Cognitive Efficacy of Quetiapine and Olanzapine in Early-Onset First-Episode Psychosis

The primary purpose of this study was to compare changes in cognition in early-onset psychosis after 6-months treatment with quetiapine or olanzapine. This is a randomized, single-blind, 6-month study in 50 adolescents with a diagnosis of early-onset psychosis. Patients were randomized to quetiapine (n = 24) or olanzapine (n = 26). A thorough neuropsychological battery was administered at baseline and after 6-month treatment. Out of the total sample included in the study, 32 patients completed at least 6-months treatment with the assigned medication (quetiapine, n = 16; olanzapine, n = 16). No changes were observed in cognitive performance after 6-month treatment with quetiapine or olanzapine. Although some trends toward cognitive improvement were observed for the olanzapine group after 6-month treatment, neither group showed statistically significant gains. Furthermore, there was no evidence of any differential efficacy of olanzapine or quetiapine on cognitive improvement in this sample of adolescents with psychosis.     

Intragenic polymorphisms of factor VIII and IX genes and their utility in the indirect diagnosis of carriers of Haemophilias A and B

Haemophilia A and B are considered sex-linked inherited diseases caused by mutations in genes that encode factors VIII and IX, respectively. This results in the deficiency of these proteins plasma levels which are actively involved in the mechanism of blood coagulation. It has been reported that several mutations are responsible for the alteration of these genes, which is why the application of a molecular diagnostic method for the direct identification of female carriers is impractical. An appropriate diagnostic strategy is the indirect analysis of polymorphisms linked to the gene. The aim of this study was to identify female carriers in different families with history of HA and HB that live in Zulia State, Venezuela, characterizing intragenic gene polymorphisms of the clotting factors VIII and IX, which helped to identify and assign haplotypes, to diagnose or to exclude the carrying condition, to 95% of women who were needing the study for HA and to 100% for HB.     

Fc gamma receptor polymorphisms as predictive markers of Cetuximab efficacy in epidermal growth factor receptor downstream-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer

BackgroundThe immunoglobulin G1 (IgG₁) monoclonal antibody (MoAb) Cetuximab is active in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) as first or subsequent lines of therapy. Efficacy seems restricted to KRAS wild-type tumours. IgG₁ may also induce antibody dependent cell mediated citotoxicity (ADCC) by recruitment of immune effector cells. ADCC is influenced by Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) polymorphisms. We investigated the association of FcγR polymorphisms and disease control rate (DCR) in mCRC patients treated with chemotherapy plus Cetuximab.Patients and methodsTumour tissues from 106 patients were screened for KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutations using a sensitive multiplex assay (DxS, Manchester, United Kingdom). NRAS (codons: 12, 13 and 61), PI3K (exon 20) and BRAF (exon 15) were analysed by direct sequencing. Fcγ RIIa and Fcγ RIIIa polymorphisms were genotyped by TaqMan assays.ResultsDCR was significantly higher in KRAS wild-type tumours (61% versus 39%, p = 0.049). In epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) downstream-mutated mCRC patients, those harbouring an FcγRIIa H/H genotype had a higher DCR than alternative genotypes (67% versus 33%, p = 0.017). By multivariate analysis, FcγRIIa-131H/H remained significantly correlated with DCR (p = 0.008).ConclusionFcγR polymorphisms may play a role in the clinical efficacy of Cetuximab in EGFR downstream mutated mCRC patients. Further research into Cetuximab immune-based mechanisms in KRAS-mutated patients seems warranted.     

Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system

Ultrasonography is the most appropriate tool for interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system when the lesion is visible on ultrasonography. Procedures performed under ultrasonographic guidance include: taking biopsies; draining abscesses; bursitis; hematomas or muscle tears; treating cystic lesions; diagnostic or therapeutic arthrocentesis; injecting substances into joints or lesions; aspirating calcium deposits and extracting foreign bodies. Although some of these procedures are often carried out without imaging guidance, ultrasonographic guidance improves their efficacy. Drainage can be performed with catheters or needles and makes it possible to avoid more aggressive treatments in most cases. Urokinase is useful for draining hematomas or fibrinous collections. Injecting corticoids is useful in the treatment of synovial cysts, Baker's cyst, tendinitis, and non-infective arthritis. Calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder can be treated effectively with percutaneous calcium lavage.     

Loudness and auditory steady-state responses in normal-hearing subjects

This study evaluated the use of multiple auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) to estimate the growth of loudness in listeners with normal hearing. Individual intensity functions were obtained from measures of loudness growth using the contour test and from the electrophysiological amplitude measures of multiple amplitude-modulated (77–105Hz) tones (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000Hz) simultaneously presented to both ears and recorded over the scalp. Slope analyses for the behavioural and electrophysiological intensity functions were separately performed. Response amplitudes of the ASSRs and loudness sensation judgements increase as the stimulus intensity increases for the four frequencies studied. A significant relationship was obtained between loudness and the ASSRs. The results of this study suggest that the amplitude of the ASSRs may be used to estimate loudness growth at least for individuals with normal hearing.     

Evaluación morfológica endometrial histeroscópica

Objective

To determine the prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma in distinct groups of endometrial morphology defined by hysteroscopy, and to study the validity of hysteroscopic diagnosis in identifying endometrial tumors.

Materials and methods

We performed a prospective study of 830 hysteroscopies carried out between June 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005 in the Gynecology Outpatient Clinic of Hospital Donostia in San Sebastian, northern Spain. Hysteroscopy was used to classify endometria into atrophic, hypotrophic, active, hypertrophic, suspicious for adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma, according to a series of morphological criteria. The findings were later correlated with the histopathological diagnoses obtained through endometrial biopsy.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) of hysteroscopic evaluation of endometrial morphology in diagnosing malignant and premalignant disease were extremely high. Sensitivity was 87.5% (95% CI 0.753-0.941), specificity was 94.8% (95% CI 0.925-0.965) and NPV was 98.7% (95% CI 0.971-0.994). The specificity of morphological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was 99.9%, sensitivity was 74.3%, and the likelihood ratio for a positive result was 625,486. When the groups of adenocarcinoma and suspicious for adenocarcinoma were combined, sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 96.3%.

Conclusions

The prevalence of premalignant disease is very low in the hysteroscopic morphological groups of atrophic, hypotrophic and active endometria. Premalignant disease is slightly more prevalent in hypertrophic endometria and is significantly more prevalent in cases in which the hysteroscopic diagnosis is of suspicious adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma. In these cases, the prevalence of adenocarcinoma is very high. Hysteroscopic evaluation of endometrial morphology alone, without biopsy, is a valid tool to exclude or confirm endometrial disease in some groups.