Lateralization of auditory sensory gating and neuropsychological dysfunction in schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Sensory gating assessed via EEG in a paired-click paradigm has often served as a neurophysiological metric of attentional function in schizophrenia. However, the standard EEG measure of sensory gating using the P50 component at electrode Cz does not foster differential assessment of left and right hemisphere contributions. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is complementary to EEG, and its analogous M50 component may be better suited for localization and analysis of such lateralized cortical generators. The authors hypothesized that 1) auditory gating would be evident in M50 sources in superior temporal gyrus, demonstrating ratios similar to P50; 2) M50 would resemble P50 in distinguishing gating in comparison subjects and patients with schizophrenia, but M50 would show lateralization of the gating deficit; and 3) P50 and M50 sensory gating ratios would predict neuropsychological measures in patients and comparison subjects, with the MEG identification of left and right hemisphere sources allowing for the evaluation of lateralization in brain-behavior relationships. METHOD: Event-related EEG and MEG recordings were simultaneously obtained from 20 patients with schizophrenia and 15 comparison subjects. P50 amplitudes, M50 dipole source strengths, and P50 and M50 gating ratios were compared and assessed with respect to scores on neuropsychological performance measures. RESULTS: M50 dipoles localizing to superior temporal gyrus demonstrated gating similar to that of P50. As expected, patients demonstrated less P50 gating than did comparison subjects. Left (but not right) hemisphere M50 gating 1) correlated with EEG gating, 2) differentiated patients and comparison subjects, and 3) correlated with neuropsychological measures of sustained attention and working memory. CONCLUSIONS: Converging evidence from EEG, MEG, and neuropsychological measures points to left hemisphere dysfunction as strongly related to the well-established sensory gating deficit in schizophrenia.     

Spontaneous bladder rupture due to chronic cystitis 20 years after cystolithotomy

Spontaneous bladder rupture is a very rare condition. The majority of the cases are due to long-term indwelling catheters, radiation, or acute infravesical obstruction. Spontaneous rupture of the bladder due to inflammation is extremely rare. A case of intraperitoneal bladder rupture due to chronic cystitis is reported. Exploratory laparotomy and partial cystectomy were performed. Diagnosis and treatment are discussed.     

Synthesis and anticancer and anti-HIV testing of some pyrazino[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives

In this study, some 1-methylene-2,3-diaryl-1,2-dihydropyrazino[1,2-a]benzimidazole and some 1-(2-arylvinyl)-3-arylpyrazino[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives were synthesised. The structure elucidation of the compounds was performed by IR, 1H-NMR and MASS spectroscopic data and elemental analyses results. Anticancer and anti-HIV activities of the compounds were examined, however no anti-HIV activity was seen; highly notable anticancer activity was obtained. It was also observed that the compounds were more potent against leukaemia cell lines.     

Autosomal dominant GTP-CH deficiency presenting as a dopa-responsive myoclonus-dystonia syndrome

The authors report a kindred in which GTP-CH deficiency resulted in a myoclonus-dystonia syndrome. The proband, a 17-year-old boy, presented with early-onset myoclonus and later, dystonia and bradykinesia. Blood prolactin was increased and CSF homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and biopterin were all reduced. L-Dopa/carbidopa administration resulted in clinical improvement. In the paternal branch, the grandfather and three relatives had myoclonus-dystonia and resting or postural tremor of limbs. The authors found a missense mutation in the exon 6 of GCH-1 gene (K224R).     

The seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and nitric oxide in acne rosacea

BACKGROUND: Acne rosacea is a dermatosis with unknown etiology. Some studies have reported a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in acne rosacea. Other studies have reported a decrease in the severity of the lesions of acne rosacea after eradication of H. pylori. H. pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium which colonizes the gastric mucosa and increases the synthesis of oxygen radicals, such as superoxide and proinflammatory cytokines. These cytokines have been demonstrated to stimulate the synthesis of the inflammatory species nitric oxide (NO). In this study, we examined the role of NO in the possible effect of H. pylori in acne rosacea. METHODS: Thirty-three acne rosacea patients were included in the study and the control group comprised 20 healthy individuals. The levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies against H. pylori in the serum samples were measured using the enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay method. Measurement of nitrate was performed using chemiluminescence in accordance with the method described by Braman and Hendrix (Braman RS, Hendrix SA. Nanogram nitrite and nitrate determination in environmental and biological materials by vanadium(iii) reduction with chemiluminescence detection. Anal Chem 1989; 61: 2715-2718). For statistical analysis, the t-test was used. RESULTS: The seropositivity of H. pylori in acne rosacea patients was found to be high; however, the serum nitrate levels were found to be normal. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study indicate that the inflammatory species NO, which has been hypothesized to be associated with H. pylori, has no role in the inflammatory mechanism of acne rosacea.     

Traumatic femoral diaphyseal fracture and a bent intramedullary nail in a case with a completely healed femoral diaphyseal fracture

Bending of a Kuntscher nail which had been used in the treatment of a prior femoral diaphyseal fracture was encountered in a 37-year-old male patient who was admitted to hospital for a deformity in his left thigh caused in a car accident. The nail was extracted and osteosynthesis was performed via an intramedullary locked nail. Union was obtained in the fourth postoperative month without any complications.     

Reliability and clinical usefulness of the short-forms of the Wechsler memory scale (revised) in patients with epilepsy

PURPOSE: The Wechsler Memory Scale-R (WMS-R) is often used for the evaluation of patients with epilepsy, but is time consuming. Two shortened forms of the WMS-R have been published in an effort to reduce the time involved in the test. The purpose of this study is to cross-validate these abbreviated forms in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: We assessed 103 consecutive patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy being treated in our epilepsy unit. The WMS-R was administered to all patients. The reliability of two shortened versions of the WMS-R were evaluated. The appraisal was performed taking into account the side of the epileptogenic region. The statistical analyses were carried out with the Pearson's correlation and with the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Both shortened formulas showed good reliability coefficients for predicting the General Memory and Delayed Recall Indices. In the overall accuracy of the predictions by both short forms no significant differences were found among the three study. groups (right, left or bilateral). However, when considering the predictive error only the three-subtest formulas comprising logical memory, verbal paired associates and visual reproduction efficiently predicted performance, regardless of the side of the epileptogenic region. Of the predicted scores in the overall sample, 92 and 97% fell below the standard error of measurement for general and delayed memory index, respectively. Both short forms correctly classified 89-94% of the performances at the average or impaired level. CONCLUSIONS: The short form of the M-MS-R using three subtests (logical memory, verbal paired associates and visual reproduction) is reliable and time-efficient for estimating the General and Delayed Recall Memory indexes in patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy.