Duloxetine and suicide attempts: a possible relation

The possible increase of suicidal ideation with some antidepressants is still a matter of debate. We are reporting two cases of suicidal attempt that occurred concomitantly with the use of Duloxetine. To our knowledge there is no prior publication about a possible Duloxetine related increase in the risk of suicidality.     

Safety and applicability of a pre-stage public access ventilator for trained laypersons: a proof of principle study

Background

Contemporary resuscitation guidelines for basic life support recommend an immediate onset of cardiac compressions in case of cardiac arrest followed by rescue breaths. Effective ventilation is often omitted due to fear of doing harm and fear of infectious diseases. In order to improve ventilation a pre-stage of an automatic respirator was developed for use by laypersons.

Methods

Fifty-two healthy volunteers were ventilated by means of a prototype respirator via a full-face mask in a pilot study. The pre-stage public access ventilator (PAV) consisted of a low-cost self-designed turbine, with sensors for differential pressure, flow, FO₂, FCO₂ and 3-axis acceleration measurement. Sensor outputs were used to control the respirator and to recognize conditions relevant for efficiency of ventilation and patients’ safety. Different respiratory manoeuvres were applied: a) pressure controlled ventilation (PCV), b) PCV with controlled leakage and c) PCV with simulated airway occlusion. Sensor signals were analysed to detect leakage and airway occlusion. Detection based upon sensor signals was compared with evaluation based on clinical observation and additional parameters such as exhaled CO₂.

Results

Pressure controlled ventilation could be realized in all volunteers. Leakage was recognized with 93.5% sensitivity and 93.5% specificity. Simulated airway occlusion was detected with 91.8% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity.

Conclusion

The pre-stage PAV was able to detect potential complications relevant for patients’ safety such as leakage and airway occlusion in a proof of principle study. Prospectively, this device provides a respectable basis for the development of an automatic emergency respirator and may help to improve bystander resuscitation.

     

Peer mentorship to reduce suicide attempts among high-risk adults (PREVAIL): Rationale and design of a randomized controlled effectiveness-implementation trial

RationaleNovel approaches to suicide prevention are needed to address increasing rates of suicide deaths. Research suggests that interventions led by certified Peer Specialists may improve suicide protective factors such as hope and connectedness; however, the effectiveness of a Peer Specialist intervention for reducing suicidal thoughts or behaviors has not previously been tested empirically.DesignWe describe the methodology of a randomized controlled hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of a peer specialist intervention known as PREVAIL (Peers for Valued Living). The primary effectiveness aim is to determine whether the 3-month peer mentorship intervention compared to a minimally enhanced usual care condition reduces suicide attempts and suicidal ideation among adults at high risk for suicide who have been psychiatrically hospitalized. Secondary effectiveness outcomes include medically serious suicide attempts according to chart review and self-reported self-efficacy to avoid suicide. We also describe suicide risk management, supervision, and fidelity monitoring in the context of Peer Specialist providers and our methods for assessing implementation barriers and facilitators.ConclusionThe PREVAIL trial will demonstrate novel methods for incorporating peer providers into a suicide prevention effectiveness trial with high-risk study participants. PREVAIL's hybrid effectiveness-implementation design aims to maximize the likelihood of rapid implementation in the community if shown to be effective.     

Nonpharmacologic approach to minimizing shivering during surface cooling: A proof of principle study

Purpose

This study had 2 objectives: (1) to quantify the metabolic response to physical cooling in febrile patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and (2) to provide proof for the hypothesis that the efficiency of external cooling and the subsequent shivering response are influenced by site and temperature of surface cooling pads.

Methods

To quantify shivering thermogenesis during surface cooling for fever, we monitored oxygen consumption (VO₂) in 6 febrile patients with SIRS during conventional cooling with cooling blankets and ice packs. To begin to determine how location and temperature of surface cooling influence shivering, we compared 5 cooling protocols for inducing mild hypothermia in 6 healthy volunteers.

Results

In the patients with SIRS, core temperature decreased 0.67°C per hour, all patients shivered, VO₂ increased 57.6%, and blood pressure increased 15% during cooling. In healthy subjects, cooling with the 10°C vest was most comfortable and removed heat most efficiently without shivering or VO₂ increase. Cooling with combined vest and thigh pads stimulated the most shivering and highest VO₂ and increased core temperature. Reducing vest temperature from 10°C to 5°C failed to increase heat removal secondary to cutaneous vasoconstriction. Capsaicin, an agonist for the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) warm-sensing channels, partially reversed this effect in 5 subjects.

Conclusions

Our results identify the hazards of surface cooling in febrile critically ill patients and support the concept that optimization of cooling pad temperature and position may improve cooling efficiency and reduce shivering.     

Regional use of violent suicide methods: an analysis of suicide attempts in Houston, Texas

A number of changes in the demographics of suicide and suicide attempters have occurred in the last 10 to 15 years. To assess some of the factors that may be involved in these changes, this study examines a group of suicide attempters in Houston, Texas, where a large percentage of the attempts were violent. These violent attempters are compared with nonviolent attempters, and the entire population of attempters is compared with suicide attempters in New Haven, Connecticut. Finally, the two attempter populations are compared with the underlying general population demographics of two regions (Houston and New Haven). Several differences emerged between attempters in Houston and in New Haven, including larger proportions of violent attempters, male attempters, and married attempters in Houston. Demographic factors in the general populations for the two regions are different, but these differences are not directly reflected in the nature of the attempter populations. Reasons for observed differences are discussed.     

Effectiveness of a community-based program for suicide prevention among elders with early-stage dementia: A controlled observational study

The purpose of this study was to develop a small-group-focused suicide prevention program for elders with early-stage dementia and to assess its effects. This was a quasi-experimental study with a control group pretest–posttest design. A total of 62 elders diagnosed with early-stage dementia who were receiving care services at nine daycare centers in J City Korea participated in this study. The experimental group participated in the suicide prevention program twice a week for 5 weeks with a pretest and two posttests The developed suicide prevention program had a significant effect on the perceived health status, social support, depression, and suicidal ideation of elders with early-stage dementia. Nurses should integrate risk factors such as depression and protective factors such as health status and social support into a suicide prevention program. This community-based program in geriatric nursing practice can be effective in preventing suicide among elders with early-stage dementia.     

Non-invasive diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension from lung Doppler signal: a proof of concept study

Transthoracic Parametric Doppler (TPD) is a novel ultrasound technique recently developed for the investigation of pulmonary blood vessels. Lung Doppler Signals (LDS) recorded from TPD provide information regarding the functional mechanical characteristics of pulmonary blood vessels. We aimed to define the specific profile of LDS generated from TPD imaging in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of LDS to detect PH using right heart catheterization (RHC) as gold standard reference. Seventy nine PH patients and 79 healthy controls matched for age, gender and BMI were recruited in a prospective case–control multicenter study. LDS recordings were performed by TPD consisting of a pulsed Doppler with a 2 MHz single element transducer. LDS were recorded within 24 h of RHC. Following LDS extraction, classification and performance evaluation were performed offline using a support vector machine (k-fold cross validation method). The best LDS parameters for PH detection were (1) peak velocity of the systolic (S) and diastolic (D) signals, (2) the rise slope of the S and D signals, and (3) time to peak of the S signal. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of TPD for detection of PH were 82.7 % (95 % CI 81.3–84.1) and 87.4 % (95 % CI 86.3–88.5), respectively, with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.95 (95 % CI 0.94–0.96). Detection rate of PH increased progressively with the level of mean pulmonary artery pressure. LDS recorded by TPD display a specific profile in PH and appears to be a promising and reliable tool for PH diagnosis. Further studies are required to confirm the clinical usefulness of LDS.     

奥氮平治疗多发性抽动症:随机、对照、双盲试验

目的:多发性抽动症的治疗传统上以氟哌叮醇治疗为主,但其严重的锥体外系反应限制了其应用,为了解新一代精神药品奥氮平对多发性抽动症的疗效,与阳性对照药氟哌叮醇比较,评价奥氮平治疗多发性抽动症的疗效及其安全性。方法:实验于2003-06/2004-06在新乡医学院第二附属医院临床心理科完成。所有研究组对象均符合美国诊断和统计手册第四版(DSM-IV)的诊断,排除躯体疾病和其他精神疾病;对照组为与研究组相匹配的健康儿童。采用随机对照试验方法,将60例多发性抽动症症患者分成奥氮平组(5～10mg/d,30例)和氟哌叮醇组(4～12mg/d,30例),在3d清洗期后,进入疗程4周的治疗。采用YALE综合抽动严重程度量表、临床总体疗效评定量表和药物副反应量表来评价药物疗效和不良反应。结果:治疗后第4周奥氮平组总有效率72%,氟哌叮醇组总有效率72%。两组YALE综合抽动严重程度治疗后,第4周奥氮平组为7.48±6.78,氟哌叮醇组9.67±6.79,两组差有显著性意义(P<0.05),奥氮平药物不良反应明显减少。结论:奥氮平是一种有效、安全的抗抽动药物,有改善睡眠的作用,不良反应轻。     

The need for improved operational definition of suicide attempts: illustrations from the case of street youth

The use of inadequate operational definitions of suicidal behavior is often a limitation of suicide research. In this article, the results of an exploratory qualitative study of street youth suicidality is contrasted with the existing literature to highlight the problems associated with defining suicidal behaviors. It is argued through the use of the case example of street youth that accurate and detailed assessment of suicidal history, context, and intent is necessary to avoid substantial threats to the validity and clinical use of research findings.     

Gabapentin in postherpetic neuralgia: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study.

A multicentre double blind, randomised, placebo controlled 7-week study evaluated the efficacy and safety of gabapentin 1800 or 2400 mg/day in treating postherpetic neuralgia. Three hundred and thirty-four men and women aged at least 18 years (mean 73) received gabapentin 1800 or 2400 mg daily or placebo in three divided doses with a forced titration schedule. The primary outcome measure was change in average daily pain diary score (baseline week v final week). Secondary outcomes included mean weekly sleep interference score; Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ); Clinician and Patient Global Impression of Change (CGIC/PGIC); Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). From week 1, pain scores showed a significantly greater improvement with gabapentin: the final difference v baseline was -34.5% for the 1800 mg dose, -34.4% for the 2400 mg dose compared with -15.7% for the placebo group. The difference vs. placebo was 18.8% for the 1800 mg dose (95% confidence interval 10.9-26.8%; P<0.01) and 18.7% for the 2400 mg dose (10.7-26.7%; P<0.01). Sleep interference diaries showed a similar pattern. There were significant differences in favour of gabapentin for number of patients reporting >50% reduction in their pain intensity, in the CGIC and PGIC, in the sensory and total scores of the SF-MPQ (both doses), in the visual analogue scale of pain of the SF-MPQ (2400 mg only) and in the vitality, bodily pain and mental health domains of the SF-36. Overall gabapentin was well tolerated. The most common adverse events were dizziness and somnolence, particularly during the titration phase. Thus, this study confirms the role of gabapentin as an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment for postherpetic neuralgia.     

坦度螺酮治疗广泛性焦虑症的疗效和安全性:随机、双盲、对照研究

目的:评价坦度螺酮治疗广泛性焦虑症的疗效及副作用。方法:应用坦度螺酮和丁螺环酮治疗广泛性焦虑症,随机取样各23例,并比较疗效及副作用,坦度螺酮:第1～2周,30mg/d,分3次,饭后口服。第3周如HAMA减分率<30%;无不良反应,则将剂量加至60mg/d,分3次,饭后口服。不需增加药量者为低剂量组、需增加药量者为高剂量组。第7～8周将高剂量组剂量减半。丁螺环酮:第1～2周,15mg/d,分3次,饭后口服。第3周如HAMA减分率<30%;无不良反应,则将剂量加至30mg/d,分3次,饭后口服。不需增加药量者为低剂量组、需增加药量者为高剂量组。第7～8周将高剂量组剂量减半。采用汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)和不良反应量表(TESS)于治疗前、治疗后第1,2,3,4,6,8周末各评定1次,疗程8周。结果:两组患者的主要疗效指标HAMA评分在治疗结束时与基线比较均显著减低(P均<0.01);治疗结束时HAMA减分率:坦度螺酮组(60.30±19.76)%,丁螺环酮组(56.27±19.38)%;临床总有效率:坦度螺酮组74%,丁螺环酮组70%,两组之间差异无显著性意义;TESS结果表明,坦度螺酮组的不良反应发生率与丁螺环酮组相当,两组的不良反应发生率分别为24%和26%,主要不良反应是口干、头晕头昏、食欲减退、恶心等。结论:坦度螺酮的抗焦虑疗效与丁螺环酮相似,不良反应少而轻。     

Triglyceride lowering effect of MaxEPA fish lipid concentrate: a multicentre placebo controlled double blind study

A multicentre, double blind, randomised between-group study comparing the triglyceride lowering effect of MaxEPA, a natural marine oil, and a placebo control is described. Eighty-six patients with hypertriglyceridaemia (fasting serum triglyceride greater than or equal to 2 mmol/l) were studied for three months. There were no significant differences between the groups (48 active, 38 control) in respect of age, sex, height or weight, smoking habits or alcohol consumption. After one month triglyceride levels were reduced significantly from baseline in the treatment group and there was also a highly significant difference between the groups in favour of the marine oil. There was no significant change in serum total cholesterol in either group but there were fluctuations in high density lipoprotein (HDL) in both groups. Minor gastrointestinal side effects were reported by patients in both groups. Standard haematological and biochemical tests were done and there were no significant changes from baseline.     

The importance of normalization in the interpretation of surface electromyography: a proof of principle.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the errors in surface electromyogram (EMG) interpretation that can be made when the EMG signal is not normalized. DESIGN: A case study as a proof of principle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The EMG amplitude between the upper and lower portions of the rectus abdominis in one subject during a trunk curl when the EMG signal was normalized (expressed as a percentage of a maximum voluntary contraction) and the amplitude when the signal was expressed in raw, unnormalized arbitrary units or raw millivolts directly read from the instrumentation. RESULTS: Interpretation of the unnormalized EMG signal suggests that a large difference in neural activation of the upper and lower sections of the rectus abdominis is occurring. In this condition the average activity in the lower rectus is 60.9% of that in the upper portion. This interpretation is incorrect. When the EMG signal is normalized, the differences between the upper and lower segments are reduced. When normalized, the lower segment activity is equal to that of the upper segment. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the inherent EMG signal variability, clinical interpretation of surface EMG signals requires normalization of the signal for physiologic interpretation and for comparison between bilateral muscles and between the same muscle on different days and between different subjects.