Mild cognitive impairment in medical inpatients: the mini-mental state examination is a promising screening tool

AIM: To assess the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in medical inpatients aged 55-85 years without known cognitive deficits, and how often ward physicians mentioned MCI in their discharge notes. Moreover, we aimed to identify variables associated with MCI and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for MCI. METHODS: Two neuropsychologists administered a 60-min battery of validated tests to evaluate different cognitive domains. The diagnosis of MCI was based on a prespecified algorithm. The sensitivity and specificity of the MMSE for MCI were calculated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients showed a normal cognitive profile (21.4%), while 55 patients (78.6%) showed MCI. Ward physicians, blinded to the results of the neuropsychological evaluation, did not mention MCI in their discharge notes of any of the evaluated patients. The only variable independently associated with MCI was the MMSE. A MMSE score of < or =28 showed a sensitivity of 85.5% and a specificity of 66.7% for MCI. CONCLUSION: MCI is frequent albeit overlooked in elderly medical inpatients without previously known cognitive deficits. In view of therapies preventing the progression of MCI to dementia, MCI screening will be crucial. The MMSE represents a promising screening tool for MCI in medical inpatients.

Optimal sites for orthodontic mini-implant placement assessed by cone beam computed tomography

OBJECTIVES: To determine (1) the optimal sites for mini-implant placement in the maxilla and the mandible based on dimensional mapping of the interradicular spaces and cortical bone thickness and (2) The effect of age and sex on the studied anatomic measurements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cone beam computed tomography images of 100 patients (46 males, 54 females) divided into two age groups (13-18 years), and (19-27 years) were used. The following interradicular measurements were performed: (1) Buccolingual bone thickness; (2) Mesiodistal spaces both buccally and palatally/lingually; and (3) Buccal and palatal/lingual cortical thicknesses. RESULTS: In the maxilla, the highest buccolingual thickness existed between first and second molars; the highest mesiodistal buccal/palatal distances were between the second premolar and the first molar. The highest buccal cortical thickness was between the first and second premolars. The highest palatal cortical thickness was between central and lateral incisors. In the mandible, the highest buccolingual and buccal cortical thicknesses were between the first and second molars. The highest mesiodistal buccal distance was between the second premolar and the first molar. The highest mesiodistal lingual distance was between the first and second premolars. The highest lingual cortical thickness was between the canine and the first premolar. The males and the older age group had significantly higher buccolingual, buccal, and palatal cortical thicknesses at specific sites and levels in the maxilla and the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: A clinical guideline for optimal sites for mini-implant placement is suggested. Sex and age affected the anatomic measurements in certain areas in the maxilla and the mandible.

Channels and transporters. Mini-symposium of the Division of Medicinal Chemistry (DMC) of the Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) at the Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, May 27, 2010

During a half-day symposium, the topic 'Channels and Transporters' was covered with five lectures, including a presentation on 'Introduction and Basics of Channels and Transporters' by Beat Ernst, lectures on structure, function and physiology of channels and transporters ('The Structural Basis for Ion Conduction and Gating in Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels' by Raimund Dutzler and 'Uptake and Efflux Transporters for Endogenous Substances and for Drugs' by Dietrich Keppler), and a case study lecture on 'Avosentan' by Werner Neidhart. The program was completed by Matthias Hediger who introduced to the audience the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR)-TransCure in his lecture entitled 'From Transport Physiology to Identification of Therapeutic Targets'.

Development of an ultra mini-oxygenator for use in low-volume, buffer-perfused preparations

Introduction: Small animal models are widely used in basic research. However, experimental systems requiring extracorporeal circuits are frequently confronted with limitations related to equipment size. This is particularly true for oxygenators in systems with limited volumes. Thus we aimed to develop and validate an ultra mini-oxygenator for low-volume, buffer-perfused systems. Methods: We have manufactured a series of ultra mini-oxygenators with approximately 175 aligned, microporous, polypropylene hollow fibers contained inside a shell, which is sealed at each of the two extremities to isolate perfusate and gas compartments. With this construction, gas passes through hollow fibers, while perfusate circulates around fibers. Performance of ultra mini-oxygenators (oxygen partial pressure (PO2 ), gas and perfusate flow, perfusate pressure and temperature drop) were assessed with modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer in an in vitro perfusion circuit and an ex vivo rat heart preparation. Results: Mean priming volume of ultra mini-oxygenators was 1.2±0.5 mL and, on average, 86±6% of fibers were open (n=17). In vitro, effective oxygenation (PO2=400-500 mmHg) was achieved for all flow rates up to 50 mL/min and remained stable for at least 2 hours (n=5). Oxygenation was also effective and stable (PO2=456±40 mmHg) in the isolated heart preparation for at least 60 minutes ("venous" PO2=151±11 mmHg; n=5). Conclusions: We have established a reproducible procedure for fabrication of ultra mini-oxygenators, which provide reliable and stable oxygenation for at least 60-120 min. These oxygenators are especially attractive for pre-clinical protocols using small, rather than large, animals.

Evaluating the Impact of the Number of Access Points in Mobile Robots Localization Using Artificial Neural Networks

Localization is information of fundamental importance to carry out various tasks in the mobile robotic area. The exact degree of precision required in the localization depends on the nature of the task. The GPS provides global position estimation but is restricted to outdoor environments and has an inherent imprecision of a few meters. In indoor spaces, other sensors like lasers and cameras are commonly used for position estimation, but these require landmarks (or maps) in the environment and a fair amount of computation to process complex algorithms. These sensors also have a limited field of vision. Currently, Wireless Networks (WN) are widely available in indoor environments and can allow efficient global localization that requires relatively low computing resources. However, the inherent instability in the wireless signal prevents it from being used for very accurate position estimation. The growth in the number of Access Points (AP) increases the overlap signals areas and this could be a useful means of improving the precision of the localization. In this paper we evaluate the impact of the number of Access Points in mobile nodes localization using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). We use three to eight APs as a source signal and show how the ANNs learn and generalize the data. Added to this, we evaluate the robustness of the ANNs and evaluate a heuristic to try to decrease the error in the localization. In order to validate our approach several ANNs topologies have been evaluated in experimental tests that were conducted with a mobile node in an indoor space.

Assessment of Potential Orthodontic Mini-implant Insertion Sites Based on Anatomical Hard Tissue Parameters: A Systematic Review

To estimate the applicability of potential sites for insertion of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) by a systematic review of studies that used computed tomography (CT) or cone beam CT to evaluate anatomical bone quality and quantity parameters, such as bone thickness, available space, and bone density.

Oral lichenoid contact lesions induced by areca nut and betel quid chewing: a mini review

Betel quid (BQ) and areca nut chewing is widely prevalent in many parts of Asia and Asian-migrant communities throughout the world. Global reports estimate 600 million users. Sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity has been found for BQ and its main ingredient, areca nut. BQ areca nut users have an increased risk of potentially malignant disorders. Among chewers, BQ remains in contact with the oral mucosa for prolonged periods. This review examines the clinical and pathological aspects of lichenoid lesions caused by areca nut and BQ, a condition that has received little attention in the published literature.