Rat Models of ADHD

Postprint version of published article. Original available at www.springerlink.co

Study circles improve the precision in nutritional care in special accommodations

Background: Disease-related malnutrition is a major health problem in the elderly population, but it has until recently received very little attention, especially are management issues under-explored. By identifying residents at the risk of undernutrition, appropriate nutritional care can be provided. Objectives: Do study circles and policy documents improve the precision in nutritional care and decrease the prevalence of low or high BMI? Design: Pre and post intervention study. Setting: Special accommodations (nursing homes) within six municipalities were involved. Participants: In 2005, 1726 (90.4%) out of 1910 residents agreed to participate and in 2007, 1526 (81.8%) out of 1866 residents participated. Intervention: Study circles in one municipality, having a policy document in one municipality and no intervention in four municipalities. Measurements: Risk of undernutrition was defined as involving any of: involuntary weight loss, low BMI, and/or eating difficulties. Overweight was defined as high BMI. Results: In 2005 and 2007, 64% of 1726 and 66% of 1526 residents respectively were at the risk of undernutrition. In 2007 significantly more patients in the study circle municipality were accurately provided protein and energy enriched food compared to in the no intervention municipalities. There was a decrease in the prevalence of low BMI in the study circle municipality and the prevalence of overweight increased in the policy document municipality between 2005 and 2007

Detection of Lung Cancer by Automated Sputum Cytometry

IntroductionBiomarkers may prove to be valuable tools to manage those at risk of lung cancer. Sputum analysis using DNA cytometry has shown promise, but an automated, objective sputum analysis test has yet to be developed. This study evaluated the performance characteristics of the LungSign test for lung cancer and compared them to conventional cytologyMethodsA multicenter validation trial was conducted in which sputum specimens were prospectively collected from subjects suspected of having lung cancer during diagnostic workup. Specimens were placed on slides, DNA stained using Feulgen thionin, and analyzed using an automated cytometry-based scoring system. Smears were also prepared from the sputum specimens, stained by the Papanicolaou procedure, and analyzed using conventional cytology. LungSign scores and conventional cytology results were compared with the subject diagnoses.ResultsA total of 1235 high-risk subjects were enrolled at nine clinical sites. Of 1123 subjects included for analysis, 370 were found to have lung cancer—a 33% prevalence. The a priori selected LungSign score threshold detected 40% of all lung cancers and 35% of stage I lung cancers with 91% specificity. Test performance was statistically equivalent across cancer stages, histologic types, and localizations for 330 analyzable lung cancer subjects. LungSign receiver operating characteristic area under the curve measure for the test was 0.692. Conventional cytology detected 16% of lung cancers with 99% specificity.ConclusionsDNA cytometry of sputum using the LungSign test detects stage I lung cancer and may provide a new tool to manage high-risk individuals

Effect of Adjuvant Perioperative Desmopressin in Locally Advanced Canine Mammary Carcinoma and its Relation to Histologic Grade

Desmopressin (DDAVP) is a vasopressin peptide analog with hemostatic properties that has been successfully used during surgery in patients with bleeding disorders. Recently published experimental and clinical data indicate that perioperative administration of DDAVP can minimize spread and survival of residual mammary cancer cells. The central aim of this study was to explore the effect of perioperative DDAVP and its relation to histologic grade in bitches with locally advanced mammary carcinoma. Of the 32 dogs initially recruited, 28 intact bitches with mammary carcinoma tumors stage III or IV were ultimately included. These dogs were randomized to receive DDAVP at intravenous doses of 1 μg/kg (n=18) or saline solution as placebo (n=10). En bloc mastectomy of the affected gland(s) was performed. Tumor malignancy was graded by the method of Elston and Ellis into well-differentiated (grade 1), moderately differentiated (grade 2), or poorly differentiated (grade 3). DDAVP therapy significantly prolonged the disease-free survival (P&amp;lt;0.001) and overall survival (P&amp;lt;0.01) in bitches with grade 2 or 3 carcinomas compared with bitches in the control group. No significant difference in disease-free period or overall survival was found between treatment groups in bitches with grade 1 tumors. The present data suggest that DDAVP may be an excellent candidate as a surgical adjuvant in the management of aggressive cancers in small animals. More research in this field is warranted.</jats:p