Severe cardiotocographic pathology at labor: effect of acute intravenous tocolysis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute tocolysis on severely pathological cardiotocographic (CTG) readings during the first stage of labor. Seventy-three consecutive parturients with full-term pregnancy were treated by acute tocolysis with a beta-mimetic agent after recognition of severe CTG abnormality in the first stage of labor. The main outcome measures were normalization or persistence of the CTG pattern after tocolysis. Risk factors with regard to CTG effect of tocolysis were also evaluated. In 67% of cases the CTG pattern normalized at a mean of 4 minutes after the beginning of intravenous tocolysis. No characteristic feature of the parturient, labor course, CTG abnormality, or the parameters of uterine contractive activity was found to be a predictive factor with regard to the CTG effect of tocolysis. No adverse effects of tocolytic therapy were found. Tocolysis with a beta-mimetic agent is an effective method to normalize the CTG pattern during the first stage of labor, even in cases without uterine hypertonicity.     

Serum lipids and hippocampal volume: The link to Alzheimer's disease?

The association between hippocampal volume (as a presumed index of Alzheimer's disease pathology) with serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was studied in 86 elderly subjects with a range of cognitive functions. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but not low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or total cholesterol, was associated with hippocampal volume and dementia. This is compatible with protective effects of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol on hippocampal atrophy and Alzheimer's disease.     

Wall motion and perfusion analysis of transmyocardial laser revascularization

OBJECTIVE: Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) creates channels in the myocardium. The aim of the treatment is to relieve angina in patients with end-stage coronary artery disease. We studied the effect of TMLR on myocardial function and perfusion with the combination of cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and thallium scintigraphy. DESIGN: Eight patients with severe triple-vessel coronary artery disease were studied with MRI and thallium scintigraphy before and 6 months after laser treatment. RESULTS: TMLR did not improve global left ventricular (LV) function or myocardial perfusion. However, systolic wall thickening deprived in segments with fixed perfusion defects in 6 months and laser treatment prevented this deprivation (p = 0.03). In addition single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging indicated that TMLR prevented conversion of reversible into fixed defects. CONCLUSION: In severe, progressing coronary artery disease TMLR does not improve global LV function or myocardial perfusion, but it preserves systolic wall thickening in fixed defects (scar). It also prevents changes from ischemic myocardial regions to scar.     

New fast mismatch negativity paradigm for determining the neural prerequisites for musical ability

Studies have consistently shown that the mismatch negativity (MMN) for different auditory features correlates with musical skills, and that this effect is more pronounced for stimuli integrated in complex musical contexts. Hence, the MMN can potentially be used for determining the development of auditory skills and musical expertise. MMN paradigms, however, are typically very long in duration, and far from sounding musical. Therefore, we developed a novel multi-feature MMN paradigm with 6 different deviant types integrated in a complex musical context of no more than 20 min in duration. We found significant MMNs for all 6 deviant types. Hence, this short objective measure can putatively be used as an index for auditory and musical development.