Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 271
Filter
1.
PLoS One ; 19(6): e0305469, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38889116

ABSTRACT

Diarrheal diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality, worldwide. The occurrence of multiple pathogens in stool samples of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in resource-limited countries have been repeatedly described. In this study, we assessed the differentiated effects of combined pathogen detections on recorded symptoms. A case-control study was conducted among 620 under-five-year-old children in rural northeastern Tanzania with emphasis of multiple detection. The median age of children was 11 months (IQR = 7, 20), and 52.1% were male. Cases (50.2%, n = 157) were less likely than controls (64.5%, n = 198) to have multiple colonization with gastrointestinal tract (GIT) pathogens. The children's age was positively associated with the likelihood of harboring multiple GIT pathogens [OR, 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.04]. Shigella spp./enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) [OR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.62, 4.83] and norovirus [OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.23, 3.39] were more common in cases and were strongly associated with diarrhea, while enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) [OR = 0.23, 95%CI 0.17-0.33] were more common in controls. Diarrheal diseases in under-five children from rural Tanzania are likely to be due to infections with Shigella spp./EIEC, and norovirus with strongly age-dependent associations.


Subject(s)
Diarrhea , Rural Population , Humans , Tanzania/epidemiology , Male , Female , Case-Control Studies , Diarrhea/epidemiology , Diarrhea/microbiology , Infant , Child, Preschool , Rural Population/statistics & numerical data , Shigella/isolation & purification , Feces/microbiology , Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology , Norovirus/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification
3.
Alzheimers Dement (Amst) ; 16(2): e12576, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38605996

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: While elevated blood glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) has been associated with brain amyloid pathology, whether this association occurs in populations with high cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) concomitance remains unclear. METHODS: Using a Singapore-based cohort of cognitively impaired subjects, we assessed associations between plasma GFAP and neuroimaging measures of brain amyloid and CSVD, including white matter hyperintensities (WMH). We also examined the diagnostic performance of plasma GFAP in detecting brain amyloid beta positivity (Aß+). RESULTS: When stratified by WMH status, elevated brain amyloid was associated with higher plasma GFAP only in the WMH- group (ß = 0.383; P < 0.001). The diagnostic performance of plasma GFAP in identifying Aß+ was significantly higher in the WMH- group (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.896) than in the WMH+ group (AUC = 0.712, P = 0.008). DISCUSSION: The biomarker utility of plasma GFAP in detecting brain amyloid pathology is dependent on the severity of concomitant WMH. Highlight: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)'s association with brain amyloid is unclear in populations with high cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).Plasma GFAP was measured in a cohort with CSVD and brain amyloid.Plasma GFAP was better in detecting amyloid in patients with low CSVD versus high CSVD.Biomarker utility of GFAP in detecting brain amyloid depends on the severity of CSVD.

4.
J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater ; 112(5): e35406, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38676957

ABSTRACT

The field of tissue engineering has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, driven by the pursuit of innovative solutions to address the challenges of bone regeneration. In this study, we developed an electrospun composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering. The composite scaffold is made of a blend of poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), with the incorporation of calcined and lyophilized silicate-chlorinated bioactive glass (BG) particles. Our investigation involved a comprehensive characterization of the scaffold's physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, alongside an evaluation of its biological efficacy employing alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The incorporation of PEG and BG resulted in elevated swelling ratios, consequently enhancing hydrophilicity. Thermal gravimetric analysis confirmed the efficient incorporation of BG, with the scaffolds demonstrating thermal stability up to 250°C. Mechanical testing revealed enhanced tensile strength and Young's modulus in the presence of BG; however, the elongation at break decreased. Cell viability assays demonstrated improved cytocompatibility, especially in the PLCL/PEG+BG group. Alizarin red staining indicated enhanced osteoinductive potential, and fluorescence analysis confirmed increased cell adhesion in the PLCL/PEG+BG group. Our findings suggest that the PLCL/PEG/BG composite scaffold holds promise as an advanced biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.


Subject(s)
Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Polyesters , Polyethylene Glycols , Tissue Engineering , Tissue Scaffolds , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polyesters/chemistry , Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Humans , Glass/chemistry , Materials Testing
6.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 31(5): 8072-8081, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38175508

ABSTRACT

Cigarette filters were utilized as carbon source for the production of solid carbon acid catalysts. In this study, the process of carbonization and simultaneous sulfonation via hydrothermal treatment was employed. The catalysts were prepared by mixing cigarette filters and sulfuric acid at temperatures of 100, 150, and 190 °C for durations ranging from 2 to 8 h. It was observed that the highest conversion of oleic acid occurred when the catalyst was synthesized at 190 °C for 4 h. The optimized conditions for the esterification reaction using this catalyst included an oleic acid to methanol molar ratio of 1:12, a catalyst loading of 5 wt%, and a temperature of 100 °C for 1 h. Additionally, the catalyst was successfully reused four times without significantly impacting the reaction yield. These findings highlight a promising approach for the utilization of waste materials, with immediate implications for waste management practices and positive environmental impacts.


Subject(s)
Biofuels , Oleic Acid , Esterification , Temperature , Catalysis , Carbon
7.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 97(3): 1289-1298, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38217598

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Concomitant cerebrovascular diseases (CeVD) have been identified as an important determinant of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Development of robust blood-based biomarkers will provide critical tools to evaluate prognosis and potential interventional strategies for AD with CeVD. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated circulating placental growth factor (PlGF), a potent pro-angiogenic factor related to endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, in an Asian memory clinic cohort of non-demented individuals as well as AD, including its associations with neuroimaging markers of CeVD. METHODS: 109 patients with AD, 76 cognitively impaired with no dementia (CIND), and 56 non-cognitively impaired (NCI) were included in this cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging to assess white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, cortical infarcts, and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). Serum PlGF concentrations were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. RESULTS: Serum PlGF was elevated in AD, but not CIND, compared to the NCI controls. Adjusted concentrations of PlGF were associated with AD only in the presence of significant CeVD. Elevated PlGF was significantly associated with higher burden of WMH and with CMBs in AD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PlGF has potential utility as a biomarker for the presence of CeVD, specifically WMH and CMBs, in AD. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms linking PlGF to CeVD, as well as to further assess PlGF's clinical utility.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Cerebrovascular Disorders , Cognitive Dysfunction , White Matter , Female , Humans , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Cerebrovascular Disorders/complications , Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Placenta Growth Factor , White Matter/pathology
8.
Biomolecules ; 14(1)2024 Jan 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38254675

ABSTRACT

In the brain, the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition shapes the neuronal microenvironment and can undergo substantial changes with cerebral pathology. Brevican is integral to the formation of the ECM's neuroprotective perineuronal nets (PNNs). Decreased brevican levels were reported in vascular dementia (VaD) but not in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the status of brevican in clinical cohorts with high concomitance of AD pathological burden and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) is unclear. In this study, 32 non-cognitively impaired (NCI), 97 cognitively impaired no dementia (CIND), 46 AD, and 23 VaD participants recruited from memory clinics based in Singapore underwent neuropsychological and neuroimaging assessments, together with measurements of serum brevican. Association analyses were performed between serum brevican and neuroimaging measures of CeVDs, including white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, cortical infarcts, and cerebral microbleeds. Using an aggregated score for CeVD burden, only CIND participants showed lower brevican levels with higher CeVD compared to those with lower CeVD burden (p = 0.006). Among the CeVD subtypes assessed, only elevated WMH burden was associated with lower brevican levels (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.3-5.5). Our findings suggest that brevican deficits may play a role in early cerebrovascular damage in participants at risk of developing dementia.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Brevican , Cerebrovascular Disorders , Dementia, Vascular , Aged , Humans , Biomarkers , Brain , Brevican/blood , Brevican/chemistry , Cerebrovascular Disorders/diagnosis , Dementia, Vascular/diagnosis
9.
Alzheimers Res Ther ; 15(1): 214, 2023 12 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38087395

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) are two of the commonest causes of dementia in the elderly. Of the myriad biomolecules implicated in dementia pathogenesis, sphingolipids have attracted relatively scant research attention despite their known involvement in multiple pathophysiological processes. The potential utility of peripheral sphingolipids as biomarkers in dementia cohorts with high concomitance of cerebrovascular diseases is also unclear. METHODS: Using a lipidomics platform, we performed a case-control study of plasma sphingolipids in a prospectively assessed cohort of 526 participants (non-cognitively impaired, NCI = 93, cognitively impaired = 217, AD = 166, VaD = 50) using a lipidomics platform. RESULTS: Distinct patterns of sphingolipid alterations were found in AD and VaD, namely an upregulation of d18:1 species in AD compared to downregulation of d16:1 species in VaD. In particular, GM3 d18:1/16:0 and GM3 d18:1/24:1 showed the strongest positive associations with AD. Furthermore, evaluation of sphingolipids panels showed specific combinations with higher sensitivity and specificity for classification of AD (Cer d16:1/24:0. Cer d18:1/16:0, GM3 d16:1/22:0, GM3 d18:1/16:0, SM d16:1/22:0, HexCer d18:1/18:0) and VAD (Cer d16:1/24:0, Cer d18:1/16:0, Hex2Cer d16:1/16:0, HexCer d18:1/18:0, SM d16:1/16:0, SM d16:1/20:0, SM d18:2/22:0) compared to NCI. CONCLUSIONS: AD and VaD are associated with distinct changes of plasma sphingolipids, warranting further studies into underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and assessments of their potential utility as dementia biomarkers and therapeutic targets.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Dementia, Vascular , Humans , Aged , Sphingolipids , Lipidomics , Case-Control Studies , Biomarkers
10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37856386

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Filipino youth in the United States have significant behavioral health problems, including high rates of depression and suicidal behavior. Evidence-based parenting groups promote positive parenting practices and improve child behavior, yet few have been implemented online. OBJECTIVES: This study tested the short-term effects of a culturally adapted hybrid version of the Incredible Years School Age Basic and Advance Programs when delivered online among groups of parents of Filipino children and estimated intervention effect sizes. METHOD: Forty-nine parents of children aged 8-12 years recruited from schools, clinics, community organizations, and social media were randomly assigned to intervention or a wait-list control group that received literature from the American Academy of Pediatrics' Bright Futures program. The intervention consisted of 12 weekly 2-hr sessions. Parent perceptions of child behavior, parenting practices, and parenting stress as well as child surveys of anxiety and depression symptoms using validated assessments were obtained at baseline and 3-month postintervention follow-up. RESULTS: Forty parents completed both baseline and follow-up surveys with a mean attendance of 9.35 out of 12 sessions (n = 18). Analysis of covariance comparing 3-month (pre-/postintervention) changes revealed that the program had a statistically significant positive impact on parenting practices (positive verbal discipline, praise and incentives, and clear expectations); parent perceptions of their child's internalizing symptoms; and child-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the feasibility and potential effectiveness of offering an online evidence-based parenting program to promote positive parenting and decrease child anxiety and depression. This multigenerational approach to mental health prevention could potentially help address the growing mental health epidemic among youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

11.
Nat Commun ; 14(1): 6392, 2023 10 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37872141

ABSTRACT

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease manifesting as bloodstream infection with high mortality is responsible for a huge public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is the main cause of iNTS disease in Africa. By analysing whole genome sequence data from 1303 S. Typhimurium isolates originating from 19 African countries and isolated between 1979 and 2017, here we show a thorough scaled appraisal of the population structure of iNTS disease caused by S. Typhimurium across many of Africa's most impacted countries. At least six invasive S. Typhimurium clades have already emerged, with ST313 lineage 2 or ST313-L2 driving the current pandemic. ST313-L2 likely emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo around 1980 and further spread in the mid 1990s. We observed plasmid-borne as well as chromosomally encoded fluoroquinolone resistance underlying emergences of extensive-drug and pan-drug resistance. Our work provides an overview of the evolution of invasive S. Typhimurium disease, and can be exploited to target control measures.


Subject(s)
Salmonella Infections , Salmonella typhimurium , Humans , Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Genomics , Salmonella Infections/epidemiology , Salmonella typhimurium/genetics
12.
Brain Pathol ; 33(6): e13190, 2023 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37463072

ABSTRACT

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid implicated in cognitive functions by promoting synaptic protein expression. While alterations of specific DHA-containing phospholipids have been described in the neocortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the status of these lipids in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), known to manifest aggregated α-synuclein-containing Lewy bodies together with variable amyloid pathology, is unclear. In this study, post-mortem samples from the parietal cortex of 25 DLB patients and 17 age-matched controls were processed for phospholipidomics analyses using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) platform. After controlling for false discovery rate, six out of the 46 identified putative DHA-phospholipid species were significantly decreased in DLB, with only one showing increase. Altered putative DHA-phospholipid species were subsequently validated with further LC-MS/MS measurements. Of the DHA-containing phospholipid (DCP) species showing decreases, five negatively correlated with soluble beta-amyloid (Aß42) levels, whilst three also correlated with phosphorylated α-synuclein (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, five of these phospholipid species correlated with deficits of presynaptic Rab3A, postsynaptic neurogranin, or both (all p < 0.05). Finally, we found altered immunoreactivities of brain lysolipid DHA transporter, MFSD2A, and the fatty acid binding protein FABP5 in DLB parietal cortex. In summary, we report alterations of specific DCP species in DLB, as well as their associations with markers of neuropathological burden and synaptopathology. These results support the potential role of DHA perturbations in DLB as well as therapeutic targets.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Lewy Body Disease , Neocortex , Humans , alpha-Synuclein/metabolism , Lewy Body Disease/pathology , Neocortex/metabolism , Docosahexaenoic Acids/metabolism , Chromatography, Liquid , Tandem Mass Spectrometry , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism , Phospholipids/metabolism , Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/metabolism
13.
Int J Dermatol ; 62(8): 1060-1066, 2023 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37322831

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer, and its incidence has increased worldwide. About 10% of cases are classified as hereditary melanoma (HM). CDKN2A and CDK4 are the major high-risk genes. Families are also more prone to develop pancreatic cancer, and different forms of oncological surveillance are recommended. OBJECTIVES: Describe the prevalence of CDKN2A/CDK4 germline mutations in melanoma-prone patients and their phenotypic and histopathological features. METHODS: A total of 69 patients meeting the clinical criteria for HM were included in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Amplification by PCR and genomic sequencing were used. The variants were classified according to American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) criteria. RESULTS: The mean age at first diagnosis of melanoma was 44.8 years (SD ± 17.83). Most patients had phototype II (44.9%), more than 50 melanocytic nevi (76.8%), atypical nevus syndrome (72.5%), history of sunburn (76.8%), and multiple primary melanomas without a family history of this tumor (74.3%). Two hundred melanomas were observed. Most tumors had a Breslow index ≤1.0 mm (84.5%), location in the trunk (60.5%), and superficial spreading histological subtype (22.5%). Four variants were found in CDKN2A exons in seven patients (c.305C>A, c.26T>A, c.361G>A e c.442G>A), two variants in the 5'UTR region in five patients (c.-25C>T and c.-33G>C), and two variants in the 3'UTR region in 21 patients (c.*29C>G and c.*69C>T). One likely pathogenic variant (c.305C>A) was identified in one patient (1.4%). No variant was found in CDK4. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CDKN2A mutations was 1.4% in Brazilian patients meeting clinical criteria for HM.


Subject(s)
Melanoma , Skin Neoplasms , Humans , Adult , Brazil/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/epidemiology , Skin Neoplasms/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Melanoma/epidemiology , Melanoma/genetics , Melanoma/pathology , Germ-Line Mutation , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
14.
J Am Vet Med Assoc ; 261(9): 1316-1325, 2023 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37217173

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of developing an overweight or obese (O/O) body condition score (BCS) in gonadectomized versus intact dogs and, separately, the impact of age at gonadectomy on O/O outcomes among sterilized dogs. ANIMALS: Dogs were patients of Banfield Pet Hospital in the US from 2013 to 2019. After exclusion criteria were applied, the final sample consisted of 155,199 dogs. PROCEDURES: In this retrospective cohort study, Cox proportional hazards models evaluated associations between O/O and gonadectomy status, sex, age at gonadectomy, and breed size. Models were used to estimate the risk of becoming O/O in gonadectomized versus intact dogs and, separately, to estimate risk of O/O BCS according to age at surgery among gonadectomized dogs. RESULTS: Gonadectomy increased O/O risk for most dogs compared to intact dogs. Unlike most prior findings, O/O hazard ratios among gonadectomized versus intact dogs were larger for males than females. O/O risk varied according to breed size but not linearly. Sterilizing at 1 year old tended to yield a lower O/O risk compared to doing so later. Comparative O/O risk among dogs gonadectomized at 6 months versus 1 year varied by breed size. Overall patterns for obesity related to size were similar to patterns in the O/O analysis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to help prevent O/O in their patients. Results extend understanding of risk factors for O/O development in dogs. In combination with information about other benefits and risks associated with gonadectomy, these data can help tailor recommendations regarding gonadectomy in individual dogs.


Subject(s)
Dog Diseases , Overweight , Female , Male , Dogs , Animals , United States/epidemiology , Overweight/epidemiology , Overweight/veterinary , Overweight/complications , Retrospective Studies , Hospitals, Animal , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/surgery , Dog Diseases/etiology , Castration/veterinary , Obesity/epidemiology , Obesity/veterinary , Primary Health Care
15.
J Neuroinflammation ; 20(1): 111, 2023 May 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37158957

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronically dysregulated neuroinflammation has been implicated in neurodegenerative dementias, with separate studies reporting increased brain levels of inflammatory mediators and gliosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as in Lewy body dementias (LBD). However, it is unclear whether the nature and extent of neuroinflammatory responses in LBD are comparable to those in AD. In this study, we performed head-to-head measurements of a panel of cytokines in the post-mortem neocortex of AD versus the two major clinical subtypes of LBD, namely, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). METHODS: Post-mortem tissues from the mid-temporal cortex (Brodmann area 21) of a cohort of neuropathologically well-defined AD, PDD and DLB patients were processed and measured for a comprehensive range of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1Ra, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IFN-γ, GM-CSF and FGF-2) using a multiplex immunoassay platform. Associations between inflammation markers and neuropathological measures of neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles as well as Lewy bodies were also performed. RESULTS: We found IL-1α, IFN-γ, GM-CSF and IL-13 to be elevated in the mid-temporal cortex of AD patients. In contrast, none of the measured cytokines were significantly altered in either DLB or PDD. Similar cytokine changes were observed in two other neocortical areas of AD patients. Furthermore, increases of IL-1α, IFN-γ, GM-CSF, IL-10 and IL-13 associated with moderate-to-severe neurofibrillary tangle burden, but not with neuritic plaques or Lewy bodies. Our findings of elevated neocortical pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in AD, but not in DLB or PDD, suggest that neuroinflammatory responses are strongly linked to neurofibrillary tangle burden, which is higher in AD compared to LBD. In conclusion, neuroinflammation may not play a prominent role in the pathophysiology of late-stage LBD.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Dementia , Neocortex , Parkinson Disease , Humans , Cytokines , Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor , Interleukin-10 , Interleukin-13 , Neuroinflammatory Diseases , Plaque, Amyloid
16.
Biotech Histochem ; 98(5): 360-371, 2023 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37022146

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the effects of prenatal and postnatal dietary zinc (Zn) deficiency or supplementation on mammary gland morphology and on acute response to 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) in pubertal female rats. On gestational day 10 (GD 10), rat dams were allocated randomly into three experimental groups of 10: a Zn-adequate diet group (ZnA) fed 35 mg Zn/kg chow, a Zn-deficient diet group (ZnD) fed 3 mg ZN/kg chow and a Zn-supplemented diet group (ZnS) fed 180 mg Zn/kg chow. After weaning, female offspring were fed the same diet as their dams until postnatal day 53 (PND 53). All animals received a single 50 mg/kg dose of DMBA on PND 51 and were euthanized on PND 53. Female ZnD offspring exhibited significantly less weight gain compared to the ZnA group and reduced mammary gland development compared to the ZnD and ZnA groups. By PND 53, the Ki-67 labeling index in mammary gland epithelial cells was significantly greater for the ZnS group than for the ZnA and ZnD groups. Apoptosis and ER-α indices did not differ among groups. The ZnD group exhibited significantly increased lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels and decreased catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity compared to the ZnA and ZnS groups. The ZnS group exhibited significantly reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity compared to the ZnA and ZnS groups. We observed atypical ductal hyperplasia in the mammary gland of female ZnS group offspring compared to the ZnA and ZnD groups and decreased expression of the Api5 and Ercc1 genes related to apoptosis inhibition and DNA damage repair, respectively. Both the Zn-deficient and Zn-supplemented diet exerted adverse effects on offspring mammary gland morphology and acute response to DMBA.


Subject(s)
9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene , Diet , Pregnancy , Rats , Female , Animals , 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene/toxicity , Apoptosis , Zinc/pharmacology
18.
Alzheimers Dement (Amst) ; 15(1): e12396, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36994314

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a potential biomarker for neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD), ischemic stroke, and non-dementia cohorts with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, studies of AD in populations with high prevalence of concomitant CSVD to evaluate associations of brain atrophy, CSVD, and amyloid beta (Aß) burden on plasma NfL are lacking. Methods: Associations were tested between plasma NfL and brain Aß, medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) as well as neuroimaging features of CSVD, including white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, and cerebral microbleeds. Results: We found that participants with either MTA (defined as MTA score ≥2; neurodegeneration [N]+WMH-) or WMH (cut-off for log-transformed WMH volume at 50th percentile; N-WMH+) manifested increased plasma NfL levels. Participants with both pathologies (N+WMH+) showed the highest NfL compared to N+WMH-, N-WMH+, and N-WMH- individuals. Discussion: Plasma NfL has potential utility in stratifying individual and combined contributions of AD pathology and CSVD to cognitive impairment.

19.
Biomolecules ; 13(3)2023 03 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36979460

ABSTRACT

Tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1 (TNF-R1)-mediated signaling is critical to the regulation of inflammatory responses. TNF-R1 can be proteolytically released into systemic blood circulation in a soluble form (sTNF-R1), where it binds to circulating TNF and functions to attenuate TNF-mediated inflammation. Increases of peripheral sTNF-R1 have been reported in both Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and vascular dementia (VaD). However, the status of sTNF-R1 in predementia subjects (cognitive impairment, no dementia, CIND) is unknown, and putative associations with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), as well as with longitudinal changes in cognitive functions are unclear. We measured baseline serum sTNF-R1 in a longitudinally assessed cohort of 93 controls and 103 CIND, along with neuropsychological evaluations and neuroimaging assessments. Serum sTNF-R1 levels were increased in CIND compared with controls (p < 0.001). Higher baseline sTNF-R1 levels were specifically associated with lacunar infarcts (rate ratio = 6.91, 95% CI 3.19-14.96, p < 0.001), as well as lower rates of cognitive decline in the CIND subgroup. Our data suggest that sTNF-R1 interacts with vascular cognitive impairment in a complex manner at predementia stages, with elevated levels associated with more severe CSVD at baseline, but which may subsequently be protective against cognitive decline.


Subject(s)
Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases , Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I , Humans , Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
20.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 92(2): 445-455, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36776060

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation has been postulated to play an important role in cognitive impairment, cognitive decline, and dementia. Inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 are found to be associated with the neuro-inflammatory process and worse cognitive function. However, it is unknown whether these interleukins are associated with long-term cognitive function. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of baseline IL-6 and IL-8 with cognitive function at baseline as well as its association with cognitive decline over five-year follow-up. METHODS: 387 patients were recruited from an ongoing memory clinic-based study who underwent comprehensive physical, medical, neuropsychological and blood assessments together with brain MRI. IL-6 and IL-8 were measured using LUMINEX assays. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Canadian Stroke Network neuropsychological battery was used to assess cognitive decline across multiple domains. RESULTS: Among the 387 (mean age = 72.9 years and 53.7% males) participants, 322 had at least two follow-up assessments and were included in the longitudinal analysis. Negative linear trend associations were found between tertiles of IL-8 with baseline global cognition (p-trend< 0.001), attention (p-trend = 0.005), executive function (p-trend< 0.001), and visuospatial function (p-trend = 0.002) domains. No association was found between baseline IL-8 and cognitive decline. IL-6 was not associated with both baseline and follow-up cognition. CONCLUSION: IL-8 was associated with worse cognition especially in attention, executive function, and visuospatial function, suggesting the role of neuroinflammation in cognitive impairment. Hence, blood inflammatory biomarkers may be useful indicators in identifying patients at risk of cognitive impairment and warrant consideration for inclusion in treatment trials.


Subject(s)
Cognitive Dysfunction , Interleukin-6 , Male , Humans , Aged , Female , Interleukin-8 , Neuroinflammatory Diseases , Neuropsychological Tests , Canada , Cognition , Biomarkers
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...