The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in peripheral blood glucose concentrations induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection in Holochilus sciureus rodents, a wild reservoir of the parasite. Glucose concentration was measured in the plasma of blood samples using a colorimetric enzymatic test. Biological parameters and S. mansoni burden in each rodent were also verified and correlated with glucose concentrations. A total of 76 H. sciureus were captured, out of which 20 (26%) were infected with S. mansoni (n=13 males and n=7 females). Although the parasite burden was comparable between the sexes, blood glucose concentration was lower in infected males and almost unchanged in females. Furthermore, histopathological data revealed that male rodents had a greater hepatic granulomatous inflammatory reaction than females. In addition, we also confirmed that the weight and total length of the analyzed animals had no effect on glucose levels. Therefore, natural infection with S. mansoni in H. sciureus may have a lower impact on glycemic homeostasis in females, which will help us understand the role of these rodents as reservoirs of S. mansoni.
Neuropsychiatric disorders are a significant cause of death and disability worldwide. The mechanisms underlying these disorders include a constellation of structural, infectious, immunological, metabolic, and genetic etiologies. Advances in next-generation sequencing techniques have demonstrated that the composition of the enteric microbiome is dynamic and plays a pivotal role in host homeostasis and several diseases. The enteric microbiome acts as a key mediator in neuronal signaling via metabolic, neuroimmune, and neuroendocrine pathways.

In this review, we aim to present and discuss the most current knowledge regarding the putative influence of the gut microbiome in neuropsychiatric disorders.

We examined some of the preclinical and clinical evidence and therapeutic strategies associated with the manipulation of the gut microbiome.

targeted taxa were described and grouped from major studies to each disease.

Understanding the complexity of these ecological interactions and their association with sents with neuropsychiatric disorders.
Structural imaging of the brain is the most widely used diagnostic tool for investigating neurodegenerative diseases. More advanced structural imaging techniques have been applied to early or prodromic phases, but they are expensive and not widely available. Therefore, it is highly desirable to search for noninvasive, easily accessible, low-cost clinical biomarkers suitable for large-scale population screening, in order to focus on making diagnoses at the earliest stages of the disease. In this scenario, imaging studies focusing on the structures of the retina have increasingly been used for evaluating neurodegenerative diseases. The retina shares embryological, histological, biochemical, microvascular and neurotransmitter similarities with the cerebral cortex, thus making it a uniquely promising biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases. Optical coherence tomography is a modern noninvasive imaging technique that provides high-resolution two-dimensional cross-sectional images and quantitative reproducible thed macular degeneration. Its clinical impact on neurodegenerative diseases has raised enormous interest over recent years, as several clinical studies have demonstrated that these diseases give rise to reduced thickness of the inner retinal nerve fiber layer, mainly composed of retinal ganglion cells and their axons. In this review, we aimed to address the clinical utility of optical coherence tomography for diagnosing and evaluating different neurodegenerative diseases, to show the potential of this noninvasive and easily accessible method.
Loss of teeth has been associated with neurological and sleep disorders. It is considered to be a predictor of stroke and leads to modifications of airway patency and predisposition to obstructive sleep apnea.

To investigate sleep quality, risk of obstructive sleep apnea and excessive sleepiness among post-stroke patients with tooth loss attending the Neurovascular Clinic of the Federal University of São Paulo.

The prevalence rates of different types of stroke were assessed among 130 patients with different degrees of tooth loss, along with the presence of sleep disturbances, risk of obstructive sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness.

The prevalence of ischemic stroke was 94.6%, with either no significant disability or slight disability. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mpp-iodide.html Our sample had poor sleep quality, and a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea, but without excessive daytime sleepiness. Half of our sample had lost between 9 and 31 teeth, and more than 25% had edentulism. The majority used full removable dental prostheses, and more than half of these individuals slept without removing the prosthesis.

We found high prevalence of poor sleep quality and high risk of obstructive sleep apnea among post-stroke patients with tooth loss. This indicates the need for further studies on treating and preventing sleep disturbances in stroke patients with tooth loss.
We found high prevalence of poor sleep quality and high risk of obstructive sleep apnea among post-stroke patients with tooth loss. This indicates the need for further studies on treating and preventing sleep disturbances in stroke patients with tooth loss.
Melanocytic lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) are an infrequent, broad and diverse group of entities, both benign and malignant, found in all age groups, with imaging findings ranging from well-circumscribed focal lesions to diffuse leptomeningeal involvement. On MRI, they are usually distinguished by a high signal on T1WI sequences, given the paramagnetic effect of melanin, thus making it difficult to differentiate among them.

To describe the imaging and epidemiological characteristics of a retrospective series of CNS melanocytic lesions.

MR images of 23 patients with CNS melanocytic lesions diagnosed between January 2012 and June 2018 were analyzed.

Most patients were female (14/23; 61%), with a median age of 47 years (range 3 weeks to 72 years). The primary melanocytic lesions accounted for 8/19 cases (42.1%), which included neurocutaneous melanosis, meningeal melanocytomas and primary malignant melanomas. Secondary melanocytic lesions (metastatic) accounted for 10/19 cases (52.6%). There was one case of a tumor with secondary melanization, from a melanocytic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy. There were also four cases of primary ocular melanomas. The most frequent findings were the cerebral location, high T1WI signal and marked contrast-enhancement.

The present review describes the wide variety of melanocytic lesions that could affect the CNS, emphasizing the MRI characteristics. Knowledge of the imaging, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of CNS melanocytic lesions is essential for their correct interpretation, given the significant overlap between lesion features and the variable prognosis.
The present review describes the wide variety of melanocytic lesions that could affect the CNS, emphasizing the MRI characteristics. Knowledge of the imaging, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of CNS melanocytic lesions is essential for their correct interpretation, given the significant overlap between lesion features and the variable prognosis.
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by deterioration of balance and functionality that tends to follow disease progression. There is no established link between formal clinical markers for severity and functional/balance scores that could guide rehabilitation teams.

To evaluate the relationship between functional scales and ataxia severity in order to identify cutoff landmarks for functional loss and estimate the mean SARA (Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia) score for the risk ratings for falls on the BBS (Berg Balance Scale).

Consecutive patients with a molecular diagnosis of SCA (total 89 31 with SCA2 and 58 with SCA3) were assessed for functionality FIM-ADL (Functional Independence Measure-activities of daily living and Lawton-IADL (instrumental activities of daily living), balance (BBS) and disease severity (SARA).

The main disability cutoff landmarks were that the need for supervision for FIM-ADL starts with 12 points on SARA and the need for supervision for Lawton-IADL starts with 14 points on SARA. The first items to require assistance were "expression" and "shopping", respectively. At 20 points on SARA, patients were dependent on all FIM and Lawton items. The item with the greatest impact on distinguishing dependents from independents was "means of transport" in Lawton-IADL and the domain "locomotion" in FIM-ADL. The mean SARA score for patients classified as low risk in the BBS was 9.9 points, and it was 17.4 for medium risk and 25.2 for high risk.

Analysis on the correlation between the severity of ataxia and functional scales can form an important guide for understanding the progression of functional dependence among individuals with SCAs.
Analysis on the correlation between the severity of ataxia and functional scales can form an important guide for understanding the progression of functional dependence among individuals with SCAs.
Headache is one of the most frequent symptoms that occur during hemodialysis sessions. Despite the high prevalence of dialysis headache, it has been little studied.

To evaluate the characteristics, impact and factors associated with dialysis headache. The behavior of the cerebral vasculature was also compared between patients with and without dialysis headache.

This was a cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients who underwent hemodialysis were assessed through a semi-structured questionnaire, the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography was performed in the first and fourth hours of hemodialysis.

A total of 100 patients were included; 49 of them had dialysis headache. Women (OR=5.04; 95%CI 1.95-13.04), younger individuals (OR=1.05; 95%CI 1.01-1.08), individuals with higher schooling levels (OR=3.86; 95%CI 1.4-10.7) and individuals who had spent longer times on dialysis programs (OR=0.99; 95%CI 0.98-1) had more dialysis headache (logistic regression). Individuals with dialysis headache had worse quality of life in the domains of pain and general state of health (56.9 versus 76.4, p=0.01; 49.7 versus 60.2, p=0.03, respectively). Dialysis headache was associated with significantly greater impact on life (OR=24.4; 95%CI 2.6-226.6; logistic regression). The pulsatility index (transcranial Doppler ultrasonography) was lower among patients with dialysis headache than among those without them.

Dialysis headaches occur frequently and are associated with worse quality of life and patterns of cerebral vasodilatation.
Dialysis headaches occur frequently and are associated with worse quality of life and patterns of cerebral vasodilatation.
Language tests are important in the assessment and follow up of people with aphasia (PWA). However, language assessment in the low literacy population is still a challenge.

To investigate whether a formal evaluation of aphasia is able to distinguish the neurological effect from the effect of low educational level in people with post-stroke aphasia.

The sample consisted of a group of 30 aphasic subjects (AG) and a control group (CG) of 36 individuals, both with an educational level of 1-4 years. The Brazilian Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment battery was applied to all subjects.

There were statistically significant differences between the groups in 19 out of the 20 tasks analyzed.

These results suggest that formal evaluation procedures are able to detect language disorders resulting from stroke, even in subjects with low educational level.
These results suggest that formal evaluation procedures are able to detect language disorders resulting from stroke, even in subjects with low educational level.