52 research outputs found
Is hyperglycemia associated with anxious-depressive symptoms? An Italian study in primary care setting
Background: Recent researches exploring the relationship between
impaired glucidic tolerance, hyperglycemia or frank type II diabetes
mellitus and symptoms of anxiety and depression, mostly conducted
on in-patients or highly selected samples and on foreign populations,
have reported conflicting results. Nevertheless, these medical and
mental conditions are often comorbid in clinical practice. Chronic
and systemic inflammation could represent the trait d\'union
between these conditions. Primary care represents an interesting
setting for exploring this comorbidity, given the high prevalence of
psychiatric symptoms displayed by patients. The aims of this
research was to measure the association between hyperglycemia
and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression in out-patients, and to
fill the lack of studies on comorbidity between depression and
anxiety disorders and medical conditions in Primary Care services.
Method: The present was a cross-sectional study. We evaluated all
consecutive patients undergoing a GP consultation in a Northern
Italy practice. Exclusion criteria: age b40 or N80; use of antidepressants
or antipsychotics medication; psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective,
bipolar, organic, or tall as psychotic disorder by DSM IV-TR) or major
depression; pregnancy; previous stroke or heart attack; type I diabetes
mellitus. The psychometric assessment was done by HADS (Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale). Blood Glucose measurements (BM) in
the last 6 months were considered in our analysis. Hyperglycemia cutoff:
blood glucose N100 mg/dl. The statistical analysis was performed
using STATA with multiple linear regressions.
Results: 209 subjects were recruited in our study (84 men and
125 women). Of those, 48 (22.9%) were affected by hyperglycemia:
22 were men and 26 women. Hyperglycemia was related to HADS-D
score in the men sample (β = .44, p = .01). No association was
found between hyperglycemia and HADS-A, either in men or in
women.
Conclusion: The presence of hyperglycemia, well-known cardiovascular
risk factor, may have a clinical value in predicting the presence
of depressive symptoms, especially in men. Further studies should
examine whether our results are generalizable to other populations
and whether they are applicable to clinical depression. Molecular
researches could focus on clarifying the pathophysiological reasons
for such association, also exploring reasons for sex differences
Apple or pear? A cross sectional study on the association between body shape and symptoms of anxiety and depression in primary care female patients
INTRODUCTION - "Apple" body shape (Waist-to-Hip Ratio, WHR>1) is a documented risk factor for
cardiovascular diseases, the first cause of morbility and mortality in Western societies. Mental disorders,
especially anxiety and depression, are also related to cardiovascular diseases with accumulating evidence
that these conditions have in common a dysregulation of inflammatory pathways. Nevertheless, joint
assessment of WHR and symptoms of anxiety and depression has not been reported commonly so far.
AIM - To explore the association between WHR and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a female
primary care sample.
METHODS - Cross-sectional design. Evaluation of all consecutive women undergoing a GP consultation in
a Northern Italy Practice. Exclusion criteria: age 80; use of antidepressants or antipsychotics;
previous stroke or heart attack; obesity due to hereditary. Psychometric assessment was done by HADS
(Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA.
RESULTS - 125 women were assessed. WHR was inversely associated to HADS-Anxiety subscale score
(β=-5.28, p=.02) e HADS-Depression subscale score(β=-4.02, p=.04) in the 40-60 years’ subgroup. In
particular, WC was positively related to HADS-A (β=13.39, p=.02) e HADS-D (β=10.38, p=.03) while HC
was inversely associated to HADS-A (β=-11.3, p=.01) and HADS-D (β=-8.6, p=.03). No associations were
found in older groups.
CONCLUSION - 'Pear” body shape (WHR<1), with a peripheral distribution of fat, is inversely associated to
symptoms of anxiety and depression in women aged 40 to 60. The post-menopausal transition to the 'apple”
model, with a central fat distribution, could explain the lack of correlations in women >60 years
Association between symptoms of anxiety and depression and BMI in Primary Care patients: a cross sectional study
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a heterogeneous entity
represented by the coexistence of multiple alterations: abdominaladiposity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, HDL
hypocolesterolemia and hypertension. Symptoms of anxiety and
depression are frequently comorbid with MetS. Aim of the present
study was to measure the association between symptoms of anxiety
and depression with the five criteria of MetS in outpatients attending
GPs' practices.
Method: This is a cross-sectional study, involving male and female
patients aged 40–80 attending five GPs' practices within one month
in Modena, Northern Italy approved by the local Ethical Committee.
All patients were screened for the presence of MetS and depressive/
anxiety symptoms, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Exclusion criteria: age b40 or N80; use of antidepressants or
antipsychotics; previous stroke, heart attack or cardiovascular
disease; diagnosed psychotic or mood disorder (according to the
DSM-IV-TR); diabetes; pregnancy; hereditary disease linked to
obesity. All data were adjusted for socio-demographic confounders.
Multiple logistic analysis performed with STATA 13.0.
Results: 128 subjects were enrolled in the study (55 men and 73
women), 48 presented with MetS (ATP-III-Revised criteria). MetS
was associated with depression only in the female group (OR =6.33,
p= 0.01), also when adjusting for age (OR =5.13, p= 0.02). MetS
was not associated with anxiety in both males and females, and with
depression in men. Among the individual components of MetS,
only waist circumference was associated with anxiety in the female
group (OR=4.40, p=0.04) also when adjusting for age (OR=4.34,
p=0.04).
Conclusion: Women aged between 40 and 60, presenting with MetS
and attending the primary care services should been regularly
screened for the presence of depression. Chronic systemic inflammation
could represent the biological link between MetS and
psychological symptoms. Further researches are needed to better
clarify this possible relation
Association between anxiety and depressive symptoms with metabolic syndrome in primary care: Results of an Italian cross-sectional study involving outpatients
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a heterogeneous entity
represented by the coexistence of multiple alterations: abdominal adiposity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, HDL
hypocolesterolemia and hypertension. Symptoms of anxiety and
depression are frequently comorbid with MetS. Aim of the present
study was to measure the association between symptoms of anxiety
and depression with the five criteria of MetS in outpatients attending
GPs' practices.
Method: This is a cross-sectional study, involving male and female
patients aged 40–80 attending five GPs' practices within one month
in Modena, Northern Italy approved by the local Ethical Committee.
All patients were screened for the presence of MetS and depressive/
anxiety symptoms, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Exclusion criteria: age b40 or N80; use of antidepressants or
antipsychotics; previous stroke, heart attack or cardiovascular
disease; diagnosed psychotic or mood disorder (according to the
DSM-IV-TR); diabetes; pregnancy; hereditary disease linked to
obesity. All data were adjusted for socio-demographic confounders.
Multiple logistic analysis performed with STATA 13.0.
Results: 128 subjects were enrolled in the study (55 men and 73
women), 48 presented with MetS (ATP-III-Revised criteria). MetS
was associated with depression only in the female group (OR =6.33,
p= 0.01), also when adjusting for age (OR =5.13, p= 0.02). MetS
was not associated with anxiety in both males and females, and with
depression in men. Among the individual components of MetS,
only waist circumference was associated with anxiety in the female
group (OR=4.40, p=0.04) also when adjusting for age (OR=4.34,
p=0.04).
Conclusion: Women aged between 40 and 60, presenting with MetS
and attending the primary care services should been regularly
screened for the presence of depression. Chronic systemic inflammation
could represent the biological link between MetS and
psychological symptoms. Further researches are needed to better
clarify this possible relation
Role of the equilibrium size of Kadanoff blocks in the loop-expansion technique
A method developed by the present authors in a previous paper [Phys. Rev. E 57, 2594 (1998)] leads to the introduction of the equilibrium size of the Kadanoff blocks as a useful tool to approach the critical properties of the φ4 model. The present paper aims to elucidate the role of the equilibrium size of the Kadanoff blocks in the loop-expansion technique currently used in the field-theoretic renormalization. While the standard results are readily obtained, aspects emerge that help clarify the true nature of the smallness parameter in the loop-expansion technique
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors of Bothrops jararaca snake venom affect the structure of mice seminiferous epithelium
Treatment of postprandial hypotension in the elderly
Food intake induces splanchnic vasodilation lasting for at least one hour, which can precipitate in postprandial hypotension, if systolic arterial blood pressure falls by more than 20 mmHg. Postprandial hypotension has a high prevalence in the elderly, above all in subjects receiving hypotensive drugs or in those with disorders of the autonomic nervous system. In our total case series of 567 subjects, the prevalence of postprandial hypotension evaluated by 24-hr blood pressure recording, was 14.5 %, increasing to 28 % in the oldest group. Since relevant cerebral ischemic symptoms may become manifest, a correct diagnosis of the disorder and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutical approaches are of great importance for the wellbeing of old patients
The choice and the change of the allocated primary mental health professional in community-based mental health services: A focus-group qualitative study
Objectives It is generally agreed that it is important to take into consideration users' preferences in the choice of their allocated primary mental health professional (PMHP). Our aim was to explore experiences of users, care givers and psychiatrists on users' initial choice and request of change the PMHP in Community Mental Health Services (CMHSs). Methods Three focus groups were conducted in March-May 2017 in two CMHSs in Modena, Northern Italy. Transcripts were analyzed using MaxQda 11. Results Six users, 7 psychiatrists and 5 care givers were enrolled. Casual or fixed allocation is commonly performed (so-called “fixed rota”). Lack of empathy and a bad therapeutic relationship seem to be the most important reasons to change the PMHP. Conclusions Neither users nor professionals are generally involved in the initial choice of the PMHP. The availability of evidence-based guidelines for managing users' request to choose/change the PHMP may improve quality of care
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