Recalcitrant hypercalcemia in a dialysis patient: Case report, literature review, and proposed management algorithm.

A 62-year-old male on maintenance hemodialysis, who was bedbound after a cerebrovascular accident, developed progressive hypercalcemia during a prolonged hospital stay. The etiology of hypercalcemia was attributed to immobility after extensive workup including imaging for malignancy or granulomatous disease, parathyroid hormone levels, parathyroid hormone related peptide, and vitamin D levels were unyielding. Low calcium dialysate would transiently reduce serum calcium levels, but levels would rebound in the interdialytic period. In view of recalcitrant hypercalcemia presenting with crisis, denosumab was successfully used to lower serum calcium. We review the literature and propose a management algorithm for severe hypercalcemia in a patient on dialysis.

A Meta-Analysis of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Group Psychoeducation for Treating Symptoms and Preventing Relapse in People Living with Bipolar Disorder.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients treated with Group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT) or group psychoeducation (GPE) as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy. Methods: Systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL from inception till 1 March 2022 was conducted. Randomized-controlled-trials (RCTs) comparing GCBT/GPE with controls (treatment-as-usual/individualized therapy) in adults with bipolar disorder were eligible. The outcomes were relapse rates of any depressive or manic episodes and control of depressive and manic symptoms post-intervention. Overall odds-ratio was used to evaluate the relapse rates. Standard Mean Differences were pooled using a random-effects model for the control of depressive and manic symptoms. Results: 25 articles were assessed full-text independently by two members, and 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis. 601 and 590 participants were randomized into group-therapy (GCBT/GPE) and control, respectively. GPE significantly reduces relapse rates at post-intervention with Odds ratio of 0.43 (95% CI = 0.28-to-0.62, p < 0.0001) (I² = 41%) compared to control, however, no significant results were found for GPE on control of depressive or manic symptoms. No significant results were found for GCBT in all outcomes. Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides some evidence that GPE could be an efficacious treatment as an adjunct to treatment-as-usual in reducing the relapse rates of patients with bipolar disorder.