ABSTRACT
Objective: Inflammation of the immune system and the central nervous system has been known as an important predisposing factor for Parkinson's disease [PD]. Increased expression of OX40 protein [CD134] is a known factor for increased inflammation and initiation of NF-kappa-B signaling pathway in different diseases. We aimed to investigate the expression of OX40 at the transcript and serum protein levels
Materials and Methods: Twenty individuals with PD and 20 healthy individuals, as controls, were enrolled in this casecontrol study. Expression of OX40 at the transcript level and serum protein levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [qRT-PCR] and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays respectively
Results: The mean expression level of OX40 was increased in patients but not at a significant level [P>0.05]. Consistently, the mean serum concentration of OX40 showed a mild, but non-significant, increase in the patients [P>0.05]
Conclusion: We conclude that OX40 expression at either the transcript or protein level has no diagnostic utility in asymptomatic PD. This shows the need for clinical, cellular and interventional research to detect new robust biomarkers
ABSTRACT
Background: a few studies have shown that during Ramadan, gastrin, pepsin, and acid secretion are increased and some changes in nutrition of fasting people may deteriorate dyspepsia symptoms. On the other hand stopping smoking and alcohol use and probable psychosocial factors may improve dyspepsia symptoms
Materials and Methods: the patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia were enrolled in the study during one month before Ramadan and were followed up during and after Ramadan month. The dyspepsia questionnaires including "The Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire [LDQ]" were filled by the patients in three consecutive months. After collecting data they were divided to two groups of fasting and non-fasting and compared using SPSS software
Results: 71 patients finished all three follow up visits [31 fasting and 40 non-fasting]. The decreases in LDQ score have been less from before Ramadan to Ramadan and more from Ramadan to after Ramadan in fasting compared with non-fasting groups, but these changes were not significant [p> 0.05]. Comparing fasting and non-fasting patients, there were not significant differences in score change from before Ramadan to Ramadan or Ramadan to after Ramadan months regarding general satisfaction and various dyspepsia symptoms [p > 0.05] except for epigastric discomfort after meal that was more in fasting group from before Ramadan to Ramadan [p =0.004]
Conclusion: Ramadan fasting has no effects on various dyspepsia symptoms except for epigastric discomfort after meal, which is aggravated. We recommend that patients with dyspepsia can fast during Ramadan but they are advised not to consume large-volume meals in Iftar and Suhur