Aspects Of Neurological Disorders Research Articles

Organotypic Cultures of Adult Human Cortex as an Ex vivo Model for Human Stem Cell Transplantation and Validation.

Neurodegenerative disorders are common and heterogeneous in terms of their symptoms and cellular affectation, making their study complicated due to the lack of proper animal models that fully mimic human diseases and the poor availability of post-mortem human brain tissue. Adult human nervous tissue culture offers the possibility to study different aspects of neurological disorders. Molecular, cellular, and biochemical mechanisms could be easily addressed in this system, as well as testing and validating drugs or different treatments, such as cell-based therapies. This method combines long-term organotypic cultures of the adult human cortex, obtained from epileptic patients undergoing resective surgery, and ex vivo intracortical transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical progenitors. This method will allow the study of cell survival, neuronal differentiation, the formation of synaptic inputs and outputs, and the electrophysiological properties of human-derived cells after transplantation into intact adult human cortical tissue. This approach is an important step prior to the development of a 3D human disease modeling platform that will bring basic research closer to the clinical translation of stem cell-based therapies for patients with different neurological disorders and allow the development of new tools for reconstructing damaged neural circuits.

Circulating nucleic acids in the plasma and serum as potential biomarkers in neurological disorders.

Neurological diseases are responsible for approximately 6.8 million deaths every year. They affect up to 1 billion people worldwide and cause significant disability and reduced quality of life. In most neurological disorders, the diagnosis can be challenging; it frequently requires long-term investigation. Thus, the discovery of better diagnostic methods to help in the accurate and fast diagnosis of neurological disorders is crucial. Circulating nucleic acids (CNAs) are defined as any type of DNA or RNA that is present in body biofluids. They can be found within extracellular vesicles or as cell-free DNA and RNA. Currently, CNAs are being explored as potential biomarkers for diseases because they can be obtained using non-invasive methods and may reflect unique characteristics of the biological processes involved in several diseases. CNAs can be especially useful as biomarkers for conditions that involve organs or structures that are difficult to assess, such as the central nervous system. This review presents a critical assessment of the most current literature about the use of plasma and serum CNAs as biomarkers for several aspects of neurological disorders: defining a diagnosis, establishing a prognosis, and monitoring the disease progression and response to therapy. We explored the biological origin, types, and general mechanisms involved in the generation of CNAs in physiological and pathological processes, with specific attention to neurological disorders. In addition, we present some of the future applications of CNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for these diseases.

Functions and dysfunctions of neocortical inhibitory neuron subtypes.

Neocortical inhibitory neurons exhibit remarkably diverse morphology, physiological properties and connectivity. Genetic access to molecularly defined subtypes of inhibitory neurons has aided their functional characterization in recent years. These studies have established that, instead of simply balancing excitatory neuron activity, inhibitory neurons actively shape excitatory circuits in a subtype-specific manner. We review the emerging view that inhibitory neuron subtypes perform context-dependent modulation of excitatory activity, as well as regulate experience-dependent plasticity of excitatory circuits. We then review the roles of neuromodulators in regulating the subtype-specific functions of inhibitory neurons. Finally, we discuss the idea that dysfunctions of inhibitory neuron subtypes may be responsible for various aspects of neurological disorders.

Neurological disorders associated with gluten sensitivity

The review considers the pathogenetic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of neurological disorders associated with gluten sensitivity. Gluten ataxia and polyneuropathy are most common. The clinical features of neurological disorders in patients with gluten sensitivity and the effects of a gluten-free diet are described.

The neurological disorders under schizophrenia: clinical characteristics and pathogenic aspects

The review considers neurological disorders diagnosed in patients with schizophrenia. It is emphasized that these disorders can occur in patients without treatment with neuroleptics. The light neurological disorders are quite often given no proper consideration. The development of these disorders is based on phenomenon of uncoupling of frontal lobes with other sections of brain, both cortical and sub cortical ones. The description of disorders of motor functions is presented. At that, particular attention is paid to parkinsonism, dyskinesia, oculomotor disorders. The pathogenic aspects of neurological disorders in patients with schizophrenia are considered. The results of study applied to this category of patients using technique of structural and functional neurovisualization are presented. It is emphasized that further investigation of this problem will permit bettering comprehend pathogenesis of this disease with the purpose of development of more effective therapy.

Long-term treatment outcomes in Gaucher disease.

Following the treatment of the first Gaucher disease patient with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), it was clear that ERT had the potential to be transformative with dramatic improvements in systemic manifestations of the disease within 2 years. Following over 20 years existence of the International Collaborative Gaucher Group Gaucher Registry and evidence from ∼6000 patients, the long-term effects of therapy have been documented. It has been shown that ERT can result in improvements in all clinical and laboratory parameters of nonneuronopathic disease. However, different aspects of the disease, such as hematologic parameters, organ volumes and bone disease do not necessarily respond to therapy at the same rate or to the same extent, and this has had major implications for disease monitoring and for the establishment of therapeutic goals for ERT. Response may be affected by factors such as the timing of therapy initiation, the presence of irreversible complications such as osteonecrosis, and by enzyme dose. It is also apparent that ERT has no impact on neurological aspects of disease and highlights the need for additional or alternative treatment strategies able to meet the needs of patients with neuronopathic disease.

Effects of music and music therapy on mood in neurological patients.

Mood disorder and depressive syndromes represent a common comorbid condition in neurological disorders with a prevalence rate that ranges between 20% and 50% of patients with stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Notwithstanding, these conditions are often under-diagnosed and under-treated in the clinical practice and negatively affect the functional recovery, the adherence to treatment, the quality of life, and even the mortality risk. In addition, a bidirectional association between depression and neurological disorders may be possible being that depressive syndromes may be considered as a risk factor for certain neurological diseases. Despite the large amount of evidence regarding the effects of music therapy (MT) and other musical interventions on different aspects of neurological disorders, no updated article reviewing outcomes such as mood, emotions, depression, activity of daily living and so on is actually available; for this reason, little is known about the effectiveness of music and MT on these important outcomes in neurological patients. The aim of this article is to provide a narrative review of the current literature on musical interventions and their effects on mood and depression in patients with neurological disorders. Searching on PubMed and PsycInfo databases, 25 studies corresponding to the inclusion criteria have been selected; 11 of them assess the effects of music or MT in Dementia, 9 explore the efficacy on patients with Stroke, and 5 regard other neurological diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/motor neuron disease, Chronic quadriplegia, Parkinson's Disease, and Acquired Brain dysfunctions. Selected studies are based on relational and rehabilitative music therapy approaches or concern music listening interventions. Most of the studies support the efficacy of MT and other musical interventions on mood, depressive syndromes, and quality of life on neurological patients.

Myelination of Motor Neurons Derived from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Oligodendrocytes Derived from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in a Microfluidic Compartmentalized Platform

Neuronal cell death and demyelination are devastating aspects of neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. Stem cell derived neurons and oligodendrocytes have shown potential as therapeutics for replacement of damaged neurons and remyelination of demyelinated axons in the central nervous system (CNS). However, in some cases, the neurons and axons are damaged so severely that they should be replaced. In this paper, we examined the hypothesis that stem cell derived oligodendrocytes can myelinate axons of stem cell derived motor neurons in a microfluidic platform, which mimics the isolated in vivo environment. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic platform achieves compartmentalization of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) derived motor neurons and mESCs derived oligodendrocytes, while allowing the axons of the motor neurons to pass through microchannels and reach the oligodendrocytes. As results show, axons of mESCs derived motor neurons were subjected to myelination by mESCs derived oligodendrocytes shown by myelin basic protein immunostaining and electron microscopy. These functioning neuron and oligodendrocyte units may be a very useful tool to study stem cell replacement therapies for nerve injuries where nerve reconstruction would be beneficial.

Circadian preference in children and adolescents with migraine - a controlled study

Research on chronobiological aspects of neurological disorders has gained influence in recent time. Besides epilepsy, dementia and movement disorders [1] migraine was identified to be influenced by the circadian clock [2].

Principles of Neuropsychiatry: Towards a Neuropsychiatric Epistemology

Abstract Depression, mania, obsessive-compulsive behavior, psychosis and personality changes are common manifestations of brain disorders. These neuropsychiatric syndromes exhibit rule-bound relationships to brain dysfunction and occur most commonly with lesions of the limbic system or frontal-subcortical circuits. They reflect disruption of mechanisms mediating fundamental functions such as mood, emotion, motivation, self-protection and social affiliation. Lesional factors (i.e. size and location of lesion, disruption of transmitter systems) as well as host-related non-lesional factors (i.e. family history of psychiatric illness, age of onset of neurological condition, gender) contribute to determining which patients with specific neurological conditions develop associated neuropsychiatric disturbances. Investigations of the psychiatric aspects of neurological disease and the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders indicate that similar anatomical regions are involved when these conditions have the same sy...

Psychosocial aspects of neurological disorders: Implications for research in neuropsychology

Abstract It is proposed that the expansion of the research base in clinical neuropsychology to reflect client and clinician concerns with a range of psychosocial consequences of brain impairments is a priority. As neuropsychologists have become involved in patient management, their need for data of relevance to assessing and treating the broader social and interpersonal aspects of their clients' competencies has become increasingly obvious. In addition, study of the adaptation of patients to the effects of brain damage can provide important information about the effects of social support, stress appraisal, and coping in response to mental and physical impairment.

Neurological intensive care

Neurological intensive care has evolved from the principles of respiratory care established during the poliomyelitis epidemics into a broad field encompassing all of the acute and serious aspects of neurological disease. The economic and political complexities of modern intensive care play a major role in organizing a unit and building a program. Central themes of practice in modern neurological intensive care units include the clinical physiology of intracranial pressure, cerebral blood flow, and brain electrical activity; the systemic abnormalities and medical complications of nervous system diseases; postoperative care; and management of neuromuscular respiratory failure. Treatment of severe stroke and cerebral hemorrhage, brain death, ethical dilemmas of severe neurological illnesses, and the neurological features of critically ill medical patients are also becoming neurological intensive care pursuits. The "neuro-intensivist" is trained to defragment medical care by combining knowledge of neurological diseases with the techniques of intensive care. Future directions include the clinical implementation of brain resuscitation and brain-sparing therapies, sophisticated monitoring of electrophysiological and intracranial physiological indices, and further understanding of the dysfunction of other organs that follows brain and nerve failure.

Pulmonary aspects of neurological diseases. Edited by Stephen L. Kamholz, PMA Publishing Corp., Great Neck, NY, 1987, 173 pp, $50.00

Pulmonary aspects of neurological diseases. Edited by Stephen L. Kamholz, PMA Publishing Corp., Great Neck, NY, 1987, 173 pp, $50.00

Psychiatric Aspects of Neurologic Disease

Psychiatric Aspects of Neurologic Disease

Molecular Aspects of Neurological Disorders

Molecular Aspects of Neurological Disorders

Psychiatric aspects of neurologic disease, second edition seminars in psychiatry, Vol 2 Edited by D. Frank Benson and D. Blumer New York, Grune and Stratton, 1982 444 pp, illustrated

Psychiatric aspects of neurologic disease, second edition seminars in psychiatry, Vol 2 Edited by D. Frank Benson and D. Blumer New York, Grune and Stratton, 1982 444 pp, illustrated

Psychiatric Aspects of Neurologic Disease, Volume 2. Edited by D. F. Benson and D. Blumer. (Pp. 325; illustrated; $24.50.) Grune & Stratton: New York. 1982.

Psychiatric Aspects of Neurologic Disease, Volume 2. Edited by D. F. Benson and D. Blumer. (Pp. 325; illustrated; $24.50.) Grune & Stratton: New York. 1982.

Psychiatric Aspects of Neurologic Disease

Volume 1 of this series appeared in 1975; volume 2 has been written by 13 authors, all of whom are different from those who wrote for volume 1, with the exception of the editors. The epilepsies, the dementias, and certain movement disorders are topics discussed in both volumes. A survey of the contents will indicate the range of coverage of the borderland between neurology and psychiatry, for which the term neurobehavior is suggested. Richard L. Strub opens with a review of the acute confusional state, a behavioral response to widespread disruption of cerebral metabolism to literally thousands of agents or metabolic imbalances. In a chapter by the editors on the psychiatric manifestations of epilepsy, the behavioral change during the prodromal state, during the ictus, postictally and interictally (epileptic psychoses), is described, as well as the psychological response to the seizure disorder itself. Michael R. Trimble, writing on the interictal psychoses

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:Current Clinical Neurophysiology: Update on EEG and Evoked Potentials, C. E. Henry (Ed).Epilepsy (Seminars in Neurology), Richard D. Walter (Ed).Epilepsy: A Clinical and Experimental Research (Monographs in Neural Sciences, Vol. 5), J. Majkowski (Ed). S. KargerEpilepsy, Pregnancy, and the Child, D. Janz, M. Dam, A. Richens, L. Bossi, H. Helge, and D. Schmidt (Eds).The Food and Drug Administration's Process for Approving New Drugs, Subcommittee on Science, Research and Technology. U.S.Immunological Aspects of Neurological Diseases (Monographs in Neural Sciences, Vol. 6), /. A. Aarli and O. Tonder (Eds).A Multidisciplinary Handbook of Epilepsy, B. P. Hermann (Ed). Charles C Thomas

Psychiatric Aspects of Neurologic Disease. Edited by D. F. Benson and D. Blumer. (Pp. 312; illustrated; £9.60.) Grune & Stratton: New York. 1975. - Topics in Psychoendocrinology. Edited by E. J. Sachar. (Pp. 182; illustrated; £8.25.) Grune & Stratton: New York. 1975. - Drugs in Combination with Other Therapies. Edited by M. Greenblatt. (Pp. 202; illustrated; £7.70.) Grune & Stratton:

Psychiatric Aspects of Neurologic Disease. Edited by D. F. Benson and D. Blumer. (Pp. 312; illustrated; £9.60.) Grune & Stratton: New York. 1975. - Topics in Psychoendocrinology. Edited by E. J. Sachar. (Pp. 182; illustrated; £8.25.) Grune & Stratton: New York. 1975. - Drugs in Combination with Other Therapies. Edited by M. Greenblatt. (Pp. 202; illustrated; £7.70.) Grune & Stratton: