Ferritin is a potential marker of cardiometabolic risk in adolescents and young adults with sleep-disordered breathing.

Objective: To explore markers that reflect sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) severity and investigate their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents and young adults. Methods: Participants were recruited from our SDB epidemiological cohort. They underwent overnight polysomnography and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Complete blood count, ferritin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between red cell indices (RCIs), ferritin, and obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI). Subgroup analyses on participants with SDB were performed for the association of RCIs and ferritin with lipid profile, hs-CRP, and BP. Results: There were 88 participants with SDB and 155 healthy controls aged 16-25 years. Hemoglobin (Hb; p < .001), hematocrit (HCT; p < .001), and ferritin (p < .001) were elevated with increasing SDB severity and were independently associated with OAHI (ß=1.06, p < .001; ß=40.2, p < .001; ß=4.89 × 10-3, p = .024, respectively). In participants with SDB, after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, significant associations were found between ferritin with low-density lipoprotein (LDL; ß=0.936 × 10-3, p = .008) and triglyceride (TG; ß =1.08 × 10-3, p < .001), as well as between Hb (ß=1.40, p = .007), HCT (ß=51.5, p = .010) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Ferritin (ß=0.091, p = .002), Hb (ß=0.975, p = .005), and HCT (ß=38.8, p = .004) were associated with hs-CRP independent of age, sex, BMI, plasma LDL, and MAP. OAHI was not associated with LDL and TG in the multivariable models. Conclusions: Serum ferritin, but not OAHI, was associated with LDL and TG in participants with SDB, suggesting it is a potential marker of cardiometabolic risk in patients with SDB.

The cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship of diabetic retinopathy to cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a potential relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and different stages of cognitive impairment METHODS: Literature searches were conducted on PubMed and EMBASE, with keywords "diabetic retinopathy" and "cognitive impairment". Inclusion criteria were original human studies, and English language. Quality of studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment (NOSGEN). The register number of this study on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) is CRD42021236747. The main outcome measures were odds ratios (OR) and risk ratios (RR) for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, respectively. Meta-regression was performed to evaluate the effects of potential moderator variables, including, age, onset age of diabetes mellitus (DM), duration of DM, and HbA1c. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies (17 cross-sectional and 8 longitudinal studies) with a total of 1,963,914 subjects, were included. Among the cross-sectional studies, the pooled ORs of any cognitive impairment, early stage of cognitive impairment and dementia in subjects with DR (95% confidence interval) were 1.48 (1.08-2.02), 1.59 (1.01-2.51), and 1.13 (0.86-1.50), respectively. Among the longitudinal studies, the pooled RRs of any cognitive impairment, early stage of cognitive impairment, and dementia in subjects with DR (95% confidence interval) were 1.35 (1.12-1.65), 1.50 (1.06-2.12), and 1.31 (1.03-1.66), respectively. Meta-regression showed age, onset age of DM, duration of DM, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were not statistically associated with the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of DR in DM patients indicates both higher odds of prevalent cognitive impairment and escalated risks of developing cognitive impairment in the future.

Level of urinary catecholamine in children with Sleep Disordered Breathing: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of different urinary catecholamines amongst paediatric patients with and without sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). METHODS: Literature searches were conducted on PubMed and EMBASE until 25/06/2022. Inclusion criteria were original human studies, English language, paediatric subjects diagnosed with SDB/obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The quality of studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment (NOSGEN). The registered number of this study on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) is CRD42022332939. The main outcome measured was standardised mean difference (SMD) of urinary catecholamine between subjects with and without SDB, between those with and without OSA, and also between subjects with mild OSA and those with moderate/ severe OSA. Sensitivity analyses were performed to avoid bias. RESULTS: 9 studies (8 cross-sectional and 1 cohort study) with a total of 838 subjects, were included in the quantitative analysis. Urine level of noradrenaline was higher in patients with SDB, which included primary snoring (PS), when compared to controls: SMD = 0.86 (95%CI=0.32-1.41; I2=85%, P=0.002). The levels of urinary noradrenaline and adrenaline were higher in children with OSA when compared to controls: SMD = 1.45 (95%CI=0.91-2.00; I2=75%, P < 0.001); SMD = 1.84 (0.00-3.67; I2=97%, P=0.05). Urine level of noradrenaline was higher in subjects with moderate/severe OSA compared to the mild OSA: SMD = 0.55 (95%CI=0.10-1.00; I2=0%, P=0.02). Urinary dopamine was not associated with SDB regardless of severity. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary noradrenaline was higher in all patients with SDB. Subjects with OSA, a more severe form of SDB, had higher urine levels of noradrenaline and adrenaline. Hence, noradrenaline and adrenaline may be markers of sympathetic overtone in patients with SDB and could potentially act as surrogate markers for SDB complications. Further studies are needed to assess this association.

The unintended consequences of maternity leaves: How agency interventions mitigate the negative effects of longer legislated maternity leaves.

To support women in the workplace, longer legislated maternity leaves have been encouraged in Scandinavian countries and recently in Canada. Yet, past research shows that longer legislated maternity leaves (i.e., 1 year and longer) may unintentionally harm women's career progress. To address this issue, we first sought to identify one potential mechanism underlying negative effects of longer legislated maternity leaves: others' lower perceptions of women's agency. Second, we utilize this knowledge to test interventions that boost others' perceptions of women's agency and thus mitigate negative effects of longer legislated maternity leaves. We test our hypotheses in three studies in the context of Canadian maternity leave policies. Specifically, in Study 1, we found that others' lower perceptions of women's agency mediated the negative effects of a longer legislated maternity leave, that is, 1 year (vs. shorter, i.e., 1 month maternity leave) on job commitment. In Study 2, we found that providing information about a woman's agency mitigates the unintended negative effects of a longer legislated maternity leave on job commitment and hireability. In Study 3, we showed that use of a corporate program that enables women to stay in touch with the workplace while on maternity leave (compared to conditions in which no such program was offered; a program was offered but not used by the applicant; and the program was offered, but there was no information about its usage by the applicant) enhances agency perceptions and perceptions of job commitment and hireability. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Hospital volume of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is closely associated with treatment outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hospital volume for several major operations is associated with treatment outcomes. In this study, the authors explored the influence of hospital radiofrequency ablation (RFA) volume on the prognosis of patients who received RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The authors searched for all patients who were diagnosed with stage I or stage II HCC from 2004 to 2006 and who received RFA as first-line therapy in a population-based cohort. Overall survival (OS) and liver cancer-specific survival (CSS) were compared according to hospital volume. A Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In total, 661 patients received first-line RFA for stage I and II HCC in 28 hospitals. Among these, there were 480 patients (72.6%) in the high-volume group (those who received RFA at hospitals that treated >10 first-line patients per year), and there were 181 patients (27.4%) in the low-volume group (those who received RFA at hospitals that treated ≤ 10 first-line patients per year). The sex, age, stage, tumor size, and year of diagnosis for patients in the 2 groups did not differ significantly. Patients in the high-volume group demonstrated significantly longer OS and CSS than those in the low-volume group (5-year OS rate, 58.7% vs 47.2%; P = .001; 5-year CSS rate, 67.1% vs 57.1%; P = .009). After adjusting for covariates, high-volume hospitals remained an independent predictor of longer OS (hazard ratio, 0.57; P < .001) and CSS (hazard ratio, 0.57; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received first-line RFA for HCC in high-volume hospitals demonstrated better survival outcomes.

The impact of diabetes mellitus on prognosis of early breast cancer in Asia.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been implicated in influencing the survival duration of patients with breast cancer. However, less is known about the impact of DM and other comorbidities on the breast cancer-specific survival (BCS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes of Asian patients with early-stage breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The characteristics of female patients with newly diagnosed, early-stage breast cancer were collected from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database for 2003-2004. DM status and other comorbidities were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance database. The BCS and OS times of patients according to DM status were estimated via the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox's proportional hazard model was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the effects of DM, comorbidities, and other risk factors on mortality. RESULTS: In total, 4,390 patients were identified and 341 (7.7%) presented with DM. The 5-year BCS and OS rates were significantly greater in DM patients than in non-DM patients (BCS, 85% versus 91%; OS, 79% versus 90%). Furthermore, after adjusting for clinicopathologic variables and comorbidities, DM remained an independent predictor of shorter BCS (adjusted HR, 1.53) and OS (adjusted HR, 1.71) times. Subgroup analyses also demonstrated a consistent prognostic influence of DM across different groups. CONCLUSION: In Asian patients with early-stage breast cancer, DM is an independent predictor of lower BCS and OS rates, even after adjusting for other comorbidities. The integration of DM care as part of the continuum of care for early-stage breast cancer should be emphasized.

Survival of patients with small cell lung carcinoma in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. The prognosis for SCLC patients remains unsatisfactory despite advances in chemotherapy. In this study, we sought to clarify the prognosis and treatment patterns of patients with SCLC. METHODS: A cohort comprising all patients diagnosed with SCLC between January 2004 and December 2006 was assembled from the Taiwan Cancer Database. Patients were followed up until December 31, 2009, to determine overall survival. Patient survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox's proportional hazard model was used to determine the relationship between prognostic factors and median survival time. RESULTS: Among the 1,684 patients diagnosed with SCLC, 1,215 (72%) were diagnosed with extensive-stage disease and 469 (28%) with limited-stage disease. Most of the patients were male (90%). The median survival duration of patients with limited-stage and extensive-stage SCLC was 10.3 months and 5.6 months, respectively. For limited-stage patients, surgery, chemotherapy, and combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy resulted in better survival than best supportive care (HR 0.20, p < 0.001; HR 0.61, p < 0.001, and HR 0.37, p < 0.001, respectively). For extensive-stage patients, male gender was significantly associated with a poor prognosis (HR 1.45, p < 0.001) and chemotherapy was shown to improve overall survival more effectively than best supportive care (HR 0.37, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For limited-stage SCLC patients, surgery, chemotherapy, and combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy improved survival compared to best supportive care. Extensive-stage SCLC patients benefited more from chemotherapy treatment than from best supportive care.

Effect of the Pay-for-Performance Program for Breast Cancer Care in Taiwan.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of the nationwide pay-for-performance (P4P) program for breast cancer care (BC-P4P) in Taiwan on care quality, patient survival, and recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based observational study with cross-sectional design. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of population-based cancer registration and claims data was used in this study. A total of 4,528 patients with stage I or II breast cancer diagnosed in 2002 or 2003 who received curative surgery were observed until the end of 2008. This study applied multivariate linear regression to explore the association between BC-P4P enrollment and quality of care. Cox regression was applied to examine the effect of BC-P4P enrollment on 5-year recurrence and overall survival among patients with breast cancer. RESULTS: After controlling for age, stage, type of surgery, and other factors, BC-P4P enrollees were found to have received better quality care than nonenrollees (P = .001). Cox regression models also indicated that after controlling for patient characteristics, quality of care was related to better 5-year overall survival (odds ratio [OR], 0.212; P = .001) and recurrence (OR, 0.289; P < .001). Even when controlled by quality of care provided to patients and its interaction with status of BC-P4P enrollment, BC-P4P enrollment remained statistically significant regarding 5-year overall survival (OR, 0.167; P < .001) and recurrence (OR, 0.370; P = .002). CONCLUSION: Patients with breast cancer enrolled in the BC-P4P program received better quality care and had better outcome than nonenrolled patients. Evidence from this study indicates that financial incentives in the payment design had a positive impact on outcome of breast cancer care.

Effect of the pay-for-performance program for breast cancer care in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the nationwide pay-for-performance (P4P) program for breast cancer care (BC-P4P) in Taiwan on care quality, patient survival, and recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based observational study with cross-sectional design. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of population based cancer registration and claims data was used in this study. A total of 4528 patients with stage I or II breast cancer diagnosed in 2002 or 2003 who received curative surgery were observed until the end of 2008. This study applied multivariate linear regression to explore the association between BC-P4P enrollment and quality of care. Cox regression was applied to examine the effect of BC-P4P enrollment on 5-year recurrence and overall survival among patients with breast cancer. RESULTS: After controlling for age, stage, type of surgery, and other factors, BC-P4P enrollees were found to have received better quality care than nonenrollees (P = .001). Cox regression models also indicated that after controlling for patient characteristics, quality of care was related to better 5-year overall survival (odds ratio [OR], 0.212; P = .001) and recurrence (OR, 0.289; P <.001). Even when controlled by quality of care provided to patients and its interaction with status of BC-P4P enrollment, BC-P4P enrollment remained statistically significant regarding 5-year overall survival (OR, 0.167; P <.001) and recurrence (OR, 0.370; P = .002). CONCLUSION: Patients with breast cancer enrolled in the BC-P4P program received better quality care and had better outcome than nonenrolled patients. Evidence from this study indicates that financial incentives in the payment design had a positive impact on outcome of breast cancer care.

Treatment of compulsive sexual behaviour with naltrexone and serotonin reuptake inhibitors: two case studies.

Although there is no universally accepted definition of compulsive sexual behaviour (CSB), the term is generally used to indicate excessive sexual behaviour or sexual cognitions that lead to subjective distress, social or occupational impairment, or legal and financial consequences. Similar to impulse control disorders, CSB is characterized by a failure to resist the impulse for sex. Opioid antagonists have been effective in treating urge-driven disorders, such as pathological gambling disorder, alcoholism, borderline personality disorder with self-injurious behaviour, cocaine abuse, mental retardation with self-injurious behaviour and eating disorders. Based upon the efficacy of opioid antagonists in treating disorders associated with urges, we hypothesized that naltrexone would reduce both the urges associated with CSB and therefore reduce the sexual behaviour. We present two case reports of individuals with CSB treated successfully with naltrexone, a novel treatment for CSB. In both cases, symptoms dramatically decreased and psychosocial functioning improved with the use of naltrexone. Although more research is needed to determine the mechanism that leads to the excessive sexual behaviour in individuals with CSB, the present case reports suggest that naltrexone may be effective in treating some cases of CSB.

Cytokine production in patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported elevated serum levels of the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). We investigated the cellular production of these two cytokines and of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in subjects with AN, bulimia nervosa (BN), and obesity as well as in normal-weight control subjects. METHODS: Supernatant fluids from isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) incubated with and without concanavalin A (ConA) were assayed for cytokine concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Significant differences across the four groups were found in the stimulated cellular production of IFN-gamma and IL-6. Stimulated IFN-gamma production was elevated in the AN group compared to controls. IL-6 production was significantly elevated in obese subjects relative to the two normal-weight groups, BN and controls, and tended to be higher in the AN group than in the controls, but not significantly so. IL-1alpha production was greater in obese subjects. CONCLUSION: The findings of increased IFN-gamma production and a tendency toward increased IL-6 production (both of which suppress food intake in animals) in individuals who severely restrict food intake suggest a potential role for these cytokines in the pathogenesis of AN. Elevated IL-6 and IL-1alpha production by PBMC in obese individuals requires further investigation to determine if these cytokines contribute to the development or perpetuation of obesity.

Nefazodone and the treatment of nonparaphilic compulsive sexual behavior: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports suggest that individuals with nonparaphilic compulsive sexual behavior can be treated pharmacologically with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to control sexual obsessions and compulsions. However, these medications have produced sexual side effects that may limit long-term use, particularly as individuals strive to reestablish healthy sexual relationships. Nefazodone is an antidepressant that is not associated with the sexual side effects of other SSRIs. We examined retrospective data from our clinic to investigate whether nefazodone has utility in the treatment of nonparaphilic compulsive sexual behavior. METHOD: Fourteen subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for sexual disorder NOS as well as criteria used by our research group for nonparaphilic compulsive sexual behavior and who had been treated with nefazodone were selected from patient charts at our clinic. The treating physician abstracted information from the charts regarding comorbid psychiatric conditions, medication, dosage, treatment response, and side effects. RESULTS: In this study, the mean dosage of nefazodone was 200 mg/day. Of the subjects who remained on long-term nefazodone therapy, 6 (55%) reported good control of sexual obsessions and compulsions, and 5 (45%) reported a remission of sexual obsessions and compulsions. CONCLUSION: Results from this preliminary retrospective study suggest that nefazodone decreases the frequency of sexual obsessions and compulsions but does not produce the undesired sexual side effects caused by SSRI treatment.

Eating disorders in patients with cystic fibrosis.

This study was designed to examine rates of eating disorders and psychopathology in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Fifty-eight CF patients and 43 healthy control participants were evaluated using structured psychiatric interviews and rating scales. Two control participants and no CF patients were diagnosed with an eating disorder. Additionally, 11 CF patients were diagnosed with one or more psychiatric disorders. Group means on the rating scales did not show clinically meaningful elevations in either group. These data indicate no evidence for elevated rates of eating disorders in CF patients. Similarly, rates of other psychiatric disorders in the CF group were not greater than the prevalence reported in the general population.

A preliminary report on pain thresholds in bulimia nervosa during a bulimic episode.

Subjects with bulimia nervosa (BN) have been shown to exhibit abnormal satiety responses. Short-term satiety is largely mediated by afferent vagal activity. Activation of afferent vagal fibers has also been found to stimulate a descending pain inhibitory pathway that leads to elevation in somatosensory pain thresholds. Therefore, the study of pain thresholds in BN subjects may lead to a better understanding of afferent vagal function in this disorder. In this preliminary study, pressure pain thresholds were assessed in nine subjects with BN on 3 consecutive days during a binge-eating and vomiting (B/V) episode, during a normal meal, and after an overnight fast. A significant time versus condition effect was found with a significant change in the pain threshold in BN subjects under the B/V condition only. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that vagal afferent activation by a B/V episode also activates the descending pain inhibitory pathway.

Elevated pain threshold in anorexia nervosa subjects.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting data have been published regarding pain threshold in subjects with anorexia nervosa (AN), with some studies indicating elevated pain threshold and others indicating normal thresholds. Previous research has indicated the presence of elevated pain threshold in eating disorder subjects with binge-eating behavior. METHODS: In this study pressure pain detection thresholds (PDT) (assessed by a pressure analgesiometer) in binge-eating/purging and restricting subtypes of AN subjects were compared to control subjects. RESULTS: PDT was elevated in AN compared to control subjects at baseline. There was no difference in PDT between the subgroups of AN subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The etiology of elevated PDT in AN subjects is most likely different from the etiology of elevated PDT in bulimia nervosa subjects.

Psychiatric comorbidity in pedophilic sex offenders.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this research was to assess the rates of axis I and axis II psychiatric disorders, as defined in DSM-IV, in a group of pedophilic sex offenders. METHOD: Forty-five male subjects with pedophilia who were participating in residential or outpatient sex offender treatment programs were recruited to participate. Subjects were interviewed by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. RESULTS: Ninety-three percent of the subjects (N = 42) met the criteria for an axis I disorder other than pedophilia. The lifetime prevalence of mood disorder in this group was 67%. Sixty-four percent of the subjects met the criteria for an anxiety disorder, 60% for psychoactive substance use disorder, 53% for another paraphilia diagnosis, and 24% for a sexual dysfunction diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Axis I and II comorbidity rates are high in this population. Untreated comorbid psychiatric disorders may play a role in treatment failure and recidivism.

Fluvoxamine in the treatment of binge-eating disorder: a multicenter placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of fluvoxamine in the treatment of binge-eating disorder. Binge-eating disorder is a newly described eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating but without purging behaviors. Uncontrolled reports have suggested that serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be effective in treating this disorder. METHOD: Eighty-five outpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of binge-eating disorder were randomly assigned to receive either fluvoxamine (N=42) or placebo (N=43) in a 9-week, parallel-group, double-blind, flexible dose (50-300 mg) study at three centers. The primary outcome measures were frequency of binge eating, expressed as log ([binges/week]+1), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale ratings. Secondary measures included the level of response (based on the percentage change in frequency of binges), body mass index, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score. Except for the level of response, the outcome measures were analyzed by random regression methods; the treatment-by-time interaction was the measure of treatment effect. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, fluvoxamine was associated with a significantly greater rate of reduction in the frequency of binges, rate of reduction in CGI severity scores, rate of increase in CGI improvement scores, level of response for patients who completed the 9-week study, and rate of reduction in body mass index. There was no significant difference between placebo and fluvoxamine groups in the rate of decrease in Hamilton depression scale scores. A significantly greater proportion of patients receiving fluvoxamine than those receiving placebo discontinued treatment because of an adverse medical event. CONCLUSIONS: In this placebo-controlled trial, fluvoxamine was found to be effective according to most outcome measures in the acute treatment of binge-eating disorder.

Onset of binge eating and dieting in overweight women: implications for etiology, associated features and treatment.

This study investigated differences between overweight binge eating women who reported the onset of binge eating prior to or following the onset of dieting (binged first [BF], or dieted first [DF]). Of overweight binge eating subjects enrolled in a treatment study, 38.7% indicated binge eating first, and 48.1% dieting first. The mean age of onset of binge eating differed significantly between the two groups (11.8 years vs. 25.7 years). More of the BF group (82.5%) satisfied proposed binge eating disorder (BED) criteria than did the DF group (52.0%), although short of significantly. The results suggest that: (a) the leading hypothesis concerning dieting as a cause of binge eating does not apply to a substantial number of individuals who binge eat; (b) there may be an early pattern and a late pattern in the development of binge eating among overweight individuals; and (c) the early or binge first pattern may be more likely to result in BED.