A randomized trial of interpersonal therapy versus supportive therapy for social anxiety disorder

Seventy patients seeking treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD) were randomly assigned to 14 weekly individual sessions of interpersonal therapy (IPT) or supportive therapy (ST). We hypothesized that IPT, a psychotherapy with established efficacy for depression and other psychiatric disorders, would lead to greater improvement than ST. Patients in both groups experienced significant improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment. However, improvement with IPT was not superior to improvement with ST. Mean scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale decreased from 67.7 to 46.9 in the IPT group and 64.5 to 49.8 in the ST group. There were also no differences in proportion of responders between IPT and ST. Only for a scale measuring concern about negative evaluation (Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale) was IPT superior. Limitations of this initial controlled trial of IPT include a nonsequential recruitment strategy and overlap in the administration of the two therapies. It is recommended that future studies of IPT for SAD include a more carefully defined control therapy condition, different therapists administering each therapy, a larger sample, and a more rigorous strategy for long-term follow-up assessments.     

Impact of in-scanner head motion on multiple measures of functional connectivity: relevance for studies of neurodevelopment in youth

It has recently been reported (Van Dijk et al., 2011) that in-scanner head motion can have a substantial impact on MRI measurements of resting-state functional connectivity. This finding may be of particular relevance for studies of neurodevelopment in youth, confounding analyses to the extent that motion and subject age are related. Furthermore, while Van Dijk et al. demonstrated the effect of motion on seed-based connectivity analyses, it is not known how motion impacts other common measures of connectivity. Here we expand on the findings of Van Dijk et al. by examining the effect of motion on multiple types of resting-state connectivity analyses in a large sample of children and adolescents (n=456). Following replication of the effect of motion on seed-based analyses, we examine the influence of motion on graphical measures of network modularity, dual-regression of independent component analysis, as well as the amplitude and fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation. In the entire sample, subject age was highly related to motion. Using a subsample where age and motion were unrelated, we demonstrate that motion has marked effects on connectivity in every analysis examined. While subject age was associated with increased within-network connectivity even when motion was accounted for, controlling for motion substantially attenuated the strength of this relationship. The results demonstrate the pervasive influence of motion on multiple types functional connectivity analysis, and underline the importance of accounting for motion in studies of neurodevelopment.     

Gracilis Muscle Transposition for Fistulas Between the Rectum and Urethra or Vagina

Purpose This study was designed to assess the efficacy of gracilis muscle transposition in repairing rectovaginal and rectourethral fistulas. Methods Data were retrieved from a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent gracilis muscle transposition for fistulas between the rectum and urethra/vagina. All patients had fecal diversion as a preliminary or concurrent step to fistula repair. Follow-up data were gathered from outpatient clinic visits. Success was defined as a healed fistula after stoma closure. Results Six females and three males, aged 30 to 64 years, underwent gracilis muscle transpositions from 1999 to 2005. One pouch-vaginal, three rectourethral, and five rectovaginal fistulas were repaired. The etiologies were Crohn's disease (n = 2), iatrogenic injury to the rectum during radical prostatectomy (n = 2), previous pelvic irradiation for rectal cancer (n = 2) or for cervical cancer (n = 1), recurrent perianal abscesses with fistulas (n = 1), and obstetric tear (n = 1). Seven patients underwent previous medical and surgical repair attempts. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications included perineal wound infection (n = 1) and at the colostomy closure (n = 2). There were no long-term sequelae. At a median follow-up period of 14 (range, 1–66) months since stoma closure, the fistula healed in seven patients. One patient refused ileostomy closure. One patient with severe Crohn's proctitis has a persistent rectovaginal fistula. Conclusions Gracilis muscle transposition is a viable option for repairing fistulas between the urethra, vagina, and the rectum, especially after failed perineal or transanal repairs. It is associated with low morbidity and a good success rate. Underlying Crohn's disease and previous radiation are associated with poor prognosis. Presented at The Joint Meeting of the Israel Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the Israeli Society of Endoscopic Surgery, Eilat, Israel, December 16 to 18, 2004. Reprints are not available.     

Robot-assisted vaginal construction using ileum in a case of Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser syndrome

The horizon of robotic paediatric surgery has grown in leaps and bounds with advances in technology. The aim of this study was to analyse the extent of robotic involvement in paediatric surgical practice. A systematic database search was performed. Data about children who had undergone robot-assisted procedures were reviewed retrospectively from all published reports up to October 2007. Success rates were defined in term of completion of the procedures, their complications, and the time taken. These results were further studied in comparison with the procedures performed by open and laparoscopic methods. A total of 31 studies were identified describing 566 patients. Of these, four studies were case control, comparing with either laparoscopic or open procedures, one study was a prospective trial, and the rest of the studies were either case reports or series. The most common robotic system used was the da Vinci (23 studies) followed by the Zeus (four studies). The mean age of the children was 8.3 years. The commonest operation was pyeloplasty (141 cases), followed by fundoplication (122 cases) and patent ductus arteriosus ligation (50 cases). The mean operation time for robot-assisted pyeloplasty was 221 min (open pyeloplasty 214 min). The mean operation times for fundoplication were robotic, 170 min, laparoscopic, 158 min, and open, 121 min. The mean operation times for patent ductus arteriosus ligation were 166 min (robotic) and 83 min (open). Overall conversion rate for all paediatric robotic procedures was 4.7% and complications ranged from 0 to 15%. For robotic fundoplications the conversion and complication rates were 0.8 and 3.3%, respectively. For robotic pyeloplasties the conversion and complication rates were 2.1 and 3.5%, respectively. Many other major operations were performed successfully. All studies recommended robotic procedure as safe and feasible. Currently, the most common robotic operations in practice are pyeloplasties and fundoplications. Most of the authors concluded that, despite taking more time, robotic surgery enables more refined hand–eye coordination, superior suturing skills, better dexterity, and precise dissection with minimal conversion and complication rates. The widespread acceptance of this technology largely depends on solving the issues: learning curve; suitable machine size for neonates and infants; ensuring efficacy and safety in all operations; and, most importantly, making this procedure cost effective, so as to cater for the needs of most, if not all, children. This paper was presented at the Annual Conference of IPEG (International Pediatric Endosurgery Group) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2007.     

A comprehensive algorithm for anterior skull base reconstruction after oncological resections.

Objective: To present our method for anterior skull base reconstruction after oncological resections. Methods: One hundred nine patients who had undergone 120 anterior skull base resections of tumors (52 malignant [43%], 68 benign [57%]) via the subcranial approach were studied. Limited dural defects were closed primarily or reconstructed using a temporalis fascia. Large anterior skull base defects were reconstructed by a double-layer fascia lata graft. A split calvarial bone graft, posterior frontal sinus wall, or three-dimensional titanium mesh were used when the tumor involved the frontal, nasal, or orbital bones. A temporalis muscle flap was used to cover the orbital socket for cases of eye globe exenteration, and a rectus abdominis free flap was used for subcranial-orbitomaxillary resection. Pericranial flap wrapping of the frontonaso-orbital segment was performed to prevent osteoradionecrosis if perioperative radiotherapy was planned. Results: The incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, intracranial infection, and tension pneumocephalus was 5%. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of fascia lata grafts in reoperated patients (n = 7) revealed integration of vascularized fibrous tissue to the graft and local proliferation of a newly formed vascular layer embedding the fascial sheath. Conclusion: A double-layer fascial graft alone was adequate for preventing CSF leak, meningitis, tension pneumocephalus, and brain herniation. We describe a simple and effective method of anterior skull base reconstruction after resections of both malignant and benign tumors.     

抗生素治疗妊娠梅毒

青霉素可有效治疗妊娠期梅毒和预防先天性梅毒。虽然临床试验未确定最佳治疗方案,但其推荐的标准青霉素剂量对无并发症病例安全且有效。     

应用Rho激酶抑制剂对大鼠阴茎勃起的作用

目的 :探讨将RhoA/Rho激酶抑制剂Y 2 76 32涂抹于阴茎白膜表面以及阴茎龟头皮肤表面有无促进阴茎勃起的作用及其对体循环的影响。　方法 :2 0只成年雄性SD大鼠 ,体重为 2 5 0～ 30 0g ,随机分为实验组和对照组。全身麻醉后颈动脉和海绵体插管连续监测平均动脉压 (MAP)和阴茎海绵体内压 (CCP)的变化。寻找盆腔星状神经节(MPG)并以系列电刺激诱发勃起。向海绵体白膜表面及阴茎龟头皮肤表面涂抹Y 2 76 32 ,观察用药前后阴茎勃起的改变及MAP的改变。　结果 :将Rho激酶抑制剂Y 2 76 32涂抹于大鼠阴茎白膜表面和阴茎龟头皮肤表面均可促进在无阴茎支配神经电刺激下发生勃起 (ICP/MAP明显升高 ) ,在系列电刺激MPG时用药后发生的勃起反应较用药前亦明显增强。表面用药后还发现大鼠体循环血压有不同程度的降低。　结论 :阴茎皮肤表面应用Rho激酶抑制剂是一种安全有效的ED治疗方法 ,其临床应用价值仍有待于进一步探索