Cognitive correlates of cerebral vasoreactivity on transcranial Doppler in older adults.

Background: This study was performed to explore the possible contributions of cerebral hemodynamic changes to the cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: A total of 194 participants were included: 52 controls, 75 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 67 patients with AD. Demographic characteristics, vascular risks, mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and clinical dementia rating (CDR) were assessed, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed to evaluate white matter hyperintensities (WMHs).

The expression of BAFF in the muscles of patients with dermatomyositis.

A B-cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family (BAFF) plays a crucial role in B-cell survival and maturation. An elevated serum BAFF level has been linked to several autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Dermatomyositis (DM), one of autoimmune inflammatory myopathies, is characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration (CD4(+) T cells and B cells) in skeletal muscle.

Case-control association study of 14 variants of CREB1, CREBBP and CREM on diagnosis and treatment outcome in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Some evidence suggests an association between genetic variants within the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB), CREB binding protein (CREBBP) and cAMP response element-modulator (CREM) and several psychiatric disorders. The present study investigated whether some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within these genes could be associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) and whether they could predict clinical outcomes in Korean in-patients treated with antidepressants and mood stabilizers, respectively. The sample comprised 145 patients with MDD, 132 patients with BD and 170 psychiatrically healthy controls.

Association of chronic divalproex sodium use and brain atrophy in Alzheimer's disease.

Divalproex sodium has been widely use for the treatment of bipolar disorder, behavioral control in schizophrenia, seizure and agitation in Alzheimer's disease. With the advent of other mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants, the use of divaplroex sodium has been slightly decreased; however, it has been a major mediation for the treatment of such medical conditions. Beyond symptomatic effects on such neuropsychiatric conditions, it has also been proposed to hold some neurotoxicity effects, including reversible brain atrophy (which may be a serious complication associated with substantial cognitive decline), although it has shown neuroprotective effects.

Possible influence of CREB1, CREBBP and CREM variants on diagnosis and treatment outcome in patients with schizophrenia.

The present study explores whether some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within CREB1 (rs2709377 and rs6740584), CREBBP (rs2239317, rs2239316, rs3025702, rs130021, rs130005, rs129974 and rs9392) and CREM (rs1148247, rs4934735, rs12775799, rs6481941 and rs16935888) could be associated with schizophrenia (SKZ) and whether they could predict clinical outcomes in Korean in-patients treated with antipsychotics. Two-hundred twenty one in-patients suffering from SKZ and 170 psychiatrically healthy controls were genotyped for 10 SNPs within CREB1, CREBBP and CREM. All patients were assessed for the severity of illness at baseline and at discharge by means of the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS).

Association between pulse wave velocity and nerve conduction study in diabetic patients.

Background/aims: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a marker of vascular stiffness and is reported to be associated with diabetic neuropathy; however, the relationship between baPWV and nerve conduction study (NCS) has yet to be examined.

Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2008, we investigated this relationship in diabetic patients. To this end, we reviewed the medical records of 100 diabetic patients for whom both baPWV and NCS had been examined.

Clinical heterogeneity in Korean patients with nemaline myopathy.

Purpose: Nemaline myopathy (NM) is a clinical heterogeneous congenital myopathy characterized by the presence of subsarcolemmal or cytoplasmic rod-like structures that call nemaline bodies in the muscle fibers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical diversity and pathological features of Korean patients with NM.

Materials And Methods: Eight patients underwent analyses of clinical manifestations by a structured protocol.

Association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and acute ischemic stroke in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Background: Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been reported as a predictor for ischemic stroke in general population. However, predictive value of plasma NT-proBNP for acute ischemic stroke in patients on chronic hemodialysis has not been well established. The aim of this study was to determine whether NT-proBNP could predict acute ischemic stroke in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as piriformis syndrome.

Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a rare condition characterized by pain and paresthesia of the buttock, often radiating to the posterior thigh. A patient with sciatica that was clinically suspicious for PS, underwent diagnostic work-up. A diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with neurolymphomatosis (NL) was made.