Treatment of postsurgical psychiatric complications.

We describe the physical, psychological, and social complications and adaptation demands after epilepsy surgery and the risks of the development of psychiatric disorders when adequate stress processing fails. Practical strategies that can be followed in the prevention and treatment of postsurgical psychiatric complications are reviewed. The postoperative period is divided in three phases: (1) the early postoperative phase of stress processing until discharge from hospital; (2) the coping phase during the first months after discharge; and (3) the reorientation phase.

Multifocal white matter lesions associated with the D313Y mutation of the α-galactosidase A gene.

White matter lesions (WML) are clinically relevant since they are associated with strokes, cognitive decline, depression, or epilepsy, but the underlying etiology in young adults without classical risk factors still remains elusive. Our aim was to elucidate the possible clinical diagnosis and mechanisms leading to WML in patients carrying the D313Y mutation in the α-galactosidase A (GLA) gene, a mutation that was formerly described as nonpathogenic. Pathogenic GLA mutations cause Fabry disease, a vascular endothelial glycosphingolipid storage disease typically presenting with a symptom complex of renal, cardiac, and cerebrovascular manifestations.

Interindividual transcriptional regulation of the human biglycan gene involves three common molecular haplotypes.

Objective: The extracellular matrix proteoglycan biglycan (BGN) is involved in cardiovascular disease pathophysiology, as it mediates the subendothelial retention of atherogenic apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, affects adaptive remodeling after myocardial infarction, and exerts proinflammatory effects in macrophages. In a cardiovascular disease-related setting of vascular endothelial cells and human monocytes, we examined the molecular mechanisms of common molecular haplotypes affecting human BGN transcriptional regulation.

Approach And Results: After the molecular characterization of the BGN promoter, we determined the prevalence of BGN promoter variants (1199 base pair portion) in 87 individuals of European ancestry, and identified 3 molecular haplotypes by subcloning and sequencing of subjects' single DNA strands: MolHap1 [G(-578)-G(-151)-G(+94)] MolHap2 [G(-578)-A(-151)-T(+94)] and MolHap3 [A(-578)-G(-151)-G(+94)].

The prognostic reliability of the Glasgow coma score in traumatic brain injuries: evaluation of MRI data.

Purpose: To clarify the predictive power of the Glasgow coma score (GCS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and in the context of brain stem lesions.

Methods: In 143 patients who had suffered severe TBI, the GCS was correlated to brain damage as visualized by cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This technique evaluates the damage to the brain stem in particular.

Interrater and Intrarater Reliability of the Tuck Jump Assessment by Health Professionals of Varied Educational Backgrounds.

Objective. The Tuck Jump Assessment (TJA), a clinical plyometric assessment, identifies 10 jumping and landing technique flaws. The study objective was to investigate TJA interrater and intrarater reliability with raters of different educational and clinical backgrounds.

Substantial and reversible brain gray matter reduction but no acute brain lesions in ultramarathon runners: experience from the TransEurope-FootRace Project.

Background: During the extremely challenging 4,487 km ultramarathon TransEurope-FootRace 2009, runners showed considerable reduction of body weight. The effects of this endurance run on brain volume changes but also possible formation of brain edema or new lesions were explored by repeated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.

Methods: A total of 15 runners signed an informed consent to participate in this study of planned brain scans before, twice during, and about 8 months after the race.

Long-term (6 and 12 months) follow-up of two prospective, randomized, controlled phase III trials of photodynamic therapy with BF-200 ALA and methyl aminolaevulinate for the treatment of actinic keratosis.

Background: Two phase III trials of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with BF-200 ALA, a recently approved nanoemulsion formulation of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) demonstrated high clearance rates in mild-to-moderate actinic keratosis (AK). The comparison to a registered methyl aminolaevulinate (MAL) cream demonstrated significantly superior total patient clearance rates.

Objectives: To evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of PDT for AK 6 and 12 months after the last PDT with BF-200 ALA, MAL or placebo.

Public intervention in food and nutrition in Brazil.

In the last twenty years, the Brazilian government has created a number of income transfer programs for the poorest portion of the population to promote food and nutrition security and eradicate extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition. These programs have achieved satisfactory results, which cannot, however, be attributed solely to the transference of income, as they involve other governmental public policies in health, education and basic sanitation, Combined, the aim of such public policies is to break patterns of the poverty across generations, thereby contributing to human development in the country.

Possible magnetic-polaron-switched positive and negative magnetoresistance in the GdSi single crystals.

Magnetoresistance (MR) has attracted tremendous attention for possible technological applications. Understanding the role of magnetism in manipulating MR may in turn steer the searching for new applicable MR materials. Here we show that antiferromagnetic (AFM) GdSi metal displays an anisotropic positive MR value (PMRV), up to ~415%, accompanied by a large negative thermal volume expansion (NTVE).

UCHL1 regulates ubiquitination and recycling of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM.

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is involved in neural development and in plasticity in the adult brain. NCAM140 and NCAM180 isoforms are transmembrane proteins with cytoplasmic domains that differ only in an alternatively spliced exon in the NCAM180 isoform. Both isoforms can interact with several extracellular and cytoplasmic molecules mediating NCAM-dependent functions.

Genome-wide association analysis of genetic generalized epilepsies implicates susceptibility loci at 1q43, 2p16.1, 2q22.3 and 17q21.32.

Genetic generalized epilepsies (GGEs) have a lifetime prevalence of 0.3% and account for 20-30% of all epilepsies. Despite their high heritability of 80%, the genetic factors predisposing to GGEs remain elusive.

α5 β1-integrins are sensors for tauroursodeoxycholic acid in hepatocytes.

Unlabelled: Ursodeoxycholic acid, which in vivo is converted to its taurine conjugate tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDC), is a mainstay for the treatment of cholestatic liver disease. Earlier work showed that TUDC exerts its choleretic properties in the perfused rat liver in an α5 β1 integrin-mediated way. However, the molecular basis of TUDC-sensing in the liver is unknown.

Comparison of the sensitivity of a pre-MRI questionnaire and point of care eGFR testing for detection of impaired renal function.

Rationale And Objectives: The Food and Drug Administration recommends renal function estimation using laboratory testing for patients at risk for chronically reduced kidney function before the administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). Point-of-care (POC) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) testing was added to the pre-magnetic resonance (MR) questionnaire at our institution in June 2008 for all patients undergoing a contrast-enhanced MR exam. This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre-MR screening questionnaire about kidney disease and to assess POC eGFR detection of additional patients at risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Comparison of the uptake of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its methyl ester in keratinocytes and skin.

Photodynamic therapy is widely used in the treatment of superficial skin cancers. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and its methylated form, methyl-ALA (MAL), are frequently used as precursors to photosensitizing substances. Nevertheless, the mechanism of the uptake of ALA and MAL in keratinocytes and of their skin penetration is still controversial.

Genome-wide linkage meta-analysis identifies susceptibility loci at 2q34 and 13q31.3 for genetic generalized epilepsies.

Purpose: Genetic generalized epilepsies (GGEs) have a lifetime prevalence of 0.3% with heritability estimates of 80%. A considerable proportion of families with siblings affected by GGEs presumably display an oligogenic inheritance.

Association of left ventricular mass with the AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism.

Background: The A1166C polymorphism is located within the microRNA-155 binding site of the human angiotensin II (Ang II) type-1 receptor (AGTR1) gene. The C allele interferes with the base-pairing complementariness between AGTR1 mRNA and microRNA-155 and thereby increases AGTR1 protein expression in vitro. We hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) mass is associated with the AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism.

[Psychiatric aspects of epileptic disorders].

Psychiatric complications are common in people with epilepsy and contribute significantly to the impaired quality of life of patients and relatives. This paper discusses psychosis, depression and psychiatric adverse events of anticonvulsants with a focus on practical issues of diagnosis and treatment.

Empty nose syndrome: limbic system activation observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives/hypothesis: Empty nose syndrome (ENS) patients have a persistent sense of impaired nasal patency despite radical resection of nasal turbinates. The aim of this study was to elucidate differences in cerebral activation during free breathing and after inhalation of a fragrance (lemonene) and a pseudodecongestant (menthol) over a nasofacial mask. Our hypothesis was that menthol would be perceived as beneficial and that cerebral activation would show differences in areas corresponding to emotional suffering and air hunger in ENS patients.

[Injuries to the upper cervical medulla in severe brain injuries].

Background: Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 250 patients who had been unconscious post-trauma for at least 24 hours. The frequency and the characteristics of injuries to the upper cervical myelon were determined.

Patients And Methods: Between 1996 and 2009, MRI was carried out within 8 days of trauma.

Photodynamic therapy with BF-200 ALA for the treatment of actinic keratosis: results of a multicentre, randomized, observer-blind phase III study in comparison with a registered methyl-5-aminolaevulinate cream and placebo.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) or its methylester [methyl-5-aminolaevulinate (MAL) or 5-amino-4-oxopentanoate] was recently ranked as first-line therapy for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) and is an accepted therapeutic option for the treatment of neoplastic skin diseases. BF-200 ALA (Biofrontera Bioscience GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany) is a gel formulation of ALA with nanoemulsion for the treatment of AK which overcomes previous problems of ALA instability and improves skin penetration.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PDT of AKs with BF-200 ALA in comparison with a registered MAL cream and with placebo.

Overweight and obesity related factors in schoolchildren in Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

The purpose of this study is to determine the correlation of socioeconomic, dietary, and anthropometric-nutritional variables of parents and their children to overweight (including obesity) in schoolchildren in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. This is a transversal study conducted on 4,964, 6 to 10-year-old schoolchildren registered in 345 Santa Catarina elementary schools. The following data were acquired: the children's current weight and height, birth weight and length, duration of breastfeeding, age at which water, herbal tea and other foods were introduced to their diet; parental income, education level, age, weight and height were also obtained.

Factors influencing in-hospital mortality and morbidity in patients treated on a stroke unit.

Objective: To determine the extent that demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and complications contribute to the risk of in-hospital mortality and morbidity in acute stroke.

Methods: Data of consecutive patients admitted to 14 stroke units cooperating within the Berlin Stroke Register were analyzed. The association of demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and complications with the risk of in-hospital death and poor outcome at discharge was assessed, and independent attributable risks were calculated, applying average sequential attributable fractions.