OVPSYCH2: A randomized controlled trial of psychological support versus standard of care following chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Fear of disease progression (FOP) is a rational concern for women with Ovarian Cancer (OC) and depression is also common. To date there have been no randomized trials assessing the impact of psychological intervention on depression and FOP in this patient group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with primary or recurrent OC who had recently completed chemotherapy were eligible if they scored between 5 and 19 on the PHQ-9 depression and were randomized 1:1 to Intervention (3 standardized CBT-based sessions in the 6-12 weeks post-chemotherapy) or Control (standard of care). PHQ-9, FOP-Q-SF, EORTC QLQ C30 and OV28 questionnaires were then completed every 3 months for up to 2 years. The primary endpoint was change in PHQ-9 at 3 months. Secondary endpoints were change in other scores at 3 months and all scores at later timepoints. RESULTS: 182 patients registered; 107 were randomized; 54 to Intervention and 53 to Control; mean age 59 years; 75 (70%) had completed chemotherapy for primary and 32 (30%) for relapsed OC and 67 patients completed both baseline and 3-month questionnaires. Improvement in PHQ-9 was observed for patients in both study arms at three months compared to baseline but there was no significant difference in change between Intervention and Control. A significant improvement on FOP-Q-SF scores was seen in the Intervention arm, whereas for those in the Control arm FOP-Q-SF scores deteriorated at 3 months (intervention effect = -4.4 (-7.57, -1.22), p-value = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: CBT-based psychological support provided after chemotherapy did not significantly alter the spontaneously improving trajectory of depression scores at three months but caused a significant improvement in FOP. Our findings call for the routine implementation of FOP support for ovarian cancer patients.

The effect of octreotide on the prevention of acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of diagnostic and therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In addition, serum pancreatic enzymes increase without symptoms in about 40-50% of patients undergoing these endoscopic procedures. In order to evaluate the efficacy of octreotide in the prevention of these complications, we performed this randomised, prospective study. METHODOLOGY: We studied 73 patients (31 males, 42 females), mean age 63.3 +/- 12.9 years (range 28-87 yrs). The patients were randomly allocated into two groups (A and B). Group A (37 patients) was given 0.1 mg of octreotide subcutaneously 30 min before and 8 and 16 hours after the procedure, and group B (36 patients) was given a placebo. Serum amylase was measured 30 min before and 3 and 6 hrs after ERCP. All patients were subjected to ultrasonography for signs of pancreatic inflammation. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups concerning age, sex and indication for ERCP. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was performed in 14 patients of group A and 10 patients of group B. RESULTS: There were 4 cases of acute pancreatitis in each group and the mean serum amylase at 3 and 6 hrs was comparable (494/676 and 429/582 IU/L, respectively). In comparing patients who were subjected to either diagnostic or therapeutic ERCP, there was no statistically significant difference concerning episodes of acute pancreatitis and the level of serum amylase. CONCLUSION: Octreotide does not seem to prevent acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasaemia after diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP.

Clinical and neuroimaging findings of Cree leukodystrophy: a retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CLD is a rapidly progressive and invariably fatal neurodegenerative disorder. We describe clinical and neuroimaging findings in 5 infants with CLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of infants with CLD from the past 11 years at our institution was performed. Relevant clinical and demographic data were recorded. Specific attention was directed toward postmortem examination findings and genetic testing. CT and MR imaging results were reviewed. RESULTS: Five Cree infants were diagnosed with CLD. CT demonstrated bilateral symmetric hypoattenuation of the white matter and globus pallidus. MR imaging demonstrated corresponding T2 hyperintensity in these regions and abnormal signal intensity in the thalami and substantia nigra. Symmetric restricted diffusion in the deep white matter was seen. MRS demonstrated decreased NAA, elevated choline, and the presence of lactate. Postmortem examination in 1 infant showed corresponding poor myelination in the brain stem, cerebellum, deep gray structures, and the cerebral hemispheres. Genetic testing in 2 infants revealed homozygous mutations in the eIF2B5 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroimaging in CLD is striking and is an important tool in diagnosing CLD. Extensive white matter involvement as well as involvement of the globus pallidus and patchy involvement of the thalami and substantia nigra are characteristic. MRS findings are compatible with destruction of normal brain parenchyma with evidence of anaerobic metabolism in the regions of demyelination. Clinical suspicion of VWM in a Native American infant from this region should prompt the consideration of CLD with appropriate imaging work-up and genetic testing.

Gut hormone concentrations in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Blood levels of gastrin, neurotensin and vasoactive peptide (VIP) were estimated in 14 premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and in 12 controls. In comparison to the control group, infants with NEC had (a) significantly lower gastrin levels both before [9.3 (7.8) versus 33.7 (27.1)] and after [52.4 (48.1) versus 100.8 (50.9)] the development of NEC; (b) significantly lower neurotensin levels only after the development of NEC [37.8 (10.4) versus 54.5 (20.6)1; and (c) no significant difference in VIP values [25.4 (9.7) versus 18.9 (9.9) and 24.5 (15.7) versus 26.1 (19.1)]. It is concluded that NEC can adversely affect gastrin and neurotensin concentrations in the blood.