Minerva medica
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This study is a meta-analysis of the published studies on the relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C667T polymorphism and the risk of late- onset Alzheimer 's disease (LOAD) in Italian cohorts. ⋯ The present meta-analysis showed only trend of association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and LOAD in Italian population; however, it also demonstrated an increased susceptibility of LOAD in patients having MTHFR 677TT genotype. Further studies are needed to establish whether MTHFR polymorphisms can be used as non-invasive biomarker for LOAD.
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Dysphagia is a primary risk factor for pneumonia and affects around 50% of acute stroke patients. Systematic bedside swallowing screening of acute stroke patients is recommended before oral intake. Currently there is lack of comprehensive dysphagia assessment tools with robust good accuracy, clinical utility and cost-effectiveness. An altered hyoid bone movement may represent a major risk factor for aspiration. Ultrasonography quantitatively measures hyoid-larynx approximation, which was found reduced in stroke patients with dysphagia. Although ultrasonography was suggested for assessing stroke patients with dysphagia, there is lack of evidence about the acute phase of stroke. Thus, our aim was to investigate the use of ultrasonography for bedside screening of dysphagia in acute stroke patients. ⋯ Our findings support the use of ultrasonography in aid of swallowing clinical (non-instrumental) evaluation for the bedside screening of dysphagia in acute stroke patients.