BackgroundResearch on the effects of treating sub-threshold depression in persons with diabetes is scarce in spite of the findings indicating that this condition is highly prevalent in the diabetic population and may increase the risk of developing a subsequent major depression. This study was aimed at exploring the effects of a psycho-educational intervention on depression- and diabetes-related outcomes in patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms.MethodsA randomized controlled study design with a one-year follow-up was used. Fifty patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms (74% female, aged 57 ± 9 yrs, diabetes duration of 10 ± 8 yrs, BMI 31 ± 6 kg/m2, HbA1C 7.7% ± 1.4, 53% insulin treated) were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group. The intervention group underwent four psycho-educational sessions aimed at enabling self-management of depressive symptoms. The control group was informed about the screening results and depression treatment options while continuing diabetes treatment as usual. Both groups were contacted by phone in 2–3-month intervals, and re-assessed for depression after 6 and 12 months. Changes in depressive symptoms and glycaemic control were considered primary outcomes. Mann-Whitney U test and Friedman ANOVA were used to compare between- and within-group indicators at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.ResultsBoth the intervention and the control group reported a significant decrease in depressive symptoms as measured by the CES-D scale (Friedman ANOVA χ2 = 10.8 p = .004 and χ2 = 7.3 p = 0.03, respectively). The 6-month and 1-year indicators of glycaemic control as compared to baseline HbA1C values were also improved in both groups (χ2 = 11.6 p = 0.003 and χ2 = 17.1 p = 0.0002, respectively). Between-group differences in depressive symptoms and HbA1C values were not statistically significant either at 6- or at 12-month follow-up (all p > 0.05).ConclusionPsycho-educational treatment appears to be beneficial in diabetic patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms, but its effects are comparable with the non-specific support given to the subjects in the control group.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN58745372
Objective: To investigate a relationship of asthma symptoms and exacerbations with systemic (high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), leukocytes) and local (exhaled NO (FENO), pH and urates in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and exhaled breath temperature (EBT)) inflammatory biomarkers (BMs) in asthmatic children. Methods:This cross-sectional study comprised 93 consecutive asthmatic patients (age 6-18 years, 22 girls) with mild intermittent asthma ([IA], N=44) and mild to moderate persistent asthma ([PA], N=49). Medical history (asthma symptoms and exacerbation), pulmonary function, FENO, EBT, samples of exhaled breath and peripheral blood were collected.Results: Local BMs (EBC urates and EBT) showed stronger correlation with asthma symptoms then systemic BMs (hs-CRP, blood count with differencials) (r=0.26-0.68, r=0.06-0.32, p<0.05; respectively). Single measurements of inflammatory BMs are not good predictors for future asthma exacerbation (binary logistic regression; χ²=13.9; df=11; p=0.238). Conclusion:Study of combination of various exhaled breath and exhaled breath condensate BMs should continue, especially in longitudinal studies with repeated measurements of BMs.
Introduction: This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare primary and secondary outcomes of patients undergoing radical cystectomy according to two different perioperative antimicrobial therapy protocols in 2016. Methods: In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, we investigated data of 104 patients undergoing radical cystectomy due to bladder cancer from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. According to perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis, patients were divided into two groups: 48 patients received piperacillin/tazobactam 3x4.5 g intravenously (IV) combined with metronidazole 3x500 mg IV, and 56 patients received ceftriaxone 1x2 g IV combined with metronidazole 3x500 mg IV. All patients received the first dose of antibiotics 24 hours prior to the operative procedure, and it continued over the next 48 hours after the procedure. We analyzed and compared data from various primary and secondary outcomes for both groups of patients. Results: In the group of patients receiving the combination of the piperacillin/tazobactam with metronidazole, the length of postoperative hospitalization was shorter (14 vs. 16 days, Z=2.24957 p=0.02383), leukocyte blood count on the first postoperative day was lower (9.80 vs. 11.15, p=0.01384), and hospital-acquired pneumonia was less common (2.08% vs. 12.5%, p=0.04688) than in the group receiving a combination of ceftriaxone and metronidazole. Conclusions: In radical cystectomy, perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol using piperacillin/tazobactam combined with metronidazole proved to be more effective than the combination of ceftriaxone with metronidazole.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.