Long-term treatment with supraphysiologic doses of levothyroxine in treatment-refractory mood disorders - A prospective study of cardiovascular tolerability.

Background: To investigate long-term effects of adjunctive prophylactic treatment with supraphysiologic doses of levothyroxine (L-T4) on cardiovascular tolerability in 23 patients with treatment-refractory mood disorders.

Methods: Starting point for a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment in patients was the indication for long-term maintenance treatment with L-T4 (mean dose 463 mcg/day). Prospective longitudinal assessment of the cardiovascular risk profile included in addition to a physical examination and blood pressure measurement, several technical investigations: resting electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiogram, cardiac stress test, and holter electrocardiogram.

COMETARY SCIENCE. The nonmagnetic nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Knowledge of the magnetization of planetary bodies constrains their origin and evolution, as well as the conditions in the solar nebular at that time. On the basis of magnetic field measurements during the descent and subsequent multiple touchdown of the Rosetta lander Philae on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P), we show that no global magnetic field was detected within the limitations of analysis. The Rosetta Magnetometer and Plasma Monitor (ROMAP) suite of sensors measured an upper magnetic field magnitude of less than 2 nanotesla at the cometary surface at multiple locations, with the upper specific magnetic moment being <3.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A values in patients with stable cardiovascular disease: use of a new monoclonal antibody-based assay.

Background: PAPP-A is promising in improving risk stratification and invasive treatment decisions in stable cardiovascular patients. We evaluated the prognostic value of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) measured by a novel assay in stable cardiovascular patients.

Methods: We investigated 228 stable cardiovascular outpatients.

Evaluation of Client Services (ECS): a measure of treatment satisfaction for people with chronic mental illnesses.

This article describes the development and psychometric assessment of the Evaluation of Client Services (ECS) measure of treatment satisfaction for people with chronic mental illnesses in community treatment settings. The ECS, a 20-item instrument, was validated in a sample of 184 individuals receiving outpatient mental health treatment in New York City. The four dimensions of the ECS, (1) treatment management and treatment outcome, (2) treatment relationship, (3) communication and information exchange, and (4) reachability of treatment facilities are internally consistent and stable over time.

Little or no solar wind enters Venus' atmosphere at solar minimum.

Venus has no significant internal magnetic field, which allows the solar wind to interact directly with its atmosphere. A field is induced in this interaction, which partially shields the atmosphere, but we have no knowledge of how effective that shield is at solar minimum. (Our current knowledge of the solar wind interaction with Venus is derived from measurements at solar maximum.

Usefulness of detectable levels of troponin, below the 99th percentile of the normal range, as a clue to the presence of underlying coronary artery disease.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether markers of myocardial injury and ischemia are helpful in detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable angina. Venous blood was obtained before and after a bicycle exercise test in 47 outpatients with suspected CAD for measurement of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), heart-type fatty acid binding protein, and glycogen phosphorylase BB. Patients with a coronary artery stenosis >/=70% in diameter (n = 33) were compared with patients with coronary narrowing <50% (controls, n = 14).

[The Vienna Patient Satisfaction Inventory development of a patient satisfaction instrument for psychiatric outpatient services].

Objective: Development of a patient satisfaction measure for psychiatric outpatient services.

Method: A pilot version of the Vienna Patient Satisfaction Inventory (Wiener Patientenzufriedenheitsinventar, WPI) was tested in a sample of 92 psychiatric first-time outpatients. Based upon psychometric testing of the pilot version, and content analysis of patients' interviews, an optimized final version of the WPI was developed that took experts' suggestions into account.

Predictors of treatment discontinuity in outpatient mental health care.

Background: Discontinuity of service utilisation among newly referred community outpatients is a common concern. However, knowledge about factors associated with service utilisation is inconsistent.

Method: This study examined service utilisation of 323 newly referred patients in three community mental health centres (CMHCs) in Vienna, Austria over a 4-month period.

Quality of life and other characteristics of Viennese mental health care users.

Background: The purposes of this study are (1) to characterise patients with different treatment experiences, (2) to evaluate differences in quality of life (QoL) among patients with different treatment experiences, (3) to evaluate changes in QoL following community resettlement, and (4) to find predictors of overall life satisfaction (OLS).

Methods: Treatment experiences are defined according to service use as follows: (a) user of in- and outpatient services (overall users), (b) user of inpatient (inpatients) or (c) outpatient facilities only (outpatients). Demographic and clinical data of 425 psychiatric patients are analysed cross-sectionally in relation to their treatment experiences.

[Social vulnerability, social isolation of chronic psychiatric patients].

Social vulnerability and social isolation as to different, light and severe grades of chronically ill psychiatric patients were evaluated. A social vulnerability index, composed out of marital status, income, health, living conditions, occupation, and risk factors in childhood was used. The vulnerability of 64 severely chronically ill patients and of 84 chronically ill patients was assessed.

Satisfaction of inpatients and outpatients with staff, environment, and other patients.

The study described here compared levels of satisfaction with staff, environment, and other patients among 420 first-time and long-term patients in psychiatric outpatient and inpatient settings. The demographic, clinical, and outcome variables associated with satisfaction were explored. Patient satisfaction was related to quality of life, social functioning, treatment expectations, and one-year psychological and physical prognoses.

[Utilization of psychiatric treatment. Who drops out, who comes back and who stays?].

Objective: The aim of this study is the prediction of specific factors associated with utilization patterns of mental health care.

Method: Course of treatment of 272 out-patients and in-patients was observed for one year. Patients were asked five times (baseline, 1 month, 3, 6, and 12 months) about their utilization behavior.

[Expectations of psychiatric patients from their outpatient and inpatient treatment].

Objective: This study describes patient evaluations about treatment interventions and the subjective value of specific treatment expectations.

Method: A random sample of 425 out-patients and in-patients was assessed to evaluate importance of treatment interventions and specific expectations of psychiatric treatment.

Results: Preferences regarding treatment interventions varied among diagnostic groups.

[Quality of life of the mentally ill].

Object of this research project was to study the subjective quality of life of psychiatric patients. The vulnerability of 424 out- and inpatients was assessed. The Vulnerability Index, composed of: marital status, income, health, life conditions, occupation, and risk factors in childhood was used.

[Assisted living for former long-term hospitalized psychiatric patients].

Objectives: The aim of the study is the evaluation of essential characteristics of patients who entered the sheltered group homes of the Psychosozialen Dienst (PSD) in the city of Vienna after the establishment of sectorized psychiatric out-patient care facilities.

Method: Eighty patients who lived in these group homes on the first key day, June 30th 1993, were investigated. Any change in their living situation and rate of hospitalization was ascertained at follow-up, 3.

[Results and limits of fibrin-unspecific thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarct].

Acute myocardial infarction is caused by thrombotic occlusion of a coronary vessel. Mortality and quality of life are both determined by the extent of infarction. It is possible to interrupt the development of necrosis by early fibrinolytic therapy.

[Doppler echocardiographic findings in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

This study was performed to evaluate diastolic and systolic flow parameters in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as assessed by Doppler echocardiography. We examined 45 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (35 of which had an obstruction) and compared the results of diastolic and systolic measurements with those of two groups of normals (less than 25 years, n = 15; greater than 40 years, n = 10). For the diastolic parameters the isovolumetric relaxation time showed a significant prolongation with 107 +/- 23 ms as compared to normals (greater than 40 years) with 86 +/- 10 ms.

[Detection of regional hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ECG triggered nuclear magnetic resonance tomography--comparison with hypertensive patients and persons with healthy hearts].

Gated magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) was conducted in 40 patients (13 normal volunteers, 9 hypertensives and 18 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) using a 0.35 Tesla superconducting magnet. Multisectional spin echo imaging (35/400 msec) was obtained in coronal, transversal and sagittal planes.