The corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and the resulting long-term neurological complications in patients, known as long COVID, have renewed interest in the correlation between viral infections and neurodegenerative brain disorders. While many viruses can reach the central nervous system (CNS) causing acute or chronic infections (such as herpes simplex virus 1, HSV-1), the lack of a clear mechanistic link between viruses and protein aggregation into amyloids, a characteristic of several neurodegenerative diseases, has rendered such a connection elusive. Recently, we showed that viruses can induce aggregation of purified amyloidogenic proteins via the direct physicochemical mechanism of heterogeneous nucleation (HEN).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing event that severely impacts the patient's quality of life. Modulating neuroinflammation, which exacerbates the primary injury, and stimulating neuro-regenerative repair mechanisms are key strategies to improve functional recovery. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a second messenger crucially involved in both processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInhibition of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) enzymes has been investigated as therapeutic strategy to treat memory problems in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although PDE4D inhibitors are effective in enhancing memory processes in rodents and humans, severe side effects may hamper their clinical use. PDE4D enzymes comprise different isoforms, which, when targeted specifically, can increase treatment efficacy and safety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study aimed to describe a rare case of bilateral choroidal effusion following a XEN45 implantation.
Case Report: An 84-year-old man with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent uneventful ab interno XEN45 device implantation in the right eye. The immediate postoperative period was complicated by hypotony and serous choroidal detachment, which were treated and resolved using steroids and cycloplegic drops.