Vessels of Stone: Lenin's "circulatory disturbance of the brain"

Many have wondered what might have become of the totalitarian state Lenin founded on merciless terror, had he not died so young. He was 52 and at the height of his power when he had his first stroke. Six months later he had another and then a third stroke three months after that. He died 3 months shy of his 54th birthday with cerebral arteries so calcified that when tapped with tweezers at the time of his autopsy, they sounded like stone. The reason for his premature atherosclerosis has yet to be explained. He had a family history of cardiovascular disease and, therefore, is suspected of having had an inherited lipid disorder. Stress too might have had a role in the progression of his atherosclerosis. However, neither would explain the extent of the calcification of his cerebral arteries identified at post mortem examination. A recently described variant of the NT5E mutation might explain such calcification, as well as Lenin's family history of cardiovascular disease, and his premature cerebrovascular attacks.

Memory versus intelligence in dementia screening--MMSE

The Mini-Mental State exam is a widely used screening instrument for dementia. Recent research has suggested that errors in classification reported for this instrument may be due to premorbid levels of intelligence and education, Thirty-one ambulatory patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease were administered a standard neuropsychological testing battery. MMSE scores and intelligence are significantly correlated. However when memory ability is partialed out, the covariance of MMSE and intellectual abilities does not add any further information to that already provided by the memory scores.

Multiple extremity amputations in hypotensive patients treated with dopamine

Dopamine hydrochloride has been established as effective in the treatment of hypotension and shock in patients with adquate blood volume. The physiological response is dose related. Administration of more than 10 microgram/kg/min results in alpha-receptor stimulation and vasoconstriction, and peripheral extremity ischemia has been reported. Four patients treated with dopamine subsequently had the development of peripheral ischemia and gangrene, resulting in the need for multiple extremity amputations. These reactions represent a major complication of treatment.