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Objective: The aims of this study were first to analyze neurocognitive outcomes of patients after open-chamber cardiac surgery to determine whether carbon dioxide pericardial insufflation reduces incidence of neurocognitive decline (primary end point) as measured 6 weeks postoperatively and second to assess the utility of carbon dioxide insufflation in cardiac chamber deairing as assessed by transesophageal echocardiography., Methods: A multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial compared neurocognitive outcomes in patients undergoing open-chamber (left-sided) cardiac surgery who were assigned carbon dioxide insufflation or placebo (control group) in addition to standardized mechanical deairing maneuvers., Results: One hundred twenty-five patients underwent surgery and were randomly allocated. Neurocognitive testing showed no clinically significant differences in z scores between preoperative and postoperative testing. Linear regression was used to identify factors associated with neurocognitive decline. Factors most strongly associated with neurocognitive decline were hypercholesterolemia, aortic atheroma grade, and coronary artery disease. There was significantly more intracardiac gas noted on intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in all cardiac chambers (left atrium, left ventricle, and aorta) at all measured times (after crossclamp removal, during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, and at declaration of adequate deairing by the anesthetist) in the control group than in the carbon dioxide group (P < .04). Deairing time was also significantly longer in the control group (12 minutes [interquartile range, 9-18] versus 9 minutes [interquartile range, 7-14 minutes]; P = .002)., Conclusions: Carbon dioxide pericardial insufflation in open-chamber cardiac surgery does not affect postoperative neurocognitive decline. The most important factor is atheromatous vascular disease., (Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The frequencies of various genetically defined spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) vary in different populations presumably due to founder effects. No data have been published on the Australian population. Although predominantly of Anglo-Celtic extraction, Australia has also received considerable influx from southeastern Europe and more recently eastern and southeastern Asia. We examined the frequency of mutations for SCA types 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 in southeastern Australia. Of 88 pedigrees with multiple-affected members, SCA type 1 (SCA1) accounted for 16%, SCA2 for 6%, SCA3 for 12%, SCA6 for 17%, SCA7 for 2%, and 47% (41 pedigrees) were negative for each of SCA1, 2, 3, and 6. Twenty of the 41 negative pedigrees were also negative for dentatorubralpallidoluysian atrophy, and indeed dentatorubralpallidoluysian atrophy has not been reported in Australia. In addition, no pedigree information was available on a further four patients with SCA1, three patients with SCA2, three patients with SCA3, and three patients with SCA6. One SCA1 and two SCA2 patients had no other known affected family members. In total, of 63 pedigrees or individuals with positive tests, 30% were those with SCA1, 15% with SCA2, 22% with SCA3, 30% with SCA6, and 3% with SCA7. Judging by pedigree names, four of the nine SCA2 positive individuals/pedigrees were of Italian extraction, and four of the 14 SCA3 positive individuals/pedigrees were of Chinese descent, whereas only 1 of the 20 SCA1 positive individuals/pedigrees were non-Anglo-Celtic. These results are in accordance with the known ethnic composition of the Australian population and with gene frequencies in these constituent ethnic groups reported by others. The frequency of large-normal alleles for SCA1 and SCA3 in the population reflects the prevalence of these two diseases, supporting the hypothesis that disease alleles arise by expansion of large-normal alleles.

School dental service data indicate that whilst Melbourne eight-year-old children had worse dental health than similar children in the Geelong area in 1979, the situation in 1985 was the reverse. In order to investigate this, and determine the effects of socio-economic level (SEL), residential history, and fluoride history on dental caries status, 208 eight-year-old children in the Melbourne area and 209 eight-year-old children in the Geelong area were examined for dental caries. A questionnaire was administered to gain details of subjects' exposure to water and supplement fluorides. The SEL of the subjects' school was used in place of individual SEL. A high proportion (46 per cent) of Geelong subjects used a fluoride supplement at some stage, but few continued this for most of their life. Residential history was important, with 2.4 per cent of the Melbourne subjects living most of their life in a nonfluoridated area and 3.4 per cent of Geelong subjects living most of their life in a fluoridated area. There was a significant difference between the dmft in Melbourne and Geelong when only children who had lived all their life in the city in which they were examined and did not use a fluoride supplement were included. A large part of this difference is attributed to water fluoridation in Melbourne. A substantial number of children would benefit from fluoridation of the reticulated water supply in Geelong, particularly those in the lower social classes.

Cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, its variants, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy presenting during the period 1980-84 were identified through computer-based record systems. Case notes were examined, and cases that did not meet standard criteria for diagnosis were excluded. A hundred and ten patients were identified, giving an annual adult incidence rate of 0.9/100,000 and a male:female ratio of 1.3:1. The majority of cases developed severe tetraparesis, but unusual presentations included the Miller-Fisher variant, paraplegia, and bibrachial involvement. There was wide variation in peak disability, ranging from ambulant with weakness (32%), through bedfast but without significant respiratory involvement (29%), to respiratory involvement requiring admission to an intensive care unit (38%). Of those discharged directly home, the average hospital stay for those less than 50 years was 27 days, whilst that for those over 50 was 49 days. CSF protein was measured in 87 patients, and was greater than or equal to 0.6 g/L in 76% of these. Nerve conduction studies were performed in 52 patients, and were abnormal in 90% of these. Guillain-Barré syndrome and allied conditions represent a major drain on health resources, and the need to provide adequate plasmapheresis facilities for patients early in the course of severe disease is stressed.