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The improvement in survival rates for heart transplant recipients (HTRs) has increased their risk of developing extracardiac diseases such as abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and to describe the clinical features and natural history of AAA in HTRs.

Tuberculosis still remains a major public health concern in several provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in prison settings. The present study aimed at determining tuberculosis (TB) prevalence and associated risk factors in inmates of the Mbuji-Mayi Central Prison. This cross-sectional study was performed over a 6-month period (January to June 2015) in Mbuji-Mayi Central Prison. A total of 733 inmates were screened systematically for TB. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination and bacteriological tests. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 130 inmates, what amounts to a 17.7 % prevalence (95 % confidence interval [CI] 15.1–20.6 %). The mean age ± SD of infected inmates was 31 ± 9.5 years old, and 94.8 % of them were male. Inmates were detained for a median period of 24 months (range: 3 months to 12 years). A cough lasting more than 2 weeks, body temperature higher than 39 °C, and weight loss were the predominating clinical signs. Factors independently associated with TB infection were overcrowding; highest population attributable fraction ([PAF] 88.2 %; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 9.8 [95 % CI 3.1–31.6]); malnutrition (body mass index of less than 18.5 kg/m2) (PAF 35.6 %; adjusted OR 2.1 [1.3–3.0]); and a detention period equal to or greater than 12 months (PAF 38.7 %; adjusted OR 2.1 [1.4–3.1]). Improving detention and sanitary conditions, as well as providing an adequate and early healthcare, are urgently needed to reduce TB prevalence in the prison environment.

The investigation of compliance in patients with major depressive disorder (in drop-outs versus completers and in first episode versus recurrent episode patients). A total of 85 outpatients with major depressive disorder were followed for 6 months. Different dimensions of compliance were investigated drop-outs versus completers and their medication adherence (with electronic monitoring). General linear mixed models were applied to examine the time courses of adherence. Drop-out rates were higher in younger patients and in patients with a lower initial depression severity. The adherence during 6 months of treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was above 80 in 70 of the patients. The adherence decreased by 2.5 per month and decreased more than three times more rapidly in drop-outs (from baseline to time of drop-out). A medical visit resulted in a temporary increase in pill intake. General linear mixed model analysis showed that the predicted outcome was worse in drop-outs than in completers and worse in recurrent episode patients than in first episode patients (the former showing a higher adherence). Adherence decreases with time during 6 months of treatment with antidepressants and is influenced by demographic and clinical variables. Completers show a higher adherence than drop-outs. The outcome was worse in recurrent episode patients than first episode patients although they had a higher adherence.