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 oxidative nucleic acid modifications and inflammation following one-week treatment with the bile acid sequestrant sevelamer: Two randomised,placebo-controlled trials

AimsSevelamer has been reported to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects as well as effects on glycaemic control and plasma lipids. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of one-week treatment with sevelamer on oxidative nucleic acid modifications and inflammation markers.MethodsTwo double-blinded studies including 30 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 20 healthy individuals were conducted. Participants were randomised to one week of treatment with sevelamer (1600 mg three times daily) or placebo. RNA and DNA oxidation, measured by urinary excretion of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine(8-oxoGuo) and (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine(8-oxodG), and markers of inflammation were determined before and after the intervention.ResultsIn patients with T2D there was no significant placebo-corrected reduction in 8-oxoGuo or 8-oxodG. However, a reduction in 8-oxoGuo was observed within the group treated with sevelamer (∆8-oxoGuo/creatinine (median[IQR]): −0.04 [−0.24; 0.01] nmol/mmol, p = 0.02). A sevelamer-mediated reduction in interleukin-2 (p = 0.04) and a trend towards reduction in interleukin-6 (p = 0.053) were found in patients with T2D.ConclusionsThis study reveals a potential effect of sevelamer treatment on inflammation and possible oxidative RNA modifications. The potential protective effects of sevelamer in terms of cardiovascular disease in patients with T2D need further investigation.     

肥厚型梗阻性心肌病合并心肌桥的外科治疗策略和临床结果

目的：总结肥厚型梗阻性心肌病（HOCM）合并心肌桥的患者行改良扩大Morrow术时同期心肌桥松解术的处理策略及早期结果。 方法：回顾性分析 2015年6月至2018年6月阜外医院第二住院部实施手术治疗的HOCM合并心肌桥的患者36例，男性30例（30/36，83.3%），女性6例（6/36，16.7%），年龄12-57（37.4±13.2）岁。手术前后及随访期常规行心脏超声心动图、心电图及胸部 X 线片、核磁共振检查，评价心功能、左室流出道及二尖瓣的结构和功能变化。 结果：术前出现胸闷症状者27例，胸痛症状者5例，晕厥史13例。术前左室流出道峰值压差（LVOTG）为51-120（73.1±18.6）mmHg（1mmHg=0.133kPa）。全部患者均接受改良扩大 Morrow术联合肌桥松解术，同期行冠脉旁路移植术2例，二尖瓣置换术1例，二尖瓣成形术3例，房间隔缺损修补术1例，改良迷宫手术1例。全组无术中死亡及术后30天内死亡。心肌桥的位置为前降支的患者共34例，心肌桥的位置为后降支的患者为2例，心肌桥的长度范围7-50mm，平均长度为21.8±15.5mm。术后ICU时间1-5（2.6±1.4）天，术后住院时间7-13（7.9±2.6）天，术后未见严重并发症，术后完全性左束支传导阻滞9例，术后完全性右束支传导阻滞1例。术后左室流出道峰值压差（73.1±18.6 mmHg vs 11.2±5.5 mmHg，P=0.00），室间隔厚度（19.2±4.2 mm vs 14.8±4.3mm，P=0.00）与术前比较均明显降低。术后二尖瓣反流程度较术前明显减轻（P<0.001），二尖瓣前向运动（SAM征）基本消失。本组术后随访3-52个月，平均(24.6±12.5)个月，随访患者症状均消失，心动能NYHA分级级别较术前降低I～II级，无远期死亡、并发症或再次手术。 结论 对于肥厚型梗阻性心肌病合并严重心肌桥的患者行改良扩大Morrow术时同时行心肌桥松解术是安全的。可明显改善患者的生存率及症状，起到协同作用，不增加患者的手术并发症。     

Natural history of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectivesElucidating critical aortic diameters at which natural complications (rupture, dissection, and death) occur is of paramount importance to guide timely surgical intervention. Natural history knowledge for descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms is sparse. Our small early studies recommended repairing descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms before a critical diameter of 7.0 cm. We focus exclusively on a large number of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms followed over time, enabling a more detailed analysis with greater granularity across aortic sizes.MethodsAortic diameters and long-term complications of 907 patients with descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms were reviewed. Growth rates (instrumental variables approach), yearly complication rates, 5-year event-free survival (Kaplan–Meier), and risk of complications as a function of aortic height index (aortic diameter [centimeters]/height [meters]) (competing-risks regression) were calculated.ResultsEstimated mean growth rate of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms was 0.19 cm/year, increasing with increasing aortic size. Median size at acute type B dissection was 4.1 cm. Some 80% of dissections occurred below 5 cm, whereas 93% of ruptures occurred above 5 cm. Descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm diameter 6 cm or greater was associated with a 19% yearly rate of rupture, dissection, or death. Five-year complication-free survival progressively decreased with increasing aortic height index. Hazard of complications showed a 6-fold increase at an aortic height index of 4.2 or greater compared with an aortic height index of 3.0 to 3.5 (P < .05). The probability of fatal complications (aortic rupture or death) increased sharply at 2 hinge points: 6.0 and 6.5 cm.ConclusionsAcute type B dissections occur frequently at small aortic sizes; thus, prophylactic size-based surgery may not afford a means for dissection protection. However, fatal complications increase dramatically at 6.0 cm, suggesting that preemptive intervention before that criterion can save lives.