Dealing with man-made trauma: the relationship between coping style, posttraumatic stress, and quality of life in resettled, traumatized refugees in the Netherlands

This study investigated the relationship between coping style, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and quality of life in traumatized refugees (N = 335). Participants had resettled in the Netherlands on average 13 years prior and were referred to a Dutch clinic for the treatment of posttraumatic psychopathology resulting from persecution, war, and violence. The majority (85%) of the research sample met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Path analysis suggested a model in which PTSD symptoms (β = -.61, p < .001), social support seeking (β = .12, p < .05), and emotion-focused coping (β = .13, p < .01) have a direct effect on quality of life. The role of avoidant and problem-focused coping could be interpreted in 2 ways. Either these coping styles are influenced by PTSD severity and have no effect on quality of life, or these coping styles influence PTSD severity and therefore have an indirect effect on quality of life. Intervention strategies aimed at modifying coping strategies and decreasing PTSD symptoms could be important in improving the quality of life of traumatized refugees.     

An ALS case with a novel D90N-SOD1 heterozygous missense mutation

Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease. We describe the case of a patient with a rapidly progressive form of ALS characterized by both upper and lower motor neuron impairment, no early bulbar signs and severe pain in all four extremities. The patient had a heterozygous c.271G > A mutation in SOD1, leading to an amino acids substitution of asparagine to aspartate at position 90 of the protein chain (p.D90N). Our report confirms that ALS patients with D90 codon heterozygous mutations may be associated with rapid progression and a prominent pain syndrome.     

Comparison of open live donor nephrectomy, laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy, and hand-assisted live donor nephrectomy: a cost-minimization analysis

BackgroundLive donor kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. Open donor nephrectomy (ODN) was the standard until the introduction of the laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) in 1995. Hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN) was added shortly thereafter. The laparoscopic techniques are associated with increased operating room times and equipment costs; however, these techniques speed patient return to normal activity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cost of these techniques.Materials and MethodsA decision analysis model was developed to simulate outcomes for donors undergoing ODN, LDN, and HALDN. Outcomes were simulated from both the institutional perspective (IP) and the societal perspective (SP). Baseline values and ranges were determined from a systematic review of the literature. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test model strength.ResultsFrom the IP, ODN is the least costly strategy with a cost of $11,000, while the cost is $15,200 for HALDN and $15,800 for LDN. From the SP, HALDN is the least costly strategy costing $27,800, while the cost for LDN is $29,000 and for ODN is $41,000. In sensitivity analysis, ODN only became the dominant strategy if the days till return to work exceeded 58 in the HALDN strategy. LDN and HALDN were nearly equivalent as the rate of open conversion of LDN approached zero.ConclusionsHALDN is the least costly donor nephrectomy strategy, especially from the SP. The primary determinants of cost in this model are conversion to open and days till return to work.     

Liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B with lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant using add-on adefovir dipivoxil plus lamivudine.

Lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may improve clinical state and suppress viral replication before liver transplantation. Emergence of lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant is common. We report the results of liver transplantation in 16 patients with pretransplantation YMDD mutants after receiving lamivudine treatment for a median of 738 days (range, 400-1799 days). Adefovir dipivoxil (10 mg daily) was added on to lamivudine for a median of 20 days (range, 8-271 days) before (n = 11) or at (n = 5) liver transplantation, and the combination was continued indefinitely thereafter. Eight patients received additional intravenous hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) for a median of 24 months. Fifteen patients with known pre-adefovir HBV DNA levels had a median titer of 14,200 x 10(3) copies/mL (2 x 10(3) to 4,690,000 x 10(3) copies/mL), and 14 had HBV DNA >10(5) copies/mL. All but 1 patient remained positive for HBV DNA (by quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR]) at the time of liver transplantation, and the titer was greater than10(5) copies/mL in 8 patients. The median follow-up after liver transplantation was 21.1 (range, 4.4-68.9) months. One patient (6%) died of an unrelated cause 12.2 months after transplantation, and 15 patients (94%) were alive with the original graft. All patients cleared HBV DNA and had no detectable HBV DNA by qPCR at the latest follow-up. Fourteen patients had cleared hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), but 2 patients who received only adefovir dipivoxil and lamivudine without HBIG remained HBsAg positive after 7.7 and 9.5 months. Serum HBV DNA, however, was negative, and there was no biochemical or histological evidence of recurrence. Adefovir dipivoxil was well tolerated with no significant renal toxicity. In conclusion, a combination of add-on adefovir dipivoxil plus lamivudine therapy provides effective prophylaxis in patients with pretransplantation YMDD mutant that may be actively replicating. The cost effectiveness of additional passive immunoprophylaxis remains to be defined.     

Good outcome after liver transplantation for ALD without a 6 months abstinence rule prior to transplantation including post‐transplant CDT monitoring for alcohol relapse assessment – a retrospective study

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the second most common indication for liver transplantation (LT). The utility of fixed intervals of abstinence prior to listing is still a matter of discussion. Furthermore, post‐LT long‐term observation is challenging, and biomarkers as carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT) may help to identify alcohol relapse. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients receiving LT for ALD from 1996 to 2012. A defined period of alcohol abstinence prior to listing was not a precondition, and abstinence was evaluated using structured psychological interviews. A total of 382 patients received LT for ALD as main (n = 290) or secondary (n = 92) indication; median follow‐up was 73 months (0–213). One‐ and five‐year patient survival and graft survival rates were 82% and 69%, and 80% and 67%, respectively. A total of 62 patients (16%) experienced alcohol relapse. Alcohol relapse did not have a statistically significant effect on patient survival (P = 0.10). Post‐transplant CDT measurements showed a sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 85%, respectively. In conclusion, this large single‐center analysis showed good post‐transplant long‐term results in patients with ALD when applying structured psychological interviews before listing. Relapse rates were lower than those reported in the literature despite using a strict definition of alcohol relapse. Furthermore, post‐LT CDT measurement proved to be a useful supplementary tool for detecting alcohol relapse.     

High 123I-MIBG uptake in neuroblastic tumours indicates unfavourable histopathology

Purpose

Scintigraphy using ¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I-MIBG) is widely used for the detection of neuroblastic tumours. The aim of this study was to identify a possible correlation between the uptake intensity on ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT and histopathology of neuroblastic tumours.

Methods

¹²³I-MIBG SPECT examinations were performed in 55 paediatric patients with neuroblastic tumour and compared to histopathology after surgical resection or biopsy at a mean of 2 weeks after SPECT. For each lesion International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification System (INPC) stage, mitosis karyorrhexis index (MKI), location and a semiquantitative tumour-to-liver count-rate ratio (TLCRR) were determined. Also, the presence or absence of MYCN amplification, p1 deletion, urine catecholamine and neuron-specific enolase blood levels at the time of scanning were recorded.

Results

In the 55 patients, 61 lesions were evaluated with ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT and corresponding histopathological findings were reviewed (11 ganglioneuroma, 11 ganglioneuroblastoma and 39 neuroblastoma). TLCRR was significantly higher in the neuroblastoma group (mean TLCRR 2.7) than in the ganglioneuroblastoma group (mean TLCRR 1.0) and ganglioneuroma group (mean TLCRR 0.7) at the time of primary diagnosis (p?<?0.001) and at follow-up (p?=?0.039). Intense ¹²³I-MIBG uptake was found in tumour tissue with a high mitotic activity (MKI-high or MKI-intermediate) after treatment. Four ganglioneuromas (36 %), three ganglioneuroblastomas (27 %) and six neuroblastomas (15 %) were ¹²³I-MIBG-negative.

Conclusion

In paediatric patients with peripheral neuroblastic tumours, strong ¹²³I-MIBG uptake indicates unfavourable histopathology. High uptake was seen in neuroblastomas and in tumours with a high mitotic activity.     

Ureteroscopic endoureterotomy

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the current status of ureteroscopic endoureterotomy (UE) by reporting extensive experience with the endoscopic management of ureteric strictures, with special emphasis on factors determining success, and by reviewing publications on the minimally invasive management of ureteric strictures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study comprised 50 patients (mean age 53 years, range 18–85, equal sex distribution) with ureteric strictures of varying causes; all had their stricture treated endoscopically. The follow‐up was 0.5–9 years; 10 patients with recurrent strictures had two ipsilateral stents placed to try to improve the outcome, and eight patients with completely obliterating strictures were treated by ureteroscopic re‐canalization.

RESULTS

The site of stricture had no bearing on the eventual outcome. Patients with uretero‐enteric and malignant strictures did not fare so well. The most important predictor of failure was the length of the stricture, with failure in all seven patients with strictures of > 2 cm. In the 10 patients treated with two ipsilateral stents, eight were successful, which was very promising considering that these patients had recalcitrant strictures and placing one stent had previously failed. The overall success rate was 74%.

CONCLUSION

UE has become the procedure of choice for the initial management of ureteric strictures. Simple balloon dilatation is also effective in certain situations. The characteristics of the stricture often govern the eventual outcome. In properly selected cases success rates of ≈ 75% can be expected.

     

Is Hepatic Resection for Large or Multinodular Hepatocellular Carcinoma Justified? Results From a Multi-Institutional Database

Background The role of surgical resection in patients with large or multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study evaluated the long-term outcome of patients with hepatic resection for large (>5 cm in diameter) or multinodular (more than three nodules) HCC by using a multi-institutional database.Methods The perioperative and long-term outcomes of 404 patients with small HCC (<5 cm in diameter; group 1) were compared with those of 380 patients with large or multinodular HCC (group 2). The prognostic factors in the latter group were analyzed.Results The postoperative complication rate (27% vs. 23%; P = .16) and hospital mortality rate (2.4% vs. 2.7%; P = .82) were similar between groups. The overall survival rates were significantly higher in group 1 than group 2 (1 year, 88% vs. 74%; 3 years, 76% vs. 50%; 5 years, 58% vs. 39%; P < .001). Among patients in group 2, five independent prognostic factors were identified to be associated with a worse overall survival: namely, symptomatic disease, presence of cirrhosis, multinodular tumor, microvascular tumor invasion, and positive histological margin.Conclusions Hepatic resection can be safely performed in patients with large or multinodular HCC, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 39%. Symptomatic disease, the presence of cirrhosis, a multinodular tumor, microvascular invasion, and a positive histological margin are independently associated with a less favorable survival outcome.