Topic Review
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Management of Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It has a global prevalence of approximately 0.51%, increasing to 10–17% in those over age 80. AF is characterised by ectopic depolarisations, which lead to asynchronous atrial contractions and irregular ventricular activity
  • 136
  • 15 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Therapies to Treat Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a condition that results in brain damage in newborns due to insufficient blood and oxygen supply during or after birth. HIE is a major cause of neurological disability and mortality in newborns, with over one million neonatal deaths occurring annually worldwide. The severity of brain injury and the outcome of HIE depend on several factors, including the cause of oxygen deprivation, brain maturity, regional blood flow, and maternal health conditions. HIE is classified into mild, moderate, and severe categories based on the extent of brain damage and resulting neurological issues. The pathophysiology of HIE involves different phases, including the primary phase, latent phase, secondary phase, and tertiary phase. The primary and secondary phases are characterized by episodes of energy and cell metabolism failures, increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis, and activated microglia and inflammation in the brain. 
  • 182
  • 30 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Management of Large-Core Infarct Ischemic Stroke
The volume of infarcted tissue in patients with ischemic stroke is consistently associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Initial studies of endovascular thrombectomy for large-vessel occlusion excluded patients with established large-core infarcts, even when large volumes of salvageable brain tissue were present, due to the high risk of hemorrhagic transformation and reperfusion injury. 
  • 156
  • 25 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Oligodendrocytes and Vitamin D Neuroprotection in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological condition that involves both inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative components. MS research and treatments have traditionally focused on immunomodulation, with less investigation of neuroprotection, and this holds true for the role of vitamin D in MS. Vitamin D plays an anti-inflammatory role in modulating the immune system in MS. More recently, researchers have begun investigating the potential neuroprotective role of vitamin D in MS, which may be important in remyelination and/or the prevention of demyelination. There is a growing body of research uncovering mechanistic role of vitamin D-mediated neuroprotection, including: enhancing oligodendrocyte lineage differentiation, enhancing neurotrophin expression, attenuating aberrant microglial and reactive astrocyte activation, stabilizing the BBB, and reducing oxidative stress. 1,25(OH)2D3 promotes stem cell proliferation and drives the differentiation of neural stem cells into oligodendrocytes, which carry out remyelination. 
  • 262
  • 24 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Characterization, Therapy and Management of Alport Syndrome
Alport syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder categorized by the progressive loss of kidney function, sensorineural hearing loss and eye abnormalities. It occurs due to mutations in three genes that encode for the alpha chains of type IV collagen. Globally, the disease is classified based on the pattern of inheritance into X-linked AS (XLAS), which is caused by pathogenic variants in COL4A5, representing 80% of AS. Autosomal recessive AS (ARAS), caused by mutations in either COL4A3 or COL4A4, represents 15% of AS. Autosomal dominant AS (ADAS) is rare and has been recorded in 5% of all cases due to mutations in COL4A3 or COL4A4. 
  • 293
  • 23 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Dysferlinopathy
Dysferlinopathy is a disease caused by a dysferlin deficiency due to mutations in the DYSF gene. Dysferlin is a membrane protein in the sarcolemma and is involved in different functions, such as membrane repair and vesicle fusion, T-tubule development and maintenance, Ca2+ signalling, and the regulation of various molecules. Miyoshi Myopathy type 1 (MMD1) and Limb–Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2B/R2 (LGMD2B/LGMDR2) are two possible clinical presentations, yet the same mutations can cause both presentations in the same family. They are therefore grouped under the name dysferlinopathy. 
  • 98
  • 26 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Cell Therapy for Intervertebral Discs
An important mechanism for the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is an imbalance between anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therapeutic and non-therapeutic approaches for cytokine imbalance correction in IDD either do not give the expected result, or give a short period of time. This explains the relevance of high-tech medical care, which is part of specialized care and includes the use of new resource-intensive methods of treatment with proven effectiveness. 
  • 158
  • 15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Iron Homeostasis
Iron accumulation and neuroinflammation are pathological conditions found in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Iron and inflammation are intertwined in a bidirectional relationship, where iron modifies the inflammatory phenotype of microglia and infiltrating macrophages, and in turn, these cells secrete diffusible mediators that reshape neuronal iron homeostasis and regulate iron entry into the brain.
  • 549
  • 15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases are affecting more and more people around the world. Current therapies only treat the symptoms and not the causes of the disease. However, the pathophysiology of these diseases is now better known. In the case of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, some common mechanisms have been identified. One of the first known mechanisms is the accumulation of proteins: α-synuclein (Parkinson's disease), Tau (Alzheimer's disease) and β-amyloid (Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) proteins. Protein accumulation is related to a disruption of mitochondrial activity associated with cell death and oxidative stress. Inflammation is also another important mechanism, which is disrupted in these pathologies.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Depression in PD
Depression represents one of the most common non-motor disorders in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and it has been related to worse life quality, higher levels of disability, and cognitive impairment, thereby majorly affecting not only the patients but also their caregivers. Available pharmacological therapeutic options for depression in PD mainly include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants; meanwhile, agents acting on dopaminergic pathways used for motor symptoms, such as levodopa, dopaminergic agonists, and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors, may also provide beneficial antidepressant effects. There is a growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy; physical exercise, including dance and mind–body exercises, such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong; acupuncture; therapeutic massage; music therapy; active therapy; repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS); and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for refractory cases.
  • 357
  • 01 Sep 2023
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