增进积极体验为目标的健康干预对抑郁症病人抑郁情绪及生活质量的影响

目的:探讨增进积极体验为目标的健康干预对抑郁症病人抑郁情绪及生活质量的影响。方法:选择2019年9月—2021年3月在医院就诊的68例抑郁症病人为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分为观察组与对照组,每组34例。对照组予以常规护理,观察组在常规护理基础上予以增进积极体验为目标的健康干预。干预前后分别采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、世界卫生组织生存质量测定量表简表(WHOQOL-BREF)评估病人的抑郁情绪和生活质量,同时对两组病人的护理满意度进行比较。结果:干预后观察组病人抑郁评分低于对照组(P<0.05);两组病人的生理功能、心理功能、社会功能及环境功能指标均较干预前有明显改善,且观察组评分均高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组病人对护理干预的总满意度为97.06%,高于对照组的61.76%(P<0.05)。结论:增进积极体验为目标的健康干预可明显缓解抑郁症病人的抑郁情绪,提高病人的生活质量。     

Colonoscopy Versus Catheter Angiography for Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Localization on CT Angiography

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare catheter angiography (CA) and colonoscopy outcomes after successful CT angiographic (CTA) localization for patients with overt lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB).MethodsSeventy-one consecutive patients from two institutions between 2010 and 2020 had both contrast extravasation on CTA imaging in the lower gastrointestinal tract and subsequent CA or colonoscopy. The primary outcome was confirmation of active bleeding during CA or colonoscopy (defined as confirmation yield). The secondary outcomes were to determine therapeutic yield (hemostatic therapy), time to procedure, rebleeding rate, and adverse outcome rates (defined as surgery, acute kidney injury, initiation of dialysis, and overall mortality). Univariate analyses and multivariable analyses with P < .05 were used to determine statistical significance.ResultsForty-four patients underwent CA and 27 underwent colonoscopy. CA had higher overall confirmation yield (55% vs 26%, P = .026), whereas therapeutic yields were similar (70% vs 56%, P = .214). Time to procedure was 5.1 ± 3.4 hours for CA and 15.5 ± 13.6 hours for colonoscopy (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, shorter time to procedure was the only statistically significant predictor of confirmation yield (P = .037) and therapeutic yield (P = .013), whereas procedure, hemoglobin, transfusions, and hemodynamic instability were not. Adverse events and rebleeding were not statistically different between patients who underwent CA and colonoscopy (P > .05).ConclusionsShorter time to procedure was the only statistically significant predictor of confirmation and therapeutic yield after CTA localization of LGIB. Because CA can be performed sooner than colonoscopy without increased rates of adverse outcomes or rebleeding, CA may be a reasonable first-line treatment option in patients with CTA localization of LGIB.     

Weekly and seasonal variation in the circadian melatonin rhythm in humans: A response

We read with interest the commentary by Skeldon and Dijk about our article “Weekly, seasonal and chronotype-dependent variation of dim light melatonin onset.” The discussion points raised by Skeldon and Dijk are currently among the most hotly debated in human circadian science. What external factors determine human phase of entrainment? How great is the contribution of natural versus artificial light and sun time versus social time? Our intra-individual data add to the still limited evidence from field studies in this matter. In their commentary, Skeldon and Dijk formulate two either-or hypotheses, postulating that humans entrain either solely to the natural light-dark cycle (sun time referenced by midday) (H₁) or solely to the light selected by local clock time and social constraints (H₂). Neither hypothesis accounts for the effect of season on human light exposure. We interpreted our findings along more complex lines, speculating that the 1-h earlier melatonin rise in summer found in our sample is likely the combined result of daylight saving time (DST)-induced behavioral advances and a stronger natural zeitgeber in summer (light exposure determined by social and seasonal factors, H_original). Here, we show how the criticism by Skeldon and Dijk is based on two sentences quoted out of context (misrepresenting our hypothesis as H₁) and that their hypothesis H₂ leaves out important seasonal components in light exposure.     

Role of serum and synovial procalcitonin in differentiating septic from non-septic arthritis- a prospective study

IntroductionSeptic arthritis is a serious orthopaedic emergency that must be diagnosed and managed early to prevent devastating complications. The current gold standard for diagnosing septic arthritis is synovial fluid culture, but results are delayed by 48–72 h, and the sensitivity of the test is very low. Differentiating Septic from non-septic arthritis is vital to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics and prevent complications. Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful marker in differentiating septic from non-septic arthritis but there are very few studies that have studied the role of synovial PCT for the same.AimTo determine the role of serum and synovial PCT in differentiating acute Septic from non-septic arthritis.Materials and methodsProspective clinical study in which 60 patients presenting with acute inflammatory arthritis (<2 weeks duration) were enrolled from May 2018 to May 2020. Serum and synovial fluid samples were drawn at presentation and routine blood investigations, synovial fluid culture sensitivity, and Procalcitonin levels were measured. Patients were divided into 3 groups, with group-1 having confirmed pyogenic, group-2 having presumed pyogenic, and group-3 having non –pyogenic patients, respectively. All data was tabulated and statistically analysed using appropriate tests.ResultsMean serum PCT values in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 1.06 ± 1.11, 0.85 ± 0.74, and 0.11 ± 0.24, respectively. Patients in the Pyogenic group (group1 and group 2) had significantly higher mean serum PCT as compared to group3 (p < 0.0001). Group 1 had higher serum PCT as compared to group 2, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.58). Mean synovial PCT in group 1, 2 and 3 were 2.42 ± 1.98, 1.89 ± 1.18, and 0.22 ± 0.40, respectively. Patients in the Pyogenic group (Group1 and Group2) had significantly higher mean synovial PCT as compared to Group 3 (p < 0.0001). Group 1 had higher mean synovial PCT as compared to group 2, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.54). The area under the ROC curve of the serum levels of PCT was 0.0.895, and the area under the ROC curve of the synovial fluid levels of PCT was 0.914, which was higher than the serum PCT level.ConclusionSerum and synovial Procalcitonin may be used as a diagnostic marker in differentiating septic from inflammatory arthritis and can help in reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics and early diagnosis and management of septic arthritis, thereby preventing complications.     

High-flow via a tracheostomy tube and speaking valve during weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy

Background

Weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy after prolonged intensive care consume enormous resources with optimal management not currently well described. Restoration of respiratory flow via the upper airway is essential and early cuff-deflation using a one-way valve (OWV) is recommended. However, extended OWV use may cause dry airways and thickened secretions which challenge the weaning process. High-flow therapy via the tracheostomy tube (HFT-T) humidifies inspired air and may be connected via an in-line OWV (HFT-T-OWV) alleviating these problems. We aim to provide clinical and experimental data on the safety of HFT-T-OWV along with a practical guide to facilitate clinical use during weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy.

Methods

Data on adverse events of HFT-T-OWV were retrieved from a quality register for patients treated at an intensive care rehabilitation center between 2019 and 2022. Benchtop experiments were performed to measure maximum pressures and pressure support generated by HFT-T-OWV at 25–60 L/min flow using two different HFT-T adapters (interfaces). In simulated airway obstruction using a standard OWV (not in-line) maximum pressures were measured with oxygen delivered via the side port at 1–3 L/min.

Results

Of 128 tracheostomized patients who underwent weaning attempts, 124 were treated with HFT-T-OWV. The therapy was well tolerated, and no adverse events related to the practice were detected. The main reason for not using HFT-T-OWV was partial upper airway obstruction using a OWV. Benchtop experiments demonstrated HFT-T-OWV maximum pressures <4 cmH₂O and pressure support 0–0.6 cmH₂O. In contrast, 1–3 L/min supplemental oxygen via a standard OWV caused pressures between 84 and 148 cmH₂O during simulated airway obstruction.

Conclusions

Current study clinical data and benchtop experiments indicate that HFT-T-OWV was well tolerated and appeared safe. Pressure support was low, but humidification may enable extended use of a OWV without dry airway mucosa and thickened secretions. Results suggest the treatment could offer advantages to standard OWV use, with or without supplementary oxygen, as well as to HFT-T without a OWV, for weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy. However, for definitive treatment recommendations, randomized clinical trials are needed.     

Comparison of quantitative susceptibility mapping methods on evaluating radiation-induced cerebral microbleeds and basal ganglia at 3T and 7T

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) has the potential for being a biomarker for various diseases because of its ability to measure tissue susceptibility related to iron deposition, myelin, and hemorrhage from the phase signal of a T₂*-weighted MRI. Despite its promise as a quantitative marker, QSM is faced with many challenges, including its dependence on preprocessing of the raw phase data, the relatively weak tissue signal, and the inherently ill posed relationship between the magnetic dipole and measured phase. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of background field removal and dipole inversion algorithms on noise characteristics, image uniformity, and structural contrast for cerebral microbleed (CMB) quantification at both 3T and 7T. We selected four widely used background phase removal and five dipole field inversion algorithms for QSM and applied them to volunteers and patients with CMBs, who were scanned at two different field strengths, with ground truth QSM reference calculated using multiple orientation scans. 7T MRI provided QSM images with lower noise than did 3T MRI. QSIP and VSHARP + iLSQR achieved the highest white matter homogeneity and vein contrast, with QSIP also providing the highest CMB contrast. Compared with ground truth COSMOS QSM images, overall good correlations between susceptibility values of dipole inversion algorithms and the COSMOS reference were observed in basal ganglia regions, with VSHARP + iLSQR achieving the susceptibility values most similar to COSMOS across all regions. This study can provide guidance for selecting the most appropriate QSM processing pipeline based on the application of interest and scanner field strength.