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Objectives: Stroke is followed by an inflammatory response lasting up to several months. Moreover, many of the stroke-related comorbidities (i.e., diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and atherosclerosis) are characterized by an pro-inflammatory status. Material and Methods: We designed this pilot study to evaluate the relation between the consumption of a nutritional supplement (ALAnerv®) and the dynamic of the inflammatory status in post-acute stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation. The study population comprised 28 patients which were assigned into two study groups, named (-) ALA and (+) ALA. All subjects followed the same rehabilitation program. There were no significant differences in respect to the standard medication between the groups. Moreover, patients from the (+) ALA group received ALAnerv® for two weeks (2 pills/day). We assessed IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α, sICAM-1, and myeloperoxidase in blood samples taken at the beginning and at the end of the study period. Outcomes: In the (+) ALA group only IL-1α (- 9.9% ± 3.7, P = 0.013) and IL-6 (- 26.5% ± 8.2, P = 0.003) significantly decreased during the study period. The multiple regression analysis indicated that the ALAnerv® treatment was responsible for the significant decrease of IL-6 level (P = 0.008). Moreover, the percentage of IL-6 variation between the study groups reached statistical significance (8.4% ± 11.5 vs. - 26.5% ± 8.2, P = 0.034). Conclusions: These results indicate that ALAnerv® could be beneficial for the correction of the inflammatory status in post-acute stroke patients and underline the need of a longer treatment period with a higher dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Stroke is a pathological condition associated with a redox imbalance. Both the acute and the post-acute phases after a stroke are characterized by a pro-oxidant state, which could be corrected through antioxidant supplementation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the ALAnerv® upon the redox status of erythrocytes. Material and Methods: For this pilot study were enrolled 28 post-acute stroke patients. They were randomly divided into a control group [(-) ALA] and a study group [(+) ALA]. Patients were hospitalized for a period of two weeks. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and at the end of this period. Patients from (+) ALA group received the nutritional supplement ALAnerv®. Catalase, SOD, GPx, GRed and GT activities were assessed on erythrocytes' lysates. Also, the total antioxidant capacity as well as the concentration of total thiols were evaluated. Outcomes: During the study period only SOD (1393.48 ± 69.14 U/g Hb vs. 1514.06 ± 60.80) and GRed (4.47 ± 0.37 U/g Hb vs. 5.06 ± 0.24) significantly increased in (+) ALA group. Catalase (173.70 ± 14.62 k/g Hb vs. 123.41 ± 8.71) and GT (5.55 ± 0.26 U/g Hb vs. 4.95 ± 0.23) activities significantly decreased during the study period. Multiple regression indicated that only SOD, GT and GRed activities were influenced by the ALAnerv® consumption. There was no significant increase if the total thiols concentration. Conclusions: ALAnerv® consumption could be associated with a correction of the erythrocytes' redox status. There is a need to investigate if administration of ALAnerv® over a longer time period could have a more significant influence on the erythrocytes' antioxidant system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent stroke-related comorbid states, and it is characterized by accumulation of reactive carbonyl compounds (RCOs), leading to "carbonyl stress". This pilot study was aimed to evaluate the effect of the consumption of the nutritional supplement ALAnerv® on some serum carbonyl stress markers, as well as on the activity of erythrocytes' glyoxalases in post-acute stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation. Material and Methods: We created a study population of 28 patients, organized into (-) ALA and (+) ALA groups. Patients from (+) ALA group received ALAnerv® for two weeks (2 pills/day). All the subjects followed the same rehabilitation program. In both groups, blood samples were taken at the hospitalization and at the discharge moments, respectively. On these samples we assessed lactic acid, fructosamine and RCOs concentrations, as well as the activities of glyoxalases 1 and 2 from erythrocytes' lysates. Outcomes: In (-) ALA group the concentrations of fructosamine and RCOs significantly increased (0.90 ± 0.04 vs. 1.02 ± 0.04, p = 0.020; 0.19 ± 0.03 vs. 0.28 ± 0.07, p = 0.027) during the study period. Also, glyoxalase 2 activity decreased in this group (27.04 ± 6.10 vs. 14.43 ± 3.02, p = 0.027). In (+) ALA group, the variation of these parameters did not reach statistical significance. Only, the activity of Glo1, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the glyoxalase pathway, had an increasing trend in (+) ALA group. The percentage of variation of fructosamine between (-) ALA and (+) ALA groups reached statistical significance (14.8 ± 5.2 vs. - 1.0 ± 13.3, p = 0.047). Regression analysis indicated that the activity of glyoxalase 2 was significantly influenced by the treatment with ALAnerv® (p < 0.001), while the concentration of RCOs was significantly influenced by diabetes mellitus (p = 0.030). Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that ALAnerv® could be useful for the correction of the carbonyl stress status in post-acute stroke patients with diabetes. Also, this study underlines the need of a longer treatment period with a higher dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) belongs to a family of enzymes with related functions, being the best studied member. PON1 is a HDL-associated protein of which function is to protect LDL particles from oxidative modifications. The status of PON1 is influenced by different genetic, life style and dietary factors. This short review is aimed to present some new aspects regarding the antioxidant properties of PON1 with emphasis on the influence exerted by different factors. Also, a special attention is paid to the relationship between PON1 and low- and high-density lipoproteins in the context of atherosclerosis which affects the endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article outlines the usefulness and importance of informatics solution in evaluating disability in Romania. It discusses disability, the physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM), the goal of the Electronic Health Record (EHR), and the goal of e-Health. It also relates the adoption of the information and communication technologies solutions for the whole health system.

Introduction: Low vitamin D (VD) is associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and both contribute to deleterious consequences (reduced bone mineral density (BMD), risk of fractures and falls). Objective: To study the VD status and biological correlates in a group of postmenopausal women. Material and methods: We studied 123 postmenopausal women evaluated in the C.I.Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, the Pituitary and Neuroendocrine Diseases department. All cases had been reffered for the evaluation of BMD by the general practitioner. The evaluation included serum measurements of total and ionised calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25 hydroxi vitaminD (25OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, betacrosslaps. Central DXA osteodensitometry was performed. Results: 91.9% of cases had 25OHD serum levels below 30 ng/ml (74.8% had VD deficiency, 17.1% VD insufficiency). Only 8.1% had sufficient VD levels. A history of fragility fractures was present in 45.83% of the osteoporotic patients, 27.27% of the osteopenic ones and 15.15% of the women with normal BMD. 32 women (26%) were on VD supplementation at the time of evaluation. Among these subjects, the 25OHD level was significantly higher in those with prior fragility fractures (p=0.018) and osteoporosis (p=0.008). 25OHD concentration negatively correlated with PTH, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin. The bone markers evaluated had a significant inverse correlation with the radius BMD, T and Z scores (p=0.004). 27.17% of the cases with VD deficiency had secondary hyperparathyroidism. The 25OHD concentration was significantly lower in these cases (p=0.000). Conclusions: VD insufficiency is widely prevalent but still under-recognized and under-treated, possibly leading to secondary hyperparathyroidism. The compliance to VD supplementation is lower in subjects without osteoporosis or fragility fractures. Primary prevention measures should be more actively implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]