Weekend-Based Parent-Group Intervention to Reduce Stress in Parents of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study.

Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a child is often associated with anger, denial, fear, and depression from the parents. The aim of the study was to improve parents' adaptation to the diagnosis of diabetes of their child. Sixty-two parents (29 mothers, 33 fathers) of 36 children with type 1 diabetes (mean age = 11.3-3.3 years; diabetes duration > 1 year; HbA1c = 57 ± 11 mmol/mol) participated in a three-day educational working group pilot intervention study. Intervention was based on the reexamination of the traumatic event of diagnosis of T1D through spatial and time-line anchorage, retracing of the future, emotional awareness, and interactive discussion. Relaxing technique, diaphragmatic breathing, and guided visualization were used by 2 psychologists and 1 pediatric endocrinologist. The study was approved by EC and participants filled a consent form. At baseline and after intervention, parents filled in a questionnaire including Diabetes-Related Distress (DRD), Parent Health Locus of Control Scale (PHLOC), Parent Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-Parents (HFS-P) and Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-Parents of Young Children (HFS-P-YC), and Health Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36). Three months after the intervention, both parents reported a reduction in the "difficult child" subscale of the PSI-SF (p < 0.05) and increased scores of social functioning of the SF-36 (p < 0.05). DRD score was significantly reduced in mothers (p = 0.03), while the "parental distress" subscale of the PSI-SF was significantly improved in fathers (p = 0.03). This weekend-based parent group intervention seems to reduce stress and improve social functioning of parents of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Benefits of maltodextrin intake 2 hours before cholecystectomy by laparotomy in respiratory function and functional capacity: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in respiratory function and functional capacity according to the type of preoperative fasting. METHODS: Randomized prospective clinical trial, with 92 female patients undergoing cholecystectomy by laparotomy with conventional or 2 hours shortened fasting. The variables measured were the peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in the first second, forced vital capacity, dominant handgrip strength, and non-dominant handgrip strength. Evaluations were performed 2 hours before induction of anesthesia and 24 hours after the operation. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in preoperative evaluations regarding demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as for all variables. However, postoperatively the group with shortened fasting had higher values than the group with conventional fasting for lung function tests peak expiratory flow (128.7±62.5 versus 115.7±59.9; p=0.040), forced expiratory volume in the first second (1.5±0.6 versus 1.2±0.5; p=0.040), forced vital capacity (2.3±1.1 versus 1.8±0.9; p=0.021), and for muscle function tests dominant handgrip strength (24.9±6.8 versus 18.4±7.7; p=0.001) and non-dominant handgrip strength (22.9±6.3 versus 17.0±7.8; p=0.0002). In the intragroup evaluation, there was a decrease in preoperative compared with postoperative values, except for dominant handgrip strength (25.2±6.7 versus 24.9±6.8; p=0.692), in the shortened fasting group. CONCLUSION: Abbreviation of preoperative fasting time with ingestion of maltodextrin solution is beneficial to pulmonary function and preserves dominant handgrip strength.

An unusual case report on the possible role of Warfarin in migraine prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a complex disease whose physiopathological mechanisms are still not completely revealed. FINDINGS: We describe an unusual case, not yet described in literature, of a patient who reported migraine remission, but still presented aura attacks, since starting a therapy with Warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: This case report brings out new questions on the role of the coagulation, especially the blood coagulation pathway, in migraine with aura pathogenesis, and on the possibility to use vitamin K synthesis inhibitors, Warfarin or new generation drugs, as possible therapy to use in migraine prophylaxis.

Intellectual function evaluation of first generation immigrant children with sickle cell disease: the role of language and sociodemographic factors.

BACKGROUND: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disease worldwide. Neurological events are among the most worrisome clinical complications of SCD and are frequently accompanied by cognitive impairment. Intellectual function in SCD may vary according to genetic and environmental factors. Immigrant children with SCD are increasing at a global level and display specific health care needs. The aim of our multicenter study was to describe the intellectual function of first generation African immigrants with SCD and the influence of sociodemographic factors on its characteristics. METHODS: The Wechsler Intelligence Scales were administered to evaluate broad intellectual functions in children with SCD and in age-matched healthy siblings. Patients' clinical, socio-demographic, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Angiography (MRA) data were correlated to intellectual function scores. RESULTS: 68 children, mean age 8.95 years were evaluated. 72% spoke three languages, 21% two. FSIQ was <75 in 25% of the children. Mean VIQ was lower than PIQ in 75%. Mean verbal subtest scores were lower than performance scores. Female gender, number of languages spoken at home and mother's employment were associated with single subtest performances (p < 0.05). MRA was abnormal in 73.4% and MRI in 35.9%. No significant correlation was established between silent lesions and intellectual function, even if patients with lesions performed worse. Fifteen siblings performed better than patients on cognitive domains, including language (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant bilingual children with SCD seem to display a rate of cognitive impairment similar to their monolingual counterparts but a more pronounced and precocious onset of language difficulties. Adjunctive tests need to be considered in this group of patients to better define their specific deficits.

Benefits of maltodextrin intake 2 hours before cholecystectomy by laparotomy in respiratory function and functional capacity: a prospective randomized clinical trial / Benefícios na função respiratória e capacidade funcional com ingesta de maltodextrina 2 horas antes de colecistectomia por laparotomia: ensaio clínico prospectivo e randomizado

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the change in respiratory function and functional capacity according to the type of preoperative fasting. Methods: Randomized prospective clinical trial, with 92 female patients undergoing cholecystectomy by laparotomy with conventional or 2 hours shortened fasting. The variables measured were the peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in the first second, forced vital capacity, dominant handgrip strength, and non-dominant handgrip strength. Evaluations were performed 2 hours before induction of anesthesia and 24 hours after the operation. Results: The two groups were similar in preoperative evaluations regarding demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as for all variables. However, postoperatively the group with shortened fasting had higher values than the group with conventional fasting for lung function tests peak expiratory flow (128.7±62.5 versus 115.7±59.9; p=0.040), forced expiratory volume in the first second (1.5±0.6 versus 1.2±0.5; p=0.040), forced vital capacity (2.3±1.1 versus 1.8±0.9; p=0.021), and for muscle function tests dominant handgrip strength (24.9±6.8 versus 18.4±7.7; p=0.001) and non-dominant handgrip strength (22.9±6.3 versus 17.0±7.8; p=0.0002). In the intragroup evaluation, there was a decrease in preoperative compared with postoperative values, except for dominant handgrip strength (25.2±6.7 versus 24.9±6.8; p=0.692), in the shortened fasting group. Conclusion: Abbreviation of preoperative fasting time with ingestion of maltodextrin solution is beneficial to pulmonary function and preserves dominant handgrip strength. .

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a alteração da função respiratória e da capacidade funcional, conforme o tipo de jejum pré-operatório. Métodos: Ensaio clínico prospectivo randomizado, com 92 pacientes do sexo feminino, submetidas à colecistectomia por laparotomia, observando jejum convencional ou abreviado de 2 horas com maltodextrina. As variáveis foram: pico de fluxo expiratório, volume expiratório no primeiro segundo, capacidade vital forçada, força de preensão palmar dominante e força de preensão palmar não dominante. As avaliações foram realizadas 2 horas antes da indução anestésica e 24 horas após a operação. Resultados: Os dois grupos foram semelhantes quanto às características demográficas, clínicas e em todas as variáveis estudadas, quando avaliadas no pré-operatório. No entanto, no pós-operatório, o grupo abreviado apresentou valores maiores que o grupo convencional para pico de fluxo expiratório (128,7±62,5 versus 115,7±59,9; p=0,040), volume expiratório no primeiro segundo (1,5±0,6 versus 1,2±0,5; p=0,040), capacidade vital forçada (2,3±1,1 versus 1,8±0,9; p=0,021), força de preensão palmar dominante (24,9±6,8 versus 18,4±7,7; p=0,001) e força de preensão palmar não dominante (22,9±6,3 versus 17,0±7,8; p=0,0002). Na avaliação intragrupo, houve diminuição nas variáveis ao se compararem os valores do pré-operatório em relação ao pós-operatório, exceto para força de preensão palmar dominante (25,2±6,7 versus 24,9±6,8; p=0,692) no grupo de jejum abreviado. Conclusão: A abreviação do tempo de jejum pré-operatório com solução contendo maltodextrina beneficia a função pulmonar e preserva a força de preensão palmar dominante. .