Comparing residential programmes for adults with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability: outcomes of challenging behaviour and quality of life

BACKGROUND

Owing to methodological issues, little research has been conducted to examine quality of life (QoL) as a treatment outcome in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID). This study was conducted to combine QoL measures and objective observations of challenging behaviours (CB) in order to evaluate changes over time in adults with ASD and ID who were treated in two different residential programmes; we hypothesised that a decrease in CB would be related to an improved QoL.

METHOD

In a longitudinal study (45 months), we followed 31 adults with ASD and ID who had been integrated into two residential programmes [Autism Programme with a Structured Method (PAMS) vs. traditional programme for ID (No-PAMS)] for 2-19 years. QoL [Quality of Life Inventory in a Residential Environment (IQVMR)] and severity of autistic features (Childhood Autism Rating Scales) were evaluated annually. CB, as measured by the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC), including stereotypic behaviour and inappropriate speech, were repeatedly assessed every 3 months.

RESULTS

Observed separately, the groups' results were different. In the PAMS programme, stereotypic behaviour and inappropriate speech (ABC scores) significantly decreased, and the IQVMR total score increased; in contrast, in the comparison group, ABC scores did not change and the IQVMR total score decreased. In all, three mixed-effect ANCOVAs partially confirmed that the PAMS programme had an effect on CB and that QoL improvement did not directly depend on the type of programme but on reducing CB as measured by the ABC.

CONCLUSION

The PAMS programme has a positive and indirect influence on QoL by reducing CB.

[Serological diagnosis of celiac disease]

Screening studies using high-sensitivity and specificity markers indicate a prevalence of celiac disease of up to 1% in European and North-American populations. Celiac disease is a frequent condition that has become an important public health issue. Yet the majority of cases remain undiagnosed due to the polymorphism of its clinical manifestations. The new insight in the pathogenesis of celiac disease has lead to the development of new diagnostic tools. Early screening of symptomatic patients and pre-identified at-risk groups significantly improves the quality of life while reducing morbidity and mortality. However, prophylactic benefits of early diagnosis by assessing the general population have not been shown in any study. French and Northern American scientific societies have introduced serological testing in their newly revised strategies to diagnose celiac disease. Older markers judged insufficiently accurate like anti-gliadin and anti-reticulin antibodies have recently been withdrawn from the list of reimbursed medical expenses in France. Anti-endomysium and tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies have proven to be at this day the most sensitive and specific markers for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients on gluten-free diet, at the exception of IgA-deficient patients. Assays testing for IgG antibodies are recommended upon IgA-deficiency. Although very accurate, a better standardisation of current assays may enable serological testing to replace in a near future histological confirmation brought by small bowel biopsies which remains today the gold standard test to diagnose celiac disease. Indeed, serological testing represents and attractive alternative as it is less invasive, less expansive, laboursaving and more objective in interpretation.

Prolonged shedding of influenza A(H1N1)v virus: two case reports from France 2009

We observed a prolonged shedding of virus 14 and 28 days after symptom onset in two patients with pandemic H1N1 influenza, who did not have immunodepression and were treated with neuraminidase inhibitor. This prolonged shedding was not associated with the emergence of resistance mutation H275Y in the viral neuraminidase gene.

Prolonged shedding of influenza A(H1N1)v virus: two case reports from France 2009

We observed a prolonged shedding of virus 14 and 28 days after symptom onset in two patients with pandemic H1N1 influenza, who did not have immunodepression and were treated with neuraminidase inhibitor. This prolonged shedding was not associated with the emergence of resistance mutation H275Y in the viral neuraminidase gene.

Use of cardiac troponin T rapid assay in the diagnosis of a myocardial injury secondary to electrical cardioversion

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

This study was carried out to determine whether cardiac troponin T test in rapid assay gives positive results in patients previously submitted to cardioversion or electrical defibrillation.

METHODS

Forty patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias lasting no more than 2 days were treated with electrical cardioversion. The total creatine phosphokinase (CPK)-MB isoenzyme and troponin T in rapid assay were measured at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 h thereafter.

RESULTS

Total CPK baseline levels were normal in all cases; within 4 h, the serum CPK levels increased by 98%, at 6 h by 111.5%, at 12 h by 168%, and at 24 h by 225% (p > 0.01). The CPK-MB isoenzyme showed no percentage increase of total CPK higher than 5%, measured at 6, 12, and 24 h after the shock, independent of the number of attempts of cardioversion. The troponin T test was also negative in all cases at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 h after cardioversion.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the absence of elevations in CPK-MB levels and cardiac troponin T levels matched clinical and electrocardiographic results showing absence of myocardial damage after electrical cardioversion.

The Catalan Healthcare Intercultural Mediation Training Project of “la Caixa” Social and Cultural Outreach Projects

Known by many different names-culture broker, community interpreter, medical interpreter, and communication facilitator-the intercultural mediator has as a primary task the facilitation of communication and the therapeutic relationship in the presence of linguistic and/or cultural difference. The Immigration Plan of “la Caixa” Social and Cultural Outreach Projects has undertaken an ambitious project to train all of the cultural mediators in Spain, including both those currently working and those newly entering the field, to meet existing needs. In the first phase of the project, the training was developed in Catalunya, in collaboration with the the Catalan Department of Health, executed by the Psychiatry Department of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Autonomous University of Barcelona) and certified by the Health Studies Institute of the Department of Health. Drawing from the four years experience of the NGO SURT and the Department of Psychiatry of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, the program provides 200 hours of theoretical and 1200 hours of practical training. 50 currently employed intercultural mediators and 30 novices are being trained. In subsequent phases the training will be adapted to needs of other autonomous regions of Spain. Modules include medical anthropology, Western biomedicine, community health, linguistic interpretation, cultural competence, professional identity, and ethics. Small group supervision provides a supportive environment to facilitate the application of theory to practice. Finally, high quality training materials were developed specifically for the course. Preliminary evaluations of the project are positive despite some unanticipated complications.

Anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-DNA and C4 complement evolution in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis treated with TNF-alpha blockers

OBJECTIVE

To investigate autoantibody induction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a cohort of French patients treated with TNF-alpha blockers.

METHODS

We tested the serum of patients for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-DNA antibodies and C4 complement at baseline, and for each infusion for infliximab, and at month 3, 6 and 12 for etanercept. We looked for all signs suggesting a drug-induced lupus. We tried to correlate ANA and anti-DNA development with various clinical data, especially the response to treatment.

RESULTS

229 patients were included in the study. 159 were treated with infliximab (98 RA and 61 AS) and 125 with etanercept (116 RA and 9 AS). In the infliximab group, 43.6% of RA patients and 27.1% of AS had significant levels of ANA at baseline. This proportion increased during the follow up to 73% in RA patients and 52% in AS patients. The proportion of patients positive for anti-DNA antibodies increased from 0% to 9.5% in RA group, and from 0% to 2% in AS group. In the etanercept group, 58.5% of these patients had significant levels of ANA at baseline; this proportion raised to 63.3% in patients previously treated with infliximab, and fell to 20.6% in the patients who never received TNF-alpha blockers. No significant variation of ANA, anti-DNA and C4 levels was observed in the etanercept group. Only three patients developed clinical manifestations (chilblain lupus) possibly related to these auto-antibodies, two with infliximab and one with etanercept.

CONCLUSION

The ANA induction was only observed under infliximab therapy. Thus, ANA induction seems not to be a therapeutic class effect. This difference between infliximab and etanercept treatment may be the consequence of differential capacity of a monoclonal antibody and a soluble receptor in inducing apoptotic cell death of the cells expressing TNF on their membrane.

Soret Coefficients in Some Water−Methanol, Water−Ethanol, and Water−Isopropanol Systems

In this article, we re-examine the published experimental values of the Soret coefficients of a few water-alcohol systems at a mean temperature of 37.5 degrees C, because we feel that these published values (including microgravity values) are doubtful. The main technique applied is the use of thermogravitational columns to determine the thermodiffusion coefficient. The obtained values did not agree with the published values; worse, sometimes the sign was different.

Genetic diversity of wine Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains in an experimental winery from Galicia (NW Spain)

Genetic diversity of wine Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains involved in spontaneous fermentations was studied by analysis of mitochondrial DNA restriction patterns. Yeasts were isolated at different stages of fermentations with must from three different white grapevine varieties, Albariño, Godello and Treixadura, which are autochthonous from Galicia. Nineteen different patterns out of a total of 446 strains analysed were identified, but only a few of them appeared at high frequency and therefore were able to lead the fermentation process. Some strains were common to all fermentations; however, most of them were a minority being only found at low frequency for one or two specific grape varieties. The dominant strain was different for each variety except in one case, suggesting that some strains are better adapted to certain must conditions.

[Autoimmune hepatitis in a HIV-HCV co-infected patient: diagnostic ant therapeutic difficulties]

INTRODUCTION

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory hepatic disorder, characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia and autoantibodies. In some cases, AIH can be associated with another liver disease; such as the hepatitis C-AIH overlap syndrome, which diagnosis and treatment may be delicate.

EXEGESE

We report a type 1 AIH case in a HIV-HCV co-infected woman. AIH remission and HCV eradication were obtained with prednisone and interferon plus ribavirine. AIH relapse appeared with corticosteroid withdrawal and a new remission was obtained with immunosuppressive treatment associating prednisone and azathioprine, without opportunistic infection.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of hepatitis C-AIH overlap syndromes in an HIV-infected patient. To our knowledge, it is the first AIH case report in a HIV-HCV co-infected patient.

Transbronchial Needle Aspiration of Diseased Mediastinal Lymph Nodes: Predictors of Positive Findings

OBJECTIVE

To assess the factors that may determine the effectiveness of transbronchial needle aspiration through a flexible bronchoscope in the diagnosis of diseased mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with lung or extrapulmonary tumors.

METHODS

Prospective study carried out at 2 hospitals between 1998 and 2004 that included all transbronchial needle aspirations performed on patients who had diseased mediastinal lymph nodes larger than 10 mm and nonlymphoid neoplasms. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the diagnostic results of transbronchial needle aspiration were performed according to the type and location of the primary neoplasm and the lymph node station biopsied, the diameter of the affected node, endoscopic findings, and the results of other bronchoscopic techniques.

RESULTS

The study evaluated the transbronchial needle aspiration of 230 lymph node stations in 207 patients. Histologic examination revealed 151 cases (72.9%) of non-small cell lung cancer, 42 cases (20.3%) of small cell lung cancer, and 14 cases (6.8%) of extrapulmonary cancer. The best predictors of obtaining a diagnostic sample were a diameter of the diseased node greater than 20 mm in diameter (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-4.7; P=.01) and a histologic diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 0.9-8.2; P=.07).

CONCLUSIONS

The size of the diseased node and the tumor type are the best predictors of obtaining a diagnostic sample with transbronchial needle aspiration of diseased mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with lung or extrapulmonary tumors.

Neuropathy resembling CIDP in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor- blockers

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TauNuFalpha) blockers are effective in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis but can induce autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis. Described are two patients who developed chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy after initiation of anti-TNFalpha treatment.