Post-operative cognitive decline (POCD) after gynaecologic surgery: current opinions and future applications.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) is known to occur quite frequently after a cardiac surgery, especially in older population. Few studies specifically focused on its incidence and characteristics in gynecological setting. METHODS: Current opinions and future applications of POCD studies in gynecological setting have been discussed. RESULT: There are still many questions and issues about POCD in gynecological setting that remain unanswered as well as numerous research fields that have not been still explored. In particular, from this article emerges the need of further studies in gynecological setting focusing on: (a) the evaluation of long-term effect of POCD (e.g. over 3 months after surgery); (b) elderly population; (c) a wide range of cognitive functions (memory, attention, concentration, orientation, etc.); (d) the evaluation of risk and protective factors for subsequent POCD development; (e) the relationships between POCD and previous psychological or neuroendocrine factors; (f) the difference on POCD outcomes between different anaesthesia and disorders. CONCLUSION: Promoting studies on this topic is significant for the reduction of sociosanitary costs, mortality rates, social dependences and the likelihood of comorbidity.

Correction to: Post-operative cognitive decline (POCD) after gynaecologic surgery: current opinions and future applications.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The given names and family names of all authors were interchanged.

Investigation of acid-base catalysis in the extradiol and intradiol catechol dioxygenase reactions using a broad specificity mutant enzyme and model chemistry.

The extradiol and intradiol catechol dioxygenase reaction mechanisms proceed via a common proximal hydroperoxide intermediate, which is processed via different Criegee 1,2-rearrangements. An R215W mutant of extradiol dioxygenase MhpB, able to produce a mixture of extradiol and intradiol cleavage products, was analysed at pH 5.2-8.6, and the yield of extradiol product was found to be highly pH-dependent, whereas the yield of intradiol product was pH-independent. The acid-base chemistry of a biomimetic reaction for extradiol oxidative catechol cleavage was also investigated, using 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, FeCl(2), and pyridine in methanol, in which pyridine is proposed to act as both a general base and (in protonated form) a general acid. Kinetic experiments using a range of meta- and para-substituted pyridines gave a Brønsted plot of log(v) vs. pK(a) showing a bell-shaped plot. Oxidative catechol cleavage by a pyridine-monosubstituted beta-cyclodextrin in the presence of TACN and FeCl(2) in methanol yielded only intradiol cleavage products. It is therefore proposed that bifunctional acid-base catalysis is required for iron (ii)-dependent extradiol catechol cleavage, whereas the rate-determining step for intradiol catechol cleavage does not involve acid-base catalysis.