OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the factor structure of a novel, 10-item rating scale, the Targeted Inventory on Problems in Schizophrenia (TIP-Sz). Determining the factor structure will be useful in the brief evaluation of medication and non-medication treatment of the disease. METHODS: An exploratory factor analysis was performed on TIP-Sz scores obtained from 100 patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for schizophrenia. RESULTS: The factor analysis extracted four factors that were deemed clinically pertinent, which we labeled: disorganization, social cooperativeness, functional capacity, and emotional state. The items exhibited cross-loadings on the first three factors (i.e., some items loaded on more than one factor). In particular, the 'behavioral dyscontrol and disorganization,' 'insight and reality testing,' and 'overall prognostic impression' items had comparable cross-loadings on all of the first three factors. The emotional state factor was distinct from the other factors in that the items loading on it did not cross-load on other factors. CONCLUSION: The TIP-Sz scale comprises factors that are associated with the psychosocial functioning and emotional state of patients, which are important outcome parameters for successful treatment of the disease.
Anomie ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence and severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) declines with age, but the cause of this is unknown. This study tested 2 hypotheses: (1) autonomic nervous system responses to eating and bowel distention, measured by heart rate variability (HRV), differs by age in IBS patients and (2) HRV is correlated with colonic motility and IBS symptoms. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six Rome III positive IBS patients and 31 healthy controls underwent colonic manometry with bag distention in the descending colon, followed by ingestion of an 810-kcal meal. HRV, evaluated by low frequency (%LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz) component, high frequency (%HF; 0.15–0.40 Hz) component, and the LF/HF ratio, was measured during colonic distention and after the meal. Motility index and subjective symptom scores were simultaneously quantified. RESULTS: Both colonic distention and eating decreased %HF and increased the LF/HF ratio, and both indices of autonomic nervous system correlated with age. In IBS patients, %HF negatively correlated with the postprandial motility index after adjusting for age. The %HF and LF/HF ratios also correlated with psychological symptoms but not bowel symptoms in IBS patients. CONCLUSION: Decreased vagal activity is associated with increase in age and greater postprandial colonic motility in patients with IBS, which may contribute to postprandial symptoms.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Colon ; Colon, Descending ; Eating ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Manometry ; Meals ; Postprandial Period ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to analyze the influence of Levetiracetam (LEV) in cognitive performance by identifying the changes produced by LEV in reaction time, in neuropsychological assessment of attention and memory and in absolute theta power in frontal activity. METHODS: Twelve healthy subjects (5 men and 7 women; mean age, 30.08 years, standard deviation, 4.71) were recruited for this study. The neuropsychological tests: Trail Making Test (A and B), Digit Span (direct and indirect numerical orders/working memory); Stroop test (inhibitory control of attention); Tower of London (planning and decision-making) and a quantitative electroencephalography were applied in 2 different days after and before the participants ingested the capsule of placebo or 500 mg LEV. RESULTS: A two-way-ANOVA was implemented to observe the interaction between conditions (placebo or LEV 500 mg) and moments (pre- and post-ingestion of LEV or placebo). The data were analyzed by the SPSS statistical package (p<0.05). For the neuropsychological parameter, the Trail Making Test (A) was the only test that showed significant difference for condition in the task execution time (p=0.026). Regarding the reaction time in the behavioral parameter, an interaction between both factors (p=0.034) was identified through a two-way-ANOVA (condition versus moment). Electrophysiological measures showed a significant interaction for electrodes: F7, F3, and FZ. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that LEV promotes an important cognitive enhancement in the executive functions.
Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Executive Function ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Reaction Time ; Stroop Test ; Trail Making Test

Esophageal achalasia is a primary motility disorder characterized by insufficient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and loss of esophageal peristalsis. Achalasia is a chronic disease that causes progressive irreversible loss of esophageal motor function. The recent development of high-resolution manometry has facilitated the diagnosis of achalasia, and determining the achalasia subtypes based on high-resolution manometry can be important when deciding on treatment methods. Peroral endoscopic myotomy is less invasive than surgery with comparable efficacy. The present guidelines (the “2019 Seoul Consensus on Esophageal Achalasia Guidelines”) were developed based on evidence-based medicine; the Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association and Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility served as the operating and development committees, respectively. The development of the guidelines began in June 2018, and a draft consensus based on the Delphi process was achieved in April 2019. The guidelines consist of 18 recommendations: 2 pertaining to the definition and epidemiology of achalasia, 6 pertaining to diagnoses, and 10 pertaining to treatments. The endoscopic treatment section is based on the latest evidence from meta-analyses. Clinicians (including gastroenterologists, upper gastrointestinal tract surgeons, general physicians, nurses, and other hospital workers) and patients could use these guidelines to make an informed decision on the management of achalasia.

Background: and Purpose We compared the outcomes of endovascular therapy (EVT) in an extended time window in patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) between patients with and without pre-stroke disability. Methods: In this prespecified analysis of the multinational CT for Late Endovascular Reperfusion study (66 participating sites, 10 countries between 2014 and 2022), we analyzed data from patients with acute ischemic stroke with a pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–4 and LVO who underwent EVT 6–24 hours from the time last seen well. The primary outcome was the composite of functional independence (FI; mRS score 0–2) or return to the pre-stroke mRS score (return of Rankin, RoR) at 90 days. Outcomes were compared between patients with pre-stroke disability (pre-stroke mRS score 2–4) and those without (mRS score 0–1). Results: A total of 2,231 patients (median age, 72 years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 16) were included in the present analysis. Of these, 564 (25%) had pre-stroke disability. The primary outcome (FI or RoR) was observed in 30.7% of patients with pre-stroke disability (FI, 16.5%; RoR, 30.7%) compared to 44.1% of patients without (FI, 44.1%; RoR, 13.0%) (P<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting, pre-stroke disability was not associated with significantly lower odds of achieving FI or RoR (adjusted odds ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.43–1.25). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 6.3% of both groups (P=0.995). Conclusion A considerable proportion of patients with late-presenting LVO and pre-stroke disability regained pre-stroke mRS scores after EVT. EVT may be appropriate for patients with pre-stroke disability presenting in the extended time window.