Publications by authors named "N Maragakis"
Background: The interaction of CD40L and its receptor CD40 on activated T cells and B cells respectively control pro-inflammatory activation in the pathophysiology of autoimmunity and transplant rejection. Previous studies have implicated signaling pathways involving CD40L (interchangeably referred to as CD154), as well as adaptive and innate immune cell activation, in the induction of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to assess the safety, tolerability, and impact on pro-inflammatory biomarker profiles of an anti CD40L antibody, tegoprubart, in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can restore communication for movement- and/or speech-impaired individuals by enabling neural control of computer typing applications. Single command click detectors provide a basic yet highly functional capability.
Methods: We sought to test the performance and long-term stability of click decoding using a chronically implanted high density electrocorticographic (ECoG) BCI with coverage of the sensorimotor cortex in a human clinical trial participant (ClinicalTrials.
ATP is present in negligible concentrations in the interstitium of healthy tissues but accumulates to significantly higher concentrations in an inflammatory microenvironment. ATP binds to 2 categories of purine receptors on the surface of cells, the ionotropic P2X receptors and metabotropic P2Y receptors. Included in the family of ionotropic purine receptors is P2X7 (P2X7R), a non-specific cation channel with unique functional and structural properties that suggest it has distinct roles in pathological conditions marked by increased extracellular ATP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The Wahls diet is a specialized version of the Paleolithic diet, focusing on nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens and omega-3 fatty acids while limiting processed foods and sugars, aiming to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
- - While some studies link components of the Wahls diet, like high carotenoids and omega-3s, to reduced ALS risk, there is no solid evidence proving it slows ALS progression, with conflicting results from animal model research.
- - Additionally, the Wahls diet has led to significant weight loss in people with multiple sclerosis, raising concerns since weight loss can worsen ALS, leading to the conclusion that the diet shouldn't be endorsed for ALS patients.
Objective: Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) hold significant promise for restoring communication in individuals with partial or complete loss of the ability to speak due to paralysis from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brainstem stroke, and other neurological disorders. Many of the approaches to speech decoding reported in the BCI literature have required time-aligned target representations to allow successful training - a major challenge when translating such approaches to people who have already lost their voice.
Approach: In this pilot study, we made a first step toward scenarios in which no ground truth is available.