A short neuropsychologic and cognitive evaluation of frontotemporal dementia

Objective: To elaborate a brief but efficient neuropsychological assessment of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), selecting the most specific and sensitive cognitive and behavioural items for distinguish between AD and FTD in the earlier dementia stages. Methods: Retrospective study with three groups, 35 patients with FTD, 46 with AD and 36 normal subjects, were administered the MMSE, FAB, Tower of London and Stoop’s test along with a 98 items behavioural and cognitive questionnaire. The most sensitive itemswere selected and validated internally for diagnosis by lineal discriminant analysis. Results: From the 98 items in the questionnaire, 29 showed significant discriminatory power. Noncognitive symptoms with higher odd-ratio for FTD compared to AD were impairment in social behaviour (disinhibition, aggressiveness), loss of insight and inappropriate acts. Language disorders, such as echolalia, verbal apraxia or aggramatism, dominate in the cognitive profile of FTD. FAB was confirmed as the best cognitive instrument to differentiate FTD and AD. A linear discriminant function with the combination of the FAB score and the items from our questionnaire with higher OR for FTD accurately classified 97% of individuals. Conclusions: The neuropsychological tests allow the differentiation between FTD and AD. The combination of FAB test with the assessment of key behavioural and cognitive symptoms appears helpful in this distinction

Ofloxacin plus Rifampicin versus Doxycycline plus Rifampicin in the treatment of brucellosis: a randomized clinical trial [ISRCTN11871179]

BACKGROUND: The combination therapies recommended by the World Health Organization for treatment of brucellosis are doxycycline plus rifampicin or doxycycline plus streptomycin. Although highly successful results have been obtained with these two regimens, relapse rates as high as 14.4%. The most effective and the least toxic chemotherapy for human brucellosis is still undetermined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy, adverse effects and cost of ofloxacin plus rifampicin therapy, and doxycycline plus rifampicin therapy and evaluate in the treatment of brucellosis. METHODS: The open trial has been carried out prospectively by the two medical centers from December 1999 to December 2001 in Duzce region Turkey. The diagnosis was based on the presence of signs and symptoms compatible with brucellosis including a positive agglutination titre (≥1/160) and/or a positive culture. Doxycycline and rifampicin group consisted of 14 patients who were given doxycycline 200 mg/day plus rifampicin 600 mg/day during 45 days and this group Ofloxacin plus rifampicin group was consisted of 15 patients who were given ofloxacin 400 mg/day plus rifampicin 600 mg/day during 30 days. RESULTS: Regarding clinical and/or demographic characteristics no significant difference was found between two groups of patients that underwent two different therapeutic regimens. At the end of the therapy, two relapses were seen in both groups (p = 0.695). Although duration of therapy was two weeks shorter in group treated with rifampicin plus ofloxacin, the cure rate was similar in both groups of examinees. Fever dropped more rapidly in the group that treated with rifampicin plus ofloxacin, 74 ± 30 (ranges 48–216) vs. 106 ± 26 (ranges 48–262) hours (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Ofloxacin plus rifampicin therapy has advantages of shorter treatment duration and provided shorter course of fever with treatment than in doxycycline plus rifampicin therapy. However, cost of ofloxacin plus rifampicin treatment is higher than doxycycline plus rifampicin treatment. Because of the similar effects, adverse effects and relapses rates between two regimens, we still advice doxycycline plus rifampicin for the treatment of brucellosis for countries, which have limited resources

Uso de los otogramas en el sistema probatorio penal/Use of the othograms in the criminal evidential system

Los otogramas, impresiones, improntas o huellas de oreja, han sido admitidos como prueba en el proceso penal español a principios del siglo XXI. Estudios anteriores clasificaron las orejas utilizando elementos subjetivos con el inconveniente que dos investigadores podrían clasificar de forma diferente la misma oreja o su huella. El problema respecto a las huellas ha sido solucionado introduciendo un método de clasificación como existe también en dactiloscopia. Este método de identificación está hoy en día en desarrollo y se puede observar una mejora en el desarrollo de sus resultados. En este artículo hemos estudiado 150 otogramas (75 de cada oreja) con el sistema de clasificación Del Diego-Da Silva-Curiel. Los otogramas usados fueron obtenidos del archivo de la Brigada Provincial de Policía Científica de Valladolid y del Comisario del Cuerpo Nacional de Policía Miguel Ángel Del Diego. Hemos estudiado las sentencias de los Tribunales españoles donde se ha usado el otograma como prueba en el proceso

Uso de los otogramas en el sistema probatorio penal

The othograms, impressions, imprints or traces of ear, have been admitted as evidence in the Spanish criminal proceedings at the beginning of the 21st century. Previous studies sized ears using subjective elements with the disadvantage that two researchers could be classified differently the same ear or its mark. The problem with the tracks has been fixed by introducing a classification method as it exists also in dactiloscopy. This method of identification is today in development and an improvement in the development of its results can be observed. In this article we have studied 150 othogramas (75 of each ear) with the system of classification of the Diego- Da Silva-Curiel. Used othogramas were obtained from the file of the Brigade Provincial Valladolid scientific police and the Commissioner of the national body of police Miguel Angel de Diego. We have studied the sentences of the Spanish courts where the othograma as evidence has been used in the process.Los otogramas, impresiones, improntas o huellas de oreja, han sido admitidos como prueba en el proceso penal español a principios del siglo XXI. Estudios anteriores clasificaron las orejas utilizando elementos subjetivos con el inconveniente que dos investigadores podrían clasificar de forma diferente la misma oreja o su huella. El problema respecto a las huellas ha sido solucionado introduciendo un método de clasificación como existe también en dactiloscopia. Este método de identificación está hoy en día en desarrollo y se puede observar una mejora en el desarrollo de sus resultados. En este artículo hemos estudiado 150 otogramas (75 de cada oreja) con el sistema de clasificación Del Diego-Da Silva-Curiel. Los otogramas usados fueron obtenidos del archivo de la Brigada Provincial de Policía Científica de Valladolid y del Comisario del Cuerpo Nacional de Policía Miguel Ángel Del Diego. Hemos estudiado las sentencias de los Tribunales españoles donde se ha usado el otograma como prueba en el proceso