Neuroepidemiology
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Alcohol-related mortality may be influenced by the level of alcohol consumption. We investigated the effect of alcohol price reduction on mortality in a cohort of 827 subjects with head injury. ⋯ We conclude that a political decision to lower the price of alcohol may cause a significant increase in the death rate of harmful drinkers.
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To assess the impact of new therapeutic strategies on outcomes and hospitalization charges among adult patients with botulism in the United States. ⋯ Botulism continues to be an infrequent cause of hospitalization, with a significant increase in the average hospitalization charges in 2006-2007 when compared to 1993-1994, despite a nonsignificant change in the mortality rate and average length of hospitalization.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Danish Alzheimer intervention study: rationale, study design and baseline characteristics of the cohort.
There is a lack of appropriately designed trials investigating the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for patients with mild dementia and their family caregivers. This paper reports the rationale and design of the Danish Alzheimer Disease Intervention Study and baseline characteristics of the cohort. ⋯ The study will explore the added value of a multifaceted intervention programme and contribute to the design of future interventions for patients with mild dementia and their caregivers.
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Epidemiological data on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) from Latin America are limited. We present a comprehensive epidemiological survey on CJD patients in Argentina based on systematic surveillance between 1997 and 2008. ⋯ In spite of an increase in incidence observed over time, the difference between Buenos Aires city, where the incidence is comparable to that of smaller European countries with higher population density, and the incidence observed in the rest of the country suggests underreporting in nonmetropolitan areas, probably due to a lack of access to specialized medical facilities. CSF WB sensitivity results for protein 14-3-3 were probably linked to the fact that testing was not routinely repeated during the course of the disease, when earlier test results had been negative. The spectrum of molecular CJD subtypes observed did not differ from other countries in Europe. No iatrogenic or variant CJD cases were identified. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of clinical diagnostic criteria for probable CJD (which includes EEG and/or CSF protein 14-3-3 levels) may have been resulted from confirmed cases not meeting probable criteria before autopsy, due to a lack of ancillary tests such as EEG and/or CSF 14-3-3 WB, or because negative tests were not repeated during follow-up.
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While neuropsychological deficits have been the focus of research post-subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), population-based information on long-term neuropsychological impairment post-SAH are lacking. Neither the profile of long-term neuropsychological deficits nor its relationship to long-term functional outcomes has been established. ⋯ Five-year SAH survivors have many functional and cognitive deficits compared to matched controls. Language and visual memory emerged as independent factors associated with their current functioning.