Is there a relationship between high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and dementia?

Inflammation is believed to play a pivotal role in dementia, but its role is still unclear. The aim of our study was to analyze the interplay among markers of inflammation, such as fibrinogen and high CRP levels, and dementia. First, we performed a cross-sectional study comparing markers of inflammation between 99 patients affected by dementia (mean age: 83.0+/-0.6 years) and 99 controls (mean age: 83.9+/-0.7 years). Then, we analyzed the relationship between inflammation and dementia in the same population composed by 34 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (mean age: 83.4+/-0.8 years), 64 vascular dementia (VaD) patients (mean age: 82.7+0.8 years) and 99 controls. Patients affected by dementia had higher CRP levels than controls (2.6+/-+/-0.2 vs. 0.7 + 0.1 p < 0.001, respectively). AD patients had higher CRP levels than VaD patients (4.2 + 0.6 vs. 1.7+/-0.2, p < 0.001, respectively). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that dementia (odds ratio=OR=4.965, 95% confidence interval=Cl=1.402-13.23, p=0.004), fibrinogen (OR=1.011, Cl=1.007-1.015, p<0.001), and age (OR=1.158, Cl=1.063-1.261, p<0.001) are independently correlated with high levels of CRP. The study suggests that inflammation may have a pathogenetic role in AD.

[The use of colchicine in the treatment of alcoholic liver fibrosis in the elderly. Report of 80 cases]. / L'impiego della colchicina nel trattamento della fibrosi epatica alcoolica nel soggetto anziano. Presentazione di 80 casi.

Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in elderly subjects and the evidence of great resistance of the senile liver to alcohol-induced damage, the Author describes histological, clinical, biohumoral features of fibrosis and the necessary therapeutic measures. Eighty clinical cases of hepatic fibrosis are also illustrated, studied and observed during five years.

[Molybdenum: an indispensible trace element in normal human development]. / Un elemento-traccia indispensabile per il normale sviluppo dell'organismo umano: il molibdeno.

Having briefly analyzed the role of molybdenum in the metabolism of living organisms, the author describes conditions induced by molybdenum deficit and poisoning due to this metal. The most recent acquisitions concerning the importance of this element for normal development of the human organism are also illustrated.

[Vanadium, an indispensable trace element in living organisms. Current data on biochemical, metabolic levels and therapeutic doses]. / Il vanadio, oligoelemento indispensabile per gli organismi viventi. Recenti acquisizioni a livello biochimico, metabolico e terapeutico.

Having briefly analyzed the role of vanadium in living organisms, the author describes conditions induced by vanadium poisoning and deficit. The most recent acquisitions concerning the use of vanadium in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its consequent role in the prevention of atherosclerosis are also illustrated.

[Acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis: the intermediate and final stages in liver damage induced by chronic alcohol abuse]. / Epatite acuta, epatite cronica, cirrosi: tappe intermedie e finali del danno epatico indotto dall'abuso cronico di alcool.

Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in man, the author describes hepatocellular damage induced by alcohol abuse and histological, clinical and biohumoral features of acute alcoholic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Seventy-five clinical cases of acute alcoholic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis are also illustrated, studied and observed during five years.

[Nickel, an essential trace element. Metabolic, clinical and therapeutic considerations]. / Il nichel, un oligoelemento essenziale. Considerazioni metaboliche, cliniche e terapeutiche.

Having briefly analyzed the role of nickel in the living organism the author describes conditions induced by nickel poisoning and deficit. The most recent acquisitions concerning the importance of nickel in the stabilization of nucleic acids are also illustrated.

[Silent myocardial ischemia: diagnosis, prognosis, therapy. Description of 3 cases]. / L'ischemia miocardica silente: diagnosi, prognosi, terapia. Descrizione di tre casi.

Having briefly analyzed the etiopathogenesis of silent myocardial ischemia, the author describes the most recent acquisitions concerning incidence, clinical significance and characteristics of three types of silent ischemia. Diagnosis, prognosis and treatment strategies are also illustrated. Further, three cases observed and studied are reported.

[Silicon, a trace element essential for living organisms. Recent knowledge on its preventive role in atherosclerotic process, aging and neoplasms]. / Il silicio, un oligoelemento essenziale per gli organismi viventi. Recenti acquisizioni sul ruolo preventivo nel processo aterosclerotico, nell'invecchiamento e nelle neoplasie.

Having briefly analyzed the role of silicon specially in the metabolism of connective and bone tissue, the author describes conditions induced by silicon deficit and poisoning due to this metal. The most recent findings concerning the role of silicon in delaying the onset and reducing the extension of atherosclerotic processes are also illustrated.

[Steatosis and fibrosis: first stage of liver damage induced by chronic alcoholism. Our experience in 100 cases]. / Steatosi e fibrosi: prima tappa del danno epatico indotto dall'abuso cronico di alcool. Nostra esperienza su 100 casi.

Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in man, the author describes hepatocellular damage induced by alcohol abuse and histological, clinical and biohumoral features of steatosis and fibrosis. One hundred clinical cases of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis are also illustrated, studied and observed during five years.

[Liver damage from alcohol in the elderly. Morphological, biohumoral and clinical aspects. Therapeutic measures]. / Il danno epatico da alcool nell'anziano. Aspetti morfologici, bioumorali e clinici. Provvedimenti terapeutici.

Having briefly analyzed the metabolism of ethanol in the human organism, the author describes hepatocellular damage induced by chronic alcohol abuse in old men. The evidence of great resistance of the senile liver to alcohol-induced damage is stressed as well as histological, biohumoral and clinical features of steatosis, chronic hepatitis, acute hepatitis and cirrhosis. Further, the author discusses the most suitable dietary and pharmacologic measures to be utilized in the above-mentioned phase of the liver disease due to chronic alcohol abuse.