Endoscopic release of the carpal tunnel: a 2-portal-modified technique.

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release has been popularized since 1989 when Okutsu described it for the first time. Several surgeons have followed his principles and described their own techniques. These were developed in an attempt to decrease the well-known complications related to the open technique.

Association study of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene polymorphisms in bipolar disorder patients with panic disorder comorbidity.

Frequent comorbidity between panic disorder (PD) and mood disorders has been widely reported in clinical and epidemiological studies and, recently, an increasing attention has been paid to the cooccurrence of PD and bipolar disorder (BD). Several studies have shown that an imbalance of serotonin activity could be related to panic symptoms. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) are plausible candidates for the association with PD.

The importance of oxygen free radicals in the etiopathogenesis of diversion colitis in rats.

Purpose: Quantify the levels of oxidative DNA damage of epithelial colon cells comparing segments with and without fecal stream.

Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were subjected to deviation of fecal stream by proximal colostomy and a distal mucosal fistula. Animals were divided into three experimental groups that were sacrificed 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery.

Downregulation of the cAMP/PKA pathway in PC12 cells overexpressing NCS-1.

It is well known that dopamine imbalances are associated with many psychiatric disorders and that the dopaminergic receptor D₂ is the main target of antipsychotics. Recently it was shown that levels of two proteins implicated in dopaminergic signaling, Neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) and DARPP-32, are altered in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of both schizophrenic and bipolar disorder patients. NCS-1, which inhibits D₂ internalization, is upregulated in the PFC of both patients.

Adequacy and quality of abdominal echographies requested by primary care professionals.

Background: The value of abdominal echography in primary care is great because it is innocuous, inexpensive, easy to perform and provides a great deal of information making this the first examination to be requested in cases of probable abdominal disease. However, too many abdominal echographies are probably requested overcrowding the Departments of Radiodiagnosis with not always justified petitions or with repetition of tests based on little clinical criteria.

Methods/design: The aim of the study is to evaluate the adequacy and quality of abdominal echographies requested by primary care physicians in the Maresme County (North of Barcelona), develop guidelines for indicating echographies and reevaluate this adequacy after implementing these guidelines.

Density fluctuations and phase transitions of ferroelectric polymer nanowires.

Phase transitions of polymeric materials are accompanied by changes in density as a function of temperature. Being able to measure these changes in polymeric systems in one, two or three dimensions on the nanoscopic length-scale is a challenge, but it would provide a simple route to assess phase transitions in nanoscopically confined systems. It is shown that the measurement of the dielectric permittivity in the high frequency limit (in spectral regions not affected by dielectric dispersions) offers an effective and very sensitive means to assess density fluctuations, and hence phase transitions, in nanoscopic systems.

Adolescents' perceptions of parental practices: a cross-national comparison of Canada, France, and Italy.

This study compares two dimensions of parenting-emotional bonding and control-as perceived by adolescents living in three countries: Canada (province of Québec), France, and Italy. A cross-sectional sample was composed of 1256 adolescents who filled out a self-report questionnaire. Multiple Correspondence Analyses provided a graphic synthesis of cross-cultural results.

Lack of effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics in DARPP-32 and NCS-1 levels in PC12 cells overexpressing NCS-1.

Background: Schizophrenia is the major psychiatry disorder, which the exact cause remains unknown. However, it is well known that dopamine-mediated neurotransmission imbalance is associated with this pathology and the main target of antipsychotics is the dopamine receptor D2. Recently, it was described alteration in levels of two dopamine signaling related proteins in schizophrenic prefrontal cortex (PFC): Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 (NCS-1) and DARPP-32.

Expedited partner therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis at the community pharmacy.

Objective: Expedited partner treatment (EPT) for uncomplicated Chlamydia trachomatis at the pharmacy is an alternative approach to partner notification that has not yet been evaluated within the UK. The aim of this study was to evaluate EPT for partners using pharmacies in Lothian.

Design: A pilot study over 18 months.

The role of genetic variation of BDNF gene in antidepressant-induced mania in bipolar disorder.

The occurrence of mania during antidepressant treatment is a key issue in the clinical management of bipolar disorder (BD). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. Moreover, antidepressants increase the expression of BDNF and its overactivity may be involved in the mechanism of development of the manic state.

Differentiating the cognitive profile of schizophrenia from that of Alzheimer disease and depression in late life.

Background: To compare the cognitive profile of older patients with schizophrenia to those with other neuropsychiatric disorders assessed in a hospital-based memory clinic.

Methods: Demographic, clinical, and cognitive data of all patients referred to the memory clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health between April 1, 2006 and August 15, 2008 were reviewed. We then identified four groups of older patients with: (1) late-life schizophrenia (LLS) and no dementia or depression (DEP); (2) Alzheimer's disease (AD); (3) DEP and no dementia or LLS; (4) normal cognition (NC) and no DEP or LLS.

Age-related decline in white matter tract integrity and cognitive performance: a DTI tractography and structural equation modeling study.

Age-related decline in microstructural integrity of certain white matter tracts may explain cognitive decline associated with normal aging. Whole brain tractography and a clustering segmentation in 48 healthy individuals across the adult lifespan were used to examine: interhemispheric (corpus callosum), intrahemispheric association (cingulum, uncinate, arcuate, inferior longitudinal, inferior occipitofrontal), and projection (corticospinal) fibers. Principal components analysis reduced cognitive tests into 6 meaningful factors: (1) memory and executive function; (2) visuomotor dexterity; (3) motor speed; (4) attention and working memory; (5) set-shifting/flexibility; and (6) visuospatial construction.

Antibody and cytokine responses to house dust mite allergens and Toxoplasma gondii antigens in atopic and non-atopic Brazilian subjects.

According to hygiene hypothesis, a lower exposure to infection is associated with increased prevalence of allergic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between atopy and Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) infection by analyzing the antibody and cytokine responses to house dust mite allergens and T. gondii antigens in Brazilian subjects.

Diffusion tensor tractography findings in schizophrenia across the adult lifespan.

In healthy adult individuals, late life is a dynamic time of change with respect to the microstructural integrity of white matter tracts. Yet, elderly individuals are generally excluded from diffusion tensor imaging studies in schizophrenia. Therefore, we examined microstructural integrity of frontotemporal and interhemispheric white matter tracts in schizophrenia across the adult lifespan.

The effects of oxidative DNA damage and mutations in the p53 protein on cells of the colonic mucosa with and without the fecal stream: an experimental study in rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of oxidative DNA damage and p53 mutations in an experimental model of diversion colitis.

Material And Methods: Sixty rats were divided into three groups with 20 animals in accordance with the sacrifice was carried out 6, 12 and 18 weeks. For each group, 15 animals were subjected to diversion of the fecal stream through colostomy in the left proximal colon and distal mucous fistula (experimental group), and five to a laparotomy without deviation of the fecal stream (control group).

An association study between the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene and postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression disorder (PPD) is a severe illness affecting around 15% of deliveries. Several evidences suggest that PPD is, at least, partially genetic determined. The gene encoding BDNF is a strong candidate for pathogenesis of PPD since that it has been observed decrease of serum BDNF in patients suffering from PPD.

Automatic determination of anatomical coordinate systems for three-dimensional bone models of the isolated human knee.

The combination of three-dimensional (3-D) models with dual fluoroscopy is increasingly popular for evaluating joint function in vivo. Applying these modalities to study knee motion with high accuracy requires reliable anatomical coordinate systems (ACSs) for the femur and tibia. Therefore, a robust method for creating ACSs from 3-D models of the femur and tibia is required.

Inflammatory alterations in excluded colon in rats: a comparison with chemically induced colitis.

Diversion colitis occurs commonly in the large bowel remnant after diversion of the fecal stream. Several experimental models of colitis have been described, but none examine the inflammatory alterations that can occur in experimentally defunctioned colons. This characterization could be useful in understanding pathophysiological aspects of diversion colitis, and in developing future therapeutic strategies.

Intra-operative assessment of human pulmonary alveoli in vivo using Sidestream Dark Field imaging: a feasibility study.

Background: In vivo videomicroscopy has been used for years to visualize subpleural alveoli in animal studies. This has led to a better understanding of alveolar physiology. We tested the hypothesis whether a novel handheld videomicroscope could be used for intraoperative detection of alveoli in surgical patients during mechanical ventilation.

Association of Merkel cell polyomavirus-specific antibodies with Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) has been detected in approximately 75% of patients with the rare skin cancer Merkel cell carcinoma. We investigated the prevalence of antibodies against MCPyV in the general population and the association between these antibodies and Merkel cell carcinoma.

Methods: Multiplex antibody-binding assays were used to assess levels of antibodies against polyomaviruses in plasma.

Prevalence and factors associated with the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in an adult population in Spain.

Background/aims: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown in Spain. The purpose of detecting NAFLD patients is to determine the associated factors and prevent its evolution to more severe forms. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with NAFLD.

Molecular pathophysiology of renal tubular acidosis.

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is characterized by metabolic acidosis due to renal impaired acid excretion. Hyperchloremic acidosis with normal anion gap and normal or minimally affected glomerular filtration rate defines this disorder. RTA can also present with hypokalemia, medullary nephrocalcinosis and nephrolitiasis, as well as growth retardation and rickets in children, or short stature and osteomalacia in adults.