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“Objective: A variety of measurements have been individually linked to decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but the identification of optimal markers for predicting disease progression remains unresolved.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the prognostic ability of genetic, CSF, neuroimaging, and cognitive measurements obtained in the same participants.\n\nMethods: APOE epsilon 4 allele frequency, CSF proteins (A beta(1-42), total tau, hyperphosphorylated tau [p-tau(181p)]), glucose metabolism (FDG-PET), hippocampal volume, and episodic memory performance were evaluated at baseline in patients with amnestic MCI (n=85), using data from a large multisite study (Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative). Patients were classified as normal or abnormal on each predictor variable based on externally derived cutoffs, and then variables were evaluated as predictors of subsequent conversion
to Alzheimer disease (AD) selleck chemical and cognitive decline (Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale) during a variable follow-up period (1.9 +/- 0.4 years).\n\nResults: Patients with MCI converted to AD at an annual rate of 17.2%. Subjects with MCI who had abnormal results on both FDG-PET and episodic memory were 11.7 times more likely to convert to AD than subjects who had normal results on both measures (p <= 0.02). In addition, the CSF ratio p-tau(181p)/A beta(1-42) (beta = 1.10 +/- 0.53; p = 0.04) and, marginally, selleck chemicals FDG-PET predicted cognitive decline.\n\nConclusions: Baseline FDG-PET and episodic memory predict conversion to AD, whereas p-tau(181p)/A beta(1-42) and, marginally, FDG-PET predict longitudinal cognitive decline. Complementary information provided by these biomarkers may aid in future selection of patients for clinical trials or identification of patients likely to benefit from a therapeutic intervention. Neurology (R) 2010;75:230-238″
“Background: The purpose of this article is to summarize the literature that documents the long-term impact of cancer
treatment modalities on pulmonary function among survivors of cancer and to identify potential areas for further research.\n\nMethods: check details Systematic reviews of clinical trials, observational studies, case series, and review articles were conducted. Articles were limited to the studies that discussed pulmonary toxicity or late effects among pediatric cancer survivors and to follow-up investigations that were conducted a minimum of 2 years after completion of cancer-related treatment or 1 year after hematopoietic stem cell transplant.\n\nResults: Sixty publications (51 clinical studies/reports and nine reviews) published from January 1970 to June 2010 in PubMed met the inclusion criteria. Data showed an association between radiotherapy, alkylating agents, bleomycin, hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and thoracic surgery and pulmonary toxicity, as well as possible interactions among these modalities.