Erratum to: Inflammation in Patients with Schizophrenia: The Therapeutic Benefits of Risperidone Plus Add-On Dextromethorphan

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology -     

Dextromethorphan Attenuated Inflammation and Combined Opioid Use in Humans Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology - Recent studies show that proinflammatory cytokines might be related to the development of opioid dependence (physiological, psychological, or both). In a...     

Predictors of Adherence to an Antidepressant Medication Regimen Among Patients Diagnosed with Depression in Taiwan

This study explored the predictors of medication adherence among Taiwanese people with major depression and dysthymic disorder. Previous research indicates that depressed patients vary in compliance with their medication regimen. Poor compliance reduces the therapeutic effect of medication. Self-report questionnaires were used for this cross-sectional study conducted with 181 outpatients diagnosed with major depression or dysthymic disorder. About 50% of depressed patients reported good medication adherence. The predictors of adherence were patient income, treatment efficacy, and understanding the importance of continuing medication. Professionals should use collaborative communication and cultural values clarification with depressed patients and their families to improve the awareness of illness and to increase the likelihood of medication compliance.     

Visualization of suppressed thyroid tissue by Tc-99m MIBI.

The authors describe a case of suppressed normal thyroid tissue in a patient with autonomous toxic nodule, which was visualized by a Tc-99m MIBI thyroid scan without thyrotropin (TSH) stimulation. The findings suggest that Tc-99m MIBI can be a substitute for conventional thyroid imaging using I-131 to visualize suppressed normal thyroid tissue without TSH stimulation and its side effects.     

Quantitative 99Tcm-HMPAO white blood cells and 67Ga scanning in rheumatoid arthritis

This investigation assessed 99Tcm-HMPAO white blood cell (Tc-WBC) and 67Ga knee uptake indices before and after 90Y treatment in patients with intractable rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and correlated the uptake indices with the clinical score. Sixteen knee joints with RA were treated with intra-articular injection of 185 MBq of 90Y-silicate colloid (Amersham) flushed with 50 mg of hydrocortisone. Clinical score, quantitative 67Ga and Tc-WBC knee uptake indices were obtained before and three weeks after treatment. Our results showed that 9/16 (56%) had a good response and 7/16 (44%) had a poor response to 90Y injection. There was poor correlation between clinical improvement and changes in 67Ga and Tc-WBC knee uptake indices (r = 0.46 and 0.14, respectively). The correlation coefficient between changes in 67Ga and Tc-WBC knee uptake indices was 0.29.     

Serial electrophysiologic studies of the effects of oral diltiazem on paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

In 16 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, electrophysiologic studies were done before and serially at hourly intervals for eight hours after the third oral dose of 90 mg diltiazem given every eight hours. Diltiazem increased both the longest atrial paced cycle length producing type 1 atrioventricular block and the effective refractory period of the atrioventricular conducting system at all measurements. Before diltiazem, all 16 patients had induction of sustained tachycardia. After diltiazem, sustained tachycardia could not be induced in ten patients at any measurements; in these patients, either echo or nonsustained tachycardia was induced. In the remaining six patients, sustained tachycardia was induced, particularly after six hours. Follow-up observations in 12 patients receiving the same dosage of oral diltiazem for 6 +/- 2 months (mean +/- SD), showed that of the eight patients in whom electrophysiologic testing induced either echo or nonsustained tachycardia, six were asymptomatic and two experienced transient palpitation. Of the other four patients with induction of sustained tachycardia, three had transient palpitation and one had occasional attacks of sustained tachycardia requiring modification of therapy. Thus, oral diltiazem increases atrioventricular nodal refractoriness, with an effect lasting up to eight hours. It is an effective agent for the prophylaxis of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.