The So-Called Borderline Patient: Aetiology,Diagnosis, and Treatment

This short paper examines the relationship between borderline psychopathology and various theories regarding the aetiology of this disorder. In the formation of borderline personality organization, distinct structural alterations in personality development are thought to arise from both genetic/neurobiological and environmental/trauma factors. We concur that these variables are instrumental in the formation of borderline personality organization. However, we believe that genetic/neurobiological variables are more closely related to developmental deficits, whereas environmental/trauma factors are primarily associated with either arrested development or regressive phenomenon. Regardless of aetiology, the resultant borderline personality organization disorders may present with comparable symptoms. Further, we hypothesize that the prognosis for response to treatment is related primarily to whether the borderline disorder arises from developmental deficits, arrested development, or regressive phenomena. Diagnostic indicators and treatment considerations for each of the borderline aetiologies are presented.     

Hepatitis G and C Viruses Respond to Interferon-α with Different Virologic Kinetics

The aim of this work was to specify the timecourse of response to interferon (IFN) of hepatitis Gvirus (HGV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in coinfectedindividuals. A group of 33 patients, undergoing 12 months of IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C,was screened for the presence of both HGV and HCV RNAsto select seven coinfected patients. Spontaneousrecovery from HGV infection was excluded through the detection of antibodies to the envelope-2protein of HGV and HCV isolates were genotyped. Withinthree months of treatment, we found that HGV RNA wastransiently cleared in 6/7 patients, but the rate of long-term favorable response was very low(1/7). In addition, considering the same individualsseparately, it was shown that HGV and HCV responded toIFN with different kinetics in 5/7 patients. Takentogether, these results underscore the importance of thevirological basis of the resistance to IFNtreatment.     

HOUSE DUST MITE ALLERGEN （Derp1 AND Blot5） LEVELS IN ASTHMATICS＇ HOME IN HONGKONG

Objective To measure Derpl and Blot5 allergen levels in asthmatics' homes in Hongkong.Methods Seventy houses were enrolled for a mite indoor environment study. Dust samples were obtained from two sites of each patients' house: bed and floor. Derpl and Blot5 levels were quantified by a two-site monoclonal antibody-based ELISA technique.Results The levels of Derpl allergens found in bed (geometric mean (GM) 3.43 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 1.89-4.96 μg/g)and on the floor (GM 1.12 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 0.71-1.53 μg/g) indicated significant differences (P=0.005). However, the levels of Blot5 allergens found in bed (GM 19.00 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 0.89-38.90 μg/g) and on the floor (GM 6.14 μg/g of dust; 95%CI, 0.40-11.90 μg/g) showed no statistically significant difference. In addition, in regards to the exposure index for Derpl and Blot5 allergens found in bed and on the floor, 17.6% in bed and 8.6% on the floor had levels of Blot5 ≥ 10 μg/g of dust, higher than those obtained for Derp1 (7.2% and 0% in bed and on the floor respectively, P＜ 0.05); higher percentages in bed and on the floor (25.0% and 35.7%) were observed for levels of Blot5 =0 μg/g of dust as compared with Derpl in bed and on the floor (4.3% and 14.5% respectively, P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Derpl and Blot5 are the major allergens found in this regional study, Blot5 is a more potent allergen in Hongkong, probably reflecting the high level of exposure to Blomia tropicalis (Bt). Bt and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) allergens should be included for precise diagnosis and effective immuno-therapeutic treatment of mite allergy in Hongkong.     

Serum Phosphate Is Associated With Fracture Risk: The Rotterdam Study and MrOS

Extreme phosphate levels (P) have been associated with mineralization defects and increased fracture risk. Whether P within normal range is related to bone health in the general population is not well understood. To investigate the association of P with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk, we assessed two population‐based cohorts: the Dutch Rotterdam Study (RS‐I, RS‐II, RS‐III; n = 6791) and the US Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS; n = 5425) study. The relationship of P with lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) BMD was tested in all cohorts via linear models; fracture risk was tested in RS‐I, RS‐II, and MrOS through Cox models, after follow‐up of 8.6, 6.6, and 10.9 years, respectively. Adjustments were made for age, body mass index, smoking, serum levels of calcium, potassium, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), FN‐BMD, prevalent diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Additional adjustments were made for phosphate intake, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor 23 levels in MrOS. We further stratified by eGFR. Results were pooled through study‐level meta‐analyses. Hazard ratios (HR) and betas (β) (from meta‐analyses) are expressed per 1 mg/dL P increase. P was positively associated with fracture risk in men and women from RS, and findings were replicated in MrOS (pooled HR all [95% CI]: 1.47 [1.31–1.65]). P was associated with fracture risk in subjects without chronic kidney disease (CKD): all (1.44 [1.26–1.63]) and in men with CKD (1.93 [1.42–2.62]). P was inversely related to LS‐BMD in men (β: –0.06 [–0.11 to –0.02]) and not to FN‐BMD in either sex. In summary, serum P was positively related to fracture risk independently from BMD and phosphate intake after adjustments for potential confounders. P and LS‐BMD were negatively related in men. Our findings suggest that increased P levels even within normal range might be deleterious for bone health in the normal population. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Use of HbA estimation by CE-HPLC for prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassemia; experience from a tertiary care centre in north India: a brief report

Abstract

Prenatal diagnosis (PND) of β-thalassemia is offered by DNA based mutation analysis at 10–12 weeks gestation using chorionic villous biopsy specimens. Most centers offering PND search for five common mutations prevalent in India, which cover more than 90% of patients. However in those families where the mutation cannot be identified in the parents, PND becomes difficult by mutation detection. The technique thus followed is estimation of globin chain synthesis ratio in second trimester cord blood samples. However, this technique is cumbersome and not available in most of the centres. We evaluated 112 cord blood samples (74 were informative) for analyzing hemoglobin A (HbA) levels by cation-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (CE-HPLC) using the BioRad β-thal short program between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation. A normal range for the population was calculated by running 14 cord blood samples of non-thalassemic abortuses of the same gestation. A 6 month post-natal follow-up was possible in 18 cases. All but one of these corroborated their PND.     

IMRT: is it Nirvana?

Abstract

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a complex form of external beam radiation therapy, which is not called on commonly for palliative therapy. However, its use in day-to-day therapy is becoming more wide-spread with the increasing incorporation of new imaging and planning technologies into radiotherapy departments, together with the increasing availability of multileaf collimators and electronic portal imaging devices. In the clinical setting, IMRT is being used in a number of tumour settings where dose escalation is desirable or where there are dose-limiting organs in close proximity to the tumour. The clinical evidence and basis for treatment is discussed.     

Vitamin and Trace Mineral Levels after Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

Background: Nutritional deficiencies are a concern after any bariatric surgery procedure. Restriction of oral intake and/or decreased absorption may cause vitamin abnormalities. Prevention of these vitamin deficiencies includes both supplementation and routine measuring of serum values. An investigation was undertaken to examine preoperative and short-term (1-year) postoperative levels of vitamins/trace minerals in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP). Methods: Serum preoperative and postoperative vitamin/trace element levels of LRYGBP patients were recorded in a retrospective chart review (n = 100). Unavailable and undrawn levels were not included in the results. Results: Preoperative and 1-year postoperative percentage of abnormal levels were: vitamin A 11% and 17%, vitamin B₁₂ 13% and 3%, vitamin D-25 40% and 21%, zinc 30% and 36%, iron 16% and 6%, ferritin 9% and 3%, selenium 58% and 3%, and folate 6% and 11%. Conclusions: Abnormal vitamin and trace mineral values are common both preoperatively and postoperatively in a bariatric surgery patient population. Routine evaluation of serum levels should be performed in this specific patient population.     

Comparison between NRT-based MAPs and behaviourally measured MAPs at different stimulation rates – a multicentre investigation

Abstract

Seventeen adult subjects participated in a multicentre trial to compare the performance between an NRT-based MAP and their behavioural MAP. The NRT-based MAP was made using a correction factor to predict T/C levels, calculated from the difference between the ECAP threshold ('T-NRT') and the measured T/C levels at electrode 10, as described by Brown et al. (2000). A secondary aim was to compare T/C levels in behavioural MAPs at different stimulation rates with the predicted T/C levels in NRT-based MAPs. Performance with both MAPs was evaluated using CNC words and sentences. Variations in the T/C levels between all MAPs were found, although results of the speech discrimination tests demonstrated no statistically significant difference between behavioural and NRT-based MAPs.     

Bone Strength and Structural Deficits in Children and Adolescents With a Distal Forearm Fracture Resulting From Mild Trauma

Although distal forearm fractures (DFFs) are common during childhood and adolescence, it is unclear whether they reflect underlying skeletal deficits or are simply a consequence of the usual physical activities, and associated trauma, during growth. Therefore, we examined whether a recent DFF, resulting from mild or moderate trauma, is related to deficits in bone strength and cortical and trabecular bone macro‐ and microstructure compared with nonfracture controls. High‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography was used to assess micro‐finite element‐derived bone strength (ie, failure load) and to measure cortical and trabecular bone parameters at the distal radius and tibia in 115 boys and girls with a recent (<1 year) DFF and 108 nonfracture controls aged 8 to 15 years. Trauma levels (mild versus moderate) were assigned based on a validated classification scheme. Compared with sex‐matched controls, boys and girls with a mild‐trauma DFF (eg, fall from standing height) showed significant deficits at the distal radius in failure load (–13% and –11%, respectively; p < 0.05) and had higher (“worse”) fall load‐to‐strength ratios (both +10%; p < 0.05 for boys and p = 0.06 for girls). In addition, boys and girls with a mild‐trauma DFF had significant reductions in cortical area (–26% and –23%, respectively; p < 0.01) and cortical thickness (–14% and –13%, respectively; p < 0.01) compared with controls. The skeletal deficits in the mild‐trauma DFF patients were generalized, as similar changes were present at the distal tibia. By contrast, both boys and girls with a moderate‐trauma DFF (eg, fall from a bicycle) had virtually identical values for all of the measured bone parameters compared with controls. In conclusion, DFFs during growth have two distinct etiologies: those owing to underlying skeletal deficits leading to fractures with mild trauma versus those owing to more significant trauma in the setting of normal bone strength. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Vitamin D3 Dose Requirement to Raise 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D to Desirable Levels in Adolescents: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Several organizations issued recommendations on desirable serum 25‐hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and doses of vitamin D needed to achieve them. Trials allowing the formulation of evidence‐based recommendations in adolescents are scarce. We investigated the ability of two doses of vitamin D₃ in achieving recommended vitamin D levels in this age group. Post hoc analyses on data from a 1‐year double‐blind trial that randomized 336 Lebanese adolescents, aged 13 ± 2 years, to placebo, vitamin D₃ at 200 IU/day (low dose), or 2000 IU/day (high dose). Serum 25(OH)D level and proportions of children achieving levels ≥20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL were determined. At baseline, mean 25(OH)D was 15 ± 7 ng/mL, 16.4 ± 7 ng/mL in boys, and 14 ± 8 ng/mL in girls, p = 0.003, with a level ≥20 ng/mL in 18% and ≥30 ng/mL in 5% of subjects. At 1 year, mean levels were 18.6 ± 6.6 ng/mL in the low‐dose group, 17.1 ± 6 ng/mL in girls, and 20.2 ± 7 ng/mL in boys, p = 0.01, and 36.3 ± 22.3 ng/mL in the high‐dose group, with no sex differences. 25(OH)D increased to ≥20 ng/mL in 34% of children in the low‐dose and 96% in the high‐dose group, being higher in boys in the low‐dose arm only; it remained ≥30 ng/mL in 4% of children in the low‐dose arm but increased to 64% in the high‐dose arm. Baseline 25(OH)D level, body mass index (BMI), and vitamin D dose assigned were the most significant predictors for reaching a 25(OH)D level ≥20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL. A daily dose of 2000 IU raised 25(OH)D level ≥20 ng/mL in 96% of adolescents (98% boys versus 93% girls). Dose‐response studies are needed to determine in a definitive manner the daily allowance of vitamin D for Middle Eastern adolescents with a similar profile. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.