Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Antidepressants, Depression and Neurocognitive Disorders.

The coexistence of dementia and depression in older populations presents a complex clinical challenge, with each condition often exacerbating the other. Cognitive decline can intensify mood disturbances, and untreated or recurring depression accelerates neurodegenerative processes. As depression is a recognized risk factor for dementia, it is crucial to address both conditions concurrently to prevent further deterioration.

Scrutinizing neurodegenerative diseases: decoding the complex genetic architectures through a multi-omics lens.

Neurodegenerative diseases present complex genetic architectures, reflecting a continuum from monogenic to oligogenic and polygenic models. Recent advances in multi-omics data, coupled with systems genetics, have significantly refined our understanding of how these data impact neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. To contextualize these genetic discoveries, we provide a comprehensive critical overview of genetic architecture concepts, from Mendelian inheritance to the latest insights from oligogenic and omnigenic models.

Bacterial products initiation of alpha-synuclein pathology: an in vitro study.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a prevalent and escalating neurodegenerative disorder with significant societal implications. Despite being considered a proteinopathy, in which the aggregation of α-synuclein is the main pathological change, the intricacies of PD initiation remain elusive. Recent evidence suggests a potential link between gut microbiota and PD initiation, emphasizing the need to explore the effects of microbiota-derived molecules on neuronal cells.

Understanding the Complex Dynamics of Immunosenescence in Multiple Sclerosis: From Pathogenesis to Treatment.

Immunosenescence, the gradual deterioration of immune function with age, holds profound implications for our understanding and management of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Traditionally diagnosed in young adults, advancements in disease-modifying therapies and increased life expectancy have led to a growing number of older individuals with MS. This demographic shift underscores the need for a deeper investigation into how age-related alterations in immune function shape the course of MS, influencing disease progression, treatment effectiveness, and overall patient outcomes.

Neuroplasticity in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder, affecting millions of people and rapidly increasing over the last decades. Even though there is no intervention yet to stop the neurodegenerative pathology, many efficient treatment methods are available, including for patients with advanced PD. Neuroplasticity is a fundamental property of the human brain to adapt both to external changes and internal insults and pathological processes.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Romanian Patients with Dystonia: An Exploratory Study.

: Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that lead to abnormal movements and postures; it has a major impact on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to examine the HRQoL of Romanian patients with dystonia using the EQ-5D-5L instrument. : Responses to the EQ-5D-5L and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were collected alongside demographic and clinical characteristics.

Levodopa-Carbidopa-Entacapone Intestinal Gel in Advanced Parkinson Disease: A Multicenter Real-Life Experience.

Background: For Parkinson disease (PD) patients who have been diagnosed with advanced disease that can no longer be effectively controlled with optimized oral or transdermal medications, a range of device-aided therapies (DAT) are available, comprising either deep brain stimulation or infusion therapies providing continuous dopaminergic stimulation. Levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG) infusion is the latest DAT for advanced PD (APD) that was approved in Romania in 2021.

Study Question: What is the experience to date in real-world clinical practice in Romania regarding the efficacy and tolerability of LECIG in APD?

Study Design: A retrospective evaluation of 74 APD patients treated with LECIG at 12 specialized APD centers in Romania.

PFO-spectrum disorder: two different cerebrovascular diseases in patients with PFO as detected by AI brain imaging software.

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent cardiac remnant of fetal anatomy that may pose a risk factor for stroke in some patients, while others can present with asymptomatic white matter (WM) lesions. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with a PFO who have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, compared to those without such a history, have a different burden and distribution of cerebral WM hyperintensities. Additionally, we tested the association between PFO morphological characteristics and severity of shunt, and their impact on the occurrence of ischemic cerebral vascular events and on the burden of cerebral WM lesions.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition marked by the progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities, memory impairment, and the accumulation of abnormal proteins, specifically beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles, within the brain. Despite extensive research efforts, Alzheimer's disease remains without a cure, presenting a significant global healthcare challenge. Recently, there has been an increased focus on antibody-based treatments as a potentially effective method for dealing with Alzheimer's disease.

Non-Communicable Diseases and Associated Risk Factors in Burning Mouth Syndrome Patients.

: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a group of non-transmissible conditions that tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. Although an association between oral disorders and NCDs has been suggested, the relationship between Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) and NCDs and their associated risk factors has not been deeply investigated. In this study, we aim to identify associations between BMS and NCDs in the Romanian population.

A Nanostructured Protein Filtration Device for Possible Use in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease-Concept and Feasibility after In Vivo Tests.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with other neurodegenerative disorders, remains a challenge for clinicians, mainly because of the incomplete knowledge surrounding its etiology and inefficient therapeutic options. Considering the central role of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the onset and evolution of AD, Aβ-targeted therapies are among the most promising research directions. In the context of decreased Aβ elimination from the central nervous system in the AD patient, the authors propose a novel therapeutic approach based on the "Cerebrospinal Fluid Sink Therapeutic Strategy" presented in previous works.

Dysautonomia in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease, characterized in its typical presentation by a combination of lower and upper motor neuron symptoms, with a progressive course and fatal outcome. Due to increased recognition of the non-motor symptoms, it is currently considered a multisystem disorder with great heterogeneity, regarding genetical, clinical, and neuropathological features. Often underestimated, autonomic signs and symptoms have been described in patients with ALS, and various method analyses have been used to assess autonomic nervous system involvement.

Autoimmune Encephalitis-A Multifaceted Pathology.

Autoimmune encephalitis is a complex and multifaceted pathology that involves immune-mediated inflammation of the brain. It is characterized by the body's immune system attacking the brain tissue, leading to a cascade of inflammatory processes. What makes autoimmune encephalitis vast is the wide range of causes, mechanisms, clinical presentations, and diagnostic challenges associated with the condition.

Neuropsychological assessment of Romanian burning mouth syndrome patients: stress, depression, sleep disturbance, and verbal fluency impairments.

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition characterized by a burning sensation in the oral mucosa, lasting more than 2 hours daily for more than 3 months, without clinical and/or laboratory evidence. BMS is often comorbid with mood, and psychiatric disorders, and a complex pathophysiology and interaction between impairments in nociceptive processing and psychologic function is occurring. In this work, we aimed to define the neuropsychological profile specific for BMS patients for a better management of this complex disease.

The Roles of the Amyloid Beta Monomers in Physiological and Pathological Conditions.

Amyloid beta peptide is an important biomarker in Alzheimer's disease, with the amyloidogenic hypothesis as one of the central hypotheses trying to explain this type of dementia. Despite numerous studies, the etiology of Alzheimer's disease remains incompletely known, as the pathological accumulation of amyloid beta aggregates cannot fully explain the complex clinical picture of the disease. Or, for the development of effective therapies, it is mandatory to understand the roles of amyloid beta at the brain level, from its initial monomeric stage prior to aggregation in the form of senile plaques.

Applications for oral research in microgravity - lessons learned from burning mouth syndrome and ageing studies.

The negative consequences of microgravity for the human body are central aspects of space travel that raise health problems. Altered functions of the same systems and treatment options are common points of spaceflight physiology, age-related diseases, and oral medicine. This work emphasizes the convergence of knowledge between pathophysiological changes brought on by aging, physiological reactions to microgravity exposure, and non-pharmacological and non-invasive treatment methods that can be used in spaceflight.

Differences in clinical and biological factors between patients with PFO-related stroke and patients with PFO and no cerebral vascular events.

Background: While stroke is one of the most dissected topics in neurology, the primary prevention of PFO-related stroke in young patients is still an unaddressed subject. We present a study concerning clinical, demographic, and laboratory factors associated with stroke and transient ischemic attack in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO), as well as comparing PFO-patients with and without cerebrovascular ischemic events (CVEs).

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients with PFO-associated CVEs were included in the study; control group was selected from patients with a PFO and no history of stroke.

An update on the use of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disorder of the CNS manifested by recurrent attacks of neurological symptoms (related to focal inflammation) and gradual disability accrual (related to progressive neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation). Sphingosine-1-phosphate-receptor (S1PR) modulators are a class of oral disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing MS. The first S1PR modulator developed and approved for MS was fingolimod, followed by siponimod, ozanimod, and ponesimod.

Serum Neurofilaments and OCT Metrics Predict EDSS-Plus Score Progression in Early Relapse-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

(1) Background: Early disability accrual in RRMS patients is frequent and is associated with worse long-term prognosis. Correctly identifying the patients that present a high risk of early disability progression is of utmost importance, and may be aided by the use of predictive biomarkers. (2) Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study that included newly diagnosed RRMS patients, with a minimum follow-up period of one year.

SH-SY5Y Cell Line Models for Parkinson Disease Research-Old Practice for New Trends.

The SH-SY5Y cell line is a simple and inexpensive experimental model for studying Parkinson disease (PD). This experimental model is a useful tool for elucidating pathophysiological mechanisms of PD and in the development of new pharmacological therapies. In this review, we aim to summarize current protocols for SH-SY5Y cell culturing and differentiation and PD experimental designs derived from the SH-SY5Y cell line.

Quantitative EEG as a Biomarker in Evaluating Post-Stroke Depression.

: Post-stroke depression (PSD) has complex pathophysiology determined by various biological and psychological factors. Although it is a long-term complication of stroke, PSD is often underdiagnosed. Given the diagnostic role of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) in depression, it was investigated whether a possible marker of PSD could be identified by observing the evolution of the (Delta + Theta)/(Alpha + Beta) Ratio (DTABR), respectively the Delta/Alpha Ratio (DAR) values in post-stroke depressed patients (evaluated through the HADS-D subscale).

Serum and CSF Biomarkers Predict Active Early Cognitive Decline Rather Than Established Cognitive Impairment at the Moment of RRMS Diagnosis.

(1) Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) begins early in the evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS) but may only become obvious in the later stages of the disease. Little data is available regarding predictive biomarkers for early, active cognitive decline in relapse remitting MS (RRMS) patients. (2) Methods: 50 RRMS patients in the first 6 months following diagnosis were included.

Nanoporous Membranes for the Filtration of Proteins from Biological Fluids: Biocompatibility Tests on Cell Cultures and Suggested Applications for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease has a significant epidemiological and socioeconomic impact, and, unfortunately, the extensive research focused on potential curative therapies has not yet proven to be successful. However, in recent years, important steps have been made in the development and functionalization of nanoporous alumina membranes, which might be of great interest for medical use, including the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, the aim of this article is to present the synthesis and biocompatibility testing of a special filtrating nano-membrane, which is planned to be used in an experimental device for Alzheimer's disease treatment.