Mental health of unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents previously held in British detention centres.

AIM: To investigate whether the mental health of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) was negatively affected by having their ages disputed and being detained. METHOD: Participants within this cross-sectional study were 35 UASC, aged between 13 and 17 when they were detained. Some years later, a team of child mental health professionals interviewed them to assess their current mental health and to determine, as far as possible, the impact that having their age disputed and being detained may have had on their mental health. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV), Reactions of Adolescents to Traumatic Stress (RATS), Stressful Life Events (SLE) and Detention Experiences Checklist-UK version (DEC-UK) were administered. RESULTS: The vast majority of UASC reported being negatively affected. Based on diagnostic interviews using the SCID-IV, self-report measures and contemporaneous records, the professionals reported a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) developing in 29% ( n = 10), PTSD exacerbated in 51% ( n = 18), major depressive disorder (MDD) developing in 23% ( n = 8) and MDD exacerbated in 40% ( n = 14). A total of 3 years post-detention, 89% ( n = 31) met diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders and reported high PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of psychiatric disorder. The additional stress of age dispute procedures and detention was judged to have been harmful.

Physiotherapy and lumbar facet joint injections as a combination treatment for chronic low back pain. A narrative review of lumbar facet joint injections, lumbar spinal mobilizations, soft tissue massage and lower back mobility exercises.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to summarize the available evidence on lumbar facet joint injections and the physiotherapy treatments, land-based lower back mobility exercise, soft tissue massage and lumbar spinal mobilizations for chronic low back pain (CLBP). The plausibility of physiotherapy and lumbar facet joint injections as a combination treatment is discussed. METHODS: Using a systematic process, an online electronic search was performed using key words utilizing all available databases and hand searching reference lists. Using a critical appraisal tool from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), the literature was screened to include primary research. The main aspects of the research were summarized. RESULTS: The evidence for lumbar facet joint injections suggests an overall short-term positive effect on CLBP. Land-based lower back mobility exercise and soft tissue massage appear to have a positive effect on CLBP in the short term and possibly in the longer term. There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions for lumbar spinal mobilizations. CONCLUSION: The review indicates that lumbar facet joint injections create a short period when pain is reduced. Physiotherapy treatments including land-based lower back mobility exercise and soft tissue massage may be of benefit during this time to improve the longer-term outcomes of patients with CLBP. It is not possible to make generalizations or firm conclusions. The current review highlights the need for further research. A randomized controlled trial is recommended to assess the impact of physiotherapy in combination with lumbar facet joint injections on CLBP.

Ecallantide for treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema.

PURPOSE: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, dosage, administration, adverse effects, and place in therapy of ecallantide, a kallikrein inhibitor for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE), are reviewed. SUMMARY: Ecallantide is the first member of the kallikrein inhibitor class approved for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE. Ecallantide works by binding to kallikrein, preventing the conversion of kininogen to bradykinin, which reduces vascular permeability, thus reducing the swelling associated with acute attacks of HAE. Ecallantide has been studied for the treatment of HAE in three Phase II studies and two Phase III studies. These studies were collectively known as the EDEMA (Evaluation of DX-88's Effect in Mitigating Angioedema) studies. Phase III clinical trials found that ecallantide is superior to placebo in ameliorating patient symptoms associated with acute attacks of HAE at any anatomical site. Ecallantide has a favorable safety profile, with the most common adverse effects being gastrointestinal effects, headache, and injection site reactions. The most severe adverse effects of ecallantide are the risk of anaphylaxis and the possible development of antiecallantide antibodies. A risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help ensure the safety and efficacy of ecallantide use. The recommended dose is 30 mg given as three separate subcutaneous injections. CONCLUSION: Ecallantide is a novel agent approved for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE at any anatomical site. It is one of only three medications approved for this indication in the United States, presents a unique mechanism of action, and appears to be safe and effective when used for its labeled indication.