Sudden-Onset Acute Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Associated with Streptococcus and Brain MRI Hyperintensity in a Young Adult.

Background: Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal (strep) infections (PANDAS) are a recognized medical entity among children. But evidence for strep-mediated sudden-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in young adults is very limited. Delayed strep assessment and treatment may negatively impact clinical outcomes.

Red cell folate status among a subset of Canadian children with Down Syndrome post-fortification.

Background: Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome (DS) is associated with altered methylation pathways. Children with DS may therefore represent a population subgroup with vulnerability to increased exposures to folic acid, which is involved in one-carbon metabolism. Folic acid (FA) fortification of flour and maternal FA supplementation are intended to reduce neural tube defects related to folate deficiency.

Abnormal fatty acids in Canadian children with autism.

Objective: Fatty acids are critical for pediatric neurodevelopment and are abnormal in autism, although prior studies have demonstrated conflicting results and methodological differences. To our knowledge, there are no published data on fatty acid in Canadian children with autism. The aim of this study was to investigate red blood cell and serum fatty acid status to identify whether abnormalities exist in Canadian children with autism, and to enhance future cross-study comparison.

Chilean version of the INECO Frontal Screening (IFS-Ch): psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy.

Objective: This study sought to analyze the psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy of the Chilean version of the INECO Frontal Screening (IFS-Ch) in a sample of dementia patients and control subjects.

Methods: After adapting the instrument to the Chilean context and obtaining content validity evidence through expert consultation, the IFS-Ch was administered to 31 dementia patients and 30 control subjects together with other executive assessments (Frontal Assessment Battery [FAB], Modified version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [MCST], phonemic verbal fluencies [letters A and P] and semantic verbal fluency [animals]) and global cognitive efficiency tests (Mini mental State Examination [MMSE] and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised [ACE-R]). Caregivers of dementia patients and proxies of control subjects were interviewed with instruments measuring dysexecutive symptoms (Dysexecutive Questionnaire [DEX]), dementia severity (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale [CDR]) and functional status in activities of daily living (Activities of Daily Living Scale [IADL] and Technology-Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire [T-ADLQ]).

Biochemical folate, B12, and iron status of a group of pregnant adolescents accessed through the public health system in southern Ontario.

Purpose: This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of biochemical iron, folate, and vitamin B12 depletion among a group of Canadian pregnant adolescents accessed through the Public Health system. Further, the impact of prenatal supplement use, chronologic age, gynecologic age, living arrangement, main source of income, postpartum custody plan, time of entry into prenatal care, and cigarette smoking on laboratory indices of the three nutrients were determined.

Methods: Fifty-eight adolescents (14.