A Single-Session Process-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention Combined with Multimodal Rehabilitation Treatment for Chronic Pain Associated with Emotional Disorders.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Defined by chronic pain, rheumatic diseases are often co-occurring with anxiety and depression. Among the available psychological interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapies have an already-proven efficiency in these cases. However, the need to adjust their structure became ubiquitous during the post-pandemic period. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of a single-session, process-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for patients with rheumatic conditions within an in-patient setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 participants (mean age 58.9 years) completed the single-session intervention. Assessments were conducted prior to the intervention, post-intervention and after one month. RESULTS: Pearson's correlations, paired samples T tests and a covariance analysis based on the Linear Mixed Model were performed for exploring the relations between baseline variables and evaluating the impact of the SSI intervention. Immediately after the intervention, a significant reduction in cognitive fusion (p = 0.001, d = 1.78), experiential avoidance (p = 0.001, d = 1.4) and dysfunctional behavioral processes was observed. At the one-month evaluation, participants reported decreased pain (p = 0.001, d = 1.11), anxiety (p = 0.004, d = 0.55) and depression (p = 0.001, d = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: The single-session, process-based approach represents a promising intervention in healthcare contexts, as an integrative part of a multimodal rehabilitation treatment in patients with rheumatic conditions.

Synthesis of a sulfonic acid mimetic of the sulfated Lewis A pentasaccharide.

The first sulfonic acid mimetic of the sulfated Lewis A pentasaccharide in which the natural L-fucose unit is replaced by a D-arabinose ring was synthesized. Formation of the sulfonic acid moiety at a pentasaccharide level could be successfully achieved by means of introduction of an acetylthio moiety into the terminal D-galactose residue and subsequent oxidation. The equatorial arrangement of the acetylthio group linked to C-3 of the galactose ring could be obtained by double nucleophilic substitutions; efficient formation of the gulo-triflate derivatives required low-power microwave (MW) activation. Oxidation of the acetylthio group was carried out using Oxone in the presence of acetic acid.

Synthesis, regioselective hydrogenolysis, partial hydrogenation, and conformational study of dioxane and dioxolane-type (9'-anthracenyl)methylene acetals of sugars.

Dioxane-type (9'-anthracenyl)methylene acetal of methyl 2,3-di-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside was cleaved with LiAlH(4)/AlCl(3) (3:1) or with Na(CN)BH(3)-HCl regioselectively to provide the 4- or 6-O-(9'-anthracenyl)methyl ether, respectively. Hydrogenolytic reaction of the exo and endo isomers of dioxolane-type acetals proved to be directed by the configuration of the acetalic carbon as well as by the intramolecular participation of the adjacent-free hydroxyl; ring-opening reaction of the endo isomer of the methyl 2,3-O-(9'-anthracenyl)methylene-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside took place with complete selectivity resulting in the axial (9'-anthracenyl)methyl ether, whereas a 1:1 mixture of the axial and equatorial ethers was formed upon the same reaction of the exo isomer. Catalytic hydrogenation of the sugar acetals resulted in (9',10'-dihydro-9'-anthracenyl)methylene derivatives without affecting the acetalic center. High-temperature molecular dynamics simulations and DFT (Density Functional Theory) geometry optimizations were carried out to study the conformation of the dioxane-type (9',10'-dihydro-9'-anthracenyl)methylene acetal.

Efficacy and safety of infliximab induction therapy in Crohn's Disease in Central Europe--a Hungarian nationwide observational study.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab (IFX) has proven to be an effective addition to the therapeutic arsenal for refractory, fistulizing, and steroid dependent Crohn's disease (CD), with efficacy in the induction and maintenance of clinical remission of CD. Our objective in this study is to report the nationwide, multicenter experience with IFX induction therapy for CD in Hungary. METHODS: During a 6-year-period, beginning in 2000, a total of 363 CD patients were treated with IFX as induction therapy (5 mg/kg IFX infusions given at week 0, 2 and 6) at eleven centers in Hungary in this observational study. Data analysis included patient demographics, important disease parameters and the outcome of IFX induction therapy. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty three patients (183 women and 180 men) were treated with IFX since 2000. Mean age was 33.5 +/- 11.2 years and the mean duration of disease was 6.7 +/- 6.1 years. The population included 114 patients (31.4%) with therapy-refractory CD, 195 patients (53.7%) with fistulas, 16 patients (4.4%) with both therapy-refractory CD and fistulas, and 26 patients (7.2%) with steroid dependent CD. Overall response rate was 86.2% (313/363). A higher response rate was observed in patients with shorter disease duration (p = 0.05, OR:0.54, 95%CI:0.29-0.99) and concomitant immunosuppressant therapy (p = 0.05, OR: 2.03, 95%CI:0.165-0.596). Concomitant steroid treatment did not enhance the efficacy of IFX induction therapy. Adverse events included 34 allergic reactions (9.4%), 17 delayed type hypersensitivity (4.7%), 16 infections (4.4%), and 3 malignancies (0.8%). CONCLUSION: IFX was safe and effective treatment in this cohort of Hungarian CD patients. Based on our experience co-administration of immunosuppressant therapy is suggested in patients receiving IFX induction therapy. However, concomitant steroid treatment did not enhanced the efficacy of IFX induction therapy.