Glatiramer acetate in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Glatiramer acetate is an immunomodulating drug used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It consists of a copolymer of amino acid residues in the same stoichiometric proportions as in myelin basic protein. Its mechanism of action is not entirely known and is probably multifaceted, with deletion of some immune cell populations and stimulation of others in these patients. Some mechanisms involve neuroprotectant effects. There is ample evidence of its efficacy in relapsing-remitting disease, using both clinical and imaging measures of disease activity, and in this paper we review the clinical and basic studies of this drug. Finally we discuss how some of its neuroprotectant effects may be useful in neurodegeneration such as is seen in more advanced cases of multiple sclerosis and other diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.     

Suicide risk and symptom reduction in patients assigned to placebo in duloxetine and escitalopram clinical trials: analysis of the FDA summary basis of approval reports.

BACKGROUND: We assessed suicide and suicide attempt risk as well as symptom reduction among 3,282 depressed patients participating in duloxetine and escitalopram clinical trials assigned to either an antidepressant or placebo. METHODS: We reviewed the FDA Summary Basis of Approval reports for data regarding safety and efficacy for duloxetine and escitalopram. Furthermore, we compared suicide risk among antidepressant clinical trials in this study with our two previous analyses on seven antidepressant clinical trials. RESULTS: Suicide and suicide attempt risk varied considerably among the three analyses, showing up to ten fold differences. Interestingly, the variability exists across the three reports, rather than between treatments (antidepressants versus placebo). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest caution in generalizing suicide risk even from a relatively large number of participants and thus, firm conclusions can only be drawn if the number of participants is overwhelmingly large (approximately two million patients). We also noted similar magnitude of response to placebo and antidepressants among the three studies.     

Spilled Gallstones: the Source of an Enigma

Spillage of gallstones may occur in the course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The incidence of this mishap and its consequences are variable. Ignored by many surgeons, stone spillage may be the source of significant morbidity many years after surgery. In this report, we describe the clinical course of a patient who presented with upper abdominal pain and swelling. The past history was positive for laparoscopic cholecystectomy 15 years earlier. After excision, the swelling was found to be a pseudocyst formed around spilled gallstones during a previous cholecystectomy. Apart from postoperative wound infection, the patient recovered well and remains so. Here, we discuss the problem and provide suggestions for spillage prevention and stone retrieval once spillage occurs.     

Where's the Beef? The Promise and the Reality of Clinical Documentation

Physician-generated emergency department clinical documentation (information obtained from clinician observations and summarized decision processes inclusive of all manner of electronic systems capturing, storing, and presenting clinical documentation) serves four purposes: recording of medical care and communication among providers; payment for hospital and physician; legal defense from medical negligence allegations; and symptom/disease surveillance, public health, and research functions. In the consensus development process described by Handler, these objectives were balanced with the consideration of efficiency, often evaluated as physician time and clinical documentation system costs, in recording the information necessary for their accomplishment. The consensus panel session participants and authors recommend that 1) clinical documentation be electronically retrievable; 2) selection and implementation be evidence-based and grounded on valid metrics (research is needed to identify these metrics); 3) the user interface be crafted to promote clinical excellence through high-quality information collection and efficient charting techniques; 4) the priorities for integration of clinical information be standardized and implemented within enterprises and across health and information systems; 5) systems use accepted standards for bidirectional, real-time clinical data exchange, without limiting the location or number of simultaneous users; 6) systems fully utilize existing electronic sources of specific patient information and general medical knowledge; 7) systems automatically and reliably capture appropriate data that support electronic billing for emergency department services; and 8) systems promote bedside documentation and mobile access.     

Brucellosis of the spine

Eight cases of spinal brucellosis are included in this study. Diagnosis was established by positive serology. Back pain was the most common complaint. Functional disturbance in walking was observed in three cases; in two others this was because of impairment of cord function. Clinical hepatosplenomegaly was found in one case. Subclinical organomegaly was diagnosed in two other patients. Psoas abscess was identified by computed tomographic scan in two separate cases. Response to drug therapy and surgical decompression, when indicated, resulted in complete recovery in all patients.     

Comorbidities in head and neck cancer: agreement between self-report and chart review.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the accuracy of self-reported comorbidities compared with medical record review and the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with accuracy of self-reported comorbidities. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective study of 458 newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients using self-administered questionnaire and medical chart review data. Overall and itemwise consistency between self-report and chart review was evaluated. Social, clinical, and demographic characteristics of consistent versus inconsistent responders were analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of patients had at least one comorbidity. There was good overall consistency between self-report and chart review (kappa = 0.50). Compared with consistent responders, inconsistent responders were found to be older (P < 0.05), have lower sleep (P < 0.05) and physical activity scores (P < 0.05), be more depressed (P < 0.05), and have more severe comorbidities (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Self-report may be considered as an alternative to chart review for comorbidity assessment in head and neck cancer patients. Younger patients, those with good general health, fewer depressive symptoms, and mild comorbidities, are more likely to give responses consistent with chart review.