Active suicidal ideation associated with dysfunction in default mode network using resting-state EEG and functional MRI - Findings from the T-RAD Study.

Suicide in youth and young adults is a serious public health problem. However, the biological mechanisms of suicidal ideation (SI) remain poorly understood. The primary goal of these analyses was to identify the connectome profile of suicidal ideation using resting state electroencephalography (EEG). We evaluated the neurocircuitry of SI in a sample of youths and young adults (aged 10-26 years, n = 111) with current or past diagnoses of either a depressive disorder or bipolar disorder who were enrolled in the Texas Resilience Against Depression Study (T-RAD). Neurocircuitry was analyzed using orthogonalized power envelope connectivity computed from resting state EEG. Suicidal ideation was assessed with the 3-item Suicidal Thoughts factor of the Concise Health Risk Tracking self-report scale. The statistical pipeline involved dimension reduction using principal component analysis, and the association of neuroimaging data with SI using regularized canonical correlation analysis. From the original 111 participants and the correlation matrix of 4950 EEG connectivity pairs in each band (alpha, beta, theta), dimension reduction generated 1305 EEG connectivity pairs in the theta band, 2337 EEG pairs in the alpha band, and 914 EEG connectivity pairs in the beta band. Overall, SI was consistently involved with dysfunction of the default mode network (DMN). This report provides preliminary evidence of DMN dysfunction associated with active suicidal ideation in adolescents. Using EEG using power envelopes to compute connectivity moves us closer to using neurocircuit dysfunction in the clinical setting to identify suicidal ideation.

Characterizing inflammatory profiles of suicidal behavior in adolescents: Rationale and design.

BACKGROUND: The suicide rate in youth and young adults continues to climb - we do not understand why this increase is occurring, nor do we have adequate tools to predict or prevent it. Increased efforts to treat underlying depression and other disorders that are highly associated with suicide have had limited impact, despite considerable financial investments in developing and disseminating available methods. Thus, there is a tremendous need to identify potential markers of suicide behavior for youth during this high-risk period. METHODS: Funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), this study aims to map immune dysfunction to suicidal behavior and establish a reliable immune signature of suicide risk that can 1) guide future research into fundamental pathophysiology and 2) identify targets for drug development. The study design is an observational study where blood samples and a comprehensive array of clinical measures are collected from three groups of adolescents (n = 75 each) (1) with suicidal behavior [recent (within 3 months) suicide attempt or suicidal ideation warranting urgent evaluation,] (2) at risk for mood disorders, and (3) who are healthy (no psychiatric history). Participants will complete self-report and clinical assessments, along with a blood draw, at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months, and online self-report assessments once a month. RESULTS: The recruitment for this study is ongoing. LIMITATIONS: Observational, variability in treatment regimens. CONCLUSIONS: This study will help elucidate immune mechanisms that may play a causal role in suicide and serve as targets for future therapeutic development.

Apneic Oxygenation During Prolonged Laryngoscopy in Obese Patients: a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Trial of Nasal Cannula Oxygen Administration.

BACKGROUND: Obese patients have a propensity to desaturate during induction of general anesthesia secondary to their reduced functional residual capacity and increased oxygen consumption. Apneic oxygenation can provide supplemental oxygen to the alveoli, even in the absence of ventilation, during attempts to secure the airway. In this study, we hypothesized that oxygen administration through a nasopharyngeal airway and standard nasal cannula during a simulated prolonged laryngoscopy would significantly prolong the safe apneic duration in obese patients. METHODS: One hundred thirty-five obese patients undergoing non-emergent surgery requiring general anesthesia were randomized to either the control group or to receive apneic oxygenation with air versus oxygen. All patients underwent a standard intravenous induction. For patients randomized to receive apneic oxygenation, a nasopharyngeal airway and standard nasal cannula were inserted. A simulated prolonged laryngoscopy was performed to determine the duration of the safe apneic period, defined as the beginning of laryngoscopy until the peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) reached 95%. RESULTS: The oxygen group had a median safe apneic duration that was 103 s longer than the control group. The lowest mean SpO2 value during the induction period was 3.8% higher in the oxygen group compared to the control group. Following intubation, patients in the oxygen group had a mean end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) level that was 3.0 mmHg higher than patients in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In obese patients, oxygen insufflation at 15 L/min through a nasopharyngeal airway and standard nasal cannula can significantly increase the safe apneic duration during induction of anesthesia.

One-year mortality in geriatric trauma patients: Improving upon the geriatric trauma outcomes score utilizing the social security death index.

BACKGROUND: Geriatric Trauma Outcomes Score (GTOS) predicts in-patient mortality in geriatric trauma patients and has been validated in a prospective multicenter trial and expanded to predict adverse discharge (GTOS II). We hypothesized that these formulations actually underestimate the downstream sequelae of injury and sought to predict longer-term mortality in geriatric trauma patients. METHODS: The Parkland Memorial Hospital Trauma registry was queried for patients 65 years or older from 2001 to 2013. Patients were then matched to the Social Security Death Index. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. The original GTOS formula (variables of age, Injury Severity Score [ISS], 24-hour transfusion) was tested to predict 1-year mortality using receiver operator curves. Significant variables on univariate analysis were used to build an optimal multivariate model to predict 1-year mortality (GTOS III). RESULTS: There were 3,262 patients who met inclusion. Inpatient mortality was 10.0% (324) and increased each year: 15.8%, 1 year; 17.8%, 2 years; and 22.6%, 5 years. The original GTOS equation had an area under the curve of 0.742 for 1-year mortality. Univariate analysis showed that patients with 1-year mortality had on average increased age (75.7 years vs. 79.5 years), ISS (11.1 vs. 19.1), lower GCS score (14.3 vs. 10.5), more likely to require transfusion within 24 hours (11.5% vs. 31.3%), and adverse discharge (19.5% vs. 78.2%; p < 0.0001 for all). Multivariate logistic regression was used to create the optimal equation to predict 1-year mortality: (GTOSIII = age + [0.806 × ISS] + 5.55 [if transfusion in first 24 hours] + 21.69 [if low GCS] + 34.36 [if adverse discharge]); area under the curve of 0.878. CONCLUSION: Traumatic injury in geriatric patients is associated with high mortality rates at 1 year to 5 years. GTOS III has robust test characteristics to predict death at 1 year and can be used to guide patient centered goals discussions with objective data. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, level III.

Fatigue in Nondialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: Correlates and Association with Kidney Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue, although common and associated with outcomes in dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD), has not been studied in nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD-ND) patients. METHODS: In this longitudinal cohort of 266 outpatients with CKD-ND stages 2-5, we measured self-reported fatigue on 3 scales-Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR16), Beck Depression Inventory-I (BDI-I), and short form 12 health survey (SF-12) questionnaires and evaluated the prespecified composite of progression to dialysis initiation, death, or hospitalization after 12 months. Logistic and linear regression assessed characteristics associated with fatigue. Survival analysis measured associations of fatigue with outcomes. RESULTS: Mean age was 64.4 ± 12.0 years, and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 31.6 ± 16.7 mL/min/1.73 m2. Fatigue was common, with 69.2% reporting fatigue on QIDS-SR16 and 77.7% on BDI-I. Unemployment, comorbidities, use of antidepressant medications, and lower hemoglobin correlated with fatigue. There were 126 outcome events. Participants that reported any versus no fatigue on QIDS-SR16 were more likely to reach the composite, hazard ratio (HR) 1.70 (95% CI 1.11-2.59), which persisted after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, substance abuse, hemoglobin, albumin, eGFR, and calcium-phosphorus product, HR 1.63 (1.05-2.55). Fatigue severity by the SF-12 was also associated with outcomes independent of demographics, comorbidities, and substance abuse, HR per unit increase 1.18 (1.03-1.35). No association was observed with fatigue on the BDI-I. CONCLUSION: Fatigue affected about 2/3 of CKD-ND patients and associated with unemployment, comorbidities, antidepressant medication use, and anemia. Fatigue measured by the QIDS-SR16 and SF-12 independently predicted outcomes in CKD patients. Eliciting the presence of fatigue may be a clinically significant prognostic assessment in CKD patients.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Learners' Decision-making, Anxiety, and Task Load During a Simulated Airway Crisis Using Two Difficult Airway Aids.

INTRODUCTION: The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) difficult airway algorithm and the Vortex approach are difficult airway aids. Our objective was to demonstrate that a simpler cognitive model would facilitate improved decision-making during a process such as difficult airway management. We hypothesized the simpler Vortex approach would be associated with less anxiety and task load. METHODS: Medical students were randomized to the ASA algorithm (n = 33) or Vortex approach (n = 34). All learned basic airway techniques on day 1 of their rotation. Next, they watched a video of their respective aid then managed a simulated airway crisis. We assessed decision-making using a seven-point airway management score and a completeness score. Completeness was at least one attempt at each of four techniques (mask ventilation, supraglottic airway, intubation, and cricothyrotomy). Two validated tools, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index, were used to assess anxiety and task load. RESULTS: Students in the Vortex group had higher airway management scores [4.0 (interquartile range = 4.0 to 5.0) vs. 4.0 (3.0 to 4.0), P = 0.0003] and completeness (94.1% vs. 63.6%, P = 0.003). In the ASA group, the means (SD) of National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index scores of 55 or higher were observed in mental [61.4 (14.4)], temporal [62.3 (22.9)], and effort [57.1 (15.6)] domains. In the Vortex group, only the temporal load domain was 55 or higher [mean (SD) = 57.8 (25.4)]. There was no difference in anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students perform better in a simulated airway crisis after training in the simpler Vortex approach to guide decision-making. Students in the ASA group had task load scores indicative of high cognitive load.

Recent cocaine use and the incidence of hemodynamic events during general anesthesia: A retrospective cohort study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intraoperative hemodynamics and medication requirements of cocaine-positive patients compared to matched cocaine-negative controls. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Public county hospital. PATIENTS: 821 patients undergoing general anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS: Incidence of hemodynamic events, defined by a mean arterial pressure of <65 mmHg or >105 mmHg or a heart rate of <50 beats per minute or >100 beats per minute. MAIN RESULTS: Cocaine-positive patients did not experience a higher incidence of hemodynamic events when compared with matched cocaine-negative patients. Cocaine-positive patients were not more likely to be administered vasopressors intraoperatively but did receive more anti-hypertensive agents. The minimum alveolar concentration of anesthetics used was similar between the two groups. Anesthesia duration, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality did not significantly differ between the two cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Cocaine-positive patients did not demonstrate more intraoperative hemodynamic events or adverse short-term outcomes as compared to matched cocaine-negative controls.

Agreement between cytotechnologists and cytopathologists as a new measure of cytopathologist performance in gynecologic cytology.

BACKGROUND: Although objective measures of cytotechnologist (CT) and cytopathologist (CP) performance exist, challenges remain. Two assumptions deserve examination: CPs' interpretations are correct, and CTs and CPs render interpretations independently of each other. This study presents a CT-CP interpretation comparison and provides insight into these assumptions. METHODS: Every gynecologic cytology specimen examined by both a CT and a CP from December 2004 to March 2015 was extracted from the laboratory information system; glandular interpretations were excluded. Excel and SAS were used for CT-CP pair analysis. CT-CP pairs with fewer than 32 specimens (the lowest quartile) were excluded. For the remaining CT-CP pairs, 30 specimens or 10% of the specimens (whichever was higher) were randomly selected for comparison by a weighted κ statistic. κ values greater than 0.6 represented good agreement within CT-CP pairs. RESULTS: This study evaluated 7116 of 53,241 gynecologic cytology specimens (13.4%) that received CT and CP interpretations. This resulted in 155 pair-specific κ values from 15 CTs and 16 CPs. In aggregate, the κ values had a mean of 0.64, a standard deviation of 0.14, a median of 0.65, and a range of 0.27 to 0.91. Nine CTs exhibited good agreement in the majority of their pair-specific κ values with CPs (high-concordance CTs; 88 pair-specific κ values). This allowed us to identify outlier CPs who did not demonstrate good agreement with high-concordance CTs (16 of 88 pair-specific κ values [18.2%]). CONCLUSIONS: Laboratories can use this κ to determine when CP levels of agreement with CTs depart from those of their peers. Adding this to established metrics can give a more nuanced impression of CP performance. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:576-80. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Prognostic Utility of a Self-Reported Depression Questionnaire versus Clinician-Based Assessment on Renal Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic utility of self-administered depression scales in chronic kidney disease (CKD) independent of a clinician-based major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis is neither clearly established nor are the optimal cutoff scores for predicting outcomes. The overlap between symptoms of depression and chronic disease raises the question of whether a cutoff score on a depression scale can be substituted for a time-consuming diagnostic interview to prognosticate risk. METHODS: The 16-item Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology-Self Report scale (QIDS-SR16) was administered to 266 consecutive outpatients with non-dialysis CKD, followed prospectively for 12 months for an apriori composite outcome of death or dialysis or hospitalization. Association of QIDS-SR16 best cutoff score, determined by receiver/responder operating characteristics curves, with outcomes was investigated using survival analysis. The effect modification of an interview-based clinician MDD diagnosis on this association was ascertained. RESULTS: There were 126 composite events. A QIDS-SR16 cutoff ≥8 had the best prognostic accuracy, hazards ratio (HR) = 1.77, 95% CI 1.24-2.53, p = 0.002. This cutoff remained significantly associated with outcomes even after controlling for comorbidities, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin and serum albumin, adjusted HR (aHR) = 1.80, 95% CI 1.23-2.62, p = 0.002, and performed similarly to a clinician-based MDD diagnosis (aHR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.14-2.68). Adjustment for MDD conferred the association of QIDS-SR16 with outcomes no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: QIDS-SR16 cutoff ≥8 adds to the prognostic information available to practicing nephrologists during routine clinic visits from comorbidities and laboratory data. This cutoff score performs similar to a clinician diagnosis of MDD and provides a feasible and time-saving alternative to an interview-based MDD diagnosis for determining prognosis in CKD patients.

Association of urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio with obesity in a multiethnic cohort.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies that reported an association of dietary Na(+) intake with metabolic syndrome were limited by the use of imprecise measures of obesity, Na(+) intake, or exclusion of multiethnic populations. The effect of dietary K(+) intake on obesity is less well described. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that high dietary Na(+) and low K(+), based on the ratio of urinary Na(+) to K(+) (U[Na(+)]/[K(+)]) in a first-void morning urinary sample, is independently associated with total body fat. DESIGN: In a prospective population-based cohort, 2782 participants in the community-dwelling, probability-sampled, multiethnic Dallas Heart Study were analyzed. The primary outcome established a priori was total-body percentage fat (TBPF) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The main predictor was U[Na(+)]/[K(+)]. Robust linear regression was used to explore an independent association between U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] and TBPF. The analyses were stratified by sex and race after their effect modifications were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the cohort, 55.4% were female, 49.8% African American, 30.8% white, 17.2% Hispanic, and 2.2% other races. The mean (±SD) age was 44 ± 10 y, BMI (in kg/m(2)) was 30 ± 7, TBPF was 32 ± 10%, and U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] was 4.2 ± 2.6; 12% had diabetes. In the unadjusted and adjusted models, TBPF increased by 0.75 (95% CI: 0.25, 1.25) and 0.43 (0.15, 0.72), respectively (P = 0.003 for both), for every 3-unit increase in U[Na(+)]/[K(+)]. A statistically significant interaction was found between race and U[Na(+)] /[K(+)], so that the non-African American races had a higher TBPF than did the African Americans per unit increase in U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] (P-interaction < 0.0001 for both). No interaction was found between sex and U[Na(+)]/[K(+)]. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of dietary Na(+) to K(+) intake may be independently associated with TBPF, and this association may be more pronounced in non-African Americans. Future studies should explore whether easily measured spot U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] can be used to monitor dietary patterns and guide strategies for obesity management.

Implication of common and disease specific variants in CLU, CR1, and PICALM.

Two recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) revealed 3 new genes: clusterin (CLU), phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein (PICALM), and complement receptor 1 (CR1). In order to evaluate association with these genome-wide association study-identified genes and to isolate the variants contributing to the pathogenesis of LOAD, we genotyped the top single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs11136000 (CLU), rs3818361 (CR1), and rs3851179 (PICALM), and sequenced the entire coding regions of these genes in our cohort of 342 LOAD patients and 277 control subjects. We confirmed the association of rs3851179 (PICALM) (p = 7.4 × 10(-3)) with the disease status. Through sequencing we identified 18 variants in CLU, 3 of which were found exclusively in patients; 8 variants (out of 65) in CR1 gene were only found in patients and the 16 variants identified in PICALM gene were present in both patients and controls. In silico analysis of the variants in PICALM did not predict any damaging effect on the protein. The haplotype analysis of the variants in each gene predicted a common haplotype when the 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms rs11136000 (CLU), rs3818361 (CR1), and rs3851179 (PICALM), respectively, were included. For each gene the haplotype structure and size differed between patients and controls. In conclusion, we confirmed association of CLU, CR1, and PICALM genes with the disease status in our cohort through identification of a number of disease-specific variants among patients through the sequencing of the coding region of these genes.

Association of urinary sodium/potassium ratio with blood pressure: sex and racial differences.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies reporting an association between high BP and high sodium and low potassium intake or urinary sodium/potassium ratio (U[Na(+)]/[K(+)]) primarily included white men and did not control for cardiovascular risk factors. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: This cross-sectional study investigated the association of U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] with BP in 3303 participants using robust linear regression. RESULTS: Mean age was 43±10 years, 56% of participants were women, and 52% were African American. BP was higher in African Americans than in non-African Americans, 131/81±20/11 versus 120/76±16/9 mmHg (P<0.001). Mean U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] was 4.4±3.0 in African Americans and 4.1±2.5 in non-African Americans (P=0.002), with medians (interquartile ranges) of 3.7 (3.2) and 3.6 (2.8). Systolic BP increased by 1.6 mmHg (95% confidence interval, 1.0, 2.2) and diastolic BP by 1.0 mmHg (95% confidence interval, 0.6, 1.4) for each 3-unit increase in U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] (P<0.001 for both). This association remained significant after adjusting for diabetes mellitus, smoking, body mass index, total cholesterol, GFR, and urine albumin/creatinine ratio. There was no interaction between African-American race and U[Na(+)]/[K(+)], but for any given value of U[Na(+)]/[K(+)], both systolic BP and diastolic BP were higher in African Americans than in non-African Americans. The diastolic BP increase was higher in men than in women per 3-unit increase in U[Na(+)]/[K(+)] (1.6 versus 0.9 mmHg, interaction P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary Na(+) excess and K(+) deficiency may play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension independent of cardiovascular risk factors. This association may be more pronounced in men than in women.

Association between major depressive episodes in patients with chronic kidney disease and initiation of dialysis, hospitalization, or death.

CONTEXT: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience increased rates of hospitalization and death. Depressive disorders are associated with morbidity and mortality. Whether depression contributes to poor outcomes in patients with CKD not receiving dialysis is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the presence of a current major depressive episode (MDE) is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Prospective cohort study of 267 consecutively recruited outpatients with CKD (stages 2-5 and who were not receiving dialysis) at a VA medical center between May 2005 and November 2006 and followed up for 1 year. An MDE was diagnosed by blinded personnel using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was event-free survival defined as the composite of death, dialysis initiation, or hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included each of these events assessed separately. RESULTS: Among 267 patients, 56 had a current MDE (21%) and 211 did not (79%). There were 127 composite events, 116 hospitalizations, 38 dialysis initiations, and 18 deaths. Events occurred more often in patients with an MDE compared with those without an MDE (61% vs 44%, respectively, P = .03). Four patients with missing dates of hospitalization were excluded from survival analyses. The mean (SD) time to the composite event was 206.5 (19.8) days (95% CI, 167.7-245.3 days) for those with an MDE compared with 273.3 (8.5) days (95% CI, 256.6-290.0 days) for those without an MDE (P = .003). The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the composite event for patients with an MDE was 1.86 (95% CI, 1.23-2.84). An MDE at baseline independently predicted progression to dialysis (HR, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.77-6.97) and hospitalization (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.23-2.95). CONCLUSION: The presence of an MDE was associated with an increased risk of poor outcomes in CKD patients who were not receiving dialysis, independent of comorbidities and kidney disease severity.

Prevalence of major depressive episode in CKD.

BACKGROUND: Depression is prevalent in long-term dialysis patients and is associated with death and hospitalization. Whether depression is present through all chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages or appears after dialysis therapy initiation is not clear. We determined the prevalence of a major depressive episode and other psychiatric illnesses by using a structured gold-standard clinical interview and demographic and clinical variables associated with major depressive episode in patients with CKD. STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study using a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition)-based structured interview administered by trained persons to 272 consecutive participants. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine demographic and clinical variables associated with major depressive episode. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients with stages 2 to 5 CKD not treated by using dialysis were consecutively approached and enrolled from a Veterans Affairs CKD clinic. PREDICTORS: Demographic and clinical variables. OUTCOME: Major depressive episode diagnosed by using a structured Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition)-based interview, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. RESULTS: The cohort had a mean age of 64.5 +/- 12.0 years. Thirty-eight percent were African American, and 55% had diabetes mellitus. Percentages of patients with stages 2, 3, 4, and 5 CKD were 6%, 38%, 41%, and 14%, respectively. Mean hemoglobin level was 12.5 +/- 2.0 g/dL. The prevalence of a major depressive episode was 21% and did not vary significantly among different CKD stages. Variables associated with a major depressive episode were diabetes mellitus, comorbid psychiatric illness, and history of drug or alcohol abuse. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study composed of primarily male veterans. CONCLUSIONS: One in 5 patients with CKD had a major depressive episode. Patients with CKD should be screened routinely for depression given this high prevalence and the independent association of depression with poor outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving maintenance dialysis.

Validation of depression screening scales in patients with CKD.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms, assessed by using self-report scales, are present at a striking rate of 45% in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at dialysis therapy initiation. These scales may emphasize somatic symptoms of anorexia, sleep disturbance, and fatigue, which may coexist with chronic disease symptoms and lead to overestimation of depression diagnosis. No study has validated these scales in patients with CKD before dialysis therapy initiation. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a diagnostic test study in participants with CKD to investigate the screening characteristics of 2 depression self-report scales against a gold-standard structured psychiatric interview. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 272 consecutively recruited outpatients with stages 2 to 5 CKD not treated by dialysis were studied. INDEX TESTS: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR(16)) depression screening scales were administered to all participants. REFERENCE TEST: A structured Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition)-based interview, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, was administered by trained persons blinded to self-report scale scores. RESULTS: 57 of 272 (21%) patients had major depression according to the reference test. The best cutoff scores by means of receiver/responder operating characteristic curves to identify a major depressive episode were 11 for the BDI and 10 for the QIDS-SR(16). Sensitivities were 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78 to 96; BDI) and 91% (95% CI, 80 to 97; QIDS-SR(16)), whereas specificities were 88% (95% CI, 83 to 92; BDI) and 88% (95% CI, 83 to 92; QIDS-SR(16)). The positive and negative likelihood ratios for these cutoff scores were 7.6 and 0.1 (BDI) and 7.5 and 0.1 (QIDS-SR(16)). LIMITATIONS: Single-center study and a sample not representative of US demographics. CONCLUSIONS: We found that a BDI score of 11 or higher was a sensitive and specific cutoff value for identifying a major depressive episode in patients with CKD not on dialysis therapy. Both the BDI and QIDS-SR(16) are effective screening tools.

An ecological study of the association of environmental chemicals on breast cancer incidence in Texas.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of environment in breast cancer development, we conducted an ecological study to examine the association of releases for selected industrial chemicals with breast cancer incidence in Texas. METHODS: During 1995--2000, 54,487 invasive breast cancer cases were reported in Texas. We identified 12 toxicants released into the environment by industry that: (1) were positively associated with breast cancer in epidemiological studies, (2) were Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals designated as carcinogens or had estrogenic effects associated with breast cancer risk, and (3) had releases consistently reported to EPA TRI for multiple Texas counties during 1988--2000. We performed univariate, and multivariate analyses adjusted for race and ethnicity to examine the association of releases for these toxicants during 1988--2000 with the average annual age-adjusted breast cancer rate at the county level. RESULTS: Univariate analysis indicated that formaldehyde, methylene chloride, styrene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, chromium, cobalt, copper, and nickel were positively associated with the breast cancer rate. Multivariate analyses indicated that styrene was positively associated with the breast cancer rate in women and men (beta=0.219, p=.004), women (beta=0.191, p=0.002), and women >or= 50 years old (beta=0.187, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Styrene was the most important environmental toxicant positively associated with invasive breast cancer incidence in Texas, likely involving women and men of all ages. Styrene may be an important breast carcinogen due to its widespread use for food storage and preparation, and its release from building materials, tobacco smoke, and industry.