Postmortem imaging reveals patterns of medial temporal lobe vulnerability to tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Our current understanding of the spread and neurodegenerative effects of tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) within the medial temporal lobe (MTL) during the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is limited by the presence of confounding non-AD pathologies and the two-dimensional (2-D) nature of conventional histology studies. Here, we combine ex vivo MRI and serial histological imaging from 25 human MTL specimens to present a detailed, 3-D characterization of quantitative NFT burden measures in the space of a high-resolution, ex vivo atlas with cytoarchitecturally-defined subregion labels, that can be used to inform future in vivo neuroimaging studies. Average maps show a clear anterior to poster gradient in NFT distribution and a precise, spatial pattern with highest levels of NFTs found not just within the transentorhinal region but also the cornu ammonis (CA1) subfield. Additionally, we identify granular MTL regions where measures of neurodegeneration are likely to be linked to NFTs specifically, and thus potentially more sensitive as early AD biomarkers.

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, Validation and Reliability of Persian Left Ventricular Dysfunction-36 Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The left ventricular dysfunction 36 (LVD-36) questionnaire is considered to be a tool to assess the impact of left ventricle impairment on patients' daily life. This methodological study was aimed to translate and assess the validity and reliability of the Persian draft of the LVD-36 questionnaire among Iranian heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS: We recruited stable HF patients who referred to an outpatient heart clinic in Isfahan, Iran. The LVD-36 questionnaire was translated using the forward-backward method. Twenty HF patients were recruited for content validity assessment and were asked to express their opinions about the comprehensibility and meaningfulness of each item. We invited 14 experts to assess validity through content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with the latter evaluated after invitation of the participants to complete the questionnaire for the second time. RESULTS: The translation process was performed uneventfully without any significant alterations. A total of 150 HF patients were recruited to assess the reliability of the questionnaire in this study (age: 64.6±16 years, males: 58.6%). All items had acceptable CVI and CVR, ranging 0.85-1.00 and 0.57-1.00, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.971. All participants completed the questionnaire for the second time with no missing data. Test-retest reliability revealed an excellent ICC value of 0.981 (95% CI: 0.977-0.985). CONCLUSION: The Persian version of the LVD-36 questionnaire is a simple, valid and reliable tool for evaluating the impact of left ventricle impairment on the well-being of Iranian HF patients.

Prognostic Value of Shock Index, Modified Shock Index, and Age-Adjusted Derivatives in Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: Persian Registry of Cardiovascular Disease/ Heart Failure Study.

BACKGROUND: Introduction of simple bedside tools for assessing patients' condition in different settings improves triaging. However, these indices are less frequently used in heart failure. This study aims to evaluate the utility of shock index, age shock index, modified shock index, and age-modified shock index in the prediction of in-hospital mortality in acute decompensated heart failure individuals. METHODS: We conducted this retrospective study on 3652 acute decompensated heart failure individuals in the context of Persian Registry of Cardiovascular Disease/heart failure. Shock index, age shock index, modified shock index, and age-modified shock index were assessed during admission. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to define the optimum cut-off point. Odds ratio models were used for investigating the association of in-hospital mortality according to each specified cut-off value. RESULTS: Mean age was 70.12 ± 12.56 years (males: 62.6%). Optimum cut-off point for shock index, age shock index, modified shock index, and age-modified shock index were set to be 0.71 (sensitivity: 63%, specificity: 60%), 50.5 (sensitivity: 65%, specificity: 60%), 0.94 (sensitivity: 60%, specificity: 60%), and 66.7 (sensitivity: 62%, specificity: 60%), respectively. Participants with higher shock index derivatives in all domains had significantly higher likelihood of death. Compared to those with shock index, age shock index, modified shock index, and age-modified shock index values of less than cut-off points, adjusted model revealed patients with higher values had 2.59 (95% CI: 1.94-3.46, P<.001), 2.61 (95% CI: 1.95-3.48, P <.001), 2.14 (95% CI: 1.61-2.84, P <.001), and 2.28 (95% CI: 1.72- 3.03, P <.001) times increase in-hospital death risk, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Shock index, age shock index, modified shock index, and age-modified shock index are simple bedside tools to reliably predict in-hospital mortality in acute decompensated heart failure patients to better prioritize high-risk subjects.

Prediabetes and COVID-19 severity, an underestimated risk factor: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread through the whole globe. Since the beginning of the outbreak, some individuals were more likely to manifest more severe outcomes. Diabetic patients were of that sort; however, the severity of COVID-19 in prediabetic ones remained less identified. This study aimed to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis of the previously published observational studies investigating the severity of COVID-19 in prediabetic patients. METHODS: Medline/PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and google scholar databases were queried to identify relevant studies concerning prediabetes and serious COVID-19 outcomes. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the likelihood of severe presentations in prediabetic patients. RESULTS: A total of 3027 patients were included in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used regarding the high heterogeneity (I2 = 55%). Prediabetes was significantly associated with adverse outcomes of COVID-19 with an OR of 2.58 (95%CI, 1.46-4.56). CONCLUSION: Prediabetes could act as a risk factor for the severity of COVID-19. Early detection of prediabetic patients might be helpful to adopt preventive and protective strategies to improve the prognosis of the infected individuals.

Adrenal Insufficiency in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Infected Patients without Preexisting Adrenal Diseases: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations varied completely from its time of emergence. However, the assessment of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in this pandemic is lacking. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the status of AI among COVID-19-infected individuals. METHODS: A systematic literature screening in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed until May 23, 2021. We collected relevant published peer-reviewed studies that reported AI occurrence in patients who suffered from COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 10 records (cross-sectional studies: 3, N = 256, males: 176 (68.7%), and case reports: 7, N = 7, males: 4 (57.1%)) were recruited. The age spectrum ranged from 22 to 96 years. AI was diagnosed with laboratory assessment or radiologic findings. The AI prevalence ranged from 3.1% to as high as 64.3% in different studies. Except for one patient, all other patients were discharged in stable conditions in published case reports. CONCLUSION: This review indicates that AI occurrence in the COVID-19 pandemic seems quite probable; however, the extent and type (primary, secondary, and functional) need to be clarified yet. Appropriate early diagnostic and therapeutic interventions should be done, especially in critically ill patients, to prevent lethal outcomes.

Is Fertility Affected in Women of Childbearing Age with Multiple Sclerosis or Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which is more prevalent among women of childbearing age. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe autoimmune disease of the CNS with similar prevalence features to MS and has recently been considered a different entity from MS. Measuring ovarian reserve is one way of evaluating fertility. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a peptide hormone produced by ovarian granulosa cells of early follicles and is considered to be a marker for ovarian reserve. With MS and NMOSD predominance in young women, the present study aimed to address the possibility of these diseases affecting fertility by measuring AMH levels in MS and NMOSD patients and comparing it with healthy controls. The present study included 23 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients, 23 seronegative NMOSD patients, and 23 healthy age-matched controls between 18 and 45 years of age. Serum samples of the three groups were collected, and the AMH levels were measured with AMH Gen II Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Beckman Coulter kit. In the present study, the AMH levels did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.996). The mean AMH in the RRMS group was 3.59 ± 0.55 ng/ml compared with the mean of 3.60 ± 0.50 ng/ml in healthy controls. The mean AMH levels in the NMOSD group were 3.66 ± 0.61 ng/ml. Lower levels of AMH were found to be negatively associated with annualized relapse rate (in both groups of patients) and MS severity score. However, the difference was not significant. In NMOSD patients, the serum levels of AMH were negatively associated with disease duration (r = - 0.42, p = 0.023). There had been a significant negative correlation between mean AMH serum levels with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at the time of diagnosis and at the time of study in the NMOSD group (r = - 0.402, p = 0.03 and r = - 0.457, p = 0.014, respectively). There was not a significant difference in mean serum AMH levels between RRMS and NMOSD patients compared with that of healthy controls. Further studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted, which take more variables affecting fertility in women with either RRMS or NMOSD into account to put an end to the controversial issue of fertility in this area.

Multiple sclerosis among Afghan immigrants in Isfahan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system demyelinating disease with unknown etiology. However, it is believed to be a multifactorial disease resulting from an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Immigrant studies have been performed to provide a better view of the pattern of this interaction. We aimed to report the prevalence of MS Afghan immigrants of Isfahan, a population who share the same environment as Isfahan residents but with different genetic backgrounds. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical documents of 4536 patients registered by Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis Society (IMSS), the only MS registry in the province of Isfahan, were reviewed for Afghan patients and the demographic and clinical characteristics. The information on the current population of Afghans residing in the province was gathered through Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA). RESULTS: Six Afghan cases were identified among 4536 patients registered by IMSS. Current population of Afghans in the province was 123,578 people (65,041 male and 58,537 female). One of the cases was male and the other five were females with a female/male ratio of 5:1. Sex-adjusted prevalence for males and females was 1.53 and 8.54 per 100,000, respectively. The overall crude prevalence for Afghan population of Isfahan is 4.85 per 100,000. CONCLUSION: This study shows a lower prevalence of MS among Afghan residents of Isfahan compared to the overall prevalence of the province. Our result could be implying a stronger bond between genetic factors and developing MS, rather than the environmental factors.