The Dynamics of Cognitive Decline towards Alzheimer's Disease Progression: Results from ADSP-PHC's Harmonized Cognitive Composites.

Introduction: Accurately assessing temporal order of cognitive decline across multiple domains is critical in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Existing literature presented controversial conclusions likely due to the use of a single cohort and different analytical strategies.

Methods: Harmonized composite cognitive measures in memory, language and executive functions from 13 cohorts in the ADSP-PHC data are used.

Sex-specific Associations of Gene Expression with Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology and Ante-mortem Cognitive Performance.

The biological mechanisms underlying women's increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevalence remain undefined. Previous case/control studies have identified sex-biased molecular pathways, but sex-specific relationships between gene expression and AD endophenotypes, particularly sex chromosomes, are underexplored. With bulk transcriptomic data across 3 brain regions from 767 decedents, we investigated sex-specific associations between gene expression and post-mortem β-amyloid and tau as well as antemortem longitudinal cognition.

A 4-year outbreak of MRSA ST72-MRSA-IV type t1597 in a surgical high dependency unit in Ireland linked to repeated healthcare worker recolonisation.

Background: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are identified as high risk for infection, including MRSA. An outbreak of MRSA was identified when two patients experienced MRSA infection concurrently in a cardiothoracic high dependency unit with uncommon detection of MRSA previously and an established screening programme.

Methods: An outbreak control team was convened and interventions applied including refresher training in hand and environmental hygiene, review of practice with regard to aseptic access of medical devices and consideration of antibiotic use in the unit.