Introduction: Plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) is being investigated as a surrogate marker for brain Aβ deposition. Methods: Plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 concentrations were measured using the ultrasensitive Single Molecule Array (Simoa) assay in 95 cognitively normal elderly individuals, wherein all participants underwent positron emission tomography (PET) to assess brain Aβ deposition. Based on the standard uptake value ratios (SUVR) obtained from PET imaging, 32 participants were assessed to have low brain Aβ load (Aβ-, SUVR<1.35) and 63 were assessed to have high brain Aβ load (Aβ+, SUVR≥1.35). Results: Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios were lower in the Aβ+ group compared to the Aβgroup. Plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels were not significantly altered between Aβ-and Aβ+ groups, although a trend of higher plasma Aβ40 was observed in the Aβ+ group. Additionally, plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios along with the AD risk factors, age and APOE ε4 status, resulted in an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 78% in distinguishing Aβ+ participants from Aβparticipants. Conclusion: Observations from the current study indicate that plasma Aβ ratios are a potential biomarker for brain Aβ deposition and therefore, for preclinical AD, characterised by high brain Aβ load, prior to cognitive impairment. However, more sensitive and clinically feasible plasma Aβ measurement assays need to be developed to increase the accuracy of this potential Alzheimer's disease blood biomarker.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common chronic disease. This disease is the main risk factor for fatal diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. As there is no cure for DM, an effective strategy must control it. Every attempt to control DM and patients’ outcomes require a surveillance system to consider the efficacy and safety measures. Fasa Registry on Diabetes mellitus (FaRD) is the first population-based registry for DM in Iran, which aims to provide an accurate description of social, mental health, clinical, and laboratory values of patients in order to consider the management patterns of these patients and discover the degree of adherence to the recommendations. Materials and Methods: The level of plasma glucose characterizes the diagnosis of diabetes (Type I and II). The pregnant women were excluded from this study. Three registrar nurses collected data from demographics, physical exams, past medical history, medication history, and laboratory findings. Results: The pilot phase included the first 381 patients, of which 257 (67.5%) were women, and 124 (32.5%) were men with a mean age of 57.54 ± 12.12 years among subjects, the 347 (94.5%) cases had DM type 2, and 20 (5.4%) ones had type 1. Conclusion: Based on our results, the characteristics of patients suffering from DM indicated that the jobless ones could not afford their medical expenditures; therefore, the majority of the patients were not adherent to the practice guidelines. The achievement of FaRD helps physicians and patients in improved management of the DM. The findings of this pilot study show the FaRD is feasible, and it will make a comprehensive population-based registry for DM in the region. [GMJ.2021;10:e2137]

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common age-dependent neurodegenerative disease that causes motor and cognitive disabilities. This disease is associated with a loss of dopamine content within the putamen, which stems from the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Several approved drugs are available that can effectively treat symptoms of PD. However, long-term medical management is often complicated and does not delay or halt disease progression. Alternatively, cell replacement strategies can address these shortcomings and provide dopamine where it is needed. Although using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for treatment of PD is a promising alternative, no consensus in the literature pertains to efficacy concerns of hPSC-based therapy for PD. This systematic review aims to investigate the efficacy of primate PSC-derived DA progenitor transplantation to treat PD in preclinical studies. Methods This is a systematic review of preclinical studies in animal models of PD. We intend to use the following databases as article sources: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, and SCOPUS without any restrictions on language or publication status for all related articles published until the end of April 2021. Two independent reviewers will select the titles and abstracts, extract data from qualifying studies, and assess the risk of bias using the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool and the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES) checklist. Apomorphine-induced rotation test (APO-IR) and amphetamine-induced rotation test (AMP-IR) are defined as the primary outcomes. The standardized mean difference (SMD) by Hedges’ g method (r) and odds ratio (OR) and related 95% confidence interval (CI) will be calculated to determine the size effect of the treatment. The heterogeneity between studies will be calculated by “I2 inconsistency of values and Cochran’s Q statistical test,” where I2 > 50% and/or p < 0.10 suggests high heterogeneity. Meta-analyses of random effects will be run when appropriate. Discussion This study will present an overview of preclinical research on PSCs and their therapeutic effects in PD animal models. This systematic review will point out the strengths and limitations of studies in the current literature while encouraging the funding of new studies by public health managers and governmental bodies.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-dependent neurodegenerative disease that causes motor and cognitive disabilities. This disease is associated with a loss of dopamine content within the putamen, which stems from the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the Substantia Nigra pars Compacta (SNc). Several approved drugs are available that can effectively treat symptoms of PD. However, long-term medical management is often complicated and does not delay or halt disease progression. Alternatively, cell replacement strategies can address these shortcomings and provide dopamine where it is needed. Although using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for treatment of PD is a promising alternative, no consensus in the literature pertains to efficacy concerns of hPSC-based therapy for PD. This systematic review aims to investigate the efficacy of hPSC-derived DA progenitor transplantation to treat PD in preclinical animal models.Methods: This is a systematic review of preclinical studies in animal models of PD. We intend to use the following databases as article sources: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, and SCOPUS without any restrictions on language or publication status for all related articles published until the end of 2019. Rescue of motor deficits is defined as the primary outcome, while histological and imaging data comprise the secondary outcomes. Two independent reviewers will select the titles and abstracts, extract data from qualifying studies, and assess the risk of bias by using the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool and the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES) checklist. The standardized mean difference (SMD) will be calculated to determine the efficacy of the treatment, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The heterogeneity between studies will be calculated by "I2 inconsistency of values and Cochran's Q statistical test", where I2 > 50% and/or p < 0.10 suggest high heterogeneity. Meta-analyses of random effects will be run when appropriate.Discussion: This study will present an overview of preclinical research on hPSCs and their therapeutic effects in PD animal models. This systematic review will point out the strengths and limitations of studies in the current literature while encouraging the funding of new studies by public health managers and governmental bodies.