Matrix Remodeling Enzymes as Potential Fluid Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease.

This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of plasma biomarkers-specifically, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), CD147, and the MMP-/TIMP-1 ratio in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. The research cohort comprised patients diagnosed with probable AD dementia and a control group of cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals. Neuroradiological assessments included brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following dementia protocols, with subsequent volumetric analysis. Additionally, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers were classified using the A/T/N system, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carrier status was determined. Findings revealed elevated plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in AD dementia patients compared to CU individuals. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated significant differences in the areas under the curve (AUC) for MMP-9 (p < 0.001) and TIMP-1 (p < 0.001). Notably, plasma TIMP-1 levels were significantly lower in APOE ε4+ patients than in APOE ε4- patients (p = 0.041). Furthermore, APOE ε4+ patients exhibited reduced hippocampal volume, particularly in total, right, and left hippocampal measurements. TIMP-1 levels exhibited a positive correlation, while the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio showed a negative correlation with hippocampal volume parameters. This study sheds light on the potential use of TIMP-1 as a diagnostic marker and its association with hippocampal changes in AD.

Alkaline soda Lake Velika Rusanda (Serbia): the first insight into diatom diversity of this extreme saline lake.

Alkaline soda lakes are unique habitats found in specific geographic regions, usually with dry climate. The Carpathian Basin is one of those regions very important for habitat and biodiversity conservation in Europe, with natural soda lakes found in Austria, Hungary and Serbia. In comparison to other two countries from Central Europe, algal biodiversity studies of saline soda lakes in Serbia are scarce. Lake Velika Rusanda has the highest measured salinity of all saline lakes in the Carpathian Basin and there were no reports of its diatom species richness and diversity till now. We conducted 2-year investigation programme to study biodiversity and seasonal dynamics of diatoms in this lake. A total of 27 diatom taxa were found, almost all of them attached to reed and much less in benthos and plankton. Five new diatom species for Serbia were recorded, Craticula halopannonica, Navicymbula pusilla, Hantzschia weyprechtii, Nitzschia thermaloides and Navicula staffordiae. The last mentioned is new for Europe as well. Lake Velika Rusanda is inhabited mostly by alkaliphilous and halophilic diatoms. Since diatoms are used as bioindicators in soda lakes, our results will improve their further application in ecological status assessment of these fragile habitats in the Carpathian Basin.

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and prognosis of dementia.

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by multidomain acquired chronic cognitive impairment that has a profound impact on daily life. Neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or nondegenerative diseases such as vascular dementia are considered to cause dementia. The need for further diagnostic improvement originates from the prevalence of these conditions, especially in developed countries with a predominance of the elderly population. Today, the diagnosis and follow-up of all neurodegenerative diseases cannot be performed without radiological imaging, primarily magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The introduction of 3T MRI and its modern techniques, such as arterial spin labeling, has enabled better visualization of morphologic changes in dementia. For better diagnosis and follow-up in patients with dementia, various semiquantitative scales have been designed to improve the accuracy of assessment and decrease interobserver variability. Moreover, there is a growing need for MRI in the assessment of novel therapies and their side effects. To better apply MRI findings in the diagnosis of both already developed dementia and its early stages, the aim of this paper is to review the available literature and summarize the specific MRI changes.