Optical coherence tomography evaluation of idiopathic macular hole treatment by gas-assisted posterior vitreous detachment.

Purpose: To report a case of idiopathic macular hole, with vitreoretinal traction confirmed by optical coherence tomography that was successfully treated by a single intravitreous perfluoropropane (C(3)F(8)) gas bubble injection.

Methods: Case report. A 65-year-old patient with idiopathic macular hole (stage 2, one eye) received an intravitreous gas injection and was prospectively followed with optical coherence tomography.

Adding subjects or adding measurements: Which increases the precision of longitudinal research?

When designing repeated measurement studies, researchers must strike a balance between increasing the number of subjects and increasing the number of measurement times for each subject. The question often becomes "Do I gain more statistical precision by adding subjects or by adding additional follow-up measurements?" This study presents a method for evaluating the relative benefit of adding subjects versus adding measurement times. We used the standard error of estimate (SE) for mean change as the criterion of precision.

The isoform-specific stretch of hSos1 defines a new Grb2-binding domain.

hSos1 isoform II, defined by the presence of a 15 amino acid stretch in its carboxy-terminal region, exhibits higher Grb2 affinity than hSos1 isoform I. In this study, we investigated the cause for this difference and observed that, in addition to the four currently accepted Grb2-binding motifs, a number of additional, putative SH3-minimal binding sites (SH3-MBS) could be identified. The isoform II-specific 15 amino acid stretch contained one of them.

Estimation of premorbid intelligence: the word accentuation test-- Buenos Aires version.

We have sought to adapt and validate a NART-like Spanish test, the Word Accentuation Test (WAT: Del Ser, Montalvo, Espinosa, Villapalos, & Bermejo, 1997) to estimate acquired intelligence in local normal older adults. The test requires examinees to read aloud infrequent, irregularly stressed Spanish words, a situation that presumably requires lexical knowledge. Results in a sample of 74 participants show that the revised WAT (i.

Comparison of clinical and pathological phenotypes in two ethnically and geographically unrelated pedigrees segregating an equivalent presenilin 1 mutation.

At least 30 different missense mutations have been identified within the presenilin 1 (PS1) gene in pedigrees transmitting familial Alzheimer's disease. The authors investigated the clinical and pathological features of affected members of two pedigrees segregating a PS1 Met146Leu mutation. Genetic relationships between these pedigrees can be effectively excluded on the basis of genealogical data and the fact that although the amino acid substitution is identical, the nucleotide mutations are different.

Pathophysiology of secondary depressions in the elderly.

Although the pathophysiology of depression is not fully understood in either primary depression (i.e., no known neuropathology related to depression) or secondary depression (i.

Effect of freeze-dried bone and a dextran agglutinant on the healing of defects in the rat mandible.

The effects of inorganic, freeze-dried bone, alone or mixed with a dextran agglutinant, on the repair of experimentally created critical-size bone defects were evaluated in the rat mandible. Histological data demonstrated a progressive resorption of the freeze-dried bone particles, without osseous proliferation into the defect, and a posterior foreign-body reaction. These results indicate that the freeze-dried bone did not induce bony healing in the critical-size defect and that the addition of dextran agglutinant did not change the tissue response.

Verbal memory impairment after left insular cortex infarction.

PET studies have shown an association between changes in blood flow in the insular cortex and verbal memory. This study compared verbal memory profiles between a group of four right handed patients with right insular infarction and a group of six right handed patients with left insular infarction. Patient groups were comparable in age, education, and sex.

Sequence analysis of the polymerase domain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in naive and zidovudine-treated individuals reveals a higher polymorphism in alpha-helices as compared with beta-strands.

We report a statistical analysis of genetic heterogeneity of the reverse transcriptase (RT)-coding region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Both newly determined sequences and sequences contained in the data banks have been examined. For the calculations, the viral samples and the regions within the RT molecule were divided in two groups.

Cluster headaches: association with anxiety disorders and memory deficits.

Objective: To estimate the frequency of mood and anxiety disorders and to assess memory and executive functions among a representative group of patients with episodic cluster headache (ECH) during the course of an acute episode.

Methods: We compared 21 patients with ECH with 21 patients with tension headache (TH) matched for age, sex, and educational level. Psychiatric diagnosis was made by a semi-structured interview and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed.

Antiphosphatidylserine antibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases and HIV-infected patients: effects of Tween 20 and relationship with antibodies to beta2-glycoprotein I.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) react with negatively charged phospholipids, which may often be complexed with a protein cofactor such as beta2 glycoprotein (beta2GPI) and prothrombin. Cofactor requirements may be assessed by measuring antibodies to beta2GPI or by adding Tween 20 to some reagents in the assays for aPL (anticardiolipin and antiphosphatidyIserine). We have measured anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), antiphosphatidylserine antibodies (aPS), and anti beta2 glycoprotein antibodies (abeta2GPI) in the serum of 10 normal subjects, 20 patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD) diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and 12 patients with HIV infection.

Evidence for an Alzheimer disease susceptibility locus on chromosome 12 and for further locus heterogeneity.

Context: Alzheimer disease (AD) susceptibility genes have been identified on chromosomes 1, 14, 19, and 21, and a recent study has suggested a locus on chromosome 12.

Objective: To confirm or refute the existence of a familial AD susceptibility locus on chromosome 12 in an independent sample of familial AD cases.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Segregated distribution of TH-immunoreactivity in olfactory glomeruli.

Atypical and typical olfactory glomeruli differ in their primary afferents, centrifugal control and in some chemically identified subpopulations of interneurones. The distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive neurones in the periglomerular region of both typical and atypical glomeruli has been studied using a double histochemical-immunohistochemical method. A segregated distribution of TH-immunopositive cells was found among both types of glomeruli.

Clinical and pharmacological differences in early- versus late-onset Parkinson's disease.

We evaluated whether patients with early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) have a different clinical profile and pharmacological response than those with late-onset disease (LOPD). We performed a retrospective analysis and an acute pharmacological challenge with L-Dopa in 34 EOPD (age at onset between 21 and 40 years) and 34 LOPD (onset after age 60) patients. All patients completed a structured questionnaire cross-checked against medical record charts and underwent an acute levodopa test.

Knowledge of and attitudes about blood-borne viruses and infection control in Brazilian dental practice.

Objective: To determine whether there were any recent changes in hepatitis B immunisation of dental staff, infection control or understanding of viral infections in Brazilian dentists.

Design: A randomised survey was conducted on 740 dentists attending the National Dental Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1994.

Subjects And Methods: The 740 dentists were questioned as to the presence of various viruses in saliva, the perceived risks of dental staff and long-term sequelae, the availability and uptake of vaccines, willingness to treat virus-infected persons, and means of infection control.

Influence of major depression on 1-year outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury.

The authors examine those factors that contributed to deterioration in social functioning, activities of daily living, or intellectual functioning during a 1-year period after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Fifty-two patients suffering an acute TBI were evaluated for existence and severity of mood disorders and impairment during their hospital stays and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up examinations. Patients whose scores on intellectual function, social function, or daily activities deteriorated during the 1-year period after trauma were considered to have a poor outcome.

Secondary mania following traumatic brain injury.

Objective: In this study patients were examined during the first year after traumatic brain injury to determine the presence of secondary mania.

Method: A consecutive series of 66 patients with closed-head injury were evaluated in the hospital and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. The patients were examined with a semistructured psychiatric interview and scales for measurement of impairment in activities of daily living, intellectual function, and social functioning.

Depression following traumatic brain injury: a 1 year longitudinal study.

A group of 66 patients hospitalized for the treatment of closed head injury, were assessed for the presence of mood disorders during their hospital admission and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up. A total 28 patients met DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for major depression at some time during the study (17 in the acute stage, 11 during follow-up). The mean duration of major depression was 4.

Are there symptoms that are specific for depressed mood in patients with traumatic brain injury?

This study examined the specificity of vegetative and psychological symptoms of depression among 66 patients with acute traumatic brain injury followed over 1 year. The median frequencies of vegetative and psychological symptoms among patients with depressed mood were 3 and 3. These frequencies were three times the respective rates among nondepressed patients.

Comparison between acute- and delayed-onset depression following traumatic brain injury.

Sixty-six patients admitted for the treatment of acute closed head injury were assessed for the presence of mood disorders during the in-hospital period and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Diagnosis was made using a structured psychiatric interview and DSM-III criteria. A total of 28 patients had major depression at some time during the study: 17 had acute-onset depression and 11 had delayed-onset depression.

Depression and anxiety following traumatic brain injury.

The frequency, course, and clinical correlates of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and its relationship to major depression were examined in 66 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Of 66 TBI patients, 7 (11%) had both GAD and major depression; 10 (15%) had major depression without GAD. Median duration was 1.

Depression in patients with acute traumatic brain injury.

Objective: This study was undertaken to examine patients with closed head injuries for the presence of depressive disorders.

Method: A consecutive series of 66 patients with closed head injuries but no significant spinal cord or other organ system injury were examined by means of a semistructured psychiatric interview. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression as well as scales measuring impairment in activities of daily living, intellectual functioning, and social functioning were administered.

Isolation and characterization of the Mg2(+)-ATPase from rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane preparations.

Preparations of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, obtained according to the method of Eletr and Inesi (Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1972) 282, 174), contained both Mg2(+)-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg2(+)-ATPase activity.