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Objectives: We evaluated a fully structured interview for restless legs syndrome (RLS) for potential use in primary care settings and in epidemiological research., Methods: Seventy-four veterans were recruited at Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics. The interview was administered telephonically by trained non-clinicians (time 1) and readministered face to face (time 2). A physician conducted gold standard examinations. We calculated sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility., Results: Reproducibility was low (kappa = 0.34, P < 0.01), but was higher for interviews repeated within 1 year (kappa = 0.55, P < 0.01). Including those reporting > or =3 symptoms as cases, sensitivity ranged from 63% (time 1) to 75% (time 2). Specificity ranged from 88% to 71%., Conclusions: The sensitivity and specificity reported here are lower than previously reported in specialty care. This interview for RLS might be useful for preliminary screening of patients with related complaints if followed by additional diagnostic maneuvers or might be used in observational epidemiological research.

Contradictory results have been reported for the association between antidepressant use and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Our aim was to clarify the relationship and examine possible gender differences. We interviewed 1,693 veterans receiving primary care from the Cleveland VA Medical Center and obtained prescription drug information from their medical records. Overall, use of an antidepressant was associated with RLS for men (RR = 1.77, CI = 1.26, 2.48) but not for women (RR = 0.79, CI = 0.43, 1.47). Analyses of individual antidepressants revealed an association between RLS and fluoxetine for women (RR = 2.47, CI = 1.33, 4.56), and associations between RLS and citalopram, (RR = 2.09, CI = 1.20, 3.64), paroxetine (RR = 1.97, CI = 1.02, 3.79), and amitriptyline (RR = 2.40, CI = 1.45, 4.00) for men. We conclude that RLS may be associated with antidepressant use, but the association varies by gender and type of antidepressant. Antidepressant use is more strongly associated with RLS in men than in women., ((c) 2009 Movement Disorder Society.)

Objective: We documented organizational costs for depression care quality improvement (QI) to develop an evidence-based, Veterans Health Administration (VA) adapted depression care model for primary care practices that performed well for patients, was sustained over time, and could be spread nationally in VA., Data Sources and Study Setting: Project records and surveys from three multistate VA administrative regions and seven of their primary care practices., Study Design: Descriptive analysis., Data Collection: We documented project time commitments and expenses for 86 clinical QI and 42 technical expert support team participants for 4 years from initial contact through care model design, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and achievement of stable workloads in which models functioned as routine care. We assessed time, salary costs, and costs for conference calls, meetings, e-mails, and other activities., Principle Findings: Over an average of 27 months, all clinics began referring patients to care managers. Clinical participants spent 1,086 hours at a cost of $84,438. Technical experts spent 2,147 hours costing $197,787. Eighty-five percent of costs derived from initial regional engagement activities and care model design., Conclusions: Organizational costs of the QI process for depression care in a large health care system were significant, and should be accounted for when planning for implementation of evidence-based depression care.

Perinephric and prostatic abscesses may present with protean symptoms and often arise from ascending urinary tract infections. Both abscesses are often caused by uropathogens, and only on rare occasions is the etiology due to methacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Perinephric and prostatic abscesses have never been reported to occur together. We present a 56-year-old male with poorly controlled diabetes that had recently begun performing daily self-digital rectal examinations, who presented with a three day history of urinary symptoms. The patient had bilateral costovertebral angle tenderness and a boggy, tender, enlarged prostate. Blood and urine cultures showed MRSA. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated right perinephric abscess and prostatic abscess. This case report illustrates the potential for simultaneous perinephric and prostatic abscesses by MRSA.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing among older adults as is their diabetes-related mortality rate. Studies suggest that tighter glucose control reduces complications in elderly patients. However, too low a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value is associated with increased hypoglycemia. Moreover, the appropriateness of most clinical trial data and standards of care related to diabetes management in elderly patients is questionable given their heterogeneity. Having guidelines to safely achieve glycemic control in elderly patients is crucial. One of the biggest challenges in achieving tighter control is predicting when peak insulin action will occur. The clinician's options have increased with new insulin analogs that physiologically match the insulin peaks of the normal glycemic state, enabling patients to achieve the tighter diabetes control in a potentially safer way. We discuss the function of insulin in managing diabetes and how the new insulin analogs modify that state. We offer some practical considerations for individualizing treatment for elderly patients with diabetes, including how to incorporate these agents into current regimens using several methods to help match carbohydrate intake with insulin requirements. Summarizing guidelines that focus on elderly patients hopefully will help reduce crises and complications in this growing segment of the population.

A review of the literature regarding central nervous system side effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) revealed three general categories: aseptic meningitis, psychosis, and cognitive dysfunction. Aseptic meningitis is found most commonly in patients with lupus treated with ibuprofen, but it should be considered in any patient with meningitis if the patient has used NSAIDs. Psychosis, although infrequently reported with NSAIDs, should be suspected in an elderly patient started on a regimen of indomethacin who acutely develops disorientation, paranoia, or hallucinations. Finally, there appears to be some potential for memory dysfunction and attention deficits in elderly patients treated with NSAIDs. Until further studies are available on the incidence and severity of these cognitive changes, physicians should use low doses of NSAIDs in the elderly and remain alert to the possibility of such adverse side effects.