Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale in a Cohort of Four ADNP Syndrome Patients Implicates Age-Dependent Developmental Delays with Increased Impact of Activities of Daily Living.

Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) is one of the lead genes in autism spectrum disorder/intellectual disability. Heterozygous, de novo ADNP mutations cause the ADNP syndrome. Here, to evaluate natural history of the syndrome, mothers of two ADNP syndrome boys aged 6 and a half and two adults aged 27 years (man and woman) were subjected to Vineland III questionnaire assessing adaptive behavior.

GammaTile® brachytherapy in the treatment of recurrent glioblastomas.

Background: GammaTile® (GT) is a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared brachytherapy platform.

Electrocardiographic manifestations of COVID-19: Effect on cardiac activation and repolarization.

Background: Prolonged QT intervals are reported in patients with COVID-19. Additionally, virus particles in heart tissue and abnormal troponin levels have been reported. Consequently, we hypothesize that cardiac electrophysiologic abnormalities may be associated with COVID-19.

Reduced cardiac function is associated with cardiac injury and mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Cardiac injury is common in COVID-19 patients and is associated with increased mortality. However, it remains unclear if reduced cardiac function is associated with cardiac injury, and additionally if mortality risk is increased among those with reduced cardiac function in COVID-19 patients.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to assess cardiac function among COVID-19 patients with and without biomarkers of cardiac injury and to determine the mortality risk associated with reduced cardiac function.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Community Hospital.

This cross-sectional study assesses the rate of COVID-19 infection among health care workers in a large community hospital.

Mitochondrial function parameters as a tool for tailored drug treatment of an individual with psychosis: a proof of concept study.

Pharmacological treatment of mental disorders is currently decided based on "trial and error" strategy. Mitochondrial multifaceted dysfunction is assumed to be a major factor in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). This study aimed to explore the feasibility of using a profile of mitochondrial function parameters as a tool to predict the optimal drug for an individual patient (personalized medicine).

Rationale and design for AMPLATZER Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occluder IDE randomized controlled trial (Amulet IDE Trial).

The Amulet IDE Trial is an ongoing, prospective, randomized, multi-national trial, designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the AMPLATZER Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occluder for stroke prevention in comparison to the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients at high risk of stroke (CHADS score ≥2 or a CHADS-VASc score of ≥3) who are suitable candidates for left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) will be fully informed and requested to participate in the trial. A total of 1878 patients at up to 150 sites worldwide will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio between the AMPLATZER Amulet device (investigational) and the Boston Scientific WATCHMAN device (control).

Immediate Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Obsession-Induced Anxiety in Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Studies have shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has immediate effects on brain activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of tDCS to regulate obsession-induced anxiety immediately after symptom provocation in patients with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods: Twelve patients with refractory OCD received cathode, anode, and sham transcranial direct current stimulation over the medial prefrontal cortex conjugant to pharmacological treatment in a crossover design.

Dissecting disease entities out of the broad spectrum of bipolar-disorders.

The etiopathology of bipolar disorders is yet unraveled and new avenues should be pursued. One such avenue may be based on the assumption that the bipolar broad spectrum includes, among others, an array of rare medical disease entities. Towards this aim we propose a dissecting approach based on a search for rare medical diseases with known etiopathology which also exhibit bipolar disorders symptomatology.

CTA Detection of Left Atrial Stasis and Thrombus in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: We investigated computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) in assessment of left atrial appendage (LAA) stasis and thrombus in preprocedural evaluation for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in a large community cohort.

Methods And Results: We reviewed CTA and transesophageal echocardiographic images obtained in 861 consecutive patients with a history of AF undergoing same-day CTA and transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) before AF ablation at a single hospital (2006-2013). CTA findings of LAA filling defects from acquisitions without electrocardiogram gating were compared to TEE features of LAA stasis (grade 0-4) and thrombus.

Rapid Identification and Characterization of Formulated Protein Products by Raman Spectroscopy Coupled with Discriminant Analysis.

Unlabelled: The rapid identification of protein drug products for packaging and receiving can significantly reduce disposition cycle time, and thereby improve the efficiency and productivity of the supply chain to better meet the needs of patients. In this feasibility study, we demonstrate a novel methodology that combines Raman spectroscopy with discriminant analysis that can be used for rapid identification or verification of finished products. With this methodology, Raman spectra of formulated therapeutic proteins were collected non-invasively with the samples either in a quartz cuvette or in the original glass vials, and analyzed without subtraction of buffer or placebo solutions.

A pilot open study of long term high dose creatine augmentation in patients with treatment resistant negative symptoms schizophrenia.

Background: The effects of creatine on brain metabolism and the potential cognitive enhancing properties of this compound raise the possibility of developing a new augmentation therapeutic strategy in schizophrenia especially in patients demonstrating negative and cognitive symptomatology.

Methods: Seven inpatients with chronic schizophrenia presenting with treatment resistant negative symptoms were enrolled into exploratory treatment study with creatine monohydrate augmentation at a daily high-dose of 10 grams, administered for 6 months. Several clinical rating scales and a computerized cognitive assessment battery were applied.

[Between neurology and psychiatry].

In this review we will discuss the broad spectrum of possible relationships between the fields of neurology and psychiatry alongside weighing the pros and cons of each alternative relationship. This is in the hope that such discussions will allow an informed decision regarding the construction of future relations between these two areas. The possible connections between the areas are discussed in light of possible relationships that exist between the two groups in the mathematical world with reference to the proposed solutions to the psychophysical mind-body problem.

Elevated homocysteine level in siblings of patients with schizophrenia.

Increased homocysteine plasma levels were reported in patients with schizophrenia and Levine et al. (2002) suggested that such increase characterizes mainly males. In the following study we examined whether such increased levels also characterize male siblings of schizophrenia patients.

A pilot dose-finding clinical trial of creatine monohydrate augmentation to SSRIs/SNRIs/NASA antidepressant treatment in major depression.

Creatine's effects on brain energy metabolism raise the possibility of developing a new therapeutic strategy in depression focusing on the treatment of metabolic hypoactive brain areas. Previous creatine augmentation studies in patients with major depression showed a beneficial effect. Eighteen patients (14 women) with major depression not responding to previous 3 weeks of antidepressant treatment were enrolled into a pilot, dose finding, 4-week double-blind parallel augmentation study where creatine monohydrate 5 or 10 g daily or placebo was added to ongoing SSRIs/SNRIs/NASA treatment.

Polycationic calixarene PTX013, a potent cytotoxic agent against tumors and drug resistant cancer.

Previously, we reported on the anti-tumor activities of two designed calix[4]arene-based topomimetics (PTX008 and PTX009) of the amphipathic, angiostatic peptide Anginex. Here, we chemically modified the hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces of PTX008 and PTX009, and discovered new calixarene compounds that are more potent, cytotoxic anti-tumor agents. One of them, PTX013, is particularly effective at inhibiting the growth of several human cancer cell lines, as well as drug resistant cancer cells.

The quantitative electroencephalogram and the low-resolution electrical tomographic analysis in posttraumatic stress disorder.

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is the recording of the brain electrical activity as measured on the scalp. Using mathematical algorithms, the 3-dimensional (3D) distribution of the electrical potential inside the brain can be calculated. One of the methods to calculate it is the low-resolution electrical tomographic analysis (LORETA).

Beneficial effects of caloric vestibular stimulation on denial of illness and manic delusions in schizoaffective disorder: a case report.

Introduction: Preliminary data suggests that caloric vestibular nerve stimulation (CVS) single session application of cold water to the left ear induces a clinically significant, short-lived beneficial effect on specific types of illness denial (i.e., anosognosia) and delusions (i.

Hyperhomocysteinemia does not affect global DNA methylation and nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression in mice.

DNA methylation is coupled with one-carbon metabolism involving homocysteine/methionine interconversion. Correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and leukocyte global DNA methylation was reported but not always replicated. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a determinant of plasma homocysteine levels.