Can ambulatory blood pressure biomarkers predict future falls amongst older people?

Background: While ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) biomarkers can predict cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes, little work to date has examined their link with falls. The objective of this study was to examine associations between ABPM biomarkers and further falls in a cohort of older people with recent falls.

Methods: A consecutive series (n = 118) of patients≥70 years undergoing falls assessment including 24-hour ABPM were recruited and followed to their next clinical appointment, where incident falls were recorded (minimum follow-up 1 month).

Amygdala volume reductions in pediatric patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder treated with paroxetine: preliminary findings.

The amygdala is believed to be highly relevant to the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) given its prominent role in fear conditioning and because it is an important target of the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), the pharmacotherapy of choice for OCD. In the present study, we measured in vivo volumetric changes in the amygdala in pediatric patients with OCD following 16 weeks of monotherapy with the selective SRI, paroxetine hydrochloride. Amygdala volumes were computed from contiguous 1.

Increased amygdala: hippocampal volume ratios associated with severity of anxiety in pediatric major depression.

Background: Neurobiologic abnormalities in the temporal lobe, particularly medial temporolimbic circuits, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Although MDD commonly emerges during childhood and adolescence, to our knowledge, no prior study has examined temporal lobe anatomy in pediatric patients with MDD near the onset of illness before treatment.

Methods: Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scans were conducted in 23 psychotropic drug-naïve pediatric patients with MDD, aged 8-17 years, and 23 case-matched healthy comparison subjects.

Prefrontal cortical volume in childhood-onset major depression: preliminary findings.

Background: Abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex have been implicated in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). To our knowledge, no prior study has examined prefrontal cortical anatomy in pediatric patients with MDD near the onset of illness before receiving treatment.

Methods: Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging studies were conducted in 22 psychotropic-naive patients with MDD, aged 9 to 17 years (10 males and 12 females), and 22 case-matched healthy comparison control subjects.