👤 Benjamin Tari

Exercise has been shown to support brain health, cognitive function, and increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). While BDNF is known to support the central nervous system through improved brain metabolism, vasculature, neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity, the association between exercise-induced changes in BDNF concentrations and exercise-related cognitive improvements is still unclear. This study investigated the relationship between exercise-induced changes in plasma BDNF (pBDNF) and serum BDNF (sBDNF), and haemodynamic indicators of prefrontal cortex function in sedentary adults. Participants (n = 23, female = 7) were randomized into intervention (12-week cycling programme) and control groups (no intervention). Participants completed V̇O Show less

Plasma biomarkers may aid Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnosis and prognosis. Cardiovascular risk contributes to cognitive decline in AD, but whether it modifies the relationship between plasma biomarkers and cognitive status has not been assessed in a large multisite cohort. We aimed to explore if cardiovascular risk moderates plasma AD biomarkers' relationship with cognitive status. We included cognitively normal (n=301) participants and participants with mild cognitive impairment or probable AD (n=444) from the Bio-Hermes-001 study. Cardiovascular risk was quantified using the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease risk calculator. Logistic regression analyzed associations of cardiovascular risk and plasma biomarkers (amyloid beta 42/amyloid beta 40, phosphorylated tau [p-tau]181, p-tau217, apoE4 [apolipoprotein E]) with cognitive status. Moderation by cardiovascular risk was tested in each model. We included 745 participants (mean age=72.3 years; 423 [56.8%] female). Plasma biomarkers and cardiovascular risk were independently associated with cognitive status across models; the strongest association was with p-tau217 (odds ratio [OR], 2.33 [95% CI, 1.89-2.9]; Plasma AD biomarkers and cardiovascular risk were independently associated with cognitive status, with cardiovascular risk moderating the p-tau181 and p-tau217 cognitive status relationships. If certain plasma biomarkers and cardiovascular risk independently contribute to dementia risk, cardiovascular risk assessment should complement other biomarker evaluations in cognitive screening. Results should be interpreted with caution as associations might be primarily driven by age and sex. Future research including education and genetic risk is needed to clarify the studied relationships. Show less

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge. In addition to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly recognized as causative agents of mycobacterial infections. However, the limited access to rapid diagnostics often delays appropriate treatment. Accurate and timely differentiation is critical for selecting effective antibiotic regimens. In Indonesia, there is a lack of population-based data comparing MTB and NTM in TB-suspected cases. This study aimed to detect and differentiate MTB and NTM in clinical samples from suspected TB patients in North Sumatra and to assess their drug resistance profiles using a molecular diagnostic approach. We conducted a prospective cohort study using 56 clinical samples (45 smear-positive sputum and 11 fine-needle aspiration biopsies) from suspected TB patients in North Sumatra. DNA was extracted and analyzed using the Genoscholar™ NTM + multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) II line probe assay (LPA) to detect MTB, NTM, and anti-TB drug resistance. Of the 56 samples, 40 (71.4%) were positive for MTB, 2 (3.6%) for Mycobacterium avium, and 5 (8.9%) for other NTM species, while 9 (16.1%) were negative. MDR MTB was detected in 9 (28%) sputum samples and 1 (12.5%) biopsy sample. Both M. avium isolates were susceptible to rifampicin and isoniazid, while resistance profiles for the other NTM species could not be determined. LPA effectively differentiated MTB from NTM and identified drug resistance patterns in clinical samples. Implementation of this rapid diagnostic tool may strengthen TB management in high-burden areas such as North Sumatra, enabling earlier and more targeted treatment. Show less