Electroencephalographic Biomarkers for Treatment Response Prediction in Major Depressive Illness: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Reducing unsuccessful treatment trials could improve depression treatment. Quantitative EEG (QEEG) may predict treatment response and is being commercially marketed for this purpose. The authors sought to quantify the reliability of QEEG for response prediction in depressive illness and to identify methodological limitations of the available evidence. METHOD: The authors conducted a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy for QEEG in depressive illness, based on articles published between January 2000 and November 2017. The review included all articles that used QEEG to predict response during a major depressive episode, regardless of patient population, treatment, or QEEG marker. The primary meta-analytic outcome was the accuracy for predicting response to depression treatment, expressed as sensitivity, specificity, and the logarithm of the diagnostic odds ratio. Raters also judged each article on indicators of good research practice. RESULTS: In 76 articles reporting 81 biomarkers, the meta-analytic estimates showed a sensitivity of 0.72 (95% CI=0.67-0.76) and a specificity of 0.68 (95% CI=0.63-0.73). The logarithm of the diagnostic odds ratio was 1.89 (95% CI=1.56-2.21), and the area under the receiver operator curve was 0.76 (95% CI=0.71-0.80). No specific QEEG biomarker or specific treatment showed greater predictive power than the all-studies estimate in a meta-regression. Funnel plot analysis suggested substantial publication bias. Most studies did not use ideal practices. CONCLUSIONS: QEEG does not appear to be clinically reliable for predicting depression treatment response, as the literature is limited by underreporting of negative results, a lack of out-of-sample validation, and insufficient direct replication of previous findings. Until these limitations are remedied, QEEG is not recommended for guiding selection of psychiatric treatment.

OSTEOMALACIA AS A RESULT OF URINARY DIVERSION.

A 54 years old man, who had undergone a cystectomy and urinary diversion surgery 31 years previously, complained of progressive generalized bone pain, muscle weakness and walking abnormality for six months. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated alkaline phosphatase, high serum chloride level and metabolic acidosis. Osteomalacia was suspected due to clinical and laboratory findings. Osteomalacia due to hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis is a complication of urinary diversion. Regular monitoring of pH, chloride, bicarbonate, and calcium-phosphorus metabolism is therefore essential for early diagnosis and treatment.

Assessment of follicular and serum VEGF and IGF-1 in ICSI patients: hMG vs rFSH.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of recombinant follicular stimulating hormone (r-FSH) and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) on follicular microenvironment via assessment of follicular and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Designed as a prospective cohort study. Twenty-five patients underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with r-FSH and 20 patients underwent with hMG. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable regarding the women's mean age and body mass index (BMI). The amount of VEGF (pg/ml) in serum and follicular fluid in the group I and II were comparable (275 ± 135.3 vs 330.7 ± 190.0; p > 0.05 and 2,081.1 ± 1095.1 vs 1,971.1 ± 975.6; p > 0.05, respectively). The amount of IGF-1 (ng/ml) in serum and follicular fluid in the group I and II were also comparable (225.3 ± 69.3 vs 204.1 ± 56.3, p > 0.05 and 176.1 ± 67.2 vs 185.8 ± 48.7, p > 0.05, respectively). Pregnancy rates were also comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The hMG and r-FSH in COH produced comparable follicular microenvironment regarding follicular VEGF and IGF-l.

Minimal invasive endoscopic management of synchronous granular cell tumours in the colon and posterior mediastinum.

Granular cell tumour (GCT), which is a rare benign soft tissue neoplasm, is mostly found in the skin and soft tissue but may develop anywhere in the body. There are less than 10 reported cases of mediastinal GCTs in the current literature. Furthermore, colonic GCTs have recently gained attention due to the increased public awareness on the importance of colonoscopy screening. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman diagnosed incidentally with synchronous GCTs of the mediastinum and the hepatic flexure on her routine screening for post-operative follow-up for status-post right modified radical mastectomy due to a T2N1M0, Stage 2B breast cancer.

The relationship between the antioxidant system and anaemia in haemodialysis patients.

Anaemia and oxidative stress are common features of chronic kidney disease, and both are associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence, from experimental and clinical studies, that oxidative stress may be implicated in the pathogenesis of anaemia. This study investigated the relationship between total antioxidant capacity, anaemia and serum albumin levels in 127 non-diabetic patients requiring haemodialysis. Total serum antioxidant capacity levels were determined and were found to be significantly correlated with levels of haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum albumin, serum total protein, malondialdehyde (a product of lipid peroxidation), potassium, phosphorus and alanine transaminase. There was also a significant correlation between serum albumin levels and haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. In conclusion, total antioxidant capacity was found to be inversely correlated with malondialdehyde levels and positively correlated with haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in non-diabetic patients requiring haemodialysis. Patients with high serum albumin concentrations and high total antioxidant capacity may also have high (i.e. normal) levels of haemoglobin.

Rare mechanical complication of myocardial infarction: isolated right ventricle free wall rupture.

Rupture of the left ventricular free wall is a dramatic complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and occurs in about ten percent of patients with fatal acute MI. However, there are limited reports about right ventricular free wall rupture due to MI. In this case report, a patient with isolated right ventricular rupture following MI that was visualised with real-time transthoracic echocardiography is discussed for the first time in the literature.

Serum prostate specific antigen levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and the effect of flutamide+desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol combination.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is expressed in many female tissues and its concentrations were higher in hirsute subjects. We aimed to determine serum PSA level in hirsute women and evaluate the effect of flutamide+desogestrel/ethynil estradiol combination. SUBJECTS AND STUDY DESIGN: Thirty patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 30 healthy controls were studied. Hirsutism was defined by modified Ferriman-Gallwey score (FGS). Free androgen index (FAI) was used for hyperandrogenism. Patients received flutamide (500 mg/d) and oral contraceptive (desogestrel+ethinyl estradiol) for 9 months. RESULTS: Mean FGS (p<0.0001), insulin (p<0.01), FAI (0.0001), androstenedione (p<0.0001), LH (p<0.05), and free testosterone (p<0.003) levels of patients with PCOS were higher than the control group. Mean serum total and free PSA level of PCOS patients were higher than the control group (p<0.0001 and p<0.0001). We found a positive correlation between total PSA levels and FGS (r=0.568, p<0.001), FAI and FGS (r=0.456 and p<0.01). There was also a positive correlation between FAI and total PSA (r=0.503 and p<0.005). At the end of treatment, FGS, androstenedione, free and total testosterone, FAI, serum PSA and LH levels decreased significantly [serum total PSA was 0.0208 +/- 0.0178 ng/ml at baseline and 0.0061 +/- 0.0044 ng/ml after treatment (p<0.0001)]. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Serum prostate specific antigen level is higher in patients with PCOS; 2. There is a positive correlation among FGS, FAI and PSA levels; 3. Serum PSA levels decrease with antiandrogen treatment; 4. Serum PSA measurement might be a marker for hirsutism.

Effect of blood pressure reduction on abnormal left atrial appendage function in untreated systemic hypertensive patients with sinus rhythm.

To investigate whether reduction in blood pressure has a beneficial effect on left atrial appendage (LAA) function, the authors evaluated 24 untreated systemic hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular systolic function in sinus rhythm at baseline and at 3 months after initiation of antihypertensive therapy. They performed transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations in hypertensive patients before and after treatment of hypertension. Three of the 24 patients had blood pressure that failed to respond to the regimen of antihypertensive therapy and were removed from the analysis. Of the remaining 21 patients, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures at baseline were 170 +/- 18 and 104 +/- 6 mm Hg, respectively, and fell significantly at 3 months to 141 +/- 10 and 90 +/- 5 mm Hg, respectively, (p<0.001) after initiation of antihypertensive therapy. There was no significant change in heart rate with treatment (baseline 81 +/- 8 and at 3 months 84 +/- 9 beats/min). There was no significant change in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular wall thickness, or left atrial diameter from baseline (49 +/- 4 mm, 58 +/- 5%, 12 +/- 1 mm, and 41 +/- 4 mm, respectively) at 3 months (48 +/- 5 mm, 59 +/- 4%, 12 +/- 1 mm, and 40 +/- 3 mm). The treatment caused a significant reduction in maximal LAA areas (6.3 +/- 1.3 cm2 at baseline, 4.6 +/- 0.7 cm2 at 3 months, p<0.001), with a concomitant increase in LAA emptying velocity (44 +/- 7 cm/sec at baseline, 60 +/- 9 cm/sec at 3 months, p<0.001). In conclusion, these findings suggest that reduction in blood pressure with antihypertensive therapy could improve LAA function in hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular systolic function in sinus rhythm.

Late systolic wave on brachial artery blood flow velocity pattern in patients with coronary artery disease and its relation to vascular stiffness.

Duplex-Doppler study typically exhibits triphasic brachial artery blood flow velocity pattern in subjects classified as normal without clinically evident atherosclerotic complications, heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus. In this study, the authors described the late systolic wave on the brachial artery blood flow velocity pattern in patients with coronary artery disease and investigated the relation between late systolic wave and vascular stiffness. Blood flow profile and velocity of the brachial artery were determined noninvasively by ultrasound pulsed-Doppler technique under the guidance of a B-mode ultrasound image in 96 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The control group consisted of 23 healthy subjects with no or maximally 2 risk factors (only among age, cigarette smoking, obesity, and gender) for vascular disease. None of the patients and controls had clinical evidence of arterial disorders at upper extremities. In 32 patients (33%) with CAD, a late systolic wave was observed in the brachial artery Doppler study. On the other hand, no late systolic wave was observed in the healthy subjects. In addition, multivessel disease, hypertension, advanced age, diabetes, and smoking were significantly more frequent in patients with the late systolic wave. In conclusion, peripheral arterial abnormalities induced by vascular stiffness may produce alterations in regional wave reflections, and the normal triphasic pattern of the brachial artery blood flow may change by the appearance of the late systolic wave.

Comparison of the acute effects of salbutamol and terbutaline on heart rate variability in adult asthmatic patients.

This study investigated the effects of beta2-adrenergic agonist therapy on heart rate variability (HRV) in adult asthmatic patients by using frequency domain measures of HRV. A randomized crossover design was used. Twenty adult patients with asthma were studied. All patients showed a mild-to-moderate decrease in baseline forced expiratory volume in one second. Any diseases that might have influenced the autonomic function were excluded. All patients had a complete physical examination and medical history that revealed no cardiovascular disease or medication. The study used 200 microg inhaled salbutamol and 500 microg inhaled terbutaline. HRV analysis was performed for each 5-min segment, 5 min before inhalation of the study drug and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min after inhalation. Total power (TP: <0.40 Hz), high-frequency power (HF: 0.15-0.40 Hz), low-frequency power (LF: 0.04-0.15 Hz) and LF/HF ratio were calculated. The LF and LF/HF ratio increased and TP decreased at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after the salbutamol and the terbutaline inhalation, HF did not change significantly after the salbutamol and terbutaline inhalation. Acute salbutamol and terbutaline inhalation produce similar effects on heart rate variability and increase sympathetic modulation in the cardiac autonomic activity.

Cardiac troponin I levels in patients with left heart failure and cor pulmonale.

Cardiac troponin levels are regarded as the most specific of currently available biochemical markers of myocardial damage. Elevated levels of troponin have been previously reported in patients with left heart failure, reflecting small areas of undetected myocardial cell death. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in patients with left- and right-sided heart failure. Cardiac troponin I levels were studied with immunochemical methods in patients with right heart failure (n = 17) resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic left heart failure (n = 23), and nonischemic left heart failure (n = 18) who were admitted to departments of cardiology and chest diseases. Also, cTnI levels were measured in 32 healthy subjects as control group. Protein markers of myocardial injury (cTnI and myoglobin) in patients with left and right heart failure were collected approximately 12 to 36 hours after onset of obvious symptoms. Serum creatine kinase MB band was determined on admission and thereafter twice a day during the first 3 days. Elevated levels of serum cTnI were found in patients with nonischemic (0.83 +/- 0.6 ng/mL, p<0.01) and ischemic left heart failure (0.9 +/- 0.5 ng/mL, p<0.01) when compared to healthy subjects, whereas serum cTnI levels in patients with right heart failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were not significantly different from those of control subjects (0.22 +/- 0.1 vs 0.16 +/- 0.1 ng/mL, p>0.05). In addition, creatine kinase MB band and myoglobin levels were not significantly different between patient and healthy groups. The mean of cTnI levels in ischemic and even nonischemic left heart failure were increased compared to the mean of values in healthy individuals but without significant creatine kinase MB band and myoglobin elevations. But cTnI levels were not increased in patients with right heart failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These data indicate that the cTnI levels are abnormal in left heart failure but not in cor pulmonale.

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome mimicking acute anterior myocardial infarction in a young male patient--a case report.

A young male with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome whose electrocardiographic pattern was suggestive of acute anterior myocardial infarction is described. A 21-year-old male with a history of ventricular fibrillation after being successfully resuscitated was admitted to the coronary care unit. His electrocardiogram showed ST elevation in the precordial leads (V1-V6). This condition was erroneously interpreted as an acute myocardial infarction. At the fourth day, while ST elevations returned to baseline, short PR interval and delta waves were observed on the ECG. Myocardial infarction was excluded by biochemical tests, echocardiography, and coronary angiography. Electrophysiologic study confirmed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with two accessory pathways.

The effects of volatile anesthetics on the Q-Tc interval.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on Q-Tc interval (corrected for heart rate) during inhalation induction of anesthesia. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, randomized study. SETTING: Departments of Cardiology and Anesthesiology in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: A total of 65 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II patients, aged 16 to 50 years, undergoing general anesthesia, were randomly allocated to receive halothane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The time to reach the predetermined end-tidal concentrations of 3 minimum alveolar concentration was 6 to 10 minutes. When compared with preinduction values, heart rate decreased after halothane (p < 0.01) and sevoflurane (p < 0.05) administration; in contrast, heart rate increased after induction of anesthesia with isoflurane (p < 0.05). The mean QRS intervals were not significantly changed after halothane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane. The Q-Tc interval was increased with isoflurane compared with baseline (465 +/- 23 v 441 +/- 18 msec, p < 0.01), not changed with sevoflurane (441 +/- 17 v 434 +/- 19 ms, p > 0.05), and shortened with halothane (426 +/- 23 v 445 +/- 21 msec, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane or halothane may be preferred to isoflurane in patients with conditions that are known to induce a prolonged Q-Tc interval. The effects of Q-Tc interval changes resulting from different anesthetic agents on morbidity and the incidence of arrhythmias during anesthesia warrant further investigation.

Does acute-phase beta blockade reduce left atrial appendage function in patients with chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation?

To investigate whether acute-phase beta-blocker therapy has a harmful effect on left atrial appendage (LAA) function in patients with chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), we evaluated 21 patients with normal left ventricular systolic function and a poorly controlled ventricular rate, despite the use of digoxin. Baseline parameters that were obtained included heart rate, blood pressure, LAA emptying velocities, and left atrial spontaneous echo contrast intensity. Then, each patient was given a bolus dose of 5 mg metoprolol. Ten minutes later, a second set of assessments was performed. After the first TEE studies, each patient began treatment with metoprolol (50 mg orally twice daily for 1 week). A second TEE study was performed after 1 week of continuous oral metoprolol therapy at maintenance dose, and values were again determined. The average resting apical heart rate was 91 +/- 7 bpm. As expected, beta-blocker therapy showed a marked decrease in heart rate at 10 minutes (79 +/- 6 bpm, P <.001) and at 1 week (71 +/- 4 bpm, P <.001). Beta-blocker therapy caused a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures (144 +/- 16 / 93 +/- 6 mm Hg at baseline, 137 +/- 16 / 87 +/- 9 mm Hg at 10 minutes, and 135 +/- 12 / 86 +/- 8 mm Hg at 1 week, P <.001). With the beta-blocker therapy, the baseline transesophageal Doppler parameter of LAA emptying velocities (at baseline 24 +/- 7 cm/s) fell significantly at 10 minutes (19 +/- 7 cm/s, P <.001) and at 1 week (17 +/- 6 cm/s, P <.001) after initiation of beta-blocker therapy. After a bolus of metoprolol, spontaneous echo contrast intensity did not change in any patients, but 1 week later, it increased in 1 patient. In 2 patients who had not been found to have an LAA thrombus at baseline TEE study, the second TEE examination demonstrated new thrombi in the LAA. In conclusion, our findings suggest that in patients with chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who have normal left ventricular systolic function and a poorly controlled ventricular rate despite the use of digoxin, acute-phase beta blockade may have a harmful effect on LAA function.

[The effects of sildenafil citrate on the isolated rat aorta: comparative in vitro study]. / Sildenafil sitratin izole siçan aortasi üzerine etkileri: karsilastirmali in vitro çalisma.

OBJECTIVE: Sildenafil, an inhibitor of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), is currently being used as oral therapy for penile erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the relaxing effect of sildenafil on vascular tissue and compare it with the known vasodilatator agents, sodium nitroprusside and acetylcholine. METHOD: Rat thoracic aorta samples were cut into rings, mounted on steel hooks, and immersed in aerated Krebs solution maintained at 37 degree C. Isometric responses were recorded by strain gauge transducers connected to a polygraph. Graded relaxations were induced using increasing concentrations of acetylcholine sodium nitroprusside and sildenafil. RESULTS: The agents all does-dependently relaxed rat aorta strips. The relaxing potential of sildenafil was found to be similar to sodium nitroprusside, but higher than acetylcholine. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of regulatory mechanisms, sildenafil citrate has noticeable vasodilatatory effect in vitro.

Acute ECG changes and chest pain induced by neck motion in patients with cervical hernia--a case report.

We report two cases of acute cervical angina and ECG changes induced by anteflexion of the head. Cervical angina is defined as chest pain that resembles true cardiac angina but originates from cervical discopathy with nerve root compression. In these patients, Prinzmetal's angina, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease, left ventricular aneurysm, and cardiomyopathy were excluded. After all, the patient's chest pain was reproduced by anteflexion of head, at this time, their ECGs showed nonspecific ST-T changes in the inferior and anterior leads different from the basal ECG. ECG changes returned to normal when the patient's neck moved to the neutral position. To our knowledge, these are the first cases of cervical angina associated with acute ECG changes by neck motion.

A case of left atrial appendage thrombus with embolic stroke in association with aortic stenosis in sinus rhythm.

Although left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus formation in the presence of sinus rhythm may potentially be the source for embolic events in various types of heart disease, no cases of LAA thrombus with embolic stroke in association with aortic stenosis in sinus rhythm have been reported. We present a case of valvular aortic stenosis with cerebral embolism in a person who was in sinus rhythm and had an LAA thrombus diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography.

Effects of cigarette smoking on the circadian rhythm of heart rate variability.

BACKGROUND: The effects of cigarette smoking on the circadian rhythm of heart rate variability (HRV) are not known. METHODS: We studied the effects of cigarette smoking on the circadian rhythm of HRV in 24 smoking and 21 non-smoking healthy subjects. Twenty-four hour ambulatory electrocardiograms were recorded and time domain parameters of HRV (SDNN [standard deviation of all R-R intervals], SDANN [standard deviation of the averages of R-R intervals in all 5-minute segments of the entire recording], RMSSD [the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent R-R intervals]) were determined for the entire 24-hour period and for each 3-hour period. RESULTS: In total, SDNN and SDANN were significantly lower in smokers than non-smokers (116 +/- 26 vs 136 +/- 27, p < 0.05 for SDNN, 109 +/- 25 vs 121 +/- 24, p < 0.05 for SDANN). However, there were no statistical differences between smokers and non-smokers in heart rate (81 +/- 9 vs 76 +/- 10, p > 0.05) and RMSSD (32 +/- 12 vs 37 +/- 18, p > 0.05). These HRV parameters showed a circadian variation: they increased at night and decreased during the day in both groups. The parameters were lower in smokers than non-smokers during daytime (especially, between 8-14 hours). However, no differences were detected during night-time. CONCLUSIONS: Time domain parameters of HRV (SDNN, SDANN and RMSSD) in both smoking and non-smoking healthy subjects have a circadian rhythm. SDNN and SDANN were lower in smokers than non-smokers during daytime.

Right atrial appendage function in patients with chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

To assess right atrial appendage (RAA) flow and its possible relationship to left atrial appendage (LAA) flow in chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in 26 patients with chronic nonvalvular AF (group I). For the purpose of comparison, an additional group of 27 patients with chronic valvular AF due to mitral stenosis (group II) was analyzed. The clinically estimated duration of AF in group I was significantly longer than that of group II (8.7+/-3.4 versus 2.7+/-1.1 years). Although right atrial size and RAA maximal area were larger in group I than those in group II, left atrial size was larger in group II than that in group I. Group II had larger LAA maximal areas than group I, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. The two groups were not different with respect to the RAA or LAA emptying velocities. Significant correlations were observed between echocardiographic parameters of the two atria in patients with nonvalvular AF (r range, 0.4 to 0.7). In contrast, in patients with valvular AF, no correlation was observed between the echocardiographic parameters of the two atria (appendage emptying velocity, r = 0.38, p = 0.051; atrial size, r = -0.03, p = 0.89; maximal appendage area, r = 0.07, p = 0.75, respectively). There were no significant differences in the presence of right and left atrial spontaneous echo contrast and thrombus between the groups. All of the right and left atrial thrombi were confined to their respective appendages and were found in the atria with spontaneous echo contrast. Both RAA and LAA thrombi were present in one patient. In conclusion, our findings suggest that AF could affect both atria equally in nonvalvular AF, in contrast to valvular AF. Therefore, the assessment of RAA function as well as LAA may be important in patients with chronic nonvalvular AF.