Access to, Experience with, and Attitudes towards Take Home Naloxone: An Online Survey.

The opioid public health crisis continues to burden individuals, communities, and economies. Public health opinion has emphasized the need for increased access to harm reduction services, but there is a dearth of information on the views and experiences of people who use opioids. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of naloxone use, attitudes, and experiences with naloxone among an online community of people who use drugs. We performed a cross-sectional survey looking at experiences with and attitudes towards take-home naloxone. Data is presented descriptively, with analysis of the differences between people who do and do not use opioids using the χ2 and Fisher's exact tests. There were 1,143 respondents, of whom 70% were from the United States. Only 38% of participants who use opioids had received naloxone training, but 56% of these individuals said that they felt comfortable using a naloxone kit. Nearly all respondents (95%) said they would be willing to use naloxone on someone who had overdosed and approximately 90% would want naloxone used on them in case of an overdose. Regarding harm reduction, 24% of respondents said they had access to safe use programs, and 33% said they had access to clean needle exchange programs. A majority of the participants who use opioids were in favor of having naloxone with them when using drugs and believed naloxone should be freely available. This study demonstrates the receptiveness of take-home naloxone and highlights the need for better implementation of naloxone within communities that use opioids.

An Uncommon Cause of Testicular Infarct: A Case Report and Review of the Literature of Testicular Infarcts From Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND: Testicular ischemia requires timely diagnosis and definitive management to avoid serious consequences such as orchiectomy. It is almost always caused by testicular torsion; however, there are other causes to be aware of. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old man developed testicular ischemia following a laparoscopic robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair with preperitoneal mesh. The ischemia progressed to a fully infarcted testicle with no evidence of torsion on subsequent surgical exploration. He ultimately did require an orchiectomy. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: While extremely rare, testicular ischemia or infarct must be considered in patients presenting with testicular pain shortly after inguinal hernia repair. Emergent surgical evaluation and loosening of the hernia mesh may be required to salvage the testicle.

Impact of sleep chronotype on in-laboratory polysomnography parameters.

Morningness-eveningness preference, also known as chronotype, is the tendency for a person to sleep during certain hours of the day and is broadly categorised into morning and evening types. In-laboratory polysomnography (iPSG) is the gold-standard to assess sleep, however, an individual's chronotype is not accounted for in current protocols, which may confound collected sleep data. The objective of our study was to assess if chronotype had an association with sleep physiology. Patients who completed the diagnostic iPSG and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), which categorises patients into morning type, neither or evening type, were assessed. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess if chronotype was associated with sleep quality, duration, and physiology during iPSG. The study sample included 2612 patients (mean age of 53.6 years, 48% male) recruited during 2010-2015. Morning type, compared with neither type, was significantly associated with an increase in total sleep time and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and a decrease in sleep onset latency and the arousal index. Evening type, compared with neither type, was significantly associated with a decrease in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and REM sleep, and an increase in sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset. Additionally, iPSG lights out time was significantly different between the different chronotypes. Overall, a morningness chronotype was associated with favourable sleep quality and duration while an eveningness chronotype was associated with reduced sleep quality. Our study quantifies the association of chronotype with iPSG metrics and suggests that laboratory protocols should consider chronotype in their evaluations.

Strengthening oropharyngeal muscles as an approach to treat post-stroke obstructive sleep apnea: A feasibility randomised controlled trial.

This study aimed to determine the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating oropharyngeal exercise (OPE) intervention as an alternative therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Despite the high prevalence of OSA in this population, the standard therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), is often poorly tolerated. Thirty stroke/TIA patients with OSA unable to tolerate CPAP were randomly assigned to an oropharyngeal exercise or sham exercise protocol. They performed exercises for 6 weeks, 5 days per week, 30 minutes twice per day. Feasibility was ascertained by the proportion of enrolled patients who completed more than 80% of the OPE regimen. Isometric tongue pressures, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), daytime sleepiness, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes were collected at baseline, post-training (6-week follow-up), and retention (10-week follow-up) to document preliminary efficacy. Adherence to study exercises was excellent, with 83% of participants completing more than 80% of the exercises. The isometric tongue pressures were observed to improve in the oropharyngeal exercise group (compared with the sham group), along with a decrease in OSA severity (measured by the AHI and ODI), reduced daytime sleepiness, and enhanced quality of life outcomes following the exercise programme. Only the effects on posterior isometric tongue pressure and daytime sleepiness remained significantly different between groups at the retention session. In conclusion, an RCT evaluating the efficacy of oropharyngeal exercises on post-stroke/TIA OSA is feasible and our preliminary results suggest a clinically meaningful effect.

Pharmacophenotype identification of intensive care unit medications using unsupervised cluster analysis of the ICURx common data model.

BACKGROUND: Identifying patterns within ICU medication regimens may help artificial intelligence algorithms to better predict patient outcomes; however, machine learning methods incorporating medications require further development, including standardized terminology. The Common Data Model for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Medications (CDM-ICURx) may provide important infrastructure to clinicians and researchers to support artificial intelligence analysis of medication-related outcomes and healthcare costs. Using an unsupervised cluster analysis approach in combination with this common data model, the objective of this evaluation was to identify novel patterns of medication clusters (termed 'pharmacophenotypes') correlated with ICU adverse events (e.g., fluid overload) and patient-centered outcomes (e.g., mortality). METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational cohort study of 991 critically ill adults. To identify pharmacophenotypes, unsupervised machine learning analysis with automated feature learning using restricted Boltzmann machine and hierarchical clustering was performed on the medication administration records of each patient during the first 24 h of their ICU stay. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering was applied to identify unique patient clusters. Distributions of medications across pharmacophenotypes were described, and differences among patient clusters were compared using signed rank tests and Fisher's exact tests, as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 30,550 medication orders for the 991 patients were analyzed; five unique patient clusters and six unique pharmacophenotypes were identified. For patient outcomes, compared to patients in Clusters 1 and 3, patients in Cluster 5 had a significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay (p < 0.05); for medications, Cluster 5 had a higher distribution of Pharmacophenotype 1 and a smaller distribution of Pharmacophenotype 2, compared to Clusters 1 and 3. For outcomes, patients in Cluster 2, despite having the highest severity of illness and greatest medication regimen complexity, had the lowest overall mortality; for medications, Cluster 2 also had a comparably higher distribution of Pharmacophenotype 6. CONCLUSION: The results of this evaluation suggest that patterns among patient clusters and medication regimens may be observed using empiric methods of unsupervised machine learning in combination with a common data model. These results have potential because while phenotyping approaches have been used to classify heterogenous syndromes in critical illness to better define treatment response, the entire medication administration record has not been incorporated in those analyses. Applying knowledge of these patterns at the bedside requires further algorithm development and clinical application but may have the future potential to be leveraged in guiding medication-related decision making to improve treatment outcomes.

Laxatives are Associated with Poorer Polysomnography-derived Sleep Quality.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize 1) the relationship between laxative use and objective sleep metrics, and 2) the relationship between laxative use and self-reported insomnia symptoms in a convenience sample of middle-aged/elderly patients who completed in-laboratory polysomnography. METHODS: We cross-sectionally analyzed first-night diagnostic in-laboratory polysomnography data for 2946 patients over the age of 40 (mean age 60.5 years; 48.3% male). Laxative use and medical comorbidities were obtained through self-reported questionnaires. Patient insomnia symptoms were based on self-report. Associations between laxative use and objective sleep continuity were analyzed using multivariable linear regression models. Associations between laxative use and insomnia were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, total recording time, and relevant comorbidities, laxative users had a 7.1% lower sleep efficiency (p < 0.001), 25.5-minute higher wake after sleep onset (p < 0.001), and a 29.4-minute lower total sleep time (p < 0.001) than patients not using laxatives. Laxative users were found to be at greater odds of reporting insomnia symptoms (OR = 1.7, p = 0.024) than patients not using laxatives. CONCLUSION: Laxative use is associated with impairments in objective sleep continuity. Patients using laxatives were also at greater odds of reporting insomnia symptoms.

Sex Differences in Obstructive Sleep Apnea after Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent after stroke and associated with recurrent stroke, prolonged hospitalization, and decreased functional recovery. Sex differences in post-stroke OSA remain underexplored. The objective of this study was to evaluate sex differences in functional outcomes, stroke and OSA severity, and clinical manifestations of OSA in stroke patients with OSA. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated data from three previously conducted studies. Study patients had an imaging-confirmed stroke and had been found to have OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 5) on either in-laboratory polysomnography or home sleep apnea testing performed within 1 year of their stroke. Linear regression models were used to evaluate study outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 171 participants with post-stroke OSA (117 males [68.4%] and 54 females [31.6%]) were included. Female sex was an independent predictor for greater functional impairment (ß = 0.37, 95% CI 0.029-0.71, p = 0.03), increased stroke severity (ß = 1.009, 95% CI 0.032-1.99, p = 0.04), and greater post-stroke depressive symptoms (ß = 3.73, 95% CI 0.16-7.29, p = 0.04). Female sex was associated with lower OSA severity, as measured by the AHI (ß = -5.93, 95% CI -11.21- -0.66). Sex was not an independent predictor of specific symptoms of OSA such as daytime sleepiness, snoring, tiredness, and observed apneas. CONCLUSION: Females with post-stroke OSA had poorer functional outcomes and more severe strokes compared to males, despite having lower OSA severity. Females with post-stroke OSA also exhibited more depressive symptoms. Understanding sex differences in patients with post-stroke OSA will likely facilitate better recognition of OSA and potentially improve clinical outcomes.

Concurrent Pansinusitis and Orbital Cellulitis Complicated by Extensive Head and Neck Venous Thrombosis in an Unvaccinated Adolescent Patient with COVID-19: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Orbital cellulitis is an infrequent but serious infectious complication of rhinosinusitis, most commonly seen in the pediatric population. Extension into the cavernous sinus, leading to further infection and thrombosis, is a rare but life-threatening complication. Although COVID-19 has been linked to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, most cases involve extremity deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism; reports of intracranial or jugular system thrombosis are rare. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of a 17-year-old female patient with no significant medical history or thrombotic risk factors found to have orbital cellulitis and severe pansinusitis, complicated by multiple venous thromboses in the head and neck requiring emergent surgical intervention and pediatric intensive care admission. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Extensive head and neck venous thrombosis and intracranial abscesses are rare complications of pansinusitis and orbital cellulitis, and the thrombotic complications of COVID-19 are well documented. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to potentially devastating consequences.

SLEAP SMART (Sleep Apnea Screening Using Mobile Ambulatory Recorders After TIA/Stroke): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Poststroke/transient ischemic attack obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent, linked with numerous unfavorable health consequences, but remains underdiagnosed. Reasons include patient inconvenience and costs associated with use of in-laboratory polysomnography (iPSG), the current standard tool. Fortunately, home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) can accurately diagnose OSA and is potentially more convenient and cost-effective compared with iPSG. Our objective was to assess whether screening for OSA in patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack using HSAT, compared with standard of care using iPSG, increased diagnosis and treatment of OSA, improved clinical outcomes and patient experiences with sleep testing, and was a cost-effective approach. METHODS: We consecutively recruited 250 patients who had sustained a stroke/transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months. Patients were randomized (1:1) to use of (1) HSAT versus (2) iPSG. Patients completed assessments and questionnaires at baseline and 6-month follow-up appointments. Patients diagnosed with OSA were offered continuous positive airway pressure. The primary outcome was compared between study arms via an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: At 6 months, 94 patients completed HSAT and 71 patients completed iPSG. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the HSAT arm were diagnosed with OSA (48.8% versus 35.2%, P=0.04) compared with the iPSG arm. Furthermore, patients assigned to HSAT, compared with iPSG, were more likely to be prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (40.0% versus 27.2%), report significantly reduced sleepiness, and a greater ability to perform daily activities. Moreover, a significantly greater proportion of patients reported a positive experience with sleep testing in the HSAT arm compared with the iPSG arm (89.4% versus 31.1%). Finally, a cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that HSAT was economically attractive for the detection of OSA compared with iPSG. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack, use of HSAT compared with iPSG increases the rate of OSA diagnosis and treatment, reduces daytime sleepiness, improves functional outcomes and experiences with sleep testing, and could be an economically attractive approach. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02454023.

Narcolepsy Treatment: Voices of Adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Narcolepsy, characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, is a debilitating lifelong sleep disorder for which there is no cure. Current pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments directed toward symptom management may be suboptimal. This qualitative study explores the perspective of adolescents on therapeutic interventions for narcolepsy. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with adolescents with narcolepsy were conducted from May to August 2019 at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. Qualitative thematic analysis was utilized to generate themes emerging from the data. RESULTS: Eighteen adolescents with narcolepsy (age range = 10-17, mean age = 14.4 ± 2.0 years, 72% male) participated and 56% had cataplexy. Four prominent themes arose regarding therapeutic interventions for narcolepsy. Firstly, participants described that pharmacotherapy was moderately effective but did not fully relieve symptoms associated with narcolepsy. Secondly, while medications are the first line treatment for narcolepsy, many participants reported frustration regarding medication dependence and side effects. Thirdly, nonpharmacological strategies including scheduled sleep times and exercise were accepted and often employed. Lastly, adolescents desired more psychosocial support to address mental health sequelae of narcolepsy that were not fully managed by current treatment modalities. CONCLUSIONS: Medications were perceived as moderately effective for managing narcolepsy but almost all participants expressed concerns with taking medications due to side effects. Adolescents valued the importance of more holistic care for their narcolepsy treatment such as psychosocial support and nonpharmacological modalities. Further anticipatory guidance regarding pharmacological side effect profiles and better integration with nonpharmacological modalities are needed to improve disease control in adolescent patients.

Ethnic and Immigrant Variations in the Time Trends of Dementia and Parkinsonism.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed long-term incidence and prevalence trends of dementia and parkinsonism across major ethnic and immigrant groups in Ontario. METHODS: Linking administrative databases, we established two cohorts (dementia 2001-2014 and parkinsonism 2001-2015) of all residents aged 20 to 100 years with incident diagnosis of dementia (N = 387,937) or parkinsonism (N = 59,617). We calculated age- and sex-standardized incidence and prevalence of dementia and parkinsonism by immigrant status and ethnic groups (Chinese, South Asian, and the General Population). We assessed incidence and prevalence trends using Poisson regression and Cochran-Armitage trend tests. RESULTS: Across selected ethnic groups, dementia incidence and prevalence were higher in long-term residents than recent or longer-term immigrants from 2001 to 2014. During this period, age- and sex-standardized incidence of dementia in Chinese, South Asian, and the General Population increased, respectively, among longer-term immigrants (by 41%, 58%, and 42%) and long-term residents (28%, 7%, and 4%), and to a lesser degree among recent immigrants. The small number of cases precluded us from assessing parkinsonism incidence trends. For Chinese, South Asian, and the General Population, respectively, prevalence of dementia and parkinsonism modestly increased over time among recent immigrants but significantly increased among longer-term immigrants (dementia: 134%, 217%, and 117%; parkinsonism: 55%, 54%, and 43%) and long-term residents (dementia: 97%, 132%, and 71%; parkinsonism: 18%, 30%, and 29%). Adjustment for pre-existing conditions did not appear to explain incidence trends, except for stroke and coronary artery disease as potential drivers of dementia incidence. CONCLUSION: Recent immigrants across major ethnic groups in Ontario had considerably lower rates of dementia and parkinsonism than long-term residents, but this difference diminished with longer-term immigrants.

Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis versus systemic anticoagulation alone for submassive pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in the United States. Catheter-directed, ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis (USAT) uses high-frequency, low-energy ultrasound waves to disaggregate uncrosslinked fibrin fibers and increase thrombus penetration of a locally delivered thrombolytic to treat an acute PE. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of catheter-directed USAT versus systemic anticoagulation alone in submassive PE. This was a single-center, retrospective study of patients with a diagnosis of acute submassive PE from April 4, 2014 to May 1, 2019 at a large, academic medical center. Subjects were split into two different groups based on treatment with either USAT with systemic anticoagulation or systemic anticoagulation alone. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe or life-threatening GUSTO bleeding within 72 h or until hospital discharge if sooner. A total of 130 subjects were included (n = 40 in the USAT group and n = 90 in systemic anticoagulation alone group). Significantly fewer subjects in the USAT group had an active diagnosis of cancer at the time of presentation (7.5% vs 28.9%, p = 0.006). There was no difference in severe or life-threatening GUSTO bleeding or any component of the GUSTO bleeding definitions. Administration of USAT with systemic anticoagulation was well-tolerated when compared to systemic anticoagulation alone, but bias may have led to selection of patients for USAT with a lower bleeding risk and higher functional status at baseline.

Two Cases of Serotonin Syndrome After Bupropion Overdose Treated With Cyproheptadine.

BACKGROUND: Bupropion is not known to have direct serotonin agonism or inhibit serotonin reuptake. In spite of this, it has been implicated as a causative agent of serotonin syndrome. We highlight two cases of single-agent bupropion overdose that subsequently met the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome by the Hunter criteria, despite the absence of direct serotonergic agents. CASE 1: A 14-year-old boy intentionally ingested an estimated 30 bupropion 75-mg immediate-release tablets. He presented in status epilepticus, was intubated, and was placed on midazolam and fentanyl infusions. He developed tremor, ankle clonus, and agitation. He was administered cyproheptadine for presumed serotonin syndrome with temporal improvement in his symptoms. CASE 2: A 19-year-old woman intentionally ingested an estimated 53 bupropion 150-mg extended-release tablets. She had a seizure and required sedation and intubation. During her course, she developed hyperthermia, inducible clonus, and hyperreflexia. She was treated with cyproheptadine without temporal improvement of symptoms but improved the following day. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Although bupropion is not known to be directly serotonergic, it has been implicated as the single causative agent after overdose. This may be due to an indirect increase in activity of serotonergic cells. In these cases, bupropion overdose resulted in a clinical presentation consistent with serotonin syndrome, with the first having a temporal improvement after treatment with cyproheptadine. Physicians need to be aware of the potential serotonergic activity of bupropion for accurate assessment and treatment of this dangerous condition.

Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source and Sleep Disorders.

Background and Purpose- Compared with other causes of ischemic stroke, the mechanism of action of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) remains unclear, with previous literature suggesting that ESUS may be due to an undetected cardioembolic source. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of ESUS through current knowledge of sleep disorders. Methods- Patients were included in this study if they sustained an ischemic stroke and completed either polysomnography or a home sleep apnea test. Strokes were classified into 1 of 6 mechanisms and were compared with the presence of sleep disorders (ie, obstructive sleep apnea, periodic limb movements, and abnormalities in sleep architecture). Results- There was a significant relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and cardioembolic stroke mechanism compared with the other stroke mechanisms (P=0.018). There was no significant relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and ESUS (P=0.585). Patients with ESUS were significantly more likely to have an elevated periodic limb movement index (P=0.037) and prolonged sleep onset latency (P=0.0166) compared with patients with other causes of stroke. Conclusions- ESUS was not associated with markers of cardioembolic stroke such as obstructive sleep apnea. There was a significant relationship between ESUS and elevated periodic limb movements and impaired sleep architecture, which suggests that ESUS may have a multifactorial underlying pathophysiology.

Clinical Characteristics of Cataplectic Attacks in Type 1 Narcolepsy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Narcolepsy is a central disorder of hypersomnolence with symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, and cataplexy. Cataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle tone in either the face, neck, trunk, and/or limbs, leading to a loss of voluntary muscle control. This article reviews recent research on the clinical characteristics of cataplexy. RECENT FINDINGS: Longitudinal research in adults suggests that there may be a remission of cataplectic severity after symptom stabilization. First-line treatment options for cataplexy include sodium oxybate and pitolisant, with many drugs such as AXS-12, FT218, and JZP258 under investigation. Patients with cataplexy reported greater limitations of daily activities such as driving and exercise compared to patients without cataplexy. Cataplexy remains a challenge for children and adults with narcolepsy and can interfere with daily activities. There is no cure for narcolepsy, but cataplexy can be well-managed with current and promising new treatment options on the horizon.

Elevated Methemoglobin Levels in a Patient Treated with Hydroxocobalamin After Suspected Cyanide Exposure.

BACKGROUND: Cyanide (CN) toxicity commonly occurs during enclosed-space fires. Historically, the first step in treating CN toxicity utilized amyl nitrite and sodium nitrite to induce methemoglobinemia, which can be dangerous in this population. Hydroxocobalamin (OHCob), which binds to CN to form the nontoxic metabolite cyanocobalamin, is now the first-line antidote for CN toxicity, and has the advantage of not inducing methemoglobinemia. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department (ED) after a house fire. He was intubated for respiratory distress and hypoxia with an initial carboxyhemoglobin of 1.3%, methemoglobin 0.3%, and anion gap 19. Eleven hours after presentation, his serum lactic acid was 9 mmol/L. Given his continued deterioration, 14 h after arrival he received OHCob 5 g i.v. for presumed CN toxicity. Methemoglobin concentration 4 min prior to OHCob administration was 0.7%, and 2 h after administration was 4.2%. This subsequently increased to 14.3% (16 h after OHCob administration) and peaked at 16.3% (47 h after OHCob administration), at which time he was administered a dose of methylene blue 50 mg i.v., 60 h after ED arrival. His methemoglobin concentrations fluctuated until a consistent downward trend starting at 92 h from ED arrival. He continued to deteriorate and expired on hospital day 5 with a methemoglobin concentration of approximately 6.0%. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: CN toxicity requires immediate recognition and treatment. The antidote, OHCob, is believed to not induce methemoglobinemia. However, this potential side effect must be considered by emergency physicians when treating suspected CN toxicity, especially if the patient does not improve after antidotal therapy.

Younger Age and Depressive Symptoms Predict High Risk of Generalized Anxiety After Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack.

Background and Purpose- Depression and anxiety are common after stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA). These conditions are associated with poor functional outcome and worse quality of life. However, few studies have explored predictors of poststroke risk of generalized anxiety, especially in patients without comorbid depressive symptoms. We aimed to explore predictors of high risk of generalized anxiety after stroke/TIA. Methods- Consecutive stroke and TIA referrals to the Sunnybrook Stroke Prevention Clinic over a 2-year period (April 2012-April 2014) who spoke English, were not severely aphasic, and who consented to complete neuropsychological testing were included in this analysis. Generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, respectively. Results- Two hundred and fifty-eight patients completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, of whom 56 (22%) were at high risk for generalized anxiety (scores ≥10). Younger age (odds ratio=0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99; P=0.004) and greater depressive symptoms (odds ratio=1.20; 95% CI, 1.14-1.26; P≤0.001) were significant predictors of being at high risk for generalized anxiety after stroke/TIA. Younger patients (≤50 years) were significantly more likely to be at high risk for both depression and generalized anxiety than older patients (30% versus 12%, χ2 [1, N=258]=10.98, P=0.001). Our model explained 56% of the variance in risk of generalized anxiety after stroke. In patients without severe depressive symptoms (n=193, 75%), age and severity of depressive symptoms remained the only factors associated with risk of generalized anxiety. Conclusions- Anxiety is common after stroke/TIA and is highly correlated with poststroke depressive symptoms and age, even among those without severe depressive symptoms. Given the greater frequency of both generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms in young survivors, routine screening for depression and further evaluation of anxiety after stroke/TIA is warranted.

Effect of Bicarbonate-Buffered Dialysate on Ventricular Arrhythmias in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of sudden cardiac death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) is largely unknown, though there is evidence to suggest that metabolic alkalosis induced by HD with a high-bicarbonate dialysate/prescription may play a role. METHODS: We investigated the effects of metabolic alkalosis induced by HD with an acetate-containing bicarbonate-buffered dialysate on frequency of ventricular arrhythmia in 47 patients with ESRD on chronic HD using 48-h Holter monitoring in 3 phases: intra-HD, post-HD day 1, and post-HD day 2. Serum levels of bicarbonate, calcium, and potassium along with hemodynamics were measured pre-HD, post-HD, 20-h post-HD, and 44-h post-HD. Correlations were performed to verify the association between bicarbonate prescription and change in serum bicarbonate levels post-HD and to determine if the HD-induced change in serum bicarbonate level (metabolic alkalosis) had any direct association with ambient ventricular arrhythmia (premature ventricular contractions per hour) or indirect associations with ambient ventricular arrhythmia by affecting electrolytes or hemodynamics that are known to increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia. RESULTS: Mean pre-HD serum bicarbonate level was 21.3 mEq/L. Dialysate bicarbonate prescription (mean of 36.4 mEq/L) correlated with changes in serum bicarbonate levels immediately post-HD 26.7 mEq/L (r = 0.46, p < 0.01), 20-h post-HD 25.2 mEq/L (r = 0.38), and 44-h post-HD 23.2 mEq/L (r = 0.35, p = 0.01). No statistically significant correlations were found between the post-HD change in serum bicarbonate levels (metabolic alkalosis) with ambient ventricular arrhythmia, changes in serum calcium, potassium, or hemodynamics in any phase. CONCLUSIONS: High-bicarbonate dialysate prescription is associated with metabolic alkalosis following the HD procedure. A mild metabolic alkalosis induced by HD with an acetate-containing bicarbonate-buffered dialysate solution had no direct association with ambient ventricular arrhythmia on Holter monitoring and was not associated with changes in hemodynamics or changes in serum total calcium or potassium levels. This study helps to provide guidance for the safe use of high bicarbonate dialysate/prescription in patients with ESRD on HD.