Melatonin and dopamine serum level associations with motor, cognitive, and sleep dysfunctions in patients with Parkinson's disease: A cross-sectional research study.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multisystem-progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by dopaminergic neurons, however, the role of the non-dopaminergic system (such as melatonin hormone) in the pathogenesis of PD is now emerging. OBJECTIVE: To identify any potential correlation between the dopamine and melatonin serum levels, and motor, cognitive, and sleep dysfunctions in patients with PD. METHOD: Cross-sectional piloting study conducted with a sample of 34 patients with PD (aged 50-72 yrs old). Correlation tests performed to identify any potential correlations between the biomarkers' serum levels and motor, cognitive, and sleep dysfunctional levels in "on-medication" status. RESULTS: Spearman's test showed significant correlations between the melatonin serum level and sleep dysfunctions including overall sleep quality (P = 0.010) and subjective sleep quality sub-score (P = 0.001). On the other hand, spearman's test showed significant correlations between the dopamine serum level and motor dysfunctions including Berg Balance Scale (P = 0.026), 10-Meter Walk Test (P = 0.016), and Fear of Falling Index (P = 0.007), as well as comparisons between the dopamine serum level and cognitive dysfunction (P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin serum level would serve as a potential biomarker in understanding the PD pathogenesis, and the melatonin serum level should be considered in future studies related to PD besides the dopamine serum level.

Association of adiponectin protein and ADIPOQ gene variants with lumbar disc degeneration.

Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is a widespread public health problem that may lead to disability and loss of productivity. Adiponectin is an adipokine secreted by adipose tissue and has been shown to be involved in cartilage homeostasis. In the present study, the association between the rs266729 (-11377C/G) and rs2241766 (45T/G) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) and LDD was investigated. In addition, the correlation between the plasma adiponectin level and LDD was examined. A total of 289 subjects, 168 patients with LDD and 122 healthy individuals, were recruited in the study. All subjects were genotyped for rs266729 and rs2241766 SNPs using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Circulating levels of adiponectin protein were measured using the ELISA technique. A strong association was found between adiponectin level and LDD (P<0.01), where high levels of adiponectin were found in patients compared with healthy controls. The increase in adiponectin level was not affected by gender. However, no significant differences were found in the genotype distribution or allelic frequency of the two examined polymorphisms between patients with LDD and healthy controls (P>0.05). In conclusion, adiponectin appears to be elevated in patients with LDD. The rs266729 and rs2241766 SNPs in the ADIPOQ gene are not associated with LDD.

Effect of endurance exercise training on the expression of GFAP, S100B, and NSE in the striatum of chronic/progressive mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in elderly. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), calcium-binding protein (S100B), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) are brain damage markers. The main goal of this study is to investigate the expression of these markers in the striatum (ST) of chronic/progressive mouse model of PD, and to study the effect of endurance exercise training on the expression of those markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, forty C57BL/6 albino mice were randomly divided into four groups. Sedentary control (SC, n=10), exercise control (ExC, n=10), sedentary Parkinson's (SPD, n=10), and exercised Parkinson's (ExPD, n=10). Chronic Parkinsonism was induced by injecting the animals with 10 doses of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (25 mg/kg) and probenecid (250 mg/kg) over 5 weeks. Modified human treadmill was used to train the mice at a speed of 18 m/min, 0 degrees of inclination, 40 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. At the end of exercise training, we examined the expression of these markers on the striatum of the four animal groups using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Parkinsonism increases the expression of NSE, S100B, and GFAP in the ST, p value P < 0.001, < 0.05, and < 0.7 respectively compared with control group. Exercise training decreases the expression of NSE, S100B, and GFAP in the exercised PD mice compared with sedentary PD mice p value < 0.005, < 0.02, and < 0.40 respectively. CONCLUSION: Treadmill exercise training decreased the expression of brain damage markers in the striatum of chronic Parkinsonian mice, which can partially explain the beneficial neuroprotective role of exercise in patients with PD.

Effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) as home-based therapy on Barthel Index in patients with chronic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) on the Barthel Index (BI) scores in persons with stroke to assess dependency in survivers of stroke and to investigate the long-term effects of CIMT on dependency needs as measured by the BI, based on the hypothesis that CIMT as home-based therapy would be of significant benefit in stroke rehabilitation. METHODS: Twenty-seven participants, 16 men with a mean age of 58 (+/- 10.8) and 4 women with a mean age of 60 (+/- 6.3), participated in the study as an experimental group, and 17 participants, 12 men with a mean age of 58 (+/- 9.7) and 5 women with a mean age of 55 (+/-11.8), participated as a control group. The experimental/treatment group received traditional therapy with the CIMT where the intact contralateral upper limb was placed in a removable cast for 6 hours a day during waking hours for 4 weeks. The control group received traditional therapy only. Both groups were assessed using the BI on admission and on discharge from rehabilitation. In addition, 18 participants (14 male and 4 female), 64% of the experimental group, were reevaluated using the BI for the long-term benefits of CIMT on dependency. RESULTS: Using unpaired t test (SPSS version 15), statistically significant improvement was noted in the BI for the experimental group compared to the control group. After 6 months follow-up, BI was 96.3 +/- 2.7, indicating that the obtained gains were maintained at 6 months post discharge, compared to their BI score at 4 weeks (68.2 +/- 3.8) post CIMT (p value < .005). CONCLUSION: Following stroke, patients who received CIMT every day for 4 weeks in conjunction with traditional rehabilitation therapy showed significant changes in the BI upon discharge and this positive outcome was preserved after 6 months follow-up. This improvement indicates an overall significant improvement in ADL status for patients who received CIMT and has implications for future use in stroke rehabilitation as home-based therapy for stroke rehabilitation.

Association between the functional independence measure and Glasgow coma scale regarding the rehabilitation outcomes of traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of early comprehensive rehabilitation protocols for traumatic brain injury (TBI) using the functional independence measure (FIM), and to study the relationship between FIM and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) variables to determine which patients will be best served by rehabilitation therapies. METHODS: Fifty-one subjects with diagnosed TBI receiving treatment at a single inpatient rehabilitation facility at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Teaching Hospital, Irbid, Jordan were enrolled in this experimental study between August 2006 and February 2008. Of the enrolled subjects, 47 completed the study. The mean age of the participants was 33 years (8 females and 39 males). Glasgow coma scale was measured on admission. Functional independence measure score was measured on admission and on discharge. According to the GCS, the participants were divided into 3 groups as severe injury (GCS: 3-8 [n=24]), moderate injury (GCS: 9-12 [n=12]), and mild or no injury (GCS: 13-15 [n=11]). The FIM score and CGS and their relation were evaluated. RESULTS: Evaluation outcomes revealed a significant improvement in FIM scores after rehabilitation compared to the FIM admission (p=0.00006) in severe TBI. In moderate TBI, the FIM scores were significantly improved (p=0.0004) after rehabilitation. However, with minimal injury, the FIM scores were not significantly improved (p=0.15). CONCLUSION: Early rehabilitation interventions significantly improved the FIM scores in moderate and severe TBI patients. ERRATUM NOTICE PUBLISHED IN NEUROSCIENCES 2009; 14: 306.