Background. Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) often progresses to Alzheimer's disease. There are clinical markers and biomarkers to identify the degenerative process in the brain. Objectives. To obtain the diagnostic values of olfactory test, pupillary response to tropicamide 0.01%, BDNF plasma level, and APOE ε4 in diagnosing aMCI. Methods. Cross-sectional, comparative analysis. Results. There were 109 subjects enrolled (aMCI: 51, normal cognition: 58) with age 64 ± 5.54 years. For diagnosing aMCI, cut-off point for the olfactory score was <7 out of 10 and >22% for pupil dilatation response. Low BDNF plasma level was related significantly with olfactory deficits and aMCI (P < 0.05). Four of five subjects with homozygote e4 presented with multiple-domain aMCI. This group displayed the lowest means of olfactory score and the highest means of pupillary hypersensitivity response (P < 0.0001). Combination of olfactory deficit and pupillary hypersensitivity response in detection of aMCI was beneficial with Sp 91% and PPV 87%. In conjunction with clinical markers, BDNF plasma level and presence of APOE e4+ improved Sp and PPV. Conclusions. Combination of olfactory test and pupillary response test was useful as diagnostic tool in aMCI. In conjunction with clinical markers, low level of BDNF plasma and presence of APOE e4 improved the diagnostic value.
AIM:The purpose of this study is to see the effect of Dexketoprofen on TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 serum levels in Chronic Tension-Type Headache (CTTH) patients and its correlation with pain severity.METHOD:The study subjects were recruited consecutively from the study population. Venous blood was taken at baseline to measure serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 and after ten consecutive days of Dexketoprofen 25 mg once daily.RESULTS:Twenty three subjects participated in this study, 3 male (13.0%) and 20 female (87%). A significant difference between NRS score at baseline and after treatment (4.86 ± 1.82 vs. 1.96 ± 1.40, p = 0.001) was found. No significant difference found between baseline and after treatment TNF-α (1.48 ± 0.65 pg/dl vs. 1.48 ± 0.63 pg/dl, p = 0.963), IL-1 (0.16 ± 0.80 pg/dl vs. 0.26 ± 0.31 pg/dl, p = 0.168) nor IL-6 serum levels (1.06 ± 0.83 pg/dl vs. 1.04 ± 0.81 pg/dl, p = 0.915). A weak negative (R = -0.266) non significant correlation (p = 0.219) was found between NRS score and TNF-α. A positive weak negative (R = 0.221) non significant correlation (p = 0.311) between NRS score and IL-1. NRS score and IL-6 had a negative very weak (R = -0.019) non significant negative correlation (p = 0.931).CONCLUSIONS:Dexketoprofen decreased pain intensity significantly (p = 0.001), but had no effect on TNF-α IL-1 nor IL-6 serum levels. NRS score had a weak and non significant negative correlation with TNF-α, a weak and non significant positive correlation with IL-1, and a very weak and non significant negative correlation with IL-6 serum levels.
Objective: To observe the relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism and homocysteine levels in cerebral palsy (CP) children.
Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in several hospitals, school for children with special needs, and rehabilitation centers in Bandung from March to November 2014, on children with CP aged 4-14 years who met the inclusion criteria. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing. Homocysteine serum level was measured using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) method. Statistical analysis was conducted using t test.
Results:In this study, 150 CP children had MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism with a frequency of 18%, consisting of TT homozygotes (4%), CT heterozygotes (14%), and T allele (11%. The mean serum level of homocysteine in CP with C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism was 8.22 (±1.89) µmol/L, higher than those without polymorphism (p=0.046).
Conclusions:A relationship between MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism and homocysteine level in children with cerebral palsy is found in this study.
Background: One of the most devastating diseases, stroke, is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with severe emotional and economic consequences. The purpose of this article is mainly to report the effect of intraventricular transplantation via an Ommaya reservoir using autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in haemorrhagic stroke patients. Case Presentations: Two patients, aged 51 and 52, bearing sequels of haemorrhagic stroke were managed by intraventricular transplantation of BM-MSCs obtained from their own bone marrow. Before the procedure, both patients were bedridden, tracheostomised, on nasogastric (NG) tube feeding and in hemiparesis. The cells were transplanted intraventricularly (20 x 10 6 cells/2.5 ml) using an Ommaya reservoir, and then repeated transplantations were done after 1 and 2 months consecutively. The safety and efficacy of the procedures were evaluated 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to evaluate the patients' neurological status before and after treatment. No adverse events derived from the procedures or transplants were observed in the one-year follow-up period, and the neurological status of both patients improved after treatment. Conclusions: Our report demonstrates that the intraventricular transplantation of BM-MSCs via an Ommaya reservoir is safe and it improves the neurological status of post-haemorrhagic stroke patients. The repeated transplantation procedure is easier and safer to perform via a subcutaneously implanted Ommaya reservoir.
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