Spatial working memory function in twins with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Family studies are in conflict as to whether schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have independent genetic etiologies. Given the relatively low prevalence (approximately 1%) of these disorders, the use of quantitative endophenotypic markers of genetic liability might provide a more sensitive strategy for evaluating their genetic overlap. We have previously demonstrated that spatial working memory deficits increase in a dose-dependent fashion with increasing genetic proximity to a proband among the unaffected co-twins of schizophrenic patients. Here, we evaluated whether such deficits might also mark genetic susceptibility to bipolar disorder. METHODS: The Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Visual Memory Span and Digit Span subtests were administered to 46 schizophrenic patients, 32 of their unaffected co-twins, 22 bipolar patients, 16 of their unaffected co-twins, and 100 control twins, representing unselectively nationwide twin samples. RESULTS: Schizophrenic patients and their unaffected co-twins performed significantly worse than control subjects on the spatial working memory task, whereas only the schizophrenic patients performed significantly below the control subjects on the verbal working memory task. Neither bipolar patients nor their unaffected co-twins differed from control subjects on these measures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that impairment in spatial working memory might effectively reflect an expression of genetic liability to schizophrenia but less clearly to bipolar disorder.     

Do schizotypal symptoms mediate the relationship between genetic risk for schizophrenia and impaired neuropsychological performance in co-twins of schizophrenic patients?

BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive deficits and symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder are both elevated in the first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients, but their relationship to each other and their potential common genetic source remain unclear. METHODS: Fifty unaffected co-twins of schizophrenic patients and 123 control twins were assessed with a neuropsychological battery and structured clinical interviews. RESULTS: Working memory was influenced by genetic risk for schizophrenia but not schizotypal symptoms. Nearly all other domains were influenced by schizotypy symptoms but only in the co-twins of schizophrenic patients. Schizotypy symptoms in the absence of a family history did not seem to be related to impaired neurocognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Schizotypy symptoms in those with genetic risk for schizophrenia are associated with increased risk for cognitive deficits. Some neurocognitive deficits might covary with subpsychotic symptoms due to a shared genetic factor. Community-ascertained schizotypal individuals might not be appropriate for modeling underlying genetic risk for schizophrenia.     

Usefulness of changes in left ventricular wall thickness to predict full or partial pressure reperfusion in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction

Experimental studies have shown that if an acute transmural myocardial infarction is reperfused at full pressure there is an immediate and persisting increase in end-diastolic wall thickness (EDWT) due to massive intramural edema, with the amount of edema inversely related to the residual stenosis in the infarct-related artery. This study investigated if these findings are paralleled in the clinical setting and whether the resultant myocardial substrate differs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus thrombolysis (the latter having a higher incidence of residual flow limiting stenosis in the culprit vessel). Eighty-eight consecutive patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled. Twenty-seven patients underwent primary PCI, 23 had rescue PCI, and 38 had thrombolysis. Standard M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiographies were performed within 12 hours. Regional EDWT was measured in 904 infarct-related segments after the different reperfusion strategies and compared with 504 remote noninfarcted segments. EDWT of infarct-related segments after primary PCI was significantly increased compared with normal segments. At follow-up, after 6 months, EDWT of these segments was significantly decreased, indicating transmural infarction. EDWT of infarct-related segments after thrombolysis did not differ from that of normal segments. After rescue PCI, EDWT of infarct-related segments was significantly decreased compared with that of normal segments. In conclusion, full-pressure restoration of epicardial blood flow after transmural myocardial infarction causes an immediate increase in EDWT, easily detected by echocardiography. In contrast, pressure-limiting reperfusion (typical for thrombolysis) resultsin normal EDWT. This confirms experimental data that PCI and thrombolysis can differ in their resultant myocardial substrate.     

Plasma levels of antibodies against oxidized LDL are inherited but not associated with HDL-cholesterol level in families with early coronary heart disease

AimsThus far, the prognostic value of reverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been fully evaluated. We sought to investigate the incidence, major determinants, and long-term clinical significance of reverse LV remodeling in a large series of STEMI patients successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI).Methods and resultsSerial complete 2D-echocardiograms were obtained within 24 h after P-PCI, and at 1 and 6 months in 512 consecutive reperfused STEMI patients. Reverse remodeling was defined as a reduction >10% in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) at 6 month follow-up. Reverse LV remodeling occurred in 49% of study population. At follow-up (41.6 ± 23 months), late heart failure (HF) rate was significantly higher among patients without reverse LV remodeling as compared with those with it (32% vs. 11%, P < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis, independent predictors of reverse LV remodeling were a small infarct size measured as peak creatine kinase value (P < 0.0001), a small functional myocardial damage measured as wall motion score index within the infarct zone (P = 0.018) and baseline LVESV (P < 0.0001). After adjustment for several clinical, echographic and angiographic variables, Cox analysis identified reverse LV remodeling as the only beneficial independent predictor of long-term heart failure-free survival (HR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.275–0.722).ConclusionsReverse LV remodeling occurred in half of successfully reperfused STEMI patients. Small structural and functional myocardial damages within the infarct zone are the major determinants of reverse LV remodeling. As expression of effective myocardial salvage by P-PCI, the reverse remodeling is an important predictor of favorable long-term outcome.     

The “European zygomatic fracture” research project: The epidemiological results from a multicenter European collaboration

Purpose

Fractures of the zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) are common injuries that may lead to loss of an aesthetically pleasing appearance and functional impairment. The aim of this study was to analyze the demographics, causes, characteristics, and outcomes of zygomatic fractures managed at several European departments of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Annual banned-substance review: analytical approaches in human sports drug testing

International anti-doping efforts are harmonized and regulated under the umbrella of the World Anti-Doping Code and the corresponding Prohibited List, issued annually by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The necessity for a frequent and timely update of the Prohibited List (as the result of a comprehensive consultation process and subsequent consensual agreement by expert panels regarding substances and methods of performance manipulation in sports) is due to the constantly growing market of emerging therapeutics and thus new options for cheating athletes to illicitly enhance performance. In addition, 'tailor-made' substances arguably designed to undermine sports drug testing procedures are considered and the potential of established drugs to represent a doping substance is revisited in light of recently generated information. The purpose of the annual banned substance review is to support doping controls by reporting emerging and advancing methods dedicated to the detection of known and recently outlawed substances. This review surveys new and/or enhanced procedures and techniques of doping analysis together with information relevant to doping controls that has been published in the literature between October 2010 and September 2011.     

Analysis of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): Application of routine immunological methods for initial testing and confirmation analysis in doping control

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is dimeric glycoprotein produced by placenta in pregnancy and also in low levels by pituitary gland. The main clinical use for exogenous hCG‐administration is typically linked to infertility. The desired effect of hCG misuse in sport is due to the enhancement of testicular production of testosterone. Therefore, hCG is listed by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) as a prohibited substance in male athletes and according to the recently published WADA guideline urinary concentrations of hCG > 5 IU/L may be an indicator of doping. In this study two independent immunoassays were used to implement the new WADA guideline. The assay for initial testing (Siemens Immulite 2000 XPi hCG assay) recognizes various hCG variants (e.g. hCG and β‐core fragment of hCG) whereas the confirmatory assay (PerkinElmer DELFIA Xpress hCG) is sensitive to intact and nicked hCG only. Both assays showed adequate sensitivity and were proven fit‐for‐purpose in routine doping control. Population‐based distribution of the assays was in good agreement with results of earlier studies and supported well the current threshold of 5 IU/L. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of immunogenicity of norovirus GII-4 virus-like particles and P-particles

Norovirus (NoV) -derived virus-like particles (VLPs) resemble empty shells of the virus and NoV P-particles contain only protruding domains of the NoV capsid. Both NoV-derived subviral particles show similar functionality and antigenicity in vitro and are considered to be potential vaccine candidates against NoV gastroenteritis. BALB/c mice were immunized with baculovirus-produced GII-4 VLPs or the corresponding Escherichia coli-produced P-particles by the intramuscular or intradermal route and the NoV-specific antibody and T-cell immune responses were compared. Elevated antibody levels were induced with a single VLP immunization, whereas P-particle immunization required a boost. High avidity antibodies were raised only by VLP immunization. VLP immunization resulted in a balanced T helper type 1/type 2 immune response whereas P-particles induced a T helper type 2-biased response. Only VLP immunization primed T cells for interferon-γ production. Most importantly, cross-reactive B and T cells were induced solely by VLP immunization. In addition, VLP antiserum blocked the binding of heterotypic VLPs to human histo-blood group antigen receptor and saliva. The findings in this study are relevant for the development of NoV vaccines.