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Skin Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

S Cho, MD — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:16:25 +0000

from Technology Review: A Skin Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI), in Morgantown, WV, have developed a test that detects enzymes that are dysfunctional in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These enzymes (PKCs) are involved in long-term memory storage and are found in both the brain and in skin cells. Large scale clinical trials are about to begin. In a preliminary trial with 600 patients, the test correctly diagnosed 36 out of 37 patients confirmed on autopsy to have the disease, as well as 5 patients confirmed on autopsy not to have it. [ed.: Does this mean that they incorrectly diagnosed 5 patients or that they correctly confirmed 5 cases that were suspected to have something other than Alzheimer's?]

A “real” test for Alzheimer’s…I hope we get to see this or another accurate test in the relatively near future.

Depression and Brain Thinning

S Cho, MD — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:35:13 +0000

A new study is reporting that descendants of people with a history of depression displayed large expanses of cortical thinning across the lateral surface of the right cerebral hemisphere. Tests on the participants showed that those with more thinning had greater difficulty with arousal, attention, and visual memory for social stimuli. Could cognitive problems lead to a greater chance for depression? Or is the thinning tied to a predisposition for depression in other ways?

See U.S. News & World Report – Health.

Obama Says ‘No’ to Citigroup’s Plans for New Jet

S Cho, MD — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:22:48 +0000

This post has nothing to do with psychiatry…except for perhaps noting that having antisocial traits is almost de regieur for “moving up” in the corporate world. It often gives people the edge to their ambitions. However, those same traits can manifest themselves in truly selfish fashions. So maybe this post is about human nature.

After receiving $45 billion in government bailout funds, Citigroup executives had gone ahead with plans to buy a new $50 million, twelve-seat corporate jet. The New York Post broke the news on January 26. Apparently, officials from the Obama administration contacted Citigroup and told them to “fix it.” That part made me smile.

The part that saddens me is how people of a certain character and socioeconomic status can lose their “common sense.” Really? A jet? Are you people hearing about people losing their homes? But maybe in their minds buying a jet would be like me buying a camcorder during these difficult economic times. Of course, I didn’t receive any bailout money.

From The Huffington Post.