The impact of lifetime excessive alcohol use on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Introduction: Excessive alcohol use (EAU) elevates the risk of dementia through various mechanisms, yet its impact on the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) remains uncertain.

Methods: In this exploratory cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Standardizing Care for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Dementia (StaN) study (ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03672201), we included individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias requiring BPSD treatment.

Delineating the Effects of Alcohol Use on Cognition in Individuals With Neurocognitive Disorders.

Excessive alcohol use is a recognized modifiable risk factor for the development of dementia; however, the neuropsychological profile of cognitive impairment seen with alcohol use is heterogeneous. We studied cognitive characteristics associated with alcohol use in a "real-world" memory clinic cohort of patients with neurocognitive disorders. We used the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance memory clinic research database to generate an age, sex, and education matched sample of individuals with alcohol-related cognitive impairment (ARCI group; n=51) and twice as many individuals without such history (Comparator group; n=102).

Initiation of Extended-release Depot Buprenorphine in a Patient Subject to a Community Treatment Order for Both Antipsychotic and Opioid Agonist Treatments.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and schizophrenia are commonly comorbid, and patient outcomes are improved when these conditions are managed concurrently. Medication for OUD such as methadone and buprenorphine are treatments for OUD, yet psychosis introduces additional challenges in retaining patients in care. Extended-release depot buprenorphine is an emerging option for the treatment of moderate-to-severe OUD, and it may provide certain benefits in patients with concurrent OUD and psychosis.

Is Gastric Bypass a Risk Factor for Complicated Alcohol Withdrawal? Case Report and Literature Review.

Alcohol use disorder and gastric bypass surgery are highly comorbid. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a common and potentially life-threatening event, requiring nuanced and individually tailored management depending on various clinical factors including patient history, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, and timeline of use. Although increasingly common, the literature for managing alcohol withdrawal in the gastric bypass population is quite limited.

A Survey of Nurses' Perspectives on Delirium Screening in Older Adult Medical Inpatients With Limited English Proficiency.

The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is commonly used to detect delirium but its utility in patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) is not well-established. In the current study, internal medicine nurses at an acute care hospital in Canada were surveyed on the use of the CAM in older adults with LEP. Nurses' perspectives were explored with a focus on barriers to administration.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting as pancreatic disease.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare necrotising small vessel vasculitis typically associated with oronasal, pulmonary and renal manifestations. Pancreatic disease is an exceedingly rare initial presentation and is associated with delayed diagnosis and rapid progression. We discuss a 66-year-old woman presenting with epigastric pain, elevated lipase and radiographic evidence of focal pancreatitis.

Development and evaluation of stem cell collection procedure diagrams to support the education and recruitment of committed stem cell donors.

Background: Diagrams which allow potential unrelated stem cell donors to visualize the stem cell collection process were hypothesized to support the recruitment and education of committed stem cell donors.

Study Design And Methods: A series of bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell collection procedure diagrams were developed, featuring young adult male donors of varied ethnic backgrounds. Post-implementation, surveys were conducted to evaluate stakeholder perspective on the diagrams' utility.

Do Interest Groups Cultivate Interest? Trajectories of Geriatric Interest Group Members.

Background: Minimal exposure, misconceptions, and lack of interest have historically driven the shortage of health-care providers for older adults. This study aimed to determine how medical students' participation in the National Geriatrics Interest Group (NGIG) and local Geriatrics Interest Groups (GIGs) shapes their career development in the care of older adults.

Methods: An electronic survey consisting of quantitative and qualitative metrics to assess the influence of Interest Groups was distributed to all current and past members of local GIGs at Canadian universities since 2017, as well as current and past executives of the NGIG since 2011.

Overlapping mechanisms linking insulin resistance with cognition and neuroprogression in bipolar disorder.

Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in the progression of both diabetes mellitus and bipolar disorder. The relationship between insulin resistance in diabetes and the risk of developing major neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease has been well described. Insulin resistance and the associated metabolic deficiencies lead to biochemical alteration which hasten neurodegeneration and subsequent cognitive impairment.

The Complex Interaction of Mitochondrial Genetics and Mitochondrial Pathways in Psychiatric Disease.

While accounting for only 2% of the body's weight, the brain utilizes up to 20% of the body's total energy. Not surprisingly, metabolic dysfunction and energy supply-and-demand mismatch have been implicated in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Mitochondria are responsible for providing the brain with most of its energetic demands, and the brain uses glucose as its exclusive energy source.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Nuclear-Encoded Mitochondrial Genes in Schizophrenia.

Background: The genetic risk factors of schizophrenia (SCZ), a severe psychiatric disorder, are not yet fully understood. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role in SCZ, but comprehensive association studies are lacking. We hypothesized that variants in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes influence susceptibility to SCZ.

A comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial genes variants and their association with antipsychotic-induced weight gain.

Antipsychotic Induced Weight Gain (AIWG) is a common and severe side effect of many antipsychotic medications. Mitochondria play a vital role for whole-body energy homeostasis and there is increasing evidence that antipsychotics modulate mitochondrial function. This study aimed to examine the role of variants in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in conferring risk for AIWG.