First-choice Treatment For Patients Research Articles

The treatment choices of abdominal aortic aneurysm patients in China in the era of value-based healthcare.

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is often seen as the first choice treatment for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), particularly high-risk patients, yet the long-term survival rate and improvement in quality of life are still unclear. In order to seek the value of EVAR to the entire healthcare field, we conducted a retrospective study to evaluate whether the improvement EVAR can truly bring to the quality of medical care in the era of value-based healthcare. We included AAA patients who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Vascular Surgery, First Hospital of China Medical University, from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2019 and evaluated surgery procedure data, short-term and long-term mortality, complications, prognoses, and medical costs. We analyzed 507 patients with AAA who underwent open repair (n = 232) or EVAR (n = 275) over a 15-year period. The operative time, blood loss, blood transfusion rate, and postoperative length of hospital stay of the EVAR group is significantly lower than which of the open repair group. Meanwhile, neither short-term nor long-term mortality rates shows significant differences between the two groups. On the other hand, the complication rate of the EVAR group was significantly higher than that of the open repair group. Lastly, the total cost of EVAR was significantly higher than that of open repair. Existing evidence suggests that EVAR improves neither short-term nor long-term survival rate compared with open surgery. In contrast, the complication rate and the reintervention rate in the EVAR group were higher than those in the open surgery group. Moreover, the cost of EVAR and that paid by medical insurance were higher than those for open surgery. For patients with a long-life expectancy, in order to ensure that patients receive appropriate and effective care, surgeons should choose a suitable method that considers both the quality of medical care as well as the expense accordingly.

Multiple systemic artery to pulmonary vessel fistulas (SAPVFs) completely resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a case report

BackgroundSystemic artery to pulmonary vessel fistula (SAPVF) is an uncommon abnormal vascular communication between systemic arteries and the lung parenchyma. It has been reported that the appropriate treatment for SAPVF is embolization or surgical resection. However, in patients such as ours, who have many aberrant vessels or multiple lesions, surgery should be considered as the first-choice treatment.Case presentationThis case report describes multiple SAPVFs and huge bullae at the apex of the left lung in a 43-year-old man that were resected completely with the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery without any complications and was discharged 9 days postoperatively. He had heavy smoking history, and the giant bullae and the diffuse emphysematous change were found in the lung. Therefore, the chronic inflammation may have been present in the thoracic cavity, which caused multiple SAPVFs.ConclusionsWe describe the clinical course and management of the patient with multiple SAPVFs who had no obvious history of surgery, trauma, or various inflammatory or infection diseases. VATS should be the first-choice treatment in patients with many abnormal vessels or multiple lesions.

Role of Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score in Management of Spinal Plasmacytoma

The decision to perform surgery in cases of spinal plasmacytoma (SP) is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) in evaluation of spinal instability in patients with SP. Clinical and radiological characteristics of 10 patients with SP were retrospectively evaluated. Age, sex, preoperative symptoms, duration of symptoms, pain score, American Spinal Injury Association score, and SINS were analyzed. The 10 patients included 6 men and 4 women. Plasmacytoma was located in the sacrum in 1 patient, in the lumbar spine in 2 patients, in the thoracic spine in 6 patients, and in the cervical spine in 1 patient. Biopsy was performed in 2 patients, biopsy and vertebroplasty were performed in 2 patients, and biopsy and acute decompression and stabilization surgery were performed in 6 patients. SINS was <7 in 1 patient, 7-12 in 5 patients, and >12 in 4 patients. Two patients with a low SINS (<13) underwent only biopsy, and 2 patients underwent biopsy and vertebroplasty. Decompression and stabilization surgery was performed in 2 patients with SINS 7-12 and 4 patients with SINS >12. Decision making regarding augmentation, decompression, and stabilization in patients with SP is controversial. SINS may play a role during the decision-making process. Augmentation can be performed in patients with painful SPs with osteolytic changes with or without fracture (SINS <13). Decompression and stabilization surgery is the first-choice treatment in patients with SINS >12.

POSA41 Budget Impact Analysis of Lurasidone in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Schizophrenia in Spain

Atypical antipsychotics are first choice treatment for patients with schizophrenia. However, some of them are associated with cardiometabolic events (CME) and non-adherence to the medication, resulting in a significant clinical and economic impact. The aim of this study is to evaluate the budget impact (BI) of lurasidone in the management of adult patients with schizophrenia in Spain from a payer's perspective over a three-years’ time horizon.

Salvage surgery after definitive chemoradiotherapy through VATS for an initial unresectable locally advanced lung cancer: an alternative consolidative modality to radiotherapy?

BackgroundDefinitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is the first choice treatment for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but up to 35% of dCRT-treated tumors may have persistent or recurrent disease. Since the last decades, multimodality therapy showing potential for cure has become the mainstream for treatment of locally advanced NSCLCs, even some that were initially inoperable. Although salvage lung resection after dCRT has been reported with acceptable survivals, experiences in this respect are still limited. Other concerns remain debatable and inconclusive, such as dosage of radiation exposure, long interval between dCRT and surgery, and surgical comorbidity.Case presentationA 73-year-old male former smoker with diagnosis of right lower lobe of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) with multiple mediastinal lymphadenopathy, cT4N2M0, stage IIIB, received salvage right lower lobe + right middle lobe bilobectomy through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) after dCRT and adjuvant CRT to a total of 9000 cGy dosage of radiation. The interval from the 1st and 2nd ends of radiation to the salvage surgery was 980 and 164 days, respectively. The pre-operative forced expiratory volume in the first second was 2.33 L (101% predicted) and the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide was 56% predicted. The operating time was 6.5 h, and the total estimated blood loss was 50 ml. The patient was discharged on the 7th postoperative day without major complications or bronchopleural fistulas. The patient was still alive 42 months after the initial diagnosis of advanced N2 lung SqCC, and kept progression-free for 7 months after salvage lung resection.ConclusionsSalvage lung resection performed long after high-dose radiation therapy of dCRT is technically feasible through VATS approach in a patient with initially inoperable cT4N2M0 stage IIIB NSCLC, and can be an alternative consolidative treatment for locally advanced NSCLC.

FGF23-related hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia: diagnosis and new treatment.

FGF23 is a phosphaturic hormone produced by bone. FGF23 reduces serum phosphate by suppressing proximal tubular phosphate reabsorption and intestinal phosphate absorption. After the identification of FGF23, several kinds of hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia such as X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) have been shown to be caused by excessive actions of FGF23. Circulatory FGF23 is high in patients with these hypophosphatemic diseases while FGF23 is rather low in those with chronic hypophosphatemia from other causes such as vitamin D deficiency. These results indicate that FGF23 measurement is useful for the differential diagnosis of hypophosphatemia. Chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for FGF23 has been approved for clinical use in Japan. The first choice treatment for patients with TIO is complete removal of responsible tumors. However, it is not always possible to find and completely remove responsible tumors. Phosphate and active vitamin D have been used for patients with hypophosphatemic diseases caused by excessive actions of FGF23 including TIO patients with unresectable tumors. However, these medications have limited effects and several adverse events. The inhibition of excessive FGF23 actions has been considered to be a novel therapy for these hypophosphatemic diseases. Human MAB for FGF23, burosumab, has been shown to improve biochemical abnormalities, roentgenological signs of rickets, growth, fracture healing and impaired mineralization in patients with XLH. Burosumab has been approved in several countries including Europe, North America and Japan. Long-term effects of burosumab need to be addressed in future studies.

The Use of Re-entry Devices in Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease.

Endovascular approach is the first-choice treatment in patients suffering from aortoiliac occlusions. Nevertheless, standard endoluminal revascularization fails in treating occlusions in about 20% (1) of cases. Thus, subintimal revascularization can be a solution, but it fails in 25% (2) of cases as well. In the last decades, different devices have been created, in order to ease the cross back into the true lumen, when standard subintimal revascularization does not work or risks to occlude important collateral vessels. Herein, we revise the currently available re-entry devices and their application in the aortoiliac occlusive pathology.

Results of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy depending on different levels of pulmonary vascular resistance and angiographic index of the pulmonary artery lesion

Objective. Pulmonary endarterectomy is a first-choice treatment for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Data describing the results of the operation with different levels of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) depending on the spread and percentage of pulmonary artery disease are not declared in the world literature. The aim of our study is to evaluate and compare the hospital results of the operation in patients with different levels of pulmonary vascular resistance, depending on the CT-angiographic index of the pulmonary artery lesion.&#x0D; Materials and methods. A retro-prospective study was conducted, which included 52 patients. All patients were divided into 2 groups, depending on the levels of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR): group 1 included 31 patients with PVR1000 dynes/cm5, group 2 21 patients with PVR1000 dynes/cm5. Data of the preoperative right heart catheterization in groups 1 and 2, respectively: mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) 44.48.3 and 56.99.6 mm Hg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure 7.32.4 and 61.5 mm. Hg, cardiac output (CO) 3.90.9 and 3.20.6 l/min, cardiac index (CI) 20.5 and 1.60.4 l/min/m2, PVR 767174 and 1272.6186.4 dynsec/cm5. The operation was carried out bilaterally according to a standard protocol with cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest.&#x0D; Results. Data of the right heart catheterization on the first day after the operation in first and second groups, respectively: mPAP 28.56.3 and 35.784.2 mm Hg, PVR 253.3985.5 and 333.9101.9 dynes/cm5, CO 5.370.9 and 5, 21.1 l/min, CI 2.690.39 and 2.60.4 l/min/m2. There was a significant decrease of pulmonary hypertension (p0.05) in the early postoperative period, in both groups. However, a detailed analysis of the obtained data revealed that in patients with pulmonary vascular resistance of more than 1000 dynes/cm5 with a pulmonary artery lesion index of less than 50%, a significant course of the early postoperative period along the combined endpoint was observed. The intensive care unit stay was 4 days in average in both groups. The need for a tracheostomy for the prolongation of artificial ventilation of the lungs was in 2 and 1 cases in first and second groups, respectively. In the first group, there were 5 cases of transient neurological disorders, which regressed at the time of discharge. Two patients in the second group died.&#x0D; Conclusion. Despite the varying levels of baseline PVR, a significant improvement in hemodynamic parameters is observed in the early postoperative period, although patients in group 2 were less proven to normalization of pulmonary hemodynamics. However, a detailed comparative analysis revealed that the most severe category of patients are patients with PVR1000 dynes/cm5, with pulmonary artery lesion index of less than 50%. Thus, the calculation of the CT-angiographic index of pulmonary artery diseases an additional diagnostic method to rate the risks of surgery, especially in patients with a high level of preoperative pulmonary hypertension

‘Efficacy and safety of imiquimod 5% cream for basal cell carcinoma: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trial’: a critical appraisal

Jia and He aimed 'to compare the efficacy and safety of imiquimod with other treatments in patients with basal cell carcinoma' (BCC). Meta-analysis of studies that included patients with histologically confirmed BCC treated with imiquimod 5% cream compared with all other treatments, including vehicle, excisional surgery, cryosurgery, fluorouracil and methyl aminolaevulinate photodynamic therapy. The main outcome measures included histological and composite clearance rates, success rates, complete response rates, tumour-free survival and adverse events. Thirteen studies with a total of 4265 patients were included in the review. Pooled analyses comparing imiquimod with all or any of the listed comparators, including vehicle, demonstrated higher histological clearance rates [risk ratio (RR) 9·28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5·56-15·5; P < 0·001], higher composite clearance rates (RR 34·2, 95% CI 21·3, 55·1; P = 0·001), no significant difference in success rates (RR 0·98, 95% CI 0·89-1·08; P = 0·73), higher complete response rates (RR 3·15, 95% CI 1·55-6·38; P = 0·001), no significant difference in tumour-free survival (RR 1·15, 95% CI 0·98-1·35; P = 0·088) and increased incidence of adverse events (RR 2·00, 95% CI 1·39-2·88; P < 0·001). The authors state that 'imiquimod significantly exhibited benefit effect in improving the histological/composite clearance rates' compared with other treatments, and they suggest it could be used as the first-choice treatment for patients with BCC. The main concerns related to the article by Jia and He are that the research question is replicative, it makes little sense to combine all BCC types in a meta-analysis, and it also makes no sense to combine an active treatment against a combination of vehicle and other active treatments. There are also concerns about bias related to the use of the same study data more than once in a meta-analysis. Furthermore, we have identified an example of covert duplicate publication, which further compounds the profusion of misleading systematic reviews.

Efficacy of lapatinib-capecitabine combination in a patient with multiple metastasis from HER2-positive breast cancer

HER2 overexpression occurs in about 15-20% of breast cancer cases and is associated with rapid tumor growth. The introduction in clinical practice of several drugs inhibiting the biological activity of HER2, such as trastuzumab, pertuzumab, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and lapatinib, has clearly modified the prognosis for these patients. The combination of the two inhibitors of HER2, trastuzumab and pertuzumab, with a taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel), is currently considered the first choice treatment for patients affected by HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, whereas T-DM1 is considered the preferred treatment after the failure of first line therapy. We present the case of a 50-year-old woman affected by HER2-positive breast cancer with bone, hepatic, pulmonary and encephalic metastases, resistant both to trastuzumab-pertuzumab double-block treatment and to T-DM1, but sensitive to third line therapy to the combination lapatinib-capecitabine with a clinical response both for visceral and cerebral metastases (Oncology).

A rare case of REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome with concomitant severe hypertension: a case report and a review of literature.

Introduction.Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome is characterized by pathological asystoles during the REM sleep phase. It is a rare rhythm disorder, being reported only few times in the literature. Due to non-specific symptoms, REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia might be often underdiagnosed. Other cardiac diseases associated with pathological sinus arrests must be excluded to establish the correct diagnosis of and appropriate therapy for REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia. We report a case of this syndrome followed by hypertension and diastolic heart failure.The case.A 49-year-old male with severe hypertension presented for a cardiologist’s consultation. His main complaints were palpitations, fatigue, dyspnoea, and snoring. Polysomnography test revealed a normal sleep structure with episodes of bradycardia and increased parasympathetic activity during phasic events of REM sleep. Heart rate variability Poincare plot analysis demonstrated similar results. REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome was diagnosed and patient was treated with dual chamber heart pacemaker implantation.Discussion.Various components of the autonomic nervous system influence the development of REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome. The main factor is likely an increased vagal tone during the phasic REM sleep with the absence of normal compensatory sympathetic activity. Concomitant hypertension in REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome is caused by a paradoxically abnormal control of the autonomic nervous system and can be explained through the acetylcholine metabolism pathway. Best suited diagnostic and treatment options for REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome are discussed.Conclusions.Patients with REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome often present with indistinct symptoms. Polysomnography is an essential diagnostic test for the differential diagnosis of various nocturnal arrhythmias and sleep disorders. Severe hypertension is a common complication of sleep disorders and requires appropriate treatment of the underlying condition. An implantation of a heart pacemaker is the first-choice treatment for patients with REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome.

Therapeutic effects of different treatments of hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Objective To analyze the clinical data of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA), and to compare the therapeutic effects of different methods on treating these patients. Methods The clinical data of 101 patients with HCCA in China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were analyzed. Results The overall 1-year and 2-year survival rates in the radical operation group were 95.5% and 40.9%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the radical operation group and the palliative resection group (P 0.05). Conclusions Radical HCCA resection is still the best and the first choice treatment for patients with HCCA. The therapeutic effects of radical operation were much better than those of palliative resection, biliary stent, PTCD and open abdominal biliary drainage. Key words: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA); Radical operation; Palliative resection; PTCD; Biliary stent

Indacaterol–Glycopyrronium versus Salmeterol–Fluticasone for COPD

BackgroundMost guidelines recommend either a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) plus an inhaled glucocorticoid or a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) as the first-choice treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have a high risk of exacerbations. The role of treatment with a LABA–LAMA regimen in these patients is unclear.MethodsWe conducted a 52-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, noninferiority trial. Patients who had COPD with a history of at least one exacerbation during the previous year were randomly assigned to receive, by inhalation, either the LABA indacaterol (110 μg) plus the LAMA glycopyrronium (50 μg) once daily or the LABA salmeterol (50 μg) plus the inhaled glucocorticoid fluticasone (500 μg) twice daily. The primary outcome was the annual rate of all COPD exacerbations.ResultsA total of 1680 patients were assigned to the indacaterol–glycopyrronium group, and 1682 to the salmeterol–fluticasone group. Indacaterol–glycopyrronium showed not only noninferiority but also superiority to salmeterol–fluticasone in reducing the annual rate of all COPD exacerbations; the rate was 11% lower in the indacaterol–glycopyrronium group than in the salmeterol–fluticasone group (3.59 vs. 4.03; rate ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 0.96; P=0.003). The indacaterol–glycopyrronium group had a longer time to the first exacerbation than did the salmeterol–fluticasone group (71 days [95% CI, 60 to 82] vs. 51 days [95% CI, 46 to 57]; hazard ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.78 to 0.91], representing a 16% lower risk; P<0.001). The annual rate of moderate or severe exacerbations was lower in the indacaterol–glycopyrronium group than in the salmeterol–fluticasone group (0.98 vs. 1.19; rate ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.91; P<0.001), and the time to the first moderate or severe exacerbation was longer in the indacaterol–glycopyrronium group than in the salmeterol–fluticasone group (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.86; P<0.001), as was the time to the first severe exacerbation (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.00; P=0.046). The effect of indacaterol–glycopyrronium versus salmeterol–fluticasone on the rate of COPD exacerbations was independent of the baseline blood eosinophil count. The incidence of adverse events and deaths was similar in the two groups. The incidence of pneumonia was 3.2% in the indacaterol–glycopyrronium group and 4.8% in the salmeterol–fluticasone group (P=0.02).ConclusionsIndacaterol–glycopyrronium was more effective than salmeterol–fluticasone in preventing COPD exacerbations in patients with a history of exacerbation during the previous year. (Funded by Novartis; FLAME ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01782326.)

On a New Neovaginal Prosthesis of PLA (Polylactic Acid)

Vaginal dilation is proposed as the first choice treatment for patients with vaginal aplasia, but many patients with MRKH or Rokitansky syndrome (and cases with CAIS) may require a vaginoplasty. It is also necessary to make vaginoplasty in patients with vaginal or cervico-vaginal atresia with a functional uterus before performing an utero-neovaginal anastomosis, also in trans-sexual men.

Treatment of infantile spasms, a Venezuelan experience

We analyzed the treatment of 25 children with infantile spasm, 52% were males and 48% females. Of the cases studied 80% were symptomatic and 20% cryptogenic. Twenty-three children were treated with synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), in 15 children the ACTH was administered with antiepileptic drugs and two children received vigabatrin. In the symptomatic cases of West syndrome, we found hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, tuberous sclerosis, brain malformations and Down syndrome. ACTH was efficacious in symptomatic infantile spasms and in cryptogenic spasms. The side effects most frequently found were: irritability, edema, Cushingoid obesity (moon face), hypertension and hypokalemia. Vigabatrin was used in patients with tuberous sclerosis and was efficacious in the control of infantile spasms. Infantile spasms should be treated as soon as the diagnosis is made. ACTH is still first-choice treatment in patients with West syndrome. The drug of choice of the treatment of infantile spasms in children with tuberous sclerosis is vigabatrin.

Dialysis modality choice in diabetic patients with end-stage kidney disease: a systematic review of the available evidence.

Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Because of conflicting results in observational studies, it is still subject to debate whether in diabetic patients the dialysis modality selected as first treatment (haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) may have a major impact on outcomes. We therefore aimed at performing a systematic review of the available evidence. MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases were searched until February 2014 for English-language articles without time or methodology restrictions by highly sensitive search strategies focused on diabetes, end-stage kidney disease and dialysis modality. Selection of relevant studies, data extraction and analysis were performed by two independent reviewers. Twenty-five observational studies (23 on incident and 2 on prevalent cohorts) were included in this review. Mortality was the only main outcome addressed in large cohorts. When considering patient survival, results were inconsistent and varied across study designs, follow-up period and subgroups. We therefore found no evidence-based arguments in favour or against a particular dialysis modality as first choice treatment in patients with diabetes and ESKD. However, peritoneal dialysis (PD) as first choice seems to convey a higher risk of death in elderly and frail patients. The available evidence derived from observational studies is inconsistent. Therefore evidence-based arguments indicating that HD or PD as first treatment may improve patient-centred outcomes in diabetics with ESKD are lacking. In the absence of such evidence, modality selection should be governed by patient preference, after unbiased patient information.

Chronic Hepatitis C treatment for genotype 2 or 3 in Brazil: cost effectiveness analysis of peginterferon plus ribavirin as first choice treatment

Brazilian Guidelines to HCV treatment (2007) recommended that the first choice treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and genotype 2 or 3 is interferon alpha (IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) for 24 weeks. The aim of this study is compare the cost and effectiveness to Hepatitis C treatment in patients with genotype 2 or 3 of peginterferon alpha (PEG) as the first choice of treatment within PEG for those that do not respond to IFN. The target population is CHC patients with genotype 2 or 3 in Brazil. The interventions are: PEG-SEC (first IFN plus RBV for 24 weeks, after, for non-responders and relapsers subsequently PEG plus RBV for 48 weeks); PEG-FIRST24 (PEG+RBV for 24 weeks). The type of the study is cost-effectiveness analysis. The data sources are: Effectiveness data from meta-analysis conducted on the Brazilian population. Treatment cost from Brazilian micro costing study is converted into USD (2010). The perspective is the Public Health System. The outcome measurements are Sustained Viral Response (SVR) and costs. PEG-FIRST24 (SVR: 87.8%, costs: USD 8,338.27) was more effective and more costly than PEG-SEC (SVR: 79.2%, costs: USD 5,852.99). The sensitivity analyses are: When SVR rates with IFN was less than 30% PEG-FIRST is dominant. On the other hand, when SVR with IFN was more then 75% PEG-SEC is dominant (SVR=88.2% and costs USD $ 3,753.00). PEG-SEC is also dominant when SVR to PEG24 weeks was less than 54%. In the Brazilian context, PEG-FIRST is more effective and more expensive than PEG-SEC. PEG-SEC could be dominant when rates of IFN therapy are higher than 75% or rates of PEG24 therapy are lower than 54%.

Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Compared to Optimised General Practitioners’ Care for Depression: A Randomised Trial

Background: How to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in primary care? Studies that compared (brief) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with care as usual by the General Practitioner (GP) found the first to be more effective. However, to make a fair comparison GP care should be optimised and protocolised according to current evidence based guidelines for depression. So far this has not been the case. We studied whether a protocolised 8 session CBT is more effective than optimised and protocolised GP care (GPC). Methods: 121 patients with MDD, age 18-70 years, from 40 Dutch general practices, were randomised to either brief CBT or GPC. Assessments were at baseline (t0), 12 weeks (t1) and 52 weeks (t2). Main outcomes: decrease in depressive symptoms, response and remission on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). (Trial registration: ISRCTN65811640). Results: Both continuous and dichotomous HDRS-17 and PHQ-9 outcome scores favoured the brief CBT group. Number of treatment contacts and external referrals were not different between groups. GPs prescribed antidepressants (AD) to 48% of GPC patients and to 11% of CBT patients. Conclusions: Brief CBT by psychologists seems more effective than optimized GPC. Effect sizes comparable to the (statistical significant) results from meta-analyses, together with lower AD prescriptions, are both in favour of brief CBT which might make it a first choice treatment for patients with MDD in general practice.

A case of coronary-subclavian steal in patient with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid-subclavian bypass

Introduction: A coronary-subclavian steal phenomenon was described in patients who have undergone prior bypass surgery using the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). Case report description: A 74-year-old male with a prior 3-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 2005 was admitted to the hospital with the deteriorating condition over the last four months. He had complaints of exertional chest pain which was usually gone upon taking nitroglycerin. He had a history of carotid-subclavian bypass in 1995. His prior CABG included LIMA graft to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the obtuse marginal (OM), and SVG to posterior descending artery (PDA). On admission, right arm blood pressure (BP) was 130/80 mm Hg, left arm BP was 80/60 mm Hg. Initial echocardiogram showed left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction of 53%. Stress-echocardiography was positive and demonstrated wall motion abnormalities in septal, antero-septal and anterior segments of LV. Duplex ultrasound revealed bilateral carotid stenosis of 55%, left subclavian artery subocclusion and stenosis of carotid-subclavian graft with maximal linear flow velocity up to 3.5 m/sec. Nevertheless both vertebral arteries had antegrade flow. Using cardiac catheterization severe 3-vessel coronary artery disease was diagnosed but PDA and OM SVG grafts and LIMA graft were patent. Angiography showed a severe stenosis of 95% of proximal left subclavian artery, stenosis of 59% of carotid-subclavian graft. LIMA graft had retrograde flow to the left subclavian artery and the first segment of left vertebral artery. The patient underwent PTA and stent placement of the left subclavian artery. During one-year follow-up period, he was symptom free, ultrasound showed normal flow in left subclavian artery, and regional wall motion of LV appeared to be normal. Discussion: Clinical manifestation of a coronary-subclavian steal in this patient was unusual with the severe angina but without any symptoms of cerebral ischemia probably due to partly functioning carotid-subclavian graft. Percutaneous revascularization of the subclavian artery was the reasonable treatment option. That lesion was more significant than stenosis of carotid-subclavian graft, more favorable for PTA due to minimal calcification and relatively short stenosis. Conclusions: Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome is a diagnosis that should not be overlooked, especially in patients with known peripheral atherosclerosis. Percutaneous interventions due to their efficacy and low complication rates constitute the first choice treatment in patients with high surgical risk.

Lipoprotein X: clinical implications

In this issue of the journal, Stepien et al. describe a case of serum lipoprotein X (Lp-X) in a patient with cholestasis and severe hyperlipidaemia. This abnormal lipoprotein is rich in phospholipid and unesterified cholesterol. The main protein component is albumin within the core and apolipoprotein C upon the surface. Unlike low-density lipoprotein (LDL), Lp-X does not contain apolipoprotein B nor is it removed by the LDL receptor, but Lp-X is cleared by the reticuloendothelial system and the kidneys. Lp-X is about 50 nm in diameter and its major component bile acid is lithocholic. Early studies reported the presence of Lp-X in the serum of patients with cholestasis. The failure of Lp-X to exert feedback inhibition on cholesterol synthesis may contribute to the mechanism of hypercholesterolaemia in obstructive jaundice. However, the presence of serum Lp-X does not facilitate the distinction between intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis. Bile lipoprotein is a precursor of Lp-X and in cholestasis this refluxes into the plasma pool and binds to albumin to form Lp-X. Serum Lp-X usually disappears soon after the cholestasis is relieved. The ratio of plasma bile salts to albumin is important for the integrity of Lp-X and it is catabolized by the action of phospholipase which helps convert lecithin into lysolecithin. In graft versus host disease involving the liver and with cholestasis plasma Lp-X can result in severe hypercholesterolaemia, xanthelasma and cholesteroloma. Lp-X can also be found in cholestasis of pregnancy and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The case presented by Stepien et al. confirms these earlier observations of raised serum Lp-X in cholestasis. Increased serum cholesterol concentrations occur in PBC and this is largely due to the presence of Lp-X, although it is debatable whether this confers increased cardiovascular risk. Indeed, Lp-X may not be atherogenic and data suggest it may have antioxidant LDL activity. Additionally, Lp-X is not significantly taken up by macrophages but is taken up by hepatocytes. Sometimes severe and prolonged cholestasis can result in very high serum Lp-X concentrations resulting in severe hypercholesterolaemia and tendon xanthomata. Complete regression of these xanthomata has been described by treatment with apheresis, which the authors stated should be considered possible first-choice treatment for patients with massive Lp-X accumulation due to cholestasis. Statin therapy may be ineffective in lowering Lp-X. Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is an enzyme responsible for cholesterol esterification in plasma. Lp-X is found in LCAT deficiency which is characterized by low concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as well as anaemia, corneal opacities, proteinuria and chronic kidney disease. The Lp-X found in LCAT deficiency may contribute to the renal disease observed in this condition by stimulating monocyte renal infiltration. Proteoglycans have an important role in regulating the uptake of Lp-X into kidney mesangial cells and this mechanism is independent of the scavenger receptor. Guerin et al. reported that in LCAT deficiency the presence of Lp-X is correlated with a progressive change in renal function. In addition to cholestasis and LCAT deficiency, Lp-X may also be found in the plasma after intravenous infusion of Intralipid emulsion such as occurs with total parenteral nutrition. Intralipid administration can elicit an increase in serum total cholesterol (mainly unesterified), phospholipid and LDL. The Lp-X associated with Intralipid infusion seems to occur when phospholipid clearance is exceeded, resulting in phospholipid accumulation with unesterified cholesterol. Pseudohyponatraemia has also been described in some patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia secondary to raised Lp-X. Thus the presence of Lp-X should be considered in pseudohyponatraemia associated with cholestasis. Sivakumar et al. described not only pseudohyponatraemia, but also pseudohypokalaemia and pseudohypochloridaemia in the presence of high concentrations of Lp-X. Various researchers have also found assay bias for serum LDL-cholesterol in the presence of Lp-X. This is an important practical point when it comes to interpreting LDL cholesterol results in severely cholestatic serum samples. Lp-X possesses strong aggregatory properties and can bind to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) producing a Lp-X-ALP complex. This complex may be found in cholestasis; typically that evoked by hepatic malignancy. The Lp-X-ALP complex is also associated with the presence of high-molecular mass ALP and the liver isoenzyme of ALP. Brocklehurst et al. described a stationary band of ALP using starch gel electrophoresis of serum samples from patients with biliary obstruction which was thought to be due to ALP binding to Lp-X. The strong aggregating ability of Lp-X may be important as it can bind and remove free cholesterol from the circulation. There are various assays available for measuring serum Lp-X. Agarose gel electrophoresis utilizes the cathodal