Executive cognitive deficits in primary dystonia.

Primary dystonia is a disorder of movement for which no consistent pathophysiology has been identified; in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it is assumed to be cognitively benign. We have studied a clinically heterogeneous group of 14 patients with primary dystonia on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Despite well-preserved speed of information processing, language, spatial, memory and general intellectual skills relative to normal controls, we have identified a constellation of attentional-executive cognitive deficits on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Specifically, patients demonstrated significant difficulties negotiating the extra-dimensional set-shifting phase of the IED task. The implications of these findings for the pathophysiology of primary dystonia are discussed. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of a significant cognitive deficit in patients with primary dystonia.     

Patients with schizophrenia previously stabilized on conventional depot antipsychotics experience significant clinical improvements following treatment with long-acting risperidone.

BACKGROUND: Conventional depot antipsychotics can provide constant pharmacologic treatment, eliminating partial compliance and reducing relapse risk. Atypical antipsychotics, have improved clinical profiles but require daily dosing, compromising their overall effectiveness. As oral risperidone provides safety and efficacy benefits over oral haloperidol, improvements may be realized by replacing conventional with atypical agents in long-acting therapy. This report examines 50-weeks of long-acting risperidone therapy in patients previously stabilized with conventional depot antipsychotics. METHODS: A multi-center, open-label study enrolled 725 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, judged clinically stable and maintained on stable antipsychotic doses for > or =4 weeks. Assignment by clinician judgment to receive 25-75 mg of long-acting risperidone every 2 weeks for 50 weeks followed, with performance of standard safety and efficacy assessments. Data are presented on patients receiving conventional depot antipsychotic monotherapy at study entry. RESULTS: In the 188 (25.9%) patients receiving conventional depot antipsychotic monotherapy at entry, mild-to-moderate mean (+/-S.D.) Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)-total scores improved significantly after receiving long-acting risperidone (64.2 +/- 18.9 to 58.2 +/- 20.3; P < 0.001). Clinical improvement of > or =20%, 40%, or 60% reduction in PANSS-total score, occurred in 52%, 34%, and 16% of patients, respectively. ESRS subjective ratings and objective physician ratings (Parkinsonism) decreased significantly (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Stable patients with mild, residual symptomatology treated with conventional depot antipsychotics experienced significant improvement in psychiatric and movement disorder symptomatology following 1-year of treatment with long-acting risperidone.     

Decreased relative efficacy of the ketogenic diet for children with surgically approachable epilepsy.

PURPOSE: In children with intractable, surgically approachable epilepsy, the ketogenic diet is often perceived as less efficacious than surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of 554 children started on the ketogenic diet since 1994. Forty-five children were identified as surgical candidates, with at least 2 focal routine EEGs, ictal video-EEG, and corresponding focal neuroimaging findings, of whom 24 eventually had resective surgery and were followed subsequently. A comparison cohort group was also created of 45 children matched for age and seizure frequency that received the diet but were not surgical candidates (multifocal or generalized seizures). RESULTS: Of the 24 children who received both dietary and surgical therapies, there was a higher likelihood after 6 months of both >90% seizure reduction (71% versus 17%) and seizure freedom (63% versus 0%) following surgery, both p < 0.0001. Similarly, the 45 cohort children who were not surgical candidates were more likely to be seizure-free (29% versus 13%, p = 0.041) and remained on the diet for shorter duration (10 months versus 18 months, p = 0.035) compared to the surgical group. CONCLUSION: Children with surgically approachable epilepsy do respond to the diet, but are more likely to be seizure-free following surgery.     

Reliability and validity of a health-related quality of life battery for evaluating outpatient antidepressant treatment

This study was designed to evaluate the reproducibility, validity and responsiveness of a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) battery that was assembled for the evaluation of antidepressant therapy. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to measure severity of depression. The HRQOL battery contained measures of energy and fatigue, social behaviour, cognitive function, home and work role function, and general well-being (i.e., health perceptions, life satisfaction) selected from previously developed and validated instruments. The clinical investigators and research nurses reported on difficulty in using the HRQOL battery. Most patients were able to complete the questionnaire without problems within 10 min. Reproducibility was very good with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.74 to 0.97. The HRQOL scales showed evidence of good concurrent validity. The scales were moderately correlated with MADRS scores (r=0.30–0.62). The magnitude of these correlations indicate that HRQOL scales are related to depression measures, but they are not alternative measures of depression. Changes in MADRS scores were associated with changes in all scales, except for work behaviour, indicating that improvements in depression ratings also resulted in improvements in health status and well-being. The HRQOL scales included in this study were found to be reliable, reproducible, and valid and no appreciable burden was placed on patients or investigators participating in the study. With the exception of the Work Behaviour scale, the HRQOL scales were very responsive to changes in depression severity. This brief HRQOL instrument can provide a comprehensive assessment of the outcomes of antidepressant treatment.This research was supported by a grant from Pfizer International.     

Prospective randomized controlled trial of urethral versus suprapubic catheterization

Sixty-six patients requiring catheterization in the course of general surgical operations were randomly allocated into two groups. Of the 34 patients catheterized urethrally 16 developed urinary tract infections whereas of the 32 suprapubically catheterized patients only 2 developed an infection (P less than 0.001). Five patients required recatheterization after removal of their urethral catheters. There were no major complications associated with the use of suprapubic catheters. We propose that, when catheterization is required during a general surgical procedure, the suprapubic route is to be preferred.     

3% NaCl and 7.5% NaCl/dextran 70 in the resuscitation of severely injured patients.

Cardiovascular resuscitation of the severely injured patient in the field remains unsatisfactory because large volumes of intravenous fluid are needed to keep up with ongoing blood losses and because only small volumes of fluid can be given. In the first study reported here, small volumes (less than or equal to 12 mL/kg) of 3% NaCl were given to patients who were having surgery for severe injuries. The 3% NaCl restored blood pressure, pH, and urine output with approximately one half of the cumulative fluid requirement of patients who received isotonic fluids (p less than 0.05). In a second study, 7.5% NaCl/dextran 70, 250 mL, was given in a prospective, randomized, and double-blinded trial to injured patients in the field. Blood pressure in the hypertonic/hyperoncotic group increased 49 mmHg during transport (p less than 0.005); blood pressure in patients given lactated Ringer's solution increased 19 mmHg (NS). Survival favored the hypertonic/hyperoncotic group. The 7.5% NaCl/dextran 70 solution appears particularly promising for treatment of injured patients in the field.     

Is perinatal care in southwestern Ontario regionalized?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether perinatal care in southwestern Ontario is regionalized, to identify trends over time in referral patterns, to quantify trends in perinatal death rates and to identify trends in perinatal death rates that give evidence of regionalization. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Thirty-two hospitals in southwestern Ontario (1 level III, 1 modified level III and 30 level II or I). PATIENTS: All pregnant women admitted to the hospitals and their infants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antenatal and neonatal transfer status, live-born with discharge home alive from hospital of birth, stillborn, and live-born with death before discharge. RESULTS: Between 1982 and 1985 the antenatal transfer rate increased from 2.2% to 2.8% (p less than 0.003). The proportion of births of infants weighing 500 to 1499 g increased from 49% to 69% at the level III hospital. The neonatal transfer rate increased from 26.2% to 47.9% (p less than 0.05) for infants in this birth-weight category and decreased from 10.2% to 7.1% (p less than 0.03) for infants weighing 1500 to 2499 g. The death rate among infants of low birth weight was lowest among those born at the level III centre and decreased at all centres between 1982 and 1985. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal care in southwestern Ontario is regionalized and not centralized; regionalization in southwestern Ontario increased between 1982 and 1985.     

Coronary heart disease. The size and nature of the problem.

In the U.K., coronary heart disease has reached epidemic proportions. It is the commonest cause of death after the age of 35 years and the fastest rate of increase is in early middle age. The epidemic is due mainly to our way of life. The most important factors are dietary, with smoking, physical inactivity and stress also contributing. Twenty independent working parties from different countries have reviewed the dietary evidence and reached a strong consensus on dietary recommendations. Little action has been taken in the U.K. The Coronary Prevention Group has been formed to consider the reasons for this inaction and also the implication for research, the government, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health and Social Security, the food and agriculture industries, caterers, nutrition education and for individuals, of the dietary recommendations.     

Transformation of Penicillium chrysogenum using the Aspergillus nidulans amdS gene as a dominant selective marker

Summary The Aspergillus nidulans acetamidase gene (amdS) has been used to transform Penicillium chrysogenum at low frequency. Several transformants were tested and shown to be mitotically stable. Southern blot analysis indicated that transforming DNA had integrated into the chromosomal DNA, possibly at multiple sites.