Geske, Jennifer

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The aim of this study was to assess alterations in median nerve (MN) biomechanics within the carpal tunnel resulting from ultrasound‐guided hydrodissection in a cadaveric model. Methods: Twelve fresh frozen human cadaver hands were used. MN gliding resistance was measured at baseline and posthydrodissection, by pulling the nerve proximally and then returning it to the origin. Six specimens were treated with hydrodissection, and 6 were used as controls. Results: In the hydrodissection group there was a significant reduction in mean peak gliding resistance of 92.9 ± 34.8 mN between baseline and immediately posthydrodissection (21.4% ± 10.5%; P = 0.001). No significant reduction between baseline and the second cycle occurred in the control group: 9.6 ± 29.8 mN (0.4% ± 5.3%; P = 0.467). Discussion: Hydrodissection can decrease the gliding resistance of the MN within the carpal tunnel, at least in wrists unaffected by carpal tunnel syndrome. A clinical trial of hydrodissection seems justified. Muscle Nerve 57: 25–32, 2018

Background Bupropion is associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of seizures. Use of concomitant bupropion and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains controversial because of an increased risk of prolonged seizures. This is the first systematic evaluation of the effect of bupropion on ECT. Methods A case group (n = 119), patients treated with concomitant ECT and bupropion, was compared with an age and gender frequency–matched control group (n = 261), treated with only ECT. Electroconvulsive therapy treatment data including seizure length, number of treatments, and concurrent medications were extracted. Longitudinal mixed models examined ECT versus ECT + bupropion group differences over the course of treatments measured by seizure duration (electroencephalogram [EEG] and motor). Multivariable models examined the total number of treatments and first and last seizure duration. All models considered group differences with ECT treatment measures adjusted for age, gender, benzodiazepine treatment, lead placement, and setting. Results Electroconvulsive therapy treatment with bupropion led to shorter motor seizure duration (0.047) and EEG seizure duration (P = 0.001). The number of ECT treatments (7.3 vs 7.0 treatments; P = 0.23), respectively, or the probability of a prolonged seizure (P = 0.15) was not significantly different. Benzodiazepine use was significantly more common in control subjects (P = 0.01). Limitations This is a retrospective analysis limited in part by unavailable variables (seizure threshold, nature of EEG and motor seizure monitoring, type of ECT device, dosing and formulation of bupropion, and duration of the current depressive illness). Conclusions This study revealed a significantly shorter duration in seizure length with ECT + concomitant bupropion, but not in the number of required treatments in those treated compared with ECT without bupropion. There remains a critical need to reevaluate the efficacy of concomitant use of psychotropic medications + ECT.

Objective To evaluate the association between renal tumour complexity and outcomes in a large cohort of patients undergoing percutaneous cryoablation ( PCA ). Patients and Methods Patients with renal tumours treated with PCA were identified using our prospectively maintained ablation registry (2003–2015). Salvage procedures and inherited tumour syndromes were excluded. The associations between R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score ( NS ) and risk of complications, renal function impairment, local failure and cancer‐specific mortality ( CSM ) were evaluated using univariate and multivariable logistic, linear and Cox regression models. Results The cohort included 618 tumours treated during 580 procedures in 565 patients. The median (interquartile range [ IQR ]) follow‐up was 34 (14.66) months. Complications (any grade) during a procedure ( n [total] = 87, 15%) were more frequent with higher NS ( NS 4–6: 10%; NS 7–9: 14%; NS 10–12: 36%; P < 0.001). Higher NS was independently associated with risk of complications (odds ratio [ OR ; per 1 point] = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [ CI ] 1.2–1.5; P < 0.001). Of all the NS components, tumour size was the most strongly associated with complication risk ( OR 3.4; 95% CI 2.2–5.2; P < 0.001). The median ( IQR ) decline in glomerular filtration rate ( GFR ) from baseline was 9% (0, 22) at last follow‐up. Each additional point in NS was associated with a 1.3% (95% CI 0.4–2.1; P = 0.005) greater GFR decline from baseline. NS was not significantly associated with local failure ( n [total] = 14, 2%; NS 4–6: 2%; NS 7–9: 3%; NS 10–12: 5%; P = 0.32) or CSM ( n [total] = 8, 2%; NS 4–6: 2%; NS 7–9: 3%; NS 10–12: 2%; P = 0.88). Conclusion In high‐complexity tumours PCA was associated with a tumour size‐driven increased risk of post‐procedural complications. Higher NS was associated with a small, clinically minor additional decline in renal function. Risks for local failure and CSM were low, regardless of tumour complexity.

Objective: This study examined key functional outcomes following a 3-week interdisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation program for adolescents with chronic pain. Maintenance of gains was evaluated at 3-month follow-up. Methods: Participants included 171 adolescents (12 to 18 y of age) with chronic pain who completed a hospital-based outpatient pediatric pain rehabilitation program. Participants completed measures of functional disability, depressive symptoms, pain catastrophizing, opioid use, school attendance, and pain severity at admission, discharge, and at 3-month follow-up. Results: Similar to other interdisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation program outcome studies, significant improvements were observed at the end of the program. These improvements appeared to be maintained or further improved at 3-month follow-up. Nearly 14% of the patients were taking daily opioid medication at admission to the program. All adolescents were completely tapered off of these medications at the end of the 3-week program and remained abstinent at 3-month follow-up. Discussion: This study adds to the available data supporting interdisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation as effective in improving functioning and psychological distress even when discontinuing opioids. Implications for future research and limitations of the study are discussed.

BackgroundQuantifying craving longitudinally during the course of withdrawal, early abstinence, and relapse is essential for optimal management of alcohol use disorder (AUD). In an effort to identify biological correlates of craving, we used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H‐MRS) to investigate the correlation between craving and glutamate levels in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) of patients with AUD.MethodsParticipants underwent 1H‐MRS of the LDLPFC with 2‐dimensional J‐resolved (2DJ) averaged PRESS. MRS data were processed with LCModel and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)‐corrected to generate metabolite concentrations. The Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) and the 30‐day time line follow‐back (TLFB 30) were used to quantify craving for alcohol and drinking patterns, respectively.ResultsThere was a statistically significant positive correlation between CSF‐corrected glutamate ([Glu]) levels and PACS scores (n = 14; p = 0.005). When PACS scores were dichotomized (< or ≥median = 16), [Glu] levels were significantly higher in the high‐ versus low‐craving group (p = 0.007). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between CSF‐corrected N‐acetyl aspartic acid ([NAA]) levels and mean number of drinks per drinking day in the past month (n = 13; TLFB 30; p = 0.012). When mean TLFB 30 was dichotomized (< or ≥median = 7.86), [NAA] levels were significantly lower in subjects that consumed more alcoholic beverages. There was no significant correlation between [Glu] and [NAA] levels with other measures of drinking behavior and or depression symptom severity.ConclusionsWhile limited by small sample size, these data suggest that glutamate levels in LDLPFC are associated with alcohol craving intensity in patients with AUD. Further study with larger sample size is needed to replicate this finding and evaluate the merits of glutamate spectroscopy as a biological correlate of alcohol craving intensity and a guide to treatment interventions.

Objective: The objective was to assess the clinical utility of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) in identifying ADHD in alcoholics using the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM) as the diagnostic “gold standard.” Method: We performed a secondary analysis of data from 379 treatment-seeking alcoholics who completed the ASRS-v1.1 and the ADHD module of the PRISM. Data analysis included descriptive statistics. Results: The prevalence of ADHD was 7.7% (95% CI = [5.4, 10.8]). The positive predictive value (PPV) of the ASRS-v1.1 was 18.1% (95% CI = [12.4, 25.7]) and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 97.6% (95% CI = [94.9, 98.9]). The ASRS-v1.1 demonstrated a sensitivity of 79.3% (95% CI = [61.6, 90.2]) and a specificity of 70.3% (95% CI = [65.3, 74.8]). Conclusion: The ASRS-v1.1 demonstrated acceptable sensitivity and specificity in a sample of treatment-seeking alcoholics when compared with the PRISM as the reference standard for ADHD diagnosis.

Abstract Background and Aims Depression and anxiety are often comorbid with alcoholism and contribute to craving and relapse. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of life‐time diagnoses of major depressive disorder (MDD), substance‐induced depression (SID), anxiety disorder (AnxD) and substance‐induced anxiety (SIA), the effects of these comorbidities on the propensity to drink in negative emotional states (negative craving), and test whether these effects differ by sex. Design Secondary analyses of baseline data collected in a single‐arm study of pharmacogenetic predictors of acamprosate response. Setting Academic medical center and affiliated community‐based treatment programs in the American upper mid‐west. Participants A total of 287 males and 156 females aged 18–80 years, meeting DSM‐IV criteria for alcohol dependence. Measurements The primary outcome measure was ‘propensity to drink in negative emotional situations’ (determined by the Inventory of Drug Taking Situations) and the key predictors/covariates were sex and psychiatric comorbidities, including MDD, SID, AnxD and SIA (determined by Psychiatric Research Interview of Substance and Mood Disorders). Findings The prevalence of the MDD, SID and AnxD was higher in females compared with males (33.1 versus 18.4%, 44.8 versus 26.4% and 42.2 versus 27.4%, respectively; P < 0.01, each), while SIA was rare (3.3%) and did not differ by sex. Increased propensity to drink in negative emotional situations was associated with comorbid MDD (β = 6.6, P = 0.013) and AnxD (β = 4.8, P = 0.042) as well as a SID × sex interaction effect ( P = 0.003), indicating that the association of SID with propensity to drink in negative emotional situations differs by sex and is stronger in males (β = 7.9, P = 0.009) compared with females (β = −6.6, P = 0.091). Conclusions There appears to be a higher prevalence of comorbid depression and anxiety disorders as well as propensity to drink in negative emotional situations in female compared with male alcoholics. Substance‐induced depression appears to have a sex‐specific effect on the increased risk for drinking in negative emotional situations in males.