Escitalopram in the treatment of adolescent depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled extension trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extended efficacy, safety, and tolerability of escitalopram relative to placebo in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: Adolescents (12-17 years) who completed an 8-week randomized, double-blind, flexible-dose, placebo-controlled, lead-in study of escitalopram 10-20 mg versus placebo could enroll in a 16-24-week, multisite extension trial; patients maintained the same lead-in randomization (escitalopram or placebo) and dosage (escitalopram 10 or 20 mg/day, or placebo) during the extension. The primary efficacy was Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) change from the lead-in study baseline to treatment week 24 (8-week lead-in study plus 16-week extension); the secondary efficacy was Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) score at week 24.

Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of quetiapine in youth with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder: a 26-week, open-label, continuation study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of quetiapine monotherapy continued for up to 26-weeks in youth with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder.

Methods: Medically healthy boys and girls with a baseline Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV-TR) diagnosis of schizophrenia (ages 13-17 years) or a manic episode of bipolar I disorder (ages 10-17 years) who participated in one of two acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of immediate-release quetiapine were potentially eligible to enroll in a 26-week, open-label study.

Post-acute effectiveness of lithium in pediatric bipolar I disorder.

Objective: This study examined the long-term effectiveness of lithium for the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder within the context of combination mood stabilizer therapy for refractory mania and pharmacological treatment of comorbid psychiatric conditions.

Methods: Outpatients, ages 7-17 years, meeting American Psychiatric Association, diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder I (BP-I) (manic or mixed) who demonstrated at least a partial response to 8 weeks of open-label treatment with lithium (phase I) were eligible to receive open-label lithium for an additional 16 weeks (phase II).

Aripiprazole for the treatment of pediatric bipolar I disorder: a 30-week, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Objective:   To evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of aripiprazole in pediatric subjects with bipolar I disorder.

Methods:   A randomized, double-blind, 30-week, placebo-controlled study of aripiprazole (10 or 30 mg/day) in youths (10-17 years) with bipolar I disorder (manic or mixed) ± psychotic features (n = 296) was performed. After four weeks, acute treatment completers continued receiving ≤26 weeks of double-blind treatment (n = 210).

Parent-reported executive function behaviors and clinician ratings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children treated with lisdexamfetamine dimesylate.

Objective: The purpose of this article was to describe the relationships between parent-rated executive function (EF) and clinician-rated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms before and after lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) treatment in children with and without EF deficit.

Methods: In post-hoc analyses of children with ADHD who participated in a 7 week open-label, dose-optimized (LDX 20-70 mg/day) trial, ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) change scores were compared (using two-sample t tests) between youth with and without clinically significant EF impairment at baseline. Clinically significant impairment was defined as parent-rated Behavior Rating Inventory of EF (BRIEF) Global Executive Composite (GEC) t scores ≥65.

A long-term open-label safety and effectiveness trial of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Objective: Information on psychostimulant treatment in long-term studies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents is limited. This study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) over 52 weeks in adolescents with ADHD.

Methods: This open-label multicenter study enrolled eligible participants after their participation in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 4 week trial in adolescents with ADHD.

Clinical predictors of conduction disease progression in type I myotonic muscular dystrophy.

Background: Patients with type I myotonic muscular dystrophy (DM1) are at risk for sudden death due to atrioventricular conduction block. We sought to characterize the trends and predictors of time-dependent electrocardiographic (ECG) variations in patients with DM1.

Methods: Seventy patients with DM1 underwent standard electrocardiography at first evaluation and routine and symptom prompted follow-up.

Longitudinal and multi-echo transverse relaxation times of normal breast tissue at 3 Tesla.

Purpose: To measure longitudinal (T(1)) and multi-echo transverse (T(2)) relaxation times of healthy breast tissue at 3 Tesla (T).

Materials And Methods: High-resolution relaxation time measurements were made in six healthy female subjects. Inversion recovery images were acquired at 10 inversion times between 100 ms and 4000 ms, and multiple spin echo images were acquired at 16 echo times between 10 ms and 160 ms.

Aneurysm syndromes caused by mutations in the TGF-beta receptor.

Background: The Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a recently described autosomal dominant aortic-aneurysm syndrome with widespread systemic involvement. The disease is characterized by the triad of arterial tortuosity and aneurysms, hypertelorism, and bifid uvula or cleft palate and is caused by heterozygous mutations in the genes encoding transforming growth factor beta receptors 1 and 2 (TGFBR1 and TGFBR2, respectively).

Methods: We undertook the clinical and molecular characterization of 52 affected families.

High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging of the brain stem at 3 T.

Diffusion tensor imaging with 1.8-mm isotropic resolution was performed to delineate structures of the brain stem. High-resolution single-shot imaging was achieved by the combination of a high-field magnet (3T) and the SENSitivity Encoding (or SENSE) parallel imaging technique.

Neuroimaging in cerebral palsy.

Parents and clinicians concerned about high-risk infants and children with motor delay or cerebral palsy seek information on cause, treatment, prognosis, and recurrence risk. Used in combination with history and examination, neuroimaging studies can improve diagnosis and management. In premature infants, cranial ultrasound is a reliable, noninvasive diagnostic modality.

Dendritic cytoskeletal protein expression in mental retardation: an immunohistochemical study of the neocortex in Rett syndrome.

Many syndromes associated with mental retardation (MR) are characterized by cortical dendritic anomalies. Despite their morphological similarity, these changes appear to involve different stages of dendritic development. The neuronal cytoskeleton, which includes microfilaments, neurofilaments and microtubules, is essential for these developmental processes.

Dendritic anomalies in disorders associated with mental retardation.

Dendritic abnormalities are the most consistent anatomical correlates of mental retardation (MR). Earliest descriptions included dendritic spine dysgenesis, which was first associated with unclassified MR, but can also be found in genetic syndromes associated with MR. Genetic disorders with well-defined dendritic anomalies involving branches and/or spines include Down, Rett and fragile-X syndromes.

Cerebral inflammation in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 1 in 25 000 males. It is characterized by elevated levels of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), i.e.

Clinical markers in CSF for determining neurologic deficits after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs.

Background: Spinal cord ischemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm operations. The incidence of paraplegia is high even in experienced institutions.

Methods: We investigated whether neurotransmitter excitotoxicity is associated with neurologic deficits after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm operations.