Association between latent toxoplasmosis and cognition in adults: a cross-sectional study.

Latent infection from Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is widespread worldwide and has been associated with cognitive deficits in some but not all animal models and in humans. We tested the hypothesis that latent toxoplasmosis is associated with decreased cognitive function in a large cross-sectional dataset, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). There were 4178 participants aged 20-59 years, of whom 19.1% had IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Two ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models adjusted for the NHANES complex sampling design and weighted to represent the US population were estimated for simple reaction time, processing speed and short-term memory or attention. The first model included only main effects of latent toxoplasmosis and demographic control variables, and the second added interaction terms between latent toxoplasmosis and the poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), educational attainment and race-ethnicity. We also used multivariate models to assess all three cognitive outcomes in the same model. Although the models evaluating main effects only demonstrated no association between latent toxoplasmosis and the cognitive outcomes, significant interactions between latent toxoplasmosis and the PIR, between latent toxoplasmosis and educational attainment, and between latent toxoplasmosis and race-ethnicity indicated that latent toxoplasmosis may adversely affect cognitive function in certain groups.

Radiology of the temporomandibular joint.

When evaluating the current status of a patient with diseases of the TMJ, certain guidelines must be followed. It is of the utmost importance to take into consideration the total picture. This must include the history, physical examination, x-rays, films, and any other pertinent information. As stated previously, the TMJ is demonstrated with a great deal of clarity by modern tomographic x-ray techniques. This, however, provides only part of the total evidence. It is indeed unfortunate that some medical and dental consultants for insurance companies and other health groups base their criteria for eligibility on the evidence provided only by the x-ray films, without taking into consideration other important data. Another source of error is the fact that the total duration of the patient's symptoms is not given enough consideration. This is shown in patients with a history lasting many months or years, associated with definite x-ray changes, who are misdiagnosed as having myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. The fact that this is an acute process of short duration involving primarily muscles of mastication and other related soft tissues is overlooked. When presented with a patient with a long history of TMJ discomfort, it is essential to consider an intrinsic organic process of the joint. It should be stressed that osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is a condition frequently found in the TMJ when examined with modern tomographic techniques. It occurs in individuals of all ages. Osteoarthritis of the TMJ is basically a medical or orthopedic condition similar to that found in other joints of the body affected by this primary joint disease. For this reason, osteoarthritis cannot be considered purely a dental condition when it occurs in the TMJ. However, because of the close proximity, both anatomically and physiologically, to the teeth and related structures, these conditions are frequently labeled as dental.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Tomography and xerotomography after reconstructive middle ear surgery for cholesteatoma.

In order to adequately visualize the ossicles and other fine structures in the middle ear, sophisticated radiological methods are essential. The temporal bone has been studied with hypocycloidal tomography using conventional films and xerotomography in 60 patients with cholesteatoma. In 53 of the patients xerotomography gave good results while conventional tomography gave good results in only 38 patients. The superiority of xerotomography to conventional radiological methods is stressed. The only drawback is the high radiation dose to the patient.