The Resilience Index: A Quantifiable Measure of Brain Health and Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.

Background: There is increasing interest in lifestyle modification and integrative medicine approaches to treat and/or prevent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).

Objective: To address the need for a quantifiable measure of brain health, we created the Resilience Index (RI).

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 241 participants undergoing a comprehensive evaluation including the Clinical Dementia Rating and neuropsychological testing.

Characterization of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and mild cognitive impairment using the Lewy body dementia module (LBD-MOD).

Introduction: The National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Research Center program added the Lewy body dementia module (LBD-MOD) to the Uniform Data Set to facilitate LBD characterization and distinguish dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested the performance of the LBD-MOD.

Methods: The LBD-MOD was completed in a single-site study in 342 participants: 53 controls, 78 AD, and 110 DLB; 79 mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI-AD); and 22 MCI-DLB.

The Number Symbol Coding Task: A brief measure of executive function to detect dementia and cognitive impairment.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect over 5.7 million Americans and over 35 million people worldwide. Detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early ADRD is a challenge to clinicians and researchers.

Effect and safety of high-dose dienogest (20 mg/day) in the treatment of women with endometriosis.

Purpose: Hormonal treatment of endometriosis is often continued for long periods and has the potential to affect many essential metabolic processes. The current study aimed to determine the effects and safety of high-dose dienogest as a medical endometriosis therapy.

Methods: The effects and safety of high-dose dienogest, 20-30 mg/day for 24 weeks, were examined in 21 women aged 18-52 years with laparoscopically and histologically proven endometriosis stage I-IV (according to revised American Society of Reproductive Medicine criteria).

Dienogest and the breast.

In a clinical pilot study, 21 women with endometriosis have been primarely treated with dienogest 2 x 10 mg daily p.o. for 24 weeks.

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum in adult patients.

Since 1996, the technique for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) has gained increasing acceptance among pediatric patients. However, the feasibility of the operation and outcomes have not yet been evaluated in adult patients. This study was a retrospective analysis of the author's experience combined with a survey of members of the American Pediatric Surgical Association in treating adult patients with MIRPE.

Sensitivity as outcome measure of androgen replacement: the AMS scale.

Background: The capacity of the AMS scale as clinical utility and as outcome measure still needs validation.

Methods: An open post-marketing study was performed by office-based physicians in Germany in 2004. We analysed data of 1670 androgen-deficient males who were treated with testosterone gel.

The Aging Males' Symptoms scale (AMS) as outcome measure for treatment of androgen deficiency.

Introduction: No clinical study data in which the AMS scale was applied as outcome measure has been reported until today.

Method: An open post-marketing study was performed by office-based urologists in Germany in 2000/01. We analysed data of 1174 androgen-deficient males who were treated with testosterone enanthate.

The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale: review of its methodological characteristics.

Background: The current paper reviews data from different sources to get a closer impression on the psychometric and other methodological characteristics of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale gathered recently. The scale was designed and standardized as self-administered scale to (a) to assess symptoms of aging (independent from those which are disease-related) between groups of males under different conditions, (b) to evaluate the severity of symptoms over time, and (c) to measure changes pre- and post androgen replacement therapy. The scale is in widespread use (14 languages).

Identification and characterization of mechanistically distinct inducers of gamma-globin transcription.

Inhibition of HbS polymerization is a major target for therapeutic approaches in sickle cell anemia. Toward this goal, initial efforts at pharmacological elevation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) has shown therapeutic efficacy. In order to identify well-tolerated, novel agents that induce HbF in patients, we developed a high-throughput screening approach based on induction of gamma-globin gene expression in erythroid cells.