A randomised study of three different informational AIDS prior to coronary angiography, measuring patient recall, satisfaction and anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Informed consent is a basic standard of care for all patients undergoing medical procedures, but recall of information has been shown to be poor. We sought to compare verbal, written and animated audiovisual information delivery, during consent for coronary angiography, by measuring improvement in recall. METHOD: A sample population of 99 cardiac patients at Flinders Medical Centre was randomised (1:1:1) to receive one of three information delivery methods. The information content was standardised by a risk proforma, which explained the procedure and defined 12 specific risks. Recall, satisfaction and anxiety were assessed by a questionnaire administered at three different time points: post-consent, post-procedure and at 30 days. Effect of delivery method on satisfaction and anxiety was rated on a self-reported scale from 1-5, with 5 representing very satisfied or very anxious. Groups were compared by non-parametric testing and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients were a median age of 64 (i.q.r. 56, 72) years. Information delivery method had no effect on recall of risks at any time-point (p=0.2, 0.7, 0.5, respectively) and the average recall score across the population was 3-4 out of 12. There was no significant effect on median satisfaction scores: verbal; 5 (i.q.r.4, 5) versus written/audiovisual; 4 (i.q.r.4, 5) (p=ns), or on median anxiety scores: verbal; 3 (i.q.r.2, 4) versus written/audiovisual; 3 (i.q.r.2, 4) (p=ns). CONCLUSION: Despite careful design of an innovative audiovisual delivery technique aimed at optimising comprehension and aiding memory, recall of information was poor and informational aids showed no improvement. Modes of information delivery are not the key to patient assimilation of complex medical information.

Regulation of Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Giant Cell Arteritis by Acute-Phase Serum Amyloid A.

OBJECTIVE: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is pathologically characterized by dysfunctional angiogenesis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Acute-phase serum amyloid A (A-SAA) is an acute-phase reactant, but is also produced at sites of inflammation and may contribute to vascular inflammation in atherosclerosis. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of A-SAA on proinflammatory pathways and angiogenesis in GCA, using a novel ex vivo temporal artery tissue explant model. METHODS: Serum A-SAA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Temporal artery explants and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures were established from patients with GCA. Temporal artery explant morphology, viability, and spontaneous release of proinflammatory mediators following 24-hour culture were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin, calcein viability staining, and ELISA. Temporal artery explants and PBMC cultures were stimulated with A-SAA (10 µg/ml), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor, Ang2, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2)/MMP-9 were quantified by ELISA and gelatin zymography. The effect of conditioned medium from temporal artery explants on angiogenesis was assessed using endothelial cell Matrigel tube-formation assays. Temporal artery explants were also embedded in Matrigel, and myofibroblast outgrowth was assessed. RESULTS: Serum A-SAA levels were significantly higher in GCA patients versus healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Intact tissue morphology, cell viability, and spontaneous cytokine secretion were demonstrated in temporal artery explants. A-SAA treatment induced a significant increase in the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 from temporal artery explants (P < 0.05) and IL-8 from PBMCs (P < 0.05) compared to basal conditions. Conditioned medium from A-SAA-treated explants significantly induced angiogenic tube formation (P < 0.05 versus basal controls). Finally, A-SAA induced myofibroblast outgrowth and MMP-9 activation. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate a functional role for A-SAA in regulating temporal artery inflammation, angiogenesis, and invasion, all key processes in the pathogenesis of GCA.

Candesartan and hydrochlorothiazide in isolated systolic hypertension.

AIM: We investigated the efficacy and safety of daily candesartan 8/16mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg as monotherapy and in combination in older patients with systolic hypertension. METHODS: The study used a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover design. Treatment phases were of 6 weeks duration. For inclusion, patients were aged 55-84 years with sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) 160-210 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 95 mmHg. Nineteen patients (11 male, eight female, median age 68 years) completed the study. MAJOR FINDINGS: Compared with the placebo phase, clinic and ambulatory SBP was significantly reduced with both dose-adjusted candesartan and fixed-dose hydrochlorothiazide as monotherapy, the effect of candesartan being greater than that of hydrochlorothiazide. In combination, the effects of the two drugs were additive. Both drugs were well tolerated either as monotherapy or in combination. CONCLUSION: Both candesartan and a low dose of hydrochlorothiazide are effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive agents in isolated systolic hypertension with additive effects in combination. Candesartan was more effective than hydrochlorothiazide, although it is possible that dose adjustment only of candesartan could have enhanced its relative effectiveness.