Diagnostic value of niacin skin blunting response in adolescent patients with depression.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in the niacin skin flushing response of adolescent depressed patients and healthy adolescents and its diagnostic value in adolescent depression. METHODS: Thirty-eight cases of acute episodes of depression in unmedicated adolescents and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included as study subjects, and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, all of which were stimulated with six concentration gradients (up to 60 mmol/L, followed by sequential 3-fold gradient dilution to a minimum of 0.25 mmol/L) of niacin solution on the forearm skin, and the skin flushing area was applied as an assessment index. RESULTS: The total area of redness of the skin in response to niacin was significantly lower in the adolescent depression group than in the healthy adolescent group (Z=-3.36, p = 0.001) and was able to distinguish the adolescent depression group from the healthy adolescent group (area under curve = 0.713, sensitivity 51.1%, specificity 83.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Niacin sensitivity is reduced in adolescent depressed patients, and the niacin skin flush response has potential clinical value as a diagnostic biomarker for adolescent depression.

Diagnosis and treatment of an elderly patient with gallbladder abdominal wall fistula / 中华消化外科杂志

Gallbladder abdominal wall fistula is usually due to the acute cholecystitis with-out timely treatment, which leads the formation of abscess around the gallbladder, the gallbladder adhering to the abdominal wall and the abscess infiltrating into the skin to form a spontaneous abdominal wall fistula. Patient with gallbladder abdominal wall fistula may have the symptoms of cholecystolithiasis and acute cholecystitis. Ultrasound examination can detect the situation of gallbladder conveniently, including the internal echo after formation of abscess, the connection between the gallbladder and abdominal cavity, and the blood flow signal, to clarify the diagnosis for the subsequent treatment. The authors share the diagnosis and treatment experiences of an elderly patient with gallbladder abdominal wall fistula.