The advisory brought to practice: Routine screening on depression (and anxiety) in coronary heart disease; consequences and implications

Introduction

Following the evidence, the American Heart Association recently published a Science Advisory with the recommendation that patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) should be screened for depressive symptoms and depression. Also the Heart Failure Guidelines recommend routine screening for depressive symptoms. Screening for anxiety was not included in these recommendations, despite findings in literature suggesting that cardiac patients are at risk for high levels of anxiety.

Objective

The aim of the current study is to obtain a realistic estimation of the consequences and implications of this advice for clinical practice.

Method

Data on anxiety, and depression, need for help, demographics and disease related variables were collected in a cross-sectional study within a 2-month period (July–August 2008) at the cardiac outpatient clinic of the University Medical Center Groningen (The Netherlands).

Patients

Data of 217 patients were analyzed, mean age was 58 years (± 16) and 62% of the respondents were male.

Results

Of 217 patients, 26% indicated to have depressive symptoms and 42% indicated elevated levels of anxiety. About 35–50% of these patients indicated a moderate to high need for help. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was mainly associated with demographic factors and the occurrence of stressful life events.

Conclusion

Routine screening will put an increased demand on psychosocial diagnostics and treatment, therefore the availability of professionals should be guaranteed in advance.     

2013欧洲白癜风指南

欧洲不少国家都有自己的白癜风治疗指南,但尚无统一的欧洲指南版。该指南是欧洲白癜风学组在循证医学和专家共识的基础上,第一次制定的针对节段型和非节段型白癜风的欧洲指南。该文解读此指南以供参考。     

Anal cancer: ESMO-ESSO-ESTRO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis,treatment and follow-up

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is a rare cancer but its incidence is increasing throughout the world, and is particularly high in the human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) population. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory (involving radiation therapists, medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and pathologists). SCCA usually spreads in a loco-regional manner within and outside the anal canal. Lymph node involvement at diagnosis is observed in 30%–40% of cases while systemic spread is uncommon with distant extrapelvic metastases recorded in 5%–8% at onset, and rates of metastatic progression after primary treatment between 10 and 20%. SCCA is strongly associated with human papilloma virus (HPV, types 16–18) infection. The primary aim of treatment is to achieve cure with loco-regional control and preservation of anal function, with the best possible quality of life. Treatment dramatically differs from adenocarcinomas of the lower rectum. Combinations of 5FU-based chemoradiation and other cytotoxic agents (mitomycin C) have been established as the standard of care, leading to complete tumour regression in 80%–90% of patients with locoregional failures in the region of 15%. There is an accepted role for surgical salvage. Assessment and treatment should be carried out in specialised centres treating a high number of patients as early as possible in the clinical diagnosis. To date, the limited evidence from only 6 randomised trials [1,2,3,4,5,6,7], the rarity of the cancer, and the different behaviour/natural history depending on the predominant site of origin, (the anal margin, anal canal or above the dentate line) provide scanty direction for any individual oncologist. Here we aim to provide guidelines which can assist medical, radiation and surgical oncologists in the practical management of this unusual cancer.     

Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment Patterns According to Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog Genotype in U.S. Community-Based Oncology Practices

IntroductionIn 2008, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines were revised in light of the identification of the Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS) gene as a biomarker of nonresponse to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors. This study sought to describe and compare real-world treatment patterns of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) according to KRAS genotype in community-based oncology practices in the United States.Materials and MethodsData from the ACORN (ACORN LLC, Memphis, TN) electronic medical record data warehouse, containing data of approximately 180,000 patients from 12 oncology practices across the United States were used. Records of adult patients with mCRC who had undergone KRAS testing between January 2008 and December 2011 were evaluated. Patient demographic characteristics, KRAS genotype, and treatment patterns were identified and compared.ResultsSix hundred forty-eight mCRC patients who were tested for KRAS were identified. Of these, 48.1% had wild type (WT), 42.3% mutant, and 9.6% unknown genotypes. Most patients (72.1%) were tested in 2009 or later, after the guideline revision. Bevacizumab-containing combinations were the most common first-line regimens in KRAS mutant and WT patients. Approximately 90% of patients received at least 1 line of therapy, however, WT patients received significantly more lines of therapy than KRAS mutant patients (2.6 ± 1.5 vs. 2.1 ± 1.2; P < .001).ConclusionsKRAS WT and mutant genotypes had similar first-line regimens; however, WT patients received more lines of therapy. Although there does not appear to be a lag between changes in guidelines and treatment practice, professional and government organizations must keep up with the changing science and disseminate this information to oncologists in a timely manner.     

A European multicentre reappraisal of distal compound muscle action potential duration in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Background: The electrodiagnostic value of distal compound muscle action potential duration (DCMAPD) has been studied rarely in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Cut‐offs proposed have not been widely evaluated. The influence of low‐cut EMG filter settings ≤ 10 Hz as used in Europe is uncertain. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of 110 patients with typical, treatment‐responsive CIDP, from Leicester, U.K., Paris and Angers, France. All fulfilled revised European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society (EFNS/PNS) clinical and electrodiagnostic criteria for typical CIDP (2010), before consideration of DCMAPD prolongation. Results were compared with those of 110 controls with chronic sensory/sensory‐motor axonal neuropathy. We constructed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each nerve and derived cut‐offs for DCMAPD prolongation, offering specificity of ≥ 98% vs. controls. Results: DCMAPD was significantly greater in all nerves for CIDP patients, compared with controls (P < 0.001). ROC curves allowed derivation of cut‐offs of sensitivities ranging from 27.1% (ulnar nerve) to 60% (tibial nerve). Using these cut‐offs to define DCMAPD prolongation in any studied motor nerve offered a sensitivity of 69.1% for CIDP and specificity of 97.3% vs. controls. Conclusion: Cut‐offs for DCMAPD are dependent on EMG filter settings. DCMAPD prolongation in any motor nerve, using our derived cut‐offs, represents a sensitive and specific marker of CIDP in patients studied with EMG equipment with low‐cut filter settings ≤ 10 Hz. Appropriate use of this parameter appears an essential criterion to consider in assessing suspected CIDP, which may be helpful in limiting extensiveness and duration of electrophysiological testing, thereby reducing patient discomfort.     

我院《抗菌药物临床应用指导原则》执行后常见革兰阴性杆菌耐药性变化

目的 了解我院<抗菌药物临床应用指导原则>执行后,临床常见革兰阴性杆菌(大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌)的耐药性变化,间接评价其应用效果.方法 采用WalkAway- 96进行菌株鉴定,同时做药敏试验,并加做ESBLs确证试验,用WHONET5.0软件分析2007-2010年我院临床标本中分离的635株大肠埃希菌和655株肺炎克雷伯菌的药敏试验结果.结果 2007-2008年间两种细菌ESBLs的检出率及耐药率呈现上升态势,而从2009-2010年,则呈下降趋势.结论 <抗菌药物临床应用指导原则>的深入贯彻执行,使细菌的耐药率明显下降,对规范医院抗菌药物合理使用起到了积极的促进作用.     

临床诊疗指南的获取、评价与应用

本文介绍了国内外临床诊疗指南的获取途径、评价方法,分析了应用中应该注意的问题,旨在为广大医生、药师获取和应用临床诊疗指南提供参考.     

肿瘤相关性肌肉减少症临床诊断与治疗指南

肌肉减少症是一种以进行性、广泛性的骨骼肌含量减少和功能减退为主要特点的综合征.由于肿瘤患者的高分解代谢和低合成代谢状态,因此,肌肉减少症的发生率较高.与恶性肿瘤相关的肌肉减少症,称为肿瘤相关性肌肉减少症,不仅影响患者机体成分的正常代谢,还会降低患者治疗疗效、生活质量,缩短生存期.因此,做好肿瘤患者的营养筛查和评估,及时...     

New guidelines for topical NSAIDs in the osteoarthritis treatment paradigm

Abstract

Background:

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, often affects hands, hips, and knees and involves an estimated 26.9 million US adults. Women have a higher prevalence of OA, and the risk of developing OA increases with age, obesity, and joint malalignment. OA typically presents with pain and reduced function. Therapeutic programs are often multimodal and must take into account pharmaceutical toxicities and patient comorbidities. For example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal adverse events. Topical NSAIDs offer efficacy with reduced systemic drug exposure.     

Pitfalls of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of splenic sarcoidosis

By observing the real-time behavior of focal liver lesions at three vascular phases (arterial, portal-venous, and late), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been successfully applied to differentiate benign from malignant hepatic nodules. In recent years, numerous studies highlighted the usefulness of CEUS also for other applications such as abdominal trauma, renal, pancreatic, thyroid, and inflammatory bowel diseases, supporting its role even in differentiating benign from malignant splenic nodules. Therefore, the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) recently updated the guidelines for the use of ultrasound contrast agents in clinical practice, pointing out the indication to characterize splenic parenchymal inhomogeneity or suspected lesions found on conventional ultrasound (BUS). We describe the case of a patient with a history of colon cancer and finding, at BUS and CEUS, of hypoechoic lesions with a highly suggestive pattern for metastases, subsequently histologically proved to be splenic localizations of a benign and multisystemic granulomatous disease such as sarcoidosis. We therefore reviewed the current literature focusing on the role of CEUS in differentiating benign from malignant splenic lesions, emphasizing on the lack of data and numerical shortage of sarcoidosis derived-lesions in the available studies. We conclude that sarcoidosis remains a diagnosis of exclusion and new studies are needed before defining precise indications of CEUS in these patients.