Cyclosporine A-induced ocular opsoclonus and reversible leukoencephalopathy after orthotopic liver transplantation: brief report

Ocular opsoclonus is a rare neurologic condition that occurs in patients with brain stem encephalitis, neoplasm of the mesencephalon, paraneoplastic syndrome or intoxication. Neurotoxicity is a well-known complication of cyclosporine-A (CSA) therapy. We report a case of a 17-year-old patient, a Caucasian female, who underwent an orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for immunologic cirrhosis and chronic cellular rejection respectively. The ocular symptoms occurred 8 days after the OLT. She also developed reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy. The serum level of CSA was 412 ng/mL. The ocular symptoms improved 21 days after the reduction of the CSA level.     

HCH distribution and microbial parameters after liming of a heavily contaminated soil in Rio de Janeiro

The closing down of a lindane factory near Rio de Janeiro, over 45 years ago, left an area heavily contaminated with hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Remediation by soil liming was applied by government authorities in 1995. This study aims to evaluate the HCH distribution and impact on soil microbiota due to contamination and liming. Microcosm experiments with uncontaminated soil mixed with HCH and lime indicated that lime-promoted dechlorination of HCH molecules led to leaching and volatilization of metabolites. The treatment applied transformed but did not solve the problem as most of the HCH remains in the soil. Reduced microbial respiratory activity was measured in contaminated field samples. Higher respiration rates in uncontaminated soil were reduced by HCH and lime addition; the sole addition of HCH caused a temporary increase in soil respiration, and stimulation occurred with oxygen and/or nutrient addition. A heterotrophic bacterial population around 10(9)CFU/g was found in polluted field soil, some well-known degraders having been isolated. Native soil microbiota showed resistance to high amounts of HCH and alkaline pH. The results allow considering bioremediation rather than chemical treatments to clean up the area.     

Metoprolol and Xamoterol心肌梗死研究(MEXIS)

标题　ａ）β受体拮抗剂对心肌梗死后有心力衰竭临床表现的患者的影响：Ｍｅｔｏｐｒｏｌｏｌ和Ｘａｍｏｔｅｒｏｌ双盲比较研究　　　ｂ）β受体拮抗剂对心肌梗死后有心力衰竭临床表现的患者左心室功能的影响，Ｍｅｔｏｐｒｏｌｏｌ和Ｘａｍｏｔｅｒｏｌ双盲比较研究，ＭｅｔｏｐｒｏｌｏｌａｎｄＸａｍｏｔｅｒｏｌ心肌梗死研究（ＭＥＸＩＳ）超声心动图结果作者　ａ）ＰｅｒｓｓｏｎＨ，Ｒｙｔｈｅ′ｎ－ＡｌｄｅｒＥ，ＭｅｌｃｈｅｒＡ，ＥｒｈａｒｄｔＬｂ）ＰｅｒｓｓｏｎＨ，ＥｒｉｋｓｓｏｎＳＶ，ＥｒｈａｒｄｔＬａ）ＢｒＨｅａｒ…     

Low plasma levels of l-arginine,impaired intraplatelet nitric oxide and platelet hyperaggregability: Implications for cardiovascular disease in depressive patients

BackgroundObsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic condition that normally presents high rates of psychiatric comorbidity. Depression, tic disorders and other anxiety disorders are among the most common comorbidities in OCD adult patients. There is evidence that the higher the number of psychiatric comorbidities, the worse the OCD treatment response. However, little is known about the impact of OCD treatment on the outcome of the psychiatric comorbidities usually present in OCD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of exclusive, conventional treatments for OCD on the outcome of additional psychiatric disorders of OCD patients, detected at baseline.MethodsSeventy-six patients with primary OCD admitted to the treatment protocols of the Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Program between July 2007 and December 2009 were evaluated at pre-treatment and after 12 months. Data were analyzed to verify possible associations between OCD treatment response and the outcome of psychiatric comorbidities.ResultsResults showed a significant association between OCD treatment response and improvement of major depression and dysthymia (p-value = 0.002), other anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified) (p-value = 0.054) and tic disorders (p-value = 0.043).LimitationsThis is an open, non-blinded study, without rating scales for comorbid conditions. Further research is necessary focusing on the possible mechanisms by which OCD treatment could improve these specific disorders.ConclusionsOur results suggest that certain comorbid disorders may benefit from OCD-targeted treatment.     

Quality of life of adults with spinal cord injury: a study using the WHOQOL-bref

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of adults with spinal cord injury and to identify the domains that may influence QOL. Data was collected using the WHOQOL-bref and a questionnaire with sociodemographic variables. Participants were 47 subjects, with a mean age of 42.95 years, 91.5% males and 8.5% females. The domains obtained the following scores: physical (58.59), psychological (63.82), social (68.79), and environmental (55.20). Through multiple linear regression, it was verified the correlation between domain scores and the perception of QOL: physical (p <0.187), psychological (p <0.399), social (p <0.000), and environmental (p <0.008). In conclusion, most participants (55.3%) are unsatisfied with their QOL, and the social and environmental domains showed a higher correlation with QOL.     

Systematic review indicates postnatal growth in term infants born small‐for‐gestational‐age being associated with later neurocognitive and metabolic outcomes

We systematically reviewed papers published in English between 1994 and October 2015 on how postnatal weight gain and growth affect neurodevelopment and metabolic outcomes in term‐born small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) infants. Two randomised trials reported that enriched infant formulas that promoted early growth also increased fat mass, lean mass and blood pressure (BP), but had no effect on early neurocognitive outcomes. Meanwhile, 31 observational studies reported consistent positive associations between postnatal weight gain and growth with neurocognitive outcomes, adiposity, insulin resistance and BP. Conclusion: Few intervention studies exist, despite consistent positive associations between early growth and neurocognition in term‐born SGA infants.     

The Social Aptitudes Scale: looking at both “ends” of the social functioning dimension

Purpose

Dimensional approaches are likely to advance understanding of human behaviors and emotions. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether instruments in psychiatry capture variability at the full spectrum of these dimensions. We aimed to investigate this issue for two scales assessing distinct aspects of social functioning: the Social Aptitudes Scale (SAS), a “bidirectional” scale constructed to investigate both “ends” of social functioning; and the social Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL-social), a “unidirectional” scale constructed to assess social problems.

Methods

We investigated 2512 children and adolescents aged 6–14. Item response theory was used to investigate on which range of the trait each scale captures information. We performed quantile regressions to investigate if correlations between SAS and CBCL-social vary within different levels of social aptitudes dimension and multiple logistic regressions to investigate associations with negative and positive clinical outcomes.

Results

SAS was able to provide information on the full range of social aptitudes, whereas CBCL-social provided information on subjects with high levels of social problems. Quantile regressions showed SAS and CBCL-social have higher correlations for subjects with low social aptitudes and non-significant correlations for subjects with high social aptitudes. Multiple logistic regressions showed that SAS was able to provide independent clinical predictions even after adjusting for CBCL-social scores.

Conclusions

Our results provide further validity to SAS and exemplify the potential of “bidirectional” scales to dimensional assessment, allowing a better understanding of variations that occur in the population and providing information for children with typical and atypical development.