Decoding New York State's Prescription Monitoring Program.

This column describes the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing (I-STOP), New York State's prescription monitoring program, and its compatibility with HIPAA and Part 2 of Volume 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The authors review use of information that is permitted by I-STOP and CFR for health care operations, including disclosure, and present information from the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement about appropriate use of the program. Physicians are permitted, for example, to contact other prescribers in I-STOP, even without explicit permission from the patient, an area in which physicians need more training. Common clinical scenarios encountered while navigating I-STOP are described.

Psychiatric comorbidities among adolescents with and without anxiety disorders: a community study / Comorbidades psiquiátricas entre adolescentes com e sem transtornos de ansiedade: um estudo da comunidade

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate, in a community sample of adolescents, the presence of comorbidities in different anxiety disorders. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, initially composed of 2,457 adolescents, aged between 10-17 years old, from public schools of the area covered by the Basic Health Unit of a university hospital. We applied the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) to assess for anxiety disorders. Then, 138 positive cases in the screening were assessed for mental disorders through the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children – Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). Results Patients with anxiety disorders had more association with other anxiety disorders, as well as depression, and enuresis. The most common comorbidity described in our study was between generalized anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder (OR = 4.21, 95% CI 1.88, 9.58). Significant association was observed between other disorders such as enuresis and separation anxiety disorder (OR = 3.81, 95% CI 1.16, 12.49), as well as depression and generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 3.40; 95% CI 1.52, 7.61). Conclusion Our study showed a relevant presence of comorbidities adolescents with anxiety disorders, selected from a community sample, especially regarding other anxiety disorders. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar, em uma amostra comunitária de adolescentes, a presença de comorbidades nos distintos transtornos de ansiedade. Métodos Estudo transversal, composto por 2.457 adolescentes de 10 a 17 anos, provenientes das escolas públicas da área de abrangência da Unidade Básica de Saúde de um hospital universitário, que foram avaliados para transtornos de ansiedade, por meio da Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Desses, 138 casos foram positivos pela SCARED e avaliados para transtornos mentais, por meio do Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). Resultados Pacientes com transtornos de ansiedade apresentavam mais comorbidades com outros transtornos de ansiedade, bem como com depressão e enurese. As comorbidades mais frequentes descritas em nosso estudo foram transtorno de ansiedade generalizada e transtorno de ansiedade de separação (OR = 4,21; IC 95% 1,88; 9,58). Foi observada associação significativa com outros transtornos, tais como enurese com transtorno de ansiedade de separação (OR = 3,81; IC 95% 1,16; 12,49) e depressão com transtorno de ansiedade generalizada (OR = 3,40; IC 95% 1,52; 7,61). Conclusão A presença de comorbidades em adolescentes com transtornos de ansiedade selecionados de uma amostra comunitária foi frequente. Estudos complementares para confirmar nossos resultados são necessários.

Reproducibility of renal volume measurement in adults using 3-dimensional sonography.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the interobserver reproducibility of renal volume measurement performed by 3-dimensional (3D) sonography. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory, quantitative, observational, and descriptive cross-sectional study. We calculated ranges, means, and standard deviations of the renal volumes obtained with 3D sonography by 2 different examiners from a sample of 30 patients. The interobserver reproducibility was assessed by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and by construction of Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: The ICC between the right 3D renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2 was 0.8552 (95% confidence interval, 0.7153-0.9292), showing excellent reproducibility (P < .0001). For the left 3D renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2, the ICC was 0.6411 (95% confidence interval, 0.3652-0.8135), showing average to good reproducibility (P = .0001). The Bland-Altman plots showed mean differences ± SD of -4.8% ± 23.9% between the right renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2 and -2.2% ± 38% between the left renal volumes. The 95% limits of agreement between the right renal volumes obtained by examiners 1 and 2 were -28.7% to 19%, whereas those between the left renal volumes were -40.2% to 35.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional sonography showed good interobserver reproducibility, which was better for the right kidney. It appears necessary to establish standardized techniques for acquisition of sonographic renal volumes.

Radiological findings in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction occurring at the level of the pharynx during sleep. Although cephalometric analysis is an important method in the diagnosis of craniofacial deformities, CT and magnetic resonance imaging have been highlighted as the major imaging methods to investigate the possible causes of OSA, which, in most cases, is multifactorial. Magnetic resonance and CT both allow an excellent evaluation of the various anatomical planes of the site of obstruction, which enables better clinical assessment and surgical approach. This pictorial essay aims to describe the aspects that must be evaluated in the diagnostic imaging of patients presenting with the major predisposing factors for OSA.

Achados radiológicos em pacientes portadores de apneia obstrutiva do sono / Radiological findings in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) é caracterizada por obstruções recorrentes das vias aéreas superiores durante o sono que ocorrem no nível da faringe. Apesar de a análise cefalométrica ser um importante método no diagnóstico das deformidades craniofaciais, a TC e a ressonância magnética vêm se destacando como os principais métodos de imagem para a investigação das eventuais causas da AOS que, na maioria das vezes, é multifatorial. Esses métodos permitem uma excelente avaliação nos diversos planos anatômicos do eventual sítio da obstrução, o que permite uma melhor avaliação clínica e abordagem cirúrgica. O presente ensaio pictórico tem como objetivo descrever os aspectos que devem ser avaliados no diagnóstico por imagem dos principais fatores predisponentes para a AOS.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction occurring at the level of the pharynx during sleep. Although cephalometric analysis is an important method in the diagnosis of craniofacial deformities, CT and magnetic resonance imaging have been highlighted as the major imaging methods to investigate the possible causes of OSA, which, in most cases, is multifactorial. Magnetic resonance and CT both allow an excellent evaluation of the various anatomical planes of the site of obstruction, which enables better clinical assessment and surgical approach. This pictorial essay aims to describe the aspects that must be evaluated in the diagnostic imaging of patients presenting with the major predisposing factors for OSA.