Memory clinic attenders: A review of 150 consecutive patients

The Dundee Memory Clinic was established in 1991. This paper reviews the diagnosis of the first 150 attenders and compares the findings with those of other memory clinics.     

CLOSED CHAMBER SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF ETHANOL TO CELL CULTURES

The accuracy and consistency of the delivery of ethanol to culturedcells is important to determine effects on morphologic, biochemicaland physiologic alterations. Open and closed chamber systemswere evaluated to determine cytotoxic vs sublethal, potentiallyteratogenic effects on neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. The open system employed a variety of cell culture vessels.Cardiac cells were exposed directly to ethanol in the growthmedia at concentrations of 5–50 mM in Petri dishes, multiwellslides and multiwell chambers. Ethanol concentrations in themedia in these open vessels decreased over 60% in a 24 hr incubationperiod. A closed system consisted of tightly sealed plastic containersin which the same vessels were used. The vessels were placedon a platform over a bath of ethanol-water. Cells were acclimatedfor 24 hr with ethanol in the bath at 200% of the final desiredmedia concentration. Ethanol gradually diffused into the mediato reach peak levels of 5, 10,25 or 50 mM at 24 hr. After the24 hr period, ethanol was added to both the media and bath atthe desired concentration. Cells exposed gradually to ethanol in the closed chambers remainedviable, but showed slower division and growth. A period of gradualacclimation is required to induce sublethal cellular effectsrather than lethal effects. The diversity of cell systems andmanipulations of cultures to study the potential teratogeniceffects of ethanol are improved using such a closed chambersystem.