High tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in cerebrospinal fluid of cobalamin-deficient patients

We studied 14 patients with neurological manifestations of subacute combined degeneration (SCD) and 40 control patients not cobalamin (Cbl)-deficient. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of Cbl deficiency (Cbl and total homocysteine [tHCYS] levels) and the CSF levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were measured. Significantly higher levels of tHCYS and TNF-a, and significantly lower levels of Cbl and EGF were found in the SCD patients. In human CSF, as in human serum and the rat central nervous system, decreased Cbl concentrations are concomitant with an increase in TNF-a and a decrease in EGF-levels

Bistability of Fc-PTM-Based Dyads: The Role of the Donor Strength

Bistability of valence tautomeric donor 12acceptor dyads formed by covalently linking a ferrocene-based electron- donor and the perchlorotriphenylmethyl radical, as the electron-acceptor, is tuned via a chemical modi\ufb01cation of the ferrocene group. Speci\ufb01cally, the methylation of the ferrocene unit increases the strength of the donor group stabilizing the zwitterionic state in polar solvents and leading to an intriguing coexistence of neutral and zwitterionic species in solvents of intermediate polarity. Bistability in the crystalline phase is demonstrated by temperature dependent Mo\u308ssbauer spectra. This complex and interesting behavior is quantitatively rationalized in the framework of a bottom-up modeling strategy. Optical spectra in solution are \ufb01rst analyzed to extract and parametrize an e\ufb00ective two-state molecular model, which is then adopted to rationalize the observed bistability in the solid state as due to cooperative electrostatic interchromophore interactions

Validation of an easy questionnaire on the assessment of salt habit: the MINISAL-SIIA Study Program

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to validate a short questionnaire on habitual dietary salt intake, to quickly and easily identify individuals whose salt consumption exceeds recommended levels. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 1131 hypertensive subjects participating in the MINISAL-SIIA study were included in the analysis. Anthropometric indexes, blood pressure, and 24-h urinary sodium excretion (NaU) were measured. A fixed-sequence questionnaire on dietary salt intake was administered. RESULTS: NaU was significantly associated with scores, with a linear association across categories (p for trend \u200985\u2009mmol/day) and "very high NaU" (NaU\u2009>\u2009170\u2009mmol/day) was 86 and 35%, respectively. The score of the questionnaire had a significant ability to detect both "high NaU"-with a specificity of 95% at the score of 10 points-and "very high NaU"-with a specificity of 99.6% at score of 13 points. CONCLUSIONS: The main results of the study indicates that a higher score of this short questionnaire is distinctive of habitual high salt consumption in hypertensive patients

Validation of an easy questionnaire on the assessment of salt habit: the MINISAL-SIIA Study Program

Background/objectives: The aim of the present study was to validate a short questionnaire on habitual dietary salt intake, to quickly and easily identify individuals whose salt consumption exceeds recommended levels. Subjects/methods: A total of 1131 hypertensive subjects participating in the MINISAL-SIIA study were included in the analysis. Anthropometric indexes, blood pressure, and 24-h urinary sodium excretion (NaU) were measured. A fixed-sequence questionnaire on dietary salt intake was administered. Results: NaU was significantly associated with scores, with a linear association across categories (p for trend <0.0001). In addition, participants who achieved a total score above the median value (eight points) had significantly higher NaU than those whose score was below median (p < 0.0001). In the total sample, the prevalence of \u201chigh NaU\u201d (NaU > 85 mmol/day) and \u201cvery high NaU\u201d (NaU > 170 mmol/day) was 86 and 35%, respectively. The score of the questionnaire had a significant ability to detect both \u201chigh NaU\u201d\u2014with a specificity of 95% at the score of 10 points\u2014and \u201cvery high NaU\u201d\u2014with a specificity of 99.6% at score of 13 points. Conclusions: The main results of the study indicates that a higher score of this short questionnaire is distinctive of habitual high salt consumption in hypertensive patients