Examining a staging model for anorexia nervosa: empirical exploration of a four stage model of severity.

Background: An illness staging model for anorexia nervosa (AN) has received increasing attention, but assessing the merits of this concept is dependent on empirically examining a model in clinical samples. Building on preliminary findings regarding the reliability and validity of the Clinician Administered Staging Instrument for Anorexia Nervosa (CASIAN), the current study explores operationalising CASIAN severity scores into stages and assesses their relationship with other clinical features. Method: In women with DSM-IV-R AN and sub-threshold AN (all met AN criteria using DSM 5), receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis (n = 67) assessed the relationship between the sensitivity and specificity of each stage of the CASIAN. Thereafter chi-square and post-hoc adjusted residual analysis provided a preliminary assessment of the validity of the stages comparing the relationship between stage and treatment intensity and AN sub-types, and explored movement between stages after six months (Time 3) in a larger cohort (n = 171). Results: The CASIAN significantly distinguished between milder stages of illness (Stage 1 and 2) versus more severe stages of illness (Stages 3 and 4), and approached statistical significance in distinguishing each of the four stages from one other. CASIAN Stages were significantly associated with treatment modality and primary diagnosis, and CASIAN Stage at Time 1 was significantly associated with Stage at 6 month follow-up. Conclusions: Provisional support is provided for a staging model in AN. Larger studies with longer follow-up of cases are now needed to replicate and extend these findings and evaluate the overall utility of staging as well as optimal staging models

Depression and sickness behavior are Janus-faced responses to shared inflammatory pathways

It is of considerable translational importance whether depression is a form or a consequence of sickness behavior. Sickness behavior is a behavioral complex induced by infections and immune trauma and mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is an adaptive response that enhances recovery by conserving energy to combat acute inflammation. There are considerable phenomenological similarities between sickness behavior and depression, for example, behavioral inhibition, anorexia and weight loss, and melancholic (anhedonia), physio-somatic (fatigue, hyperalgesia, malaise), anxiety and neurocognitive symptoms. In clinical depression, however, a transition occurs to sensitization of immuno-inflammatory pathways, progressive damage by oxidative and nitrosative stress to lipids, proteins, and DNA, and autoimmune responses directed against self-epitopes. The latter mechanisms are the substrate of a neuroprogressive process, whereby multiple depressive episodes cause neural tissue damage and consequent functional and cognitive sequelae. Thus, shared immuno-inflammatory pathways underpin the physiology of sickness behavior and the pathophysiology of clinical depression explaining their partially overlapping phenomenology. Inflammation may provoke a Janus-faced response with a good, acute side, generating protective inflammation through sickness behavior and a bad, chronic side, for example, clinical depression, a lifelong disorder with positive feedback loops between (neuro)inflammation and (neuro)degenerative processes following less well defined triggers

Perfil clínico e neuropsicológico de crianças com transtorno do deficit de atenção e hiperatividade

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and neuropsychological findings in children with suspicion of attention deficity hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The assessment involved 150 children aged 7 to 14 referred to NANI at UNIFESP. RESULTS: 75 children (55 M and 20 F) fulfilled the criteria for ADHD, among which 35 were of the inattentive type, 28 of combined type and 12 were hyperactive/impulsive. There was negative correlation between the digit score and the Corsi test. Children with hyperactivity and impulsivity had a low performance for functional memory. Children with oppositional defiant disorder presented pattern changes in adaptability when there was a change in the rhythm the stimuli were presented and lower adaptation to time variability (Hit RT), in addition to higher rates of omission in the continuous performance test. CONCLUSION: This study suggests multiple interrelations between the scores of neuropsychological battery useful for detailed delimitation of the clinical profile of children with ADHD.O objetivo deste trabalho foi delimitar indicadores clínicos e neuropsicológicos em crianças com suspeita de transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDA/H). Foram avaliadas 150 crianças (idade de 7 a 14 anos) encaminhados ao NANI da UNIFESP. RESULTADOS: 75 crianças (55 M e 20 F) preenchiam os critérios para o TDA/H, dentre os quais 35 (46,6%) pacientes eram desatentos, 28 do tipo combinado e 12 do tipo hiperatividade/impulsivo. Observou-se correlação negativa com o escore de dígitos e no escore do teste de Corsi. Crianças com hiperatividade e impulsividade apresentaram baixo desempenho nas funções relacionadas à memória operacional. Crianças com transtorno opositor desafiante apresentaram alterações nos padrões de adaptação às mudanças do ritmo com menor adaptação às variações do tempo de exposição aos estímulos (Hit RT), além de maiores taxas de omissão no teste contínuo de performance. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo sugere múltiplas interrelacões entre os escores em provas neuropsicológicas que são úteis para uma delimitação do perfil clínico de crianças com TDAH.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Indução de aderência intrabdominal por prótese de retícula de polipropileno:: estudo experimental em ratos

INTRODUCTION: The correction of groin hernias using a transperitoneal videolaparoscopic method with a polypropylene mesh is becoming increasingly common. This could lead to an increased incidence of adhesion formation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The incidence of adhesions induced by mesh placement and by reperitonization was observed in 40 male adult Wistar rats, randomlyallocated to four groups of 10 rats (Group A = no mesh, no reperitonization; B = no mesh, reperitonization; C = mesh, no reperitonization; D = mesh and reperitonization). After opening the abdominal cavity, the iliac fossa was identified and a peritoneal opening, measuring about 2 by 2 cm, was done on the parietal wall. In the rats in which a polypropylene prosthesis was used, a piece of Marlex mesh, measuring about 1.5 by 1.5 cm was placed on the peritoneal opening. A simple suture was performed in the animals submitted to reperitonization, using a 5.0 monofilamentar polypropylene thread on a cardiovascular (atraumatic) needle. The animals were killed 15 days after the operation. Macroscopic analysis was done by an investigator blinded to intervention group. Fisher’s exact test and the c2 test were used for statistical analysis of the results. A P < 0.05 was considered as significant.RESULTS: Adhesions were significantly more common in the groups in which the prosthesis was placed (59% vs. 95%; P = 0.01), as well as in the groups in whichreperitonization was performed (58% vs. 100%; P = 0.03).CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that polypropylene mesh placement and reperitonization are each independent factors that have a role in inducing the formationof adhesions.INTRODUÇÃO: A correção de hérnias na virilha através de um método videolaparoscópico transperitoneal está se tornando cada vez mais comum. Contudo,este método poderia levar a um aumento na incidência de formação de aderências.MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: A incidência de aderências induzidas pela colocação de retícula e pela reperitonização foram observadas em 40 ratos Wistar adultos, machos, divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos com 10 ratos cada um (Grupo A = sem retícula, sem reperitonização; B = sem retícula, com reperitonização; C = com retícula, sem reperitonização; D = retícula e reperitonização). Após a abertura da cavidade abdominal, a fossa ilíaca foi identificada e fez-se uma abertura de aproximadamente 2 x 2 cm na parede parietal. Nos ratos em que uma prótese de polipropileno foi utilizada, uma retícula Marlex com 1,5 x 1,5 cm foi colocada sobre a abertura peritoneal. Nos outros animais, a reperitonização foi feita com sutura simples, utilizando-se fio de polipropileno monofilamentar 5.0 com uma agulha cardiovascular (atraumática). Os animais foram sacrificados 15 dias depois da operação. A análise macroscópica foi realizada por um investigador cego quanto ao grupo de origem dos animais. A análise estatística utilizou o teste exato de Fisher e o c2. Um P < 0,05 foi considerado significativo.RESULTADOS: As aderências foram significativamente mais comuns nos grupos nos quais a prótese foi utilizada (59% vs. 95%; P = 0,01), assim como nos gruposnos quais foi feita a reperitonização (58% vs. 100%; P = 0,03).  CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que a retícula de polipropileno e a reperitonização são fatores independentes entre si quanto à indução de formaçãode aderências

Standardisation framework for the Maudsley staging method for treatment resistance in depression

Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a serious and relatively common clinical condition. Lack of consensus on defining and staging TRD remains one of the main barriers to understanding TRD and approaches to intervention. The Maudsley Staging Method (MSM) is the first multidimensional model developed to define and stage treatment-resistance in “unipolar depression”. The model is being used increasingly in treatment and epidemiological studies of TRD and has the potential to support consensus. Yet, standardised methods for rating the MSM have not been described adequately. The aim of this report is to present standardised approaches for rating or completing the MSM. Method: Based on the initial development of the MSM and a narrative review of the literature, the developers of the MSM provide explicit guidance on how the three dimensions of the MSM–treatment failure, severity of depressive episode and duration of depressive episode– may be rated. Result: The core dimension of the MSM, treatment failure, may be assessed using the Maudsley Treatment Inventory (MTI), a new method developed for the purposes of completing the MSM. The MTI consists of a relatively comprehensive list of medications with options for rating doses and provisions treatment for multiple episodes. The second dimension, severity of symptoms, may be assessed using simple instruments such as the Clinical Global Impression, the Psychiatric Status Rating or checklist from a standard diagnostic checklist. The standardisation also provides a simple rating scale for scoring the third dimension, duration of depressive episode. Conclusion: The approaches provided should have clinical and research utility in staging TRD. However, in proposing this model, we are fully cognisant that until the pathophysiology of depression is better understood, staging methods can only be tentative approximations. Future developments should attempt to incorporate other biological/ pathophysiological dimensions for staging

Quality of life: international and domestic students studying medicine in New Zealand

International students form a significant proportion of students studying within universities in Western countries. The quality of life perceptions of international medical students in comparison with domestic medical students has not been well documented. There is some evidence to suggest that international medical students may have different educational and social experiences in relation to their domestic peers. This study investigates the levels of quality of life experienced by international and domestic students studying medicine. A total of 548 medical students completed the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. The focus of the analysis was to evaluate differences between international and domestic students in their early clinical years. The responses were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance methods. International medical students are experiencing lower social and environmental quality of life compared with domestic peers. International medical students in New Zealand have expressed quality of life concerns, which likely have an impact on their academic achievement, feelings of wellness, acculturation, and social adaptation. The findings reinforce the need for creating stronger social networks and accessible accommodation, as well as developing systems to ensure safety, peer mentorship and student support.published_or_final_versio

Versão Abreviada do WISC-III:: Correlação entre QI Estimado e QI Total em Crianças Brasileiras

In order to calculate the correlation between the Estimated IQ and the Full Scale IQ of children submitted to the WISC III, four different data banks with a total of 207 children were integrated: (1) typically developing children, (2) children diagnosed as having Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, (3) children identified by private clinics as having learning disabilities (4) children with neurological sequelae diagnosed by a public university outpatient treatment program. Results suggest that the Estimated IQ, which is based on the weighted sum of the subtest scores of Cubes and Vocabulary, may be used in the presence of time constraints, when intellectual performance is important for screening in research procedures, and as a reference within a broader neuropsychological evaluation.  Com o objetivo de correlacionar o QI Estimado com o QI Total, quatro bancos de dados do WISC III de 207 crianças foram associados: 1) crianças com desenvolvimento típico; 2) crianças com diagnóstico do transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade; 3) crianças referenciadas por dificuldades de aprendizagem em consultório particular; e 4) crianças com sequela neurológica avaliadas em ambulatório universitário. Os dados do QI total foram correlacionados aos do QI estimado, correspondentes à soma dos pontos ponderados dos subtestes Vocabulário e Cubos. Os resultados sugerem que o QI Estimado pode ser adotado quando há restrição de tempo e quando o desempenho intelectual está sendo usado como triagem em pesquisa, ou como ponto de referência dentro de uma avaliação neuropsicológica. &nbsp

Versão Abreviada do WISC-III:: Correlação entre QI Estimado e QI Total em Crianças Brasileiras

In order to calculate the correlation between the Estimated IQ and the Full Scale IQ of children submitted to the WISC III, four different data banks with a total of 207 children were integrated: (1) typically developing children, (2) children diagnosed as having Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, (3) children identified by private clinics as having learning disabilities (4) children with neurological sequelae diagnosed by a public university outpatient treatment program. Results suggest that the Estimated IQ, which is based on the weighted sum of the subtest scores of Cubes and Vocabulary, may be used in the presence of time constraints, when intellectual performance is important for screening in research procedures, and as a reference within a broader neuropsychological evaluation.  Com o objetivo de correlacionar o QI Estimado com o QI Total, quatro bancos de dados do WISC III de 207 crianças foram associados: 1) crianças com desenvolvimento típico; 2) crianças com diagnóstico do transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade; 3) crianças referenciadas por dificuldades de aprendizagem em consultório particular; e 4) crianças com sequela neurológica avaliadas em ambulatório universitário. Os dados do QI total foram correlacionados aos do QI estimado, correspondentes à soma dos pontos ponderados dos subtestes Vocabulário e Cubos. Os resultados sugerem que o QI Estimado pode ser adotado quando há restrição de tempo e quando o desempenho intelectual está sendo usado como triagem em pesquisa, ou como ponto de referência dentro de uma avaliação neuropsicológica. &nbsp