Both hypertension and depression are common disorders which may both involve components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis system and the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS). These observations, coupled with growing evidence that RAAS-active drugs may have anti-depressant properties prompted us to study the frequency of anti-depressant medication usage in the patients receiving RAAS-active agents. A chart review was performed on 378 patients who were seen during a 3-month period in a primary care clinic and who were diagnosed with hypertension. Demographic information and data on the rates of co-administration of antihypertensive and anti-depressant medications was collected. Overall, 23.7% of the sample was on an antidepressant. 20% of the patients taking a RAAS-modifying medication were on an antidepressant, compared to 34% of those not taking a RAAS-modifying medication (Χ(2) = 8.88, P = 0.003). The patients taking a beta-blocker alone had the highest rate of antidepressant usage (40%). The use of RAAS-modifying medications was associated with an even lower rate of anti-depressant usage in males compared with females. It was also observed that the patients taking an additional diuretic had a significantly lower rate of antidepressant use (17.6%, Χ(2) = 5.81, P = 0.016) compared with the patients not taking a diuretic. The patients being treated with an ACE inhibitor or ARB showed significantly lower rates of antidepressant usage. The data is supportive of the hypothesis that these agents may possess anti-depressant effects.

B-BI therapy produced significantly lower average FBG levels after 21 days compared with SSI therapy; both groups had similar rates of hypo- and hyperglycemia. Switching to B-BI therapy is feasible, safe, and effective in the LTC setting.

Insertion of the intubating laryngeal mask and blind tracheal intubation through it in the lateral position is feasible in patients with normal airways. These procedures have a high and comparable success rate when patients are placed in the right and left lateral positions.

Purpose:It is sometimes difficult for our patients to acquire recommended flexion of their back to perform subarachnoid block upon them. The aim of this study was to find out the degree of procedural success and patient preference when subarachnoid blocks were performed on patients with suboptimal flexion of the back.Methods:Subarachnoid blocks were performed on 160 adult patients from both sexes without any spinal deformity. Procedures were performed with patients in the lateral or seated position with the back either straight or flexed. This approach divided the study population into 4 equal groups: Lateral with back straight (LS) or flexed (LF) and seated with back straight (SS) or flexed (SF). The primary endpoint was correct needle placement. Numbers of attempts, needle redirections and patients’ preferred posture were determined to compare the outcome in different groups.Results:For both positions, the overall success rates were 95% and 100% in patients who had straight or flexed back, respectively (P=0.81). In the lateral position, significantly more patients of the LF group (40) than those of the LS group (32) had successful placement of spinal needle at first attempt (P=0.03). Altogether, 34 and 21 patients in the SS and SF groups, respectively, required cephalad redirections of the needle (P=0.003). Most patients preferred the straight back position (69.7–88%).Conclusion:With a higher preference by patients for the straight back posture, the overall success rate of correct spinal needle placement was comparable among the groups who had their back placed in a straight or in a flexed posture for subarachnoid block.