Comparison of self-reports and biological measures for alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs consumption in psychiatric inpatients

BACKGROUND: Asking psychiatric in-patients about their drug consumption is unlikely to yield reliable results, particularly where alcohol and illicit drug use is involved. The main aim of this study was to compare spontaneous self-reports of drug use in hospitalized psychiatric patients to biological measures of same. A secondary aim was to determine which personal factors were associated with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs as indicated by these biological measures. METHODS: The consumption of substances was investigated using biological measures (urine cotinine, cannabis, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines and barbiturates; blood carbohydrate-deficient transferrin [CDT] and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT]) in 486 consecutively admitted psychiatric patients, one day following their hospitalization. Patients' self-reports of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs consumption were recorded. Socio-professional and familial data were also recorded. RESULTS: The results show a low correlation between biological measures and self-reported consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs. Fifty-two percent of the patients under-reported their consumption of illicit drugs (kappa=.47). Patients with schizophrenia and personality disorders were more likely to disclose their illicit drug consumption relative to patients suffering from mood disorders and alcohol dependence. Fifty-six percent of patients underreported alcohol use, as evaluated by CDT (kappa=.2), and 37% underreported when using the CDT+GGT measure as an indicator. Smoking appeared to be reported adequately. In the study we observed a strong negative correlation between cannabis use and age, a strong correlation between tobacco and cannabis use, and correlations between tobacco, cannabis and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to compare self-reports and biological measures of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug uses in a large sample of inpatients suffering from various categories of psychiatric illnesses, allowing for cross-diagnosis comparisons.     

ADHD儿童在钟表绘画测验中的执行功能特征

目的研究ADHD儿童在钟表绘画(CDT)测试中体现出的执行功能特征。方法对60例ADHD儿童和60例正常对照儿童进行CDT测试,综合分析两组儿童的大脑额叶执行功能的差异。结果ADHD儿童在CDT测试中的时间总分和构造总分低于对照组(3.23±1.40/4.15±0.78,11.2±1.48/11.90±0.76,t=7.742、5.073,P<0.01)。在给定十字位相标定点(3、6、9、12点)后ADHD儿童的钟面构造得分高于给定标定点之前(11.93±0.95/11.19±1.48,t=5.645,P<0.001),但时间设置评分却没有明显的提高(P>0.05)。结论ADHD儿童CDT测试得分偏低体现了其存在计划性、注意调控功能和工作记忆的缺陷,这些缺陷的核心问题是执行功能的缺陷。     

Stability of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) in stored blood samples

The alcoholism marker CDT was determined on 257 blood samples 1–2 days after the blood samples were taken and again after storage for 7 months at +4 °C. The differences between the pairs of CDT values were so large that the determination of CDT after long term storage of the blood sample has no evidential value. Received: 21 December 1998 / Received in revised form: 11 April 1999     

The Activity of β-Hexosaminidase (uHex) and γ-Glutamyl-Transferase (uGGT) in Urine as Non-Invasive Markers of Chronic Alcohol Abuse: I. Alcohol-Dependent Subjects

It has been demonstrated that in alcohol-dependent men the uHex test is one of the most powerful discriminating tools, while uGGT has a discriminating power similar to that of sHex but worse than that of uHex, sGGT and s%CDT. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) areas under the curves (AUC) for uHex, uGGT, s%CDT, sHex and sGGT were 0.92, 0.79, 0.88, 0.79 and 0.92, respectively. Due to their good parameters, low cost, ease of use and noninvasive character the uHex and uGGT tests are useful tools for the detection of chronic alcohol abuse.     

The Contribution of Cytolethal Distending Toxin to Bacterial Pathogenesis

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a bacterial toxin that initiates a eukaryotic cell cycle block at the G₂ stage prior to mitosis. CDT is produced by a number of bacterial pathogens including: Campylobacter species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Shigella dystenteriae, enterohepatic Helicobacter species, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (the cause of aggressive periodontitis), and Haemophilus ducreyi (the cause of chancroid). The functional toxin is composed of three proteins; CdtB potentiates a cascade leading to cell cycle block, and CdtA and CdtC function as dimeric subunits, which bind CdtB and delivers it to the mammalian cell interior. Once inside the cell, CdtB enters the nucleus and exhibits a DNase I-like activity that results in DNA double-strand breaks. The eukaryotic cell responds to the DNA double-strand breaks by initiating a regulatory cascade that results in cell cycle arrest, cellular distension, and cell death. Mutations in CdtABC that cause any of the three subunits to lose function prevent the bacterial cell from inducing cytotoxicity. The result of CDT activity can differ somewhat depending on the eukaryotic cell types affected. Epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes undergo G₂ cell cycle arrest, cellular distension, and death; fibroblasts undergo G₁ and G₂ arrest, cellular distension, and death; and immune cells undergo G₂ arrest followed by apoptosis. CDT contributes to pathogenesis by inhibiting both cellular and humoral immunity via apoptosis of immune response cells, and by generating necrosis of epithelial-type cells and fibroblasts involved in the repair of lesions produced by pathogens resulting in slow healing and production of disease symptoms. Thus, CDT may function as a virulence factor in pathogens that produce the toxin.     

Treatment Documentation in Practice-Based Evidence Research for Patients Receiving Physical Therapy Because of Lymphedema

ObjectivesTo describe development and testing of a physical therapy treatment code documentation taxonomy.DesignClinician survey within a practice-based evidence study framework for patients with lymphedema.SettingOutpatient physical therapy clinics within a large public health care service using a central electronic medical record.ParticipantsCertified lymphedema therapists (CLTs) (N=43).InterventionTreatment coding of 10 treatment vignettes representing real-life clinical scenarios. The CLTs were asked to accurately select 35 activity-intervention combination codes.Main Outcome MeasuresThe CLT score represented percentage of treatment codes accurately selected by each therapist. The code score represented percentage of CLTs who accurately selected each treatment code.ResultsThe mean CLT score was 91%, with 72% of CLTs meeting the 90% criterion. Personal feedback was provided to each CLT. The mean code score was also 91%; with 71% of treatment codes meeting the 90% criterion. We identified 9 low-score codes needing additional education or found to be redundant. These codes were either clarified or removed.ConclusionsThe proposed treatment code documentation system for lymphedema therapy was found to be clear and accurately used by most CLTs. Specific needs for improvement were identified. Follow-up testing is warranted to ensure ongoing accurate implementation of the treatment documentation system.     

Feasibility and usability of measuring receipt of sealants in 2 states

BackgroundThe authors examined the reliability and validity of the Dental Quality Alliance childhood sealant measure under actual use conditions in Texas and Florida. The 2 states provide care for almost 20% of children in Medicaid nationally.MethodsThe authors used dental claims data to examine the reliability of the caries risk assessment component of the measure. They examined validity using a 3-year look-back period to identify children who were inaccurately included in the measure denominator as sealant eligible when they were not owing to already sealed, missing, or restored teeth.ResultsThe children identified at elevated risk varied between the states, with 85% at elevated risk in Texas and 39% in Florida in 2017. Different methods can be used to calculate risk, raising questions about reliability. In Texas, 31% of children included in the denominator were not eligible to receive sealants owing to already sealed, missing, or restored teeth. The magnitude of the underestimation increased with age, so by the time children were 9 years old, 40% were not measure eligible yet included in the denominator. Similar results were observed for Florida.ConclusionsThe authors propose eliminating the caries risk assessment requirement and incorporating a 3-year look-back period to identify already sealed, missing, or restored molars.Practical ImplicationsThe reliability and validity of the sealant measure needs to be enhanced. Measure misspecification in which children are not correctly identified as needing sealants can contribute to inaccurate development of quality improvement goals, performance improvement projects, or pay-for-quality programs.     

Tailored Cyclodextrin Pore Blocker Protects Mammalian Cells from Clostridium difficile Binary Toxin CDT

Some Clostridium difficile strains produce, in addition to toxins A and B, the binary toxin Clostridium difficile transferase (CDT), which ADP-ribosylates actin and may contribute to the hypervirulence of these strains. The separate binding and translocation component CDTb mediates transport of the enzyme component CDTa into mammalian target cells. CDTb binds to its receptor on the cell surface, CDTa assembles and CDTb/CDTa complexes are internalised. In acidic endosomes, CDTb mediates the delivery of CDTa into the cytosol, most likely by forming a translocation pore in endosomal membranes. We demonstrate that a seven-fold symmetrical positively charged β-cyclodextrin derivative, per-6-S-(3-aminomethyl)benzylthio-β-cyclodextrin, which was developed earlier as a potent inhibitor of the translocation pores of related binary toxins of Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium perfringens, protects cells from intoxication with CDT. The pore blocker did not interfere with the CDTa-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of actin or toxin binding to Vero cells but inhibited the pH-dependent membrane translocation of CDTa into the cytosol. In conclusion, the cationic β-cyclodextrin could serve as the lead compound in a development of novel pharmacological strategies against the CDT-producing strains of C. difficile.     

A randomized controlled crossover study of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema

This paper describes a randomized controlled crossover study examining the effects of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in 31 women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. MLD is a type of massage used in combination with skin care, support/compression therapy and exercise in the management of lymphoedema. A modified version of MLD, referred to as simple lymphatic drainage (SLD), is commonly taught as a self-help measure. There has been limited research into the efficacy of MLD and SLD. The study reported here explores the effects of MLD and SLD on a range of outcome measures. The findings demonstrate that MLD significantly reduces excess limb volume (difference, d =71, 95% CI=16–126, P =0.013) and reduced dermal thickness in the upper arm ( d =0.15, 95% CI=0.12–0.29, P =0.03). Quality of life, in terms of emotional function ( d =7.2, 95% CI=2.3–12.1, P =0.006), dyspnoea ( d =−4.6, 95% CI=−9.1 to −0.15, P =0.04) and sleep disturbance ( d =−9.2, 95% CI=−17.4 to −1.0, P =0.03), and a number of altered sensations, such as pain and heaviness, were also significantly improved by MLD. The study provides evidence to support the use of MLD in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. The limitations of the study are outlined and future areas for study are highlighted.