Role of five platelet membrane glycoprotein polymorphisms in branch retinal vein occlusion.

To determine whether polymorphisms of platelet surface glycoprotein associated with arterial thrombosis are risk factors for branch retinal vein occlusion. A case-control study in which 69 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and 147 controls who attended the eye clinic for nonvascular complications participated. DNA was extracted from whole blood and analyzed for genotyping of platelet glycoprotein polymorphisms by polymerase chain reactions and specific restricted enzymes. No relationship was found between the four platelet glycoprotein polymorphisms i.e. GPIa C807T, VNTR and Kozak of glycoprotein Ibalpha, the HPA-1 of glycoprotein IIIa and the occurrence of branch retinal vein occlusion. The HPA-2 polymorphism was found in 18 out 60 (30%) patients with branch retinal vein occlusion in comparison with 27 out 142 (19%) of controls, with an estimated odds ratio of 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 0.91-3.65). The four platelet glycoprotein polymorphisms are not risk factors for branch retinal vein occlusion and therefore it seems unnecessary to screen those patients for it. A larger study is required, however, to determine whether HPA-2 is a novel risk factor for branch retinal vein occlusion.     

Further evidence of dopamine transporter dysregulation in ADHD: a controlled PET imaging study using altropane.

BACKGROUND: The dopamine transporter (DAT) is known to be a key regulator of dopamine, and recent studies of genetics, treatment, and imaging have highlighted the role of DAT in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The findings of in vivo neuroimaging of DAT in ADHD have been somewhat discrepant, however. METHOD: Dopamine transporter binding was measured using a highly selective ligand (C-11 altropane) and positron emission tomography (PET). The sample consisted of 47 well-characterized, treatment-na?ve, nonsmoking, non-comorbid adults with and without ADHD. Additionally, control subjects had few symptoms of ADHD. RESULTS: Results showed significantly increased DAT binding in the right caudate in adults with ADHD compared with matched control subjects without this disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm abnormal DAT binding in the striatum of adults with ADHD and provide further support that dysregulation of DAT may be an important component of the pathophysiology of ADHD.     

Age-dependent Responses to Thermal Hyperalgesia and Mechanical Allodynia in a Rat Model of Acute Postoperative Pain

Background: Developmental differences in short- and long-term responses to pain, especially surgical pain, have received minimal attention. The purpose of the present study was to examine postoperative responses in rats of developmental ages paralleling the infant to young adult human.

Methods: The withdrawal threshold to von Frey filament testing and withdrawal latency to hind-paw radiant heating were determined before and for various times after hind-paw incision in rats 2, 4, and 16 weeks of age. Control rats of these ages were observed serially without surgery.

Results: In control animals, younger rats were more sensitive to mechanical stimulation and less sensitive to thermal stimulation. Paw incision resulted in similar changes to both types of stimulation in all age groups, peaking 4 h after surgery. However, the return to normal sensitivity to mechanical stimulation, as measured by return of threshold to 80% of normal, occurred more quickly in 2-week-old than in 4- and 16-week-old animals. In contrast, there was no age difference for time to return to normal sensitivity to thermal stimulation after surgery.     

Emergency orthodontic treatment after the traumatic intrusive luxation of maxillary incisors.

Treatment of traumatically intruded teeth is based largely on empirical clinical experience rather than on scientific data. The aim of this qualitative meta-analysis was to provide an evidence base to evaluate the orthodontic repositioning approach. In a MEDLINE search of the literature in English, 14 reported patients involving 22 teeth were found to have been treated by this modality. Additionally, 3 new patients, involving 9 intruded teeth and presented herein, were combined to form a total study sample of 17 subjects (7 girls, 10 boys, aged 8.9 +/- 1.2 years). Orthodontic extrusive forces were applied in the immediate posttrauma period (up to 3 months), with a variety of orthodontic appliances. Repositioning was achieved for 90.3% of the affected teeth but failed in 9.7% because of inflammatory resorption (2 teeth) or a misdiagnosis of root fracture (1 tooth). Early complications included loss of pulp vitality and external root resorption. All intruded teeth with closed root apices lost their vitality regardless of the degree of intrusion, whereas among those with incomplete apices, 45.5% that had been moderately intruded remained vital. External resorption was encountered in 54.8% of the teeth. Loss of marginal bone support was rarely encountered. Late complications included inflammatory root resorption in teeth with closed apices, in which endodontic treatment was not initially performed, and obliteration of the pulp tissue in teeth that remained vital. The results show that this method is superior to other treatment alternatives.     

MR characteristics of iophendylate (Pantopaque)

Although iophendylate (Pantopaque) has been largely replaced by water soluble agents for myelography, retained intracranial or intraspinal Pantopaque remains a common occurrence. Pantopaque has signal characteristics similar to fat with both short T1 and T2 relaxation times. In vitro measurements revealed T1 = 170 ms and T2 = 27 ms. Spine radiography is recommended in patients with a history of previous myelography and magnetic resonance abnormalities similar to fat.     

Trends in Folic Acid Awareness and Behavior in the United States: The Gallup Organization for the March of Dimes Foundation Surveys, 1995–2005

Objective: To summarize changes in folic acid awareness, knowledge, and behavior among women of childbearing age in the United States since the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) 1992 folic acid recommendation and later fortification. Methods: Random-digit dialed telephone surveys were conducted of approximately 2000 women (per survey year) aged 18–45 years from 1995–2005 in the United States. Results: The percentage of women reporting having heard or read about folic acid steadily increased from 52% in 1995 to 84% in 2005. Of all women surveyed in 2005, 19% knew folic acid prevented birth defects, an increase from 4% in 1995. The proportion of women who reported learning about folic acid from health care providers increased from 13% in 1995 to 26% in 2005. The proportion of all women who reported taking a vitamin supplement containing folic acid increased slightly from 28% in 1995 to 33% in 2005. Among women who were not pregnant at the time of the survey in 2005, 31% reported taking a vitamin containing folic acid daily compared with 25% in 1995. Conclusions: The percentage of women taking folic acid daily has increased modestly since 1995. Despite this increase, the data show that the majority of women of childbearing age still do not take a vitamin containing folic acid daily. Health care providers and maternal child health professionals must continue to promote preconceptional health among all women of childbearing age, and encourage them to take a vitamin containing folic acid daily.