Neurochemical alterations of the entorhinal cortex in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI): a three-year follow-up study

The neurochemical alterations in the entorhinal cortex have not yet been measured, even though the entorhinal cortex is the earliest involved brain region in aMCI. In this study, we investigated whether brain regions including the entorhinal cortex would show early involvement of neurochemical abnormalities in aMCI, and whether magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) abnormalities might be a predictive marker of conversion of aMCI to Alzheimer's disease (AD). MRS was performed on 13 aMCI patients and 11 patients with no cognitive impairment (NCI). Localizing voxels were placed within the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, posterior cingulate gyrus, and occipital white matter in the dominant hemisphere. N-acetyl aspartate/creatinine (NAA/Cr) ratios in the entorhinal cortex were significantly lower in aMCI patients than in NCI subjects. After a three-year follow-up, seven aMCI patients converted to AD and six remained stable. Baseline NAA/Cr ratios of entorhinal cortex were decreased in converters, compared to NCI. Our study suggested the entorhinal cortex is the earliest site that is subject to neurochemical alteration in aMCI patients, and baseline MRS metabolite ratios in the entorhinal cortex can be a marker for predicting conversion of aMCI to AD.     

Intravascular ultrasound findings that are predictive of no reflow after percutaneous coronary intervention for saphenous vein graft disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings and the no-reflow phenomenon and long-term outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions. No reflow was defined as Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction grade 0, 1, or 2 flow after PCI. Of 311 patients who underwent IVUS before and after stenting, no reflow was observed in 39 patients (13%). Degenerated SVG (62% vs 36%, p = 0.002), IVUS-detected intraluminal mass (82% vs 43%, p <0.001), culprit lesion multiple plaque ruptures (23% vs 6%, p <0.001), and tissue prolapse (51% vs 35%, p = 0.043) were observed more frequently in patients with no reflow. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, an intraluminal mass (odds ratio [OR] 4.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.98 to 10.49, p = 0.001), culprit lesion multiple plaque ruptures (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.46 to 8.41, p = 0.014), and degenerated SVGs (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.17 to 6.56, p = 0.024) were the independent predictors of no reflow after PCI. At 5-year clinical follow-up, rates of death (14, 36%, vs 55, 20%, p = 0.036) and myocardial infarction (13, 33%, vs 52, 19%, p = 0.039) were significantly higher in the no-reflow group. However, rate of target vessel revascularization was not significantly different between the 2 groups (15, 38%, vs 90, 33%, p = 0.3). IVUS-detected intraluminal mass, multiple plaque ruptures, and degenerated SVGs were associated with no reflow in SVG lesions after PCI. In conclusion, no reflow was associated with poor long-term clinical outcomes after PCI for SVG lesions.     

The Korean version of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer, and its use in an initial validation study of 56 patients

The University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL) questionnaire is often used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of head and neck cancer patients. The aim of this study was to translate the UW-QOL version 4 into the Korean language and to carry out an initial validation study. A recognized methodology for translation of questionnaires was used. The validation study used the final Korean version between March and September 2009. Adult patients were recruited, with a confirmed diagnosis of head and neck cancer, therapy completed and disease-free for at least 1 year. The UW-QOL was successfully translated into Korean. 56 patients completed Korean versions of UW-QOL, the Beck Depression Inventory and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF and various expected correlations were confirmed first between the two UW-QOL subscales (Spearman 0.54 p<0.001) and then of these subscales with the other concurrent measures. Lower (worse) UW-QOL scores were seen for later stage patients in all 12 domains. The Korean version of UW-QOL is ready for use in the assessment of HRQOL for Korean patients. Validation work needs to be continued to further establish psychometric properties of the questionnaire for use in this population.     

Novel strategies to enhance survival and growth of pulp cells after dental restorations

Using ex vivo human tooth, the authors demonstrated that dental pulp stromal cells that survive after placement of composite, mineral trioxide aggregate, and glass ionomer are weaker since they undergo synergistic cell death when exposed to 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate. DPSCs extracted from teeth that were restored with the combination of composite or MTA or GI with N-acetyl cysteine were protectedfrom cell death. Therefore, application of NAC may protect the DPSCs from adverse effects after tooth restoration.