Comparison of ankle-brachial pressure index and pulse wave velocity as markers of cognitive function in a community-dwelling population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vascular factors have been implicated in the development of cognitive decline and dementia. The purpose of this study is to determine the association of the Ankle Brachial pressure Index (ABI) and brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (ba-PWV) to cognitive impairment in a community-dwelling population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The ABI and ba-PWV were measured using the volume-plethymographic apparatus in 388 subjects aged 60 years old and over. The Mini-Mental State Examination was also employed to measure global cognitive status. The effectiveness of the ABI and ba-PWV as putative markers of cognitive impairment were determined by using a multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Subjects with poor cognition were significantly older and less well educated than those with normal cognition. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the lowest ABI tertile was found to be a significant independent risk factor (OR = 3.19, 95% CI = 1.30 to 7.82) of the cognitive impairment, whereas the highest brachial-ankle PWV tertile was not.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A low ABI was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older populations, whereas a high ba-PWV may not be. Further research will be required to analyze ABI and PWV with greater accuracy.</p

Deep palmar phenotyping in atopic eczema: patterns associated with Filaggrin variants, disease severity and barrier function in a South Asian population.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlinear palms are described as a feature of loss-of-function (LoF) variants in Filaggrin (FLG). OBJECTIVE: To explore the phenotype of participants (age <31 years) with atopic eczema of Bangladeshi ancestry from East London and investigate which factors best associate with LoF FLG variants. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with participants recruited between May 2018 and March 2020. Patterns of palmar linearity were categorised and modelled with Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration (SH) and LoF FLG variants. RESULTS: Five hundred and six complete cases were available. Five palm patterns were noted. The 'prominent diamond' pattern associated best with EASI (marginal effects [ME], 2.53, 95% CI 1.74-3.67), TEWL (ME 1.32, 95% CI 1.11-1.62) and SH (ME 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.96). Using five palm patterns had some ability to discriminate LoF FLG variants (area under the receiver operator characteristic [AUROC] 76.07; 95% CI 71.58-80.57), improving in subgroup analysis with only fine perpendicular/prominent diamond patterns and SH (AUROC 89.11%; 95% CI 84.02-94.19). LIMITATIONS: Single centre study design with humans classifying clinical patterns. Stability of temperature and humidity not guaranteed across TEWL and SH measurements despite using a climate controlled room. CONCLUSION: Palm patterns associate with EASI and TEWL. The fine perpendicular/prominent diamond patterns are markers to detect absence/presence of LoF FLG variants respectively