Clinical implications of neuraxial anesthesia in the parturient with scoliosis.

Scoliosis can pose challenges to the initiation and function of neuraxial anesthetics. We reviewed the available literature exploring neuraxial techniques in parturients with uncorrected or corrected (i.e.

Excipient choices for special populations.

Patients with allergies or intolerances and those requiring special diets are among the groups that require formulations with special excipients. When compounding preparations for this population, the suitability of dyes, flavorings, sweeteners, preservatives, gelatins, milk products, gluten, corn, soy, nuts, alcohol, chocolate, and other animal-derived ingredients must be considered. Unlike manufacturers of foods and nutritional supplements, pharmaceutical companies are not required to list certain ingredients of manufactured drugs, such as wheat.

Bipolar spectrum disorder: a pilot study.

Objective: To assess depressive features of a proposed definition of bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD).

Methods: Thirty-six patients with bipolar disorder type I or II were compared to 37 patients with unipolar major depressive disorder through patient interview and chart review.

Results: Univariate analysis suggests that 7 of 12 (recurrent major depressive episodes, brief major depressive episodes, atypical depressive symptoms, early age of onset, family history of bipolar disorder, antidepressant tolerance, and antidepressant-induced mania) features of major depressive episodes were more likely to occur in bipolar versus unipolar patients.

Antidepressant treatment in bipolar versus unipolar depression.

Objective: Antidepressant responses were compared in DSM-IV bipolar and unipolar depression.

Method: The authors analyzed clinical records for outcomes of antidepressant trials for 41 patients with bipolar depression and 37 with unipolar depression, similar in age and sex distribution.

Results: Short-term nonresponse was more frequent in bipolar (51.

Oxcarbazepine treatment of refractory bipolar disorder: a retrospective chart review.

Objective: To determine if oxcarbazepine is effective as treatment for refractory bipolar illness in a naturalistic setting.

Methods: All charts of out-patients treated with oxcarbazepine (n=13) were reviewed and clinical response assessed retrospectively using the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) rating scale. All patients had failed treatment with at least one previous mood stabilizer.

"Cade's disease" and beyond: misdiagnosis, antidepressant use, and a proposed definition for bipolar spectrum disorder.

The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) has been inconsistent and frequently misunderstood in recent years. To identify the causes of this problem and suggest possible solutions, we undertook a critical review of studies concerning the nosology of BD and the effects of antidepressant agents. Both the underdiagnosis of BD and its frequent misdiagnosis as unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) appear to be problems in patients with BD.