Inverse relationship between scores on the quality of life questionnaire SF-12 and on the Aging Males' Symptoms scale in Italian men.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the relation between results of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) questionnaire for aging males, and of quality of life (QOL) questionnaire SF-12 and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: 1,927 men aged 55-85 years were interviewed by 56 general practitioners. During the interview the men were asked to fill in the AMS scale and the QOL questionnaire SF-12. RESULTS: Of 1,927 men 1,806 men filled correctly the AMS questionnaire. The mean SF-12 mental index was respectively 55.9 in men with a total AMS score indicating no impairment, 50.9 mild, 42.8 moderate, and 32.8 severe impairment. The corresponding values for the physical index were 51.2, 46.7, 40.8 and 32.3. A history of diabetes was associated with an increased risk of reporting moderate/severe impairment: in relation to the total AMS score the odds ratio, (OR), of moderate/severe impairment in comparison with no impairment was 1.6 (95%CI 1.2-2.1). A history of myocardial infarction and hypertension increased the risk (respectively OR 1.4 (95%CI 1.1-18) and 1.7 (95%CI 1.2-2.4)). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that higher AMS scores are associated with lower SF-12 indices and suggests that elevated values of the AMS score are associated with cardiovascular risk factors or diseases.

Severe hyponatremia in a patient with mantle cell lymphoma treated with bortezomib: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Hyponatremia is a known complication of cytotoxic treatment. We observed this side effect in a patient treated with bortezomib. This paper gives an overview of the literature on antineoplastic agents that have been associated with hyponatremia. CASE REPORT: A 77-year-old female patient with mantle cell lymphoma was admitted with rapidly progressive ataxia, slurred speech, and confusion. 43 days earlier, a second-line treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib had been started. Neurological examination revealed no focal deficits. Laboratory evaluation showed a combined electrolyte disorder with severe hyponatremia (sodium 112 mmol/l). RESULTS: A syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was diagnosed, and bortezomib was identified as its cause. The drug was consecutively stopped. CT scan showed a complete remission (CR). Since, the patient has remained in a CR without further tumor-specific treatment. CONCLUSION: Hyponatremia may be a side effect of treatment with bortezomib and a number of other antineoplastic agents. Because of limited data available, accurate incidences of this complication are not known.

The willingness of patients to accept an additional mortality risk in order to improve renal graft survival.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to assess renal transplant patient preferences with respect to the acceptance of an additional mortality risk induced by immunosuppressive therapy in order to prevent graft loss in case of acute rejection. METHODS: The two decision analysis tools standard gamble and time trade-off were used to interview 155 patients with a functioning renal graft, and 11 on dialysis awaiting transplantation. RESULTS: Defining the best possible outcome as being alive with a functioning graft (utility value = 1), and the worst outcome as dying (utility value = 0), median utility values of 0.68 (0.59 +/- 0.32, mean +/- SD) with standard gamble and of 0.65 (0.57 +/- 0.32) with time trade-off were obtained for the intermediate outcome (i.e., staying alive but returning to dialysis). Thirteen percent of the patients attributed a utility value of 0 to this intermediate outcome (i.e., they would rather die than return to dialysis), and 8% a utility value of 1 (i.e., they would take absolutely no risk from additional antirejection therapy). Individual utility values for returning to dialysis correlated with time on dialysis before transplantation (R= 0.76, P < 0.005), but no relationship was found between utility values and age, sex, religion, previous methods of dialysis, time with a functioning graft, number of transplantations, or time on the transplantation waiting list. CONCLUSION: The large interindividual variability of utility values precludes a prediction about the acceptance of a new therapeutic regimen by an individual patient. The assessment of the utility enables, however, a more objective judgment of the general acceptance of any possible risk/benefit ratio induced by a new immunosuppressive regimen in our patient population.