Parent-of-origin Effect in Schizophrenia and Non-affective Psychoses: Evidence from Dermatoglyphics.

Objective: This study aims at examining "parent-of-origin effect" (POE) in dermatoglyphic patterns among patients with schizophrenia and non-affective psychoses.

Materials And Methods: Dermatoglyphic comparison was carried out for schizophrenia patients (n=200) and healthy controls (HC) (n=100). In addition, the effect of family history and POE was examined in the dermatoglyphic pattern.

Family history correlates of digit ratio abnormalities in schizophrenia.

Background: The differences in digit ratio are proposed to arise due to differential effects of sex steroids on the growth of finger bones. In this study, we sought to examine the sex differences and the influence of family history of psychosis on digit ratio in patients with schizophrenia compared to matched healthy controls (HCs).

Materials And Methods: Digit ratio (2D: 4D) was examined for a large sample of schizophrenia patients (n=200) and HC (n=177) to evaluate the potential effects of family history.

Late presentation of CardioSEAL PFO closure device fracture and thrombus formation three years after device implantation.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a promising alternative to surgical closure or anticoagulation therapy in patients with a history of cryptogenic stroke. Although a number of transcatheter closure devices have been developed and used outside of the United States, the two commonly used devices in the United States are the StarFLEX CardioSEAL and the Amplatzer Occluder. Several complications, both early and late, associated with the devices have been reported in 6-11% of patients.

Assessment of left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure and normal QRS duration.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an important component of heart failure therapy in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction <35%, class III or ambulatory class IV symptoms, and a QRS duration >120 ms. The QRS duration criterion for patient selection is imperfect. About 30% of patients with an increased QRS duration are nonresponders to CRT and many with a normal QRS duration with mechanical dyssynchrony respond to CRT.