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Long-term Deficits (long-term + deficit)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Environmental enrichment reverses cognitive and molecular deficits induced by developmental lead exposure

ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 1 2003
Tomás R. Guilarte PhD
Long-term deficits in cognitive function are the principal effects of lead (Pb2+) exposure in children and can be modeled in experimental animals. Current therapeutic approaches in the treatment of childhood Pb2+ intoxication are not effective in reversing learning deficits once they have occurred. We report that environmental enrichment reverses long-term deficits in spatial learning produced by developmental Pb2+ exposure in rats. Enhanced learning performance of Pb2+ -exposed animals reared in an enriched environment was associated with recovery of deficits in N- methyl- D -aspartate receptor subunit 1 (NR1) mRNA and induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the hippocampus. The effect of environmental enrichment on NR1 and BDNF gene expression was specific to Pb2+ -exposed animals and was present in the absence of changes in the NR2B subunit of the N- methyl- D -aspartate receptor, GluR1, ,CamKII, or PSD-95 gene expression measured in the same animals. Our findings demonstrate that the learning impairments and NR1 subunit mRNA deficits resulting from developmental Pb2+ exposure are reversible if the animals are provided with an enriched environment even after the exposure has occurred. We propose environmental enrichment as a basis for the treatment of childhood Pb2+ intoxication. [source]

Childhood stroke in Eastern Province, KSA: pattern, risk factors, diagnosis and outcome

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2009
Abdelhady Taha Emam
Abstract Background and purpose:, Stroke has been increasingly recognized in children in recent years, but diagnosis and management can be difficult because of the diversity of underlying risk factors, atypical presentation and the absence of a uniform treatment approach. The aim of this study was to examine risk factors, clinical presentation, imaging findings and outcomes of paediatric stroke in Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Subjects and methods:, We evaluated 25 patients (11 boys and 14 girls) using computerized tomography scan of the brain, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography. Cardiac assessment, haematological tests, immunological tests, infection and metabolic screening were also performed in the patients. After discharge, the patients were monitored regularly in the neurology clinic to detect their outcomes. Results:, A total of 76% of the patients presented with ischaemic stroke, while the remaining 24% had haemorrhagic stroke. Sickle cell disease (SCD) was the commonest risk factor for stroke (36%) followed by non determinate causes (20%). Seizure was the commonest clinical presentation (54%) followed by haemiplegia (31%) and decreased level of consciousness (30%). Recurrence occurred in SCD patients (80%) and patients with moyamoya disease (20%). Regarding the outcome, long-term deficit was the commonest (44%), while short-term deficit and death were equal (28% each). Conclusion:, Our study in Eastern Province, KSA, showed agreement with other studies regarding risk factors, clinical presentation, imaging features and outcomes of stroke in children, yet with some points of differences, which are as follows: (1) SCD is the commonest risk factor in our study population, while in Chinese study it was not, (2) The percentage of cardiac disorders as a risk factor in this study was less than that in the European and American studies, and (3) there was relative discrepancy regarding predictors of outcome. [source]

Can personality traits help us explain disability in chronic schizophrenia?

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 5 2006
ANDRÉS HERRÁN md
Abstract, Psychotic features have been considered the main determinant of psychosocial function in schizophrenia. However, other variables are likely to affect dysfunction in these patients. The authors' hypothesis is that personality traits in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia differ from traits found in the healthy population and may be associated with disability in this disorder. A total of 62 patients with schizophrenia were evaluated with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Psychotic features were measured with the help of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Disability was assessed with the Disability Assessment Schedule (DAS). A total of 43 healthy subjects were used as controls for personality measurements. Normative data for the study population was also used to evaluate results in patients. Patients with schizophrenia had higher levels of neuroticism (median in percentile 65) and lower levels of extraversion (median in percentile 25) than the healthy population. Results of the TPQ showed higher harm avoidance and lower reward dependence levels compared to the healthy population. After multiple regression tests, negative symptoms were the strongest predictor of disability in patients with schizophrenia. Neuroticism contributed independently to the DAS overall behavior and global judgement subscales scores (more negative symptoms and higher neuroticism resulted in worse functioning), but not to the social role subscale. Outpatients with chronic schizophrenia showed high levels of neuroticism, harm avoidance, and introversion. Neuroticism significantly contributes to the long-term deficits found in patients with schizophrenia. [source]