Major Cardiac–Psychiatric Drug–Drug Interactions: a Systematic Review of the Consistency of Drug Databases

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - Major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders (AD) are both highly prevalent among individuals with arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease, heart failure,...     

Prognostic tools for hypertrophic scar formation based on fundamental differences in systemic immunity

Unpredictable hypertrophic scarring (HS) occurs after approximately 35% of all surgical procedures and causes significant physical and psychological complaints. Parallel to the need to understanding the mechanisms underlying HS formation, a prognostic tool is needed. The objective was to determine whether (systemic) immunological differences exist between patients who develop HS and those who develop normotrophic scars (NS) and to assess whether those differences can be used to identify patients prone to developing HS. A prospective cohort study with NS and HS groups in which (a) cytokine release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and (b) the irritation threshold (IT) after an irritant (sodium lauryl sulphate) patch test was evaluated. Univariate regression analysis of PBMC cytokine secretion showed that low MCP‐1, IL‐8, IL‐18 and IL‐23 levels have a strong correlation with HS (P < .010‐0.004; AUC = 0.790‐0.883). Notably, combinations of two or three cytokines (TNF‐a, MCP‐1 and IL‐23; AUC: 0.942, Nagelkerke R²: 0.727) showed an improved AUC indicating a better correlation with HS than single cytokine analysis. These combination models produce good prognostic results over a broad probability range (sensitivity: 93.8%, specificity 86.7%, accuracy 90,25% between probability 0.3 and 0.7). Furthermore, the HS group had a lower IT than the NS group and an accuracy of 68%. In conclusion, very fundamental immunological differences exist between individuals who develop HS and those who do not, whereas the cytokine assay forms the basis of a predictive prognostic test for HS formation, the less invasive, easily performed irritant skin patch test is more accessible for daily practice.     

The impact of delayed diagnosis on the outcomes of oral cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study

The contemporary literature is discordant regarding the role of delayed diagnosis in the prognosis of patients with oral cancer. This study examined data on a previously reported cohort of 101 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed at a single institution between 2008 and 2010. The time interval between symptom onset and initial histological diagnosis (diagnostic delay) was recorded for each patient, as were demographic data and cancer features such as T stage, nodal status, and smoking status. The mean follow-up period was 4 years 10 months. The mean diagnostic delay was 4 months, mean overall survival was 5 years 6 months, and mean disease-specific survival was 4 years 9 months. No significant correlation was found between diagnostic delay and overall survival, disease-specific survival, or recurrence rates. Patients with node-positive disease were more likely to be diagnosed earlier, whereas women and non-smokers were more likely to have a delayed diagnosis. Inherent tumour biology is likely an important prognostic factor separate to diagnostic delay. Public education efforts should focus on symptom recognition and encourage early presentation for investigation of oral lesions, particularly for females and non-smokers, so that more aggressive tumours can be treated sooner to give the best chance at survival.     

Islanded facial artery osteomyomucosal/osseous flap in head and neck reconstruction

A local pedicled vascularized bone flap can prevent the morbidity and cost of free bone flap surgery in small segmental bone defects or long cartilaginous defects of the head and neck. Such flaps can also be useful in patients who are high risk for surgery. The periosteal vascularity of the mandible can be used to design islanded facial artery-based bone flaps, which can be utilized to that extent. Two patients with a small segmental mandibulectomy defect and one patient with a long cricotracheal resection defect underwent reconstruction using three different designs of islanded facial artery osteomyomucosal/osseous flap (iFOMM). The patients had a minimum follow-up period of 18 months. All flaps were successful, with satisfactory healing and without any functional deficit or disease at last follow-up.     

Silver Diamine Fluoride: Extending the spectrum of Preventive Dentistry,a literature review

Dental caries continues to be a severe oral health problem despite a decrease in its prevalence over the past few decades. The contemporary philosophy of caries management has shifted from the traditional approach to a newer medical one, that frequently includes utilization of fluoridated and antimicrobial agents. Among these different agents, Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)¹ has gained significant recognition. Dr Nishino and Dr Yamaga in Japan, pioneered its application to arrest caries. It is an alkaline, colourless solution composed of diamine-silver and fluoride ions having silver's antibacterial and fluoride's remineralising property. It has been used successfully to arrest and prevent caries in deciduous and permanent teeth, prevent recurrence of secondary caries and treat dentinal hypersensitivity. No adverse systemic effects due to SDF have been noted although black discolouration following its application has raised concerns. When used wisely it is an effective, sustainable and inexpensive option for children with high caries risk, for individuals who cannot endure conventional modalities of restorative treatment and those with special health-care needs. The current review is an insight into the clinical significance and application of SDF based on published literature.     

Social support is linked to mental health,quality of life,and motor function in multiple sclerosis

Journal of Neurology - To investigate associations of social support to psychological well-being, cognition, and motor functioning in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Secondarily, we were...     

Maternal depression trajectories and offspring positive attributes and social aptitudes at early adolescence: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - There is growing evidence that adolescent positive attributes and social aptitudes are associated with beneficial outcomes, including higher educational...     

Validation of a test meal paradigm to experimentally manipulate meal-related fears: A registered report

Fear is central to conceptualizations of weight and shape-focused eating disorders. The current study will examine the reliability and validity of a test meal paradigm that varies perceptions of fat content to manipulate fear. Undergraduate women with elevated eating pathology (N = 96) will be randomized to one of three test meal conditions: two “low” fat yogurts, two “high” fat yogurts, or one “high” fat and one “low” fat yogurt. In actuality, all yogurts will have the same fat content. Supporting reliability, we hypothesize that self-reported fear and electrodermal activity (psychophysiological index of fear-related arousal) will exhibit good test–retest reliability over a 48-hr period in the “high” fat/“high” fat and “low” fat/“low” fat conditions. Supporting construct validity, self-reported fear and electrodermal activity will be elevated during the “high” versus “low” fat condition and responses to the “high" fat condition will correlate with fear of food, eating, and weight gain. Supporting discriminant validity, self-reported disgust and anger will be comparable in the “high” and “low” fat conditions and will exhibit weak correlations with trait measures of disgust and anger. This experimental paradigm will allow researchers to manipulate fear in order understand the mechanisms by which fear maintains eating pathology.     

The prediction of mortality by quality of life assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF: a longitudinal analysis at the domain and item levels using a seven-year follow-up period

Quality of Life Research - To determine the predictive value of quality of life for mortality at the domain and item levels. This longitudinal study was carried out in a sample of 479 Dutch people...