ABSTRACT
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker of systemic inflammation that has been linked to accelerated decline in walking speed in older adults. The aim of the present study was to compare the CRP levels of PD patients with vs patients without freezing of gait (FOG). Patients and controls participating in the COPPADIS-2015 study that performed blood extraction for determining molecular serum biomarkers were included. Patients with FOG were identified as those with a score of 1 or greater on item-3 of the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q). Immunoassay was used for determining ultrasensitive CRP (US-CRP) level (mg/dL). In the PD group (n = 225; 61.8 ± 9.5 years old, 61.8% males), 32% of the patients presented FOG but none in the control group (n = 65; 60.3 ± 6.1 years old, 56.9% males) (p < 0.0001). Differences in US-CRP level were significant in patients with FOG vs patients without FOG and vs controls (0.31 ± 0.52 vs 0.16 ± 0.21 vs 0.21 ± 0.22; p = 0.04). Significant differences were also observed between patients with vs without FOG (p = 0.001) but not between patients and controls (p = 0.163). US-CRP level was related to FOG (OR = 4.369; 95% CI 1.105-17.275; p = 0.036) along with H&Y (OR = 2.974; 95% CI 1.113-7.943; p = 0.030) and non-motor symptoms burden (NMSS total score; OR = 1.017; 95% CI 1.005-1.029; p = 0.006) after adjusting for age, gender, disease duration, equivalent daily levodopa dose, number of non-antiparkinsonian drugs per day, motor fluctuations, cognition, motor phenotype, and chronic use of anti-inflammatory drugs. The present study suggests that serum US-CRP level is related to FOG in PD patients. Inflammation could be linked to FOG development.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers/blood , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Gait Disorders, Neurologic/blood , Parkinson Disease/blood , Aged , Female , Gait Disorders, Neurologic/etiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Parkinson Disease/complicationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In Parkinson's disease (PD), the course of the disorder is highly variable between patients. Well-designed, prospective studies for identifying PD progression biomarkers are necessary. Our aim was to show the results of baseline evaluations of an ongoing global PD project, COPPADIS-2015 (Cohort of Patients with PArkinson's DIsease in Spain, 2015). METHODS: This was an observational, descriptive, nationwide study (Spain). The recruitment period ended in October 2017. Baseline evaluation included more than 15 validated scales and complementary studies in a subgroup of participants. RESULTS: In total, 1174 subjects from 35 centres were considered valid for baseline analysis: 694 patients (62.6 ± 8.9 years old, 60.3% males), 273 caregivers (58.5 ± 11.9 years old, 31.8% males) and 207 controls (61 ± 8.3 years old, 49.5% males). The mean disease duration was 5.5 ± 4.4 years. Hoehn and Yahr stage was 1 or 2 in 90.7% of the patients whilst 33.9% and 18.1% of them presented motor fluctuations and dyskinesias, respectively. The mean Non-Motor Symptoms Scale total score was 45.4 ± 38.1, and 30.4% of the patients presented cognitive impairment, 16.1% major depression, 12.7% impulse control disorder, 7.2% compulsive behaviour, 57.2% pain and 13.2% falls. Compared to the control group, PD patients presented a significantly higher burden of non-motor symptoms and a worse quality of life. More than 300 subjects conducted complementary studies (serum biomarkers, genetic and neuroimaging). CONCLUSIONS: Parkinson's disease is a complex disorder and different non-motor symptoms are frequently present and are more prevalent than in controls. In real clinical practice it is important to ask for them.
Subject(s)
Parkinson Disease/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Caregivers/statistics & numerical data , Cognition Disorders/epidemiology , Cognition Disorders/etiology , Cohort Studies , Comorbidity , Disease Progression , Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/etiology , Middle Aged , Movement Disorders/epidemiology , Movement Disorders/etiology , Parkinson Disease/epidemiology , Parkinson Disease/psychology , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life , Socioeconomic Factors , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Protamines are among the most variable nuclear proteins known in eukaryotes. In order to learn more about their evolution and function in humans and to explore the possibility of potential applications in forensic medicine we have developed a rapid method to amplify and directly sequence the protamine P1 gene simultaneously in many different samples. The method takes only 3.5 h from genomic DNA to the sequencing reactions. Despite the high variability of these genes only one polymorphic site was detected at the coding region level in different individuals. This polymorphic variation does not create a change in the amino-acid sequence of the protamine. Because all the protamine genes sequenced from different species are markedly different among them as well as to the human sequence, amplification and direct sequencing of this gene can be used to unequivocally identify the human or animal origin of biological specimens. Furthermore, the single polymorphic site detected in the human P1 gene could be useful in conjunction with other markers in identification studies in humans.