Transport of Neutral Amino Acids in the Jejunum of Pigs with Special Consideration of L-Methionine.

Methionine (Met) is a popular nutritional supplement in humans and animals. It is routinely supplemented to pigs as L-Met, DL-Met, or DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL-HMTBA). We investigated the effect of these Met supplements on jejunal amino acid (AA) transport in male castrated Piétrain × Danbred pigs, also including a non-supplemented group.

Dietary methionine source alters the lipidome in the small intestinal epithelium of pigs.

Methionine (Met) as an essential amino acid has key importance in a variety of metabolic pathways. This study investigated the influence of three dietary Met supplements (0.21% L-Met, 0.

Fatigue in SLE: diagnostic and pathogenic impact of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) autoantibodies.

Objectives: We explored the impact of circulating anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies on the severity of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Serum samples of 426 patients with SLE were analysed for the presence of antibodies to the NR2 subunit of the NMDAR. In parallel, the severity of fatigue was determined according to the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive functions questionnaire.

Quality of life in dementia: impact of cognition and insight on applicability of the SF-36.

Objectives: Comparability of measures of quality of life in dementia and in other diagnostic groups, such as mild cognitive impairment, normal aging, or other diseases, is highly desirable. However, the impact of cognitive deficits and impaired insight on applicability and validity of generic instruments is sparsely studied.

Participants And Measurements: Sixty patients with dementia [38 women; age: mean (SD) = 78.

[Effectivity of early psychosocial counselling for family caregivers in general practioner based dementia care].

Background: Psychoeducation and professional support of family caregivers are regarded as important aspects in dementia care. In the context of a general practitioner's (GP) based dementia care project we investigated if professional counselling after making a diagnosis of dementia can reduce the development of depression in family caregivers.

Methods: 42 patients with dementia and their family caregivers took part in the prospective, randomized study with a follow-up after 18 months.

Structural integrity of the corpus callosum predicts long-term transfer of fluid intelligence-related training gains in normal aging.

Although cognitive training usually improves cognitive test performance, the capability to transfer these training gains into respective or functionally related cognitive domains varies significantly. Since most studies demonstrate rather limited transfer effects in older adults, aging might be an important factor in transfer capability differences. This study investigated the transfer capability of logical reasoning training gains to a measure of Fluid Intelligence (Gf) in relation to age, general intelligence, and brain structural integrity as measured by diffusion tensor imaging.

Automated tractography of the cingulate bundle in Alzheimer's disease: a multicenter DTI study.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of multicenter tractography of the cingulate bundle (CB) in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Materials And Methods: Automated deterministic tractography of the CB was applied to scans of 45 patients with probable AD and 58 healthy controls (HC) acquired with Siemens Sonata (1.5T; 60 gradients), Trio (3T; 61 gradients), and Avanto (1.

State dependent posterior hippocampal volume increases in patients with major depressive disorder.

Background: The hippocampal formation has been implicated in etiology and therapy response in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, prospective longitudinal studies investigating volumes in hippocampal subregions and their association with clinical findings are still lacking.

Methods: Global and regional hippocampal volumes and neuropsychological performance were assessed longitudinally in 15 young patients with unipolar early onset MDD who responded to therapy and 13 matched healthy control subjects.

Functional implications of hippocampal degeneration in early Alzheimer's disease: a combined DTI and PET study.

Purpose: Hypometabolism of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) is thought to arise in part due to AD-specific neuronal damage to the hippocampal formation. Here, we explored the association between microstructural alterations within the hippocampus and whole-brain glucose metabolism in subjects with AD, also in relation to episodic memory impairment.

Methods: Twenty patients with early AD (Mini-Mental State Examination 25.

Relationships between hippocampal microstructure, metabolism, and function in early Alzheimer's disease.

Abnormal microstructural integrity and glucose metabolism of the hippocampus are common in subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) that typically manifest as episodic memory impairment. The above-tissue alterations can be captured in vivo using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET). Here, we explored relationships between the above neuroimaging and cognitive markers of early AD-specific hippocampal damage.

[Improving general practitioners guided dementia care: the pilot project start-modem in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany].

Background: The study examined the ability of trained General Practitioners (GPs) to carry out guideline based diagnostics and therapy of dementia. The article reports the GP-related findings.

Methods: 100 GPs took part in the prospective multi-centre study.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and brain structural alterations in Fabry disease.

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), mainly cognitive deficits up to dementia and depressive syndromes have been described repeatedly in Fabry disease (FD). However, examinations regarding the pattern, extent, and frequency of the NPS in FD are still lacking. Moreover, the relationship between NPS and brain structural alterations in FD is unknown.

Association between cingulum bundle structure and cognitive performance: an observational study in major depression.

Background: Major depression can be regarded as a systemic neurobehavioral disorder resulting from dysfunction of the limbic-cortical networks. The cingulum bundle represents a major association fiber tract of those networks. The aim of our study was to determine the association of brain structural tissue markers of the cingulum bundle and cognitive function in patients with major depression.

Increased hippocampal head diffusivity predicts impaired episodic memory performance in early Alzheimer's disease.

Recent neuroanatomical and functional neuroimaging studies indicate that the anterior part of the hippocampus, rather than the whole structure, may be specifically involved in episodic memory. In the present work, we examined whether anterior structural measurements are superior to other regional or global measurements in mapping functionally relevant degenerative alterations of the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Twenty patients with early AD (MMSE 25.

Diagnostic utility of different MRI and MR angiography measures in Fabry disease.

Background: Neurologic hallmarks of Fabry disease (FD) include small fiber neuropathy as well as cerebral micro- and macroangiopathy with premature stroke. Cranial MRI shows progressive white matter lesions (WML) at an early age, increased signal intensity in the pulvinar, and tortuosity and dilatation of the larger vessels. To unravel the most promising imaging tool for the detection of CNS involvement in FD we compared the diagnostic utility of the different MR imaging findings.

Functional relevant loss of long association fibre tracts integrity in early Alzheimer's disease.

The aim of our study was to quantify the structural integrity of the long association fibre tracts in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to correlate the findings with the cognitive performance of the patients. We conducted region-of-interest-based analyses of color-coded diffusion-tensor imaging in 12 patients with early AD (age 69.8+/-8.

Experimental evidence for a motivational origin of cognitive impairment in major depression.

Background: Diagnostic criteria and empirical evidence support the existence of cognitive deficits in depression. However, depressed mood, loss of interest and low self-efficacy might influence cognitive performance.

Method: Goal-setting instructions were used to promote motivation in depressed patients and control subjects during neuropsychological assessment.

Voxel based analyses of diffusion tensor imaging in Fabry disease.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disorder associated with marked cerebrovascular disease. Conventional MRI shows an extensive load of white matter lesions (WMLs) which may already be present at an early stage in the disease.

Objective: Investigator independent and sensitive quantification of structural changes in the brain in clinically affected men and women with FD.

Quantification of brain tissue alterations in Fabry disease using diffusion-tensor imaging.

Unlabelled: Central nervous system involvement is a major burden in Fabry disease. Conventional cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows micro- and macroangiopathic changes such as severe and progressive white matter lesions (WMLs) at an early age on T2- and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-weighted images, increased signal intensity in the pulvinar on T1-weighted MRI, as well as tortuosity and dilatation of the larger vessels (dolicho-ectasia). Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a new structural MRI-technique that measures water diffusion characteristics, we showed marked brain tissue alterations in Fabry disease predominantly in the periventricular white matter.