Serum concentration of beta amyloid peptide and the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme in alzheimer's disease patients: search for a potential biomarker

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a disorder that affects mainly aged population. There is still no diagnostic test for the disease. Over the past few years investigators have studied several plasma biomarkers, most frequently, plasma beta amyloid peptide (Aβ). Level of Aβ depends on balance between production and clearance, accomplished by proteases. Our purpose was to study differences in the concentrations of Aβ's (and their ratios) and also in the activity of ACE in blood serum of AD patients and control groups.Methods: We measured the blood levels of beta amyloid 40 and 42 (Aβ40 & Aβ42) and their proportions in AD patients' blood samples. We also measured the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities.Results: This study showed that amounts of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in the blood serum of AD patients were significantly lower than that in control samples. The ratio of Aβ42/Aβ40 was not significantly different from controls. With respect to age and severity of disease we observed that Aβ40 concentration was lower in AD male patients and decreased with severity of AD. We also observed that serum Aβ42 concentration was decreased by increasing the age of female patients.Conclusions: Our results indicated that the ACE activity was significantly higher in patients in comparison with normal individuals. Also, it was revealed that increase in age resulted in reduced ACE activity in females and increased activity in males. This study also showed there was a positive relationship between ACE activity and severity of disease

Effect of Nanomicelle Curcumin on Quality of Life and Sleep in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, and Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Considering the evidence indicating the neuronal protective effects of curcumin in previous studies, this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and parallel-group trial was aimed at exploring the possible nanomicelle curcumin (SinaCurcumin®, nano-micellar soft gel)-mediated impact on sleep, fatigue, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).Methods: A sample of 50 PD patients were recruited and randomly divided into experimental (25) and control groups (25). Sleep quality, fatigue, and QoL were assessed based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire–39 (PDQ-39), respectively, at the beginning and the end of the study. The groups were treated for three months by 80 mg of nano-micellar soft gel twice a day.Results: Nanomicelle curcumin significantly increased sleep quality and QoL compared with placebo (P values = 0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively) in PD patients. This significant difference has not influenced by the duration of the disease, the severity of disease progression (Hoehn & Yahr scale), and the cumulative dose of levodopa. This supplement did not have a significant effect on the fatigue severity of patients compared to placebo.Conclusion: It has proposed that the nanomicelle curcumin can be used to improve sleep quality and QoL in PD patients

The Association between Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Liver Enzymes (Aspartate and Alanine Transaminases) in Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND: Intake of fiber and antioxidants and following hypocaloric diets has beneficial effects on reduction of the liver enzymes. Fruits and vegetables are low in calorie and rich in fiber and antioxidants. There are few studies about special dietary effects on liver function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between fruit and vegetables intake and liver function enzymes.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 Tehrani healthy adults. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed by a 147-items semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Serum glucose, lipids, liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), hs-Crp and body composition were measured in a fasting state.RESULTS: The mean age (± SD) of the participants was 35 ± 8.78. In the higher quartiles of vegetable intake, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) serum and total cholesterol (TC) levels were lower after adjusting for confounders (p = 0.03 and 0.02 respectively). Individuals in the upper quartile of vegetable intake were less likely to have elevated ALT (OR=0.21; 95% CI =0.08-0.49) and AST (OR=0.33; 95% CI =0.15-0.75) levels before adjusting for confounders. After controlling for potential confounders, only the association between vegetable intake and ALT level remained significant (OR=0.32; 95% CI =0.12-0.90). Liver enzymes had no significant relationship with the quartiles of fruit intake. In the higher quartiles of fruit intake, the visceral fat rating was lower after adjustment (p = 0.04) but not in the higher vegetable intake (p = 0.50).CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that vegetable intake is reversely associated with LDL, TC and ALT level in Tehrani healthy adults, whereas fruit intake is only associated with lower visceral fat rating.KEYWORDS: AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), fruit, vegetables, Anthropometric status, Biochemical teste

Ad dress for Cor res pon den ce/Ya z›fl ma Ad re si

Objective: Autonomic dysfunction is widely recognized in both partial and generalized epilepsies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vasomotor response in patients with generalized idiopathic epilepsy using clinical autonomic function tests. Ma te ri als and Met hods: Hundred and twenty-four consecutive subjects including 62 idiopathic generalized epileptic patients diagnosed for more than 3 months receiving monotherapy and 62 matched for sex and age healthy controls were assessed in this case-control study. The evaluation of the vasomotor system was made using a questionnaire and autonomic function tests including cold pressor, Valsalva maneuver, mental arithmetic and hand-grip tests. Re sults: Abnormal score of the Cold pressor test was seen in 59.7%, Valsalva maneuver in 64.5% and 33.9% in mental arithmetic test of epileptic patients. These results were different significantly in comparison to control group. If abnormal hand grip test was defined as an increase less than 11 mmHg in diastolic pressure, there was found no significant difference between two groups of case and control, also a few people in control group was reported normal. When abnormality was defined as an increase in only one or none of the parameters of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure or heart rate, 43.5% in patient group versus 14.5% in controls had abnormal results with statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Vasomotor dysfunction assessed with cardiovascular tests was present in patients with generalized epilepsy. Further research on central and peripheral limbs in association with the breakdown of the system is required. (Turkish Journal of Neurology 2014; 20:126-131

Serum concentration of beta amyloid peptide and the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme in alzheimers disease patients: search for a potential biomarker

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a disorder that affects mainly aged population. There is still no diagnostic test for the disease. Over the past few years investigators have studied several plasma biomarkers, most frequently, plasma beta amyloid peptide (Aβ). Level of Aβ depends on balance between production and clearance, accomplished by proteases. Our purpose was to study differences in the concentrations of Aβ's (and their ratios) and also in the activity of ACE in blood serum of AD patients and control groups.Methods: We measured the blood levels of beta amyloid 40 and 42 (Aβ40 & Aβ42) and their proportions in AD patients' blood samples. We also measured the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities.Results: This study showed that amounts of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in the blood serum of AD patients were significantly lower than that in control samples. The ratio of Aβ42/Aβ40 was not significantly different from controls. With respect to age and severity of disease we observed that Aβ40 concentration was lower in AD male patients and decreased with severity of AD. We also observed that serum Aβ42 concentration was decreased by increasing the age of female patients.Conclusions: Our results indicated that the ACE activity was significantly higher in patients in comparison with normal individuals. Also, it was revealed that increase in age resulted in reduced ACE activity in females and increased activity in males. This study also showed there was a positive relationship between ACE activity and severity of disease

Abnormal Vasomotor System Function in Idiopathic Generalized Epileptic Patients

OBJECTIVE: Autonomic dysfunction is widely recognized in both partial and generalized epilepsies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vasomotor response in patients with generalized idiopathic epilepsy by the clinical autonomic function tests. METHODS: 124 consecutive subjects including 62 idiopathic generalized epileptic patients diagnosed for more than 3 months receiving monotherapy and 62 matched for sex and age healthy controls were assessed in this case-control study. The evaluation of the vasomotor system was made using a questionnaire and autonomic function tests including Cold pressor, Valsalva maneuver, mental arithmetic and hand-grip tests. RESULTS: Abnormal score of the Cold pressor test was seen in 59.7%, Valsalva maneuver in 64.5% and 33.9% in mental arithmetic test of epileptic patients. These results were different significantly in comparison to control group. If abnormal hand grip test was defined as an increase less than 11 mmHg in diastolic pressure, there was found no significant difference between two groups of case and control, also a few people in control group was reported normal. While defining abnormal test was interpreted by increase in only one parameter or none of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure or heart rate, 43.5% in case group versus 14.5% in controls had abnormal results with significantly difference. CONCLUSION: Vasomotor dysfunction evaluated by cardiovascular tests was present commonly in the patients with generalized epilepsy. Further confirmation requires detailed reviewing of central and peripheral limbs to the breakdown of the system to be felt

Clinical evaluation of vasomotor system functionality in type 2 diabetic Patients

Background: Autonomic neuropathy and vital organ dysfunctions are the known complications in type 2 diabetes Mellitus (DM). Genetic endowments involving individuals make subtle differences in physiological systems, particularly at the time of sickness. Hence, the presented study was designed to evaluate the vasomotor system in healthy people and type 2 DM cases for determining any functionality differences between the mentioned groups. Methods: Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes (case group) and sixty healthy subjects (control group) matched for age and sex were enrolled in the study. Then, the performance of vasomotor system was assessed using valsalva maneuver, cold pressor, sustained hand-grip and mental arithmetic tests and the differences were determined via statistical methods. Results: According to our findings, abnormal response to valsalva maneuver was found in the case group (P=0.028) and the same response was seen about mental arithmetic evaluations. In the case of cold pressor and sustained hand-grip tests, remarkable differences were not found in both groups. Important differences were also found among vasomotor dysfunction and the time of DM labeling. Conclusion: This study showed a higher incidence of vasomotor dysfunction in DM patients. However, revision in cold pressor and sustained hand-grip tests definition as well as methodology was recommended

Vitamin D sufficiency, a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D at least 30 ng/mL reduced risk for adverse clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 infection.

BackgroundTo investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and its effect on adverse clinical outcomes, and parameters of immune function and mortality due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection.Study designThe hospital data of 235 patients infected with COVID-19 were analyzed.ResultsBased on CDC criteria, among our study patients, 74% had severe COVID-19 infection and 32.8% were vitamin D sufficient. After adjusting for confounding factors, there was a significant association between vitamin D sufficiency and reduction in clinical severity, inpatient mortality serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and an increase in lymphocyte percentage. Only 9.7% of patients older than 40 years who were vitamin D sufficient succumbed to the infection compared to 20% who had a circulating level of 25(OH)DConclusionTherefore, it is recommended that improving vitamin D status in the general population and in particular hospitalized patients has a potential benefit in reducing the severity of morbidities and mortality associated with acquiring COVID-19