A scientific agenda for the concept of recovery as it applies to schizophrenia

Recovery is now a widely discussed concept in the field of research, treatment, and public policy regarding schizophrenia. As it has increasingly become a focus in mainstream psychiatry, however, it has also become clear both that the concept is often used in multiple ways, and that it lacks a strong scientific basis. In this review, we argue that such a scientific basis is necessary for the concept of recovery to have a significant long-term impact on the way that schizophrenia is understood and treated. The discussion focuses on key issues necessary to establish this scientific agenda, including: 1) differences in definitions of recovery and their implications for studying recovery processes and outcomes; 2) key research questions; 3) the implications of data from outcome studies for understanding what is possible for people diagnosed with schizophrenia; 4) factors that facilitate recovery processes and outcomes, and methods for studying these issues; and 5) recovery-oriented treatment, including issues raised by peer support. Additional conceptual issues that have not received sufficient attention in the literature are then noted, including the role of evidence-based practices in recovery-oriented care, recovery-oriented care for elderly people with schizophrenia, trauma treatment and trauma-informed care, and the role of hospitals in recovery-oriented treatment. Consideration of these issues may help to organize approaches to the study of recovery, and in doing so, improve the impact of recovery-based initiatives.     

经腹超声检查在Crohn's中的应用

目的 探讨经腹超声检查在评估Crohn 's病(CD)活动性中的价值.方法 临床通过CD活动指数(CDAI)评估22例CD患者的活动性,分为活动期组及缓解期组,通过超声观察该22例患者病变部位、肠壁厚度、结构层次、回声情况及能量多普勒超声Limberg分型情况等,探讨超声在评估CD活动性中的应用价值.结果 22例CD患者分为19例活动期组及3例缓解期组,其中19例活动期患者肠壁均节段性增厚,最厚为16 mm,最薄为5.1 mm,平均厚度为(8.25±2.91)mm;增厚肠段肠壁层次消失的有17例,占89.5％ (17/19);Limberg分级中Ⅲ级及以上有18例,占94.7％ (18/19);而缓解期3例患者超声图像与活动期相比肠壁增厚不明显,平均厚度约(3.83±0.21)mm(与活动期肠壁厚度比较,P=0.018,＜0.05),肠壁分层重新出现,但层次依然减少,并且Limberg分级均处于Ⅱ级(与活动期Limberg分型情况比较,P=0.000,＜0.05).结论 CD患者活动期与缓解期超声图像区别显著,经腹超声检查可作为评价CD活动性的方法之一.     

甘氨双唑钠配合放疗治疗鼻咽癌的疗效观察

目的探讨甘氨双唑钠配合放疗治疗鼻咽癌的临床疗效。方法选取我院收治的鼻咽癌患者58例,随机分为观察组（甘氨双唑钠增敏组）、对照组（单纯放射治疗组）各29例。两组放射治疗方法、剂量相同,观察组加用甘氨双唑钠静脉滴注,比较两组临床疗效及毒副反应。结果放疗结束时,观察组缓解率为75.86%;对照组缓解率为48.28%。放疗结束后3个月,观察组缓解率为89.66%;对照组缓解率为62.07%。结论甘氨双唑钠可提高鼻咽癌患者对放射治疗的敏感性,是一种有效的放射治疗增敏剂,可在临床推广。     

Early maladaptive schemas and functional impairment in remitted bipolar disorder patients

Background and objectives

Previous research indicates that low self-esteem is associated with functional impairment in remitted bipolar disorder patients. The present study aimed to elucidate this area further by exploring the relationship between different self-schemas and key functional outcome domains.

Methods

The study consisted of 49 remitted bipolar disorders patients who completed the Young Schema Questionnaire - Short Version (YSQ-S3) and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS).

Results

A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the schemas Social Isolation, Failure to Achieve, Dependence, Vulnerability to Harm and Illness, Emotional Inhibition, Insufficient Self-Control, and Pessimism accounted for 28% of the variance in functional impairment when controlling for length of remission and subsyndromal depressive symptoms.

Limitations

The WSAS as a self-report scale measures the patients' perception of own functioning and is therefore not an objective measure of functioning.

Conclusions

The findings delineate specific psychological vulnerabilities which are likely to be implicated in functional impairment in bipolar disorder and as such warrant further examination in terms of their causal mechanisms and therapeutic implications.     

Effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab in monotherapy in biologic-naïve and non-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a real-world setting

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) monotherapy in biologic-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) versus patients with previous biologic exposure in a real-world setting.Materials and methodsNon-controlled clinical-trial, 32-week prospective multicenter study including RA patients with moderate-severe disease activity starting TCZ in monotherapy who had a prior inadequate response or were intolerant to methotrexate (MTX). Effectiveness according to EULAR response evaluated at 24-week and safety at 32-weekwere assessed.ResultsOf the 93 were enrolled of whom 84 (90%) were eligible for the effectiveness analysis. Biologic-naïve patients (n = 46, 54.8%) were younger (51.5 versus 57.9) with shorter disease duration (6.4 versus 13.3) but presented similar comorbidities in comparison with non-naïve patients. DAS28 remission was achieved in a higher percentage in the group of patients with prior biological treatment. 89 adverse events (AE) were recorded in 50 patients, most of them non-serious AE (non-SAE) (86.3%).ConclusionsIn a real world setting, TCZ exhibit similar effectiveness and safety in monotherapy in patients with RA regardless previous exposure to other biologic therapies. This study provides additional and valuable real-world findings on the use of TCZ in patients with RA.     

A pilot investigation of an intensive theta burst stimulation protocol for patients with treatment resistant depression

IntroductionAccelerated or intensive forms of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are increasingly being explored for their potential to produce more efficient and rapid treatment benefits in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, accelerated or intensive protocols using standard forms of rTMS are still quite time-consuming to apply. Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is a novel form of magnetic stimulation with the potential to produce similar anti-depressant effects but in a much abbreviated period of time. The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative efficacy of an intensive TBS protocol compared to standard rTMS treatment.Methods74 outpatients (36 female, mean age 44.36 ± 12.1 years) with MDD received either intensive TBS (3 intermittent TBS treatments per day for 3 days in week 1, 3 treatments a day for 2 days in week 2, and 3 treatments in 1 day in week 3 and in week 4, or standard rTMS (5 daily sessions per week for 4 weeks). Patients were assessed weekly throughout the treatment course, and at 4 weeks after treatment end.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the degree of reduction in depressive symptoms, the rate of reduction in depressive symptoms, remission or response rates (response rates = 27.8% for intensive group, 26.3% for the standard group, p > 0.05 for all analyses) between the intensive TBS and standard rTMS treatment groups. However, the overall response and remission rates were limited in both groups. There was no difference in rates of side effects, no serious adverse events and no alterations in cognitive performance.ConclusionIntensively applied TBS appears to have similar efficacy to standard rTMS when these were applied as delivered in this study but does not produce more rapid clinical benefits. The overall response rates in both groups in this study were limited, most likely by the total doses provided in both study arms.Clinical trials registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616000443493.     

Loop versus Roux-en-Y duodenojejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy for type 2 diabetes: short-term outcomes of a single-center randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDuodenojejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (DJB-SG) is a novel bariatric surgery composed of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and duodenojejunal anastomosis. Both loop and Roux-en-Y DJB-SGs were reported to have acceptable hypoglycemic and weight loss outcomes, but it remains unclear which reconstruction method is better regarding therapeutic efficacy and safety for type 2 diabetes (T2D).ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to prospectively compare the short-term therapeutic outcomes and surgical safety of loop versus Roux-en-Y DJB-SG.SettingUniversity hospital.MethodsA total of 96 patients with T2D with body mass index of 27.5–40 kg/m² were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo loop or Roux-en-Y DJB-SG from January 2020 to December 2020. The primary end point was to determine the 1-year T2D remission rate. Additionally, medical cost, operative outcomes, weight loss, metabolic improvement, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal disorders at 1-year follow-up also were determined.ResultsThe preoperative data were comparable at baseline. The 1-year follow-up rate was 89.6% (43 of 48 patients) for loop DJB-SG and 93.8% (45 of 48 patients) for Roux-en-Y DJB-SG. The T2D remission rates were 93.02% (40 of 43) for loop DJB-SG and 88.89% (40 of 45) for Roux-en-Y DJB-SG at 1-year follow-up. Loop DJB-SG patients exhibited higher total weight loss (30.85% ± 7.24% versus 26.11% ± 7.12%), shorter operative times, and less medical cost than Roux-en-Y DJB-SG patients. However, there was no statistical difference regarding lipid profiles, major postoperative complications, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal disorders between the 2 groups.ConclusionDespite similar hypoglycemic effects, loop DJB-SG was simpler and exhibited better weight loss and less medical cost than Roux-en-Y DJB-SG. Thus, loop DJB-SG was better than Roux-en-Y DJB-SG for T2D.     

Intensive short-term chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer

Summary Aiming at a high complete remission rate with an intensive induction regimen, 27 patients with advanced breast cancer were given three cycles of VAC chemotherapy consisting of vinde-sine 3 mg/m² i.v. on days 1 and 12, adriamycin 40 mg/m² i.v. on days 1 and 12, and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/m² p.o. on days 3–6 and 14–17 together with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 1,500 mg p.o. daily during the induction phase and 1,000 mg p.o. thereafter until relapse. These VAC double cycles were repeated twice with 3-weekly intervals for a total induction period of 15 weeks. In responders, including no change, the chemotherapy was discontinued thereafter, and the patients were observed until relapse with a maintenance therapy of MPA 1,000 mg p.o. daily.A complete remission (CR) was achieved in 8 (29.6%) and a partial remission (PR) in 13 (48.2%) of the 27 patients (CR + PR 77.8%). A no change (NC) status was found in 6 patients (22.2%). There were no nonresponders. The median duration of the CR was 20 (5–42) months with two patients still in CR at 33 and 36 months, of the PR 8.3 (4–13.5) months, and of the NC 6.7 (2–13) months. The treatment was tolerated without life-threatening toxicity or interval prolongation by all patients. No dose-limiting cardiac toxicity was observed in these patients regularly controlled by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The high response rate of this intensive induction regimen warrants further investigation. Complete remission was achieved only in patients without previous chemotherapy, with marked tumor regression after the first chemotherapy cycle and when there was no extensive bone involvement.Abbreviations ADR Adriamycin - CK Creatinine kinase - CK-MB Cardiac muscle specific isoenzymes - CMF Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-FU - CNS Central nervous system - CR Complete remission - CYC Cyclophosphamide - DFI Disease-free interval - ECG Electrocardiogram - LMF Chlorambucil, methotrexate, 5-FU - LVEF Left ventricular ejection fraction - MPA Medroxyprogesterone acetate - NC No change - PD Progressive disease - PR Partial remission - VAC Vincristine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide - VEC Vincristine, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide - VDS Vindesine - WBC White blood cell count