Association between low thyroid-stimulating hormone, posterior cortical atrophy and nitro-oxidative stress in elderly patients with cognitive dysfunction

Formulas, Algorithms and Examples for Binomial Distributed Data Confidence Interval Calculation: Excess Risk, Relative Risk and Odds Ratio

Medical studies often involve a comparison between two outcomes, each collected from a sample. The probability associated with, and confidence in the result of the study is of most importance, since one may argue that having been wrong with a percent could be what killed a patient. Sampling is usually done from a finite and discrete population and it follows a Bernoulli trial, leading to a contingency of two binomially distributed samples (better known as 2×2 contingency table). Current guidelines recommend reporting relative measures of association (such as the relative risk and odds ratio) in conjunction with absolute measures of association (which include risk difference or excess risk). Because the distribution is discrete, the evaluation of the exact confidence interval for either of those measures of association is a mathematical challenge. Some alternate scenarios were analyzed (continuous vs. discrete; hypergeometric vs. binomial), and in the main case—bivariate binomial experiment—a strategy for providing exact p-values and confidence intervals is proposed. Algorithms implementing the strategy are given.

Gender Differences in the Levels of Periodontal Destruction, Behavioral Risk Factors and Systemic Oxidative Stress in Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Cohort Pilot Study

Background: Due to the higher frequency of ischemic stroke in men compared to women, we aimed to determine if gender differences exist regarding periodontal status and several plasma biomarkers in patients with a recent large artery atherosclerosis ischemic stroke (IS). Material and methods: Patients with their first IS within less than six weeks who were able to undergo periodontal examinations were evaluated. Demographic data, periodontal status, oxidative stress parameters/plasma antioxidant capacity, and C-reactive protein in patients who suffered a recent large artery atherosclerosis ischemic stroke were reccorded. Results: 93 patients were included in the study. More men were smokers (12/57 vs. 3/36) and consumed alcohol (17/57 vs. 3/36), and more women had higher glycemic values (p = 0.023), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), LDL (low-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol (p = 0.010), and HDL (high-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol (p = 0.005) levels. Significantly more men than women had moderate plus severe periodontal disease (p = 0.018), significantly higher levels of nitric oxide (p = 0.034), and significantly lower levels of total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.028). Conclusions: In this pilot study, men seem to be more prone to oxidative stress and to develop more severe forms of periodontitis among patients with stroke, but the results need validation on a larger sample.

Pallidopyramidal Syndrome and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia common features and diagnostic approach and therapeutic considerations

The neurological diagnosis, can be, in some situations, a challenging one. Clinical presentation for neurological disease, which has no imagistic diagnosis criteria, can develop during several month or years. Therefore, the first evaluation of the patient with neurological symptoms is not always conclusive. Pallidopyramidal syndrome and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) can present common features and diagnostic approach has to be careful. genetic assessment is the gold diagnosis method in some cases. Therapeutic strategies, following a correct diagnosis has to be addressed to improvement the patient's quality of life by rehabilitation methods and medication targeting the pathophysiological processes involvement. The aim of this paper is to discuss the clinical evolution and the diagnosis strategies in hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Liposomal Curcumin Enhances the Effect of Naproxen in a Rat Model of Migraine

BACKGROUND Curcumin is an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and pain. This study aimed to assess the effect of pretreatment with naproxen and liposomal curcumin compared with naproxen and curcumin solution on oxidative stress parameters and pain in a rat model of migraine. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty-three male Wistar rats included a control group (n=9) and a rat model of migraine (n=54) induced by intraperitoneal injection of nitroglycerin (1 mg/0.1 kg). The rat model group was divided into an untreated control group (n=9), a group pretreated with naproxen alone (2.8 mg/kg) (n=9), a group pretreated with naproxen (2.8 mg/kg) combined with curcumin solution (1 mg/0.1 kg) (n=9), a group pretreated with naproxen (2.8 mg/kg) combined with curcumin solution (2 mg/0.1 kg) (n=9), a group pretreated with naproxen (2.8 mg/kg) combined with liposomal curcumin solution (1 mg/0.1 kg) (n=9) a group pretreated with naproxen (2.8 mg/kg) combined with liposomal curcumin solution (2 mg/0.1 kg) (n=9). Spectroscopy measured biomarkers of total oxidative status and nociception was tested using an injection of 1% of formalin into the rat paw. RESULTS Expression of biomarkers of oxidative stress and enhanced nociception were significantly increased following pretreatment with combined naproxen and liposomal curcumin compared with curcumin solution or naproxen alone (P<0.001). Combined curcumin solution and naproxen were more effective at a concentration of 2 mg/0.1kg for the first nociceptive phase (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS In a rat model of migraine, combined therapy with liposomal curcumin and naproxen showed an improved antioxidant effect and anti-nociceptive effect.

T3 level may be a helpful marker to predict disease prognosis of acute central nervous system viral infections

AIM OF THE STUDY

Acute central nervous system viral infections are progressive and inflammatory diseases with inflammatory cells infiltrating into the central nervous system (CNS), and thyroid hormone (TH) level is associated with the oxidative and antioxidant status. Variations in oxidative stress and antioxidant status are related to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Our study aimed to investigate the possible correlation between viral infections in CNS and TH levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We measured serum concentrations of TSH, fT4, and fT3 in 206 individuals, including 59 viral meningitis (VM) patients, 60 viral encephalitis (VE) patients, and 87 healthy controls.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that VE and VM patients had lower levels of fT3 and higher levels of fT4 compared with healthy controls, whether male or female. Moreover, levels of TSH and fT3 in patients with viral infections in CNS were inversely correlated with disease prognosis measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Variations in TH level may represent the oxidative status and are surrogate biomarkers for disease prognosis of acute central nervous system viral infections.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and faster progression of cognitive impairments as predictors of risk of conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this research, based on 7 years of observations, was to assess the relationship between the dynamics of changes in the realm of cognitive functions in the early stages of observations and the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as further progression of cognitive function impairments in people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred and ninety three individuals were included in the study, all of whom referred themselves to the Mental Health Clinic and were diagnosed with MCI based on the criteria of the Working Group on MCI. It was assumed that these individuals would be subjected to systematic psychiatric and neuropsychological observation until they were diagnosed with dementia. This report concerns a completed 7-year period of these observations. Participants were assessed based on the following scales: MMSE, NPI and GDS.

RESULTS

The obtained results indicate statistically significant differences between groups of subjects at the time of inclusion in the study, regarding the frequency of occurrence and severity of the following categories of impairments: thought impairments (p < 0.001), arousal/aggression (p < 0.001), depression/dysphoria (p < 0.001), disinhibition (p < 0.03), irritability/lability (p < 0.001), abnormal motor behaviors (p < 0.02), as well as sleep and night-time behavior disorders (p < 0.01) Moreover, individuals who developed dementia during observation exhibited greater progression in cognitive function impairment assessed with the MMSE scale in the first year of observation (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The accruing of cognitive function impairments and the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms seem to be important risk factors for the development of dementia.