Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification in Black and White Women: Do the Stresses and Rewards of Multiple Roles Matter?

Background  

Black women experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than white women, though evidence for racial differences in subclinical CVD is mixed. Few studies have examined multiple roles (number, perceived stress, and/or reward) in relation to subclinical CVD, or whether those effects differ by race.     

Association of glucose levels and glucose variability with mood in type 1 diabetic patients

Aims/hypothesis The aim of this study was to investigate the association of glucose levels and variability of glucose, assessed by continuous glucose monitoring, with mood in type 1 diabetic patients. Materials and methods Thirty-six type 1 diabetic patients (77.8% male, age: 31.1 ± 10.0 years; disease duration: 14.7 ± 7.1 years, BMI: 26.7 ± 5.1 kg/m², HbA_1c 8.4 ±1.8%, 27.8% with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [CSII] therapy) used a continuous glucose monitoring system for 48.8 h. During this time the patients rated their current mood states 14.6 times on average, using the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Checklist and hand-held computers. Results Sensor performance was satisfactory, with a mean absolute difference from reference laboratory glucose measurement of 13.7%. Current glucose values were significantly associated with ratings of ‘tension’ (z = 2.40), ‘hedonic tone’ (z = −2.63) and ‘energetic arousal’ (z = −2.09). ‘Anger’ (z = 1.64) was not significantly associated with glucose values. The glucose AUC during the 60 min prior to the mood rating showed similar associations. The two parameters of glucose variability—coefficient of variation and absolute glucose change during the 60 min prior to the mood ratings—did not show any significant association with the mood ratings. The magnitude of association was significantly higher for glucose level than for glucose variability in the scales ‘tension’ and ‘hedonic tone’. Conclusions/interpretation High glucose values had a negative impact on mood; positive mood ratings decreased, whereas negative mood ratings increased. The association between mood and glucose variability seemed to be less important than that between glucose level and mood.     

"Between Men": a psychosocial rehabilitation programme for men with prostate cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of psychosocial rehabilitation on newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. The “Between Men” programme consisted of seven weekly sessions of physical training (Phys) alone, information (Info) alone or physical training plus information (PhysInfo). After diagnoses, patients (n =211) were consecutively included, stratified and randomised to one of four groups: Phys, Info, PhysInfo or standard care control (C). A nurse specialised in urology, an urologist and a physiotherapist performed the interventions. Patients were followed up during one year with mailed standardised questionnaires. It could not be assumed that the “Between Men” programme had any effect on patients' anxiety and depression (HADS). Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was associated with stage of disease but not with psychosocial intervention. Thus, Physical Function (PF), Role Function (RF) and Fatigue (FA) were inferior among patients with, than without, metastases of prostate cancer both at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. This randomized study did not demonstrate any significant effect of psychosocial rehabilitation among prostate cancer patients. Considering the low rate (1/2), of included/eligible patients a less complicated design (intervention versus control) would have been preferred in order to increase power.     

Deep brain stimulation of the ventrointermediate nucleus of the thalamus to treat essential tremor improves motor sequence learning

The network of brain structures engaged in motor sequence learning comprises the same structures as those involved in tremor, including basal ganglia, cerebellum, thalamus, and motor cortex. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventrointermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) reduces tremor, but the effects on motor sequence learning are unknown. We investigated whether VIM stimulation has an impact on motor sequence learning and hypothesized that stimulation effects depend on the laterality of electrode location. Twenty patients (age: 38–81 years; 12 female) with VIM electrodes implanted to treat essential tremor (ET) successfully performed a serial reaction time task, varying whether the stimuli followed a repeating pattern or were selected at random, during which VIM‐DBS was either on or off. Analyses of variance were applied to evaluate motor sequence learning performance according to reaction times (RTs) and accuracy. An interaction was observed between whether the sequence was repeated or random and whether VIM‐DBS was on or off (F[1,18] = 7.89, p = .012). Motor sequence learning, reflected by reduced RTs for repeated sequences, was greater with DBS on than off (T[19] = 2.34, p = .031). Stimulation location correlated with the degree of motor learning, with greater motor learning when stimulation targeted the lateral VIM (n = 23, ρ = 0.46; p = .027). These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of VIM‐DBS on motor sequence learning in ET patients, particularly with lateral VIM electrode location, and provide evidence for a role for the VIM in motor sequence learning.     

Neurometabolic Dysfunction in SPG11 Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Background: Pathogenic variants in SPG11 cause the most common autosomal recessive complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia. Besides the prototypical combination of spastic paraplegia with a thin corpus callosum, obesity has increasingly been reported in this multisystem neurodegenerative disease. However, a detailed analysis of the metabolic state is lacking. Methods: In order to characterize metabolic alterations, a cross-sectional analysis was performed comparing SPG11 patients (n = 16) and matched healthy controls (n = 16). We quantified anthropometric parameters, body composition as determined by bioimpedance spectroscopy, and serum metabolic biomarkers, and we measured hypothalamic volume by high-field MRI. Results: Compared to healthy controls, SPG11 patients exhibited profound changes in body composition, characterized by increased fat tissue index, decreased lean tissue index, and decreased muscle mass. The presence of lymphedema correlated with increased extracellular fluid. The serum levels of the adipokines leptin, resistin, and progranulin were significantly altered in SPG11 while adiponectin and C1q/TNF-related protein 3 (CTRP-3) were unchanged. MRI volumetry revealed a decreased hypothalamic volume in SPG11 patients. Conclusions: Body composition, adipokine levels, and hypothalamic volume are altered in SPG11. Our data indicate a link between obesity and hypothalamic neurodegeneration in SPG11 and imply that specific metabolic interventions may prevent obesity despite severely impaired mobility in SPG11.     

Time-dependent risk factors for epileptic seizures in glioblastoma patients: A retrospective analysis of 520 cases

Objective

Epilepsy is a common comorbidity of glioblastoma. Seizures may occur in various phases of the disease. We aimed to assess potential risk factors for seizures in accordance with the point in time at which they occurred.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed medical files of adult patients with de novo glioblastoma treated at our institution between January 2006 and January 2020. We categorized seizures as preoperative seizures (POS), early postoperative seizures (EPS; before initiation of radio[chemo]therapy [RCT]), seizures during radiotherapy (SDR; during or <30 days after RCT), and posttherapeutic seizures (PTS; ≥30 days after completion of RCT). We addressed associations between patients' characteristics and their seizures.

Results

In the final cohort (N = 520), 292 patients experienced seizures. POS, EPS, SDR, and/or PTS occurred in 29.6% (154/520), 6.0% (31/520), 13.8% (70/509), and 36.1% (152/421) of patients, respectively. POS occurred more frequently in patients with higher Karnofsky Performance Scale scores (odds ratio [OR] = 3.27, p = .001) and tumor location in the temporal lobe (OR = 1.51, p = .034). None of the parameters we analyzed was related to the occurrence of EPS. SDR were independently associated with tumor location (parietal lobe, OR = 1.86, p = .027) and POS, but not EPS, and were independent of RCT. PTS were independently associated with tumor progression (OR = 2.32, p < .001) and with occurrence of SDR (OR = 3.36, p < .001), and negatively correlated with temporal lobe location (OR = .58, p < .014). In patients with tumors exclusively located in the temporal lobe, complete tumor resection was associated with a decreased risk of postoperative seizures.

Significance

Seizures in glioblastoma patients have various, time-dependent risk factors. Temporal lobe localization was a risk factor for preoperative seizures; surgery may have had a protective effect in these patients. RCT did not have dose-dependent pro- or anticonvulsive effects. PTS were associated with tumor progression.