Cognitive and neural signatures of the APOE E4 allele in mid-aged adults.

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele is strongly associated with increased risk of cognitive impairments in older adulthood. There is also a possible link to enhanced cognitive performance in younger adults, and the APOE e4 allele may constitute an example of antagonistic pleiotropy. The aim of this work was to investigate the cognitive and neural (functional) effects of the APOE e4 allele during mid-age (45-55 years), where a transition toward cognitive deficit might be expected.

Association between proinflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation in patients with severe dengue disease around defervescence.

Objectives: Proinflammatory cytokines and the oxidative stress response are reported to be involved in dengue viral disease. The present study investigated the correlation of proinflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation with dengue severity.

Methods: Clinical samples from 27 dengue fever (DF) cases, 30 dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases, and 24 dengue shock syndrome (DSS) cases were studied around defervescence, along with samples from 30 healthy controls.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α are not associated with plasma homocysteine concentration in Alzheimer's disease.

Increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory blood cytokines and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) are frequently reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hcy appears to have immunomodulating and pro-inflammatory activities. Further, emerging evidence from animal and non-AD human studies implicates Hcy in potentiating the activities of proinflammatory cytokines; Hcy toxicity may also, in part, be mediated by these cytokines.

Is pregnancy safe with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction? An analysis.

Introduction: We aimed to analyse the pregnancy outcome of women with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational analysis conducted at the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India, between January 2007 and September 2009. A total of 41 pregnancies in 24 women were evaluated.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α are not associated with blood homocysteine concentration in Alzheimer's disease.

Increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory blood cytokines and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) are frequently reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hcy appears to have immunomodulating and pro-inflammatory activities. Further, emerging evidence from animal and non-AD human studies implicates Hcy in potentiating the activities of pro-inflammatory cytokines; Hcy toxicity may also, in part, be mediated by these cytokines.

Diabetic peripheral microvascular complications: relationship to cognitive function.

Peripheral microvascular complications in diabetes are associated with concurrent cerebrovascular disease. As detailed cognitive assessment is not routinely carried out among diabetic patients, the aim was to establish whether the presence of clinical "peripheral" microvascular disease can identify a subgroup of patients with early evidence of cognitive impairment. Detailed psychometric assessment was performed in 23 diabetic patients with no microvascular complications (Group D), 27 diabetic patients with at least one microvascular complication: retinopathy, neuropathy, and/or nephropathy (Group DC), and 25 healthy controls (Group H).

Vitamin and herbal extracts use in patients diagnosed with dementia: what do health professionals know and think?

Objectives: Vitamins and herbal extracts are associated with various side effects, potential serious drug interactions and mostly unproven efficacy. Yet, research has shown that nearly half of dementia patients are receiving such medication. Health professionals caring for older people with dementia are central to the safe management of this practice.

Circulating nucleic acids as a new diagnostic tool.

The discovery of circulating nucleic acids in the 1940s opened up new possibilities for the non-invasive detection, monitoring and screening of various human disorders. Several tumour markers that enable early cancer detection or tumour behaviour prediction have been detected in the plasma of cancer patients. Maternal plasma analysis can be used to detect certain fetal abnormalities, with the quantification of cell-free nucleic acids used to screen for several pregnancy-associated disorders.

Duodenum-sparing technique of head resection in solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas in children.

Aim Of Study: Aim of the study was to assess the complications and long-term results in children operated on for solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP) between 1993-2008 at the authors' institution with a focus on a novel duodenum-sparing technique to treat tumors of the head of the pancreas.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of patient data including demographics, diagnostic measures, the operative technique focusing on tumor of the head of the pancreas, complications and long-term results.

Results: There were 13 patients (12 girls and one boy) with an average age of 14 years (9-17.

Non-pharmacological interventions in the prevention of delirium.

Delirium is a serious and common disorder especially among older people on inpatients units. Numerous modifiable or manageable delirium risk factors have been identified. As a result, there is now a widespread notion that many cases of delirium can be prevented.

Pharmacological treatment for the prevention of delirium: review of current evidence.

Objective: Delirium is a very common and serious disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Despite symptomatic treatment the outcome can be poor for some especially when no underlying cause is identified. As a result, various strategies for delirium prevention have been assessed.

Prevalence and cognitive impact of cerebrovascular findings in Alzheimer's disease: a retrospective, naturalistic study.

Aims: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is a major risk factor for cognitive decline associated with progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. The objective of this study was to retrospectively assess the prevalence of CVD and its cognitive impact in patients with AD in everyday clinical practice.

Methods: Medical notes were retrospectively reviewed for all individuals who presented at East Sussex Memory Clinic (2004-2008) for investigation of cognitive impairment and had brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of their clinical work-up.

Pindolol augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of depressive disorder: a systematic review.

Unlabelled: Adding pindolol to serotonergic antidepressant treatment offers a potential strategy for producing a more rapid onset of action and an enhanced antidepressant effect. This review investigated whether pindolol enhances the efficacy of serotonergic antidepressant treatment in adult patients with depressive disorders at sequential time points up to 6 weeks.

Search Strategy: Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis-Controlled Trials Register plus unpublished trial data.

Experiences in managing problematic crystal methamphetamine use and associated depression in gay men and HIV positive men: in-depth interviews with general practitioners in Sydney, Australia.

Background: This paper describes the experiences of Australian general practitioners (GPs) in managing problematic crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth) use among two groups of male patients: gay men and HIV positive men.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with GPs with HIV medication prescribing rights were conducted in Sydney, Adelaide and a rural-coastal town in New South Wales between August and October 2006. Participants were recruited from practices with high caseloads of gay and HIV positive men.

Burnout in European family doctors: the EGPRN study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout, and of associated factors, amongst family doctors (FDs) in European countries. Methodology. A cross-sectional survey of FDs was conducted using a custom-designed and validated questionnaire which incorporated the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as questions about demographic factors, working experience, health, lifestyle and job satisfaction.

The coming of age of ICPC: celebrating the 21st birthday of the International Classification of Primary Care.

The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) has, since its introduction in 1987, been quite successful. Now in its second revised version, it has been translated in 22 languages, accepted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a member of the Family of International Classifications, and is being widely used both in routine daily practice and in research. In this contribution, it is explained that ICPC was designed as a theoretical classification, and that it has especially great potential when used (1) supported by the ICPC2/ICD10 Thesaurus, (2) in sufficiently large studies to allow all classes to be observed often enough to provide reliable data, and (3) in studies based on data on episodes of care, rather than encounter data only.

Total prepyloric transection of stomach and vertebral trauma: case report and review of the literature.

A rare injury of stomach associated with vertebral trauma in a 10-year-old girl, a victim of a traffic accident, is presented. Early X-ray and computerized tomography scan revealed no free abdominal air, only signs of pancreas contusion and fracture of the Th 12 and L 1 vertebral body were evident. Transection of stomach was revealed during endoscopy (an attempt to perform retrograde cholangio-pancreaticography) 20 h after the trauma.

Surgical management of major pancreatic injury in children.

Introduction: Major or complicated pancreatic trauma in children is uncommon and management strategies remain controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience with both early and delayed surgery in these pediatric cases.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of data of pediatric patients with major or complicated pancreatic injury operated on between January 1994 and December 2005 in our pediatric trauma center.

T-tube ileostomy for intestinal perforation in extremely low birth weight neonates.

To evaluate the results of use of T-tube ileostomy in selected cases of intestinal perforation in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates. The records of 288 ELBW neonates treated at author's institution, from 1998 to 2003 were retrospectively reviewed to identify neonates operated for intestinal perforation with T-tube placement. T-tube was inserted into the bowel through the site of perforation or proximally to the perforated gut via separate stab incision.

Lipoblastoma of kidney in a child.

This report describes a very rare case of lipoblastoma of a kidney affecting a small child. A 2-year-old boy was admitted for a palpable mass in the right abdominal quadrant. A preoperative examination revealed a tumor of uncertain origin.

Clinical history in gastroesophageal cough.

Gastroesophageal disease, a common cause of chronic cough, is often poorly recognised. We reviewed the presenting history of 47 chronic cough patients who had been proven to have gastroesophageal disease by oesophageal function testing. Fourty-seven patients (26 female), were enroled.