In Patients with Minor Beta-Thalassemia, Cognitive Performance Is Related to Length of Education, But not to Minor Beta-Thalassemia or Hemoglobin Levels

Objective: Thalassemia is one of the most frequent monogenic disorders, leading to impairment in the maturation and survival of red blood cells. The question examined here is whether, and if so, to what extent, people with beta-thalassemia might also be impaired in their cognitive functioning. Previous results in adults with beta-thalassemia showed cognitive impairment when compared to healthy controls. However, length of education was never taken into consideration as a possible confounder. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to assess people with minor beta-thalassemia and compare them to healthy controls, while controlling for length of education. Method: A total of 25 adults (mean age: 29.36 years; 56% females) with beta-thalassemia and 25 healthy controls (mean age: 27.84 years; 72% females) took part in this cross-sectional study. They underwent cognitive testing (executive functions, attention, working memory), and their haemoglobin levels were assessed. Results: Cognitive performance did not significantly differ between patients with minor beta-thalassemia and healthy controls. Irrespective of group, higher cognitive performance was strongly associated with time spent in education. No gender differences were observed. Conclusion: Compared to healthy controls, cognitive performance was not impaired among patients with minor beta-thalassemia when length of education was introduced as a further co-variate. In both patients with minor beta-thalassemia and healthy controls, higher cognitive performance was associated with time spent for education. Health professionals should inform patients with minor beta-thalassemia that cognitive performance is related to the length of education and not to the health status of minor beta-thalassemia per se.

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Supplemental Material for Environment and Cognitive Aging: A Cross-Sectional Study of Place of Residence and Cognitive Performance in the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging

Neuropsychology ◽

10.1037/neu0000253.supp ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Place Of Residence ◽

Cross Sectional

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Central neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis is associated with impaired innocuous thermal pathways and neuronal hyperexcitability

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pnab103 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michal Rivel ◽

Anat Achiron ◽

Mark Dolev ◽

Yael Stern ◽

Gaby Zeilig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Neuropathic Pain ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Sensory Testing ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Central Neuropathic Pain ◽

Body Regions ◽

Thermal Grill Illusion

Abstract Objective About a third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from chronic and excruciating central neuropathic pain (CNP). The mechanism underlying CNP in MS is not clear, since previous studies are scarce and their results are inconsistent. Our aim was to determine whether CNP in MS is associated with impairment of the spinothalamic-thalamocortical pathways (STTCs) and/or increased excitability of the pain system. Design Cross sectional study Setting General hospital Subjects 47 MS patients with CNP, 42 MS patients without CNP, and 32 healthy controls. Methods Sensory testing included the measurement of temperature, pain, and touch thresholds and the thermal grill illusion (TGI) for evaluating STTCs function, and hyperpathia and allodynia as indicators of hyperexcitability. CNP was characterized using interviews and questionnaires. Results The CNP group had higher cold and warm thresholds (p < 0.01), as well as higher TGI perception thresholds (p < 0.05), especially in painful body regions compared to controls, whereas touch and pain thresholds values were normal. The CNP group also had a significantly greater prevalence of hyperpathia and allodynia. Regression analysis revealed that whereas presence of CNP was associated with a higher cold threshold, CNP intensity, and the number of painful body regions were associated with allodynia and hyperpathia, respectively. Conclusions CNP in MS is characterized by a specific impairment of STTC function; the innocuous thermal pathways, and by pain hyperexcitability. Whereas CNP presence is associated with STTC impairment, its severity and extent are associated with pain hyperexcitability. Interventions that reduce excitability level may therefore mitigate CNP severity.

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Sensorimotor and body perception assessments of nonspecific chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-021-04269-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

R. Meier ◽

C. Emch ◽

C. Gross-Wolf ◽

F. Pfeiffer ◽

A. Meichtry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sensorimotor System ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Low Back ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Clinical Tests ◽

Body Perception ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, causing significant personal and social burden. Current research is focused on the processes of the central nervous system (particularly the sensorimotor system) and body perception, with a view to developing new and more efficient ways to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). Several clinical tests have been suggested that might have the ability to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system. These include back-photo assessment (BPA), two-point discrimination (TPD), and the movement control tests (MCT). The aim of this study was to determine whether the simple clinical tests of BPA, TPD or MCT are able to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects with altered body perception and healthy controls. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. At one point in time, 30 subjects with CLBP and 30 healthy controls were investigated through using BPA, TPD and MCT on the lower back. Correlations among the main covariates and odds ratios for group differences were calculated. Results MCT showed an odds ratio for the presence of CLBP of 1.92, with a statistically significant p-value (0.049) and 95%CI. The TPD and BPA tests were unable to determine significant differences between the groups. Conclusions Of the three tests investigated, MCT was found to be the only suitable assessment to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects and healthy controls. The MCT can be recommended as a simple clinical tool to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of nonspecific CLBP subjects. This could facilitate the development of tailored management strategies for this challenging LBP subgroup. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the potential of all the tests to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of CLBP subjects. Trial registration No trial registration was needed as the study contains no intervention. The study was approved by the Swiss Ethics Commission of Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ) reference number 2015–243.

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Leakage of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles in stress-induced exhaustion disorder: a cross-sectional study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81453-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Johanna Wallensten ◽

Anna Nager ◽

Marie Åsberg ◽

Kristian Borg ◽

Aniella Beser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Cd40 Ligand ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ligand Expression ◽

Minor Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Exhaustion Disorder

AbstractPatients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder (SED) demonstrate cognitive dysfunction similar to patients with minor traumatic brain injury (TBI). We have previously detected elevated concentrations of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in patients with TBI. As such, we hypothesized that astrocyte-derived EVs could be higher in patients with SED than in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls. Patients with SED (n = 31), MDD (n = 31), and healthy matched controls (n = 61) were included. Astrocyte-derived EVs (previously known as microparticles) were measured in plasma with flow cytometry and labeled against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4). In addition, platelet EVs and their CD40 ligand expression were measured. Patients with SED had significantly higher concentrations of AQP4 and GFAP-positive EVs and EVs co-expressing AQP4/GFAP than patients with MDD and healthy controls. Patients with MDD had significantly higher concentrations of GFAP-positive EVs and EVs co-expressing AQP4/GFAP than healthy controls. Platelet EVs did not differ between groups. CD40 ligand expression was significantly higher in patients with SED and MDD than in controls. In conclusion, the present study suggests that patients with SED, and to some extent, patients with MDD, have increased leakage of astrocyte-derived EVs through the blood–brain barrier.

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Associations between olfactory identification and (social) cognitive functioning: A cross-sectional study in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls

Psychiatry Research ◽

10.1016/j.psychres.2018.05.009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 266 ◽

pp. 147-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jessica de Nijs ◽

Julia H. Meijer ◽

Lieuwe de Haan ◽

Carin J. Meijer ◽

Richard Bruggeman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Olfactory Identification

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Uncertain crisis time affects psychosocial dimensions in beta-thalassemia patients during Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/13591053211049942 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910532110499

Author(s):

Chiara Cerami ◽

Gaia Chiara Santi ◽

Irene Sammartano ◽

Zelia Borsellino ◽

Liana Cuccia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Beta Thalassemia ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Key Factors ◽

Chronic Patients ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Life Habits ◽

Anxiety Levels ◽

Anxiety Depression

Psychosocial variables are key factors influencing the delicate equilibrium of chronic patients during crisis time. In this study, we explored distress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, coping strategies, and changes in life habits in 43 beta-thalassemia patients and 86 controls during Covid-19 pandemic. Patients showed higher anxiety levels and a predominant transcendent coping profile compared to controls. Patients significantly differed from controls in outdoor habits. Social isolation and habits changes in uncertain life-threaten situations as Covid-19 pandemic are particularly detrimental in fragile beta-thalassemia patients. Structured support interventions are needed to promote well-being in the Covid-19 era.

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