Dynamic monitoring of [C]diprenorphine in rat brain using a prototype positron imaging device

The present work tests the feasibility of using the most recently developed positron emission tomograph detector technology to image positron-emitting radioligands in small experimental animals. A prototype imaging device, using two opposing multicrystal, high-resolution ( 4mm) block detectors of bismuth germanate to produce a 2-dimensional image in the centre of the field of view, is described. To evaluate the probe's potential as a non-invasive experimental tool, the dynamic regional distribution of the established opiate receptor ligand, [¹¹C]diprenorphine was determined in rat brain following intravenous injection. The distribution of counts in the images was consistent with the localisation of diprenorphine binding sites and the specificity of the signal obtained was confirmed by administration of non-radioactive diprenorphine and naloxone. Although the signal-to-noise ratio was reduced compared with data obtained by post mortem dissection, the dynamic data acquisition capabilities of the system demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring the kinetics of ligand binding in individual animals and encourages further design of a small-diameter detector system with tomographic capabilities.     

Correlation among Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters of Brain in Preterm Neonates at Term Equivalent Age

Objectives

To assess the spectrum of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) abnormalities among preterm babies at term equivalent age using objective scoring and to study the association among MRI variables.

Methods

Ninety-four preterm babies born at ≤32 wk of gestation and / or birth weight ≤ 1500 g at term equivalent age who underwent cranial MRI between April 2011 and August 2012 and the MRI interpreted by experienced radiologists were studied. In 2014, the MRI was retrospectively re-interpreted by the same radiologists using an objective scoring system described by Kidokoro. Spectrum of MRI abnormalities, their association with perinatal variables and correlation among white matter (WM), grey matter and cerebellar scores were analyzed.

Results

MRI abnormalities observed were WM signal abnormality (24 %), lateral ventricular dilatation (16 %), WM cystic abnormality (13 %), deep grey matter signal abnormality (9 %), cerebellar volume reduction (9 %) and deep grey matter volume reduction (8 %). Sepsis was significantly associated with occurrence of WM and cerebellar abnormalities (p < 0.05). WM scores did not show significant correlation with cortical grey matter and deep grey matter scores while cerebellar scores showed a weak positive correlation with WM (r = 0.33), cortical grey matter (r = 0.27) and deep grey matter scores (r = 0.22).

Conclusions

MRI abnormalities are common in preterm infants, with 60 % showing some abnormality at term equivalent age. Among perinatal characteristics, sepsis was identified as risk factor for WM and cerebellar injury. Grey matter abnormality occurs independent of WM abnormality. Cerebellar abnormalities appear to coexist with either WM or grey matter changes.

     

Postural control,motor skills,and health-related quality of life in children with hearing impairment: a systematic review

Children with hearing impairment have balance and motor deficits primarily due to concomitant damage to the vestibular structures. Psycho-intellectual and social developmental disorders, as well as elimination of social activities and participation may diminish health-related quality of life in these children. Despite the documentation, assessment of balance, motor deficits, and health-related quality of life of these children are not included in the educational program, unless obvious neurological or orthopedic disorders are diagnosed. The objective of this review was to systematically analyze the available information in the literatures regarding the postural control, motor skills, and health-related quality of life in children with hearing impairment. Searches of data sources PubMed, MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, SCOPUS, ISI of web science, Cochrane Library, and AMED database were performed from the earliest to 7 February 2011. Study eligibility criteria included non-interventional studies that addressed postural control, motor skills, and health-related quality of life in children with hearing impairment. For each eligible article, data were extracted using custom-designed forms by a single investigator. Collected data included study demographics, study design, study population, sample size, outcome measures, and results. A total of 11,872 articles were retrieved, and 17 articles were found to be eligible for inclusion. Of the 17 articles included, five articles analyzed health-related quality of life alone, two articles analyzed balance alone, two articles analyzed motor performance alone, two articles analyzed vestibular dysfunction alone, two articles included both vestibular dysfunction and balance, two articles included both motor performance and balance, and two articles investigated vestibular, balance as well as motor impairments. Heterogeneity of the studies prevented us from performing methodological quality assessment and meta-analysis. The results of this review suggest that children with hearing impairment exhibit suboptimal levels of function in postural control, motor skill performance, and health-related quality of life.     

Hospital‐admitted eye injury in Victoria,Australia

Background: The public health concern represented by eye injury in Victoria, Australia has been known for a period now approaching 20 years. However, there has been no improvement observed in this public health concern since it was first identified in the 1990s. This study further investigates the epidemiology of eye injury in Victoria, specifically hospital‐admitted eye injury. Methods: The Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset was surveyed for eye injury coded by the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision during the period spanning 2001–2005, retrieving all cases of hospital‐admitted eye injury in Victoria during the surveyed period. Results: During the period surveyed, the average incidence of eye injury requiring hospital admission in Victoria was 53.6 per 100 000 person‐years. Sixty‐four per cent of patients were male and 36% were female (P < 0.001). Male patients were most commonly middle‐aged compared with female patients who were most commonly middle‐aged to elderly (P < 0.001). Core patient groups included: elderly women sustaining eye injuries as a result of falls (particularly in residential homes); middle‐aged men sustaining eye injuries as a result of assault and in transport‐related accidents. Conclusion: The incidence of hospital‐admitted eye injury in Victoria has increased since it was first identified as a concern in the 1990s. The design and implementation of an effective preventative strategy to reduce the rate of hospital‐admitted eye injury in Victoria presents as a difficult task given that the most common causes are represented by falls, assault and transport‐related accidents.     

The effect of antidepressant medications in the management of heart failure on outcomes: mortality,cardiovascular function and depression – a systematic review

Objective: Depression is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and hospital readmission in patients with heart failure (HF). This systematic review aimed to compile studies examining whether the use of antidepressants could improve outcome in patients with HF and concomitant depression.

Methods: The electronic libraries Embase, OVID MEDLINE(R) and PsychInfo were used to search the following terms ‘heart failure’ AND ‘anti-depressants’; ‘heart failure’ AND ‘TCA’ OR ‘SSRI’ OR ‘SNRI’. The result of this database search was analysed to select papers that satisfied our inclusion criteria.

Results: Of the 180 papers found in the original database search, only three met the inclusion criteria. A further two papers were added from hand-searching through the references. Three of these papers are randomised controlled trials (RCT); the other two, cohort studies.

All studies show that antidepressants are well tolerated in this group. There was no significant difference in depressive symptoms between the test and placebo. The cardiac outcomes of patients with HF are not improved by the use of antidepressants relative to placebo.

Conclusions: Antidepressants are not associated with increased mortality rate as established in previous papers. However, there is inadequate evidence that the use of antidepressants effects significant improvement in depression or cardiac outcomes.