scholarly journals Superficial Macula Capillary Complexity Changes Are Associated With Disability in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruili Wei ◽  
Jianyang Xie ◽  
Huihui Wu ◽  
Fangping He ◽  
Fangxia Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optic Neuritis ◽  
Neuromyelitis Optica ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Concentric Circle ◽  
Foveal Avascular Zone ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Microvascular Damage ◽  
Microvascular Changes ◽  
Tomographic Angiography

Purpose: We examined the macular microvascular changes of the macula in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients and its association with their disability and other clinical variables.Methods: Thirty-four NMOSD (13 patients without optic neuritis, NMOSD-NON, and 21 patients with a history of optic neuritis, NMOSD-ON) and 44 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. Optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) was used to image the superficial (SCP), deep (DCP), and whole capillary plexus (WCP) in a 2.5-mm-diameter concentric circle [excluding the foveal avascular zone (FAZ)]. An algorithm (Dbox) was used to quantify the complexity of the three capillary layers by fractal analysis. We also evaluated the expanded disability scale status (EDSS).Results: Dbox values were significantly reduced in SCP (p < 0.001), DCP (p < 0.001), and WCP (p = 0.003) of NMOSD when compared with HCs. Dbox values were significantly reduced in NMOSD eyes with optic neuritis when compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001) and eyes without optic neuritis (p = 0.004) in the SCP. In the DCP, eyes with optic neuritis showed significantly reduced Dbox values when compared with eyes without optic neuritis (p = 0.016) and healthy controls (p < 0.001); eyes without optic neuritis showed significantly reduced Dbox values (p = 0.007) in the DCP when compared with healthy controls. A significant negative correlation (Rho = −0.475, p = 0.005) was shown between the superficial macula Dbox values and the EDSS in NMOSD patients. Additionally, a negative correlation (Rho = −0.715, p = 0.006) was seen in the superficial Dbox values in [e]eyes without optic neuritis and EDSS.Conclusions: Macular microvascular damage in the superficial plexus is associated with disability in NMOSD. Macular microvascular alterations arise independently of the occurrence of ON in NMOSD.

Increased plasma kynurenine and its relationship to neopterin and tryptophan in Tourette's syndrome

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Rickards ◽  
S. M. Dursun ◽  
G. Farrar ◽  
T. Betts ◽  
J. A. Corbett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tourette Syndrome ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Control Value ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Patient Value

SynopsisFasting plasma levels of tryptophan, kynurenine and the pteridines, neopterin and tetrahydrobiopterin were measured in seven patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and 10 healthy controls. Plasma kynurenine was significantly elevated in the GTS patients. The lowest patient value was higher than the highest control value. Values for tryptophan, neopterin and tetrahydrobiopterin were similar in TS patients and controls. However, in TS patients only, there was a significant negative correlation between tryptophan and neopterin and a significant positive correlation between kynurenine and neopterin when controlling for tryptophan. This finding indicates that activation of cellular immune processes is a possible explanation for the rise in plasma kynurenine.

scholarly journals Reduced Superficial Capillary Density in Cerebral Infarction Is Inversely Correlated With the NIHSS Score

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Robert Kwapong ◽  
Yuying Yan ◽  
Zilong Hao ◽  
Bo Wu
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Infarction ◽  
Capillary Density ◽  
Foveal Avascular Zone ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Microvascular Changes ◽  
Receiver Operating Characteristics Curve ◽  
Capillary Plexus ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Purpose: The retina and the brain share similar neuronal and microvascular features, therein we aimed to assess the structural and microvascular changes in the macula and choriocapillaris (CC) in patients with cerebral infarction when compared with healthy controls using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods: OCTA was used to image and measure the capillary density in the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC), superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), choriocapillaris (CC), and mean area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in all participants. Twenty-two cerebral infarction patients based on their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 25 healthy controls were included in our study.Results: Density of the RPC (P < 0.001), SCP (P = 0.001), DCP (P < 0.001) and CC (P < 0.001) were significantly reduced in cerebral infarction patients when compared with healthy controls, respectively. Retinal thickness measurements (P < 0.05) were significantly reduced in cerebral infarction patients when compared with healthy controls. The mean FAZ area was significantly larger (P = 0.012) in cerebral infarction patients when compared with healthy controls. National Institute of HealthStroke Scale (NIHSS) inversely correlated with SCP density in cerebral infarction patients (Rho = −0.409, P = 0.001). Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed that the blood flow of the choriocapillaris had the highest index [area under the receiver operatingcharacteristic (AUROC) = 0.964] to discriminate cerebral infarction patients from the healthy controls.Conclusions: Our study suggests that cerebral microcirculation dysfunction which occurs in cerebral infarction is mirrored in the macula and choroidal microcirculation. OCTA has the potential to non-invasively characterize the macula and choroidal changes in cerebral infarction in vivo.

Visual evoked potentials in neuromyelitis optica and its spectrum disorders

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 617-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Ringelstein ◽  
Ingo Kleiter ◽  
Ilya Ayzenberg ◽  
Nadja Borisow ◽  
Friedemann Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optic Neuritis ◽  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Visual Evoked Potentials ◽  
Neuromyelitis Optica ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Caucasian Cohort ◽  
Visual Evoked ◽  
Afro Brazilian

Optic neuritis (ON) is a key feature of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Recently, NMO patients of predominantly Afro-Brazilian origin were evaluated by visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and showed marked amplitude reductions. Here, we analyzed VEPs in a predominantly Caucasian cohort, consisting of 43 patients with definite NMO, 18 with anti-aquaporin (AQP) 4 antibody-seropositive NMO spectrum disorders and 61 matched healthy controls. We found reduced amplitudes in only 12.3%, prolonged latencies in 41.9% and a lack of response in 14.0% of NMO eyes. Delayed P100 latencies in eyes without prior ON suggested this was a subclinical affection. The data indicate heterogenous patterns in NMO, warranting further investigation.

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia show association with amygdala volumes and neural activation during affective processing

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoffer Rahm ◽  
Benny Liberg ◽  
Greg Reckless ◽  
Olga Ousdal ◽  
Ingrid Melle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Affective Stimuli ◽  
Amygdala Volume

ObjectivesNegative symptoms in schizophrenia have been associated with structural and functional alterations of the amygdala. We hypothesised that there would be between-group differences in amygdala volume and neural activation patterns during processing of affective stimuli among patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. We further hypothesised correlations between neuroimaging metrics and clinical ratings of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsWe used structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess volume and neural activation of the amygdala in 28 patients with schizophrenia and 28 healthy controls.ResultsWe found no between-group differences in amygdala volume or neural activation. However, we found a significant negative correlation between emotional blunting and neural activation in the left amygdala during processing of positive affect. We also found a significant negative correlation between stereotyped thinking and the volume of right amygdala.ConclusionOur findings implicate the amygdala in a subgroup of negative symptoms in schizophrenia that are characterised by reduced expression with blunted affect and stereotyped thinking.

scholarly journals Association of Circulating T Follicular Helper Cells With Idiopathic Optic Neuritis and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wu ◽  
Binbin Yang ◽  
Jiawei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Optic Neuritis ◽  
Neuromyelitis Optica ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders ◽  
T Follicular Helper Cells ◽  
Tfh Cells ◽  
Helper Cells ◽  
Follicular Helper ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Background: T follicular helper cells (Tfh cells) play an important role in activating B lymphocytes and may associate with idiopathic Optic Neuritis (ON) and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD).Objective: This study aimed to examine the potential role of Tfh cells in pathogenesis of idiopathic ON and NMOSD.Methods: Circulating CD4+CXCR5+ and CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ cells in 46 idiopathic ON and 68 NMOSD patients as well as 28 healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry before treatment. Serum AQP4 antibody, Expended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Visual Outcome Scale (VOS) were detected before and after treatment.Results: The percentages of circulating CD4+CXCR5+ and CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+Tfh cells in CD4+ cells (%) were significantly increased in idiopathic ON and NMOSD compared with those of healthy controls (p < 0.01). No significant difference of Tfh cells in blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was found between ON and NMOSD patients. The percentages of CSF, CD4+, CXCR5+, and CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ cells in CD4+ cells (%) were positively correlated with those of the blood (r = 0.5781, r = 0.6079, p = 0.0076, and p = 0.0045, respectively). EDSS scores of NMOSD group were higher than those of ON group and the time course of NMOSD patients was longer than that of ON patients (p < 0.01). After methylprednisolone treatment, both EDSS and VOS scores were significantly decreased at discharge compared with before treatment (p < 0.01). There was no significant correlation among Tfh cell percentages in CD4+ cells, CSF leukocytes, CSF protein, annual recurrence rate, EDSS and VOS scores between two groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The Circulating T follicular helper cells were increased in both idiopathic ON and NMOSD.

Thrombin generation in paediatric patients with congenital heart disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S61-S66 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Cvirn ◽  
A. Rosenkranz ◽  
B. Leschnik ◽  
W. Raith ◽  
W. Muntean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Congenital Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Congenital Heart ◽  
Thrombin Generation ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Peak Height ◽  
Global Test ◽  
Paediatric Patients ◽  
Age Range

SummaryThrombin generation was studied in paediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiac surgery using the calibrated automated thrombography (CAT) in terms of the lag time until the onset of thrombin formation, time to thrombin peak maximum (TTP), endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), and thrombin peak height. The suitability to determine the coagulation status of these patients was investigated. Patients, material, methods: CAT data of 40 patients with CHD (age range from newborn to 18 years) were compared to data using standard coagulation parameters such as prothrombin (FII), antithrombin (AT), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), prothrombin fragment 1.2 (F 1.2), thrombin-antithrombin (TAT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and prothrombin time (PT). Results: A significant positive correlation was seen between ETP and FII (p < 0.01; r = 0.369), as well as between peak height and F II (p < 0.01; r = 0.483). A significant negative correlation was seen between ETP and TFPI values (p < 0.05; r = –0.225) while no significant correlation was seen between peak height and TFPI. A significant negative correlation was seen between F 1.2 generation and ETP (p < 0.05; r = –0.254) and between F 1.2 generation and peak height (p < 0.05; r = –0.236). No correlation was seen between AT and ETP or peak. Conclusions: CAT is a good global test reflecting procoagulatory and inhibitory factors of the haemostatic system in paediatric patients with CHD.

Plasma D Dimer: A Useful Marker of Fibrin Breakdown in Renal Failure

1989 ◽  
Vol 61 (03) ◽  
pp. 522-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
M P Gordge ◽  
R W Faint ◽  
P B Rylance ◽  
H Ireland ◽  
D A Lane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Failure ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Acute Renal Failure ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Diabetic Nephropathy ◽  
Renal Disease ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
D Dimer

SummaryD dimer and other large fragments produced during the breakdown of crosslinked fibrin may be measured by enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies. In 91 patients with renal disease and varying degrees of renal dysfunction, plasma D dimer showed no correlation with renal function, whereas FgE antigen, a fibrinogen derivative which is known to be cleared in part by the kidney, showed a significant negative correlation with creatinine clearance. Plasma concentrations of D dimer were, however, increased in patients with chronic renal failure (244 ± 3l ng/ml) (mean ± SEM) and diabetic nephropathy (308 ± 74 ng/ml), when compared with healthy controls (96 ± 13 ng/ml), and grossly elevated in patients with acute renal failure (2,451 ± 1,007 ng/ml). The results indicate an increase in fibrin formation and lysis, and not simply reduced elimination of D dimer by the kidneys, and are further evidence of activated coagulation in renal disease. D dimer appears to be a useful marker of fibrin breakdown in renal failure.

Negative Correlation Between Serum Levels of Homocysteine and Apolipoprotein M

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-126
Author(s):  
J. Wei ◽  
Y. Yu ◽  
Y. Feng ◽  
J. Zhang ◽  
Q. Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Hepg2 Cells ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Apolipoprotein M ◽  
Protein Mass ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Phosphoinositide 3 Kinase

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) has been suggested as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a constituent of the HDL particles. The goal of this study was to examine the serum levels of homocysteine and apoM and to determine whether homocysteine influences apoM synthesis. Methods: Serum levels of apoM and Hcy in 17 hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) patients and 19 controls were measured and their correlations were analyzed. Different concentrations of homocysteine (Hcy) and LY294002, a specific phosphoinositide 3- kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, were used to treat HepG2 cells. The mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR and the apoM protein mass was measured by western blot. Results: We found that decreased serum apoM levels corresponded with serum HDL levels in HHcy patients, while the serum apoM levels showed a statistically significant negative correlation with the serum Hcy levels. Moreover, apoM mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased after the administration of Hcy in HepG2 cells, and this effect could be abolished by addition of LY294002. Conclusions: resent study demonstrates that Hcy downregulates the expression of apoM by mechanisms involving the PI3K signal pathway.

scholarly journals Daytime nap and nighttime breastfeeding are associated with toddlers’ nighttime sleep

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Machiko Nakagawa ◽  
Hidenobu Ohta ◽  
Rinshu Shimabukuro ◽  
Yoko Asaka ◽  
Takayo Nakazawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Sleep Diary ◽  
Daytime Nap ◽  
Nighttime Sleep

AbstractThe purpose of the present study is to examine the association between toddlers' sleep arrangements and their nighttime sleep duration and other sleep variables. For this investigation, we performed a study in which child activity and sleep levels were recorded using actigraphy. The parents of 1.5-year-old toddlers (n = 106) were asked to attach an actigraphy unit to their child’s waist with an adjustable elastic belt and complete a sleep diary for 7 consecutive days. Questionnaires were used to assess the sleep arrangements of the toddlers. There was a significant negative correlation between nap duration and nighttime sleep duration, suggesting that longer nap sleep induces shorter nighttime sleep duration. Among the sleep arrangements, such as nighttime breastfeeding or co-sleeping, only nighttime breastfeeding predicted shorter nighttime sleep duration. Our findings indicate that shorter naps induce a longer nighttime sleep in 1.5-year-old toddlers while nighttime breastfeeding decreases their nighttime sleep duration.

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