The cost of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in community dwelling Alzheimer's disease patients

INTRODUCTION: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are highly prevalent in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. They are a source of distress for the caregivers and one of the main reasons for nursing home placement, which is the major component of the cost of Alzheimer's disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the direct and indirect cost related to the care of BPSD within a prospective study examining the overall cost of AD in Israel. METHODS: Seventy-one community dwelling AD patients were interviewed. Interviews covered information about the number of caregivers' hours invested in caring for the patient and amount of expenditure such as in-house paid help and payments for day care. Effort devoted to BPSD was defined as the number of hours spent by primary and secondary caregivers in a typical week dealing with BPSD (managing aggression, pacing, attempts to leave the house under inappropriate circumstances, or comforting a hallucinating, depressed or anxious patient). RESULTS: The annual indirect cost for management of BPSD in an AD patient was approximately 2665 dollars -over 25% of the total annual indirect cost of care ($10 520). The annual direct cost of BPSD of an AD patient was approximately 1450 dollars -over 35% of the total annual direct cost of care (3900 dollars). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 30% (4115 dollars) of the total annual cost of AD (14420 dollars) is invested in the direct management of BPSD. Given the importance of BPSD as one of the main components of the cost of AD, future cost studies should be designed to measure the cost of specific components of BPSD and verify which are the most costly aspects of the disease. Despite the considerable methodological difficulties in disentangling the costs of the specific symptoms of AD, cost effectiveness studies of different interventions should be conducted in order to determine the optimal intervention with relation to cost.     

Trends in school violence

School violence has been a new research area since the 1980s, when Scandinavian and British researchers first focused on the subject. This violence has sometimes even resulted in murder. Since the late 1980s the World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted cross-national studies every fourth year on Health Behavior in School Aged Children (HBSC). Today 37 countries participate under the guidance of the WHO-European Office. The HBSC school-based survey is conducted with a nationally representative sample of 11, 13 and 15 year old school children in each country using a standard self-administrated questionnaire. The subject of bullying at school has been part of the questionnaire. Results from these surveys and studies in the United States and Israel are presented and it is hoped that the recent public debate and initiatives by the various government agencies will result in reduced school violence in the future.     

Heparin-derived disaccharides modulate proliferation and Erb-B2-mediated signal transduction in colon cancer cell lines

Organ-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) determines metastasis formation by regulating tumor cell proliferation. Hepatocyte-derived ECM enhances proliferation of colon cancer cell lines by increasing expression of tyrosine kinase receptors of the erb-B family. The active components in the ECM are the heparan sulfates, which are highly heterogeneous in their chemistry and size. We determined the effect of heparan sulfate disaccharides, of defined chemistry and present in high amounts in the liver heparan sulfate chains, on the proliferation of colon cancer cell lines and investigated the mechanism involved. The low-metastatic cell line KM12 was stimulated to proliferate by a highly sulfated disaccharide, found in the highest amounts in hepatocyte-derived heparan sulfate. Growth of the highly metastatic cell line KM12SM was inhibited by the second most common disaccharide in hepatocyte-derived heparan sulfate. The effect of both disaccharides was not accompanied by changes in the expression of erb-B1, erb-B2, erb-B3 or heregulin-alpha. We determined whether the disaccharides modified the signal-transduction pathways mediated by the erb-B receptors. The erb-B2-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG825 abolished the enhancement of KM12 cell proliferation by the stimulatory disaccharide. This disaccharide increased tyrosine phosphorylation of erb-B1 and erb-B2 receptors, effects that were abolished by AG825. Moreover, the disaccharide caused increased expression of cyclin D1 and of activated MAP kinase, again reduced in the presence of the inhibitor AG825. The growth-inhibitory disaccharide reduced phosphorylation of erb-B1, but not of erb-B2, receptors in KM12SM cells. In conclusion, not only hepatocyte-derived heparan sulfate but also disaccharide molecules derived from heparan sulfate can affect colon cancer cell proliferation. Their effect is mediated by modulation of the erb-B signal transduction.     

Colonic anastomosis with the nickel-titanium temperature-dependent memory-shape device

BACKGROUND: This study was prompted by our successful experience with a compression anastomosis clip (CAC) in an animal model. METHODS: The study sample included 20 patients scheduled for colonic resections, of whom 10 underwent anastomosis with the CAC and 10 with staplers. RESULTS: Neither group had anastomotic or other complications, except for 1 patient in the CAC group in whom a subphrenic infected hematoma developed after left hemicolectomy with splenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that this CAC is safe and simple to use, coming close to the "no touch surgery concept" and is of low cost compared with the staples used today.     

Perthes-like changes in geleophysic dysplasia

Geleophysic dysplasia is a rare skeletal dysplasia characterised by 'happy natured' facies, short stature with short limbs, brachydactyly, and joint contractures. This report describes a case of a patient with unilateral Legg-Calvé-Perthes-like changes associated with dysplastic proximal capital femoral epiphysis, typical to geleophysic dysplasia.     

Silastic RingVertical Gastroplasty by Minilaparotomy

Background: The incision length has significant influence on the postoperative course after silastic ring vertical gastroplasty (SRVG). Methods: A technique is described in which SRVG can be performed through a minilaparotomy incision. Results: 110 patients were operated with this technique during 1996. No remarkable intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered. Postoperative weight loss has been satisfactory. Conclusions: Performance of SRVG through a minilaparotomy is feasible. The technique is recommended for surgeons familiar with the operation through the formal incision.     

Maxillary polydimethylsiloxane glossal prostheses

A technique was described to mechanically combine acrylic resin with a polydimethylsiloxane (silicone) material. The polysiloxane glossal prosthesis was suspended from the palatal surface of a maxillary complete denture obturator.While a prosthetic tongue is a poor substitute for a most vital structure, every attempt must be made to make the patient comfortable and aid the patient in dealing with routine social demands. This type of prosthesis attached to a stable maxillary denture provides a rehabilitative service which may be considered for patients who experience glossectomy.