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Bibliography on: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Robert J. Robbins is a biologist, an educator, a science administrator, a publisher, an information technologist, and an IT leader and manager who specializes in advancing biomedical knowledge and supporting education through the application of information technology. More About:  RJR | OUR TEAM | OUR SERVICES | THIS WEBSITE

RJR: Recommended Bibliography 12 Mar 2026 at 01:34 Created: 

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most common form of the motor neuron diseases. Early symptoms of ALS include stiff muscles, muscle twitches, and gradual increasing weakness and muscle wasting. Limb-onset ALS begins with weakness in the arms or legs, while bulbar-onset ALS begins with difficulty speaking or swallowing. Around half of people with ALS develop at least mild difficulties with thinking and behavior, and about 15% develop frontotemporal dementia. Motor neuron loss continues until the ability to eat, speak, move, and finally the ability to breathe is lost. Most cases of ALS (about 90% to 95%) have no known cause, and are known as sporadic ALS. However, both genetic and environmental factors are believed to be involved. The remaining 5% to 10% of cases have a genetic cause, often linked to a history of the disease in the family, and these are known as genetic ALS. About half of these genetic cases are due to disease-causing variants in one of two specific genes. The diagnosis is based on a person's signs and symptoms, with testing conducted to rule out other potential causes.

Created with PubMed® Query: ( ALS*[TIAB] OR "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis"[TIAB] ) NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion

Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)

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RevDate: 2026-03-11
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

Xu S, Zhu Z, Zhang HM, et al (2026)

Targeting Dialister-driven succinate accumulation: A novel strategy for Crohn's disease activity control and recurrence prevention.

World journal of gastroenterology, 32(8):116173.

Crohn's disease (CD) activity and postoperative recurrence significantly affect patients' quality of life, highlighting the need for new treatment and prevention strategies. We read with interest Boronat-Toscano et al's study on Dialister-driven succinate accumulation in CD. By analyzing the fecal microbiota, circulating succinate levels, and clinical indices using clinical samples, the researchers explored the roles of Dialister and succinate in CD, a previously unaddressed area. They revealed that active CD is characterized by high succinate levels, which are associated with disease severity and inflammatory indicators. The enrichment of Dialister, linked to impaired succinate clearance and postoperative recurrence, offers new insights. The study identified succinate and Dialister as potential therapeutic targets, advancing understanding of CD pathophysiology and paving the way for further investigations. Future studies should involve large, multicenter cohorts for validation, explore Dialister's strain-specific metabolic mechanisms, and develop treatments targeting the "succinate axis", thus connecting fundamental research with clinical applications.

RevDate: 2026-03-11
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

Mazurek CY, Kaniuk JK, CS Ahuja (2026)

Mesenchymal stem cells and the central nervous system: historical perspectives and future directions.

Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, 19:1742864.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been studied as a potential therapy for a wide range of conditions for approximately 30 years. MSCs have shown promise in treating pathologies of or affecting the central nervous system (CNS), specifically Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), degenerative disc disease (DDD), and sepsis/meningitis. The therapeutic benefits of MSCs derive primarily from their arsenal of secreted factors that promote anti-inflammatory and pro-survival pathways while attenuating harmful immune responses, thus making them powerful immunomodulatory entities which are also capable of affecting a diverse range of cellular functions to promote endogenous mechanisms of repair. This review summarizes the current state of clinical trials research regarding pathologies of the CNS with a focus on historical progression and upcoming trials. We take a mechanistic approach to explain the therapeutic basis of MSCs and how this has informed clinical trials. We also mention the role of the MSC secretome and MSC exosomes in the treatment of CNS pathologies as well as their increasing use in clinical trials. Finally, we address the challenges inherent to the clinical translation and implementation of MSC therapies along with future directions of the field.

RevDate: 2026-03-11
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

Maurya P, Gupta A, N Gupta (2026)

Influence of blood transfusion on outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.

World journal of gastroenterology, 32(10):115683.

Chen et al's research provides valuable data supporting the cautious use of transfusions during gastric cancer surgery. However, to interpret causality, it must be acknowledged that recent tend-adjusted studies have consistently shown that the independent effect of transfusions may be smaller than that shown in unadjusted analyses. Future research should employ the following approaches: (1) Extended temporal characterization; (2) Functional immunological assessment; (3) Prospective designs incorporating detailed transfusion data; (4) Machine learning methods; and (5) Mechanistic studies. The relationship between transfusions and cancer treatment outcomes goes far beyond simple immunosuppression or inflammation. It reflects a complex interplay between patient vulnerability, surgical factors, and immune responses, requiring a comprehensive study across multiple biological levels and temporal dimensions.

RevDate: 2026-03-11
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

Etesin AU, EE Okoeguale (2026)

Assessment of basic airway management among paramedic students at the University of Benin teaching hospital: A cross-sectional study.

African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence, 16(2):100956.

INTRODUCTION: Basic airway management (BAM) is the cornerstone of pre-hospital care and an expected competence of all paramedics. In Nigeria, paramedic training is relatively young and lacks regulatory oversight to ensure the competence of the workforce. This study assessed the knowledge, self-reported practice, self-reported confidence, and barriers to practice of BAM among paramedic students at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among paramedic students (2nd to 5th year) at UBTH from September 1 to 14, 2025. Census sampling was used, and a validated questionnaire assessed knowledge (16 items), self-reported practice, self-reported confidence (7-item Likert scale), and barriers to basic airway management. Knowledge scores were categorised as good (>70%), moderate (50-69%), or poor (<50%). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with knowledge and confidence.

RESULTS: Of 125 respondents, 87.2% demonstrated good knowledge of basic airway management (mean score 12.76±1.16). Only 11.2% had never performed BAM in any setting. Most participants reported high (50.4%) or moderate (42.4%) confidence. Good knowledge was significantly associated with emergency department exposure in the last 3 months (OR=6.32, p=0.014), recent BLS/ALS certification (OR=9.41, p=0.026), and combined self-reported practice on simulation and real patients (OR=13.00, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: Paramedic students at UBTH demonstrated good knowledge and confidence in BAM. Self-reported practice of BAM on both simulation and real patients was associated with knowledge, while real patient experience was strongly associated with confidence. To improve paramedic training, curricula should prioritise integrated learning approaches that provide both simulation facilities for skill development and adequate supervised clinical exposure.

RevDate: 2026-03-11
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

Liu Y, Feng W, Aikedan A, et al (2026)

cGAS inhibition delays TDP-43-driven ALS Pathogenesis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2026.02.24.707791.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder marked by motor neuron loss and cytoplasmic mislocalization of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), a key regulator of RNA splicing. However, the upstream modulators of this process remain poorly defined. Here we identify cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) as a central mediator of TDP-43 pathology and associated mis-splicing. cGAS expression was elevated in ALS patient brains and enriched across activated microglia. In human iPSC-derived microglia-motor neuron co-cultures, neuronal TDP-43 pathology triggered microglial cGAS activation, whereas pharmacological inhibition with a potent human cGAS inhibitor reduced phosphorylated TDP-43, restored lysosomal and phagocytic programs, normalized microglial reactivity, and reversed TDP-43-associated RNA splicing defects. In vivo, cGAS inhibition in TDP-43 Q331K mice reversed widespread RNA splicing abnormalities across neurons and oligodendrocyte lineage cells, attenuated neurodegenerative pathology, and preserved motor function. Together, these findings identify cGAS as a druggable upstream regulator linking innate immune signaling to TDP-43-dependent RNA mis-splicing and neurodegeneration, and establish cGAS inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy for ALS.

RevDate: 2026-03-11
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

van Rensburg LC, Majiet N, Vincent-Lambert C, et al (2025)

A retrospective review of advanced life support interfacility transfers of the public sector emergency medical service in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

The Southern African journal of critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Society, 41(3):e3282.

BACKGROUND: The need for critical care transfers (CCTs) has increased in recent years owing to the growing prevalence of high-acuity patients who require access to specialised care and/or resources that are not readily available at the facility where they find themselves. During their transfer from one facility to another, critically ill and injured patients commonly require ongoing care, monitoring and interventions that can only be provided by transfer teams with advanced training and appropriate equipment. In South Africa (SA), these transfers are undertaken mainly by advanced life support (ALS) providers with variable amounts of training. Understanding the demographics and needs of CCT patients in specific contexts is essential to inform training and policy.

OBJECTIVES: To broadly describe the population of adult patients undergoing CCTs facilitated by the public sector emergency medical service (EMS) in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Patient demographics (age and gender), time intervals (response time, scene time, transfer time), primary diagnosis (respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal tract, and others), attachments, and clinical or pharmacological interventions.

METHODS: A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted on electronic patient care records (ePCRs) logged in the EMS's Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) database from January 2018 to December 2021. As no universal criteria currently exist for distinguishing a CCT from another transfer, our focus was on cases that required ALS care during the transfer.

RESULTS: During the study period, 25 635 adult patients underwent ALS transfers, with a nearly equal gender distribution. The median patient age was 40 (range 18 - 101) years. Sixty percent of patients were triaged as orange upon arrival (for urgent management) and the remainder red (for emergency or immediate management). Average response, preparation, and transport times spent (minutes:seconds) were 7:10, 16:58, and 12:56, respectively. Respiratory disease (17.9%), cardiovascular disease (12.2%), and central nervous system disorders (12.0%) were the most prevalent clinical conditions. Non-invasive blood pressure monitors (98%) and pulse oximeters (96%) were commonly used devices. Medications were administered to 22% of patients, primarily via intravenous injection (7.5%) and continuous infusion (6.7%). Morphine (4.3%), midazolam (6.4%), and adrenaline (2.0%) were frequently utilised medications. These findings highlight the demographic profile, clinical conditions, and critical care aspects involved in ALS patient transfers, emphasising the complexity and urgency of prehospital medical transport.

CONCLUSION: This study analyses adult patients undergoing ALS transfers by a public sector EMS in the Western Cape, SA (2018 - 2021), providing insights into the transferred patient population. It highlights the importance of continuous patient monitoring, especially electrocardiograms (ECGs), and reveals inconsistencies in medication practices, indicating the need for improved training. The findings stress the necessity for standardised protocols and structured training programmes to inform educational initiatives, equipment procurement, and the critical care retrieval services (CCRS) curriculum development. Additionally, this research can help establish clinical standards for dispatching specific ALS cadres based on patient needs.

CONTRIBUTION OF THE STUDY: This study provides the first large, system-wide description of 25 635 adult advanced life support (ALS) interfacility transfers in the Western Cape public emergency medical service (2018 - 2021), detailing patient profiles, monitoring, devices, and medications. By mapping real-world care patterns, especially gaps in electrocardiograph monitoring and analgesia/sedation for ventilated patients, it generates the empirical baseline needed to standardise protocols and formally develop a critical care retrieval services (CCRS) curriculum aligned to local needs. The findings also support evidence-based equipment planning and ALS cadre dispatch criteria.

RevDate: 2026-03-11

Solheim MH, Riise T, Cortese M, et al (2026)

Distinct Prescription Patterns Emerge Years Before ALS Diagnosis: A Nationwide Registry-Based Study.

Annals of neurology [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: The prodromal phase of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is poorly defined. We aimed to characterize prescription drug use patterns in the pre-diagnostic period by analyzing nationwide prescription data to identify the earliest divergence between individuals who developed ALS and matched healthy controls. We used this divergence as an indirect marker to estimate the onset and duration of the prodrome.

METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study using nationwide Norwegian registries (2005-2019). ALS cases were individually matched to 100 controls by sex, age, and education level using incidence density sampling. Drug prescription data were gathered from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD). We calculated prescription rates up to 10 years before diagnosis, performed lag-time analyses, and used machine learning to predict ALS based on drug prescription patterns.

RESULTS: We identified 2,084 incident patients with ALS and 208,400 matched healthy controls. Overall, changes in prescription patterns occurred 2 to 3 years before ALS diagnosis. Among specific drug groups, 25 of 42 therapeutic drug classes were prescribed more frequently to patients with ALS than matched controls. Muscle relaxants and bone disease treatments were prescribed significantly more frequently 6 and 5 years before diagnosis, respectively.

INTERPRETATION: Prescription pattern changes occurred as early as 6 years before ALS diagnosis. These findings are consistent with a prodromal phase preceding the clinical stage of ALS, which may last several years. In contrast, the broad increase in medication use during the final year before diagnosis likely reflects increased health care utilization as patients seek treatment for the various emerging symptoms of the clinically manifest disease. ANN NEUROL 2026.

RevDate: 2026-03-11

Chakraborty A, Mitra J, Malojirao VH, et al (2026)

Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate restores TDP-43 pathology-driven genome repair deficiency in motor neuron diseases.

Communications biology pii:10.1038/s42003-026-09787-5 [Epub ahead of print].

TDP-43 proteinopathy is central to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). TDP-43 plays a key role in DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR), though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that ALS patients' brains exhibit persistent DNA damage within transcribed genes. Mechanistically, activity of polynucleotide kinase 3'-phosphatase (PNKP), an essential DNA end-processing enzyme required for DSBR in transcribed genes, is impaired in ALS brains and TDP-43-depleted cells. Such defect stems from reduced levels of PNKP-interacting enzyme phosphofructo-2- kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) and its metabolic product fructose-2,6- bisphosphate (F2,6BP), an essential cofactor of PNKP. F2,6BP supplementation reduces cytosolic aggregation of phosphorylated and polyubiquitinated TDP-43 in patient-derived induced neurons, rescues PNKP activity in ALS/FTD brain extracts, and improves motor deficits in Drosophila TDP-43 model. Together, these findings reveal a critical link between metabolic dysregulation and genomic instability in TDP-43 pathology-associated motor neuron diseases, and underscore therapeutic potential of F2,6BP.

RevDate: 2026-03-11

Guo S, Jin H, Sun H, et al (2026)

TDP-43 pathology triggers neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment by inducing microglial necroptosis.

EMBO molecular medicine [Epub ahead of print].

Pathological TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is a defining feature of several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanism by which TDP-43 pathology disrupts microglial function and drives neuroinflammation remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that cytoplasmically mis-localized TDP-43 exacerbated neuroinflammation, induced cell death, and impaired phagocytic function in microglial cells, primarily through receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3)-dependent necroptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of RIPK3 with GSK872 markedly attenuated these pathological effects in vitro. These findings were further corroborated in a murine model with cytoplasmic TDP-43 mis-localization, where GSK872 treatment remarkably alleviated neuroinflammation and restored cognitive deficits. Mechanistically, our findings indicate that the nuclear depletion of TDP-43, resulted from its cytoplasmic mis-localization, impairs its ability to transcriptionally repress the Ripk3 gene, subsequently leading to RIPK3 upregulation and activation of RIPK3-dependent necroptosis. Collectively, our findings establish RIPK3-dependent necroptosis as a critical driver of TDP-43 pathology-mediated neuroinflammation and identified necroptosis as a promising therapeutic target in TDP-43-associated neurodegenerative disorders.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Ramseyer Winter VL, Landor AM, V Swami (2026)

Racism, white supremacy, and resistance in body image research and practice: Introduction to the special issue.

Over a year ago, Landor et al. (2024) argued that white supremacy and racialised inequalities continue to affect body image scholarship and research. Drawing on theories of intersectionality and inclusivity, they advanced the Sociostructural-Intersectional Body Image (SIBI) framework, which centres the experiences of racialised bodies and provides researchers with a scaffold to begin challenging white supremacy and racism in body image research and practice. Building on Landor et al.'s (2024) position paper, this special issue brings together initial research drawing on the SIBI framework to examine the ways in which white supremacy and racism affect body image(s) in minoritised communities and how inclusive lenses can be deployed to dismantle the legacy of racism in body image work. In this introductory editorial, we present a brief description of the SIBI framework, consider relevant research that has begun to more fully consider racism and white supremacy in body image research and practice, and introduce the articles that are included in the special issue. We conclude by underscoring the need for further research that combats systemic racial inequalities and white supremacy, which will propel our field into explicitly anti-racist and decolonising research and practice.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Pfeiffer DL, Thompson A, Baron A, et al (2026)

"There's Going to Have to Be a Culture Shift": Associate and Full Professors' Perceptions and Experiences Related to Open Science Practices in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this qualitative study was to expand upon the findings of Pfeiffer et al.'s (2025) study of the perceptions and experiences of assistant professors in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) related to open science (OS) by examining those of associate and full professors.

METHOD: Thirty-one faculty in CSD (15 associate professors and 16 full professors) each participated in one of four 1-hr virtual focus groups conducted via Zoom videoconferencing software. The researchers used both deductive and inductive coding methods to analyze the focus group data and develop categories and subcategories summarizing the discussions.

RESULTS: The researchers developed five categories to summarize the focus group discussions: (a) a desire to learn more about various OS practices and how to implement them by learning with and from others through a variety of formats; (b) OS practices have the potential to positively impact their research process and products, their careers, and the research communities they serve (e.g., clinicians, clinical populations); (c) OS practices could enhance the quality and credibility of research in CSD and reduce the research-to-practice gap by engaging both clinicians and researchers; (d) identification of both individual-level and systemic-level factors that could act as barriers or serve as facilitators to their use of OS practices; and (e) recommendations for a cultural shift to reduce barriers to engage in OS practices in CSD.

CONCLUSIONS: Associate and full professors in CSD perceive many of the same barriers and facilitators to engaging in OS as assistant professors; however, they uniquely highlighted the need for a cultural shift from the ways they were trained to enhance implementation of OS practices. This shift includes embedding education about OS early in academic training, clearly outlining benefits and incentives for engaging in OS, and providing opportunities for clinicians to partner with researchers in learning about and implementing these practices.

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.31418480.

RevDate: 2026-03-10
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

Kim J, Kim S, Sreshta SD, et al (2026)

Long-wave infrared imaging for respiratory rate measurement in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A case report.

The Journal of international medical research, 54(3):3000605261429206.

Respiratory monitoring is important in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients as progressive respiratory muscle weakness often leads to respiratory failure. We performed single-case feasibility evaluation of long-wave infrared imaging for noncontact respiratory rate estimation in a hospitalized amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient and compared it with red-green-blue camera-based optical flow analysis and electrocardiogram-derived respiration. Respiratory rate was assessed using four methods: (a) manual counting as the ground truth; (b) long-wave infrared; (c) red-green-blue; and (d) single-lead electrocardiogram under three lighting conditions (regular, dim, and dark) with three 1-min trials per condition. Estimation accuracy was evaluated using mean absolute error relative to manual counting. Long-wave infrared imaging demonstrated the highest accuracy across all lighting conditions, with mean absolute errors of 1.67, 0.33, and 2.33 breaths per min, respectively. Red-green-blue-based estimation performed moderately well under regular and dim lighting but showed reduced accuracy in darkness, including one failed trial. Electrocardiogram-derived respiration showed the lowest accuracy and greatest variability across conditions. The limitations of the present study include its single-case design and absence of objective flow-based respiratory reference signals. However, this study demonstrates the feasibility and illumination robustness of long-wave infrared-based noncontact respiratory rate estimation in a hospital environment and supports further investigation of this approach for respiratory monitoring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Bodenbender L, Rohn S, Parastar H, et al (2026)

Towards "greener" strategies in quality control: rapid volatilomics of cocoa based on HS-GC-IMS and machine learning.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry [Epub ahead of print].

Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) has emerged as a powerful analytical platform in quality control of food, beverages, and flavor products. The technology allows for point-of-care application without the need for sample preparation, which makes it advantageous in resource-limited and equipment-hostile environments. One of these fields is the quality assessment of raw cocoa, which is fundamental for ensuring authenticity, product quality, as well as food safety and compliance. At the same time, analytical departments are facing an increasing urge to turn to a more sustainable use of resources, as well as substantial cost pressure. In the present study, a fast GC-IMS strategy was used to evaluate the provenance of cocoa in combination with machine learning. While most of the commercially available GC-IMS systems are based on nitrogen as a carrier gas, this approach was optimized and translated to a fast, hydrogen-based GC method. This was applied to a set of commercial cocoa liquor and data were evaluated by machine learning approaches, such as multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). By cutting down the analysis time by a factor of 2.5, this study demonstrates that in contrast to most conventional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) systems, GC-IMS can be easily optimized towards higher throughput using the faster flow rates possible with hydrogen. Furthermore, this leads to enhanced signal quality and thus, a better basis for machine learning and finally, to an optimal tool for the classification of raw cocoa origins. Therefore, H2-based GC-IMS can be considered as a greener, resource-friendly, and efficient approach for the analysis of volatile food and beverage samples.

RevDate: 2026-03-10
CmpDate: 2026-03-11

Yan Y, Wang X, Jeon H, et al (2026)

Ubiquitin-specific peptidase-19 links TDP-43 aggregation to ER stress.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 123(11):e2514355123.

Aggregation and deposition of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a salient pathological signature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration-TDP (FTLD-TDP). TDP-43 proteostasis and aggregation are controlled by several posttranslational modifications, including ubiquitination. While multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases are known to facilitate TDP-43 clearance, little is known about the role of deubiquitinases (DUBs) in controlling TDP-43 proteostasis. Through an unbiased discovery screen of DUBs, here we identify and demonstrate using in vitro and in vivo models, as well as human brain tissue, that ubiquitin-specific peptidase-19 (USP19) acts as a TDP-43-directed DUB that removes K48- and K63-linked ubiquitin conjugates from TDP-43 and preferentially promotes cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP-43 C-terminal fragments (TDP-CTFs) through its catalytic activity. Specifically, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored USP19 isoform (USP19-ER) exhibits superior activity in deubiquitinating TDP-CTFs, enhancing its phase separation and aggregation, compared to its cytosolic isoform (USP19-Cyto). Furthermore, as TDP-CTFs are generated at the ER, USP19 acts to couple the aggregation of TDP-CTFs to ER stress (ATF6, ATF4, IRE1, & CHOP). In humans, USP19 protein levels increase in FTLD-TDP brains, which extensively colocalize with cytoplasmic phospho-TDP-43 (pTDP-43) pathology. Importantly, we demonstrate in vivo that genetic reduction of usp19 mitigates pTDP-43 pathology, astrogliosis, and ER stress while reversing long-term potentiation (LTP) and motor deficits in a mouse model of TDP-43 pathogenesis (TAR4 mice). These findings establish a critical role of USP19 at the nexus of TDP-43 proteostasis and ER stress, implicating its pathogenic role in FTLD-TDP and ALS.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Schmidt AK, Scholten EWM, van Eijk RPA, et al (2026)

How to measure person-centred care in people living with ALS: development and validation of the patient experience PEMALS questionnaire.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration [Epub ahead of print].

Objective: Person-centredness is a fundamental aspect of care for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (plwALS). Systematic assessment of patient experiences is essential to reflect their perspectives and needs in care. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Patient Experience Measure in ALS care (PEMALS), and to assess the care experience of Dutch plwALS. Methods: We developed a preliminary questionnaire based on literature and input from two representatives, each from a different patient association and three healthcare professionals. In an online survey study, plwALS from the population-based national registry were invited to complete the Dutch questionnaire twice within a 3-day interval. We evaluated test-retest reliability, structural validity, and internal consistency. After item reduction, a total PEMALS score was computed and analyzed for reliability, measurement error, and associations with demographic and clinical patient characteristics. Results: The preliminary questionnaire included 28 items and was completed by 245 plwALS. After item reduction, the final PEMALS contained 16 items. Factor analysis confirmed unidimensionality, with a Cronbach's α of 0.97. Test-retest reliability had an ICC of 0.81 (95% CI 0.72-0.87), and a measurement error of 0.43 points (scale 1 to 10). There was no systematic difference between test-retest (mean difference 0.02, 95% CI 0.05-0.10, p = 0.510). PlwALS rated ALS care with a median score of 9.6 (IQR 8.7-10); 31.4% scored the maximum. Older participants reported significantly higher PEMALS scores (Spearman's r = 0.199, p = 0.002). Conclusions: The PEMALS is a valid and reliable measure for assessing patient experience in ALS care and enables systematic monitoring of person-centered quality of care.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Saha P, Varyani R, Hole A, et al (2026)

Multimodal Serum Profiling for Early Detection and Risk Assessment of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cancer.

Analytical chemistry [Epub ahead of print].

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has high incidence rates in India, with poor survival rates due to late diagnosis. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) such as leukoplakia (L) and oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) present a critical window for intervention. Minimally invasive approaches capturing early biochemical alterations were investigated to improve early detection and stratification. Blood serum samples from 169 subjects, including healthy controls (C), tobacco habitués (TC), L, OSMF, and OSCC, were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy (RS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Principal component-based quadratic discriminant analysis (PC-QDA) models were built with RS data and validated on independent cohorts. Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS) analysis identified altered spectral features. Global LC-MS/MS metabolite profiles were assessed by multivariate statistics and pathway enrichment. RS-based PC-QDA models achieved ∼95% accuracy in training and testing when C subjects were compared against TC, L, OSCC, and OSMF in a two-group model. A three-group model with C, TC, and oral diseases accurately classified >80% C and 86% oral disease subjects. The model stratifying L, OSMF, and OSCC identified 100% OSCC and 73-84% of L and OSMF in independent test sets. MCR-ALS revealed spectral features of albumin, immunoglobulins, carotenoids, and lipids, corresponding to LC-MS/MS findings of altered albumin-bound metabolites, bile acids, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. Serum RS demonstrated efficacy as a rapid, minimally invasive detection tool for oral disease stratification. LC-MS/MS identified metabolites and pathways aligning with RS spectral signatures. This multimodal approach shows promise for early detection and risk assessment of oral cancer.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Özcan GG, J Rihel (2026)

Modeling diseases of aging in larval zebrafish, a paradoxical yet powerful strategy.

Genetics pii:8512713 [Epub ahead of print].

Neurodegenerative diseases are a set of devastating medical conditions in which neuronal loss associated with the aggregation of toxic proteins leads to progressive cognitive impairment. These diseases are usually modeled in animals by mimicking late disease stages through genetic modifications that aggressively accumulate proteins that damage the brain. However, these diseases typically unfold over decades, and disease-associated genes are known to have important, but understudied, biological functions in early life stages. To address this research gap, we suggest that the larval zebrafish, which has conserved orthologs of most neurodegeneration-linked genes, is an excellent model to examine early mechanisms that set the stage for disease progression, such as altered neuronal function, synaptic re-wiring, and proteostasis. We propose a systematic genetic modeling and phenotyping pipeline in zebrafish that integrates CRISPR editing, high-throughput behavioral assays, brain-wide activity mapping, and pharmacological screens to capture neurodegenerative disease-related changes that occur well before clinical disease emerges. Studying diseases of aging in larval zebrafish may sound paradoxical; however, by uncovering cellular dysfunction at the earliest stages of disease in a living vertebrate brain, this approach could identify critical therapeutic targets at timepoints before degeneration becomes irreversible.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Jagaraj CJ, Saravanabavan S, Parakh S, et al (2026)

Cofilin hyperphosphorylation triggers TDP-43 pathology in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Brain : a journal of neurology pii:8512674 [Epub ahead of print].

Pathological forms of TAR-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), involving its aberrant mislocalization to the cytoplasm, inclusion formation, hyperphosphorylation and fragmentation, are present in ∼45-50% frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease individuals, and most (97%) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. Hence, identifying mechanisms that induce TDP-43 pathology are central to neurodegeneration and developing new therapeutic targets in these conditions. Cofilin is a multi-functional protein with a crucial role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. Actin has important neuronal-specific activities in dendritic spines, axonal growth cones and synapses and it is in constant equilibrium between two forms: monomeric globular actin (G-actin) and polymeric filamentous actin (F-actin). Cofilin controls actin dynamics by depolymerising and severing actin filaments. When cofilin is phosphorylated (at Serine-3) by LIM kinase1 (LIMK1), it becomes inactive, leading to production of more F-actin. Defects in cofilin are well described in other neurodegenerative disorders, unlike in ALS. We examined phosphorylation of cofilin and actin dynamics in post-mortem spinal cord tissue from sporadic ALS (SALS) patients, the TDP-43 rNLS8 transgenic mouse model, and NSC34 motor neuronal cells expressing cytoplasmic TDP-43. F-actin was pharmacologically stabilized to mimic cofilin hyperphosphorylation, and TDP-43 pathology was assessed. Neuronal cells were treated with a non-phosphorylatable cofilin S3A peptide (MAAGVAVSDGVIKVFN), and TDP-43 pathology and apoptosis were evaluated. Here, we show that cofilin is hyper-phosphorylated in human ALS and disease models compared to controls. This was detected in spinal motor neurons from sporadic ALS (SALS) patients and a TDP-43 mouse model (rNLS8) displaying key ALS phenotypes, and in motor neuronal NSC34-cells expressing cytoplasmic TDP-43. Supporting this observation, more F-actin relative to G-actin was present in cortical/spinal cord lysates from SALS patients and TDP-43 rNLS8 mice, and NSC34-cells expressing TDP-43. We also show that mimicking cofilin hyperphosphorylation by pharmacological stabilization of F-actin induced TDP-43 pathology: cytoplasmic mislocalization, inclusion formation, hyperphosphorylation, and fragmentation, and promoted its recruitment into stress granules (SGs). Furthermore, we detected increased levels of LIMK1 phosphorylation and tropomyosin isoforms 4.1 and 4.2 in SALS patients. These findings reveal aberrant cofilin hyperphosphorylation disrupts actin dynamics, triggering TDP-43 pathology and SG recruitment in SALS. They imply that preventing cofilin phosphorylation is a novel therapeutic strategy applicable to most ALS cases. Treatment of neuronal cells with the S3A peptide prevented features of TDP-43 pathology and apoptosis compared to control peptides. These findings thus describe a novel pathogenic mechanism producing TDP-43 pathology, applicable to most ALS cases and other neurodegenerative diseases.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Georgiadou P, Erkaya B, Niwa-Kawakita M, et al (2026)

Pml loss worsens NEK1-linked ALS and Pml induction drives NEK1 degradation, precluding disease onset.

The FEBS journal [Epub ahead of print].

Germinal mono-allelic loss-of-function mutations of NEK1 drive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at variable penetrance, presumably through haploinsufficiency. Modeling the ALS-associated Arg812Ter mutation in mice revealed that the resulting truncated Nek1 (Nek1[t]) is aggregation-prone, particularly in alpha-motoneurons (αMNs), and drives canonical ALS symptoms when bi-allelically expressed (Nek1[t/t]). Promyelocytic leukemia (Pml) ablation allows for ALS symptoms to occur even in heterozygote Nek1[wt/t] animals, mimicking the human situation. Pml precludes disease occurrence by promoting SUMO-facilitated degradation of Nek1[t] proteins through PML nuclear bodies (NBs). Conversely, Pml induction, achieved by activating the interferon pathway via poly(I:C) treatment, clears Nek1[t] puncta in αMNs, dramatically reducing ALS-associated symptoms and extending survival by 5 months. Our studies highlight the role of mutant NEK1 expression in ALS pathogenesis and identifies activation of interferon pathways as a candidate therapeutic strategy that promotes Pml-triggered SUMOylation/degradation of toxic misfolded proteins in vivo, yielding dramatic clinical improvement. These observations provide strong proof-of-concept support to validate PML as a relevant therapeutic target in neurodegenerative conditions associated with protein misfolding and putative aggregation.

RevDate: 2026-03-10
CmpDate: 2026-03-10

Fujita K, Matsui N, Y Izumi (2026)

[Immune Cells and Proteins Associated with Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: New Insights from Multiomics Analyses].

Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo, 78(3):285-288.

Disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis shows substantial individual variability, and immune mechanisms have attracted attention as underlying factors. Immune profiles associated with disease progression were identified using cytokine profiling, proteomics, and single-cell analyses. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, such as Th17 cells and effector CD8+ T cells, along with inflammation-related proteins, including interleukin-17A and CD94, are associated with disease progression. This review summarizes the findings of multi-omics studies.

RevDate: 2026-03-10
CmpDate: 2026-03-10

Koropouli E, Bellos S, Aristeidou S, et al (2026)

Motor neuron disease can present as a paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome with various phenotypes.

Brain communications, 8(2):fcag024.

Paraneoplastic motor neuron disease is an uncommon paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome whose existence has fallen into ambiguity. Epidemiologic studies that have addressed the association between cancer and motor neuron disease have provided conflicting results. Case studies that report motor neuron disease presentation at the time of active malignant disease, in the presence of another paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome or onconeural antibody or with neurologic response to antineoplastic treatment provide strong evidence for paraneoplastic motor neuron disease. However, conclusive evidence about the existence and the clinical and laboratory profiles of this neurologic syndrome is lacking. In this study, we report four new cases of paraneoplastic motor neuron disease, two of whom with expression of Sry-like high mobility group box 1 (SOX1) antibody. We also present a systematic review of all cases of paraneoplastic motor neuron disease reported to date that fulfill prespecified inclusion criteria with individual participant data meta-analysis of the demographic, clinical and laboratory features of the disease. Our data demonstrate that motor neuron disease can present as a paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome. Paraneoplastic motor neuron disease spans the whole motor neuron disease phenotypic spectrum, and it is associated with a wide variety of neoplastic diseases, onconeural antibodies and it may present concurrently with other well-recognized paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes. Paraneoplastic motor neuron disease may be clinically indistinguishable from idiopathic motor neuron disease. Its only distinctive clinical feature is the rapidly progressive course. A subset of cases display immune derangements in cerebrospinal fluid, including increased white cell count, elevated protein, albumin index, IgG index and/or oligoclonal band expression. Cancer-induced inflammatory pathways may trigger the disease in genetically predisposed individuals harboring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-causing genetic deficits. A thorough evaluation for neoplastic diseases should be carried out upon strong suspicion of this rare paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome to increase the diagnostic yield for this entity. Paraneoplastic motor neuron disease apparently results from complex interactions between degenerative and immune pathways and its pathophysiology may elucidate previously unresolved aspects of idiopathic motor neuron disease pathogenesis.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Bovenberg C, Ambwani S, Cardi V, et al (2026)

A Commentary on "Comparing Operationalizations of Eating Disorder Recovery Using a Comprehensive Lens: Physical, Behavioral, and Cognitive Domains" by Bardone-Cone et al.

The International journal of eating disorders [Epub ahead of print].

Defining recovery in eating disorders remains a major challenge due to the absence of standardized, empirically validated criteria. Bardone-Cone et al. (2025) address this gap by testing multidimensional, transdiagnostic recovery criteria spanning physical, behavioral, and cognitive domains. This commentary evaluates the suitability of these criteria for anorexia nervosa (AN). Applying a partial version of the proposed criteria to two independent AN datasets, a high-severity inpatient/day-patient sample and an outpatient sample, revealed very low rates of full recovery and marked instability over time. These findings suggest that, when applied to AN, the criteria may be overly restrictive and insufficiently sensitive to clinically meaningful change, defining recovery as rare and fragile. Three key implications emerge: AN recovery definitions should incorporate broader functional outcomes such as social functioning and quality of life; lived experience perspectives are essential for capturing subjective and identity-related aspects of recovery; and recovery should be conceptualized as a nonlinear, evolving process rather than a binary state. Although Bardone-Cone et al.'s work represents an important step toward standardizing recovery definitions, further refinement is needed to ensure that recovery criteria are clinically meaningful and diagnosis-sensitive for AN.

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Saeki Y, Nakamura N, N Hayashi (2026)

Exercise pressor reflex in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-43367-1 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-10

Ruf WP, Kühlwein JK, Meier L, et al (2026)

Multi-modal dissection of cell-type specific TDP-43 pathology in the motor cortex.

Nature communications pii:10.1038/s41467-026-69944-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Cytoplasmic TDP-43 pathology is a pathological sign of ALS/ALS-FTD and a converging disease event across different genotypes, phenotypes and CNS areas. To understand this process and target it therapeutically, we need to define which cell types are affected and which cell-type specific effects make them particularly vulnerable. We coupled flow-cytometry nuclear sorting and sequencing with single-nucleus multi-omic ATAC-seq and RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics to define the transcriptional cell type of affected neurons in the post-mortem ALS/ALS-FTD motor cortex (30 ALS, 20 ALS-FTD & 32 control samples). Here, we show that mainly excitatory cortical neurons are affected by TDP-43 pathology and define the cell types that are affected the most: intratelencephalic L2-L3-LINC00507-FREM3, L3-L5-RORB-LNX2, L3-L5-RORB-ADGRL4 & L6-THEMIS-LINC00343 neurons and extratelencephalic L5-FEZF2-NTNG1 neurons. Transcriptional aberrations by TDP-43 pathology, like cryptic exon inclusion, are cell-type specific and affect distinct gene sets in each cell type, highlighting the need to address TDP-43 pathology in a cell-type specific manner.

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Zambetti E, Greco A, Mucci C, et al (2026)

"A rough and swirling sea": Voicing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis through discourse analysis.

Journal of health psychology [Epub ahead of print].

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare, incurable neurodegenerative disease that leads to death within 5 years of diagnosis and greatly impacts patients' and caregivers' quality of life (QoL). Typically leading to death within 5 years, ALS underscores the need for emotional and psychological support. This study analyzes 118 testimonies from patients (n = 67), informal caregivers (n = 41), and formal caregivers (n = 10), with a gender-balanced sample (n = 67 women), using discourse analysis. Narratives reveal a complex emotional landscape of suffering and resilience, showing ALS as a disruptive force that prompts reevaluation of roles and life stories. Shared support is crucial within families and social settings. Many testimonies express a desire to raise awareness and fund research. Understanding ALS through these stories offers insights into the psychological, emotional, cultural, and social challenges, essential for developing tailored interventions to support psychological well-being.

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Conti GM, Foa N, BK Tran (2026)

[Correction: Piggyback-Add-on-IOL als Rettungsstrategie nach inkompletter Implantation der primären IOL in einem übermäßig kleinen Kapselsack mit unerwartetem refraktivem Endergebnis].

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Kawarabayashi T, Nakamura T, Takahashi R, et al (2026)

Clinical Validation of Plasma p-217tau in Neurological Diseases.

Annals of clinical and translational neurology [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: Plasma p-217tau is a minimally invasive but specific biomarker for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, its disease specificity remains to be clinically evaluated. We validated the reliability of the p-217tau biomarker in 12 other neurological diseases.

METHODS: Plasma p-217tau levels were measured in 298 participants, consisting of 81 AD patients, 204 patients with 12 other neurological diseases, and 13 healthy and cognitively unimpaired controls (HCU), using an assay system from Meso Scale Diagnostics. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau and Aß levels were simultaneously evaluated in AD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).

RESULTS: Plasma p-217tau levels increased in AD with the clinical stage, but also in ALS and iNPH, leading to them having decreased sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing AD. No increases in plasma p-217tau levels were seen in possible tauopathies or synucleinopathies. CSF and plasma p-217tau levels were strongly correlated in AD, but not in ALS. The plasma p-217tau/CSF p-217tau ratio was inversely higher in ALS than in AD. Active and chronic denervation potentials were associated with plasma p-217tau levels. In iNPH, plasma p-217tau was associated with cognitive dysfunction, but not with gait disturbance or urinary incontinence. CSF p-181tau, total tau, and Aß1-40 levels and the Aß1-40/1-42 ratio were reduced in iNPH.

INTERPRETATION: ALS and iNPH are two major pitfalls for the clinical application of plasma p-217tau as a biomarker of AD. Lower motor neuron injury in ALS and cognitive dysfunction in iNPH were both found to be associated with elevated plasma p-217tau levels.

RevDate: 2026-03-09
CmpDate: 2026-03-09

Osei Acheampong H, R Insolera (2026)

Kenny is the adaptor protein for ubiquitin-dependent mitophagy in Drosophila melanogaster.

Autophagy reports, 5(1):2638025.

Mitophagy is the selective degradation program for damaged and unnecessary mitochondria to maintain cellular mitostasis and survival. Specific mutations in the mediators for the canonical ubiquitin (ub)-dependent mitophagy pathway have been identified with unique neurological diseases like Parkinson disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), metabolic diseases, and cancer. Mammalian OPTN (optineurin) has been shown as a SAR (selective autophagy receptor) for ub-dependent mitophagy in vitro with direct connections of its mutations with glaucoma and ALS. Despite the in vitro demonstration of OPTN's role in mitophagy, the in vivo physiological characterization of OPTN's mitophagy function is largely unexplored. In our recent study, we provide in vivo evidence that the Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) protein, Kenny, directly mediates the sequestration of target mitochondria for the progression and completion of ub-dependent mitophagy. This result establishes Kenny as the Dm homolog of OPTN. Previously, Kenny had only been characterized for its role in innate immune activation and modulation. The conclusion from this study provides avenues for further understanding the in vivo signaling regulating Kenny's role in mitophagy and investigating homologous disease-relevant mutations of OPTN in Dm.

RevDate: 2026-03-09
CmpDate: 2026-03-09

Siddiqui NA, Khan AS, Khowaja N, et al (2026)

In-situ cardiac arrest simulations in a tertiary-care hospital in Pakistan: a feasibility study exploring challenges and future directions.

Resuscitation plus, 28:101276.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) survival remains poor in low-resource settings, partly due to skill decay, delayed responses, and inconsistent adherence to resuscitation guidelines. In-situ simulation has been proposed as a strategy to improve resuscitation performance and identify system gaps, but evidence from low- and middle-income countries is limited.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and implementation outcomes of an unannounced in-situ cardiac arrest simulation program in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan, and to determine whether key IHCA processes and performance metrics can be reliably measured using a structured documentation tool.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, non-randomized feasibility study at a 710-bed academic hospital from December 2023 to March 2025. Unannounced in-situ cardiac arrest simulations were conducted 1-2 times per month across multiple hospital units. Participants included resident physicians, nurses, and rapid response team members with current American Heart Association (AHA) BLS/ACLS certification. Simulations used real clinical equipment and a high-fidelity manikin, followed by structured debriefing when feasible. Outcomes were evaluated using Proctor et al.'s implementation framework, focusing on feasibility, acceptability, penetration, fidelity, and sustainability. Clinical performance metrics were collected as secondary process measures.

RESULTS: Fifty-one simulations were conducted; data from 44 were analyzed. Feasibility and penetration were high, with simulations successfully integrated across diverse clinical areas. Acceptability was strong, with participants rating simulations as realistic and educationally valuable (mean scores 4.2-4.6/5). Fidelity was variable, particularly for debriefing, which was fully completed in 50% of applicable simulations. Sustainability challenges included competing clinical demands and lack of protected time.

CONCLUSIONS: In-situ cardiac arrest simulation is feasible and acceptable in a low-resource hospital setting and enables systematic assessment of resuscitation processes. Sustained impact will require institutional support, protected time for debriefing, and integration into ongoing quality improvement efforts.

RevDate: 2026-03-09
CmpDate: 2026-03-09

Kavale-Henderson LA, Loch C, Buckley H, et al (2026)

Reflections of Their Homelands-Early Life Enamel Formation Disruption in Nineteenth Century Settlers of Otago, New Zealand.

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 56(1):e70022.

Physiological stress during early life can impede development, and signals of this are preserved in nonremodelling tissues such as dental enamel. This article describes nonspecific stress markers in the teeth of European (n = 30) and Southern Chinese (n = 15) adult migrants to New Zealand, and colony-born children (n = 10) interred in four historic Otago cemeteries (c. 1857-1904). Standard histological methods were used to identify and trace accentuated lines (ALs), indicators of enamel formation disruption. All Chinese adults, 93.3% of European adults, and 90% of New Zealand-born subadults exhibited AL formation. Chinese adults exhibited the highest mean occurrence of ALs per individual, and patterns of AL formation during early childhood differed in individuals of different ethnic and environmental backgrounds. This variation could be attributed to genetic variation in ameloblast susceptibility to stress, disparities in stability of the childhood environment, and/or sociocultural influences on growth and development. These data illustrate the embodiment of physiological stress during early life in poorer classes during the nineteenth century. While childhood hardship was a potential driver of adult decisions to depart for new lands such as New Zealand, it was not absent in the early lives of children born in the colony.

RevDate: 2026-03-09
CmpDate: 2026-03-09

Matsuzawa K, Takahashi T, Sakata J, et al (2026)

Effectiveness of a Progressive Rehabilitation Approach Without Sport Activity Restriction for Acute Lumbar Spondylolysis in High-Level Athletes: A Retrospective Case Series.

Cureus, 18(2):e103041.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the characteristics and clinical outcomes of high-level athletes with acute lumbar spondylolysis (ALS) treated with a progressive rehabilitation (PR) approach without rigid bracing or activity restriction.

METHODS: This retrospective consecutive case series included seven high school or collegiate athletes competing at the national level who underwent a PR approach for ALS at our institution between January 2023 and December 2024. One athlete was excluded due to loss to follow-up, leaving six athletes for analysis. The intervention consisted of a PR program without rigid bracing or activity restriction, emphasizing stepwise mobility, stability, strengthening, and pain-based progression of functional movements. Main outcomes included MRI findings, pain status, return-to-sport (RTS) rate and period, and follow-up duration.

RESULTS: Traumatic episodes were the most common etiological factor (66.7%), involving high ground reaction force movements or excessive lateral bending. MRI improvement was observed in five patients (83.3%), and pain resolution occurred in all six patients (100%). The RTS rate was 100%, with a median RTS period of 65 days (range, 54-112), which was shorter than previously reported for conservative treatment. No recurrence occurred during follow-up (median, 109 days).

CONCLUSIONS: A PR approach without rigid bracing or activity restriction enabled early RTS in high-level athletes with ALS, with symptom improvement and no recurrence. This approach may allow modification of pain-provoking or injury-related movements and help minimize declines in physical fitness and body composition associated with activity restriction. It may be suitable for post-growth high-level athletes who understand the risks related to bone healing and require timely RTS, although further research is needed to clarify stage-specific indications and long-term outcomes.

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Furlan N, D'Amora U, Fasolino I, et al (2026)

An electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for interleukin 18 quantification in 3D skin models derived from ALS patients.

Biosensors & bioelectronics, 303:118567 pii:S0956-5663(26)00199-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that currently lacks validated molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis, severely delaying personalized care. Interleukin 18 (IL-18), a proinflammatory cytokine linked to NLRP-3 inflammasome activation, has emerged as a promising biomarker for ALS. However, traditional colorimetric Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) lack the sensitivity to distinguish IL-18 levels between Fast- and Slow-progressing ALS patients. To overcome this, we developed a highly sensitive electrochemical ELISA (e-ELISA) test by systematically optimizing key parameters, including the capture antibody immobilization strategy, the electrochemical mediator, and reagent concentrations. We then applied the optimized e-ELISA protocol to quantify IL-18 in 3D innervated skin models constructed using 3D-printed methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) and electrospun polylactic acid (PLLA) fibers, and colonized with patient-derived fibroblasts and neuronal cells. Reaching a limit of detection of 1.77 pg✕mL[-1], the e-ELISA not only differentiated ALS models from the healthy control but, most critically, distinguished between a Fast- and a Slow-progressing ALS models based on significantly different IL-18 concentrations. By discriminating IL-18 levels in biologically representative models, this work validates the developed high-performance e-ELISA for personalized clinical use, providing a foundation for the design of portable diagnostic devices.

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Zhao DY, Nabeel-Shah S, Ni Z, et al (2026)

RNA-Binding Proteins TDP-43 and FUS Promote R-Loop Resolution and Regulate Transcription Termination.

The Journal of biological chemistry pii:S0021-9258(26)00218-8 [Epub ahead of print].

TDP-43 and FUS are RNA-binding proteins involved in the regulation of diverse RNA processing events and have been strongly implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We have previously demonstrated the role of symmetrical dimethylation (me2s) of a conserved arginine residue (R1810 in human POLR2A) in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), which facilitates the recruitment of the Tudor domain-containing protein SMN to resolve R-loops at transcriptional termination sites. Here, we demonstrate that TDP-43 and FUS contribute to transcription termination through the R1810me2s-SMN pathway. Our data show that TDP-43-and to a lesser extent, FUS-are recruited to chromatin via this pathway, and that disruption of their recruitment leads to defective RNAPII termination. This impairment results in the accumulation of R-loops and elevated DNA damage at gene terminators. Using transcriptome-wide analyses, we further show that TDP-43 RNA-binding sites are highly correlated with regions of R-loop formation. Importantly, we find that the RNA-binding activity of TDP-43 is essential for its role in resolving R-loops and promoting efficient transcription termination. These findings establish a mechanistic link between TDP-43/FUS, R-loop resolution, and transcription termination, providing new insights into how their dysfunction may drive genome instability and contribute to the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD.

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Stopyra W, Voytsekhivskyy O, A Grzybowski (2026)

Accuracy of sixteen axial length adjusted intraocular lens power calculation formulas in long Caucasian eyes.

Asia-Pacific journal of ophthalmology (Philadelphia, Pa.) pii:S2162-0989(26)00027-7 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of sixteen intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas incorporating targeted adjustments or regression-based modifications of axial length (AL) in eyes longer than 26.00mm.

DESIGN: Retrospective observational study.

METHODS: The data of myopic patients with cataract who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification with in-the-bag implantation of a PARTIAL-RoF narrow IOL between January 2020 and June 2025 were reviewed. Preoperative IOL power was calculated using the IOLMaster 700 with six formulas: Barrett Universal II (BU II), Haigis, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, and SRK/T. The implanted IOL power was selected from BU II or SRK/T recommendations. Refraction was measured three months postoperatively. Postoperative IOL power predictions were generated using the following formulas or formula variants: K6, PEARL-DGS, Castrop, Eom, VRF CMAL; Holladay 1 with Wang-Koch 2 center optimization (WK2), modified Wang-Koch (MWK), non-linear regression (NLR), and Fam-adjusted method (F2); SRK/T WK2, SRK/T MWK, SRK/T F2; Holladay 2 NLR; Hoffer Q WK2; Haigis WK2; and Barrett True AL. The primary outcome measures were root mean square absolute error (RMSAE) and the percentage of eyes with prediction error (PE) within ± 0.25 D, ± 0.50 D, ± 0.75 D, and ± 1.00 D.

RESULTS: One hundred sixty-four eyes with ALs ranging from 26.04mm to 29.72mm were included. RMSAE values across the sixteen formulas ranged from 0.393 (Holladay 1 NLR and SRK/T WK2) to 0.803 (Haigis WK2). The percentage of eyes with PE within ±0.50 D ranged from 35.98% (Haigis WK2) to 81.1% (Holladay 1 NLR). Holladay 1 NLR-followed by SRK/T WK2, Holladay 1 MWK, VRF CMAL, PEARL-DGS, and Eom-demonstrated significantly higher accuracy than most other formulas. Haigis WK2 and Hoffer Q WK2 were the least accurate.

CONCLUSIONS: Certain modified third-generation formulas (Holladay 1 NLR, SRK/T WK2) achieve accuracy comparable to that of new-generation formulas (PEARL-DGS, K6, VRF CMAL) in IOL power calculations for long eyes. However, some third- and fourth-generation formulas-even after AL-based modification (Hoffer Q WK2, Haigis WK2)-continue to yield suboptimal results in this anatomical range.

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Manyem M, Gomathy SB, Subramanian VK, et al (2026)

Unraveling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a novel peripherin mutation in a young male with sporadic onset.

Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 47(4):.

RevDate: 2026-03-08

Burgess A, Allen O, Barkhaus P, et al (2026)

ALS untangled #83: clenbuterol.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration [Epub ahead of print].

ALS Untangled reviews alternative and off-label treatments for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS). Here we review clenbuterol, a β-2 adrenergic agonist, as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Clenbuterol has biological effects that could be relevant to the pathophysiology of ALS such as inducing muscle hypertrophy, improving mitochondrial function, and reducing neuroinflammation. Two studies in mouse models of motor neuron disease and two open label trials suggest possible benefits. However these have methodological flaws which limit interpretation. Clenbuterol can have an array of side effects, some severe. Drop-outs due to side effects were very common in one of the ALS trials and in a separate expanded access program. Based on this information, we cannot currently endorse clenbuterol as an ALS treatment, but we do hope to see further studies of it, or another long acting β-2 adrenergic agonist in people with ALS.

RevDate: 2026-03-08
CmpDate: 2026-03-08

Shafie M, Tamba C, Bhinder H, et al (2026)

Brain Folding Trajectories in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Human brain mapping, 47(4):e70449.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a clinically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease, and neuroimaging markers offer a promising avenue to capture this variability. Cortical folding alterations in ALS remain largely unexplored despite growing interest in neuroimaging markers of the disease. This study is the first whole-brain investigation of sulcal morphometry in ALS. A total of 222 individuals diagnosed with ALS and 194 healthy controls (HC) were recruited through the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC) for a longitudinal investigation. Using T1-weighted MRI processed with FreeSurfer and BrainVISA, we extracted cortical thickness and four sulcal features: width, mean depth, surface area, and length, across 123 sulci. We identified widespread alterations in ALS, with 19 sulci showing increased width and length alongside reduced depth and surface area, primarily in frontal and parietal regions surrounding the motor strip. The central sulcus (CS) emerged as the most consistently affected region, displaying bilateral widening and reduced depth, changes that closely tracked motor decline. Longitudinal analyses revealed progressive widening and reduced depth and surface area of the CS. These alterations closely tracked the progression of motor symptoms over the course of the disease and aligned with regional cortical thickness alterations. Our findings demonstrate that brain folding patterns, and in particular CS, are altered in ALS and correlate with clinical progression, resembling the neurodegenerative pattern of the disease. By revealing complementary and sensitive changes, sulcal-based metrics may offer promising neuroimaging biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and patient stratification in ALS.

RevDate: 2026-03-09

Chen X, B Zhu (2026)

Decoding the functions of nuclear speckles in neurodegeneration.

Trends in neurosciences pii:S0166-2236(26)00013-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Nuclear speckles, traditionally considered mainly as reservoirs of splicing factors, are increasingly recognized as dynamic biomolecular condensates essential for RNA metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and chromatin organization. Recent advances reveal their phase separation properties, compositional complexity, and stress-responsive remodeling, positioning nuclear speckles as key regulators of proteostasis and stress adaptation. Here, we synthesize emerging evidence linking nuclear speckle dysfunction to neurodegenerative proteinopathies, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and tauopathies. We highlight how disease-associated repeat RNAs, dipeptide repeat proteins, and hyperphosphorylated tau disrupt nuclear speckle integrity, driving transcriptional and splicing defects. Finally, we discuss therapeutic strategies to rejuvenate nuclear speckles, emphasizing their potential as novel targets for restoring proteostasis and mitigating neurodegeneration. This review underscores nuclear speckles as critical yet underexplored regulators of neuronal resilience.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

La Cognata V, Guarnaccia M, Morello G, et al (2026)

Unlocking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis: How artificial intelligence is transforming early prediction.

Neural regeneration research pii:01300535-990000000-01204 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Oriol NE, Lin J, Bennet J, et al (2026)

Developing a Public Health Quality Tool for Mobile Health Clinics to Assess and Improve Care.

International journal of environmental research and public health, 23(2):.

This report describes the development and deployment of the Public Health Quality Tool (PHQTool), an online resource designed to help mobile health clinics (MHCs) assess and improve the quality of their public health services. MHCs provide essential clinical and public health services to underserved populations but have historically lacked tools to assess and improve the quality of their work. To address this gap, the PHQTool was developed as an online, evidence-based, self-assessment resource for MHCs, hosted on the Mobile Health Map (MHMap) platform. This report documents the collaborative development process of the PHQTool and presents preliminary evaluation findings related to usability and relevance among mobile health clinics. Drawing from national public health frameworks and Honore et al.'s established public health quality aims, the PHQTool focuses on six aims most relevant to mobile care: Equitable, Health Promoting, Proactive, Transparent, Effective, and Efficient. Selection of the six quality aims was guided by explicit criteria developed through pilot testing and stakeholder feedback. The six aims were those that could be directly implemented through mobile clinic practices and were feasible to assess within diverse mobile clinic contexts. The remaining three aims ("population-centered," "risk-reducing," and "vigilant") were determined to be less directly actionable at the program level or required system-wide or data infrastructure beyond the scope of individual mobile clinics. Development included expert consultation, pilot testing, and iterative refinement informed by user feedback. The tool allows clinics to evaluate practices, identify improvement goals, and track progress over time. Since implementation, 82 MHCs representing diverse organizational types have used the PHQTool, reporting high usability and identifying common improvement areas such as outreach, efficiency, and equity-driven service delivery. Across pilot and post-pilot implementation phases, a majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the tool was user-friendly, relevant to their work, and appropriately scoped for mobile clinic practice. Usability and acceptance were assessed using descriptive statistics, including percentage agreement across Likert-scale items as well as qualitative feedback collected during structured debriefs. Reported findings reflect self-reported perceptions of feasibility, clarity, and relevance rather than inferential statistical comparisons. The PHQTool facilitates systematic quality assessment within the mobile clinic sector and supports consistent documentation of public health efforts. By providing a standardized, accessible framework for evaluation, it contributes to broader efforts to strengthen evidence-based quality improvement and promote accountability in MHCs.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Challa S, Griffith M, Jegede A, et al (2026)

Understanding clients' and providers' perspectives on the implementation of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) for self-injection programming in Nigeria.

BMJ global health, 10(Suppl 6):.

Subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) is an injectable contraceptive method with a small needle and prefilled syringe system that has been approved for self-injection (SI) by clients. As DMPA-SC for SI programmes are being scaled, employing an implementation science lens is critical to understanding what works. This study explored providers' and clients' experiences with providing and receiving services, respectively, for DMPA-SC for SI in Nigeria, using an implementation science framework.Between 2021 and 2023, we conducted N=141 interviews with providers offering DMPA-SC for SI, and N=129 interviews with their clients using DMPA-SC for SI in Lagos, Enugu and Plateau States. Using Proctor et al's implementation science framework, we noted observations for each interview question, extracted related quotes, and coded observations and quotes by implementation outcome (acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, cost, efficiency, safety, client-centredness and adoption).Among clients, learning about DMPA-SC and SI from social network members facilitated acceptability and adoption of the method. Clients reported that provider outreach was appropriate for contraceptive information. However, providers desired support to mitigate their own out-of-pocket costs and enhance the feasibility of outreach. Occasionally, providers used clients' age or education to decide whether they could self-inject independently, rather than clients' ability to perform SI procedures, limiting client-centredness Many providers felt their fidelity to SI provision protocols could improve with refresher trainings on the latest guidelines around offering SI. Clients indicated that proactive follow-up support from providers for continued SI and side effect management was appropriate and desired; providers concurred with offering such support.Findings suggest that programme scale-up efforts should prioritise: (1) leveraging peer support or social networks to facilitate acceptability of DMPA-SC for SI among clients, (2) improving access to training aids to ensure fidelity to protocols and facilitate adoption among clients and providers, (3) emphasising shared decision-making in judgement-free client trainings to encourage client-centredness, and (4) investing in models for proactive follow-up support to improve feasibility of continuation for clients' desired length of time.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Kural I, M Mombeek LM, DM Wilson (3rd) (2026)

Role of mitochondria in neuronal function and survival in the enteric and central nervous systems.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 83(1):.

UNLABELLED: Mitochondria are indispensable organelles that not only generate cellular energy through oxidative phosphorylation but also regulate calcium homeostasis, redox balance, and apoptotic signaling. Given the high metabolic demands of neurons, mitochondrial function and resilience mechanisms are essential for neuronal development, maturation, and survival; when these systems fail, pathological outcomes can arise. This review highlights the critical role of mitochondria in maintaining neuronal function, with discussion related to both the central (CNS) and enteric (ENS) nervous systems. We present how mitochondrial dysfunction, through impaired bioenergetics, oxidative stress, defective quality control, and altered dynamics, can drive neuronal cell loss. Furthermore, we highlight the link between mitochondrial defects and nervous system pathological outcomes in both primary mitochondrial disorders, such as mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy, and secondary mitochondrial disorders, such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington disease, as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. By integrating evidence from the CNS and ENS, this review highlights the central role of mitochondria in supporting and preserving neuronal health, as well as the potential of mitochondria as therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disease.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text]

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Dehury S, Tiwari S, P Los Rios (2026)

Refolding-assisted purification of native full-length TDP-43 compatible with BSL-2 safety regulations.

Methods (San Diego, Calif.), 248:83-91.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a prion-like RNA-binding protein that plays a key role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Producing full-length TDP-43 consistently is thus relevant for its in vitro studies and yet it remains challenging, especially with the current requirement to work under biosafety level-2 (BSL-2) containment due to new safety regulations for Prion-like and amyloidogenic proteins. Here we describe a refolding-assisted purification protocol for TDP-43 from soluble fraction that can be implemented with basic equipment in standard BSL-2 laboratories. Expression in Escherichia coli is followed by IMAC-capture on an EDTA/DTT-tolerant Ni[2+]-NTA resin under 4 M urea, then on-column refolding via a gradient urea wash using resin-limiting conditions that favour the binding to high-affinity His-tagged protein. After removal of the SUMO solubility tag, the preparation is monitored by a robust quality-control pipeline: SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting for integrity and purity, mass photometry for oligomeric state, far-UV circular dichroism for secondary structure, fluorescence anisotropy for native functional assays, and light-scattering for stability and aggregation propensity measurements. A concise BSL-2 standard operating procedure specifies containment, decontamination, and waste handling for prion-like proteins. This protocol enables safe, cost-effective, and reproducible access to native-like full-length TDP-43 and is readily adaptable to other prion-like aggregation-prone proteins.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Di Gennaro G, Grammaldo LG, A Tomasini (2026)

Toward a multidimensional understanding of internalized epilepsy stigma.

Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 177:110899.

This letter responds to Prieto et al.'s discussion of our article Rethinking epilepsy stigma: the uncanny, the emotional, and the structural. We clarify that our original framework was primarily theoretical, aiming to illuminate the multifaceted mechanisms sustaining internalized epilepsy stigma, including the "uncanny" experience of seizures, ambivalent emotional responses, and structural inequities. We highlight how third-generation psychotherapeutic approaches, emphasizing psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and emotional acceptance, complement cognitive-behavioral strategies by enhancing individuals' capacity to relate adaptively to stigma-related distress. We propose that integrating behavioural, emotional, and structural perspectives offers a multidimensional framework to better understand and address internalized epilepsy stigma, guiding interventions that promote psychological well-being, social inclusion, and empowerment for people living with epilepsy.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2025-12-17

Ibragimov U, Giordano NA, Amaresh S, et al (2025)

Implementation outcomes and strategies of a peer recovery coach program: findings from a qualitative assessment in the U.S. South, 2024-2025.

Addiction science & clinical practice, 20(1):95.

INTRODUCTION: Successful implementation of peer recovery coach (PRC) programs may help improve linkage to services and clinical outcomes for emergency department (ED) patients with substance use disorder (SUD). However, literature on implementation outcomes and strategies of PRC programs is limited. We conducted a qualitative assessment of implementation outcomes and strategies for an ED-based PRC program in Atlanta, Georgia.

METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews with 27 program participants (ED patients with SUD served by PRC program) and 29 service providers and partners (peer recovery coaches, ED physicians and staff, SUD treatment and other service providers) in October 2023 - March 2025. We transcribed audio-recordings and analyzed data using rapid qualitative analysis approach mapping emerging themes to Proctor's model of implementation outcomes and Leeman et al.'s implementation strategies framework.

RESULTS: We identified two major themes related to implementation outcomes: (1) PRC program acceptability (patients' positive interactions with PRCs) and (2) appropriateness (sub-themes include: successful linkage to community services; PRC program as an important resource for patients; added value of PRC team; no negative impact on ED workflow). Themes related to implementation strategies include (1) streamlined communication between PRC and ED teams (direct communication via electronic medical records system, single contact phone number, informing ED service providers of clinical and program outcomes), (2) addressing barriers to community-based services (preparing patient's medical documentation, insurance, transportation to community services); (3) supportive supervision of PRCs (addressing daily and long-term issues through regular meetings; limiting caseload; and providing orientation, on-job training and mental health support) and (4) addressing telehealth implementation challenges (ensuring access to electronic medical records system).

CONCLUSION: This study outlines key implementation outcomes and strategies for PRC programs, offering practical guidance for successful ED-based PRC program implementation.

RevDate: 2025-09-02

Zhang Y, Guo Z, Qiu R, et al (2025)

The ConPET Mechanism Remains Veiled: Reply to "Unlocking the ConPeT Mechanism".

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), 64(36):e202514007.

In this journal, a Correspondence by Ventura, Cozzi, and Ceroni reported time-resolved absorption spectroscopy studies in the electron transfer process from cyanoarene photocatalyst 3,4,5,6-tetrakis(diphenyl amino)phthalonitrile (4DPAPN) in the presence of tetrabutylammonium oxalate (TBAOx). This was used as a model reaction to investigate the mechanism of consecutive photoinduced electron transfer (ConPET) in our previously reported asymmetric [3+2] photocycloaddition. They proposed a new electron transfer pathway in which the electron from the excited state of the radical anion 4DPAPN*[•-] solvated in acetonitrile. This article replies to their Correspondence, including: the experimental and theoretical analysis on the driving force of electron transfer and a series of new experiments conducted with purer reagents under more stringent conditions, which suggest that the process of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) followed by ConPET cannot be excluded, as proposed in our previous publication. Yet, Ceroni et al.'s efforts to study organic photochemical reactions using time-resolved spectroscopy remain worthwhile, and their proposed mechanism also led us to consider other possible pathways for the reaction. This article concludes with a series of constructive suggestions for further studying the ConPET mechanism using time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and other techniques.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Major AJ, Abdaltawab A, Phillips JM, et al (2025)

A ubiquitous spectrolaminar motif across independent studies, including Mackey et al.'s own data.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology.

Our study (Mendoza-Halliday et al., 2024) made two contributions: (1) discovery of a ubiquitous cortical motif and (2) a tool derived from it-the Frequency-based Layer Identification Procedure (FLIP and vFLIP). Mackey et al. critique the tool, questioning its advantage over classic current source density (CSD) analysis, and reason backwards to challenge the motif's ubiquity. In our rebuttal, we confirm the spectrolaminar motif in diverse cortical areas using data from multiple research groups (who joined us in this rebuttal) as well as Mackey et al.'s own dataset. Additionally, we introduce vFLIP2, an improved version of our tool that addresses their comments. It reliably identified and localized the motif in our data and Mackey et al.'s data. Our findings reaffirm the motif's ubiquity. We value Mackey et al.'s comments, which helped refine our tool.

RevDate: 2025-09-26
CmpDate: 2025-09-25

Pope E, Ameral V, Falcón A, et al (2025)

Knowledge and attitudes regarding substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction practices among US pharmacists: A scoping review.

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA, 65(5):102462.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address substance use disorders (SUDs) and expand harm reduction services due to their accessibility and expertise in medication management. However, attitudinal and structural barriers may limit their full potential in this role.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review examines pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and engagement in SUD treatment and harm reduction.

METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using Levac et al.'s enhancement of Arksey and O'Malley's framework. A systematic search of MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycInfo, Embase, ProQuest Health & Medical, and ProQuest Psychology was performed on August 3, 2024, yielding 87 articles addressing pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to SUD and harm reduction.

RESULTS: Pharmacists generally acknowledge the efficacy of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) in reducing opioid-related mortality but often hold stigmatizing beliefs about individuals with SUDs. While supportive of harm reduction strategies, such as naloxone distribution and needle and syringe programs, engagement varies widely. Significant gaps in education and training persist, leaving pharmacists with limited confidence and practical experience in SUD care, despite their reported familiarity with MOUDs and naloxone pharmacology.

CONCLUSION: This review highlights a complex interplay of support, barriers, and knowledge gaps shaping pharmacists' roles in SUD treatment and harm reduction. Targeted education, supportive policies, and interprofessional collaboration are crucial to enabling pharmacists to provide stigma-free, comprehensive care for individuals with SUDs.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2025-06-03

Gupta A, Wyatt LC, Mammen S, et al (2025)

Cost analysis of implementing a community health worker-led weight reduction randomized-controlled trial among prediabetic south asian patients at primary care sites in NYC.

Implementation science : IS, 20(1):26.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a cost analysis of implementing a randomized controlled trial that proved the effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW) facilitated weight loss intervention among South Asian patients with prediabetes receiving care at primary care practices in New York City. South Asians have a high prevalence of diabetes, but no study to date has evaluated the cost of implementing an evidence-based lifestyle intervention in this population. Cost estimates are necessary for an intervention's adoption and scale-up.

METHODS: The first wave of the intervention was implemented in-person, followed by two waves implemented remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated the implementation, intervention, and adaptation costs and the costs by each wave of implementation, by applying the Gold et al.'s economic framework and ERIC discrete implementation strategy compilation Costs were calculated from the perspective of a health care payer, public health agency, or health care system. The CHW intervention included group education sessions over six months. For each wave, we separately estimated the total cost, cost per practice, and cost when implemented at only one practice. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics salary estimates, we calculated the national average (mean salary) and lower (25th percentile salary) and upper (75th percentile salary) bounds.

RESULTS: The average total 6-month implementation costs over 3 waves, each targeting seven practices was $215,420 (range: $158,620-$257,020). Program staff salaries comprised > 93% of total costs. Adaptation cost was nearly 1/3 of start-up costs. On average, implementation at one practice would cost twice as much as the per-practice costs when implemented simultaneously at seven practices in a wave, due to spread of start-up costs across multiple sites.

CONCLUSIONS: Staff salaries comprise most of the budget to implement such an intervention. It is most efficient for an agency to implement this intervention across several practices simultaneously. Decision-makers will need to evaluate relative costs and effectiveness of other options to achieve weight loss in a minority community with constrained resources.

CLINICALTRIALS: GOV: This study was registered on June 15, 2017 at  https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS: gov as NCT03188094. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03188094 .

RevDate: 2025-05-14
CmpDate: 2025-05-14

Vaughan DP, Real R, Jensen MT, et al (2025)

Analysis of C9orf72 repeat length in progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, corticobasal degeneration, and atypical parkinsonism.

Journal of neurology, 272(4):293.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9orf72 are the commonest genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia and/or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. There is growing interest in intermediate repeat expansions in C9orf72 and their relationship to a wide range of neurological presentations, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and corticobasal syndromes.

AIMS: To assess the prevalence of intermediate C9orf72 repeat expansions in a large cohort of prospectively-recruited patients clinically diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and atypical parkinsonism (APS), compared with healthy controls. We also sought to replicate the association between C9orf72 repeat length and CBD in neuropathologically confirmed cases.

METHODS: 626 cases, including PSP (n = 366), CBS (n = 130), and APS (n = 53) from the PROSPECT study, and 77 cases with pathologically confirmed CBD were screened for intermediate repeat expansions in C9orf72 using repeat-primed PCR. These were compared to controls from the PROSPECT-M-UK study and from the 1958 Birth Cohort.

RESULTS: There was no difference in the mean or largest allele size in any affected patient group compared with controls. A higher proportion of our affected cohort had large C9orf72 repeat expansions compared to controls, but there was no difference when comparing the frequency of intermediate expansions between affected patients and controls. There was no relationship between repeat length and age at onset, level of disability, or survival.

CONCLUSIONS: Intermediate expansions in C9orf72 do not appear to be a genetic risk factor for PSP, CBS, CBD, or atypical parkinsonism. They are not associated with age at onset, disability, or survival in our study.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2025-05-09

Endres-Dighe S, Sucaldito AD, McDowell R, et al (2025)

Mechanisms of resilience and coping to intersectional HIV prevention and drug-use stigma among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachian Ohio.

Harm reduction journal, 22(1):18.

BACKGROUND: Intersectional stigma of drug-use and HIV hinders provision and utilization of HIV prevention services for people who inject drugs (PWID), particularly within rural US communities. Resilience and coping may be critical for PWID to counter pervasive stigma.

METHODS: Between October 2021 and July 2022, 35 in-depth interviews were conducted in Appalachian Ohio to understand the intersection of drug-use and HIV prevention stigma and how resilience and coping processes are displayed, shared, and enacted. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted, guided by Harper et al.'s four key resilience processes: (a) engaging in health-promoting cognitive processes, (b) enacting in health behavioral practices, (c) exchanging social support, and (d) empowering other PWID to engage in health behavior practices.

RESULTS: Resilience processes aligned with the Harper framework with additional coping processes identified, including anticipation strategies and maladaptive coping. Empowering other PWID emerged as a prominent resiliency process, often supported by systems of support like syringe service programs (SSPs), which provided resources and helped reduce stigma. However, bidirectional social support was constrained, as PWID frequently acted as providers of resources and referrals for peers despite limited knowledge of HIV prevention strategies and feeling unsupported themselves. Anticipation strategies were employed to manage anticipated stigma, including accessing support or, conversely, avoiding healthcare and refraining from disclosing drug use. Maladaptive coping included behaviors such as social isolation and self-administered medical care, highlighting critical gaps in opportunities to foster resilience.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight that empowering peers and anticipation strategies can be key resilience processes, while maladaptive coping and limited bidirectional social support underscore the need for resilience-building and stigma-reduction interventions. Tailored systems of support for PWID in rural communities are critical to fostering adaptive coping and enhancing engagement with HIV prevention services.

RevDate: 2025-01-14
CmpDate: 2024-08-30

Rashed HR, Staff NP, Milone M, et al (2024)

Autonomic impairment in primary lateral sclerosis.

Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society, 34(4):421-425.

PURPOSE: Prior studies reported evidence of autonomic involvement in motor neuron disease and suggested more severe dysfunction in upper motor neuron predominant syndromes. Hence, we sought to characterize autonomic impairment in primary lateral sclerosis.

METHODS: Neurological evaluations, thermoregulatory sweat tests, and autonomic reflex screens were analyzed retrospectively in 34 primary lateral sclerosis patients (28 definite and 6 probable). Patients with other potential causes of autonomic failure and patients with autonomic testing results compromised by artifact were excluded.

RESULTS: A total of 17 patients reported autonomic symptoms. Orthostatic lightheadedness was most frequent (8 patients), followed by bladder (7), bowel (5), and erectile dysfunction (3). The autonomic reflex screens of 33 patients were reviewed; 20 patients had abnormal studies. The thermoregulatory sweat tests of 19 patients were reviewed; 11 patients had abnormal studies. Composite Autonomic Severity Score was calculated for 33 patients and found abnormal in 20/33 patients (60.6%): 15/20 patients (75%) had mild impairment, and 5/20 patients (25%) had moderate impairment. The frequencies of testing abnormalities were: sudomotor 18/20 (90%), cardiovagal 9/20 (45%), and adrenergic 6/20 (30%). Sweat loss pattern analysis showed global, regional, and mixed patterns to be more common than length-dependent and distal patterns.

CONCLUSION: We found evidence of frequent autonomic dysfunction in primary lateral sclerosis, which is generally of modest severity akin to prior reports for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but more commonly in a pattern consistent with preganglionic/ganglionic localization. This suggests that primary lateral sclerosis, as with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a multisystem disease that affects the autonomic nervous system.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2023-05-22

Enders J, Jack J, Thomas S, et al (2023)

Ketolysis is required for the proper development and function of the somatosensory nervous system.

Experimental neurology, 365:114428.

Ketogenic diets are emerging as protective interventions in preclinical and clinical models of somatosensory nervous system disorders. Additionally, dysregulation of succinyl-CoA 3-oxoacid CoA-transferase 1 (SCOT, encoded by Oxct1), the fate-committing enzyme in mitochondrial ketolysis, has recently been described in Friedreich's ataxia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the contribution of ketone metabolism in the normal development and function of the somatosensory nervous system remains poorly characterized. We generated sensory neuron-specific, Advillin-Cre knockout of SCOT (Adv-KO-SCOT) mice and characterized the structure and function of their somatosensory system. We used histological techniques to assess sensory neuronal populations, myelination, and skin and spinal dorsal horn innervation. We also examined cutaneous and proprioceptive sensory behaviors with the von Frey test, radiant heat assay, rotarod, and grid-walk tests. Adv-KO-SCOT mice exhibited myelination deficits, altered morphology of putative Aδ soma from the dorsal root ganglion, reduced cutaneous innervation, and abnormal innervation of the spinal dorsal horn compared to wildtype mice. Synapsin 1-Cre-driven knockout of Oxct1 confirmed deficits in epidermal innervation following a loss of ketone oxidation. Loss of peripheral axonal ketolysis was further associated with proprioceptive deficits, yet Adv-KO-SCOT mice did not exhibit drastically altered cutaneous mechanical and thermal thresholds. Knockout of Oxct1 in peripheral sensory neurons resulted in histological abnormalities and severe proprioceptive deficits in mice. We conclude that ketone metabolism is essential for the development of the somatosensory nervous system. These findings also suggest that decreased ketone oxidation in the somatosensory nervous system may explain the neurological symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia.

RevDate: 2024-02-12
CmpDate: 2023-06-12

Miki Y, Shibuya E, Yoshizawa T, et al (2023)

Is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis a prion-like disorder? A case report.

Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 44(7):2587-2589.

RevDate: 2022-12-14
CmpDate: 2021-01-13

Kalimuthu K, Kim JM, Subburaman C, et al (2020)

Characterization of Rajath Bhasma and Evaluation of Its Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos and Its Antimicrobial Activity.

Journal of microbiology and biotechnology, 30(6):920-925.

In India, nanotechnology has been used in therapeutic applications for several millennia. One example of a traditional nanomedicine is Rajath Bhasma (als°Called calcined silver ash), which is used as an antimicrobial and for the treatment of various ailments and conditions such as memory loss, eye diseases, and dehydration. In this study, we aimed t°Characterize the physical composition and morphology of Rajath Bhasma and its suitability for use as a non-toxic antimicrobial agent. First, Rajath Bhasma was physically characterized via i) Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to analyze the surface functional groups, ii) scanning electron microscopy coupled with energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy to observe the morphology and elemental composition, and iii) X-ray diffraction to determine the crystalline phases. Thereafter, functional characterization was performed through toxicity screening using zebrafish embryos and through antimicrobial activity assessment against gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Rajath Bhasma was found to harbor alkene, hydroxyl, aldehyde, and amide functional groups originating from biological components on its surface. The main component of Rajath Bhasma is silver, with particle size of 170-210 nm, and existing in the form of spherical aggregates with pure crystalline silver structures. Furthermore, Rajath Bhasma did not exert toxic effects on zebrafish embryos at concentrations below 5 μg/ml and exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The present results indicate that Rajath Bhasma is a potentially effective antimicrobial agent without toxicity when used at concentrations below 5 μg/ml.

RevDate: 2017-04-27
CmpDate: 2016-09-06

Petit MD, J Fernández (2016)

28th Annual DIA EuroMeeting (April 6-8, 2016 - Hamburg, Germany).

Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998), 52(5):305-308.

The 28(th) Drug Information Association (DIA) Annual EuroMeeting took place in Hamburg, Germany, gathering together participants from different industries, organizations, academic research centers, regulatory agencies and health ministries, mainly from the E.U. The conference began with a regulatory Town Hall meeting focusing on the E.U. Medicines Agencies Network strategy to 2020. This was followed by an opening plenary session where the diverse roles of innovation in drug development were discussed. Areas for discussion over the meeting were classified into 14 main themes, and for each session, profession¬als from the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies and health ministries, as well as delegates from patient organizations, presented their considerations for debate. This report covers some regulatory sessions presented at the meeting.

RevDate: 2019-11-20

Elbay AE, Topalkara A, Elbay A, et al (2015)

Evaluation of Serum Homocysteine and Leptin Levels in Patients with Uveitis.

Turkish journal of ophthalmology, 45(4):146-151.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the serum homocysteine (Hcy) and leptin levels in patients with uveitis.

The 70 cases included in the study comprised 3 groups: patients with Behçet's uveitis (BU), patients with non-Behçet's uveitis (NBU) and healthy controls. Body mass index was calculated for each subject. Serum Hcy and leptin levels were measured. Furthermore, acute-phase reactants including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein and neutrophil count were measured.

RE­SULTS: Serum Hcy levels were 15.04±4.59 µmol/L in the BU group, 15.4±6.87 µmol/L in the NBU group and 13.64±4.72 µmol/L in the control group (p>0.05). The serum leptin levels of male patients in the BU group, NBU group and control group were 4.76±3.54 ng/ml, 6.33±3.74 ng/ml and 5.47±6.33 ng/ml, respectively (p>0.05). When we compared serum leptin levels in female patients and controls, the mean serum leptin concentrations were significantly higher in female BU and NBU patients (24.83±17.62 ng/ml and 28.46±13.90 ng/ml, respectively) than in healthy control volunteers (9.62±6.36 ng/ml, p<0.05). In addition, the ESR value differences between groups were statistically significant (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: A larger case series is necessary to investigate serum Hcy and leptin concentrations in uveitis patients.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Lindström L, Ahlsson F, Axelsson O, et al (2026)

Differences in prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in term pregnancies by choice of fetal growth reference: A validation study.

Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 105(3):466-478.

INTRODUCTION: Our objectives were to evaluate the association between fetal growth abnormalities and adverse perinatal outcomes in term pregnancies using four different fetal growth references: the recently published Swedish references by Lindström et al., the currently used Swedish references by Maršál et al., and the international standards by the WHO and INTERGROWTH-21st (IG21st). The study aimed to evaluate the performance of each reference and determine which reference most accurately identifies small for gestational age (SGA) infants at risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This population-based cohort study included 1 126 059 singleton term births in Sweden from 2010 to 2020. Data were obtained from national registers, including the Swedish Medical Birth Register and the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register. Birthweight centiles were calculated using each growth reference. Adverse perinatal outcomes were categorized by severity and included stillbirth, neonatal death, and serious neonatal morbidity. Logistic regression models were used to assess predictive performance, and sensitivity and false positive rates (FPR) were calculated for SGA thresholds (<3rd and <10th centiles).

RESULTS: The distribution of birthweight centiles varied significantly across references. For SGA <3rd centile, the rate ranged from 9.6% for Lindström, 2.5% for Maršál, 1.9% for WHO, to 0.7% for IG21st. All references showed similar overall predictive performance (C-index ≈ 0.67) but with different discriminatory ability. The predicted risk of perinatal death increased at lower centiles for the Lindström reference than for the Maršál and WHO references, and at higher centiles for the IG21st reference. The Lindström reference identified the highest proportion of infants as SGA and had the highest sensitivity but also the highest FPR for detecting adverse outcomes. The IG21st reference classified the smallest proportion as SGA, resulting in the lowest sensitivity and FPR.

CONCLUSIONS: While all fetal growth references showed comparable predictive ability for adverse perinatal outcomes, they differed substantially in sensitivity and FPR. When the top priority is to identify as many at-risk fetuses as possible, Lindström et al.'s reference seems to be the best choice. However, when the top priority is a balanced sensitivity versus FPR, the WHO reference seems most suitable for clinical practice in this population of term births.

RevDate: 2026-01-10
CmpDate: 2026-01-08

Ma Y, Tian H, Xiao W, et al (2025)

Machine Learning Approaches for Optimizing Drug Combinations in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Brief Review.

ACS omega, 10(48):57950-57973.

As the global population ages, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs)(?)including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Multisystem Atrophy (multiple system atrophy), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(?)continues to rise, largely driven by environmental, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors. Advances in computational technologies, particularly machine learning (ML) and deep learning, are reshaping research in this field. This review summarizes the major features of these diseases and emphasizes the role of ML in drug discovery, virtual screening, drug repurposing, and drug combination optimization. Representative approaches include support vector machines for classification, convolutional neural networks|convolutional neural network for imaging analysis, recurrent neural networks for temporal biomedical data, and transformers for multimodal integration. These methods highlight the potential of computational strategies to improve therapeutic development. In addition, the review underscores the substantial incidence rates and socioeconomic burden of these conditions, which have made them focal points for algorithmic innovation. With research evolving rapidly, the development of AI-driven approaches is expected to enable more effective, targeted interventions and improve patient outcomes. This Perspective provides a concise overview of current progress and identifies promising future directions in the fight against NDDs.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Dmuchowska DA, Godzien J, Mojsak P, et al (2026)

Comment on: Changes in Aqueous Humor Cytokines and Metabolomics in Contralateral Eye After Unilateral Cataract Surgery.

Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 42(1):9-11.

UNLABELLED: We extend Li et al.'s investigation of aqueous humor (AH) metabolomics in sequential cataract surgery by referencing our prior study on interocular symmetry/asymmetry in AH metabolomic profiles from simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery in emmetropic patients, which demonstrated similar AH compositions in fellow eyes. We also illustrate variability with 2 sequential-surgery cases and highlight the most and least variable metabolites across 6 biochemical classes. Taken together with Li et al., these observations support careful attribution of second-eye changes to surgery versus biology.

PURPOSE: To extend the findings of Li et al. on AH metabolomics in sequential cataract surgery by incorporating reference data on interocular symmetry/asymmetry in AH metabolomic profiles and illustrating variability in sequential cases.

METHODS: We drew on our prior study of simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery in emmetropic patients, which demonstrated high interocular similarity, and examined AH metabolomic variability in 2 patients undergoing sequential cataract surgery.

RESULTS: Baseline interocular comparisons highlight metabolic symmetry in the AH among patients undergoing simultaneous cataract surgery. In 2 additional cases, we identified the most and least variable metabolites across 6 biochemical classes among patients undergoing sequential cataract surgery, complementing the observations of Li et al.Conclusion:Our reference data help contextualize Li et al.'s results. Although based on limited cases, our findings emphasize the need for caution when interpreting AH metabolomics in sequential surgery to distinguish true intra- and inter-individual biological variability from potential surgical effects on the second eye. Multimodal approaches integrating metabolomic and vascular metrics may improve biomarker selection and inform surgical timing.

RevDate: 2019-08-02
CmpDate: 2019-08-02

Bahcaci U, I Demirbuken (2019)

Effects of chemotherapy process on postural balance control in patients with breast cancer.

Indian journal of cancer, 56(1):50-54.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer among women in the world. Patients can face musculoskeletal disorders due to treatment side effects that result in failure to walk, falling, or fractures associated with balance problems.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether postural balance would be affected during chemotherapy (CT) in people with BC.

MATERİALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 women who consulted the medical oncology department, between 31 and 63 years of age, were admitted to the study. For fear of falling, fall efficiacy scale; for static balance, double-leg, single-leg, and tandem stance tests with eyes opened and eyes closed; Romberg test; for dinamic balance, Sit To Stand (STS) test, and Time Up and Go (TUG) tests were performed in the patients.

RESULTS: Reduced fear of falling between CT cycles (P < 0.0125), no change in postural sway in double-leg stance test with eyes opened (P = 0.734) and eyes closed (P = 0.127), significantly increased postural instability in single-leg and tandem stance test with eyes opened and eyes closed (P = 0.000), no change in postural stability in Romberg test (P > 0.05), significantly increased postural instability in STS (P = 0.000) and TUG tests (P = 0.000), and significantly increased time of finishing the STS (P = 0.021) and TUG tests (P = 0.010) were noted.

CONCLUSİON: Patients demonstrated postural instability which can ruin the daily life activities in many parameters of measurements. Postural balance exercises should be performed by BC survivors undergoing CT.

RevDate: 2022-12-07
CmpDate: 2018-08-29

Ding H, Wu X, Pan J, et al (2018)

New Insights into the Inhibition Mechanism of Betulinic Acid on α-Glucosidase.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 66(27):7065-7075.

Betulinic acid (BA), an important pentacyclic triterpene widely distributed in many foods, possesses high antidiabetic activity. In this study, BA was found to exhibit stronger inhibition of α-glucosidase than acarbose with an IC50 value of (1.06 ± 0.02) × 10[-5] mol L[-1] in a mixed-type manner. BA bound with α-glucosidase to form a BA-α-glucosidase complex, resulting in a more compact structure of the enzyme. The obtained concentrations and spectra profiles of the components resolved by the multivariate-curve resolution-alternating least-squares confirmed the formation of the BA-α-glucosidase complex. Molecular docking showed that BA tightly bound to the active cavity of α-glucosidase, which might hinder the entrance of the substrate leading to a decline in enzyme activity. The chemical modification of α-glucosidase verified the results of the computer simulation that the order of importance of the four amino acid residues in the binding process was His > Tyr > Lys > Arg.

RevDate: 2019-11-20

Savku E, K Gündüz (2015)

Diagnosis, Follow-Up and Treatment Results in Thyroid Ophthalmopathy.

Turkish journal of ophthalmology, 45(4):156-163.

OBJECTIVES: To discuss our follow-up and treatment results in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

The records of 168 TAO cases who were followed at our clinic between October 1998 and October 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. The severity and activity of the disease were evaluated according to the criteria of the European Group on Graves' Ophthalmopathy (EUGOGO) and Clinical Activity Score (CAS).

RE­SULTS: Sixty-three men and 105 women participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.3±12.4 years. Smoking habit was noted in 54.2% of the cases. Graves' disease was the most common (80.4%) thyroid pathology accompanying TAO. TAO was mild in 64.4%, moderate-to-severe in 33.6% and severe in 2% of the eyes. Male gender was found as an independent risk factor for severity of the disease (p=0.040). TAO was in the active phase in 32.6% of the eyes. Older age and high thyroid receptor antibody titer were correlated with disease activity (P=0.031 and P<0.001, respectively). Thirty-four patients (20%) were treated for ocular findings. The most common treatment was systemic steroid therapy (12%); others included orbital decompression (5%), orbital radiotherapy (2%), and topical application of guanethidine (1%).

CONCLUSION: Non-infiltrative phase and mild ocular findings were generally seen in TAO. Therefore, treatment is not recommended for many cases. Systemic steroid therapy is the most commonly used treatment modality in the active phase. However, orbital decompression surgery is necessary in a small number of cases with sight-threatening ocular findings.

RevDate: 2019-11-20

AltıntaÅŸ AG, ArifoÄŸlu HB, ŞG Köklü (2015)

Modified Y-splitting Procedure for the Treatment of Duane Retraction Syndrome.

Turkish journal of ophthalmology, 45(4):152-155.

OBJECTIVES: To present the outcomes of modified lateral rectus Y-splitting combined with either unilateral or bilateral horizontal rectus recession in Duane Retraction Syndrome (DRS) with significant upshoot or downshoot.

A total of 12 patients including 10 patients with Type I DRS and 2 with Type III DRS underwent modified Y-splitting surgery. Amount of additional recessions varied with the degree of preoperative deviation by intraoperative adjustable suture technique. Preoperatively 3 patients had esotropia (ET), 6 had exotropia (XT), and 3 patients had orthotropia. The mean preoperative deviation was 19.3 prism diopters (PD) (range, 18-20 PD) in ET patients and 19.2 PD (range, 16-20 PD) in XT patients.

RE­SULTS: Postoperatively, all patients had significant correction in horizontal deviation and aligned within 4 PD of orthotropia, and no patients exhibited abnormal head posture. Co-contraction and globe retraction were markedly reduced and abnormal ocular vertical movement disappeared or significantly decreased in all cases. No patients experienced recurrence of ocular motility disorders in the mean 26-month (range, 13-66 months) follow-up period.

CONCLUSION: Modified Y-splitting surgery combined with co-contracting horizontal muscle recession technique seems to be a safe and effective treatment in DRS.

RevDate: 2019-11-20

Söğütlü Sarı E, Koç R, Yazıcı A, et al (2015)

Tear Osmolarity, Break-up Time and Schirmer's Scores in Parkinson's Disease.

Turkish journal of ophthalmology, 45(4):142-145.

OBJECTIVES: Dry eye is an important problem in Parkinson's disease (PD) with a potential to affect life quality. Tear osmolarity, accepted as the gold standard in dry eye diagnosis, has not been studied in this subset of patients so far. Therefore, in this study we aimed to evaluate tear osmolarity, Schirmer's test scores and tear film break-up time (TBUT) in PD patients.

PD patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year and healthy controls who admitted for refractive abnormalities were enrolled to the study. Subjects using any systemic medication with a possibility to affect tear tests were not included in the study. The presence of any ocular surface disorder, previous ocular surgery, previous dry eye diagnosis, any topical ophthalmic medication or contact lens use were other exclusion criteria. Age, gender, disease duration, and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) score for disease severity were noted, and blink rate (BR), Schirmer's test score, TBUT and tear osmolarity of the right eye were measured in both groups.

RE­SULTS: Thirty-seven PD patients and 37 controls were enrolled to the study. The groups were age and gender matched. The mean disease duration and H&Y score were 5.70±2.64 years and 1.70±0.93, respectively. H&Y staging and disease duration were not correlated to BR, Schirmer's scores, TBUT, or tear osmolarity (p>0.05). The mean BR was 8.54±4.99 blinks/minute in PD patients and 11.97±6.36 blinks/minute in the control group. Mean Schirmer's scores, TBUT and osmolarity values were 9.08±4.46 mm, 11.38±4.05 seconds and 306.43±12.63 mOsm/L in the PD group and 17.16±9.57 mm, 12.81±3.66 seconds and 303.81±16.13 mOsm/L in the control group. The differences were significant only in BR and Schirmer's scores.

CONCLUSION: BR and Schirmer's scores decreased significantly in PD patients. Although not significant, the demonstrated tear osmolarity increment might be important to document the dry eye and inflammatory process of the ocular surface in PD patients.

RevDate: 2019-11-20

Betül Türkoğlu E, Tuna S, Alan S, et al (2015)

Effect of Systemic Infliximab Therapy in Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.

Turkish journal of ophthalmology, 45(4):138-141.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of systemic infliximab therapy on tear function tests and the ocular surface in patients with Sjögren's syndrome secondary to various autoimmune diseases.

This prospective study included 22 eyes of 22 patients with Sjögren's syndrome who began treatment with systemic infliximab. Tear film break-up time (TBUT), anesthetized Schirmer's 1 test, fluorescein staining test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores were recorded before treatment and in the 3rd and 6th months of treatment.

RE­SULTS: In the 3rd month of infliximab therapy, no significant changes were observed in Schirmer's values, TBUT, fluorescein staining, or OSDI scores (p=0.260, p=0.357, p=0.190 and p=0.07, respectively). In the 6th month of infliximab therapy, no significant changes were observed in TBUT, fluorescein staining, Schirmer's value or OSDI scores (p=0.510, p=0.320, p=0.220 and p=0.344, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Infliximab therapy, which is commonly used in systemic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and ankylosing spondylitis, did not show a positive effect on ocular surface and tear function tests.

RevDate: 2026-03-07

Li P, Wang Y, Bao Z, et al (2026)

Metagenomics-based insights into the microbial community composition and quality characteristics development potentiality in traditional dry-cured ham.

International journal of food microbiology, 453:111705 pii:S0168-1605(26)00085-1 [Epub ahead of print].

The objective of this study was to elucidate the formation mechanisms of quality characteristics in traditional dry-cured ham. The microbial community composition in three types of dry-cured ham was analyzed using metagenomics technology. Volatile flavor profiles were characterized via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), while peptide profiles were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Based on metagenomic data, biosynthetic pathways of volatile flavor compounds and bioactive peptides in dry-cured hams were reconstructed. Key microorganisms identified include Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus ruber, Debaryomyces hansenii, and Debaryomyces fabryi. Using GC-MS and GC-IMS, 25 volatile compounds were identified in dry-cured ham, with branched-chain compounds exhibiting higher odor activity values (OAVs). LC-MS analysis identified 203 microbial-derived peptide fragments, predominantly possessing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory, and antioxidant activities. Further investigation into the contribution of microbial communities to the characteristic quality attributes revealed that Staphylococcus species promote the formation of 3-methyl-butanal via branched-chain amino acid transaminase (BCAT) and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone via acetolactate synthase (ALS). With regard to functional bioactive peptides, Staphylococcus indirectly contributes to the synthesis of NPPKFD, DLEE, and KRQKYD via glutamyl endopeptidase activity. Additionally, proteins derived from Aspergillus glaucus (actin-related protein 5) and Staphylococcus equorum (chromosome segregation protein) serve as direct precursors for bioactive peptides, yielding potential sequences such as KNSKDPVSI and LEDDI. This study provides evidence indicating the role of microbial communities in shaping the quality characteristics of dry-cured ham.

RevDate: 2026-03-07
CmpDate: 2026-01-06

Maheswari Jawahar V, Zeng Y, Armour EM, et al (2026)

TDP-43-mediated alternative polyadenylation is associated with a reduction in VPS35 and VPS29 expression in frontotemporal dementia.

PLoS biology, 24(1):e3003573.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) dysfunction is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Although cryptic exon inclusion is a well-characterized consequence of TDP-43 loss of function, emerging evidence reveals broader roles in RNA metabolism, notably in the regulation of alternative polyadenylation (APA) of disease-relevant transcripts. In the present study, we examined 3' untranslated region lengthening events in the brains of individuals with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP), focusing on the functional impact of APA dysregulation. To investigate whether TDP-43-mediated APA events occur in the postmortem brain, we measured the 3' untranslated region length of the retromer component vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35) and the ETS transcription factor (ELK1) in the frontal cortex of a large cohort of FTLD-TDP patients and of healthy controls, and evaluated if these APA events are associated with FTLD-TDP clinical characteristic, markers of TDP-43 pathology [e.g., hyperphosphorylated TDP-43 and cryptic stathmin-2 RNA], or the expression of VPS35 and VPS29 proteins, the latter being essential to the retromer complex. We identified robust 3' untranslated region lengthening of VPS35 and ELK1 in FTLD-TDP, which strongly associated with markers of TDP-43 pathology, and ELK1 APA also associated with an earlier age of disease onset. Functionally, VPS35 APA was associated with reduced VPS35 and VPS29 protein expression, and lower VPS35 levels were associated with increased hyperphosphorylated TDP-43 and cryptic stathmin-2 RNA. Together, these data implicate APA dysregulation as a critical downstream consequence of TDP-43 dysfunction and suggest that TDP-43 loss may contribute to retromer impairment through APA-mediated repression of retromer subunits.

RevDate: 2026-03-07
CmpDate: 2025-05-01

Cui Y, Arnold FJ, Li JS, et al (2025)

Multi-omic quantitative trait loci link tandem repeat size variation to gene regulation in human brain.

Nature genetics, 57(2):369-378.

Tandem repeat (TR) size variation is implicated in ~50 neurological disorders, yet its impact on gene regulation in the human brain remains largely unknown. In the present study, we quantified the impact of TR size variation on brain gene regulation across distinct molecular phenotypes, based on 4,412 multi-omics samples from 1,597 donors, including 1,586 newly sequenced ones. We identified ~2.2 million TR molecular quantitative trait loci (TR-xQTLs), linking ~139,000 unique TRs to nearby molecular phenotypes, including many known disease-risk TRs, such as the G2C4 expansion in C9orf72 associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Fine-mapping revealed ~18,700 TRs as potential causal variants. Our in vitro experiments further confirmed the causal and independent regulatory effects of three TRs. Additional colocalization analysis indicated the potential causal role of TR variation in brain-related phenotypes, highlighted by a 3'-UTR TR in NUDT14 linked to cortical surface area and a TG repeat in PLEKHA1, associated with Alzheimer's disease.

RevDate: 2026-03-07

Smith SE, Miller TM, Atkinson A, et al (2026)

Integrating Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Diagnostic Criteria.

Muscle & nerve [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising diagnostic biomarker for differentiating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from clinical mimics. This study assessed the utility of integrating serum NfL into current diagnostic criteria to enhance diagnostic certainty in patients with a provisional ALS diagnosis who were confirmed as having ALS at follow-up.

METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of consecutive patients with a provisional ALS diagnosis at their initial visit at the WashU Medicine ALS Center. All underwent electrodiagnostic testing and serum NfL measurement via SIMOA using an HD-X analyzer (Quanterix). Elevated serum NfL was defined with a cutoff of 38 pg/mL.

RESULTS: The study included 43 patients with a provisional ALS diagnosis (29 men [67.4%]; median age, 63 years [range, 36-80 years]). At follow-up, 27/43 (62.8%) patients progressed to definite ALS. Serum NfL was elevated in 34/43 (79.1%) of the total cohort and 24/27 (88.9%) of those who progressed to definite ALS. Integrating serum NfL with Gold Coast Criteria (GCC) was associated with a tenfold increase in the odds of identifying patients likely to progress to definite ALS (OR 10 [1.39, 71.87], p = 0.02).

DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that serum NfL is a robust complement to current ALS diagnostic criteria and shows potential to improve early identification and diagnostic certainty of patients likely to progress to definite ALS. Integrating serum NfL with GCC provided the strongest predictive model. These findings warrant larger multicenter, prospective studies to confirm results.

RevDate: 2026-03-07

Magen I, Kaneb HM, Masnata M, et al (2026)

Cell free miRNAs are pharmacodynamic biomarkers for enhanced Dicer activity by Enoxacin in human patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy pii:S1525-0016(26)00187-5 [Epub ahead of print].

The activity of the RNase III enzyme DICER is downregulated in both sporadic and genetic forms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Accordingly, hundreds of microRNAs (miRNAs) are broadly downregulated, leading to de-repression of their mRNA targets. Enoxacin is a fluoroquinolone that enhances DICER activity and miRNA biogenesis. Here, we tested for the first time the molecular effect of Enoxacin on miRNA biogenesis in ALS patients and demonstrated that Enoxacin's engagement with DICER can be pharmacodynamically monitored via miRNA levels in human subjects. In an investigator-initiated, first-in-human study (REALS1), we explored miRNAs as pharmacodynamic biomarkers of DICER activation. Patients with sporadic ALS received oral Enoxacin twice daily for 30 days in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. The study demonstrated comparable Enoxacin levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Furthermore, an increase in cell-free miRNA levels in both plasma and CSF at all time points following Enoxacin treatment (400 mg or 800 mg/day), was measured relative to baseline. Additionally, no serious adverse events were reported. In conclusion, pharmacological enhancement of DICER activity by Enoxacin increases miRNA biogenesis in patients with ALS. These results support further investigation of Enoxacin efficacy in larger clinical trials.

RevDate: 2026-03-07

Shah JS, Oskarsson B, Zhou X, et al (2026)

Expanding the Motor Band Sign in Motor Neuron Disease Using 7T MRI: Visualization of Cortical Layer-Dependent Iron Deposition in the Primary Motor Cortex.

Muscle & nerve [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: There are no established biomarkers of upper motor neuron degeneration to aid in the diagnosis of motor neuron disease (MND). This study examines the diagnostic value of the motor band sign as a marker of upper motor neuron degeneration and its relationship to clinical findings in MND.

METHODS: Records of consecutive patients who underwent 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between October 2021 and April 2025 for evaluation of MND or other neurologic indications were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical variables and plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) levels were recorded. An upper motor neuron score (Mayo UMNS) was derived from reflex scores. Blinded MRI review assessed the degree of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) hypointensity in the hand, foot, and bulbar motor cortex regions.

RESULTS: An MBS was observed in 100 of 117 (85.5%) MND patients and in 16 (15.5%) patients with non-MND diagnoses, corresponding to a sensitivity of 85.5% (78.0%-90.7%) and 84.5% (76.2%-90.2%) specificity. The MBS in 78 MND patients (70.9%) preferentially involved the middle and deep cortical layers, giving a trilaminar appearance, while only one non-MND patient had this finding. Mayo UMNS (β = 0.89, p < 0.001), pNfL (β = 0.63, p = 0.033), and age at evaluation (β = 0.68, p = 0.027) were independently associated with the summed SWI score.

DISCUSSION: The 7T MRI MBS is a sensitive and specific marker for MND that complements established clinical evaluation. Using 7T, a trilaminar appearance of the motor cortex, reflecting known histopathological changes, can be visualized and may be specific to MND.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Huang NX, Cai ZW, Zhuang SP, et al (2026)

Impairment of brain short association fibers across clinical stages in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a new biomarker mirroring disease progression.

BMC medicine pii:10.1186/s12916-026-04770-7 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: A quantitative biomarker for clinical staging is essential for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) stratification. This study evaluated microstructural impairment in brain short association fibers (SAFs) across ALS stages via neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and assessed correlations with disease severity.

METHODS: Diffusion-weighted imaging data were collected from 87 ALS patients (categorized into four groups King's stages) and 37 healthy controls. Whole-brain SAF mapping was performed via a spherical deconvolution-driven probabilistic tractography approach. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and NODDI parameters (neurite density index, NDI; orientation dispersion index, ODI; isotropic volume fraction, ISO) were estimated for each SAF.

RESULTS: Seven SAFs connecting the left postcentral-precentral gyrus, left precentral-precentral gyrus, right postcentral-precentral gyrus, right paracentral-posterior cingulate gyrus, left paracentral-posterior cingulate gyrus, left precentral-superior parietal gyrus, and left precentral-superior frontal gyrus exhibited significant NDI differences across the five groups. Additionally, one fiber connecting the left medial orbitofrontal-rostral anterior cingulate gyrus demonstrated an ISO difference [false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected p < 0.05]. Progressive trends of NDI reduction and ISO increase were observed at higher ALS stages. No intergroup differences were found in the ODI or DTI parameters. The NDI values of these seven SAFs were positively correlated with disease severity scores (FDR-corrected p < 0.05). Combining NDI and ISO revealed moderate classification potential for ALS (area under the curve = 0.780).

CONCLUSIONS: Neurite injury in SAFs involving primary motor and extramotor areas worsened alongside clinical staging and motor disability in ALS. NODDI provides quantitative SAF-related biomarkers for assessing ALS disease severity.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Færge S, Muldtofte L, Ustrup M, et al (2026)

Recognizing epistemic injustice in healthcare: a case for methodological pluralism.

Medicine, health care, and philosophy [Epub ahead of print].

Nielsen et al. (2025) recently presented a critique of the current scholarship on epistemic injustice in healthcare, emphasizing the absence of robust empirical evidence, the conceptual difficulty of establishing criteria for identification, and the risk of theoretical misapplication of Miranda Fricker's original framework. While the call for nuance and careful theoretical articulation might be worthwhile, the framing of their critique risks reinforcing precisely the patterns of epistemic exclusion that the concept of epistemic injustice is meant to expose. The implication that epistemic injustice must be operationalized and empirically validated in large-scale quantitative studies before it can be acknowledged as clinically and ethically significant may inadvertently replicate a longstanding hierarchy of knowledge in which certain forms of suffering become "real" only once translated into quantifiable data. In this response, we aim to advance the scholarly debate by questioning the argumentative basis of Nielsen et al.'s claim that fundamental scientific, conceptual, and theoretical flaws undermine the field of epistemic injustice in healthcare. We propose instead approaching epistemic injustice with social objectivity and methodological pluralism; the concept should not be dismissed for lacking quantification or standardization, but rather recognized for its complexity and significance in improving equity, care, and clinical encounters.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Mendon A, Jain S, Mishra N, et al (2026)

Calprotectin as an immune-dysregulation biomarker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Insights for diagnosis and therapy.

Revue neurologique pii:S0035-3787(26)00451-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Motor neuron degeneration is a defining feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Early diagnosis remains challenging due to the absence of reliable and validated biomarkers. Calprotectin, a well-established inflammatory marker in various neuroinflammatory conditions, has paradoxically been found at reduced levels in the blood of ALS patients in a limited number of studies, raising the hypothesis of immune dysregulation rather than classical neuroinflammation. However, these findings are primarily derived from small patient cohorts and have yet to be independently replicated. This review critically assesses the emerging role of calprotectin in ALS by comparing it with other candidate biomarkers, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-7 (IL-7), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). While calprotectin may reflect a distinct immunological profile, its standalone diagnostic value remains unclear. Nonetheless, its integration into a multi-analyte biomarker panel could enhance diagnostic precision and biological insight. The review also explores underlying immunological mechanisms, including receptor interactions (RAGE, TLR4, CD33), cellular mediators (microglia, lymphocytes, monocytes), and therapeutic implications. Future research should prioritize mechanistic investigation of calprotectin modulation in ALS, longitudinal validation in larger cohorts, and integration within multimodal biomarker frameworks. A better understanding of disease-specific immune alterations may contribute to earlier diagnosis, stratified patient monitoring, and targeted therapeutic development.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Tolkachjov SN (2026)

Response to Li et al.'s "Comment on 'Gene Expression Profiling (GEP) in Dermatology, Part 2: Clinical Applications'-toward safe, patient-centered implementation.".

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Gan Y, Ju R, Peng Y, et al (2026)

A multi-platform analytical strategy for Atractylodes lancea authentication: Fusion of stable isotope, elemental, chromatographic, and spectroscopic profiles.

Talanta, 305:129603 pii:S0039-9140(26)00258-4 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The quality and market value of the medicinal herb Atractylodes lancea (AL) are critically dependent on its variety, geographical origin, and production mode. To combat adulteration and ensure efficacy, we developed a novel multi-platform analytical strategy integrated with machine learning to establish a robust traceability model for variety discrimination, geographical origin determination, and production mode identification of AL and identify the key chemical indicators responsible for its authentication.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found in trace element concentrations and isotopic ratios among samples. AL's main flavors were spicy, sweet, and fruity, with terpenoids as key aroma contributors. OPLS-DA identified key indicators for tracing AL's variety, including eleven trace elements (e.g., V, Al) and eight volatile compounds (e.g., β-Sesquiphellandrene, 2-Pinen-10-ol). For tracing AL origins, ten trace elements (e.g., Sr, Cr), two stable isotopes (δ[13]C, δ[15]N), five flavor components (e.g., 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2-Pentadecanone), and twenty-six volatile components (e.g., γ-Gurjunene, β-Bisabolene) were identified. Furthermore, three trace elements (Mg, Li and Pb), two isotopes (δ[13]C and δ[15]N), two flavor components (α-Pinene and n-Nonylcyclohexane), and two volatile components (α-Copaene and α-Curcumene) were identified as key indicators for tracing AL's production modes. Finally, among the nine machine learning algorithms evaluated, LightGBM demonstrated superior performance, achieving a traceability accuracy of 95.28 ± 3.01%.

CONCLUSION: The multi-platform data fusion strategy presents a thorough and dependable approach to quality control for Atractylodes lancea. This method establishes a precise, efficient, and adaptable framework, demonstrating substantial potential for application to other high-value botanicals and complex natural products.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Gültekin M, İlikhan BA, Baydemir R, et al (2026)

Pathogenic VCP (p.Arg453Trp) variant in three siblings with frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spectrum: A Turkish family.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Coronas LE, Timr S, Sterpone F, et al (2026)

Unveiling the entropic role of hydration water in SOD1 partitioning within FUS condensate.

The Journal of chemical physics, 164(9):.

Biological processes such as the sequestration of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) into biomolecular condensates, including fused in sarcoma and stress granules, are vital for understanding disease mechanisms, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Moreover, protein-crowder interactions within these condensates are recognized as fundamental to cellular phase separation and disease-related processes. However, the specific role of the hydration environment in governing SOD1's behavior and transition dynamics within these condensates remains poorly understood, limiting our ability to accurately model these critical biological systems. Therefore, we incorporate explicit water into an implicit solvent model (OPEP) to investigate how water influences SOD1's behavior, residence times, and transition rates among associative states. We employ the advanced CVF (Coronas, Vilanova, Franzese) water model, which accurately captures hydrogen-bond networks at the molecular level. While the OPEP model indicates that bovine serum albumin (BSA) crowders reduce SOD1's partition coefficient (PC) primarily through non-specific interactions, our explicit-water approach points to hydration entropy in BSA as a key contributor to the observed PC reduction. This result offers a new perspective on the system's free-energy landscape, complementing those obtained from OPEP alone. Our research supports the notion that explicitly modeling water can enhance our understanding of protein-crowder interactions and their biological implications, further emphasizing the potential role of water in cellular phase separation and disease-related processes.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Creer S, Griffiths AW, Hobson E, et al (2026)

"What about me? I'm supposed to be … superhuman?": exploring staff perspectives on how to deliver high quality psychological care for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neurodegenerative disease management [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVES: To explore healthcare professionals' experiences of providing informal psychological care in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) services.

METHODS: A qualitative focus group and interview study with 28 UK-based, ALS healthcare professionals. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Healthcare professionals reported psychological distress in their roles arising from the intrinsic nature of ALS, alongside system factors and their needs as staff members. Participants identified critical needs for themselves to improve psychological care including: psychological skills training, clear role definition, understanding of specialist psychology and structured staff support. Participants identified patient needs as: support for informal carers, access to specialist psychology, clear and inclusive referral pathways, and having person-centered, tiered approaches to care delivery.

CONCLUSIONS: The psychological impact of ALS extends beyond patients and families to healthcare professionals, creating systemic challenges in care delivery. Effective psychological care in ALS requires a comprehensive approach that addresses not only the needs of individual patients but also staff and systemic issues. A distress loop exists where inadequate psychological services affect both staff wellbeing and care quality for patients and their families. Without addressing patient, staff, and service-level issues, people living with ALS and healthcare professionals will continue to experience preventable psychological distress.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Scarpa E, D'Amora U, De Cesare N, et al (2026)

3D Artificial Skin Model As a Novel Strategy for the Detection of Pyroptosis-Cascade Activation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

ACS applied materials & interfaces [Epub ahead of print].

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe adult-onset neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment approaches. Evidence has shown that degeneration of cutaneous nerves may reflect neurodegenerative processes occurring within the central nervous system. Although skin biopsy is widely adopted in clinical practice, the procedure is invasive and requires multiple patients' tissue removals. Therefore, we developed a 3D innervated skin model by combining 3D printing of methacrylated hyaluronic acid as an innovative tool for better reproducing the dermis and epidermis and electrospinning of polylactic acid for mimicking skin innervation. Later, 3D artificial skin was colonized with a preneuronal cell line (SH-SY5Y) and fibroblasts isolated from skin biopsy of ALS patients at different disease stages. 3D skin possesses a porosity suitable for cell colonization and a high stability. Importantly, biological results reveal an increase of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 aggregates, NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing protein 3, interleukin (IL)-18, IL-6, and nitrites in 3D skin of ALS patients, thus indicating pyroptosis activation linked to neurodegeneration. This physiologically relevant 3D skin model reduces the need for repeated biopsies, allows standardized experimental conditions, and supports biomarker research and preclinical drug testing in ALS.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Bublitz SK, Lorenzl S, Klima A, et al (2026)

Mapping end-of-life care for patients with neurological conditions in German hospices: a point prevalence survey.

BMJ neurology open, 8(1):e001404.

BACKGROUND: Access to palliative care for patients with neurological diseases remains limited. Contributing factors include difficulties in predicting disease trajectories, resource constraints in long-term care and challenges in identifying the end-of-life phase-often compounded by communication and cognitive impairments.

METHODS: We conducted a national point-prevalence survey among German inpatient hospices using an online questionnaire.

RESULTS: The response rate was 44%, with 83% of participating hospices providing complete datasets. Most patients in hospices suffered from oncological diseases (n=785; 77.3%), including primary brain tumours (n=102; 10.0%). At the time of the survey, neurological diagnoses accounted for approximately 5% of hospice admissions. While 51% of hospices reported having access to neurological consultation, this was usually informal or ad hoc. 19% reported no current access to a neurologist but considered such collaboration desirable.

CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides an overview of the current representation of patients with neurological conditions in German inpatient hospices. The findings reveal limited structured collaboration between neurology and palliative care, alongside structural and societal barriers that complicate timely hospice referral and end-of-life planning. Strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation, enhancing neurologists' engagement in palliative care and expanding specialised outpatient support for patients and families are essential to improving equitable and needs-based end-of-life care for individuals with neurological conditions.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Zheng Y, Zhou W, Chang H, et al (2026)

Brain organoids as precision models for neurodegenerative diseases: from disease modeling to drug discovery.

Frontiers in neuroscience, 20:1764964.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have become major global causes of disability and mortality. Their complex pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood, and effective disease-modifying therapies are still lacking. Traditional animal models and two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems exhibit notable limitations in structural complexity, human relevance, and translational validity, making it difficult to faithfully recapitulate human-specific neuropathology. In recent years, brain organoid technology derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has advanced rapidly, enabling the self-organization of diverse neuronal and glial cell types within a three-dimensional (3D) architecture that partially mimics human brain development and disease-related pathological events. When integrated with CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing and multi-omics profiling, organoids support causal mechanism studies, target validation, and individualized drug-response prediction, highlighting their growing value in early-stage drug discovery. Despite current challenges-including insufficient maturation, lack of vascularization and immune components, and batch variability-the continuous progress in bioengineering, microfluidic systems, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven multimodal data analysis is steadily expanding the translational potential of organoids as human-relevant preclinical models. Overall, brain organoids provide an essential foundation for constructing physiologically relevant and predictive research platforms for neurodegenerative diseases, offering new opportunities for therapeutic development and precision medicine.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Alhathli E, Cooper-Knock J, Girach ZU, et al (2026)

Hypothesis-free evaluation of circulating metabolome provides cell-specific insights regarding the role of energy substrate availability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BMC medicine pii:10.1186/s12916-026-04727-w [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with limited therapeutic options. The circulating metabolome comprises small molecules present in plasma/serum which are the intermediates and end-products of cellular metabolism, and is linked to ALS pathogenesis.

METHODS: We conducted hypothesis-free two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis of the concentration of 575 plasma/serum metabolites, to determine which are causally linked to risk of ALS. Significant metabolites were validated in an independent GWAS of plasma/serum metabolite concentrations and evaluated for sex-specific effects. Correlations between directly measured patient biofluid metabolite concentrations and ALS risk/severity were examined in 94 ALS patients and 40 controls. We experimentally assessed metabolic function in a murine neurons and human astrocytes carrying an ALS-associated G4C2-repeat expansion within C9orf72.

RESULTS: MR causally associated five metabolites with ALS risk after multiple-testing correction. Higher serum concentration of glycoprotein acetyls (P = 9.7e - 9, β = 0.21) and the peptide DSGEGDFXAEGGGVR (P = 8.0e - 6, β = 0.22) was associated with increased ALS risk, whereas higher plasma concentration of phenylalanylserine, isobutyrylcarnitine, and acetylcarnitine was protective (P < 5e - 5, β = - 0.29 to - 0.72). DSGEGDFXAEGGGVR has been linked to glucose metabolism but we have used genetic fine-mapping to link DSGEGDFXAEGGGVR, neuronal glucose uptake through GLUT3, and ALS risk. Direct measurement of metabolite concentrations in patient biofluids revealed elevated acetylcarnitine levels in patients with ALS, which were associated with delayed symptom onset (Cox regression, P = 0.02, HR = 0.4). Similarly, lactate is elevated in ALS patient CSF (ANOVA, P = 1.3e - 3) and in patients with longer survival time (Cox regression, P = 0.03, HR = 0.3). Plasma fructose is elevated in ALS patients with shorter survival time (Cox regression, P = 0.02, HR = 1.1). In vitro, neurons and astrocytes carrying an ALS-associated G4C2-repeat expansion within C9orf72 demonstrated reduced metabolic flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence that impaired energy substrate availability contributes to ALS risk and severity. CNS cell types differ in their use of energy substrates and therefore we postulate the relative importance of different cell types for different stages of disease. Our findings support further investigation of metabolic interventions to treat or prevent ALS.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Feo A, Popovic MM, Faghihi S, et al (2026)

Spectrum of Colopathy and Severe Polyposis Associated with Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium Maculopathy: A Retrospective Case Series.

American journal of ophthalmology pii:S0002-9394(26)00115-7 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: To expand the spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations associated with pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) maculopathy.

DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

SUBJECTS: Eight patients (16 eyes) diagnosed with PPS maculopathy who also underwent GI evaluation between 2019 and 2025.

METHODS: Electronic medical records were reviewed for demographics, PPS dosage and duration, ocular findings, GI history, diagnostic presentation, and histopathology. Multimodal imaging included fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography. Colonoscopy was performed in all patients with histopathologic analysis in selected cases. PPS maculopathy was staged according to Wang et al.'s classification system. Genetic testing was obtained in selected cases to exclude any form of inherited maculopathy or familial adenomatous polyposis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical and imaging features of PPS maculopathy and GI pathological diagnosis, including polyposis, dysplasia, and inflammatory bowel disease.

RESULTS: The cohort included 6 women and 2 men (median age: 68.5 years). Median PPS exposure was 25.4 years with a median cumulative dose of 2899 grams. At presentation, 62.5% of eyes were stage 1, 31.3% stage 2, and 6.3% stage 3. At final follow-up, 25% of eyes were stage 1, 50% stage 2, and 25% stage 3. Overall, 37.5% of eyes showed progression of maculopathy stage, and cRORA was present in 75% of eyes at last follow-up. Additional findings included acquired vitelliform lesions, outer retinal tubulations, epiretinal membranes, and type 2 macular neovascularization. Colonoscopy revealed severe adenomatous polyposis in 6 of the 8 patients (75%), with 3 requiring partial or total colectomy and 2 undergoing endoscopic resection. One patient developed ulcerative colitis, and 2 additional patients were diagnosed with Crohn's disease or microscopic colitis. The median latency to GI diagnosis was 10 years after PPS initiation.

CONCLUSIONS: This study expands the recognized systemic toxicity of PPS, demonstrating that PPS maculopathy patients are at risk of concomitant colonic disease, including severe polyposis and dysplasia. The frequent detection of asymptomatic polyposis underscores the importance of colonoscopy screening in exposed patients, even in the absence of GI symptoms. Heightened interdisciplinary awareness and long-term surveillance are warranted to mitigate the vision- and life-threatening consequences of PPS toxicity.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Oh J, SI Oh (2026)

Subjective sleep quality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: Sleep disturbances are common and clinically significant non-motor symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), arising from motor, respiratory, and psychological factors. This study aimed to synthesize available evidence on subjective sleep quality in ALS, estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality, examine associated factors, and compare patients with healthy controls.

METHODS: : PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL were searched for studies published between January 2000 and August 2025 that assessed subjective sleep quality in ALS using validated patient-reported outcome measures, such as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Pooled analyses were performed using random-effects models. Meta-regression was applied to explore associations with demographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS: : A total of 23 studies comprising 1899 ALS patients were included, of which 20 were eligible for meta-analysis. All included studies assessed subjective sleep quality using the PSQI, and the pooled mean PSQI score was 6.94, exceeding the clinical cutoff for poor sleep quality. The pooled prevalence of poor sleepers was 56.7%. Nine studies including healthy controls showed significantly higher PSQI scores in ALS patients compared with controls (mean difference 2.69). Several factors, including functional status, depression, anxiety, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, constipation, and cognitive impairment, were associated with poorer sleep, however, meta-regression did not identify significant associations with age, sex, disease duration, or ALSFRS-R.

CONCLUSIONS: : Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent and clinically significant in ALS. These findings highlight the need for systematic screening and proactive management across all stages of the disease. Future research should evaluate a wider range of interventions to improve sleep quality and patient outcomes.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Scirocco E, Pogemiller Bulat A, Carey JR, et al (2026)

Bridging the gap: understanding participation barriers in ALS clinical trials through on-the-ground insights.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the experiences and perceptions of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (pALS), their caregivers, and healthcare providers regarding participation in clinical trials. The study tested the hypothesis, based on existing literature, that geographic distance from multidisciplinary ALS clinics is the primary barrier to awareness and participation in clinical trials.

METHODS: A road trip was conducted to engage individuals, particularly those residing more than 90 miles from specialized clinics. Qualitative and semi-quantitative methods were used to collect data from in-person interviews conducted with pALS, their caregivers, and healthcare providers in urban (high population density), suburban (residential areas on the outskirts of urban centers), and rural (sparsely populated) settings across the East Coast of the US. Thematic analysis was employed to interpret the data.

RESULTS: Based on the interviews, a trusted, supportive, and knowledgeable medical team knowledgeable about ALS research emerged as a critical factor influencing patient participation decisions. Geographic distance alone did not meaningfully impact research interest or awareness. Healthcare providers faced challenges, including time constraints and limited access to updated information about studies, which hindered their ability to promote participation. Healthcare providers cited informal partnerships with advocacy organizations and research centers as crucial for facilitating research participation.

CONCLUSIONS: Tailored communication strategies that leverage established relationships between pALS and their trusted healthcare providers may enhance research participation. As decentralized research models evolve, improving trial education and access and fostering knowledge and trust could significantly boost enrollment in ALS clinical research.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Nomizo S, Komatsu J, Shima A, et al (2026)

Gadolinium enhancement of the cauda equina in a case of familial ALS with p.S135G SOD1 mutation.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration [Epub ahead of print].

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor neuron degeneration. Gadolinium enhancement of the cauda equina is typically associated with inflammatory diseases. We report a case of familial ALS with a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene mutation showing marked gadolinium enhancement of the lumbar nerve roots. To date, only a few cases of ALS with gadolinium enhancement of the nerve roots have been reported. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of ALS with an p.S135G SOD1 mutation exhibiting gadolinium enhancement in the cauda equina.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Rzeszutek MJ, Regnier SD, Kaplan BA, et al (2026)

Identification and management of nonsystematic cross-commodity data: Toward best practice.

Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology pii:2027-37086-001 [Epub ahead of print].

Data systematicity has been an important area of consideration for behavioral economic demand. Stein et al. (2015) introduced criteria and an accompanying algorithm to aid researchers in identifying data series that may be considered "nonsystematic"-that is, data that may not follow empirically based assumptions such as an overall decrease in consumption as the cost of a commodity increases and consistency in decreases in consumption. However, those criteria and algorithm are only directly applicable to own-price demand, or demand for a commodity that is increasing in price. Cross-price demand, or demand for a second commodity that changes as a function of some other commodity, does not have a similar set of criteria or algorithm for assessing cross-commodity demand systematicity. Cross-price or cross-commodity demand is useful in understanding how changes in one substance or commodity may change the consumption of another substance or commodity. Thus, we extend Stein et al.'s criteria and algorithm to classify if a cross-commodity can be considered a substitute, complement, or independent, and then assess its systematicity based on its classification. We demonstrate this algorithm on three different cross-commodity demand data sets and describe important considerations regarding data exclusions to prevent biasing results from own-price and cross-price demand. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Calix Kannaley K (2026)

Exploring the use of narrative-based approaches in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A narrative review.

Palliative & supportive care, 24:e81 pii:S1478951526101965.

OBJECTIVES: Narrative-based approaches have been utilized in medicine to better understand the illness experiences of individuals living with chronic conditions. In particular, people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (pALS) may benefit from use of narrative-based approaches, given the potential impact of progressive decline on identity of self. This review explores the use of narrative-based approaches in studies involving pALS to provide further insight to the experiences and psychosocial needs of this population.

METHODS: A search was conducted utilizing EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar with several terms related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and narrative-based approaches. Studies were included if they were written in English, incorporated methods that promoted the production of narratives, and reported data that could be clearly isolated to pALS.

RESULTS: The search revealed a total of 154 articles for title and abstract screening. Fifty-two articles were selected for full-text review. Thirty-two articles met the criteria for data extraction. Four descriptive categories emerged upon examination of the narrative-based approaches implemented across the studies: psychosocial intervention, illness experience, intervention targeting specific needs, and secondary analysis of data. Some of the common themes identified across studies included: loss of physical and communicative function, adaptation to life changes, shifts in identity, and tension with the healthcare system.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Despite the communication challenges that often coincide with disease progression, narrative-based approaches can be utilized in pALS. These approaches should be implemented to gain insight on the disease experiences of pALS, providing opportunity for patient-centered interventions to address the psychosocial needs of this population.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Liu W, Xue Y, Cao C, et al (2026)

Copper Homeostasis and Cuproptosis in Neurological Disorders.

Drug design, development and therapy, 20:580005.

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) pose a serious global public health threat, with complex etiologies involving genetic, environmental, and metabolic factors. Current data indicate that the prevalence of these disorders is rapidly increasing with the aging population, resulting in a growing economic and healthcare burden worldwide. In recent years, the imbalance of copper homeostasis has been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. Copper overload can aggravate neuronal injury by inducing oxidative stress (OS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein misfolding, while copper deficiency disrupts the function of copper-dependent enzymes and leads to metabolic abnormalities. The mechanism of cuproptosis, proposed in 2022, describes a novel form of programmed cell death characterized by lipoylated protein aggregation and the loss of Fe-S cluster proteins, offering new insights into copper-related diseases. Multiple studies have demonstrated the crucial role of copper homeostasis and cuproptosis in the onset, progression, and treatment of neurological diseases. This narrative review summarizes the molecular mechanisms involved in copper homeostasis regulation and, on that basis, discusses the role of copper metabolism abnormalities in AD, PD, Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), Wilson's disease (WD), Menkes disease (MD), and stroke. Additionally, we highlight the mechanisms of existing copper-regulating drugs and their therapeutic potential in neurological disorders, while pointing out the limitations of current drug development.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Uemura K, Hiro S, Attachaipanich S, et al (2025)

Glioinflammation: disease-associated microglia and astrocytes in psychiatric disorders, neurodegeneration, and senescence.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 19:1669272.

In this review, we synthesize recent conceptual and experimental advances in neuroscience, highlighting selected studies that delineate the roles of reactive microglia and astrocytes in the contexts of developmental inflammatory stress, neurodegenerative diseases, and cellular senescence. Since the characterization of disease-associated glial phenotypes in 2017, building on earlier pioneering discoveries, we focus here on disease-associated microglia (DAM) and disease-associated astrocyte (DAA) to reassess their contributions to glio-inflammation. It is now recognized that the stress-induced glial states are far from uniform; however, the ontogeny, molecular determinants, and functional consequences of this heterogeneity remain incompletely understood, particularly in psychiatric disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Accordingly, we compare the glial heterogeneity and its underlying mechanisms across translational mouse models and human neuropathology, considering their evolutionary and physiological contexts. While this review does not aim to be exhaustive, we propose an integrative framework that redefines glial stress responses through the combined lenses of inflammation, transcriptomics, mitochondrial dynamics, lipid metabolism, epigenomic regulation, and cellular senescence. Finally, we outline emerging frontiers for AI-enabled multi-omic physiological and pathological approaches, emphasizing their potential to illuminate glial state transitions and accelerate therapeutic discovery in the near future.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Kaya Y, KK Kırboğa (2026)

Brain Organoids as Emerging Platforms for Modeling Neurodegenerative Diseases: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions.

Journal of neurochemistry, 170(3):e70395.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) characterized by loss of function and death of neurons in different parts of the nervous system. These pathologies constitute a global burden, especially for aging populations. This circumstance leads to an increasing demand for understanding the fundamental mechanisms and development of therapeutic strategies. Conventional models, including two-dimensional cell culture and animal models, postmortem brain tissue provide an overview about neurodegenerative disorders but do not completely recapitulate cellular and molecular mechanisms of the human brain. Although three-dimensional (3D) brain organoids exhibit similar properties with physiological and pathological conditions of human brain, including interaction of neuronal, glial cells and self-organizing structure, protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, and neuronal degeneration. The integration of reprogrammed human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with 3D brain organoid systems provides a clinical platform as a bridge between bench to bedside. Brain organoids have been used to elucidate novel insights into the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, brain organoids serve as a tool for in vitro disease modeling, drug screening and emergence of new treatments. Despite these clinical benefits, there are various limitations such as incomplete tissue maturation, lack of vascularization and incomplete cellular diversity in this 3D culture system. This review describes in detail the advantages and disadvantages of brain organoids usage in modeling neurodegenerative diseases from a contemporary perspective.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Mortimer AJ, Sander CF, Parmar AR, et al (2026)

Comparison of AAV9-driven motor neuron transduction following different CNS-directed delivery methods in mice.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-38039-z [Epub ahead of print].

Gene therapies are promising for diseases previously considered incurable. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) demonstrates remarkable tropism for motor neurons (MNs) and represents an exciting candidate to target genetic causes of motor neuron diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, systemic delivery risks immunogenicity and off-target effects, therefore localised delivery to the CNS is advantageous. We assessed MN transduction in wild-type post-natal mice using AAV9-controlled, cytomegalovirus-promoter driven, enhanced GFP expression. Intra-cisterna magna (ICM) and intra-cerebroventricular (ICV) methods were compared. Four weeks post-delivery, GFP positivity in MN and astrocytes were quantified via immunohistochemical approaches and viral genome copy number determined by qPCR. All delivery methods achieved high MN transduction in lumbar spinal cord (> 68%). Unilateral ICV delivery provided the highest and most consistent levels (89 ± 3%), and minimal peripheral viral copies. ICV delivery resulted in higher astrocytic transduction, most notably in the cortex. Brainstem MN transduction was high with all methods (> 55%). We failed to find evidence of neuronal transduction in motor cortex. Viral genome copies trended higher in spinal cord and brainstem with ICV approaches, however further work is required to understand how bilateral repeated dose delivery leads to more profound increases. Whilst several routes of administration into cerebrospinal fluid exist, direct comparisons for targeting MNs in vivo remain limited. Overall, all methods of CNS-directed delivery result in high levels of motor neuron transduction in the lumbar spinal cord and brainstem, but not in motor cortex. Unilateral ICV appears to provide the best balance between consistent, high levels of transduction and low off-target effects. However, ICM might be the better option if seeking to avoid astrocytic transduction.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Gunn AP, Hilton JBW, Mukherjee S, et al (2026)

Decreased metallothionein-3 expression in the human spinal cord is a common feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-025-31283-9 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Zhang L, Huang Y, Huang W, et al (2026)

TDP-43 phosphorylation: Exploring kinases, phosphatases, and therapeutic potential in neurodegeneration.

Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD [Epub ahead of print].

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a multifunctional DNA/RNA-binding protein whose abnormal phosphorylation and aggregation are central to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. TDP-43 proteinopathy, characterized by hyperphosphorylation and cytoplasmic accumulation, is a defining pathological feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and is frequently observed in Alzheimer's disease. The phosphorylation state of TDP-43 is dynamically regulated by a network of protein kinases-including CK1, GSK3β, CDC7, and PKA-and counterbalanced by phosphatases such as PP2A and PP1; however, the precise molecular mechanisms governing this equilibrium in disease remain incompletely understood. Notably, phosphorylated TDP-43 acquires prion-like properties, enabling self-templated aggregation and cell-to-cell propagation, which amplifies pathology and drives disease progression. These insights have catalyzed the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating TDP-43 phosphorylation, with kinase inhibitors and phosphatase enhancers emerging as promising candidates for targeting TDP-43 proteinopathies. This review integrates current knowledge on the regulatory networks controlling TDP-43 phosphorylation, examines its role in prion-like spread, and evaluates emerging therapeutic approaches aimed at mitigating TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Rizvi FAS, Jimoh Y, Allouh MZ, et al (2026)

Mesenchymal stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases: Advancements, challenges, and opportunities.

Neural regeneration research pii:01300535-990000000-01227 [Epub ahead of print].

Neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, retinal degenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, continue to pose a significant clinical challenge due to the progressive loss of neural tissue structure and function. Stem cell-based therapies are gaining attention for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells, particularly those derived from perinatal tissues, exhibit remarkable plasticity, along with immunomodulatory, neurotrophic, and regenerative capabilities. Mesenchymal stem cells primarily influence their environment through paracrine signaling and can also differentiate into neural lineages, aiding in neuronal repair. Tissue-specific progenitor cells, such as neural stem cells and retinal progenitor cells, offer greater therapeutic precision. This review examines advancements in mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, discusses relevant clinical trials, and highlights the challenges, while proposing that personalized regenerative treatments utilizing lineage-restricted progenitors may improve patient outcomes in these complex disorders.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Ahn GJ, Cha KC, Lee J, et al (2026)

Comparison of the Hemodynamic Effects of Epinephrine on Blood Pressure Augmentation at 1-, 3-, and 5-Minute Dosing Intervals.

Journal of the American Heart Association [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Although current cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines recommend administering epinephrine at 3- to 5-minute intervals during advanced life support (ALS), scientific evidence for the optimal dosing interval for enhancing hemodynamic parameters remains limited. Therefore, we compared the hemodynamic effects of 1-, 3-, and 5-minute epinephrine dosing intervals on blood pressure augmentation in a porcine ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest model.

METHODS: Forty-two pigs were randomly assigned to 1-, 3-, and 5-minute epinephrine dosing-interval groups. After ventricular fibrillation induction and a 2-minute downtime, basic life support was initiated with a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for 8 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of ALS, including asynchronous ventilation at a rate of a single ventilation every 6 seconds, with oxygen delivered at 15 L/min. Epinephrine (0.02 mg/kg) was administered at predetermined intervals of 1, 3, or 5 minutes. We compared the pressure-time integrals for mean blood pressure, coronary perfusion pressure, and diastolic blood pressure among the groups over the 30-minute ALS period.

RESULTS: The mean blood pressure (P<0.001), coronary perfusion pressure (P=0.001), and diastolic blood pressure pressure-time integrals (P=0.005) were significantly higher in the 1-minute group than in the 3- and 5-minute groups. Crucially, mean blood pressure and coronary perfusion pressure pressure-time integrals remained positive in the 1-minute group but became negative in the 3- and 5-minute groups during ALS. The diastolic blood pressure pressure-time integral also remained positive for a longer duration in the 1-minute group.

CONCLUSIONS: A 1-minute epinephrine dosing interval may be significantly more effective in augmenting blood pressure and critical hemodynamic parameters during ALS than are the currently recommended 3- or 5-minute intervals.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Frontiers Editorial Office (2026)

Retraction: Enhancing ALS disease management: exploring integrated user value through online communities evidence.

Frontiers in neurology, 17:1793079.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1393261.].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Yerraguntla S, Bakshi B, Chandran K, et al (2026)

ALSUntangled #82: N-acetylcysteine.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration [Epub ahead of print].

N-acetylcysteine is a thiol-containing compound and a precursor of glutathione, with mechanistic plausibility for ALS, including reducing oxidative stress, regulating neuroinflammation, and mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction. Preclinical studies have yielded conflicting results on whether N-acetylcysteine can delay the onset of motor impairment and prolong survival in ALS mouse models. Several case studies of oral or subcutaneous administration of N-acetylcysteine in patients with ALS did not demonstrate convincing benefits. Clinical trials to date have also failed to demonstrate efficacy in slowing ALS progression. While N-acetylcysteine shows theoretical promise, further research is needed to clarify its therapeutic role in ALS. At present, ALSUntangled does not support the use of N-acetylcysteine as a treatment to slow ALS progression.

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RJR Experience and Expertise

Researcher

Robbins holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in the life sciences. He served as a tenured faculty member in the Zoology and Biological Science departments at Michigan State University. He is currently exploring the intersection between genomics, microbial ecology, and biodiversity — an area that promises to transform our understanding of the biosphere.

Educator

Robbins has extensive experience in college-level education: At MSU he taught introductory biology, genetics, and population genetics. At JHU, he was an instructor for a special course on biological database design. At FHCRC, he team-taught a graduate-level course on the history of genetics. At Bellevue College he taught medical informatics.

Administrator

Robbins has been involved in science administration at both the federal and the institutional levels. At NSF he was a program officer for database activities in the life sciences, at DOE he was a program officer for information infrastructure in the human genome project. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, he served as a vice president for fifteen years.

Technologist

Robbins has been involved with information technology since writing his first Fortran program as a college student. At NSF he was the first program officer for database activities in the life sciences. At JHU he held an appointment in the CS department and served as director of the informatics core for the Genome Data Base. At the FHCRC he was VP for Information Technology.

Publisher

While still at Michigan State, Robbins started his first publishing venture, founding a small company that addressed the short-run publishing needs of instructors in very large undergraduate classes. For more than 20 years, Robbins has been operating The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project, a web site dedicated to the digital publishing of critical works in science, especially classical genetics.

Speaker

Robbins is well-known for his speaking abilities and is often called upon to provide keynote or plenary addresses at international meetings. For example, in July, 2012, he gave a well-received keynote address at the Global Biodiversity Informatics Congress, sponsored by GBIF and held in Copenhagen. The slides from that talk can be seen HERE.

Facilitator

Robbins is a skilled meeting facilitator. He prefers a participatory approach, with part of the meeting involving dynamic breakout groups, created by the participants in real time: (1) individuals propose breakout groups; (2) everyone signs up for one (or more) groups; (3) the groups with the most interested parties then meet, with reports from each group presented and discussed in a subsequent plenary session.

Designer

Robbins has been engaged with photography and design since the 1960s, when he worked for a professional photography laboratory. He now prefers digital photography and tools for their precision and reproducibility. He designed his first web site more than 20 years ago and he personally designed and implemented this web site. He engages in graphic design as a hobby.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, is a rare, incurable neuro-degenerative disease, of unknown etiology. With this disease, both upper (brain) and lower (spinal cord) motor neurons progressively degenerate and die, rendering immobile the muscles that they innervated. For anyone with a need or desire to appreciate what is known about ALS, this book provides a good foundation. R. Robbins

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Collection of publications by R J Robbins

Reprints and preprints of publications, slide presentations, instructional materials, and data compilations written or prepared by Robert Robbins. Most papers deal with computational biology, genome informatics, using information technology to support biomedical research, and related matters.

Research Gate page for R J Robbins

ResearchGate is a social networking site for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators. According to a study by Nature and an article in Times Higher Education , it is the largest academic social network in terms of active users.

Curriculum Vitae for R J Robbins

short personal version

Curriculum Vitae for R J Robbins

long standard version

RJR Picks from Around the Web (updated 11 MAY 2018 )