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ObjectiveTo present the exploration and application of a prospective follow-up research method for acute infectious disease surveillance based on natural community populations， using COVID-19 infection as an example， and to provide a reference for improving the infectious disease surveillance and early warning system.MethodsA multi-stage probability proportional sampling method was employed to sample residents from all communities of 16 administrative districts in Shanghai， with households as the units. A cohort for acute infectious diseases based on natural community populations was established. The baseline survey was conducted for all cohort subjects， and COVID-19 antigen test kits were distributed. From December 21， 2022 to September 30， 2023， prospective follow-up monitoring of COVID-19 antigen and nucleic acid was carried out on the study subjects on a weekly basis. The baseline characteristics and follow-up information of the cohort subjects were described.ResultsThe cohort for acute infectious diseases included a total of 12 881 subjects， comprising 6 098 males （47.3%） and 6 783 females （52.7%）. The baseline survey revealed that 35.2% （4 540/12 881） of the subjects had a history of COVID-19 infection. During the follow-up period from December 21， 2022 to September 30， 2023， the average incidence density in the cohort was 0.61/person-year， with a higher incidence density in females （0.63/person-year） compared to males （0.59/person-year）. Individuals aged 60 and above （0.64/person-year） and those with underlying health conditions （0.67/person-year） had a higher incidence density. Healthcare workers showed a notably higher incidence density （0.84/person-year） than that in other occupational groups. As of September 30， 2023， a total of 340 subjects in the cohort experienced secondary infections， with a median interval of 170 days between the first and second infections.ConclusionThis study applies cohort study method to acute infectious disease surveillance， providing crucial data support for estimating infection rates and forecasting alerts for acute infectious diseases in the community. This method can be promoted and applied as a new approach for acute infectious disease surveillance.

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with low-grade inflammation, and anti-inflammatory treatment can help improve depressive symptoms. A recent study found that fluvoxamine (FLV) can reduce Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production via sigma-1 receptor in inflammation models. However, the anti- IL-6 effect of FLV in treating patients with MDD and whether it can contribute to antidepressant effects remain unclear. Methods: A total of 65 patients with MDD and 34 healthy controls were recruited at baseline, and 50 patients completed the FLV treatment for 2 months. We assessed depression and anhedonia and collected plasma IL-6 levels at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after baseline. This study evaluated the changes in clinical measures and IL-6 during treatment and analyzed their association. Further subgroup analyses were conducted in patients with MDD with high, medium, or low IL-6. Results: Depression and anhedonia were significantly improved in patients with MDD, while the IL-6 did not significantly change after the FLV treatment. However, IL-6 significantly declined after the FLV treatment among patients with MDD with higher baseline IL-6. No significant associations were found between the changes in depressive symptoms and IL-6. Conclusion: Our study provided preliminary evidence suggesting that the anti- IL-6 effect of FLV might not play a vital role in its antidepressant treatment, at least in patients with MDD with low inflammation. However, for patients with MDD with higher IL-6, FLV can help reduce IL-6 significantly in the antidepressant treatment, which may help guide the individual treatment of MDD with higher IL-6 levels. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04160377, identifier NCT04160377. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimed to assess the association of red blood cell distribution width at admission with outcomes among patients with small artery occlusion. Methods: In this hospital-based follow-up study, all included patients were diagnosed with small artery occlusion. Outcomes included death, recurrence, and dependency at 3, 12, and 36 months after stroke onset. Multivariate analysis was performed to explore the association of red blood cell distribution width with stroke outcomes. Results: This study included 1576 patients with small artery occlusion who were followed up at 3, 12, and 36 months. For every unit increase in red blood cell distribution width, the risk of stroke recurrence and dependency increased by 5.1% (95% CI 1.002– 1.102, P=0.039) at 3 months after stroke onset. At the 12-month follow-up, for every unit increase in red blood cell distribution width, the risk of stroke recurrence increased by 3.4% (95% CI 1.000– 1.069, P=0.047). However, the relationship between red blood cell distribution width and mortality rate was not significant at 36 months after stroke onset after adjustment of covariates. Conclusion: Red blood cell distribution width is an important hematological index of small artery occlusion. It may be used to predict the recurrence of acute ischemic stroke in small artery occlusion. Therefore, patients with higher baseline values of red blood cell distribution width may need more risk factor control to reduce recurrence and dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to analyze the dynamics of quality of life (QOL) in patients with prior osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture during an 18-month follow-up study. Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 219 patients (mean age, 67.6 years) with vertebral fracture from seven centers of the Russian Federation. QOL was assessed four times using the EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5D) and TTO (Time Trade-Off) questionnaires during an 18-month prospective follow-up study. The work was done within the framework of the International Multicenter Study ICUROS (The International Costs and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic Fractures Study) organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (www.icuros.org).Results and discussion. The patients with vertebral compression fracture showed a statistically significant decrease in QOL throughout the follow-up period. Immediately after the fracture, there was a dramatic decrease in the total EQ-5D score, followed by its gradual increase. However, the emerging trend in QOL recovery proved to be unstable, and by the end of the 18th month, it was significantly lower than that before the fracture. On the contrary, the TTO questionnaire showed that QOL drastically decreased immediately after fracture, but at month 4 it reached the level that was before the fracture, and remained stable until the end of the follow-up period.Conclusion. The performed investigation enabled us to obtain data on QOL using the EQ-5D (QOL assessment from the social point of view) and TTO (individual QOL assessment) in the population of residents of the Russian Federation, in men and women aged 50 years and older with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.

Purpose: Although hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) is a risk factor for cerebral infarction, its effect on recurrent cerebral infarction is less-defined. We aimed to investigate the association of Hhcy and increased risk of recurrent cerebral infarct. Materials and methods: From 2011 to 2013, we recruited 231 primary cerebral infarct patients that were divided to a Hhcy group (n = 105) and a control group (n = 126) according to plasma homocysteinemia (Hcy) levels exceeding 15 μmol/L. In this prospective study, risk factors such as gender, age, blood lipid and glucose levels, history of diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking habits and plasma Hhcy levels were determined. A three-year follow-up compared differences in cerebral infarction recurrence rates. Statistical analyses identified whether plasma Hhcy levels were an independent risk factor for recurrent cerebral infarction. Results: Triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the Hhcy group were significantly higher than controls, and cerebral infarct recurrence rates in the Hhcy group exceeded control subject rates through the three-year follow-up (p =.021, p =.036 and p =.025). Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that elevated Hhcy levels (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.062, p <.001), increased age (HR = 1.069, p <.01), circulating triglyceride levels (HR = 1.686, p =.048), and relative National Institutes of Health Stroke (NIHSS) score (HR = 1.068, p =.016) were risk factors for recurrent cerebral infarction. Conclusions: Level of Hhcy was a risk factor for recurrent cerebral infarction. Further, particular demographic and clinical outcomes including age, relative NIHSS scores, and circulating triglyceride levels were markedly associated with the occurrence of cerebral infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this multicenter prospective study, the results achieved with the use of Brånemark implants for single tooth replacement were evaluated. The overall cumulative success rate was 95.9% for implants and 91.1% for crowns. Two of the 99 implants placed had to be removed before the prosthodontic stage of treatment; thus, 97 were restored with CeraOne crowns. Seventy-seven implants were evaluated radiographically at the 1-year follow-up, 57 at 3 years, and 47 at 5 years. Mean marginal bone resorption was well within the limits set by Albrektsson et al in 1986. The status of the soft tissue around crowns and adjacent teeth remained stable over the evaluation period. The gold abutment screw in the CeraOne system seems to have eliminated the problem of loosening abutment screws in single tooth replacements. The results suggest that the Brånemark system can be safely used for tissue-integrated replacement of single teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of our study was to investigate, in bipolar patients, whether affect lability was associated with suicidal ideation incidence during 2-year follow-up, and which subtype of affect lability was associated with suicidal ideation. Method A total of 319 euthymic or mildly depressed bipolar outpatients recruited in the French FondaMental Advanced Centres of Expertise for Bipolar Disorder were divided into two subgroups according to the occurrence of suicidal ideation during a 2-year follow-up. Affect lability was assessed by the French version of the Affect Lability Scale. Results Bipolar patients with high affect lability were more likely to report suicidal ideation during follow-up, even after adjustment for age, study level, rapid cycling, current depression level, anxiety disorder, and lifetime history SA ( OR = 2.47; 95% CI [1.15-5.30], P = 0.01). The risk of suicidal ideation increased with the level of affect lability. More specifically, the propensity to switch from neutral to elation affect, from anxious to depressive affect (or inversely), and from neutral to anger affect predicted suicidal ideation. Conclusion Reducing affective lability could become a new therapeutic target of suicidal prevention in bipolar disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with low-grade inflammation, and anti-inflammatory treatment can help improve depressive symptoms. A recent study found that fluvoxamine (FLV) can reduce Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production via sigma-1 receptor in inflammation models. However, the anti- IL-6 effect of FLV in treating patients with MDD and whether it can contribute to antidepressant effects remain unclear., Methods: A total of 65 patients with MDD and 34 healthy controls were recruited at baseline, and 50 patients completed the FLV treatment for 2 months. We assessed depression and anhedonia and collected plasma IL-6 levels at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after baseline. This study evaluated the changes in clinical measures and IL-6 during treatment and analyzed their association. Further subgroup analyses were conducted in patients with MDD with high, medium, or low IL-6., Results: Depression and anhedonia were significantly improved in patients with MDD, while the IL-6 did not significantly change after the FLV treatment. However, IL-6 significantly declined after the FLV treatment among patients with MDD with higher baseline IL-6. No significant associations were found between the changes in depressive symptoms and IL-6., Conclusion: Our study provided preliminary evidence suggesting that the anti-IL-6 effect of FLV might not play a vital role in its antidepressant treatment, at least in patients with MDD with low inflammation. However, for patients with MDD with higher IL-6, FLV can help reduce IL-6 significantly in the antidepressant treatment, which may help guide the individual treatment of MDD with higher IL-6 levels., Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04160377, identifier NCT04160377., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Li, Yan, Liao, Zhang, Li, Liu, Chen, Zhang, Liu and Li.)

Objective Burn and other major injuries often impair survivors’ capacity to work. We investigated predictors for not returning to work by six months after acute burn. Differences in demographic, clinical and psychiatric characteristics between burn patients returning to work and those not were examined. Method All consecutive acute burn patients ( N = 107) admitted to the Helsinki Burn Center were assessed with a structured psychiatric diagnostic interview at baseline. Of the 60 patients working at baseline, 53 patients (88%) participated in the six-month follow-up interview. Variables predicting not returning to work were analyzed in binary logistic regression models. Results Two-thirds (70%, 37 of 53) of the cohort followed returned to work by six months. When compared to patients returning to work, those not returning to work had a higher mean percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) (16.3% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.001), and hand burns were more common (75% vs. 41%). The presence of mental disorders during follow-up was also more common (81% vs. 30%, p = 0.001), particularly major depressive disorder (MDD) (31% vs. 3%) or delirium (31% vs. 3%). In a multivariate analysis, proportion of total body surface area (%TBSA) burned ( B = 1.12, p = 0.029) and presence of MDD (OR 55.3, p = 0.007) or delirium (OR 19.2, p = 0.046) significantly predicted not returning to work. Conclusion Majority of the burn patients working at baseline returned to work by six months. Capacity to work after burn is predicted by both smaller %TBSA burned and lack of diagnosable mental disorders, particularly delirium or MDD, after burn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Excessive trochlear dysplasia may be responsible for recurrent patellofemoral instability (PFI) due to a missing bony guidance for the patella in early flexion. Thus, an isolated medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) can be insufficient, since it mainly addresses instability close to extension and additionally can increase patellofemoral pressure leading to pain in flat or convex trochlear dysplasia. Therefore, in combination with a trochleoplasty, an anatomical trochlear groove is created, resulting in patellofemoral stability also in flexion, while patellofemoral pressure is normalized. In this prospective study, we evaluated the outcome of open trochleoplasty in combination with MPFLR with a minimum follow-up of 2 years for treatment of excessive PFI. Methods: In between 2007 and 2009, 18 knees of 17 consecutive patients (mean age of 22.2 ± 4.9 years) with trochlear dysplasia type B, C or D according to Dejour et al. and positive apprehension from 0 to 60° of flexion were included. Tegner, Kujala and IKDC scores, apprehension and pain, trochlear dysplasia, sulcus angle, tibial tuberosity trochlear groove, patellar tilt and shift, Caton-Deschamps index as well as patellofemoral arthrosis according to the classification of Iwano et al. were assessed pre- and postoperatively. Results: At a mean of 30.5 ± 5.9 months, all but one patient were subjectively satisfied with the outcome of the procedure, all showing absence of positive apprehension or redislocation. Significant ( p < 0.001) reduction in pain (5.6 to 2.5 ± 2.8 points, VAS) and increase in Tegner (2, range 0-4 points to 6, range 3-8 points), Kujala (51.1 to 87.9 ± 20.0 points) and IKDC (49.5 to 80.2 ± 21.0 %) scores could be achieved. Radiologically significant ( p < 0.02) improvement of patellofemoral positional parameters leading to more normal anatomy was recorded, while short-term arthrosis was absent. Conclusions: Combined treatment for trochleoplasty with MPFLR serves as a successful therapy for chronic PFI. This combinatory treatment concept is a reliable option not only as salvage therapy but also as primary procedure regarding treatment for excessive PFI. Level of evidence: Prospective case series, Level IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Long-term studies of ≥10 years are important milestones to get a better understanding of potential factors causing implant failures or complications. Purpose The present study investigated the long-term outcomes of titanium dental implants with a rough, microporous surface (titanium plasma sprayed [ TPS]) and the associated biologic and technical complications in partially edentulous patients with fixed dental prostheses over a 20-year follow-up period. Materials and Methods Sixty-seven patients, who received 95 implants in the 1980s, were examined with well-established clinical and radiographic parameters. Based on these findings, each implant was classified as either successful, surviving, or failed. Results Ten implants in nine patients were lost during the observation period, resulting in an implant survival rate of 89.5%. Radiographically, 92% of the implants exhibited crestal bone loss below 1 mm between the 1- and 20-year follow-up examinations. Only 8% yielded peri-implant bone loss of >1 mm and none exhibited severe bone loss of more than 1.8 mm. During the observation period, 19 implants (20%) experienced a biologic complication with suppuration. Of these 19 implants, 13 implants (13.7%) had been treated and were successfully maintained over the 20-year follow-up period. Therefore, the 20-year implant success rate was 75.8 or 89.5% depending on the different success criteria. Technical complications were observed in 32%. Conclusion The present study is the first to report satisfactory success rates after 20 years of function of dental implants with a TPS surface in partially edentulous patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic cocaine use may lead to premature atherosclerosis, but the prevalence of and risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic cocaine users have not been reported. The objective of this study was to examine whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of CAD in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected African American cocaine users with low CAD risk. Methods: In this prospective follow-up study, we investigated 169 HIV-infected African American cocaine users with low Framingham risk at baseline. The main outcome measures were incidence of subclinical CAD and development of subclinical CAD. Results: Fifty of the 169 African Americans had evidence of subclinical disease on the initial cardiac computed tomography. A second cardiac computed tomography was performed on the 119 African Americans without disease on the first scan. The total sum of person-years of follow-up was 289.6. Subclinical CAD was detected in 11 of these, yielding an overall incidence of 3.80/100 person-years (95% confidence interval 1.90-6.80). Among the factors investigated, only vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with development of subclinical CAD. The study did not find significant associations between CD4 count, HIV viral load, or antiretroviral treatment use and the incidence of subclinical CAD. This study appears to suggest that there is a threshold level of vitamin D (10 ng/mL) above which the effect of vitamin D on subclinical CAD is diminished. Conclusion: The incidence of subclinical CAD in HIV-infected African American cocaine users with low CAD risk is high, especially in those with vitamin D deficiency. Well designed randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm the role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of CAD in HIV-infected African American cocaine users with low CAD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hip prosthesis stems with a short stem length and proximal fixation geometry support a bone-preserving and muscle-sparing implantation and should also allow for revision surgery with a standard hip stem. We present 250 prospectively documented clinical and radiological results from the Metha Short Hip Stem prosthesis (B. Braun-Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) after an average follow-up of 4.9 years. The average patient age at surgery was 60 years. Indication for total hip replacement was primary osteoarthrosis (OA) (78% of patients), OA based on developmental dysplasia of the hip (16%), and other indications (6%). At the last follow-up, the average Harris Hip Score was 97 points. 85% of patients were very satisfied and 14% were satisfied after surgery, whereas 1% were dissatisfied. Pain according to the Visual Analogue Scale improved from 7.4 (min 1.6, max 9.5) pre-operatively to 0.23 (min 0, max 6.6). No joint dislocations occurred when predominantly using 28 mm and 32 mm prosthesis heads. Nine shortstems were revised: three after bacterial infections, two after primary via valsa with penetration of the femoral cortex two and three months after surgery, and three after early aseptic cases of loosening within the first year. A further nine osseously consolidated shortstems had to be replaced due to breakage of the modular titanium cone adapter after an average of 3.1 years (min 1.9, max 4.4). All surgical revisions were performed using primary standard stems. Without taking the materialrelated adapter failures into account, a five year Kaplan-Meier survival rate of 96.7% (95% confidence interval 93.4-98.3) was determined for the short-stem prostheses. There were no radiological signs of loosening in any of the short-stem prostheses at the last examination. Fine sclerotic lines were detected in Gruen's AP zones 1 (19%) and 2 (10.5%), individual hypertrophies in zone 3 (3.5%), fine seams in zones 4 (5.5%) and 5 (4%), without pedestal formations in zone 4, clear cancellous bone compressions in zone 6 (97.5%), as well as single fine scleroses (1.5%) and atrophies (2.5%) in zone 7. The mid-term clinical results with periprosthetic bone remodeling and without radiological signs of loosening confirm this metaphyseal short-stem treatment and fixation concept and the possibility of revision surgery using standard hip stems. Long-term results must be further observed on a prospective basis as part of this collective study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: Chronic cocaine use may lead to premature atherosclerosis, but the prevalence of and risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic cocaine users have not been reported. The objective of this study was to examine whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of CAD in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected African American cocaine users with low CAD risk.Methods: In this prospective follow-up study, we investigated 169 HIV-infected African American cocaine users with low Framingham risk at baseline. The main outcome measures were incidence of subclinical CAD and development of subclinical CAD.Results: Fifty of the 169 African Americans had evidence of subclinical disease on the initial cardiac computed tomography. A second cardiac computed tomography was performed on the 119 African Americans without disease on the first scan. The total sum of person-years of follow-up was 289.6. Subclinical CAD was detected in 11 of these, yielding an overall incidence of 3.80/100 person-years (95% confidence interval 1.90-6.80). Among the factors investigated, only vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with development of subclinical CAD. The study did not find significant associations between CD4 count, HIV viral load, or antiretroviral treatment use and the incidence of subclinical CAD. This study appears to suggest that there is a threshold level of vitamin D (10 ng/mL) above which the effect of vitamin D on subclinical CAD is diminished.Conclusion: The incidence of subclinical CAD in HIV-infected African American cocaine users with low CAD risk is high, especially in those with vitamin D deficiency. Well designed randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm the role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of CAD in HIV-infected African American cocaine users with low CAD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction It has been hypothesised that return to work rates among sick-listed workers increases with enterprise size. The aim of the present study was to estimate the effect of enterprise size on the odds of returning to work among previously employed stroke patients in Denmark, 2000-2006. Methods We used a prospective design with a 2 year follow-up period. The study population consisted of 13,178 stroke patients divided into four enterprise sizes categories, according to the place of their employment prior to the stroke: micro (1-9 employees), small (10-49 employees), medium (50-249 employees) and large (>250 employees). The analysis was based on nationwide data on enterprise size from Statistics Denmark merged with data from the Danish occupational hospitalisation register. Results We found a statistically significant association ( p = 0.034); each increase in enterprise size category was followed by an increase in the estimated odds of returning to work. Conclusions The chances of returning to work after stroke increases as the size of enterprise increases. Preventive efforts and research aimed at finding ways of mitigating the effect are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore whether the dental restoration of nickel-chromium (Ni-Cr) based alloys will lead to extra excretions of urinary Ni and Cr. Methods Urinaiy Ni and Cr were repeatedly measured in 33 patients before and 2 months after the dental restoration of Ni-Cr alloys. The associations between alloy restoration and urinary Ni or Cr were analyzed by paired t test and general linear model of repeated measures. Results A slightly higher urinary Ni was found in patients after 2 month of the alloy restoration, but the difference was not statistically significant (before: 46.4 μg*mol-1 crea; after: 67.6 μg* mol-1 créa; P=0.063). This difference was only in female subjects (before: 44.8 μg*mol-1 crea; after: 73.7 μg* mol-1 crea; P=0.068). A significant higher urinary Cr was found in patients after 2 month of the alloy restoration (before: 57.0 μg* mol-1 crea; after: 99.4 μg* mol-1 crea; P=0.024). This significant difference was only in female subjects (before: 59.8 μg* mol-1 crea; after: 124.4 μg*mol-1 créa; P=0.023). General linear models of repeated measurements showed that urinary excretions of Ni and Cr were associated with the number of restoration and the area of metal basis uncovered with porcelain. Conclusion Dental restoration of Ni-Cr alloy might lead to the enhanced excretions of urinary Ni and Cr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mantere O, Isometsä E, Ketokivi M, Kiviruusu O, Suominen K, Valtonen HM, Arvilommi P, Leppämäki S. A prospective latent analyses study of psychiatric comorbidity of DSM-IV bipolar I and II disorders. Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 271–284. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objective: To test two hypotheses of psychiatric comorbidity in bipolar disorder (BD): (i) comorbid disorders are independent of BD course, or (ii) comorbid disorders associate with mood. Methods: In the Jorvi Bipolar Study (JoBS), 191 secondary-care outpatients and inpatients with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder (BD-I) or bipolar II disorder (BD-II) were evaluated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders, with psychotic screen, plus symptom scales, at intake and at 6 and 18 months. Three evaluations of comorbidity were available for 144 subjects (65 BD-I, 79 BD-II; 76.6% of 188 living patients). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine correlations between mood symptoms and comorbidity. A latent change model (LCM) was used to examine intraindividual changes across time in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Current mood was modeled in terms of current illness phase, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Young Mania Rating Scale, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; comorbidity in terms of categorical DSM-IV anxiety disorder diagnosis, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score, and DSM-IV-based scales of substance use and eating disorders. Results: In the SEM, depression and anxiety exhibited strong cross-sectional and autoregressive correlation; high levels of depression were associated with high concurrent anxiety, both persisting over time. Substance use disorders covaried with manic symptoms ( r = 0.16–0.20, p < 0.05), and eating disorders with depressive symptoms ( r = 0.15–0.32, p < 0.05). In the LCM, longitudinal intraindividual improvements in BDI were associated with similar BAI improvement ( r = 0.42, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Depression and anxiety covary strongly cross-sectionally and longitudinally in BD. Substance use disorders are moderately associated with manic symptoms, and eating disorders with depressive mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Presents an index of terms used in the December 2002 issue of 'Ailment Pharmacology Therapeutics.' Alpha-antagonist; Adenosine triphosphate; Ampicillin; Amoxicillin; Antibiotic prophylaxis; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressants; Bisacodyl; Cyclo-oxygenase; Cytosolic hepatic function; Colonic motility; Complementary therapy.

Data from 616 patients suffering from idiopathic cervical dystonia were analyzed to determine the efficacy and safety of treatment with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A). Since the specific purpose of this study was to determine the long-term effects of this treatment, the analysis focused specifically on the patients ( n = 303) having received six or more injections. Statistical analysis of a standardized documentation showed sustained significant benefit as measured by a disease severity score independent of the type of cervical dystonia. Furthermore, pronounced individual differences were found in response to this treatment although initial clinical scores and doses of BoNT/A were similar. There was no indication of previously unknown adverse events, the only risk being the development of serum antibodies against the toxin. As in previous studies on short-term effects of BoNT/A treatment, the most frequent adverse event was dysphagia, which occurred on average 9.7 days after injection and lasted on average 3.5 weeks. While secondary nonresponse was seen in approx. 5% of patients, antibody tests revealed neutralizing serum antibodies in only 2%. On the basis of the present data, therapy of cervical dystonia with BoNT/A seems to be safe and yields good stable results even after 5 years of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and fifty children with suspected juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and a disease duration of 3-6 months entered a prospective study. Diagnosis of JCA could be verified in 107 patients according to the WHO-EULAR criteria. After 5.0±0.9 years 66 of the 107 patients showed no disease activity, 24 of them for more than 2 years, 23 for less than 2 years without any drug therapy. Nineteen patients were still on NSAIDs and/or long acting drugs, 14 patients with unfavourable morphologic outcome (>stage II) and 17 patients with severe functional impairment (≥stage III) all belonged to the 41 children with still active disease after 5 years follow-up. The disease course was polyarticular in 10 of the 14 patients with severe radiologic changes and in 14 of the 17 with unfavourable functional results. The wrist joint proved especially vulnerable since 46% of the severe radiologic changes concerned this joint. All 4 children with positive rheumatoid factor followed a polyarticular course with severe radiologic changes (stage>II), 3 of them together with unfavourable functional outcome. Risk factors for morphologically and functionally unfavourable course are therefore seen in a still active disease after 5 years, a polyarticular joint involvement and a positive rheumatoid factor. Extra-articular complications concerned chronic iridocyclitis in 7 patients, acute iridocyclitis in 2, amyloidosis in 1 and growth retardation in 2 children. - The prospective study is to be continued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16: 488–490 Transmission of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) at a paediatric intensive-care unit (PICU) was examined using a highly sensitive real-time PCR. Twenty-four children with RSV LRTI were admitted during the study period (total days of potential transmission: 239). Forty-eight RSV-negative patients were followed up for RSV acquisition every 5 days (total days of exposure: 683). No single RSV transmission was documented with this highly sensitive diagnostic method. Therefore, routine infection control measures of LRTI patients seem to be adequate to prevent RSV transmission at the PICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome nine and ten years after short-stemmed, bone preserving and anatomical hip arthroplasty with the MiniHip TM system., Methods: In a prospective study, 186 patients underwent hip arthroplasty with a partial neck preserving short stem (MiniHip TM , Corin). Elderly patients were not excluded from this study, thus the mean age at the time of surgery was 59.3 years (range 32 to 82 years). Surgery and the follow-up assessments were performed at two Centers. Up until now, the mean follow-up was 112.5 ± 8.2 mo. The Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and the Hip Dysfunction Osteoarthritis and Outcome Score (HOOS) was assessed pre- and each year after surgery. The clinical follow-up was accompanied by standardized a.p. and axial radiological examinations. Periprosthetic lucencies, hypertrophies within the Gruen zones one to fourteen were assessed. A subsidence of the stem was investigated according to Morray and heterotopic ossifications were assessed according to Brooker., Results: The OHS and HOOS improved from 18 ± 3.3 to 46 ± 2.0 and from 30 ± 8.3 to 95 ± 4.6 points, P < 0.001 respectively. There were no differences regarding age, etiology, friction pairings, etc ., ( P > 0.05). Two stems were revised due to a symptomatic subsidence four and twelve months postoperatively. Thus, the survivorship for aseptic loosening at nine to ten years was 98.66%. Including one stem revision due to a symptomatic exostosis, bursitis and thigh pain as well as one revision because of a septic stem loosening, the overall survival for the stem with revision for any reason was 97.32%. Besides one asymptomatic patient, radiological signs of a proximal stress-shielding, such as bone resorptions within the proximal Gruen zones, were not noticed. Findings suggesting a distal loading, e.g ., bony hypertrophies or bone appositions of more than 2 mm, were also not detected., Conclusion: Regarding these first long-term results on the MiniHip TM , the implant performed exceedingly well with a high rate of survivorship for aseptic loosening. Our radiological results within the Gruen zones support the design rationale of the Minihip to provide a reliable metaphyseal anchoring with the expected proximal, more physiological load transfer. This might minimize or exclude a stress shielding which might be associated with thigh pain, proximal bone loss and an increased risk of aseptic loosening. The MiniHip TM is a reliable partial-neck retaining prosthesis with good a clinical long-term outcome in younger as well as elderly patients., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: This paper’s publication fee is paid by a sponsorship from Corin (Corin Group, Cirencest, United Kingdom). Except for Jörn Bengt Seeger, all authors have a paid consultancy/speakers contract for Corin. All authors declare to have no further interests, commercial or otherwise, which represent a conflict of interest in relation to this study.

Background A proportion of patients with adult-onset asthma have severe disease. Risk factors for an increase in asthma severity are poorly known. Objective We sought to identify predictors for the development of severe asthma in adults. Methods A cohort of 200 adults with new-onset asthma was prospectively followed for 2 years. At baseline, patients underwent a comprehensive assessment of clinical, functional, and inflammatory parameters. After 2 years, change in asthma severity was assessed by using the Global Initiative for Asthma score (range, 1-4), which is based on asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire), lung function (FEV 1 ), and inhaled corticosteroid requirement. ANOVA and multiple regression equations were used in the analysis. Results One hundred twenty-eight patients completed 2 years of follow-up. Seventeen (13.3%) patients had an increase in asthma severity, whereas 53 (41.4%) patients had a decrease. A lower postbronchodilator FEV 1 /forced vital capacity ratio and a higher number of cigarette pack years smoked at baseline were significantly associated with an increase in asthma severity at follow-up. Multiple regression equations showed that only the number of cigarette pack years smoked was independently associated with an increase in asthma severity, with an odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI, 1.02-1.91) for every 10 pack years smoked. Conclusion A history of cigarette smoking in patients with new-onset adult asthma predicts an increase in asthma severity during the first 2 years of the disease in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]