Spectrum Sensing Based on Censored Observations in Time-Varying Channels using AR-1 Model

Non-parametric sensing algorithms are preferred in cognitive radio. In this paper, spectrum sensing method based on censored observations is proposed. We evaluate the performance of Censored Anderson-Darling (CAD) sensing method in time-varying and flat-fading channel using Monte Carlo simulations. We have shown the performance of the CAD sensing in terms of receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The considered channel is modeled by Gaussian variables and characterized by a first ordered autoregressive process ($AR1$). It is shown that the proposed method outperforms prevailing techniques such as the Energy detection (ED) sensing and  Order-statistic (OS) based sensing in time-varying channel at lower signal to noise ratio

Evaluation of the Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Cassia Occidentalis Leaves in Neutrophil Adhesion Test in Rats

Evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Cassia occidentalis leaves in neutrophil adhesion test in Rats. The effect of oral administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia occidentalis leaves on neutrophil has been studied and is compared with control group on rats. The differential leukocyte count (DLC) was performed by fixing the blood smears and staining with leucofine and percent neutrophils in each sample was determined. After the initial counts, blood samples were incubated with 80 mg/ml of nylon fibers for 10 min at 37ºC. Supplementation with hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia occidentalis leaves significantly decreased neutrophil adhesion. The results indicate that the leaf of Cassia occidentalis is endowed with protected neutrophil adhesion. These effects could conclude that Cassia occidentalis has an antiasthmatic property. Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, Neutrophil adhesion, analysis of varianc

The real-life effect of catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition on non-motor symptoms in levodopa-treated Parkinson's disease: opicapone versus entacapone

Objective: To evaluate the long-term, real-life effects on non-motor symptoms (NMS) of opicapone compared to entacapone in levodopa-treated people with Parkinson's disease (PwP). Methods: A retrospective data analysis, with pre- and post-opicapone initiation data of 17 PwP with motor fluctuations compared to a comparable group of 18 PwP introduced on entacapone. The primary outcome was changes in the NMS Scale (NMSS) total score after 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included changes in the NMSS domains, and Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) total and item scores after the same time span. Results: Groups were comparable for baseline demographics and Parkinson's-related features (p ≥ 0.314) as well as duration of follow-up (1.33 ± 0.66 years for PwP on opicapone and 1.23 ± 0.49 years for those on entacapone; p = 0.858). PwP who were introduced on opicapone showed no changes in NMSS and PDSS total scores after 1 year (p = 0.605 and p = 0.507, respectively), whereas PwP who were introduced on entacapone showed significant worsening of NMSS and PDSS total scores at follow-up (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). In neither group changes in individual NMSS domains from baseline to follow-up were observed (p ≥ 0.288 for entacapone and p ≥ 0.816 for opicapone, respectively). In PwP on entacapone significant worsening was seen in the distressing dreams, hallucinations, and limb numbness items of the PDSS (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Introduction of opicapone in real-life PwP with motor fluctuations seems to stabilise NMS burden and aspects of sleep dysfunction, in contrast to entacapone where there was a worsening of NMS burden and PDSS scores over 1 year follow-up.The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, NIHR or Department of Health. The authors acknowledge the support of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Parkinson’s disease Study Group, the NIHR London South Clinical Research Network, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and the clinical research team at the Parkinson’s Foundation centre of excellence at King’s College Hospital and King’s College London. This article represents independent collaborative research part funded by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.S

Plasma p-tau181, neurofilament light chain and association with cognition in Parkinson's disease

Early identification of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has important clinical and research implications. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of plasma tau phosphorylated at amino acid 181 (p-tau181) and plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) as biomarkers of cognition in PD. Baseline concentrations of plasma p-tau181 and NfL were measured in a cohort of 136 patients with PD and 63 healthy controls (HC). Forty-seven PD patients were followed up for up to 2 years. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between baseline plasma biomarkers and cognitive progression were investigated using linear regression and linear mixed effects models. At baseline, plasma p-tau181 concentration was significantly higher in PD subjects compared with HC (p = 0.026). In PD patients, higher plasma NfL was associated with lower MMSE score at baseline, after adjusting for age, sex and education (p = 0.027). Baseline plasma NfL also predicted MMSE decline over time in the PD group (p = 0.020). No significant association between plasma p-tau181 concentration and baseline or longitudinal cognitive performance was found. While the role of p-tau181 as a diagnostic biomarker for PD and its relationship with cognition need further elucidation, plasma NfL may serve as a feasible, non-invasive biomarker of cognitive progression in PD

Plasma Neurofilament Light and p-tau181 and Risk of Psychosis in Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common and important to people with Parkinson's disease (PD), but their etiology is poorly understood. Plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and p-tau181 are biomarkers of neuro-axonal degeneration and tau pathology respectively which have yet to be explored in association with the affective and psychotic symptoms in PD. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between plasma NfL and p-tau181 with the affective and psychotic symptoms in PD. METHODS: We assessed the baseline concentration of plasma NfL and p-tau181 in a cohort of 108 patients with PD and 38 healthy controls. A subgroup of patients (n = 63) was assessed annually with clinical measures for up to 7 years. Psychotic symptoms were assessed using Non-Motor Symptom Scale with affective symptoms measured in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: Baseline plasma NfL was a significant predictor of psychotic symptoms longitudinally across the study adjusted for age, Hoehn and Yahr stage, duration of follow up, duration of disease, baseline levodopa and dopamine agonist medication, and baseline cognition: (OR 8.15 [95% CI 1.40-47.4], p = 0.020). There was no association between NfL concentration and the cumulative prevalence of affective symptoms. Plasma p-tau181 concentration was not associated with psychotic or affective symptoms. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest psychotic symptoms are associated with greater neurodegeneration in PD. Further studies are needed to explore NfL as a potential biomarker for psychosis in PD

NMDA Receptor Antibodies and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

OBJECTIVE: N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoantibody-mediated neurological syndrome with prominent cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The clinical relevance of NMDAR antibodies outside the context of encephalitis was assessed in this study. METHODS: Plasma from patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) (N=108) and healthy control subjects (N=89) was screened at baseline for immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM, and IgG NMDAR antibodies, phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181), and the neuroaxonal injury marker neurofilament light (NfL). Clinical assessment of the patients included measures of cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Non-Motor Symptoms Scale for Parkinson's Disease). A subgroup of patients (N=61) was followed annually for up to 6 years. RESULTS: Ten (9%) patients with PD tested positive for NMDAR antibodies (IgA, N=5; IgM, N=6; IgG, N=0), and three (3%) healthy control subjects had IgM NMDAR antibodies; IgA NMDAR antibodies were detected significantly more commonly among patients with PD than healthy control subjects (χ2=4.23, df=1, p=0.04). Age, gender, and disease duration were not associated with NMDAR antibody positivity. Longitudinally, antibody-positive patients had significantly greater decline in annual MMSE scores when the analyses were adjusted for education, age, disease duration, p-tau181, NfL, and follow-up duration (adjusted R2=0.26, p=0.01). Neuropsychiatric symptoms were not associated with antibody status, and no associations were seen between NMDAR antibodies and p-tau181 or NfL levels. CONCLUSIONS: NMDAR antibodies were associated with greater cognitive impairment over time in patients with PD, independent of other pathological biomarkers, suggesting a potential contribution of these antibodies to cognitive decline in PD

Formulation and Evaluation of Bi-Layer Tablets of Ketorolac Tromethamine

The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate bi-layer tablets of Ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug with short half-life, that are characterized by initial burst drug release in the stomach and comply with the release requirements of sustained-release products. Each of the proposed bi-layer tablets is composed of an immediate-release layer and a sustained-release layer, anticipating rapid drug release that starts in the stomach to rapidly alleviate the symptoms and continues in the intestine to maintain protracted analgesic effect. Gastro retentive Bi-Layer tablets of Ketorolac Tromethamine were prepared by using hydrophilic polymers with direct compression on floating – matrix technology and evaluated. Ketorolac tromethamine is freely soluble in water, so it is suitable to develop it as gastro retentive bi-layer tablets using hydrophilic polymers. The developed formulation is equivalent to calculated theoretical drug profile in view of its in vitro release. Immediate release layer was prepared by using dry granulation method in which ac-di sol used as a disintigrant for immediate release of drug. Sustained release layer formulated by using HPMC as release retardant, two grades of HPMC that are HPMC K4M and HPMC K100M used to get sustained release profile for 24 hr. Various trial batches are taken to get desired release profile. Ketorolac tromethamine release from the developed floating formulation followed Higuchi model and nonFickian diffusion is found to be the main mechanism of drug release. The manufacturing procedure was found to be reproducible and formulations were stable after one month of stability studies. Keywords: FTIR; Gastro retentive bilayer; ketorolac tromethamine; in vitro release; stability; higuchi