Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disabling neurodegenerative disease. The prognosis is poor, and currently there are no proven effective therapies. Most likely, the etiology is related to cerebral inflammatory processes that cause neuronal damage, resulting in dysfunction and apoptosis of nerve cells. ⋯ It is generally thought that this phase offers a window for efficacious treatment. Therefore, research is also focused on the identification of biomarkers for early AD detection. In this respect, the plasma measurement of neurofilament light chain in patients treated with hydromethylthionine mesylate may well open a new way to prevent the formation of tau tangles and represents the first treatment for AD at its roots.
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This study assessed the antibiotic susceptibility and characterized antibiotic resistance genes of group B Streptococcus (GBS) isolates from selected tertiary care hospitals in Western Province, Sri Lanka. ⋯ All isolates were sensitive to penicillin, and the most prevalent resistance genotype was ermTR in the study population.
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Satisfactory masticatory function is a significant indicator of improved oral health-related quality of life in older adults, either with or without artificial teeth. The purpose of this study was to examine masticatory performance of older adults with different prosthodontic reconstructions and occlusion, as well as to compare subjective and objective assessment of chewing performance. ⋯ This study revealed a strong positive correlation between the subjective masticatory assessment in older adults using the validated questionnaire and the objective clinical test of the mixing ability of two chewing gums. Our data on influence of the number and the type of FTU on masticatory performance will be valuable when planning prosthodontic therapy.
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Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have pointed out that the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), which demonstrates plasma atherogenicity, is correlated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular morbidity, atherosclerosis, and severity of coronary artery disease. Within this context, we tried to evaluate the correlation between nondipping circadian pattern and AIP. ⋯ AIP levels are higher in patients with nondipping pattern compared to dipper patients. Additionally, higher levels of AIP are independently associated with the presence of the nondipping pattern in hypertensive patients.