Normal Control Persons Research Articles

Evaluation the Role of Lipocalin 2 as a New Non-Invasive Diagnostic Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Egyptian Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the sixth most common cancer worldwide. In Egypt, it represents the fourth common cancer. Significant risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma include viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and hepatitis C), alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic liver steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. HCC occurs in 80%-90% of patients with cirrhosis. The annual incidence of HCC in patients with cirrhosis is 2-4%. Aim of the Work The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of lipocalin 2 (LCN 2) as a diagnostic marker in HCC Egyptian patients. Patients and Methods A case-control study in Ain- Shams University Hospital for 6 months period and the study will be conducted on 96 Egyptian patients (32 HCC patients, 32 liver cirrhosis without HCC, 32 normal control persons). Res1ults We found that LCN 2 level ranged from 150 to 380 in HCC group with mean±SD = 292.750±50.940, from 88 to 280 in cirrhotic patients with mean± SD = 129.313±36.605, from 40 to 62 in control group with mean± SD = 53.250± 4.958, being statistically significant higher in HCC group more than both cirrhotic group and control group and in cirrhotic patients more than control group (p-value = <0.001). The results showing sensitivity of 96.87% and specificity 96.87% of LCN 2 as a marker for HCC with accuracy of 98.4%,with cut off > 160. The presence of (LCN-2) in blood and urine, in combination with α-Fetoprotein (AFP), is a biomarker of early stages of HCC. LCN 2 is a promising serum tumor marker for HCC diagnosis. Conclusion We concluded from this study that: Serum LCN 2 level was significantly higher in patients with HCC and mildly elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. So it can be used as a tumor marker for HCC diagnosis. Use of LCN 2 with AFP or possibly other markers will improve the diagnostic field and can help in early detection of HCC in surveillance programms. We need further studies on large number of HCC patients of different etiologies and on metastaic liver tumors to clarify the accuracy and potential diagnostic role of LCN 2 in the future.

Zoom-In Neural Network Deep-Learning Model for Alzheimer's Disease Assessments.

Deep neural networks have been successfully applied to generate predictive patterns from medical and diagnostic data. This paper presents an approach for assessing persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared with normal control (NC) persons, using the zoom-in neural network (ZNN) deep-learning algorithm. ZNN stacks a set of zoom-in learning units (ZLUs) in a feedforward hierarchy without backpropagation. The resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) dataset for AD assessments was obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL-90) atlas, which provides 90 neuroanatomical functional regions, was used to assess and detect the implicated regions in the course of AD. The features of the ZNN are extracted from the 140-time series rs-fMRI voxel values in a region of the brain. ZNN yields the three classification accuracies of AD versus MCI and NC, NC versus AD and MCI, and MCI versus AD and NC of 97.7%, 84.8%, and 72.7%, respectively, with the seven discriminative regions of interest (ROIs) in the AAL-90.

An insight into the value of circular RNA in psoriasis pathogenesis and its correlation with PASI score

Background Psoriasis is a chronic hyperproliferative inflammatory disease, in which genetic and environmental factors have an important role, but the exact cause is yet unknown. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are regulatory noncoding RNAs. They play an important role in multiple physiological and pathological processes, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neuronal diseases. Some circRNAs are involved in regulating immunity, inflammation, and cell proliferation in many types of cells. Aim To detect the expression of circRNA (Circ0061012) in psoriatic skin of diseased patients as compared with normal control persons to investigate the possible role of circRNA in psoriasis pathogenesis and its correlation with disease severity. Patients and methods The present study included 30 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy controls. A 4-mm punch skin biopsy was taken from patients (psoriatic lesion) and controls, and it was kept in the lysis solution for the stability of the studied parameters and was kept frozen at -80°Celsius till analysis of circRNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results The tissue level of circRNA (Circ0061012) was significantly higher among patients with psoriasis as compared with normal control individuals. Conclusion circRNA could contribute to psoriasis pathogenesis through its immunomodulatory role, so it might be a therapeutic target in the future.

Tissue and serum lipoxin A4 levels in psoriasis patients and their relation with disease severity

Background Psoriasis disease is a chronic hyperproliferative inflammatory disease, in which genetic and environmental factors have an important role, but the exact cause is yet unknown. Lipoxin A4 plays a role in improvement of psoriasis cases, it blocks the production of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor with increasing the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, c–c chemochine receptor-5 by T lymphocytes, and it reduces the perception of pain due to inflammation. Aim Detection of the expression of lipoxin A4 in the tissue and serum of psoriatic patients as compared with normal-control persons to investigate the possible role of lipoxin A4 in the psoriasis pathogenesis and its correlation with disease severity. Patients and methods The present study included 25 psoriatic patients and 25 age, sex-matched healthy controls. Four-mm punch-skin biopsy was taken from patients (psoriatic lesion) and control persons and it was kept in lysis solution for the stability of the studied parameters and it was kept frozen at –80°C till analysis of lipoxin A4 by PCR. Peripheral blood samples for detection of serum lipoxin A4 were taken. Blood samples were centrifuged and the serum was stored at –80°C and used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Psoriatic patients had significantly lower tissue and serum lipoxin A4 levels as compared with normal-control persons. Conclusions Lipoxin A4 could contribute to psoriasis pathogenesis through its immunomodulatory role.

Downregulation of microRNA-520 in chronic plaque psoriasis

Background Psoriasis is a chronic disease, in which genetic and environmental factors play an important role, but the exact cause is yet unknown. It includes inflammation and increased proliferation of skin cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, ∼22-nucleotide-long, noncoding gene-regulatory RNA molecules that inhibit gene expression through translational repression or mRNA turnover. MicroRNA-520 suppresses the mitotic entry and proliferation of keratinocytes. Aim This case–control study is to detect the expression of miRNA-520 in serum samples of diseased patients as compared with normal control persons to investigate the possible role of miRNA-520 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Patients and methods This study included 30 psoriatic patients and 30 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls. Peripheral blood samples for serum miRNA-520 were taken. Blood samples were centrifuged and the serum was stored at 80°C and used for quantitative real-time PCR. Results The expression of miRNA-520 was significantly lower in psoriasis patients as compared with healthy controls. Conclusion MiRNA-520 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis; hence, it can be used as a biomarker to evaluate its progression and effect of therapeutic interventions.

The role of autophagy-related gene 9B in lichen planus.

Lichen planus (LP) is an idiopathic, chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, autoimmune dermatological disease. The etiopathogenesis of LP is still unclear. Autophagy is a strictly regulated lysosomal degradation pathway that is crucial for maintaining intracellular homeostasis and normal development. The dysregulation of autophagy-associated genes was recognized to increase the susceptibility to multiple diseases, including inflammation, autoimmune disorders and cancer. Our study aimed to detect the expression of autophagy-related gene 9 b (ATG9B) in LP patients compared to normal control persons to investigate the possible role of autophagy in pathogenesis of this disease. This case-control study included 30 LP patients and 30 age-, gender-matched healthy controls. Four millimeters punch skin biopsies were obtained from LP lesions and from the controls and they were kept in lysis solution for the stability of the studied parameters and were kept frozen at -80°C till analysis of ATG9B using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The level of ATG9B in lesional skin of LP was significantly decreased compared to normal control persons (P < 0.01); also, there was a non-significant relation between ATG9B level and age, sex, duration and family history among LP patients. Limited number of patients included in our study (30 patients). Autophagy may play a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous LP.

Shotgun metagenomics reveals significant gut microbiome features in different grades of acute pancreatitis

BackgroundAcute pancreatitis (AP) has a broad spectrum of severity and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota may be associated with AP severity. AimsWe aimed to evaluate the composition and functional effects of gut microbiota in different grades of AP severity. MethodsWe carried out shotgun metagenomic sequencing on rectal swab samples from three patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP), three with moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP), three with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and three normal control persons (NOR). Differences analysis in gut microbiota composition and functional enrichment was performed. ResultsGut microbiota in AP patients was characterized by decreased species richness. The most representative gut microbiota in mild acute pancreatitis (MAP), moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP), and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) was Streptococcus, Escherichia-coli, and Enterococcus, respectively. Each of the three AP-associated genera could differentiate AP from healthy control population. Representative pathways associated with the glutathione metabolism, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism (valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation) were enriched in MAP, MSAP, and SAP, respectively. ConclusionsThe study shows a potential association of gut microbiome composition and function to the progression of AP severity.

Changes in plasma HDL and its subcomponents HDL2b and HDL3 regulate inflammatory response by modulating SOCS1 signaling to affect severity degree and prognosis of sepsis.

To explore if SOCS1 is regulated by plasma HDL and its subcomponents HDL2b and HDL3 to affect inflammatory reaction then to influence the severity degree and prognosis of sepsis. One hundred sepsis patients in ICU and 85 normal control persons from October 2018 to October 2019 in our hospital were enrolled. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish sepsis model by CLP method. HDL, CRP, and WBC count of human were measured using an auto-analyzer. Plasma HDL, IL-1β, and TNF-α proteins levels of mice were measured with ELISA. Microfluidic chip was used for plasma HDL2b and HDL3 detections. SOCS1 in liver and spleen of mice were measured by qRT-PCR. The relationship between plasma HDL//HDL2b and inflammatory indices/SOCS1 in liver/spleen was analyzed with spearman correlation coefficient method. The sepsis patients/mice were divided into non-survival and survival groups. The sepsis patients were divided into severe and mild sepsis patients based on the SOFA score or divided into high and low score groups according to the APACHE II score. The sepsis mice were divided into high and low score group based on the modified sepsis severity score criterion. Plasma HDL and HDL2b levels were significantly declined (P<0.01), while HDL3 was normal in both sepsis patients and mice (P>0.05). Plasma HDL and HDL2b were negatively associated with the serum CRP concentration and positively correlated with the prognosis and severity in sepsis patients (P<0.05). Moreover, the downregulated plasma HDL but not HDL2b was negatively related to increased SOCS1 mRNA levels in liver and spleen of mice, which were positively connected with TNF-α and IL-1β protein levels (P<0.05). Plasma HDL is downregulated in sepsis, which may facilitate inflammatory reaction then activate the SOCS1 signaling to regulate the severity and affect prognosis of sepsis. The decline of plasma HDL2b content could aggravate the severity and poor prognosis of sepsis through facilitating inflammatory reaction. The plasma HDL3 is not involved in sepsis. The more and further explorations may be needed.

Assessment of serum level of interferon gamma in patients of lupus nephritis and without nephritis

Background: One of the major immunological problems is SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus)and lupus nephritis is one of the main complications, INF (interferon) plays an important role in disease pathogenesis Aim of the work: The aim of this work to assess the level of INF gamma in sufferers with lupus nephritis in comparison to patients with non-nephritis lupus and their correlation to the disease activity. Patients and methods: This research was conducted on 60 persons divided into two groups: group I (group SLE) comprising 40 patients, 20 patients with nephritis and 20 patients without nephritis, and group II (control group) comprising 20 age-matched normal control persons. Disease activity assessed in patients' SLEDAI (SLE Disease Activity Index) and sera and controls were tested for the INF gamma level measured in the Human INF GAMMA ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kits. Results: In the SLE group, serum levels of INF gamma were substantially higher than in the control group and also higher in patients with nephritis than in non-nephritis group and had direct correlation with SLEDAI score, level of anti-ds DNA(anti double stranded DNA) and proteinuria. Conclusion: For SLE patients, INF gamma may be used as a biomarker, and it is higher in renal activity .

Role of autophagy in nonsegmental vitiligo Naguid and Rashed

Background Vitiligo is a skin and less common hair disease characterized by decline in melanocyte function and depigmentation, with a prevalence of 0.5–1% in most populations. Autophagy is the degradation of components of the cytoplasm within lysosomes. This is distinct from endocytosis-mediated lysosomal degradation of extracellular and plasma membrane proteins. Aim The aim was to detect biochemical parameter light chain 3 (LC3) to monitor autophagy in vitiligo skin of patients as compared with normal control persons to evaluate the role of autophagy in the vitiligo pathogenesis. Materials and methods This case–control study included 60 patients with vitiligo and 60 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls. Herein, 4 mm punch skin biopsy was taken from every patient (vitiligo lesion) and control and kept in lysis solution for the stability of the studied parameters and was kept frozen at −80°C till analysis of autophagy protein LC3 by qRT PCR. Results The level of LC3 in lesional skin of vitiligo was significantly lower as compared with normal control persons.

Survey Based Study: Classification of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Neuroimaging is a description, whether in two-dimensions (2D) or three-dimensions (3D), of the structure and functions of the brain. Neuroimaging provides a valuable diagnostic tool, in which a limited approach is used to create images of the focal sensory system by medicine professionals. For the clinical diagnosis of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairs (MCI), the accurate identification of patients from normal control persons (NCs) is critical. Recently, numerous researches have been undertaken on the identification of AD based on neuroimaging data, including images with radiographs and algorithms for master learning. In the previous decade, these techniques were also used slowly to differentiate AD and MCI symptoms from structure classification methods. This review focuses on neuroimaging studies conducted to detect and classify AD, through a survey based on Google Scholar content. We explore the challenges of this field and evaluate the performance of these studies along with their negative aspects.

Lipocalin-2: A novel diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Viral hepatitis, alcoholism and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are the most common risk factors. Despite the advances in HCC screening and treatment options, HCC still has a high mortality rate and a high rate of recurrence after treatment. Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is a glycoprotein transporter that is highly expressed in HCC tissues. To evaluate serum LCN-2 as a diagnostic marker for HCC. The study was carried out in Zagazig university hospitals. It included 210 HCC patients (subdivided in three subgroups), 72 liver cirrhosis patients without HCC and 18 normal control persons (the total is 300 subjects). All the study subjects were evaluated by history taking, physical examination, routine laboratory investigations, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and LCN-2 in addition radiology. In comparison between HCC and control, there was a statistically significant difference in hemoglobin percent (HB%), platelet count, serum ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, albumin and creatinine. In comparison to AFP, LCN-2 > 225 ng/ml had a higher diagnostic performance in HCC patients and was more accurate in differentiation between cirrhosis and HCC patients. LCN-2 is a good candidate for HCC diagnosis and screening.

Study of Expression of Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 in Lichen Planus

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is a mucocutaneous disease that is relatively common between adult populations. LP can present as skin and oral lesions. Objective: The present study aimed to detect the expression of SOCS3 in lichen planus of diseased patients as compared to normal control persons. Patients and methods: This study was a case control study included 30 Lichen planus patients as cases chosen from outpatients attending Dermatology Department at Beni- Suef University Hospital and 30 normal as controls calculated by sample size calculator formula. Results: In our study, LP cases and control were compared using SOCS3; to determine the cut-off value, we performed a ROC analysis. SOCS3 has perfect value for discrimination between LP cases and controls with an area under the ROC curve of 1.0 (95% CI = 0.940 to 1.000, P-value <0.0001). Best cut-off is a value of 1.5 (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 1.0, J-index = 1.0). Conclusion: Our results were unique in studying the role of SOCS3 in skin form of LP. SOCS3 has perfect value for discrimination between LP cases and controls.

The Effect of Metabolic Syndrome on Systolic Function of Left Ventricle Using Echocardiographic Examination

Objective: Metabolic syndrome may cause bad prognosis on diastolic or systolic function of the left ventricle. Thus, this research aimed to recognize the possible effect of metabolic syndrome on systolic and diastolic function of left ventricle using ECHO. Study Design: Prospective case‑control study. Place and duration of study: Soad Kafafi Hospital, Egypt, from May 2016 to March 2018. Methodology: This research included forty patients with metabolic syndrome (18 male, 22 female, mean age=54.13±6.33 years) and forty control matching age and sex volunteers without history of metabolic syndrome disorder (15 male, 25 female, mean age=52.20±5.27).MS was defined according to ATP‑NCEP III criteria. Waist circumference will be measured to all participants at the start of study inclusion. Height and weight was measured to calculate Body mass index using standardized formula. Participants underwent laboratory investigations and complete echo cardiography. Left ventricular function of the heart was assessed using Echo cardiographic examination. Results: There was a statistical significant difference regarding Left atrial (LA) diameter, Interventricular septum and posterior wall thickness in metabolic syndrome patients than normal control persons. The incidence of diastolic dysfunction was significantly higher in metabolic syndrome group compared to control. Conclusion: MS may cause LV diastolicdysfunction although systolic function was preserved.

Vitamin-D deficiency is encountered in almost all egyptian stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease patients in spite of the sunny weather.

Currently, there is no available data about Vitamin D status among Egyptian chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This cross-sectional study is looking for the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among Stage 3a-5 CKD Egyptian patients and its possible associations. We studied 1624 Stage 3a-5 CKD adults (689 males and 935 females) together with 200 normal control persons. All the recruited candidates were tested for body mass index (BMI); serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), albumin, and uric acid (UA); urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), and estimated glomerular filtration rate. The optimal level of Vitamin D was encountered in only 1.4% of CKD patients versus 52% of the normal controls. A total of 1107 (68.2%) CKD patients versus 23 (11.5%) controls had serum 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL (mean ± standard deviation = 16.8 ± 5.8 versus 37.3±7.6 ng/mL for CKD versus control group, respectively, P <0.001). There was a highly statistically significant positive correlation between serum 25(OH)D and serum Ca (r = 0.299, P <0.001) and a highly statistically significant negative correlation between serum 25(OH)D on the one hand and serum P, serum PTH, serum UA, and urine ACR on the other hand (r = -0.46, -0.69, -0.73, and -0.8, respectively, P <0.001). Vitamin D deficiency is very common among Egyptian CKD patients. Serum P, UA, and urine ACR ratio are the most important variables which are found to be negatively associated with serum 25(OH)D.

Serum C-Reactive Protein and Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose: To study the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the progression of diabetic retinopathy before and after treatment to determine if it can be used as a biomarker for progression or regression. Methods: This observational case study included 90 persons divided into 4 groups: group A of 30 normal persons (non diabetic) as a control group, group B of 30 diabetic patients without retinopathy, group C of 30 untreated patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and group D of the same patients of group C after 3 months of laser treatment by pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). Serum CRP protein was measured in all groups, interpretation of results was applied. Results: The study revealed that serum CRP level increased significantly in patients with PDR (group C) in comparison to both groups of normal control persons (group A) and diabetic patients without retinopathy (group B) (P 0.05). Also the same finding was noticed in elderly patients above 50 years. Conclusion: CRP is considered a biomarker for PDR even in older age patients, but not a good indictor used for follow up patients after treatment.

Quantitative assessment of optic disc edema using spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Introduction Optic disc edema (ODE) can be caused by a variety of conditions including pseudotumor cerebri, hypertension, diabetes, uveitis, anemia, lymphoma, and papillitis. Improvement in the quality of optical coherence tomography (OCT) can support the diagnosis and management of ODE. OCT may help in this diagnosis by showing peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickening. Aim of the work To evaluate quantitative assessment of optic disc edema by measuring peripapillary nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and peripapillary maximum neurosensory retinal (MNSR) thickness in the four quadrants using spectral domain OCT. Patients and methods The study was done in El-Minya Investigation Eye Center between May 2012 and May 2013. The study included 21 eyes of 16 patients with optic disc edema and 20 eyes of 11 normal control persons. Both patients and normal control were examined by spectral domain OCT, two sets of measurements were evaluated and compared: Peripapillary RNFL thickness measurement in four quadrants using the standard optic disc cube 200 × 200 acquisition protocol, spectral domain OCT, Peripapillary maximum neurosensory retinal thickness (MNSR) in four quadrants using high definition 5 line images. Results In ODE group, 21 eyes of 16 patients were evaluated. The control group included 20 eyes of 11 normal subjects. The Mean average peripapillary RNFL was 93.1 ± 8.2 in control group 132.3 ± 46 µ in mild ODE, 139.4 ± 29.2 µ in moderate ODE and 264.2 ± 116.9 µ in severe ODE. The mean average peripapillary MNSR in the four quadrants was 350.1 ± 36.3 µm in control group, 458.7 ± 37.3 µm in mild ODE, 634.4 ± 35.01 µm in moderate ODE and 968.3 ± 245 µm in severe ODE. Conclusion There was a statistically significant increase in mean RNFL thickness and mean MNSR in four quadrants in all grades of ODE group compared with the control group ( P = 0.001). There was a strong positive correlation ( r = 0.89, P = 0.001) between the mean MNSR and the mean RNFL in eyes with ODE.

The oxygen saturation in retinal vessels from diabetic patients depends on the severity and type of vision‐threatening retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is characterized by morphological lesions in the retina secondary to disturbances in retinal blood flow which may influence the supply of oxygen to the retinal metabolism. Using retinal oximetry, it has been shown that the oxygen saturation is increased in retinal arterioles and venules from diabetic patients with retinopathy, but oxygenation before the development of retinopathy and possible differences in retinal oxygenation between diabetic maculopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients have not been evaluated. One-hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients referred for specialist evaluation of diabetic retinopathy, and eighty normal control persons were subjected to retinal oximetry of the larger retinal arterioles and venules. The diabetic patients were allocated to one of four groups with severity of retinopathy ranging from no retinopathy to vision-threatening retinopathy, and the oxygen saturation in arterioles and venules was compared between these groups. Increasing severity of retinal changes from no retinopathy to diabetic maculopathy was accompanied with increasing oxygen saturation in retinal venules and decreasing oxygen extraction, whereas proliferative diabetic retinopathy showed increased oxygen saturation in both retinal arterioles and venules to result in a normal oxygen extraction. Prospective observational and interventional studies are needed to show whether changes in retinal oxygen saturation precede or follow the development of diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, studies of regional variations in haemodynamic parameters in patients with vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy might improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy. This is a precondition for improving the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Neurophysiology of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: EEG-based network and graph analysis of the interictal and immediate preictal states

The neuronal mechanisms of enduring seizure propensity and seizure precipitation in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) are not known. We investigated these issues, within the framework of the "network concept" of epilepsy. Design1: 19, unmedicated JME patients were compared with nineteen, age-, and sex-matched normal control persons (NC). A total of 120s, artifact-free, paroxysm-free, eyes-closed, resting state EEG background activity was analyzed for each person. Design2: interictal and immediate preictal periods of the JME patients were compared in order to explore interictal-preictal network differences. For both comparison designs, statistically significant differences of EEG functional connectivity (EEGfC), nodal and global graph parameters were evaluated. Design1: maximum abnormalities were: increased delta, theta, alpha1 EEGfC and decreased alpha2 and beta EEGfC in the JME group as compared to the NC group, mainly among cortical areas that are involved in sensory-motor integration. Nodal degree and efficiency of three, medial, basal frontal nodes were greater in JME than in NC, in the alpha1 band. Design2: preictal delta EEGfC showed further increase in the above-mentioned areas, as compared to the interictal state. Increased EEGfC indicates a hypercoupled state among the specified cortical areas. This interictal abnormality further increases in the preictal state. Nodal graph statistics indicates abnormal neuronal dynamics in the cortical area that is the ictal onset zone in JME. Interictal and preictal neuronal dysfunction has been described in terms of network dynamics and topography in JME patients. Forthcoming investigations of seizure precipitation and therapeutic drug effects are encouraged on this basis.

Discrimination Analysis of Blood Plasma Associated with Alzheimer's Disease Using Vibrational Spectroscopy

In this study we have determined whether Raman and infrared spectroscopy of blood plasma differentiates Alzheimer's disease (AD) from normal aging of healthy controls. Spectroscopic analysis was conducted on blood plasma samples from 8 mild AD, 16 moderate AD, 11 severe AD, and 12 normal elderly control persons using Fourier transform spectrometers and a near-infrared laser beam as excitation source for Raman spectroscopy. Spectra were processed employing discriminant analysis to determine whether band areas and frequency-intensity relationships might reveal biochemical differences associated with AD. Seven spectral biomarkers were identified in the Raman regions of 1700-1600 cm-1 (protein secondary structure), 980-910 cm-1 (protein α-helices), 790-730 cm-1 (protein tertiary structure), and 440-390 cm-1 (protein backbone) and in the infrared regions of 1700-1600 cm-1 (protein secondary structure) and 1150-1000 cm-1 (oxidative stress). This discriminant analysis model differentiated AD from normal aging of elderly control persons with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 92%. Moreover, specificity increases to 100% for the detection of mild AD. In summary, our results open the possibility of using this spectroscopic approach as a non-invasive, rapid, and relatively inexpensive procedure for early accurate diagnosis of AD.