Psychiatric adverse effects of pediatric corticosteroid use.

Corticosteroids, highly effective drugs for myriad disease states, have considerable neuropsychiatric adverse effects that can manifest in cognitive disorders, behavioral changes, and frank psychiatric disease. Recent reviews have summarized these effects in adults, but a comprehensive review on corticosteroid effects in children has not been published since 2005. Here, we systematically review articles published since then that, we find, naturally divide into 3 main areas: (1) chronic effects of acute prenatal and neonatal exposure associated with prematurity and congenital conditions; (2) immediate behavioral effects of acute exposure via oncological protocols; and (3) acute behavioral effects of sporadic use in children and adolescents with other conditions.

Management of etonogestrel subdermal implant-related bleeding.

Objective: To determine removal rates for unacceptable bleeding in etonogestrel subdermal implant (ESI) users treated with reassurance alone as well as in those receiving reassurance plus medical interventions including doxycycline and ibuprofen, and to compare removal rates between ESI users treated with reassurance alone with those receiving the medical interventions listed above in addition to reassurance.

Study Design: Medical records of 391 women receiving ESI for contraception within the period June 2007-April 2011 were abstracted for patient characteristics and interventions including reassurance, doxycycline, and ibuprofen. Removal rates were compared between intervention groups using the chi2 test and multivariable logistic regression.

Symptom burden, quality of life, and attitudes toward palliative care in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: results from a cross-sectional patient survey.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a complex disease with variable clinical manifestations; nevertheless, morbidity and mortality associated with PAH are considerable. This study examined quality of life (QOL) in PAH patients and assessed use of palliative care (PC) for addressing QOL issues and what barriers might exist regarding early PC implementation for patients with PAH.

Methods: An Internet-based survey was distributed to Pulmonary Hypertension Association patient-related listservs.

Association of body mass index with removal of etonogestrel subdermal implant.

Background: Bleeding irregularities represent the most common etonogestrel subdermal implant (ESI) removal indication.

Study Design: ESI placements (n=304) from June 2007 to April 2011 were grouped by removal indications. Group characteristics were compared using one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis and χ(2) test.