The early recognition of dementia in the elderly: A preliminary communication about a longitudinal study using the gms–agecat package (community version)

A random community sample of 1070 subjects aged over 65 was interviewed by trained non-medical interviewers using the Geriatric Mental State, community version (GMSA). A sub-sample of 126 subjects was selected so as to contain possible early cases of dementia, pseudo-dementia, and normal subjects; and re-interviewed, a mean 1 year and 23 weeks later, by a group of psychiatrists in training. The computer diagnosis AGECAT, based on GMSA applied by non-medical raters, had predicted at initial interview, nine out of twelve cases of dementia at follow-up and five out of nine borderline cases. An Organic/Depression Index may prove useful in predicting which of those cases with early organic levels will eventually develop dementia, depression or recover.     

Pulmonary artery sling with tracheal stenosis: one-stage repair

Pulmonary artery sling with tracheal stenosis is a difficult management problem. We describe the use of cardiopulmonary bypass as a method to facilitate one-stage repair.     

Differential effects of IL-1ra on sickness behavior and weight loss induced by IL-1 in rats

Peripheral and central injections of recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been shown to decrease social exploration and to induce body weight loss in rats. To characterize the receptor mechanisms of these effects, we used as a tool a specific antagonist of the receptors of IL-1, IL-1ra. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of IL-1ra (8 mg/kg) blocked the effect of i.p. injection of IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. Central administration of IL-1ra (60 μg/rat, i.c.v.) abrogated the effects of centrally administered IL-1β (30 ngn/rat, i.c.v.) on both social behaviour and body weight. Central injection of IL-1ra (4 μg/rat, i.c.v.) also attenuated the effects of i.p. administered IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. These results suggest that the effects of IL-1β on social behavior are mediated centrally and that its effect on the loss of body weight involves different receptor mechanisms.     

Structure-activity relationship of macrocyclic and linear gadolinium chelates: Investigation of transmetallation effect on the zinc-dependent metallopeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme

Transmetallation between commercially available solutions of gadolinium (Gd) chelates and the zinc (Zn)-dependent angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was investigated. In vitro, the strongest inhibitions were observed for the linear Gd complexes, Gd diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) bis-methylamide (BMA) (IC₅₀ = .016 ± .006 mmol/1) and Gd-DTPA (IC₅₀ = .350 ± .034 mmol/1). The two macrocycles Gd tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and Gd-HP-DO3A were similar and 400 times less active than Gd-DTPA-BMA. These effects were mainly due to the presence of free ligand for DTPA and calcium (Ca) chelate in the case of DTPA-BMA because the addition of Zn²⁺ in the same quantities suppresses their inhibitory effects. In vivo, these two solutions of linear Gd chelates significantly inhibited ACE activity (Gd-DTPA: 67 ± 9% versus baseline; and Gd-DTPA-BMA: 73 ± 2% versus baseline at the clinical dose of .1 mmol/kg), whereas no significant effect was observed for the two macrocyclic chelates Gd-DOTA and Gd-HP-DO3A. Formulating the Gd chelate solution with either an excess of free ligand or Ca chelate (to decrease Gd³⁺ release) in the case of linear Gd chelate may have deleterious biologic consequences.     

Development and clinical evaluation of immunoluminometric assays for lactoferrin and elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complexes in body fluids with special references to bronchoalveolar lavage and neonatal sepsis

Immunoluminometric assays for lactoferrin and elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complexes were developed using solid-phase methodology, which has already been published from this laboratory. The aim of the study was to develop a rapid method to see whether elevated granulocyte activity was present in the lung, as for example in neonatal sepsis. The lactoferrin assay gave reliable results within 30 minutes, the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complexes, within 5 hours. The correlation between both analytes was good, so that the lactoferrin assay could replace the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor assay in emergency cases. The lactoferrin assay was used for rapid answer, the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex assay for "fine" monitoring of the progress of the disease. Both assays could be used to measure concentrations in plasma or bronchoalveolar lavage using a 10 microliters sample. Plasma for the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex determination had to be diluted 1:50 before being assayed. Only EDTA plasma was used in the assay, as either heparin plasma or serum resulted in granulocyte destruction, thus giving rise to elevated, and non-reproducible results. The results from bronchoalveolar lavage show an excellent correlation between elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complexes and lactoferrin. No interference was seen from lipaemic or icteric plasma samples. Results from haemolytic samples i.e. where lysis of erythrocytes and leukocytes had occurred, had to be treated with care if no clinical indication of intravascular haemorrhage was present. The assays lend themselves to perinatal diagnosis, as the total volume of plasma or lavage needed is theoretically under 50 microliters, i.e. ethically acceptable for regular monitoring of neonates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Office management of urinary stomas

The postoperative care of stoma patients is truly life long. With the excellent stoma equipment available, no patient should be a "stoma cripple." New advances in continent reservoirs will improve patient acceptance and lessen the fear associated with stomas. Finally, close follow-up by both the enterostomal therapy nurse and the surgeon is essential for the complete care of the stoma patient.