The brain as a target for adrenocortical steroids: cognitive implications.

It is well established that a reciprocal control exists between the brain and glucocorticoid hormones. The brain regulates adrenocortical function via hypothalamic corticotrophin releasing hormone-41 (CRH-41), glucocorticoids act at specific receptors in the hippocampus, thus promoting negative feedback mechanisms. Because the hippocampus is a major site for memory processes, a role for excessive/long-lasting plasma glucocorticoid levels has been suggested in conditions of mental impairment. Major depression, Cushing's disease, and dementia of the Alzheimer type are disorders which share hyperactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, as well as symptoms of cognitive decline. Although the mechanisms leading to hypercortisolemia appear to be different in each case, the neuropsychological features of these three disorders accord with the hypothesis of glucocorticoid-associated brain damage. It therefore is important to find pharmacological strategies that will avert or reduce these potential consequences on brain function.     

Skin cancers and precancerous lesions in Parkinson's disease patients.

Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of neoplastic and preneoplastic skin lesions in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients when compared with an aged-matched population. We performed a cross-sectional survey in PD patients and in an age-matched control group. Patients and controls were examined by a movement disorder specialist and a dermatologist. 150 PD patients and 146 controls were included. Thirty-five PD patients (23.3%) presented skin lesions that could be classified as neoplastic or preneoplastic vs. 20 subjects in the control group (13.7%) (OR 95%, CI 1.92 [1.05, 3.51]). However, this difference lost statistical significance when adjusted for gender (recruitment of controls was matched just for age with an over representation of males in the PD group). Twenty-nine PD patients (19%) presented actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 4 patients (3%). Although nonconclusive, our results are in agreement with previous studies suggesting an increased risk of skin cancer in PD patients. The frequency of actinic keratosis in PD patients and the associated risk to develop melanoma recommends its screening in future epidemiological studies.     

Levetiracetam monotherapy in Alzheimer patients with late-onset seizures: a prospective observational study

Levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy was investigated in 25 patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) and new-onset epileptic seizures in a prospective open-label study. At a daily dose of 1000–1500 mg, 72% were seizure-free for at least one year; 16% discontinued for untolerability; 8% were unresponsive; 4% were lost to follow-up. These results suggest the need for controlled studies to confirm if LEV can be a first-choice drug in AD.     

Polyethylene wear in primary knee arthroplasty

Abstract Polyethylene (PE) wear is a focal issue in joint replacement, so it is essential to understand how it takes place in vivo. PE wear is a multifactorial process with a complex interaction of variables related to the materials used, the mechanical conditions, operative procedures for implantation, activity of the patient and use of prosthesis. We retrieved 65 PE inserts with the respective femoral and tibial components (50 inserts of total knee prostheses and 15 monocompartmental prostheses) from first revision surgeries. The average age of the patients was 68.3 years; the average time to revision was 41.5 months. Macroscopic observation considered the grade, topography and type of wear. Degradation was also studied with scanning electron microscopy. No direct relationship was found between the level of wear and the survival of total or monocompartmental knee prostheses. The duration of 11 (22%) total prosthetic inserts with grade 2 wear was 42.6 months vs. 51.5 months of 17 (34%) total inserts with grade 1 wear. However, study of the relationship between wear grade and wear topography in total inserts suggested that there was a significant connection. In fact, the 22 (44%) prostheses with central and symmetrical wear never showed wear greater than grade 1. Instead, of the remaining 28 prostheses (56%) without central and symmetric wear, only 3 had grade 0 wear. Finally, considering the relationship between wear grade and type of wear, all 18 inserts (27.7%) with grade 2 or 3 wear had 100% delamination. In conclusion, this study suggests that the correct positioning of the prosthetic components, besides its quality, is an important cause of polyethylene wear.     

LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY: THE EXPERIENCE OF A COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Background: The practice of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a community hospital is presented. The morbidity of the procedure is analysed and recommendations for improvement are made. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was introduced into this 200 bed community hospital in October 1990. All five general surgeons accredited to the hospital agreed to participate in a quality assurance programme to determine the incidence of complications and to make recommendations for improvement. Methods: The records of all 534 patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomy between October 1990 and September 1993 were reviewed, and all complications recorded. Results: Of the 534 cases reviewed in the study 470 were considered uncomplicated and 64 patients experienced a total of 85 postoperative complications. The death of one patient was caused by a pulmonary embolus and another patient experienced a myocardial infarction. Twenty patients has postoperative atelectasis or pneumonia and urinary infection or retention occurred in seven. Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy requiring a conversion to open cholecystectomy occurred in eight patients, biliary complications occurred in 18 and 11 patients required re-operation. Conclusions: Three areas of concern were identified. They were the incidence of major biliary injury (0.37% of all cases) and its management, the role of cholangiography. and the incidence and prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Recommendations for improvement in these areas were made.     

Permeability of pure lipid bilayers to melatonin

Abstract: Melatonin, the chief hormone of the pineal gland, has been reported to interact with a variety of different cells. This ubiquitously acting hormone has been found to interact with protein receptors both at the cell membrane and in the nucleus. Moreover, melatonin was recently shown to be a very potent hydroxyl radical scavenger. The present work focuses on the interaction of melatonin with pure lipid bilayers. It is shown that melatonin can cross multilamellar lipid vesicles, which are used here as model systems for the lipid phase of biological membranes. Thus, the data prove that melatonin can easily pass through the cell membrane and bath every part of the cell, as previously suggested in the literature. Melatonin lipid association constant was calculated based on the change of the hormone fluorescence intensity due to its penetration into the hydrophobic lipid phase. Though melatonin was recently shown to be highly soluble in aqueous media, its lipid association constant is rather high, indicating that the biological action of the hormone is likely to be at the membrane level, either via its interaction with membrane receptors, and/or as a lipoperoxidation radical scavenger.     

The importance of vaginal mucosal folds at the urethral external meatus

We report on the vaginal mucosal folds (VMF) at the urethral external meatus. Resection of the VMF reduces the dispersed micturition and other urinary symptoms. EDITORIAL COMMENT: The investigators describe the presence of a vaginal mucosal fold (VMF) just dorsal to the urethral meatus and its relationship to voiding abnormalities. VMF were found on physical examination in 8.9% of the clinic population, all of whom complained of dispersed micturition, and 79% also experienced other voiding abnormalities. The complaint of dispersed micturition was successfully treated with excision of the VMF, and the other associated symptoms were improved. This structure should be routinely looked for on physical examination, especially in patients with voiding symptoms. Only further investigation of this newly described entity at other centers around the world will determine the incidence of the anatomic finding and the prevalence of associated voiding disturbances across different populations.