Olfactory dysfunction is an early and common symptom in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Recently, the relation between olfactory dysfunction and cognitive loss in IPD has been reported. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relation between olfactory dysfunction and cognitive impairments in early IPD related with this theory. In this study, we included 28 patients with stage 1 and stage 2 IPD according to the Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) scale and 19 healthy participants. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was performed for evaluating olfactory function. For cognitive investigation in participants, the clock drawing test, Stroop test, verbal fluency test, Benton face recognition test (BFR), Benton line judgment orientation test (BLO), and Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) were performed. We found significantly lower UPSIT scores in the patient group compared to controls (p=.018). In the neuropsychological investigation, only Stroop test and BLOT test scores were significantly lower in the patient group compared to controls (p=.003, p=.002, respectively). We found a negative correlation between UPSIT scores and Stroop time (p=.033) and Stroop error (p=.037) and a positive correlation between UPSIT scores and SBST long-term memory scores (p=.016) in patients. In our study, we found mild cognitive impairment related with visuospatial and executive functions in early-stage IPD compared to controls. But, in the patient group, we detected a different impairment pattern of memory and frontal functions that correlated with hyposmia. This different pattern might be indicating a subgroup of IPD characterized by low performance in episodic verbal memory, with accompanying olfactory dysfunction in the early stage.

Background/Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the potential clinical, biochemical, haematological, and pathological associations of carpal tunnel syndrome through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing the fields of internal medicine, gastroenterology, and neurology. Methods: The study group (CTS-positive) comprised 265 patients who presented with dyspeptic complaints and underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, gastric antrum biopsy, electromyography, and comprehensive biochemical and haematological analyses. A control group of 265 patients with similar symptoms but without CTS was selected for comparison. A comparative analysis was conducted on clinical findings, gastric biopsy results, and biochemical and haematological parameters. Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender distribution, or gastric biopsy findings (Helicobacter pylori, intestinal metaplasia, atrophy, and dysplasia) between the CTS-positive and CTS-negative groups. However, significant biochemical differences were identified, including elevated calcium and reduced magnesium levels in CTS-positive patients. Haematological evaluations revealed higher lymphocyte, eosinophil, basophil, erythrocyte, haemoglobin, and haematocrit levels, along with reduced neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios and red blood cell distribution widths in the CTS-positive group. Further analysis in the form of correlation and logistic regression analyses provided further confirmation of the association of elevated calcium, haemoglobin, and lymphocyte levels with increased risk of CTS. Conclusions: This multidisciplinary study identifies significant associations between CTS and specific biochemical and haematological parameters, notably calcium-magnesium imbalance and erythrocyte indices. These findings suggest underlying biological interactions that may guide future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive decline in memory and cognitive abilities. The monocyte/HDL-C ratio (MHR) has emerged as a new marker of inflammation in recent years. The purpose of this research was to examine MHR...

Background: The monocyte/HDL-C ratio (MHR) has emerged as a new marker of inflammation in recent years. The purpose of this research was to examine the distinction of MHR between individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and healthy individuals, and to assess its feasibility as a straightforward and easily computable biomarker for evaluating the severity of the disease. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with 184 subjects admitted for various reasons at the Neurology Outpatient Department of Giresun University Faculty of Medicine. The hospital’s electronic patient record data between September 2021 and April 2022 were screened. Results: Individuals diagnosed with AD were classified into three subgroups based on the progression of the disease: mild, moderate, and severe. MHR was higher in the moderate and severe dementia subgroups compared with the controls according to subgroup analysis (P=0.013). An increase in MHR was found in patients with AD. The multivariate logistic regression analysis model revealed that a one-unit increase in MHR resulted in 1.081 times increase in the risk of AD (OR: 1.081 (CI: 1.005-1.162; P= 0.035). Conclusion: This is the first study in the literature exhibiting an increased MHR value in AD. High MHR values in the late stages of the disease demonstrate a potential for MHR to predict the prognosis. It might be a marker reflecting increased cardiovascular risk and an unfavorable prognosis in patients with AD.

Cognitive impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly recognized, but its clinical correlates remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in COPD and identify associated clinical factors. In this cross-sectional case–control study, 86 patients with COPD and 61 age- and sex-matched controls aged ≥60 years were evaluated. Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and domain-specific cognitive tests, including the Stroop test. Clinical variables, including spirometric measures, resting oxygen saturation, dyspnea severity, and C-reactive protein, were recorded. Multivariable analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with Stroop word-reading time. The overall distribution of cognitive status did not differ significantly between groups ( P = .228). Mild cognitive impairment was numerically more frequent in the COPD group than in controls (30.2% vs 18.0%), whereas dementia rates were similar. Stroop word-reading time was significantly longer in the COPD group ( P < .001). Within the COPD group, poorer cognitive performance was associated with lower resting oxygen saturation and greater dyspnea severity. In multivariable analysis, COPD status remained independently associated with longer Stroop word-reading time after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, C-reactive protein, and body mass index ( B = 5.09, P = .004). Although the overall distribution of cognitive status and global cognitive screening scores did not differ significantly between groups, patients with COPD showed longer Stroop word-reading time. Lower resting oxygen saturation and greater dyspnea were associated with poorer cognitive performance within the COPD group. These findings suggest that domain-specific cognitive assessment may provide additional information beyond global cognitive screening; however, prospective studies are needed to confirm the clinical utility of these findings.