老年成套神经心理测验与痴呆

目的：探讨老年成套神经心理测验(NTBE，Neuropsychological Test Battery for Elderly)在痴呆诊断中的参考价值。方法：1．横断面研究，在国内15个省市中取样，根据DSM-Ⅳ标准将受试者分为痴呆组与正常老人两组，全部被试接受简易智力状态检查(MMSE)，日常生活能力量表(ADL)，总体退化量表(GDS)和NTBE测评。结果：共纳入正常组919例，痴呆组69例。NTBE诊断痴呆的敏感性为85．7l％，特异性为92．82％。结论：NTBE用于辅助诊断痴呆效果良好。     

Prevalence of dementia subtypes in a developing country: a clinicopathological study

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the distribution of dementia subtypes in Brazil using a population-based clinicopathological study.

METHOD:

Brains from deceased individuals aged ≥50 years old were collected after the next of kin signed an informed consent form and provided information through standardized questionnaires. Post-mortem clinical diagnoses were established in consensus meetings, and only cases with moderate or severe dementia or without cognitive impairment were included in the analysis. Immunohistochemical neuropathological examinations were performed following the universally accepted guidelines. A diagnosis of Alzheimer''s disease was made when there were at least both a moderate density of neuritic plaques (Consortium to Establish a Register for Alzheimer''s disease B or C) and Braak stage III for neurofibrillary tangle distribution. For the diagnosis of vascular dementia, at least three zones or strategic areas had to be affected by infarcts, lacunae, or microinfarcts.

RESULTS:

From 1,291 subjects, 113 cases were classified as having moderate or severe dementia, and 972 cases were free of cognitive impairment. The neuropathological diagnoses of the dementia sub-group were Alzheimer''s disease (35.4%), vascular dementia (21.2%), Alzheimer''s disease plus vascular dementia (13.3%), and other causes of dementia (30.1%). Small-vessel disease, which alone was not considered sufficient for a vascular dementia diagnosis, was present in 38.9% of all of the dementia cases and in 16.8% of the group without cognitive impairment (odds ratio = 2.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.53-5.51), adjusted for age, sex, and education.

CONCLUSIONS:

The relatively high frequencies of vascular dementia and small-vessel disease in the dementia sub-group constitute relevant findings for public health initiatives because control of vascular risk factors could decrease the prevalence of dementia in developing countries.     

认知伪装甄别测验的编制和信效度分析

目的：编制一套甄别认知伪装的心理测验，并检验它的信效度。方法：按照Rogers提出的伪装甄别策略，编制了两个迫选式再认分测验一数字迫选测验和图符迫选测验，每个分测验含30个条目。264名正常人、33名脑损害病人和125名可疑伪装的鉴定者完成认知伪装甄别测验．其中303名被试接受华文认知能力量表测试、297名被试接受多维记忆评估量表测试。结果：数字迫选测验和阿符迫选测验的重测相关系数分别为0．603和0．571。数字迫选测验的信度系数在0．749—0．888之间，图符迫选测验的信度系数在0．753—0．872之间，全量表的信度系数为0．843—0．936。认知伪装甄别测验成绩与华文认知能力量表和多维记忆评估量表各分测验分数有显著性相关，相关值在0．308—0．608之间。正常人不同年龄组的测验成绩有明显的差异，正常组、脑损害病人组和鉴定组的测验成绩和成绩曲线有明显的不同。结论：认知伪装甄别测验具有较好的信度和效度．可以作为认知伪装的甄别工具。     

Agmatine Improves Cognitive Dysfunction and Prevents Cell Death in a Streptozotocin-Induced Alzheimer Rat Model

PurposeAlzheimer''s disease (AD) results in memory impairment and neuronal cell death in the brain. Previous studies demonstrated that intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin (STZ) induces pathological and behavioral alterations similar to those observed in AD. Agmatine (Agm) has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects in central nervous system disorders. In this study, we investigated whether Agm treatment could attenuate apoptosis and improve cognitive decline in a STZ-induced Alzheimer rat model.ResultsAgm suppressed the accumulation of amyloid beta and enhanced insulin signal transduction in STZ-induced Alzheimer rats [experimetal control (EC) group]. Upon evaluation of cognitive function by Morris water maze testing, significant improvement of learning and memory dysfunction in the STZ-Agm group was observed compared with the EC group. Western blot results revealed significant attenuation of the protein expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, as well as increases in the protein expressions of Bcl2, PI3K, Nrf2, and γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase, in the STZ-Agm group.ConclusionOur results showed that Agm is involved in the activation of antioxidant signaling pathways and activation of insulin signal transduction. Accordingly, Agm may be a promising therapeutic agent for improving cognitive decline and attenuating apoptosis in AD.     

Reliability and validity of the severe impairment battery (SIB) in Korean dementia patients

This study was conducted to examine the reliability, validity and clinical utility of the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) for a Korean population. 69 dementia patients with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) stages 2 or 3 were participated in this study. The SIB, Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), CDR, and Seoul-Activities of Daily Living (S-ADL) were administered. The validity of the SIB was confirmed by evaluating the correlation coefficients between the SIB and K-MMSE, CDR, S-ADL, which were found to be significant. Cronbach's alpha for the total SIB score and each subscale score showed high significance, and the item-total correlation for each subscale was also acceptable. The test-retest correlation for the total SIB score and subscale scores were significant, except for the praxis and orienting to name. The total SIB score and subscale scores were examined according to CDR. The results suggest that the SIB can differentiate the poor performances of severely impaired dementia patients. On the basis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), it can be concluded that the SIB is able to accurately discriminate between CDR 2 and 3 patients. The results of this study suggest that the SIB is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating severe dementia patients in Korean population.     

Attenuation of neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease by motor intervention: a controlled trial

OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the effects of motor intervention on the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer''s disease and on the caregivers'' burden.

DESIGN:

This is a controlled trial evaluating the effects of a motor intervention program on the neuropsychiatric symptoms.

SETTING:

The intervention was performed on community patients from two university centers specializing in physical exercise for the elderly.

SUBJECTS:

Patients with Alzheimer''s disease were divided into two groups: sixteen received the motor intervention and sixteen controls (five controls were excluded because of clinical intercurrences).

INTERVENTIONS:

Aerobic exercises (flexibility, strength, and agility) and functional balance exercises were conducted over six months for 60 minutes three times per week.

MAIN MEASURES:

Psychopathological features of patients were evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Caregivers were evaluated using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Distress and Burden Interview. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to observe interactions (pre- vs. post-intervention; participants vs. controls).

RESULTS:

Patients from the intervention presented a significant reduction in neuropsychiatric conditions when compared to controls (Neuropsychiatric Inventory: F∶11.12; p = 0.01; Cornell Depression scale: F∶11.97; p = 0.01). The burden and stress of caregivers responsible for patients who participated in the intervention significantly decreased when compared to caregivers responsible for controls (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Distress: F: 9.37; p = 0.01; Burden Interview: F: 11.28; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Aerobic exercise was associated with a reduction in the neuropsychiatric symptoms and contributed to attenuate the caregivers'' burden. However, the researchers were not blinded to the patient''s intervention status, which constitutes an important limitation of this study.     

Dementia care in rural and remote settings: a systematic review of informal/family caregiving

Objectives

The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the available evidence from the published scientific literature on informal/family dementia care in rural and remote settings to assess the current state of knowledge, identify support implications, and make recommendations for future research.

Methods

A systemic review of the literature indexed in ISI Web of Knowledge, PsychInfo, Medline, Healthstar, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Sociological Abstracts was conducted. Data were extracted from papers meeting inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed papers that focused on dementia or Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and examined informal or family caregiving in relation to persons with AD or dementia in remote or rural locations.

Results

The search identified 872 articles for review, reduced to 72 after removing duplicates and articles not meeting inclusion criteria. Of the 72 remaining, 26 are included in this review focusing on informal/family caregiving. A previous review focused on the 46 studies on formal/paid care. Four themes that correspond to the current state of knowledge about rural informal/family dementia caregiving in the 26 included studies were: service use, carer experience, support and education, and rural perceptions of dementia.

Conclusions

Despite the growing body of evidence over the 20 years of this review, and the widespread interest in family dementia caregiving generally, much of the research exploring family caregiving in rural areas focuses on the experience, use and barriers to formal service provision. There is limited work examining the experiences of rural caregivers and their education and support needs. More research is needed about the impact of rurality on caregiving and the education and support needs of rural informal family caregivers.     

A Bioinformatics Perspective on the Dysregulation of Ferroptosis and Ferroptosis-related Immune Cell Infiltration in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer''s disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia worldwide, but its pathophysiology and molecular events remain unknown. Herein, we first analyzed the differential expression pattern of patients'' AD hippocampus through gene expression array data from the GEO database. Notch2nl, TGFB1I1, and LTF were up-regulated in AD patients, while ARPC1A, CHGB, and MPV17 down-regulated. Second, dysregulation of ferroptosis related genes was demonstrated from our data: PCBP2 and FTL significantly up-significant in AD hippocampus, while VDAC2, LPCAT3, GSS, ACSL4, and ACSL6 significantly down-regulated. The protein-protein interactions (PPI) network revealed that FTL was involved in iron metabolism and utilization, while ACSL4 and ACSL6 were involved in a polyunsaturated fatty acids metabolism network. Gene correlation analysis on differential expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that ferroptosis regulates a series of biological processes and pathways related to AD pathogenesis. Third, ferroptosis-related DEGs regulated the immune cell infiltration pattern in the AD hippocampus, characterized by decreased memory B cells, increased memory resting CD4⁺ T cells, memory activated CD4⁺ T cells, and resting NK cells. The altered expression of ferroptosis-related DEGs affected the infiltration of specific immune cell types. The model constructed by the seven ferroptosis-related differential genes may accurately predict the outcome of AD occurrence. Finally, qPCR validation on these ferroptosis-related DEGs in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 mice confirmed the dysregulated expression of Pcbp2, FTL, GSS, and ACSL4 in the AD hippocampus and forebrain. In conclusion, our results supported the conception that the AD brain revealed dysregulated ferroptosis and immune cell infiltration.     

Barratt冲动量表中文版用于中学生的信度、效度分析

目的:分析和探索Barratt冲动量表(BIS-11)的信度和效度。方法:对396名高中学生进行Barratt冲动量表测查,并间隔一个月进行重测,对获取的数据进行相关分析和因素分析。结果:BIS-11量表内部一致性系数为0.80;重测信度0.81;与RBQ-A(青少年危险行为问卷)、RAPI(酒精使用问卷)冲动危险因子显著相关;验证性因素分析(CFA)显示此样本两个二阶因子拟合程度较好。结论:BIS-11是一个比较好的评估冲动行为的工具。     

Dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase 1 (DCP1) and butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) gene interactions with the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele as risk factors in Alzheimer's disease and in Parkinson's disease with coexisting Alzheimer pathology

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are genetically heterogeneous. Dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase 1 (DCP1) and butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) genes may modify the risk of these disorders. We investigated whether common polymorphisms present in these genes operate as risk factors for AD and PD in Finnish subjects, independently or in concert with the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE ε4). Eighty late onset sporadic AD patients, 53 PD patients (34 of whom had concomitant AD pathology), and 67 control subjects were genotyped for the insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism of DCP1 and the K variant of BCHE. In logistic regression analysis, the DCP1 *I allele in combination with APOE ε4 significantly increased the risk of AD (OR 30.0, 95% CI 7.3-123.7), compared to subjects carrying neither of the alleles. Similar analysis showed that the risk of AD was significantly increased in subjects carrying both the BCHE wild type (*WT/*WT) genotype and ε4 (OR 9.9, 95% CI 2.9-33.8), compared to those without this BCHE genotype and ε4. Further, the risk of PD with AD pathology was significantly increased for carriers of DCP1 *I and ε4 (OR 8.0, 95% CI 2.1-31.1). We thus conclude that, in Finns, interaction between DCP1 *I and ε4 increases the risk of AD as well as of PD with coexisting Alzheimer pathology, which underlines the importance of the DCP1 I/D polymorphism in the development of Alzheimer neuropathology, whereas the wild type BCHE genotype in combination with ε4 had a combined effect with regard to the risk of AD.


Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase 1; butyrylcholinesterase     

Efficacy and Safety of Infliximab Therapy and Predictors of Response in Korean Patients with Crohn's Disease: A Nationwide,Multicenter Study

PurposeInfliximab is currently used for the treatment of active Crohn''s disease (CD). We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of infliximab therapy and to determine the predictors of response in Korean patients with CD.ResultsIn patients with luminal CD, the rates of clinical response and remission at week 14 were 89.2% and 60.0%, respectively. Male gender and isolated colonic disease were associated with higher remission rates at week 14. In week-14 responders, the probabilities of sustained response and remission were 96.2% and 93.3% at week 30 and 88.0% and 77.0% at week 54, respectively. In patients with fistulizing CD, clinical response and remission were observed in 85.0% and 56.2% of patients, respectively, at week 14. In week-14 responders, the probabilities of sustained response and remission were 94.0% and 97.1%, respectively, at both week 30 and week 54. Thirty-nine patients (12.3%) experienced adverse events related to infliximab. Serious adverse events developed in 19 (6.0%) patients including seven cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis.ConclusionInfliximab induction and maintenance therapy are effective and well tolerable in Korean patients with luminal and fistulizing CD. However, clinicians must be aware of the risk of rare yet critical adverse events.     

Screening for hen's egg and chicken meat specific IgE antibodies in Saudi patients with allergic disorders

Background

Allergy to hen''s egg and meat contributes significantly to the manifestations of food allergy all over the world.

Objectives

This study was performed to assess the presence of hen''s egg and meat specific IgE antibodies among patients investigated for various allergic disorders.

Methods

This is a retrospective study performed at King Khalid University Hosptial, Riyadh. Data from 421 patients with allergic disorders screened for food specific IgE antibodies between January 2009 and March 2011 were analyzed. Sixty (14.25%) patients including 42 males and 18 females with the mean age (sd) of 7.5 (7.4) years were found to have specific IgE antibodies against hen''s egg and chicken meat. There were 56 (93.3%) children and 4 (6.7%) adult patients. Specific IgE antibodies were measured by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) using Pharmacia ImmunoCAP 250 analyzer.

Results

Atopic dermatitis was the most common (55%) clinical condition. Out of the total 60 patients harboring hen''s egg and chicken meat specific IgE antibodies high levels of egg white, yolk and chicken meat specific IgEs were detected in 58 (96.6%), 37 (61.6%) and 6 (10%) patients respectively. Both the egg white and yolk antibodies coexisted in 35 (58.3%) patients.

Conclusion

Sensitization against hen''s egg was higher compared to the chicken meat. Egg white sensitization higher than the egg yolk particularly in Saudi children with food related allergic disorders.     

Decreasing uptake of predictive testing for Huntington's disease in a German centre: 12 years' experience (1993-2004)

In this retrospective study, we examined changes in decision-making for and against the predictive genetic test for Huntington's disease including 478 persons at risk who had undergone genetic counselling in one centre in Germany between 1993 and 2004. At the outset of the counselling procedure the majority of subjects (71%) wanted to make use of the test, yet the actual demand of the predictive test result declined from 67 to 38% over the years. In addition, the time interval between counselling session and blood withdrawal was reduced, as determined by the counselees: in 2000-2004 the majority of persons at risk made the appointment for blood withdrawal after the shortest possible time span. Demographic factors of the cohort remained comparatively stable in the investigated time period. An association was evident between the ratio of test usage and the counselling person. These and other possible factors influencing the time flow of predictive DNA testing are discussed. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether changes of test demand rates are a general phenomenon.     

Black cohosh and St. John's wort (GYNO-Plus) for climacteric symptoms

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in women with climacteric symptoms, and to assess their effects on vaginal atrophy, hormone levels, and lipid profiles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 89 peri- or postmenopausal women experiencing climacteric symptoms were treated with St. John's wort and black cohosh extract (Gynoplus), Jin-Yang Pharm., Seoul, Korea) or a matched placebo for 12 weeks. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by the Kupperman Index (KI) initially and at 4 and 12 weeks following treatment. Vaginal maturation indices, serum estradiol, FSH, LH, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured before and after treatment. From the initial 89 participants, 77 completed the trial (42 in the Gynoplus group, 35 in the placebo group). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean KI scores and hot flushes after 4 and 12 weeks were significantly lower in the Gynoplus group. Differences in superficial cell proportion were not statistically significant. HDL levels decreased in the control group from 60.20 +/- 16.37 to 56.63 +/- 12.67, and increased in the Gynoplus group from 58.32 +/- 11.64 to 59.74 +/- 10.54; this was statistically significant (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Black cohosh and St. John's wort combination was found to be effective in alleviating climacteric symptoms and might provide benefits to lipid metabolism.     

Raised anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies (AECA), but not anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA), in recurrent oral ulceration: modulation of AECA binding by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)

Recurrent oral ulceration (ROU) is a common oral mucosal condition of unknown etiology. However, there is evidence to suggest that vasculitis may play a role. Here we investigate the presence in ROU of two autoantibodies associated with vasculitis, AECA and ANCA. AECA target as yet unidentified antigens on the endothelial cell surface and have been identified in patients with vasculitic disorders and inflammatory conditions with a vasculitic component. ANCA target specific neutrophil-associated proteins and are detected in specific vasculitic and chronic inflammatory disorders. AECA and ANCA levels were studied in 20 ROU patients and 20 controls. IgG AECA to the endothelial cell line ECV 304 were detected in 19 ROU patients and four controls. Levels were significantly raised in ROU both to ECV 304 (P < 0.000 05) and to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) (P < 0.005). Although levels were highest during episodes of ulceration, they were also raised between episodes. Stimulation of endothelial cells with TNF-α significantly increased AECA binding of both ROU (P < 0.005) and control samples (P < 0.0001), while IFN-γ decreased binding (ROU P < 0.0001; controls P < 0.05). In contrast, ANCA were detected in only one patient and none of the controls. The presence of raised levels of AECA lends support to the hypothesis that a vasculitic process may underlie ROU. Moreover, these findings suggest that endothelial cell expression of AECA target antigens is increased by TNF-α and decreased by IFN-γ stimulation.     

Dilemmas in the (un)veiling of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: walking an ethical and professional tight rope

OBJECTIVE: To enhance the understanding and effect of physician's difficulties, attitudes and communication styles on the disclosure of the diagnosis of AD in practice. METHODS: Qualitative, phenomenological study, combining pre-encounter interviews with physicians, observations of actual encounters of diagnosis disclosure of AD, and post-encounter interviews. RESULTS: There were various ways or tactics to (un)veil the bad news that may be perceived as different ways of dulling the impact and avoiding full and therefore problematic statements. In the actual encounters this was accomplished by keeping encounters short, avoiding elaboration, confirmation of comprehension and explicit terminology and using fractured sentences. CONCLUSION: The present study's findings highlight the difficulties encountered in breaking the news about AD, in the way it is actually done, and the problems that may arise from this way of un/veiling the news. The main problem is that the reluctance to make a candid disclosure of the diagnosis as was demonstrated in this study may violate basic moral and legal rights and may also deprive patients and caregivers of some of the benefits of early disclosure of diagnosis. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: There is a need for assisting physicians to cope with their personal difficulties, problems and pitfalls in breaking the news.     

Sirenomelia (symelia apus) with Potter's syndrome in connection with gestational diabetes mellitus: a case report and literature review

We report one case of a fetus of sirenomelia sequence with Potters syndrome which showed oligohydramnios and symelia apus. The infant showed absent urinary tract and external genitalia, the legs were fused by skin and had separate bones associated with Potter's syndrome. The mother had a history of gestational diabetes mellitus.     

Cholinesterase inhibitors and add-on nutritional supplements in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

To date, single drug and nutrient-based interventions have failed to show a clinically relevant effect on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Multidomain interventions may alleviate symptoms and alter the disease course in a synergistic manner. This systematic review examines the effect of adding nutritional supplementation to cholinesterase inhibitors. A systematic PubMed and Cochrane search resulted in nine high quality studies. The studies had low to moderate risk of bias and focused on oxidative stress, homocysteine levels, membrane fluidity, inflammation and acetylcholine levels. Only the use of vitamin E supplements could reduce the rate of functional decline when combined with cholinesterase inhibitors in one study, whereas cognition was not affected in both this and other studies. None of the other nutritional supplements showed convincing evidence of a beneficial effect when combined with cholinesterase inhibitors. This shows that cognitive and functional improvement is difficult to achieve in patients with AD, despite epidemiological data and evidence of biological effects of nutritional supplements. Addressing one disease pathway in addition to cholinesterase inhibitor therapy is probably insufficient to alter the course of the disease. Personalized, multifactorial interventions may be more successful in improving cognition and daily functioning.