Background: Pain impacts quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, yet it is often overlooked. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate pain in PD, particularly focusing on differences between neuropathic pain (NP) and other types. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving PD patients, assessing the prevalence and characteristics of pain. Various scales were employed to evaluate anxiety, depression, and QoL. We investigated associations between pain, demographic, and clinical variables to determine predictors and pain-related factors. Additionally, factors related to NP were explored. Results: During the study period, a total of 109 patients were examined. Sixteen patients were excluded due tovarious reasons. The final analysis included 93 patients (34 females and 59 males). Pain was reported by 80.6%of PD patients, with no significant demographic or clinical differences between those with and without pain.However, longer disease duration predicted NP, and musculoskeletal pain was more prevalent in females. Anxiety was common in patients with central parkinsonian pain (CPP). Patients taking amantadine reported less radicular/ neuropathic pain (RNP), suggesting a therapeutic role. Conclusions Our findings underscore the high prevalence of pain in PD and its impact on QoL. NP appears to be associated with disease progression, while sex-specific differences highlight the need for personalized pain management strategies. The association between anxiety and CPP emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological factors in PD pain management. Further research on amantadine's benefits in reducing RNP is warranted, emphasizing the importance of tailored pain management strategies for PD patients.

Background: Pain impacts quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, yet it is often overlooked. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate pain in PD, particularly focusing on differences between neuropathic pain (NP) and other types. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving PD patients, assessing the prevalence and characteristics of pain. Various scales were employed to evaluate anxiety, depression, and QoL. We investigated associations between pain, demographic, and clinical variables to determine predictors and pain-related factors. Additionally, factors related to NP were explored. Results: During the study period, a total of 109 patients were examined. Sixteen patients were excluded due tovarious reasons. The final analysis included 93 patients (34 females and 59 males). Pain was reported by 80.6%of PD patients, with no significant demographic or clinical differences between those with and without pain.However, longer disease duration predicted NP, and musculoskeletal pain was more prevalent in females. Anxiety was common in patients with central parkinsonian pain (CPP). Patients taking amantadine reported less radicular/ neuropathic pain (RNP), suggesting a therapeutic role. Conclusions Our findings underscore the high prevalence of pain in PD and its impact on QoL. NP appears to be associated with disease progression, while sex-specific differences highlight the need for personalized pain management strategies. The association between anxiety and CPP emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological factors in PD pain management. Further research on amantadine's benefits in reducing RNP is warranted, emphasizing the importance of tailored pain management strategies for PD patients.

Background: Pain impacts quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, yet it is often overlooked. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate pain in PD, particularly focusing on differences between neuropathic pain (NP) and other types. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving PD patients, assessing the prevalence and characteristics of pain. Various scales were employed to evaluate anxiety, depression, and QoL. We investigated associations between pain, demographic, and clinical variables to determine predictors and pain-related factors. Additionally, factors related to NP were explored. Results: During the study period, a total of 109 patients were examined. Sixteen patients were excluded due tovarious reasons. The final analysis included 93 patients (34 females and 59 males). Pain was reported by 80.6%of PD patients, with no significant demographic or clinical differences between those with and without pain.However, longer disease duration predicted NP, and musculoskeletal pain was more prevalent in females. Anxiety was common in patients with central parkinsonian pain (CPP). Patients taking amantadine reported less radicular/ neuropathic pain (RNP), suggesting a therapeutic role. Conclusions Our findings underscore the high prevalence of pain in PD and its impact on QoL. NP appears to be associated with disease progression, while sex-specific differences highlight the need for personalized pain management strategies. The association between anxiety and CPP emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological factors in PD pain management. Further research on amantadine's benefits in reducing RNP is warranted, emphasizing the importance of tailored pain management strategies for PD patients.

Background: Pain impacts quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, yet it is often overlooked. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate pain in PD, particularly focusing on differences between neuropathic pain (NP) and other types. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving PD patients, assessing the prevalence and characteristics of pain. Various scales were employed to evaluate anxiety, depression, and QoL. We investigated associations between pain, demographic, and clinical variables to determine predictors and pain-related factors. Additionally, factors related to NP were explored. Results: During the study period, a total of 109 patients were examined. Sixteen patients were excluded due tovarious reasons. The final analysis included 93 patients (34 females and 59 males). Pain was reported by 80.6%of PD patients, with no significant demographic or clinical differences between those with and without pain.However, longer disease duration predicted NP, and musculoskeletal pain was more prevalent in females. Anxiety was common in patients with central parkinsonian pain (CPP). Patients taking amantadine reported less radicular/ neuropathic pain (RNP), suggesting a therapeutic role. Conclusions Our findings underscore the high prevalence of pain in PD and its impact on QoL. NP appears to be associated with disease progression, while sex-specific differences highlight the need for personalized pain management strategies. The association between anxiety and CPP emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological factors in PD pain management. Further research on amantadine's benefits in reducing RNP is warranted, emphasizing the importance of tailored pain management strategies for PD patients.

Background: Pain impacts quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, yet it is often overlooked. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate pain in PD, particularly focusing on differences between neuropathic pain (NP) and other types. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving PD patients, assessing the prevalence and characteristics of pain. Various scales were employed to evaluate anxiety, depression, and QoL. We investigated associations between pain, demographic, and clinical variables to determine predictors and pain-related factors. Additionally, factors related to NP were explored. Results: During the study period, a total of 109 patients were examined. Sixteen patients were excluded due tovarious reasons. The final analysis included 93 patients (34 females and 59 males). Pain was reported by 80.6%of PD patients, with no significant demographic or clinical differences between those with and without pain.However, longer disease duration predicted NP, and musculoskeletal pain was more prevalent in females. Anxiety was common in patients with central parkinsonian pain (CPP). Patients taking amantadine reported less radicular/ neuropathic pain (RNP), suggesting a therapeutic role. Conclusions Our findings underscore the high prevalence of pain in PD and its impact on QoL. NP appears to be associated with disease progression, while sex-specific differences highlight the need for personalized pain management strategies. The association between anxiety and CPP emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological factors in PD pain management. Further research on amantadine's benefits in reducing RNP is warranted, emphasizing the importance of tailored pain management strategies for PD patients.

Varicocele is a prevalent condition in the infertile male population. However, to date, which patients may benefit most from varicocele repair is still a matter of debate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether certain preintervention sperm parameters are predictive of successful varicocele repair, defined as an improvement in total motile sperm count (TMSC). We performed a retrospective study on 111 patients with varicocele who had undergone varicocele repair, collected from the Department of Endocrinology, Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, University of Catania (Catania, Italy), and the Unit of Urology at the Selcuk University School of Medicine (Konya, Türkiye). The predictive analysis was conducted through the use of the Brain Project, an innovative tool that allows a complete and totally unbiased search of mathematical expressions that relate the object of study to the various parameters available. Varicocele repair was considered successful when TMSC increased by at least 50% of the preintervention value. For patients with preintervention TMSC below 5 × 10 6 , improvement was considered clinically relevant when the increase exceeded 50% and the absolute TMSC value was >5 × 10 6 . From the preintervention TMSC alone, we found a model that predicts patients who appear to benefit little from varicocele repair with a sensitivity of 50.0% and a specificity of 81.8%. Varicocele grade and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels did not play a predictive role, but it should be noted that all patients enrolled in this study were selected with intermediate- or high-grade varicocele and normal FSH levels. In conclusion, preintervention TMSC is predictive of the success of varicocele repair in terms of TMSC improvement in patients with intermediate- or high-grade varicoceles and normal FSH levels.
Humans ; Varicocele/complications* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Machine Learning ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Sperm Count ; Infertility, Male/etiology* ; Sperm Motility ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Young Adult

Spermatozoa have a highly complex RNA profile. Several of these transcripts are suggested as biomarkers for male infertility and contribute to early development. To analyze the differences between sperm RNA quantity and expression of protamine ( PRM1 and PRM2 ) and testis-specific histone 2B ( TH2B ) genes, spermatozoa from 33 patients who enrolled in assisted reproduction treatment (ART) program were analyzed. Sperm RNA of teratozoospermic (T), oligoteratozoospermic (OT), and normozoospermic (N) samples was extracted, and the differences in transcript levels among the study groups were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The correlations of total RNA per spermatozoon and the expression of the transcripts were evaluated in relation to sperm characteristics and preimplantation embryo development. The mean (±standard deviation) RNA amount per spermatozoon was 28.48 (±23.03) femtogram in the overall group and was significantly higher in the OT group than that in N and T groups. Total sperm RNA and gene expression of PRM1 and PRM2 genes were related to preimplantation embryo development and developmental arrest. Specific sperm characteristics were correlated with the expressions of PRM1 , PRM2 , or TH2B genes. We conclude that the sperm RNA amount and composition are important factors and might influence early embryonic development and also differ in different cases of male infertility.
Male ; Humans ; Protamines/metabolism* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Embryonic Development/genetics* ; Adult ; RNA/genetics* ; Histones/genetics* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Teratozoospermia/genetics* ; Oligospermia/genetics*

Cytoskeletal network dysregulation is a pivotal determinant in various immunodeficiencies and autoinflammatory conditions. This report reviews the significance of actin remodeling in disease pathogenesis, focusing on the Arp2/3 complex and its regulatory subunit actin related protein 2/3 complex subunit 1B (ARPC1B). A spectrum of cellular dysfunctions associated with ARPC1B deficiency, impacting diverse immune cell types, is elucidated. The study presents a patient featuring recurrent and persistent eosinophilia attributed to homozygous ARPC1B mutation alongside concomitant compound heterozygous cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations. We used ARPC1B antibody to stain the patient's peripheral blood lymphocytes and those of the control. The defect in the ARPC1B gene in the present patient caused absent/low expression by immunofluorescence microscopy. The intricate interplay between cytoskeletal defects and immunological manifestations underscores the complexity of disease phenotypes, warranting further exploration for targeted therapeutic strategies.
Humans ; Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex/genetics* ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/genetics* ; Eosinophilia/genetics* ; Homozygote ; Mutation ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a pregnancy-induced hyperglycemia, affects approximately 17% of pregnancies globally. Its pathophysiology remains unclear, with inflammation and vascular remodeling playing key roles. CD248, a glycoprotein linked to inflammation and vascular remodeling, has been implicated in various conditions, but its role in GDM is uncertain.

A prospective case-control study was conducted with 169 pregnant women aged 18 to 49 at a tertiary hospital. Serum CD248 levels were assessed at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation prior to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Statistical analyses evaluated the association between CD248 levels, BMI and GDM status.

Of the participants, 32 (18.9%) were diagnosed with GDM. CD248 levels were lower in GDM patients (8.15 ± 10.16 ng/mL) than in controls (11.42 ± 15.44 ng/mL), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.084). Although CD248 levels did not correlate with OGTT values, it was positively associated with BMI (pCONCLUSION

Unlike earlier findings associating elevated CD248 levels with early pregnancy GDM risk, this study found no significant relationship during later gestational stages. These results highlight a potentially complex and context-dependent role for CD248 in GDM pathophysiology.