Hypothyroidism among children and adolescents with nephrotic syndrome in Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the commonest glomerular disease among children. It is characterized by heavy proteinuria and is a risk factor for hypothyroidism in the affected children. Hypothyroidism is of concern because it affects the physical and intellectual development of children and adolescents.

[Endoleaks in endovacular infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. (Part II)].

Searching for literature data was performed in the PubMed, Scopus and eLIBRARY databases. In the second part, we considered modern classifications of endoleaks type 3, 4 and 5 after endovascular infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, etiology, risk factors, classification of endoleaks. Modern data on effectiveness of their treatment by various methods are presented.

Assessment of 2-Year Mortality With Use of Drug-Coated Devices in Femoropopliteal Disease: A Real-World Experience From the Bronx, New York.

Unlabelled: The use of drug-coated devices (DCD) in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) intervention continues to remain controversial after a recent meta-analysis raised concerns of higher late mortality outcome with the use of these devices. Given this, there is need for more data with regards to the late mortality outcome with DCD use. We sought to assess the 2-year mortality outcome in patients with PAD treated with DCD in an inner-city public hospital that mainly serves patients of lower socio-economic status.

Novel autologous, high concentrated fibrin as advanced hemostatic agent for coronary surgery.

Background: Variability in transfusion outcomes and excessive postoperative bleeding represents a significant problem in cardiac surgery. The effort to reduce bleeding complications and transfusion outcomes is desirable. Our study investigated the feasibility of reducing bleeding complications and transfusion requirements by applying perioperatively prepared autologous bio-regenerative fibrin sealant.

Identification and treatment of offenders with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the prison population: a practical approach based upon expert consensus.

Background: Around 25% of prisoners meet diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because ADHD is associated with increased recidivism and other functional and behavioural problems, appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be a critical intervention to improve outcomes. While ADHD is a treatable condition, best managed by a combination of medication and psychological treatments, among individuals in the criminal justice system ADHD remains both mis- and under-diagnosed and consequently inadequately treated.

Use of Gentamicin as Empiric Coverage for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: The "Con" Perspective.

Background: Gentamicin is used commonly as an empiric antibiotic prior to culture evidence in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in surgical patients.

Methods: The published literature on the use of gentamicin for empiric therapy in VAP was reviewed and in combination with the author's personal experience, an evaluation has been made about the indications for the use of this antibiotic in VAP.

Results: Empiric gentamicin use appears to benefit less than 1% of patients in the treatment of presumptive VAP.

Anxiety and anxious-depression in Parkinson's disease over a 4-year period: a latent transition analysis.

Background: Depression and anxiety in Parkinson's disease are common and frequently co-morbid, with significant impact on health outcome. Nevertheless, management is complex and often suboptimal. The existence of clinical subtypes would support stratified approaches in both research and treatment.

The effects of cognitive reserve and lifestyle on cognition and dementia in Parkinson's disease--a longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: Cognitive reserve theory seeks to explain the observed mismatch between the degree of brain pathology and clinical manifestations. Early-life education, midlife social and occupational activities and later-life cognitive and social interactions are associated with a more favourable cognitive trajectory in older people. Previous studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) have suggested a possible role for the effects of cognitive reserve, but further research into different proxies for cognitive reserve and longitudinal studies is required.

Motor phenotypes, medication and mood: further associations with impulsive behaviours in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Dopaminergic drugs are the primary risk factor for Impulse Control Behaviours (ICB) in Parkinson's disease (PD), others being early-onset disease and gender.

Objective: This report further explores ICB symptom relationships with motor and mood phenotypes, the complex relationship with dopaminergic medications, and hypothesizes a model with potential clinical implications.

Methods: Data from 500 PD patients were analyzed.

Rebuilding mental health services in Iraq.

Since 2003 Iraq has experienced significant challenges in reforming and rebuilding its health services. A national mental health survey reported a high level of mental health problems consistent with a country that has experienced widespread violence and trauma. The survey also highlighted limited access to services.

The psycho-social rehabilitation of patients with alcohol-related brain damage in the community.

Aims: To describe the clinical presentation, course and psycho-social outcome of patients with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) referred from acute general hospital inpatient settings to a newly commissioned community team.

Methods: A follow-up study of a consecutive series of 41 patients subjected to a developing, phased rehabilitation programme in community settings.

Results: Patients were followed for an average of 25 months.

Interaction of α-melanocortin and its pentapeptide antisense LVKAT: effects on hepatoprotection in male CBA mice.

The genetic code defines nucleotide patterns that code for individual amino acids and their complementary, i.e., antisense, pairs.

Effect of inspiration of 12% O₂ (balance N₂) on cardiac output, respiration, oxygen saturation, and oxygen delivery.

Low arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) will result in a reduced rate of arterial oxygen delivery to the tissues (DO(2)), unless there is a compensatory increase in cardiac output (CO) or haemoglobin concentration (Hb). An adequate DO(2) can therefore be maintained by increasing ventilation, CO, or both. Sustaining a tissue specific oxygen extraction is thought to play an important part in overall compensation.

Who are sexual offenders? A survey of pre-trial psychiatric reports.

Sexual offending is a serious and growing problem in our society. The aim of the study was to investigate the main characteristics of people charged with sexual offences who presented before the criminal courts. The survey was conducted retrospectively between August 2001 and August 2006 on pre-trial court reports stored in a computer database shared by forensic psychiatrists using The Grange consulting rooms in West Yorkshire.

Report of a patient chewing fentanyl patches who was titrated onto methadone.

This case report discusses the clinical presentation and management of a patient presenting to substance misuse services reporting chewing fentanyl patches in addition to wearing them transdermally. The patient was successfully titrated onto methadone 30 mg. Only one previously reported case of an individual chewing fentanyl patches was found in the literature; no case reports were found where treatment involved titrating the patient onto methadone.

Middle-ear disease and schizophrenia: case-control study.

Background: One hundred years ago psychiatrists thought that ear disease could cause insanity by irritation of the brain. Current understanding of the role of the temporal lobes in schizophrenia and their proximity to the middle ear supports this hypothesis.

Aims: To establish the rate of middle-ear disease pre-dating the onset of schizophrenia.

Use of Kraepelinian concepts in international computer diagnosis.

In the 1960s, diagnosis in the UK followed Kraepelinian principles whereas that in the United States of America was influenced by Freudian concepts. The US Department of Health became alarmed at the large proportion of patients with schizophrenia entering State Mental Hospitals compared to the proportion entering the Area Mental Hospitals in England and Wales. Social theories of mental illness were in vogue and some thought that mental illness reflected the state of society.

Psychotherapeutic treatments for older depressed people.

Background: Despite a number of reviews advocating psychotherapy for the treatment of depression, there is relatively little evidence based on randomised controlled trials that specifically examines its efficacy in older people.

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of psychotherapeutic treatments for depression in older people.

Search Strategy: CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References were searched on 11/9/2006.

WITHDRAWN: Institutional versus at-home long term care for functionally dependent older people.

Background: An increasing number of functionally dependent older people require care and medical treatment. Increasingly governments are shifting resources into community care expecting both reduction in costs and improvement in the quality of care. However, it is difficult to establish the costs and benefits of institutional and the alternative at-home care.

Use of tissue welding technology to obliterate left atrial appendage--novel use of Ligasure.

The left atrial appendage is one source of thromboemobolus. Complete occlusion of this appendage is required to sever communication with the left atrium; however, current ligation techniques can potentially leave residual communication. A novel technique of occluding the appendage has been developed using a bipolar device and radiofrequency energy.

Survival in the community of the very old depressed, discharged from medical inpatient care.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and associated risk factors of depression in older patients discharged home from acute medical care and their influence on duration of survival in the community.

Design: A cross-sectional, prevalence study of depression in recently discharged patients and a prospective, case-controlled study of depressed and psychiatrically asymptomatic sub groups, exploring the relationship between depression, associated risk factors, and duration of survival in the community.

Setting: A community study of patients aged 75 and older discharged from the Countess of Chester Hospital and Wirral Hospitals Trust serving Wirral and West Cheshire, England.

Antidepressants for depressed elderly.

Background: Depression is a relatively common experience in older adults. The syndrome is associated with considerable distress, morbidity and service commitment. Approximately two thirds of patients presenting with severe forms will respond to antidepressant treatment and the last twenty years has witnessed a great increase in the number of these drugs.

Liquid based cytology: examination of its potential in a chlamydia screening programme.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of testing for chlamydia directly on a single liquid based specimen (ThinPrep test) collected for cervical screening.

Method: Cervical smears were taken using a Cervex spatula and rinsed in the liquid based cytology collection vial. Following this, the conventional sample for chlamydia testing was taken from the endocervix using an Abbott Collection kit.