Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide; therefore, since its initial description, significant progress has been made, yet a mystery remains regarding its pathogenesis and elusive root cause. The widespread distribution of pathological α-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates throughout the body raises inquiries regarding the etiology, which has prompted several hypotheses, with the most prominent one being αSyn-associated proteinopathy. The identification of αSyn protein within Lewy bodies, coupled with genetic evidence linking αSyn locus duplication, triplication, as well as point mutations to familial Parkinson's disease, has underscored the significance of αSyn in initiating and propagating Lewy body pathology throughout the brain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecent studies have identified that under stimulation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide mammalian macrophages produce itaconic acid. Yet, it is unknown whether itaconate has any effect on viability of brain cells. Here we used extracellularly added itaconate to investigate its effects on viability of cerebellar granule cells (CGC) in cultures and respiratory functions of these cells and isolated brain mitochondria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: It is currently impossible to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD) in the premotor phase even though at the time of motor symptom onset the number of already degenerated dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons is considerable. Degeneration of the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve (VN) has been reported early in the disease course, and it could lead to impaired function of the VN, resulting in certain nonmotor symptoms of PD. Therefore, we raised a hypothesis that the loss of VN neurons could result in a smaller diameter of the VN among PD patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The study was designed to examine the certain patterns of combined oral contraceptive use in women of childbearing potential and evaluate the relationship between the use of combined oral contraceptives and headaches, bad habits, type of work, and concomitant diseases.
Material And Methods: In total, 194 randomly selected women aged 18 to 40 years who visited a gynecologist for preventive gynecological examination were surveyed. Respondents were categorized as combined oral contraceptive users (n=116; study group) and nonusers (n=78; control group).
Objectives: To evaluate if the quality of services provided by family physicians and obstetricians/gynecologists at primary personal health care institutions of Kaunas city and access to it meet the needs and expectations of pregnant women.
Material And Methods: Pregnant women visiting the selected health care institutions at their third trimester of pregnancy were asked to fill in the anonymous questionnaire. The study was conducted at two randomly selected maternity centers of Kaunas city and two family practices of Kaunas city where antenatal care was provided by family physicians.