DSM III in outreach emergency psychiatry

As making a diagnosis in emergency psychiatry is often difficult, whether the systematic use of a diagnostic classification is worthwhile can be questioned. In the psychiatric emergency service in the Hague, The Netherlands, the use of a DSM III classification list was evaluated by comparing emergency service diagnoses during subsequent psychiatric treatments in 237 out of 300 consecutive contacts. For Organic Mental Disorders, Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders, Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders, the Kappa coefficient of agreement was found to lie between 0.5 and 0.6. The application of DSM III categories is considered to be suited to diagnostic classification in outreach emergency psychiatry.     

Effects of Risperidone in Autistic Children and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

There are several studies investigating the effects of risperidone on autism, but many of these studies are contradictory or inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of risperidone on five domains of the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) scale on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as weight gain and waist circumference. The protocol for the present systematic review and meta-analysis was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). For this study, we analysed articles (2,459), selecting them according to the PICOS strategy (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study design). Although risperidone is effective for the treatment of lethargy and inadequate speech, concerns about the association between weight gain, waist circumference and risperidone require a need for evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio in its use. There was a significant association between weight gain, waist circumference and risperidone. In conclusion, it was possible to suggest the efficacy of risperidone for the treatment of lethargy and inadequate speech. Finally, we emphasize that the risk-benefit in its use should be evaluated (Protocol number CRD42019122316).     

The value of lymphography in the tumour diagnostic--the comparison lymphography with computerized tomography

The main indications for lymphography by oncological patients are primary or secondary lymph node tumours. CT also became very useful in these cases. In this study the results of lymphography and computed tomography were compared in 100 patients with lymph node tumours. An absolute concurrence of both methods was found in only one half of the material. In 18% lymphography was clearly positive and CT negative. In 6% CT was positive while lymphography was negative. In 25% CT yielded important extra useful information. Lymphography and CT complement each other. Both methods are about equal in terms of sensitivity and reliability. CT is the basic method to be performed invariably prior to lymphography.     

Painful procedures and analgesia in hospitalized newborns: A prospective longitudinal study

Objective

To identify the type and frequency of stressful and painful procedures, the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies; to identify relationships between demographic and clinical variables with frequency of procedures and pain management.

Small interfering RNA urokinase silencing inhibits invasion and migration of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) is involved in a variety of physiologic and pathological processes; in particular, u-PA mRNA is up-regulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biopsies and its level of expression is inversely correlated with patients' survival. To determine the role of u-PA in the invasiveness properties of HCC, we successfully down-regulated u-PA by RNA interference (RNAi) technology, in an HCC-derived cell line at high level of u-PA expression. RNAi is a multistep process involving generation of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) that cause specific inhibition of the target gene. SKHep1C3 cells were transfected with a U6 promoter plasmid coding for an RNA composed of two identical 19-nucleotide sequence motifs in an inverted orientation, separated by a 9-bp spacer to form a hairpin dsRNA capable of mediating target u-PA inhibition. Stable transfectant cells showed a consistently decreased level of u-PA protein. In biological assays, siRNA u-PA-transfected cells showed a reduction of migration, invasion, and proliferation. In conclusion, u-PA down-regulation by RNAi technology decreases the invasive capability of HCC cells, demonstrating that stable expression of siRNA u-PA could potentially be an experimental approach for HCC gene therapy.