Genetic polymorphisms for BDNF,COMT, and APOE do not affect gait or ankle motor control in chronic stroke: A preliminary cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Background: Motor deficits after stroke are a primary cause of long-term disability. The extent of functional recovery may be influenced by genetic polymorphisms.

Objectives: Determine the effect of genetic polymorphisms for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) on walking speed, walking symmetry, and ankle motor control in individuals with chronic stroke.

Methods: 38 participants with chronic stroke were compared based upon genetic polymorphisms for BDNF (presence [MET group] or absence [VAL group] of a Met allele), COMT (presence [MET group] or absence [VAL group] of a Met allele), and APOE (presence [ε4+ group] of absence [ε4- group] of ε4 allele). Comfortable and maximal walking speed were measured with the 10-m walk test. Gait spatiotemporal symmetry was measured with the GAITRite electronic mat; symmetry ratios were calculated for step length, step time, swing time, and stance time. Ankle motor control was measured as the accuracy of performing an ankle tracking task.

Results: No significant differences were detected (p ≥ 0.11) between the BDNF, COMT, or APOE groups for any variables.

Conclusions: In these preliminary findings, genetic polymorphisms for BDNF, COMT, and APOE do not appear to affect walking speed, walking symmetry, or ankle motor performance in chronic stroke.     

Cardioprotective effect of hemin in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction: role of ATP-sensitive potassium channel and endothelial nitric oxide synthase

Ischemic heart disease is a common cardiac health problem. Despite the significant advances in prevention and treatment of this disorder, its incidences and complications are very serious. So, the search for more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents with cardioprotective effects is an urgent task. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) inducer, hemin (HEM), on isoprenaline (ISO)-induced myocardial damage. Forty-five Wistar albino rats were used. Animals were treated with HEM (25 mg/kg/day) i.p. for 5 days and injected with ISO (150 mg/kg/day) i.p. on 4th and 5th day of the experiment. Detection of the role of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K_ATP) was performed by administration of glibenclamide (GP) (5 mg/kg/day) orally 2 h before HEM. Moreover, the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was detected by coadministration of Nitro- ω-L-arginine (L-NNA) (25 mg/kg/day) for 5 days. The ISO group showed increase in heart weight, cardiac enzymes, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and malondialdehyde (MDA) with decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH), HO1, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). In addition, there were increases in Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3, but decreases in B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and eNOS. Moreover, the histopathological examination of the ISO group showed degeneration of the cardiac muscle fibers and marked infiltration of the inflammatory cells. The biochemical and histopathological changes induced by ISO were markedly ameliorated in the HEM plus ISO group. This protective effect was diminished with coadministration of GP or L-NNA; thus, K_ATP and eNOS might mediate HEM cardioprotection.     

Diallyl sulfide alleviates cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity in rats via suppressing NF‐κB downstream inflammatory proteins and p53/Puma signalling pathway

Despite being a potent anticancer drug, nephrotoxicity is an adverse effect which renders the clinical use of cisplatin (Cis) limited. The protective role of diallyl sulfide (DAS); a naturally occurring organo‐sulfide, present in garlic, in cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity has been reported earlier. However, the mechanism through which DAS exerts its nephroprotective activity remains elusive. The aim of the current study was to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying the reno‐protective effect of DAS in cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity in rats. DAS was given at 2 dose levels; 50 and 100 mg/kg, orally for 4 consecutive days, starting 1 hour after administration of single dose of cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]). The Cis‐induced elevation in serum urea and creatinine, degree of histopathological alterations was significantly ameliorated in cisplatin groups co‐treated with DAS. In addition, DAS significantly restored Cis‐depleted glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and attenuated Cis‐elevated Malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Also, DAS significantly reduced Cis‐increased renal expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) and subsequent pro‐inflammatory mediators; tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in kidney tissues. Moreover, co‐treatment with DAS significantly inhibited Cis‐increased caspase‐8 and ‐9 levels. Additionally, DAS significantly mitigated Cis‐induced protein expression of p53, Puma, and Bax while, it significantly restored Cis‐reduced protein expression of Bcl‐xL compared to the Cis group. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that DAS ameliorates cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity in rats through enhancement of antioxidant defense, reduction of inflammatory cytokine tissue levels as well as inhibition of apoptosis via p53/Puma signalling pathway.     

Treatment of intrabony defects with bovine-derived xenograft alone and in combination with platelet-rich plasma: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects, the benefits of adding platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to a bone replacement grafting material have not been tested. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes obtained by the combination of PRP and a bovine derived xenograft (BDX) to those obtained from the use of the bone replacement graft alone. METHODS: Thirteen patients were enrolled in a randomized, split mouth, double-masked clinical trial. Bilateral defects were matched according to their intrasurgical measurements. Qualifying defects had loss of attachment of > or = 6 mm, a radiographically detectable defect of > or = 4 mm, at least two remaining osseous walls, and not primarily related to a furcation involvement. After the hygienic phase, at the baseline examination, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and recession (REC) were measured. During open flap debridement, the defects were randomly assigned to receive either BDX mixed with PRP or BDX alone. Baseline osseous intrasurgical measurements were obtained. Post-surgical follow-up and maintenance were performed and PD, CAL, and REC were remeasured at 6 months. The mean baseline and 6-month PD, CAL, and REC of the deepest buccal and lingual measurements related to the defect for each group were computed. The change from baseline to 6 months for each parameter measured was calculated. Pre- and postoperative comparisons were made between treatment groups at 6 months. RESULTS: Randomization of the defects resulted in comparable groups (P > or = 0.05). At 6 months, paired t test comparisons within groups showed statistically significant benefits with both treatment modalities (P < or = 0.05). The mean changes (delta) at 6 months for the test and the control groups at the deepest sites were: PD reduction: 3.54 and 2.53 mm; CAL gain: 3.15 and 2.31 mm; and REC: -0.38 and -0.23 mm, respectively. Paired t test comparisons yielded significant differences between treatments for PD and CAL (P < or = 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this 6-month clinical trial, the addition of a high concentration of autologous platelets to a bovine derived xenograft to treat intrabony defects significantly improved their clinical periodontal response.     

Prevalence of 6 putative periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque samples from Romanian adult periodontitis patients

Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine by standard cultivation procedures the detection frequencies of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus, and Capnocytophaga species as well as various enteric rods in subgingival plaque samples form Romanian adult periodontitis patients. DNA probe analysis (Affirm^TM DP Microbial Identification Test) was also used, parallel to cultivation, to identify P. gingivalis. A. actinomycetemcomitans, and B. for- sythus, in deep (≥6 mm) and intermediate (4–5 mm) pockets in some of the subjects investigated. Paper points were used to sample 86 deep pockets in 36 patients and 27 intermediate pockets in 9 of the 36 patients. The x² test was used to test for significance of differences between results obtained by cultivation and DMA analysis in both intermediate and deep pockets. P. gingivalis was recovered in a high percentage of the patients (75,8%) and sites (63.6%) examined, followed by P. intermedia, F. nucleatum, and A. actinomycetemcomitans, respectively. Capnocytophaga species were present in almost all subjects. Enteric rods were recovered in 61.1% of the patients and 55.8% of the sites. Except for this high prevalence of enteric rods, the present group of patients had the periodontal species monitored in %s similar to those commonly perceived in the West. The Affirm M DP Test and cultivation showed poor correlation in detecting P. gingivalis. A. actinomycetemcomitans, and B. forsythus. The cultivation prevalence of P. gingivalis and P. intermedia in deep pockets was similar to their prevalence in intermediate ones. Overall, the prevalence of the periodontal pathogens investigated in the present Romanian periodontitis patients is similar to what has been revealed in matching Norwegian and other Western periodontitis patient populations. The high prevalence of enteric rods in the Romanian patients may have been an artifact resulting from prolonged transport of the samples in VMGA III.     

Circulating histocompatibility antigen (HLA) gene products may help differentiate benign from malignant indeterminate pulmonary lesions

Background

This study explores the potential diagnostic utility of soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen (sHLA) molecules differentially released by lung adenocarcinoma and benign lung lesions.