Knowledge on types of treatment pressure. A cross-sectional study among mental health professionals

Treatment pressure restricts patients' voluntary and autonomous decisions. Yet interventions involving treatment pressure are widely used in mental health and psychosocial services. This cross-sectional study explored whether mental health professionals' knowledge on five types of treatment pressure (no coercion, persuasion or conviction, leverage, threat, and formal coercion) was associated with sociodemographic, professional and contextual factors. A more positive attitude towards interventions involving treatment pressure was associated with underrating the level of those interventions compared with a predefined default value. The treatment setting and professional group played a minor role in ‘leverage’ and ‘formal coercion’ types of treatment pressure, respectively.     

Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome

Introduction: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder characterized by deregulation of apoptosis, dysplastic features in hematopoietic precursors, peripheral blood cytopenias and an increased risk for transformation to acute leukemia. Roughly 20% of MDS are therapy related (t-MDS), and this is considered an independent adverse prognostic factor.

Areas covered: This review based on a comprehensive literature search provides an overview on the main features of t-MDS, including its epidemiology, risk factors, molecular pathogenesis, prognostic classifications and therapy.

Expert opinion: Increasing evidence points out that the most important event in t-MDS is genetic alterations in hematopoietic stem precursor cells, however, ineffective hematopoiesis may also result from abnormalities in the bone marrow microenvironment. Thus, novel views onto the processes of t-MDS are needed such as the osteohematology concept. On the other hand, the number of people living with and beyond cancer is increasing worldwide; thus, most emphasis should be placed on preventing secondary malignancies such as t-MDS. From this review, it becomes clear that we are in urgent need not only to deepen our understanding of the leukemogenesis mechanisms induced by exposure to chemotherapy and radiation but also to translate this knowledge into clinical strategies aimed at risk reduction.     

Learning and memory performance following acute intranasal insulin administration in abstinent smokers

The highest incidence of relapse to smoking occurs within the first 2 weeks of a cessation attempt. In addition to enhanced nicotine craving, this phase of smoking cessation is also marked by learning and memory dysfunction. Many smokers are not able to overcome these symptoms, and they relapse to smoking shortly after trying to quit. In two clinical studies, we evaluated intranasal insulin for efficacy in improving learning and memory function during nicotine withdrawal. Our first study was a crossover evaluation (N = 19) following 20 hr of smoking abstinence. Study 2 was a parallel design study (N = 50) following 16 hr of abstinence. Intranasal insulin (60 IU) dose was administered in both studies and cognitive function was measured using California Verbal Learning Test‐II. Intranasal insulin did not improve learning over the 5 verbal learning trials. In addition, intranasal insulin did not improve either short‐ or long‐delay recall in either study. In summary, the one‐time administration of intranasal insulin does not improve verbal learning and memory in smokers. Whether longer administration schedules may be of benefit should be evaluated in future studies.     

Non-oncotic properties of albumin. A multidisciplinary vision about the implications for critically ill patients

Introduction: Effective resuscitation with human albumin solutions is achieved with less fluid than with crystalloid solutions. However, the role of albumin in today’s critical care unit is also linked to its multiple pharmacological effects.

Areas covered: The potential clinical benefits of albumin in select populations of critically ill patients like sepsis seem related to immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, antibiotic transportation and endothelial stabilization. Albumin transports many drugs used in critically ill patients. Such binding to albumin is frequently lessened in critically ill patients with hypoalbuminemia. These changes could result in sub-optimal treatment. Albumin has immunomodulatory capacity by binding several bacterial products. Albumin also influences vascular integrity, contributing to the maintenance of the normal capillary permeability. Moreover, the albumin molecule encompasses several antioxidant properties, thereby significantly reducing re-oxygenation injury, which is especially important in sepsis. In fact, most studies of albumin administration are a combination of a degree of resuscitation with a degree of maintenance or supplementation of albumin.

Expert commentary: The potential clinical benefits of the use of albumin in selected critically ill patients such as sepsis seem related to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant properties, antibiotic transportation and endothelial stabilization. Additional studies are warranted to further elucidate the underlying physiologic and molecular rationale.