Archives of Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Disease

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are two of the most prominent and complex progressive neurological disorders that have a profound global impact [1,2]. These diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide, causing significant morbidity and placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems and society [3,6]. Despite considerable advancements in understanding these disorders over the years, developing effective treatments remains a complex and multifaceted challenge [7,8].

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in regenerative medicine. They can be isolated from different adult tissues. However, the regenerative potential of MSCs obtained from various sources and from different age donors may significantly differ.

The action potential (AP) in cardiac tissue is important for initiating and coordinating contractions in the heart. In addition, the long refractory period minimizes the potential for developing extrasystoles and arrhythmias. The AP is generated by coordinate changes in different ionic currents. In human (or canine) adult ventricular cells, the depolarization phase of the AP is mainly through the influx of Na+ and Ca2+ through specific voltage gated channels.

In many metazoan tissues, highly specialized cells are constantly lost and need to be replaced by tissue homeostasis from adult stem cells. When adult stem cells divide by mitosis their daughter cells either become new stem cells, or enter a proliferation and differentiation path. Recent studies in Drosophila males showed that germline stem cells (GSCs) can increase their mitotic activity in response to repeated mating.

Sleeve gastrectomy is the most common bariatric surgery worldwide. However, such a surgery caries risk of complications associated with morbidity and mortality. Gastric leak can occur and represents one of the most severe complications following sleeve gastrectomy. Since the two last decades, regenerative medicine has emerged, offering new strategies to face to sleeve gastrectomy complications.

Injuries to the eye are a common cause of emergency department (ED) visits in the pediatric age group. There were nearly 14 million ED visits for traumatic injuries in children under age 5 in 2017 in the US, and most of these occurred at a private residence [1]. The highest number of pediatric ED visits for ocular injury were reported in children ages 1-5.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, manifesting as a characteristic movement disorder with a number of additional non-motor features. The pathological hallmark of PD is the presence of intra-neuronal aggregates of a-synuclein (Lewy bodies). The movement disorder of PD occurs largely due to loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, resulting in striatal dopamine depletion.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairments that might be accompanied by declines in activities of daily living, neuropsychiatric disorders and a loss of motor function [1,2]. At present, the prevalence of dementia of Alzheimer’s type (DAT) is approximately 4% among elderly people [3]. With the increase in the aging the population, the number of individuals with DAT is still increasing.

Parkinson’s disease is a multifaceted illness that requires interdisciplinary approach to be fully addressed. The etiology of the disease is not completely understood, but genetic and environmental cues play important roles. Histological hallmarks of the disease are the accumulation of alpha-synuclein aggregates, mitochondrial changes and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.

Stroke is the most common cause of disability and the number two cause of death worldwide. The TOAST classification denotes five subtypes of ischemic stroke, large-artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, small-vessel occlusion, stroke of other determined etiology and stroke of undetermined etiology.

We investigated the function and in vivo role of dopamine receptors (BmDopRs) in the silkworm Bombyx mori. During our studies, we discovered that BmDopRs play a crucial role in regulating feeding behavior in silkworm larvae. Here, we review recent findings [1] on the importance of dopamine (DA) and its receptors, particularly the BmDopR3 subtype, in regulating feeding behavior in Bombyx mori.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most common disease in premature newborns, associated with immature lung injury under the influence of supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation. “Classical BPD” is observed in premature newborns who have not received surfactant treatments. It is characterized by pulmonary fibrosis due to oxygen toxicity and volumetric/barometric trauma caused by mechanical ventilation. A new or "mild" form of BPD is observed in children born at 29 weeks of gestation, and is characterized by disordered pulmonary development due to prematurity.

During lifespan the homeostasis and repair of organs and tissues are guaranteed by the adult stem cell population. Among them, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which contain a subpopulation of multipotent stem cells, are emerging as promising candidates for cell therapy of numerous diseases. MSCs are non-hematopoietic cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes.

Background: Though dementia has become a world-wide priority, there is a low recognition rate in primary care settings, mostly due to time constraints and luck of suitable, brief and validated measures. In the case of multicultural population, primary care health systems face a variety of challenges during the diagnostic process. However, thanks to technological advantages, dementia early screening is becoming a key element factor of regular health check-ups. 

The significance of the first years of living in determining mental health later in life has been acknowledged since the early psychoanalytic approaches to the understanding of mental illness delivered by Sigmund and Anna Freud, Rene Spitz and John Bowlby. Empirical research since then has documented the early childhood origin of most mental disorders seen in older children and adolescents. Birth cohort studies have provided evidence on the interplay of genes and environment from early stages of prenatal life and the longterm influences of pre-and perinatal risk factors.

Background: Primary care professionals are well positioned to help identify patients at risk of developing dementia, support them and proceed to referral to a specialist. Individuals from multicultural backgrounds belong to a vulnerable group, as they often face underdiagnosis of dementia, for various reasons.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multiorgan, systemic autoimmune disease that occurs more frequently in women than men and is typically diagnosed in women of reproductive age.

Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is a devastating disease caused by the accumulation and interaction of tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) plaques in the brain [1,2].

Within the last ten years, there has been a growing body of data on the potential of neurotransmitter blockers as promising components of comprehensive cancer treatment. Neurotransmitters play an important role in the intercellular communication of the various tumor cells: malignant epithelial cells, myofibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages, stromal cells, and endothelial cells of the tumor vasculature. In particular, they are responsible for the cells’ resistance to chemotherapy.

Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by clinical features such as bradykinesia and resting tremor. It is characterized by specific neuropathological changes. These changes include the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta.