Normal Individuals Research Articles

The Benson Complex Figure Test: Normative Data for the Healthy Iranian Population

Purpose: Visual-related abilities such as visual memory and visuo-constructional skills are among the cognitive abilities with fundamental importance for normal cognitive function, and their impairment is manifested in many neurological and psychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to generate normative data for the Benson Complex Figure Test (BCFT), a well-known simplified version of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, in Iran and to assess the effect of demographic variables of age, gender, and education on its various measures.
 Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in 2017-2018 as part of the Iranian Brain Imaging Database (IBID) project. The study sample consisted of 300 normal individuals in the age range of 20 to 70 years, with an equal number of participants and an equal proportion of genders in each age decade (#60). Independent and dependent variables, respectively, were age (classified by five decades including 20-30-year-olds, 31-40-year-olds, 41-50-year-olds, 51-60-year-olds, and 61-70-year-olds) and performance in the BCFT (defined in terms of 3 scores on a copy, recall, and recognition of the geometric figure and 2 scores on time of copy and recall).
 Results: The correlation matrix among the variables showed that age and education have a significant correlation with most of the BCFT scores, while gender only has a significant correlation with recognition score. Multivariate analysis of variance showed the effect of age, gender, and their interaction on scores, while education did not make a significant difference in the BCFT scores. Also, the t-test showed a significant difference between men and women in recall and recognition, so women and men showed better performance in recall and recognition, respectively.
 Conclusion: In summary, our results suggest that demographic variables of age, gender, and education affect visual memory and visuospatial abilities, and it is essential to generate normative data for research or clinical settings.

An amino-rich polymer-coated magnetic nanomaterial for ultra-rapid separation of phosphorylated peptides in the serum of Parkinson's disease patients.

The elucidation of disease pathogenesis can be achieved by analyzing the low-abundance phosphopeptides in organisms. Herein, we developed a novel and easy-to-prepare polymer-coated nanomaterial. By improving the hydrophilicity and spatial conformation of the material, we effectively enhanced the adsorption of phosphopeptides and demonstrated excellent enrichment properties. The material was able to successfully enrich the phosphopeptides in only 1min. Meanwhile, the material has high selectivity (1:2000), good loading capacity (100μg/mg), excellent sensitivity (0.5 fmol), and great acid and alkali resistance. In addition, the material was applied to real samples, and 70 phosphopeptides were enriched from the serum of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and 67 phosphopeptides were enriched from the serum of normal controls. Sequences Logo showed that PD is probably associated with threonine, glutamate, serine, and glutamine. Finally, gene ontology (GO) analysis was performed on phosphopeptides enriched in PD patients' serum. The results showed that PD patients expressed abnormal expression of thecholesterol metabolic process and cell-matrix adhesion in thebiological process (BP), endoplasmic reticulum and lipoprotein in thecellular component (CC), and heparin-binding, lipid-binding, and receptor-binding in themolecular function (MF) as compared with normal individuals. All the experiments indicate that the nanomaterials have great potential in proteomics studies.

Effect of Modulated Masking on Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential in Normal Hearing Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Introduction The study of electrophysiological auditory measures with different types of masking makes it possible to understand temporal processing skills and the processes involved in speech recognition in noise situations. The use of modulated masking in cortical measures of hearing enables the obtainment of analysis parameters of the masking release and its impact on neural auditory processing. Objective To investigate the behavior of cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) with modulated masking in the normal hearing population. Data synthesis A total of 2,159 articles were identified in the initial search; of these, 12 were selected for full reading. After excluding studies that did not meet the eligibility criteria, six articles were included in the present systematic review.The results show that the type of masking has an influence on cortical auditory behavior, indicating a different effect on neural posture rergarding CAEP responses. Modulated noise as masking in the CAEP record generated statistically higher and earlier responses compared with non-modulated/steady noise, evidenced by the results obtained in the meta-analysis with subgroup analysis. These responses may indicate an influence of the type of noise in the neural auditory coding. Conclusion Better responses were observed in modulated masking in terms of the behavior of CAEPs. Decreased latency and increased amplitude of cortical measurements with the use of modulated noise indicate a lower masking effect of this noise in cortical auditory processing, evidencing the masking release phenomenon.

GPNMB Biomarker Levels in GBA1 Carriers with Lewy Body Disorders.

The GPNMB single-nucleotide polymorphism rs199347 and GBA1 variants both associate with Lewy body disorder (LBD) risk. GPNMB encodes glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB), a biomarker for GBA1-associated Gaucher's disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether GPNMB levels (1) differ in LBD with and without GBA1 variants and (2) associate with rs199347 genotype. We quantified GPNMB levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 124 individuals with LBD with one GBA1 variant (121 plasma, 14 CSF), 631 individuals with LBD without GBA1 variants (626 plasma, 41 CSF), 9 neurologically normal individuals with one GBA1 variant (plasma), and 2 individuals with two GBA1 variants (plasma). We tested for associations between GPNMB levels and rs199347 or GBA1 status. GPNMB levels associate with rs199347 genotype in plasma (P = 0.022) and CSF (P = 0.007), but not with GBA1 status. rs199347 is a protein quantitative trait locus for GPNMB. GPNMB levels are unaltered in individuals carrying one GBA1 variant. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Associations between Body Mass Index, Gait Mechanics and Trochlear Cartilage Thickness in those with ACL Reconstruction.

High body mass index (BMI) is a strong predictor of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Altered gait mechanics are independently affected by BMI and ACLR, and influence OA risk. Yet, evidence directly assessing the impact of high BMI on gait or cartilage characteristics after ACLR are limited. Here, we evaluated if high BMI moderates associations between gait and trochlear cartilage structure in individuals with ACLR. Treadmill walking biomechanics were evaluated in forty normal BMI and twenty-four high BMI participants with ACLR at self-selected speeds. Normalized and absolute peak and cumulative loads (i.e., impulse) were extracted for peak knee flexion and adduction moments (KFM, KAM) and vertical ground reaction force (GRF). Medial and lateral femoral cartilage thickness and medial: lateral thickness ratios were assessed via ultrasound. Those with ACLR and high BMI walked with reduced normalized peak vertical GRFs, and greater absolute peak and cumulative loads compared to normal BMI individuals with ACLR. Those with ACLR and high BMI also exhibited thinner cartilage and greater medial: lateral ratios in ACLR limbs compared to contralateral limbs whereas normal BMI individuals with ACLR exhibited thicker ACLR limb cartilage. Lastly, greater peak KAM and KAM cumulative load were associated with thicker lateral cartilage and lesser medial: lateral thickness ratios, but only in the high BMI group. We observed those with high BMI after ACLR exhibited trochlear cartilage structural alterations not observed in normal BMI patients, while differential associations between loading outcomes and cartilage thickness in ACLR knees were observed between groups. Those with high BMI after ACLR may require different therapeutic strategies to optimize joint health in this subset of patients.

Effect of Random, Blocked, and Mixed Practice Order on Upper Extremity Motor Learning in Subjects with Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Random practice order has been shown to improve motor learning in normal individuals as well as sports players. The purpose of this study is to investigate which practice order is beneficial in subjects with Parkinson’s disease. Methodology: The total number of Subjects included in this study was 32. Blocked practice order followed by random followed by mixed practice order was given. In between washout period of 1 week was given. Response time during acquisition and retention was assessed. Data were analyzed statistically by using one-way ANOVA. Results: The mean time taken by the subjects was maximum with Random practice order with (p=0.001, SD= 10.73) during Acquisition and (p=0.003, SD=8.88). The mean time difference was maximum with random (p= 0.001) in both the acquisitions as well as retention phases. On comparing the difference between the 1st and 10th trials of all three practice orders by using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) post hoc analysis by using Tukey’s test, we observed that in subjects with PD Random practice order is more beneficial than mixed and blocked respectively. Discussion: On comparing all three practice orders we can infer that Upper Extremity motor learning skill was superior with Random practice orders followed by Mixed and blocked practice orders respectively in both the acquisition and retention phases. KEYWORDS: Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Learning, Practice Order, Acquisition, Retention.

A multi-omics study to monitor senescence-associated secretory phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the progressive degeneration and damage of neurons in the brain. However, developing an accurate diagnostic assay using blood samples remains a challenge in clinic practice. The aim of this study was to explore senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) in peripheral blood using mass spectrometry based multi-omics approach and to establish diagnostic assays for AD. This retrospective study included 88 participants, consisting of 29 AD patients and 59 cognitively normal (CN) individuals. Plasma and serum samples were examined using high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify proteomic and metabolomic profiles. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to screen biomarkers with diagnostic potential. K-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm was utilized to construct a multi-dimensional model for distinguishing AD from CN. Proteomics analysis revealed upregulation of five plasma proteins in AD, including RNA helicase aquarius (AQR), zinc finger protein 587B (ZNF587B), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibronectin (FN1), and serum amyloid A-1 protein (SAA1), indicating their potential for AD classification. Interestingly, KNN-based three-dimensional model, comprising AQR, ZNF587B, and CRP, demonstrated its high accuracy in AD recognition, with evaluation possibilities of 0.941, 1.000, and 1.000 for the training, testing, and validation datasets, respectively. Besides, metabolomics analysis suggested elevated levels of serum phenylacetylglutamine (PAGIn) in AD. The multi-omics outcomes highlighted the significance of the SASPs, specifically AQR, ZNF587B, CRP, and PAGIn, in terms of their potential for diagnosing AD and suggested neuronal aging-associated pathophysiology.

Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Activity With Different Diameters and Water Depths in a Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercise.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) has been used to evaluate extrinsic laryngeal muscle activity during swallowing and phonation. In the current study, sEMG amplitudes were measured from the infrahyoid and suprahyoid muscles during phonation through a tube submerged in water. The sEMG amplitude values measured from the extrinsic laryngeal muscles and the electroglottographic contact quotient (CQ) were obtained simultaneously from 62 healthy participants (31 men, 31 women) during phonation through a tube at six different depths (2, 4, 7, 10, 15, and 20 cm) while using two tubes with different diameters (1 and 0.5 cm). With increasing depth, the sEMG amplitude for the suprahyoid muscles increased in men and women. However, sEMG amplitudes for the infrahyoid muscles increased significantly only in men. Tube diameter had a significant effect on the suprahyoid sEMG amplitudes only for men, with higher sEMG amplitudes when phonating with a 1.0-cm tube. CQ values increased with submerged depth for both men and women. Tube diameter affected results such than CQ values were higher for men when using the wider tube and for women with the narrower tube. Vocal fold vibratory patterns changed with the depth of tube submersion in water for both men and women, but the patterns of muscle activation differed between the sexes. This suggests that men and women use different strategies when confronted with increased intraoral pressure during semi-occluded vocal tract exercises. In this study, sEMG provided insight into the mechanism for differences between vocally normal individuals and could help detect compensatory muscle activation during tube phonation in water for people with voice disorders.

The Importance of PET Imaging to Understanding Whole-Body Cortisol Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease.

Excess cortisol is associated with more severe cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, and related dementia phenotypes. The intracellular enzyme 11β-HSD1 regenerates active cortisol from inactive cortisone. In this current issue, high regional brain occupancy of Xanamemtrademark, determined by [11C]TARACT PET imaging of 11β-HSD1, in cognitively normal individuals and mild cognitive impartment/Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is presented. In the future, comprehensive kinetic modeling using arterial sampling for occupancy studies, and whole-body PET imaging of 11β-HSD1 enzyme levels, in combination with stable isotope studies of cortisol metabolism, can provide broad insight into enzyme levels and activity in AD and other relevant diseases.

Impact of amyloid and tau positivity on longitudinal brain atrophy in cognitively normal individuals.

Individuals on the preclinical Alzheimer's continuum, particularly those with both amyloid and tau positivity (A + T +), display a rapid cognitive decline and elevated disease progression risk. However, limited studies exist on brain atrophy trajectories within this continuum over extended periods. This study involved 367 ADNI participants grouped based on combinations of amyloid and tau statuses determined through cerebrospinal fluid tests. Using longitudinal MRI scans, brain atrophy was determined according to the whole brain, lateral ventricle, and hippocampal volumes and cortical thickness in AD-signature regions. Cognitive performance was evaluated with the Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite (PACC). A generalized linear mixed-effects model was used to examine group × time interactions for these measures. In addition, progression risks to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia were compared among the groups using Cox proportional hazards models. A total of 367 participants (48 A + T + , 86 A + T - , 63 A - T + , and 170 A - T - ; mean age 73.8years, mean follow-up 5.1years, and 47.4% men) were included. For the lateral ventricle and PACC score, the A + T - and A + T + groups demonstrated statistically significantly greater volume expansion and cognitive decline over time than the A - T - group (lateral ventricle: β = 0.757 cm3/year [95% confidence interval 0.463 to 1.050], P < .001 for A + T - , and β = 0.889 cm3/year [0.523 to 1.255], P < .001 for A + T + ; PACC: β =  - 0.19 /year [- 0.36 to - 0.02], P = .029 for A + T - , and β =  - 0.59 /year [- 0.80 to - 0.37], P < .001 for A + T +). Notably, the A + T + group exhibited additional brain atrophy including the whole brain (β =  - 2.782 cm3/year [- 4.060 to - 1.504], P < .001), hippocampus (β =  - 0.057 cm3/year [- 0.085 to - 0.029], P < .001), and AD-signature regions (β =  - 0.02mm/year [- 0.03 to - 0.01], P < .001). Cox proportional hazards models suggested an increased risk of progressing to MCI or dementia in the A + T + group versus the A - T - group (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.35 [1.76 to 6.39]). In cognitively normal individuals, A + T + compounds brain atrophy and cognitive deterioration, amplifying the likelihood of disease progression. Therapeutic interventions targeting A + T + individuals could be pivotal in curbing brain atrophy, cognitive decline, and disease progression.

COMPARISON OF SUBMENTAL sEMG DURING DRY SWALLOW BETWEEN IRRADIATED HEAD AND NECK CANCER SURVIVORS AND NORMAL INDIVIDUALS.

This study compared the submental surface electromyography (sEMG) duration and amplitude during dry swallowing between irradiated head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and age-matched normal individuals. Further, the relationship between submental and infrahyoid sEMG in the irradiated HNC group was explored. Forty participants (20 HNC survivors and 20 age-matched normal individuals) participated in this study. The HNC survivors had completed organ preservation cancer treatment (at least 1-month post-treatment). They were on a complete oral diet without enteral supplementation (FOIS score> 4). Submental and infrahyoid sEMG activity was calculated for three trials of saliva swallow for each participant using sEMG. The duration and amplitude parameters considered were :Onset duration-duration from the onset of swallowing to the maximum amplitude, Offset duration-duration from the maximum amplitude to the end of the swallowing activity, Total duration, and Maximum Amplitude. The study found that irradiated HNC survivors exhibited prolonged temporal measures, particularly in the offset duration, which suggested a delayed descent of the hyolaryngeal complex during swallowing. Additionally, the HNC group showed a positive correlation between submental and infrahyoid sEMG. Furthermore, it was observed that the rate of increase in the duration of submental sEMG during subsequent swallowing was greater in HNC survivors which could be due to reduced salivation. Compared to age-matched normal individuals, irradiated HNC survivors manifest alterations in the submental muscle activities during dry swallowing as measured using sEMG. The temporal and amplitude changes are likely to have arisen as a consequence of post-radiation changes.

Sex differences in interacting genetic and functional connectivity biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.

As of 2023, it is estimated that 6.7 million individuals in the United States live with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prior research indicates that AD disproportionality affects females; females have a greater incidence rate, perform worse on a variety of neuropsychological tasks, and have greater total brain atrophy. Recent research shows that hippocampal functional connectivity differs by sex and may be related to the observed sex differences in AD, and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 carriers have reduced hippocampal functional connectivity. The purpose of this study was to determine if the ApoE genotype plays a role in the observed sex differences in hippocampal functional connectivity in Alzheimer's disease. The resting state fMRI and T2 MRI of individuals with AD (n = 30, female = 15) and cognitively normal individuals (n = 30, female = 15) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were analyzed using the functional connectivity toolbox (CONN). Our results demonstrated intrahippocampal functional connectivity differed between those without an ε4 allele and those with at least one ε4 allele in each group. Additionally, intrahippocampal functional connectivity differed only by sex when Alzheimer's participants had at least one ε4 allele. These results improve our current understanding of the role of the interacting relationship between sex, ApoE genotype, and hippocampal function in AD. Understanding these biomarkers may aid in the development of sex-specific interventions for improved AD treatment.

Assessing the impact of body composition, metabolic and oxidative stress parameters on insulin resistance as a prognostic marker for reactive hypoglycemia: a cross-sectional study in overweight, obese, and normal weight individuals.

Oxidative stress (OS) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR), particularly in its association with obesity. This study evaluate both the diagnostic and clinical significance of assessing oxidative status in patients affected by overweight and obesity displaying IR, especially with reactive hypoglycemic episodes (RH). A comprehensive examination of OS biomarkers was carried out, encompassing measurements of total oxidative capacity (TOC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Our analysis results reveal noteworthy connections between OS levels and the severity of IR in overweight and obese patients. Moreover, in the study, we demonstrated the diagnostic utility of serum concentrations of TAC and TOC as indicators of the risk of RH, the occurrence of which, even at the stage of overweight, may be associated with increased OS and further development of obesity. Our findings imply that the evaluation of oxidative status could serve as a crucial diagnostic and prognostic tool for patients observed with IR and overweight and obesity. In conclusion, our study underscores the potential utility of assessing oxidative status in the context of IR and highlights the possibility of identifying novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of overweight and obese patients.

Age-related Cognitive Decline Leads to Greater Entropic Descriptiveness as Measured in Connected Speech Tasks Within Biomarker-negative Cognitively Normal Individuals (S18.003)

Age-related Cognitive Decline Leads to Greater Entropic Descriptiveness as Measured in Connected Speech Tasks Within Biomarker-negative Cognitively Normal Individuals (S18.003)

Multi-pathological contributions toward atrophy patterns in the Alzheimer's disease continuum.

Heterogeneity in downstream atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is predominantly investigated in relation to pathological hallmarks (Aβ, tau) and co-pathologies (cerebrovascular burden) independently. However, the proportional contribution of each pathology in determining atrophy pattern remains unclear. We assessed heterogeneity in atrophy using two recently conceptualized dimensions: typicality (typical AD atrophy at the center and deviant atypical atrophy on either extreme including limbic predominant to hippocampal sparing patterns) and severity (overall neurodegeneration spanning minimal atrophy to diffuse typical AD atrophy) in relation to Aβ, tau, and cerebrovascular burden. We included 149 Aβ + individuals on the AD continuum (cognitively normal, prodromal AD, AD dementia) and 163 Aβ- cognitively normal individuals from the ADNI. We modeled heterogeneity in MRI-based atrophy with continuous-scales of typicality (ratio of hippocampus to cortical volume) and severity (total gray matter volume). Partial correlation models investigated the association of typicality/severity with (a) Aβ (global Aβ PET centiloid), tau (global tau PET SUVR), cerebrovascular (total white matter hypointensity volume) burden (b) four cognitive domains (memory, executive function, language, visuospatial composites). Using multiple regression, we assessed the association of each pathological burden and typicality/severity with cognition. (a) In the AD continuum, typicality (r = -0.31, p < 0.001) and severity (r = -0.37, p < 0.001) were associated with tau burden after controlling for Aβ, cerebrovascular burden and age. Findings imply greater tau pathology in limbic predominant atrophy and diffuse atrophy. (b) Typicality was associated with memory (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) and language scores (r = 0.19, p = 0.02). Severity was associated with memory (r = 0.26, p < 0.001), executive function (r = 0.24, p = 0.003) and language scores (r = 0.29, p < 0.001). Findings imply better cognitive performance in hippocampal sparing and minimal atrophy patterns. Beyond typicality/severity, tau burden but not Aβ and cerebrovascular burden explained cognition. In the AD continuum, atrophy-based severity was more strongly associated with tau burden than typicality after accounting for Aβ and cerebrovascular burden. Cognitive performance in memory, executive function and language domains was explained by typicality and/or severity and additionally tau pathology. Typicality and severity may differentially reflect burden arising from tau pathology but not Aβ or cerebrovascular pathologies which need to be accounted for when investigating AD heterogeneity.

Association of Anthropometric and Sociodemographic Factors with Portal Vein Diameter as Assessed by Ultrasonography: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Portal vein is the vessel formed by the confluence of superior mesenteric artery and splenic vein. Its diameter varies with sociodemographic and anthropometric factors. Objective: To determine association of the normal portal vein diameter with sociodemographic factors and anthropometric factors using ultrasonography. Methodology: Three hundreds and eighty-five patients of both genders were randomly selected. The study participants were examined in radiology department of the Mardan Medical Complex by using ultrasonography technique to examine portal vein diameter, height was measured using tape, weight through weighing scale and BMI through SPSS. Results: The mean portal vein diameter in the population of district Mardan was 10.41±1.65mm. Portal vein diameter of normal individuals had positive correlation with sociodemographic factors such as gender, age and anthropometric factors such height, weight and body mass index. Conclusions: There was positive correlation between age, height, weight and BMI, correlation was statistically significant.

Research progress on the microbiota in bladder cancer tumors.

The microbiota, also referred to as the microbial community, is a crucial component of the human microenvironment. It is located predominantly in various organs, including the intestines, skin, oral cavity, respiratory tract, and reproductive tract. The microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the human body, influencing physiological and pathological functions to a significant degree. There is increasing evidence linking the microbial flora to human cancers. In contrast to the traditional belief that the urethra and urine of normal individuals are sterile, recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing technology and bacterial cultivation methods have led to the discovery of specific microbial communities in the urethras of healthy individuals. Given the prevalence of bladder cancer (BCa) as a common malignancy of the urinary system, researchers have shifted their focus to exploring the connection between disease development and the unique microbial community within tumors. This shift has led to a deeper investigation into the role of microbiota in the onset, progression, metastasis, prognosis, and potential for early detection of BCa. This article reviews the existing research on the microbiota within BCa tumors and summarizes the findings regarding the roles of different microbes in various aspects of this disease.

EFFECT OF BETEL NUTS AND TOBACCO DERIVATIVES ON ANTIOXIDANTS AND MICRONUTRIENTS IN ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS AND ORAL CANCER PATIENTS IN GUJARAT POPULATION

Objective: In our previous study, we have find the significance of biochemical markers between precancerous and cancerous subject with normal healthy individuals in Gujarat population, taking into consideration the severity of biochemical markers in cancerous condition. We felt that other than comparison, effect of betel nuts and tobacco derivatives on antioxidants and micronutrients has required further evaluation to develop a better understanding. The objective of the present study is to measure the interdependence of antioxidants and micronutrients in oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer patients and find its significance. Method: In this study, a total of 150 patients in which 50 diagnosed PMD patients and 50 diagnosed oral cancer patients with 50 healthy non-tobacco consuming were selected as a control group. Five to seven milliliters of venous blood was collected under aseptic precautions with patients consent. All the parameters were analyzed by standard methods using fully auto-analyzed with a ready-to-use kit. Result: This research was conducted on 150 patients, out of which 50 diagnosed potential malignant disorder patients and 50 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients matched with 50 healthy control individuals. Average age of patients with PMD and OSCC was 55.6±9.74-and that of control group was 35.83±8.90 years. Student t-test showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to age. Of the 100 patients with PMD, 72 (72% of total) were men and 28 (28% of total) were women. Among the individuals in the control group (n=50), 35 persons (70% of total) were men and 15 (30% of total) were women. Chi-square test showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of sex (p=0.891). The copper levels of PMD and OSCC, respectively, were 153.57±7.68 and 164.43±15.75. The value was statistically compared with OSCC which had significantly higher levels than healthy control (102.53±22.1). The iron levels of PMD and OSCC, respectively, were 77.62±15.27 and 50.04±19.97. The value was statistically compared with OSCC which had significantly lower levels than (138.4±13.2) healthy control. The Vitamin C levels of PMD and OSCC, respectively, are 0.55±0.10 and 0.44±0.9. The value was statistically compared to the OSCC which had significantly lower than 1.09±0.17 control. The Vitamin E levels of PMD and OSCC, respectively, 1.18±0.16 and 0.8±0.12 values were statistically compared the OSCC which had significantly lower levels than (1.39±3.64) healthy control. Conclusion: In our finding, Vitamin C showed positive correlation with serum iron and serum copper with malignant disorders. Trace elements and antioxidants exhibited interdependence in both physiologic and pathologic states such as oral cancer.

Temporal processing abilities in normal hearing individuals with tinnitus: a systematic review

PurposeTinnitus, characterized by the perception of auditory phantoms, is prevalent worldwide and can lead to a range of hearing-related issues. Understanding its influence on temporal processing helps to delineate the auditory manifestations of tinnitus. This systematic review aimed to identify the patterns of temporal processing difficulties in individuals with tinnitus and normal hearing abilities. Furthermore, this review evaluates the potential of specific measurement techniques as tools for diagnosing temporal processing deficits in tinnitus.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted in multiple international databases, followed by rigorous screening of the titles, abstracts, and full-length content. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were formulated using the Population, intervention, compression, Outcome, and Study design (PICOS) format, and the study bias was determined. After excluding irrelevant articles, nine studies were selected for the analysis.ResultsOver 50% of the selected studies demonstrated a significant impact on temporal processing in individuals with tinnitus, especially with gap detection test (GDT) and gaps in noise (GIN) tests, indicating of the deficits in peripheral temporal process in tinnitus individuals with normal hearing. However, the other central auditory tests showed no major changes.ConclusionsThe findings from this review underscore the importance of understanding temporal processing impairments in tinnitus and hold promise for enhancing the diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes, ultimately improving the lives of those affected by tinnitus. This review highlights the potential of the GDT and GIN tests as sensitive tools for assessing temporal processing deficits in the peripheral auditory system, which in turn can manifest as central changes in temporal processing.Systematic review registrationhttp://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42021287194, Prospero [CRD42021287194].

Opportunistic screening for osteoporosis using computed tomography scans and its comparison with DXA findings: a two-center cross-sectional study

BackgroundOsteoporosis is a prevalent condition leading to an increased risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis poses a worldwide public health concern, impacting over 200 million individuals and resulting in a staggering 1.66 million hip fractures each year. Opportunistic osteoporosis screening can be employed during CT scans to assess bone mineral density (BMD) through Hounsfield units (HU) without the need for additional imaging, radiation exposure, or appointments. This study aimed to investigate a CT scan's diagnostic value in the opportunistic osteoporosis screening through L1 vertebra densitometry and compare it with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) findings.ResultsOne hundred forty-nine patients with an average age of 67.70 ± 10.94 years were included in the study. The age of osteoporotic patients was significantly higher than osteopenic (p = 0.001) and normal individuals (p < 0.001). The HU of osteoporotic patients was found to be significantly lower compared to both osteopenic (p = 0.023) and normal individuals (p < 0.001). According to the ROC curve for osteoporosis prediction using the HU (AUC = 0.793 and p < 0.001), with a cut-off of 103 HU, the CT scan had a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 74% for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.ConclusionIndividuals with osteoporosis exhibit a significantly lower average HU compared to both osteopenic and healthy individuals. A CT scan can serve as an effective predictor of osteoporosis in patients. The CT images obtained for reasons unrelated to osteoporosis diagnosis can be employed to discern patients with osteoporosis without incurring the added cost or radiation exposure.