Variables associated with physical health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease patients presenting for deep brain stimulation.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) benefits Parkinson's disease (PD) patient's quality of life specially in domains as mobility, activities of daily living (ADL) and bodily discomfort (BD), but little is known about the variables associated with these HRQOL domains in patients presenting for DBS. The objective is to evaluate variables associated with of HRQOL in a Brazilian sample of PD patients presenting for DBS treatment, specifically in the domains related with motor symptoms. In a cross-sectional study of 59 PD patients evaluated at outpatient Unit for Movement Disorders, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent variables associated with mobility, ADL and BD domains of the 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39). UPDRS III "on" scores, duration of the disease, age, presence of comorbidities and anxiety and depressive symptoms quantified by hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), were the independent variables. In our results, HADS scores were independently associated to mobility domain: ß coefficient 1.36 (95 % CI 0.55-2.15) and BD domain: ß coefficient 1.57 (95 % CI 0.67-2.48). UPDRS III "on" scores were independently associated to mobility domain: 0.42 (95 % CI 0.03-0.81). The model of each multiple linear regression analysis explains 25 % of the mobility domain variability (p < 0.01) and 24 % of the BD domain variability (p < 0.01). Psychiatric symptoms were at least as relevant to quality of life as motor symptoms in PD patients presenting for DBS treatment. The effect of treating these psychiatric symptoms on patients' HRQOL deserves further investigation.

Role of hormonal levels on hospital mortality for male patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in hormone blood levels during the acute phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been described in the literature. The objective was to investigate the association among several hormones plasma levels in the acute phase of severe TBI and the hospital mortality rate of male patients. METHODS: The independent association among plasma levels of TSH, LH, FSH, GH, free T4, cortisol, IGF-1 and total testosterone was measured 10 hours and 30 hours after severe TBI and the hospital mortality of 60 consecutive male patients was evaluated. RESULTS: At least one hormonal level abnormality was demonstrated in 3.6-73.1% of patients. The multiple logistic regressions showed a trend for an independent association among hospital mortality and normal or elevated LH levels measured at 10 hours (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 0.8-16.3, p = 0.08) and 30 hours (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 0.9-16.7, p = 0.06). Admission with abnormal pupils and a lower Glasgow Coma Score also were independently associated with hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: The hormonal changes are frequent in the acute phase of severe TBI. The hormones plasma levels, excepting the LH, are not highly consistent with the hospital mortality of male patients.

Prevalence of Peripheral Neuropathy and associated factors in HIV-infected patients.

The progress on HIV infection treatment has allowed a longer survival for HIV-infected patients. However, chronic comorbidities are emerging. Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) represents one of the most prevalent neurologic disorders among these patients, and comprehensive studies may contribute to a reduction in the morbidity of this condition. This is a cross-sectional analytic study conducted in a tertiary referral hospital in southern Brazil. This study investigates the prevalence of PN among HIV-infected patients and associated demographic, clinical and laboratory variables. A number of 150 HIV-infected patients admitted between January and May 2016 were interviewed, submitted to physical and neurological examination, and data from their medical records were obtained. The prevalence of PN was 31.3%. It was increased among older patients (p=0.02), patients with higher CD4 lymphocytes levels (p=0.02), and smokers (OR=3.4; 95% CI 1.6-6.9; p<0.01). The research identified a high prevalence of PN in HIV-infected patients. Older age and higher CD4 levels have been associated with PN. To the best of our knowledge, this was one of the first studies reporting an association between tobacco use and PN among HIV-infected patients. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the pathological mechanisms linking PN and tobacco.

Prevalência da compulsão alimentar periódica e desenvolvimento de obesidade grave / Prevalence of periodic binge eating and the development of severe obesity

Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de compulsão alimentar periódica. Métodos: Estudo descritivo transversal, com 49 pacientes candidatos à cirurgia bariátrica, em acompanhamento pré-cirúrgico, submetidos à anamnese direcionada e aos quais foi aplicada a Escala de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 39,18±10,38 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (79,59%). O peso e o índice de massa corporal médios da amostra foram respectivamente 131,89±25,78kg e 49,72±6,79kg/m². As comorbidades mais prevalentes foram hipertensão arterial sistêmica (55,10%) e diabetes mellitus (30,61%). Dos 49 entrevistados, 10 (20,40%) apresentaram pontuação compatível com compulsão alimentar periódica, sendo moderada em 8 (16,32%) e grave em 2 pacientes (4,08%). Houve relação entre a presença de compulsão alimentar periódica e menor tempo de obesidade. Conclusão: A prevalência de compulsão alimentar periódica nos pacientes candidatos à cirurgia bariátrica analisados foi semelhante ao descrito na literatura e parece haver relação inversa entre compulsão alimentar e velocidade de ganho de peso. São necessários estudos maiores para confirmar nossos achados.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of binge eating disorder. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study with 49 patients that are candidates for bariatric surgery in the presurgical monitoring, who underwent directed anamnesis and then had the Binge Eating Scale (BES) applied. Results: The average age was 39.18±10.38 years, with most of them being female (79.59%). Average weight and body mass index (BMI) were respectively 131.89±25.78kg, and 49.72±6.79kg/m². The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (55.10%) and Diabetes Mellitus (30.61%). Of the 49 patients interviewed, 10 (20.40%) had a score that was consistent with binge eating disorder, moderate in 8 (16.32%), and severe in 2 patients (4.08%). There was a relation between the presence of binge eating disorder and shorter time of obesity. Conclusion: The prevalence of binge eating disorder in patients eligible for bariatric surgery in this study was similar to that described in the literature, and there seems to be an inverse relation between binge eating and weight gain velocity. Further, larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings.