Relation between local food environments and obesity among adults

Background  

Outside of the United States, evidence for associations between exposure to fast-food establishments and risk for obesity among adults is limited and equivocal. The purposes of this study were to investigate whether the relative availability of different types of food retailers around people's homes was associated with obesity among adults in Edmonton, Canada, and if this association varied as a function of distance between food locations and people's homes.     

Micro-computed tomographic evaluation of a new enzyme solution for caries removal in deciduous teeth

This study evaluated a new enzyme solution (SFC-V) for dentin caries removal, and obtained results were compared with Carisolv. Both solutions were used with a prototype plastic instrument - this being a modified technique for Carisolv. Five carious deciduous teeth were sectioned, and both treatments were applied alternately to each half. Micro-CT observations showed that both treatments resulted in removal of the outer demineralized dentin layer: 28.6% for SFC-V and 28.2% for Carisolv. As for the remaining demineralized dentin, thicknesses of 0.27 microm (SFC-V) and 0.31microm (Carisolv) were observed with no statistically significant differences. FE-SEM analysis revealed that the use of Carisolv resulted in a rougher surface; whereas after SFC-V enzymatic treatment, an organized dentin collagen network with open tubules and few signs of bacteria were observed. In summary, the experimental enzymatic solution and the modified Carisolv treatment removed comparable amounts of carious dentin but with differing resultant surface morphologies.     

Sleep deprivation attenuates experimental stroke severity in rats

Indirect epidemiological and experimental evidence suggest that the severity of injury during stroke is influenced by prior sleep history. The aim of our study was to test the effect of acute sleep deprivation on early outcome following experimental stroke. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 20) were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia by reversible right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 min. In 10 rats, MCAO was performed just after 6-h of total sleep deprivation (TSD) by “gentle handling”, whereas the other rats served as controls. Neurological function during the first week after stroke was monitored using a battery of behavioral tests investigating the asymmetry of sensorimotor deficit (tape removal test and cylinder test), bilateral sensorimotor coordination (rotor-rod and Inclined plane) and memory (T-maze and radial maze). Following MCAO, control rats had impaired behavioral performance in all tests. The largest impairment was noted in the tape test where the tape removal time from the left forelimb (contralateral to MCAO) was increased by ∼ 10 fold (p < 0.01). In contrast, rats subjected to TSD had complete recovery of sensorimotor performance consistent with a 2.5 fold smaller infarct volume and reduced morphological signs of neuronal injury at day 7 after MCAO. Our data suggest that brief TSD induces a neuroprotective response that limits the severity of a subsequent stroke, similar to rapid ischemic preconditioning.     

Adjunct extended-release valproate semisodium in late life schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Adjunctive anticonvulsant medications may benefit some individuals with schizophrenia, however data on adjunct anticonvulsants in older adults with schizophrenia is limited. This prospective, 12-week open label study evaluated adjunct extended-release valproate semisodium (divalproex) in 20 older adults with schizophrenia. METHODS: The study was conducted at an academic psychiatry clinic in the mid-western United States. Participants were self-referred from posted advertisements or referred by clinic practitioners. Extended-release valproate semisodium was added onto antipsychotic treatment. Individuals with active substance use disorders or active significant medical comorbidity were excluded. Primary outcome measures included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Global Assessment Scale (GAS). Tolerability was evaluated via patient self-reported side effects, change from baseline in body weight and change on abnormal movement scales. RESULTS: Patients (mean age 61 years, range 49.8-79.2 years) had significant reductions in psychosis scores as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) p<0.01, as well as in global functioning as measured by the Global Assessment Scale (GAS) p<0.01 and depression as measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) p<0.05. Mean dose of extended-release valproate semisodium was 587.50 mg/day SD+/-247.02. Extended-release valproate semisodium was well tolerated in this older adult population. The primary adverse effect was sedation, which appeared to be relatively dose and titration-speed dependent. Weight change was not significant. CONCLUSION: While extended-release valproate semisodium appears efficacious and well tolerated in older adults with schizophrenia, data from larger, controlled trials is needed.     

Acute polyarthritis revealing hepatitis E

We report a case of acute hepatitis E occurring in a 51-year-old French woman, revealed by an abrupt onset of polyarthritis involving the ankles and knees followed by the wrists and fingers. Polyarthritis lasted up to 3 months without recurrence. Our case was characterised by a 9-month prolonged viraemia with persistence of specific IgM in the serum. The hepatitis E virus belonged to genotype 3 and may have been contracted in France or during travel to hyperendemic areas. Our case shows that acute polyarthritis could be another systemic manifestation of hepatitis E virus infection.     

Effect of gap junction uncoupler heptanol on resistance arteries reactivity in experimental models of diabetes, hyperlipemia and hyperlipemia-diabetes

The understanding of the involvement of the gap junctions (GJ) in the vascular reactivity is an ongoing effort. In this study we questioned on impact of pathologies such as diabetes, hyperlipemia, and simultaneous hyperlipemia-diabetes on GJ involvement in the contractile/relaxant response of the mesenteric resistance arteries. To this purpose, four groups of Golden Syrian hamsters were used: (i) diabetics (D), injected by streptozotocin, (ii) hyperlipemics (H), fed the standard chow of the species supplemented with 3% cholesterol and 15% butter, (iii) simultaneously hyperlipemic-diabetics (HD), and (iv) controls (C), age-matched normal healthy animals. At 24 weeks after the beginning of the experiment, the vascular reactivity of the resistance arteries was measured by the myograph technique in the presence/absence of 1 mM Heptanol (Hep) and of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators. The results showed that: (i) in pathological conditions 1 mM Hep significantly impaired the constrictor response of the hamster resistance arteries to both 10(-5) M NA (noradrenaline, agonist of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors) and 64.1 mM K+ (potassium ion, the major intracellular cation). The impairment occur in the group range: HD < H < D < C being the highest at the simultaneous insult of hyperlipemia and diabetes; (ii) independently of the pathological condition, 1 mM Hep abolishes both endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation of the hamster resistance arteries. At 1 mM Hep we noticed a reversible effect on endothelium-dependent relaxation that may be partially restored (in normal) in the presence of L-arginine. It is hoped that these results may contribute to understanding of the involvement of GJ in vascular pathology/dysfunction.     

Optic nerve bilateral atrophy in a suprachiasmatic astrocytoma

The paper presents a clinical case of a 5 years old child with bilateral optic atrophy and the specific diagnosis and treatment problems of this case. The image investigations have a major part in establishing the positive diagnosis: computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and the elective treatment belongs to the field of neurosurgery.