177,619 research outputs found
Prevalence of primary headaches in Italian elderly: Preliminary data from the ZabÃot Aging Project
No full textWe describe preliminary 1-year prevalence data of recurrent migraine headache (MH), tension-type headache (TTH), and other headaches (OH) in a rural elderly population. A door-to-door two-phase survey was conducted on all elderly (â¥65 years) residents of a rural village in southern Italy. Participants underwent a two-phase screening including a validated semi-structured questionnaire for headaches based on the International Headache Society criteria, and a neurological evaluation. Recurrent headache was defined as 3 or more attacks within the past 12 months. Out of 1031 participants evaluated, 225 (21.8%) suffered from recurrent headaches. One-year prevalence rates for headaches were respectively 4.6% for MH, 16% for TTH, and 1.3% for OH. For MH and TTH, but not for OH, prevalence rates were significantly higher for women than for men. Only MH prevalence rates significantly decrease with increasing age. In our population, about one-fifth of elderly subjects suffered from recurrent primary headaches. Prevalence rates were higher in women, and tended to decline with increasing age
Cognitive deficits in beta-thalassemia major
No full textOBJECTIVES:
To assess cognitive functioning in patients affected by beta-thalassemia major (beta-th) by using a neuropsychological battery, and to identify clinical correlates.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:Forty-six beta-th patients and 46 controls similar for age, sex, and education participated in the study. All subjects performed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery including tests of abstract reasoning, attention, executive functions, language, constructional/visuospatial skills, and memory.
RESULTS:Compared to controls beta-th patients, in particular those showing signs of hemosiderosis, were significantly impaired on all neuropsychological tests. There was no relationship between cognitive performances and signs of deferoxamine toxicity, deferoxamine dosage, and levels of hemoglobin and ferritin, while duration of transfusional therapy and time interval between onset of blood transfusions and onset of chelating treatment correlated with performances of tests assessing abstract reasoning, attention, constructional/visuospatial skills, memory and with the scores of the Mini Mental State Examination.
CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that beta-th is associated with neuropsychological impairment involving multiple cognitive domains and argue for a potential role of hemosiderosis on cognitive functionin
Persistent Cognitive Dysfunction in a Non-Hospitalized COVID-19 Long-Hauler Patient Responding to Cognitive Rehabilitation and Citicoline Treatment
Get PDFThe Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is characterized by severe flu-like symptoms, which can progress to life-threatening systemic inflammation and multiorgan dysfunction. The nervous system is involved in over one-third of patients, and the most common neurological manifestations concern the central nervous system, such as headache, fatigue, and brain fog. The activation of innate, humoral, and cellular immune responses, resulting in a cytokine storm and endothelial and mitochondrial dysfunctions, are the main pathophysiological mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Citicoline is an exogenous source of choline and cytidine involved in intracellular phospholipid synthesis, which improves blood flow, brain activity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This report will present the case of a non-hospitalized, 59-year-old female. After a mild form of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the patient developed cognitive disturbances such as forgetfulness and anomia. The multidimensional neuropsychological assessment revealed an impairment in episodic memory with borderline performance in executive and visuospatial functioning. Cognitive rehabilitation and treatment with citicoline 1000 mg/daily led to a marked improvement in symptoms after six months. Early identification of the neurological sequelae of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and timely rehabilitation interventions are required in non-hospitalized long-hauler patients with COVID-19. Long-term treatment with citicoline should be considered as potentially effective in improving cognitive functioning in subjects with Post COVID-19 Neurological Syndrome
Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Diseases: How Much Do We Still Not Know?
Get PDFThe term "neuroinflammation" defines the typical inflammatory response of the brain closely related to the onset of many neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Neuroinflammation is well known, but its mechanisms and pathways are not entirely comprehended. Some progresses have been achieved through many efforts and research. Consequently, new cellular and molecular mechanisms, diverse and conventional, are emerging. In listing some of those that will be the subject of our description and discussion, essential are the important roles of peripheral and infiltrated monocytes and clonotypic cells, alterations in the gut-brain axis, dysregulation of the apelinergic system, alterations in the endothelial glycocalyx of the endothelial component of neuronal vascular units, variations in expression of some genes and levels of the encoding molecules by the action of microRNAs (miRNAs), or other epigenetic factors and distinctive transcriptional factors, as well as the role of autophagy, ferroptosis, sex differences, and modifications in the circadian cycle. Such mechanisms can add significantly to understanding the complex etiological puzzle of neuroinflammation and ND. In addition, they could represent biomarkers and targets of ND, which is increasing in the elderly
The key role of miRNA in syndromic and sporadic forms of ascending aortic aneurysms as biomarkers and targets of novel therapeutic strategies
Get PDFIncreasing evidence shows that epigenetics also plays a key role in regulating the pathogenetic mechanism of all types of aortic aneurysms. It is well-known that epigenetic factors modulate gene expression. This mechanism appears to be of interest especially knowing the relevance of genetic susceptibility and genetic factors in the complex pathophysiology of aortic aneurysms, and of sporadic forms; in fact, the latter are the result of a close interaction between genetic and modifiable lifestyle factors (i.e., nutrition, smoking, infections, use of drugs, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, etc.). Epigenetic factors include DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications, and non-coding RNA. Here, our attention is focused on the role of miRNA in syndromic and sporadic forms of thoracic aortic aneurysms. They could be both biomarkers and targets of novel therapeutic strategies
Studio di validazione dell'ACE-R in lingua italiana nella popolazione degli young-old e degli old-old
No full textIntroduction. The main aims of the study were the translation into Italian, and validation subsequently of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R), and the evaluation of its usefulness in discriminating cognitively normal subjects from patients with mild dementia. Methods. The ACE-R was translated and adapted into Italian. The Italian ACE-R was administrated to a group of 179 elderly subjects (72 cognitively intact and 107 subjects with mild dementia, mean age 75.4 years ± 6.4). The group was stratified in two sub-samples according to age, i.e. young-old (< 75 years) and old-old (≥ 75 years), in order to evaluate test's sensitivity and specificity in detecting dementia among elderly of different age. Results. The reliability of the Italian ACE-R was excellent (alpha coefficient = 0.85). Two different cut-offs were identified for young-old (cut-off 79; sensitivity 90% and specificity 80%); and old-old subjects (cut-off 60; sensitivity 82% and specificity 100%). Discussion. The Italian ACE-R is a valid screening tool to detect dementia. This is true especially among the old-old individuals, the fastest growing age group and the one at the highest risk of dementia in western countries
Il Monastero di San Gaudioso
No full textIl saggio ricostruisce le vicende del Monastero di San Gaudioso dalla fondazione alle trasformazione in clinica universitaria.The essay reconstructs the events of the Monastery of San Gaudioso from its foundation to its transformation into a university clinic
Mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review
Get PDFMCI is a nosological entity proposed as an intermediate state between normal aging and dementia. The syndrome can be divided into two broad subtypes: amnestic MCI ( aMCI) characterized by reduced memory, and non- amnestic MCI ( naMCI) in which other cognitive functions rather than memory are mostly impaired. aMCI seems to represent an early stage of AD, while the outcomes of the naMCI subtypes appear more heterogeneous - including vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies- but this aspect is still under debate. MCI in fact represents a condition with multiple sources of heterogeneity, including clinical presentation, etiology, and prognosis. To improve classification and prognosis, there is a need for more sensitive instruments specifically developed for MCI as well as for more reliable methods to determine its progression or improvement. Current clinical criteria for MCI should be updated to include restriction in complex ADL; also the diagnostic and prognostic role of behavioral symptoms and motor dysfunctions should be better defined. A multidisciplinary diagnostic approach including biological and neuroimaging techniques may probably represent the best option to predict the conversion from MCI to dementia. In this review we discuss the most recent aspects related to the epidemiological, clinical, neuropathological, neuroimaging, biochemical and therapeutic aspects of MCI, with specific attention to possible markers of conversion to dementia
Il progetto italo-egiziano di studio e conservazione del "Monastero di Abba Nefer" a Manqabad (Asyut)
No full textReport sui principali risultati della prima campagna di lavoro a Manqabad, presso il monastero di Abba NeferReport of the main results of the first archaeological campaign at Manqabad, in the monastery of Abba Nefe
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