Inflammatory bowel disease: An increased risk factor for neurologic complications

Only a very few systematic studies have investigated the frequency of neurologic disorders in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD) and ulcerative colitis(UC), which are the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Results have been inconsistent and variable, owing to differences in case-finding methods and evaluated outcomes in different studies. The most frequent neurologic manifestations reported in CD and UC populations are cerebrovascular disease(with either arterial or venous events), demyelinating central nervous system disease, and peripheral neuropathy(whether axonal or demyelinating); however, the literature describes numerous nervous system disorders as being associated with IBD. The pathogenesis of nervous system tissue involvement in IBD has yet to be elucidated, although it seems to be related to immune mechanisms or prothrombotic states. The recently-introduced tumor necrosis factor(TNF) inhibitors have proven successful in controlling moderate to severe IBD activity. However, severe neurologic disorders associated with TNF inhibitors have been reported, which therefore raises concerns regarding the effect of anti-TNF-α antibodies on the nervous system. Although neurological involvement associated with IBD is rarely reported, gastroenterologists should be aware of the neurologic manifestations of IBD in order to provide early treatment, which is crucial for preventing major neurologic morbidity.     

Interpretation bias characterizes trait rumination

Background and objectives

Rumination, a maladaptive cognitive style of responding to negative mood, is thought to be maintained by a variety of cognitive biases. However, it is unknown whether rumination is characterized by interpretation biases.

Methods

Two experiments examined the link between rumination and interpretation biases, revealed in lexical-decision tasks (LDT). A homograph with both benign and ruminative or otherwise negative meaning was presented on each trial and followed by a letter string, to which participants responded by judging whether it was a word or a non-word. Letter strings were non-words or words related or unrelated to one meaning of the homograph.

Results

In both experiments, faster latencies to respond to targets related to the ruminative meaning of the homographs were produced by students with higher scores on self-report measures of rumination. Moreover, these biases were associated with both brooding, the maladaptive form of rumination, and reflection, the more adaptive component. No measure of rumination was significantly correlated with general biases toward negative meaning (Experiment 1) or with threatening interpretations of homographs (Experiment 2).

Limitations

The paucity of available rumination-related homographs dictated the use of non-fully randomized stimuli presentation (Experiment 1) or the use of only one set of the meanings associated with the homographs (Experiment 2).

Conclusions

Rumination is associated with a tendency to interpret ambiguous information in a rumination-consistent manner. This tendency may exacerbate ruminative thinking and can possibly be a target for future intervention.     

25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients undergoing coronary artery catheterization

IntroductionA growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The present study assessed the association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and coronary artery disease status defined by coronary catheterization findings.MethodsAn observational study of 101 consecutive patients admitted to Assaf Harofeh Medical Center during 2009, and scheduled to undergo coronary catheterization was undertaken. Blood was collected for parathyroid hormone, 25(OH)D and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP). 25(OH)D deficiency was defined as < 20 ng/ml. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with normal or non-significant coronary artery disease and patients with a significant coronary artery disease as found during cardiac catheterization. Logistic regression model was used to compare pathological coronary catheterization findings, including 25(OH)D levels dichotomized to low (serum 25(OH)D levels < 20 ng/ml) vs. high (serum 25(OH)D levels ≥ 20 ng/ml) and other confounders.ResultsPatients with pathological coronary catheterization had 25(OH)D deficiency (75% vs 55.1%, p = 0.036). Pathological coronary catheterization was more prevalent among patients with 25(OH)D deficiency (Odds ratio (OR) 2.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–5.68, p = 0.038). This difference was more pronounced after controlling for sex, age, BMI, ethnicity and present smoking (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.01–8.46, p = 0.016).Conclusions25(OH)D deficiency is significantly associated with pathological cardiac catheterization findings. This association is strengthened further by controlling for other cardiovascular disease risk factors.     

Improved dental adhesive formulations based on reactive nanogel additives

Current challenges in adhesive dentistry include over-hydrophilic bonding formulations, which facilitate water percolation through the hybrid layer and result in unreliable bonded interfaces. This study introduces nanogel-modified adhesives as a way to control the material's hydrophobic character without changing the basic monomer formulation (keeping water-chasing capacity and operatory techniques unaltered). Nanogel additives of varied hydrophobicity were synthesized in solution, rendering 10- to 100-nm-sized particles. A model BisGMA/HEMA solvated adhesive was prepared (control), to which reactive nanogels were added. The increase in adhesive viscosity did not impair solvent removal by air-thinning. The degree of conversion in the adhesive was similar between control and nanogel-modified materials, while the bulk dry and, particularly, the wet mechanical properties were significantly improved through nanogel-based network reinforcement and reduced water solubility. As preliminary validation of this approach, short-term micro-tensile bond strengths to acid-etched and primed dentin were significantly enhanced by nanogel inclusion in the adhesive resins.