) showed a statistical trend towards having just one or no contacts in the week before the assessment (Odds ratio, OR = 2.246, p = .087). Patients with mood disorders were more likely to report at least moderate feelings of loneliness (OR = 2.798; p < .05).ConclusionsPatients with psychotic disorders, compared to those with mood disorders, may be less likely to report feeling lonely although they tend to have less social contacts. Strategies to enhance social relations of people with psychotic disorders may include approaches to increase patients' drive to establish new social contacts and to emotionally support them in this process.     

Changes in diabetes distress among people with type 2 diabetes during a risk screening programme for diabetic kidney disease – Longitudinal observations of the PRIORITY study

AimsTo investigate levels and changes in diabetes distress over the course of the PRIORITY (Proteomic prediction and Renin angiotensin aldosterone system Inhibition prevention Of early diabetic nephRopathy In people with TYpe 2 diabetes and normoalbuminuria) randomised controlled trial of screening for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) risk among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at a specialist diabetes clinic in Denmark.MethodsOf 436 trial participants with T2D, 216 were invited to complete the 17-item diabetes distress scale at the time of screening (T1, n = 180), immediately after receiving the screening results at 6–8 weeks (T2, n = 169), and at 12 months follow up (T3, n = 107). Linear mixed models were used to explore changes in diabetes distress.ResultsNo significant changes in diabetes distress were observed between the time of screening, receiving results, and at 12 months. Changes in diabetes distress were not influenced by diabetes empowerment, sense of coherence, or perceived support for diabetes self-management.ConclusionsIn contrast to previous studies demonstrating that screening programmes can have negative psychological consequences, our findings indicate that participating in this screening programme for DKD does not influence emotional burden or physician-related distress among people with T2D.     

Imaging-Based Patient Selection and Endovascular Therapy of Ischemic Stroke: A Stratified Meta-Analysis

The positive results of recent trials for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke have highlighted the importance of imaging selection before endovascular therapy. We performed a stratified meta-analysis to confirm this new understanding.We searched EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov in April 2015 for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The meta-analysis was stratified by whether computed tomographic angiography (CTA) was used to select patients. Outcome data were pooled using fixed-effects models.Seven randomized controlled trials with 2217 patients were included in this study. Endovascular therapy significantly increased the rate of 90-day functional independence (a modified Rankin score of 0–2) in patients with a CTA-confirmed large-vessel occlusion (relative risk [RR] = 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48–2.06, I² = 0.0%), and reduced 90-day mortality in patients with occlusion stroke with a small ischemic core (RR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37–0.89, I² = 0.0%). The functional benefit was significantly greater in patients with CTA-based selection than in those without (Z = 5.04, P < 0.001). The mortality benefit was significantly greater in patients with a large-vessel occlusion and a small ischemic core than in those without CTA-based selection (Z = 2.04, P = 0.041). There was no evidence of between-study heterogeneity or publication bias.This meta-analysis showed the effect of vascular imaging on identifying patients with acute ischemic stroke with a proximal vessel occlusion and a small ischemic core, who would benefit from endovascular therapy.     

Earlier renal fibrosis aggravates acute kidney injury induced by ischemia reperfusion in mice

Objective To investigate the influence of earlier renal fibrosis on ischemia and reperfusion induced acute kidney injury. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice at eight to twelve weeks old age were divided into 4 groups randomly: (1)Sham (n=3); (2)Unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO, n=6): UUO for 3 days (UUO3d, n=3) and UUO for 5 days (UUO5d, n=3)；(3)Ischemia and reperfusion (IR, n=7): bilateral kidney ischemia for 40 minutes followed by 24 hours of reperfusion; (4)UUO for 3 days plus IR (UUO3d+IR, n=6): bilateral kidney ischemia after UUO 2 days for 40 minutes followed by 24 hours of reperfusion, and the real time for UUO was 3 days. Pathologic analysis for acute or chronic injury was performed on paraffin embedded kidney sections with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) or Masson staining. Apoptosis was detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC) and Western blotting with anti-caspase-3 antibody, and proliferation was observed by IHC with anti-ki67 antibody. Results On kidney sections with HE or Masson staining, it showed that the chronic kidney lesions and fibrosis got more severe as time of UUO prolonged from 3 days to 5 days; the area of matrix deposition increased in UUO5d and UUO3d mice significantly compared to Sham mice (P＜0.05) and was smaller in UUO3d mice compared with UUO5d mice obviously (P＜0.05). Acute kidney injury could be observed in UUO3d+IR mice, such as massive inflammatory cells infiltration, tubules dilation, brush border disappearance, tubular epithelial cells vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, casting formation, coexisting with chronic lesions: thinner cortex, broadened interstitial space, and increased blue stained matrix. Acute kidney injury score in UUO3d+IR mice was higher than that in IR mice significantly (P＜0.05), and serum creatinine level increased significantly in UUO3d+IR mice compared to Sham mice (P＜0.05). Caspase-3 expression increased and ki67 positive tubular cells decreased in UUO3d+IR mice than those in IR mice obviously (P＜0.05). Conclusion Earlier renal fibrosis aggravates acute kidney injury induced by ischemia reperfusion in mice through increasing apoptosis and decreasing proliferation of tubular epithelial cells.     

长效硝酸酯对心力衰竭大鼠肾脏血管紧张素Ⅱ受体表达水平的影响

目的探讨长效硝酸酯异乐定对心肌梗死后心力衰竭大鼠心功能和肾脏血管紧张素Ⅱ受体(ATR)各亚型表达水平的影响。方法选用雄性10周龄Wistar大鼠90只,随机分为正常对照组9只(A组)、假手术组8只(B组),余73只结扎左冠状动脉前降支制作心肌梗死后心力衰竭模型,模型成功44只,随机分为心力衰竭模型组9只(C组)、硝酸酯小剂量组9只(D组)、硝酸酯大剂量组9只(E组)、阳性药物对照组9只(奥美沙坦酯,F组)及硝酸酯大剂量联合阳性药物组8只(G组)。灌胃法给药6周。超声心动图检测用药前后大鼠心功能,半定量RT-PCR和Western blot检测各组大鼠肾脏皮质AT1R及AT2R的表达水平。结果用药后,与B组比较,C组大鼠血浆肾素活性(PRA)、血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)水平显著升高(P<0.01),AT2R表达明显下调(P<0.05),AT1R表达明显上调(P<0.05);与C组比较,E组、F组、G组PRA、AngⅡ明显降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),AT2R表达明显上调,AT1R表达明显下调(P<0.05);与F组比较,G组AT1R明显下调,AT2R明显上调(P<0.05)。结论长期应用长效硝酸酯在改善心功能的同时,对保护肾脏功能起到了有益的治疗作用。     

Prosthetic choice in mitral valve replacement for severe chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation: Long-term follow-up

BackgroundProsthetic choice for mitral valve replacement is generally driven by patient age and patient and surgeon preference, and current guidelines do not discriminate between different etiologies of mitral valve disease. Our objective was to assess and compare short- and long-term outcomes after mitral valve replacement among patients with biological or mechanical prostheses in the setting of severe ischemic mitral regurgitation.MethodsBetween 2000 and 2016, 424 patients underwent mitral valve replacement for severe ischemic mitral regurgitation at our institution, using biological prosthesis in 188 (44%) and mechanical prosthesis in 236 (56%). A 1:1 propensity score match (n = 126 per group) and inverse probability of treatment weighting were used to compare groups. Short-term outcomes included in-hospital mortality and other cardiovascular adverse events. Long-term outcomes included survival and hospital readmission for cardiovascular causes, stroke, and major bleeding.ResultsIn-hospital mortality and early postoperative adverse events were similar between groups in the propensity score match and inverse probability of treatment weighting cohorts. Overall long-term survival was similar at 5 and 9 years, but mechanical prosthesis recipients were more frequently readmitted to hospital for cardiovascular causes, including stroke and non-neurological bleeding in propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting analyses (all P values < .004). Type of prosthesis did not independently influence all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-1.43; P = .959), but placement of a mechanical prosthesis was associated with increased risk of readmission for cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.32; P = .004) among matched patients.ConclusionsThe type of prosthesis has no influence on long-term survival among patients with severe ischemic mitral regurgitation undergoing mitral valve replacement. There may be an increased risk of neurologic events and serious bleeding associated with mechanical prostheses.     

Diagnosis of double-chambered left ventricle by echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: A rare case in an adult

Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is a very rare malformation which is congenital. In most cases, the left ventricle (LV) is divided into two parallel chambers by a septum or aberrant muscular structure, with fewer superior–inferior arrangement. Here, we present the case of an asymptomatic 25-year-old man who was diagnosed with superior–inferior arrangement DCLV on transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). DCLV generally does not cause serious outcomes. Owing to absence of any symptoms, no treatment was provided, and the patient was regularly followed up.     

非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术患者不同抗血小板方案对乳内动脉桥血管通畅率影响的临床研究

目的:对比研究非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCABG)后,分别运用单抗(阿司匹林)与双抗(阿司匹林+氯吡格雷)抗血小板治疗后,对远期乳内动脉桥血管通畅率的影响。方法:回顾性分析2005年01月至2005年12月,在安贞医院心脏外科固定手术组行OPCABG并顺利出院的230例患者的临床资料,并对其进行随访。结果:随访时间为150个月,随访期内心脏相关死亡54例(16.4%)。两组前降支通畅率分别为65.8%、66.4%(P>0.05)。结论:对于OPCABG的患者,无论给与双抗或单抗,其远期效果并无明显差异,但短期内前降支通畅率变化趋势,双抗组优于单抗组。