In contrast, affective function, assessed with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, vitality index, and apathy scale, was not significantly decreased in IS, and did not correlate with touch panel screening test results or PVH, although the number of microbleeds was TH-302 inhibitor correlated with apathy scale results. The present findings revealed that IS and PVH grading were significantly correlated with decline in general cognitive status (mini-mental state examination

and Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised) and frontal lobe function (frontal assessment battery). Performance on all touch panel screening tests was correlated with IS and PVH grading, but was largely independent of depression or apathy. Touch panel screening tests were easily understood and performed by almost all patients with mild cognitive and motor dysfunction, due to visually clear images and simple methods not involving detailed manual-handling tasks such as writing. Touch panel screening tests may provide a useful tool

for the early screening of cognitive function.”
“It is generally believed that Heller’s cardiomyotomy (HCM) cannot improve dysphagia in patients with marked dilatation and axis deviation or sigmoid oesophagus. Conventional management for sigmoid oesophagus has been oesophagectomy. We report our surgical experience in the management of 8 patients with sigmoid oesophagus with laparoscopic HCM.

Eight patients with sigmoid oesophagus were retrospectively identified and their records were selleck compound reviewed for symptomatic outcome evaluation following laparoscopic HCM with an antireflux procedure. Preoperative and postoperative, oesophageal and respiratory symptoms and quality of life scoring of achalasia were recorded.

The mean age was 35.5 (range 25-57) years. Males and females were equally distributed. All patients had dysphagia as their chief presenting complaint. The median duration of dysphagia was 55 (range 18-180) months. All the patients had a poor quality of life. Four patients

also had chronic cough. All 8 patients underwent laparoscopic HCM with an antireflux procedure. The mean duration of operation was 203.7 min. There were no mortalities and no major postoperative complications. Androgen Receptor Antagonist molecular weight At a median follow-up of 19.5 (range 6-45) months, there was a significant improvement of dysphagia and regurgitation scores with P-values of 0.014 and 0.008, respectively. Quality of life also significantly (P = 0.005) improved post-surgery. Chronic cough resolved in all the 4 patients (100%) following cardiomyotomy.

Laparoscopic HCM with an antireflux procedure provides significant symptom relief in patients with sigmoid oesophagus and may be considered as the first-line treatment option in such patients. Oesophagectomy should be reserved for patients with a failed cardiomyotomy.