Biomarkers of Multiple Sclerosis

The search for an ideal multiple sclerosis biomarker with good diagnostic value, prognostic reference and an impact on clinical outcome has yet to be realized and is still ongoing. The aim of this review is to establish an overview of the frequent biomarkers for multiple sclerosis that exist to date. The review summarizes the results obtained from electronic databases, as well as thorough manual searches. In this review the sources and methods of biomarkers extraction are described; in addition to the description of each biomarker, determination of the prognostic, diagnostic, disease monitoring and treatment response values besides clinical impact they might possess. We divided the biomarkers into three categories according to the achievement method: laboratory markers, genetic-immunogenetic markers and imaging markers. We have found two biomarkers at the time being considered the gold standard for MS diagnostics. Unfortunately, there does not exist a single solitary marker being able to present reliable diagnostic value, prognostic value, high sensitivity and specificity as well as clinical impact. We need more studies to find the best biomarker for MS.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Screening for Toxoplasma gondii in aborted bovine fetuses in Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine if Toxoplasma gondii was present in aborted bovine fetuses in Brazil. Histopathology of 105 cases with suspected infectious abortion, analyzed during the period from 2006 to 2008 at Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Sanidade Animal of Instituto Biológico, São Paulo, showed 75 cases with indications of abortion due to apicomplexan protozoa. These cases were submitted to PCR for verification of the laboratory diagnosis. Fetal DNA was extracted from central nervous system, heart, liver, muscle, and/or placenta samples to obtain a 529 bp DNA fragment. T. gondii DNA was not detected in any of the bovine fetuses analyzed, suggesting that it may not be a frequent cause of bovine abortion

Associação da ocorrência do ectima contagioso (ORF vírus) em ovinos com os cuidadores desses animais

RESUMO A enfermidade ectima contagioso está difundida em todo o estado de São Paulo. Foram amostrados 42 (8,64%) cuidadores de animais e 444 (91,36%) ovinos (n=486). A prevalência de reagentes para vírus-neutralização foi de 67% (IC95%=62-71%) nos ovinos, e em seus cuidadores de 76% (IC95%=63-89%), sendo P=0,22, ou seja, não houve diferença estatística significativa entre as espécies. A distribuição dos títulos teve diferença estatística significativa entre as espécies, com P=0,0048. As variações de titulação foram de 0,6 a 2,1 tanto nos ovinos quanto nos seus cuidadores. Dentre os 42 cuidadores de ovinos participantes do estudo, 32 apresentaram títulos de anticorpos expressos por log10 acima de 0,6