Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cecilia Simonini, Elisabetta Zucchi, Roberta Bedin, Ilaria Martinelli, Giulia Gianferrari, Nicola Fini, Gianni Soraru, Rocco Liguori, Veria Vacchiano, Jessica Mandrioli
Summary: The study found that CSF pNfH is significantly higher in classic and UMNp-ALS patients, and can differentiate them from UMN diseases with a better prognosis such as PLS and hSP. CSF pNfH independently predicted survival in UMN patients and classic/bulbar ALS, while in UMNp-ALS patients, the progression rate and presence of multifocal fasciculations were independent prognostic factors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiajun Zhang, Lucie Lentz, Jens Goldammer, Jessica Iliescu, Jun Tanimura, Thomas Dieter Riemensperger
Summary: Parkinson's disease (PD) often shows unilateral predominance in symptoms. It is correlated with the degeneration of dopamine neurons (DAN) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNPC) and DANs appear to be more severely affected in one hemisphere in many patients. However, the reason for this asymmetric onset is not yet understood. In this study, the researchers expressed human a-synuclein (ha-syn) in DANs in Drosophila melanogaster and found that it resulted in asymmetric depletion of synaptic connectivity in a specific neuropil called the Antler (ATL).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Kengo Miyamoto, Shinji Saiki, Hirotaka Matsumoto, Ayami Suzuki, Yuri Yamashita, Tatou Iseki, Shin-Ichi Ueno, Kenta Shiina, Tetsushi Kataura, Koji Kamagata, Yoko Imamichi, Yukiko Sasazawa, Motoki Fujimaki, Wado Akamatsu, Nobutaka Hattori
Summary: This study investigated the pathogenic linkage of Parkinson's disease (PD) using nuclear medicine techniques, trans-omic analysis of blood samples, and cultured cell experiments. The findings suggest that interorgan communications between the thyroid and liver are disorganized in the early stage of PD, which could serve as a sensitive diagnostic biomarker for PD.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Milica Jaksic Karisik, Milos Lazarevic, Dijana Mitic, Nadja Nikolic, Maja Milosevic Markovic, Drago Jelovac, Jelena Milasin
Summary: The failure of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treatment is often attributed to cancer stem cells (CSCs) which are resistant to therapy. Micro RNA-21 has been found to play a significant role in the development of OSCC. This study aimed to investigate the multipotency of oral CSCs and evaluate the effects of differentiation on stemness, apoptosis, and miRNA expression. The experiments were conducted using a commercially available OSCC cell line (SCC25) and primary OSCC cultures from five patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Koji Furukawa, Atsushi Shima, Daisuke Kambe, Akira Nishida, Ikko Wada, Haruhi Sakamaki, Kenji Yoshimura, Yuta Terada, Yusuke Sakato, Masahiro Mitsuhashi, Masanori Sawamura, Etsuro Nakanishi, Yosuke Taruno, Hodaka Yamakado, Yasutaka Fushimi, Tomohisa Okada, Yuji Nakamoto, Ryosuke Takahashi, Nobukatsu Sawamoto
Summary: This study investigates the correlation between motor impairments and striatal dopaminergic terminal degeneration and nigral neuromelanin-laden dopamine neuron loss in different stages of Parkinson's disease. The findings suggest that striatal dopaminergic terminal loss is a biomarker for early stage motor impairments, while nigral dopamine neuron loss is a biomarker for advanced stage motor impairments.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Maged M. Harraz
Summary: One hallmark of Parkinson's disease is the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and dopamine depletion. Several mechanisms previously considered in isolation, such as dopamine oxidation-mediated neurotoxicity, high dopamine transporter expression density, and autophagy-lysosome pathway dysfunction, have been proposed. Recent research recognizes autophagy as a novel regulator of dopamine homeostasis and suggests that autophagy modulates dopamine reuptake by selectively degrading dopamine transporter. Dysfunction in the autophagy-lysosome pathway could contribute to the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Stefano Zoccolella, Alessandro Introna, Giammarco Milella, Antonella Mastronardi, Giovanni Iliceto, Eustachio D'Errico, Angela Fraddosio, Isabella Laura Simone
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate a cohort of LMNP patients and found that TMS abnormalities did not impact survival time but accelerated disease progression, leading to a faster progression to King's 4 stage.
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sara Salvany, Anna Casanovas, Lidia Piedrafita, Silvia Gras, Jordi Caldero, Josep E. Esquerda
Summary: Early misfolded superoxide dismutase 1 (mfSOD1) accumulation, motor neuron (MN) degeneration, and microgliosis are hallmark pathological features in SOD1(G93A) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice. Different MN subtypes exhibit varying vulnerabilities, leading to the coexistence of degenerating and surviving MNs during disease progression. The most severe phenotype is observed in fast-twitch subtype MNs, which display high levels of mfSOD1 and extensive vacuolar degeneration. Vacuoles, originating from mitochondria, contain mfSOD1 along with nonmitochondrial proteins. The fusion of ER-derived vesicles enriched with mfSOD1 and outer mitochondrial membranes is believed to be the main mechanism for vacuole formation. Vacuolar degeneration occurs transiently in the presymptomatic stages of ALS, and vacuolated MNs also express the effector protein pMLKL, suggesting a mechanism involving extracellular vesicles in neuroinflammation and disease spreading. Additionally, the expression of mfSOD1 and local neuroinflammation demonstrate bidirectional communication, as manipulation of microglial response affects MN phenotypes. Detailed understanding of these processes prior to the end stages of the disease is essential for identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Cheng Guo, Yijie Chen, Jing Li, Fuchao Zhan, Xianling Wei, Bin Li
Summary: In this study, it was found that green tea nanoparticles (gTNPs) could form a ternary aggregate with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine (CAF) complexes, playing a role in tea cream formation. The interaction between gTNPs and EGCG-CAF complexes was dominated by hydrophobic interaction at low zeta-potential conditions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhaoying Dong, Rui Zuo, Xiaoni Zhong, Changhong Zhang, Xiaoya Zou, Yuan Tian, Hongzhou Zuo, Xinyi Du, Qian Yu, Oumei Cheng
Summary: There is no evidence that antihypertensive drugs can delay the progression of Parkinson's disease within 2 years.
Article
Neurosciences
Ryota Kobayashi, Shinobu Kawakatsu, Makoto Ohba, Daichi Morioka, Masafumi Kanoto, Koichi Otani
Summary: Abnormal findings on dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography were observed in patients with FTLD-MND, which may manifest even before the onset of MND symptoms.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Lidianys Maria Lewis Lujan, Mark F. McCarty, James J. Di Nicolantonio, Juan Carlos Galvez Ruiz, Ema Carina Rosas-Burgos, Maribel Plascencia-Jatomea, Simon Bernard Iloki Assanga
Summary: In patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), there are structural and functional defects in crucial retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells' mitochondria, along with deficient expression of Dicer enzyme. This deficiency increases the expression of Alu RNA, damaging mitochondria and inducing cell apoptosis, thereby driving the progression of dry AMD. It is proposed that up-regulating mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) can mitigate the adverse effects of Alu RNA on RPE cells, and activating Sirt1, AMPK, Nrf2, and PPAR alpha may be useful in this regard.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Amber T. Wolf, Alon Harris, Francesco Oddone, Brent Siesky, Alice Verticchio Vercellin, Thomas A. Ciulla
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among people aged 60 years or older in developed countries. The current standard-of-care anti-VEGF therapy has limitations such as limited durability and the need for frequent injections. Research is currently exploring new therapeutic strategies to address these issues.
EXPERT OPINION ON THERAPEUTIC TARGETS
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Hakan Bas, Evren Ustuner, Sezer Kula, Can Konca, Seher Demirer, Atilla Halil Elhan
Summary: This study investigated the compatibility of classification systems in thyroid nodule evaluation using ultrasound, and found that shear-wave elastography and Doppler ultrasonography may alter the categorization of nodules and improve accuracy.
ACADEMIC RADIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Ethan A. Rossi, Nathaniel Norberg, Chiara Eandi, Celine Chaumette, Saloni Kapoor, Laura Le, Valerie C. Snyder, Joseph N. Martel, Josselin Gautier, Kiyoko Gocho, Kunal K. Dansingani, Jay Chhablani, Angelo Arleo, Sarah Mrejen, Jose-Alain Sahel, Kate Grieve, Michel Paques
Summary: The study demonstrated a new imaging method using flood-illumination adaptive optics that can reveal drusen with high contrast and resolution, providing a promising technique to detect, map, quantify, and monitor the dynamics of drusen in aging and AMD.
TRANSLATIONAL VISION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nicola Simola, Elena Paci, Marcello Serra, Giulia Costa, Micaela Morelli
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Costa, Micaela Morelli, Nicola Simola
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2017)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nicola Simola, Giulia Costa
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Nicola Simola, Stefan M. Brudzynski
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2018)
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Costa, Micaela Morelli, Nicola Simola
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simo S. Zulu, Nicola Simola, Musa V. Mabandla, William M. U. Daniels
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL NEUROANATOMY
(2018)
Review
Neurosciences
Nicola Simola, Sylvie Granon
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Costa, Marcello Serra, Nicholas Pintori, Maria Antonietta Casu, Mary Tresa Zanda, Daniela Murta, Maria Antonietta De Luca, Nicola Simola, Liana Fattore
Article
Neurosciences
Aurora Musa, Nicola Simola, Gessica Piras, Francesca Caria, Emmanuel Shan Onaivi, Maria Antonietta De Luca
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Costa, Stefan Spulber, Elena Paci, Maria Antonietta Casu, Sandra Ceccatelli, Nicola Simola, Micaela Morelli
Summary: The study suggests that prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids may increase the susceptibility to central toxicity of amphetamine-related drugs used later in life in an age-dependent manner. Prenatal exposure to high levels of glucocorticoids induced dopaminergic damage and glia activation when the offspring were later treated with the psychoactive drug MDMA.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nicholas Pintori, Maria Paola Castelli, Cristina Miliano, Nicola Simola, Paola Fadda, Liana Fattore, Maria Scherma, Maria Grazia Ennas, Rafaela Mostallino, Giovanna Flore, Marta De Felice, Claudia Sagheddu, Marco Pistis, Gaetano Di Chiara, Maria Antonietta De Luca
Summary: Repeated exposure to JWH-018 induced anxious and aversive behaviors, decreased dopamine neurons in the VTA, and altered dopaminergic transmission. The drug also affected dopamine sensitivity in the NAc shell and core, while causing neuroinflammatory responses in specific brain areas. This study suggests that recurring use of Spice/K2 drugs may have detrimental effects on behavior and dopamine regulation.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Marcello Serra, Jacopo Marongiu, Nicola Simola
Summary: The study evaluated the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations in C57BL/6J mice after repeated treatment with amphetamine and dopamine receptor agonist. The results showed that mice emitted USVs during social contacts, but did not significantly vocalize after drug administration or drug-paired environmental cues.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Costa, Marcello Serra, Nicola Simola
Summary: The study found that rats emitted different frequencies of USVs during tickling, novel object recognition test (NOR), and single trial continuous spontaneous alternation behavior (SAB) test, but this calling behavior was not linked with behavioral readouts indicative of memory function. However, rats that predominantly emitted 22-kHz USVs during tickling displayed impaired performance in the NOR test.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Andrea Grignolio, Micaela Morelli, Marco Tamietto
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Francesca Palmas, Michela Etzi, Augusta Pisanu, Chiara Camoglio, Claudia Sagheddu, Michele Santoni, Maria Francesca Manchinu, Mauro Pala, Giuliana Fusco, Alfonso De Simone, Luca Picci, Giovanna Mulas, Saturnino Spiga, Maria Scherma, Paola Fadda, Marco Pistis, Nicola Simola, Ezio Carboni, Anna R. Carta
Summary: The study demonstrates that intracerebral infusion of pre-formed human alpha synuclein oligomers (H-alpha SynOs) provides a valid model for studying cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease, accompanied by neuroinflammation, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment.
Article
Neurosciences
Wenzhu Wang, Zihan Li, Yitong Yan, Shuo Wu, Xinyu Yao, Chen Gao, Lanxiang Liu, Yan Yu
Summary: This study investigated the reparative mechanisms of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and found that LIPUS promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, enhances neural electrical activity and neural plasticity, ultimately restoring neuronal function and cognitive capabilities in TBI mice.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Wenmin Yi, Fei Chen, Minghao Yuan, Chuanling Wang, Shengyuan Wang, Jie Wen, Qian Zou, Yinshuang Pu, Zhiyou Cai
Summary: The study suggests that a high-fat diet may lead to tau hyperphosphorylation and synaptic dysfunction by inhibiting the SIRT1/AMPK pathway and disrupting autophagy flux, ultimately resulting in cognitive decline.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Kim M. Hemsley, Helen Beard, Glyn Chidlow, Teresa Mammone, Leanne K. Winner, Daniel Neumann, Barbara King, Marten F. Snel, Paul J. Trim, Robert J. Casson
Summary: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive method that can be used to rapidly and quantitatively examine the integrity of the neuroretina. It has been shown that OCT can be used to observe retinal thinning in patients with childhood dementia, and to assess the improvement of retinal structure after treatment. Furthermore, OCT can provide insights into other childhood dementias based on the correlation between retinal and brain degeneration in Sanfilippo syndrome.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Qianling Jiang, Xin Ma, Gaochen Zhu, Wen Si, Lingyu He, Guan Yang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of EAE induction on thymopoiesis and T cell development, revealing changes such as increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation, and a blockade in the transition from double-negative thymocytes to double-positive cells. It was also found that positive selection was disrupted in the thymus of EAE mice, along with an increased production of regulatory T cells.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Alice McDouall, Guido Wassink, Sumudu Ranasinghe, Kelly Q. Zhou, Rashika N. Karunasinghe, Justin M. Dean, Joanne O. Davidson
Summary: This study found that blocking connexin 43 hemichannels can attenuate brain injury and promote neurodevelopment in infants with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, without causing hypothermia.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Hannah Sweetman, Mahmudur Rahman, Aditya Vedantam, Kajana Satkunendrarajah
Summary: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a neurological condition characterized by chronic compression of the cervical spinal cord, leading to impaired limb function. While respiratory dysfunction is not a common symptom of DCM, it can affect the ventilatory response to respiratory challenges. Surgical decompression improves sensorimotor function in DCM, but its impact on respiratory function is unclear. This study evaluates respiratory function and adaptive ventilation in a DCM model, showing that DCM impairs acute adaptive ventilatory ability and surgical decompression does not fully restore it.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Chengmei Sun, Muhammad Saif Ur Rahman, Budbazar Enkhjargal, Jianhua Peng, Keren Zhou, Zhiyi Xie, Lingyun Wu, Tongyu Zhang, Qiquan Zhu, Jiping Tang, Yujia Zeng, John H. Zhang, Shanshan Xu
Summary: This study found that Osteopontin (OPN) can attenuate inflammatory responses after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) by promoting an anti-inflammatory microglial state. This effect may be mediated through the integrin-FAK-STAT3 and NF-kappa B signaling pathways.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang Yang, Xuezhu Chen, Chuanyan Yang, Mei Liu, Qianying Huang, Likun Yang, Yuhai Wang, Hua Feng, Zhongyang Gao, Tunan Chen
Summary: The study explores the effects of specific chemogenetic stimulation of intact corticospinal tract on functional recovery after stroke in mice. The findings demonstrate that combining chemogenetic activation with rehabilitation training leads to significant motor functional recovery by promoting axon sprouting and rewiring new functional circuits.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2024)
