Accelerated long-term forgetting: A newly identified memory impairment in epilepsy

Recently, a pattern referred to as accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) has been described in patients with epilepsy. In ALF, acquisition and retention over standard delayed recall intervals (up to 30 minutes) tend to be intact, but there is an abnormally rapid rate of forgetting over delays of days or weeks. ALF is associated with everyday memory complaints as well as impairments in autobiographical memory, but goes largely undetected by traditional neuropsychological measures. We consider here the characteristics of ALF and possible contributors to its underlying pathophysiology. Overall, a better understanding of this relatively newly recognised memory disorder should improve clinical treatment.     

Vitamin D and prostate cancer prognosis: a Mendelian randomization study

Purpose

Decreased vitamin D levels have been associated with prostate cancer, but it is unclear whether this association is causal. A functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the group-specific component (GC) gene (T > G, rs2282679) has been associated with 25-hydroxy (25-OH) vitamin D and 1.25 dihydroxy (1.25-OH2) vitamin D levels.

Methods

To examine the hypothesized inverse relationship between vitamin D status and prostate cancer, we studied the association between this SNP and prostate cancer outcome in the prospective PROCAGENE study comprising 702 prostate cancer patients with a median follow-up of 82 months.

Results

GC rs2282679 genotypes were not associated with biochemical recurrence [hazard ratios (HR) 0.91, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.73–1.12; p = 0.36], development of metastases (HR 1.20, 95 % CI 0.88–1.63; p = 0.25) or overall survival (HR 1.10; 95 % CI 0.84–1.43; p = 0.50).

Conclusions

A causal role of vitamin D status, as reflected by GC rs2282679 genotype, in disease progression and mortality in prostate cancer patients is unlikely.

     

Nerve growth factor in serum is a marker of the stage of alcohol disease

Long-term alcohol abuse has deleterious effects on the peripheral and central nervous system. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a pleiotropic neurotrophic protein involved in development, maintenance of function and regeneration of nerve cells. We examined patients in different stages of alcohol disease and measured their NGF serum concentrations based on the hypothesis that these reflect the state of disease. We examined 57 patients suffering from alcohol-dependence for more than 2 years (DSM IV) on day 8 of a qualified withdrawal, 18 patients with Korsakoff's syndrome and 40 healthy controls. In addition to clinical examination, careful history taking and a standard neuropsychological test battery, serum NGF concentrations were measured by a highly sensitive enzyme-immunoassay. Of the 57 patients 9 had suffered from severe withdrawal delirium in the past, other clinical parameters were alike. Cognitive test performance did not differ from the control group. Mean NGF levels of controls amounted to 42.1pg/ml (S.D. 68.0); mean levels of patients with alcohol dependence were raised significantly to 401.5pg/ml (S.D. 932.6) without delirium in the past and even further to 3292.5pg/ml (S.D. 4879.6) with former withdrawal delirium. By contrast, patients with persistent amnestic disorder (Korsakoff's syndrome) showed values identical to the controls. NGF serum levels were significantly elevated in alcohol-dependent patients, more so in those with prior delirium. Their cognitive tests being normal, this possibly reflects the activity of NGF as an endogenous repair mechanism for damaged neurons. In accordance with this hypothesis, NGF values are "normal" in patients with persistent alcohol-related cognitive decline.     

A comprehensive in vitro investigation of a portable magnetic separator device for human blood detoxification

A portable magnetic separator device is being developed for a proposed magnetically based detoxification system. In this paper, the performance of this device was evaluated via preliminary in vitro flow experiments using simple fluids and a separator unit consisting of one tube and two metal wires, each at the top and bottom of the tube. The effects of the following factors were observed: mean flow velocity U(o) (0.14-45 cm s(-1)), magnetic field strength micro(o)H(o) (0.125-0.50 T), wire size R(w) (0.125, 0.250 and 0.500 mm), wire length L(w) (2, 5 and 10 cm), wire materials (nickel, stainless steel 304 and 430) and tube size (outer radius R(o) = 0.30 mm and inner radius R(i) = 0.25 mm; R(o) = 0.50 mm and R(i) = 0.375 mm; and R(o) = 2.0 mm and R(i) = 1.0 mm). Our observations showed that the experimental results fit well with the corresponding theoretical results from the model we previously developed at a low flow velocity area (for example, U(o) < or = 20 cm s(-1)), strong external magnetic field (for example, > or = 0.30 T) and long wire length (for example, L(w) = 10 cm). The experimental results also showed that more than 90% capture efficiency is indeed achievable under moderate systemic and operational conditions. Pressure drop measurements revealed that the device could work well under human physiological and clinical conditions, and sphere buildup would not have any considerable effect on the pressure drop of the device. The breakthrough experiments demonstrated that a lower flow rate V, higher applied magnetic field micro(o)H(o) and diluted sphere suspension, i.e. lower C(o), would delay the breakthrough. All the results indicate the promise of this portable magnetic separator device to efficiently in vivo sequestrate nano-/micro-spheres from blood flow in the future magnetically based detoxification system.     

Application of subretinal fluid to close refractory full thickness macular holes: treatment strategies and primary outcome: APOSTEL study

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - Persisting macular holes (PMH) after surgical release of any epiretinal traction of the vitreous and adjacent membrane may rely on...     

Quantification of visits of wild fauna to a commercial free‐range layer farm in the Netherlands located in an avian influenza hot‐spot area assessed by video‐camera monitoring

Free‐range poultry farms have a high risk of introduction of avian influenza viruses (AIV), and it is presumed that wild (water) birds are the source of introduction. There is very scarce quantitative data on wild fauna visiting free‐range poultry farms. We quantified visits of wild fauna to a free‐range area of a layer farm, situated in an AIV hot‐spot area, assessed by video‐camera monitoring. A total of 5,016 hr (209 days) of video recordings, covering all 12 months of a year, were analysed. A total of 16 families of wild birds and five families of mammals visited the free‐range area of the layer farm. Wild birds, except for the dabbling ducks, visited the free‐range area almost exclusively in the period between sunrise and the moment the chickens entered the free‐range area. Known carriers of AIV visited the outdoor facility regularly: species of gulls almost daily in the period January–August; dabbling ducks only in the night in the period November–May, with a distinct peak in the period December–February. Only a small fraction of visits of wild fauna had overlap with the presence of chickens at the same time in the free‐range area. No direct contact between chickens and wild birds was observed. It is hypothesized that AIV transmission to poultry on free‐range poultry farms will predominantly take place via indirect contact: taking up AIV by chickens via wild‐bird‐faeces‐contaminated water or soil in the free‐range area. The free‐range poultry farmer has several possibilities to potentially lower the attractiveness of the free‐range area for wild (bird) fauna: daily inspection of the free‐range area and removal of carcasses and eggs; prevention of forming of water pools in the free‐range facility. Furthermore, there are ways to scare‐off wild birds, for example use of laser equipment or trained dogs.