The Contributions of Cognitive Abilities to the Relationship between ADHD Symptoms and Academic Achievement.

The main objective of this study was to examine whether increased levels of inattentive (INA) and hyperactive/impulsive (H/I) behaviours were associated with lower scores on standardized tests of achievement in basic reading, spelling, and math skills, after accounting for certain known background risk factors and cognitive processes. Clinical assessment data from a rigorously diagnosed, stimulant-medication-naïve sample of 354 elementary school-aged children experiencing academic difficulties and behavioural symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity were analyzed. Although higher scores of INA were significantly associated with lower scores in reading, spelling, and math, these associations did not persist when cognitive variables were added to the models.

Impact of anesthetic technique on the stress response elicited by laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized trial.

The aim of this randomized, double-blind clinical trial was to elucidate the impact of general anesthesia alone (GA) or supplemented with epidural anesthesia (EpiGA) on surgical stress response during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, using stress hormones, glucose, and C-reactive protein (CRP), as potential markers. Sixty-two patients scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either GA or EpiGA. Stress hormones [cortisol (COR), human growth hormone (hGH), prolactine (PRL)], glucose, and CRP were determined 1 day before surgery, intraoperatively, and upon first postoperative day (POD1).

Epithelial splenic cysts and life-threatening splenic rupture.

Background/aim: Primary splenic cysts are relatively uncommon and in the majority of cases are classified as epithelial cysts which are more frequent in young patients. Most of them are asymptomatic, and they are found incidentally during imaging techniques or laparotomy. We report two rare cases of patients with epithelial splenic cysts as an incidental finding during emergency laparotomy for splenic rupture.

Effects of buflomedil on skin blood flow in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without overt micro- or macroangiopathy.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of buflomedil on the peripheral microcirculation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without overt micro- or macroangiopathy.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to receive buflomedil 600 mg/day for six months (N.=12) or no medication (N.

Coagulation and inflammation biomarkers may help predict the severity of community-acquired pneumonia.

Background And Objective: There are limited data on the relationship between the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the severity of CAP and serum levels of antithrombin III (AT-III), protein C (P-C), D-dimers (D-D) and CRP, at hospital admission.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study in 77 adults (62.

Buflomedil: potential new indications for an old agent.

Our understanding of vascular pathophysiology has significantly improved during the past two decades. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased vascular risk and a series of modifiable risk factors play a crucial role in the atherosclerotic process. The microvascular dysfunction in diabetes results in increased vascular permeability and impaired regulation of blood flow and vascular tone.

The protective effect of alpha-tocopherol and GdCl3 against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Purpose: To evaluate the combined effect of alpha-tocopherol and gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) in reducing lipid peroxidation after severe hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury.

Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats, 200-250 g, were randomly divided into six equal groups. There were two sham operation (SHAM) groups, two untreated IR groups, and two IR groups treated with GdCl3 and alpha-tocopherol (IRGT).

Metachronous colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Background: The purpose of our study is to emphasise the diagnostic and therapeutic problems of metachronous colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between 1990 and February 2004, amongst 185 patients that were treated for colorectal cancer, in four of them a metachronous carcinoma was diagnosed.

Results: 1st patient: male 41 years, underwent colectomy of the descending colon for adenocarcinoma.

Postoperative follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer: a combined evaluation of CT scan, colonoscopy and tumour markers.

Background: The purpose of this study is to present the experience of our department regarding the importance of the systematic postoperative follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer, early diagnosis and treatment of the recurrence of the disease or a metachronous cancer.

Methods: In a study that took place between October 2001 and February 2004 amongst 67 patients that were operated upon for colorectal cancer, 41 were systematically being followed up through CT scan, colonoscopy and tumour markers.

Results: In the 14th and 18th months postoperatively for 2 of the patients the CT scan showed hepatic metastasis, while the colonoscopy was negative.

High dose intravenous immunoglobulin g pretreatment: effect on lipid peroxidation and reperfusion injury to the liver.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) compared with that of gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) in the inhibition of Kupffer cell activation on lipid peroxidation after severe total hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Male Wistar rats ( n = 40) were randomly divided into four equal groups: a sham-operation group, a control I/R group, and two I/R groups pretreated with either IVIG or GdCl3 intravenously. Following 60 minutes of total hepatic ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion, the rats were sacrificed and liver and blood samples collected.

Blockade of Kupffer cells by gadolinium chloride reduces lipid peroxidation and protects liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background/aims: The implication of lipid peroxidation in the inhibitory effect of GdCl3 (gadolinium chloride) on Kupffer cells activation has not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of GdCl3 inhibition of Kupffer cells activation on lipid peroxidation after severe total hepatic ischemia/reperfusion.

Methodology: Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a control ischemia/reperfusion group, and two ischemia/reperfusion groups pretreated with GdCl3 (10 mg and 20 mg/kg bw intravenously, 48 and 24 h prior to operation).

Intramuscular administration of very high dose of alpha-tocopherol protects liver from severe ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The effect of intramuscular administration of high (30 mg/kg body weight for 3 days) or very high (300 mg/kg body weight for 3 days) doses of a-tocopherol to Wistar rats subjected to total severe warm hepatic ischemia and reperfusion was investigated. After a 60-minute period of total hepatic ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion, animals were killed, and liver samples were taken for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and histological examinations. Blood samples were also taken for assay of serum a-tocopherol, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH).

Severe total hepatic ischemia and reperfusion: relationship between very high alpha-tocopherol uptake and lipid peroxidation.

Reperfusion injury of the liver occurs in liver transplantation and in major hepatectomies. It triggers a severe oxidative stress that leads to increased lipid peroxidation. In our study we examined the effect of parenteral supranutritional administration of alpha-tocopherol, a vitamin that plays a key role in the endogenous antioxidant system, to rats subjected to severe ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the liver.