Association of systemic inflammatory activity with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in the very elderly

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Objective: To verify the existence of association between plasma levels of pro-or anti-inflammatory mediators and atherosclerotic burden at coronary and carotid arteries in individuals aged of 80 or more years old. Methods: Healthy individuals aged between 80 and 102 years old (n = 178) underwent evaluation of plasma cytokines and acute phase proteins, intima-media thickness (IMT) and presence of plaques in carotid arteries by ultrasound and coronary artery calcification (CAC) by cardiac computed tomography. Results: There was no association between CAC and carotid plaques (p = 0.8), maximum (p = 0.06) or mean IMT (p = 0.2). No association was found between the presence of carotid plaques and CRP (p = 0.4), TNF-alpha (p = 0.8) or IL-10 (p = 0.2). Likewise, individuals in the first three quartiles for CRP, TNF-alpha or IL-10 had similar values of CAC, mean and maximum IMT. In contrast, individuals above the 75th percentile for CRP or for TNF-alpha had enhanced maximum IMT (p = 0.017 and p < 0.0001) and CAC (p = 0.026 and p = 0.01) and subjects with IL-10 levels above the 75th percentile had lower maximum IMT (p = 0.027) and CAC (p = 0.006) as compared with those below this percentile. There was no difference in mean IMT for individuals above or below the 75th percentile for CRP, TNF-alpha or IL-10. Conclusion: In very old individuals, CAC and maximum IMT were positively associated with systemic inflammatory activity only in those above the 75th percentile. The markers of atherosclerotic burden at coronary and carotid arteries were not related to each other and were distinctly associated with pro-and anti-inflammatory mediators, suggesting that atherosclerosis development is different in these vascular beds. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.2161212216Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Differential involvement of 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT6 receptors in cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease

Growing evidence suggests that a compromised serotonergic system plays an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We assessed the expression of 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT6 receptors and cholinacetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in post-mortem frontal and temporal cortex from AD patients who had been prospectively assessed for cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and behavioral changes using the Present Behavioral Examination (PBE). 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT6 receptor densities were significantly reduced in both cortical areas. 5-HT1B/1D receptor, density was correlated to MMSE decline in the frontal cortex, supporting its implication in memory impairment. The best predictor for lowered 5-HT6 receptor density in the temporal cortex was the PBE measure of overactivity. The 5-HT6/ChAT ratio was related to aggression both in the frontal and temporal cortex. Therefore, antagonists acting at 5-HT6 receptors could be useful in the treatment of non-cognitive symptoms associated to AD