RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive neurological disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Some studies report an association between MS pathogenesis and cytokines. Here, we aimed to determine and evaluate serum kisspeptin-10 level in MS patients and its related clinic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 92 participants, 46 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (mean age, 38.92 ± 14.76; 22 men and 24 women) and 46 healthy controls (mean age, 37.04 ± 15.49; 22 men and 24 women) were enrolled in the study. All MS patients were neurologically examined, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. Clinical data (neuropathic pain, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score, etc.) and the patients' demographic characteristics were recorded. The serum level of kisspeptin-10 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: The level of kisspeptin-10 was measured as 2.305 ± 2.781 ng/mL in MS patients and 9.342 ± 9.483 ng/mL in controls. MS patients had significantly lower kisspeptin-10 levels than controls (P = 0.000). Kisspeptin-10 has the highest diagnostic value [Area under curve (AUC) = 0.881, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.812-0.950] as cut-off value (2.470), sensitivity (80.40%) and specificity (72.87%) in the MS group. Furthermore, the kisspeptin-10 level was negatively correlated with third ventricle diameter (TVD) (P = 0.048) and vitamin D concentration (P = 0.004). No significant difference was determined between kisspeptin-10 and other clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: As a potential prognostic biomarker, serum kisspeptin-10 level was significantly lower in patients with MS than in those without. Moreover, we observed negative correlations between vitamin D, TVD size, and kisspeptin-10. We think comprehensive studies are needed to verify and elucidate this issue.
RESUMEN
AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in characterizing cerebral cystic lesions. The usefulness of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map in lesion characterization was also evaluated. METHODS: We compared the findings of conventional MR images with those of DWI: 63 cystic masses in 48 patients were examined with routine MR imaging and echo-planar DWI. The routine MR imaging included at least the axial T2- and T1-weighted sequences, and post-contrast T1 axial sequences. The DWI included an echo-planar spin-echo sequence with three values (0, 500 and 1000s/mm(2)) sensitizing gradient in the x, y, z direction, and it obtained an ADC map. RESULTS: The sensitivity of DWI for differentiating abscesses from primary brain tumours was 100%; for differentiating abscesses from metastatic tumours was 73%; for differentiating benign from malignant lesions was 90%. CONCLUSION: Although some metastatic lesions may appear hyperintense on DWI thus imitating an abscess, evaluation of the lesions with both DWI and conventional MRI may have an important contribution to the differentiation of tumours from abscesses.