Transdermal selegiline for the treatment of major depressive disorder

Non-selective inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes (ie, isoforms A and B) in the brain are associated with clinically significant antidepressant effects. In the US, the selegiline transdermal system (STS; EMSAM) is the first antidepressant transdermal delivery system to receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved labeling for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Currently, the use of orally administered MAO inhibitor antidepressants (eg, phenelzine, tranylcypromine) is limited by the risk of tyramine-provoked events (eg, acute hypertension and headache, also known as the “cheese reaction”) when combined with dietary tyramine. The selegiline transdermal system is the only MAOI available in the US for the treatment of MDD that does not require dietary restriction at the clinically effective dose of 6 mg/24 hours. Delivery of selegiline transdermally (EMSAM^®) bypasses hepatic first pass metabolism, thereby avoiding significant inhibition of gastrointestinal and hepatic MAO-A activity (ie, reduced risk of tyramine-provoked events) while still providing sufficient levels of selegiline in the brain to produce an antidepressant effect. At dosages of 6–12 mg/24 hours, EMSAM has been shown to improve symptoms of depression, have good tolerability, and have high rates of medication adherence. However, at higher doses of EMSAM (ie, 9 mg/24 hours or more), dietary restriction of tyramine intake is recommended. The introduction of EMSAM overcomes many of the safety concerns affiliated with the conventional oral MAO inhibitors and EMSAM may be considered another strategy for the treatment of MDD, especially in patients who cannot tolerate oral antidepressants, are poorly adherent, who present with atypical depressive symptoms, or have failed other antidepressants.     

MR Findings of Intrathecal Chemotherapy-Related Myelopathy in Two Cases: Mimicker of Subacute Combined Degeneration

We report the findings of spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 2 patients who had undergone intrathecal chemotherapy and presented with the subacute onset of ascending numbness and weakness. MRI revealed a symmetric hyperintensity at the posterior columns of the spinal cord from the lower cervical region down to the conus medullaris level on T2-weighted images, and no abnormal enhancement. The imaging findings are similar to those seen in subacute combined degeneration (SCD), but the serum vitamin B(12) levels were normal in these 2 cases.     

Complicated transseptal puncture during intervention catheter ablation on atrial fibrillation concomitant with straight back syndrome

Straight back syndrome (SBS) is a thoracic deformity with absence of upper thoracic spine kyphosis and heart compression. The anatomic abnormity of SBS may raise the difficulty of introcardial operation and increase the complicated risk of intervention performance. Here we report a case of SBS with complicated transseptal puncture during intervention catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.     

Effect of early and late antibiotic treatment in experimental acute pancreatitis in rats

Background The clinical course in acute necrotizing pancreatitis is mainly determined by bacterial infection of pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis. The effect of two antibiotic regimens for early and late treatment was investigated in the taurocholate model of necrotizing pancreatitis in the rat. Materials and methods Seventy male Wistar rats were divided into five pancreatitis groups (12 animals each) and a sham-operated group (10 animals). Pancreatitis was induced by intraductal infusion of 3% taurocholate under sterile conditions. Animals received two different antibiotic regimes (20 mg/kg imipenem or 20 mg/kg ciprofloxacin plus 20 mg/kg metronidazole) early at 2, 12, 20, and 28 h after induction of pancreatitis or late at 16 and 24 h after induction of pancreatitis or no antibiotics (control). Animals were examined after 30 h for pancreatic and extrapancreatic infection. Results Early and late antibiotic treatment with both regimes could significantly reduce pancreatic infection from 58 to 8–25%. However, extrapancreatic infection was only reduced by early antibiotic therapy. While quinolones also reduced bacterial counts in small and large bowel, imipenem did not. Conclusions In our animal model of necrotizing pancreatitis, early and late treatment with ciprofloxacin/metronidazole and imipenem reduce bacterial infection of the pancreas. Extrapancreatic infection, however, is reduced significantly only by early antibiotic treatment. The effectivity of early antibiotic treatment in the clinical setting should be subject to further investigation with improved study design and sufficient patient numbers.     

Validation of a screening questionnaire for hip and knee osteoarthritis in old people

Background  

To develop a sensitive and specific screening tool for knee and hip osteoarthritis in the general population of elderly people.     

Clinical influence of vagotomy on postoperative acute phase response

BACKGROUND: Although there is increasing evidence suggesting that the vagus nerve functions as a connector between the nervous and immune systems in animals, little is known about the role of the vagus nerve in postoperative acute phase response in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extent of fever and acute phase protein response and the production of inflammatory cytokine during the early postoperative period were compared among the patients who had undergone total gastrectomy including truncal vagotomy (n = 13), those having distal gastrectomy with division of vagal branches (n = 14), and the patients with vagal nerve preserving gastrectomy (n = 12). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum levels of C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antirypsin, and interleukin-6 among the three groups. Also, postoperative maximum body temperature was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Vagotomy did not influence acute phase response after gastric cancer surgery. A multipathway mechanism for acute phase response including the induction of fever is suggested.     

Reliability of movement control tests in the lumbar spine

Background  

Movement control dysfunction [MCD] reduces active control of movements. Patients with MCD might form an important subgroup among patients with non specific low back pain. The diagnosis is based on the observation of active movements. Although widely used clinically, only a few studies have been performed to determine the test reliability. The aim of this study was to determine the inter- and intra-observer reliability of movement control dysfunction tests of the lumbar spine.     

How to Effectively Implement an Indicator System to Improve Performance from a Management Perspective: The Case of Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series (THIS) System

This study uses the Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series (THIS) system as an example to examine which determinants would improve performance by sharing indicators from a management perspective. This study population included all 227 hospitals participating in the THIS system in 2006. A structured questionnaire was sent to the director who was responsible for the THIS system via electronic mail. A total of 111 responses were returned by February 10, 2006. Questions included current implementation and impacts of the system. Hierarchical regression models were performed to identify which variables were significantly associated with performance improvement, adjusted for hospital characteristics. Four variables significantly associated with implementing the THIS system to improve performance were ‘senior management support,’ ‘benchmarking,’ ‘making departments improve the underperforming indicators and report the improvement results in performance management meetings,’ and ‘integration with the National Health Insurance payment regulations’. This study contributes substantially to the evidence base about what works to improve performance by information sharing. Although information sharing is the basis of efforts to improve performance, senior management support and how to effectively apply the information are the most important determinants of performance enhancement.