BackgroundManagement of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has been difficult using standard therapy (radiation with temozolomide chemotherapy). The ketogenic diet is used commonly to treat refractory epilepsy in children and, when administered in restricted amounts, can also target energy metabolism in brain tumors. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with progressive memory loss, chronic headaches, nausea, and a right hemisphere multi-centric tumor seen with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Following incomplete surgical resection, the patient was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme expressing hypermethylation of the MGMT gene promoter.MethodsPrior to initiation of the standard therapy, the patient conducted water-only therapeutic fasting and a restricted 4:1 (fat: carbohydrate + protein) ketogenic diet that delivered about 600 kcal/day. The patient also received the restricted ketogenic diet concomitantly during the standard treatment period. The diet was supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Steroid medication (dexamethasone) was removed during the course of the treatment. The patient was followed using MRI and positron emission tomography with fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG-PET).ResultsAfter two months treatment, the patient's body weight was reduced by about 20% and no discernable brain tumor tissue was detected using either FDG-PET or MRI imaging. Biomarker changes showed reduced levels of blood glucose and elevated levels of urinary ketones. MRI evidence of tumor recurrence was found 10 weeks after suspension of strict diet therapy.ConclusionThis is the first report of confirmed GBM treated with standard therapy together with a restricted ketogenic diet. As rapid regression of GBM is rare in older patients following incomplete surgical resection and standard therapy alone, the response observed in this case could result in part from the action of the calorie restricted ketogenic diet. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of restricted ketogenic diets, administered alone or together with standard treatment, as a therapy for GBM and possibly other malignant brain tumors.

In this paper we present a mathematical model for the aggregation and diffusion of Aβ amyloid in the brain affected by Alzheimer's disease, at the early stage of the disease. The model is based on a classical discrete Smoluchowski aggregation equation modified to take diffusion into account. We also describe a numerical scheme and discuss the results of the simulations in the light of the recent biomedical literature.

The study provides Class II evidence that therapeutic (0.4-0.8 mEq/L) vs subtherapeutic (0.2-0.4 mEq/L) lithium carbonate did not differ in the primary outcome of efficacy (survival/loss of autonomy) in ALS. Both target levels led to dropouts in more than 30% of participants due to patient-perceived lack of efficacy and AEs.

The document deals with some ethical issues raised by the treatment of demented people. In particular the conceptual and empirical aspects of the assessment of awareness and competence of these patients are analysed, as well as the dilemmas related to the treatment of behavioral disorders.

We carried out a retrospective incidence, prevalence and mortality survey of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the province of Reggio Emilia, northern Italy. Based on 79 patients, the mean incidence per year for the period 1980 through 1992 was 1.5 cases per 100,000. On December 31st, 1992, the prevalence rate was 5.4 per 100,000. In the 10-year period of 1983–1992 the average mortality rate was 1.3 per 100,000 per year. The average age at onset was 61.3 ± 10.2, the average survival period thereafter was 26.3 months ± 17.7; 27.3 ± 17.6 for classic ALS, 19.5 ±8.4 for progressive bulbar palsy and 36.3 ±41.4 for pseudopolyneuritic ALS. The incidence rate, recorded in public health district No. 12, an area with documented lead pollution since the 1970s, was standardized to the sex and age of the population of the province. Its incidence and prevalence rate were comparable to the rates found in the remaining area of the province.