Lipophilic Antioxidants and Cognitive Function in the Elderly.

Objective: To determine the relationship between blood serum lipophilic antioxidant levels and cognitive function (CF) in older adults aged 60 and above guided by the oxidative stress theory of aging.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( = 291) for older adults aged 60 and above were examined using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression to determine whether blood serum antioxidant status predicted CF while controlling for age, sex, race, hypertension, smoking status, and body mass index.

Results: Alpha-tocopherol, retinyl palmitate, trans-lycopene, and retinyl stearate were all significantly correlated with CF.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Role of Whole Brain Radiation Therapy in Adults With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Brain Tumors.

Target Population: Adult patients (older than 18 yr of age) with newly diagnosed brain metastases.

Question: If whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is used, is there an optimal dose/fractionation schedule?

Recommendations: Level 1:  A standard WBRT dose/fractionation schedule (ie, 30 Gy in 10 fractions or a biological equivalent dose [BED] of 39 Gy10) is recommended as altered dose/fractionation schedules do not result in significant differences in median survival or local control. Level 3: Due to concerns regarding neurocognitive effects, higher dose per fraction schedules (such as 20 Gy in 5 fractions) are recommended only for patients with poor performance status or short predicted survival.

Green chemistry & chemical stewardship certificate program: a novel, interdisciplinary approach to green chemistry and environmental health education.

The Green Chemistry & Chemical Stewardship Certificate Program was designed using the Community of Inquiry (COI) model as a framework for developing curriculum that engages students across the entire program to meet interdisciplinary, professional development program outcomes. The COI framework allows faculty and course developers to develop courses that consider cognitive, social, and teaching presence as equal components of successful learning experiences. In this program, students focus on systems thinking around green chemistry, business, environmental health, chemical alternative assessment tools, and social and environmental justice.

Reductions in brain pericytes are associated with arteriovenous malformation vascular instability.

OBJECTIVEBrain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are rupture-prone tangles of blood vessels with direct shunting of blood flow between arterial and venous circulations. The molecular and/or cellular mechanisms contributing to bAVM pathogenesis and/or destabilization in sporadic lesions have remained elusive. Initial insights into AVM formation have been gained through models of genetic AVM syndromes.

Microsurgical resection of brain arteriovenous malformations in the elderly: outcomes analysis and risk stratification.

As the population ages, the question of how to manage brain arteriovenous malformations in the elderly becomes increasingly relevant. Is resection a reasonable option for these patients? In this study, the authors examined the outcomes of surgical patients 60 years or older and found that favorable outcomes were achieved with careful patient selection. Preoperative grading scales were more predictive of outcomes in patients older than 65 years than in those 60-65 years of age.