Serum vitamin D in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Objectives: To determine the relevance of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3), and 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and various stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Materials and Methods: The study included 230 participants (>74 years) allocated to three main groups: 1-healthy subjects (HS, n = 61), 2-patients with MCI (n = 61), and 3- patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) subdivided into three stages: mild (n = 41), moderate (n = 35), and severe AD (n = 32). The cognitive status was evaluated using MMSE. Serum 25 (OH)D3 (ng/ml) and 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations (pg/ml) were determined by competitive radioimmunoassay. Results: MMSE scores and 25(OH)D3 were decreased in MCI and all stages of the AD in both genders. MMSE variability was due to gender in HS (11%) and to 25(OH)D3 in MCI (15%) and AD (26%). ROC analysis revealed an outstanding property of MMSE in diagnosis of MCI (AUC, 0.906; CI 95%, 0.847–0.965; sensitivity 82%; specificity, 98%) and AD (AUC, 0.997; CI 95%, 0.992–1; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98%). 25(OH)D3 exhibited good property in MCI (AUC, 0.765; CI 95%, 0.681–0.849; sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 54%) and an excellent property in diagnosis of AD (AUC, 0.843; CI 95%, 0.782–0.904; sensitivity, 97%; specificity, 79%). Logistic analyses revealed that, in MCI, MMSE could predict (or classify correctly) with 97.6% accuracy (Wald, 15.22, β, −0.162; SE, 0.554; OR = 0.115:0.039–0.341; p =.0001), whereas 25(OH)D3 with 80% accuracy (Wald, 41,013; β, −0.213; SE, 0.033; OR = 0.808: 0.757–863; p =.0001). 25(OH)D3 was the only significant predictor for the severe AD and contributed to MMSE variability. Age and gender were significant predictors only in the moderate AD. In patients with MCI, 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 were correlated men, but in case of the AD, they were correlated in women. Conclusions: MMSE and serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations could be useful biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of MCI and various stages of the AD. The results support the utility of vitamin D supplementation in AD therapy regimen. © 2018 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Effects of 8-residue ? sheet breaker peptides on aged A?40-induced memory impairment and A?40 expression in rat brain and serum following intraamygdaloid injection.

Amyloid?-protein (A?) assembly into toxic fibrillar structures is seminal in development of senile plaques, the pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Blocking this process could have a therapeutic value. ?-sheet breaker peptides (?SBP) decrease A? fibrillogenesis and neurotoxicity by preventing or dissolving misfolded A? aggregates. The present study investigated the effects of ?SBPs on A?40-related neuropathology, memory impairment in 8-armed radial maze and expression of A?40 in brain and serum. A?40 was injected into amygdaloid nucleus followed 8 days later by octapeptide?SBPs 15-22, 16-23 and 17-24. A?40 was detected not only in amygdala, but also in serum. A?40 induced cellular changes in amygdala and additionally in hippocampus. A?40 decreased correct choices, whereas increased errors (both number of arms revisited and total number of revisits) and latency of completing the maze test. The ?SBPs decreased A?40-induced pathological changes, memory impairment and A?40 expression in serum. The ?SBP15-22 distinctively decreased the total errors on day 14. The present results show that octapeptide ?SBPs corrected A?40-induced memory impairment, and support investigation of ?SBPs as a promising treatment of diseases characterized by neurodegeneration and memory impairment such as Alzheimer's disease

Weekly cases of notifiable diseases, United States, U.S. territories, and Non-U.S. Residents weeks ending January 5, 2019 (week 01) Table1i Cryptosporidiosis; Cyclosporiasis

2019-01-Table1i -H.pdfCryptosporidiosis; Cyclosporiasis201