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Psychological Reports Jan 2024Anorexia Nervosa is the most deadly mental illness due to the high mortality and relapse rates after reaching remission. The systematic review investigated the... (Review)
Review
Anorexia Nervosa is the most deadly mental illness due to the high mortality and relapse rates after reaching remission. The systematic review investigated the effectiveness of two empirically validated interventions (Family-Based Therapy [FBT] and Adolescent-Focused Therapy [AFT]) for an adolescent or young adult living with Anorexia Nervosa to reach partial or full remission and expected weight ratios. Twelve studies published between 1994 and 2015 were evaluated and indicated that FBT resulted in significant weight gain and higher partial and full remission rates than AFT, demonstrating its superiority in treating AN in adolescents and young adult samples, in one instance, at least up to 4 years. Despite FBT and AFT delivery, a significant proportion of participants did not achieve their target weight or full remission, indicating that both treatments may not be effective in all circumstances.
PubMed: 38239005
DOI: 10.1177/00332941241226687 -
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of... 2021Derangement in calcium homeostasis is common in nephrotic syndrome (NS). It is postulated that low serum total calcium and vitamin D levels are due to loss of...
INTRODUCTION
Derangement in calcium homeostasis is common in nephrotic syndrome (NS). It is postulated that low serum total calcium and vitamin D levels are due to loss of protein-bound calcium and vitamin D. It is unclear if free calcium and free vitamin D levels are truly low. The guideline is lacking with regards to calcium and vitamin D supplementation in NS. This study aims to examine calcium and vitamin D homeostasis and bone turnover in NS to guide practice in calcium and vitamin D levels supplementation.
METHODOLOGY
This is a prospective pilot study of ten patients diagnosed with NS, and eight healthy controls. Calcium, vitamin D, and bone turnover-related analytes were assessed at baseline, partial and complete remission in NS patients and in healthy controls.
RESULTS
NS patients had low free and total serum calcium, low total 25(OH)D, normal total 1,25(OH)D levels and lack of parathyroid hormone response. With remission of disease, serum calcium and vitamin D metabolites improved. However, nephrotic patients who do not attain complete disease remission continue to have low 25(OH)D level.
CONCLUSION
In this study, the vitamin D and calcium derangement observed at nephrotic syndrome presentation trended towards normalisation in remission. This suggested calcium and vitamin D replacement may not be indicated in early-phase nephrotic syndrome but may be considered in prolonged nephrotic syndrome.
PubMed: 34177088
DOI: 10.15605/jafes.036.01.12 -
RMD Open Mar 2023To investigate the effectiveness and safety of TCZ (tocilizumab) monotherapy for chronic periaortitis (CP) patients at acute active stage.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the effectiveness and safety of TCZ (tocilizumab) monotherapy for chronic periaortitis (CP) patients at acute active stage.
METHODS
Twelve patients with definite or possible diagnosis of CP were enrolled and received intravenous infusions of TCZ (8 mg/kg) every 4 weeks for at least 3 months. Clinical features, laboratory and imaging findings were recorded at baseline and during the follow-up. The primary endpoint was the rate of partial and complete remission after 3 months TCZ monotherapy and the secondary endpoint was the frequency of treatment related adverse events.
RESULTS
Three patients (27.3%) achieved partial remission and seven patients (63.6%) obtained complete remission after 3 months TCZ treatment. The total remission rate achieved 90.9%. All patients reported improvement in clinical symptoms. Inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein decreased to normal levels after TCZ treatment. Nine patients (81.8%) showed remarkable shrinkage of perivascular mass greater than or equal to 50% on CT.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed that TCZ monotherapy contributed to remarkable clinical and laboratory improvement in CP patients and could be an alternative treatment option for CP.
Topics: Humans; Antirheumatic Agents; Pilot Projects; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis; Musculoskeletal Diseases
PubMed: 36977534
DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003007 -
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Jan 2021This study addresses whether existing specific transcriptional profiles can improve and support the current status of the definition of ulcerative colitis (UC) remission... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
This study addresses whether existing specific transcriptional profiles can improve and support the current status of the definition of ulcerative colitis (UC) remission apart from the existing endoscopic, histologic, and laboratory scoring systems. For that purpose, a well-stratified UC patient population in remission was compared to active UC and control patients and was investigated by applying the next-generation technology RNA-Seq.
METHODS
Mucosal biopsies from patients in remission (n = 14), patients with active UC (n = 14), and healthy control patientss (n = 16) underwent whole-transcriptome RNA-Seq. Principal component analysis, cell deconvolution methods, gene profile enrichment, and pathway enrichment methods were applied to define a specific transcriptional signature of UC in remission.
RESULTS
Analyses revealed specific transcriptional signatures for UC in remission with increased expression of genes involved in O-glycosylation (MUC17, MUC3A, MUC5AC, MUC12, SPON1, B3GNT3), ephrin-mediated repulsion of cells (EFNB2E, EFNA3, EPHA10, EPHA1), GAP junction trafficking (TUBA1C, TUBA4A, TUBB4B, GJB3, CLTB), and decreased expression of several toll-like receptors (TLR1, TLR3, TLR5, TLR6).
CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals specific transcriptional signatures for remission. Partial restoration and improvement of homeostasis in the epithelial mucus layer and revival of immunological functions were observed. A clear role for bacterial gut flora composition can be implied. The results can be useful for the development of treatment strategies for UC in remission and may be useful targets for further investigations aiming to predict the outcome of UC in the future.
Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colon; Connexins; Ephrins; Female; Glycosylation; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins; Principal Component Analysis; Remission Induction; Toll-Like Receptors; Transcriptome
PubMed: 32322884
DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izaa075 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Despite advances in the characterization of partial clinical remission (PR) of type 1 diabetes, an accurate definition of PR remains problematic. Two recent studies in... (Review)
Review
Despite advances in the characterization of partial clinical remission (PR) of type 1 diabetes, an accurate definition of PR remains problematic. Two recent studies in children with new-onset T1D demonstrated serious limitations of the present gold standard definition of PR, a stimulated C-peptide (SCP) concentration of >300 pmol/L. The first study employed the concept of insulin sensitivity score (ISS) to show that 55% of subjects with new-onset T1D and a detectable SCP level of >300 pmol/L had low insulin sensitivity (IS) and thus might not be in remission when assessed by insulin-dose adjusted A1c (IDAA1c), an acceptable clinical marker of PR. The second study, a randomized controlled trial of vitamin D (ergocalciferol) administration in children and adolescents with new-onset T1D, demonstrated no significant difference in SCP between the ergocalciferol and placebo groups, but showed a significant blunting of the temporal trend in both A1c and IDAA1c in the ergocalciferol group. These two recent studies indicate the poor specificity and sensitivity of SCP to adequately characterize PR and thus call for a re-examination of current approaches to the definition of PR. They demonstrate the limited sensitivity of SCP, a static biochemical test, to detect the complex physiological changes that occur during PR such as changes in insulin sensitivity, insulin requirements, body weight, and physical activity. These shortcomings call for a broader definition of PR using a combination of functional markers such as IDAA1c and ISS to provide a valid assessment of PR that reaches beyond the static changes in SCP alone.
Topics: Adolescent; Biomarkers; Body Weight; C-Peptide; Child; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Ergocalciferols; Exercise; Glycated Hemoglobin; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Remission Induction
PubMed: 35592786
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.884219 -
Journal of Minimal Access Surgery 2022Bariatric metabolic surgery is evolving as an option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with obesity and T2DM, warranting more studies on...
BACKGROUND
Bariatric metabolic surgery is evolving as an option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with obesity and T2DM, warranting more studies on the efficacy of bariatric metabolic surgery on T2DM.
OBJECTIVE
To determine T2DM remission in patients with obesity and T2DM with up to two years follow-up after bariatric metabolic surgery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective review of prospectively maintained data was undertaken to identify patients who had T2DM and underwent bariatric surgery at a single centre in 2016. Data collected included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose, haemoglobin A1c, hypertension, (HTN), Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), initial weight and the weight at intervals of 6, 12, and 24 months. Data on the treatment of T2DM before the surgery was also collected. The criteria of the American Diabetes Association were used for the definition of T2DM remission. Only the data on patients in this study who had more than 12 months' follow-up information was analysed.
RESULTS
Two hundred and eighty patients with T2DM were identified. 191 patients had more than 12 months' follow-up information. Mean age and BMI were 49.58 ± 10.64 years and 44.03 ± 7.86 kg/m respectively. There were 29 patients on insulin, 21 (10.9%) on insulin only and 8 (4.2%) on insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA). One hundred and forty-six patients (76.4%) were on OHA, 134 on a single OHA and 12 on more than one OHA. Twenty-six patients (13.6%) were newly diagnosed with T2DM when they came in for bariatric metabolic surgery. One hundred and fifty-six patients (81.7%) achieved complete remission. 14 (7.3%) of these patients used to be on insulin with or without OHA and 142 (74.3%) were patients either on OHA or no OHA. There were 12 (6.4%) patients in partial remission. There was improvement in 23 (12.04%). Eight patients were on insulin but at lower doses and 15 were on a single OHA. The average percentage of total weight loss at 6, 12 and 24 months was 29.7%, 33.9% and 35.6% respectively. Patients with shorter duration of T2DM had higher remission rates as compared to patients with longer duration (r = -0.874, P = 0.001). There was also a significant resolution of HTN (81.8%) and OSA (82.3%) after bariatric metabolic surgery.
CONCLUSION
This study collaborates reports that there is significant remission of T2DM after bariatric metabolic surgery in patients with obesity and T2DM. There is a need for prospective, multi-centre, and long-term studies on bariatric metabolic surgery to treat patients with obesity and T2DM.
PubMed: 34259204
DOI: 10.4103/jmas.JMAS_325_20 -
Biomedicines Nov 2021Development of targeted therapies in recent years revealed several nonchemotherapeutic options for patients. Chief among targeted therapies is small molecule kinase... (Review)
Review
Development of targeted therapies in recent years revealed several nonchemotherapeutic options for patients. Chief among targeted therapies is small molecule kinase inhibitors targeting key oncogenic signaling proteins. Through competitive and noncompetitive inhibition of these kinases, and therefore the pathways they activate, cancers can be slowed or completely eradicated, leading to partial or complete remissions for many cancer types. Unfortunately, for many patients, resistance to targeted therapies, such as kinase inhibitors, ultimately develops and can necessitate multiple lines of treatment. Drug resistance can either be de novo or acquired after months or years of drug exposure. Since resistance can be due to several unique mechanisms, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. However, combinations that target complimentary pathways or potential escape mechanisms appear to be more effective than sequential therapy. Combinations of single kinase inhibitors or alternately multikinase inhibitor drugs could be used to achieve this goal. Understanding how to efficiently target cancer cells and overcome resistance to prior lines of therapy became imperative to the success of cancer treatment. Due to the complexity of cancer, effective treatment options in the future will likely require mixing and matching these approaches in different cancer types and different disease stages.
PubMed: 34829820
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111591 -
Depression and Anxiety Mar 2021Little data exist on remission rates following psychotherapy for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
Rates of remission, sustained remission, and recurrence in a randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy versus supportive psychotherapy for body dysmorphic disorder.
BACKGROUND
Little data exist on remission rates following psychotherapy for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
METHODS
Using data from a large study of therapist-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) versus supportive psychotherapy (SPT) for BDD (N = 120), we estimated remission rates at treatment endpoint, and rates of delayed remission, sustained remission, and recurrence at 6-month follow-up. We also examined improvement in broader mental health outcomes among remitters.
RESULTS
Full or partial remission rates at end-of-treatment were significantly higher following CBT (68%) than SPT (42%). At 6-month follow-up, an additional 10% (CBT) and 14% (SPT) experienced delayed remission, 52% (CBT) and 27% (SPT) experienced sustained remission, and 20% (CBT) and 14% (SPT) experienced recurrence. Remission was never achieved by 18% (CBT) and 45% (SPT). Participants in remission at end-of-treatment experienced significant improvements in functional impairment, depression severity, BDD-related insight, and quality of life compared to nonremitters.
CONCLUSIONS
Full or partial remission rates are high following CBT for BDD and higher than after SPT.
PubMed: 33724643
DOI: 10.1002/da.23148 -
Acta Bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis May 2021Cutaneous infiltration by Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a rare complication. The clinical presentation, impact of it on disease prognosis, and the proper... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Cutaneous infiltration by Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a rare complication. The clinical presentation, impact of it on disease prognosis, and the proper treatment choice are not clear. Here in our review, we try to answer these questions. Acquisition of evidences: A systematic search of PubMed, and Google Scholar for English language articles published from Jan 2000 to June 2019. Synthesis of evidences: A total of 56 cases were identified, with a median age of 66 years. Of these cases 43 were males and 12 were females, and one missing data, with a ratio of 3,6:1. Head and neck were most commonly involved. The commonest clinical presentation was papulonodular lesions, and the majority were diagnosed at an early stage. CLL skin involvement at the site of old herpetic lesions was common. Because of the rarity of the disease, treatment modalities varied widely, and there are no consensus on treatment. The majority were treated with chemotherapy. In general, 35 (77.8% - of the non-missing data) patients responded to treatment (25 patients had a complete remission and 10 a partial remission). All patients ≤60 years had an early-stage disease, on the other hand, all patients with advanced-stage were >60 years.
CONCLUSION
Patients with early-stage and localized leukemia cutis can benefit from observation alone strategy, while intervention in young patients with advanced disease is warranted. Skin infiltration by CLL does not affect prognosis, as most patients attained complete or partial remission with a very low progression rate.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Male; Prognosis; Skin; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 33988158
DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92i2.10763 -
BMC Nephrology Oct 2019The purpose of this study was to determine efficacy and safety of cyclosporine A (CsA) for patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine efficacy and safety of cyclosporine A (CsA) for patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).
METHODS
The Cochrane Library and PubMed were searched to extract the associated studies on Oct 10, 2018, and the meta-analysis method was used to pool and analyze the applicable investigations included in this study. The P(opulation) I(ntervention) C(omparison) O(utcome) of the study were defined as follows: P: Patients with SRNS; I: treated with CsA, cyclophosphamide (CYC), tacrolimus (TAC) or placebo/not treatment (P/NT); C: CsA vs. placebo/nontreatment (P/NT), CsA vs. CYC, CsA vs. TAC; O: complete remission (CR), total remission (TR; complete or partial remission (PR)), urine erythrocyte number, proteinuria levels, albumin, proteinuria, serum creatinine, and plasma cholesterol, etc. Data were extracted and pooled using RevMan 5.3.
RESULTS
In the therapeutic regimen of CsA vs. placebo/nontreatment (P/NT), the results indicated that the CsA group had high values of CR, TR, and low values of proteinuria, serum creatinine, and plasma cholesterol when compared with those in the placebo group. In comparing CsA vs. cyclophosphamide (CYC), the results indicated that the CsA group had higher TR than the CYC group. In comparing CsA vs. tacrolimus (TAC), the results revealed insignificant differences in CR, and TR between the CsA and TAC groups. The safety of CsA was also assessed. The incidence of gum hyperplasia in CsA group was higher than that in the P/NT group, with no differences in incidence of infections or hypertension between CsA and P/NT groups. There was no difference in the incidence of hypertension between the CsA and TAC groups.
CONCLUSIONS
CsA is an effective and safe agent in the therapy of patients with SRNS.
Topics: Cholesterol; Creatinine; Cyclophosphamide; Cyclosporine; Drug Resistance; Gingiva; Humans; Hyperplasia; Hypertension; Immunosuppressive Agents; Infections; Nephrotic Syndrome; Proteinuria; Steroids; Tacrolimus
PubMed: 31646979
DOI: 10.1186/s12882-019-1575-8