Effect of biologics on depressive symptoms in patients with psoriasis: a systematic review.

Background: Twenty to fifty percent of patients with psoriasis have depressive symptoms.

Objective: To describe the effects of biologics (tumour necrosis factor inhibitors [TNFi] or interleukin 12/23 inhibitors [IL-12/23i]) on depressive symptoms in patients with psoriasis.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of biologics on depressive symptoms in adults with psoriasis.

Hypnotics in insomnia: the experience of zolpidem.

Purpose: One of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat insomnia is zolpidem, a nonbenzodiazepine compound that is available as an immediate-release oral tablet formulation, an extended-release oral formulation, an oral spray formulation, and as sublingual formulations. The purpose of this review was to summarize the data currently available on the efficacy and safety of zolpidem in the treatment of insomnia among adults.

Methods: Published studies on the use of zolpidem in the treatment of insomnia were identified by using combinations of relevant search terms in PubMed and Google Scholar.

Meta-analysis of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and glucocorticoids on bone density in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis trials.

Objective: To examine the impact of antirheumatic drugs on bone mineral density (BMD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and psoriasis using a systematic review.

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials. Studies were grouped based on disease, treatment, and site of BMD measurement.

Advanced diagnostic studies: exhaled breath and sputum analyses.

Aim: : The present paper aims to review the advantages and limitations of sputum cell counts and exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels in the investigation of occupational asthma (OA).

Methods: The American College of Chest physicians held a course on occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases in Toronto in 2013. A summary of the session on non-invasive measures of airway inflammation in OA is presented here.

Reduced risk for inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks with dual-chamber therapy compared with single-chamber therapy: results of the randomized OPTION study.

Objectives: The OPTION (Optimal Anti-Tachycardia Therapy in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Patients Without Pacing Indications) trial sought to compare long-term rates of inappropriate shocks, mortality, and morbidity between dual-chamber and single-chamber settings in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) patients.

Background: The use of dual-chamber ICDs potentially allows better discrimination of supraventricular arrhythmias and thereby reduces inappropriate shocks. However, it may lead to detrimental ventricular pacing.

Progressive decrease of melatonin production over consecutive days of simulated night work.

Decreased melatonin production, due to nighttime exposure to light, has been proposed as one of the physiological mechanisms increasing cancer risk in night workers. However, few studies measured melatonin production in night workers, and most of these studies did not measure melatonin over 24 h. One study compared total melatonin production between day and night shifts in rotating night workers and did not find significant differences.

The impact of various platelet indices as prognostic markers of septic shock.

Introduction: Platelet indices, including mean platelet volume (MPV), are readily available blood tests, although their prognostic value in patients with septic shock has not been fully explored. Current evidence has found contradictory results. This study aims to explore the behavior of platelet indices in septic shock and their clinical prognostic value.

Extracorporeal treatment for barbiturate poisoning: recommendations from the EXTRIP Workgroup.

The EXTRIP (Extracorporeal Treatments in Poisoning) Workgroup conducted a systematic review of barbiturate poisoning using a standardized evidence-based process to provide recommendations on the use of extracorporeal treatment (ECTR) in patients with barbiturate poisoning. The authors reviewed all articles, extracted data, summarized key findings, and proposed structured voting statements following a predetermined format. A 2-round modified Delphi method was used to reach a consensus on voting statements, and the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used to quantify disagreement.

Olfactory exposure to males, including men, causes stress and related analgesia in rodents.

We found that exposure of mice and rats to male but not female experimenters produces pain inhibition. Male-related stimuli induced a robust physiological stress response that results in stress-induced analgesia. This effect could be replicated with T-shirts worn by men, bedding material from gonadally intact and unfamiliar male mammals, and presentation of compounds secreted from the human axilla.

Insomnia in patients with unexplained chest pain.

Objectives: The current study was designed (1) to assess insomnia symptoms and sleep-related beliefs in a population of patients presenting in emergency department with unexplained chest pain (UCP) and (2) to examine the associations between insomnia and pain.

Methods: This is a report of secondary data from a cross-sectional study performed in the emergency department of 2 academic hospitals. Patients with UCP seen in an emergency department were assessed using sleep questionnaires and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition.

Percentage of pain intensity difference on an 11-point numerical rating scale underestimates acute pain resolution.

Background: A 50% reduction in pain intensity difference (50%PID) between baseline and follow-up evaluation is commonly accepted as adequate pain relief in emergency departments (EDs). However, 50%PID seems to be problematic with the 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) since even baseline values are more divisible by 2 (50% reduction) than odd baseline values. This study evaluated the impact of this bias and integrated time between baseline and follow-up measurements, hypothesizing that the slope of relative pain intensity difference (SRPID) is a more accurate gauge of pain relief that can decrease bias and incorporate the time component of pain relief.

Senior patients with moderate to severe pain wait longer for analgesic medication in EDs.

Study Objective: Delayed pain treatment is a common problem in emergency departments (EDs). The objective of this study was to examine the effect of age on time to ED patients receiving the first analgesic dose for moderate to severe pain.

Methods: Real-time, archived data from a tertiary urban hospital and a secondary regional hospital were analyzed post hoc.

Linear polyethylenimine produced by partial acid hydrolysis of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) for DNA and siRNA delivery in vitro.

Polyethylenimines (PEIs) are the most efficient synthetic vectors for gene delivery available to date. With its high charge density and strong proton-buffering effect, PEI has an ability to condense DNA and small interfering RNA at physiologic pH. However, the polymer suffers from the disadvantage of high cellular toxicity.

Spondylolisthesis, Sacro-Pelvic Morphology, and Orientation in Young Gymnasts.

Study Design: Cross-sectional evaluation of sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation as well as spondylolisthesis prevalence in a cohort of young gymnasts.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of spondylolisthesis in a cohort of gymnasts, as well as the associated demographic characteristics and sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation.

Summary Of Background Data: Numerous studies have shown that sagittal sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation is abnormal in spondylolisthesis.

Does a liberal national transfusion law assure blood safety? A survey of blood bank directors' perspectives in Lebanon.

In transfusion medicine today, 'zero risk' has become a universal objective. Thus, we investigated whether the level of blood safety as defined by Lebanese legislation is satisfactory. Our work covered the period from September 2008 to June 2012.

Discontinuation of preoperative clopidogrel is unnecessary in peripheral arterial surgery.

Objective: The optimal management of preoperative clopidogrel remains controversial, as vascular surgeons are increasingly encountering patients treated with clopidogrel as part of dual antiplatelet therapy. Current practice differs considerably, from cessation of the medication at least 5 days before surgery to proceeding with surgery without delay. The purpose of this prospective, nonrandomized, comparative study was to determine the effect of preoperative exposure to clopidogrel and aspirin on perioperative bleeding complications in patients undergoing open arterial surgery.

Genetic and environmental influences on daytime and nighttime sleep duration in early childhood.

Objectives: To determine the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors on daytime and nighttime continuous sleep duration at 6, 18, 30, and 48 months of age, and to identify different subgroups of children who followed different daytime and nighttime sleep duration trajectories and to investigate their etiology.

Methods: The current study included 995 twins (405 monozygotic and 586 dizygotic) of the Quebec Newborn Twin Study recruited from the birth records of the Quebec Statistics Institute. Daytime and nighttime sleep was assessed through maternal reports at 6, 18, 30, and 48 months of age.

Blood pressure changes associated with periodic leg movements during sleep in healthy subjects.

Background And Objectives: Periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) are associated with important blood pressure (BP) increases in restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients. These movements also are highly prevalent in the healthy elderly population. The aims of our study were to evaluate if heart rate (HR) and BP changes associated with PLMS are present in healthy subjects with no report of health concerns and to compare the amplitude of cardiovascular changes in healthy subjects to that of RLS subjects.

The application of a classification-tree model for predicting low back pain prevalence among hospital staff.

Low back pain (LBP) is a widespread musculoskeletal condition that frequently occurs in the working-age population (including hospital staff). This study proposes a classification-tree model to predict LBP risk levels in Sacré-Cœur Hospital, Lebanon (as a case study-236 chosen staffs) using various predictor individual and occupational factors. The developed tree model explained 80% of variance in LBP risk levels using standing hours/day (90% in relative importance), job status/sitting hours per day (80% each), body mass index (71%), working days/week (63%), domestic activity hours/week (36%), weight (35%), job dissatisfaction/sitting on ergonomic chairs (30% each), height (28%), gender (27%), sufficient break time (26%), using handling techniques/age (25% each), job stress (24%), marital status/wearing orthopedic insoles/extra professional activity (22% each), practicing prevention measures (20%), children care hours/week (16%), and type of sport activity/sports hours per week, car sitting, and fear of changing work due to LBP (15% each).

Rapid EEG activity during sleep dominates in mild traumatic brain injury patients with acute pain.

Chronic pain is a highly prevalent post-concussion symptom occurring in a majority of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). About half of patients with mTBI report sleep-wake disturbances. It is known that pain can alter sleep quality in this population, but the interaction between pain and sleep is not fully understood.

Low molecular weight chitosan conjugated with folate for siRNA delivery in vitro: optimization studies.

The low transfection efficiency of chitosan is one of its drawbacks as a gene delivery carrier. Low molecular weight chitosan may help to form small-sized polymer-DNA or small interfering RNA (siRNA) complexes. Folate conjugation may improve gene transfection efficiency because of the promoted uptake of folate receptor-bearing cells.

Reporting an unusual case of mesenteric desmoid tumor.

A 51-year-old male patient with no history of medical illnesses presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius. His condition deteriorated rapidly within a few hours. Clear signs of acute abdomen, raised white blood cell count and small gas-fluid levels on abdominal X ray prompted an urgent CT scan of the abdomen.

Color discrimination deficits in Parkinson's disease are related to cognitive impairment and white-matter alterations.

Color discrimination deficit is a common nonmotor manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the pathophysiology of this dysfunction remains poorly understood. Although retinal structure changes found in PD have been suggested to cause color discrimination deficits, the impact of cognitive impairment and cortical alterations remains to be determined.