CHIT1 at diagnosis predicts faster disability progression and reflects early microglial activation in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by heterogeneity in disease course and prediction of long-term outcome remains a major challenge. Here, we investigate five myeloid markers - CHIT1, CHI3L1, sTREM2, GPNMB and CCL18 - in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at diagnostic lumbar puncture in a longitudinal cohort of 192 MS patients. Through mixed-effects and machine learning models, we show that CHIT1 is a robust predictor for faster disability progression.

Mortality rates and proximal causes of death in patients with Lewy body dementia versus Alzheimer's disease: A longitudinal study using secondary care mental health records.

Background: Previous studies have shown reduced survival in Lewy body dementia (LBD) compared to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the reasons for this are not known. We identified cause of death categories accounting for the reduced survival in LBD.

Methods: We linked cohorts of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and AD, with proximal cause of death data.

Association between antidementia medication use and mortality in people diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies in the UK: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLBs) is a common cause of dementia but has higher mortality than Alzheimer's disease (AD). The reasons for this are unclear, but antidementia drugs (including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors [AChEIs] and memantine) symptomatically benefit people with DLB and might improve outcomes. We investigated whether AChEIs and/or memantine were associated with reduced hospital admissions and mortality.

Hyperspectral Imaging and the Retina: Worth the Wave?

Purpose: Hyperspectral imaging is gaining attention in the biomedical field because it generates additional spectral information to study physiological and clinical processes. Several technologies have been described; however an independent, systematic literature overview is lacking, especially in the field of ophthalmology. This investigation is the first to systematically overview scientific literature specifically regarding retinal hyperspectral imaging.

Testing threat-to-efficacy ratios in health communications about cardiovascular disease among an older population.

To test threat-to-efficacy ratios within health communications about cardiovascular disease (CVD) for older individuals. Participants were randomly assigned to one of six messages: (i) 'standard' message with 1/1 threat-to-efficacy ratio, (ii) 'low efficacy' message with 1/0 threat-to-efficacy ratio, (iii) 'low threat' message with 0/1 threat-to-efficacy ratio, (iv) 'high efficacy' message with 1/2 threat-to-efficacy ratio; (v) 'high threat' message with 2/1 threat-to-efficacy ratio and (vi) 'overload' message with 2/2 threat-to-efficacy ratio. Participants had to be of 60 years of age or older (N = 242, Male = 92, Age: M = 68.

Clinical Presentation, Diagnostic Features, and Mortality in Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common degenerative dementia in older people. However, rates of misdiagnosis are high, and little is known of its natural history and outcomes. Very few previous studies have been able to access routine clinical information for large, unbiased DLB cohorts in order to establish initial presentation, neuropsychological profile, and mortality.

The associations among personality, alcohol-related Protective Behavioural Strategies (PBS), alcohol consumption and sexual intercourse in Irish, female college students.

Introduction: The study presented one of the first examinations of the associations among personality, alcohol-related protective behavioural strategies (PBS), alcohol consumption, sexual intercourse and sex-related alcohol negative consequences in Irish, female college students ( = 522).

Methods: A cross-sectional observational design was employed and participants completed the study online. Participants completed measures of personality, alcohol-related PBS, alcohol consumption and sexual intercourse.