Examination of verbal memory and recall time in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

In this study 22 7- to 11-year-old children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 44 age-matched controls recruited from the same classrooms were given a 4-item delayed serial recall task using numbers or phrases. Although both groups showed similar recall accuracy rates, ADHD children required significantly longer times to retrieve and articulate their answers than children from the control group, regardless of age. The findings are discussed in relation to theories of executive function deficits in ADHD.     

Infiltrating mucinous carcinoma developed on chronic anal fistula; diagnostic and surgical difficulties

Anal carcinoma is rare; fistula-in-ano is sometimes mentioned among other premalignant conditions. Chronic anal fistula is associated with malignant transformation to mucinous adenocarcinoma, difficult to diagnose in the anal region and associated to a poor prognosis. Malignant transformation to infiltrating colloid carcinoma was surprised during a one year period, in a patient with long-standing perianal fistula (24 years). Inflammatory changes of the perineal region and other peculiar characteristics (such as neoplastic spread following supurative pathways) were responsible for diagnostic and surgical difficulties.     

Measurement of glomerular filtration rate with magnetic resonance imaging: principles, limitations, and expectations

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the most useful quantitative index of renal function and is used clinically as the gold standard of renal dysfunction. Follow-up of patients with impaired renal function requires reliable measurements of GFR. Thus, serial GFR values estimated from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would be worthwhile if easy to obtain, accurate, and reproducible. Nuclear medicine-based techniques remain at present the reference method for quantification of GFR, but MRI should be able to compete in the near future. Several methods are available for measurement of GFR using MRI and freely filtered Gd-chelates: (1) measurement of the clearance of the agent using blood samplings; (2) measurement of the plasma clearance of the agent using signal intensity changes within abdominal organs; (3) measurement of the extraction fraction of the agent; and (4) monitoring of tracer intrarenal kinetics. A high heterogeneity of protocols (e.g., in acquisition mode, dose of contrast, postprocessing techniques) is noted in the literature, reflecting the number of technical challenges that will have to be solved before to reach a consensus, and the reported accuracy and reproducibility are insufficient for justifying their use in clinical practice now.     

Assessing the effectiveness of a narrative-based patient education video for promoting opioid tapering

ObjectiveTo compare effectiveness of a narrative-based educational video versus an informational pamphlet for increasing patients’ self-efficacy and intention to taper their opioid use.MethodsFive thousand participants recruited from MTurk were screened to identify eligible patients. Eligible participants (n = 365, 49.9 % female, mean age = 37 years) were randomized to either watch the narrative video or read the pamphlet. Linear regression models were used for the main analysis.ResultsParticipants’ perceptions of tapering effectiveness were higher in the video group (mean = 4.06) than the pamphlet group (mean = 3.67), adjusted mean difference = 0.34, 95 %CI 0.13 - 0.54,P < 0.001. Participants’ perceptions of tapering self-efficacy were also higher in the video group (mean = 3.97) than the pamphlet group (mean = 3.60), adjusted mean difference = 0.32, 95 %CI 0.09 – 0.55, P < 0.001. Perceived tapering effectiveness and self-efficacy were both positively associated with post-intervention tapering intention (Spearman rank correlation coefficient = 0.38 and 0.53, respectively, both P < 0.001).ConclusionA narrative-based video about opioid tapering enhanced patients’ perceptions of the effectiveness of tapering and their tapering self-efficacy.Practice implicationsNarrative-based videos may be effective for changing patient attitudes about opioid tapering.     

Spontaneous closure of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: A report of 3 cases

Spontaneous closures of dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are rare. We present spontaneous occlusion of dAVFs in 3 cases (one type IIa dAVF, one type IIb and one type III). Patients were 3 males with a mean age of 55 years (range 45–61). For two patients, the dAVF was revealed by hemorrhage. No head trauma was recorded at the interrogatory. Mean delay for spontaneous closure was 4 months (3–5 months). Review of the literature about this rare occurrence is presented and the factors that may lead to spontaneous occlusion of dAVFs are discussed.     

Predictors of methamphetamine psychosis: History of ADHD-relevant childhood behaviors and drug exposure

The goal of this study was to extend our previous research that reported a significant association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-relevant childhood behaviors and the frequency of methamphetamine (MA)-induced psychotic symptoms in an expanded sample. 190 participants who met DSM-IV criteria for MA dependence were administered the Methamphetamine Experience Questionnaire that assessed MA-induced psychosis. Data related to MA exposure, comorbid drug use, education, familial psychiatric history and assessments of ADHD-relevant childhood behaviors as measured by the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) were collected. Although WURS scores did not differ between 145 MAP+ and 45 MAP- subjects, MAP+ subjects with higher WURS scores were significantly more likely to report more frequent psychosis. Although mean daily MA dosage did not differ between the MAP+ and MAP- subjects, MAP+ subjects who consumed larger doses of MA were significantly more likely to experience frequent psychosis. These data suggest that ADHD-relevant childhood behaviors may interact with MA exposure to reflect a neurobiological vulnerability related to the emergence of frequent MA-induced psychotic symptoms. These results may elucidate factors that contribute to the psychiatric sequelae of MA abuse.     

Human cystic echinococcosis in two south-western and central-western Romanian counties: a 7-year epidemiological and clinical overview

PurposeTo analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in two Romanian counties, of which one is known from a previous survey as hyperendemic, whereas in the other no extensive studies have been undertaken so far.MethodsRetrospective investigation of the medical records of the patients diagnosed with this condition and hospitalized during 2004–2010 in Caras-Severin and Hunedoara counties.ResultsA total of 190 patients aged 5–88 years (44.3 ± 21.8 years old) were diagnosed with CE. More than one fifth of cases (21.1%) were younger than 19 years old, indicating active transmission of the disease. The yearly average incidence was 3.3 cases/100,000 inhabitants. The highest incidence was registered in patients aged 60–69 years (6.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants), regardless of their gender. Liver involvement occurred in 84.7% of patients. One fifth of the cases (20%) presented complications. Normal values of the eosinophil counts and leukocyte counts predominated within the study group. The length of the hospital stay varied between 1 and 65 days with a mean of 13.1 ± 9.5 days.ConclusionsCE has a significant burden in this part of Romania, and continues to be a public health concern. Consequently, better implementation of preventive measures and extensive informative campaigns for the population are mandatory.     

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of Thermally Treated Ti-6Al-7Nb Dental Alloy

Ti and its alloys have the most satisfactory properties for biomedical applications due to their specific strength, high corrosion resistance, and high biocompatibility. Ti-6Al-7Nb has been approved for clinical use, proving to be a viable replacement for the Ti-6Al-4V alloy that has been used for many decades in medical applications. In our study, the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy underwent heat treatment, was cooled in various cooling media such as mineral oil and water, and was then quenched in the oven. The microstructure was investigated, and the mechanical characterization was carried out by Vickers microhardness test. Young’s modulus measurements and tensile tests were performed in order to study the effect of cooling media on the material. To study the corrosion behavior, in vitro studies were performed on the Ti-6Al-7Nb samples in simulated body conditions by using artificial saliva. It was observed that the martensitic phase changed as a function of cooling media, and a less intensive cooling medium decreases strength properties’ indicators as well as hardness values. The results emphasize that the use of heat treatment improves the passive layer’s resistance in the presence of artificial saliva.