Biochemical Parameters in Cognitive Functions

Cognitive profile in burning mouth syndrome versus mild cognitive impairment: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess and contrast cognitive and psychological aspects of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS-MCI) and geriatric patients (G-MCI) with mild cognitive impairment, focusing on potential predictors like pain, mood disorders, blood biomarkers, and age-related white matter changes (ARWMCs).

METHODS

The study enrolled 40 BMS-MCI and 40 geriatric G-MCI, matching them by age, gender, and educational background. Participants underwent psychological, sleepiness, and cognitive assessment including the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Trail Making Test (TMT), Corsi Block-Tapping Task, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Copying Geometric Drawings Test, Frontal Assessment Battery, and Digit Cancellation Test.

RESULTS

G-MCI patients exhibited higher ARWMCs scores in right (p = 0.005**) and left (p < 0.001**) temporal regions, which may relate to specific neurodegenerative processes. Conversely, BMS-MCI patients showed higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower MMSE scores(p < 0.001**), also struggling more with tasks requiring processing speed and executive function, as evidenced by their higher TMT-A scores (p < 0.001**).

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights particular deficits in global cognition and processing speed for BMS-MCI. The influence of educational background, pain levels, cholesterol, sleep disturbances, and anxiety on these cognitive assessments underscores the need for personalized therapeutic strategies addressing both cognitive and emotional aspects of MCI.

The Therapeutic Effect of an Anti-TNF-α/HSA/IL-6R Triple-Specific Fusion Protein Under Experimental Septic Conditions

Sepsis caused by a dysregulated host response to infection is a life-threatening disease that can lead to organ dysfunction. Due to its unclear and complex mechanism, effective medicine for the treatment of sepsis is urgently required. The extensive release of cytokines and other mediators like TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) play critical roles in the development of sepsis. The present study aims to evaluate the potential protective effects of an anti-TNF-α/HSA/IL-6R triple-specific fusion protein (TAL-6) under septic experimental conditions. The anti-TNF-α/HSA/IL-6R triple-specific fusion protein (TAL-6), which links three published single domain antibodies, was designed and constructed in our lab. High purity fusion proteins were obtained with high binding affinity for TNF-α (94.75 pM), human serum albumin (1.83 nM) and IL-6R (2.29 nM). TAL-6 protected mouse fibroblast fibrosarcoma cells (L929) from apoptosis induced by TNF-α, establishing that the expressed fusion proteins can selectively interact with TNF-α in vitro. In vivo, the survival rate of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was notably increased in the group with TAL-6 treatment and significantly higher compared with the single-targeted IL-6R and TNF-α fusion protein at the same dose. After treatment with TAL-6, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly decreased, and sepsis-induced pathological injuries in the kidney were remarkably attenuated. TAL-6 is therefore a potential candidate for the development of new drugs against sepsis in human.

Potential Herb-Drug Interactions in the Management of Age-Related Cognitive Dysfunction

Late-life mild cognitive impairment and dementia represent a significant burden on healthcare systems and a unique challenge to medicine due to the currently limited treatment options. Plant phytochemicals have been considered in alternative, or complementary, prevention and treatment strategies. Herbals are consumed as such, or as food supplements, whose consumption has recently increased. However, these products are not exempt from adverse effects and pharmacological interactions, presenting a special risk in aged, polymedicated individuals. Understanding pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions is warranted to avoid undesirable adverse drug reactions, which may result in unwanted side-effects or therapeutic failure. The present study reviews the potential interactions between selected bioactive compounds (170) used by seniors for cognitive enhancement and representative drugs of 10 pharmacotherapeutic classes commonly prescribed to the middle-aged adults, often multimorbid and polymedicated, to anticipate and prevent risks arising from their co-administration. A literature review was conducted to identify mutual targets affected (inhibition/induction/substrate), the frequency of which was taken as a measure of potential interaction. Although a limited number of drugs were studied, from this work, interaction with other drugs affecting the same targets may be anticipated and prevented, constituting a valuable tool for healthcare professionals in clinical practice.