Renin-angiotensin-system gene polymorphisms and depression.

Given the abundance of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in the brain, their importance in behavior and cognition, and the data that implicates them in the etiology and treatment of depression, it is possible that those RAS gene polymorphisms associated with increased RAS activity may also be associated with depression. The frequencies of common polymorphisms of genes encoding for components of the RAS, namely angiotensinogen (M235T), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) (insertion, I; deletion, D), angiotensin receptor type I (A1166C), and angiotensin receptor type II (C3123A) were determined in DNA extracted from buccal cells from a Lebanese population of 132 depressed patients and their first-degree relative case-controls. The angiotensin receptor type 1 (A1166C) CC genotype was significantly associated with depression (p=0.

Inappropriate medication use in elderly lebanese outpatients: prevalence and risk factors.

Background: Inappropriate use of medications has become an international cause for concern in geriatric patients, who are at high risk of drug-related morbidity. This study is the first attempt to determine the prevalence of inappropriate drug use in elderly Lebanese outpatients, using community pharmacy data, and to identify factors that predict potentially inappropriate drug intake in this population.

Methods: Records of elderly patients aged > or =65 years were selected from different community pharmacies.

Preoperative anti-PF4/heparin antibody level predicts adverse outcome after cardiac surgery.

Objective: Preexisting serum antibodies to heparin/platelet factor 4 complexes may predispose adult cardiac surgical patients to increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine the association between preoperative serum antibodies directed against platelet factor 4/heparin complexes and major complications (in-hospital death or length of stay >10 days) in adult cardiac surgical patients.

Methods: In a prospective observational study of 466 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting, valvular heart surgery, or both, preoperative serum was assayed for anti-platelet factor 4/heparin antibody by using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Asserachrom HPIA).

A method to attenuate pneumoperitoneum-induced reductions in splanchnic blood flow.

Objective: To determine if increasing nitric oxide bioactivity by inclusion of ethyl nitrite (ENO) in the insufflation admixture would attenuate pneumoperitoneum-induced decreases in splanchnic perfusion.

Summary Background Data: Organ blood flow is reduced during pneumoperitoneum and can contribute to laparoscopy-associated morbidity and mortality. Previous attempts to control such decreases in flow have been ineffective.

Predictors of inotrope use during separation from cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: To identify the demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic features that predict the use of inotropic support at separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Design: Retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Setting: Referral center for cardiothoracic surgery at a university hospital.