The intracellular microRNAs that negatively regulate Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathways in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, that the distribution of these microRNAs in exosomes could be a biomarker of central nervous system diseases is just beginning to be explored. In the present study, we isolated serum exosomes from patients with MDD and healthy controls to explore the levels of exosomal microRNAs, including let-7e, miR-21-5p, miR-223, miR-145, miR-146a, and miR-155. We also investigated the changes of these exosomal microRNAs after antidepressant treatment and their association with clinical changes in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. An ANCOVA adjusted by age, sex, BMI, and smoking showed higher expression levels of miR-146a (p = 0.006) in patients with MDD compared to controls. Patients who achieved remission showed significantly lower let-7e, miR-21-5p, miR-145, miR-146a, and miR-155 levels before treatment and increased levels after antidepressant treatment compared with the non-remission group. Through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, let-7e, miR-145, and miR-146a showed acceptable discrimination between the remission and non-remission groups, whereas miR-21-5p and miR-155 showed poor discrimination. These findings demonstrate that exosomal microRNAs may play essential roles in predicting antidepressants response.

Background: Percutaneous drainage (PCD) and surgical intervention are two primary treatment options for iliopsoas abscess (IPA). However, there is currently no consensus on when to use PCD or surgical intervention, especially in patients with gas-forming IPA. This study compared the characteristics of patients with gas-forming and non-gas forming IPA and their mortality rates under different treatment modalities. An algorithm for selecting appropriate treatment for IPA patients is proposed based on our findings. Methods: Eighty-eight IPA patients between July 2007 and February 2013 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients < 18 years of age or with an incomplete course of treatment were excluded. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of different treatment approaches were compared between gas-forming IPA and non-gas forming IPA patients. Results: Among the 88 enrolled patients, 27 (31%) had gas-forming IPA and 61 (69%) had non-gas forming IPA. The overall intra-hospital mortality rate was 25%. The gas-forming IPA group had a higher intra-hospital mortality rate (12/27, 44.0%) than the non-gas forming IPA group (10/61, 16.4%) (P < 0.001). Only 2 of the 13 patients in the gas-forming IPA group initially accepting PCD had a good outcome (success rate = 15.4%). Three of the 11 IPA patients with failed initial PCD expired, and 8 of the 11 patients with failed initial PCD accepted salvage operation, of whom 5 survived. Seven of the 8 gas-forming IPA patients accepting primary surgical intervention survived (success rate = 87.5%). Only 1 of the 6 gas-forming IPA patients who accepted antibiotics alone, without PCD or surgical intervention, survived (success rate = 16.7%). In the non-gas forming IPA group, 23 of 61 patients initially accepted PCD, which was successful in 17 patients (73.9%). The success rate of PCD was much higher in the non-gas forming group than in the gas-forming group (P <0.01). Conclusions: Based on the high failure rate of PCD and the high success rate of surgical intervention in our samples, we recommend early surgical intervention with appropriate antibiotic treatment for the patients with gas-forming IPA. Either PCD or primary surgical intervention is a suitable treatment for patients with non-gas forming IPA.

Liu YR, et al. Psychiatry Investig. 2014 Apr;11(2):179-185. http://dx.doi.org/10.4306/pi.2014.11.2.179

Background: Choking is common among psychiatric patients and represents one of the main causes of death in this patient population. Purpose: We aimed to identify common factors associated with choking among psychiatric patients. Methods: The demographic information and medical history of 250 psychiatric patients living in an acute psychiatric ward were retrieved from medical charts, interview records, and check lists. Coughing while eating and swallowing difficulties were assessed based on patient self-reports. The main outcomes were choking while taking drugs (CTD) as observed by nursing staffs and choking experiences during hospitalization (CEH) as reported by the patients. Chi-square tests were used to examine the potential associations among the independent variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to further examine those independent variables found to be significantly associated with CTD to estimate their relative contributions. Results: CEH was reported in 50.8%, and CTD was observed in 17.6% of study participants. Use of anxiolytics, consuming a semiliquid or liquid diet, coughing while eating, and swallowing difficulties were found to be associated with CTD. Coughing while eating was the only independent variable associated with CEH. Further logistic regression on the relationships between CTD and variables including the use of anxiolytics, coughing while eating, and swallowing difficulties showed the independent contributions of these variables in the model. The odds ratios were 12.8 (p = .003), 16.7 (p < .001), and 21.7 (p = .001) for each of the three respective variables. Conclusion: The use of anxiolytics, coughing while eating, and swallowing difficulties all potentially contributed to the choking events in our sample. Additional precautions should thus be taken in caring for psychiatric patients who use anxiolytics, who have a history of coughing while eating, or who exhibit swallowing difficulties to prevent choking events.

Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been shown to increase the risk of stroke. In this study, we investigated age and time effects on the risk of first onset stroke in SSRI-exposed (SSRIEXP) adult subjects. We analyzed an 8-year cohort from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan. Patients were defined as SSRIEXP subjects if they received SSRI prescriptions for at least 2 consecutive months during January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2007. Otherwise, they were categorized as SSRI-nonexposed (SSRINONE) subjects. Stroke diagnosis was made according to ICD-9 codes 430-432 (hemorrhagic stroke) and 433-437 (ischemic stroke). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a greater probability of first onset stroke in SSRIEXP than SSRINONE subjects (P < .001). The higher incidence rates in SSRIEXP subjects persisted to the 3 year time point. Ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke cumulative incidence ratios were also higher during the first 3 years in SSRIEXP subjects. Analysis of adjusted hazard ratios indicated that younger SSRIEXP subjects were more likely to experience stroke, with a slight increase of risk in subjects older than 65 years. Stratified analysis of ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke resulted in a similar hazard ratio trend. Use of SSRIs independently increases the risk of stroke across age strata. The risk is higher in younger adult subjects, and the stroke is more likely to be ischemic than hemorrhagic. The underlying mechanisms of stroke may be related to cerebral microbleeding or an overcorrection of hemostasis function.

Background: Alveolar osteitis (AO) may occur after molar extraction. Chlorhexidine (CHX) rinse and CHX gel are widely used to prevent AO. Although previous meta-analyses support the effectiveness of both CHX rinse and CHX gel in preventing AO, important issues regarding these two formulations have not been addressed adequately in the literature. Purpose: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to determine the effectiveness of CHX rinse and CHX gel in preventing AO. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials published before June 2018. The risk ratio (RR) was used to estimate the pooled effect of AO incidence using a random-effect model. Results: The RRs of AO in patients treated with 0.12% CHX rinse (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.41, 0.72]) and 0.2% CHX rinse (RR = 0.84, 95% CI [0.52, 1.35]) were significantly lower than in those treated with the control. Moreover, a significantly lower RR was identified in patients treated with 0.2% CHX gel (RR = 0.47, 95% CI [0.34, 0.64]) than in those treated with the control. When CHX products of different concentrations were grouped together, patients treated with CHX rinse showed an RR of AO of 0.61 (95% CI [0.48, 0.78]) and those treated with CHX gel showed an RR of AO of 0.44 (95% CI [0.43, 0.65]). On the other hand, a meta-analysis of three trials that compared CHX rinse and CHX gel directly showed a significantly lower RR of AO in patients treated with CHX rinse than in those treated with CHX gel (RR = 0.56, 95% CI [0.34, 0.96]). Conclusions/Implications for Practice: The results support the effectiveness of both CHX rinse and gel in reducing the risk of AO after molar extraction. Each formulation provides unique benefits in terms of ease of application and cost. On the basis of the results of this study, the authors recommend that CHX gel be used immediately after molar extraction because of the convenience and cost-effectiveness of this treatment and that CHX rinse be used by the patient after discharge at home in combination with appropriate health education and case management.