Male and female ecstasy users: differences in patterns of use, sleep quality and mental health outcomes.

Background: Ecstasy users report a number of adverse effects following use including mood and sleep disturbances. The present study examined differences in characteristics of ecstasy use (amount, frequency of use, reported harm resulting from use) between males and females and assessed relationships between ecstasy use, sleep quality and mental health outcomes.

Methods: An online survey of 268 ecstasy users (54.

Endoscopic ultrasonography--a sensitive tool in the preoperative localization of insulinoma.

Objective: A number of imaging modalities have been used in the preoperative localization of insulinomas. Computed tomography (CT) is the most commonly employed modality. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows the transducer to be placed in close proximity to the pancreas, thereby yielding higher quality images, which facilitates accurate localization, minimally invasive surgery, and a lower occurrence of residual tumors, all of which contribute to a better clinical outcome.

Detection of large deletions in the VHL gene using a Real-Time PCR with SYBR Green.

Mutation in VHL gene causes the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, a dominantly inherited familial cancer syndrome. The VHL mutation pattern includes point mutations, small deletions and large deletions. While most mutations can be identified during sequencing, large deletions often remain unnoticed in initial mutational screening.

Actigraphic assessment of sleep disturbances following traumatic brain injury.

The current study examined the use of actigraphy in measurement of sleep following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Twenty-one patients with TBI and self-reported sleep and/or fatigue problems and 21 non-injured controls were studied over seven days using actigraphy and sleep diary reports. Although strong associations between diary and actigraphic assessment of sleep duration were observed in both participant groups, agreement between these methods appeared to weaken in patients with TBI.

Sustained attention following traumatic brain injury: use of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task.

Objective: Deficits in sustained attention are common following traumatic brain injury (TBI), as a result of primary (i.e., neuropathology) and/or secondary factors (i.

Incidence, predictors and early post-operative course of diabetes insipidus in paediatric craniopharygioma: a comparison with adults.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the incidence, predictors, early post-operative course of diabetes insipidus (DI) in paediatric craniopharyngiomas(CP) and compare the findings with adults.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical, biochemical, radiological and operative data for 102 consecutive CP surgeries (45 paediatric and 57 adult cases) was done. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to determine the predictors of DI.

Evaluation of a single-channel nasal pressure device to assess obstructive sleep apnea risk in laboratory and home environments.

Study Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a portable single-channel (intra-nasal pressure) sleep apnea device (ApneaLink) in both the laboratory and at home for assessment of sleep apnea risk in comparison with standard polysomnography (PSG).

Methods: Fifty-five participants underwent simultaneous recordings of standard PSG and ApneaLink in the laboratory. Of these, 38 participants also used the ApneaLink device in their own homes for one night.

Acromegaly in pregnancy.

Pregnancy in a patient with acromegaly is a rare occurrence. Here in, we report a patient with acromegaly who presented to us in the 2(nd) trimester of pregnancy with visual loss in the right eye. Her vision improved after surgery.

Validation of a questionnaire to screen for shift work disorder.

Study Objective: At least 15% of the full-time work force is shift workers. Working during the overnight hours, early morning start times, and variable or rotating schedules present a challenge to the circadian system, and these shifts are associated with adverse health and safety consequences. Shift work disorder (SWD), a primary (circadian rhythm) sleep disorder indicated by excessive daytime sleepiness and/or insomnia associated with a shiftwork schedule, is under-recognized by primary care physicians.

Objective and subjective measures of sleepiness, and their associations with on-road driving events in shift workers.

To assess the relationships between sleepiness and the incidence of adverse driving events in nurses commuting to and from night and rotating shifts, 27 rotating and permanent night shift-working nurses were asked to complete daily sleep and duty logs, and wear wrist-activity monitors for 2 weeks (369 driving sessions). During all commutes, ocular measures of drowsiness, including the Johns Drowsiness Scale score, were assessed using the Optalert™ system. Participants self-reported their subjective sleepiness at the beginning and end of each drive, and any events that occurred during the drive.

Fatigue and sleep disturbance following traumatic brain injury--their nature, causes, and potential treatments.

Background: Although fatigue and sleep disturbance are commonly reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI), understanding of their nature and treatment remains limited.

Objectives: This article reviews a series of investigations of the nature and causes of fatigue and sleep disturbance following TBI.

Methods: A large cohort of community-based patients with TBI, recruited from a TBI rehabilitation program, completed measures of subjective fatigue and sleep disturbances, as well as attentional measures.

The surgical anatomy of intra-abdominal prosthetic dislocation during hip arthroplasty.

Hip replacement surgery remains one of the most successful and common operations in modern orthopaedics. Many surgical approaches to the hip have been described. A potential anatomical weakness exists between the hip joint and the retroperitoneal space.

Familial carotid body tumors in patients with SDHD mutations: a case series.

Objective: To describe a family with hereditary paraganglioma due to a disease-causing mutation in the SDHD gene.

Methods: We present the clinical findings, diagnostic test results, treatment, and genetic test results in a family with hereditary paraganglioma.

Results: Three siblings with bilateral carotid body tumors presented at different time points and with varied clinical presentations.

High index of clinical suspicion with optimal surgical techniques and adjuvant radiotherapy is critical to reduce locoregional disease progression in parathyroid carcinoma.

Aims: We have analyzed the risk factors and the impact of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in reducing the locoregional recurrence of parathyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods: Various parameters such as clinical presentation, intraoperative findings, surgical methods, and usage of parafibromin were analyzed. Selected endpoints were locoregional progression-free survival and overall survival.

An examination of Australian general practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to sleep disorders.

Background: Sleep disorders represent an under-recognised public health problem and are reported to be under-diagnosed in general practices.

Aims: To examine general practitioners' (GPs) attitude, knowledge and practice behaviour and identify barriers to detection, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders encountered in the Australian primary care setting.

Method: Using mixed methods, quantitative data from the Dartmouth Sleep Knowledge Questionnaire (DSKQ) were analysed using MS Excel 2007.

Sleep disorders, health, and safety in police officers.

Context: Sleep disorders often remain undiagnosed. Untreated sleep disorders among police officers may adversely affect their health and safety and pose a risk to the public.

Objective: To quantify associations between sleep disorder risk and self-reported health, safety, and performance outcomes in police officers.

Thyroid stimulating hormone microadenoma as a rare cause of thyrotoxicosis amenable to surgical cure.

Hyperthyroidism due to a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) pituitary adenoma is rare. We report a 29-year-old woman with thyrotoxicosis and elevated serum 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine and TSH levels that resolved after a transsphenoidal excision of the detected TSH pituitary adenoma. The diagnosis and management options in such patients are reviewed.

Role of cortical sparing adrenalectomy and novel variant of mutation in patient with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is the most common phakomatoses and is inherited in autosomal dominant fashion with complete penetrance. Secondary hypertension is common in these patients due to various causes including adrenal tumors. Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine producing tumor seen in 0.

MDMA induces Per1, Per2 and c-fos gene expression in rat suprachiasmatic nuclei.

Rationale: ±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') is a psychoactive drug that has marked effects on the serotonergic system. Serotonergic agonists are known to interact with the circadian pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN).

Objectives: Given changes reported in the behavioral activity rhythm following MDMA treatment, the effects of MDMA on core clock gene (Per1, Per2) and c-fos expression were evaluated.

Ecstasy use and self-reported disturbances in sleep.

Objective: Ecstasy users report a number of complaints after its use including disturbed sleep. However, little is known regarding which attributes of ecstasy use are associated with sleep disturbances, which domains of sleep are affected or which factors may predict those ecstasy users likely to have poor sleep quality and/or excessive daytime sleepiness.

Methods: This study examined questionnaire responses of social drug users (n = 395) to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

Endoscopic transsphenoidal excision of a GH-PRL-secreting pituitary macroadenoma in a patient with McCune-Albright syndrome.

We describe an endoscopic transsphenoidal excision of a GH-PRL-secreting pituitary adenoma and remodeling of frontotemporal fibrous dysplasia in a patient with McCune-Albright syndrome. Sphenoid dysplasia rendered transsphenoidal surgery challenging, but a study of the radiological anatomy and good surgical planning made this feasible. Medical therapy and radiation was required for persistent acromegaly after surgery.

Impact of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis on female fertility: meta-analysis and systematic review.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to determine the effect of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) on female fertility in ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), the mechanisms of this effect, strategies for prevention and management of infertility post-IPAA.

Methods: This paper is a systematic literature review of all articles investigating IPAA and fertility from 1966 onwards that were found searching the Medline and Embase databases. Meta-analysis was performed on relevant studies.