Subjective cognitive complaints and amyloid burden in cognitively normal older individuals

Accumulating evidence suggests that subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) may indicate subtle cognitive decline characteristic of individuals with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we sought to build upon previous studies by associating SCC and amyloid-β deposition using positron emission tomography with Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB-PET) in cognitively normal older individuals. One-hundred thirty one subjects (mean age 73.5±6) were administered three subjective cognitive questionnaires and a brief neuropsychological battery. A relationship between a subjective memory complaints composite score and cortical PiB binding was found to be significant, even after controlling for depressive symptoms. By contrast, there were no significant relationships between objective cognitive measures of memory and executive functions and cortical PiB binding. Our study suggests that SCC may be an early indicator of AD pathology detectable prior to significant objective impairment.     

Correction to: The Adapted ADOS: A New Module Set for the Assessment of Minimally Verbal Adolescents and Adults

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - The original version of the article has contained an error in Table 3 (the organization of Module 2 items into the Basic Social Communication and...     

Instrumental activities of daily living impairment is associated with increased amyloid burden

Background/Aims: Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) impairment in Alzheimer's disease has been associated with global amyloid deposition in postmortem studies. We sought to determine whether IADL impairment is associated with increased cortical Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) retention. Methods: Fifty-five subjects (19 normal older controls, NC, and 36 with mild cognitive impairment, MCI) underwent clinical assessments and dynamic PiB positron emission tomography imaging. Results: A linear multiple regression model showed that greater IADL impairment was associated with greater global PiB retention in all subjects (R(2) = 0.40; unstandardized partial regression coefficient, β = 5.8; p = 0.0002) and in MCI subjects only (R(2) = 0.28; β = 6.1; p = 0.003), but not in NC subjects only. Conclusion: These results suggest that daily functional impairment is related to greater amyloid burden in MCI.     

The Effects of Nursing Case Management on the Utilization of Prenatal Care by Mexican-Americans in Rural Oregon

Abstract This quasi-experimental, retrospective study used birth certificate and medical record data to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rural Oregon Minority Prenatal Program (ROMPP) in improving patterns of prenatal care utilization by rural-dwelling, low-income, Mexican-American women at risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. The ROMPP intervention provided nursing case management services and peer outreach to pregnant Mexican-American women in a rural Oregon community. The intervention group had more prenatal visits in months 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 than the comparison group ( P < 0.05). The intervention group had a similar number of emergency room (ER) visits, but had more respiratory diagnoses and fewer urinary tract infections. ROMPP women had more inpatient admissions and longer lengths of stay. No differences were found in the initiation of prenatal care or the total number of prenatal care visits, nor in the timing of screening serum glucose tests. The intervention should be expanded to address the persistent attitudinal, financial, transportation and language barriers to adequate prenatal care. Nurses should increase their cultural competency and sharpen their clinical focus on advocacy, marketing, facilitation of relationships between community groups, and community organizing.     

Role of proton transfer in the electrochemical reduction mechanism of salicylideneaniline

The electrochemical reduction mechanism of salicylideneaniline has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, controlled potential electrolysis and coulometry. The main reduction product, characterised by HPLC, IR, ¹H NMR in X-ray diffractometry, is an anionic dimer, present in two diastereoisomeric forms, together with the conjugate base of the substrate. The latter stems from an intermolecular proton transfer from the substrate to a basic reduction intermediate. Kinetic analysis of the voltammetric results has allowed the electrode reaction mechanism to be fully characterised, showing in particular that the rate-determining step is the coupling between two anionic radicals, promoted by intramolecular H-bridging.     

Bacteriological study of amniotic fluid during labor

Amniotic fluid from 207 women in labor was analysed at the time of artificial rupture of membranes or by amniocentesis. The following organisms were identified in concentrations of more than 1 000/ml: Staphylococcus aureus (1), Propionibacterium (1), E. coli (1), group B Streptococci (3), Lactobacilli (16). The 6 patient-carriers of pathogens became infected as did 4 of their babies. Leukocyte counts and LDH levels performed on amniotic fluid did not correlate with the appearance of symptoms of infection. Quantitative bacteriology of amniotic fluid seems to be of value in identifying patients at high risk of developing endometritis and/or neonatal sepsis.     

Evaluation of word associations as a reliable postoperative indicator of implicit memory formation during the intraoperative period.

Patients expect to receive an anesthetic that prevents the formation of memories during the intraoperative period. Unfortunately, explicit memory formation occurs 40,000 times per year in the United States, while the incidence of implicit memory is thought to be greater. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of word associations as a reliable postoperative indicator of implicit memory formation during the intraoperative period. Forty-eight participants scheduled to undergo general anesthesia for an elective procedure were selected. During the administration of 0.77 +/- .18 microgram/kg per minute of remifentanyl and 0.31 +/- .04 end-tidal volume percent of sevoflurane in air/oxygen, word associations in the form of "Trivial Pursuit" (Hasbro, Inc, Pawtucket, RI) game statements were presented via headphones. Within 24 hours of surgery, each participant was given a postoperative word association test that included the experimental and control word associations. No reports of explicit memory were noted. The experimental word associations were correctly answered 19.3% of the time, while the control word associations were correctly answered 12.8% of the time (P = .014). The findings illustrated that the word association test in the form of Trivial Pursuit game statements/answers may serve as a reliable postoperative indicator of implicit memory formation during the intraoperative period.