Definition and quantification of six immune- and neuroregulatory serum proteins in healthy and demented elderly.

Blood-based biomarkers related to immune- and neuroregulatory processes may be indicative of dementia but lack standardization and proof-of-principle studies. The blood serum collection protocol as well as the analytic procedure to quantify the markers BDNF, IGF-1, VEGF, TGF-β 1, MCP-1 and IL-18 in blood serum were standardized and their concentrations were compared between groups of 81 Alzheimer's disease patients and 79 healthy controls. Applying standardized methods, results for the quantification of the six markers in blood serum are stable and their concentrations significantly differ for all analytes except VEGF between patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls.

Superficial Peroneal Nerve to Deep Peroneal Nerve Transfer With Allograft Conduit for Neuroma in Continuity.

The anterior approach to the ankle for surgery can result in injury to the superficial peroneal nerve, resulting in a painful neuroma and significant patient morbidity. A paucity of data is available evaluating the role of the superficial peroneal nerve to deep peroneal nerve transfer as a method of treatment of neuromas in continuity after ankle arthrodesis. We describe 11 patients who underwent nerve transfer with nerve allograft and conduit repair to treat recalcitrant painful neuromas after ankle arthrodesis.

[The "Psychiatrie-Enquete" - the German Report on the State of Psychiatry in 1975].

Forty years ago an expert-commission submitted a report on the deplorable state of German psychiatric care, called the "Psychiatrie-Enquete" to the Bundestag, the German parliament. The Report initiated a substantial change of Psychiatric services in the country. Inhuman treatment and living conditions were superseded.