Publications

INTRODUCTION

The relationships between Alzheimer disease (AD), cognitive performance, and depression are poorly understood. It is unclear whether depressive features are a prodrome of AD. In addition, some studies of aging exclude depressed individuals, which may inappropriately limit generalizability. The aim of the present study was to determine whether depressive symptoms affect cognitive function in the context of preclinical AD.

METHODS

Cross-sectional multivariate analysis of participants in a longitudinal study of aging (n=356) that evaluates the influence of depressive symptoms on cognitive function in cognitively normal adults.

RESULTS

There is no relationship between the presence of depressive symptoms and cognitive function in those with either no evidence of preclinical AD or biomarker evidence of early-stage preclinical AD. However, in later stages of preclinical AD, the presence of depressive symptoms demonstrated interactive effects, including in episodic memory (0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-1.62) and global cognitive function (0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.028-0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of depressive symptoms may be a late prodrome of AD. In addition, studies investigating cognitive function in older adults may not need to exclude participants with depressive symptomology, but may still consider depressive symptoms as a potential confounder in the context of more extensive neuronal injury.

OBJECTIVES

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) provides a unique approach to the characterization of hypertensive heart disease (HHD), enabling the measurement of left ventricular mass and expansion of extracellular volume (ECV). Combining plasma biomarkers with CMR could provide potential insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms in ventricular remodelling.

METHODS

In this study, we estimated correlations between plasma biomarkers and CMR parameters of HHD. Patients with a history of hypertension with or without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and healthy volunteers (17 hypertensive non-LVH, 13 hypertensive LVH and 11 controls) underwent CMR on a Siemens 1.5T Avanto. T1 mapping was performed before (native T1) and serially after injection of 0.15 mmol/kg gadolinium-DTPA. Mean ECV and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were determined. Blood samples were obtained and analysed using the Olink CVD 92-plex biomarker panel.

RESULTS

Individual groups were compared on the basis of 91 plasma biomarkers using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). ECV and LVMI were correlated with the 91 distinct plasma biomarkers via orthogonal projection to latent structures by partial least square (OPLS) analysis. A two-dimensional PLS-DA explained 49% of the differences between the three groups. OPLS analysis showed that four plasma biomarkers were significantly correlated to both ECV and LVMI, eight were significantly correlated with LVMI only and 11 were significantly correlated to ECV only.

CONCLUSION

ECV and LVMI correlate differentially in plasma biomarker patterns. Top predictors of ECV consisted of well established biomarkers of systemic inflammation and metabolic function.

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a trial of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) supplementation as a pilot study to assess whether LGG prevents infant colic. For the first 6 months of life, infants received a daily dose of 10 billion colony-forming units of LGG or a control (n = 184). We compared the likelihood of a diagnosis of colic before 4 months of age, based on parent-reported symptoms or a physician diagnosis of colic. Out of the 184 infants, 18 (9.8%) had colic. There were no differences between the 2 groups in the percentage of infants with colic based on symptoms (control 5.4% vs LGG 9.8%; P = 0.19); physician diagnosis (control 3.2% vs LGG 7.6%; P = 0.26); or either symptoms or diagnosis combined (control 6.5% vs LGG 13.0%; P = 0.13). In this pilot study, early infant LGG supplementation does not appear to prevent the later development of colic.

UNLABELLED

Regional variability in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care engagement remains underexplored. Multiple logistic models compared HIV outcomes for participants from 5 Southern (n = 557) and 6 non-Southern (n = 670) sites. Southern participants were less likely to experience viral suppression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], .37-.72) and had a higher likelihood of a CD4+ count <200 cells/µL (aOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.17-2.00). HIV intervention and social safety net programs should be expanded.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT01612169.

Little is known about mortality risk among frequent emergency department (ED) users. Using California hospital data for 2005-13 linked to vital statistics data, we found that frequent ED use in the past year was predictive of mortality among the nonelderly in both the short and longer terms.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are highly prevalent and represent a significant burden for patients and their caregivers. Early recognition and management of these symptoms is crucial as they are associated with increased risk of institutionalization, impairments in daily functioning, reduced quality of life, and more rapid progression to severe dementia. This chapter will discuss the pathophysiology, proposed diagnostic criteria, clinical features, and management of BPSD, including apathy, depression, agitation/aggression, psychosis, and sleep disturbances. Apathy and depression are the most common overall, and apathy is associated with high symptom severity likely because of its greater persistence. Symptoms such as agitation, aggression, hallucinations, and delusions may be especially distressing and dangerous to patients and caregivers. Nonpharmacologic management should be considered first-line therapy in most cases due to the modest and inconsistent evidence base for pharmacologic agents and greater risk of harm. However, the judicious use of pharmacologic agents may be warranted when symptoms are dangerous and/or severely distressing.