Quantitative spinal cord imaging: Early ALS diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. This degeneration leads to muscular weakness, progressively impairing motor functions and ultimately resulting in respiratory failure. The clinical, genetic, and pathological heterogeneity of ALS, combined with the absence of reliable biomarkers, significantly challenge the efficacy of therapeutic trials.

Assessing Tunisia's urban air quality using combined lichens and Sentinel-5 satellite integration.

In Tunisia, urban air pollution is becoming a bigger problem. This study used a combined strategy of biomonitoring with lichens and satellite mapping with Sentinel-5 satellite data processed in Google Earth Engine (GEE) to assess the air quality over metropolitan Tunis. Lichen diversity was surveyed across the green spaces of the Faculty of Science of Tunisia sites, revealing 15 species with a predominance of pollution-tolerant genera.

Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Interact with Neurodegenerative Patterns and Motor Neuron Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease involving rapid motor neuron degeneration leading to brain, primarily precentral, atrophy. Neurofilament light chains are a robust prognostic biomarker highly specific to ALS, yet associations between neurofilament light chains and MR imaging outcomes are not well-understood. We investigated the role of neurofilament light chains as mediators among neuroradiologic assessments, precentral neurodegeneration, and disability in ALS.

Parietin, the Vibrant Natural Dye in Xanthoria parietina.

The use of natural dyes in several areas is regulated by current European and non-European legislation, due to various problems with synthetic dyes. The analysis revealed that the lichen studied: Xanthoria parietina has potential natural dye sources and provides bright colors for extraction solvents. Furthermore, dyed wool and toile fabric have good fastness properties in ammonia fermentation and boiling water, both with and without mordants.

Quantitative brainstem and spinal MRI in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: implications for predicting noninvasive ventilation needs.

Background: Respiratory complications resulting from motor neurons degeneration are the primary cause of death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Predicting the need for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in ALS is important for advance care planning and clinical trial design. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of quantitative MRI at the brainstem and spinal cord levels to predict the need for NIV during the first six months after diagnosis.

Selecting the species to be used in lichen transplant surveys of air pollution in Tunisia.

This study was undertaken with the aim of selecting one or more lichen species that are the most suitable for transplant-based surveys of air pollution in Tunisia, in areas where the local native lichen vegetation is scanty or missing at all. To this purpose, four epiphytic (tree inhabiting) lichen species (Evernia prunastri, Flavoparmelia caperata, Parmotrema perlatum, Ramalina farinacea) were collected from the Babouch forests, a remote and unpolluted area of NW Tunisia, and analyzed for their content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), namely Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn, by ICP-MS. Moreover, also the physiological status of the lichen samples was evaluated by measuring their chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and spectral reflectance.

HPLC analysis, mycochemical contents and biological activities of two edible hypogeous ascomycetes: and .

Truffle, the hypogeous, ascomycetous macrofungus, has been recognized as a delicacy for centuries, and it is gaining elevated status in the culinary domain. The chemical composition and biological activities of aqueous extract and ground material of two desert Tunisian and were studied for the first time. Using three assays antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract and ground material of the two truffles were investigated.

Combining sodium MRI, proton MR spectroscopic imaging, and intracerebral EEG in epilepsy.

Whole brain ionic and metabolic imaging has potential as a powerful tool for the characterization of brain diseases. We combined sodium MRI ( Na MRI) and H-MR Spectroscopic Imaging ( H-MRSI), assessing changes within epileptogenic networks in comparison with electrophysiologically normal networks as defined by stereotactic EEG (SEEG) recordings analysis. We applied a multi-echo density adapted 3D projection reconstruction pulse sequence at 7 T ( Na-MRI) and a 3D echo-planar spectroscopic imaging sequence at 3 T ( H-MRSI) in 19 patients suffering from drug-resistant focal epilepsy who underwent presurgical SEEG.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Compounds Isolated from Tunisian Lichens Species.

The lichen's special symbiotic structure enables it to produce bioactive substances. They have historically been recognized for their aesthetic and medicinal benefits. Furthermore, in recent years, they have performed in various fields, including perfumery, dyeing, and pharmacology due to their rich secondary metabolites.

Alterations of Microstructure and Sodium Homeostasis in Fast Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progressors: A Brain DTI and Sodium MRI Study.

Background And Purpose: While conventional MR imaging has limited value in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, nonconventional MR imaging has shown alterations of microstructure using diffusion MR imaging and recently sodium homeostasis with sodium MR imaging. We aimed to investigate the topography of brain regions showing combined microstructural and sodium homeostasis alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis subgroups according to their disease-progression rates.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 24 age-matched healthy controls were recruited.

Grey-matter sodium concentration as an individual marker of multiple sclerosis severity.

Objective: Quantification of brain injury in patients with variable disability despite similar disease duration may be relevant to identify the mechanisms underlying disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to compare grey-matter sodium abnormalities (GMSAs), a parameter reflecting neuronal and astrocyte dysfunction, in MS patients with benign multiple sclerosis (BMS) and non-benign multiple sclerosis (NBMS).

Methods: We identified never-treated BMS patients in our local MS database of 1352 patients.

Phenolic Content, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Activities of Biosynthesized and Characterized Silver Nanoparticles from Tunisian Medicinal Lichen Species.

Lichens produce a myriad of bioactive compounds that can be exploited as reducing and capping agents in the green process of synthesizing nanoparticles. In this study, we exploit a simple, environmentally safe method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), using aqueous extracts of three lichen species (Lobaria pulmonaria, Ramalina farinacea, and Evernia prunastri) for the first time. Characterization showed that the three lichen species selected could be perfectly suitable as reducing agents to produce AgNPs.

Cerebellar pathology and disability worsening in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A retrospective analysis from the CombiRx trial.

Background And Purpose: Cerebellar damage is a valuable predictor of disability, particularly in progressive multiple sclerosis. It is not clear if it could be an equally useful predictor of motor disability worsening in the relapsing-remitting phenotype.

Aim: We aimed to determine whether cerebellar damage is an equally useful predictor of motor disability worsening in the relapsing-remitting phenotype.

Mycochemical Contents and Biological Activities of Three Wild Mushrooms from Tunisia.

The objective of the current study was to compare the mycochemical composition and biological activities of two extracts (aqueous extracts and ground materials prepared with the QUENCHER approach) of three wild Basidiomy-cetes, Agaricus vaporarius, Lactarius deliciosus, and Lycoperdon pyriforme, collected from a region located in the north of Tunisia. Mycochemical analysis in terms of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavanols, proanthocyanidins, and tannin contents were determined. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the mushrooms were evaluated using three assays (2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, and metal chelating assay).

Increased Sodium Concentration in Substantia Nigra in Early Parkinson's Disease: A Preliminary Study With Ultra-High Field (7T) MRI.

Pathophysiology of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD) is complex and still misunderstood. At a time when treatments with disease-modifying potential are being developed, identification of early markers of neurodegeneration is essential. Intracerebral sodium accumulation could be one of them.

An optimized MP2RAGE sequence for studying both brain and cervical spinal cord in a single acquisition at 3T.

Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echo (MP2RAGE) is a T mapping technique that has been used broadly on brain and recently on cervical spinal cord (cSC). The growing interest for combined investigation of brain and SC in numerous pathologies of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and traumatic injuries, now brings about the need for optimization with regards to this specific investigation. This implies large spatial coverage with high spatial resolution and short acquisition time, high CNR and low B sensitivity, as well as high reproducibility and robust post-processing tools for T quantification in different regions of brain and SC.

Gait and cognitive abnormalities are associated with regional cerebellar atrophy in elderly fallers - A pilot study.

Objectives: To investigate cerebellar lobule atrophy patterns in elderly fallers (EFs) and their association with gait and cognitive performance.

Background: Cognitive impairments, gait, and balance deficits are major risk factors for falls in older adults, however, their neural fingerprints remain poorly understood. Recent evidence from neuroimaging studies highlight the role of the cerebellum in both sensorimotor and cognitive networks, suggesting that it may contribute to fall risk.

Altered anterior default mode network dynamics in progressive multiple sclerosis.

Background: Modifications in brain function remain relatively unexplored in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS), despite their potential to provide new insights into the pathophysiology of the disease at this stage.

Objectives: To characterize the dynamics of functional networks at rest in patients with PMS, and the relation with clinical disability.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with PMS underwent clinical and cognitive assessment.

Does the lichenicolous fungus affect the antimicrobial potential of its host ?

The effects of the lichenicolous fungus on the antimicrobial potential of the lichen demonstrated that the extracts investigated have antimicrobial potential against gram-positive and negative bacteria, and yeast, and inhibit the germination of fungal spores. Inhibition activity varied considerably depending on the extract, the bacterial species, and the absence or presence of ; unparasitised has a higher antimicrobial activity. Methanol and acetone extracts of alone have higher inhibition diameters than with against ; the methanol extract of showed the best inhibition (250 µg/ml).

Lichenochemical Screening and Antioxidant Capacity of Four Tunisian Lichen Species.

The phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of four Tunisian lichen species, Cladonia rangiformis, Flavoparmelia caperata, Squamarina cartilaginea and Xanthoria parietina, were determined in order to provide a better understanding of their lichenochemical composition. Powdered material of F. caperata was the richest in total phenolic content (956.

In vitro evaluation of lysozyme activity and antimicrobial effect of extracts from four Tunisian lichens: Diploschistes ocellatus, Flavoparmelia caperata, Squamarina cartilaginea and Xanthoria parietina.

Since lichens have been recognised as a potential natural source of bioactive substances, the aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial, lysozyme and antifungal effects of methanol, acetone and quencher extracts from four lichens: Diploschistes ocellatus, Flavoparmelia caperata, Squamarina cartilaginea and Xanthoria parietina. The results showed that the tested extracts had antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and anti-candida, and inhibit the spore germination of tested fungi. The different extracts varied in their effect as determined by the diameter of the inhibition zone, the highest values being observed with the methanol and acetone extracts (29.

Non-invasive quantification of inflammation, axonal and myelin injury in multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of diffusion basis spectrum imaging in multiple sclerosis at 7 T and to investigate the pathological substrates of tissue damage in lesions and normal-appearing white matter. To this end, 43 patients with multiple sclerosis (24 relapsing-remitting, 19 progressive), and 21 healthy control subjects were enrolled. White matter lesions were classified in T1-isointense, T1-hypointense and black holes.

Laminar analysis of the cortical T1/T2-weighted ratio at 7T.

Objective: In this observational study, we explored cortical structure as function of cortical depth through a laminar analysis of the T1/T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) ratio, which has been related to dendrite density in ex vivo brain tissue specimens of patients with MS.

Methods: In 39 patients (22 relapsing-remitting, 13 female, age 41.1 ± 10.