Elevated Serum Levels of NSE and S-100β Correlate with Increased Risk of Acute Cerebral Infarction in Asian Populations

Objective Cerebral infarction has a poor prognosis and causes a serious burden on families and society. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and urokinase (UK) are commonly used thrombolytic agents in the clinic. However, direct and powerful clinical trial evidence to determine the therapeutic effect of rt-PA and UK on intravenous thrombolysis is lacking. Methods In this study, 180 patients with acute cerebral infarction were treated with rt-PA or UK. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, Barthel index, bleeding complications, and biomarkers were evaluated. Results No significant differences in NIHSS or Barthel scores were found between the groups. However, UK increased the risk of intracranial haemorrhage compared with rt-PA. rt-PA had increased activity in reducing serum levels of MMP-9 than UK. Conclusion Intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA and UK in the time window of acute cerebral infarction can achieve similar therapeutic effects, but rt-PA can further reduce the risk of cerebral haemorrhage and is relatively safer than UK.

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Correlation Between Serum C-Reactive Protein And Cystatin C In Patients With Acute Cerebral Infarction And Carotid Artery Stenosis

Advanced Emergency Medicine ◽

10.18686/aem.v7.124 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tao Zhang ◽

Xiaowen Yang ◽

Hui Wang ◽

Jie Luo ◽

Anrong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Cerebral Infarction ◽

Carotid Artery Stenosis ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Artery Stenosis ◽

Acute Cerebral Infarction ◽

Control Group ◽

Case Group ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Serum Crp

To investigate the correlation between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum cystatin C (Cys-C) levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction and carotid artery stenosis. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2016 admitted to our hospital new acute cerebral infarction parallel neck vascular color Doppler ultrasound examination showed 121 cases of carotid stenosis as the case group; select the same period of hospitalized patients with non-cerebrovascular disease in 50 cases As a control group. Fasting venous blood was collected on the third day after onset of the disease and serum levels of CRP and Cys-C were measured and compared. Results: Serum levels of CRP and Cys-C in case group were significantly higher than those in control group (P <0.05). The correlation between serum CRP and Cys-C was found in any pairwise comparison (r = 0.4732). The level of CRP and Cys-C were closely related to the degree of carotid artery stenosis (P <0.05). Conclusion: The combined detection of serum CRP and Cys-C levels can be used to evaluate the degree of carotid artery stenosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction and provide a reference for the next carotid endarterectomy.

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Analysis of serum levels of organochlorine pesticides and related factors in Parkinson’s disease

10.21203/rs.3.rs-64368/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shaoqing Xu ◽

Xiaodong Yang ◽

Yiwei Qian ◽

Dayong Wan ◽

Fenghua Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Organochlorine Pesticides ◽

Genetic Variants ◽

Cell Model ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background: There is evidence that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Pesticides are a class of environmental toxins that are linked to increased risk of PD. However, few studies have investigated the interaction between specific pesticides and genetic variants related to PD in the Chinese population.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 19 serum levels of pesticides were measured. In addition, we also analyzed the interaction between specific pesticides and candidate genetic variants for PD. Finally, we investigated the mechanistic basis for the association between pesticides and increased risk of PD.Results: Serum levels of organochlorine pesticides including α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, propanil, heptachlor, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, p,p’-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p’-DDE) and o,p’-dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (o,p’-DDT) were higher in PD patients than in controls. α-HCH and propanil levels were associated with increased PD risk. Serum levels of dieldrin were associated with Hamilton Depression Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores in PD patients. Interactions between high pesticide levels and polymorphisms in rs11931074 and rs16940758 (α-HCH or β-HCH interacted with TT genotype in rs11931074 and δ-HCH interacted with TT genotype in rs16940758) were associated with the risk of PD. In cell model, α-HCH and propanil increased the level of reactive oxygen species and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential. Propanil but not α-HCH induced the aggregation of α-synuclein.Conclusions: Elevated serum levels of α-HCH and propanil are associated with increased risk of PD. Serum levels of dieldrin were associated with depression and cognitive function in PD patients. The interaction between genetic variants and pesticides also increased the risk of PD. Effects of genetic variants and pesticides on the risk of PD should be studied in more detail with a larger sample size to further understand the mechanisms involved.

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Genetic variants of interferon-gamma and its mRNA expression and inflammatory parameters in the pathogenesis of vitiligo

Biochemistry and Cell Biology ◽

10.1139/bcb-2016-0228 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (4) ◽

pp. 474-481 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rehab A. Karam ◽

Haidy E. Zidan ◽

Mohamed H. Khater

Keyword(s):

Elevated Serum ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Intercellular Adhesion Molecule ◽

Control Group ◽

Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 ◽

Inflammatory Parameters ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ

Although genetics plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, vitiligo pathogenesis is still unclear. Our aim was to investigate the role of IFN-γ expression and polymorphism in vitiligo susceptibility and whether intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and TNF-β play a role in vitiligo pathogenesis as important inflammatory parameters. Eighty-five patients with vitiligo and 90 controls were investigated for IFN-γ gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR and genotyped for IFN-γ +874T/A (rs2430561) and IFN-γ +2109A/G (rs1861494) gene polymorphisms by sequence-specific primer (SSP)-PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), respectively. Serum levels of inflammatory parameters were measured using ELISA. Frequencies of the +874 TT genotype and T allele were significantly higher in patients with active vitiligo than in stable patients (P = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Calculation of odds ratio suggested a 1.7-fold increased risk of vitiligo in individuals having the TA haplotype. We observed overexpression of IFN-γ mRNA with elevated serum levels of IFN-γ, ICAM-1, TNF-α, and TNF-β in patients with vitiligo when compared with the control group (P = 0.001, for all). In addition, these levels were elevated in patients with active vitiligo compared with stable patients with vitiligo (P = 0.008, 0.006, 0.01, 0.01, and 0.03, respectively), which suggests the involvement of these cytokines in disease activity. In conclusion, IFN-γ is a promising immunological marker in vitiligo pathogenesis.

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High Serum Levels of Resistin is Associated With Acute Cerebral Infarction

The Neurologist ◽

10.1097/nrl.0000000000000362 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Author(s):

Kee Ook Lee ◽

Kyung-Yul Lee ◽

Cheol-Young Lee ◽

Ji Hoon Kim ◽

Jaeku Kang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Infarction ◽

Serum Levels ◽

High Serum ◽

Acute Cerebral Infarction

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Serum Resistin Levels May Contribute to an Increased Risk of Acute Cerebral Infarction

Molecular Neurobiology ◽

10.1007/s12035-016-9751-3 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 1919-1926 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Xiao-Liu Dong ◽

Shi-Jun Xu ◽

Li Zhang ◽

Xiu-Qing Zhang ◽

Ting Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Infarction ◽

Acute Cerebral Infarction ◽

Increased Risk

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ELEVATED ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE (ALT) IN BLOOD DONORS: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MAIN ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEPATITIS C

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46651998000400003 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 219-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Fernando Lopes GONÇALES Jr. ◽

Raquel Silveira Bello STUCCHI ◽

Priscila Maria Oliveira PAPAIORDANOU ◽

Maria Helena Postal PAVAN ◽

Neiva Sellan Lopes GONÇALES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C ◽

Blood Donors ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Abdominal Ultrasound ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase ◽

Period 2 ◽

Increased Risk

The determination of aminotranferases levels is very useful in the diagnosis of hepatopathies. In recent years, an elevated serum ALT level in blood donors has been associated with an increased risk of post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH). The purpose of the study was to research the factors associated with elevated ALT levels in a cohort of voluntary blood donors and to evaluate the relationship between increased ALT levels and the development of hepatitis C (HCV) infection. 166 volunteer blood donors with elevated ALT at the time of their first donation were studied. All of the donors were questioned about previous hepatopathies, exposure to hepatitis, exposure to chemicals, use of medication or drugs, sexual behaviour, contact with blood or secretions and their intake of alcohol. Every three months, the serum levels of AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, cholesterol, triglyceride and glycemia are assessed over a two year follow-up. The serum thyroid hormone levels as well as the presence of auto-antibodies were also measured. Abdominal ultrasound was performed in all patients with persistently elevated ALT or AST levels. A needle biopsy of liver was performed in 9 donors without definite diagnostic after medical investigation. The presence of anti-HCV antibodies in 116 donors were assayed again the first clinical evaluation. At the end of follow-up period (2 years later) 71 donors were tested again for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. None of donors resulted positive for hepatitis B or hepatitis C markers during the follow-up. Of the 116 donors, 101 (87%) had persistently elevated ALT serum levels during the follow-up. Obesity and alcoholism were the principal conditions related to elevated ALT serum levels in 91/101 (90.1%) donors. Hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus also were associated with increased ALT levels. Only 1/101 (0.9%) had mild chronic active non A-G viral hepatitis and 3/101 (2.9%) had liver biopsy with non-specific reactive hepatitis. The determination of ALT levels was not useful to detect donors infected with HCV at donation in Brazil, including the initial seronegative anti-HCV phase.

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Interaction Between Genetic Variants and Serum Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides Contributes to Parkinson’s Disease

10.21203/rs.3.rs-64368/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shaoqing Xu ◽

Xiaodong Yang ◽

Yiwei Qian ◽

Dayong Wan ◽

Fenghua Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Organochlorine Pesticides ◽

Genetic Variants ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background: There is evidence that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Pesticides are a class of environmental toxins that are linked to increased risk of PD. However, few studies have investigated the interaction between specific pesticides and genetic variants related to PD in the Chinese population.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 19 serum levels of pesticides were measured. In addition, we also analyzed the interaction between specific pesticides and candidate genetic variants for PD. Finally, we investigated the mechanistic basis for the association between pesticides and increased risk of PD.Results: Serum levels of organochlorine pesticides including α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, propanil, heptachlor, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, p,p’-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p’-DDE) and o,p’-dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (o,p’-DDT) were higher in PD patients than in controls. α-HCH and propanil levels were associated with increased PD risk. Serum levels of dieldrin were associated with Hamilton Depression Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores in PD patients. The interaction between rs11931074 in α-synuclein (SNCA) and α-HCH or β-HCH, respectively, as well as rs16940758 in the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene and δ-HCH were related to increased risk of PD. In addition, α-HCH and propanil enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species and decreased of mitochondrial membrane potential. Propanil but not α-HCH induced the aggregation of α-synuclein.Conclusions: Elevated serum levels of α-HCH and propanil are associated with increased risk of PD. Serum levels of dieldrin were associated with depression and cognitive function in PD patients. The interaction between genetic variants and pesticides also increased the risk of PD. Effects of genetic variants and pesticides on the risk of PD should be studied in more detail with a larger sample size to further understand the mechanisms involved.

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Challenges in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation With Subclinical Hyperthyroidism

Frontiers in Endocrinology ◽

10.3389/fendo.2021.795492 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Baris Gencer ◽

Anne R. Cappola ◽

Nicolas Rodondi ◽

Tinh-Hai Collet

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽

Reference Ranges ◽

Subclinical Hyperthyroidism ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Patients At Risk ◽

Novel Strategy

Subclinical thyroid disorders have a high prevalence among older individuals and women. Subclinical hypothyroidism is diagnosed by elevated serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with thyroxine levels within the reference range, and subclinical hyperthyroidism is diagnosed by low TSH in conjunction with thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels within reference ranges. Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly diagnosed cardiac arrhythmia and has been associated with an increased risk of mortality, heart failure, stroke, and depression. Mechanistic data from animal and human physiology studies as well as observational data in humans support an association of subclinical hyperthyroidism with atrial fibrillation. Guidelines recommend the measurement of TSH in the evaluation of new-onset atrial fibrillation. All patients with overt hyperthyroidism should be treated, and treatment of subclinical hyperthyroidism should be considered in patients older than 65 years with TSH < 0.4 mlU/L, or in younger patients with TSH < 0.1 mlU/L. Guidelines also recommend screening for AF in patients with known hyperthyroidism. Wearable devices that measure the heart electrical activity continuously may be a novel strategy to detect atrial fibrillation in patients at risk. In this review, we explore the interplay between thyroid hormones and atrial fibrillation, management controversies in subclinical hyperthyroidism, and potential strategies to improve the management of atrial fibrillation in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism.

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