Serum levels of BCL-2 protein in patients with schizophrenia

In order to identify a patophysiological mechanism that could explain the progressive elements of schizophrenia and its relationship with neurodevelopment, oxidant stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, neurochemical sensitisation and a disregulation of apoptosis were considered.To test apoptotic process in schizophrenia, Bcl-2 protein was determined in sera from 30 patients with schizophrenia and from 30 age and gender matched healthy subjects by an ELISA method. Although mean serum Bcl-2 protein concentration in patients with schizophrenia was lower than in healthy volunteers, there was no any significant difference between patient (0.276 ± 0.07 ng/mL) and control (0.332 ± 0.22 ng/mL) values. No significant difference was found between males and females. Similar Bcl-2 concentrations were obtained in the group showing almost equally positive and negative symptoms, in the group with a relative predomination of positive symptoms and in the group with a relative predomination of negative symptoms. Serum Bcl-2 protein concentration in patients treated with first generation antipsychotics was 0.301 ± 0.075 ng/mL, and it was significantly higher in comparison with the values obtained in patients receiving the second generation antipsychotics (0.233 ± 0.052 ng/mL, p< 0.05). A significant correlation was found between serum levels of Bcl-2 and FasL (r = 0.418, p < 0.01). There was not any significant correlation between serum Bcl-2 concentration and heredity, the first onset of the disease, the number of psychotic episodes and the duration of psychosis. To our knowledge to date, this has been the first demonstration of Bcl-2 concentration in sera of patients with schizophrenia, showing significantly different values between patients treated with typical or atypical antipsychotics.

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Plasma kisspeptin and ghrelin levels in puberty variant cases

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1515/jpem-2016-0127 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Erdal Kurnaz ◽

Yaşar Şen ◽

Süleyman Aydın

Keyword(s):

Serum Levels ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Premature Thelarche ◽

Premature Adrenarche ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Gender ◽

And Control ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

AbstractBackground:The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of kisspeptin and ghrelin (GAH), as well as the relationship of these two peptides with each other in premature thelarche (PT) and premature adrenarche (PA) cases and to investigate the possibility of using these peptides as markers in the differentiation of puberty disorders.Methods:A PT group aged 1–8 years (n = 40), a PA group aged 1–9 years (n = 23, female/male = 20/3) and control groups consistent with each of the previous groups in terms of age and gender were created for the study. Kisspeptin and ghrelin levels were measured with ELISA methods from blood samples drawn while fasting in the morning.Results:When the PT group was compared with the controls, the plasma kisspeptin levels of the cases were significantly higher than the control group (165.47 ± 15.45 pmol/L, 96.82 ± 12.33 pmol/L, p = 0.005, respectively). Kisspeptin levels in the PA group did not show a difference with the control group (121.36 ± 17.99 pmol/L, 95.52 ± 11.54 pmol/L, p = 0.249, respectively). No significant difference could be found when GAH levels in the PT and PA groups were compared with controls. No significant correlation was found between kisspeptin and GAH levels in the PT and PA groups.Conclusions:Our results indicate that kisspeptin plays an important role in the PT, but GAH is not associated with puberty disorders.

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A Study of Wideband Energy Reflectance in Patients with Otosclerosis: Data from a Chinese Population

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2019/2070548 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Suju Wang ◽

Wenyang Hao ◽

Chunxiao Xu ◽

Daofeng Ni ◽

Zhiqiang Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resonance Frequency ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Chinese Population ◽

Ambient Pressure ◽

Control Group ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Gender ◽

And Control ◽

Peak Pressures

Objective(s). The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) in the diagnosis of otosclerosis by comparing the differences in the energy reflectance (ER) of WAI between patients with otosclerosis and age- and gender-matched normal hearing controls in the Chinese population. Methods. Twenty surgically confirmed otosclerotic ears were included in the otosclerotic group. The ER of WAI at ambient and peak pressures, resonance frequency, and 226-Hz tympanogram were collected prior to surgery using a Titan hearing test platform (Interacoustics A/S, Middelfart, Denmark). All diagnoses of otosclerosis in the tested ear were confirmed by surgery after the measurements. Thirteen normal adults (26 ears) who were age- and gender-matched with the otosclerotic patients were included as the control group. Results. At peak pressure, the ERs of otosclerotic patients were higher than those of the control group for frequencies less than 4,000Hz and were lower for frequencies greater than 4,000Hz. In addition, within the analyzed frequencies, the differences observed at 2,520Hz was statistically significant (p<0.05/16=0.003, Bonferroni corrected). At ambient pressure, the differences observed at 1,260 and 6,350Hz were statistically significant (p<0.05/16=0.003, Bonferroni corrected). Although the differences between the otosclerotic and control groups exhibited similar trends to those in studies implemented in Caucasian populations, the norms in the present study in the control group were different from those in the Caucasian populations, suggesting racial differences in WAI test results. Regarding the middle ear resonance frequency, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion. WAI can provide valuable information for the diagnosis of otosclerosis in the Chinese population. Norms and diagnostic criteria corresponding to the patient’s racial group are necessary to improve the efficiency of WAI in the diagnosis of otosclerosis.

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The effect of levothyroxine in comparison with placebo on serum osteocalcin levels in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism

Current Drug Safety ◽

10.2174/1574886316666210525102230 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

Author(s):

Reihaneh Rezaee ◽

Masoud Mohebbi ◽

Mozhgan Afkhamizadeh ◽

Mohammad Ali Yaghoubi ◽

Mona Najaf Najafi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Hormones ◽

Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Overt Hypothyroidism ◽

Serum Osteocalcin ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Metabolic Conditions ◽

And Control

Background and Objective: Subclinical hypothyroidism can potentially develop to overt hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones have substantial roles in metabolism and glucose homeostasis and thus are closely related to determinant factors of metabolic syndromes, such as obesity and insulin resistance. Osteocalcin is considered a predictor of metabolic conditions in thyroid diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of levothyroxine vs. placebo on serum osteocalcin levels in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 30 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism who were referred to the endocrine clinics of Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. After giving informed consent, patients were randomly divided into intervention (50 µg/day levothyroxine for 2 months) and control (placebo) groups. Serum levels of osteocalcin, thyroid hormones, lipid profile, insulin, and fasting glucose, as well as other clinical and anthropometric data, were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. SPSS was used to analyze the data and P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean age in the intervention and control groups was 35.07 ± 9.94 and 31.30 ± 4.30, respectively (P=0.20). There was no significant difference between osteocalcin levels before and after the intervention in either of the groups (P=0.54). TSH level was significantly decreased in the levothyroxine group after the intervention (P<0.01). T4 level was significantly increased in the intervention group (P=0.02). Conclusion: Levothyroxine had no significant effect on increasing the levels of serum osteocalcin in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. We have registered the trial in the Iranian registry of clinical trials (IRCT) with the registration code IRCT20171129037677N1.

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Hair Magnesium content and its relation to Serum Magnesium level in children with Idiopathic Epilepsy

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcab113.005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Hamed Mahmoud Shatla ◽

Mariam Fathy Abdel Maksoud ◽

Raghda Mohamed Hesham Zaitoun ◽

Alaa Rabie Abdel Baset Mahmoud

Keyword(s):

Serum Magnesium ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Magnesium Content ◽

Magnesium Level ◽

Idiopathic Epilepsy ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Gender ◽

Patients With Epilepsy

Abstract Objective To measure the level of hair Mg, as well as its level in serum, in patients with epilepsy and compare them to the levels found in non-epileptic age and gender matched children, and to explore any potential correlation between either serum or hair level of magnesium and seizure characteristics in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Methods An observational cross-sectional study including 50 children with idiopathic epilepsy and 100 non-epileptic age and gender matched control subjects. Cases were subjected to full history taking, examination and measurements of serum and hair levels of magnesium, control subjects only had their serum and hair level of magnesium measured as for the cases. Results The mean serum magnesium was 29.11 ± 13.42 ug/ml for cases and 27.67 ± 7.24 ug/ml for controls and the median hair level of magnesium was 42.22 ug/g with IQR of 25.9 - 56.82 for cases and 38.6 ug/g with IQR of 25.21 - 61.25 for controls. No statistically significant difference was observed between both groups as regards either serum or hair magnesium levels. No statistically significant correlation was observed between either hair or serum levels of magnesium and seizure characteristics though the correlations were nearing statistical significance for the hair magnesium content. Conclusion Hair magnesium level may be better correlated to seizure characteristics and control than serum levels in patients with epilepsy.

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EFFECT OF 12.5% VIRGIN COCONUT OIL (COCOS NUCIFERA) MOUTHWASH ON PLAQUE INDEX OF FIXED PROSTHETIC DENTURE USERS

International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics ◽

10.22159/ijap.2017.v9s2.11 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

Leo Saputra ◽

Farisza Gita ◽

Ratna Sari Dewi

Keyword(s):

Cocos Nucifera ◽

Coconut Oil ◽

Plaque Index ◽

Control Groups ◽

Index Measurement ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

The Difference ◽

And Gender ◽

And Control

Objective: To find out the difference in the plaque index scores of FPD users before and after using a 12.5% VCO mouthwash.Methods: The plaque index measurement of an abutment tooth was taken on 40 subjects with FPD in both test and control groups. Subjects used a 12.5% VCO mouthwash or aquades twice a day for 4 days after brushing their teeth. Statistical analysis of the measurement result of the plaque index scores before and after using the coconut oil mouthwash was done using the Wilcoxon test.Results: There is a statistically significant difference in the plaque index scores of FPD users before and after using the 12.5% VCO mouthwash with a statistically significant decrease in plaque index scores among restoration margin locations and tooth brushing habits, but not among age and gender groups.Conclusion: Using a 12.5% VCO mouthwash may decrease the plaque index of fixed prosthetic denture users.

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Changes in interleukin-27 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome and their clinical significance

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5652 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e5652 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lin Zhang ◽

Junfeng Zhang ◽

Shaohong Su ◽

Suyan Luo

Keyword(s):

Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽

Angina Pectoris ◽

Th17 Cells ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Control Groups ◽

Coronary Syndrome ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

And Control

Background This study evaluated changes in interleukin (IL)-27 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and their influence on Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells. Methods Serum levels of IL-27, IL-4, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ in healthy subjects as well as patients with ACS, including stable angina pectoris (SA), unstable angina pectoris (UA), and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The proportions of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), were measured using flow cytometry, after incubation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 4 h. The proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells among PBMCs in AMI and UA were detected after stimulation with IL-27 or PMA + IL-27 for 4, 8, and 12 h. Results Serum levels of IL-27 in patients with AMI and UA were significantly lower than those in SA and control groups, while serum levels of IL-17 and IFN-γ in AMI and UA groups were dramatically increased compared to those in SA and healthy control groups. However, there were no statistically significant differences in serum IL-4. The proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells among PBMCs were statistically significantly higher in the AMI and UA groups than those in the SA and control groups, while there was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of Th2 cells among different groups. For patients with AMI and UA, the effect of co-stimulation of PBMCs with PMA and IL-27 was not significantly different from that of PMA single stimulation, while PMA + IL-27 co-stimulation lowered the Th17 cell proportion significantly compared to PMA single stimulation. Discussion Compared to SA patients and healthy controls, patients with ACS (AMI + UA) had lower serum levels of IL-27 and higher proportions of PBMC Th1 and Th17 cells, which could be attributed to the inhibitory effects of IL-27 on the proliferation of Th17 cells. These results indicated that IL-27 could be a novel therapeutic target in ACS patients.

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Exploring the Serum Level of RE1 Silencing Transcription Factor in Alzheimer’s Disease

Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1731970 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shashank Shekhar ◽

Manjari Tripathi ◽

A. B. Dey ◽

Sharmistha Dey

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Serum Levels ◽

P Value ◽

Standard Curve ◽

Resonance Unit ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Duration Of Disease ◽

And Gender

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST) level in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and elderly controls by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. Materials and Methods In this case–control study of 133 subjects, 49 patients with AD, 49 patients with MCI, and 35 elderly controls were recruited. The REST protein concentrations were evaluated by SPR. The resonance unit for each sample was recorded and the concentration of serum REST of study group was derived from the standard curve. All the experiments were done in triplicates. Statistical analysis was done and p-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results A significant difference was observed in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, Hindi Mental State Examination scale (HMSE) score education, disease duration, and gender among the groups. A significant (p>0.0001) difference in the duration of disease between AD and MCI was observed. It was observed that the mean concentration of serum REST was not significantly (p = 0.266) different among the groups. Conclusion This study first time evaluated the serum levels of REST in AD, MCI and age-matched elderly controls. The rest levels were similar in all groups; however, it can provide a new direction to future blood-based biomarker studies of REST.

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The Effect of Humor Intervention Program on Positive and Negative Symptoms among Schizophrenic Patients

10.53350/pjmhs211572022 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. 2022-2028

Author(s):

Eman Asran Mohamed ◽

Enayat Abd El Wahab Khalil ◽

Zeinab Abd El Halim Osman ◽

Mona Rakhawy ◽

Naglaa Mostafa G

Keyword(s):

Intervention Program ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Intervention Group ◽

University Hospital ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

And Control ◽

Positive And Negative Symptoms

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic disease characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behavior. Humor could be used as an alternative to conventional treatment with the goal of helping patients with schizophrenia cope with symptoms, enhance recovery through its emotional, cognitive, social and physiological effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of humor intervention program on positive and negative symptoms among schizophrenic patients. Design: Randomized control trial (RCT) design was used. Sample: Purposive sample consisted of 40) schizophrenic patients, the study group (n= 20) and control group (n= 20). The patients were selected and allocated randomly into two groups, intervention group (received the humor interventions program) and control group (received traditional care). The study conducted in the Psychiatry and Addiction Prevention "El Kasr AlAini University Hospital and al Rakhawy Hospital for Mental Health. Tools: three tools were used for data collection were; the Socio Demographic Data Sheet, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS). Results: revealed that, there was a statistical significant difference between total score of PANSS between study and control groups post intervention. Conclusion: The present study emphasizes the importance of humor intervention program in reducing severity of symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Key words: schizophrenia, humor intervention, positive symptoms, negative symptoms

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An Early Developmental Marker of Deficit versus Nondeficit Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Bulletin ◽

10.1093/schbul/sbz024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 1331-1335

Author(s):

Brian Kirkpatrick ◽

Özlem Gürbüz Oflezer ◽

Mehtap Delice Arslan ◽

Gary Hack ◽

Emilio Fernandez-Egea

Keyword(s):

Negative Symptoms ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Developmental Differences ◽

Significant Group ◽

Course Of Illness ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Deficit Schizophrenia ◽

And Gender ◽

And Control ◽

Early Developmental

Abstract People with schizophrenia and primary negative symptoms (deficit schizophrenia) differ from those without such symptoms (nondeficit schizophrenia) on risk factors, course of illness, other signs and symptoms, treatment response, and biological correlates. These differences suggest that the 2 groups may also have developmental differences. A previous study found that people with schizophrenia have a wider palate than comparison subjects. We tested the hypothesis that those with deficit and nondeficit schizophrenia would differ on palate width. A dentist made blinded measurements of palate shape in deficit (N = 21) and nondeficit (N = 25) patients and control subjects (N = 127), matched for age and gender. The deficit group had significantly wider palates than either nondeficit or control subjects (respective means [standard deviation] 37.5 [3.9], 33.7 [3.1], and 34.0 [2.9]; P < .001 for both deficit/nondeficit and deficit/control comparisons, respective effect sizes 1.08 and 1.01). The nondeficit/control difference in width was not significant (P = .83), and there were no significant group differences in length or depth. The power to detect a nondeficit/control difference in width equal in size to that of the deficit/control difference in width (3.5 mm) was 0.99 and 0.92 for a 2.0-mm difference. This difference in palate width may reflect a divergence in development between deficit and nondeficit patients that occurs by the early second trimester and is consistent with the hypothesis that deficit schizophrenia is a separate disease within the syndrome of schizophrenia.

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Comparative Study on Iris Manifestations between COVID-19 Severe Cases and Non-COVID Individuals

Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jocamr/2021/v14i130238 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 53-60

Author(s):

Y. Rosy Ayda ◽

A. Mooventhan ◽

M. H. Vinothkumar ◽

C. A. Kayelarasi ◽

S. Vijaykanth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Group Analysis ◽

Autonomic Nerve ◽

P Value ◽

Diagnostic Purpose ◽

Control Analysis ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Gender ◽

And Control

Aims: To compare the iris manifestations between COVID-19 positive (severe) cases and their age and gender matched non-COVID-19 individuals. Study Design and Setting: A comparative cross sectional survey performed in Government Omandurar Medical College, Chennai Methodology: This study was performed to compare the iris manifestations between COVID-19 positive (severe) cases (n = 119) and their age and gender matched non-COVID-19 individuals (n = 119). Iris manifestations (both right and left eyes) of all the subjects (both study and control groups) were observed at only one point in time, and was compared between the groups. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics (Frequency distribution and percentage) were performed using Microsoft excel 2010. Within-group analysis was performed using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, while the between-groups (study and control) analysis was performed using Chi-square test with the use of statistical package for the social sciences, version 16. P value < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The research findings in right iris showed a significant difference at p<0.05 in Inner Pupillary Border (IPB), Autonomic Nerve Wreath (ANW), Scurf Rim (SCR), Inflammatory Sign (IS) and Lung Lesion (LL), while no significant difference at p<0.05 in Pupil Size (PS), Absorption Ring (AR), Iris Constitution (IC) and Stress Ring (STR) between the study and control groups. Likewise, the results of the left iris showed a significant difference at p<0.05 in IPB, ANW, SCR, LL and STR, while no significant change at p<0.05 in PS, IC, AR and IS between the study and control groups. Conclusion: The paper aid comparison of the iris manifestations between COVID-19 positive and their age and gender matched non-COVID-19 individuals. The findings are of broad use to the scientific and medical communities searching for safe, cost-effective diagnostic approach. The present study is important in furthering our understanding of the importance of looking into the iris for diagnostic purpose.

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