ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare the prevalence and characteristics of depression in vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) after adjusting for dementia severity and gender. METHODS: One hundred and eight pairs of VaD and AD patients matched for dementia severity and gender were assessed. RESULTS: Major depressive disorder (MDD) was more prevalent in the VaD group than in the AD group (20.4% in VaD, 10.2% in AD, p = 0.04, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel, CMH, test) regardless of the dementia severity and gender. The odds ratio for developing MDD in the VaD group versus the AD group was estimated to be 2.20 (95% confidence interval = 1.02-4.74). Neurovegetative symptoms such as 'felt tired and weak all the time' (30.6% in VaD, 13.9% in AD, p = 0.003, CMH test) and 'changed weight without trying' (16.7% in VaD, 6.5% in AD, p = 0.02, CMH test) were more prevalent in the VaD group than in the AD group. CONCLUSION: Depression in VaD was quantitatively and qualitatively different from that in AD regardless of the severity of dementia and gender; depression was more prevalent, severer and more retarded and vegetative in VaD than in AD.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Dementia, Vascular , Depression , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/diagnosis , Alzheimer Disease/epidemiology , Alzheimer Disease/psychology , Brain/blood supply , Brain Ischemia/diagnosis , Brain Ischemia/epidemiology , Cerebrovascular Circulation , Dementia, Vascular/diagnosis , Dementia, Vascular/epidemiology , Dementia, Vascular/psychology , Demography , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Female , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and QuestionnairesSubject(s)
Abdominal Muscles/diagnostic imaging , Bone Diseases/diagnosis , Breast Diseases/diagnosis , Pericardial Effusion/diagnosis , Echocardiography , Female , Histiocytosis/diagnosis , Humans , Middle Aged , Physical Examination , Syndrome , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Xanthomatosis/diagnosisSubject(s)
Epilepsy/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Costs and Cost Analysis , Electroencephalography , Epilepsy/classification , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Infant , Middle Aged , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/economicsABSTRACT
In the past, the precise diagnosis of amyloid cardiomyopathy without resort to invasive techniques has been difficult. Recent experience with 2-dimensional echocardiography in cardiac amyloidosis has suggested that there are characteristic, and perhaps unique, features that are regularly imaged. We describe a case where usage of this non-invasive technique allowed accurate definition of cardiac involvement by amyloid.
Subject(s)
Amyloidosis/diagnosis , Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis , Echocardiography/methods , Adult , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
A heparin assay method based on thrombin cleavage of a fluorogenic synthetic peptide has been evaluated in normal subjects, in patients with chronic renal disease on hemodialysis, and in patients with other disorders. The method has satisfactory accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility. In contrast to methods commonly used to monitor heparin therapy, it measures heparin directly and is uninfluenced by patient variables such as low antithrombin III. The method may provide valuable information in selected clinical settings such as cardiopulmonary bypass and in patients with chronic renal disease who receive heparin during hemodialysis or prior to surgery.
