Impulse control disorders are associated with lower ventral striatum dopamine D3 receptor availability in Parkinson's disease: A [11C]-PHNO PET study

IntroductionReduced postsynaptic D3 dopaminergic receptor availability has been reported in the ventral striatum of pathological gamblers without Parkinson's disease (PD) and in patients with PD and impulse control disorders (ICD). However, a direct relationship between ventral striatum D3 dopaminergic receptors and the severity of ICD in PD patients has not yet been proven using a validated tool for ICD in PD, such as the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's disease-Rating Scale (QUIP-RS). In this pilot study, we investigated the relationship between ventral striatum D3 dopamine receptor availability and severity of impulse control disorder (ICD) in Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodsTwelve patients were assessed with PET and the high affinity dopamine D3 receptor radioligand [¹¹C]-PHNO. Severity of ICD was assessed with the QUIP-RS.ResultsWe found that lower ventral striatum D3 receptor availability measured with [¹¹C]-PHNO PET was associated with greater severity of ICD, as measured by the QUIP-RS score (rho = −0.625, p = 0.03).ConclusionThese findings suggest that the occurrence and severity of ICD in Parkinson's disease may be linked to reductions in ventral striatum dopamine D3 receptor availability. Further studies in larger cohort of patients need to be performed in order to confirm our findings and clarify whether lower ventral striatum D3 receptor may reflect a pharmacological downregulation to higher dopamine release in ventral striatum of patients with ICD or a patients' predisposition to ICD.     

A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

Physical activity as a proxy to ameliorate inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease at high cardiovascular risk

While the beneficial impact of physical activity has been ascertained in a variety of pathological scenarios, including diabetes and low-grade systemic inflammation, its potential remains still putative for periodontal health. Periodontal disease has been associated with inflammatory systemic alterations, which share a common denominator with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Physical exercise, along with nutritional counseling, is a cornerstone in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, also able to reduce the prevalence of periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk. In addition, considering the higher incidence of periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy controls, the fascinating research question would be whether physical activity could relieve the inflammatory pressure exerted by the combination of these two diseases. This multi-disciplinary viewpoint discusses available literature in order to argument the hypothesis of a “three–way relationship” linking diabetes, periodontitis, and physical activity.     

The impact of dusk phenomenon on total glucose exposure in Chinese people with type 2 diabetes

This study was aimed at assessing the impact of the dusk phenomenon on the total glucose exposure in Chinese people with type 2 diabetes.A total of 380 type 2 diabetes who received a retrospective continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMs) for 72 hours were enrolled in our study, 32 of them failed in CGMs. The patients were first divided into 2 groups: dusk phenomenon (n = 95) and non dusk phenomenon group (n = 253). The magnitude of the dusk phenomenon (δDusk) was quantified by pre-dinner glucose minus post-lunch 2 hours glucose. A persistent δDusk ≥ 0 or a once only δDusk < 0 can be diagnosed with the dusk phenomenon. The participants were secondarily matched for the post-lunch 2 hours glucose to assess the impact of the dusk phenomenon on the overall glucose exposure. The impact of the dusk phenomenon was assessed on high-performance liquid chromatography assay (HbA1c) and 24-hour mean glucose.There were 95 of 348 (27.3%) participants with the dusk phenomenon in the overall population, and the median of δDusk level was –0.8 (–1.8, 0.2) mmol/L. The median of glucose differences between the 2 paired groups were 0.4 (–0.4, 1.0)% for HbA_1c, 0.9 (0.2, 1.4) mmol/L for 24 hours mean glucose. The correlation analysis showed no relationship between the magnitude of dawn phenomenon and the dusk phenomenon (r = 0.052, P = .472).The incidence of dusk phenomenon is about 27.3% in people with type 2 diabetes. The impacts of dusk phenomenon on HbA1c and 24-hour mean glucose were about 0.4% and 0.9 mmol/L and the dusk phenomenon was not related with the dawn phenomenon.     

The effects and acceptability of different exercise modes on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

Introduction:Exercise has been believed to have positive effects on blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, few medical evidences have been found to ascertain which type of exercise has the best effect on blood glucose control in diabetes and which type of exercise is more acceptable. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects and acceptability of different exercise modes on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients by using systematic review and network meta-analysis.Methods and analysis:Relevant randomized controlled trial studies will be searched from PubMed, EMbase, CochraneCENTRAL, CNKI, VIP, and Chinese medical paper libraries. Primary outcome indicators: glycosylated hemoglobin and dropout rate of the research (number of dropouts/numbers of initially enrolled subjects). Secondary outcome measures: fasting blood glucose, body weight, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), diastolic pressure, systolic pressure (SBP). Two reviewers are arranged to screen Title, Abstract, and then review full text to further extract data. Standard meta-analysis and network meta-analysis of the data are performed afterward. Methodological quality assessment is planned to be conducted using Cochrane risk of bias tool. The outcome will be analyzed statistically according to Bayesian analysis methods. After that, subgroup analysis is conducted on the duration of intervention, whether there is supervision of intervention, frequency of intervention per week, age, gender, and medication use.Trial registration number:PROSPERO CRD42020175181Discussion:The systematic review and network meta-analysis include evidence of the impact of different exercise modes on blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes mellitus. There are 2 innovative points in this study. One is to conduct a classified study on exercise in as much detail as possible, and the other is to study the acceptability of different exercise modes. The network meta-analysis will reduce the uncertainty of intervention and enable clinicians, sports practitioners, and patients to choose more effective and suitable exercise methods.Ethics and dissemination:The findings of the study will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences and symposia. Further, no ethical approval is required in this study.     

Shenling Baizhu Powder (参苓白术散) Ameliorates Pi (Spleen)-Deficiency-Induced Functional Diarrhea in Rats

Objective To explore the mechanism of Pi(Spleen)-deficiency-induced functional diarrhea(FD)model rats treated by Shenling Baizhu Powder(参苓白术散,SBP).Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups including control,model,low-,medium-,and high-dose SBP groups(SBPLDG,SBPMDG,SBPHDG),6 rats in each group,respectively.Pi-deficiency-induced FD rats model was developed through Radix et Rhizoma Rhei gavage for 7 days.After modeling,the rats were treated with 3 doses of SBP[0.93,1.86,and 3.72 g/(kg·d)],and the rats in the control and model groups were given pure water for 7 days.The diarrhea index was calculated.On the 7th and 14th days,the traveled distance of rat was measured by the open field test.Serum D-xylose content was determined by the phloroglucinol method and interleukin(IL)-10 and IL-17 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.The content of Treg cells was determined by flow cytometry.Results Compared with the control group,the diarrhea index and IL-17 level in the model group were significantly higher and the total exercise distance and D-xylose content significantly decreased(P>0.05).The expression of IL-10 in the SBPHDG group was significantly up-regulated,and serum D-xylose level and Treg cells increased significantly compared with the model group(P>0.05).Conclusion High-dose SBP exhibited ameliorating effects against Pi-deficiency induced FD,which might be attributed to its modulations on intestinal absorption function as well as adaptive immunity in mesenteric lymph nodes of rat.     

Motor dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment as tested by kinematic analysis and transcranial magnetic stimulation

ObjectivePrevious studies have demonstrated voluntary movement alterations as well as motor cortex excitability and plasticity changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To investigate the pathophysiology of movement abnormalities in MCI, we tested possible relationships between movement abnormalities and primary motor cortex alterations in patients.MethodsFourteen amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients and 16 healthy controls were studied. Cognitive assessment was performed using clinical scales. Finger tapping was recorded by a motion analysis system. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to test the input/output curve of motor evoked potentials, intracortical inhibition, and short-latency afferent inhibition. Primary motor cortex plasticity was probed by theta burst stimulation. We investigated correlations between movement abnormalities, clinical scores, and cortical neurophysiological parameters.ResultsMCI patients showed less rhythmic movement but no other movement abnormalities. Cortical excitability measures were normal in patients, whereas plasticity was reduced. Movement rhythm abnormalities correlated with frontal dysfunction scores.ConclusionOur study in MCI patients demonstrated abnormal voluntary movement and plasticity changes, with no correlation between the two. Altered rhythm correlated with frontal dysfunction.SignificanceOur results contribute to the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of motor impairment in MCI.     

乳腺原发癌和淋巴结转移癌中ALDH1A1和TGF-β1的表达及预后价值

目的 探讨乳腺原发癌和相应淋巴结转移癌中乙醛脱氢酶1(ALDH1A1)和转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)的表达情况及与患者预后的相关性,并探讨ALDH1A1与TGF-β1之间的相关性。方法 收集有淋巴结转移的乳腺非特殊型浸润性癌197例,采用免疫组化方法检测ALDH1A1和TGF-β1在原发癌及相应淋巴结转移癌中的表达情况,并对临床病理参数及预后进行统计学分析。结果 ALDH1A1和TGF-β1在乳腺原发癌和相应淋巴结转移癌中表达的一致率分别为87.82%和86.80%,两者呈明显的正相关(P＜0.05);Kaplan-Meier生存曲线结合Log-rank检验显示,在原发癌和淋巴结转移癌中,ALDH1A1和TGF-β1均为不良预后因素(P＜0.05);单因素Cox比例风险回归模型分析显示,组织学分级、肿块大小、阳性淋巴结个数、原发癌和转移癌中ALDH1A1和TGF-β1均是患者预后的危险因素(P＜0.05),多因素分析结果显示原发癌ALDH1A1、转移癌TGF-β1及阳性淋巴结个数是患者预后的独立危险因素(P＜0.05);Spearman相关性分析显示,在乳腺原发癌和相应淋巴结转移癌中,ALDH1A1和TGF-β1均呈明显正相关(P＜0.05)。结论 ALDH1A1和TGF-β1的表达在原发癌和相应淋巴结转移癌中呈正相关,且均与预后相关。ALDH1A1和TGF-β1的表达存在正相关,原发癌ALDH1A1和转移癌TGF-β1是判断乳腺癌预后的独立影响因素。     

Prediabetes and deprivation: A couple at high risk of diabetes

AimThe higher prevalence of diabetes in deprived populations is well documented but little is known about the risk of diabetes associated with deprivation among pre-diabetic subjects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of diabetes in a population of deprived pre-diabetic patients.Methods2743 pre-diabetic subjects identified using the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria, 16 to 85 years old, 1656 non-deprived and 1087 deprived, had at least two health check-ups at an interval of 4.95 (2.04) vs 3.20 (1.71) years, P < 0.0001, respectively. At the first visit, socioeconomic status was assessed using the EPICES score to differentiate deprived and non-deprived subjects.ResultsAt the second visit, the prevalence of overt diabetes was 9.5% among deprived vs 5.1% in the non-deprived group (P < 0.001). After adjustment on confounding factors, deprivation was found independently associated with occurrence of diabetes [1.70 (1.15–2.51), P = 0.01]. Beyond social deprivation, Fasting Plasma Glucose and waist circumference were the main independent predictors of new-onset diabetes.ConclusionAfter 4 years of follow-up, among subjects with prediabetes, prevalence of diabetes was twice as high among deprived compared with non-deprived subjects. Deprived populations with pre-diabetes may require specific public health approaches to avoid the occurrence of overt diabetes.