Epidemiological data and research highlight increased neuropathy and chronic pain prevalence among females, spanning metabolic and normometabolic contexts, including murine models. Prior findings demonstrated diverse immune and neuroimmune responses between genders in neuropathic pain (NeP), alongside distinct protein expression in sciatic nerves. This study unveils adipose tissue's (AT) role in sex-specific NeP responses after peripheral nerve injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Physical activity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) plays a controversial role. In some epidemiological studies, both recreational or professional sport exercise has been associated to an increased risk for ALS but the mechanisms underlying the effects of exercise have not been fully elucidated in either patients or animal models.
Methods: To better reproduce the influence of this environmental factor in the pathogenesis of ALS, we exposed SOD1 low-copy male mice to multiple exercise sessions at asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic disease stages in an automated home-cage running-wheel system for about 3 months.
Xeomin is a commercial formulation of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) clinically authorized for treating neurological disorders, such as blepharospasm, cervical dystonia, limb spasticity, and sialorrhea. We have previously demonstrated that spinal injection of laboratory purified 150 kDa BoNT/A in paraplegic mice, after undergoing traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), was able to reduce excitotoxic phenomena, glial scar, inflammation, and the development of neuropathic pain and facilitate regeneration and motor recovery. In the present study, as proof of concept in view of a possible clinical application, we studied the efficacy of Xeomin in the same preclinical SCI model in which we highlighted the positive effects of lab-purified BoNT/A.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs a widely prescribed anti-diabetic drug, metformin has been receiving novel attention for its analgesic potential. In the study of the complex etiology of neuropathic pain (NeP), male and female individuals exhibit quite different responses characterized by higher pain sensitivity and greater NeP incidence in women. This "gender gap" in our knowledge of sex differences in pain processing strongly limits the sex-oriented treatment of patients suffering from NeP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpidemiological evidence indicates that stress and aversive psychological conditions can affect cancer progression, while well-being protects against it. Although a large set of studies have addressed the impact of stress on cancer, not much is known about the mechanisms that protect from cancer in healthy psychological conditions. C57BL/6J mouse pups were exposed to an environmental enrichment condition consisting of being raised until weaning by the biological lactating mother plus a non-lactating virgin female (LnL = Lactating and non-Lactating mothers).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study aimed to verify, through a randomized controlled trial, whether a medium-intensity mixing/aerobic/anaerobic exercise (accessible to older adults even with mild chronic diseases) can effectively counteract depressive episodes. A characteristic of the trial was that the follow-up coincided (unscheduled) with the lockdown due to Covid-19.
Methods: Participants (N=120) were randomized into an intervention group, performing physical exercise, and a control group.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by depletion of motor neurons (MNs), for which effective medical treatments are still required. Previous transcriptomic analysis revealed the up-regulation of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2)-mRNA in a subset of sporadic ALS patients and SOD1G93A mice. Here, we confirmed the increase of CXCR2 in human ALS cortex, and showed that CXCR2 is mainly localized in cell bodies and axons of cortical neurons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of intra-articular injections of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue in patients affected by early or moderate ankle osteoarthritis (AOA).
Methods: A total of 31 symptomatic patients, aged 28-71 years, affected by AOA, were treated with 5 ml of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue. Clinical evaluations before the treatment and after six, 12, and 24 months were performed through American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale, the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores.
Neuropathic pain (NeP) in humans is often a life-long condition with no effective therapy available. The higher incidence of female gender in NeP onset is worldwide reported, and although the cause is generally attributed to sex hormones, the actual mechanisms and the players involved are still unclear. Glial and immune cells take part in NeP development, and orchestrate the neuroimmune and inflammatory response, releasing pro-inflammatory factors with chemoattractant properties that activate resident immune cells and recruit immune cells from circulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMigraine is a common, chronic disorder that often manifests in childhood. This article discusses the prevalence, diagnosis, and clinical management of uncommon subtypes of migraine with aura, including hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and abdominal migraine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBotulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a major therapeutic agent that has been proven to be a successful treatment for different neurological disorders, with emerging novel therapeutic indications each year. BoNT/A exerts its action by blocking SNARE complex formation and vesicle release through the specific cleavage of SNAP-25 protein; the toxin is able to block the release of pro-inflammatory molecules for months after its administration. Here we demonstrate the extraordinary capacity of BoNT/A to neutralize the complete paralysis and pain insensitivity induced in a murine model of severe spinal cord injury (SCI).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this paper, a non-destructive technique based on the monitoring of the environmental vibrations of two strategic buildings by positioning accelerometers in well-defined points was used for fixing their dynamic behavior. The accelerometers measurements were elaborated through Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) techniques, in order to identify natural frequencies, damping coefficients, and modal shapes of the structure. Once these parameters have been determined, a numerical model calibrated on the identified frequencies and verified on the corresponding mode shapes was created for each building.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that is always fatal, although treatment can help slow disease progression. This article discusses the etiology and pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and clinical management of ALS, with special nursing considerations to help patients at the end of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as storage of excess fat in the liver not caused by heavy alcohol consumption. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is the severe form of NAFLD. This article discusses causes, diagnosis, and nursing interventions for patients with either disorder.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParkinson disease (PD) is a progressive, incurable disease caused by dopamine deficiency. This article provides an overview of this neurodegenerative disorder and offers information for optimal outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe incidence of peripheral neuropathy development and chronic pain is strongly associated with the arrival of senescence. The gradual physiological decline that begins after the mature stage produces myelin dysregulation and pathological changes in peripheral nervous system, attributed to reduction in myelin proteins expression and thinner myelin sheath. Moreover in elder subjects, when nerve damage occurs, the regenerative processes are seriously compromised and neuropathic pain (NeP) is maintained.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTraumatic spinal cord injury has dramatic consequences and a huge social impact. We propose a new mouse model of spinal trauma that induces a complete paralysis of hindlimbs, still observable 30 days after injury. The contusion, performed without laminectomy and deriving from the pressure exerted directly on the bone, mimics more closely many features of spinal injury in humans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGalaxy clusters are the most massive gravitationally bound structures in the Universe. They grow by accreting smaller structures in a merging process that produces shocks and turbulence in the intracluster gas. We observed a ridge of radio emission connecting the merging galaxy clusters Abell 0399 and Abell 0401 with the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope network at 140 megahertz.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMigraine is a chronic episodic disorder typically characterized by a debilitating headache. This article offers tools to identify potential triggers and prevent or reduce the occurrence of attacks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is a growing interest on the role of autophagy in diabetes pathophysiology, where development of neuropathy is one of the most frequent comorbidities. We have previously demonstrated that neuropathic pain after nerve damage is exacerbated in autophagy-defective heterozygous Ambra1 mice. Here, we show the existence of a prediabetic state in Ambra1 mice, characterized by hyperglycemia, intolerance to glucose and insulin resistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcquired autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)-the most common form of TTP-is a life-threatening hematologic disease characterized by hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Acquired autoimmune TTP can cause signs and symptoms of neurologic and other organ involvement, with mortality approaching 90% if the disease is not promptly recognized and treated. Since the introduction of plasma exchange in 1991, the acquired autoimmune TTP survival rate has increased to 78%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the most common type of implanted cerebrospinal fluid shunt system. Nurses may care for patients who have undergone shunt placement or revision. This article discusses the indications for VPS placement in adults, possible complications, and nursing care for patients following a shunt placement procedure.
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