Event-related potentials in schizophrenia during tonal and phonetic oddball tasks: relations to diagnostic subtype, symptom features and verbal memory

BACKGROUND

This study compares event-related potentials for paranoid patients (n = 13) versus matched undifferentiated patients and unmedicated patients (n = 14) versus matched healthy adults.

METHODS

Event-related potentials of right-handed patients and control subjects were recorded from 30 electrodes during oddball tasks using consonant-vowel syllables or complex tones. Patients were also assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Thought Disorder Index, and the Wechsler Memory Scale.

RESULTS

Paranoid patients did not differ from undifferentiated patients in N1 or P3 amplitude but showed larger N2 at frontocentral sites to phonetic stimuli, as well as larger N2 over left than right hemisphere. Unmedicated patients showed reduced N2, but not N1 or P3, compared to control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The N2 findings are consistent with neuropsychological evidence of greater verbal abilities and left hemisphere dominance in paranoid than nonparanoid schizophrenia. The findings also confirm the relationship of P3 to total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score, negative symptoms, and verbal associative memory.

Treatment of hypoxemia in obstructive sleep apnea

Many patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have intermittent oxygen desaturation associated with periods of apnea or hypopnea. Oxygen saturation levels below 90% are considered harmful. Usually, treatment is directed at correcting the apnea, which will in turn prevent hypoxemia. Unfortunately, many patients fail or are not candidates for nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or surgical correction of their OSA. Forty-three patients with persistent OSA and nocturnal hypoxemia below 90% who were not candidates for additional surgical or CPAP therapy were treated with nocturnal oxygen supplementation. Standard symptoms associated with OSA and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were recorded before treatment and 30 days after the start of the treatment. In 21 patients, polysomnography studies were performed to compare the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) score and minimum oxygen saturation levels when the patients were breathing room air or breathing 4 L/minute of oxygen by nasal cannula. Subjective symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea improved, and the ESS score significantly decreased after a 30-night treatment with oxygen. Split-night polysomnography showed a significant increase in minimum oxygen saturation during oxygen administration. The RDI did not significantly change with treatment. Oxygen administration for the correction of OSA-related nocturnal hypoxemia was both safe and effective in alleviation of OSA-related symptoms. It also appeared to have a beneficial effect on minimum oxygen saturation levels. Thus, oxygen therapy may be considered a treatment option in patients who fail to comply with CPAP and are not candidates for a surgical procedure.

Application of the S-pyridylethylation reaction to the elucidation of the structures and functions of proteins

Cysteine (Cys) and cystine residues in proteins are unstable under conditions used for acid hydrolysis of peptide bonds. To overcome this problem, we proposed the use of the S-pyridylethylation reaction to stabilize Cys residues as pyridylethyl-cysteine (PEC) protein derivatives. This suggestion was based on our observation that two synthetic derivatives formed by pyridylethylation of the SH group of Cys with either 2-vinylpyridine (2-VP) or 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP), designated as S-beta-(2-pyridylethyl)-L-cysteine (2-PEC) and S-beta-(4-pyridylethyl)-L-cysteine (4-PEC), were stable under acid conditions used to hydrolyze proteins. This was also the case for protein-bound PEC groups. Since their discovery over 30 years ago, pyridylethylation reactions have been widely modified and automated for the analysis of many structurally different proteins at levels as low as 20 picomoles, to determine the primary structures of proteins and to define the influence of SH groups and disulfide bonds on the structures and functional, enzymatic, medical, nutritional, pharmacological, and toxic properties of proteins isolated from plant, microbial, marine, animal, and human sources. Pyridylethylation has been accepted as the best method for the modification of Cys residues in proteins for subsequent analysis and sequence determination. The reaction has also been proposed to measure D-Cys, homocysteine, glutathione, tryptophan, dehydroalanine, and furanthiol food flavors. This integrated overview of the diverse literature on these reactions emphasizes general concepts. It is intended to serve as a resource and guide for further progress based on the reported application of pyridylethylation reactions to more than 150 proteins.

Sensory nerves promote ozone-induced lung inflammation in mice

Genetically manipulated mice exhibiting altered innervation of the airways were used to examine the role of sensory nerves in ozone-induced lung inflammation. Transgenic mice expressing nerve growth factor (NGF) from the lung-specific Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) promoter exhibit hyperinnervation of the airways by sympathetic and tachykinin-containing sensory nerve fibers. Mice carrying a mutation in the low-affinity NGF receptor (NGFR) gene possess deficits in sensory innervation. CCSP-NGF transgenic mice exhibited a twofold increase in the number of lung lavage neutrophil level whereas NGFR knockout mice exhibited a nearly 50% decrease in neutrophilic inflammation compared with wild-type mice 18 h after ozone inhalation. Treatment with neurokinin receptor antagonists reduced the level of neutrophilic inflammation in both wild-type and CCSP-NGF mice. Examination of lavage fluid cytokine concentrations revealed that 4 h after ozone exposure CCSP-NGF mice produced significantly higher amounts of the chemokine KC than wild-type mice exposed to ozone. The results of this study indicate that sensory nerves are important mediators of ozone-induced inflammation in mice.

Role of LPS and receptor subtypes in the uptake of TNF by the murine lung

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) is an important mediator in lung injury. The kinetics of TNF uptake by the lung are not completely understood. In this study, we evaluated the role that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the two types of TNF receptor (p55 and p75) play in the uptake of circulating murine TNF by the murine lung. TNF radioactively labeled with 125I (I-mTNF) was administered intravenously (2 x 10(6) cpm/mouse) to mice with both receptors (wild-type) or to mice missing one (p55-/- or p75-/-) or both (p55-/- and p75-/-) TNF receptors. Blood to lung non-reversible sequestration (Ki) and reversible uptake (Vi) were measured with multiple-time regression analysis. Uptake by lung of I-mTNF in wild-type mice had reversible and non-reversible components. This uptake was decreased by intratracheal, but not by intravenous, LPS, suggesting modulation by local, rather than systemic, inflammation. The p75-/- deficient mice retained the Ki (saturable, non-reversible) component of TNF uptake, whereas p55-/- deficient mice retained the Vi (saturable, reversible) component of TNF uptake. Both Ki and Vi components of TNF uptake were absent in the lungs of p55-/- p75-/- deficient mice. These studies show that local inflammation inhibits the uptake of circulating I-mTNF by lung and that uptake consists of two distinguishable compartments: reversible uptake mediated by the p75 receptor and non-reversible sequestration mediated by the p55 receptor.

A framework for developing excellence as a clinical educator

The current emphasis on providing quality undergraduate and postgraduate medical education has focused attention on the educational responsibilities of all doctors. There is a greater awareness of the need to train doctors as educators and courses have been set up to satisfy this need. Some courses, such as those on how to conduct appraisal, are specific to one task facing a medical educator. Other courses take a broader view and relate educational theory to practice. In this paper we describe an outcome-based approach in which competence in teaching is defined in terms of 12 learning outcomes. The framework provides a holistic approach to the roles of the teacher and supports the professionalism of teaching. Such a framework provides the basis for the development of a curriculum for teaching excellence. It helps to define important competences for different categories of teachers, communicate the areas to be addressed in a course, identify gaps in course provision, evaluate courses, assist in staff planning and allow individuals to assess their personal learning needs. The framework is presented to encourage wider debate.

Type A behavior and coronary atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether the pathogenesis of type A behavior may involve the premature development of coronary atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND

Type A or coronary-prone behavior is considered a possible risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. Premature development of coronary atherosclerosis is suspected to play a role. Utilizing electron beam computed tomography, one can accurately determine the degree of coronary artery calcification, which is reflective of coronary atherosclerosis.

METHODS

We performed a study of 35 men who had no clinical evidence of coronary heart disease. Twenty exhibited severe type A behavior and 15 exhibited type B behavior. All subjects were given an Electron Beam Computed Tomography scan of their coronary arteries and a treadmill electrocardiogram.

RESULTS

Eight of the 20 (40%) type A subjects were found to have coronary calcification compared to none of the type B subjects (P=0.005). The correlation coefficient between type A score and coronary calcium score was 0.39 (P=0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

The pathophysiology by which type A behavior increases the risk for coronary heart disease may involve the premature development of coronary atherosclerosis.

Use of a long-acting inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist, salmeterol xinafoate, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition in which continuous bronchodilation may have clinical advantages. This study evaluated salmeterol, a beta-agonist bronchodilator with a duration of action substantially longer than that of short-acting beta-agonists, compared with ipratropium, an anticholinergic bronchodilator, and placebo in patients with COPD. Four hundred and five patients with COPD received either salmeterol 42 microg twice daily, ipratropium bromide 36 microg four times daily, or placebo for 12 wk in this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study. Patients were stratified on the basis of bronchodilator response to albuterol (> 12% and > 200-ml improvement) and were randomized within each stratum. Bronchodilator response was measured over 12 h four times during the treatment period. Salmeterol provided similar maximal bronchodilatation to ipratropium but had a longer duration of action and a more constant bronchodilatory effect with no evidence of bronchodilator tolerance. Both active treatments were well tolerated. Salmeterol was an effective bronchodilator with a consistent effect over this 12-wk study in patients with COPD, including those "unresponsive" to albuterol. The long duration of action of salmeterol offers the advantage of twice daily dosing compared with the required four times a day dosing with ipratropium.

Prognostic significance of Bcl-2 and p53 expression in advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Proteins regulating the cell cycle and cell death are frequently abnormally expressed in cancer. Several of these, particularly p53 and Bcl-2, have been widely suggested as possible prognostic markers in diverse human malignancies. Their role in predicting outcome in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck is unclear and may depend on the location, stage, and treatment of the tumor.

METHODS

To assess this question specifically for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, we studied 69 patients with stage III or IV tumors, all but 6 of whom were treated with surgery plus postoperative irradiation by a single physician. We studied the patients retrospectively to test the association between expression of Bcl-2 and p53, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, with treatment outcome and survival.

RESULTS

Twenty of the 69 patients died from their tumor (poor outcome); the rest were alive and tumor free at the last follow-up or died of unrelated causes without clinical tumor recurrence (good outcome). Fourteen tumors had detectable Bcl-2 expression, including 8 scored as overexpressors. Thirty-nine tumors overexpressed p53. Expression of neither Bcl-2 nor p53 was associated with outcome, overall survival, or disease-free survival. Only tumor stage was significantly associated with outcome and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that assessing expression of p53 or Bcl-2 is unlikely to be prognostically useful for surgically treated advanced laryngeal carcinoma.

Preclinical evaluation of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic rationale for oral CR metformin formulation

We examined the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) rationales to develop controlled release (CR) formulations of metformin. Unrestrained diabetic rats received the drug as intravenous bolus (i.v.), oral solution (p.o.), intra-duodenal bolus, 4-h infusion, or intra-colonic bolus. In addition, we developed two CR-gastroretentive dosage forms (CR-GRDF) that released the drug over 3 or 6 h (in vitro), and retained in the rats' stomach for 8-10 h. Metformin exhibited flip-flop PK. The colonic absorption was low but sustained and was associated with highly variable glucose-lowering effects, thus providing a PK rationale to develop CR-GRDF. In addition, the glucose-lowering effect was greater following p.o. vs. i.v. administration, despite equivalent AUC, indicating a first pass PD effect, thus, adding a PD rationale to develop metformin CR-GRDF. When administered to the diabetic rats, CR-GRDFs produced bioavailability and extent of glucose-lowering effects that were similar to those of the duodenal infusion and p.o. metformin administration. These findings are attributed to the adsorption of metformin to the intestine that yields slow and prolonged absorption even following p.o. administration of drug solution. The data indicates that unless the CR formulation could significantly extend the absorption period, it is not likely to improve glucose-lowering efficacy.

Nutritional and health benefits of soy proteins

Soy protein is a major component of the diet of food-producing animals and is increasingly important in the human diet. However, soy protein is not an ideal protein because it is deficient in the essential amino acid methionine. Methionine supplementation benefits soy infant formulas, but apparently not food intended for adults with an adequate nitrogen intake. Soy protein content of another essential amino acid, lysine, although higher than that of wheat proteins, is still lower than that of the milk protein casein. Adverse nutritional and other effects following consumption of raw soybean meal have been attributed to the presence of endogenous inhibitors of digestive enzymes and lectins and to poor digestibility. To improve the nutritional quality of soy foods, inhibitors and lectins are generally inactivated by heat treatment or eliminated by fractionation during food processing. Although lectins are heat-labile, the inhibitors are more heat-stable than the lectins. Most commercially heated meals retain up to 20% of the Bowman-Birk (BBI) inhibitor of chymotrypsin and trypsin and the Kunitz inhibitor of trypsin (KTI). To enhance the value of soybeans in human nutrition and health, a better understanding is needed of the factors that impact the nutrition and health-promoting aspects of soy proteins. This paper discusses the composition in relation to properties of soy proteins. Also described are possible beneficial and adverse effects of soy-containing diets. The former include soy-induced lowering of cholesterol, anticarcinogenic effects of BBI, and protective effects against obesity, diabetes, irritants of the digestive tract, bone, and kidney diseases, whereas the latter include poor digestibility and allergy to soy proteins. Approaches to reduce the concentration of soybean inhibitors by rearrangement of protein disulfide bonds, immunoassays of inhibitors in processed soy foods and soybean germplasm, the roles of phytoestrogenic isoflavones and lectins, and research needs in all of these areas are also discussed. This integrated overview of the widely scattered literature emphasizes general concepts based on our own studies as well as recent studies by others. It is intended to stimulate interest in further research to optimize beneficial effects of soy proteins. The payoff will be healthier humans and improved animal feeds.

Improved intestinal absorption of sulpiride in rats with synchronized oral delivery systems

The goals of this study were to examine whether formulations, capable of releasing sulpiride (SP) in synchrony with the p-Glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors, verapamil (Ver) or quinidine (Qn) can increase SP relative bioavailability and to suggest a rationale approach for oral administration of SP. Jejunum of anesthetized rats was perfused with 200 or 400 microg/ml of SP either alone or together with 98 microg/ml of Ver. It was observed that while an increasing SP concentration did not cause an increase in SP blood levels, the addition of Ver or Qn to the perfusion solution caused a profound increase in SP absorption. Erodible matrix tablets, exhibiting a range of erosion rates, were prepared by manipulating the ratios of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) in the matrices. The tablets were designed to release the low water soluble SP and the highly water soluble Qn concomitantly over 1, 2 or 4 h. In all cases, the synchronous release increased SP bioavailability after intra-intestinal administration. The increase varied from 2.6- to 3.9-fold for the fast and the slow release formulations, respectively (compared with a control administration of a powdered mixture of SP and Qn). It is speculated that the poor oral bioavailability of SP was caused by brush border P-gp efflux. Synchronous release delivery systems of SP containing also the P-gp inhibitor Qn were able to increase SP bioavailability after intestinal administration in the rat. It is concluded that oral bioavailability of poorly absorbed drugs, in which absorption is restricted by gut wall secretory transport, may be improved by formulating them with functional adjuvants in synchronous release drug carriers.

Potential short-term economic benefits of improved glycemic control: a managed care perspective

OBJECTIVE

There are limited data relating glycemic control to medical costs among patients with diabetes. The goal of this study was to examine the potential impact of improved glycemic control on selected short-term complications of diabetes and associated costs in a managed care setting.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Using a retrospective cohort design and automated databases from January 1994 to 30 June 1998, adult members of the Fallon Clinic who were diagnosed with diabetes were identified and assigned to one of three study groups based on each patient's mean HbA1c level: good control (<8%), fair control (8-10%), and poor control (> 10%) groups. Inpatient (hospital or skilled nursing facility) admissions for selected acute (short-term) complications, represented by selected infections, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and electrolyte disturbances, and the associated medical charges were evaluated across the three HbA1c groups. Multivariate analyses were used to control for differences in several potential confounding factors among the study groups. All findings were expressed on a 3-year basis.

RESULTS

Of 2,394 patients with diabetes, approximately 10% (251) had at least one inpatient stay for a short-term complication, accounting for 447 admissions. Over 3 years, the adjusted rate of inpatient treatment ranged from 13 per 100 patients with good glycemic control to 16 per 100 patients with fair glycemic control and 31 per 100 patients with poor glycemic control (P < 0.05). The corresponding mean adjusted charges were approximately $970, $1,380, and $3,040, respectively Among the 30% of the study population with long-term diabetic complications, the results were more marked; the adjusted admissions per 100 patients (mean charges) were estimated to be 30 ($2,610), 38 ($3,810), and 74 ($8,320) over 3 years for patients with an HbA1c of <8, 8-10, and > 10%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In typical practice, better glycemic control is associated with a reduced rate of admission for selected short-term complications and, therefore, reduced medical charges for these complications over a 3-year period. The potential short-term economic benefits are important to consider when making decisions regarding the adoption and use of new interventions for the management of diabetes.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor deficiency alters matrix metalloproteinase 13/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 expression in murine silicosis

Murine exposure to silica is associated with enhanced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) expression and matrix deposition. The regulation of TNF is mediated through TNF receptor (TNFR) activation of transcription factors. In the present work we have studied the importance of the individual TNFR in silica-induced lung inflammation and matrix deposition in mice. We studied RNA expression of TNF, alpha1(I) collagen, interstitial collagenase (MMP-13), and its inhibitor (TIMP-1) in the lungs of silica-treated mice. Furthermore, we correlated MMP-13/TIMP-1 RNA abundance with activation of the transcription factors AP-1 and NF-kappaB in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice, and of mice deficient in one of the two types of TNFR (p55(-/-) or p75(-/-)), exposed to silica (0.2 g/kg) or saline by intratracheal instillation. Animals were killed 28 d after exposure and lung hydroxyproline (HP), TNF, alpha1(I) collagen, MMP-13, and TIMP-1 RNA abundance was measured. AP-1 and NF-kappaB activation was studied by gel-shift assays. Compared with C57BL/6 mice, p55(-/-) and p75(-/-) mice significantly (*p < 0.05) decreased lung HP accumulation in response to silica. All murine strains enhanced TNF and alpha1(I) collagen mRNA in response to silica. Enhanced (p < 0.05) MMP-13 RNA expression was also observed in all murine strains in response to silica. Enhanced (p < 0.05) TIMP-1 RNA expression was observed in C57BL/6 mice, but not in p55(-/-) or p75(-/-) mice, in response to silica. NF-kappaB activation was observed in all murine strains, whereas AP-1 activation was observed only in C57BL/6 mice after silica treatment. These data suggest that TNFR deletion modifies MMP-13/ TIMP-1 expression in favor of matrix degradation.

Tracer studies on the incorporation of [2-14C]-DL-mevalonate into chlorophylls a and b, alpha-chaconine, and alpha-solanine of potato sprouts

Chlorophyll and glycoalkaloids are synthesized in different parts of the potato plant including leaves, tubers, and sprouts. Although light stimulates the biosynthesis of both constituents, the question of whether the two biosynthetic pathways are under the same genetic control has not been resolved. This study investigated the dynamics of incorporation of labeled [2-(14)C]-DL-mavalonate into chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the glycoalkaloids alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine in potato sprouts after 7 and 14 days of storage in the light and in the dark. No chlorophyll synthesis occurred in the dark. Fractionation of the "glycoalkaloid" extract followed by high-performance liquid chromatography produced four peaks. The fractions were collected and analyzed for radioactivity. About 80% of the radioactivity resided in fraction 1, the composition of which is unknown. Two of the fractions, with 1-14% of the original label, were alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine. The radioactivity derived from mevalonate largely resides in unidentified compound(s) eluting as a single peak on the HPLC column before the peaks associated with the glycoalkaloids. The specific radioactivity of alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine increased approximately 2-fold in going from 7 to 14 days of exposure in the light and in the dark. These and additional observations point to the near identity of the dynamics of biosynthesis of the two glycoalkaloids. These data also implicate a non-mevalonate pathway for the synthesis of both chlorophylls and the glycoalkaloids and are consistent with independent genetic control of the concurrent formation of the two classes of compounds during greening of potatoes.

Economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Impact of new treatment options

The incidence, morbidity and mortality of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is rising throughout the world. The total economic cost of COPD in the US in 1993 was estimated to be over $US15.5 billion, with $US6.1 billion for hospitalisation, $US4.4 billion for physician and other fees, $US2.5 billion for drugs, $US1.5 billion for nursing home care and $US1.0 billion for home care. Office visits, hospital outpatient visits and emergency department visits accounted for 17.3% of the direct costs for COPD in the US. When stratified by severity, COPD treatment costs strongly correlate with disease severity. The American Thoracic Society, the European Respiratory Society and the British Thoracic Society have developed guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of COPD. However, the guidelines establish inhaled bronchodilators (anticholinergic agents and beta 2-adrenergic agonists) as the mainstay of therapy for patients with COPD. The guidelines were not based on cost analyses and thus are not a priori cost-effective guidelines. Since the publication of these guidelines, several new pharmacological products have been approved for use in patients with COPD including a combination of an anticholinergic and selective beta 2-adrenergic agonist [ipratropium/salbutamol (albuterol)] and a long-acting beta 2-adrenergic agonist (salmeterol). Both products are effective bronchodilators in COPD. The purpose of this report is to place these new agents in an updated pharmacological guideline scheme, utilising recently published data on clinical efficacy as well as pharmacoeconomics. The annualised healthcare costs were computed to be $US788/patient/year for the combination ipratropium/salbutamol inhaler and $US1059/patient/year for salmeterol (1999 values). Based upon an improved understanding of the complexity of COPD, the response of patients to newer bronchodilators (given individually or in combination), and recent pharmacoeconomic data for COPD treatment, a new treatment algorithm with associated costs is proposed. The use of an algorithm, based on medical and pharmacoeconomic data, will improve lung function in patients with COPD, improve patient satisfaction (e.g. quality of life, dyspnoea) and outcomes (e.g. exacerbations). It will also result in a positive effect on healthcare costs.

Frontal sinus surgery: endoscopic technique and preliminary results

Endoscopic frontal sinus surgery, once the last frontier in the evolution of endoscopic sinus surgery, is considered difficult, risky to the patient, and likely to result in a high failure rate. We clarify the surgical anatomy for frontal sinus surgery that, based on a review of our data, provides safe and predictable access to the frontal sinus. We studied 200 consecutive patients with respect to indications, endoscopic and radiographic findings, results, and complications. The study will describe the technique in detail, including the following points: 1) computed tomography identification of the superior attachment of the uncinate process; 2) complete removal of the uncinate process, including its superior attachments, by using the microdebrider; 3) removal of the agger nasi cell, if present; and 4) verification of an open frontal sinus by a transillumination or image-guided system. Postoperative assessment of patients' symptoms and the confirmation of a patent frontal sinus by office endoscopy and transillumination indicated a 90% patency for short-term follow-up (average 12.2 months). There were no major complications. Postoperative complications included frontal recess stenosis, polypoid mucosa occluding the frontal recess, and middle turbinate lateralization. All of these situations may lead to recurrence of infection and symptoms. In-depth understanding of anatomic variations of the uncinate process and precise surgical removal of its superior attachments provide surgical access to the frontal sinus that is based on the natural ostia and is, therefore, more likely to remain patent.

Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of COPD

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The clinical outcomes and health-care costs of a cohort of 413 patients with COPD are reported.

DESIGN

This study was a retrospective pharmacoeconomic analysis.

SETTING

University teaching hospital and affiliated clinics.

PATIENTS

COPD patients with an FEV(1) < 65% of predicted and an FEV(1)/FVC ratio < 70% were eligible to be included in this analysis.

INTERVENTIONS

Health-care resource utilization and costs were identified through chart review and were stratified according to the severity of COPD using the American Thoracic Society stages I, II, and III. The pharmacoeconomic analysis was a cost-of-illness evaluation that included the acquisition costs of initially prescribed pulmonary drugs, acquisition cost of pulmonary drugs added during the follow-up period, oxygen therapy, laboratory and diagnostic test costs, clinic visit costs, and emergency department and hospital costs.

RESULTS

Total treatment cost was highly correlated with disease severity, with stage I COPD having the lowest cost ($1,681 per patient per year), stage III COPD having the highest cost ($10, 812 per patient per year), and stage II COPD having a cost intermediate to stage I and stage III ($5,037 per patient per year). With the exception of add-on drug acquisition cost, all cost variables were the highest in stage III COPD, the lowest in stage I COPD, and intermediate in stage II COPD. Hospitalization was the most important cost variable for all three stages of COPD severity. When stratified by both disease severity and initial bronchodilator drug selection, ipratropium alone in stage I COPD patients and the combination of ipratropium plus a ss-agonist (with or without steroid therapy) in stage II and stage III COPD patients had the lowest total costs. Reasons for the lower total cost of the ipratropium and ipratropium plus ss-agonist treatment groups included lower add-on drug costs, fewer diagnostic and laboratory tests, and a lower utilization rate for clinic visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates a strong correlation between disease severity and total treatment cost in COPD. In addition, the type of bronchodilator therapy impacts total cost in COPD. In stage I COPD, ipratropium alone had the lowest total cost, while in stage II and stage III COPD, a combination of ipratropium plus a ss-agonist had the lowest total cost. These data support the concept that adherence to published treatment guidelines will result in lower health-care costs due to COPD.

Artifactual reverse distribution pattern in myocardial perfusion SPECT with technetium-99m sestamibi

BACKGROUND

The reverse distribution pattern (RDP), in which resting perfusion imaging demonstrates a de novo or more marked regional defect than that present in stress images, is observed frequently in patients with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To determine whether this scan pattern is artifactual and to investigate its causes, we retrospectively evaluated scans in 202 patients with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease (77 men and 125 women) undergoing single-day rest/stress technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The presence and location of RDP was correlated with relevant body habitus parameters. RDP was observed in 15.3% of patients. The finding was significantly more frequent in patients who were obese (P<.02 in men, P<.03 in women), in men with abdominal protuberance (P<.05), and in women with prominent breast "shadows" observed on planar projection images (P<.008). RDP was most frequent in the right coronary artery territory in men and the left anterior descending coronary artery territory in women. It was demonstrated by means of a cardiac SPECT phantom experiment that soft tissue attenuation effects were most evident in low count density SPECT studies with localized soft tissue attenuation, accounting for the higher than clinical observation of RDP in obese patients undergoing low-dose rest/high-dose imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

RDP is a frequently encountered artifact in obese patients undergoing rest/stress Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT, particularly in men with abdominal protuberance and in women with large, dense breasts.

Primary epiploic appendagitis: an etiology of acute abdominal pain

Primary epiploic appendagitis has a nonspecific clinical presentation but pathognomonic appearance on computerized tomography. We report a patient who was promptly diagnosed and treated with conservative management, and review the literature. This entity has not been well described in the general medical literature. Epiploic appendagitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical presentations of acute abdominal pain. Integration of a patient's history and physical exam with laboratory and computerized tomography findings allows a timely and confident diagnosis. Surgery is not necessary, but close follow-up is required.

Cinnamaldehyde content in foods determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

trans-Cinnamaldehyde, the principal component of cinnamon flavor, is a potent antimicrobial compound present in essential oils such as cinnamon. In the course of studies designed to discover its maximum microbial lethality under food-processing conditions, a gas chromatographic-mass spectrophotometric procedure was developed for the extraction and analysis of essential oil components such as cinnamaldehyde from commercial cinnamon-containing foods (several brands of cinnamon breads, cereals, cookies, puddings, applesauces, and fruit juices). The cinnamaldehyde content ranged from trace amounts in orange juice to 12.2 mg/100 g (122 ppm) in apple cinnamon cereals and 31.1 mg/100 g (311 ppm) for cinnamon swirl bread (highest value). To ascertain the heat stability of cinnamaldehyde, pure cinnamaldehyde, pure eugenol, cinnamon oil, and mixtures consisting of cinnamaldehyde plus eugenol or cinnamon oil were heated at graded temperatures up to 210 degrees C and 60 min, and then possible compositional changes were examined. Eugenol was stable to heat, as were the components of cinnamon oil: carvone, eugenol, and linalool. In contrast, starting at approximately 60 degrees C, pure cinnamaldehyde undergoes a temperature-dependent transformation to benzaldehyde under the influence of heat. Eugenol, both pure and in cinnamon oil, when added to pure cinnamaldehyde protected the aldehyde against heat destruction. The protection may due to an antioxidative action of eugenol. The possible mechanism of this effect and the significance of these findings for food chemistry and microbiology are discussed.

Investigating the structure and properties of hydrated hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and egg albumin matrices containing carbamazepine: EPR and NMR study

PURPOSE

The present study was conducted in order to investigate the correlation between the hydration properties of HPMC and EA matrices, gel microstructure and mobility, crystalline changes occurring in the gel and CBZ release kinetics. The influence of HPMC and EA erosion modes on CBZ release kinetics was interpreted in terms of gel microstructures.

METHODS

NMR technique was used to determine the T1 and T2 relaxation rates of water in hydrated matrices. PFGSE NMR technique was employed to determine the SDC of water in the gels. EPR technique was used to determine the rotational correlation time of PCA in the hydrated matrices, gel microviscosity, mobile compartment, alpha, beta, gamma parameters and lorentzian/ gaussian ratio. These parameters are indicative of matrix microstructure.

RESULTS

CBZ release mechanism from HPMC and EA matrices was markedly different. This behavior was related to the different structures of the polymer and protein. T2 relaxation studies and SDC measurements by NMR revealed higher chain hydration for HPMC compared to EA. Using the EPR technique it has been shown that the microviscosity and mobile compartment of matrices containing HPMC are lower than matrices containing EA. The microviscosity, mobile compartment and S-parameter values of hydrated matrices containing different EA/CBZ ratios were in correlation with the crystallization properties of CBZ in the gels, matrix erosion properties and CBZ release kinetics from the matrices.

CONCLUSIONS

Characterization of matrix structures using EPR and NMR techniques supported our hypothesis concerning the mechanism involved in HPMC-CBZ interaction. EA/CBZ matrix microstructure features, analyzed by NMR and EPR techniques, were in correlation with the crystalline changes occurring in the gel and drug release kinetics.