Idiopathic subglottic stenosis describes subglottic stenosis where no inflammatory, traumatic, iatrogenic or other causative aetiology can be identified. The present study aimed to outline our institution's experience of patients diagnosed with idiopathic subglottic stenosis and describe a very rarely reported familial association.

A retrospective review was conducted of prospectively maintained medical records from 2011 to 2020. Patient clinical, radiological and intra-operative data were reviewed to assess for defined endpoints.

Ten patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis were identified in this series. One familial pairing was identified, with two sisters presenting with the condition. Successful treatment with carbon dioxide laser and dilatation was achieved in most cases.

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis represents a rare, clinically challenging pathology. Management with endoscopic laser and balloon dilatation is an effective treatment. This paper highlights a very rare familial association, and describes our experience in treating idiopathic subglottic stenosis.

The purpose of this study was to pilot safety and tolerability of a 1-week aerobic exercise program during the post-acute phase of concussion (14–25 days post-injury) by examining adherence, symptom response, and key functional outcomes (e.g., cognition, mood, sleep, postural stability, and neurocognitive performance) in young adults.

A randomized, non-blinded pilot clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of aerobic versus non-aerobic exercise (placebo) in concussion patients. The study enrolled three groups: 1) patients with concussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) randomized to an aerobic exercise intervention performed daily for 1-week, 2) patients with concussion/mTBI randomized to a non-aerobic (stretching and calisthenics) exercise program performed daily for 1-week, and 3) non-injured, no intervention reference group.

Mixed-model analysis of variance results indicated a significant decrease in symptom severity scores from pre- to post-intervention (mean difference = −7.44, 95% CI [−12.37, −2.20]) for both concussion groups. However, the pre- to post-change was not different between groups. Secondary outcomes all showed improvements by post-intervention, but no differences in trajectory between the groups. By three months post-injury, all outcomes in the concussion groups were within ranges of the non-injured reference group.

Results from this study indicate that the feasibility and tolerability of administering aerobic exercise via stationary cycling in the post-acute time frame following post-concussion (14–25 days) period are tentatively favorable. Aerobic exercise does not appear to negatively impact recovery trajectories of neurobehavioral outcomes; however, tolerability may be poorer for patients with high symptom burden.

Patient preferences in schizophrenia (SCZ), including identification of key goals and outcomes for treatment and relative importance of certain treatment goals to patients, have been assessed by several studies. However, there continues to be a lack of sufficient evidence on US patient attitudes and perceptions towards treatment goals and pharmacotherapy options in SCZ, especially taking into context long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) in this disease area. This lack of evidence is further pronounced in caregivers of individuals with SCZ. The objective of this analysis was to characterize patients with SCZ on LAIs vs patients on oral antipsychotics (OAPs) and evaluate the treatment goals of patients in each group.

This was a real-world, cross-sectional survey of US psychiatrists, patients =18 years old with a diagnosis of SCZ, and caregivers. Data was collected using the Disease Specific Programme (DSP) methodology, which has been previously published. Psychiatrists (n=120) completed detailed record forms for next 8 consecutive outpatients and 2 inpatients matching inclusion criteria, including non-interventional clinical and subjective assessments. The same patients and their caregivers, if present, were invited by their psychiatrist to voluntarily complete a separate survey.

Of 1135 patients on treatment where the physician provided survey data; 251 were on an LAI, and 884 were on an OAP. Mean (SD) time to SCZ diagnosis for those on an LAI was 10.3 (12.0) years vs 7.8 (10.5) years for those on OAPs. More patients in the LAI vs OAP group were being treated as an inpatient (27.1% vs 15.7%, respectively; p<0.0001). Patients on an LAI reported being on their current medication regimen for less time (mean 1.7 years) vs those on OAPs (mean 2.5 years) (p=0.0093). More patients on LAIs were unemployed due to disability vs those on OAPs (56.1% vs 39.5%, respectively), and less patients on LAIs were able to work part-time or full-time (21.1% or 4.1%) vs those on OAPs (23.2% or 11.4%). More patients on an LAI had a caregiver vs those on OAPs (37.3% vs 26.1%, respectively; p=0.0011). Regarding the most important treatment goals reported by patients, both groups reported similar preferences for decrease in disease symptoms (62% on LAI vs 65% on OAPs) and thinking more clearly (53% on LAI vs 46% on OAPs); however, a numerically higher proportion of LAI patients reported that the current medication helped decrease hospitalizations due to relapse vs those on OAPs (38% vs 32%, respectively).

Given the characteristics of patients participating in this real-world survey, those on LAIs exhibited qualities which indicate a higher severity of illness vs those on OAPs. Results suggest that treatment with LAIs is still mainly being provided to patients later in the disease course and/or who have adherence problems, despite a growing body of evidence of utility in younger patients earlier in the course of illness.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. and Lundbeck LLC

Objectives for this survey are to determine similarities or differences in treatment goals reported by psychiatrists, patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and caregivers in the US, as well as whether goals differed by patients currently on an oral antipsychotic (OAP) or long-acting injectable (LAI), and whether goals differed by age.

This was a real-world, cross-sectional survey of US psychiatrists, patients =18 years old diagnosed with SCZ, and caregivers. Data was collected using the Disease Specific Programme (DSP) methodology. Psychiatrists (n=120) completed detailed record forms for next 8 outpatients and 2 inpatients matching inclusion criteria. The same patients and their caregivers, if present, were invited by their psychiatrist to voluntarily complete a separate survey.

Responses on treatment goals were collected from psychiatrists for all patients included in the analysis (n=1161), patients (n= 542) and caregivers (n=130). Among 3 top goals, psychiatrists, patients and caregivers concurred that “decrease in disease symptoms” is most important (63%, 64%, 68% respectively). For psychiatrists and caregivers, second was “decrease in hospitalization for relapse” (41%, and 38% respectively), whereas for patients, it was “thinking clearly” (47%). Of the 3 least important goals, psychiatrists, patients and caregivers agreed with “sexual problems” (59%, 43%, 44%, respectively) and “weight gain” (38%, 44%, 38%, respectively).

When asked which goals were met by current medication, patients responded “decrease in disease symptoms” (68%) and “thinking clearly” (39%). However, caregivers responded “thinking clearly” (30%) was not met by current medication. Caregivers most important goals, “decrease in disease symptom” (70%) and “decrease in hospitalization for relapse” (41%), were met. Additional analyses of patients on OAPs and LAIs, did not show differences in goals. However, “decrease in disease symptoms” was numerically more important for patients on LAIs vs OAPs according to psychiatrists (68% vs 62%) and caregivers (77% vs 70% respectively). Caregivers responded “decrease in hospitalization for relapse” was met for 63% patients currently on an LAI and 35% OAP. No major differences in treatment goals were observed by patient age (18–35 vs 36–65 vs >65 years).

There is consensus among US psychiatrists, patients and caregivers on the most important treatment goal “decrease in disease symptoms”, regardless of patients’ current medication or age. For patients, “thinking more clearly” was second, compared with “decrease in hospitalization due to relapse”, for psychiatrists and caregivers. All agreed that least important treatment goals, related to AEs, were “weight gain” and “sexual problems”. More caregivers agreed “decrease in hospitalization for relapse” was met by patients on LAIs vs OAPs. These findings may help with discussions between psychiatrists, patients and caregivers.

Lundbeck LLC and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.

The purpose of this article was to determine the impact of employing a telephone clinic for follow-up of patients with stable lateral skull-base tumours.

An analysis of 1515 patients in the national lateral skull-base service was performed, and 148 patients enrolled in the telephone clinic to date were identified. The length of time that patients waited for results of their follow-up scans and the travel distance saved by patients not having to attend the hospital for their results was determined.

The mean time from scan to receiving results was 30.5 ± 32 days, 14 days sooner than in the face-to-face group (p = 0.0016). The average round-trip distance travelled by patients to the hospital for results of their scans was 256 ± 131 km.

The telephone clinic led to a significant reduction in time until patients received their scan results and helped reduce travel distance and clinic numbers in traditional face-to-face clinics.

Optimism is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk; however, few prospective studies have considered optimism in relation to hypertension risk specifically. We investigated whether optimism was associated with a lower risk of developing hypertension in U.S. service members, who are more likely to develop high blood pressure early in life. We also evaluated race/ethnicity, sex and age as potential effect modifiers of these associations.

Participants were 103 486 hypertension-free U.S. Army active-duty soldiers (mean age 28.96 years, 61.76% White, 20.04% Black, 11.01% Hispanic, 4.09% Asian, and 3.10% others). We assessed optimism, sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, health behaviours and depression status at baseline (2009–2010) via self-report and administrative records, and ascertained incident hypertension over follow-up (2010–2014) from electronic health records and health assessments. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and adjusted models for a broad range of relevant covariates.

Over a mean follow-up of 3.51 years, 15 052 incident hypertension cases occurred. The highest v. lowest optimism levels were associated with a 22% reduced risk of developing hypertension, after adjusting for all covariates including baseline blood pressure (HR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.74–0.83). The difference in hypertension risk between the highest v. lowest optimism was also maintained when we excluded soldiers with hypertension in the first two years of follow-up and, separately, when we excluded soldiers with prehypertension at baseline. A dose–response relationship was evident with higher optimism associated with a lower relative risk (p < 0.001). Higher optimism was consistently associated with a lower risk of developing hypertension across sex, age and most race/ethnicity categories.

In a diverse cohort of initially healthy male and female service members particularly vulnerable to developing hypertension, higher optimism levels were associated with reduced hypertension risk independently of sociodemographic and health factors, a particularly notable finding given the young and healthy population. Results suggest optimism is a health asset and a potential target for public health interventions.

To determine the metacognitive deficits and behavioural and emotional regulation deficits among a group of children undergoing treatment for ADHD and to compare these with the hyperactivity/inattentive and behavioural assessments which contributed to the diagnosis.

Children and adolescents referred for ADHD assessment to a community Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service were assessed using clinical assessment, SNAP-IV, FTF and BRIEF rating scales. Comorbidities were assessed using clinical assessment and screened using the FTF. Clinical assessment included interview of parents, relatives and relevant school supervisors. The BRIEF scale was used to advise on specific executive function difficulties.

A total of 25 children and adolescents had complete assessments as part of routine clinical practice. There were particular groups which demonstrated elevated behavioural regulation difficulties; in the group with higher metacognition scores, groups were identified that had higher initiation and working memory deficits, higher planning and organisational deficits, or a mixture of all 5 items being elevated.

It is advantageous to complete an executive function assessment as part of ADHD assessment in clinical practice as it allows more detailed management advice to be given to teachers and support/special needs teachers and parents. It may also demonstrate successful patient-specific indicators of treatment response and outcome measures among those children who have high ADHD-related executive function deficits but whose core ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive symptoms remain highly rated.