Short-Term Effects of Rhythmic Sensory Stimulation in Alzheimer’s Disease: An Exploratory Pilot Study

This study assessed the effect of stimulating the somatosensory system of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients at three stages of their illness with 40 Hz sound. In this AB cross-over study design, 18 participants (6 mild, 6 moderate, 6 severe) each participated in 13 sessions: one intake and 12 treatment. Treatment A consisted of 40 Hz sound stimulation and Treatment B consisted of visual stimulation using DVDs, each provided twice a week over 6 weeks for a total of 6 times per treatment. Outcome measures included: St. Louis University Mental Status Test (SLUMS), Observed Emotion Rating Scale, and behavioral observation by the researcher. Data were submitted to regression analysis for the series of 6 SLUMS scores in treatment A and 6 scores in B with comparison by group. The slopes for the full sample and subgroups in the 40 Hz treatment were all significant beyond alpha = 0.05, while those for the DVD were not. A thematic analysis of qualitative observations supported the statistical findings. 40 Hz treatment appeared to have the strongest impact on persons with mild and moderate AD. Results are promising in terms of a potential new treatment for persons with AD, and further research is needed

A Note On Relation Between Holographic RG Equation And Polchinski's RG Equation

We clarify the relation between the recently formulated holographic renormalization group equation and Polchinski's exact renormalization group equation.Comment: 11 pages, harvma

Oriented Open-Closed String Theory Revisited

String theory on D-brane backgrounds is open-closed string theory. Given the relevance of this fact, we give details and elaborate upon our earlier construction of oriented open-closed string field theory. In order to incorporate explicitly closed strings, the classical sector of this theory is open strings with a homotopy associative A_\infty algebraic structure. We build a suitable Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra on moduli spaces of bordered Riemann surfaces, the construction of which involves a few subtleties arising from the open string punctures and cyclicity conditions. All vertices coupling open and closed strings through disks are described explicitly. Subalgebras of the algebra of surfaces with boundaries are used to discuss symmetries of classical open string theory induced by the closed string sector, and to write classical open string field theory on general closed string backgrounds. We give a preliminary analysis of the ghost-dilaton theorem.Comment: 61 pages, 19 eps figures, phyzzx, BoxedEP

Vascular function and cardiovascular risk factors in women with severe flushing

Background: Seventy per cent of postmenopausal women suffer from hot flushes causing significant morbidity in 25%. Oestrogen replacement provides symptom relief, but its use has declined following safety issues and there is, as yet, no good alternative. Pathophysiology is poorly understood, but one proposed mechanism is altered peripheral vascular reactivity. It has recently been suggested that the presence of flushing may be a marker of underlying cardiovascular risk. <p/>Aim: To measure (i) peripheral vascular reactivity in subcutaneous vessels (ii) routine and novel cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women who flush, and compare results to a matched group of women who do not flush. <p/>Methods: Thirty-two postmenopausal women with at least 20 flushes/week and 14 nonflushing postmenopausal women were recruited. Cutaneous microvascular perfusion was measured using laser Doppler imaging, and endothelial function was assessed by iontophoresis (administration of vasoactive agents through the skin by an electric current) of acetylcholine [Ach] (endothelial-dependent) and sodium nitroprusside [SNP] (endothelial independent). Blood samples for risk factors were taken following vascular assessment. <p/>Results: Both study groups were well matched demographically. The response of the subcutaneous vessels was greater in women who flushed than those who did not, following administration of both the endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilators, (ACh, P ≤ 0·001, SNP, P = 0·001, 2-way anova). By contrast, levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and ApoA1 were significantly lower in the flushing women compared with the control women (P = 0·02 and 0·002, respectively), and levels of inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were higher (P = 0·03), findings robust to adjustment for confounders, suggesting an adverse cardiovascular risk profile. <p/>Conclusion: These results confirm a better vascular response in women but paradoxically, such women appear to have worse (not better) cardiovascular disease risk factors in particular lower HDL-cholesterol but also higher non-HDL-c to HDL-c ratio and increased ICAM-1. Further studies are needed to assess vascular risk factors in women who flush

Racecadotril for acute diarrhoea in children: systematic review and meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE Racecadotril is an antisecretory agent that can prevent fluid/electrolyte depletion from the bowel as a result of acute diarrhoea, without affecting intestinal motility. An up-to-date systematic review is indicated to summarise the evidence on Racecadotril for the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children. DESIGN A Cochrane format systematic review of Randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Data extraction and assessment of methodological quality were performed independently by two reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. PATIENTS Children with acute diarrhoea, as defined by the primary studies. INTERVENTIONS RCTs comparing racecadotril to placebo or other interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURS Duration of illness, stool output/volume and adverse events. RESULTS Seven RCTs were included. Five comparing racecadotril with placebo or no intervention, one with pectin / caolin and one with loperamide. Moderate to high risk of bias was present in all studies. There was no significant difference in efficacy or adverse events between racecadotril to loperamide. Meta-analysis of 3 studies with 642 participants showed significantly shorter duration of symptoms with racecadotril compared to placebo (Mean Difference (MD) -53.48 hours, 95% CI -65.64 to -41.33,). Meta-analysis of 5 studies with 949 participants showed no significant difference in adverse events between racecadotril and placebo (Risk Ratio (RR) 0.99, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.34). CONCLUSIONS There is some evidence that racecadotril is more effective than placebo or no intervention in reducing the duration of illness and stool output in children with acute diarrhoea. However, the overall quality of the evidence is limited due to sparse data, heterogeneity and risk of bias. Racecadotril appears safe and well tolerate

Derivation of the exact NSVZ beta-function in N=1 SQED, regularized by higher derivatives, by direct summation of Feynman diagrams

For N=1 supersymmetric quantum electrodynamics, regularized by higher derivatives, a method for summation of all Feynman diagrams defining the beta-function is presented. Using this method we prove that the beta-function is given by an integral of a total derivative, which can be easily calculated. It is shown that surviving terms give the exact NSVZ beta-function. The results are compared with the explicit three-loop calculation.Comment: 38 page

Is the Recent Rise in Type 2 Diabetes Incidence From 1984 to 2007 Explained by the Trend in Increasing BMI?: Evidence from a prospective study of British men

OBJECTIVE - To estimate the extent to which increasing BMI may explain the rise in type 2 diabetes incidence in British men from 1984 to 2007. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A representative cohort ratio of 6,460 British men was followed-up for type 2 diabetes incidence between 1984 (aged 45-65 years) and 2007 (aged 67-89 years). BMI was ascertained at regular intervals before and during the follow-up. RESULTS - Between 1984-1992 and 1999-2007, the age-adjusted hazard of type 2 diabetes more than doubled (hazard ratio 2.33 [95% CI 1.75-3.10]). Mean BMI rose by 1.42 kg/m2 (95% CI 1.10-1.74) between 1984 and 1999; this could explain 26% (95% CI 17-38) of the type 2 diabetes increase. CONCLUSIONS - An appreciable portion of the rise in type 2 diabetes can be attributed to BMI changes. A substantial portion remains unexplained, possibly associated with other determinants such as physical activity. This merits further research. © 2010 by the American Diabetes Association