Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
-
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia which affects people older than 60 years of age. In AD, the dysregulation of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) level leads to the appearance of senile plaques which contain Aβ depositions. Aβ is a complex biological molecule which interacts with many types of receptors and/or forms insoluble assemblies and, eventually, its nonphysiological depositions alternate with the normal neuronal conditions. ⋯ Hence, the determination of its different molecular assemblies and the mechanisms underlying its pathological effects are of interest. In the present paper, some of the well-established structural forms of Aβ, its interactions with various receptors and possible molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity are discussed. In addition, several Aβ-based rodent models of AD are reviewed.
-
Clinical Trial
Prospective evaluation of the effect of short-term oral vitamin d supplementation on peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
We aimed to assess the efficacy of short-term oral vitamin D supplementation on peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. ⋯ Short-term oral vitamin D3 supplementation improved vitamin D status and the symptoms of neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.
-
Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is an uncommon disease characterized by persistent or recurrent soft tissue enlargement, oral ulceration and a variety of other orofacial features. It could be an oral manifestation of a systemic disease. For a correct differential diagnosis, local and systemic conditions characterized by granulomatous inflammation should be excluded using appropriate clinical and laboratory investigations. ⋯ The literature from 1943 to 2014 was reviewed with emphasis on the etiology of OFG and on clinical manifestations of systemic pathologies associated with OFG. The precise cause of OFG is still unknown, although several theories have been suggested, such as infection, hereditary factors and allergy. OFG is a disease that has a wide spectrum of presentation, which may include the oral manifestation of a systemic condition such as Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.
-
Review
Recurrent spontaneous miscarriage is still a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic quagmire.
Recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM), affecting 1-2% of women of reproductive age seeking pregnancy, has been a clinical quagmire and a formidable challenge for the treating physician. There are many areas of controversy in the definition, aetiology, investigations and treatment of RSM. This review will address the many factors involved in the aetiology of RSM which is multifactorial in many patients, with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) being the most recognized aetiological factor. ⋯ The challenges faced by the treating physician are even more overwhelming regarding the decision of what should be the most appropriate therapy offered to patients with RSM. Our review will cover the diverse modalities of therapy available including the role of preimplantation genetic testing using recent microarray technology, such as single nucleotide polymorphism and comparative genomic hybridization, as well as preimplantation genetic diagnosis; the greatest emphasis will be on the treatment of APS, and there will be important comments on the management of patients presenting with idiopathic RSM. The controversial areas of the role of natural killer cells in RSM, the varied modalities in the management of idiopathic RSM and the need for better-planned studies will be covered as well.
-
To assess N51I, C59R and S108N polymorphisms of dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and A437G and K540E of dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) genes of P. falciparum isolates recovered from pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria in a coastal setting in Nigeria. ⋯ This study revealed the emergence of the K540E mutation among the parasite population in Lagos. However, it supports the implementation of the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine with continuous effectiveness monitoring in the study area.