The Impact of Chronic Cannabis Use on Esophageal Motility in Patients Referred for Esophageal Manometry.

Background: Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, binds with high affinity to the cannabinoid 1 receptor. Small randomized controlled studies using conventional manometry have shown that the cannabinoid 1 receptor can modulate esophageal function, namely transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation frequency and lower esophageal sphincter tone. The effect of cannabinoids on esophageal motility in patients referred for esophageal manometry has not been fully elucidated using high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM).

Differences in intracellular protein levels in monocytes and CD4 lymphocytes between bipolar depressed patients and healthy controls: A pilot study with tyramine-based signal-amplified flow cytometry.

Background: Molecular biomarkers for bipolar disorder (BD) that distinguish it from other manifestations of depressive symptoms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if a very sensitive tyramine-based signal-amplification technology for flow cytometry (CellPrint™) could facilitate the identification of cell-specific analyte expression profiles of peripheral blood cells for bipolar depression (BPD) versus healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders was ascertained with Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-5.

Effects on heart rate from direct current block of the stimulated rat vagus nerve.

Although electrical vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to augment parasympathetic control of the heart, the effects of electrical conduction block have been less rigorously characterized. Previous experiments have demonstrated that direct current (DC) nerve block can be applied safely and effectively in the autonomic system, but additional information about the system dynamics need to be characterized to successfully deploy DC nerve block to clinical practice.The dynamics of the heart rate (HR) from DC nerve block of the vagus nerve were measured by stimulating the vagus nerve to lower the HR, and then applying DC block to restore normal rate.

Psychometric Evaluation of The Irritability Scale-Initial Version in Chinese Cancer Patients.

Background: Irritability is a common experience of depressed Chinese patients but is understudied and poorly measured.

Objective: We aimed to assess psychometric properties of a new measure of irritability in Chinese cancer patients across the social and political spectrum.

Methods: The Irritability Scale-Initial Version (TISi) was translated into Chinese and tested in two samples of Chinese cancer patients undergoing treatments: 52 patients in Beijing, China, between 2018 and 2019 and 65 patients in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2020.

Protein Biomarkers in Monocytes and CD4 Lymphocytes for Predicting Lithium Treatment Response of Bipolar Disorder: a Feasibility Study with Tyramine-Based Signal-Amplified Flow Cytometry.

Purpose: To determine if enhanced flow cytometry () can identify intracellular proteins of lithium responsiveness in monocytes and CD4 lymphocytes from patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods: Eligible bipolar I or II patients were openly treated with lithium for 16-weeks. Baseline levels of Bcl2, BDNF, calmodulin, Fyn, phospho-Fyn/phospho-Yes, GSK3β, phospho-GSK3αβ, HMGB1, iNOS, IRS2, mTor, NLPR3, PGM1, PKA C-α, PPAR-γ, phospho-RelA, and TPH1 in monocytes and CD4 lymphocytes of lithium responders and non-responders were measured with .

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Proton Pump Inhibitor Test in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Noncardiac Chest Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Response to a trial of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is currently accepted as a first step in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, information on the diagnostic performance of the PPI test is limited.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the PPI test in GERD and noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) and to assess the test performance in erosive reflux disease (ERD) and nonerosive reflux disease (NERD).

The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and autism spectrum disorder in adult patients in the United States.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been associated with psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders. Those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are prone to gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, but most research has been done on children. Our aim was to determine the relationship between GERD and autism in adults and assess GERD-related complications in those with autism.

Associations Among Irritability, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein/Interleukin-6, and Depression in Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Prospective Study.

Background: Association between irritability and depression has been frequently reported, but the nature of this association in the adult population is poorly understood.

Objectives: We examined associations among irritability (e.g.

A pilot randomized clinical trial of a teamwork intervention for heart failure care dyads.

Background: Dyadic heart failure (HF) management can improve outcomes for patients and caregivers and can be enhanced through eHealth interventions.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an eHealth dyadic teamwork intervention, compared to an attention control condition.

Methods: We recruited 29 HF patient-caregiver dyads from inpatient units and randomized dyads to an intervention or a control group.

A pilot study of a low glycemic load diet in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer.

Background: Consumption of a diet with high glycemic indices has been associated with inferior cancer-specific outcomes in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer, but there is limited prospective evidence that alterations in dietary habits improves cancer outcomes. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of following a low glycemic load (GL) diet in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer.

Methods: Patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer, who completed definitive therapy, and consumed an average daily GL >150 participated in a 12-week tailored face-to-face dietary intervention with a target GL.

No association between chronic use of ranitidine, compared with omeprazole or famotidine, and gastrointestinal malignancies.

Background: In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration detected above-regulation levels of the human carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in ranitidine, resulting in a complete removal of the medication from the market. NDMA is known to cause gastrointestinal malignancies in animal models.

Aim: To determine if patients who were receiving ranitidine have a higher risk of developing cancers of the digestive tract compared to patients taking other anti-reflux medications.

Adults with Severe Psychiatric Symptoms in a Community Partial Hospitalization Program: Characteristics and Predictors of Clinical Response.

Mental health wellbeing is a critical element in the overall wellbeing of an individual. Severe mental health issues are directly connected with the individual's functioning and negatively impacts the quality of life. Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization does help significantly in stabilizing the acute serious mental health problems; however, the utility of community partial hospitalization program (PHP) has not been studied extensively.

The Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/aims: A number of inflammatory mediators have been documented to be elevated in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Similar inflammatory mediators are involved in coronary artery disease. Thus, the aim of the study is to determine if GERD is a risk factor for developing acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Role of CD68 immunohistochemistry in categorizing benign nonmesothelial cell population and refining "atypical" category in serous fluid cytology.

Background: Body fluids are rich in histiocytes and may mimic atypical epithelial cells morphologically. Histiocytes can pose a significant challenge in serous fluid cytology as they tend to appear atypical due to prolonged accumulation in serous fluids in vivo and processing by liquid-based cytology in vitro. Not many studies have documented the utilization of histiocytic marker such as CD68 in serous fluid cytology, which can subsequently reduce the "atypical" diagnostic category.

Proton-pump inhibitor use and the development of new ischemic heart disease in non-cardiac chest pain patients.

Background: The growing reports regarding cardiac-related adverse events of chronic proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) treatment, a mainstay therapy of non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), have raised concerns about alteration of the natural course in NCCP patients using PPI. We aimed to determine if NCCP patients receiving PPI have a higher risk of developing ischemic heart disease (IHD) compared to those not receiving PPI therapy.

Methods: Three groups of NCCP patients were included; PPI, histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA), and no antireflux treatment.

Barrett's esophagus patients are becoming younger: analysis of a large United States dataset.

Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE), a complication of long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), has been reported to affect 6-8% of those with heartburn. Most patients are males, Caucasians and middle aged. However, there are no recent demographic studies that evaluated the proportion trends of BE.

Manualized cognitive behavioral group therapy to treat vasomotor symptoms for women diagnosed with mood disorders.

Objective: This 6-week, prospective, single-arm study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of cognitive behavioral group therapy in peri- and postmenopausal women with mood disorders (major depression or bipolar) and problematic vasomotor menopausal symptoms.

Methods: 59 participants from an outpatient clinic with mood disorders and problematic vasomotor symptoms were enrolled. The primary outcomes were change from baseline to 6 weeks in Hot Flush Night Sweat Problem Rating, Hot Flash Related Daily Interference, and Quality of Life.

Measurement of Irritability in Cancer Patients.

Background: Irritability is common among people who are physically ill, but a physical underpinning of irritability is not assessed by existing measures. A measure that assesses multidimensionality of irritability can help nurses and clinicians provide better care for people with cancer and, thus, reduce a risk for developing depression during cancer treatment.

Objectives: We pilot tested a new measure, The Irritability Scale-Initial Version (TISi), for assessing irritability of cancer patients on three dimensions: physical, affective, and behavioral.

Longitudinally Measured Changes in Somnolence Severity With a Visual Analog Scale in a Randomized Lithium Versus Quetiapine-IR Study in Bipolar Disorder.

Objective: The aim of this study was to use a visual analog scale (VAS) longitudinally measuring somnolence severity in patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods: A data set of patients with bipolar spectrum disorders who were randomized to lithium or quetiapine-IR for 16 weeks was used. The somnolence severity was measured with a VAS from 0 to 100 (VAS based), and somnolence frequency was recorded according to incident report (incidence based) at each visit.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pioglitazone for bipolar depression.

Background: Objective of the present study was to conduct an 8-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test the efficacy of pioglitazone in the treatment of bipolar depression.

Methods: 38 outpatients with bipolar disorder and current major depressive episode were randomized to pioglitazone (15-45 mg/day) or placebo. The use of concomitant mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants was permitted.

The vaginal distention model in mice is not a reliable model of simulated birth trauma-induced stress urinary incontinence.

Aims: Vaginal distention (VD) is a validated model of birth-related trauma in rats. Recently a mouse VD model was reported. Our study was originally conducted to evaluate the impact of age on VD in mice.

Randomized clinical trial of a community navigation intervention to improve well-being in persons living with HIV and other co-morbidities.

Long-term survival of people living with HIV (PLWH) is associated with the development of co-morbid conditions and need for symptom management and other efforts to enhance quality of life. We conducted a longitudinal, randomized trial over 36 months to evaluate the effect of a community-based navigator intervention to provide early palliative care to 179 PLWH and other chronic conditions. Outcomes included quality of life, symptom management, coping ability, social support, self-management, and completion of advance directives.

The Changing Epidemiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Are Patients Getting Younger?

Background/aims: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease globally with increasing prevalence and consequently greater burden on the Healthcare system. Traditionally, GERD has been considered a disease of middle-aged and older people. Since risk factors for GERD affect a growing number of the adult population, concerns have been raised that increasingly younger people may develop GERD.

A Pilot Study of the Effectiveness of Lithium Versus Quetiapine Immediate Release Monotherapy in Patients With Bipolar Spectrum Disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of lithium versus quetiapine immediate release (IR) monotherapy in patients with bipolar I, II, or subthreshold bipolar disorder at any phase.

Methods: Eligible patients were randomized to lithium or quetiapine IR for 16 weeks. The difference in the time to discontinuation from study due to "all causes" between lithium and quetiapine IR groups and changes from baseline to 8 and 16 weeks in depression, mania, anxiety, quality of life (QOL), metabolic profiles, and proinflammatory markers were compared.