Pub Date : 2024-03-31eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2024004
Temitope Awe, Ayoola Fasawe, Caleb Sawe, Adedayo Ogunware, Abdullahi Temitope Jamiu, Michael Allen
The brain-gut axis refers to the communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, with the gut microbiome playing a crucial role. While our understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiome and the host's physiology is still in its nascent stage, evidence suggests that the gut microbiota can indeed modulate host behavior. Understanding the specific mechanisms by which the gut microbiota community modulates the host's behavior remains the focus of present and future neuro-gastroenterology studies. This paper reviews several pieces of evidence from the literature on the impact of gut microbiota on host behavior across animal taxa. We explore the different pathways through which this modulation occurs, with the aim of deepening our understanding of the fascinating relationship between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system.
{"title":"The modulatory role of gut microbiota on host behavior: exploring the interaction between the brain-gut axis and the neuroendocrine system.","authors":"Temitope Awe, Ayoola Fasawe, Caleb Sawe, Adedayo Ogunware, Abdullahi Temitope Jamiu, Michael Allen","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2024004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/Neuroscience.2024004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The brain-gut axis refers to the communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, with the gut microbiome playing a crucial role. While our understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiome and the host's physiology is still in its nascent stage, evidence suggests that the gut microbiota can indeed modulate host behavior. Understanding the specific mechanisms by which the gut microbiota community modulates the host's behavior remains the focus of present and future neuro-gastroenterology studies. This paper reviews several pieces of evidence from the literature on the impact of gut microbiota on host behavior across animal taxa. We explore the different pathways through which this modulation occurs, with the aim of deepening our understanding of the fascinating relationship between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"11 1","pages":"49-62"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11007408/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140847176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-25eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2024003
I B Mosse, N G Sedlyar, K A Mosse, A V Kilchevsky
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is involved in the progression of mental disorders, including deviant behavior, brain developmental, and personality disorders. The large number of genes has been studied for their activity association with stress and depression; however, the obtained results for the majority of these genes are contradictory. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible contribution of methylation level changes to the development of personality disorders and deviant behavior. A systematic study of CpG Islands in 21 target regions, including the promoter and intron regions of the 12 genes was performed in DNA samples extracted from peripheral blood cells, to obtain an overview of their methylation status. High-throughput sequencing of converted DNA samples was performed and calling of the methylation sites on the "original top strand" in CpG islands was carried out in the Bismark pipeline. The initial methylation profile of 77 patients and 48 controls samples revealed a significant difference in 7 CpG sites in 6 genes. The most significant hypermethylation was found for the target sites of the HTR2A (p-value = 1.2 × 10-13) and OXTR (p-value = 2.3 × 10-7) genes. These data support the previous reports that alterations in DNA methylation may play an important role in the dysregulation of gene expression associated with personality disorders and deviant behavior, and confirm their potential use as biomarkers to improve thediagnosis, prognosis, and assessment of response to treatment.
{"title":"DNA methylation differences in genes associated with human personal disorders and deviant behavior.","authors":"I B Mosse, N G Sedlyar, K A Mosse, A V Kilchevsky","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2024003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/Neuroscience.2024003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is involved in the progression of mental disorders, including deviant behavior, brain developmental, and personality disorders. The large number of genes has been studied for their activity association with stress and depression; however, the obtained results for the majority of these genes are contradictory. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible contribution of methylation level changes to the development of personality disorders and deviant behavior. A systematic study of CpG Islands in 21 target regions, including the promoter and intron regions of the 12 genes was performed in DNA samples extracted from peripheral blood cells, to obtain an overview of their methylation status. High-throughput sequencing of converted DNA samples was performed and calling of the methylation sites on the \"original top strand\" in CpG islands was carried out in the Bismark pipeline. The initial methylation profile of 77 patients and 48 controls samples revealed a significant difference in 7 CpG sites in 6 genes. The most significant hypermethylation was found for the target sites of the <i>HTR2A</i> (p-value = 1.2 × 10<sup>-13</sup>) and <i>OXTR</i> (p-value = 2.3 × 10<sup>-7</sup>) genes. These data support the previous reports that alterations in DNA methylation may play an important role in the dysregulation of gene expression associated with personality disorders and deviant behavior, and confirm their potential use as biomarkers to improve thediagnosis, prognosis, and assessment of response to treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"11 1","pages":"39-48"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11007406/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140856143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are among the most common and disabling symptoms of schizophrenia. They involve the superior temporal sulcus (STS), which is associated with language processing; specific STS patterns may reflect vulnerability to auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. STS sulcal pits are the deepest points of the folds in this region and were investigated here as an anatomical landmark of AVHs. This study included 53 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and past or present AVHs, as well as 100 healthy control volunteers. All participants underwent a 3-T magnetic resonance imaging T1 brain scan, and sulcal pit differences were compared between the two groups. Compared with controls, patients with AVHs had a significantly different distributions for the number of sulcal pits in the left STS, indicating a less complex morphological pattern. The association of STS sulcal morphology with AVH suggests an early neurodevelopmental process in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia with AVHs.
{"title":"Sulcal pits of the superior temporal sulcus in schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations.","authors":"Baptiste Lerosier, Gregory Simon, Sylvain Takerkart, Guillaume Auzias, Sonia Dollfus","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2024002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/Neuroscience.2024002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are among the most common and disabling symptoms of schizophrenia. They involve the superior temporal sulcus (STS), which is associated with language processing; specific STS patterns may reflect vulnerability to auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. STS sulcal pits are the deepest points of the folds in this region and were investigated here as an anatomical landmark of AVHs. This study included 53 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and past or present AVHs, as well as 100 healthy control volunteers. All participants underwent a 3-T magnetic resonance imaging T1 brain scan, and sulcal pit differences were compared between the two groups. Compared with controls, patients with AVHs had a significantly different distributions for the number of sulcal pits in the left STS, indicating a less complex morphological pattern. The association of STS sulcal morphology with AVH suggests an early neurodevelopmental process in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia with AVHs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"11 1","pages":"25-38"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11007407/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140848459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-11eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2024001
Che Aishah Nazariah Ismail, Rahimah Zakaria, Khairunnuur Fairuz Azman, Nazlahshaniza Shafin, Noor Azlina Abu Bakar
Chronic pain research, with a specific focus on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has made impressive progress in the past decade, as evident in the improved research quality and increased publications. To better understand this evolving landscape, a quantitative approach is needed. The main aim of this study is to identify the hotspots and trends of BDNF in chronic pain research. We screened relevant publications from 2013 to 2022 in the Scopus database using specific search subject terms. A total of 401 documents were selected for further analysis. We utilized several tools, including Microsoft Excel, Harzing's Publish or Perish, and VOSViewer, to perform a frequency analysis, citation metrics, and visualization, respectively. Key indicators that were examined included publication growth, keyword analyses, topmost influential articles and journals, networking by countries and co-citation of cited references. Notably, there was a persistent publication growth between 2015 and 2021. "Neuropathic pain" emerged as a prominent keyword in 2018, alongside "microglia" and "depression". The journal Pain® was the most impactful journal that published BDNF and chronic pain research, while the most influential publications came from open-access reviews and original articles. China was the leading contributor, followed by the United States (US), and maintained a leadership position in the total number of publications and collaborations. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive list of the most influential publications on BDNF in chronic pain research, thereby aiding in the understanding of academic concerns, research hotspots, and global trends in this specialized field.
{"title":"Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in chronic pain research: A decade of bibliometric analysis and network visualization.","authors":"Che Aishah Nazariah Ismail, Rahimah Zakaria, Khairunnuur Fairuz Azman, Nazlahshaniza Shafin, Noor Azlina Abu Bakar","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2024001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/Neuroscience.2024001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic pain research, with a specific focus on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has made impressive progress in the past decade, as evident in the improved research quality and increased publications. To better understand this evolving landscape, a quantitative approach is needed. The main aim of this study is to identify the hotspots and trends of BDNF in chronic pain research. We screened relevant publications from 2013 to 2022 in the Scopus database using specific search subject terms. A total of 401 documents were selected for further analysis. We utilized several tools, including Microsoft Excel, Harzing's Publish or Perish, and VOSViewer, to perform a frequency analysis, citation metrics, and visualization, respectively. Key indicators that were examined included publication growth, keyword analyses, topmost influential articles and journals, networking by countries and co-citation of cited references. Notably, there was a persistent publication growth between 2015 and 2021. \"Neuropathic pain\" emerged as a prominent keyword in 2018, alongside \"microglia\" and \"depression\". The journal Pain® was the most impactful journal that published BDNF and chronic pain research, while the most influential publications came from open-access reviews and original articles. China was the leading contributor, followed by the United States (US), and maintained a leadership position in the total number of publications and collaborations. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive list of the most influential publications on BDNF in chronic pain research, thereby aiding in the understanding of academic concerns, research hotspots, and global trends in this specialized field.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"11 1","pages":"1-24"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11007409/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140851018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-15eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023032
Priscila Centeno Crespo, Leo Anderson Meira Martins, Otávio Garcia Martins, Clara Camacho Dos Reis, Ricardo Netto Goulart, Andressa de Souza, Liciane Fernandes Medeiros, Vanessa Leal Scarabelot, Giovana Duzzo Gamaro, Sabrina Pereira Silva, Marcos Roberto de Oliveira, Iraci Lucena da Silva Torres, Izabel Cristina Custódio de Souza
Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by a lesion that triggers pain chronification and central sensitization and it can develop in a different manner, dependent of age. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating NP. Then, we aimed to investigate the effects of tDCS and BDNF levels in neuropathic pain rats in development, with 30 days old in the beginning of experiments. Eight-five male Wistar rats were subjected to chronic constriction injury. After establishment of NP, bimodal tDCS was applied to the rats for eight consecutive days, for 20 minutes each session. Subsequently, nociceptive behavior was assessed at baseline, 14 days after surgery, 1 day and 7 days after the end of tDCS. The rats were sacrificed 8 days after the last session of tDCS. An increase in the nociceptive threshold was observed in rats in development 1 day after the end of tDCS (short-term effect), but this effect was not maintained 7 days after the end of tDCS (long-term effect). Furthermore, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were analyzed in the frontal cortex, spinal cord and serum using ELISA assays. The neuropathic pain model showed an effect of BDNF in the spinal cord of rats in development. There were no effects of BNDF levels of pain or tDCS in the frontal cortex or serum. In conclusion, tDCS is an effective technique to relieve nociceptive behavior at a short-term effect in neuropathic pain rats in development, and BDNF levels were not altered at long-term effect.
{"title":"Short-term effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation in the nociceptive behavior of neuropathic pain rats in development.","authors":"Priscila Centeno Crespo, Leo Anderson Meira Martins, Otávio Garcia Martins, Clara Camacho Dos Reis, Ricardo Netto Goulart, Andressa de Souza, Liciane Fernandes Medeiros, Vanessa Leal Scarabelot, Giovana Duzzo Gamaro, Sabrina Pereira Silva, Marcos Roberto de Oliveira, Iraci Lucena da Silva Torres, Izabel Cristina Custódio de Souza","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023032","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by a lesion that triggers pain chronification and central sensitization and it can develop in a different manner, dependent of age. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating NP. Then, we aimed to investigate the effects of tDCS and BDNF levels in neuropathic pain rats in development, with 30 days old in the beginning of experiments. Eight-five male <i>Wistar</i> rats were subjected to chronic constriction injury. After establishment of NP, bimodal tDCS was applied to the rats for eight consecutive days, for 20 minutes each session. Subsequently, nociceptive behavior was assessed at baseline, 14 days after surgery, 1 day and 7 days after the end of tDCS. The rats were sacrificed 8 days after the last session of tDCS. An increase in the nociceptive threshold was observed in rats in development 1 day after the end of tDCS (short-term effect), but this effect was not maintained 7 days after the end of tDCS (long-term effect). Furthermore, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were analyzed in the frontal cortex, spinal cord and serum using ELISA assays. The neuropathic pain model showed an effect of BDNF in the spinal cord of rats in development. There were no effects of BNDF levels of pain or tDCS in the frontal cortex or serum. In conclusion, tDCS is an effective technique to relieve nociceptive behavior at a short-term effect in neuropathic pain rats in development, and BDNF levels were not altered at long-term effect.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"10 4","pages":"433-446"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10767070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139377125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Gut microbiomes play a role in developing and regulating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). We designed this systematic review to summarize the evidence of the effect of gut microbiota in developing pediatric-onset MS.
Methods: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, references of the references and conference abstracts were comprehensively searched by two independent researchers. The search was done on January 1st, 2023. Data regarding the total number of patients, the name of the first author, publication year, country of origin, mean age, duration of the disease, body mass index (BMI), type of MS, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), age at disease onset and stool composition were extracted.
Results: A literature search revealed 4237 published studies. After removing duplicates, we had 2045 records for evaluation. Twenty-three full texts were evaluated, and four case-control studies remained for systematic review. Three studies were conducted in the United States and one in the Netherlands. The number of participants in included studies ranged between 24 and 68. The mean age of patients at the time of study varied between 11.9 and 17.9 years, and the mean age at the onset of the disease ranged between 11.5 and 14.3 years. Most included patients were female. The results show that median richness (the number of unique taxa identified, which was provided by two studies) was higher in controls, and also Margalef index, which was reported by one study was higher in control group than the case group. The results of two studies also demonstrated that median evenness indexes (taxon distribution, Shannon, Simpson) were higher in control groups, as well as PD index (Faith's phylogenic diversity metric).
Conclusion: The result of this systematic review (including four studies) showed disruption of the microbiota-immune balance in pediatric-onset MS cases.
{"title":"Microbiomes and Pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (MS): A systematic review.","authors":"Sanaz Mehrabani, Mohsen Rastkar, Narges Ebrahimi, Mahsa Ghajarzadeh","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023031","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gut microbiomes play a role in developing and regulating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). We designed this systematic review to summarize the evidence of the effect of gut microbiota in developing pediatric-onset MS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, references of the references and conference abstracts were comprehensively searched by two independent researchers. The search was done on January 1<sup>st</sup>, 2023. Data regarding the total number of patients, the name of the first author, publication year, country of origin, mean age, duration of the disease, body mass index (BMI), type of MS, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), age at disease onset and stool composition were extracted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A literature search revealed 4237 published studies. After removing duplicates, we had 2045 records for evaluation. Twenty-three full texts were evaluated, and four case-control studies remained for systematic review. Three studies were conducted in the United States and one in the Netherlands. The number of participants in included studies ranged between 24 and 68. The mean age of patients at the time of study varied between 11.9 and 17.9 years, and the mean age at the onset of the disease ranged between 11.5 and 14.3 years. Most included patients were female. The results show that median richness (the number of unique taxa identified, which was provided by two studies) was higher in controls, and also Margalef index, which was reported by one study was higher in control group than the case group. The results of two studies also demonstrated that median evenness indexes (taxon distribution, Shannon, Simpson) were higher in control groups, as well as PD index (Faith's phylogenic diversity metric).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The result of this systematic review (including four studies) showed disruption of the microbiota-immune balance in pediatric-onset MS cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"10 4","pages":"423-432"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10767065/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139377121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-11eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023030
Arosh S Perera Molligoda Arachchige, Anton Kristoffer Garner
Seven tesla magnetic resonance imaging (7T MRI) is known to offer a superior spatial resolution and a signal-to-noise ratio relative to any other non-invasive imaging technique and provides the possibility for neuroimaging researchers to observe disease-related structural changes, which were previously only apparent on post-mortem tissue analyses. Alzheimer's disease is a natural and widely used subject for this technology since the 7T MRI allows for the anticipation of disease progression, the evaluation of secondary prevention measures thought to modify the disease trajectory, and the identification of surrogate markers for treatment outcome. In this editorial, we discuss the various neuroimaging biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease that have been studied using 7T MRI, which include morphological alterations, molecular characterization of cerebral T2*-weighted hypointensities, the evaluation of cerebral microbleeds and microinfarcts, biochemical changes studied with MR spectroscopy, as well as some other approaches. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the 7T MRI regarding imaging Alzheimer's disease and we provide our outlook for the future.
{"title":"Seven Tesla MRI in Alzheimer's disease research: State of the art and future directions: A narrative review.","authors":"Arosh S Perera Molligoda Arachchige, Anton Kristoffer Garner","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023030","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seven tesla magnetic resonance imaging (7T MRI) is known to offer a superior spatial resolution and a signal-to-noise ratio relative to any other non-invasive imaging technique and provides the possibility for neuroimaging researchers to observe disease-related structural changes, which were previously only apparent on post-mortem tissue analyses. Alzheimer's disease is a natural and widely used subject for this technology since the 7T MRI allows for the anticipation of disease progression, the evaluation of secondary prevention measures thought to modify the disease trajectory, and the identification of surrogate markers for treatment outcome. In this editorial, we discuss the various neuroimaging biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease that have been studied using 7T MRI, which include morphological alterations, molecular characterization of cerebral T2*-weighted hypointensities, the evaluation of cerebral microbleeds and microinfarcts, biochemical changes studied with MR spectroscopy, as well as some other approaches. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the 7T MRI regarding imaging Alzheimer's disease and we provide our outlook for the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"10 4","pages":"401-422"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10767068/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139377124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-06eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023029
Ubaid Ansari, Vincent Chen, Romteen Sedighi, Burhaan Syed, Zohaer Muttalib, Khadija Ansari, Fatima Ansari, Denise Nadora, Daniel Razick, Forshing Lui
This literature review explores the pivotal roles of the Uncoordinated-13 (UNC13) protein family, encompassing UNC13A, UNC13B, UNC13C, and UNC13D, in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. These proteins, which are evolutionarily conserved and crucial for synaptic vesicle priming and exocytosis, have been implicated in a range of disorders, spanning from neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) to immune-related conditions such as familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). The involvement of UNC13A in neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity is linked to ALS and FTD, with genetic variations affecting disease progression. UNC13B, which is closely related to UNC13A, plays a role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), epilepsy, and schizophrenia. UNC13C is implicated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and has a neuroprotective role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). UNC13D has an essential role in immune cell function, making it a key player in FHL. This review highlights the distinct molecular functions of each UNC13 family member and their implications in disease contexts, shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies and avenues for future research. Understanding these proteins' roles offers new insights into the management and treatment of neurological and immunological disorders.
{"title":"Role of the UNC13 family in human diseases: A literature review.","authors":"Ubaid Ansari, Vincent Chen, Romteen Sedighi, Burhaan Syed, Zohaer Muttalib, Khadija Ansari, Fatima Ansari, Denise Nadora, Daniel Razick, Forshing Lui","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023029","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This literature review explores the pivotal roles of the Uncoordinated-13 (UNC13) protein family, encompassing UNC13A, UNC13B, UNC13C, and UNC13D, in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. These proteins, which are evolutionarily conserved and crucial for synaptic vesicle priming and exocytosis, have been implicated in a range of disorders, spanning from neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) to immune-related conditions such as familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). The involvement of UNC13A in neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity is linked to ALS and FTD, with genetic variations affecting disease progression. UNC13B, which is closely related to UNC13A, plays a role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), epilepsy, and schizophrenia. UNC13C is implicated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and has a neuroprotective role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). UNC13D has an essential role in immune cell function, making it a key player in FHL. This review highlights the distinct molecular functions of each UNC13 family member and their implications in disease contexts, shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies and avenues for future research. Understanding these proteins' roles offers new insights into the management and treatment of neurological and immunological disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"10 4","pages":"388-400"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10767061/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139377123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-29eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023028
Ubaid Ansari, Jimmy Wen, Isabel Taguinod, Dawnica Nadora, Denise Nadora, Forshing Lui
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and complex neurodegenerative disease of upper and lower motor neurons of the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of this multifaceted disease is unknown. However, diet has emerged as a modifiable risk factor that has neuroprotective effects towards other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia. Thus, this review aims to explore how diet can potentially influence ALS onset and/or progression. In this review, five popular diets (Mediterranean, Vegan, Carnivore, Paleolithic and Ketogenic) and their distinct macromolecule composition, nutritional profile, biochemical pathways and their potential therapeutic effects for ALS are thoroughly examined. However, the composition of these diets varies, and the data is controversial, with conflicting studies on the effectiveness of nutrient intake of several of these diets. Although these five diets show that a higher intake of foods containing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds have a positive correlation towards reducing the oxidative stress of ALS, further research is needed to directly compare the effects of these diets and the mechanisms leading to ALS and its progression.
肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症(ALS)是中枢神经系统上下运动神经元的一种致命而复杂的神经退行性疾病。这种多发性疾病的发病机制尚不清楚。然而,饮食已成为一种可改变的风险因素,对阿尔茨海默氏症、帕金森氏症和痴呆症等其他神经系统疾病具有神经保护作用。因此,本综述旨在探讨饮食如何对 ALS 的发病和/或进展产生潜在影响。本综述深入研究了五种流行饮食(地中海饮食、素食、肉食、旧石器时代饮食和生酮饮食)及其不同的大分子成分、营养概况、生化途径和对 ALS 的潜在治疗效果。然而,这些饮食的组成各不相同,数据也存在争议,其中几种饮食的营养摄入效果的研究相互矛盾。虽然这五种饮食表明,摄入更多含有抗炎和抗氧化化合物的食物与减少 ALS 的氧化应激有积极的相关性,但还需要进一步研究,以直接比较这些饮食的效果和导致 ALS 及其进展的机制。
{"title":"Exploring dietary approaches in the prevention and management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A literature review.","authors":"Ubaid Ansari, Jimmy Wen, Isabel Taguinod, Dawnica Nadora, Denise Nadora, Forshing Lui","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023028","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and complex neurodegenerative disease of upper and lower motor neurons of the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of this multifaceted disease is unknown. However, diet has emerged as a modifiable risk factor that has neuroprotective effects towards other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia. Thus, this review aims to explore how diet can potentially influence ALS onset and/or progression. In this review, five popular diets (Mediterranean, Vegan, Carnivore, Paleolithic and Ketogenic) and their distinct macromolecule composition, nutritional profile, biochemical pathways and their potential therapeutic effects for ALS are thoroughly examined. However, the composition of these diets varies, and the data is controversial, with conflicting studies on the effectiveness of nutrient intake of several of these diets. Although these five diets show that a higher intake of foods containing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds have a positive correlation towards reducing the oxidative stress of ALS, further research is needed to directly compare the effects of these diets and the mechanisms leading to ALS and its progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"10 4","pages":"376-387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10767066/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139377119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-27eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023027
Anthi Amaslidou, Ioanna Ierodiakonou-Benou, Christos Bakirtzis, Ioannis Nikolaidis, Theano Tatsi, Nikolaos Grigoriadis, Ioannis Nimatoudis
Background: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating chronic neurologic disease that can lead to disability and thus to deterioration of quality of life. Psychological parameters such as ego defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment are important factors in the adaptation process, and as such they can play important roles in QoL. This study aims to assess the psychological factors as well as the clinical and demographic characteristics related to mental health quality of life (MHQoL).
Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 90 people with MS in the years 2018-2020. All participants completed the following questionnaires: MSQoL-54, DSQ-88, LSI, FES-R, SOC, BDI-II, STAI. Disability was assessed using EDSS.
Results: In multiple linear regression, significant roles were played by depression (R2: 41.1%, p: 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, the event of a relapse (R2: 3.5%, p: 0.005), expressiveness (R2: 3.6%, p < 0.05) and image distortion style (R2: 4.5%, p: 0.032). After performing a hierarchical-stepwise analysis (excluding depression), the important factors were maladaptive defense style (R2: 23.7%, p: 0.002), the event of relapse (R2: 8.1%, p < 0.001), expressiveness (R2: 5.5%, p: 0.004) and self-sacrificing defense style (R2: 2.4%, p: 0.071).
Conclusion: Psychological factors play important roles in MHQoL of people with multiple sclerosis. Thus, neurologists should integrate in their practice an assessment by mental health specialists. Moreover, targeted psychotherapeutic interventions could be planned i to improve QoL.
{"title":"Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment.","authors":"Anthi Amaslidou, Ioanna Ierodiakonou-Benou, Christos Bakirtzis, Ioannis Nikolaidis, Theano Tatsi, Nikolaos Grigoriadis, Ioannis Nimatoudis","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023027","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2023027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating chronic neurologic disease that can lead to disability and thus to deterioration of quality of life. Psychological parameters such as ego defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment are important factors in the adaptation process, and as such they can play important roles in QoL. This study aims to assess the psychological factors as well as the clinical and demographic characteristics related to mental health quality of life (MHQoL).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 90 people with MS in the years 2018-2020. All participants completed the following questionnaires: MSQoL-54, DSQ-88, LSI, FES-R, SOC, BDI-II, STAI. Disability was assessed using EDSS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In multiple linear regression, significant roles were played by depression (R<sup>2</sup>: 41.1%, p: 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, the event of a relapse (R<sup>2</sup>: 3.5%, p: 0.005), expressiveness (R<sup>2</sup>: 3.6%, p < 0.05) and image distortion style (R<sup>2</sup>: 4.5%, p: 0.032). After performing a hierarchical-stepwise analysis (excluding depression), the important factors were maladaptive defense style (R<sup>2</sup>: 23.7%, p: 0.002), the event of relapse (R<sup>2</sup>: 8.1%, p < 0.001), expressiveness (R<sup>2</sup>: 5.5%, p: 0.004) and self-sacrificing defense style (R<sup>2</sup>: 2.4%, p: 0.071).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Psychological factors play important roles in MHQoL of people with multiple sclerosis. Thus, neurologists should integrate in their practice an assessment by mental health specialists. Moreover, targeted psychotherapeutic interventions could be planned i to improve QoL.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"10 4","pages":"354-375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10767059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139377122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}