Category: Nevin Manimala

Int J Risk Saf Med. 2022 Aug 10. doi: 10.3233/JRS-200087. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gender dysphoria is characterised by a sense of distress because of discordance between the self-perception of gender identity and the assigned sex. Hormonal treatment of transgender males uses testosterone to induce and preserve masculinisation.

OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the safety of testosterone therapy in transgender males.

METHODS: The present study used a retrospective file review of transgender male subjects who were treated with testosterone (initially transdermal testosterone gel and subsequently parenteral testosterone undecanoate) for at least 18 months and had subsequently achieved a serum testosterone level within the normal range of cisgender male counterparts. Changes in somatometric data and blood biomarkers were investigated.

RESULTS: The mean testosterone serum levels after approximately 18 months of treatment were about 545 ng/dL (SD ± 94 ng/dL). There was a statistically significant rise in body mass index (𝜒d = +1.23 kg/m2) with a reduction in blood glucose (𝜒d = -5.33 mg/dL) as well as statistically significant increases in aspartate transaminase (𝜒d = +4.3 U/L), haemoglobin (𝜒d = +1.72 g/dL) and haematocrit (𝜒d = +4.76%). In contrast, there were no significant changes in the lipidaemic profile of the subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with testosterone is routinely used for the promotion of virilising physical changes in transgender males. However, the likelihood of adverse effects of continuous administration treatment is still unclear. This study contributed to the notion that achieving testosterone levels within the target range is a prerequisite for the safety of the gender-affirming treatment.

PMID:35964205 | DOI:10.3233/JRS-200087

J Parkinsons Dis. 2022 Aug 12. doi: 10.3233/JPD-223295. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), dyskinesias and non-motor symptoms such as sleep dysfunction can significantly impair quality of life, and high-quality management is an unmet need.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze changes in dyskinesia and non-motor symptoms (including sleep) among studies with levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) in patients with advanced PD.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature review identified relevant studies examining LCIG efficacy. Outcomes of interest were dyskinesia (UDysRS, UPDRS IV item 32), overall non-motor symptoms (NMSS), mentation/behavior/mood (UPDRS I), and sleep/daytime sleepiness (PDSS-2, ESS). The pooled mean (95% confidence interval) change from baseline per outcome was estimated for each 3-month interval with sufficient data (i.e., reported by≥3 studies) up to 24 months using a random-effects model.

RESULTS: Seventeen open-label studies evaluating 1,243 patients with advanced PD were included. All outcomes of interest with sufficient data for meta-analysis showed statistically significant improvement within 6 months of starting LCIG. There were statistically significant improvements in dyskinesia duration as measured by UPDRS IV item 32 at 6 months (-1.10 [-1.69, -0.51] h/day) and 12 months (-1.35 [-2.07, -0.62] h/day). There were statistically and clinically significant improvements in non-motor symptoms as measured by NMSS scores at 3 months (-28.71 [-40.26, -17.15] points). Significant reduction of NMSS burden was maintained through 24 months (-17.61 [-21.52, -13.70] points). UPDRS I scores significantly improved at 3 months (-0.39 [-0.55, -0.22] points). Clinically significant improvements in PDSS-2 and ESS scores were observed at 6 and 12 months in individual studies.

CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced PD receiving LCIG showed significant sustained improvements in the burden of dyskinesia and non-motor symptoms up to 24 months after initiation.

PMID:35964203 | DOI:10.3233/JPD-223295

J Huntingtons Dis. 2022 Aug 6. doi: 10.3233/JHD-220540. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Autonomy describes a psychological state of self-regulation of motivation and action, which is a central characteristic of healthy functioning. In neurodegenerative diseases measures of self-perception have been found to be affected by the disease. However, it has never been investigated whether measures of self-perception, like autonomy, is affected in Huntington’s disease.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether autonomy is affected in Huntington’s disease and if the degree of autonomy is associated with motor function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairments, and apathy.

METHODS: We included 44 premanifest and motor-manifest Huntington’s disease gene expansion carriers and 19 controls. Autonomy was examined using two self-report questionnaires, the Autonomy-Connectedness Scale-30 and the Index of Autonomous Functioning. All participants were examined according to motor function, cognitive impairments, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including apathy.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between motor-manifest Huntington’s disease gene expansion carriers and premanifest Huntington’s disease gene expansion carriers or controls on two measures of autonomy. Between 25-38% of motor-manifest Huntington’s disease gene expansion carriers scored significantly below the normal level on subscales of autonomy as compared to controls. One autonomy subscale was associated with apathy (r = -0.65), but not with other symptoms of Huntington’s disease.

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for impaired autonomy in individuals with Huntington’s disease and an association between autonomy and apathy. The results underline the importance of maintaining patient autonomy and involvement in care throughout the disease.

PMID:35964199 | DOI:10.3233/JHD-220540

J Alzheimers Dis. 2022 Aug 11. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220649. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The relationship between serum uric acid (UA) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk still remained ambiguous despite extensive attempts.

OBJECTIVE: Via the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design, we aimed to examine the bidirectional causal relationships of serum UA, gout, and the risk of AD.

METHODS: Genetic variants of UA, gout, and AD were extracted from published genome-wide association summary statistics. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW, the primary method), and several sensitivity methods (MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode) were used to calculate the effect estimates. Egger regression, MR-PRESSO and leave-one-SNP-out analysis were performed to identify potential violations.

RESULTS: Genetic proxies for serum UA concentration [odds ratio (ORIVW) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.19, p = 0.031] were related with an increased risk of AD using 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This causal effect was confirmed by sensitivity analyses including MR-Egger (1.22, 1.06-1.42, p = 0.014), weighted median (1.18, 1.05-1.33, p = 0.006), and weighted mode (1.20, 1.07-1.35, p = 0.005) methods. No evidence of notable directional pleiotropy and heterogeneity were identified (p > 0.05). Three SNPs (rs2078267, rs2231142, and rs11722228) significantly drove the observed causal effects. Supportive causal effect of genetically determined gout on AD risk was demonstrated using two SNPs (ORIVW = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.00-1.11, p = 0.057). No reverse causal effects of AD on serum UA levels and gout risk were found.

CONCLUSION: The findings revealed a causal relationship between elevated serum UA level and AD risk. However, further research is still warranted to investigate whether serum UA could be a reliable biomarker and therapeutic target for AD.

PMID:35964198 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-220649

J Alzheimers Dis. 2022 Aug 6. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220583. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia has been reported as an adverse event for patients receiving rivastigmine for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between dysphagia and the usage of rivastigmine by using the pharmacovigilance data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

METHODS: The risk of dysphagia in patients who took rivastigmine was compared with those of patients who took other medications. In addition, this study sought to determine if the dysphagia risk was influenced by sex, age, dosage, and medication routes of administration.

RESULTS: When compared to patients prescribed donepezil, galantamine, or memantine, individuals prescribed rivastigmine were almost twice as likely to report dysphagia as an adverse event. The dysphagia risk in individuals prescribed rivastigmine is comparable to individuals prescribed penicillamine but significantly higher than clozapine, drugs of which have been previously shown to be associated with elevated dysphagia likelihood. Individuals older than 80 were 122% more likely to report having dysphagia after being prescribed rivastigmine than patients that were 50-70 years of age. Oral administration of rivastigmine was associated with approximately 2 times greater likelihood of reporting dysphagia relative to users of the transdermal patch. In addition, dysphagia showed higher association with pneumonia than other commonly reported adverse events.

CONCLUSION: Patients prescribed rivastigmine were at greater risk of reporting dysphagia as an adverse event than patients prescribed many other medicines. This increase in dysphagia occurrence may be attributed to the dual inhibition of both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.

PMID:35964196 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-220583

J Alzheimers Dis. 2022 Aug 11. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a priority public health issue due to its high prevalence worldwide and its economic, social, and health impact. However, there are few reports in Mexico based on formal tests and with a clinical approach based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).

OBJECTIVE: This study estimates the prevalence of the main types of dementia among elderly people living in the community in Mexico City.

METHODS: A population-based, two-step study was conducted, including 6,204 elderly individuals aged 60 or above with in-home assessment. All participants were screened for cognitive impairment; those who presented some cognitive problem underwent a standardized neurological examination. Each diagnosis was based on the criteria for dementia in the DSM-5, and the final consensus diagnosis of dementia was determined by an expert panel.

RESULTS: The global estimated prevalence of dementia in the Mexican population was 7.8% met the criteria for Alzheimer’s disease, 4.3% for vascular dementia, and 2.1% for mixed dementia. The prevalence of dementia was higher in women than in men (15.3% versus 12.5%, respectively).

CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence to propose strategies for Latin American countries where dementia represents a challenge due to the heterogeneity of the populations and socioeconomic disparities, requiring early diagnosis and at the first levels of care.

PMID:35964177 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-220012

J Alzheimers Dis. 2022 Aug 8. doi: 10.3233/JAD-215407. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that impaired pulmonary function may be associated with cognitive decline, posing the question of whether peak expiratory flow (PEF) % pred could present a modifiable risk factor.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between PEF% pred and future cognitive function among Chinese participants aged 45 years and above.

METHODS: Data came from four waves fielded by the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Cognitive function was assessed by a global cognition score. Multivariate linear regression models and generalized estimating equation (GEE) were used to investigate associations between PEF% pred and later cognitive function.

RESULTS: A total of 2,950 participants were eligible for the final data analysis. After adjustment for baseline cognition and potential confounders, the association remained statistically significant (β = 0.0057, p = 0.027). Domains with increases were focused on episodic memory (β= 0.0028, p = 0.048) and figure drawing (β= 0.0040, p = 0.028). But these associations were not found in women (β= 0.0027, p = 0.379). However, GEE suggested that the rates of decline in global cognition decreased by 0.0096 (p < 0.001) units per year as baseline PEF% pred increased by 1% in middle-aged and elderly individuals, regardless of sex. And higher baseline PEF% pred correlated with declined rates of decrease of in episodic memory, figure drawing, and Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS).

CONCLUSION: Higher baseline PEF% pred was significantly associated with slower cognitive decline in global cognition, episodic memory, figure drawing, and TICS in middle aged and elderly Chinese adults.

PMID:35964174 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-215407

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2022 Jul 30. doi: 10.3233/BMR-220026. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a common musculoskeletal disease characterized with shoulder pain, limitation of range of motion (ROM) and disability. Although physical therapy is used in the treatment of AC, studies on its effectiveness are continuing.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound (US) and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) in the treatment of AC.

METHODS: Sixty patients were randomized into two groups. Group I received US (15 sessions) and Group II received HILT (9 sessions) for 3 weeks. In addition, all patients received physical therapy program (hot pack, TENS and exercises). Assessments were made using VAS-pain, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), range of motion (ROM) at baseline and in post-treatment 3rd, 8th and 24th weeks.

RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of all pre-treatment values. In intragroup assessment, statistically significant difference was identified in all the values of Groups 1 and 2 in all assessment periods compared with the pre-treatment values (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups in all assessment periods.

CONCLUSION: According to results, US therapy and HILT were effective on the improvement of pain, ROM and functional conditions of patients in the treatment of AC.

PMID:35964170 | DOI:10.3233/BMR-220026

Knee Surg Relat Res. 2022 Aug 13;34(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s43019-022-00166-y.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Asians have a low venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the best prophylaxis against VTE in Asians following total knee arthroplasty in current literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and CINAHL was conducted in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Prophylaxis types were separated into low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), novel oral anti-coagulants (NOAC), mechanical-only prophylaxis (MOP) and no prophylaxis (NP). The primary outcome was VTE incidence, grouped according to diagnosis modality (ultrasound, venography, clinical). The secondary outcome was bleeding incidence, grouped into minor and major bleeding.

RESULTS: Fourteen eligible articles, totalling 4259 patients, were pooled with the following significant results: NOACs had lower venography-diagnosed VTE incidence than LMWH (12.77%, p = 0.02) and NP (20.64, p < 0.001). MOP had lower venography-diagnosed VTE incidence than LMWH (23.72%, p < 0.001), NOACs (10.95%, p < 0.001) and NP (31.59%, p < 0.001) but, interestingly, a statistically higher ultrasound-diagnosed VTE incidence than LMWH (6.56%, p = 0.024) and NP (4.88%, p = 0.026). No significant differences were observed between prophylaxis types for symptomatic VTE, pulmonary embolism (PE) or death. LMWH and NOACs had a higher minor bleeding incidence than NP (11.71%, p < 0.001 and 6.33%, p < 0.02, respectively). No significant differences were observed between prophylaxis types for major bleeding incidence.

CONCLUSION: NOACs are a superior form of chemoprophylaxis, compared with LMWH, in reducing venography-diagnosed VTE incidence with no added bleeding incidence. However, routine chemoprophylaxis may not be required as LMWH and NOACs do not appear to reduce symptomatic VTE incidence compared with MOP and NP with an increased minor bleeding incidence. Mechanical prophylaxis in the form of graduated compression stockings or intermittent pneumatic compression should be routinely considered with significantly lower rates of venography-diagnosed VTE compared with NP. On the basis of current evidence, we recommend an individualised approach to select the most appropriate prophylaxis type.

PMID:35964142 | DOI:10.1186/s43019-022-00166-y

Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022 Aug 13;13(1):416. doi: 10.1186/s13287-022-03110-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot (DF) is one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), which brings great psychological and economic pressure to patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of stem cells in the treatment of diabetic foot.

METHODS: All relevant studies in Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang databases were systematically searched for meta-analysis. The outcomes consisted of ulcer or wound healing rate, amputation rate, new vessels, ankle-brachial index (ABI), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2), pain-free walking distance, and rest pain score. Dichotomous outcomes were described as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), while continuous data were presented as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% CIs. Statistical analysis was performed with RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS: A total of 14 studies with 683 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that stem cell therapy was more effective than conventional therapy in terms of ulcer or wound healing rate [OR = 8.20 (5.33, 12.62)], improvement in lower extremity ischemia(new vessels) [OR = 16.48 (2.88, 94.18)], ABI [MD = 0.13 (0.04, 0.08)], TcO2[MD = 4.23 (1.82, 6.65)], pain-free walking distance [MD = 220.79 (82.10, 359.48)], and rest pain score [MD = – 1.94 (- 2.50, – 1.39)], while the amputation rate was significantly decreased [OR = 0.19 (0.10, 0.36)].

CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis of the current studies has shown that stem cells are significantly more effective than traditional methods in the treatment of diabetic foot and can improve the quality of life of patients after treatment. Future studies should conduct large-scale, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trials with high-quality long-term follow-up to demonstrate the most effective cell types and therapeutic parameters for the treatment of diabetic foot.

PMID:35964145 | DOI:10.1186/s13287-022-03110-9