Medicine posts
- July 12, 2010
- 02:14 AM
- 1,544 views
Parkinson’s Disease and Depression
by Dr Shock in Dr Shock MD PhD
Depression is common in patients with Parkinson’s disease (mean prevalence 17% in patients with Parkinson’s). It can be the first sign of the disease. It can be treated with antidepressants. There is little evidence that patients with Parkinson’s disease might benefi t more from any
one particular class of antidepressants than any others. The problem with [...]
Related posts:Understanding Depression in Kidney Disease
Psychiatrists don’t Use Scales to Measure Outcome in Depressed Patients
Depression and Coronary Heart Disease in Women
... Read more »
Bxarone P, Poewe W, Albrecht S, Debieuvre C, Massey D, Rascol O, Tolosa E, & Weintraub D. (2010) Pramipexole for the treatment of depressive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet neurology, 9(6), 573-80. PMID: 20452823
- July 11, 2010
- 11:12 PM
- 1,330 views
Breaking news – new guidelines for treating CRPS
by Lorimer Moseley in BodyInMind
BMC Neurology has just published the findings of a group of Dutch researchers in their quest to develop multidisciplinary guidelines for treatment of CRPS[1]. They looked at literature from 1980 – 2005. It is a major piece of work and I reckon it deserves publication. It is also a shocker when one produces such a [...]... Read more »
[1] Perez, R., Zollinger, P., Dijkstra, P., Thomassen-Hilgersom, I., Zuurmond, W., Rosenbrand, K., Geertzen, J., & Task force, T. (2010) Evidence based guidelines for complex regional pain syndrome type 1. BMC Neurology, 10(1), 20. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-10-20
- July 11, 2010
- 03:36 PM
- 935 views
Self report or functional assessment – or both?
by Adiemusfree in Healthskills: Skills for Healthy Living
One of the more vexing problems in pain management is how to measure functional performance. I’ve written before about the problems with functional capacity evaluations (lack of predictive validity, poor reliability and so on), and these problems also apply to assessments of the ability to carry out activities of daily living. Amongst some of the … Read more... Read more »
Wæhrens, E., Amris, K., & Fisher, A. (2010) Performance-based assessment of ADL ability among women with chronic widespread pain. Pain. DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.06.008
- July 11, 2010
- 03:25 PM
- 622 views
Mediating burn-induced gastric impairment with insulin treatment
by EcoPhysioMichelle in C6-H12-O6 (old)
I’m trying to think my way through some of the results in Mechanisms of burn-induced impairment in gastric slow waves and emptying in rats by Sallam et al. This article (like almost all of the articles I talk about on this blog) is outside of my subfield in physiology, so I’m trying to apply the [...]... Read more »
Sallam, H., Oliveira, H., Liu, S., & Chen, J. (2010) Mechanisms of Burn-induced Impairment in Gastric Slow Waves and Emptying in Rats. AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00135.2010
- July 10, 2010
- 02:52 AM
- 698 views
Low-Carb Mediterranean Diet Improves Glucose Control and Heart Disease Risk Factors in Overweight Diabetics
by Steve Parker, M.D. in Advanced Mediterranean Diet
A low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet improved HDL cholesterol levels and glucose control better than either the standard Mediterranean diet or American Diabetes Association diet, according to Israeli researchers reporting earlier this year.
Background
Prior studies suggest that diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (olive oil, for example) elevate HDL cholesterol and reduce LDL cholestrol and triglycerides in type [...]... Read more »
Elhayany, A., Lustman, A., Abel, R., Attal-Singer, J., & Vinker, S. (2010) A low carbohydrate Mediterranean diet improves cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes control among overweight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 1-year prospective randomized intervention study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 12(3), 204-209. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2009.01151.x
- July 9, 2010
- 08:00 AM
- 451 views
The Handwriting on the Wall
by Shaheen Lakhan in Brain Blogger
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have poor penmanship. In turn, poor penmanship leads to decreased success in communication, failed academics, and a lack of self-esteem. Until now, clinicians and autism experts believed that developmental delays were to blame for inferior handwriting skills, but a new study in Neurology reports that weak motor skills [...]... Read more »
Beversdorf DQ, Anderson JM, Manning SE, Anderson SL, Nordgren RE, Felopulos GJ, & Bauman ML. (2001) Brief report: macrographia in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 31(1), 97-101. PMID: 11439759
Dowell LR, Mahone EM, & Mostofsky SH. (2009) Associations of postural knowledge and basic motor skill with dyspraxia in autism: implication for abnormalities in distributed connectivity and motor learning. Neuropsychology, 23(5), 563-70. PMID: 19702410
Dziuk MA, Gidley Larson JC, Apostu A, Mahone EM, Denckla MB, & Mostofsky SH. (2007) Dyspraxia in autism: association with motor, social, and communicative deficits. Developmental medicine and child neurology, 49(10), 734-9. PMID: 17880641
Frings M, Gaertner K, Buderath P, Christiansen H, Gerwig M, Hein-Kropp C, Schoch B, Hebebrand J, & Timmann D. (2010) Megalographia in Children with Cerebellar Lesions and in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Cerebellum (London, England). PMID: 20480275
Fuentes CT, Mostofsky SH, & Bastian AJ. (2009) Children with autism show specific handwriting impairments. Neurology, 73(19), 1532-7. PMID: 19901244
Mayes SD, & Calhoun SL. (2007) Learning, attention, writing, and processing speed in typical children and children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and oppositional-defiant disorder. Child neuropsychology : a journal on normal and abnormal development in childhood and adolescence, 13(6), 469-93. PMID: 17852125
- July 9, 2010
- 12:37 AM
- 841 views
Friday Weird Science: The Human Penis Bone
by Scicurious in Neurotic Physiology
Today’s post is some seriously OLD science. Old science and WEIRD science, coming to you courtesy of Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC, 1913. And it’s also the WEIRDEST conjunction of this: And this: That Sci has ever seen. Gerster AG, Mandlebaum FS. “XI. On the Formation of Bone in the Human Penis.” Annals of Surgery, [...]... Read more »
GERSTER, A., & MANDLEBAUM, F. (1913) ON THE FORMATION OF BONE IN THE HUMAN PENIS. Annals of Surgery, 57(6), 896-901. DOI: 10.1097/00000658-191306000-00012
- July 8, 2010
- 11:31 PM
- 895 views
Consider the CB(2) Receptor
by Dirk Hanson in Addiction Inbox
A different destination for cannabinoids.
THC and its organic cousin, anandamide, do what they do by locking into both the CB1 receptor, discovered in 1988, and the CB2 receptor (as it is commonly written in shorthand), discovered 5 years later. THC and anandamide are CB receptor agonists, meaning they activate the receptors in question. (An antagonist blocks the receptor’s action.)
CB1 is a very common receptor in the central nervous system, and, when stimulated by an agonist, is responsible for the well-known roster of alleged medical effects, such as pain relief and nausea from chemotherapy--along with the typical marijuana high. (For more on this, see the excellent 2007 post by Dr. Joan Bushwell.) Conversely, blocking CB1 activity with an antagonist like rimonabant is one controversial avenue being explored in the search for new weight loss drugs. (CB1 antagonists can also produce anxiety and depression.)
However, CB2 was long considered a “peripheral” cannabinoid receptor, meaning that scientists hadn’t managed to find CB2 receptors in the central nervous system. They were, however, plentiful in the immune system, and seemed to be involved in inflammation as well as pain responses. CB2 receptors were in fact eventually discovered in the central nervous system, and are active in the brain during certain kinds of inflammatory responses.
There is a straightforward commercial incentive for tracking the extent of CB2 expression in brain neurons. As the authors of a cannabinoid receptor study wrote in the June issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology:
“As CB(2) is an attractive therapeutic target for pain management and immune system modulation without overt psychoactivity, defining the extent of its presence in neurons will have a significant impact on drug discovery.”
Translated, this means that there are a number of new molecules that are selective for CB2 receptors. Since people don’t get a strong traditional marijuana-style buzz from CB2 receptor activation, and given the active involvement of CB2 receptors in things like immune responses and inflammatory reactions, the possibility exists of finding lucrative spinoffs like pain pills or anti-inflammatory medications. So drug researchers would like to know exactly where those receptors are, and what they do, in the event that they end up attempting to make a medicine that stimulates or blocks them artificially. (Credit to Vaughan Bell of Mind Hacks for highlighting this study.)
The psychologists at Indiana University who produced the paper did their best to shed light on where the CB(2) receptor is hiding, and what, exactly, it does. But there is still not enough known about how various substances react with this somewhat elusive receptor for cannabinoids. In 2008, scientists at the University of Madrid published research in the Journal of Biological Chemistry indicating that activation of the CB2 receptor reduced nerve cell loss in animals suffering from a disease similar to multiple sclerosis. Researchers point to the possibility that a safe drug for M.S. patients could be one of the results of CB2 research.
Atwood, B., & Mackie, K. (2010). CB2: a cannabinoid receptor with an identity crisis British Journal of Pharmacology, 160 (3), 467-479 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00729.x
Graphics Credit: www.cnsforum.com... Read more »
Atwood, B., & Mackie, K. (2010) CB2: a cannabinoid receptor with an identity crisis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 160(3), 467-479. DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00729.x
- July 8, 2010
- 11:24 PM
- 676 views
Immunosenescence and What Can Be Done About It
by Reason in Fight Aging!
Immunosenescence is the steady degeneration of the immune system that occurs with age. For the adaptive immune system at least, researchers have a good picture as to why and how this happens - which means that they also have starting points to develop ways to reverse immunosenescence. Here is an open access review paper on the topic: The elderly frequently suffer from severe infections. Vaccination could protect them against several infectious diseases, but it can be effective only if cells that are capable of responding are still present in the repertoire. Recent vaccination strategies in the elderly might achieve low effectiveness due to age-related immune impairment. ... Ageing dampens the ability of B cells to produce antibodies against novel antigens. Exhausted memory B lymphocyte subsets replace naive cells. Decline of cell-mediated immunity is the consequence of multiple changes, including thymic atrophy, reduced output of new T lymphocytes, accumulation of anergic memory cells, and deficiencies in cytokines production. Persistent viral and parasitic infections contribute to the loss of immunosurveillance and premature exhaustion of T cells. In essence, the immune system fails because the thymus, source of immune cells, ceases production and withers away. At the same time, the population of immune...... Read more »
Ongrádi, J., & Kövesdi, V. (2010) Factors that may impact on immunosenescence: an appraisal. Immunity , 7(1), 7. DOI: 10.1186/1742-4933-7-7
- July 8, 2010
- 09:40 PM
- 861 views
Sunscreen in a Pill?
by Scott in Science-Based Pharmacy
I’ve previously described the consequences of acute and chronic sun exposure, and the rationale for topical sunscreen products. But wouldn’t it be easier to just take a pill that can boost our skin’s resistance to to the harmful effects of the sun? Is it possible to get all the benefits of sunscreen without the bother [...]... Read more »
Villa, A., Viera, M., Amini, S., Huo, R., Perez, O., Ruiz, P., Amador, A., Elgart, G., & Berman, B. (2010) Decrease of ultraviolet A light–induced “common deletion” in healthy volunteers after oral Polypodium leucotomos extract supplement in a randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 62(3), 511-513. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.05.045
Middelkamp-Hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, Goukassian D, Rius-Díaz F, Mihm MC, Fitzpatrick TB, & González S. (2004) Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 51(6), 910-8. PMID: 15583582
Middelkamp-Hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, Garcia-Caballero T, Rius-Díaz F, Fitzpatrick TB, & González S. (2004) Orally administered Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases psoralen-UVA-induced phototoxicity, pigmentation, and damage of human skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 50(1), 41-9. PMID: 14699363
González S, Pathak MA, Cuevas J, Villarrubia VG, & Fitzpatrick TB. (1997) Topical or oral administration with an extract of Polypodium leucotomos prevents acute sunburn and psoralen-induced phototoxic reactions as well as depletion of Langerhans cells in human skin. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology , 13(1-2), 50-60. PMID: 9361129
- July 8, 2010
- 04:11 PM
- 818 views
Brain Aging: Men and Women Do It Differently
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Improved structural and functional brain imaging technologies provide assistance in understanding brain gender differences. A Japanese study of the effects of age and gender has been recently published in Human Brain Mapping. The study focussed on brain gray and white matter volumes in a variety of brain regions. Gray matter volumes declined with age in both genders. In the younger subjects, few differences were found between men and women in regional brain volumes. However, as the older age groups (over 50 years of age) were studied, some gender nonspecific and specific regional effects emerged.Gray matter volume declined similarly in men and women in the following regions:insulathalamuscingulatemedial frontal cortexmedial occipital cortexWomen show better preservation (less decline with age):inferior frontal gyrusanterior cingulate gyrusthalamushypothalamusMen showed better brain preservation (less decline with age):occipital cortexWhat could explain the gender differences in brain aging? There is some research support for women showing a frontal cortex (executive function) predominance while men are more likely to demonstrate an occipital (visual function predominance).The authors propose a role for sex hormone effects in preserving the gender predominance pattern during the aging process. Animal studies suggest a differential role for estrogens and androgen in brain structure. Estrogen receptors appear to be concentrated in the frontal cortex. Androgen receptors are increased in the occipital lobe. Androgens have been associated with reduced cell death rates in the occipital lobe. The Japanese study was cross-sectional in nature and did not actually follow changes in brain structure over time. Prospective studies of the brain aging process will be needed to confirm this studies primary findings. Sex hormone levels and function may be valuable in understanding brain aging in men and women across the lifespan. Photo of Wagon from Weston, Missouri Red Barn Farm Courtesy of Yates photography.Takahashi, R., Ishii, K., Kakigi, T., & Yokoyama, K. (2010). Gender and age differences in normal adult human brain: Voxel-based morphometric study Human Brain Mapping DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21088... Read more »
Takahashi, R., Ishii, K., Kakigi, T., & Yokoyama, K. (2010) Gender and age differences in normal adult human brain: Voxel-based morphometric study. Human Brain Mapping. DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21088
- July 8, 2010
- 04:00 PM
- 1,309 views
Time to brush up on your acting
by Lorimer Moseley in BodyInMind
We are lucky enough to have three rather clever and certainly friendly med students working on some research studies. This post is from Rahul – it is about a paper we thought was interesting. We wonder if there might be something in it for our quest for better treatments. Here’s Rahul- After a nauseating movie-going [...]... Read more »
Dowrick, P. (1999) A review of self modeling and related interventions. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 8(1), 23-39. DOI: 10.1016/S0962-1849(99)80009-2
- July 8, 2010
- 09:15 AM
- 1,281 views
Sunscreen in a Pill?
by Scott Gavura in Science-Based Medicine
I’ve previously described the consequences of acute and chronic sun exposure, and the rationale for topical sunscreen products. But wouldn’t it be easier to just take a pill that can boost our skin’s resistance to to the harmful effects of the sun? Is it possible to get all the benefits of sunscreen without the bother [...]... Read more »
Villa, A., Viera, M., Amini, S., Huo, R., Perez, O., Ruiz, P., Amador, A., Elgart, G., & Berman, B. (2010) Decrease of ultraviolet A light–induced “common deletion” in healthy volunteers after oral Polypodium leucotomos extract supplement in a randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 62(3), 511-513. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.05.045
Middelkamp-Hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, Goukassian D, Rius-Díaz F, Mihm MC, Fitzpatrick TB, & González S. (2004) Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 51(6), 910-8. PMID: 15583582
Middelkamp-Hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, Garcia-Caballero T, Rius-Díaz F, Fitzpatrick TB, & González S. (2004) Orally administered Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases psoralen-UVA-induced phototoxicity, pigmentation, and damage of human skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 50(1), 41-9. PMID: 14699363
González S, Pathak MA, Cuevas J, Villarrubia VG, & Fitzpatrick TB. (1997) Topical or oral administration with an extract of Polypodium leucotomos prevents acute sunburn and psoralen-induced phototoxic reactions as well as depletion of Langerhans cells in human skin. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology , 13(1-2), 50-60. PMID: 9361129
- July 8, 2010
- 08:00 AM
- 598 views
I’m not doing a very good job at convincing you that I’m not a renal physiologist. I promise I’m not.
by EcoPhysioMichelle in C6-H12-O6 (old)
One article I did take the time to read, though, is Race, Sex and the Regulation of Urine Osmolality-Observations Made During Water Deprivation by Hancock et al. Hancock and colleagues got an almost equal mix of white and black men and women to agree to 24 hours of water deprivation, during which time they measured urine and plasma osmolality, vasopressin levels, urine volume, and a few other things. I read it, and it had me thinking some thinky thoughts, so I figured I’d write down my thinky thoughts and share.... Read more »
Michael L. Hancock, II, Daniel Georges Bichet, George J. Eckert, Lise Bankir, Mary Anne Wagner, and J. Howard Pratt. (2010) Race, Sex and the Regulation of Urine Osmolality-Observations Made During Water Deprivation. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. info:/
- July 7, 2010
- 05:07 PM
- 863 views
Depression as a Risk Factor for Dementia
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Two studies published this week in the journal Neurology add strength to the association between depression and dementia. One study came from the classic Framingham Heart Study database and the second used the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Both studies used depression symptoms as a proxy for the diagnosis of depression. There are some problems with this approach, but is seen a one valid research strategy. I thought I would summarize the two studies with Framingham listed first and (Baltimore in parentheses):Design:Sample size: 949 (1239)Depression assessment scale: CES-D (CES-D)Depression cutoff score: 16 (16)Number of depression assessments: one (every one to two years)Dementia diagnosis: DSM-IV dementia & severity at least 1.0 on Clinical Dementia Rating scale (DSM-IIIR dementia by case conference screen by Blessed Information Memory Concentration score, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale and Dementia Questionnaire)Statistical analysis: Cox proportional hazards (Cox proportional hazards)Confounding co-variates adjusted: age, sex, education, serum homocysteine, APOE4 (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, smoking status, medical illness, body mass index and systolic blood pressure)Key results:Framingham: CES-D score of 16 or more at baseline increase risk of dementia 78% Baltimore: CES-D score of 16 or more once during follow up increased risk of dementia by 87%, CES-D score of 16 or great at two or more assessments increased risk of dementia by 108%The similarity of the findings and closeness of the estimate of the size of the effect in these two studies is quite remarkable. The authors of the two studies propose several potential mechanisms:Depression is an early symptom of dementia not a risk factor for dementiaIncrease in inflammatory markers with depression cause increased risk of dementia: interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis alphaDecrease in brain derived neurotrophic factor in depression increases risk of dementiaDepression increases risk of vascular pathology contributing to dementiaDepression increases risk for poor nutrition, low physical activity and limited social engagement raising dementia riskDepression increases serum cortisol levels damaging the hippocampusThese two epidemiological studies cannot determine the mechanism for the association of depression with later dementia risk. It is not yet known if treating depression can lower the risk of dementia. However, these two studies support depression symptoms as a serious medical warning sign. It is becoming increasingly clear that mental health assessment needs to be an important part of a comprehensive medical care program. Photo of Baby Duck Swimming Courtesy of Yates PhotographySaczynski JS, Beiser A, Seshadri S, Auerbach S, Wolf PA, & Au R (2010). Depressive symptoms and risk of dementia: The Framingham Heart Study. Neurology, 75 (1), 35-41 PMID: 20603483Dotson VM, Beydoun MA, & Zonderman AB (2010). Recurrent depressive symptoms and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Neurology, 75 (1), 27-34 PMID: 20603482... Read more »
Dotson VM, Beydoun MA, & Zonderman AB. (2010) Recurrent depressive symptoms and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Neurology, 75(1), 27-34. PMID: 20603482
- July 7, 2010
- 07:09 AM
- 1,135 views
A bitter-sweet symphony
by Lorimer Moseley in BodyInMind
Cross-modal associations are intriguing. Why should we prefer to associate certain shapes to certain words? I still remember my brother, although not a psychologist, asking everyone at a family dinner to match the words ‘kiki’ and ‘bouba’ with either a round or spiky shape. If you’re an adept of that kind of entertainment, you might [...]... Read more »
Crisinel, A., & Spence, C. (2009) Implicit association between basic tastes and pitch. Neuroscience Letters, 464(1), 39-42. DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.08.016
Crisinel AS, & Spence C. (2010) A sweet sound? Food names reveal implicit associations between taste and pitch. Perception, 39(3), 417-25. PMID: 20465176
- July 6, 2010
- 09:32 AM
- 986 views
Diabetes Drug Rosiglitazone About to Be Pulled Off the Market?
by Steve Parker, M.D. in Diabetic Mediterranean Diet Blog
It’s over for rosiglitazone. Sold in the U.S. as Avandia, rosiglitazone is a drug used to control type 2 diabetes either alone or in combination with insulin, metformin, or a sulfonylurea. It has only one competitor in its class: pioglitazone (sold as Actos). Both drugs in the thiazolidinedione class (aka TZDs or glitazones) increase the risk [...]... Read more »
Graham, D., Ouellet-Hellstrom, R., MaCurdy, T., Ali, F., Sholley, C., Worrall, C., & Kelman, J. (2010) Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Heart Failure, and Death in Elderly Medicare Patients Treated With Rosiglitazone or Pioglitazone. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2010.920
- July 5, 2010
- 03:32 PM
- 537 views
Who looks for treatment when they have back pain?
by Adiemusfree in Healthskills: Skills for Healthy Living
I’m not a primary care clinician. The people I see with pain have long-term, chronic, persistent pain that has been around for ages. I think the shortest time someone might have had pain before I see them is 4 months! The average is something like more than 4 years. But I AM interested in who … Read more... Read more »
Ferreira, M., Machado, G., Latimer, J., Maher, C., Ferreira, P., & Smeets, R. (2009) Factors defining care-seeking in low back pain – A meta-analysis of population based surveys. European Journal of Pain. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2009.11.005
- July 5, 2010
- 12:48 PM
- 720 views
Parental Age as a Risk Factor for Bipolar Disorder
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Advanced parental age appears to confer increased risk for a variety of clinical neuroscience disorders. First described in Down syndrome, advanced parental age at conception has now been linked to schizophrenia and autism. Effects of advanced parental age on risk have been found for both fathers and mothers. Some disorders appear to have more risk with paternal age while other appear to have more effect with maternal age. The presumed mechanism is sporadic mutations in male germ cells and female egg cells with age. Current trends for men and women to delay childbearing place more importance on this research issue.A new study examined the role of paternal and maternal age on risk for bipolar affective disorder. Menezes from Brazil along with colleagues in the UK and Sweden conducted a population-based cohort study for individuals born in Sweden between 1973 and 1980. Bipolar disorder diagnosis was identified as being present when it resulted in psychiatric hospitalization. This is a relatively high severity threshold that would miss milder cases not requiring hospitalization.Hazard ratios controlling for confounding variables estimated the magnitude of the effect on bipolar risk.One parent over 30 years increased risk by 26%Both parents over 30 years increased risk by 45%The authors note that their study supports a role for both advanced paternal age and advanced maternal age in increased risk for bipolar disorder. It is possible, that non-genetic factors contribute to risk as older women have more obstetrical problems. Older parental age also increases risk for parental death during childhood and adolescence.Delaying parenthood can have beneficial effects on economic and emotional maturity. However, this study adds evidence to the potential adverse effects of an increasing societal phenomenon. Fireworks Photo from Lone Star Racetrack Courtesy of Yates PhotographyMenezes PR, Lewis G, Rasmussen F, Zammit S, Sipos A, Harrison GL, Tynelius P, & Gunnell D (2010). Paternal and maternal ages at conception and risk of bipolar affective disorder in their offspring. Psychological medicine, 40 (3), 477-85 PMID: 19627644... Read more »
Menezes PR, Lewis G, Rasmussen F, Zammit S, Sipos A, Harrison GL, Tynelius P, & Gunnell D. (2010) Paternal and maternal ages at conception and risk of bipolar affective disorder in their offspring. Psychological medicine, 40(3), 477-85. PMID: 19627644
- July 5, 2010
- 09:30 AM
- 979 views
Homeopathy in the ICU?
by David Gorski in Science-Based Medicine
Editor’s note: It’s still a holiday weekend in the United States. I had considered simply taking the day off altogether, particularly since I’m busily working on my talk for TAM8–which (holy crap!) is in a mere three days, but then I figured today’s a good time to resurrect a “classic” (if you will) post that [...]... Read more »
Frass, M. (2005) Influence of Potassium Dichromate on Tracheal Secretions in Critically Ill Patients. Chest, 127(3), 936-941. DOI: 10.1378/chest.127.3.936
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