Unlocking Cognitive Potential: Association of Sarcopenia and Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Elderly of the Dalmatian Region.

The aim of this study was to determine the association between muscle strength, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly. General data, data of body composition and anthropometric parameters, clinical and laboratory findings, cognitive test questionnaires (Mini-Mental State Examination-MMSE, Trail Making Test-TMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test-SDMT), and nutritional assessments (Mini Nutritional Assessment-MNA, Mediterranean Diet Serving Score-MDSS) were obtained for each study participant. Handgrip strength (HS) was used as one of the key parameters for defining probable sarcopenia, among the Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB) (for defining physical activity) and the strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls questionnaire (SARC-F). Our cross-sectional study involved 114 participants aged ≥ 60 years, and two-thirds of the participants were female (76.3% vs. 23.7%). Probable sarcopenia was found in 34.7% of them. Using bivariate regression analysis, cognitive deficit among the sarcopenic population was associated with the following groups of collected data: (a) sociodemographic-associated factors-advanced age (OR: 1.07; p = 0.004), single marital status (OR: 3.25; p = 0.03), and low level of education (OR: 0.22; p < 0.003); (b) behavioral-associated factors-duration of institutionalization (OR: 1.05; p = 0.007), performance of heavy physical work (OR: 6.26; p = 0.001), low physical activity (OR: 0.08; p = 0.002), and risk of malnutrition (OR: 3.87; p = 0.005); (c) disease-related factors-loss of appetite (OR: 2.24; p = 0.04), information processing speed (OR: 0.88; p < 0.001), blood pressure systolic/diastolic variables (OR: 0.96/0.96; p = 0.002/0.02), medications (OR: 1.19; p = 0.005), predictive sarcopenia score ≥ 4 (OR: 3.1; p = 0.003), and low muscle strength (OR: 0.92; p = 0.002). Cognitive preservation among the sarcopenic population was associated with married status (OR: 0.23; p = 0.20), a high level of education (OR: 0.18; p = 0.002), smoking (OR: 0.33; p = 0.02), high physical activity (OR: 0.07; p < 0.001), and dietary habits using poultry (OR: 0.12; p = 0.004). The results suggest a significant association between sarcopenia and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly, highlighting the need for regular nutritional interventions in this special population.

Vitamin D in psoriatic arthritis - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize current evidence on vitamin D status in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with a particular focus on disease activity. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies that investigated vitamin D levels in PsA. The search was conducted on 12th October 2022. Included studies were cohorts, RCTs or observational studies, those assessing the level of 25(OH)D3 with control group consisting of healthy or psoriasis (Pso) patients. Nottingham-Ottawa Quality Scale was used to assess methodological quality. Random effects meta-analysis model was applied with inverse variance weighting and mean difference with 95% CI was calculated. RESULTS: Of 356 retrieved studies, 76 duplicates and 270 studies were excluded according to the exclusion criteria with one study unavailable. Four studies including 264 PsA patients and 287 healthy controls and five studies including 225 PsA patients and 391 Pso patients assessing vitamin D levels were eligible for meta-analysis. Vitamin D levels were lower in PsA patients compared to the healthy group (MD = -6.42; 95 % CI -8.31, -4.53; P < 0.01), while higher compared to Pso patients (MD = 2.37; 95 % CI 0.97, 3.78; P < 0.01). Included studies had moderate to low risk of bias. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PsA patients have lower vitamin D levels than the general population. However, further studies are essential to understand the role of vitamin D in the development and treatment of PsA and the differences in vitamin D metabolism in PsA and Pso.

Follow-up of renal transplant recipients after acute COVID-19-A prospective cohort single-center study.

INTRODUCTION: Although most patients recover within several weeks after acute COVID-19, some of them develop long-lasting clinical symptoms. Renal transplant recipients have an increased mortality risk from COVID-19. We aimed to describe complications occurring after COVID-19 in this group of patients. METHODS: A prospective single-center cohort study was conducted at University Hospital Centre Zagreb. Patients with two negative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for SARS-CoV-2 after COVID-19 were eligible for further follow-up at our outpatient clinic. They underwent detailed clinical and laboratory assessments. The primary outcome was the development of complications after COVID-19. RESULTS: Only 11.53% of renal transplant recipients who survived acute COVID-19 were symptomless and free from new-onset laboratory abnormalities during the median follow-up of 64 days (range: 50-76 days). Three patients died from sepsis after discharge from the hospital. In 47 patients (45.2%), clinical complications were present, while 74 patients (71.2%) had one or more laboratory abnormalities. The most common clinical complications included shortness of breath (19.2%), tiredness (11.5%), peripheral neuropathy (7.7%), self-reported cognitive impairments (5.7%), and dry cough (7.7%). Most common laboratory abnormalities included shortened activated partial thromboplastin time (50%), elevated D-dimers (36.5%), elevated fibrinogen (30.16%), and hypogammaglobulinemia (24%). Positive RT-PCR for cytomegalovirus (8.7%), Epstein-Barr virus (26%), or BK virus (16.3%). Multivariate analysis identified the history of diabetes mellitus and eGFR CKD-EPI as predictors for the development of post-COVID clinical complications. Six months after acute COVID-19, elevated D-dimers persisted with normalization of other laboratory parameters. Twenty-nine patients were hospitalized, mostly with several concomitant problems. However, initially reported clinical problems gradually improved in the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: Post-COVID-19 clinical and laboratory complications are frequent in the renal transplant population, in some of them associated with significant morbidity. All patients recovered from acute COVID-19 should undergo long-term monitoring for evaluation and treatment of complications.

Nutritional Status and Indicators of 2-Year Mortality and Re-Hospitalizations: Experience from the Internal Clinic Departments in Tertiary Hospital in Croatia.

We aimed to provide insight into nutritional and clinical indicators of malnutrition risk and their influence on two-year mortality and re-hospitalization rate among patients hospitalized in internal clinic departments in the tertiary hospital in Croatia. Initially, data on 346 participants were obtained, while 218 of them where followed-up two years later. At baseline, the majority of participants were old and polymorbid (62.1% suffered from arterial hypertension, 29.5% from cancer, and 29.2% from diabetes). Even apparently presenting with satisfying anthropometric indices, 38.4% of them were at-risk for malnutrition when screened with the Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002) questionnaire (NRS-2002 ≥ 3). More importantly, only 15.3% of all participants were prescribed an oral nutritional supplement during hospitalization. Those that were at-risk for malnutrition suffered significantly more often from cancer (54.9% vs. 20.6%; p < 0.001) and died more often in the follow-up period (42.7% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.003). Their anthropometric indices were generally normal and contradictory 46.3% were overweight and obese (body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2). Only 36.6% of nutritionally endangered participants used an oral supplement in the follow-up period. NRS-2002 ≥ 3 correlated with anthropometric indices, glomerular filtration rate, age, and length of the initial hospital stay. Unlike other studies, NRS-2002 ≥ 3 was not an independent predictor of mortality and re-hospitalizations; other clinical, rather than nutritional parameters proved to be better predictors. Patients in our hospital are neither adequately nutritionally assessed nor managed. There is an urgent need to develop strategies to prevent, identify, and treat malnutrition in our hospital and post-discharge.

A Kidney Transplant Recipient With Fulminant Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy-Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome: A Rare Clinical Outcome and Review of the Literature.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a devastating disease affecting the central nervous system that may be seen in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of a kidney transplant recipient who received tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, and prednisone and who developed motor deficits, altered cognition, and speech abnormalities, which culminated in a coma. The diagnosis was made by detecting John Cunningham polyomavirus DNA with polymerase chain reaction and observing characteristic findings on magnetic resonance imaging. Soon after immunosuppressive therapy was withdrawn, the patient's clinical status deteriorated due to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, and prednisone was administered. Unfortunately, the patient died about 9 months after onset of symptoms. This case serves to illustrate the fulminant progression of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and the possible complications that may arise when treating it.

Association of Appendicitis, Helicobacter Pylori Positive Gastritis and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in an Adolescent.

BACKGROUND Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in children is a rare life-threatening syndrome, characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia with renal dysfunction, neurologic symptoms, and fever. TTP is usually caused by deficient activity of von Willebrand factor cleaving protease (ADAMTS13), due to either gene mutations or acquired via anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies. It can be triggered by bone marrow or solid organ transplantation, cardiothoracic-, abdominal-, and orthopedic surgeries, infections including very rarely Helicobacter pylori infection. CASE REPORT Here we report a case of a 16-year-old male with TTP, who presented with thrombocytopenia before an appendectomy. Seven days after surgery, our patient started to vomit, developed melena, and was admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with clinical presentation of shock. Gastroscopy revealed H. pylori positive hemorrhagic gastritis. The patient was treated by erythrocyte transfusions, fresh frozen plasma, human albumin, glucose-electrolyte solutions, vitamin K, platelet transfusion before implantation of central venous catheter, and antibiotics. After 36 hours, we started plasma exchange (PEX). Blood tests showed deficiency of ADAMTS13. Due to the presence of anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, rituximab was administered. Due to generalized tonic-clonic seizures, he was artificially ventilated. Brain MR angiography showed small ischemic cerebro-vascular insult in the arteria cerebri media region. Despite immunosuppressive therapy and PEX, the patient did not improve completely until the H. pylori infection was eradicated. After which, he recovered completely. CONCLUSIONS We present a rare case of TTP accompanied with appendicitis and gastritis caused by H. pylori, where TTP improvement was dependent on H. pylori infection eradication.

Do we need CBCTs for sufficient diagnostics?-dentist-related factors.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of various dentoalveolar pathologies based on panoramic radiography (OPG), cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and printed 3D models in consecutive order; and to evaluate the impact of specialisation of residents in oral surgery (OS) versus residents in orthodontics (ORTH). METHODS: Fourteen residents were recruited to evaluate nine selected cases with different dentoalveolar pathologies. The residents were given for each case an OPG, a CBCT and a printed 3D model. For each case and imaging modality, the residents were asked several questions relating to (i) diagnosis, and (ii) the request for consecutive imaging in order to enable treatment. Further, aspects like impact of specialisation (OS versus ORTH), gender and years of experience were analysed. RESULTS: In this study, diagnostic accuracy (i) improved for OS from OPG to CBCT (OPG 66.3%, CBCT 83.4%) and likewise for ORTH (OPG 63.7%, CBCT 78.0%). 3D models generally did not seem more useful than CBCTs. For treatment planning (ii), residents in orthodontics considered OPGs significantly more often as sufficient compared to residents in oral surgery (OR 6.3, p < 0.001). Further, the odds to request a CBCT after OPG for treatment planning is influenced by dentist-related factors: female dentists (OR 3.8) or residents with limited professional experience as dentists (OR 3.0) asked more frequently for a CBCT. CONCLUSIONS: Overall diagnostic accuracy is decent with OPG and can be improved with CBCT. Specialisation seems to have a moderate impact on diagnostic accuracy, but influences whether a CBCT was requested for treatment planning. Based on these findings, future studies shall analyse the diagnostic accuracy of specific pathologies in higher number in order to substantiate the present findings with regard to specific pathologies.

Overview of vasculitis and vasculopathy in rheumatoid arthritis--something to think about.

The vasculature plays a crucial role in inflammation and atherosclerosis associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with longstanding disease, has an important impact on a patient's quality of life and influences patient life expectancy. Seropositivity, specific human leukocyte antigen variations, antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides, and cigarette smoking are among the genetic and environmental predictors of rheumatoid vasculitis. Atherosclerosis is an early and common finding in rheumatoid arthritis and it correlates with disease duration, activity, and severity. Apart from conventional risk factors such as cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis-related risk factors including disease duration, severity and activity, rheumatoid factor and antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides status, functional impairment, C-reactive protein, radiographic changes, presence of the shared epitope, and treatment modalities are all implicated in the development of accelerated atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is also considered an inflammatory disease; thus, it may share common pathogenic mechanisms with rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Advances in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying biologic and nonbiologic agents will probably continue to reduce the incidence of vasculitis. Since the goal of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is to decrease inflammatory burden, successful treatment may theoretically reduce the risk of accelerated atherosclerosis.

Influence of local inflammation of the peritoneal membrane on diuresis and residual renal function in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the connection between local inflammation of the peritoneal membrane and diuresis, as well as the residual renal function (RRF) in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Twenty patients treated with CAPD participated in this cross-sectional study. To determine the influence of local inflammation of the peritoneal membrane, effluent interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) levels were measured. The level of IL-6, in the group as a whole, was significantly higher in effluent (7.87 pg/mL) than in serum (1.29 pg/mL). There was a significant correlation between effluent and serum IL-6 (r = 0.608; P = 0.002). There was also a significant relationship between effluent and serum IL-6 and duration of CAPD treatment, respectively (r = 0.577; P = 0.004; r = 0.528; P = 0.008). Further, there was a significant negative correlation between effluent IL-6 and daily diuresis (r = -0.533; P = 0.008), but there was no significant correlation between effluent IL-6 and RRF (r = -0.339, P = 0.072). On the other hand, the concentrations of effluent IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with RRF <2 mL/min than in those with RRF ≥2 mL/min (P = 0.039). In conclusion, local inflammation has a significant impact on the amount of diuresis and probably on RRF in patients on CAPD.

[Do we know all effects of heparins in hemodialyzed patients?]. / Znamo li sve o ucincima heparina u bolesnika lijecenih hemodijalizom?

Anticoagulation with heparins during hemodialysis (HD) is aimed at preventing the activation of coagulation in the extracorporeal circuit. As HD patients are exposed to unfractionated and low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) for years, non-hemorrhagic effects (osteoporosis, reduction of elevated blood pressure, with lesser intra- and interdialytic hypotensive episodes, effects on brain microvascular circulation and decreasing vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and chronic and malignant diseases) require new trials with individualized doses of heparins.

[The role of zinc in the treatment of hyperactivity disorder in children]. / Uloga cinka u lijecenju hiperaktivnog poremecaja u djece.

Zinc is an essential cofactor of more than 100 enzymes, including metalloenzymes and metalloenzyme complexes, which are necessary in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins and nucleic acids. It is an important factor in the metabolism of neurotransmitters, prostaglandins, and for maintaining brain structure and function. Dopamine is one of the most important factors in the pathophysiology of hyperactivity disorder, and the hormone melatonin has an important role in the regulation of dopamine. Because zinc is necessary in the metabolism of melatonin, it can be assumed that zinc is a very important factor in the treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is known that deficit of some minerals and vitamins is connected with hyperkinetic disorder. Preliminary investigations in humans show that many children with ADHD have lower zinc concentration in relation to healthy children. Zinc sulfate as an adjunct to methylphenidate has favorable effects in the treatment of ADHD children, pointing to the possible association of zinc deficit and ADHD pathophysiology. Zinc concentration can only point to some other factors (malnutrition) that can lead to ADHD, but is not a factor that has a causative role in ADHD. Therefore, zinc supplementation to nutrition or to ADHD therapy may be of great benefit in ADHD children with zinc deficit or low plasma zinc concentration. ADHD occurs in different cultures, mostly before seven years of age. In children younger than five years it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis because their behavior is more variable than in older children. Hyperactive disorder is mostly observed in younger age, i.e. in childhood and adolescence. The majority of the main characteristics are less pronounced or completely lost in adult age. In the 1960s, the disorder was named "minimal cerebral dysfunction" and was most often the consequence of head trauma or low birth weight. Later, the term was changed as hyperactive reaction in childhood. Recent studies estimate its prevalence to three of ten hyperactive children, and there are data that about 4% of children have the complete frame of the disorder. The condition is more common in boys than in girls. The reason probably lies in the fact that girls primarily develop attention disorder and cognitive problems (concentration, memory, thinking), and less often have symptoms of aggressive and impulsive behavior, thus boys being earlier referred for examination. There are many theories about the possible origin of hyperactive disorder, and one of the most widely studied is the theory of the role of dopamine, which is supported by the results of treatment in these children with dopamine agonists like methylphenidate and amphetamines. Recent studies do not neglect the influence of maternal intake of food and drink additives, alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy, soil contamination, and low birth weight. Zinc is a coenzyme of the enzyme delta-6 desaturase, which is important in the anabolism of polyunsaturated long chain fatty acids, linolic and linolenic acids that constitute neuronal membrane. Studies point to the possible association of zinc deficiency and ADHD pathophysiology. In ADHD children with zinc deficiency or low plasma zinc concentration, zinc dietary supplementation or during therapy for ADHD may be of great benefit. A study of ADHD treatment with zinc sulfate as a supplement to methylphenidate showed beneficial effects of zinc supplementation in the treatment of children with ADHD. The dose of zinc sulfate used was 55 mg/day, which is equivalent to 15 mg zinc. The improvement achieved in ADHD children with the use of zinc sulfate appears to confirm the role of zinc deficiency in the etiopathogenesis of ADHD. Additional studies are needed to identify the real and efficient dose of zinc.