We aimed to explore the correlation of methionine (Met)/homocysteine (Hcy) ratio (MHR) with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD)-related vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), and to assess its predictive value in B-complex vitamin intervention. This study enrolled 268 CSVD patients for cross-sectional analysis. Additionally, multivariate Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were implemented to investigate the prediction efficiency. Next, 12-week B-complex vitamin intervention (folic acid 5 mg/day, vitamin B6 50 mg/day, and vitamin B12 500 µg/day) was conducted on 86 patients to assess variations in MHR and cognitive function before and after intervention. Gradual increments in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score (P < 0.001) and significant decrements in the white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and total CSVD score (P < 0.01) were observed with the elevation of MHR quartiles. MHR served as an independent protective factor against VCI [odds ratio (OR) = 0.44, P = 0.002]. After intervention, Hcy declined (P < 0.001), while MHR (P < 0.001) and MoCA score rose (P = 0.002). A positive association was observed between ΔMHR and ΔMoCA score (r = 0.46, P < 0.001), and the low baseline MHR group displayed more obvious improvements in cognitive function (P < 0.001). MHR has a close correlation with cognitive function and imaging impairment in CSVD patients. MHR acts as an independent protective factor against VCI and outperforms Hcy in prediction efficiency. The 12 weeks of B-complex vitamin intervention leads to significantly reduced Hcy, elevated MHR, and improved cognitive state.
This study aimed to figure out the correlation of stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) with elderly ICU patients’ occurrence, severity and duration of delirium, and to evaluate their predictive value for delirium. This research included 168 patients who were 60 years or older and admitted to our hospital’s ICU from August 2024 to August 2025. They were split into delirium group (n = 63) and Non-delirium group (n = 105) based on whether delirium happened during hospitalization. Delirium incidence was measured with the Confusion Assessment Method for ICU (CAM-ICU). CAM-ICU-7 was adopted to determined how severe delirium it was. Delirium/coma free days (DCFDs) were used as a negative proxy for how long delirium lasted. Patients’ baseline data and laboratory indicators within one day of being admitted were collected. SHR was calculated by detecting fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum IL-6 concentration was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The independent influencing factors of delirium were screened by uni-variate and multi-variate logistic regression. Kaplan–Meier curve was employed to analyze the first onset time of delirium. Correlation analysis helped determine the association of SHR and IL-6 with the severity of delirium and DCFDs. SHR and IL-6 predictive value was assessed through the ROC curve. SHR and IL-6 levels in delirium group were significantly higher when comparing to Non-delirium group (P < 0.01). According to multivariate Logistic regression, SHR and IL-6 were independent influencing factors of delirium in elderly ICU patients. Kaplan–Meier curve showed that the first delirium in patients with high-level SHR and IL-6 was earlier when comparing to individuals with low-to-medium-level SHR and IL-6 (Log-rank test < 0.05). Moreover, SHR and IL-6 were positively correlated with CAM-ICU-7 score and negatively correlated with DCFDs (P < 0.05). As shown by ROC curve, IL-6 and SHR had good predictive value for delirium. SHR and serum IL-6 have a close link to the occurrence, severity and first occurrence time of delirium in elderly ICU patients. The two are independent influencing factors of delirium and can be potential clinical biomarkers for evaluating delirium risk in elderly ICU patients.
Olfactory impairment is one of the earliest and most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to Braak’s hypothesis on the staging of PD, the olfactory bulb (OB) is considered one of the potential regions where the pathological spread of alpha-synuclein aggregates originates. For these reasons, this region is of great interest for studying the development of neurodegenerative processes in the early stages of PD. In the present study, a whole-transcriptome analysis was performed in the OB of mice using an MPTP-induced model of the early symptomatic stage of PD. A total of 142 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. An enrichment analysis of these DEGs revealed the following processes: leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelial cell, detection of chemical stimulus involved in sensory perception, and genitalia development. A total of 9 genes were associated with these processes: Ccl28, Fut4, Alox5, Olfr111, Olfr558, Gnat2, Tbx3, Trp63, and Foxf2. Further detailed analysis of gene functions has demonstrated their link to neuroinflammatory and neuroplasticity processes. Given the established link to processes affecting neuronal survival and function, these genes can be considered promising candidate genes for PD.
Memories play critical roles in our lives. Perhaps their importance is best appreciated when we start losing them. Making strong memories is beneficial for our day-to-day activities and for future planning. Most memories require repetitions or practice. Temporally spaced repetitions lead to better memory as compared to massed repetitions. This spacing effect is well established using several different learning tasks. This article discusses better memory formation by spaced training in several tasks at the behavioural level. Its potential neural mechanisms as revealed with brain imaging, and its beneficial effects in clinical conditions are also discussed. Further research needed to fully understand spacing effect is also discussed.
Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia; however, the role of key antioxidant regulators such as sestrin-2 (SESN2) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) remains unexplored. Furthermore, whether these alterations are present in unaffected first-degree relatives, suggesting a potential genetic vulnerability marker, has not been investigated. This study aimed to compare serum SESN2 and NRF2 levels among patients with schizophrenia, their healthy siblings, and healthy controls, hypothesizing that both patients and their siblings would exhibit lower levels compared to controls. The study population consisted of 25 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria, 25 healthy siblings of these patients and 25 healthy controls. Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Apathy Assessment Scale (AAS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey forms were administered to patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Serum SESN2 and NRF2 levels of the participants were measured using ELISA method. When schizophrenia patients, their healthy siblings and control group were compared in terms of SESN2 and NRF2 levels, a statistically significant difference was found among groups (p < 0.001). SESN2 and NRF2 levels were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients compared to their healthy siblings and control group (p < 0.05). SESN2 and NRF2 levels were significantly lower in healthy siblings compared to the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate reduced serum SESN2 and NRF2 levels in both schizophrenia patients and their unaffected siblings compared with healthy controls.
