Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011570 (depression)
 172,036 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Anorexia and weight loss represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality. At present in the United States two effective anorectic agents are commonly used, namely, megestrol acetate and dronabinol. These two agents are compared in Table 1. In persons with a large excess cytokine production. megestrol acetate should be tried at a does of 800 mg per day for no longer than 3 months. Megestrol acetate should be administered with testosterone in men. It should be avoided in persons who are bed-bound because of the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Dronabinol should be used for most anorectic patients. Dronabinol should initially be given in a low dose (2.5 mg) in the evening. The dose should be increased to 5 mg per day if no improvement in appetite is seen after 2 to 4 weeks. Dronabinol can be continued indefinitely. It seems to have a particularly good profile for persons with anorexia who are at the end of life. In persons with depression and anorexia. mirtazapine seems to be the antidepressant of choice. In addition, the use of taste enhancers can be considered in persons who complain that the food does not taste good. The appropriate use of anabolic agents in older persons with weight loss is controversial. Certainly all older men who are losing weight should have bioavailable testosterone measured and, if the testosterone level is low, should receive testosterone replacement therapy. Women who are losing weight may benefit from the use of low-dose testosterone (eg, Estratest). Anabolic agents, such as oxandrolone, should be reserved for those who have profound cachexia. An approach to the management of anorexia and weight loss in older persons is given in Fig. 1. Thomas et al have provided a more complex algorithm the management of weight loss in nursing home residents.
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PMID:Orexigenic and anabolic agents. 1260 9

The pharmacotherapy of burn care has evolved from the first topical antibiotics instituted > 30 years ago. These have helped greatly to reduce the incidence of burn wound sepsis, but a better understanding of the principles of burn care has resulted in earlier burn wound excision and complete coverage with autograft, cadaver skin, synthetic dressings, and amnion. This has markedly reduced septic complications and ameliorated the hypermetabolic response to burn injury. The hypermetabolic response, which is mediated by hugely increased levels of circulating catecholamines, prostaglandins, glucagon and cortisol, causes profound skeletal muscle catabolism, immune deficiency, peripheral lipolysis, reduced bone mineralisation, reduced linear growth, and increased energy expenditure. Supportive therapy and pharmacological manipulation, acutely and during rehabilitation, with growth hormone, insulin and related proteins, oxandrolone and propranolol can ameliorate the hypermetabolic response, improving survival and long-term outcome. Despite judicious use of topical and systemic antibiotics, opportunistic nosocomial bacterial resistance threatens to annul the improved survival of patients with severe burns. Patterns of emerging resistance encountered in burn units need to be considered, in light of a decreasing antibiotic armamentarium. A holistic approach to pharmacotherapy of severely burned patients including current practice in antimicrobial control, analgesia, sedation, and anxiety management is required. Current therapy of frequently encountered problems, such as post-burn pruritus, prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis and peptic ulceration, and pharmacological manipulation of inhalation injury in the burned patient is described. Current pharmacotherapy to ameliorate psychosocial problems associated with burns such as acute stress disorder, depression and post traumatic stress disorder are discussed. Better analgesics, newer antibiotics and immune stimulating drugs are required to reduce mortality and morbidity in large burns.
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PMID:Current pharmacotherapy for the treatment of severe burns. 1261 89

Both neurologic and medical complications influence outcome after stroke. Space-occupying supratentorial infarcts can cause transtentorial or uncal herniation, which leads to death. Treatments aimed at reducing intracranial pressure in patients with such infarcts are of unproven value. Mass-producing cerebellar infarction may lead to brainstem compression and obstructive hydrocephalus. These lesions often are treated surgically. Although anticonvulsants are not indicated for prophylaxis, the occurrence of epileptic seizures mandates treatment to prevent recurrences. Depression is common in the acute stage of stroke, but is probably not more prevalent after stroke than after myocardial infarction. Although dysphagia is common, it usually is a transient problem. Patients with a decrease of consciousness or brainstem dysfunction usually need tube feeding for a certain period of time. Medical complications, such as fever, infections, hyperglycemia, cardiac disorders, pressure sores, and deep venous thrombosis, are associated with a poor prognosis and should be treated as early as possible. Measures to prevent these complications are part of general care. Hypertension is very common during the week after stroke and should be treated only in case of extremely high values or malignant hypertension. A multidisciplinary approach in the stroke unit is necessary to prevent and manage complications in the acute phase of stroke.
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PMID:Treatment or prevention of complications of acute ischemic stroke. 1468 26

Despite the well-documented medical, physical, and psychological complications associated with this care management option, bed rest remains a frequently prescribed treatment modality for conditions such as pressure ulcers. Cognitive and psychosocial complications of bed rest include depression, learned helplessness, perceptual changes, and fatigue. Physically, complications can include contractures, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, pathologic fractures, urinary tract infections, decreased cardiac reserve, decreased stroke volume, resting and post-exercise tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, pneumonia, anorexia, constipation, and bowel impaction. Furthermore, the literature does not contain evidence supporting the use of bed rest to facilitate healing of pressure ulcers. More suitable approaches to pressure ulcer care include limiting bed rest, initiating occupational therapy, integrating meaningful tasks into daily activities, increasing outside stimulation, involving patients in care decisions and addressing their concerns, optimizing nutritional status, and managing pressure and shear throughout daily activities. Recommendations for implementing alternatives to bed rest are addressed.
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PMID:Is bed rest an effective treatment modality for pressure ulcers? 1550 81

Malignant brain tumors and the therapies used to treat them can present challenging problems. Headache is the most common symptom during brain tumor illness. Etiology determines the exact management approach, but pharmacologic and non pharmacologic measures may be used. Seizures also commonly occur and are best managed with anti epileptic drug therapy. Infection and deep venous thrombosis are concerns and are best approached by preventive measures and early aggressive intervention if those measures fail. Depression, fatigue, memory and personality changes may complicate care and are approached on an individual basis. Early discussion about end-of-life issues is necessary because the disease itself can impair decision-making ability.
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PMID:Managing symptoms and side effects during brain tumor illness. 1627 64

Living donor liver transplantation evolved in response to donor shortage. Current guidelines recommend potential living donors (LD) have a body mass index (BMI) <30. With the current obesity epidemic, locating nonobese LD is difficult. From September 1999 to August 2003, 68 LD with normal liver function test (LFTs) and without significant comorbidities underwent donor hepatectomy at our center. Post-operative complications were collected, including wound infection, pneumonia, hernia, fever, ileus, biliary leak, biliary stricture, thrombosis, bleeding, hepatic dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, difficult to control pain, depression and anxiety. Complication rates for LD with BMI >30 (n = 16) and BMI <30 (n = 52) were compared. The incidence of wound infection increased with BMI, 4% for nonobese and 25% for obese LD (p = 0.024). There were no statistically significant differences for all other complications. No LD died. Recipient survival was 100% with obese LD and 80% with nonobese LD (p = 0.1). Select donors with a BMI >30 may undergo donor hepatectomy with acceptable morbidity and excellent recipient results. Updating current guidelines to include select LD with BMI >30 has the potential to safely increase the donor pool.
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PMID:Select utilization of obese donors in living donor liver transplantation: implications for the donor pool. 1630 13

A 48-year-old woman presented to our hospital with epigastralgia and erythema on the left dorsalis pedis. Her medical history included deep venous thrombosis three months prior to admission to our hospital. Upon admission it was determined that she had severe anemia (hemoglobin level 4.6 g/dl). Bone marrow analysis indicated a markedly decreased number of erythroid progenitor cells. A skin biopsy specimen of the erythema revealed microthrombus. Anticardiolipin-beta2GPI antibody and lupus anticoagulant were positive. The patient was diagnosed with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). After steroid pulse therapy and warfarinization, her anemia and purpura improved. Three months later she developed depression with positive anti-ribosomal P protein antibody that was indicative of central nervous system lupus. Although her psychometric condition did not respond to steroid pulse therapy, improvement was seen after she received three courses of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. We report a rare case of CNS lupus that developed during corticosteroid therapy and warfarinization in a patient with PRCA and APS.
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PMID:[Appearance of central nervous system lupus during corticosteroid therapy and warfarinization in a patient with pure red cell aplasia and antiphospholipid syndrome]. 1650 2

A 65-year-old woman had a history of deep vein thrombosis and depression. Psoriasis was diagnosed in 1986 and various topical and systemic therapies, singly or in combination, were prescribed: tar, topical corticosteroids, cyclosporine, etretinate, and methotrexate. Two courses of oral and one course of bath psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) therapy (cumulative dose, 467 J/cm(2)) and UVB (2.96 J/cm(2)) had been given. In January 1999, she developed a flare of generalized psoriasis. In May 1999, therapy with PUVA (8-methoxypsoralen) plus topical acetonide triamcinolone 0.1% was initiated. At the time, she was taking acenocoumarol, lorazepam, and hydroxyzine chlorhydrate. In August 1999, at session 30, when the dose of UVA was 9 J/cm(2), and the total dose was 205 J/cm(2), a bulla appeared on the dorsum of the toe and was controlled with topical antibiotics. Five further sessions of PUVA were given and a generalized itching bullous eruption appeared all over the body. PUVA was stopped and the patient was hospitalized. On physical examination, extensive psoriatic plaques plus vesicles and bullae on the normal skin and on psoriatic lesions were observed all over the body (Fig. 1). Histopathologic study of a lesion showed a subepidermal vesicle containing fibrin, neutrophils, and a few eosinophils. No sunburn cells were observed (Fig. 2). The direct immunofluorescence (DIF) test of perilesional uninvolved skin revealed immunoglobulin G (IgG) (Fig. 3) and C3 at the dermal-epidermal junction. The DIF study using the patient's skin, previously treated with 1 m NaCl, localized the IgG at both the epidermal and dermal sides of the basement membrane zone (Fig. 4). Bullous pemphigoid (BP) was diagnosed and therapy with prednisone (60 mg/day) was started. The disease was well controlled in 3 weeks. The dose of prednisone was tapered and stopped 20 months later, without any recurrence. Study of the antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test, using monkey esophagus and guinea pig as substrate, was positive at a titer of 1/160 in September 1999. The titer decreased to 1/10 in January 2000, and was negative in July 2000. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, performed using the commercial kit MBL, which identifies antibodies directed against epitopes of the extracellular fragment NC16 of antigen 2 of BP, was positive at 15 U/mL (normal value, < 9 U/mL) in September 1999, and negative in July 2000 (Table 1).
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PMID:Bullous pemphigoid in a patient with psoriasis during the course of PUVA therapy: study by ELISA test. 1696 18

Flight-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is well recognized. Reduced venous return occurs during immobility. This alteration in venous hemodynamics may contribute to DVT development. A prototype design of an in-flight exercise device to stimulate ambulatory bloodflow while seated has been developed, consisting of a foot pedal attached to a base by a hinge mechanism. Four devices of differing resistance were evaluated. Calf muscle pump function was assessed by air plethysmography in 10 healthy volunteers. Ejection volume fraction and RVF were determined in the standing position (control values) and were compared with those achieved by depression of the 4 devices while seated. Similar EVF and RVF values were achieved by the control and 2 of the devices. Plantar flexion against a predetermined resistance can effectively activate the calf muscle pump while seated and may reduce the incidence of flight-related DVT.
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PMID:The Tromped: a solution for flight-related deep vein thrombosis? 1831 25

We encountered 2 patients with a psychiatric disorder (depression in one and catatonia in one) accompanied by motor inhibition that was complicated by pulmonary embolism (PE). In both cases, the psychiatric disorder was safely resolved with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during anticoagulant therapy. The 2 cases direct our attention to at least 3 important points regarding safe administration of ECT shortly after the occurrence of PE, that is, careful evaluation of cardiac function and residual deep vein thrombosis before the start of an ECT course, adjustment of anticoagulants, and prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis and PE by methods in addition to anticoagulant therapy (fluid infusion, use of support hose, and timely ECT).
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PMID:Safety of electroconvulsive therapy in psychiatric patients shortly after the occurrence of pulmonary embolism. 1861 65


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