Review
Neurosciences
Haniyyah Sardar, Andrea N. Goldstein-Piekarski, William J. Giardino
Summary: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden intrusion of sleep during wakefulness. Type 1 narcolepsy is believed to be caused by the loss of neurons containing the arousal neuropeptide Orexin. The amygdala, a brain region involved in emotional processing, may play a critical role in narcolepsy with cataplexy.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Maria P. Mogavero, Alessandro Silvani, Lourdes M. DelRosso, Michele Salemi, Raffaele Ferri
Summary: This narrative review discusses the complex interrelationship between cancer and neurodegeneration, exploring potential mechanisms underlying their inverse relationship. Research shows a lower prevalence of cancer in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting a propensity towards one type of disease may decrease the risk of the other. Genetic, protein, and pathway dysregulation in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases often show opposite patterns, indicating a complex biological interconnection between the two.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ali Seifinejad, Anne Vassalli, Mehdi Tafti
Summary: Cataplexy is the pathognomonic symptom of narcolepsy, originally considered as an abnormal manifestation of REM sleep during wakefulness due to muscle atonia. The neurocircuits and neurochemistry of cataplexy now extend beyond the brainstem, involving various brain regions and neuromodulators, suggesting that it is a distinct brain state with specific features.
SLEEP MEDICINE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Mikael Lindstrom, Mink Schinkelshoek, Pentti J. Tienari, Jyrki P. Kukkonen, Risto Renkonen, Rolf Fronczek, Gert Jan Lammers, Outi Itkonen
Summary: A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry assay (LC-MS/MS) was developed for the quantification of CSF orexin-A and B, revealing lower concentrations of orexin-A in narcolepsy type 1 patients compared to controls. Commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) yielded higher concentrations than LC-MS/MS.
CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rebecca Evans, Haruhide Kimura, Robert Alexander, Ceri H. Davies, Helene Faessel, Deborah S. Hartman, Takashi Ishikawa, Emiliangelo Ratti, Kohei Shimizu, Motohisa Suzuki, Shinichiro Tanaka, Hiroshi Yukitake, Yves Dauvilliers, Emmanuel Mignot
Summary: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that can be classified into type 1 and type 2. The drug danavorexton shows promising results in treating narcolepsy by targeting both orexin 1 and orexin 2 receptors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Barbara B. Garrido-Suarez, Mariana Garrido-Valdes, Gabino Garrido
Summary: COVID-19 vaccines may cause sleepiness or sleep disturbances as side effects, potentially due to the regulation of immune response. Inflammatory cytokines may inhibit orexinergic neurons, leading to sleepiness. Additionally, narcolepsy should be considered as a potential adverse event of interest in pharmacovigilance studies.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Jari K. Gool, Eva M. van Heese, Mink S. Schinkelshoek, Aniek Remmerswaal, Gert Jan Lammers, Karin D. van Dijk, Rolf Fronczek
Summary: This study assessed the effect of opioid use on narcolepsy type 1 symptom severity through a literature review and questionnaire study. The results showed that opioids could improve narcolepsy symptom severity, with the most significant improvements seen in sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Takashi Ishikawa, Hiroe Hara, Ayumi Kawano, Haruhide Kimura
Summary: Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and other symptoms. The novel drug danavorexton is being evaluated for its potential in treating NT1. Preclinical studies have shown that danavorexton promotes wakefulness, reduces fragmentation of wakefulness, and suppresses weight gain in a mouse model of NT1. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of NT1 and the potential therapeutic effects of OX2R agonists.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pilar Marcos, Rafael Covenas
Summary: Understanding the dysregulation of hypothalamic neuropeptides is crucial in studying feeding behavior and obesity. Current pharmacological strategies for obesity treatment are ineffective, highlighting the need for new therapeutic approaches. This review focuses on the involvement of the orexinergic system in feeding behavior, discussing animal models, human studies, and the connection to other substances. Promising research on orexinergic signaling pathways, heterogeneity of hypothalamic orexinergic neurons, receptor-receptor interaction, and sex differences are highlighted. The development of combination therapies and more specific orexin receptor antagonists is important for successful anti-obesity treatments.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Alissa A. Coffey, Adam A. Joyal, Akihiro Yamanaka, Thomas E. Scammell
Summary: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that often starts in childhood, causing episodes of paralysis during wakefulness. Experimental studies using mouse models showed that there was no significant difference in cataplexy severity and wake maintenance between early-onset and adult-onset mice, but female mice had more frequent cataplexy episodes.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kunihiro Futenma, Yoshikazu Takaesu, Masaki Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashida, Noboru Takeuchi, Yuichi Inoue
Summary: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with metabolic-syndrome-related disorders (MRDs) among patients with narcolepsy spectrum disorders (NSDs). The results showed that patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) had a higher body mass index (BMI) and incidence of MRDs compared to those with type 2 (NT2) or idiopathic hypersomnia (IH). Age, BMI, and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were significantly associated with the incidence of MRDs in NSDs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nicole Fontana-Garcia, Yerko P. Ivanovic-Barbeito, Guillermo Martin-Palomeque, Raquel Buenache-Espartosa, Carlos E. Valera-Davila, Antonio Pedrera-Mazarro
Summary: This article reports a case of ROHHAD, a rare disease that usually starts in previously healthy children. The disease is characterized by obesity, hypothalamic dysfunction, and sleep-disordered breathing, and can rapidly progress to the death of the patient.
REVISTA DE NEUROLOGIA
(2023)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Tomi Sarkanen, Gabriele Sved, Maria Juujarvi, Anniina Alakuijala, Markku Partinen
Summary: This article reports four cases of false positives and misdiagnosis of narcolepsy due to measurement of orexin levels using enzyme immune assay (EIA), therefore strongly discouraging the use of orexin EIA measurement in a clinical setting.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL SLEEP MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Melanie Strauss, Lucie Griffon, Maxime Elbaz, Isabelle Arnulf, Mounir Chennaoui, Damien Leger
Summary: This study examines decision-making impairments in individuals with central disorders of hypersomnolence (CDH), specifically narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). The results suggest that both NT1 and other CDH patients have decreased learning abilities to avoid losses, which is associated with alterations in vigilance. The study provides new insights into the nature of decision-making impairments in CDH and suggests the potential for minimizing these alterations by restoring adequate vigilance.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ryan K. Tisdale, Akihiro Yamanaka, Thomas S. Kilduff
Summary: Animal models have played a crucial role in investigating the etiology and phenotype of narcolepsy, revealing the relationship between the hypocretin/orexin system and narcolepsy. Additionally, these models have helped us understand the mechanisms of sleep/wake regulation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alfredo Caturano, Raffaele Galiero, Giuseppe Loffredo, Erica Vetrano, Giulia Medicamento, Carlo Acierno, Luca Rinaldi, Aldo Marrone, Teresa Salvatore, Marcellino Monda, Celestino Sardu, Raffaele Marfella, Ferdinando Carlo Sasso
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a combination therapy of empagliflozin + metformin vs. metformin monotherapy on the progression of NAFLD in type 2 diabetic patients. The results showed that after a 6-month follow-up, the combination therapy group had significant improvements in weight, glycated hemoglobin, ALT, CAP parameter, and steatosis degree compared to the control group.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rita Polito, Maria Ester La Torre, Fiorenzo Moscatelli, Giuseppe Cibelli, Anna Valenzano, Maria Antonietta Panaro, Marcellino Monda, Antonietta Messina, Vincenzo Monda, Daniela Pisanelli, Francesco Sessa, Giovanni Messina, Chiara Porro
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms by which BHB determines the activation processes of BV2 microglial cells and found that BHB can induce microglial polarization towards an M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype, reduce migratory capacity following LPS stimulation, decrease expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17, and increase levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Therefore, BHB, and consequently the ketogenic diet, play a fundamental role in neuroprotection and prevention in neurodegenerative diseases, presenting new therapeutic targets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Ester La Torre, Antonia Cianciulli, Vincenzo Monda, Marcellino Monda, Francesca Martina Filannino, Laura Antonucci, Anna Valenzano, Giuseppe Cibelli, Chiara Porro, Giovanni Messina, Maria Antonietta Panaro, Antonietta Messina, Rita Polito
Summary: Microglia, the resident macrophage-like population in the central nervous system, play a crucial role in neurodegenerative disorders by triggering an inflammatory response that leads to neuronal death. Vitamin E, also known as α-tocopherol, has been found to have potent neuroprotective effects. The goal of this study was to investigate the biological effects of vitamin E on BV2 microglial cells and its potential as a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agent following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Angela Catapano, Giovanna Trinchese, Fabiano Cimmino, Lidia Petrella, Margherita D'Angelo, Girolamo Di Maio, Marianna Crispino, Gina Cavaliere, Marcellino Monda, Maria Pina Mollica
Summary: A thorough understanding of body composition assessment techniques is crucial for developing personalized nutritional programs. The potential application and effectiveness of these techniques in different physiological and pathological conditions, as well as their role in monitoring dietary interventions, should be considered. Bioimpedance analysis, particularly vector frequency-based analysis (BIVA) systems, is currently the most effective and reliable method for assessing body composition due to its advantages in terms of speed, non-invasiveness, and cost efficiency.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Fiorenzo Moscatelli, Vincenzo Monda, Pierpaolo Limone, Gabriella Marsala, Nicola Mancini, Marcellino Monda, Antonietta Messina, Antonella De Maria, Alessia Scarinci, Antonietta Monda, Rita Polito, Giovanni Messina
Summary: The study found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve selective attention response in volleyball players and also affect cortical excitability.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Fiorenzo Moscatelli, Antonella De Maria, Luigi Antonio Marinaccio, Vincenzo Monda, Antonietta Messina, Domenico Monacis, Giusi Toto, Pierpaolo Limone, Marcellino Monda, Giovanni Messina, Antonietta Monda, Rita Polito
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the lifestyle of university students living away from home. The study found that it is possible to improve lifestyle through educational events aimed at making students aware of the health risks deriving from unhealthy lifestyles.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ersilia Nigro, Vito D'Agnano, Gianluca Quarcio, Domenica Francesca Mariniello, Andrea Bianco, Aurora Daniele, Fabio Perrotta
Summary: Adipose tissue is not only a store of energy but also an endocrine organ. Obesity has been identified as a major risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, likely due to the abnormal production of adipokines that can cause metabolic alterations, vascular endothelium dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. Understanding the link between obesity and COVID-19 severity can greatly contribute to the development of effective therapeutic strategies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alfredo Caturano, Gaetana Albanese, Anna Di Martino, Carmine Coppola, Vincenzo Russo, Raffaele Galiero, Luca Rinaldi, Marcellino Monda, Raffaele Marfella, Ferdinando Carlo Sasso, Teresa Salvatore, Shaker A. Mousa
Summary: This study suggests that FLI>66 and pre-OLT smoking predict cardiovascular risk in adult OLT recipients.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Giulia Purpura, Cynthia Y. Y. Lai, Giulia Previtali, Ivan Neil B. Gomez, Trevor W. K. Yung, Luca Tagliabue, Francesco Cerroni, Marco Carotenuto, Renata Nacinovich
Summary: Sensory processing abilities are crucial for child learning, behavioral and emotional regulation, and motor development. Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities often exhibit differences in sensory processing abilities and self-regulation compared to typical children. Therefore, it is important to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of early symptoms and utilize specific tools to better understand and identify these difficulties during childhood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rosanna Mallamaci, Maria Maddalena Storelli, Alexia Barbarossa, Giovanni Messina, Anna Valenzano, Daniela Meleleo, Peter Hau, Dumitru Constantin-Teodosiu
Summary: Spirulina, as a dietary supplement, has been widely studied for its chelating activity and antioxidant properties. It has shown potential in protecting against neurotoxicity caused by heavy metals. In this study, the viability of SH-SY5Y cells exposed to Cd, Hg, and Pb, individually or in combination with Spirulina, was examined. Results showed that Cd was more toxic than Hg and Pb, and the viability of cells increased with Spirulina treatment. This study provides insights into the positive role of Spirulina in mitigating the toxic effects of metals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Raffaele Galiero, Alfredo Caturano, Erica Vetrano, Marcellino Monda, Raffaele Marfella, Celestino Sardu, Teresa Salvatore, Luca Rinaldi, Ferdinando Carlo Sasso
Summary: Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent and increasing disease in Western countries. Genetic alterations, sedentary lifestyle, and socio-economic factors contribute to its incidence. Precision medicine aims to identify personalized prevention and treatment approaches based on genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
DIABETES METABOLIC SYNDROME AND OBESITY
(2023)