Quantitative Electroencephalography in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

The goal of this study is to compare the brain connectivity patterns of autistic patients with those of children who are developing normally and analyzing quantitative electroencephalography in children with autism. The study included 50 children who were developing normally and 60 preschoolers who met the DSM-V criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Routine and quantitative electroencephalography were carried out on each subject, as well as a Childhood Autism Rating Scale. The electroencephalograms of 76.67% of autistic children were normal; 6.67% showed focal changes, and 16.67% showed generalized changes. While the alpha power in the central and temporal areas is significantly lower in autistic children, it is unchanged in the frontal and parieto-occipital regions. Children with autism have significantly higher absolute delta and theta band activity both globally and locally. It was shown that the total and regional absolute delta and theta power activity had a significant positive correlation with the disease severity score. Quantitative electroencephalography is a more effective tool for assessing and diagnosing children with autism spectrum disorder because it shows abnormalities in all autistic children. A correlation exists between the quantitative electroencephalography data and the disease severity score

Statins for endothelial dysfunction in sickle cell disease: A cohort study

Background: The sickling process of sickle cell disease (SCD) has harmful effects on the vascular endothelium manifested as vascular blockade, diminished tissue oxygenation, and consequently reperfusion injury. Statins pleiotropic effects can be demonstrated through improvement of endothelial function. Studies on the role of statins (e.g., atorvastatin) on endothelial dysfunction in SCD are minimal. Objective: The objective is to assess the possible therapeutic use of atorvastatin in patients with SCD. Subjects and Methods: Thirty SCD patients (15 female and 15 male) with a mean age of 27.0 ± 8.9 years and 30 healthy controls (18 female and 12 male) with a mean age of 29.7 ± 9.1 years participated in the study. Endothelial function was assessed with flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and endothelial independent dilatation (EID) of the brachial and common carotid arteries at baseline and after 6 weeks therapy with atorvastatin, 20 mg/day. Results: SCD patients had diminished FMD% and EID% values compared with corresponding values in the controls. The values were improved significantly after atorvastatin treatment (P = 0.002 for FMD%; P = 0.001 for EDI%). Conclusion: SCD patients have endothelial dysfunction. Atorvastatin, 20 mg daily for 6 weeks, improved the markers of endothelial function, FMD%, and EID%, in these patients

Role of endothelial dysfunction in relation to prothrombogenesis in polycythemia vera

Background: The morbidity and mortality in polycythemia vera (PV) are closely associated with cardiovascular diseases burden and clonal evolution. These complications were primarily attributed to abnormal rheology consequent to the raised hematocrit, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis, and in vivo activation of leukocytes, thrombocytes, and endothelial cells. It has been established that damage of endothelium determines the release in circulation of specific markers including thrombomodulin (TM), selectins, and von Willbrand factor (vWF) which are released and favor the formation of cellular aggregates. Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the pathophysiological role of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in relation to increased risk of thrombosis in PV patients. Patients and Methods: In a case–control study, 53 patients enrolled in this study from Al-Imamain Al-Khadimiyan Medical City, and the National Center for Hematology Diseases and Researches. They comprised of thirty patients with PV with mean age of − 54.87 ± 13.44 years-and another twenty-three patients with secondary polycythemia, whose mean age was 40.13 ± 12.21 years. Another thirty aged- and sex-matched, non-smokers healthy volunteers comprised 16 males and 14 females were also studied, their mean age was = 52.1 ± 11.16 years. JAK2 mutation was assessed for PV group while Serum erythropoietin (Epo), vWF and TM were determined for all patient and control group. Results: TM was significantly different among the three studied groups (P < 0.001) as well as vWF was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with PV as compared to the patients with secondary polycythemia and controls. Epo level was significantly lower (P = 0.004) in the newly diagnosed patients with PV when compared to those with a history of thrombosis or longstanding disease. There is positive correlation between JAK2 and TM (r = 0.431, P = 0.017), while negative correlation with vWF (r = −0.565, P = 0.001) in PV patients. Conclusion: ED is one of mechanisms that contribute in prothrombogenesis in PV patient