Search

Purpose This study evaluates the temporal evolution of the spatial relationship between the pituitary adenoma transsphenoidal surgical cavity and the adjacent optic chiasm and discusses implications on timing and choice of radiotherapy modality. Methods This retrospective observational review analyzed factors that might influence the postoperative relationship between the surgical cavity and the optic chiasm, including tumor type, craniocaudal tumor and resection cavity dimensions, the preoperative distance between tumor and the optic chiasm, the presence of cavernous sinus invasion, and the choice of intraoperative packing material. Changes observed on magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative, immediate (within 72 h), and delayed (≥3 months) postoperative periods were compared. Results Sixty-five patient histories were analyzed. Preoperatively, the pituitary adenoma was apposed to the optic chiasm in 43 patients (66%). Postoperatively, 34 patients (52%) in the immediate postoperative period and 54 patients (83%) in the delayed postoperative period had a distance ≥2 mm between the resection cavity and the optic chiasm. This distance provides a greater margin of safety with adjuvant radiosurgery. Preoperative tumor size showed a strong association with postoperative descent of the optic chiasm. Conclusions Preoperative tumor size and degree of mass effect on the optic chiasm predict postoperative changes. In this study, the distance between the resection cavity and the optic chiasm was greater at ≥3 months postoperatively than in the immediate postoperative period, regardless of preoperative mass effect, indicating radiotherapy planning should be deferred to ≥3 months postoperatively when not precluded by aggressive histological characteristics that necessitate more immediate treatment. Precis To investigate the temporal relationship between the postoperative sellar surgical cavity and the adjacent optic apparatus after transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenomas and the implications for radiotherapy.

Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is a major public health problem, but there are no evidence-based, best-practice, pharmacologic, or behavioral treatments for it. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) may provide an option for referral for such patients.Two waves of surveys were sent to a sample of NA members to evaluate demographic, drug use, and NA-related issues. Of 4445 responses received from US residents, 647 listed themselves as abstinent from their worst drug problem, methamphetamine. Twelve possible sources of support were scored by these latter respondents for how important each was for their own recovery.Methamphetamine respondents were longstanding NA members, with their first NA meeting 30.2 years ago, 84.3% having served as sponsors for other members, and with little current craving (0.65 out of 10). Although now abstinent for an average of 13.4 years, at some point over the course of the membership, 47.4% had experienced a relapse, for an average of 16.7 months. In a factor analysis of resources scored, 29.6% of the variance fell under NA social and 29.2% spiritual; and 11.8% under outside professional support.NA served as a resource for supporting abstinence for some members with MUD. They scored social resources of NA support higher than both spiritual and outside institutional ones.NA can serve as a community-based resource for MUD. Determining the nature of recovery that members with MUD have in NA can be useful for further research of socially grounded support for recovery in substance use disorders.

Background: The term God, included in 5 of the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), self-designated spiritual fellowships, has not been studied empirically relative to members’ experiences. A greater understanding of this can be clinically useful and can shed light on the 12 Step process of recovery. Objectives: To determine how NA members understand the 12-step concept “God as we understood Him” and the relationship between their understanding of God and the intensity of their craving and depressive symptoms.” Methods: 450 (59% male) NA members completed a survey related to their experiences relative to their relationship with “God.” The relationship among these variables and comparisons to the general population was analyzed. Craving and depressive symptoms were assessed by self-report. Results: 98% of the NA participants believe in God explicitly or some other higher power (vs 89% of a probability sample of the US population), 67% believe that God determines what happens to them some or all of the time (vs 48%), 78% (vs 28%) report hearing God talking to them “in their mind”; and 37% report that God talks to them “out loud.” Acceptance of 12 Step God-related variables inversely predicted a significant portion of the variance of scores on craving (7.5%) and depression (13.5%). Conclusions: Respondents’ understanding of God in NA varied considerably and was predictive of their depressive symptoms and craving intensity. These findings can serve as a basis for research into mechanisms underlying NA/AA recovery experiences and can also aid clinicians in how to employ these programs.

OBJECTIVEMany surgeons have adopted fully endoscopic over microscopic transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary tumors, although no high-quality evidence demonstrates superior patient outcomes with endoscopic surgery. The goal of this analysis was to compare these techniques in a prospective multicenter controlled study.METHODSExtent of tumor resection was compared after endoscopic or microscopic transsphenoidal surgery in adults with nonfunctioning adenomas. The primary end point was gross-total tumor resection determined by postoperative MRI. Secondary end points included volumetric extent of tumor resection, pituitary hormone outcomes, and standard quality measures.RESULTSSeven pituitary centers and 15 surgeons participated in the study. Of the 530 patients screened, 260 were enrolled (82 who underwent microscopic procedures, 177 who underwent endoscopic procedures, and 1 who cancelled surgery) between February 2015 and June 2017. Surgeons who used the microscopic technique were more experienced than the surgeons who used the endoscopic technique in terms of years in practice and number of transsphenoidal surgeries performed (p < 0.001). Gross-total resection was achieved in 80.0% (60/75) of microscopic surgery patients and 83.7% (139/166) of endoscopic surgery patients (p = 0.47, OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.4–1.6). Volumetric extent of resection, length of stay, surgery-related deaths, and unplanned readmission rates were similar between groups (p > 0.2). New hormone deficiency was present at 6 months in 28.4% (19/67) of the microscopic surgery patients and 9.7% (14/145) of the endoscopic surgery patients (p < 0.001, OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.7–7.7). Microscopic surgery cases were significantly shorter in duration than endoscopic surgery cases (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSExperienced surgeons who performed microscopic surgery and less experienced surgeons who performed endoscopic surgery achieved similar extents of tumor resection and quality outcomes in patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. The endoscopic technique may be associated with lower rates of postoperative pituitary gland dysfunction. This study generally supports the transition to endoscopic pituitary surgery when the procedure is performed by proficient surgeons, although both techniques yield overall acceptable surgical outcomes.■ CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Type of question: therapeutic; study design: prospective cohort trial; evidence: class III.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02357498 (clinicaltrials.gov)

OBJECTIVECurrent practice guidelines recommend delayed (≥ 3 months after operation) postoperative MRI after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas, although this practice defers obtaining important information, such as the presence of a residual adenoma, that might influence patient management during the perioperative period. In this study, the authors compared detection of residual adenomas by means of early postoperative (EPO) MRI (< 48 hours postsurgery) with both surgeon intraoperative assessment and late postoperative (LPO) MRI at 3 months.METHODSAdult patients who underwent microscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas with MRI preoperatively, < 48 hours after the operation, 3 months postoperatively, and yearly for 4 years were included. The presence or absence of residual tumor was assessed intraoperatively by a single surgeon and postoperatively by 2 neuroradiologists blinded to the intraoperative assessment and other postoperative imaging studies. The presence of residual tumor was confirmed by reresection, tumor growth on imaging, or hormonal evidence. Interreader reliability was calculated at each imaging time point. Specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for EPO and LPO imaging and intraoperative assessment were determined.RESULTSIn total, 102 consecutive patients who underwent microscopic transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary adenoma were included. Eighteen patients (18%) had confirmed residual tumors (12 confirmed by tumor growth, 5 by surgery, and 1 by biochemical evidence of persistent disease). Interreader reliability for detecting residual tumor on EPO MRI was almost perfect (κ = 0.88) and significantly higher than that for LPO MRI (κ = 0.69, p = 0.03). EPO MRI was highly specific for residual tumor (98%), a finding similar to that for intraoperative assessment (99%, p = 0.60) and significantly higher than that for LPO MRI (81%, p < 0.001). Notably, EPO MRI was significantly more sensitive for residual tumor (100%) than both intraoperative assessment (78%, p = 0.04) and LPO MRI (78%, p = 0.04). EPO MRI had a 100% negative predictive value and was used to find 4 residual tumors that were not identified intraoperatively. Residual tumors found on EPO MRI allowed for reresection during the same hospitalization for 3 patients.CONCLUSIONSEPO MRI after transsphenoidal pituitary surgery can be reliably interpreted and has greater sensitivity for detecting residual tumor than intraoperative assessment and LPO MRI. This result challenges current guidelines stating that delayed postoperative imaging is preferable to early imaging. Pituitary surgeons should consider performing EPO MRI either in addition to or instead of delayed imaging.

Many marine herbivorous fishes harbour diverse microbial communities in the hindgut that can play important roles in host health and nutrition. Kyphosus sydneyanus is a temperate marine herbivorous fish that feeds predominantly on brown seaweeds. We employed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and gas chromatography to characterize microbial communities and their metabolites in different hindgut regions of six K. sydneyanus. Measurements were confined to three distal sections of the intestine, labelled III, IV and V from anterior to posterior. A total of 625 operational taxonomic units from 20 phyla and 123 genera were obtained. Bacteroidota, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the major phyla in mean relative abundance, which varied along the gut. Firmicutes (76%) was the most dominant group in section III, whereas Bacteroidota (69.3%) dominated section V. Total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration was highest in sections IV and V, confirming active fermentation in these two most distal sections. The abundance of Bacteroidota correlated with propionate concentration in section V, while Firmicutes positively correlated with formate in sections III and IV. Acetate levels were highest in sections IV and V, which correlated with abundance of Bacteroidota. Despite differences in gut microbial community composition, SCFA profiles were consistent between individual fish in the different hindgut regions of K. sydneyanus, although proportions of SCFAs differed among gut sections. These findings demonstrate functional compartmentalization of the hindgut microbial community, highlighting the need for regional sampling when interpreting overall microbiome function. These results support previous work suggesting that hindgut microbiota in marine herbivorous fish are important to nutrition in some host species by converting dietary carbohydrates into metabolically useful SCFAs.

Objectives Transsphenoidal surgery creates a skull base defect that may cause postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage or pneumocephalus. This study reviewed the institutional experience of a pituitary center in managing patients who use positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) devices for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after transsphenoidal surgery, which risks disturbing the skull base repair. Design Retrospective review. Setting Pituitary referral center in a major metropolitan medical center. Methods PPV was resumed at the discretion of the treatment team based on intraoperative findings and OSA severity. Perioperative complications related to resuming and withholding PPV were recorded. Participants Transsphenoidal surgery patients with OSA using PPV devices. Main Outcome Measures Intracranial complications before and after resuming PPV. Results A total of 42 patients met the study criteria. Intraoperative CSF leakage was encountered and repaired in 20 (48%) patients. Overall, 38 patients resumed PPV (median: 3.5 weeks postsurgery; range: 0.14–52 weeks) and 4 patients did not resume PPV. Postoperatively, no patient experienced CSF leakage or pneumocephalus before or after resuming PPV. Four (10%) patients required temporary nocturnal supplemental oxygen at home, one patient was reintubated after a myocardial infarction, and one patient had a prolonged hospital stay due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Conclusions Resuming PPV use after transsphenoidal surgery did not result in intracranial complications. However, delay in resuming PPV resulted in four patients requiring oxygen at home. We propose a preliminary PPV device management algorithm based on the size of the intraoperative CSF leak to facilitate future studies.

BACKGROUND The influence of the surgeon's preoperative goal regarding the extent of tumor resection on patient outcomes has not been carefully studied among patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. OBJECTIVE To analyze the relationship between surgical tumor removal goal and patient outcomes in a prospective multicenter study. METHODS Centrally adjudicated extent of tumor resection (gross total resection [GTR] and subtotal resection [STR]) data were analyzed using standard univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS GTR was accomplished in 148 of 171 (86.5%) patients with planned GTR and 32 of 50 (64.0%) patients with planned STR (P = .001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of GTR goal were 82.2, 43.9, 86.5, and 36.0%, respectively. Knosp grade 0-2, first surgery, and being an experienced surgeon were associated with surgeons choosing GTR as the goal (P

Objective: Narcotics Anonymous (NA), a nonprofessional 12-step fellowship for people seeking recovery from addiction, reports 27,677 meetings in the USA, where it was founded, but there is limited literature on its adaptability cross-culturally. We studied NA within the Islamic Republic of Iran to ascertain its relative adaptation in a different cultural setting. Method: We surveyed 262 NA members in Iran, supplemented by member interviews, and compared demographic and substance use-related characteristics of members, and also the nature of their respective involvement in NA, to the survey results of a previous US survey (n = 527). Results: NA in Iran reports 21,974 meetings. The Iranian respondents surveyed differed relatively little (d 0.50) in terms of reporting service as sponsors, experience of spiritual awakening, and achievement of diminished craving (scores of 1–10) (85% vs 48%; 95% vs 84%; 1.03 vs 1.89, respectively). Surveyed NA members in Iran publicized the fellowship with public (36%) and religious (20%) figures, and systematically worked the 12 steps in large sponsor-led groups ( = 19 members). Conclusion: NA, a 12-step program developed in a Western, predominantly Christian-oriented country, was adapted widely in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a setting different in culture, language, ethnicity, and religious orientation. The growth in its membership derives, in part, from specific innovations that may have broader applicability in other settings.

Volunteer Recovery Support for Adolescents (VRSA) is a novel recovery monitoring and support service for youth after discharge from residential treatment for substance use disorders. Study methods and results of a randomized controlled study are presented in a companion paper and provide evidence that VRSA improves pro recovery peer and activity involvement, decreases substance use and related problems, and increases early full remission (Godley et al., under review). This paper describes the VRSA model, how fidelity was monitored, methods used to recruit, retain, train, and supervise volunteers, how well volunteers were able to implement the model, and how adolescents responded to VRSA. As evidenced by successful recruitment of volunteers to cover caseload needs, positive rates of volunteer retention, and favorable recovery support session completion rates, VRSA is a flexible, potentially low-cost model for providing extended recovery support services that is both feasible and acceptable to adolescents. Future research is needed to identify variables that predict volunteer commitment and to investigate if matching gender, race/ethnicity, or other variables affect results.

OBJECTIVES: Face-to-face meetings are key components of Twelve Step (TS) fellowships' support of members' abstinence. Home confinement during COVID-19 made this less feasible. Our objective was to ascertain whether a transition to virtual online meetings among TS members took place, and whether it was potentially effective. METHODS: Two thousand one hundred fifty-two long-standing USA members of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) were surveyed to ascertain their recovery-related experiences and their relation to the transition to virtual meetings. RESULTS: During the previous week (ie, 'during COVID-19') respondents attended more virtual meetings ( = 4.13[SD4.64]) than they had attended both face-to-face meetings before COVID-19 ( = 3.35[SD2.05]), and also face-to-face meetings during COVID-19 ( = 0.75[SD1.8]). Many of the meetings were accessed from sites remote from their homes (44.4%), even overseas (21.5%). The majority (64.9%) found virtual meetings at least as effective in promoting their abstinence as were face-to-face meetings, and 41.8% estimated the same for newcomers. A shorter period of antecedent abstinence from drugs and increased loneliness were associated with increased craving during the transition period. Relative to Whites, Black respondents were less distressed, with a lesser increase in craving, and currently attended more virtual meetings. Data provided by a national program reflected a large increase in virtual TS attendance since the onset of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: In a survey of well-established NA members, most had made a successful transition from face-to-face to virtual meetings, relative to their antecedent characteristics. This successful transition suggests the possibility of an enhanced opportunity for stabilizing TS membership.

Objective Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders impose a prodigious personal and societal burden. While most remit, little is known about the achievements accrued as people accomplish and sustain addiction recovery. Greater knowledge regarding the nature and prevalence of such achievements, when such achievements occur, what factors influence accrual of achievements, and how such achievements relate to other indices of functioning would support treatment and policy planning, and may instill hope for individuals and families seeking AOD problem resolution. Methods Nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of United States (US) population of persons who have overcome an AOD problem (N = 2,002), assessing individual factors and achievements in 4 domains: self-improvement; family engagement; civic, and economic participation. Logistic and linear regression models tested theorized associations among variables. Results Most (80.1%) achieved at least one achievement associated with the 4 domains. A linear monotonic relationship was observed with greater achievements accruing with greater time in recovery. Accrual of achievements after AOD problem resolution was related to racial minority status, more education, earlier age of substance use initiation, illicit drugs as primary substance used, more years since resolving AOD problem, more psychiatric diagnoses, lower psychological distress, and regular 12-step program attendance. Multiple regression analyses found greater total achievements were independently associated with greater self-esteem, happiness, quality of life, and recovery capital. Conclusions Most individuals achieve an increasing number of achievements with time since AOD problem resolution, and these are associated with gains in measures of well-being that may support ongoing AOD problem remission, and recovery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

This is the first study to assess confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) use within the transsphenoidal approach and show the feasibility of obtaining digital diagnostic biopsies of pituitary tumor tissue after intravenous fluorescein injection. We confirmed that the CLE probe reaches the tuberculum sellae through the transnasal transsphenoidal corridor in cadaveric heads. Next, we confirmed that CLE provides images with identifiable histological features of pituitary adenoma. Biopsies from nine patients who underwent pituitary adenoma surgery were imaged ex vivo at various times after fluorescein injection and were assessed by a blinded board-certified neuropathologist. With frozen sections used as the standard, pituitary adenoma was diagnosed as &ldquo, definitively&rdquo, for 13 and as &ldquo, favoring&rdquo, in 3 of 16 specimens. CLE digital biopsies were diagnostic for pituitary adenoma in 10 of 16 specimens. The reasons for nondiagnostic CLE images were biopsy acquisition &lt, 1 min or &gt, 10 min after fluorescein injection (n = 5) and blood artifacts (n = 1). In conclusion, fluorescein provided sufficient contrast for CLE at a dose of 2 mg/kg, optimally 1&ndash, 10 min after injection. These results provide a basis for further in vivo studies using CLE in transsphenoidal surgery.

Objective Visual field (VF) outcomes are commonly reported in neurosurgical case series; however, substantial variability can exist in VF testing and outcome reporting. We aimed to evaluate the challenges of VF testing and to develop detailed recommendations for VF outcome reporting by analyzing results from an ongoing, multicenter study of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Methods VF testing results were collected during a prospective, multicenter clinical trial evaluating patient outcomes after transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (TRANSSPHER). Two independent ophthalmologists reviewed reliability and outcomes of all VF studies. Preoperative and postoperative VF studies were evaluated individually and as preoperative/postoperative pairs. Results Suboptimal perimetry field settings were reported in 37% of VF studies. Automated reliability criteria flagged 25%–29% of VF studies as unreliable, whereas evaluation by 2 independent ophthalmologists flagged 16%–28%. Agreement between automated criteria and raters for VF reliability was inconsistent (κ coefficients = 0.55–0.83), whereas agreement between the 2 raters was substantial to almost perfect (κ coefficients = 0.78–0.83). Most patients demonstrated improvement after surgery (rater 1, 67%; rater 2, 60%), with substantial rater agreement on outcomes for paired examinations (κ coefficient = 0.62). Conclusions VF outcome studies demonstrated significant variability of test parameters and patient performance. Perimetry field settings varied among patients and for some patients varied preoperatively versus postoperatively. Reliance on automated criteria alone could not substitute for independent ophthalmologist review of test reliability. Standardized guidelines for VF data collection and reporting could increase reliability of results and allow better comparisons of outcomes in future studies.

Celiac disease (CD) is common yet under-detected. A point of care test (POCT) may improve CD detection. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of an IgA/IgG-deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP)-based POCT for CD detection, patient acceptability, and inter-observer variability of the POCT results. From 2013–2017, we prospectively recruited patients referred to secondary care with gastrointestinal symptoms, anemia and/or weight loss (group 1); and patients with self-reported gluten sensitivity with unknown CD status (group 2). All patients had concurrent POCT, IgA-tissue transglutaminase (IgA-TTG), IgA-endomysial antibodies (IgA-EMA), total IgA levels, and duodenal biopsies. Five hundred patients completed acceptability questionnaires, and inter-observer variability of the POCT results was compared among five clinical staff for 400 cases. Group 1: 1000 patients, 58.5% female, age 16–91, median age 57. Forty-one patients (4.1%) were diagnosed with CD. The sensitivities of the POCT, IgA-TTG, and IgA-EMA were 82.9, 78.1, and 70.7%; the specificities were 85.4, 96.3, and 99.8%. Group 2: 61 patients, 83% female; age 17–73, median age 35. The POCT had 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value in detecting CD in group 2. Most patients preferred the POCT to venepuncture (90.4% vs. 2.8%). There was good inter-observer agreement on the POCT results with a Fleiss Kappa coefficient of 0.895. The POCT had comparable sensitivities to serology, and correctly identified all CD cases in a gluten sensitive cohort. However, its low specificity may increase unnecessary investigations. Despite its advantage of convenience and rapid results, it may not add significant value to case finding in an office-based setting.

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using confocal reflectance microscopy (CRM) ex vivo to differentiate adenoma from normal pituitary gland in surgical biopsy specimens. CRM allows for rapid, label-free evaluation of biopsy specimens with cellular resolution while avoiding some limitations of frozen section analysis.METHODSBiopsy specimens from 11 patients with suspected pituitary adenomas were transported directly to the pathology department. Samples were immediately positioned and visualized with CRM using a confocal microscope located in the same area of the pathology department where frozen sections are prepared. An H & E–stained slide was subsequently prepared from imaged tissue. A neuropathologist compared the histopathological characteristics of the H & E–stained slide and the matched CRM images. A second neuropathologist reviewed images in a blinded fashion and assigned diagnoses of adenoma or normal gland.RESULTSFor all specimens, CRM contrasted cellularity, tissue architecture, nuclear pleomorphism, vascularity, and stroma. Pituitary adenomas demonstrated sheets and large lobules of cells, similar to the matched H & E–stained slides. CRM images of normal tissue showed scattered small lobules of pituitary epithelial cells, consistent with matched H & E–stained images of normal gland. Blinded review by a neuropathologist confirmed the diagnosis in 15 (94%) of 16 images of adenoma versus normal gland.CONCLUSIONSCRM is a simple, reliable approach for rapidly evaluating pituitary adenoma specimens ex vivo. This technique can be used to accurately differentiate between pituitary adenoma and normal gland while preserving biopsy tissue for future permanent analysis, immunohistochemical studies, and molecular studies.

OBJECTIVEPain control is an important clinical consideration and quality-of-care metric. No studies have examined postoperative pain control following transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions. The study goals were to 1) report postoperative pain scores following transsphenoidal surgery, 2) determine if multimodal opioid-minimizing pain regimens yielded satisfactory postoperative pain control, and 3) determine if intravenous (IV) ibuprofen improved postoperative pain scores and reduced opioid use compared with placebo.METHODSThis study was a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled intervention trial involving adult patients with planned transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 patients were treated with scheduled IV ibuprofen, scheduled oral acetaminophen, and rescue opioids. Group 2 patients were treated with IV placebo, scheduled oral acetaminophen, and rescue opioids. The primary end point was patient pain scores (visual analog scale [VAS], rated 0–10) for 48 hours after surgery. The secondary end point was opioid use as estimated by oral morphine equivalents (OMEs).RESULTSOf 136 patients screened, 62 were enrolled (28 in Group 1, 34 in Group 2). The study was terminated early because the primary and secondary end points were reached. Baseline characteristics between groups were well matched except for age (Group 1, 59.3 ± 14.4 years; Group 2, 49.8 ± 16.2 years; p = 0.02). Mean VAS pain scores were significantly different, with a 43% reduction in Group 1 (1.7 ± 2.2) compared with Group 2 (3.0 ± 2.8; p < 0.0001). Opioid use was significantly different, with a 58% reduction in Group 1 (26.3 ± 28.7 mg OME) compared with Group 2 (62.5 ± 63.8 mg OME; p < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONSMultimodal opioid-minimizing pain-management protocols resulted in acceptable pain control following transsphenoidal surgery. IV ibuprofen resulted in significantly improved pain scores and significantly decreased opioid use compared with placebo. Postoperative multimodal pain management, including a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medication, should be considered after surgery to improve patient comfort and to limit opioid use.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02351700 (clinicaltrials.gov)■ CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Type of question: therapeutic; study design: randomized, controlled trial; evidence: Class III.

Within primary health care, evidenced-based medicine (EBM) remains the primary methodology for examining the efficacy of medical treatments. Although EBM has dramatically improved treatment outcome...

Mucosal healing is important in celiac disease (CD) for the prevention of complications. However, obtaining duodenal biopsies is invasive, and there is currently no reliable surrogate marker for histological remission in clinical practice. We aimed to assess the role of a point-of-care test (POCT) based on IgA/IgG-deamidated gliadin peptide, in detecting persistent villous atrophy (VA) in CD.We prospectively recruited patients with CD attending endoscopy for the assessment of histological remission. All patients had IgA-endomysial (EMA) antibodies, IgA-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibodies, and the POCT performed, and completed a validated dietary adherence questionnaire. A gastroscopy was performed in all patients, with four biopsies taken from the second part of the duodenum and one from the duodenal bulb. We compared the diagnostic performance of the surrogate markers against duodenal histology as the reference standard.A total of 217 patients with CD (70% female, age range 16-83 years, median age 53 years) on a gluten-free diet (median duration 6 years) were recruited from 2013 to 2017. Eighty-five (39.2%) patients had persistent VA. The sensitivities of the POCT, TTG, EMA, and the adherence score in detecting VA were 67.1%, 44.7%, 37.7%, and 24.7% respectively (P=0.0005). The combination of the POCT and adherence score only marginally increased the sensitivity to 70.6% (59.7-80.0%).The sensitivity of the POCT was higher than the other surrogate markers in predicting VA. A POCT may provide the additional advantage of an immediate objective assessment of mucosal healing at the time of an office-based follow-up consultation.

Background Alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems confer a global, prodigious burden of disease, disability, and premature mortality. Even so, little is known regarding how, and by what means, individuals successfully resolve AOD problems. Greater knowledge would inform policy and guide service provision. Method Probability-based survey of US adult population estimating: 1) AOD problem resolution prevalence; 2) lifetime use of “assisted” (i.e., treatment/medication, recovery services/mutual help) vs. “unassisted” resolution pathways; 3) correlates of assisted pathway use. Participants (response = 63.4% of 39,809) responding “yes” to, “Did you use to have a problem with alcohol or drugs but no longer do?” assessed on substance use, clinical histories, problem resolution. Results Weighted prevalence of problem resolution was 9.1%, with 46% self-identifying as “in recovery”; 53.9% reported “assisted” pathway use. Most utilized support was mutual-help (45.1%,SE = 1.6), followed by treatment (27.6%,SE = 1.4), and emerging recovery support services (21.8%,SE = 1.4), including recovery community centers (6.2%,SE = 0.9). Strongest correlates of “assisted” pathway use were lifetime AOD diagnosis (AOR = 10.8[7.42–15.74], model R2 = 0.13), drug court involvement (AOR = 8.1[5.2-12.6], model R2 = 0.10), and, inversely, absence of lifetime psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 0.3[0.2–0.3], model R2 = 0.10). Compared to those with primary alcohol problems, those with primary cannabis problems were less likely (AOR = 0.7[0.5–0.9]) and those with opioid problems were more likely (AOR = 2.2[1.4-3.4]) to use assisted pathways. Indices related to severity were related to assisted pathways (R2 Conclusions Tens of millions of Americans have successfully resolved an AOD problem using a variety of traditional and non-traditional means. Findings suggest a need for a broadening of the menu of self-change and community-based options that can facilitate and support long-term AOD problem resolution.

Background: It has been long established that achieving recovery from an alcohol or other drug use disorder is\ud associated with increased biobehavioral stress. To enhance the chances of recovery, a variety of psychological,\ud physical, social, and environmental resources, known as “recovery capital”, are deemed important as they can\ud help mitigate this high stress burden. A 50-item measure of recovery capital was developed (Assessment of\ud Recovery Capital [ARC]), with 10 subscales; however, a briefer version could enhance further deployment in\ud research and busy clinical/recovery support service settings. To help increase utility of the measure, the goal of\ud the current study was to create a shorter version using Item Response Theory models.\ud Method: Items were pooled from the original treatment samples from Scotland and Australia (N=450) for scale\ud reduction. A reduced version was tested in an independent sample (N =123), and a Receiver Operating\ud Characteristic Curve was constructed to determine optimal cut-off for sustained remission (> 12 months abstinence).\ud Results: An abbreviated 10-item measure of recovery capital captured item representation from all 10 original\ud subscales, was invariant across participant’s locality and gender, had high internal consistency (α= .90),\ud concurrent validity with the original measure (rpb =.90), and predictive validity with sustained remission using\ud a cut-off score of 47.\ud Conclusion: The brief assessment of recovery capital 10-item version (BARC-10) concisely measures a single\ud unified dimension of recovery capital that may have utility for researchers, clinicians, and recovery support\ud services.

Objectives The Hardy classification is used to classify pituitary tumors for clinical and research purposes. The scale was developed using lateral skull radiographs and encephalograms, and its reliability has not been evaluated in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) era. Design Fifty preoperative MRI scans of biopsy-proven pituitary adenomas using the sellar invasion and suprasellar extension components of the Hardy scale were reviewed. Setting This study was a cohort study set at a single institution. Participants There were six independent raters. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures of this study were interrater reliability, intrarater reliability, and percent agreement. Results Overall interrater reliability of both Hardy subscales on MRI was strong. However, reliability of the intermediate scores was weak, and percent agreement among raters was poor (12–16%) using the full scales. Dichotomizing the scale into clinically useful groups maintained strong interrater reliability for the sellar invasion scale and increased the percent agreement for both scales. Conclusion This study raises important questions about the reliability of the original Hardy classification. Editing the measure to a clinically relevant dichotomous scale simplifies the rating process and may be useful for preoperative tumor characterization in the MRI era. Future research studies should use the dichotomized Hardy scale (sellar invasion Grades 0–III versus Grade IV, suprasellar extension Types 0–C versus Type D).

OBJECTIVEThe goal of this study was to determine the interrater and intrarater reliability of the Knosp grading scale for predicting pituitary adenoma cavernous sinus (CS) involvement.METHODSSix independent raters (3 neurosurgery residents, 2 pituitary surgeons, and 1 neuroradiologist) participated in the study. Each rater scored 50 unique pituitary MRI scans (with contrast) of biopsy-proven pituitary adenoma. Reliabilities for the full scale were determined 3 ways: 1) using all 50 scans, 2) using scans with midrange scores versus end scores, and 3) using a dichotomized scale that reflects common clinical practice. The performance of resident raters was compared with that of faculty raters to assess the influence of training level on reliability.RESULTSOverall, the interrater reliability of the Knosp scale was “strong” (0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.84). However, the percent agreement for all 6 reviewers was only 10% (26% for faculty members, 30% for residents). The reliability of the middle scores (i.e., average rated Knosp Grades 1 and 2) was “very weak” (0.18, 95% CI −0.27 to 0.56) and the percent agreement for all reviewers was only 5%. When the scale was dichotomized into tumors unlikely to have intraoperative CS involvement (Grades 0, 1, and 2) and those likely to have CS involvement (Grades 3 and 4), the reliability was “strong” (0.60, 95% CI 0.39–0.75) and the percent agreement for all raters improved to 60%. There was no significant difference in reliability between residents and faculty (residents 0.72, 95% CI 0.55–0.83 vs faculty 0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.84). Intrarater reliability was moderate to strong and increased with the level of experience.CONCLUSIONSAlthough these findings suggest that the Knosp grading scale has acceptable interrater reliability overall, it raises important questions about the “very weak” reliability of the scale's middle grades. By dichotomizing the scale into clinically useful groups, the authors were able to address the poor reliability and percent agreement of the intermediate grades and to isolate the most important grades for use in surgical decision making (Grades 3 and 4). Authors of future pituitary surgery studies should consider reporting Knosp grades as dichotomized results rather than as the full scale to optimize the reliability of the scale.

The 2017 World Health Organization classification of pituitary tumors redefined pituitary null cell adenomas (NCAs) by restricting this diagnostic category to pituitary tumors that are negative for pituitary transcription factors and adenohypophyseal hormones. The clinical behavior of this redefined entity has not been widely studied, and this is a major shortcoming of the classification. This study evaluated the imaging and clinical features of NCAs from two pituitary centers and compared them with those of gonadotroph adenomas (GAs). Imaging, pathologic, and clinical characteristics of NCAs and GAs were retrospectively reviewed. Tumor immunohistochemistry was performed to confirm absence of adenohypophyseal hormones and pituitary transcription factor expression. Thirty-one NCAs were compared with 38 GAs. NCAs were more likely to invade the cavernous sinus (15/31 [48%] vs. 5/38 [13%], P = .003) and had a higher proliferative index (i.e., MIB-1 > 3%, 11/31 [35%] vs. 5/38 [13%], P = .04). Gross total resection was less likely in the NCA group (19/31 [61%] vs. 33/38 [87], P = .02). Progression-free survival was worse in the NCA cohort (5-year progression-free survival, 0.70 vs. 1.00; P = .011, by log-rank test). Compared with GAs, NCAs are more invasive at the time of presentation and have a more aggressive clinical course. This study provides evidence that NCAs represent a distinct clinicopathologic entity with behavior that differs adversely from that of GAs. This may inform clinical decision-making, including frequency of postoperative tumor surveillance and timing of adjunctive treatments.

Surgical resection is the standard initial therapy for patients with symptomatic non-prolactin secreting adenomas and other pituitary tumors (1). After surgical resection select patients will require adjuvant radiation therapy. There are a number of radiation modalities available for treatment. One factor that influences the choice of radiation modality is proximity of tumor to local critical anatomy, namely the optic chiasm (2). MRI is the modality of choice for evaluating pituitary tumors, postoperative resection cavities and the relationship between tumor and the optic chiasm (3). To study the expected evolution of postoperative pituitary resection cavities and the relationship between residual sellar tissue and the optic chiasm we retrospectively reviewed MRI’s of patients with surgically resected pituitary tumors obtained during the preoperative (PreO), immediate postoperative (IPO) (3 mo) phases. 91 patients (45 F, 46 M, mean age 50.9 yrs) with functional adenomas (26.4%), non-functional adenomas (46.2%), Rathke cleft cysts (9.9%), craniopharyngioma’s (3.3%) and other lesions (14.2%) were studied. PreO estimated tumor volume was 4.3 cc (0-28.7), craniocaudal (CC) dimension 17.2 mm (2-49), and distance between tumor and optic chiasm 2.0 mm (0-10). 9.9 % of patients had cavernous sinus invasion by imaging criteria. On IPO imaging 83.5 % of patients had gross total resection. Average IPO and DPO resection cavity estimated volumes were 3.3 cc (0.1-16.3) and 1.6 cc (0.0-8.7), respectively. Average % decrease in cavity volume from IPO to DPO scans was 51.5%. Average distance between residual sellar tissue and chiasm was 2.5 mm on IPO and 4.7 mm on DPO scans. The distance between tissue and chiasm on IPO and DPO scans was greater for tumors 10mm (p=0.019). Percent change in CC dimension of resection cavities from IPO to DPO scans was higher for cavities without fat packing (63.2%) vs cavities with fat packing (52.1%) (p=0.025). Tumor histology, cavernous sinus invasion, degree of PreO chiasm mass effect, and presence of fluid or blood within the IPO cavity did not correlate with distance between tissue and chiasm on DPO scans. Conclusion: There is a significant reduction in cavity volume and increased distance between the chiasm and residual sellar tissue on DPO vs IPO scans. Evaluation for radiosurgery as a treatment option, which has less total and chiasm dose, may be an option after reviewing DPO scans. References: (1) Rim et al., Radiat Oncol J. 2011;29(3):156-63. (2) Minniti et al., Radiat Oncol. 2016;(11)135. (3) Patel et al., World Neurosurg. 2014;82(5):770-80.

Objective Granular cell tumors (GCTs), pituicytomas, and spindle cell oncocytomas are rare, nonfunctioning pituitary tumors sharing positive staining of thyroid transcription factor 1. We present our series, the first single-institutional report with long-term surgical follow-up of all 3 tumor types. Methods Our institutional pathology database was queried for these 3 pathologic diagnoses. Clinical records were assessed for clinical presentation, preoperative and postoperative endocrine status, tumor location on imaging, surgical characteristics, pathology results, and tumor recurrence. Results Data were analyzed for 4 patients with GCTs, 4 with pituicytomas, and 3 with spindle cell oncocytomas. The most common symptoms at presentation were vision changes (64%), headache (55%), endocrine abnormalities (55%), and fatigue (46%). GCTs were the only subtype to present exclusively in the infundibulum and the only subtype in our series to be treated with a transcranial transsylvian approach to resection (n = 2). In our study, in contrast to other reports, estimated blood loss was less than 300 mL in all patients. Imaging confirmed gross total resection in all 11 cases with no known recurrences at a mean (standard deviation) follow-up of 4.7 (3.7) years. Conclusions We present a single-institution series of rare thyroid transcription factor 1–staining posterior pituitary tumors of the sellar region. Key novel findings include gross total resection with no tumor recurrence at nearly 5 years of mean follow-up and no cases of excess or uncontrolled blood loss. Our findings reinforce the observation that GCTs present in the suprasellar space.

Background Alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems are commonly depicted as chronically relapsing, implying multiple recovery attempts are needed prior to remission. Yet, although a robust literature exists on quit attempts in the tobacco field, little is known regarding patterns of cessation attempts related to alcohol, opioid, stimulant, or cannabis problems. Greater knowledge of such estimates and the factors associated with needing fewer or greater attempts may have utility for health policy and clinical communication efforts and approaches. Methods Cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of U.S. adults (N = 39,809) who reported resolving a significant AOD problem (n = 2,002) and assessed on number of prior serious recovery attempts, demographic variables, primary substance, clinical histories, and indices of psychological distress and well-being. Results The statistical distribution of serious recovery attempts was highly skewed with a mean of 5.35 (SD = 13.41) and median of 2 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1 to 4). Black race, prior use of treatment and mutual-help groups, and history of psychiatric comorbidity were associated with higher number of attempts, and more attempts were associated independently with greater current distress. Number of recovery attempts did not differ by primary substance (e.g., opioids vs. alcohol). Conclusions Estimates of recovery attempts differed substantially depending on whether the mean (5.35 recovery attempts) or median (2 recovery attempts) was used as the estimator. Implications of this are that the average may be substantially lower than anticipated because cultural expectations are often based on AOD problems being "chronically relapsing" disorders implicating seemingly endless tries. Depending on which one of these estimates is reported in policy documents or communicated in public health announcements or clinical settings, each may elicit varying degrees of help-seeking, hope, motivation, and the use of more assertive clinical approaches. The more fitting, median estimate of attempts should be used in clinical and policy communications given the distribution.

Interventions by professional helpers that are later recognized as ineffective or even harmful have a long and colorful history. Some of the most widely practiced of such interventions have left later generations pondering, "What on earth were they thinking?" Lectures on the history of addiction treatment stir feelings of enlightened condescension amidst tales of treating morphine addiction with cocaine and other such idiocies, but occasionally a conference attendee asks the tough question: "How will the current era of addiction treatment be judged in the future?" And, of course, that is the rub, because it is so difficult to clearly see our own professional miscues and mistakes without the benefit of historical hindsight. This essay explores one practice-administratively discharging clients from addiction treatment-that we suspect will be judged harshly by historians of the not so distant future.

Cassia is a large tropical genus with about 600 species that have been widely used as folk medicines in China and India. This genus has been known to possess various biological activities, e.g. antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-malarial, anti-mutagenic activity, and anti-fertility etc. Flavonoids, for its broad spectrum of pharmacological activity and low toxicity, have attracted more interest in the development and utilization of natural medicines. The structure and biological activity research of flavonoids extracted from Cassia genus is the first step in the search for new drugs from those plants. This review summarizes the isolation and characterization of flavonoids from various Cassia species, such as Cassia absus, Cassia alata, Cassia fistula, etc. Flavonoids can be extracted from different parts of the plants, such as seed, leaf, stem and pod. Chemical structure research of these flavonoids in extracts has revealed many different types of compounds, which show the complication of the metabolism of Cassia genus. The antidiabetic activities can be found in many Cassia species. The efficiency of extraction method and action mode have been widely investigated. The extract not only can reduce the blood glucose level, but also improve glycogen content. Research show that the methanolic extract is effective in inducing hypoglycemic effects in both type I and II diabetes. Because flavonoids have complex structures, various function points, and unknown pertinence and selectivity for different health conditions, there are still many research areas waiting to be explored, such as to reveal the metabolic pathways of flavonoids in the Cassia genus, and to illustrate the structure-activity relationship between flavonoids and protein. That above-mentioned research will provide the basis for further medicinal development on this genus.

Intracellular compartments make up roughly two thirds of the body, but delivery of molecular imaging probes to these spaces can be challenging. This situation is particularly true for probes designed for detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a high resolution but relatively insensitive modality. Most MRI contrast agents are polar and membrane impermeant, making it difficult to deliver them in sufficient quantities for measurement of intracellular analytes. Here we address this problem by introducing a new class of planar tetradentate Mn(III) chelates assembled from a 1,2-phenylenediamido (PDA) backbone. Mn(III)-PDA complexes display T(1) relaxivity comparable to that of Gd(III)-based contrast agents and undergo spontaneous cytosolic localization via defined mechanisms. Probe variants incorporating enzyme-cleavable acetomethoxy ester groups are processed by intracellular esterases and accumulate in cells. Probes modified with ethyl esters preferentially label genetically modified cells that express a substrate-selective esterase. In each case, the contrast agents gives rise to robust T(1)-weighted MRI enhancements, providing precedents for the detection of intracellular targets by Mn(III)-PDA complexes. These compounds therefore constitute a platform from which to develop reagents for molecular MRI of diverse processes inside cells.

Tobacco dependence is ubiquitous among people seeking treatment for other substance use disorders, compromises recovery outcomes, and elevates long-term morbidity and mortality of people recovering from other addictions. The present study (1) identifies the organizational and personal motivators for smoking cessation within a recovery community (Congress 60) in the Islamic Republic of Iran, (2) describes a novel method of smoking cessation that combines prolonged nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with a broad spectrum of psychosocial supports to achieve sustained smoking cessation and improved health and quality of life (HQoL), and (3) presents preliminary follow-up data on the first 100 individuals who participated in this pilot effort. The high retention rate, low reported nicotine cravings during and following NRT, high one-year post-NRT abstinence rates, and reported improvements in HQoL of study participants warrant further evaluation and potential replication of the smoking cessation method...

Research on continuing care treatment for adolescents following discharge from primary treatment has demonstrated benefit, yet treatment providers encounter multiple barriers in its implementation. Less formal recovery support following treatment is promising, but controlled trials of effectiveness are lacking. This study reports results of a randomized trial of recovery support provided by student volunteers via telephone to youth discharged from residential treatment. Both direct and indirect effects were predicted for proximal (pro-recovery peers, recovery management activities) and distal (AOD use and problems, AOD remission) outcomes. Method Prior to treatment discharge, participants were randomized to either 9 months of post-treatment Volunteer Recovery Support for Adolescents (VRSA; n = 201) or continuing care services as usual (SAU; n = 201) and assessed over 12 months post- discharge. Results There were significant direct effects for VRSA to have more involvement with pro-recovery peers and recovery management activities than SAU. VRSA also had significant indirect effects on reducing AOD use and problems and increasing remission via increases in pro-recovery peers and recovery management activities at 9- and 12-month assessments. Dose-response analyses demonstrated significant increments of improvement in proximal and distal outcomes as VRSA session completion rate increased, but effectiveness attenuated at the post-VRSA (12- month) follow-up assessment. Conclusion Findings suggest that VRSA is a promising option for post-treatment recovery support, especially in the higher dose range. Additional research is needed to test the feasibility of providing VRSA in the higher dose range to a larger proportion of intent to treat samples and extending VRSA duration.

Introduction Non-adherence to a gluten free diet (GFD) could lead to persistent villous atrophy and the development of complications in coeliac disease. However, current adherence assessment methods have their own limitations: dietetic evaluation by a specialist dietitian is usually accurate but resources are often limited; serology has been shown to have poor sensitivities in measuring adherence; and although duodenal biopsies are considered the gold standard, it is invasive and expensive. We aimed to assess the sensitivities of 2 validated questionnaires, which have been suggested as non-invasive markers of adherence. Methods We prospectively recruited coeliac disease patients who were referred to secondary care for further evaluation of dietary adherence and disease remission. All patients were tested with tissue transglutaminase (IgA-TTG) and endomysial antibodies (IgA-EMA), and completed 2 adherence questionnaires, one devised by Biagi et al.,1 and Coeliac Disease Adherence Test (CDAT) devised by Leffler et al.2 The questions were largely related to the patients’ attitude and strategy towards gluten avoidance. The Biagi questionnaire consists of 4 questions, and the score ranges from 0–4; score 13 indicates non-adherence. Duodenal biopsies were taken from all patients, and the presence/absence of villous atrophy was the reference standard used to determine the sensitivities. Results A total of 120 patients were recruited, 80 females (67%), median age 54, median duration of GFD 5 years. Forty-five patients (37.5%) had persistent villous atrophy. The median CDAT score was 12, and the median Biagi score was 3. The sensitivities of the surrogate markers for adherence compared to duodenal histology are demonstrated below. Conclusions CDAT alone was not superior compared to IgA-TTG (p=0.6961). However, the combination of CDAT and Biagi questionnaires significantly outperformed IgA-TTG (p=0.0162) in detecting villous atrophy. These questionnaires could potentially provide an immediate reflection of dietary adherence, although the sensitivities remain suboptimal and cannot replace histological assessment. References . Biagi F, Bianchi PI, Marchese A, et al. A score that verifies adherence to a gluten-free diet: a cross-sectional, multicentre validation in real clinical life. Br J Nutr. 2012Nov 28;108(10):1884–8. . Leffler DA, Dennis M, Edwards George JB, et al. A simple validated gluten-free diet adherence survey for adults with celiac disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 May;7(5):530–6,536. e1–2.

BACKGROUND A simple, reliable grading scale to better characterize nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) preoperatively has potential for research and clinical applications. OBJECTIVE To develop a grading scale from a prospective multicenter cohort of patients that accurately and reliably predicts the likelihood of gross total resection (GTR) after transsphenoidal NFPA surgery. METHODS Extent-of-resection (EOR) data from a prospective multicenter study in transsphenoidal NFPA surgery were analyzed (TRANSSPHER study; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02357498). Sixteen preoperative radiographic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tumor characteristics (eg, tumor size, invasion measures, tumor signal characteristics, and parameters impacting surgical access) were evaluated to determine EOR predictors, to calculate receiver-operating characteristic curves, and to develop a grading scale. A separate validation cohort (n = 165) was examined to assess the scale's performance and inter-rater reliability. RESULTS Data for 222 patients from 7 centers treated by 15 surgeons were analyzed. Approximately one-fifth of patients (18.5%; 41 of 222) underwent subtotal resection (STR). Maximum tumor diameter > 40 mm; nodular tumor extension through the diaphragma into the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, posterior fossa, or ventricle; and Knosp grades 3 to 4 were identified as independent STR predictors. A grading scale (TRANSSPHER grade) based on a combination of these 3 features outperformed individual variables in predicting GTR (AUC, 0.732). In a validation cohort, the scale exhibited high sensitivity and specificity (AUC, 0.779) and strong inter-rater reliability (kappa coefficient, 0.617). CONCLUSION This simple, reliable grading scale based on preoperative MRI characteristics can be used to better characterize NFPAs for clinical and research purposes and to predict the likelihood of achieving GTR.

Background and aims Coeliac disease may be missed at gastroscopy. We aimed to assess the sensitivity of Pentax optical zoom technology endoscopes in detecting duodenal villous atrophy and the ease of image interpretation by non-coeliac specialists. Method All patients attending for a gastroscopy were assessed for endoscopic villous atrophy in part one and two of the duodenum with high definition white light endoscopy and magnification endoscopy. Endoscopic findings of the duodenum were compared to histology as the reference standard. A short training video of varying degrees of villous atrophy seen by magnification endoscopy was used to train individuals. They were then assessed for the ability to differentiate between normal duodenum and villous atrophy. Results Two hundred and fifty patients were prospectively recruited (145 females, 58%; age range 16–84, median age 50.5). Ninety-six patients had villous atrophy on histology (38.4%) 154 were controls. Magnification endoscopy had a higher sensitivity in detecting villous atrophy compared to high definition white light endoscopy (86.4% versus 78.4%, p = .0005). 9/10 individuals undertaking magnification endoscopy training correctly identified all cases of villous atrophy. Conclusion Magnification endoscopy has superior diagnostic sensitivity in detecting villous atrophy compared to high definition white light endoscopy and the potential to be easily adopted by all endoscopists.

In 2012, Hazelden, the iconic exemplar of the Minnesota model of chemical dependency treatment, announced its decision to begin using naltrexone and buprenorphine as optional adjuncts in the treatment of opioid addiction. This shift in clinical philosophy at Hazelden garnered considerable professional and public attention. At the center of the ensuing debates was Dr. Marvin Seppala, chief medical officer of Hazelden Betty Ford. This interview conducted with Dr. Seppala in December 2014 explores his career as an addiction psychiatrist and discusses numerous issues related to the treatment of addiction, including the 2012 decision on medication-assisted treatment and how medications are being effectively integrated into 12-Step–oriented addiction treatment.

OBJECT Despite the widespread adoption of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas, the sinonasal quality of life (QOL) and health status in patients who have undergone this technique have not been compared with these findings in patients who have undergone the traditional direct uninostril microsurgical technique. In this study, the authors compared the sinonasal QOL and patient-reported health status after use of these 2 surgical techniques. METHODS The study design was a nonblinded prospective cohort study. Adult patients with sellar pathology and planned transsphenoidal surgery were screened at 4 pituitary centers in the US between October 2011 and August 2013. The primary end point of the study was postoperative patient-reported sinonasal QOL as measured by the Anterior Skull Base Nasal Inventory–12 (ASK Nasal-12). Supplementary end points included patient-reported health status estimated by the 8-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-8) and EuroQol (EQ)-5D-5L instruments, and sinonasal complications. Patients were followed for 6 months after surgery. RESULTS A total of 301 patients were screened and 235 were enrolled in the study. Of these, 218 were analyzed (111 microsurgery patients, 107 endoscopic surgery patients). Demographic and tumor characteristics were similar between groups (p ≥ 0.12 for all comparisons). The most common complication in both groups was sinusitis (7% in the microsurgery group, 13% in the endoscopic surgery group; p = 0.15). Patients treated with the endoscopic technique were more likely to have postoperative nasal debridements (p < 0.001). The ASK Nasal-12 and SF-8 scores worsened substantially for both groups at 2 weeks after surgery, but then returned to baseline at 3 months. At 3 months after surgery, patients treated with endoscopy reported statistically better sinonasal QOL compared with patients treated using the microscopic technique (p = 0.02), but there were no significant differences at any of the other postoperative time points. CONCLUSIONS This is the first multicenter study to examine the effect of the transsphenoidal surgical technique on sinonasal QOL and health status. The study showed that surgical technique did not significantly impact these patient-reported measures when performed at high-volume centers. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT01504399 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Objective Coeliac disease (CD) is a lifelong condition requiring strict adherence to a gluten-free (GF) diet and good availability of GF foods is critical to this. Patients with CD from lower socioeconomic groups are recognised to have higher treatment burden and higher food costs may impact this. Therefore, we aimed to assess the availability and cost of GF food in supermarkets and via the internet. Design Supermarkets and internet shops delivering to homes in a single city (UK) were analysed between February and March 2014. Stores were identified with comprehensive internet searches. Ten commonly purchased items were analysed for cost and compared with standard non-GF alternatives. Direct measurement of the number of GF foods available was compared between stores which were categorised according to previously published work. Setting Supermarkets covering the whole of Sheffield, UK. Results None of the budget supermarkets surveyed stocked any GF foods. Quality and regular supermarkets stocked the greatest range, each stocking a median of 22 (IQR 39) items (p Conclusions There is good availability of GF food in regular and quality supermarkets as well as online, but it remains significantly more expensive. Budget supermarkets which tend to be frequented by patients from lower socioeconomic classes stocked no GF foods. This poor availability and added cost is likely to impact on adherence in deprived groups.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, in response to the highest rate of opium consumption in the world, has devoted substantial resources to reduce drug availability and address addiction-related problems. Demand-reduction activities have included residential rehabilitation centers, outpatient treatment centers, and support for addiction recovery mutual aid organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous. The growing role of voluntary nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in supporting addiction recovery in Iran has not been fully described in the professional literature. This report describes one such NGO, Congress 60, which was founded in 1998 and has since grown to 38 branches in Iran with more than 20,000 members. Included in the review are the history, governance, philosophy, and recovery support methods of Congress 60.