Stress and Disease Onset in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

Objective: To explore the potential contribution of stress as a trigger for disease onset in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: 53 AAV and 85 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients as well as 53 healthy controls (HC) were thoroughly asked for the number and impact of stressful life events, coping strategies, and available social support 12 months prior to disease onset. Anxiety, depression, personality dimensions, insomnia, and fatigue were also determined.

Fatigue in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Clinical, Laboratory, Psychometric, and Biologic Associations.

Objective: To identify independent contributors of fatigue in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients, taking into account clinical, laboratory, and psychological features, and to explore the potential role of interferon (IFN)-induced gene indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO-1), anti-21-hydroxylase (anti-21[OH]) antibodies, and soluble BAFF.

Methods: Detailed clinical and laboratory characteristics were recorded for 106 primary SS patients. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, Zung Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Scale, and Athens Insomnia Scale were adopted to assess fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, respectively.

Total nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase in alcohol-dependent individuals during detoxification therapy.

Background: The alterations of total nitric oxide (NO) (through total nitrite/nitrate) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) concentrations were determined in a population of alcohol-dependent individuals without liver disease upon admission for detoxification, two weeks later and after completion of detoxification (4-6 weeks in total).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-eight men and nine women were included in the study. Endogenous nitrite and total nitrite/nitrate concentrations were measured colorimetrically and iNOS concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Duloxetine versus citalopram and sertraline in the treatment of poststroke depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

The authors sought to determine the relative efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine versus citalopram and sertraline in the treatment of poststroke depression (PSD), anxiety, and fatigue. A group of 60 patients with PSD were assigned to receive duloxetine, citalopram, or sertraline and were assessed over a 3-month period for depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Improvement of depression and anxiety, but not fatigue, was observed in all study groups.

Pregabalin augmentation of antidepressants in older patients with comorbid depression and generalized anxiety disorder-an open-label study.

Objective: The objective of this 12-week open-label study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pregabalin as an adjunctive treatment to antidepressants in older patients suffering from depression and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Methods: The initial sample of this open-label study consisted of 94 older patients fulfilling criteria for depression with comorbid GAD who were treated with antidepressants. Twenty of them who had received antidepressant monotherapy for an adequate time and shown partial response to the antidepressant prescribed, in terms of either anxiety or depressive symptomatology, followed the next phase.

Alteration of biological markers in alcohol-dependent individuals without liver disease during the detoxification therapy.

Background/aim: The need for sensitive biological markers to detect and prove recent drinking has been the focus of many research groups. The aim of our study was to investigate the alterations of biological markers in a population of alcohol dependent individuals during the detoxification period.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two alcohol-dependent individuals were admitted for alcohol detoxification on an inpatient basis.

Psychopathological and personality features in primary Sjogren's syndrome--associations with autoantibodies to neuropeptides.

Objectives: To determine the spectrum of personality and psychopathology features of patients with primary SS (pSS) and explore whether they are linked to disease characteristics as well as the presence of autoantibodies (autoAbs) against neuropeptides.

Methods: Personality and psychopathological variables were determined in 103 pSS patients and 110 healthy controls (HCs). AutoAbs against hypothalamic and pituitary neuropeptides were measured by ELISA in 25 pSS patients and 25 HCs.