An epidemiological study of collagenous colitis in southern Sweden from 2001-2010

AIM: To estimate the incidence of collagenous colitis (CC) in southern Sweden during 2001-2010.METHODS: Cases were identified by searching for CC in the diagnostic registers at the Pathology Departments in the county of Skåne. The catchment area comprised the south-west part of the county (394 307 inhabitants in 2010) and is a mixed urban and rural type with limited migration. CC patients that had undergone colonoscopy during the defined period and were living in this area were included in the study regardless of where in Skåne they had been diagnosed. Medical records were scrutinized and uncertain cases were reassessed to ensure that only newly diagnosed CC cases were included. The diagnosis of CC was based on both clinical and histopathological criteria. The clinical criterion was non-bloody watery diarrhoea. The histopathological criteria were a chronic inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria, a thickened subepithelial collagen layer ≥ 10 micrometers (μm) and epithelial damage such as flattening and detachment.RESULTS: During the ten year period from 2001-2010, 198 CC patients in the south-west part of the county of Skåne in southern Sweden were newly diagnosed. Of these, 146 were women and 52 were men, i.e., a female: male ratio of 2.8:1. The median age at diagnosis was 71 years (range 28-95/inter-quartile range 59-81); for women median age was 71 (range 28-95) years and was 73 (range 48-92) years for men. The mean annual incidence was 5.4/10⁵ inhabitants. During the time periods 2001-2005 and 2006-2010, the mean annual incidence rates were 5.4/10⁵ for both periods [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3-6.5 in 2001-2005 and 4.4-6.4 in 2006-2010, respectively, and 4.7-6.2 for the whole period]. Although the incidence varied over the years (minimum 3.7 to maximum 6.7/10⁵) no increase or decrease in the incidence could be identified. The odds ratio (OR) for CC in women compared to men was estimated to be 2.8 (95% CI: 2.0-3.7). The OR for women 65 years of age or above compared to below 65 years of age was 6.9 (95% CI: 5.0-9.7), and for women 65 years of age or above compared to the whole group the OR was 4.7 (95% CI: 3.6-6.0). The OR for age in general, i.e., above or 65 years of age compared to those younger than 65 was 8.3 (95% CI: 6.2-11.1). During the last decade incidence figures for CC have also been reported from Calgary, Canada during 2002-2004 (4.6/10⁵) and from Terrassa, Spain during 2004-2008 (2.6/10⁵). Our incidence figures from southern Sweden during 2001-2010 (5.4/10⁵) as well as the incidence figures presented in the studies during the 1990s (Terrassa, Spain during 1993-1997 (2.3/10⁵), Olmsted, United States during 1985-2001 (3.1/10⁵), Örebro, Sweden during 1993-1998 (4.9/10⁵), and Iceland during 1995-1999 (5.2/10⁵) are all in line with a north-south gradient, something that has been suggested before both for CC and inflammatory bowel disease.CONCLUSION: The observed incidence of CC is comparable with previous reports from northern Europe and America. The incidence is stable but the female: male ratio seems to be decreasing.     

Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure

Atrial fibrillation and heart failure are both associated with increased morbidity as well as mortality, and there is a complex interaction between the two conditions. The increasing prevalence and incidence rates of AF and CHF, as well as emerging novel but relatively expensive treatments and interventions, have compounded the significant public health impact at a global level. Ongoing investigative efforts continue to advance the knowledge of the complex interplay between these two conditions. This review critically assesses the current evidence in the field regarding prognostication metrics, drug therapy, and interventions for AF in CHF. We will summarize the important new findings published over the last year, with a focus on the latest advances that are of clinical relevance.     

Prediction of postoperative pain after percutaneous nephrolithotomy: can preoperative experimental pain assessment identify patients at risk?

Postoperative pain remains a significant problem and the individual variance in postoperative pain is not fully understood. In recent years, there has been focus on identifying risk factors predicting patients with high postoperative pain intensity or consumption of analgesics, which may facilitate an improvement in rehabilitation. This study evaluates the relationship between preoperative experimental pain assessment and postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Forty-four patients with uni- or bilateral kidney stone disease scheduled for percutaneous nephrolithotomy were included. The preoperative pain thresholds were measured using electrical (single and 5 repeated) and pressure pain stimulation over the flank bilaterally (stone-side = operation side and control-side = non-operation side). Postoperative pain scores were recorded on a numerical rating scale and analgesic consumption was registered. The responses to repeated electrical stimuli (temporal summation) were preoperatively increased on the stone-side compared to the control-side (P = 0.016). Preoperative electrical pain thresholds from the control-side correlated inversely with postoperative opioid consumption (single stimuli: ρ = ?0.43, P < 0.01; repeated stimuli: ρ = ?0.45, P < 0.005). This correlation was more pronounced for the 22 patients with unilateral renal calculi (single stimuli: ρ = ?0.54, P < 0.02; repeated stimuli: ρ = ?0.58, P < 0.01). There were no other correlations between the preoperative sensory tests and postoperative pain or opioid consumption. This study showed a correlation between the preoperative electrical pain thresholds on the control-side and postoperative opioid consumption after percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Preoperative measurement of the electrical pain thresholds may, therefore, be useful as a screening tool to identify patients at high risk of postoperative pain.     

Early treatment with inhaled antibiotics postpones next occurrence of Achromobacter in cystic fibrosis

ObjectivesIn this nationwide retrospective study, we analysed species distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and time to next occurrence of Achromobacter in Danish cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from 2000 to 2011.MethodsThirty-four primary isolates were identified to species level and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Effectiveness of early antimicrobial treatment was assessed by a Kaplan–Meier estimation of time to recurrence.ResultsAchromobacter xylosoxidans accounted for 13 (38%) of the isolates, and an unnamed species accounted for 11 (32%) of the isolates. Meropenem, piperacillin–tazobactam and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole were highly active against chemotherapy-naïve Achromobacter, while ceftazidime, colistin and tobramycin were judged adequate for inhalation therapy. Fifty-five percent of 25 patients treated with inhaled ceftazidime, colistin, or tobramycin remained free of Achromobacter three years after acquisition, in contrast to 17% of 22 patients who did not receive inhaled antibiotics (P < 0.01).ConclusionsEarly treatment with inhaled antibiotics may prevent or postpone chronic infection with Achromobacter in CF patients.     

Exercise training in older patients with systolic heart failure: Adherence,exercise capacity,inflammation and glycemic control

Objectives. Training improves exercise capacity in patients with heart failure (CHF) but most evidence is on selected younger patients with systolic CHF. Design. All patients diagnosed with CHF over 3 years were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fifty two patients with systolic CHF (LVEF<45, NYHA II-III) received supervised exercise training twice weekly for 8 weeks. Results. Mean age was 68.2 (+/?SD 11.3) years. Despite marked improvements in physical fitness (workload, 6 minute walk test, incremental shuttle walk test and sit to stand test), there were no changes in serological markers of glycemic control (glucose, insulin, glycerol, free fatty acids, HbA1c), inflammation and endothelial function (hsCRP, orosomucoid, interleukin 6, TNF-alpha, urine-orosomucoid and -albumin/creatinin), lipid metabolism, NT-proBNP or other regulatory hormones (cortisol, epinephrine and IGF-1). There were no changes in quality of life. Conclusions. The effect of exercise training in these older CHF-patients was not as impressive as reported in younger and more selected patients. More studies on the efficiency of exercise training that reflect the age- and co-morbidity of the majority of CHF-patients are needed.     

Systematic identification and stratification of help-seeking school-aged youth with mental health problems: a novel approach to stage-based stepped-care

We investigated whether a novel visitation model for school-aged youth with mental health problems based on a stage-based stepped-care approach facilitated a systematic identification and stratification process without problems with equity in access. The visitation model was developed within the context of evaluating a new transdiagnostic early treatment for youth with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and/or behavioural problems. The model aimed to identify youth with mental health problems requiring an intervention, and to stratify the youth into three groups with increasing severity of problems. This was accomplished using a two-phase stratification process involving a web-based assessment and a semi-structured psychopathological interview of the youth and parents. To assess problems with inequity in access, individual-level socioeconomic data were obtained from national registers with data on both the youth participating in the visitation and the background population. Altogether, 573 youth and their parents took part in the visitation process. Seventy-five (13%) youth had mental health problems below the intervention threshold, 396 (69%) were deemed eligible for the early treatment, and 52 (9%) had symptoms of severe mental health problems. Fifty (9%) youth were excluded for other reasons. Eighty percent of the 396 youth eligible for early treatment fulfilled criteria of a mental disorder. The severity of mental health problems highlights the urgent need for a systematic approach. Potential problems in reaching youth of less resourceful parents, and older youth were identified. These findings can help ensure that actions are taken to avoid equity problems in future mental health care implementations.