Pegvisomant Improves Glucose Metabolism in Acromegaly: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Interventional Studies.

Introduction: Pegvisomant (PEG) in monotherapy or combined with somatostatin analogs (SSAs) is used to control acromegaly, improving metabolism. However, the metabolic changes induced by PEG have not been systematically reviewed.

Objective: To address the following questions: does PEG or the combination of PEG and SSAs affect fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated Hb (HbA1c), glucose load (2-hour oral glucose tolerance test), insulin levels [fasting plasma insulin (FPI)], homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-I), homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function, lipid profile, or body mass index? Are the effects disease-related or drug-related?

Data Sources: Indexed databases up to January 2019.

Dietary and lifestyle guidelines for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is increased by older age, genetic factors, and several medical risk factors. Studies have also suggested that dietary and lifestyle factors may influence risk, raising the possibility that preventive strategies may be effective. This body of research is incomplete.

In silico investigation of the ATP7B gene: insights from functional prediction of non-synonymous substitution to protein structure.

ATP7B is a copper-transporting ATPase that plays a key role in the regulation of copper homeostasis. Mutations in the ATP7B gene are causative for Wilson's disease, and recent reports have suggested that genetic variants are associated with susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, it is difficult to profile experimentally novel genetic variants in the ATP7B gene, because the human protein X-ray structure is not yet entirely understood.

Meta-analysis of serum non-ceruloplasmin copper in Alzheimer's disease.

The fraction of copper not bound to ceruloplasmin seems altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have addressed this notion evaluating all the studies carried out from 1996 until March 2013 by means of meta-analysis. We performed our analysis on diverse indices evaluating the relationship between copper and ceruloplasmin in general circulation, namely 'Non-Cp copper', '% Non-Cp copper', and 'Adjusted copper'.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in different neurological diseases.

Consistent evidence indicates the involvement of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we compared serum BDNF in 624 subjects: 266 patients affected by AD, 28 by frontotemporal dementia (FTD), 40 by Lewy body dementia (LBD), 91 by vascular dementia (VAD), 30 by PD, and 169 controls. Our results evidenced lower BDNF serum levels in AD, FTD, LBD, and VAD patients (P < 0.

Intronic rs2147363 variant in ATP7B transcription factor-binding site associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Copper homeostasis abnormalities have been shown to be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), possibly by accelerating amyloid-β toxicity and plaque formation. The ATP7B gene plays a key role in controlling body copper balance. Our previous studies showed an association between ATP7B variants and AD risk.

Unilateral extradural motor cortex stimulation is safe and improves Parkinson disease at 1 year.

Background: The primary motor cortex, which is part of the corticobasal ganglia loops, may be an alternative option for the surgical treatment of Parkinson disease.

Objective: To report on the 1-year safety and efficacy of unilateral extradural motor cortex stimulation in Parkinson disease.

Methods: A quadripolar electrode strip was extradurally implanted over the motor cortex.

Copper hypothesis in the missing hereditability of sporadic Alzheimer's disease: ATP7B gene as potential harbor of rare variants.

Sporadic Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is the most common form of dementia and has a high heritability. The genes associated with LOAD explain a small proportion of the genetic contribution to LOAD, leaving several genetic risk factors to be identified. Some authors have suggested a shift from the paradigm "common disease-common gene variants", which is currently the basis for genome-wide association studies, to a "common disease-multiple rare gene variants" hypothesis aimed at identifying rarer allele variants with large effect size on LOAD onset, suggesting that they may account for the 'missing' heritability of LOAD.

Ceruloplasmin/Transferrin ratio changes in Alzheimer's disease.

The link between iron and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been mainly investigated with a focus on the local accumulation of this metal in specific areas of the brain that are critical for AD. In the present study, we have instead looked at systemic variations of markers of iron metabolism. We measured serum levels of iron, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin and calculated the transferrin saturation and the ceruloplasmin to transferrin ratio (Cp/Tf).

Fragile-X syndrome: genetic aspects and stomatologic evaluations.

Aim Of The Work: The fragile-X syndrome is the most common cause of inherited mental retardation and it is associated with the FMR1 gene on X chromosome. The origin of anatomic anomalies of maxillo-facial complex is still discussed in literature. The authors describe the syndrome and report a clinical case.

Implications of metal exposure and liver function in Parkinsonian patients resident in the vicinities of ferroalloy plants.

Valcamonica is an Italian valley where ferro-manganese industries have been active for a century and where an increased prevalence of parkinsonism was observed. A group of 93 patients (65 from Valcamonica, 28 from the reference area of Brescia city) and 76 controls (52 from Valcamonica, 24 from Brescia) were screened for serum Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn in blood (MnB) and urine (MnU), transferrin, peroxides, alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) transaminases and direct bilirubin. Test results were compared among groups according to the residential area and related to the disease severity.

Choice of multivariate autoregressive model order affecting real network functional connectivity estimate.

Objective: A realistic simulation exploiting real cortical sources identified from non-invasive extra-cranial recordings in healthy subjects has been considered in order to select the most robust procedure for choosing the correct order of multivariate autoregressive (MVAR) models. Different signal-to-noise ratios filter settings and sampling rates were also tested on the estimate of functional connectivity among the network nodes, in simulated and real cases.

Methods: Starting from magnetoencephalographic recordings, cortical sources in primary sensorimotor areas of the hand were obtained by functional source separation (FSS).

Androgens and body composition in the aging male.

The relevant age-related changes in male body composition are mainly related to the progressive decrease in the level of circulating anabolic hormones, among which testosterone (T) is rather important. Its decline, between the ages of 35 and 75, is associated to a loss of muscle mass and fibers number, a doubling of fat mass and a decrease in bone mineral density by 0.3% per yr after age 35; thus the relationship between age-related changes in body composition and T bioactivity reflects an important endocrine aspect of the aging male.