Depression, automatic thoughts, alexithymia, and assertiveness in patients with tension-type headache

OBJECTIVE: The role of psychological factors related to headache has long been a focus of investigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate depression, automatic thoughts, alexithymia, and assertiveness in persons with tension-type headache and to compare the results with those from healthy controls. METHODS: One hundred five subjects with tension-type headache (according to the criteria of the International Headache Society classification) and 70 controls were studied. The Beck Depression Inventory, Automatic Thoughts Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Rathus Assertiveness Schedule were administered to both groups. Sociodemographic variables and headache features were evaluated via a semistructured scale. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, the subjects with headache had significantly higher scores on measures of depression, automatic thoughts, and alexithymia and lower scores on assertiveness. Subjects with chronic tension-type headache had higher depression and automatic thoughts scores than those with episodic tension-type headache. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that persons with tension-type headache have high depression scores and also may have difficulty with expression of their emotions. Headache frequency appears to influence the likelihood of coexisting depression.     

Elevated bradykinin and decreased carboxypeptidase R as a cause of hypotension during tryptophan column immunoabsorption therapy.

Tryptophan column immunoabsorption therapy is beneficial to the patient with a neuroimmunological disease, but some complications have been attributed to this treatment. There have been some instances of an abrupt shock state along with severe decreases in blood pressure. In regards to this shock state, it has been reported that plasma bradykinin levels increase during tryptophan column immunoabsorption therapy. In this study, we examined the correlation between plasma bradykinin levels and either blood pressure or the levels of its degrading enzymes, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and carboxypeptidase R (CPR) in 6 patients. Increased concentrations of bradykinin were present in the latter half of the therapeutic interval, and plasma bradykinin levels were found to be inversely correlated to CPR activity. The decreased CPR level could augment the activities of bradykinin. We speculate that bradykinin could be responsible for the hypotension occurring in patients during tryptophan column immunoabsorption therapy and that the metabolism of bradykinin could be caused by the decreased activity of CPR.     

Classification of Giardia duodenalis parasites in Turkey into groups A and B using restriction fragment length polymorphism

PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis was used to determine the relation of Giardia duodenalis Groups A and B. Of these, 17 (85%) were found as Group A in symptomatic cases; 22 (92%) were Group B in asymptomatic cases by using PCR-RFLP (p < 0.001). Interestingly, 5 (83%) were Group A in examination of endoscopy aspirates of symptomatic cases, as 5 (83%) were Group B in asymptomatic cases.     

Case Report of Multiple Bilobar Hepatic Arterio-Portal Fistulas Post–Liver Transplantation Managed Conservatively

Multiple intrahepatic arterio-portal fistulas are rare. The majority are isolated and occur secondary to liver trauma including iatrogenic interventions such as liver biopsy. Post–liver transplantation 18 cases have been reported, all secondary to an interventional radiological procedure. We report multiple bi-lobar arterio-portal fistulas in a liver transplant recipient recognized 1 year after transplantation. The donor died due to intracerebral bleeding following blunt head and abdominal trauma. In the present case, the etiology is not very clear. The patient was managed conservatively and to date has not required intervention.     

Long-term Follow-up of Living Kidney Donors With Chronic Kidney Disease at 1 Year After Nephrectomy

Background

Although renal function recovery of living kidney donors has been reported in a number of studies, many patients show poor recovery, and the long-term prognosis of these patients has not been well studied. In this investigation we explored the long-term prognosis of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at 1 year after nephrectomy.

Clinical Implication of Tests for Prostate-specific Antigen in Brain-dead Organ Donors

Background

Although cancer screening tests are not mentioned under brain-dead organ donor care guidelines in Korea, we assessed the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an important prostate cancer marker, and performed prostate biopsies when needed in brain-dead organ donors. We believe that insisting on a screening test for cancer diagnosis in donors' organs is important.

C3d Assay in Correlation With Single Antigen Bead Assay for Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies

Background

Single antigen bead assay (SAB) is a sensitive method for detecting HLA antibodies, but it does not specifically identify clinically relevant subsets. Recently, a new assay has been developed for detection of C3d bound to HLA antibody-antigen complex. We evaluated the C3d assay regarding its correlation with SAB in renal patients.