Nevin Manimala

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2023 Feb;35(2):170-176. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20220921-00852.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Dachengqi decoction on patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP).

METHODS: A parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty-eight patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) admitted to Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-Integrated Hospital from March 2018 to February 2021 were enrolled. Referring to the condition on admission of the patients and whether they agreed to receive the Dachengqi decoction or not, they were divided into conventional treatment group and Dachengqi decoction group according to the principle of 1:1 equal randomness. Meanwhile, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Both groups of patients were treated with octreotide, fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, antipyretic and analgesic, anti-inflammatory, inhibition of gastric acid and pancreatic juice secretion, maintenance of electrolyte balance and other western conventional medicine. The patients in the Dachengqi decoction group received Dachengqi decoction orally on the basis of routine treatment, 100 mL each time, twice a day, for seven consecutive days. The inflammation parameters [white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] before and after treatment and the recovery time of gastrointestinal function (first exhaust time, time to recover bowel sounds, first defecation time) of patients were recorded. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of stool samples was recorded, and normalized data were obtained after quality control and other related processing. The data were subjected to diversity analysis (Alpha diversity and Beta diversity) and linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis (LEfSe analysis) to observe changes in the gut microbiota of MAP patients. Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between inflammatory indexes and microorganisms at the intestinal genus level. Blood, urine, stool samples, renal function, and electrocardiogram (ECG) during treatment of MAP patients were detected to assess the safety of the treatment.

RESULTS: Of the 68 patients with AP, 16 were excluded from moderate-severe AP, 4 were not collected or voluntarily abandoned treatment. Finally, 48 patients with MAP were enrolled, 24 in the conventional treatment group and 24 in the Dachengqi decoction group. The inflammation parameters levels at 7 days of treatment in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment. CRP, PCT and IL-6 levels in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group [CRP (mg/L): 8.50 (3.50, 13.00) vs. 16.00 (9.25, 29.75), PCT (μg/L): 0.06 (0.03, 0.08) vs. 0.09 (0.05, 0.11), IL-6 (ng/L): 6.36 (3.96, 10.79) vs. 13.24 (6.69, 18.87), all P < 0.05]. The first exhaust time, time to recover bowel sounds and first defecation time in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly shorter than those in the conventional treatment group [first exhaust time (days): 1.62±0.65 vs. 2.80±0.65, time to recover bowel sounds (days): 1.13±0.58 vs. 2.31±0.76, first defecation time (days): 3.12±0.75 vs. 4.39±0.76, all P < 0.05]. The analysis of intestinal microflora diversity showed that both the diversity and abundance of microbial communities were the highest in the healthy control group and the lowest in the conventional treatment group. In addition, the coincidence degree of microbial communities in healthy controls and MAP patients was small, while the coincidence degree of MAP patients among different treatment methods was relatively large. LEfSe analysis showed that Dachengqi decoction reduced the relative abundance of Escherichia coli-Shigella and Clostridium erysipelae, and increased the relative abundance of three beneficial bacteria, namely Lactobacillus, Rombutzia and Brutella. In the intestines of MAP patients, Lactobacillus mucilaginus and Lactobacillus conjunctus were significantly enriched. Correlation analysis showed that positive correlations between Escherichia coli-Shigella and the four inflammatory indicators including WBC, CRP, PCT, IL-6 were statistically significant (r value was 0.31, 0.41, 0.57, 0.43, respectively, all P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between other bacteria and inflammatory indicators. During the treatment, there was no obvious abnormality in blood, urine and feces, renal function and ECG of MAP patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Dachengqi decoction could reduce inflammatory responses and promote recovery of intestinal microecological balance and gastrointestinal function in patients with MAP by regulating the composition of intestinal flora. No significant adverse effects were observed during the treatment period.

PMID:36916377 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20220921-00852

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2023 Feb;35(2):146-151. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20220110-00037.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of continuous blood purification (CBP) on the immunity and endothelial cell function of patients with sepsis.

METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. The patients aged ≥ 18 years old and meeting the diagnostic criteria of sepsis admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Binzhou Medical University Hospital from March 2019 to October 2020 were selected as the research subjects, and the patients were divided into standard treatment group and CBP treatment group according to random number table method. Both groups were given standard treatment including initial fluid resuscitation, infection source control and antibiotics according to the 2016 international guidelines for the management of sepsis and septic shock. CBP treatment group was additionally given continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) at a dose of 25-30 mL×kg^-1×h^-1 and blood flow rate of 150-200 mL/min for more than 20 hours a day for 3 days. The clinical data of patients including blood lactic acid (Lac), procalcitonin (PCT), lymphocyte count (LYM), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were recorded before treatment and 1 day and 3 days after treatment. At the same time, the venous blood was collected, and the immune function related indexes [interleukins (IL-4, IL-7), programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), interferon-γ (IFN-γ)] and endothelial cell injury related markers [soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), von Willebrand factor (vWF), heparan sulfate (HS), syndecan-1 (SDC-1)] levels in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay of patients in the two groups was recorded, and the outcomes of patients in the two groups were followed up for 28 days.

RESULTS: Finally, 20 patients were enrolled in the standard treatment group, and 19 patients were enrolled in the CBP treatment group. There were no significant differences in gender, age and infection site between the two groups. The length of ICU stay in the standard treatment group was (10±5) days, and 5 patients died and 15 patients survived after 28 days. The length of ICU stay in the CBP treatment group was (9±4) days, and 8 patients died and 11 patients survived after 28 days. There were no significant differences in the length of ICU stay and number of patients who died within 28 days between the two groups (both P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the Lac, PCT, LYM, APACHE II score, SOFA score and immune function and endothelial cell injury related indexes before treatment and 1 day after treatment between the two groups. After 3 days of treatment, the Lac, PCT, APACHE II score and SOFA score of the CBP treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment, and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-4, apoptosis-related indicators such as PD-1 and IL-7, and endothelial injury related factors such as sTM, SDC-1 and HS were significantly improved compared with the pre-treatment, the improvement degree of the above indicators was more obvious than that of the standard treatment group, and LYM was significantly higher than that of the standard treatment group (×10⁹/L: 1.3±0.3 vs. 0.9±0.4, P < 0.05), IL-4, IFN-γ, IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, IL-7, PD-1, sTM, SDC-1, HS, and Ang-2 were significantly lower than those of the standard treatment group [IL-4 (ng/L): 2.8 (1.5, 3.2) vs. 3.3 (2.7, 5.2), IFN-γ (ng/L): 6.3 (5.4, 106.5) vs. 217.9 (71.4, 517.1), IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio: 3.7 (1.8, 70.3) vs. 59.1 (18.3, 124.9), IL-7 (ng/L): 4.6 (3.2, 5.1) vs. 6.3 (5.2, 8.0), PD-1 (μg/L): 0.04 (0.03, 0.06) vs. 0.08 (0.05, 0.12), sTM (μg/L): 4.9 (4.3, 7.4) vs. 8.7 (6.0, 10.8), SDC-1 (μg/L): 0.6 (0.3, 1.1) vs. 0.9 (0.8, 2.5), HS (ng/L): 434.8 (256.2, 805.0) vs. 887.9 (620.1, 957.3), Ang-2 (ng/L): 934.0 (673.3, 1 502.1) vs. 2 233.9 (1 472.5, 3 808.4)], the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: CBP treatment can eliminate the patient’s immunosuppressive state, reduce a variety of endothelial injury markers and the degradation of glycocalyx, but cannot decrease the 28-day death risk or shorten the length of ICU stay.

PMID:36916374 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20220110-00037

Indian Pediatr. 2023 Mar 15;60(3):217-220.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the availability of serum amyloid A (SAA) in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to asses disease severity and to predict hospitalization status.

METHODS: Between March, 2020 and March, 2021, a total of 80 children (40 cases with COVID-19 and 40 cases in healthy group) were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups (mild and moderate/severe) to evaluate SAA levels in terms of clinical severity and also hospitalization status.

RESULTS: Comparisons between the two groups revealed that median SAA values were significantly higher in children with COVID-19 than in their healthy peers (21.45vs3.05 mg/L, P=0.002). There was no significant difference in the median serum SAA levels between mild and moderate/severe clinical disease (P=0.837). The SAA difference between the two groups with regards to hospitalization was not statistically significant (P=0.098).

CONCLUSIONS: Although SAA level was found to be higher in children with COVID 19 compared to healthy controls, the sensitivity of SAA for the disease was found to be low. In addition, there was no difference between the groups in terms of clinical severity.

PMID:36916361

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2023 Mar;35(3):293-298. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20221214-01094.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of gypenoside XVII against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) through nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant responsive element (Nrf2/ARE) signaling pathway.

METHODS: Forty SPF Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operated group, I/R model group, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg gypenoside XVII groups (n = 8). Gypenoside XVII groups were administered 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg (0.01 mL/g) gypenoside XVII by intragastric administration for 14 days; the other two groups received the same dose of saline. Rat cerebral I/R model was established by modified line bolt method; rats in the sham operated group underwent the same procedure without producing substantial embolization. After 24 hours of reperfusion, the neurological deficit scores of the rats in each group were assessed. Rat abdominal aortic whole blood was collected and the serum reactive oxygen species (ROS), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), γ-glutamylcysteine synthase (γ-GCS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), quinone NADH oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected. Then whole brain tissue was harvested and penumbra tissue was isolated from cerebral cortex, the general condition of rat brain tissue and the volume of cerebral infarction were evaluated, the histopathological changes in the brain were observed under light microscopy, the mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and Keap1 were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), the protein expressions of Nrf2 and Keap1 were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTS: After 24 hours of reperfusion, compared with the sham operated group, the score of neurological deficit and infarct volume were significantly increased, the NQO1, SOD and γ-GCS levels in serum were significantly decreased, MDA, HO-1 and ROS levels in serum were significantly increased, the Nrf2 and Keap1 mRNA and protein expressions in the ischemic penumbra were significantly increased in rats from I/R model group. Compared with the I/R model group, the neurological deficit scores (1.50±0.53, 1.37±0.52 vs. 2.75±0.46) and brain infarct volume [(19.8±5.1)%, (21.4±6.4)% vs. (42.3±5.8)%] were significantly reduced, serum NQO1, SOD, HO-1 and γ-GCS were significantly increased [NQO1 (ng/L): 186.05±10.38, 220.75±16.22 vs. 131.36±5.95, SOD (kU/L): 63.23±5.30, 72.70±8.62 vs. 36.75±6.55, HO-1 (ng/L): 60.57±7.93, 60.35±4.72 vs. 42.72±4.95, γ-GCS (kU/L): 8.81±0.53, 8.72±0.69 vs. 6.80±0.56], serum MDA and ROS levels were significantly reduced [MDA (μmol/L): 5.94±0.66, 5.61±0.53 vs. 10.88±1.34, ROS (kU/L): 69.11±4.23, 67.12±4.52 vs. 104.43±7.54], the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 and Keap1 in the ischemic penumbra were significantly increased in rats from 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg gypenoside XVII groups [Nrf2 mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 1.90±0.13, 2.13±0.18 vs. 1.48±0.11, Keap1 mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 1.78±0.11, 1.85±0.10 vs. 1.43±0.10, Nrf2/β-actin: 0.73±0.04, 0.79±0.03 vs. 0.60±0.03, Keap1/β-actin: 0.71±0.01, 0.76±0.03 vs. 0.61±0.01], all the comparative differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.01); 25 mg/kg gypenoside XVII had no significant effect.

CONCLUSIONS: Gypenoside XVII (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) may play a role in anti-cerebral I/R injury by regulating NQO1, SOD, HO-1, γ-GCS, ROS and MDA through Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

PMID:36916343 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20221214-01094

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2023 Mar;35(3):287-292. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20220705-00632.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive function in septic rats and its relationship with neuronal glycolysis isoenzyme phosphofructokinase-2/fructose-2, 6-diphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3).

METHODS: Fifty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 14): control group (Con group), sepsis group (LPS group), sepsis+sleep deprivation group (LPS+SD group), sepsis+sleep deprivation+glycolysis inhibitor 3-PO treatment group (LPS+SD+3-PO group). The sepsis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 mg/kg. Rats in LPS+SD group were treated with sleep deprivation using a sleep deprivation instrument 24 hours after LPS injection. The LPS+SD+3-PO group was intraperitoneally injected with LPS for 24 hours, and then injected with 3-PO 50 mg/kg, followed by sleep deprivation. Novel object recognition experiments were performed 72 hours after LPS injection. Subsequently, blood and brain tissue samples were collected. The contents of lactate (Lac), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), pyruvate in brain tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then, the lactate/pyruvate ratio was calculated. Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity in brain tissue was detected by colorimetry. Morphological changes in hippocampus were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. And the protein expression levels of PFKFB3, ZO-1 and cleaved caspase-3 were measured by Western blotting.

RESULTS: Compared with Con group, the novel object recognition index of LPS group was decreased, the levels of NSE, TNF-α, lactate/pyruvate ratio in serum and the levels of Lac, ROS and dry-wet weight ratio in brain tissue were significantly increased, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity in brain tissue was decreased, the protein expressions of PFKFB3, caspase-3 were up-regulated, ZO-1 expression was down-regulated, and the neurons in hippocampus were slightly degenerated. Compared with LPS group, the novel object recognition index of LPS+SD group was further decreased [(39.4±5.3)% vs. (54.5±7.6)%)], serum NSE, TNF-α, lactate/pyruvate ratio and brain tissue Lac, ROS, dry-wet weight ratio were further increased [NSE (μg/L): 3.21±0.42 vs. 2.55±0.36, TNF-α (ng/L): 139.4±19.7 vs. 92.2±13.5, lactate/pyruvate ratio: 29.7±5.5 vs. 19.2±4.2, Lac (μmol/g): 19.51±2.33 vs. 11.34±1.52, ROS (kU/g): 117.4±18.7 vs. 78.2±11.8, dry-wet weight ratio: (81.3±9.2)% vs. (64.3±6.6)%], and Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity was further decreased (mmol×L^-1×h^-1: 1.88±0.34 vs. 2.91±0.39), the protein expressions of PFKFB3, caspase-3 were further up-regulated and ZO-1 expression was further down-regulated (PFKFB3/β-actin: 0.80±0.11 vs. 0.45±0.07, caspase-3/β-actin: 0.71±0.09 vs. 0.37±0.05, ZO-1/β-actin: 0.31±0.05 vs. 0.61±0.08). The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). HE staining showed that the degeneration of neurons in hippocampus was significantly aggravated. Compared with LPS+SD group, the novel object recognition index of LPS+SD+3-PO group was increased [(50.8±5.9)% vs. (39.4±5.3)%], NSE, TNF-α, lactate/pyruvate ratio of serum and Lac, ROS, dry-wet weight ratio of brain tissue were significantly decreased [NSE (μg/L): 2.60±0.33 vs. 3.21±0.42, TNF-α (ng/L): 103.7±18.3 vs. 139.4±19.7, lactate/pyruvate ratio: 17.4±5.1 vs. 29.7±5.5, Lac (μmol/g): 13.68±2.02 vs. 19.51±2.33, ROS (kU/g): 86.9±14.5 vs. 117.4±18.7, dry-wet weight ratio: (67.7±6.9)% vs. (81.3±9.2)%], and Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity was increased (mmol×L^-1×h^-1: 2.82±0.44 vs. 1.88±0.34). The protein expressions of PFKFB3, caspase-3 were down-regulated and ZO-1 expression was up-regulated (PFKFB3/β-actin: 0.50±0.06 vs. 0.80±0.11, caspase-3/β-actin: 0.43±0.06 vs. 0.71±0.09, ZO-1/β-actin: 0.52±0.06 vs. 0.31±0.05). The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). HE staining showed that the degeneration of neurons in hippocampus was significantly improved.

CONCLUSIONS: Sleep deprivation could aggravate neuroinflammation, neuronal degeneration and apoptosis in septic rats, resulting in destruction of blood-brain barrier and cognitive impairment. 3-PO treatment significantly alleviate the injury and degeneration of hippocampal neurons in septic rats, inhibit neuroinflammation and apoptosis, and improve cognitive dysfunction, which may be related to the inhibition of glycolytic isoenzyme PFKFB3.

PMID:36916342 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20220705-00632

J Child Health Care. 2023 Mar 14:13674935231163362. doi: 10.1177/13674935231163362. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We surveyed pediatric primary care clinicians working in Federally Qualified Health Centers about their perceptions of children’s social-emotional wellbeing. We identified clinician’s current methods for assessing social-emotional wellbeing in practices, perceived implementation barriers to providing behavioral health care, and interest in adopting a validated, low-burden developmentally sensitive parent-report instrument for screening for social-emotional wellbeing in young children. We surveyed 72 PCCs working in FQHCs from 9 US states. Analyses included examining central tendencies, correlations, analysis of variance, and group differences via t-tests. Average PCC perceptions of social-emotional wellbeing importance for overall health were statistically significantly higher than their confidence in providing care for common social-emotional wellbeing concerns (mean difference = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.13-1.49). PCCs expressed low satisfaction with currently available screening measures for identifying concerns in social-emotional wellbeing. Fewer than half of clinicians reported using any standardized parent-reported measure for identifying concerns in social-emotional wellbeing. Assessment methods and decision tools that improve clinician confidence concerning risk indications are needed, particularly at the critical early childhood period. Policymakers and payers ought to facilitate funding mechanisms that support pediatric PCCs in identifying early concerns in social-emotional wellbeing and providing referral guidance to evidence-based interventions to support parents and caregivers.

PMID:36916317 | DOI:10.1177/13674935231163362

J Sch Nurs. 2023 Mar 14:10598405231160249. doi: 10.1177/10598405231160249. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Evidence-based practices in concussion management (CM) have been codified into legislation. However, legislation is varied, and implementation is narrowly evaluated. School nurses hold a unique position to assess the implementation of health policies. The implementation of concussion management policies across Massachusetts high schools was evaluated by the school nurse. A cross-sectional survey was sent to school nurses (N = 304), and responses (n = 201; 68.1% response rate) were tallied whereby higher scores indicated more practices being implemented. One open-text question was included to encourage nurses to provide context regarding implementation in their school. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to assess current implementation and nursing perspectives. Findings indicate that the degree of implementation varies, and some nurses reported difficulty with mobilizing clinical uptake of concussion management practices in their schools. Further implementation research is needed, and school nurses are an important stakeholder to include when assessing the clinical uptake of concussion management policies in schools.

PMID:36916285 | DOI:10.1177/10598405231160249

Stroke. 2023 Mar 14. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.040759. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multidelay arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a novel perfusion method of ASL, with arterial transit time (ATT) calculated by multiple postlabeling delays to correct cerebral blood flow (CBF). We verify the accuracy of multidelay ASL in evaluating the ischemic penumbra and perfusion levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke, compared with computed tomography perfusion (CTP).

METHODS: Patients with acute ischemic stroke with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion received baseline CTP, multidelay ASL, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in succession. Multidelay ASL image was processed to reconstruct ATT, CBF without ATT correction, and CBF corrected by ATT. The consistency of hypoperfusion and ischemic penumbra volume calculated by CTP and multidelay ASL were quantified by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in 2-way mixed effects, absolute agreement, and single measure. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the difference in penumbra volume between CTP, corrected ASL, and uncorrected ASL.

RESULTS: Thirty patients were included. Hypoperfusion volume based on multidelay ASL with different thresholds were 117.95 (87.77-151.49) mL for corrected relative CBF<40%, 130.29 (85.99-249.37) mL for CBF corrected by ATT<20 mL·100g^-1·min^-1, no statistical difference (P>0.05) compared with the volume of CTP, and consistency was almost excellent (ICC, 0.91) and substantial consistent (ICC, 0.727). The volumes of ischemic penumbra were 91.00 (42.68-125.27) mL for corrected relative CBF<40%-DWI, 108.94 (62.03-150.86) mL for CBF corrected by ATT<20 mL·100 g^-1·min^-1-DWI, which showed no statistical difference compared with the penumbra volume of CTP (P>0.05). The consistency was excellent (ICC, 0.822) and moderate (ICC, 0.501), respectively. The volume of uncorrected relative CBF <40%-DWI was 209.57 (123.21-292.45) mL, statistically larger than corrected relative CBF <40%-DWI (P<0.001) and CTP (P<0.001). The volume of uncorrected CBF<20 mL·100g^-1·min^-1-DWI was 186.23 (86.56-298.22) mL, statistically larger than CBF corrected by ATT<20 mL·100g^-1·min^-1-DWI (P<0.001) and CTP(P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The volume of ischemic penumbra determined by CBF/DWI mismatch based on multidelay ASL is consistent with CTP. The penumbra volume calculated by CBF adjusted by ATT is more accurate.

PMID:36916272 | DOI:10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.040759

Ear Nose Throat J. 2023 Mar 14:1455613231163737. doi: 10.1177/01455613231163737. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: While surgeries to correct the anatomical malformations that cause nasal airway obstruction (NAO) are generally successful, the outcomes of such procedures are often unsatisfactory. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of opening the middle meatus in patients with NAO.

METHODS: Thirty-four patients with nasal obstruction due to nasal septal deviation were included in this study. After randomization, the middle meatus was either opened or not opened during septoplasty. The patients were evaluated through pre- and postoperative rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores of subjective symptoms along with responses to the 20-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20) were obtained before surgery and three months after surgery.

RESULTS: The VAS scores and SNOT-20 responses improved significantly in both groups after surgery. The effective treatment rate based on the nasal congestion score (NCS) was 64.7% in the single group (septoplasty alone) and 100% in the combined group (septoplasty in conjunction with opening the middle meatus), and the difference was statistically significant (P = .018). In both groups, surgery significantly improved nasal flow, resistance, minimal cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area 6 cm (CA6) from the anterior nostril and nasal volume. Nasal volume and CA6 after surgery were statistically different between the 2 groups (P = .004 and .019, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Opening the middle meatus may further improve the subjective perception of patency on the basis of septoplasty.

PMID:36916238 | DOI:10.1177/01455613231163737

J Clin Psychol. 2023 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23504. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: There is a relatively small body of research on the cost-of-illness of personality disorders (PDs). Most studies only include borderline PD. The aim of this study was to investigate mean societal costs, including its components, (direct) health service costs and (indirect) productivity loss, among treatment-seeking patients with the broad range of all PDs according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 911 patients diagnosed with at least 1 PD were retrieved from the quality register of the Norwegian Network for Personality Disorders-a collaboration of PD treatment units within specialist mental health services. The patients were referred in the time period 2017-2020. Estimation of costs was based on a bottom-up approach, using information from a structured interview covering the 6-month period before assessment, whereas unit costs were retrieved from public reports, public records, or public agencies. The human capital approach was used to calculate productivity loss. Diagnoses were determined by semi-structured diagnostic interviews (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-PD [SCID-5-PD]).

RESULTS: The mean societal costs were €20.260 during the 6-month period before specialized treatment. The largest cost component was productivity loss (65%), whereas health service costs constituted 35%. The main contributors to societal costs from the underlying health service cost components were inpatient treatment (20.5%) and individual outpatient treatment (10.5%).

CONCLUSION: Societal costs were substantial among treatment-seeking patients with the broad range of DSM-5 PDs, comparable to the societal costs of schizophrenia, and significantly higher than the societal costs of both depression and anxiety disorders. The cost estimates converged with recent, register-based cost-of-illness studies of different PDs but exceeded previous findings from other bottom-up studies. Furthermore, the results underscore the importance of implementing effective and specialized treatment for patients with a broad range of PDs, not only to alleviate individual suffering but also to reduce the level of societal costs. The emphasis on productivity loss as a main contributor to the overall societal costs is substantiated, hence underlining the relevance of interventions focusing on improving occupational functioning.

PMID:36916214 | DOI:10.1002/jclp.23504