Influence of sex on ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction in mice.

Murine models are increasingly used to elucidate the molecular mechanisms contributing to left ventricular (LV) remodeling. Epidemiologic and animal studies have suggested that women undergo differing patterns of LV remodeling than men after myocardial infarction (MI). We, therefore, sought to compare LV remodeling after MI in male and female mice. Echocardiography was performed in male and female C57BL6 mice before and serially after MI. Two days after MI, end-diastolic LV internal diameter and shortening fraction were similar in males and females. Between days 2 and 28 after MI, LV internal diameter increased in male mice but remained unchanged in female mice. During this time period, shortening fraction declined in males, but not in females. Posterior wall thickness increased more in females than in males. The size of the MI and the LV mass/body weight were similar between the 2 sexes after MI. Echocardiography showed that after MI, female mice undergo less extensive LV remodeling than males, with less dilation and better preserved LV systolic function 28 days after MI. These sex differences should be taken into account when studying murine cardiac adaptation to MI.     

Effectiveness of topiramate in the prevention of childhood headaches

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a significant problem for many children. Topiramate has been suggested to be effective for the prophylaxis of migraine in adults, but has not yet been examined in children. The drug has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for childhood seizure disorders. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of topiramate for the prevention of pediatric migraine. METHODS: Children with frequent migraine were prescribed topiramate for headache prevention. Dosages, serum levels, and Serum Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase (SGOT) levels were monitored. Changes in frequency, severity, and duration of headaches were recorded and changes in headache-related disability using PedMIDAS also were measured. RESULTS: Ninety-seven children were treated with topiramate, and 75 were reevaluated 88.7 +/- 35.7 days later, 41 were seen at a second follow-up, and 17 were seen at a third follow-up evaluation. The daily dose reached at second evaluation was 84.0 +/- 38.6 mg/day or 1.42 +/- 0.74 mg/kg/day. This corresponded to a mean serum level of 2.8 +/- 1.6 micro g/mL. The mean headache frequency was reduced from 16.5 +/- 10.0 to 11.6 +/- 10.2 days per month (P<0.001) with a further reduction to 9.4 +/- 8.4 days by the second follow-up (P<0.001). Severity and duration of headache also were reduced. Headache disability improved, with a reduction of Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment score from 36.0 +/- 42.3 to 20.8 +/- 34.0 at the first follow-up (P<0.05), 19.1 +/- 22.0 at the second follow-up (P<0.005), and 10.9 +/- 16.9 at the third follow-up (P<0.001). Most patients tolerated topiramate well. The most common side effects reported were cognitive (12.5%), weight loss (5.6%), and sensory (2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Topiramate is potentially an effective prophylactic medication for children with frequent migraine.     

Interobserver reproducibility of the visual estimation of range of motion of the shoulder

OBJECTIVES: To assess interobserver reproducibility (agreement and reliability) of visually estimated shoulder range of motion (ROM) and to study the influence of clinical characteristics on the reproducibility. DESIGN: Test-retest analyses. SETTING: Various health care settings in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients with shoulder complaints (N = 201) referred by 20 general practitioners, 2 orthopedic physicians, and 20 rheumatologists. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Independent visual estimation by 2 physiotherapists of the ROM. Agreement was calculated as the mean difference in visual estimation between examiners +/-1.96 x standard deviations of this mean difference. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated as a measure of reliability, based on a 2-way random effects analysis of variance. RESULTS: The lowest level of agreement was for visual estimation of active and passive elevation (limits of agreement, -43.4 to 39.8 and -46.7 to 41.5, respectively, for the difference between the affected and contralateral sides), for which the level of agreement was most clearly associated with pain severity and disability. The ability to differentiate between subjects was acceptable for all movements for the difference between the affected and contralateral sides (ICCs, > .70) except for horizontal adduction (ICC = .49). CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver agreement was low for the assessment of active and passive elevation, especially for patients with a high pain severity and disability. Except for horizontal adduction, visual estimation seems suitable for distinguishing differences between affected and contralateral ROM between subjects.     

Deterioration of dyslexia after non‐dominant temporal lobectomy for drug‐resistant epilepsy

We present a patient with drug‐resistant right‐sided temporal lobe epilepsy, caused by a ganglioglioma of the parahippocampal gyrus. Preoperatively, the patient was also known to have dyslexia. A right‐sided anterior temporal lobectomy, including complete lesionectomy, was performed. Several months after the otherwise uncomplicated procedure, the patient complained about visual memory disturbances, accompanied by increased reading and spelling problems. Postoperative neuropsychological examination revealed deterioration of the visual memory functions, compared to the preoperative assessment, and consequently provided a possible explanation for worsening of the pre‐existing dyslexia. In this case report, we hypothesize on the cause of this unusual deterioration and present recommendations to be included in the preoperative epilepsy surgery evaluation for patients with verbal or reading disorders such as dyslexia.     

Combined search for anti-beta2-glycoprotein I and anticardiolipin antibodies in antiphospholipid syndrome: contribution to diagnosis

In this study we sought to assess (1) the diagnostic value of a combined search for anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein (abeta(2)-GPIs) and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLs) in primary (APS I) and secondary (APS II) antiphospholipid syndrome and (2) the influence of the beta(2)-GPI preparation in the ELISA's results. abeta(2)-GPI and aCL concentrations were assessed in 70 patients with APS and compared with those in 65 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without clinical features of APS. In APS patients (38 with APS I, 32 with APS II), the diagnosis had to have been made at least 3 years earlier; in subjects with SLE, the diagnosis had to have been made at least 5 years earlier. All serum samples were tested for abeta(2) -GPI with the use of an in-house ELISA with an abeta(2) -GPI preparation from human plasma. Samples negative for abeta(2) -GPI were controlled with 2 additional beta(2)-GPI preparations, 1 from human serum and 1 from bovine serum. In APS, abeta(2)-GPIs were more frequent than in SLE (76% and 15%, respectively; P <.0001), mainly with IgG isotype and with significantly higher levels than those found in SLE. The specificity for APS was 92% for IgG abeta(2)-GPIs and 68% for IgG aCLs. The highest association with APS was found for the combination of the 2 markers (odds ratio 29; 95% confidence interval 10-76; P <.0001). Among the APS patients, 6 were positive for aCL only and remained negative regardless of which beta 2 -GPI preparation was used; 1 patient was aCL-negative and only positive with human beta 2 -GPI. These data emphasize the heterogeneity of the APS immunologic profile and the diagnostic possibilities of both antibodies.     

In vitro effects of risperidone and 9-hydroxy-risperidone on human platelet function, plasma coagulation, and fibrinolysis

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic events have been reported with the use of antipsychotic compounds, although the incidence, predisposing factors, and biological mechanisms associated with these events in psychiatric patients are subject to debate. OBJECTIVE: The in vitro actions of risperidone and its active metabolite 9-hydroxy-risperidone (9-OH-risperidone) on human platelet function, plasma coagulation, and fibrinolysis were examined to explore whether hematologic effects might be a mechanism for thrombotic events with these compounds. METHODS: Blood was donated by healthy white male subjects who were free of medications (particularly acetylsalicylic acid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds). Platelet shape change and adhesion/aggregation reactions to risperidone and 9-OH-risperidone induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, epinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were tested in human platelet-rich plasma. Arachidonic acid metabolism was assessed in human platelets and rat aortic rings. Plasma coagulation was tested in human platelet-poor plasma. Fibrinolysis was measured in human whole blood. RESULTS: The 12 study subjects ranged in age from 20 to 40 years (median age 30 years). At concentrations of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L (approximately 4180 ng/mL), neither risperidone nor 9-OH-risperidone induced platelet shape change or aggregation, amplified reactions to ADP, or modified platelet adhesion/aggregation induced by collagen or ADP, but they did attenuate epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation (-50% in the case of 9-OH-risperidone; P < 0.05) and 5-HT-induced platelet aggregation (drug concentrations yielding 50% inhibition of 5-HT-induced platelet aggregation, 0.5 and 0.2 ng/mL, respectively). Cyclooxygenase, thromboxane A2 synthase, 12-lipoxygenase, prostacyclin synthase, plasma coagulation, and fibrinolysis were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: Risperidone and 9-OH-risperidone reduced epinephrine- and 5-HT-induced human platelet aggregation but did not significantly alter other measures of platelet function, plasma coagulation, or fibrinolysis in vitro.