Stress and Disease Onset in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential contribution of stress as a trigger for disease onset in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV). METHODS: 53 AAV and 85 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients as well as 53 healthy controls (HC) were thoroughly asked for the number and impact of stressful life events, coping strategies, and available social support 12 months prior to disease onset. Anxiety, depression, personality dimensions, insomnia, and fatigue were also determined. RESULTS: AAV patients reported higher scoring of the impact of stressful life events compared to the RA and HC group prior to disease onset (2.8 ± 3.1 vs 1.8 ± 2.1 vs 1.7 ± 2.3, p-values: 0.047 and 0.053, respectively). While the number of reported stressful events was found to be significantly higher in AAV vs RA patients but not HC, certain coping strategies and social support features were more commonly implemented by AAV patients compared to HC, but not RA patients. As far as personality and other psychosocial characteristics, AAV patients displayed significantly higher psychoticism traits compared to RA, with no other differences being detected between AAV patients and both RA and HC. After adjusting for potential cofounders, scoring of the impact of stressful life events >3 was independently associated with AAV development compared to both RA and HC [ORs (95% CI): 4.6 (1.6-13.4) and 4.4 (1.0-19.0), respectively]. CONCLUSION: The perceived impact of stressful life events prior to disease onset emerged as a contributing factor for AAV development.

Psychological characteristics of systemic sclerosis patients and their correlation with major organ involvement and disease activity.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to assess the psychological characteristics of personality, depression, anxiety, social support and coping strategies of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, their inter-correlations and their association with clinical symptoms. METHODS: Patients with SSc (n=85) were interviewed and compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (n=120) and healthy controls (HCs [n=125]). Psychological characteristics were assessed by the following psychometric scales: centre of epidemiological studies of depression (CES-D), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD), Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ), short form of social support (SSq), life experiences survey (LES) and ways of coping (WoC). Clinical data were collected at the same time of the interview. Both control groups were matched to SSc patients in terms of gender, age and educational status. Data were analysed with SPSS software. RESULTS: Compared to control groups, SSc patients expressed more symptoms of depression and anxiety, showed less extraversion and reported more negative life events. They coped less often with positive reappraisal, problem solving, seeking of support and assertiveness, while they sought more often divine help, and they expressed wishing and denial. Inactive disease was associated with a lower probability of reporting depressive symptoms and negative life events and with a higher probability of positively reevaluating a problem. Lung dysfunction, skin involvement, esophageal problems and oral aperture correlated with psychological features. CONCLUSIONS: Complications in psychological well-being characterise patients with SSc. This finding, as well as that of psychological characteristics correlating with organic factors, is an indication for designing supportive psycho-educational programmes as complementary therapies.

Prospective evaluation of health-related quality of life in a homogeneous Mediterranean group of colorectal cancer patients.

This study was designed to prospectively evaluate health-related quality of life in a homogeneous Mediterranean group of colorectal cancer patients. Ninety-five colorectal cancer patients were preoperatively assessed and followed-up with by skilled investigators using the Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire. Overall, patients showed deterioration in all domains, except for pain, when baseline values were compared with 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.0001). A significant improvement of all Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire domains was noted between 6 and 12 months (P = 0.0001). Scores for general health, pain, emotional well-being, and role limitations due to emotional problems at 1 year were shown better than preoperative (P < 0.001). Improved scores in role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems were found at baseline and at 1 year, when laparoscopic were compared with open resections (P < 0.05). Patients that received chemotherapy proved to be more vulnerable regarding their energy, social functioning, and role limitations at 3 months (P < 0.05), whereas older patients had diminished physical functioning at 3 and 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05) postoperatively. Greek colorectal cancer patients remain fragile up to 6 months after surgery, with significant improvements at 1 year, whereas certain aspects of health-related quality of life at 1 year may be even better than before surgery.

Prospective evaluation of sexual function after open and laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sexual function may be harmed after treatment for rectal cancer. This study aimed to evaluate prospectively the incidence of sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer treatment and to compare the effects of laparoscopic and traditional open approaches in terms of postoperative sexual function. METHODS: Baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month assessments of sexual dysfunction using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and its specific domains prospectively took place for 56 patients who underwent rectal cancer surgery (38 open vs. 18 laparoscopic procedures, 38 low anterior vs. 18 abdominoperineal resections). The preliminary results are presented. RESULTS: The average total IIEF and isolated IIEF response domain scores were significantly decreased after surgery (p < 0.01) except for the intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction scores at 12 months. An improvement in IIEF scores was observed between the 3- and 6-month assessment points (p < 0.01) except for the erectile function and orgasmic function scores. No significant differences were observed between the open and laparoscopic groups in the total IIEF and domain scores preoperatively and at the 3- and 6-month assessment points. The rates of sexual dysfunction did not differ significantly preoperatively or at 3 months postoperatively when open and laparoscopic procedures were compared, although there was a trend in favor of laparoscopic surgery at 6 months (p = 0.076). The baseline IIEF score and the baseline, 3-, and 6-month sexual desire scores were better (p = 0.035, 0.004, 0.017, and 0.061, respectively) in the low anterior resection group than in the abdominoperineal resection group. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal cancer resections were postoperatively associated with a significant reduction in IIEF scores and high rates of sexual dysfunction at 3 and 6 months. The IIEF and domain scores at different assessment points were comparable between the laparoscopic and open surgery groups. Extending the monitoring period and adding more patients in this ongoing prospective study will further elucidate postoperative sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery.