The association of childhood asthma with mental health and developmental comorbidities in low-income families

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship of childhood asthma with mental health and developmental indicators in low-income families. Methods: Parents/guardians of approximately 400 children, aged 2–14 years, were recruited from a charity hospital serving low income neighborhoods in the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan. Mothers of children were interviewed in their local language by a trained nurse. Eight self-reported comorbidities were grouped into two constructs based on factor analysis and conveniently labeled as mental health (anxiety, attention and behavioral problems) and developmental problems (learning, developmental delay, hearing impairment, sleep and speech problems). Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, presence of older siblings, number of people in the household, child birth weight, presence of mold, and family history of asthma or hay fever. Results: Children with asthma had 18 times greater odds of mental health problems (adjusted OR?=?18.0, 95% CI: 9.2, 35.1) as compared to children without asthma. The odds of developmental problems were more than 14 times greater for children with asthma (adjusted OR?=?14.3, 95% CI: 7.8, 26.1) as compared to children without asthma. Conclusions: This study found mental and developmental adverse consequences of childhood asthma in low-income families. Identifying and treating asthma at an early age could reduce the burden of comorbidities in this population.     

Importance of delaying balloon angioplasty in patients with unstable angina pectoris

Angioplasty in patients with unstable coronary artery disease is associated with higher complication rates compared with patients with stable disease. In this report we describe our results from a group of patients with unstable disease (unstable angina pectoris and postmyocardial infarction) where a strategy of delaying angioplasty for >5 days after admission was undertaken. Included are 2069 consecutive patients: 1197 treated for stable angina pectoris and 872 treated during admission for unstable angina or myocardial infarction. There was no difference between the two groups in angioplasty success (92.1% stable, 92.3% unstable), failure to dilate without complication (6.4% stable, 6.1 % unstable), or in the rate of major complications: death (0.5% stable, 1.1% unstable), Q-wave myocardial infarction (0.9% stable, 1.1% unstable), and emergency coronary artery bypass (0.6% stable, 0.3% unstable). The duration of hospitalization following angioplasty was longer in the unstable group (5.6 ± 8.1 days vs. 4.2 ± 4.1 days; p < 0.001) because of longer duration of hep-arin infusion. There was no difference between groups in minor complications such as groin hematoma and pseudoa-neurysm, renal failure, or infections. It was concluded that delaying angioplasty in unstable patients for > 5 days after admission is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for this group of patients. The need for prolonged heparin infusion after angioplasty is increased in unstable patients and thus the duration of hospitalization after the procedure is longer.     

Pre-hospital and hospital time delays in thrombolytic treatment in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction: Analysis of data from the EMIP study

OBJECTIVES: To compare the components of the time delay involved in pre-hospitaland hospital thrombolytic therapy in patients presenting withsuspected acute myocardial infarction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From October 1988 to January 1992 a total of 198 mobile emergencyunits in 15 European countries and Canada randomized 5469 patientsto receive either pre-hospital thrombolytic treatment, followedby placebo in hospital (pre-hospital group), or pre-hospitalplacebo, followed by thrombolytic treatment in hospital (hospitalgroup) in the European Myocardial Infarction Project trial.We performed a post hoc analysis of these data to correlatecomponents of the interval between symptom onset and treatmentwith baseline patient characteristics. RESULTS: The delay between onset of symptoms and calling for an ambulancewas significantly longer for female patients (P0·0001),older patients (>65 years old; P=0·0001), those whohad experienced pain within the previous 24 h (P=0·0001),and those with pulmonary oedema (P=0·04). This delaywas significantly shorter in patients with previous myocardialinfarction (P=0·02), those with ventricular fibrillation(P=0·0001), and those in shock (P0·0001). Thedelay between the two injections was significantly longer forolder patients (>65 years old; P=0·02), those withprevious myocardial infarction (P=0·03), and those inshock (P=0·003). CONCLUSIONS: Action undertaken to reduce delays between symptom onset andtreatment should focus on modifiable factors such as patientswho are likely to be late callers, i.e. women and those over65 years of age.     

Neurodevelopmental care following neonatal discharge

The development of the brain and nervous system to achieve functional capabilities is known as neurodevelopment. Certain factors increasing the risk of brain injury such as prematurity, neonatal encephalopathy, infection, and other insults to a developing brain can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurodevelopmental intervention aims to achieve the closest to expected functioning possible for every child starting right from birth or even antenatally. Standardized and robust follow-up care is needed for all neonates who are at high risk for developmental impairment. Meticulous follow-up care is essential to recognize early signs of developmental delays and deviations. Early identification enables us to initiate interventions and improve long term outcomes for the babies. Various age-appropriate screening tools are available for early recognition of developmental delays and neurodevelopmental disorders. Prompt intervention and appropriate support enhances developmental growth and improves the outcome significantly. This article introduces the importance of neurodevelopment and summarises the guidelines on developmental follow-up for babies at high risk of developmental impairment. The article mainly focuses on follow up strategies in the UK but also discusses about developmental follow up in general.     

5例GNAO1基因相关疾病临床及遗传学分析

目的 总结分析GNAO1基因变异患者的遗传学与临床特征。方法 收集5例GNAO1基因变异患儿的临床资料,回顾性分析其基因变异特点、临床表现及治疗反应。结果 5例GNAO1基因变异患儿,3例为已知变异,2例为新发现的变异;除1例为剪切位点变异,其余4例均为错义突变。2例患儿表现为早发婴儿癫痫性脑病,同时伴有不同程度的运动障碍;3例患儿以锥体外系症状为主要表现(2例表现为肌张力不全,1例表现为手足徐动),暂无癫痫发作;5例患儿均存在严重的智力运动发育落后。2例癫痫患儿应用多种抗癫痫药物治疗无效;2例主要表现为肌张力不全的患儿,进行了深部脑刺激(DBS)手术治疗,其中1例术后1个月的Burke-Fahn-Marsden肌张力障碍评分(BFMDRS)较术前改善了32.36%,另1例术后改善不明显,术后12个月BFMDRS评分仅降低了7.79%;1例以手足徐动为主要表现的患儿,年龄尚小,预计后期行DBS治疗。结论 GNAO1基因变异患者的临床表型存在异质性,主要表现为发育迟滞、以锥体外系症状为主的运动障碍和/或癫痫发作。该基因变异所致的锥体外系症状以及癫痫发作对药物治疗反应差,DBS可缓解部分患...     

优化AV间期和VV间期对提高心脏再同步治疗疗效的评价

心脏再同步治疗(CRT)作为一种新治疗心力衰竭的方法,疗效确切,但是心脏再同步一心力衰竭研究(CARE-HF)证实仍然有20%～30%患者对CRT治疗无反应.目前认为提高CRT疗效除了严格适应证选择、左室电极的正确放置外,术后进行房室问期(AV间期)以及心室同步(VV间期)优化是一项重要措施.迄今为止,已经提出很多指导优化程控的方法,如心电图、超声心动图、核素心室显像、磁共振描记成像等.就心电图而言,心电图简单而且在理论上有助于CRT的优化程控,但是忽略了心肌各部位之间的电机械延迟;同心电图相比,超声心动图指标有重要的实践意义,是CRT术后优化程控的有效方法.但是CRT术后优化程控仍然面临重大挑战,最佳AV存在个体差异,而且随着心率的变化而改变,因此个体化的动态优化程控是今后发展的方向.     

Factors influencing patient delay before primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: The Stent for life initiative in Portugal

Introduction and Aims

Shorter patient delays are associated with a better prognosis for patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aimed to identify predictors of patient delay in the Portuguese population.

Improving attention control in dysphoria through cognitive training: Transfer effects on working memory capacity and filtering efficiency

Impaired filtering of irrelevant information from working memory is thought to underlie reduced working memory capacity for relevant information in dysphoria. The current study investigated whether training‐related gains in working memory performance on the adaptive dual n‐back task could result in improved inhibitory function. Efficacy of training was monitored in a change detection paradigm allowing measurement of a sustained event‐related potential asymmetry sensitive to working memory capacity and the efficient filtering of irrelevant information. Dysphoric participants in the training group showed training‐related gains in working memory that were accompanied by gains in working memory capacity and filtering efficiency compared to an active control group. Results provide important initial evidence that behavioral performance and neural function in dysphoria can be improved by facilitating greater attentional control.     

Frontotemporal Regulation of Subjective Value to Suppress Impulsivity in Intertemporal Choices

Impulsive decisions arise from preferring smaller but sooner rewards compared with larger but later rewards. How neural activity and attention to choice alternatives contribute to reward decisions during temporal discounting is not clear. Here we probed (1) attention to and (2) neural representation of delay and reward information in humans (both sexes) engaged in choices. We studied behavioral and frequency-specific dynamics supporting impulsive decisions on a fine-grained temporal scale using eye tracking and MEG recordings. In one condition, participants had to decide for themselves but pretended to decide for their best friend in a second prosocial condition, which required perspective taking. Hence, conditions varied in the value for themselves versus that pretending to choose for another person. Stronger impulsivity was reliably found across three independent groups for prosocial decisions. Eye tracking revealed a systematic shift of attention from the delay to the reward information and differences in eye tracking between conditions predicted differences in discounting. High-frequency activity (175-250 Hz) distributed over right frontotemporal sensors correlated with delay and reward information in consecutive temporal intervals for high value decisions for oneself but not the friend. Collectively, the results imply that the high-frequency activity recorded over frontotemporal MEG sensors plays a critical role in choice option integration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans face decisions between sooner smaller rewards and larger later rewards daily. An objective benefit of losing weight over a longer time might be devalued in face of ice cream because they prefer currently available options because of insufficiently considering long-term alternatives. The degree of contribution of neural representation and attention to choice alternatives is not clear. We investigated correlates of such decisions in participants deciding for themselves or pretending to choose for a friend. Behaviorally participants discounted less in self-choices compared with the prosocial condition. Eye movement and MEG recordings revealed how participants represent choice options most evident for options with high subjective value. These results advance our understanding of neural mechanisms underlying decision-making in humans.     

Data quality of a wearable vital signs monitor in the pre-hospital and emergency departments for enhancing prediction of needs for life-saving interventions in trauma patients

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the quality of data in the pre-hospital and emergency departments when using a wearable vital signs monitor and examine the efficacy of a combined model of standard vital signs and respective data quality indices (DQIs) for predicting the need for life-saving interventions (LSIs) in trauma patients. It was hypothesised that prediction of needs for LSIs in trauma patients is associated with data quality. Also, a model utilizing vital signs and DQIs to predict the needs for LSIs would be able to outperform models using vital signs alone. Data from 104 pre-hospital trauma patients transported by helicopter were analysed, including means and standard deviations of continuous vital signs, related DQIs and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores for LSI and non-LSI patient groups. DQIs involved percentages of valid measurements and mean deviation ratios. Various multivariate logistic regression models for predicting LSI needs were also obtained and compared through receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Demographics of patients were not statistically different between LSI and non-LSI patient groups. In addition, ROC curves demonstrated better prediction of LSI needs in patients using heart rate and DQIs (area under the curve [AUC] of 0.86) than using heart rate alone (AUC of 0.73). Likewise, ROC curves demonstrated better prediction using heart rate, total GCS score and DQIs (AUC of 0.99) than using heart rate and total GCS score (AUC of 0.92). AUCs were statistically different (p?<?0.05). This study showed that data quality could be used in addition to continuous vital signs for predicting the need for LSIs in trauma patients. Importantly, trauma systems should incorporate processes to regulate data quality of physiologic data in the pre-hospital and emergency departments. By doing so, data quality could be improved and lead to better prediction of needs for LSIs in trauma patients.