Depression: Planet Earth

Zheng XM. · School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Studies, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, NSW 2678, Wagga Wagga, Australia. · Psychiatry Res. · Pubmed #11114493 No free full text.

Abstract: Changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in five drug-resistant depressed patients were examined by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) before and after treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The SPECT images were analysed with the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) package. TMS administered in the region of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of the depressed patients was associated with an increase of rCBF at a focal region some distance from the stimulation site. No change was observed at any other remote region.

Antoniuk SA. · Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR. · J Pediatr (Rio J). · Pubmed #15154073 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To introduce pediatricians to the psychiatric and behavioral disorders that most frequently affect children with epilepsy, qualifying them to diagnose, evaluate risk factors and guide the treatment of these children. SOURCES OF DATA: MEDLINE (1979 to 2003) and epilepsy clinic at the Neuropediatrics Center, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Children with epilepsy are at increased risk for behavioral and emotional problems when compared to children in the general population and to children with other chronic illnesses not involving the central nervous system. Among these problems, the following should be emphasized: oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, depression, anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The main risk factors include associated neurological impairment, severe or untreatable epilepsy and family, social or environmental problems. Neurobiological factors associated with epilepsy are also implicated. The usual treatments with specific drugs may be used in children with epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders in epileptic children, the pediatrician should evaluate the risk factors associated with behavioral, emotional and psychiatric problems. The pediatrician is in a position to, and should, solve most of these difficulties, due to his/her close relationship with the family. In several cases, the associated psychiatric disorders are more harmful to the patient's quality of life than the epilepsy itself.

Pogrel MA, Jordan RC. · Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0440, USA. · J Oral Maxillofac Surg. · Pubmed #15170272 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: We sought to show that marsupialization can be a definitive treatment for the odontogenic keratocyst (OKC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients (10 males and 4 females) between the ages of 11 and 64 with biopsy-proven OKC (8 mandibular and 2 maxillary) measuring between 2 and 8 cm were treated by marsupialization consisting of excision of the overlying mucosa and the opening of a 1-cm window into the cystic cavity and, where possible, suturing of the cyst lining to the oral mucosa. Immunohistologic determination of bcl-2 was done for all samples of cyst lining. The cavities were kept open either by vigorous use of a home syringe by the patient or by suturing into place the flange and short length of a nasopharyngeal airway. Once the cyst had largely filled in, histologic material was taken from the base of the residual depression and studied by light microscopy and bcl-2 expression. RESULTS: In the 10 patients, the OKCs completely resolved both clinically and radiographically. The time taken for resolution varied from 7 to 19 months. In all cases, the histologic material obtained after marsupialization showed normal epithelium only, with no signs of cystic remnants, daughter cysts, or budding of the basal layer of the epithelium. At initial biopsy, bcl-2 was expressed in the keratocyst lining, but not in the histologic material obtained after marsupialization. Follow-up time ranged from a minimum of 1.8 years to a maximum of 4.8 years. Teeth at the periphery of the cysts were observed to upright and erupt. CONCLUSIONS: All 10 OKCs resolved completely after marsupialization. Teeth within the cyst were found to be upright and erupt. Marsupialization requires a cooperative patient who will irrigate the cavity and keep it open. It appears that the cyst lining is replaced by normal epithelium during this treatment.

Cittadini E, Goadsby PJ. · Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK. · J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. · Pubmed #15965225 links to  free full text

Abstract: A patient is reported with psychological change characterised by impaired concentration and thought projection, followed by both severe anxiety and depression, starting after three weeks on high dose methysergide. The acute problem settled slowly after methysergide withdrawal and is likely to represent an unusual and serious side effect of that drug.