Delusional depression. A one year follow-up

Fifty-two unipolar delusional depressives were matched to 52 unipolar nondelusional depressives on the basis of sex, age at index episode of depression and age at first episode of depression. In a one year follow-up after discharge from inpatient treatment, the delusional depressives had a poorer clinical course than the nondelusional depressives as manifested by significantly higher rates both of major depression or delusions lasting longer than 9 months and of being in a major depressive episode at the end of the follow-up period.     

Multievoked potentials in type I diabetic patients: one year follow-up study.

A neurophysiological (SEP, VEP) follow-up study was carried out in 30 diabetic patients with type I diabetes mellitus of ten or more years duration. This in order to investigate whether one year of improved glucoregulation may influence the progression of central damage. In our series, patients showed a significant decrement of HbA1C levels (p < 0.05) in the one-year follow-up. In the same period the frequency of SEP and VEP abnormalities varied from 10/30 (33%) to 16/30 (53%) and from 8/30 (26%) to 5/30 (16%) respectively. This finding would suggest that prevailing glycaemic control would be a major determinant for the outcome of VEP measurements. SEP alterations, in contrast, tend to progress in a 12 months period despite a considerable improvement in glycaemic control. However, by dividing patients in two groups according mean one year HbA1C less than 8% and more than 8%, the latter group only showed a significant increasing of absolute latencies of each median and tibial SEP components. Our results suggest that VEP abnormalities are still reversible in diabetic patients with improved metabolic control. The acquired abnormalities of somatosensory pathways persist longer, but a strict glycaemic control may influence and retard the progression of central conduction involvement.     

Motor cortex excitability in Alzheimer disease: one year follow-up study

Seventeen patients affected by Alzheimer disease (AD) underwent two transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies separated by an interval of 12 months, in order to monitor possible changes in motor cortex excitability. After the first examination, all patients were treated with cholinesterase inhibitor drugs. Motor threshold (MT), amplitude of motor evoked potentials and central motor conduction time were considered. After one year, the mean MT values showed a decrease significantly correlated with the severity of cognitive involvement, evaluated by means of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The difference in MT between the two recording sessions showed no significant correlation with the difference in MMSE score. One year of treatment with cholinesterase inhibitor drugs did not stop the progressive increase in motor cortex excitability. Serial analysis of TMS might represent a method to monitor the rate of change in motor cortex excitability in patients with AD.     

Five year follow-up study of gastritis.

This paper describes a five year follow-up study of the incidence and course of gastritis affecting the antrum and body of the stomach of 50 patients, most of whom presented with non-ulcer dyspepsia and a few with peptic ulceration. We have shown that antral gastritis, like gastritis affecting the fundus, becomes more severe in a proportion of patients as time goes by. Perhaps more important is the increased severity and progression of atrophic and metaplastic change in the antrum compared with the fundus. The significance of these changes with regard to the development of peptic ulceration and malignancy is discussed.     

Intellectual characteristics of diabetic children at diagnosis and one year later

Examined neurocognitive functions in 63 newly diagnosed pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) at onset of illness (T0) and 1 year postdiagnosis (T1). Siblings (S) serving as controls were assessed at T0 only. Subjects were given age-appropriate tests of verbal and visuospatial abilities. In addition, DM were interviewed regularly during diabetes clinic to determine current diabetic control and different intervening glycemic-related events. Results revealed no differences between DM and S at T0, nor any specific impairment in DM predating illness. Also, DM did not demonstrate any acquired impairment after 1 year of illness. Children with early onset DM (less than 5 years) scored lower in spatial ability at T0 and T1 than children with later onset DM, who scored lower in verbal ability. Episodes of asymptomatic and mild chronic hypoglycemia correlated positively, not negatively, with improved outcome over time. There were no adverse effects of severe hypoglycemia. Ketonuria and hospitalizations were associated with lower performance IQs 1 year after onset, as was diabetic ketoacidosis at onset. Results are discussed in terms of critical periods of sensitivity of different brain regions to the effects of diabetes and the need for longer follow-up of these children.     

ICH S9: Developing anticancer drugs, one year later

International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) S9 is the first international regulatory guidance document devoted to a specific therapeutic area, highlighting its importance in harmonizing regulatory expectations for the nonclinical development of therapeutics designed to treat advanced cancer. ICH S9 successfully outlines the core requirements for the nonclinical development of novel oncology therapeutics, and the unique risk-benefit considerations for expediting drug development to treat these most grievous diseases. However, development companies and regulatory agencies have had limited opportunity to apply this guidance, so our collective experience in developing therapeutics under the guidance is limited. Discussed here are several key areas of ambiguity in the guidance, including identification of the patient population, selection of the initial safe dose for first-in-human trials, and requirements for nonclinical recovery data.     

CDKN2A testing and genetic counseling promote reductions in objectively measured sun exposure one year later

PurposeThis study investigated whether genetic counseling and test reporting for the highly penetrant CDKN2A melanoma predisposition gene promoted decreases in sun exposure.MethodsA prospective, nonequivalent control group design compared unaffected participants (N = 128, M_age = 35.24, 52% men) from (1) families known to carry a CDKN2A pathogenic variant, who received counseling about management recommendations and a positive or negative genetic test result and (2) no-test control families known not to carry a CDKN2A pathogenic variant, who received equivalent counseling based on their comparable family history. Changes in daily ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure (J/m²), skin pigmentation (melanin index), and sunburns between baseline and one year following counseling were compared among carriers (n = 32), noncarriers (n = 46), and no-test control participants (n = 50).ResultsBoth carriers and no-test control participants exhibited a decrease one year later in daily UVR dose (B = −0.52, −0.33, p < 0.01). Only carriers exhibited a significant decrease in skin pigmentation at the wrist one year later (B = −0.11, p < 0.001), and both carriers and no-test control participants reported fewer sunburns than noncarriers (p < 0.05). Facial pigmentation did not change for any group. Noncarriers did not change on any measure of UVR exposure.ConclusionsThese findings support the clinical utility of disclosing CDKN2A test results and providing risk management education to high-risk individuals.     

Expressed emotion and early onset schizophrenia: a one year follow-up

Key relatives of 33 first or early admission psychotic patients (mainly schizophrenics) were interviewed to determine household levels of expressed emotion (EE). The patients were followed up for 12 months from index admission, during which time 13 (39%) experienced psychotic relapse. There was no association between relapse rate and household EE, but correlations between individual components of EE and pre-morbid measures suggest that level of criticism may be related to less acute onset of index episode, greater elapsed time since first signs of illness, and poor adjustment in the realm of work/study. The results are discussed in the context of continuing uncertainties about the precise nature of the relationship between EE and relapse.     

Hemodiafiltration (HD-HF): one year follow-up of nine hours weekly

Data are presented concerning our experience with hemodiafiltration (HD-HF) in uremic patients. Ten patients previously submitted to regular dialysis treatment, cuprophane membrane (RDT), for the last year twelve hours weekly, were treated for one year, nine hours weekly, HD-HF. Five of ten had suffered discomfort by RDT and five spontaneously chose HD-HF owing to its shorter treatment period. The follow-up of the two treatment schedules did not show any significant difference in absolute and percentage values of small molecules. Hematocrit, body weight and blood arterial pressure were not different following both treatment. Patients submitted to HD-HF complained of no discomfort including patients suffering of dialytic discomfort under RDT. HD-HF has proved as useful and more comfortable than RDT in long-term treatment of patients with chronic renal failure.     

Carrier screening for cystic fibrosis: Test acceptance and one year follow-up

We identified 124 carriers among 4,879 patients of prenatal care providers in the Rochester region. Six factors were identified that together permitted a correct classification regarding test acceptance for 77.5% of all subjects. For those pregnant, the most influential of these factors was a more accepting attitude toward abortion. As an indication for abortion, cystic fibrosis (CF) ranked between mild and moderate mental retardation. Of the 124 carrier women identified, we obtained 1-year follow-up information on 100. Mean score for CF knowledge at 1 year (77.4 ± 13.2%), although significantly lower than immediately after counseling (84 ± 12.4%), was still significantly higher than after detection but before counseling (51.1% ± 20.7%). Anxiety about having a child with CF significantly declined from 25.8 ± 8.0 SD immediately after counseling to 18.9 ± 7.8 at 1 year (Spielberger State Anxiety Scale). Although 15 carriers regretted having been tested, 83% believed that they benefited from testing, 83% would make the same decision to be tested over again, and 79% would recommend testing to a friend. We conclude that, for most women, CF carrier screening accomplished its purpose: most carriers detected came for counseling, had their partners tested, and, if their partners were also carriers, had prenatal diagnosis. The major undesirable outcomes were that many women testing negative did not understand that a negative result did not exclude being a carrier and that three women found to be carriers did not have their partners tested because of anxiety or the unacceptability of pregnancy termination and therefore may not have carefully considered their decision to be tested. Both of these undesirable outcomes could have been avoided by greater attention to pretest patient education by the primary care provider. Am. J. Med. Genet. 73:378–386, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cerebrospinal fluid somatostatin in delirium. II. Changes at the acute stage and at one year follow-up

Cerebrospinal fluid somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (CSF SLI) was determined for elderly delirious patients during the acute stage and after one-year follow-up. The SLI levels were compared with age-equivalent controls. For the group as a whole, and also when the group was subdivided according to the severity of cognitive decline at the acute stage, type of delirium, or the central nervous system disease, delirious patients showed significant reduction of SLI as compared with the controls. In the follow-up, we observed a further reduction of CSF SLI together with significant correlations in the second and third samples between SLI levels and Mini-Mental State Examination score. Our results suggest a role for somatostatinergic dysfunction in the genesis of some symptoms of delirium. This dysfunction may be a common phenomenon in various forms of delirium and dementia.     

Nutritional and metabolic status of HIV-positive patients with lipodystrophy during one year of follow-up

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this prospective study was to compare changes in lipid metabolism and nutritional status after either 6 and 12 months of follow-up in subjects with lipodystrophy syndrome after traditional lifestyle therapy with or without fibric acid analogue intervention (bezafibrate and clofibrate).

METHODS:

Food intake, alterations in body composition and metabolic abnormalities were assessed in subjects with lipodystrophy syndrome at the beginning of the study. The nutritional status and metabolic alterations of the subjects were monitored, and the subjects received nutritional counseling each time they were seen. The subjects were monitored either two times over a period no longer than six months (Group A; n  =  18) or three times over a period of at least 12 months (Group B; n  =  35). All of the subjects underwent nutrition counseling that was based on behavior modification. The fibric acid analogue was only given to patients with serum triglyceride levels above 400 mg/dL.

RESULTS:

After six months of follow-up, Group A showed no alterations in the experimental parameters. After twelve months, there was a decrease in serum triglyceride levels (410.4 ± 235.5 vs. 307.7 ± 150.5 mg/dL, p< 0.05) and an increase in both HDLc levels (37.9 ± 36.6 vs. 44.9 ± 27.9 mg/dL, p<0.05) and lean mass (79.9 ± 7.8 vs. 80.3 ± 9.9 %, p< 0.05) in Group B.

CONCLUSION:

After one year of follow-up (three sessions of nutritional and medical counseling), the metabolic parameters of the subjects with lipodystrophy improved after traditional lifestyle therapy with or without fibric acid analogue intervention.     

Royal College of Pathologists' accreditation pilot study: a year later. The College Audit Steering Committee.

Twenty one heads of departments who participated in the Royal College of Pathologists' pilot study of laboratory accreditation were questioned a year after the event to discover if the process had produced any lasting effect. All but one responded. Eighteen (90%) felt that there had been lasting and tangible benefit from their inspection. Of 10 departments with deficiencies relating to resources (and where no plans to upgrade existed before the study), five (50%) had obtained improvements as a direct result of the inspector's report. Overall, 16 (80%) of respondents were in support of the development of an accreditation scheme of the type attempted, and none were opposed. The envisaged scheme seems to have the potential to produce lasting improvements in service and commands the support of the departments involved so far.     

Results from over one year of follow-up for absorbable mesh insertion in partial mastectomy

Purpose

Recently, several clinicians have reported the advantages of simplicity and cosmetic satisfaction of absorbable mesh insertion. However, there is insufficient evidence regardint its long-term outcomes. We have investigated the surgical complications and postoperative examination from the oncologic viewpoint.

Materials and Methods

From February 2008 to March 2009, 34 breast cancer patients underwent curative surgery with absorbable mesh insertion in Samsung Medical Center. Patient characteristics and follow up results including complications, clinical and radiological findings were retrospectively investigated.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 50.1±8.9 years old (range 31-82) with a mean tumor size of 3±1.8 cm (range 0.8-10.5), and the excised breast tissue showed a mean volume of 156.1±99.8 mL (range 27-550). Over the median follow-up period of 18±4.6 months (range 3-25), mesh associated complications, including severe pain or discomfort, edema, and recurrent fluid collection, occurred in nine patients (26.5%). In three cases (8.8%), recurrent mastitis resulted in mesh removal or surgical intervention. In the postoperative radiologic survey, the most common finding was fluid collection, which occurred in five patients (16.1%), including one case with organizing hematoma. Fat necrosis and microcalcifications were found in three patients (9.7%).

Conclusion

Absorbable mesh insertion has been established as a technically feasible, time-saving procedure after breast excision. However, the follow-up results showed some noticeable side effects and the oncologic safety of the procedure is unconfirmed. Therefore, we suggest that mesh insertion should be considered only in select cases and should be followed-up carefully.     

EEG's of prematures: 3-8 year follow-up study

A classification of apparently normal neonatal EEG's into 4 classes (A-D) on the basis of progressive maturity was devised and applied to 273 EEG's of 117 apparently normal newborns recorded between 24 and 50 weeks conceptional age (CA). Both the order in which the 4 classes of EEG's occurred for subjects upon whom more than 1 EEG was obtained, and the distributions of the ages over which the 4 classes were observed confirmed that the classes do indeed represent a maturational sequence of EEG pattern changes. Of the 81 original premature subjects, 46 underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation between 3 yr 9 months and 8 yr 7 months of age. Various features of their neonatal EEG's were evaluated in the light of clinical outcome. The results do not demonstrate the usefulness of the routine EEG as a prognostic indicator in neonates not displaying specific pathology at birth. They do offer some evidence of a relationship between immaturity of the EEG relative to CA in the neonatal period and the later manifestation of congenital disorders involving the brain, but the tendency, even if confirmed, may not prove strong enough to warrant prognostic decisions in individuals.