Effects of nCPAP Treatment over Reaction Time and Sleepiness Levels during Vigilance

Several studies have shown that sleep fragmentation not only increases daytime sleepiness, but also deteriorates reaction time. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS)is characterized by interruptions in normal sleep patterns. Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure(nCPAP)is the most frequently used treatment for OSAS. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate changes in daytime sleepiness levels and reaction time in apnea patients after nCPAP treatments of 1 and 3 months. The sample was composed of 51 obstructive sleep apnea patients(47 men and 4 women)with ages ranging between 30 and 65 years of age. Sleep apnea was diagnosed with a cardiorespiratory polygraph of the total hours of sleep. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to assess daytime sleepiness. A BASIC software program was used to measure the simple perceptual reaction times in milliseconds. The results indicated statistically significant decreases in daytime sleepiness levels at 1 month(p?<?.000)and at 3 months(p?<?.000)of treatment. The results also showed statistically significant decreases in reaction times at one month(p?<?.000), as well as at 3 months(p?<?.000)of treatment. Results indicate an improvement in the vigilance levels of obstructive sleep apnea patients after 1 month and 3 months of nCPAP treatment.     

Hypoesthesia in generalised anxiety disorder and major depression disorder

Abstract

Objective: The determination of soft signs can be a conducive practice to understand the differential etiology between depression and anxiety. This study aims at examining malleolar hypoesthesia role in distinguishing between patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression disorder (MDD).

Methods: This study examines the presence of malleolar hypoesthesia in patients with GAD (n?=?47) compared to patients with MDD (n?=?48) and healthy individuals (controls; n?=?99). The Wartenberg wheel, a medical device for neurological use, was employed to determine the presence of hypoesthesia on both sides of the ankles.

Results: The data revealed: i) MDD patients showed higher hypoesthesia than GAD patients (p?=?.008), ii) participants with hypoesthesia had higher anxiety and depression scores than participants without hypoesthesia (all p?<?.001) and iii) logistic regression model indicated that hypoesthesia can be a predictor of MDD relative to GAD diagnosis (Odds Ratio: 17.43 (1.40–217.09; p?=?.026)).

Conclusions: Malleolar hypoesthesia was higher in MDD than GAD. The detection of hypoesthesia may help to investigate the differential etiology between MDD and GAD diagnosis.     

Investigating the Role of Self-Disgust in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

Self-directed disgust, a component of self-criticism, may present an important, yet unexplored emotion in the context of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). The aim of this study was to examine the role of self-disgust in NSSI, specifically as a potential mediator in the relations between depression and NSSI as well as sexual abuse and NSSI, and to also better understand characteristics that might differentiate recent and past self-injurers. A total of 549 college students completed measures assessing NSSI, self-disgust, depression, anxiety sensitivity, and physical and sexual abuse. Results indicated self-disgust fully mediated the relation between depressive symptoms and NSSI status and partially mediated the relation between sexual abuse and NSSI status. Additionally, compared to past self-injurers (4.6%; n = 25), recent self-injurers (6.4%; n = 35) endorsed significantly higher self-disgust and depressive symptoms. Self-disgust may be an important component in NSSI and should be addressed in treatment.     

A novel motion tracking system for evaluation of functional rehabilitation of the upper limbs

Upper limb function impairment is one of the most common sequelae of central nervous system in jury, especially in stroke patients and when spinal cord injury produces tetraplegia. Conventional assessment methods cannot provide objective evaluation of patient performance and the effec tiveness of therapies. The most common assessment tools are based on rating scales, which are inefficient when measuring small changes and can yield subjective bias. In this study, we designed an inertial sensorbased monitoring system composed of five sensors to measure and analyze the complex movements of the upper limbs, which are common in activities of daily living. We devel oped a kinematic model with nine degrees of freedom to analyze upper limb and head movements in three dimensions. This system was then validated using a commercial optoelectronic system. These findings suggest that an inertial sensorbased motion tracking system can be used in patients who have upper limb impairment through data integration with a virtual realitybased neurorehabili tation system.     

Comparison of the direct fluorescence assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction for the detection of influenza virus A and B in immunocompromised patients

OBJECTIVE:

This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of two methods for the detection of influenza virus in immunocompromised transplant patients.

METHODS:

A total of 475 respiratory samples, 236 from patients in a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program and 239 from kidney transplant patients, were analyzed by a direct fluorescence assay and the Centers for Disease Control real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol for influenza A and B detection.

RESULTS:

Influenza detection using either method was 7.6% in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant group and 30.5% in the kidney transplant patient group. Influenza detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction yielded a higher positive rate compared with fluorescence than that reported by other studies, and this difference was more pronounced for influenza A. The fluorescence assay sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and kappa coefficient were 17.6%, 100%, 1, 0.83, and 0.256, respectively, and lower detection rates occurred in the kidney transplant patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

The real-time polymerase chain reaction performance and the associated turnaround time for a large number of samples support the choice of this method for use in different routine diagnostic settings and influenza surveillance in high-risk patients.     

Methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia: A pilot proof-of-concept study

OBJECTIVE:

This research was designed as a pilot proof-of-concept study to evaluate the use of low-dose methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia patients who remained refractory after first and second line post-herpetic neuralgia treatments and had indications for adding an opioid agent to their current drug regimens.

METHODS:

This cross-over study was double blind and placebo controlled. Ten opioid naïve post-herpetic neuralgia patients received either methadone (5 mg bid) or placebo for three weeks, followed by a 15-day washout period and a second three-week treatment with either methadone or placebo, accordingly. Clinical evaluations were performed four times (before and after each three-week treatment period). The evaluations included the visual analogue scale, verbal category scale, daily activities scale, McGill pain questionnaire, adverse events profile, and evoked pain assessment. All patients provided written informed consent before being included in the study. ClinicalTrials.gov: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01752699","term_id":"NCT01752699"}}NCT01752699

RESULTS:

Methadone, when compared to placebo, did not significantly affect the intensity of spontaneous pain, as measured by the visual analogue scale. The intensity of spontaneous pain was significantly decreased after the methadone treatment compared to placebo on the category verbal scale (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Evoked pain was reduced under methadone compared to placebo (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Allodynia reduction correlated with sleep improvement (r = 0.67, p = 0.030) during the methadone treatment. The side effects profile was similar between both treatments.

CONCLUSIONS:

Methadone seems to be safe and efficacious in post-herpetic neuralgia. It should be tried as an adjunctive treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia in larger prospective studies.     

Electrical impedance tomography to evaluate air distribution prior to extubation in very-low-birth-weight infants: a feasibility study

OBJECTIVES:

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure is used as a standard of care after extubation in very-low-birth-weight infants. A pressure of 5 cmH₂O is usually applied regardless of individual differences in lung compliance. Current methods for evaluation of lung compliance and air distribution in the lungs are thus imprecise for preterm infants. This study used electrical impedance tomography to determine the feasibility of evaluating the positive end-expiratory pressure level associated with a more homogeneous air distribution within the lungs before extubation.

METHODS:

Ventilation homogeneity was defined by electrical impedance tomography as the ratio of ventilation between dependent and non-dependent lung areas. The best ventilation homogeneity was achieved when this ratio was equal to 1. Just before extubation, decremental expiratory pressure levels were applied (8, 7, 6 and 5 cmH₂0; 3 minutes each step), and the pressure that determined the best ventilation homogeneity was defined as the best positive end-expiratory pressure.

RESULTS:

The best positive end-expiratory pressure value was 6.3±1.1 cmH₂0, and the mean continuous positive airway pressure applied after extubation was 5.2±0.4 cmH₂0 (p = 0.002). The extubation failure rate was 21.4%. X-Ray and blood gases after extubation were also checked.

CONCLUSION:

This study demonstrates that electrical impedance tomography can be safely and successfully used in patients ready for extubation to suggest the best ventilation homogeneity, which is influenced by the level of expiratory pressure applied. In this feasibility study, the best lung compliance was found with pressure levels higher than the continuous positive airway pressure levels that are usually applied for routine extubation.     

Atypical copy number abnormalities in 22q11.2 region: Report of three cases

The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) is the most common microdeletion syndrome in humans, with a highly variable phenotype. This chromosomal region contains low copy repeat (LCR) sequences that mediate non-allelic homologous recombination which predispose to copy number abnormalities at this locus. This article describes three patients investigated for suspicion of 22q11.2DS presenting atypical copy number abnormalities overlapping or not with the common ～3 Mb deletion. They were investigated by G-banding karyotype, Multiplex-ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and array Genomic Hibridization (aGH). Clinical and molecular data were compared with literature, in order to contribute to genotype–phenotype correlation. Atypical chromosomal abnormalities were detected: 3.6 Mb deletion at 22q11.21-q11.23 between LCRs B–F in patient 1 and approximately 1.5 Mb deletion at 22q11.21-q11.22 between LCRs D–E in patients 2 and 3. The breakpoints detected in patient 1 have not been previously described. These findings exemplify the complexity and genetic heterogeneity observed in 22q11.2 region and corroborates the idea that genetic modifiers contribute to the phenotypic variability observed in proximal and distal 22q11.2 deletion syndromes.