Publications by authors named "R Savica"
Article Synopsis
- α-synucleinopathies, like Parkinson's disease, involve the misfolding and clumping of α-synuclein proteins, which can be difficult to detect in common samples like blood due to inhibitors.
- * Recent advancements in a technique called Nanoparticle-enhanced Quaking-induced Conversion (Nano-QuIC) have shown that it can speed up detection of misfolded α-synuclein and improve sensitivity by 100 times compared to traditional methods.
- * Nano-QuIC has demonstrated effectiveness in identifying low concentrations of misfolded proteins in blood samples from Parkinson's patients, paving the way for noninvasive blood tests that could lead to earlier diagnosis and better disease management.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and its links to neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on gender differences and younger adults, which are less explored compared to older males.
- - Researchers followed 372 participants (186 women and 186 men with iRBD), finding that women were diagnosed at a younger age than men and that over 12% converted to a neurodegenerative disorder within roughly 6 years.
- - Key findings indicate that older age at diagnosis is a significant factor for phenoconversion risk, with lower risk observed in those using antidepressants or having chronic pain, while higher risk was noted in individuals with vascular issues.
Background: Microbial dysbiosis has been reported to contribute to development of neurodegenerative diseases, however, there is a need to identify causative/prognostic indicators.
Objectives: To comparatively analyze gut microbiome composition in symptomatic LBD (dementia/mild cognitive impairment), iRBD, and cohabiting controls without LBD or iRBD.
Methods: 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed in 38 cases (27 LBD, 11 iRBD) and 39 cohabitant controls.
Importance: The role of air pollution in risk and progression of Parkinson disease (PD) is unclear.
Objective: To assess whether air pollution is associated with increased risk of PD and clinical characteristics of PD.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based case-control study included patients with PD and matched controls from the Rochester Epidemiology Project from 1998 to 2015.
Levodopa is the most widely used medication for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease and, despite being an "old" drug, is still considered the gold standard for offering symptomatic relief. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of levodopa have been studied extensively. Our review explores the molecular mechanisms that affect the absorption of this drug, focusing on the large intra- and interindividual variability of absorption that is commonly encountered in daily clinical practice, and on the interaction with other medications.
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