Syncope and Epilepsy coexist in 'possible' and 'drug-resistant' epilepsy (Overlap between Epilepsy and Syncope Study - OESYS).

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Syncope and related falls are one of the main causes and the predominant cause of hospitalization in elderly patients with dementia. However, the diagnostic protocol for syncope is difficult to apply to patients with dementia. Thus, we developed a "simplified" protocol to be used in a prospective, observational, and multicenter study in elderly patients with dementia and transient loss of consciousness suspected for syncope or unexplained falls. Here, we describe the protocol, its feasibility and the characteristics of the patients enrolled in the study. METHODS: Patients aged ≥65 years with a diagnosis of dementia and one or more episodes of transient loss of consciousness during the previous 3 months, subsequently referred to a Geriatric Department in different regions of Italy, from February 2012 to May 2014, were enrolled. A simplified protocol was applied in all patients. Selected patients underwent a second-level evaluation. RESULTS: Three hundred and three patients were enrolled; 52.6% presented with episodes suspected to be syncope, 44.5% for unexplained fall and 2.9% both. Vascular dementia had been previously diagnosed in 53.6% of participants, Alzheimer's disease in 23.5% and mixed forms in 12.6%. Patients presented with high comorbidity (CIRS score = 3.6 ± 2), severe functional impairment, (BADL lost = 3 ± 2), and polypharmacy (6 ± 3 drugs). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with dementia enrolled for suspected syncope and unexplained falls have high comorbidity and disability. The clinical presentation is often atypical and the presence of unexplained falls is particularly frequent

Composition and biological activity of essential oils from Artemisia roxburghiana Besser and Elsholtzia fruticosa Rehder cultivated in Italy

Artemisia roxburghiana Besser and Elsholtzia fruticosa Rehder plants were evaluated as innovative crops for the production of essential oil with valuable biological activity. A high essential oil content resulted for both species, that is 0.31% for A. roxburghiana and 0.46% for E. fruticosa. The composition of essential oil of A. roxburghiana is characterized by higher amount of cis-thujone, 1-8 cineole and camphor, while E. fruticosa oil is rich in 1,8-cineole and -terpinene. The biocidal activities of both oils were evaluated against some pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and as natural insecticides against aphids. E. fruticosa oil showed higher microbiologic activity compared to A. roxburghiana one, particularly against Staphylocosus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli. Both plant species revealed a high aphicidal activity against the polyphagous pest Myzus persicae, assessed by nymph mortality and fecundity reduction, and their efficacy resulted to be comparable to that of azadyrachtin. Due to the high content and the biocidal activity of these oils, the two investigated species represent a possible innovative crop for the production of essential oils to be employed in the food and the agro-industry