BACKGROUND Stiff-person syndrome(SPS)and its subtype,stiff limb syndrome(SLS),are rare neurological disorders characterized by progressive muscular rigidity and spasms.Glutamic acid decarboxylase(GAD)is the enzyme tha...BACKGROUND Stiff-person syndrome(SPS)and its subtype,stiff limb syndrome(SLS),are rare neurological disorders characterized by progressive muscular rigidity and spasms.Glutamic acid decarboxylase(GAD)is the enzyme that catalyzes the production ofγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA),a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system.SPS is an autoimmune disease triggered by antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibody(anti-GAD Ab).Clinically,anti-GAD Ab is associated with SPS,type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM),and other autoimmune diseases.AIM To investigate the link of autoimmune endocrine disorders with anti-GAD Ab in SPS subjects.METHODS This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital,Taiwan.We collected the patients with SPS from January 2001 to June 2018.By reviewing 14 patients from medical records,we analyzed the clinical findings with coexisting autoimmune diseases,particularly diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease,which are associated with anti-GAD antibody titers or other immunological test results(anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-nuclear antibodies).We also evaluated malignancies,major complications,and reported treatment to improve symptoms.Anti-GAD antibodies were measured using radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The cut-off values of these tests are<1 U/mL and<5 U/mL,respectively.RESULTS The median age of all patients was 39.3(range,28.0-54.0)years with a median follow-up period of 6.0(2.7-13.3)years.Five(35.7%)patients were female;twelve(85.7%)were diagnosed with classic SPS and two(14.3%)with SLS.The median age of onset of symptoms was 35.0(26.0-56.0)years with a median follow-up duration of 9.0(2.1-14.9)years in the classic SPS group;the SLS group had a median age of onset of 46.7 years and a shorter follow-up duration of 4.3 years.Among nine classic SPS patients who underwent the anti-GAD Ab test,three were anti-GAD Ab seropositive and each of these three patients also had T1DM,latent autoimmune diabetes in adults,and autoimmune thyroid disease,respectively.In contrast,other rare autoimmune diseases co-existed in six anti-GAD Ab seronegative SPS patients.None of the SLS patients had additional autoimmune diseases.CONCLUSION While typical clinical symptoms are crucial for the diagnosis of SPS,the presence of anti-GAD autoantibody may consolidate the diagnosis and predict the association with other autoimmune diseases.展开更多
BACKGROUND There has been an increase in cases of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)in recent years.There is also greater access and availability of immunosuppressive and biological agents,which increase the risk of oppo...BACKGROUND There has been an increase in cases of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)in recent years.There is also greater access and availability of immunosuppressive and biological agents,which increase the risk of opportunistic infection despite improving the quality of life and promoting mucosal healing.Tuberculosis(TB)remains a public health problem,and it has a high incidence in several countries.Therefore,knowledge of the risk of developing TB in patients with IBD is important.AIM To evaluate the risk of active TB in patients with IBD under treatment from an endemic area in Latin America.METHODS A standard questionnaire included demographic variables,clinical aspects of IBD disease,history of active TB during treatment,active TB characteristics and evolution,initial screening and results and time from the start of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα)to TB development.RESULTS Azathioprine,anti-TNFα and the combination of these two drugs were associated with a higher risk of active TB incidence.The TNFα blockers increased the relative risk of developing active TB compared to other treatments.All four multivariable models showed that the use of TNFα blockers alone or in combination with azathioprine was an important risk factor for the incidence of active TB.After adjustment for sex,age,type of IBD and latent TB,anti-TNFα with azathioprine increased the relative risk to 17.8 times more than conventional treatment.Late TB,which was diagnosed 3 mo after the start of anti-TNFα,was the most frequent.CONCLUSION Treatment with anti-TNFα increased the risk of active TB in IBD patients from an endemic area in Latin America.This risk was increased when anti-TNFα was combined with azathioprine.The time from the beginning of the treatment to the active TB diagnosis suggests a new TB infection.展开更多
Objectives: This study aims to explore the latent categories of mental health literacy among patients with coronary artery disease and examine their associations with quality of life. Design: A cross-sectional quantit...Objectives: This study aims to explore the latent categories of mental health literacy among patients with coronary artery disease and examine their associations with quality of life. Design: A cross-sectional quantitative design was used. Methods: The study sample consisted of 208 patients with coronary artery disease from five wards in the Department of Cardiology at a tertiary hospital. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Multiple Mental Health Literacy Scale and the Chinese Cardiovascular Patient Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire. The data were analysed with Mplus (v.8.3) and SPSS (v.25.0). Results: The mental health literacy of the 208 patients was categorised into four latent categories: low literacy (n = 28, 13.5%), high knowledge-low resources (n = 53, 25.5%), low knowledge-high resources (n = 63, 30.2%) and high literacy (n = 64, 30.8%). A significant difference in quality of life was observed according to mental health literacy category (P Conclusion: The quality of life of patients with coronary artery disease is significantly influenced by their levels of mental health literacy. Targeted interventions addressing the various profiles of mental health literacy should be implemented to improve the quality of life for patients with coronary artery disease.展开更多
目的:利用潜类别增长模型(latent class growth model,LCGM)分析老年帕金森病患者用药依从性轨迹,并验证其影响因素。方法:对124例原发性老年帕金森病患者进行12个月随访调查,调查工具包括一般资料调查表和Morisky用药依从性量表。通过...目的:利用潜类别增长模型(latent class growth model,LCGM)分析老年帕金森病患者用药依从性轨迹,并验证其影响因素。方法:对124例原发性老年帕金森病患者进行12个月随访调查,调查工具包括一般资料调查表和Morisky用药依从性量表。通过潜类别增长模型识别患者用药依从性轨迹,采用有序多分类Logistic回归分析用药依从性轨迹的影响因素。结果:老年帕金森病患者用药依从性分为“高-持续型”“中-下降型”和“低-下降型”3种类型,且该3种类型文化程度、工作状态、用药种类、智力状态比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。有序多分类Logistic回归显示,工作状态、用药种类、智力状态是患者用药依从性轨迹的影响因素(P<0.05)。结论:老年帕金森患者用药依从性分为3种轨迹,工作状态、用药种类和智力状态是用药依从性轨迹类别的影响因素。展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Stiff-person syndrome(SPS)and its subtype,stiff limb syndrome(SLS),are rare neurological disorders characterized by progressive muscular rigidity and spasms.Glutamic acid decarboxylase(GAD)is the enzyme that catalyzes the production ofγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA),a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system.SPS is an autoimmune disease triggered by antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibody(anti-GAD Ab).Clinically,anti-GAD Ab is associated with SPS,type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM),and other autoimmune diseases.AIM To investigate the link of autoimmune endocrine disorders with anti-GAD Ab in SPS subjects.METHODS This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital,Taiwan.We collected the patients with SPS from January 2001 to June 2018.By reviewing 14 patients from medical records,we analyzed the clinical findings with coexisting autoimmune diseases,particularly diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease,which are associated with anti-GAD antibody titers or other immunological test results(anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-nuclear antibodies).We also evaluated malignancies,major complications,and reported treatment to improve symptoms.Anti-GAD antibodies were measured using radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The cut-off values of these tests are<1 U/mL and<5 U/mL,respectively.RESULTS The median age of all patients was 39.3(range,28.0-54.0)years with a median follow-up period of 6.0(2.7-13.3)years.Five(35.7%)patients were female;twelve(85.7%)were diagnosed with classic SPS and two(14.3%)with SLS.The median age of onset of symptoms was 35.0(26.0-56.0)years with a median follow-up duration of 9.0(2.1-14.9)years in the classic SPS group;the SLS group had a median age of onset of 46.7 years and a shorter follow-up duration of 4.3 years.Among nine classic SPS patients who underwent the anti-GAD Ab test,three were anti-GAD Ab seropositive and each of these three patients also had T1DM,latent autoimmune diabetes in adults,and autoimmune thyroid disease,respectively.In contrast,other rare autoimmune diseases co-existed in six anti-GAD Ab seronegative SPS patients.None of the SLS patients had additional autoimmune diseases.CONCLUSION While typical clinical symptoms are crucial for the diagnosis of SPS,the presence of anti-GAD autoantibody may consolidate the diagnosis and predict the association with other autoimmune diseases.
文摘BACKGROUND There has been an increase in cases of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)in recent years.There is also greater access and availability of immunosuppressive and biological agents,which increase the risk of opportunistic infection despite improving the quality of life and promoting mucosal healing.Tuberculosis(TB)remains a public health problem,and it has a high incidence in several countries.Therefore,knowledge of the risk of developing TB in patients with IBD is important.AIM To evaluate the risk of active TB in patients with IBD under treatment from an endemic area in Latin America.METHODS A standard questionnaire included demographic variables,clinical aspects of IBD disease,history of active TB during treatment,active TB characteristics and evolution,initial screening and results and time from the start of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα)to TB development.RESULTS Azathioprine,anti-TNFα and the combination of these two drugs were associated with a higher risk of active TB incidence.The TNFα blockers increased the relative risk of developing active TB compared to other treatments.All four multivariable models showed that the use of TNFα blockers alone or in combination with azathioprine was an important risk factor for the incidence of active TB.After adjustment for sex,age,type of IBD and latent TB,anti-TNFα with azathioprine increased the relative risk to 17.8 times more than conventional treatment.Late TB,which was diagnosed 3 mo after the start of anti-TNFα,was the most frequent.CONCLUSION Treatment with anti-TNFα increased the risk of active TB in IBD patients from an endemic area in Latin America.This risk was increased when anti-TNFα was combined with azathioprine.The time from the beginning of the treatment to the active TB diagnosis suggests a new TB infection.
文摘Objectives: This study aims to explore the latent categories of mental health literacy among patients with coronary artery disease and examine their associations with quality of life. Design: A cross-sectional quantitative design was used. Methods: The study sample consisted of 208 patients with coronary artery disease from five wards in the Department of Cardiology at a tertiary hospital. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Multiple Mental Health Literacy Scale and the Chinese Cardiovascular Patient Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire. The data were analysed with Mplus (v.8.3) and SPSS (v.25.0). Results: The mental health literacy of the 208 patients was categorised into four latent categories: low literacy (n = 28, 13.5%), high knowledge-low resources (n = 53, 25.5%), low knowledge-high resources (n = 63, 30.2%) and high literacy (n = 64, 30.8%). A significant difference in quality of life was observed according to mental health literacy category (P Conclusion: The quality of life of patients with coronary artery disease is significantly influenced by their levels of mental health literacy. Targeted interventions addressing the various profiles of mental health literacy should be implemented to improve the quality of life for patients with coronary artery disease.
文摘目的:利用潜类别增长模型(latent class growth model,LCGM)分析老年帕金森病患者用药依从性轨迹,并验证其影响因素。方法:对124例原发性老年帕金森病患者进行12个月随访调查,调查工具包括一般资料调查表和Morisky用药依从性量表。通过潜类别增长模型识别患者用药依从性轨迹,采用有序多分类Logistic回归分析用药依从性轨迹的影响因素。结果:老年帕金森病患者用药依从性分为“高-持续型”“中-下降型”和“低-下降型”3种类型,且该3种类型文化程度、工作状态、用药种类、智力状态比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。有序多分类Logistic回归显示,工作状态、用药种类、智力状态是患者用药依从性轨迹的影响因素(P<0.05)。结论:老年帕金森患者用药依从性分为3种轨迹,工作状态、用药种类和智力状态是用药依从性轨迹类别的影响因素。
