Methylphenidate treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in young people with learning disability and difficult-to-treat epilepsy: Evidence of clinical benefit.

To establish the efficacy and safety of methylphenidate (MPH) treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a group of children and young people with learning disability and severe epilepsy

Auditory processing following infantile spasms: An event-related potential study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate acoustic auditory processing in patients with recent infantile spasms (IS). METHODS: Patients (n = 22; 12 female; median age 8 months; range 5–11 months) had normal preceding development, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neurometabolic testing (West syndrome of unknown cause, uWS). Controls were healthy babies (n = 22; 11 female; median age 6 months; range 3–12 months). Event-related potentials (ERPs) and psychometry (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition, BSID-II) took place at a month following IS remission. RESULTS: Following a repeated pure tone, uWS patients showed less suppression of the N100 at the mid-temporal electrodes (p = 0.006), and a prolonged response latency (p = 0.019). Their novelty P300 amplitude over the mid-temporal electrodes was halved (p = 0.001). The peak of the novelty P300 to environmental broadband sounds emerged later over the left temporal lobe in patients (p = 0.015), the lag correlating with duration of spasms (r = 0.547, p = 0.015). BSID-II scores were lower in patients (p < 0.001), with no correlation to ERP. SIGNIFICANCE: Complex acoustic information is processed poorly following IS. This would impair language. Treatment did not reverse this phenomenon, but may have limited its severity. The data are most consistent with altered connectivity of the cortical acoustic processing areas induced by IS

Quantitative MRI evidence for altered structural remodelling of the temporal lobe in cryptogenic West syndrome

Objective: To explore the structure-function relation of the temporal lobe in newly diagnosed West syndrome of unknown cause (uWS). / Methods: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (3D structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging, DTI) was analysed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tractbased spatial statistics (TBSS) in 22 patients and healthy age-matched controls. The electrophysiological responsiveness of the temporal lobe was measured using the N100 auditory event-related potential (ERP) to a repeated 1000Hz tone. Neurocognitive function was assessed using the Bayley scales of infant development II (BSID-II). Tests followed first-line treatment with Vigabatrin (17) or high dose oral prednisolone (5). / Results: Total temporal lobe volume was similar in patients and controls. Patients had a smaller temporal stem (TS) [p < 0.0001] and planum temporale (PT) [p = 0.029] bilaterally. TS width asymmetry with a larger right-sided width in controls, was absent in patients [p = 0.033]. PT asymmetry was present in both groups, being larger on the right [p = 0.048]. VBM grey matter volume was increased at the left temporal lobe (superior and middle temporal gyri, the perirhinal cortex and medial temporal lobe) [p<0.005, family wise error-corrected]. VBM grey matter volume correlated with the duration of infantile spasms. [Pearson’s R = - 0.630, p = 0.009] DTI metrics did not differ between patients and controls on TBSS. Patients’ mean BSID-II scores were lower [p<0.001] and their auditory N100 ERP attenuated less than controls’ [p = 0.002]. / Significance: The functional networking and white matter development of the temporal lobe are impaired following infantile spasms. Treatment may promote structural plasticity within the temporal lobe following infantile spasms, manifest as increased grey matter volume on VBM. It remains to be investigated further whether this predicts patients’ longterm cognitive difficulties

PVDF/CaCO3 composite hollow fiber membrane for CO2 absorption in gas-liquid membrane contactor

Porous hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite hollow fiber membranes were fabricated via phase inversion method by embedding different amounts of hydrophobic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nano-particles in the polymer matrix. The effects of nano-particle loadings on the morphology, structure and performance of the spun membranes in gas-liquid contactors were investigated. The incorporation of hydrophobic nano-particles into the polymer network enabled the formation of more abundant and narrower finger-like pores in the composite membranes compared to plain PVDF membrane. Moreover, the addition of nano-particles enhanced the surface roughness, permeation rate, porosity and wettability resistance of the composite membranes. CO2 absorption performance of the fabricated membranes was evaluated via a gas-liquid membrane contactor system. The CO2 flux was improved to some extent by increasing the mixing ratio of CaCO3. Peak absorption performance of 1.52 × 10-3 mol m-2 s-1 at 300 ml/min absorbent flow rate was achieved when 20/100 weight ratio of CaCO3/PVDF was employed. However, further increase of the ratio resulted in a composite membrane with lower absorption performance than the other composite membranes. Moreover, a long-term stability study of the composite membrane with the best CO2 absorption flux showed no decline in performance in the initial 210 h of operation, indicating that the membrane possesses high potential for gas-liquid contactor applications

Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in commercial seafood species in Italy: dietary risks in humans

Portoroz, Sloveni

Diverticulitis: a Comprehensive Review With Usual and Unusual Complications

Abstract Diverticulitis is characterized by inflammation of the outpouchings of the bowel wall. Imaging findings of diverticulitis include edematous thickening of the bowel wall with inflammatory changes within the adjacent mesenteric fat. Uncomplicated diverticulitis can be treated conservatively; however, complicated diverticulitis may not be responsive to medical treatment and life-threatening conditions may occur. In this review, we aimed to illustrate the ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) features of diverticulitis and its complications including perforation, phlegmon, abscess, ascending septic thrombophlebitis (phylephlebitis), bleeding, intestinal obstruction, and fistula. Teaching Points • Complications of diverticulitis may be highly variable. , • It may be difficult to diagnose diverticulitis as underlying cause of severe complications. , • MDCT is essential for the primary diagnosis of the acute diverticulitis and its complications.PubMedScopu