Surgical margin length and location affect recurrence rates after robotic prostatectomy

BackgroundRobotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a current standard treatment for localized prostate cancer, with treatment failure defined by biochemical recurrence (BCR). Open radical prostatectomy series have identified the presence of a positive surgical margin (PSM) as a predictor of long-term recurrence, a measure that is affected by the surgeon׳s skill. We evaluate the effect of PSM parameters on BCR rates from robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, across 3 high-volume institutions.MethodsDe-identifiable clinicopathological and histopathological data were prospectively collected for 4,001 patients with at least 3 years of follow-up. Kaplan-Meier plots and 3 statistical models were used to evaluate the effect of margin parameters on BCR, via crude rates, traditional multivariable Cox regression, and a propensity-adjusted Cox regression model.ResultsOverall, 37% of men with a PSM developed BCR compared with 10% of men with negative margins (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.47–2.22). Length ≥3 mm or a multifocal positive margin was associated with a higher risk of BCR compared with negative margin cases. On multivariable Cox regression analysis of the positive margin cohort, only apical margins significantly predicted BCR relative to basal margins (HR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.01–4.09), whereas there was no significant difference in BCR rates for posterolateral margins relative to basal margins (HR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.84–3.11). Propensity-adjusted modeling confirmed a greater effect of apical compared with posterolateral PSM.ConclusionsA PSM length ≥3 mm is predictive of BCR, as is to a lesser extent multiple positive margins. In contrast to open prostatectomy series, posterolateral margins carry a smaller risk of BCR compared with apical margins.     

Social support as a predictor exhaled nitric oxide in healthy individuals across time

Psychosocial factors such as social support and depression have long been associated with health outcomes. Elevated depressive symptoms are usually associated with worse health outcomes, whereas social support has been related to improvements in health. Nitric oxide levels are an important marker of both cardiovascular health and immune function. Research suggests that exhaled nitric oxide is affected by stress, negative affect, and depression; however, the effect of social support has not been previously explored. Thus, we sought to examine the association of social support, negative affect, and depression with exhaled nitric oxide in a group of 35 healthy individuals (10 males and 25 females) with a mean age of 20.5 years across five weekly assessments. Results showed that changes in social support within individuals were positively associated with levels of exhaled nitric oxide independent of other psychosocial factors. Further exploration of the health implications of this positive relationship between airway nitric oxide and social support is necessary.     

Effects of simulated domestic and international air travel on sleep,performance, and recovery for team sports

The present study examined effects of simulated air travel on physical performance. In a randomized crossover design, 10 physically active males completed a simulated 5‐h domestic flight (DOM), 24‐h simulated international travel (INT), and a control trial (CON). The mild hypoxia, seating arrangements, and activity levels typically encountered during air travel were simulated in a normobaric, hypoxic altitude room. Physical performance was assessed in the afternoon of the day before (D ? 1 PM) and in the morning (D + 1 AM) and afternoon (D + 1 PM) of the day following each trial. Mood states and physiological and perceptual responses to exercise were also examined at these time points, while sleep quantity and quality were monitored throughout each condition. Sleep quantity and quality were significantly reduced during INT compared with CON and DOM (P < 0.01). Yo‐Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 test performance was significantly reduced at D + 1 PM following INT compared with CON and DOM (P < 0.01), where performance remained unchanged (P > 0.05). Compared with baseline, physiological and perceptual responses to exercise, and mood states were exacerbated following the INT trial (P < 0.05). Attenuated intermittent‐sprint performance following simulated international air travel may be due to sleep disruption during travel and the subsequent exacerbated physiological and perceptual markers of fatigue.     

Impact of ethnicity on mood disorders in Parkinson's disease

Anxiety and depression are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, yet their prevalence and severity compared to individuals without PD requires more research. Moreover, it has never been compared across different ethnic groups. The objective of this study was to close that gap in the literature by exploring the caseness and severity of anxiety and depression in PD patients of different ethnicities compared to controls without PD. It was found that caseness and severity of anxiety and depression are higher in individuals with PD compared to controls. Furthermore, the caseness and severity of anxiety and depression do not vary significantly among ethnic groups. Finally, depression caseness was not predicted by age, gender, disease duration, restless legs syndrome prevalence, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) score nor Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part III (UPDRS-III) score. Anxiety caseness was predicted by gender, with females 2.7 times more likely to have anxiety caseness than males. Overall, our study suggests that treatment plans should be individualized based on prevalence and severity of the two conditions in individuals with PD rather than generalize treatment for specific ethnic groups.     

Relation between PTSD symptom clusters and positive memory characteristics: A network perspective

Positive memory characteristics relate to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. We utilized a network approach to examine relations between PTSD clusters (intrusions, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood [NACM], alterations in arousal and reactivity [AAR]) and positive memory characteristics (count, accessibility, valence, vividness, coherence, time perspective, sensory details). We identified differential relations between PTSD clusters and positive memory characteristics, and central/bridging symptoms. Participants were an Amazon Mechanical Turk-recruited sample of 206 individuals (M_age = 35.36; 61.20% females). We estimated a regularized Gaussian Graphic Model comprising four nodes representing the PTSD clusters and six nodes representing positive memory characteristics. Regarding cross-community relations, AAR (highest node strength) was negatively associated with positive memory count, valence, coherence, and accessibility; avoidance was positively and negatively associated with positive memory vividness and count respectively. The NACM-AAR and intrusion-avoidance edges were significantly stronger than most edges. From the PTSD community, AAR and avoidance had the highest bridge strength and bridge expected influence respectively; from the positive memory community, coherence and vividness had the highest bridge strength and bridge expected influence respectively. Results indicate the potential pivotal role of AAR, avoidance, coherence, and vividness in the PTSD-positive memory relation, which renders them assessment/treatment targets pending further investigation.     

精神分裂症患者性别差异分析

目的 探讨精神分裂症患者的性别差异.方法 收集510例不同性别精神分裂症患者的首次发病年龄、病程、阳性家族史、病前性格、临床症状和诊断分型等资料,并进行分析比较.结果 首次发病年龄、病程、阳性家族史无性别差异,不同性别患者病前性格外向型、中间型差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)；思维逻辑障碍、影响妄想、嫉妒妄想、其他 妄想、怪异行为、冲动伤人等症状在男性患者组和女性患者组的分布差异有统计学意义；其他阳性症状及阴性症状在两组中的分布差异无统计学意义.结论 精神分裂症患者病前性格类型及阳性症状存在性别差异,女性精神分裂症患者临床症状多表现为阳性症状.     

Lay Midwifery- Still an 'Illegal' Profession

This article reviews the process by which a health collective has organized the home birth service. The legal and political problems and ramifications of the Collective's actions are discussed.     

Symptom Reduction and Enhancement of Psychosocial Functioning Utilizing a Relational Group Treatment Program for Dependent/Codependent Population

Abstract

A therapeutic group focusing on family of origin and current relationships was developed to treat psychiatric symptoms and improve psychosocial functioning. The treatment program was curriculum-based and consisted of twelve sessions. Sixty-nine clients were enrolled in one of the eight 12-week group programs. Results indicated a significant reduction in depressive and anxiety related symptoms as well as improved perceptions of locus of control and codependent behavior following participation. These changes were maintained at six-month follow up. Findings from this study suggest that a structured group focusing on patterns in current and past relationships may be a clinically efficacious and cost effective approach for treating both psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial impairment.