Autobiographical memory in Korsakoff syndrome: A review

Autobiographical memory (AM) (i.e., memory for personal information) is a unique form of memory that goes beyond recalling information such as what, where and when of an event, to include what that event means and why it is important to our life story. This paper therefore reviews the available literature on AM in Korsakoff syndrome (KS). It summarizes the characteristics of AM disorders in KS patients. These disorders are mainly characterized by the difficulties that patients with KS have in retrieving and reliving specific AMs and in retrieving recent and remote memories. Another core characteristic of AM disorders in KS is confabulations. This paper hypothesizes that patients with KS may produce autobiographical confabulations to support their objectives and beliefs or even to answer a social demand or simply to share personal experiences with others. Although the current evidence demonstrates disorders of AM in KS, there is a need for more research about the characteristics of these disorders. This review thus proposes several perspectives for theoretical and clinical research.     

The demonstration of immunoreactive dystrophin and its developmental expression in perivascular astrocytes.

Immunoreactivity of dystrophin family proteins was observed in the astrocytes of the adult and immature rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex by using Dys2, a monoclonal antibody recognizing both 427 kDa and short dystrophin isoforms. As revealed by light and electron microscopy, immunostaining of the ribosomal apparatus and of pericapillary endfeet was particularly pronounced in the adult. In the pericapillary astrocyte processes immunostaining appeared between postnatal days 10 and 20, and reached the intensity seen in the adult by postnatal day 30. In the pericapillary astrocyte process, the membrane facing the endothelial basal lamina was the earliest structure to show the immunoreaction. At later stages, the pericapillary astrocyte process was gradually filled up with immunoprecipitate. Findings suggest that dystrophins are expressed coinciding with the development of the blood-brain barrier, and it is assumed that they contribute to the formation of this system.     

Mechanistic investigation of the anodic oxidation of p-methoxytoluene in dry and wet acetonitrile

Alkyl aryl ethers are oxidized in acetonitrile in two very closely spaced waves. A detailed investigation has been carried out in the case of p-methoxytoluene, using both voltammetry and preparative electrolysis. The kinetics of the first anodic peak correspond to a second order rate law, both in anhydrous medium, and in the presence of water. On the preparative scale, the controlled potential electrolysis at a potential located on the first wave gives different products depending on the operating conditions. When small amounts of water were present, two new compounds were obtained as the major products: a 2,5-cyclohexadienone substituted in the 4 position by the starting compound, and the phenol resulting from an acid catalyzed rearrangement of this cyclohexadienone. A mechanism accounting for the nature of the reaction products in wet acetonitrile is proposed on the basis of the voltammetric and coulometric data as well as of the result of the electrolysis performed in the presence of ¹⁸O labeled water.     

Exposure of Skin Homografts from Related Living Donors to Radiotherapy and Its Effects on Acute Rejection and Wound Healing in Children with Deep Burns: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background  The ideal skin substitute should be more similar to normal skin function while causing fewer reactions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of radiotherapy on minimizing acute rejection and enhancing wound healing in children with deep burns. Patients and Methods  A prospective randomized control study included 34 children admitted to the burn unit with deep burns under the age of 12 years. Through the tomotherapy device, a skin homograft from a related living donor was exposed to a local dose of radiotherapy of 500 centigray (cGy). It was immediately used for coverage of the prepared bed after the irradiation was completed. Results  The mean values of the laboratory parameters (ESR, CRP, IL-6, and TNF) for all burn patients in the study showed a significant difference, with p  < 0.001. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the time from homograft coverage to the appearance of rejection was 9.62 ± 1.45 in group 1 and 14.35 ± 2.8 in group 2, with p  < 0.001 (highly significant difference), indicating that exposure to radiotherapy can reduce graft rejection. Conclusions  The exposure of skin homografts from related living donors to a local low dose of radiotherapy can reduce a graft''s ability to initiate inflammatory and immunological reactions, thereby minimizing rejection of a graft and enhancing epithelialization in children with deep second- and third-degree burns.     

Functional and anatomical evaluation of the effect of nepafenac in prevention of macular edema after phacoemulsification in diabetic patients

AIM: To evaluate the effect of prophylactic administration of nepafenac in prevention of macular edema occurring in diabetic patients after phacoemulsification and to investigate the correlation between optical coherence tomography (OCT) foveal thickness and multifocal electroretinogram (MF-ERG) parameters. METHODS: The study included two groups. Group 1 included 50 diabetic patients with senile cataract (50 eyes, 30 females, 20 males, aged 55±7y) received nepafenac 0.1% eye drop. Group 2 included another 50 diabetic patients with senile cataract (50 eyes, 22 female, 28 males, aged 53.8±8y) did not receive nepafenac. All patients were followed up for 3mo postoperatively. OCT and MF-ERG were done preoperative and at 1wk, 1, 2 and 3mo. RESULTS: The mean foveal thickness was statistically significantly lower in Group 1. Five eyes in Group 2 developed clinical cystoid macular oedema (CMO) (10%), and no patients in Group 1 developed central macular thickening more than 50 μm. There were insignificant differences in MF-ERG amplitudes and latencies between the two groups except in the five eyes that developed CMO, there statistically significant reduction of MF-ERG amplitude with increase in foveal thickness. CONCLUSION: Perioperative nepafenac reduces the incidence of CMO following uncomplicated phacoemulsification significantly. Nepafenac has no side effects.     

Fetal macrosomia as a risk factor for shoulder dystocia during vacuum extraction

Objective: Vacuum extraction of a macrosomic fetus is considered a risk factor for shoulder dystocia (SD). We evaluated maternal and fetal outcomes following vacuum extraction of macrosomic infants.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted in two large teaching hospitals. All deliveries of macrosomic infants by vacuum extraction and vaginal delivery were compared. The primary outcome measure was SD. Secondary outcome measures were severe perineal lacerations and postpartum hemorrhage. For statistical analysis, we used McNemar’s test and χ² or Fisher’s exact tests. Odds ratios were analyzed via a logistic regression model.

Results: From 2003 to 2013, there were 6019 (5.45%) deliveries of macrosomic fetuses, and 230 (0.21%) were delivered by vacuum extraction. There were 23 (10%) and seven (3.04%) cases of SD in the study and control groups, respectively. The risk of SD was significantly higher in the study group (p?>?0.05). We found a significant association between SD and vacuum delivery [p?=?0.003; OR?=?3.54 (95% CI: 1.49–8.42)]. The composite adverse neonatal outcome rate was 6.5% (15/230) and 1.7% (4/230) in the study and control groups, respectively (p?=?0.009).

Conclusion: Vacuum extraction of a macrosomic infant is a risk factor for shoulder dystocia but not for postpartum hemorrhage or severe vaginal tears.     

Sex selection and preimplantation genetic diagnosis at The Farah Hospital

The issue of sex selection by using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for non-medical reasons has been the subject of heated debate. Although the ethical arguments regarding this subject are complex, we would like to extend and express some views based on practical experience, with a special focus on individual needs in developing countries, taking into consideration: social, cultural, religious, financial and scientific aspects.