Healthy Control Group Research Articles

A Prospective Observational Study Analyzing the Diversity and Specific Composition of the Oral and Gut Microbiota in Lung Cancer Patients.

Host microbiota dysbiosis has been recognized as a key factor in lung cancer. However, the specific diversity and composition of microbiota in lung cancer patients remain unknown. This single-center prospective observational study analyzed both saliva and fecal samples from 74 participants [lung cancer (LC) patients: n=53; lung inflammation (LI) patients: n=11; healthy control (HC): n=10]. We performed 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and analyzed the associations between oral and gut microbiota diversity and composition across the three groups. Alpha diversity of the oral microbiota was significantly lower in the LC group than in the HC group (Chao 1, p=0.004; Simpson, p=0.018; Shannon, p=0.009). Beta diversity of both oral and gut microbiota showed significant differences among the three groups (PERMANOVA, oral: p=0.005; gut: p=0.002). Compositional differences in the oral microbiota were observed between the HC and LC or LI groups; in particular, Bacilli class, Streptococcaceae family, Streptococcus genus, Firmicutes phylum, and Lactobacillales order were more abundant in the LC group. Additionally, six oral-related microbiota showed significant abundance in the gut of the LC group (p=0.00182). The oral microbiota in lung cancer patients is significantly different from that in healthy individuals. Specific changes in oral microbiota and oral-related gut microbiota compositions were evident in lung cancer patients. These findings might be useful for identifying novel biomarkers to predict the risk of lung cancer and prevent the disease.

The THINC-it tool: temporal sensitivity to change over time

IntroductionCognitive dysfunction is believed to be among the core features of Bipolar Depression(BD-D). However, its evaluation and available treatments are limited. Here, we conducted a longitudinal follow-up clinical trial using the THINC-it tool to evaluate temporal sensitivity to change over time in cognitive function among patients with bipolar depression from a Chinese cohort. It is helpful to verify whether the scale can continuously and reliably measure cognitive function in different time points and reduce the measurement error caused by time factors. Hope our findings could provide insights into the significance of the THINC-it tool as an iterative clinical cognitive evaluation tool.MethodsA total of 120 patients with bipolar depression(40 males and 80 females, respectively) alongside 100 healthy controls(23 males and 77 females, respectively) were recruited in the study. All participants were interviewed for 8 weeks, using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale(YMRS). The primary dependent measure was the previously validated THINC-it tool, followed by psychometric analysis.ResultsRepeated measures of the THINC-it tool at baseline, one-week, and eight-week periods were conducted after controlling for age, gender, and education effects. Results from the general linear model revealed no significant time differences in variances(P > 0.05). Similarly, adjusting for confounding factors (age, gender, education, and HAMD-17 scores), results from the longitudinal analysis showed that there were no significant differences in cognitive impairment over time(P > 0.05). However, we found significant differences between BD-D and Healthy Control(HC) groups with regards to Spotter, Codebreaker, Trails, Perceived Deficits Questionnaire for Depression-5-items(PDQ-5-D), and THINC-it Total composite(P < 0.05), but not in Symbol Check (p = 0.191).ConclusionThese findings indicate that the THINC-it tool effectively detects sensitivity to change in groups and maintains stability at times, indicating that it is a feasible and reliable instrument for evaluating cognitive dysfunction in Chinese patients with bipolar depression.

Shear wave speed, dispersion slope and anisotropy evaluation using cardiac shear wave elastography in patients with Fabry disease

Abstract Background Cardiac shear wave imaging has been proposed to investigate left ventricular myocardial alterations non-invasively. Dispersion slope and anisotropy are fundamental properties that have not been studied in Fabry disease (FD) patients yet. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine and compare shear wave propagation speed, dispersion slope and fractional anisotropy in FD patients and healthy controls. Methods We prospectively included 20 FD patients and 20 healthy controls (HC). Shear wave speed, dispersion slope and fractional anisotropy were measured non-invasively in anteroseptal basal segment using an ultrasound for cardiac shear wave imaging. Echocardiography, electrocardiogram and laboratory evaluations were performed. Results Shear wave propagation speed was higher in FD patients than in HC group (1.46 ± 0.12 m/s and 1.36 ± 0.17 m/s, p = 0.03). No difference was found in dispersion slope (11.4 m/s/kHz in FD group and 11.3 m/s/kHz in HC group, p = 0.6). Fractional anisotropy was 0.05 ± 0.04 in FD group and 0.05 ± 0.04 in HC group, p = 0.4. Conclusion Shear wave speed was higher in FD patients compared to control group. Dispersion slope and fractional anisotropy in FD group did not reveal significant difference to the control group.

Exercise Doppler echocardiography to detect early changes in the right ventricular-pulmonary circulation unit after pulmonary embolism

Abstract Introduction After pulmonary embolism (PE), patients frequently complain about reduced exercise capacity and dyspnea on exertion, even without pulmonary hypertension (PH). The underlying condition is often chronic thromboembolic disease, which is caused by residual pulmonary obstruction with preserved resting pulmonary haemodynamics. The symptoms are the consequences of the increased dead space ventilation, exercise-induced PH and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We aimed to assess the pathologic differences in the echocardiographic parameters of the RV- pulmonary circulation unit among patients with previous PE and the healthy control group. Furthermore, an objective was to compare the hemodynamic response to stress after different treatment strategies (thrombolysis vs. heparin administration). Methods 21 patients after PE (mean age 58,5±12,1 years; 53% men) have been included in the study. All of them were effectively anticoagulated for at least three months, and none had any signs of PH on echocardiography at rest. The control group included 20 healthy volunteers (mean age 56,9±11,5 years; 55% men). Each patient underwent resting and exercise stress echocardiography on a semi-recumbent bicycle ergometer according to a standardised protocol until the maximally tolerated workload. Echocardiography was performed at rest, at 50 Watt workload and during peak stress. The measurements focused on the RV's systolic function (TAPSE), the estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and the Doppler measurements in the RV and left ventricular outflow tracts. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and RV-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PA) were calculated from the echocardiographic parameters. Results The post-PE group had significantly higher PASP (39,2 ±16,6 vs. 27,7±12,5 mmHg; p&amp;lt;0,05) and PVR (1,5±0,4 vs. 1,1±0,3 Wood Units; p&amp;lt;0,05) at peak stress, than the controls. 55% of post-PE patients remained symptomatic, but there were no significant differences between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups regarding TAPSE, PASP, RV-PA coupling and PVR. 30% of post-PE patients had thrombolysis. In the patients where thrombolysis was performed, the coupling at peak stress was significantly higher than in heparin-treated patients (1,4±0,1 vs 0,9±0,4 mm/mmHg, p&amp;lt;0,05). Conclusion Post-PE patients without resting PH have higher PVR and PASP than the healthy control group, even after at least 3 months of adequate therapy. Post-PE patients treated with thrombolysis may have more preserved RV-PA coupling than the heparin-treated patients.

The gut-microbiome derived phenylacetylglutamine predicts adverse events in patients with acute coronary syndromes

Abstract Background and Introduction The gut microbiota-derived metabolite phenylacetylglutamine (PAG) is associated with incident cardiovascular events(1). Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) present a major health challenge, especially as population ages(2). Data from our group show increased PAG levels during aging in humans. However, the predictive potential of PAG for mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients (pts) with ACS is unknown. Purpose Here, we investigated the potential of PAG to predict ischemic and fatal events in pts with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We also compared the predictive potential of PAG to another relevant gut-microbiota derived metabolite involved in CVD, namely Trimethylaminoxyde, (TMAO), and we evaluated their cumulative risk potential. Methods A total of 1’848 patients were enrolled in Cohort I of the SPUM-ACS study – a multi-center prospective ACS cohort study from Switzerland. Overall survival and incident MACE after 1 year follow-up were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimates and compared by log-rank test after patient stratification into PAG tertiles. Uni- and multivariable Cox-regression models were fit to calculate the hazard ratios for 1-year MACE in a crude model and adjusted model (adjusted for established confounders). Healthy controls served as additional controls. PAG plasma levels were quantified using LC-HRMS. Results The median PAG plasma level in the healthy control group was 1.76µM, whereas for the whole ACS patient population it was 1.92µM (Table 1). Pts in the third PAG tertile had a two times higher MACE rate and a four times higher mortality rate compared to pts in the first PAG tertile (p&amp;lt;0.001). (Table 2). PAG levels were significantly higher in pts who presented with MACE (2.63µM) or died (3.1µM) within the 1-year follow-up compared to the healthy control subjects (p&amp;lt;0.0001) (Figure 1A). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that plasma PAG levels were positively associated with age (r=0.43, p&amp;lt;0.0001), while a negative association with eGFR was observed (r=-0.51, p&amp;lt;0.0001) (Figure 1B). KM estimates indicated that pts in the highest PAG tertile had significantly higher 1-year MACE risk relative to those with low levels (Figure 1C; p&amp;lt;0.001 log rank). Following multivariable adjustment, PAG remained an independent predictor for MACE at 1-year follow-up with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.1–3.2, p=0.048) (Figure 1D). KM estimates of both, high levels of PAG and high levels of TMAO together, indicate that the combination of these two detrimental metabolites leads to an even higher risk of 1-year MACE relative to lower levels (Figure 1E). Conclusion PAG is a novel and independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with ACS. This study indicates the role of the gut-microbiome and its metabolites in predicting ischemic and fatal outcomes of pts with established CVD.

Exploration of vitamin D hydroxy metabolites C3 epimers in cardiovascular patients: comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Research on vitamin D deficiency has recently surged in popularity. This issue has been acknowledged as a widespread problem, often called a "pandemic", and approximately 90% of the Polish population suffers from vitamin D deficiency. The 3-epi-25(OH)D2 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 metabolites are stereoisomers of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 metabolites, and they may be accidentally measured when determining 25(OH)D levels and result in overestimating metabolite concentrations. Purpose Our study aims to identify vitamin D hydroxy metabolites (25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and their epimers 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3) in patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy volunteers. To our knowledge, no similar studies have been conducted on this topic. Method We included 27 adult patients with venous thrombosis (fourteen males and thirteen females, aged 64.11±14.84 years) and 35 healthy volunteers (thirty-three females and two males, aged 36.37±12.29 years). We used our validated UPLC-MS/MS method to measure the concentrations of 25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D2, and 3-epi-25(OH)D3. Statistica 13.3 with Plus Kit 3.0 was used for the statistical assessment. Normal variables were represented as mean and standard deviation, and non-normal variables as the median and interquartile range. A P-value &amp;lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all tests. Results Patients had significantly lower levels of epi-25(OH)D2 than the healthy control group (0.6 [0.4] ng/mL vs. 2.2 [1.3-4.3] ng/mL, p = 0.004). Similarly, they exhibited significantly lower levels of %epi-25(OH)D2 (8.6 [6-22.3] % vs. 39.4 [18.5] %, p = 0.035). Females had higher levels of 25(OH)D3 than males (26.5 [16.2-37.9] ng/mL vs. 18.8 [7.5] ng/mL, p = 0.04). They also exhibited higher levels of total 25(OH)D3 (30.3 [15.6] ng/mL vs. 19.4 [7.8] ng/mL, p = 0.016). Higher age (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.18), being male (OR 17.77, 95% CI 3.54 to 89.3), and lower % 3-epi-25(OH)D2 (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.998) were univariate predictors for patients with venous thrombosis. Conclusion: Demographic factors within a given population may affect the 25(OH)D3 concentration. The results indicate that vitamin D epimeric metabolites, particularly epi-25(OH)D2, and their percentage were different in patients compared to healthy volunteers. Additional studies involving a larger population are necessary to fully comprehend the relationship between these vitamin D epimeric metabolites and cardiovascular health

The impact of intravenous agitated saline contrast echocardiography on subclinical neuronal injury determined by neuron-specific enolase

Abstract Introduction Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital defect in interatrial septum with 25-30% prevelance. Diagnostic methods include transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT), but transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the primary diagnostic method. TTE involves the injection of agitated saline intravenously, and the passage of microbubbles from the right atrium to the left atrium is monitored. The reliability of this method has been questioned in various case series, with a low incidence (0.062%) of generally transient, mild clinical cerebrovascular events reported. Silent cerebral ischemia (SSI) is asymptomatic, radiographically identified acute neuronal damage. SSI is associated with an increased risk of stroke, dementia, and cognitive impairment. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) with high specificity for neural cells can be used to detect SSI. While symptomatic patients have been evaluated in reported case series, there is no study determining the relationship and reliability of intravenous agitated saline echocardiography (SCE) with SSI. This study aims to determine whether TTE, performed on patients with PFO without neurological history and a healthy control group, can cause SSI by evaluating NSE with SCE. Materials and methods 52 patients undergoing SCE for color flow through interatrial septum or prominent interatrial septal aneurysm and are diagnosed with PFO were included. Additionally, 51 control patients without detected PFO or ASA were also included. Serum samples were taken from the patients before and 12 hours after the SCE test, and NSE levels were measured by the ELISA method. Results The mean baseline NSE level was 12.7 ng/mL with a median of 5.3 ng/mL in the PFO group, and in the control group, the mean was 9.1 ng/mL with a median of 6.4 ng/mL. At 12 hours, the mean NSE levels in the PFO group were 9.8 ng/mL with a median of 6.6 ng/mL, and in the control group, the mean was 12.7 ng/mL with a median of 5.8 ng/mL. The increase in NSE levels after SCE, was not statistically significant when comparing the PFO and control groups (p=0.77). No relationship was found between age, presence of interatrial septal aneurysm, presence of mitral annulus calcification, the number of bubbles passed in the SCE test, and the basal and 12-hour change in NSE levels (p=0.926). NSE level changes were found to be correlated between groups (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion This study is the first to evaluate whether SCE causes subclinical neuronal damage. Our study suggests that when evaluated with NSE, the SCE method is safe and does not cause subclinical neuronal damage in patients without underlying neuronal susceptibility.results

Periodontal conditions and salivary microbiota are potential indicators to distinguish silicosis: an exploratory study

BackgroundSilicosis has always been a serious global occupational health problem. Oral microbiota plays important roles in the development of lung disease. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between periodontal conditions, oral bacteria and silicosis disease.MethodA single-center and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 in Sichuan Province, China, including a small sample of silicosis patient group and healthy control group. Demographic data and periodontal examinations measured by clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP) and periodontal pocket (PD) were collected from each participant. Phenotypic changes were detected by histopathological staining. Next-generation sequencing targeting 16S ribosomal RNA was targeted to decipher the salivary microbiome of the two groups. Random forest, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to find potential indicators to distinguish silicosis.ResultsIn general, 29 male healthy controls and 24 male silicosis patients were included. The proportion of CAL ≥ 3 mm in silicosis group was greater than control group, while the proportion of BOP (+) and PD ≥ 4 mm was reduced in silicosis group. The α-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin expression increased in gingiva of patients. The composition of salivary microbiota exhibited significant differences between the two groups, with silicosis patients demonstrating a lower diversity of salivary microbiota. Genus of Aggregatibacter [odds ratio (OR) = 0.000, p = 0.003] and Catonella (OR = 0.000, p = 0.049) were identified as biomarkers to distinguish silicosis.ConclusionsThe silicosis group exhibited worse CAL, improved BOP and PD, which may be related to the gingival fibrosis found in this study. The composition of the oral microbiota underwent significant changes, accompanied by a decrease in diversity, in patients with silicosis. Our study indicates that respirable crystalline silica exposure affects oral health, and alterations of oral microbiota might be implicated in silicosis. We primarily identified Aggregatibacter and Catonella as the potential indicators to distinguish silicosis patients from healthy controls.

Evaluating cardiac electrophysiological markers for predicting arrhythmic risk in hypothyroid patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of hypothyroidism and levothyroxine (LT4) treatment on arrhythmic risk by concurrently analyzing multiple electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters such as the Index of Cardio-Electrophysiological Balance (iCEB), frontal QRS-T angle, Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval/QT interval ratio, and QT dispersion (QTd). This cross-sectional study included 132 adult patients with primary hypothyroidism who had been receiving LT4 treatment, and 132 demographically matched healthy controls. The hypothyroid group was also stratified by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (subclinical <4.5 and overt ≥ 4.5). Participants underwent a series of thyroid function and ECG measurements. The hypothyroid and healthy control groups were matched for age and gender (p = 0.080; p = 0.176). Participants with hypothyroidism had higher Tp-e/QT ratios, iCEB, median frontal QRS-T angle, and corrected QT dispersion (cQTd) than healthy controls (p = 0.004; p = 0.025; p = 0.004; p = 0.004, respectively). In the overt group, the Tp-e/QT ratio, iCEB, and median frontal QRS-T angles were all higher (p = 0.012, p = 0.037, and p = 0.016, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that a higher iCEB score (β = 0.60, p = 0.003) was significant for the detection of arrhythmia risk. ROC analysis showed that iCEB had the highest sensitivity (0.80), moderate specificity (0.60), and AUC 0.70. Patients with hypothyroidism have a higher risk of arrhythmia. To assess this risk, it is important to analyze the Tp-e interval, iCEB, frontal QRS-T angle, and QTd. Differentiating between patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism can help minimize the risk of arrhythmia. iCEB is the most effective method for identifying arrhythmic risk. Using all these parameters can improve the accuracy of arrhythmic risk detection in patients with hypothyroidism.

Creditor rights and investment sensitivity: evidence from an emerging market

PurposeCreditor rights reduce or increase agency problems in corporations, affecting financial decisions. This study examines the impact of India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the Code) on firms’ investment and investment sensitivity based on their health, considering this Code as more creditor-friendly than pre-existing bankruptcy laws.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quasi-natural experiment that employs the difference-in-differences (DID) and propensity score matching difference-in-differences (PSM DiD) approach by considering the Code as treatment and categorizing the firms into distressed (treated group) and healthy (control group) firms. For the purpose of analysis, a fixed-effect regression model is used.FindingsThis study finds that distressed firms reduce their investment after the Code, but healthy firms do not observe any change. It shows that the reduction in investment of the distressed group is significantly greater than that of the healthy group due to agency conflict and the liquidation bias hypothesis. However, the reduction in investment is not followed by the change in investment sensitivity.Originality/valueThis study adds to the existing studies on the impact of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 on investment. No study explores the relationship between this Code and investment based on the financial health of the firms. Also, none of the studies explores the impact of the Code on investment sensitivity. The results show that this Code has provided stronger protection to the creditors, which hurts the internal stakeholders’ interests. The study has implications for policymakers and academicians.

Prognostic impact of cardiac events in asymptomatic mitral regurgitation

Abstract Background Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular heart disease in adults and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment recommendations of degenerative MR have been liberalized, however, the role of asymptomatic patients is still insufficiently defined. Purpose The purpose of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac events in a large asymptomatic MR cohort, based on health insurance data analysis, in comparison with healthy propensity score-matched general population and to define the prognostic impact of such cardiac events on ten-year survival. Methods We retrospectively analyzed health insurance claims data from Germany’s second largest health insurance fund, which maintains longitudinal data on outpatient and inpatient medical services for 8.7 million German residents. We included all patients with an outpatient diagnosis of MR (I34.0) in a minimum of two quarters during a calendar year and first recorded diagnosis between 2008 and 2011. To identify an asymptomatic MR cohort (study group), all patients with at least one complication attributable to MR / mitral valve intervention during the incidence quarter of MR were excluded. Ten-year outcomes were compared between study group vs. age- and sex-matched healthy control group. Cardiac events of interest were new congestive heart failure, new-onset atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, or cardiac decompensation. Results A total of 56.577 (62.7%) asymptomatic MR patients were identified from the whole cohort of 90.245 individuals with a newly diagnosed MR in the BARMER database. During a ten-year follow-up, 26.282 (46.5%) patients in the study group experienced at least one cardiac event vs. 11.763 (20.8%) individuals in the control group (OR: 3.31, 95%CI: 0.251-0.262, P&amp;lt;0.0001). The occurrence of at least one cardiac event (i.e., congestive heart failure, new-onset atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension or cardiac decompensation) in the study group was associated with a significantly worse ten-year survival as compared to the control group. The risk of cardiac events was age- and sex-dependent, while female patients with an asymptomatic MR had a lower risk as compared to males in all age groups (OR: 0.38, 95%CI: -1.193- -0.754, P&amp;lt;0.0001). Only 1.530 (2.7%) patients underwent mitral valve (MV) intervention in the study group during ten-year follow-up. Conclusions Our study reveals high incidence of asymptomatic MR in a representative cohort of health insurance claims data in Germany. Every second patient with an asymptomatic MR experiences at least one cardiac event during a ten-year follow-up period that is associated with a significantly worse survival. The definition of asymptomatic MR cohort at risk of developing cardiac events may potentially improve early treatment strategies and lead to better outcome in the future.Abstract picture

Comparative Evaluation of Antibiotic Therapies for Subclinical Staphylococcal Mastitis in Goats

Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is characterized by inflammation of the udder without visible signs of inflammation in the animal, udder and milk and hence could be diagnosed by laboratory examination only. Effective treatment of SCM in goats is crucial for maintaining quality milk production. This study was conducted at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur (M.P.), India. A total of 236 lactating goats irrespective of age, breed, parity and stage of lactation, from both organized and unorganized sectors in and around Jabalpur, were screened over a period of six month. Based on modified California mastitis test scores, 83 goats tested positive for subclinical mastitis resulting in an overall occurrence of 35.17% (83/236). A total of 48 milk samples that tested positive for modified California mastitis test were further analyzed for bacterial isolation and identification. Among them, 34 (70.83%) samples were positive for only Staphylococcus spp., while 12 (25%) samples exhibited mixed infection with Staphylococcus spp. and Gram-positive bacilli. Then, 18 goats, positive for subclinical Staphylococcal mastitis were divided into three groups i.e. G1, G2 and G3 with six goats in each group for therapeutic study and six apparently healthy goats were taken as healthy control group (G4). G1 Goats were treated with Inj. Enrofloxacin LA @ 7.5 mg/kg b. wt. I/M single dose; G2 with Inj. Ceftizoxime @ 10 mg/kg b. wt. I/V single dose and G3 with Inj. Oxytetracycline LA @ 20 mg/kg b. wt. I/M single dose. The responses of therapeutic assessment were evaluated on the basis of somatic cell count and modified California mastitis test score. The most effective response for subclinical Staphylococcal mastitis in goats was observed with Ceftizoxime followed by Enrofloxacin LA and the least with Oxytetracycline LA.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Eucalyptus Oil as Teat Dip in Subclinical Mastitis in Goats

Mastitis, an inflammation of the parenchyma of mammary gland, results in alterations to the chemical and physical composition of milk due to a variety of infectious and non-infectious causes. The present work was conducted in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (M.P.). A total of 256 lactating goats irrespective of age, breed, parity and stage of lactation belonging to both organized and unorganized sectors at Jabalpur were screened from “February 2024 to July 2024”. On the basis of modified California mastitis test (MCMT) score, out of 256 lactating goats, 98 goats were found positive for subclinical mastitis with overall occurrence as 38.28% on animal basis and 33.33% on udder halves basis. Therapeutic study on 24 milk samples positive for subclinical mastitis by MCMT was conducted and categorized into four treatment groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4), each group comprised of 6 goats. Six apparently healthy goats were selected as healthy control group (G5). Two different teat dips viz. Eucalyptus oil 98% + DMSO 2% BID for 14 days in groups G1 and G3 and 5% Povidone iodine BID for 14 days in groups G2 and G4 were used as teat dips, respectively. Moreover, goats of groups G3 and G4 were commonly treated with parenteral antibiotic amoxicillin sulbactam @10 mg/kg b.wt. I/M OD for 3 days. Significantly higher values of somatic cell count, standard plate count, pH, freezing point and significantly lower value of lactose were observed in subclinical mastitis affected goats. The mean density and mean water percentage values varied within normal physiological range. On the basis of restoration of milk parameters and standard plate count, the most effective therapy was elicited by Eucalyptus oil 98%+ DMSO 2% as teat dip in combination with antibiotic amoxicillin sulbactam (G3).

A marker of systemic inflammation in hidradenitis suppurativa patients without cardiovascular disease: aortic arch calcification.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between aortic arch calcification (AAC) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in HS patients without cardiovascular disease. In this study, patients over 18 years of age who applied to the dermatology outpatient clinic between January 2023 and February 2024 were followed up with the diagnosis of HS without cardiovascular disease, and a healthy control group matched in terms of age and gender were included retrospectively. In total, 130 patients with HS without cardiovascular disease and 130 control patients were included in the study. AAC was significantly higher in the HS group compared to the control group (p = 0.028). In the multivariate analysis, we found that age and HS were independent predictors of AAC (OR: 1.048 (1.009-1.089); p = 0.015, OR: 3.158 (1.181-8.445); p = 0.022, respectively). When we divided the groups as having AAC (grade 1-3) and not having AAC (grade 0), the rate of HS disease was significantly higher in the group with AAC compared to the group without AAC (75.0% vs. 47.5% p = 0.010). AAC is observed more frequently in patients with HS without cardiovascular disease than in healthy individuals. Moreover, HS can be considered as an independent predictor of AAC. AAC may contribute to developing treatment strategies in HS patients without cardiovascular disease.

Oral Microbial Changes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Focus on Treponema denticola, Lactobacillus casei, and Candida albicans

Background and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to explore the oral bacteria and fungi that can help discern oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and investigate the correlations between multiple key pathogens. Materials and Methods: Twelve participants (8 females and 4 males; mean age, 54.33 ± 20.65 years) were prospectively recruited into three groups: Group 1: healthy control, Group 2: patients with stomatitis, and Group 3: patients with OSCC, with 4 individuals in each group. Unstimulated whole saliva samples from these participants were analyzed using real-time PCR to assess the presence and abundance of 14 major oral bacterial species and Candida albicans. Results: The analysis revealed significant differences for certain microorganisms, namely, Treponema denticola (T. denticola), Lactobacillus casei (L. casei), and Candida albicans. T. denticola was most abundant in the OSCC group (5,358,692.95 ± 3,540,767.33), compared to the stomatitis (123,355.54 ± 197,490.86) and healthy control (9999.21 ± 11,998.40) groups. L. casei was undetectable in the healthy control group but was significantly more abundant in the stomatitis group (1653.94 ± 2981.98) and even higher in the OSCC group (21,336.95 ± 9258.79) (p = 0.001). A similar trend was observed for C. albicans, with DNA copy numbers rising from the healthy control (464.29 ± 716.76) to the stomatitis (1861.30 ± 1206.15) to the OSCC group (9347.98 ± 5128.54) (p = 0.006). The amount of T. denticola was positively correlated with L. casei (r = 0.890, p &lt; 0.001) and C. albicans (r = 0.724, p = 0.008). L. casei’s DNA copy number was strongly correlated with C. albicans (r = 0.931, p &lt; 0.001). These three oral microbes exhibited strong positive correlations with each other and had various direct or indirect relationships with other species. Conclusions: In the OSCC group, T. denticola, L. casei, and C. albicans exhibited strong positive correlations with one another, further emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the complex microbial interactions in the OSCC environment.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in Turkish postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common age-related skeletal disease, characterized by changes in the microarchitectural structure of bone tissue and decreased bone mass, especially affecting postmenopausal women. Genetic and environmental factors affecting bone metabolism play a role in the development of osteoporosis. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an important enzyme involved in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Genetic variations in the MTHFR gene lead to impaired function or inactivation of this enzyme. A decrease in MTHFR enzyme activity and an increase in homocysteine levels affect bone metabolism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and osteoporosis in Turkish postmenopausal women. DNA samples were extracted from 200 volunteers. The PCR-RFLP technique was used to identify the MTHFR gene polymorphisms C677T and A1298C. The statistical significance of the analysis’s results was assessed. C677T genotype and allele frequency distributions were not statistically different between postmenopausal osteoporosis and healthy control groups (p = 0.249, p = 0.754), while A1298C genotype and allele frequency distributions were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.002, p = 0.013). The results of our study showed that the A1298C polymorphism may be a genetic factor associated with osteoporosis in this specific population. However, the C677T polymorphism did not show a significant connection. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of osteoporosis, future research with larger sample sizes and the consideration of additional genetic and environmental factors is essential. Additionally, it is crucial to account for ethnic disparities, gene-gene interactions, and gene-environment interplays. These insights can inform the development of personalized preventive and therapeutic strategies for individuals at risk of osteoporosis in diverse populations.

Eyelid skin and fibroadipose tissue MMP-1, MMP-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in patients with inactive moderate-to-severe Graves’ orbitopathy

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate matrix metalloprotease-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the eyelid skin and fibroadipose tissue in patients with inactive moderate-to-severe Graves’ orbitopathy (GO). Methods This prospective study included 23 patients with inactive moderate-to-severe GO who underwent upper blepharoplasty and medial fat excision, and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. MMP-1, MMP-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in the skin and fibroadipose tissue obtained during surgery were measured using the ELISA method. Results The mean MMP-1 level in the eyelid skin (p = .003) and the mean MMP-3 level in the fibroadipose tissue (p = .04) were significantly lower in the GO group compared to the healthy control group. There were no differences in other mediators in both tissues between the two groups (p > .05). Conclusions The lower levels of proteolytic enzymes such as MMP-1 and MMP-3 in the eyelid skin and orbital fibroadipose tissue of patients with chronic inactive GO may play a role in the increase of collagen and glycosaminoglycans in orbital soft tissues.

Autoantibody against aquaporin-5 may be a new diagnostic biomarker for primary Sjögren's syndrome.

The study aims to assess the diagnostic and clinical significance of autoantibodies against aquaporin-1 (anti-AQP1) and aquaporin-5 (anti-AQP5) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). A total of 163 participants were categorized into three groups: pSS group, other connective tissue diseases (CTD) group, and healthy control (HC) group. The levels of anti-AQP1 and anti-AQP5 autoantibodies in serum were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and clinical data from patients were collected for statistical analysis. Our results showed that the level of anti-AQP1 in the pSS group was higher than in the HC group (P < 0.05), and no significant difference was observed between the pSS group and the CTD group (P > 0.05). ROC showed that the anti-AQP1 had no diagnostic value for pSS (P > 0.05). The anti-AQP5 level of 39 healthy adults was all below the cut-off value (14.10ng/ml) (P < 0.05). The level of anti-AQP5 in the pSS group was higher than the CTD group (P < 0.05), the AUC was 0.86 (95% CI 0.80-0.93), with a sensitivity of 0.95 (95% CI 0.87-0.99) and a specificity of 0.70 (95% CI 0.58-0.84). No correlation was found between anti-AQP5 levels and the EULAR primary Sjögren's syndrome disease activity index score, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, anti-ds-DNA, salivary gland flow rate, complement 3, and lymphocyte count in pSS samples (P > 0.05), respectively. Therefore, the elevated anti-AQP5 may emerge as a novel diagnostic biomarker for pSS patients due to high sensitivity and specificity.

Sleep Quality in Parkinson Disease: Clinical Insights and PSQI Reliability Assessment

AbstractSleep disturbances are prevalent in Parkinson disease (PD), encompassing a spectrum from parasomnias like REM sleep behavior disorder to symptoms of sleep-wake cycle dysregulation, such as insomnia and daytime sleepiness. This research investigates sleep quality in PD patients compared with a matched healthy control group and explores the relationships between PD clinical characteristics and sleep parameters. Additionally, the study assesses the reliability of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for PD patients by examining internal consistency. The study comprises 52 participants, 27 in the PD group and 25 in the healthy control group, matched for sex and age. Sleep quality revealed that PD patients experienced significantly poorer sleep quality than the control group (p = 0.009). Weak correlations were found between PSQI scores and the modified Hoehn and Yahr scale (p = 0.062), with no correlation observed with the daily equivalent dose of levodopa (L-DOPA). The prevalence of poor sleep quality (PSQI score &gt; 5) was 85.1% for PD patients and 68% for the control group. The internal consistency analysis of the PSQI yielded a Cronbach's α of 0.588 for the PD group. While the PSQI demonstrates utility in detecting general sleep abnormalities and gauging patient perceptions of sleep quality in PD, its limitation as a global score is emphasized. The index prioritizes sleep habits and may not fully capture important sleep disorders in this population. These findings underscore the complex relationship between PD and sleep quality, suggesting the need for a comprehensive approach to assess and address sleep disturbances in PD patients.

Cross-cultural linguistic adaptation and development of three alternate forms of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test to the Brazilian context: The role of word familiarity

In spite of its importance, studies presenting detailed development procedures of alternate forms of verbal memory paradigms remains limited and unclear in terms of word selection criteria, while failing to consider word familiarity factors, despite its crucial role on episodic memory retrieval and encoding mechanisms. The present study aims to present the cross-cultural linguistic adaptation and development procedures of alternate forms of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test to the Brazilian context (FCSRT) based on word familiarity. After translation and backtranslation procedures, 231 new words were gathered and underwent a step-by-step familiarity analysis. Initially, overall familiarity feel of each word was assessed through the Familiarity Form (FF) during phase 1, and exposure frequency to words were later assessed through the Familiarity Questionnaire (FQ) completed by healthy controls during phase 2 with the remaining words considered ambiguous in terms of familiarity. Three alternate forms of the FCRST were then developed and assessed in terms of familiarity by the FQ during phase 3, and later administered in healthy control groups during phase 4. Repeated measures analysis revealed no significant differences in terms of familiarity and memory performance among the developed forms. Limitations are discussed, and recommendations are offered for future studies.