Presurgical management of ulnar nerve entrapment in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for the development of ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE). Differences in surgical outcomes for UNE between patients with and without DM have been reported, but studies on presurgical management are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the presurgical management of UNE in patients with (DM diagnosis < 2 years of UNE diagnosis) and without DM regarding the level of care for diagnosis and the proportion that proceeds to surgery. Data from 6600 patients with UNE between 2004 and 2019 were included from the Skåne Health Care Register (SHR) and cross-linked with data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). The group with UNE and DM was compared to the group with UNE without DM and prevalence ratios were calculated using Cox regression analysis. Patients with DM more often got their first UNE diagnosis in secondary care than in primary care (643/667, 96% vs. 5361/5786; 93%). Patients with and without DM, regardless of the type of DM, presence of retinopathy, or HbA1c levels, were surgically treated for UNE to the same extent (258/667, 39% of patients with DM vs. 2131/5786, 37% of patients without DM). The proportion of surgically treated was significantly lower among patients diagnosed with UNE in primary care compared to secondary care (59/449, 13% vs. 2330/5786, 38%). Men were more often surgically treated than women (1228/3191, 38% vs.1161/3262 36%). Patients with UNE and DM are surgically treated to the same extent as patients with UNE but without DM and are more likely to be diagnosed in specialized care.

MOXD1 is a lineage-specific gene and a tumor suppressor in neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is a childhood developmental cancer; however, its embryonic origins remain poorly understood. Moreover, in-depth studies of early tumor-driving events are limited because of the lack of appropriate models. Herein, we analyzed RNA sequencing data obtained from human neuroblastoma samples and found that loss of expression of trunk neural crest-enriched gene MOXD1 associates with advanced disease and worse outcome. Further, by using single-cell RNA sequencing data of human neuroblastoma cells and fetal adrenal glands and creating in vivo models of zebrafish, chick, and mouse, we show that MOXD1 is a determinate of tumor development. In addition, we found that MOXD1 expression is highly conserved and restricted to mesenchymal neuroblastoma cells and Schwann cell precursors during healthy development. Our findings identify MOXD1 as a lineage-restricted tumor-suppressor gene in neuroblastoma, potentiating further stratification of these tumors and development of novel therapeutic interventions.

Cold sensitivity, functional disability and predicting factors after a repaired digital nerve injury.

To investigate self-reported cold sensitivity and functional disability after a repaired digital nerve injury. We identified 3204 individuals operated with digital nerve repair in the Swedish national quality registry for hand surgery (HAKIR). Patient-reported symptoms, including cold sensitivity and perceived disability, were examined using two questionnaires (HQ-8 and QuickDASH), three and 12 months postoperatively. Patients with diabetes (n = 48; 3%) were identified in the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). Cold sensitivity (scored 0-100) was the most prominent symptom among 1553 included individuals (998 men, 555 women; median age 41 [IQR 27-54] years). In the regression analysis, flexor tendon injury, hand fracture and injury to multiple structures predicted worsened cold sensitivity (6.9, 15.5 and 25.0 points; p = 0.005, 0.046 and < 0.001) at 12 months. Individuals with moderate (30-70) and severe (> 70) cold sensitivity had higher QuickDASH scores at three and 12 months postoperatively than individuals with mild cold sensitivity (6.0 and 5.5; 19.8 and 21.0 points; p = 0.001). Flexor tendon injury, injuries to multiple structures and diabetes had significant effect on QuickDASH scores at three, but not at 12, months postoperatively. Cold sensitivity is common after a digital nerve repair and impacts self-reported disability. A concomitant injury, particularly multiple injuries, predicts postoperative cold sensitivity.

Efficacy of Gastric Electrical Stimulation for Gastroparesis: US/European Comparison.

BACKGROUND: Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is used in both the US and Europe, but little research has investigated the demographics of gastroparesis patients receiving GES by geographic location. METHODS: We compared data from 380 patients, 296 female and 84 males, mean age 42 years, 246 idiopathic (ID), 107 diabetic (DM), and 27 post-surgical (PS). The statistical significance was calculated by Chi-square test and a P-value obtained for ID, DM, and PS. The statistical significance was calculated by Fischer exact test and a P-value obtained comparing male vs. female. RESULTS: European centers had 61 GES patients compared to 319 from the US. In Europe, 100% of patients had gastric emptying test (GET) values available; in the US, it was 75% of patients. European centers had more DM patients (59%) than the US (22%), and a smaller proportion of ID patients (25%) than the US (72%). There was a statistical difference between the causes of gastroparesis in the patients receiving GES (P-value < 0.00001). There was also significant difference in the gender of the patients receiving GES, with a greater proportion of women in the US (P value = 0.0023). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing GES in US vs. Europe demonstrated significant differences in gastroparesis demographics and percentage of patients with GET data. After analyzing the previously discussed results and reviewing recent updates in evidence-based medicine guidelines, the discrepancy and variance in patient populations in the US and Europe emphasizes the need for a database that allows better analysis and treatment of gastroparesis patients worldwide including stimulation therapies.

Individually tailored internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for older adults with anxiety and depression: a randomised controlled trial.

Mixed anxiety and depression is common among older adults. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of an eight-week-long tailored internet-supported cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) programme and to compare against the provision of weekly general support. A second aim was to investigate if pre-treatment cognitive flexibility and self-reported cognitive problems would predict outcome. We included 66 older adults (aged over 60 years) with mixed anxiety/depression following media recruitment and randomised them into treatment and control groups. We also included a one-year follow-up. As a measure of executive function, we used the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (perseverative errors) and the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire during the pre-treatment phase. Results showed a moderate between-group effect on the main outcome measure, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (d= .50), favouring the treatment group. Nearly half (45.5%) of that group were classified as responders. One person (3%) in the treatment group deteriorated. There were significant correlations between perseverative errors and outcome (on the BAI r = -.45), but not among self-reported cognitive function. We conclude that guided, tailored ICBT may be effective for some older adults and that the role of cognitive function needs to be investigated further.

A slow caloric satiety drinking test in patients with temporary and permanent gastric electrical stimulation.

OBJECTIVES: Improvement of gastric accommodation has been proposed as a potential explanation for the positive effect of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) on nausea/vomiting. A drinking test has been suggested as a noninvasive measure of gastric accommodation capacity. METHODS: Eight patients with therapy refractory nausea and vomiting and nonapproved diagnosis for GES (chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP, n=1), functional dyspepsia (FD, n=3), postsurgical gastroparesis (PSGP, n=4) underwent temporary percutaneous GES for 10-14 days, randomized to stimulation ON or OFF, respectively. 19 patients [CIP (n=1), diabetic gastroparesis (n=5), FD (n=5), idiopathic gastroparesis (n=4), PSGP (n=4)] received permanent GES (Enterra, Medtronic) (follow-up at baseline, 6 and 12 months). At the end of each stimulation period a slow caloric satiety drinking test was performed (Nutridrink 1.5 kcal/ml, 15 ml/min). RESULTS: Healthy volunteers had higher drinking capacity compared to patients at baseline (1630 + or - 496 kcal vs. 887 + or - 412; P<0.001) and less composite symptom score (128 + or - 51 vs. 235 + or - 83; P<0.001). With temporary percutaneous GES, there was no significant change in drinking capacity during stimulation ON versus OFF (746 + or - 383 vs. 734 + or - 427 kcal) and symptom severity at the drinking test was unchanged. For patients having permanent GES there was no significant difference at 6 months (876 + or - 277 kcal) versus baseline, and no difference between symptomatic responders and nonresponders in change in drinking capacity (P=0.7). CONCLUSION: GES had no effect on proximal gastric function as evaluated by the slow caloric satiety drinking test. This seems to be the case for patients with approved as well as nonapproved indications for GES, and irrespective of the symptomatic response.

The cost of monitoring warfarin in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in primary care in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin is used for the prevention of stroke in chronic atrial fibrillation. The product has a narrow therapeutic index and to obtain treatment success, patients must be maintained within a given therapeutic range (International Normalised Ratio;INR). To ensure a wise allocation of health care resources, scrutiny of costs associated with various treatments is justified. The objective of this study was to estimate the health care cost of INR controls in patients on warfarin treatment with chronic atrial fibrillation in primary care in Sweden. METHODS: Data from various sources were applied in the analysis. Resource consumption was derived from two observational studies based on electronic patient records and two Delphi-panel studies performed in two and three rounds, respectively. Unit costs were taken from official databases and primary health care centres. RESULTS: The mean cost of one INR control was SEK 550. The mean costs of INR controls during the first three months, the first year and during the second year of treatment were SEK 6,811, SEK 16,244 and SEK 8,904 respectively. CONCLUSION: INR controls of patients on warfarin treatment in primary care in Sweden represent a substantial cost to the health care provider and they are particularly costly when undertaken in home care. The cost may however be off-set by the reduced incidence of stroke.

Resource consumption and management associated with monitoring of warfarin treatment in primary health care in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin is used for the prevention and treatment of various thromboembolic complications. It is an efficacious anticoagulant, but it has a narrow therapeutic range, and regular monitoring is required to ensure therapeutic efficacy and at the same time avoid life-threatening adverse events. The objective was to assess management and resource consumption associated with patient monitoring episodes during warfarin treatment in primary health care in Sweden. METHODS: Delphi technique was used to systematically explore attitudes, demands and priorities, and to collect informed judgements related to monitoring of warfarin treatment. Two separate Delphi-panels were performed in three and two rounds, respectively, one concerning tests taken in primary health care centres, involving 34 GPs and 10 registered nurses, and one concerning tests taken in patients' homes, involving 49 district nurses. RESULTS: In the primary health care panel 10 of the 34 GPs regularly collaborated with a registered nurse. Average time for one monitoring episode was estimated to 10.1 minutes for a GP and 21.4 minutes for a nurse, when a nurse assisted a doctor. The average time for monitoring was 17.6 minutes for a GP when not assisted by a nurse. Considering all the monitoring episodes, 11.6% of patient blood samples were taken in the individual patient's home. Average time for such a monitoring episode was estimated to 88.2 minutes. Of all the visits, 8.2% were performed in vain and took on average 44.6 minutes. In both studies, approximately 20 different elements of work concerning management of patients during warfarin treatment were identified. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of patients during treatment with warfarin in primary health care in Sweden involves many elements of work, and demands large resources, especially when tests are taken in the patient's home.

Asthma treatment preference study: a conjoint analysis of preferred drug treatments.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of patient preferences for attributes of asthma treatments. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-eight patients (age range, 18 to 60 years) from 15 centers in Sweden completed a questionnaire concerning their asthma, and ranked 18 alternative treatments using conjoint analysis. Patients were receiving treatment with either inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and short-acting bronchodilator (n = 123) or ICS and long-acting bronchodilator (separate inhalers, n = 87; combination inhaler, n = 88). Attributes analyzed were maintenance treatment, additional reliever, time to onset and duration of reliever, number of symptom-free days (SFDs) per month, and out-of-pocket cost per month. RESULTS: Conjoint analysis showed that the most important aspect of treatment was SFD. Forty percent of the patients had