Low scores on the Benton Facial Recognition Test associated with vertebrobasilar insufficiency

Background

Decreased posterior cerebral circulation has been observed in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). Reduced cerebral perfusion may have an impact on mental performance as measured by the Benton Facial Recognition Test (BFRT). We evaluated the usefulness of BFRT in identifying cognitive decline in patients with VBI by correlating test performance with total blood flow in the vertebrobasilar system and other variables such as educational level and gender.

Materials and methods

Thirty-three participants without dementia (mini-mental state examination; MMSE >27) and cranial magnetic resonance imaging abnormality, but with atherosclerotic risk factors were involved in the study. Nineteen subjects had a total vertebrobasilar flow volume less than 200 ml/min (Group I), and 14 subjects had a flow volume more than 200 ml/min (Group II).

Results

The groups were similar in regard to gender, age, and educational level. BFRT results were 19.53 ± 3.12 and 22.36 ± 2.73 for Groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.01). The educational level was the main factor affecting the BFRT score in Group I (p = 0.04).

Discussion

BFRT is clearly impaired in VBI as measured by Doppler ultrasound examination. We concluded that the test appears to adequately distinguish cognitive levels between VBI and other patients. Additionally, our results suggest that education is associated with BFRT results, and for normative purposes, gender consideration is unnecessary. Further studies are needed to investigate the association between VBI and memory dysfunction in early dementia.     

Differential Expression and Copy Number Variation of Gasdermin (GSDM) Family Members,Pore-Forming Proteins in Pyroptosis,in Normal and Malignant Serous Ovarian Tissue

Inflammation - Gasdermins (GSDM) are members of a family of pore-forming effector proteins which lead to membrane permeabilization and pyroptosis, a lytic cell death with pro-inflammatory...     

Impact of prior statin use on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients: data from tertiary referral hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

BackgroundEpidemiological evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of statins may reduce the risk of infections and infection-related complications.ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the impact of prior statin use on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) severity and mortality.MethodsIn this observational multicenter study, consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were enrolled. In-hospital mortality and severity of COVID-19 assessed with National Early Warning Score (NEWS) were deemed primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to obtain balanced cohorts.ResultsAmong 842 patients enrolled, 179 (21%) were treated with statins before admission. Statin patients showed more comorbidities and more severe COVID-19 (NEWS 4 [IQR 2–6] vs 3 [IQR 2–5], p < 0.001). Despite having similar rates of intensive care unit admission, noninvasive ventilation, and mechanical ventilation, statin users appeared to show higher mortality rates. After balancing pre-existing relevant clinical conditions that could affect COVID-19 prognosis with PS matching, statin therapy confirmed its association with a more severe disease (NEWS ≥5 61% vs. 48%, p = 0.025) but not with in-hospital mortality (26% vs. 28%, p = 0.185). At univariate logistic regression analysis, statin use was confirmed not to be associated with mortality (OR 0.901; 95% CI: 0.537 to 1.51; p = 0.692) and to be associated with a more severe disease (NEWS≥5 OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.067–2.71; p = 0.026).ConclusionsOur results did not confirm the supposed favorable effects of statin therapy on COVID-19 outcomes. Conversely, they suggest that statin use should be considered as a proxy of underlying comorbidities, which indeed expose to increased risks of more severe COVID-19.     

Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen and Preconditioning on Wound Healing in Colonic Anastomoses

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and HBO preconditioning (pre-HBO) on experimental wound healing and tensile strength in the colonic anastomosis of rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 21 Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three random groups of equal numbers: sham operation, pre-HBO, and HBO. Sham group was given standard left colon resection and end-to-end anastomosis; pre-HBO group received HBO as one dose + colonic resection + anastomosis; HBO group was given colonic resection + anastomosis + HBO. HBO was administrated at 24-hr intervals and relaparatomy was performed on the fifth day. Malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and hydroxy (OH)-proline levels and anastomotic burst pressure were evaluated. Results: Burst pressure and OH-proline levels markedly increased in the HBO group compared with the sham and pre-HBO groups. When compared with the sham group, MDA and MPO levels were significantly decreased in the HBO and pre-HBO groups. In contrast to these findings, SOD and GSH-Px levels were increased in the HBO group as compared with the sham and pre-HBO groups. TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 values were detected at low levels in the HBO group as compared with other groups. Conclusions: HBO administration accelerated wound healing and strengthened the anastomotic tissue. In the light of these results, the HBO administration has beneficial effects and contributed to wound healing in colonic anastomosis. But, as expected, pre-HBO did not alter the results significantly.     

Comparison of protracted infusion 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine in adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: 5-Fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy is the most widely used treatment modality in the adjuvant treatment of rectal cancer. Capecitabine represents a valuable alternative to 5-Fluorouracil in this situation. METHODOLOGY: Patients with stage II and stage III rectal adenocarcinoma, who were included in this analysis, received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy consisting of external-beam radiotherapy (50.4-54Gy) either with 5-Fluorouracil at a median dose of 300 mg/m2/day by protracted venous infusion for 5 days a week, or capecitabine at a median dose of 1650 mg/m2/day for 5 days a week after surgery. The data concerning the toxicity and the efficacy of the treatments were compared in patients treated with 5-Fluorouracil- and capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: Forty-three patients received 5-Fluorouracil, and 24 patients received capecitabine during adjuvant radiotherapy. Although there were no differences between the groups in terms of toxicity rates, distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival rates; a trend for improved loco-regional recurrence-free survival rate was observed in the capecitabine arm (p = 0.063). CONCLUSIONS: Capecitabine is at least as effective as 5-Fluorouracil in the postoperative treatment of rectal adenocarcinoma. Considering the trend for improved loco-regional recurrence-free survival rate in the capecitabine arm, it seems that the drug exerts better synergy with radiotherapy in this situation.     

Assessment of the alveolar bone support of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate: A cone-beam computed tomography study

Objective:To assess the bone support of the teeth adjacent to a cleft using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).Materials and Methods:The CBCT scans of 31 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were assessed. The data for teeth neighboring the cleft were compared with those of contralateral noncleft teeth. For each tooth analyzed, the distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the bone crest (AC) at the buccal side was measured as was the thickness of the buccal bone level at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mm.Results:The bone thicknesses of the central teeth at the cleft region at the crest and 2 mm apically were statistically significantly thinner than that of the central incisor at a noncleft region. The CEJ-AC distance for central teeth at the cleft region was higher than that for central teeth in a noncleft region.Conclusions:Subjects with UCLP showed reduced bone support at teeth neighboring the cleft compared with controls. This may cause some problems during orthodontic treatment.     

Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis in children: is it really a different entity from rheumatic fever?

Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA) is an acute, nonsuppurative arthritis following documented streptococcal infections. Although most authors accepted it as a different entity, the differences from acute rheumatic fever (ARF) are not clear. To document and compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics of PSRA and ARF, 24 patients with PSRA and 20 with ARF were enrolled in the study. The latency period from upper respiratory tract infection was shorter in patients with PSRA ( P<0.01). However, 25% of the patients with ARF had also short (<10 days) latency periods. Although symmetric and nonmigratory arthritis were more frequent in patients with PSRA, there was no significant difference for the distribution of mono-, oligo-, and polyarticular disease between PSRA and ARF patients. The frequency of small joint and hip involvement was also similar between the patient groups. Unresponsiveness of articular symptoms to salicylate therapy within 72 h was more frequent in patients with PSRA (P<0.001). However, in a substantial part of the patients with ARF (nine patients, 45%), joint symptoms also had no response during the first 72 h. Since there is a considerable overlap of symptoms, signs, and laboratory features of PSRA and ARF, a line between these two entities could not be easily drawn. We conclude that these two conditions are actually different presentations of the same disease.