Brief dialectical behavior therapy (DBT-B) for suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self injury.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a shorter course of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in enhancing treatment retention and reducing: urges to engage in non-suicidal self injury (NSSI), NSSI, suicide ideation, and subjective distress in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Twenty patients with BPD received a six-month course of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-B). DBT-B was delivered in the standard manner except for the shortened duration from one-year minimum to six months. All variables were measured at baseline, and at six months. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Treatment retention rate was 95%. Significant reductions were found in NSSI urges, NSSI, suicide ideation, subjective distress, depression, and hopelessness between baseline and six months. These results support the use of DBT-B in a six-month format when NSSI and suicidal behavior and ideation are the targeted behaviors. Target behaviors were reduced significantly and retention was extremely high in comparison to other interventions for this population. A large scale randomized controlled trial investigating its efficacy is warranted to determine if the results can be replicated and if improvement can be sustained.     

Bromodeoxyuridine Labeling Index as an Indicator of Early Tumor Response to Preoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Rectal Cancer

Purpose Assessment of tumor proliferation rate using Bromodeoxyuridine labeling index (BrdUrdLI) as a possible predictor of rectal cancer response to preoperative radiotherapy (RT). Methods and material Ninety-two patients were qualified either to short RT (5 Gy/fraction/5 days) and surgery about 1 week after RT (schedule I), or to short RT and 4–5 weeks interval before surgery (schedule II). Tumor samples were taken twice from each patient: before RT and at the time of surgery. The samples were incubated with BrdUrd for 1 h at 37°C, and the BrdUrdLI was calculated as a percentage of BrdUrd-labeled cells. Results Thirty-eight patients were treated according to schedule I and 54 patients according to schedule II. Mean BrdUrdLI before RT was 8.5% and its value did not differ between the patients in the two compared groups. After RT tumors showed statistically significant growth inhibition (reduction of BrdUrdLI). As the pretreatment BrdUrd LI was not predictive for early clinical and pathologic tumor response, prognostic role of the ratio of BrdUrdLI after to BrdUrdLI before RT was considered. The ratios were calculated separately for fast (BrdUrd LI > 8.5%) and slowly (BrdUrd LI ≤ 8.5%) proliferating tumors and correlated with overall treatment time (OTT, i.e., time from the first day of RT to surgery). One month after RT, accelerated proliferation was observed only in slowly proliferating tumors. Conclusions Pretreatment BrdUrdLI was not predictive for early clinical and pathologic tumor response. The ratio after/before RT BrdUrdLI was correlated to inhibition of proliferation in responsive tumors. The paper was presented at ECCO 13, October 30 to November 03, 2005 in Paris, France     

Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS): Process, format, and clinimetric testing plan.

This article presents the revision process, major innovations, and clinimetric testing program for the Movement Disorder Society (MDS)-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), known as the MDS-UPDRS. The UPDRS is the most widely used scale for the clinical study of Parkinson's disease (PD). The MDS previously organized a critique of the UPDRS, which cited many strengths, but recommended revision of the scale to accommodate new advances and to resolve problematic areas. An MDS-UPDRS committee prepared the revision using the recommendations of the published critique of the scale. Subcommittees developed new material that was reviewed by the entire committee. A 1-day face-to-face committee meeting was organized to resolve areas of debate and to arrive at a working draft ready for clinimetric testing. The MDS-UPDRS retains the UPDRS structure of four parts with a total summed score, but the parts have been modified to provide a section that integrates nonmotor elements of PD: I, Nonmotor Experiences of Daily Living; II, Motor Experiences of Daily Living; III, Motor Examination; and IV, Motor Complications. All items have five response options with uniform anchors of 0 = normal, 1 = slight, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, and 4 = severe. Several questions in Part I and all of Part II are written as a patient/caregiver questionnaire, so that the total rater time should remain approximately 30 minutes. Detailed instructions for testing and data acquisition accompany the MDS-UPDRS in order to increase uniform usage. Multiple language editions are planned. A three-part clinimetric program will provide testing of reliability, validity, and responsiveness to interventions. Although the MDS-UPDRS will not be published until it has successfully passed clinimetric testing, explanation of the process, key changes, and clinimetric programs allow clinicians and researchers to understand and participate in the revision process.     

Construction and validation of a Parkinson's disease mutation genotyping array for the Parkin gene.

Parkin mutations account for the majority of familial and sporadic early onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) cases with a known genetic association. More than 100 mutations have been described in the Parkin gene that includes homozygous, compound heterozygous, and single heterozygous mutations. We have designed a Parkin mutation genotyping array (gene chip) that includes published Parkin sequence variants and allows their simultaneous detection. The chip was validated by screening 85 PD cases and 47 controls previously tested for Parkin mutations. Similar genotyping microarrays have been developed for other genetically heterogeneous diseases including age-related macular degeneration. Here, we show the utility of a genotyping array for Parkinson's disease by analysis of 60 subjects from the Genetic Epidemiology of Parkinson Disease (GEPD) study that includes 15 early-onset PD case probands and 45 relatives.     

Agomelatine and its therapeutic potential in the depressed patient

Despite advances in understanding potential disease mechanisms and in developing novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of major depressive disorder, the disease continues to carry an enormous personal, social, and economic burden. Agomelatine represents an important opportunity to advance the treatment of depression. It is a melatonergic (MT₁ and MT₂) agonist and serotonergic (5HT_2C) antagonist. Evidence from animal models of depression, complements emerging clinical data. In a dose range of 25–50 mg daily, agomelatine is an effective antidepressant with a very favorable side-effect profile. In particular, sleep restorative action in the absence of sedation and minimal effect on sexual function suggests that agomelatine represents a worthwhile treatment alternative for patients with major depressive disorder.     

Endoscopic diode laser welding of mucosal grafts on the larynx: A new technique

Epithelial coverage of a laryngotracheal wound is an important factor in preventing stenosis, and endoscopic transplantation of a free mucosal graft without stents or sutures would be a significant therapeutic advance. In vitro and in vivo canine studies were performed to explore the feasibility of transplantation with a low-power diode laser (400 mW) enhanced by indocyanine green dye-doped albumin. The tensile strength of graft adherence in 10 cadaver larynges was strong (35.25 ± 10.39 g). Survival studies in live canine models with a specially designed endoscopic instrument set showed excellent healing at 6, 14, and 28 days. Healing was documented with photography and by histologic examination. Successful endoscopic transplantation of a free mucosal graft should improve results of treatment for laryngotracheal stenosis and laryngeal reconstructive surgery.