Cognitive and functional deficits are associated with white matter abnormalities in two independent cohorts of patients with schizophrenia

European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience - Significant evidence links white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SZ), but the...     

Digoxin intoxication: An old enemy in modern era

Objectives Although development of new treatment modalities limited digoxin usage, digoxin intoxication is still an important issue which could be easily overlooked. In this report we analyzed a case series definitively diagnosed as digoxin intoxication in the modern era. Methods We analyzed 71 patients hospitalized with digoxin intoxication confirmed by history, complaints, clinical and electrocardiograph (ECG) findings, and serum digoxin levels > 2.0 ng/mL, during a five year period. The demographic and clinical data, indications for digoxin use, digoxin dosage, concurrent medications, laboratory data, hospital monitoring, and ECG findings were obtained from all patients. Results Thirty-eight of 71 patients (53.5%) had symptoms of heart failure during admission or later. Sixty-four percent of patients were older than 75 years. The percentage of females was 67%. Atrial fibrillation, hypertension and gastrointestinal complaints were more frequent in the females (64% in females, 30% in males, P = 0.007; 81% in female, 52% in males, P = 0.01; 50% in female, 17.3% in males, P = 0.008, respectively). The mortality rate during the hospital course was 7%. Conclusion This report demonstrated the reduced mortality rates in patients with digoxin intoxication over the study period. Gastrointestinal complaints are the most common symptoms in this population.     

Psychological Outcomes of Intimate Partner Violence Experienced by Jordanian Working Women

This study aimed at investigating psychological health problems experienced by working women as a result of their experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). One hundred one working women participated in the study. Results indicated that nearly half of the participants reported partner violence. Compared with nonabused women, abused women showed significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms (t (78) = ?3.4, p = .001) and stress (t (93) = ?4.8, p < .0001), while self-esteem did not differ significantly between the two groups. Acknowledgment of this problem and early recognition of the victims may result in improving the health of working women in Jordan.     

Sex identification from fingertip features in Egyptian population

Identification of an individual plays a vital part of any medico-legal investigation. Fingerprints are considered to be one of the most reliable methods of identification. The present study was conducted on 752 healthy adult Egyptian subjects (380 males and 372 females) with age ranged from 20 to 30 years. Consents were obtained from all participants and their 10 digits were photographed to determine the sexual dimorphism by some fingertip features (ridge count, square area, finger breadth and finally ridge density) in Egyptians. Statistical analysis was made using a multivariate logistic regression variation analyses. Results showed that females tend to have statistically significant shorter (narrower) finger breadth (right: male > 9.54 ≥ female, left: male > 9.38 ≥ female), smaller square area (right: male ≥ 16.1 > female, left: male > 15.1 ≥ female), more ridge count (right: female > 21.0 ≥ male, left: female > 21.2 ≥ male), and higher ridge density (right: female >1.35 ≥ male, left: female > 1.5 ≥ male) when compared with males. The ridge density of the left hand was the most single accurate parameter in correct sex determination. The best classification accuracy of 82% was generated upon combining ridge count, square area and ridge density. It was concluded that fingertip features of Egyptians can be used by medico-legal experts for accurate sex identification.     

The role of complete surgical resection in stage IV neuroblastoma

The purpose of this study was to examine the outcome of attempted radical surgical resection in patients with stage IV neuroblastoma. Between 1989 and 2003, 20 (median age 2.4 years, range 0.5–8.7 years) children with stage IV neuroblastoma were treated at the Department of Pediatrics. Surgery was performed in 7 consecutive children (6 male and 1 female) between July 1997 and February 2002 at the Department of Urology in Bonn. Mean age at diagnosis was 57 months (21–104 months). Mean age at the time of surgery was 54 months (8–390 months). Follow-up was available for all patients (100%) and mean follow-up after the operation was 32.5 months (4–56 months). Primary localization of the tumor was retroperitoneal in all cases; 4 out of 7 patients (57%) also had additional adrenal, 3 out of 7 (42%) paraganglion and 1 out of 7 (14%) thoracic primaries. Bone marrow and lymph node metastases were found in all patients (100%). Surgery led to complete tumor resection in 6 out of 7 patients (85%). Surgical approach was abdominal (chevron incision) in 6 out of 7 (85%) of the patients, in one patient the approach was thoraco-abdominal. After induction chemotherapy and delayed surgery, 6 out of 7 (86%) patients showed a complete remission (CR) and the mean CR lasted for about 27.7 months (range 3.1–55.4 months). At the last time of follow-up 5 out of 7 (71%) patients were alive, 2 had died due to recurrent disease. Mean time to recurrent disease was 24 and 51 months, respectively. Mean overall survival time since diagnosis was 38.3 months (11–64 months) and mean event-free survival was 34.5 months (11–60.3 months). The final outcome, overall survival and event-free survival time was influenced by metastatic or local relapse. Tumor resection is beneficial but the value of surgery can only be judged when we are able to control metastatic disease in stage IV neuroblastoma. The final outcome may rely on the extent of complete surgical resection, but is also related to treatment of metastases. A longer follow-up period is indicated to detect long term outcome.