Serum Caspase-3 Levels as a Predictive Molecular Biomarker for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Caspases are key players in the apoptotic process and have been found to contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including neurological disorders such as ischemic stroke. This study aimed to investigate the serum levels of Caspase-3 in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and in control patients without ischemic events. Moreover, we explored any potential associations with the clinical outcomes of AIS.

Carbohydrate Antigen 125 (CA 125): A Novel Biomarker in Acute Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure is a global major healthcare problem with millions of hospitalizations annually and with a very high mortality. There is an increased interest in finding new and reliable biomarkers for the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic guidance of patients hospitalized for acute heart failure; Our review aims to summarize in an easy-to-follow flow recent relevant research evaluating the possible use and the clinical value of measuring CA 125 serum levels in acute HF.

Methods: A thorough search in the main international databases identified a relevant pool of 170 articles, providing recently published data for this narrative review that used PRISMA guidelines.

Early depressive manifestations in patients with dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease.

Previous studies on the complex interplay between depression and dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease revealed that early-life depression is a risk factor for dementia. Both depression and dementia appear to share common etiopathological mechanisms. In the present study, a comprehensive retrospective analysis was performed on a study group of patients with dementia suffering from previously diagnosed depression.

The Use of Brain Natriuretic Peptide in the Evaluation of Heart Failure in Geriatric Patients.

Heart failure is one of the main morbidity and mortality factors in the general population and especially in elderly patients. Thus, at the European level, the prevalence of heart failure is 1% in people under 55 years of age but increases to over 10% in people over 70 years of age. The particularities of the elderly patient, which make the management of heart failure difficult, are the presence of comorbidities, frailty, cognitive impairment and polypharmacy.

Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Relation to the Functional Status and Vitamin D Levels in Elderly Patients with Dementia.

(1) Background: As dementia is an incurable, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease, we gathered and analyzed a number of patient characteristics, assessing possible correlations that may support early diagnosis and a more accurate prognosis for cognitively impaired patients. (2) Methods: We used standard clinical parameters (cognitive and functional status, comorbidities, and plasma vitamin D levels) in a study group of 162 patients aged above 55 years old. (3) Results: We reported a higher incidence of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities in patients with severe or moderate cognitive impairment; a validated correlation between functional status, cognitive status, and serum vitamin D levels; and a more frequently associated profile of neurologic comorbidities in patients with a more significant cognitive deficiency.

Glomangioma Supply from Profunda Femoris Artery in Peripheral Artery Disease.

This is a case report of a 5.6 cm glomangioma supplied by the femoral profunda artery in a 66-year-old male patient with severe peripheral artery disease. The patient complained of discomfort and mild pain at the place of the lesion and an accelerated growth rate in the last two months.

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Associating Neuropsychiatric Manifestations with a Significant Impact on Disease Management-Case Report and Literature Review.

(1) Background: Genetic hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is clinically diagnosed. The clinical manifestations and lack of curative therapeutic interventions may lead to mental illnesses, mainly from the depression-anxiety spectrum. (2) Methods: We report the case of a 69-year-old patient diagnosed with HHT and associated psychiatric disorders; a comprehensive literature review was performed based on relevant keywords.

COVID-19-related psychiatric manifestations requiring hospitalization: Analysis in older vs. younger patients.

The complex manifestations of COVID-19 include psychiatric symptoms, having multifaceted profiles with varying severity during the acute phase and further during the recovery period. Limited data exist which have analyzed whether there are any age-related differences. A study lot of 89 COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization for mental issues provided comparative data from two age groups below and above 60 years.

Paget's disease of bone and megaloblastic anemia in a 72-year-old patient: A case report and systematic literature review.

Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is characterized by abnormal osteoclastic bone resorption with disorganized bone neo-formation, primarily affecting elderly (>55 years) patients. Although the majority of patients are asymptomatic, some patients may experience bone pain due to local periosteal involvement or osteoarthritic lesions in the spine; in addition, limb deformities may lead to secondary gait problems or degenerative joint changes. Anemia has an overall prevalence of 12-17% in elderly adults (>65 years old), with macrocytic anemia being the less common type.

Correlation between metabolic status and diabetic retinopathy evolution in type 1 diabetes.

Out of the multiple vascular complications of diabetes, retinopathy is the easiest to diagnose and monitor as the examination of the eye fundus is an easy investigation to perform, does not require expensive medical equipment and can be repeated without any risk to the patient. The appearance of the retinal vessels, the optic nerve and the retina can provide useful information on the coronary and cerebral circulation, plasma lipid levels, renal function, and the quality of the arteries of the lower limbs. It is known that visual acuity changes variably depending on the macular alteration and may decrease when edema is installed in the macular region or is altered by the appearance of hemorrhages or the presence of foveolar neovascular tissues resulting from traction retinal detachment.

Current Synthesis and Systematic Review of Main Effects of Calf Blood Deproteinized Medicine (Actovegin) in Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Stroke is one of the largest problems and clinical-social challenges within neurology and, in general, pathology. Here, we briefly reviewed the main pathophysiological mechanisms of ischemic stroke, which represent targets for medical interventions, including for a calf blood deproteinized hemodialysate/ultrafiltrate.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of current related literature concerning the effects of Actovegin, of mainly the pleiotropic type, applied to the injury pathways of ischemic stroke.