Cortical and subcortical functional connectivity and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with cognitive as well as motor impairments. While much is known about the brain networks leading to motor impairments in PD, less is known about the brain networks contributing to cognitive impairments. Here, we leveraged resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) to examine network dysfunction in PD patients with cognitive impairment.

Salience network and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with cognitive as well as motor impairments. While much is known about the brain networks leading to motor impairments in PD, less is known about the brain networks contributing to cognitive impairments. Here, we leveraged resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) to examine network dysfunction in PD patients with cognitive impairment.

Evolution of Symptoms After Ustekinumab Induction Therapy in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

Background & Aims: Ustekinumab is an effective treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Of interest to patients is knowing how soon symptoms may improve. We analyzed ustekinumab response dynamics from the ustekinumab CD trials.

Heterogeneous melting near the Thwaites Glacier grounding line.

Thwaites Glacier represents 15% of the ice discharge from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and influences a wider catchment. Because it is grounded below sea level, Thwaites Glacier is thought to be susceptible to runaway retreat triggered at the grounding line (GL) at which the glacier reaches the ocean. Recent ice-flow acceleration and retreat of the ice front and GL indicate that ice loss will continue.

Central precuneus lesions are associated with impaired executive function.

The functional roles of the precuneus are unclear. Focal precuneus lesions are rare, making it difficult to identify robust brain-behavior relationships. Distinct functional subdivisions of the precuneus have been proposed based on unique connectivity profiles.

Neuromodulation of cognition in Parkinson's disease.

Neuromodulation is a widely used treatment for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). It can be a highly effective treatment as a result of knowledge of circuit dysfunction associated with motor symptoms in PD. However, the mechanisms underlying cognitive symptoms of PD are less well-known, and the effects of neuromodulation on these symptoms are less consistent.

The role of transcranial magnetic stimulation in understanding attention-related networks in single subjects.

Attention is a cognitive mechanism that has been studied through several methodological viewpoints, including animal models, MRI in stroke patients, and fMRI in healthy subjects. Activation-based fMRI research has also pointed to specific networks that activate during attention tasks. Most recently, network neuroscience has been used to study the functional connectivity of large-scale networks for attention to reveal how strongly correlated networks are to each other when engaged in specific behaviors.

Oxytocin quality: evidence to support updated global recommendations on oxytocin for postpartum hemorrhage.

Background: The use of quality injectable oxytocin effectively prevents and treats postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), characteristics of oxytocin-specifically its heat sensitivity-challenge efforts to ensure its quality throughout the health supply chain. In 2019, WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF released a joint-statement to clarify and recommend that oxytocin should be kept in the cold chain (between 2 and 8 °C) during transportation and storage; however, confusion among stakeholders in LMICs persists.

The Impact of Telemedicine on Pediatric Critical Care Triage.

Objective: To examine the relationship between pediatric critical care telemedicine consultation to rural emergency departments and triage decisions. We compare the triage location and provider rating of the accuracy of remote assessment for a cohort of patients who receive critical care telemedicine consultations and a similar group of patients receiving telephone consultations.

Design: Retrospective evaluation of consultations occurring between April 2012 and March 2016.

Prevalence of Chest Pain, Depression, Somatization, Anxiety, Global Distress, and Substance Use among Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Patients.

Psychosocial factors of cardiovascular disease receive a preponderance of attention. Little attention is paid to psychosocial factors of pulmonary disease. This paper sought to describe psychosocial characteristics and to identify differences between cardiac and pulmonary patients entering a phase II rehabilitation program.

Ion mobility spectrometry as a tool in evaluating the efficacy of cleaning protocol for clandestine methamphetamine laboratory remediation.

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is frequently used to gauge the success of remediation in clandestine methamphetamine laboratory sites due to portability of the instrument. In most cases, remediation involves some form of surface cleaning, followed by assaying using IMS to detect residual contaminants. However, the effectiveness of this cleaning approach has not been systematically evaluated nor has the effect of residual cleaner on IMS response.

Characterization and validation of ion mobility spectrometry in methamphetamine clandestine laboratory remediation.

This project evaluated the efficacy of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) as a tool for determining remediation success at clandestine methamphetamine laboratory sites. Specifically, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantitation (LOQ), and matrix effects were investigated as relevant to typical remediation sites and situations. The recoveries of pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine from a range of various surfaces likely to be found in a clandestine laboratory were examined.

Adding the Standard Days Method® to the contraceptive method mix in a high-prevalence setting in Peru.

Objective: To determine what contribution the Standard Days Method® (SDM) makes to the contraceptive mix offered by regular health services in areas of Peru where contraceptive prevalence rates (CPR) are already high.

Methods: SDM was added to the family planning methods offered by the Ministry of Health in two provinces in Peru in September 2002. Retrospective interviews were conducted in March-June 2004 with 1 200 women who had chosen SDM as their contraceptive method and had used it for 2-20 months.

Compartment syndrome presenting as ischemia following extravasation of contrast material.

A case of acute compartment syndrome of the forearm, resulting from contrast dye extravasation that presented as upper extremity ischemia, is described. Timely surgical intervention resulted in an excellent outcome. When extravasation of dye occurs, the patient should be evaluated for compartment syndrome despite the possible lack of typical symptoms.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and involuntary weight loss in elderly, community-dwelling adults.

Study Objective: To evaluate the association between involuntary weight loss and serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in elderly, community-dwelling adults.

Design: Cross-sectional, single-time point investigation.

Setting: Two primary care ambulatory clinics.

An intervention for the promotion of hygienic feces disposal behaviors in a shanty town of Lima, Peru.

This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation of an intervention to promote improved hygiene practices in a shanty town area of Lima, Peru. Following formative research, the intervention focused on behaviors associated with the hygienic use of potties by children aged 15-47 months and keeping the home environment free from feces. A health communications strategy was developed involving delivery through routine health services, and using video presentations, leaflets and counseling by health staff during consultations.

Effectiveness of a pharmacist-based smoking-cessation program and its impact on quality of life.

We conducted a prospective, open-label trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-based, comprehensive, smoking-cessation program with 31 self-referred subjects. A secondary goal was to measure changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during the cessation attempt. The program consisted of weekly, 1-hour group sessions over 12 weeks.

Wheat germ supplement reduces cyst and trophozoite passage in people with giardiasis.

The protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia is a major cause of waterborne enteric disease worldwide. Lectins are proteins that bind to carbohydrate (sugar) moieties. Potential targets for lectins are found on the surface of most single-celled organisms.

Update on vitamin supplements for the prevention of coronary disease and stroke.

Dietary antioxidants and folic acid may play a role in the pathophysiology of coronary disease and stroke. We review patient-oriented evidence on the effectiveness of supplementation with antioxidants and/or folic acid in the prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke. Observational data suggest cardiovascular benefit of vitamin E supplementation, but results of controlled clinical trials are inconsistent regarding the effect on nonfatal myocardial infarction.

A randomized, crossover comparison of warfarin products in the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To compare the dosing requirements and international normalized ratios (INRs) associated with two bioequivalent crystalline warfarin sodium products in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.

Methods: A multicenter, single-blind (prescriber), randomized, crossover evaluation of Apothecon warfarin and DuPont warfarin (Coumadin) was conducted in consenting adults with chronic or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who had been receiving DuPont warfarin chronically for the prevention of thromboembolism. Patients were randomly assigned to initially either continue DuPont warfarin or receive Apothecon warfarin for four weeks, with weekly evaluation of dosage and INR changes, safety, and efficacy.

Update on oral contraceptive pills.

Oral contraceptive pills are widely used and are generally safe and effective for many women. The World Health Organization has developed a risk classification system to help physicians advise patients about the safety of oral contraceptive pills. The choice of pill formulation is influenced by clinical considerations.