Frequency of an intrathecal IgM synthesis and MRZ reaction in children with MS.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the CNS. An intrathecal IgM synthesis is associated with a more rapid progression of MS and the intrathecal immune response to measles -, rubella -and varicella zoster virus (MRZR) which, if present, increases the likelihood of a diagnosis of MS in adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of an intrathecal IgM synthesis and MRZR in children with MS. MethodsChildren with MS and a data set including clinical and treatment history, MRI at onset, in addition to a CSF analysis, and determination of antibody index (AI) of measles, rubella, and zoster antibodies, were eligible. The presence of an intrathecal IgM synthesis and/or a positive MRZ reaction were compared to biomarkers of a more progressive disease course. RESULTS: In 75 children with MS, OCBs were present in 93.3 %). 49,2 % experienced their first relapse within 6 months. 50.7 % had a total lesion load of more than 10 lesions in the first brain MRI. Spinal lesions were identified in 64 %. 23.5 % had a positive MRZR and 40.3 % an intrathecal IgM synthesis. No significant associations were detected between the presence of an intrathecal IgM synthesis and MRZR and parameters including the relapse rate in the first two years. CONCLUSION: An intrathecal IgM synthesis and a positive MRZR are found in a subset of MS children but are not associated with markers associated with a poor prognosis.

The "double-fired" gastro-jejunostomy as a form of improved efficiency during Whipple procedure.

BACKGROUND: Gastro-jejunostomy (GJ) after pylorus-resecting pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is most commonly performed in a hand-sewn fashion. Intestinal stapled anastomosis are reported to be as effective as hand-sewn in terms of patency and risk of leakage in other indications. However, the use of a stapled gastro-jejunostomy hasn't been fully assessed in PD. The aim of the present technical report is to evaluate functional outcomes of stapled GJ during PD, its associated effect on operative time and related complications. METHODS: The institutional database for pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was retrospectically reviewed. Pylorus resecting open PD without vascular or multivisceral resections were considered for the analysis. The incidence of clinically significant delayed gastric emptying (DGE from the International Stufy Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) grade B and C), other complications, operative time and overall hospitalization were evaluated. RESULTS: Over a 10-years study period, 1182 PD for adenocarcinoma were performed and recorded in the database. 243 open Whipple procedures with no vascular and with no associated multivisceral resections were available and constituted the study population. Hand-sewn (HS) anastomosis was performed in 175 (72 %), stapled anastomosis (St) in 68 (28 %). No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups, with the exception of a higher rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the HS group (74 % St vs. 86 % HS, p = 0.025). Intraoperatively, a significantly reduced median operative time in the St group was observed (248 min St vs. 370 mins HS, p < 0.001). Post-operatively, rates of clinically relevant delayed gastric emptying (7 % St vs. 14 % HS, p = 0.140), clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (10 % St, 15 % HS, p = 0.300), median length of stay (7 days for each group, p = 0.289), post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (4.4 % St vs. 6.3 % HS, p = 0.415) and complication rate (22 % St vs. 34 % HS, p = 0.064) were similar between groups. However, readmission rates were significantly lower after St GJ (13.2 % St vs 29.7 % HS, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a stapled GJ anastomosis during a standard Whipple procedure is non-inferior to a hand-sewn GJ, with a comparable rate of DGE and no increase of gastrointestinal related long term complications. Further, a stapled GJ anastomosis might be associated with reduced operative times.

Characteristic retinal atrophy pattern allows differentiation between pediatric MOGAD and MS after a single optic neuritis episode.

BACKGROUND: Optic neuritis (ON) is the most prevalent manifestation of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MSped) and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGADped) in children > 6 years. In this study, we investigated retinal atrophy patterns and diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in differentiating between both diseases after the first ON episode. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively identified in eight tertial referral centers. OCT, VEP and high/low-contrast visual acuity (HCVA/LCVA) have been investigated > 6 months after the first ON. Prevalence of pathological OCT findings was identified based on data of 144 age-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Thirteen MOGADped (10.7 ± 4.2 years, F:M 8:5, 21 ON eyes) and 21 MSped (14.3 ± 2.4 years, F:M 19:2, 24 ON eyes) patients were recruited. We observed a significantly more profound atrophy of both peripapillary and macular retinal nerve fiber layer in MOGADped compared to MSped (pRNFL global: 68.2 ± 16.9 vs. 89.4 ± 12.3 µm, p < 0.001; mRNFL: 0.12 ± 0.01 vs. 0.14 ± 0.01 mm3, p < 0.001). Neither other macular layers nor P100 latency differed. MOGADped developed global atrophy affecting all peripapillary segments, while MSped displayed predominantly temporal thinning. Nasal pRNFL allowed differentiation between both diseases with the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.902, cutoff < 62.5 µm, 90.5% sensitivity and 70.8% specificity for MOGADped). OCT was also substantially more sensitive compared to VEP in identification of ON eyes in MOGAD (pathological findings in 90% vs. 14%, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: First MOGAD-ON results in a more severe global peripapillary atrophy compared to predominantly temporal thinning in MS-ON. Nasal pRNFL allows differentiation between both diseases with the highest accuracy, supporting the additional diagnostic value of OCT in children with ON.

[Cognitive Development in Children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes - Results of a Current Systematic Database Search]. / Kognitive Entwicklung von Kindern mit benigner Epilepsie des Kindesalters mit zentrotemporalen Spitzen (Rolando-Epilepsie) ­ Ergebnisse einer aktuellen systematischen Literaturrecherche.

Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE) is one of the most common epilepsy syndromes in childhood. Although global intellectual performance is typically normal in BRE-patients, problems were found in specific cognitive domains. To summarize recent empirical findings concerning cognitive development in children with BRE a systematic literature search of clinical studies published between 2009 and 2015 was performed. 19 studies of relevance were found.In most recent studies children with BRE consistently showed general intellectual performance within the normal range. However, in two of the studies patients showed a significantly poorer (but still normal) performance in comparison to controls. The studies provide clear indications for a high prevalence of impairments in language (10 out of 12 studies) and academic performance (6 out of 8 studies) in children with BRE. Regarding deficits in other cognitive domains (attention, memory, visual/auditory perception, executive functions) current findings are inconsistent. In addition, no clear results are found in studies examining cognitive development after remission of BRE. Studies on the relationship between selected clinical/electroencephalographic characteristics (e. g. EEG-patterns, focus lateralization) and cognitive performance and studies on potential benefits of anti-epileptic therapy for cognitive functions also have not yielded consistent results. Studies using fMRI and evoked potentials provide evidence for functional reorganization of neural networks in BRE.Due to the developmental risks in children with BRE early cognitive assessment, early treatment and follow-up assessments are important.

Is Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy in Addition to Surgery Beneficial for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer in the Elderly? A National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) Study.

INTRODUCTION: Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for Stages II and III rectal cancer recommend neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by curative intent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. It is unclear whether therapies in addition to surgery are truly beneficial in elderly patients. Our aim was to compare the survival of patients over 80 with Stages II and III rectal cancer undergoing curative intent surgery with or without additional therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB 2006-2011) was queried for patients over 80 with Stages II and III rectal cancer. The primary outcome was overall survival. Patients were stratified based upon therapy group. Univariate group comparisons were made. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: The query yielded 3098 patients over 80 with Stage II (N = 1566) or Stage III (N = 1532) disease. Approximately, half of the patients received surgery only. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed improved survival for patients receiving neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy in addition to surgery, but there was no significant difference between those that received guideline concordant care (GCC), neoadjuvant chemoradiation only, or post-operative chemotherapy only. Cox proportional hazard modeling identified age >90 and margin positivity as independent risk factors for decreased overall survival. CONCLUSION: Analysis of NCDB data for Stages II and III rectal cancer in patients over 80 shows a survival benefit of adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant therapy over surgery alone. There does not appear to be a difference in survival between patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation, post-resection adjuvant chemotherapy, or GCC.

Outcomes with multimodal therapy for elderly patients with rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Treatment guidelines for stage II and III rectal cancer include neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Although data support this recommendation in younger patients, it is unclear whether this benefit can be extrapolated to elderly patients (aged 75 years or older). METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients aged at least 75 years with stage II or III rectal cancer who underwent surgery with curative intent from 1996 to 2013 at the Mayo Clinic. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare overall survival between therapy groups. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the independent effect of treatment group on survival. RESULTS: A total of 160 elderly patients (median age 80 years) with stage II (66) and stage III (94) rectal cancer underwent surgical resection. Only 30·0 and 33·8 per cent received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy respectively. Among patients with stage II disease, there was no significant difference in 60-month survival between patients who received any additional therapy and those who had surgery alone (55 versus 38 per cent respectively; P = 0·184), whereas additional therapy improved survival in patients with stage III tumours (58 versus 30 per cent respectively; P = 0·007). Multivariable analysis found a survival benefit for additional therapy in elderly patients with stage III disease (hazard ratio 0·58, 95 per cent c.i. 0·34 to 0·98). CONCLUSION: A multimodal approach in elderly patients with stage III rectal cancer improved oncological outcomes.

Carotid artery dissection following a minor household accident in a 10-month-old child.

INTRODUCTION: Dissection of the carotid arteries is an important cause of ischaemic stroke in childhood. Rarely, blunt trauma to the soft palate can result in an internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection leading to thrombosis, embolism and stroke. CASE PRESENTATION: A 10-month-old child was admitted to hospital having presented with minor intra-oral trauma following a fall from a sofa whilst carrying a spoon in her mouth. After an interval, the child's level of consciousness decreased. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and neck revealed occlusion of the left ICA, oedema of the perivascular tissues and cerebral ischaemia in the left middle cerebral artery territory. CONCLUSION: A carotid artery dissection after minor trauma to the soft palate is a rare, but potentially severe complication. The combination of minor precipitating trauma, prolonged symptom-free intervals and complexity of clinical neurological assessment in small children contributes to a difficult diagnostic dilemma.

Four-year follow-up of guided self-change for bulimia nervosa.

The aim of this follow-up study was to evaluate the longer-term effectiveness of guided self-care for bulimia nervosa. In the original trial, 62 patients with DSM-III-R bulimia nervosa were randomly assigned to: a) a self-care manual plus eight fortnightly sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy (guided self-change); or b) 16 weekly sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Twenty-eight of these patients (45% of the original cohort) were involved in this follow-up study based on personal interviews by experts and self-rated instruments; the majority of the others could not be traced, but their pre- and post-treatment variables were not different from those of the follow-up patients. After an average follow-up of 54.2 months (SD 5.8), significant improvements were achieved or maintained in both groups in terms of the main outcome measures: eating disorder symptoms based on expert ratings (Eating Disorder Examination sub-scores for overeating, vomiting, dietary restraint, and shape and weight concerns), self report (Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh), and a global five-point severity scale. There was also an improvement in the subsidiary outcome variables: Beck's Depression Inventory, the Self-concept Questionnaire, and knowledge of nutrition, weight and shape. During the week before the follow-up examination, 66.7% of the patients in the guided self-change group and 61.5% of those in the CBT group had not binged, vomited or abused laxatives. Guided self-change incorporating a self-care manual is an approach that can be as effective as standard cognitive behavioural therapy in the long-term, and can reduce the amount of therapist contact required.

Epidemiology of prescriptions for neuroleptic drugs: tranquilizers rather than antipsychotics.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacology of neuroleptics as well as epidemiological and clinical observations of prescriptions of these drugs give the impression that they are and can be used for indications other than schizophrenia to a considerable degree. METHOD: We analyzed pharmacoepidemiological data on neuroleptic prescriptions in Germany. We used the following criteria: numbers of defined daily doses (DDDs) per annum, diagnoses for which they were prescribed, patient age, specialist medical training of the prescribing physician, and indicators that neuroleptics were used instead of other psychotropic drugs such as minor tranquilizers. RESULTS: Only 14% of the prescriptions for neuroleptic drugs were for schizophrenic psychoses, 18% for other paranoid psychoses and 5% for affective disorders. 63% were prescribed for neurotic disorders, sleep disorders, or dementia. Almost half of the neuroleptic prescriptions were given for patients aged 65 years or over. Only 40% were prescribed by psychiatrists or neurologists. Throughout the period from 1986 to 1995, neuroleptic prescriptions increased steadily, which was paralleled by a decrease in the prescription rates for benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation is urgently needed for those uses of neuroleptic drugs that, from a pharmacoepidemiological perspective, must be seen as their primary indication.

[Prevalence of eating disorders among students]. / Prävalenz von Essstörungen unter Studierenden.

A sample of 507 social work students completed the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE). Simulating diagnoses according to DSM-IV criteria, we found three women suffering from bulimia nervosa (BN). This represents a total prevalence of 0.6%, 0.8% in women, and 0.9% in female probands up to the age of 30 years. In the same way, we identified one case of anorexia nervosa (AN), i.e. a total prevalence of 0.2%, 0.3% in women, and 0.3% in female probands up to the age of 30. Nineteen students also fulfilled DSM-IV research criteria for binge-eating disorder (BED), showing a total prevalence of 3.7%, 3.8% in women, 3.5% in men, and 4.3% in female probands up to the age of 30. Thus, BED is the most common eating disorder and also occurs in men. In light of the association between weight discontent and eating disorders, suggestions are made for the management of overweight patients and both normal and underweight clients with eating disorders.

Guided self-change for bulimia nervosa incorporating use of a self-care manual.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of guided self-change for bulimia nervosa. METHOD: Sixty-two patients with DSM-III-R-defined bulimia nervosa were randomly assigned to 1) use of a self-care manual plus eight fortnightly sessions of cognitive behavior therapy (guided self-change) or 2) 16 sessions of weekly cognitive behavior therapy. RESULTS: At the end of treatment and at follow-up an average of 43 weeks after the end of therapy, substantial improvements had been achieved in both groups on the main outcome measures: eating disorder symptoms according to experts' ratings (Eating Disorder Examination subscores on overeating, vomiting, dietary restraint, and shape and weight concerns), self-reports (Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh), and a 5-point severity scale. Also, improvement was seen on the subsidiary outcome measures: the Beck Depression Inventory, the Self-Concept Questionnaire, and knowledge of nutrition, weight, and shape. At follow-up, 71% of the cognitive behavior therapy group had not binged or vomited during the week preceding. In the guided self-change group, 70% had not binged and 61% had not vomited during the week before follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Guided self-change incorporating use of a self-care manual offers an approach that can be as effective as standard cognitive behavior therapy in the long term and can considerably reduce the amount of therapist contact required.

[How effective and acceptable is a self-treatment manual with concomitant brief therapy in bulimia nervosa]. / Wie wirksam und akzeptabel ist ein Selbstbehandlungsmanual mit begleitender Kurztherapie bei Bulimia nervosa?

We compared 8 fortnightly sessions plus a self-care manual (guided self change, GSC) with 16 weekly individual sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). There were 31 sufferers of DSM-III-R-bulimia nervosa (BN) in each group. Both treatments resulted in significant improvements regarding self and interviewer based measures of bulimia nervosa as well as depression, self-esteem, quality of life and knowledge about nutrition, weight and shape. There were no significant differences between therapies regarding drop-out rate, compliance with follow-up, and the number of patients receiving additional treatment. At none of the assessments was there a significant difference between GSC and CBT regarding severity of BN, Beck Depression Inventory-score, self-esteem, and quality of life. A significantly higher percentage of CBT-patients were abstinent from bingeing for at least one week at the end of treatment. Three months later, the GSC-group had caught up in this respect and knew more about nutition, weight and shape. Only the sum-scores on a BN self-rating scale were worse for GSC than CBT at the end of therapy and at follow-up. There were no significant differences between the two groups in general treatment satisfaction and judgement about the usefulness of the therapies. Thus, guided self change with a selfcare manual can save therapist time without impinging significantly on treatment satisfaction and effectiveness.

[Help with self-care]. / Hilfen zur Selbstbehandlung.

Instructions for self-treatment, whether printed, presented via computer or by audiovisual means, are effective in the management of phobias, panic disorder, other anxieties, depression, bulimia nervosa, obesity, alcohol problems, nicotine abuse, myocardial infarction, AIDS, compliance problems and the counseling of patients' relatives. A lasting improvement has been shown for up to 7 years. The mechanisms of effective self-change are discussed.

Psychopathology and family functioning in mothers with epilepsy.

In a prospective comparative study of children born to mothers with epilepsy and to healthy controls, maternal psychopathology, family functioning and the effects of maternal psychopathology and family functioning on child mental status were investigated. The instruments used were the Present State Examination (PSE), the Past History Schedule (PHS), a psychiatric interview for preschool children and a structured interview about family functioning. Interviewers were blind to the clinical status of the mother. The group of mothers with epilepsy differed from the control group only regarding a higher prevalence of minor psychopathology and in 1 of 4 areas of family functioning. There was no difference between mothers with epilepsy and the control group regarding major psychopathology, and almost no differences regarding family functioning. The effect of maternal psychopathology on child mental status was mediated by disturbed family functioning only in the epilepsy group.

Pharmacotherapy of psychiatric disorder in pregnancy and during breastfeeding: a review.

The literature in most European languages was consulted for guidelines regarding the drug treatment of psychiatrically disturbed pregnant or lactating women. The available information allows only a few conclusions. Lithium exposure during the first trimester seems to increase the risk of congenital heart disease, especially Ebstein's anomaly. As there is still insufficient evidence to prove the safeness of other psychoactive drugs for the fetus, caution seems warranted here too. A causal link between pharmacotherapy of the mother-to-be and malformation of the baby is difficult to prove. But toxic and withdrawal symptoms in infants born to women treated regularly until shortly before confinement are well documented for most psychoactive drugs.