NeuroSci

In the face of the limitations in pharmacological and surgical interventions for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, patients are increasingly turning to non-pharmacological and alternative therapies to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. This shift underscores the urgent need for accessible, effective, and affordable treatments. This literature review examines a range of alternative and personalized therapies, including game therapy, animal-assisted therapy, dance therapy, art therapy, music therapy, aroma therapy, and shinrin-yoku therapy. These modalities have demonstrated promising results in mitigating symptoms and enhancing well-being among individuals grappling with neurological disorders. Moreover, these therapies offer a holistic approach that complements traditional medical interventions, underscoring the importance of integrating diverse treatment modalities. Despite their historical roots in non-clinical settings, their potential in modern clinical practice remains untapped. The findings suggest the necessity for further research, particularly large cohort studies, to validate the efficacy of these personalized therapies and advocate for their widespread adoption. In an era marked by escalating healthcare costs, the exploration of alternative therapies presents a compelling avenue for enhancing patient care while simultaneously addressing economic challenges within the healthcare system. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, heterogeneous at the molecular level and characterized by diverse and complex pathological features. Such features are known to accumulate silently in the brain over years or even decades before the onset of detectable symptoms. Despite long years of intense research activities, the disease remains orphaned of either disease-modifying therapies or a specific blood test capable of predicting the disease in the pre-symptomatic stages. This disappointing outcome of such efforts can be attributed to a number of factors. One of these factors is the failure of earlier research to capture the heterogeneity of the disease. Such failure has the direct consequence of poor patient stratification, which in turn impacts negatively on the development of specific and effective therapy. The second factor is the absence of detailed and accurate information on proteins and associated post-translational modifications, which may influence the initiation and progress of the disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that the quantification of various isoforms of phosphorylated tau protein in plasma and other biofluids can be considered as potential biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics and immunoassay-based multiplex proteomics are the two technologies in current use for probing the human proteome, both in tissues and biofluids. In the present review, we discuss the contribution of MS-based proteomics to efforts aimed at the identification and eventual characterization of the heterogeneity of the disease, and the key role of the same technique in the analysis of protein post-translational modifications associated with the disease is also discussed. Full article

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms of fibroblastic origin. In this study, we report a rare case of cervical SFT in a pediatric patient, a rare phenomenon since the incidence is particularly rare in pediatric patients according to the literature. Typical radiological features of the lesion may lead to misdiagnosis. Image study and immunohistochemistry are crucial for its correct diagnosis. Their imaging characteristics often resemble meningiomas or schwannomas, making differential diagnosis challenging. Immunohistochemical markers such as CD34 and STAT6 remain essential for definitive diagnosis. Full article

Insomnia is common in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Biopsychosocial factors are important in sleep health, yet this intersection has yet to be fully elucidated in people on buprenorphine for OUD. The objective is to report on patient-reported biopsychosocial factors among people with and without insomnia, specifically among women and men in outpatient OUD treatment. The parent study enrolled adults stabilized on buprenorphine from February 2022–September 2023. Scores of ≥11 on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) indicated clinically significant insomnia. Differences were detected by the presence of insomnia, stratified by men and women, using chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Of the overall participants (N = 130), most (n = 77; 59.2%) met the criteria for clinically significant insomnia. Women with insomnia were more likely to report social stressors including discrimination for substance use (p = 0.040), food insecurity (p = 0.032), and transportation difficulties accessing healthcare (p = 0.043) than women without insomnia. Men with insomnia were more likely to report financial difficulties accessing healthcare (p = 0.023) than men without insomnia. These findings provide a unique perspective to consider in the development and implementation of sleep interventions for women and men receiving medication treatment for OUD. Full article

SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells can be effectively differentiated into a neuronal phenotype using retinoic acid (RA) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), making them a valuable in vitro model for studying neuronal differentiation. This study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological properties of SH-SY5Y cells following prolonged differentiation, with a focus on membrane characteristics, evoked action potentials, and the functionality of cellular components such as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were employed to evaluate ionic currents and action potentials in embryonic mouse cortical neurons (mCNs) and in both differentiated and undifferentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Differentiated SH-SY5Y cells exhibited neurite outgrowth, evoked action potential firing, and functional NMDA receptor-mediated currents. Notably, atorvastatin significantly modulated the duration and firing of action potentials as well as NMDA receptor-mediated currents in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. These findings highlight that neuronally differentiated SH-SY5Y cells expressing functional NMDA receptor-mediated currents serve as a robust and convenient model for investigating the molecular mechanisms of NMDA receptor function and for screening pharmacological agents targeting these receptors. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. PD results in motor and cognitive dysfunction. While there is no proven cure for PD, it is widely agreed that aerobic exercises and occupations can help slow the progression of the disease and keep some motor-related symptoms from developing. The most effective forms of exercise to slow the progression of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease have also been studied. Research Question: This research article aims to compare the differences in outcomes of exercise on cognitive outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease, as evaluated by meta-analysis. Methods: Key terms were Parkinson’s Disease and exercise terms. These search terms were then entered to electronic databases—Ovid MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and CINAHL—from March 2018 to May 2023. An ancestral bibliography was also performed. Results: Two reviewers screened the title and abstract records (n = 528) found in the initial search. Our review identified 18 studies which met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found an effect of exercise on cognition of patients with PD (d = −0.03) which was not significant (CI95% of −0.13 < µ < 0.08; p > 0.05, as the CI includes zero). Additionally, the homogeneity analysis was not significant (Q (17) = 2.83; p > 0.05). Full article

Background: The Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS) is a validated instrument used to capture the affective, behavioural, and cognitive components of attitudes toward people living with dementia (PLwD). This study conducts confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses (CFA and EFA) of the DAS assessed by caregivers of PLwD and BPSD enrolled in the RECage multicentre clinical trial. Methods: The baseline questionnaire was completed by 485 caregivers (29.7% male, 70.3% female), from six European countries, reflecting diverse cultural contexts. CFA tested the two-factor structure of the original model, while EFA thoroughly explored the factor structure. Results: The CFA results showed a poor model fit, with significant deviations from ideal values for RMSEA (0.0861), SRMSR (0.0781), and CFI (0.7117), showcasing an inadequate representation of the data. EFA revealed a three-factor structure, explaining the 45.2% variance for social comfort, 28.8% for social discomfort, and 25.9% for dementia knowledge. The social comfort items reflected positive caregiver attitudes toward PLwD, while social discomfort captured feelings of discomfort and uncertainty about caregiving. Dementia knowledge included items related to understanding dementia’s symptoms and needs. Conclusions: The three-factor model highlights the importance of emotional comfort, knowledge of dementia, and social discomfort as key dimensions in caregiver attitudes. Full article

Since its discovery, TRPC6 has been associated with a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes in different tissues. It functions as a non-selective cation channel and belongs to the group of TRP channels. Its importance in the development of pain hypersensitivity is becoming increasingly apparent. This condition has already been associated with increased expression of TRPC6 in dorsal root ganglia. Apart from the fact that most of the evidence has been obtained from samples of animal origin, it remains unclear whether the channel is also expressed in peripheral nerves outside the dorsal root ganglia. The aim of this work was therefore to examine peripheral nerves from human samples for TRPC6. For this purpose, samples of both the sciatic and ulnar nerves were taken from a total of eight body donors and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Both longitudinal and transverse sections were obtained from the samples and stained. In total, 43 of 48 histological sections showed a positive immunosignal. There were no major differences between the sciatic and ulnar nerves with regard to staining. There was a slight difference in the staining intensity of transverse and longitudinal sections. The longitudinal sections of both nerves were consistently colored slightly more intensely. However, the inter-individual differences between the donors were more pronounced. Interestingly, the samples of a donor who suffered from chronic pain syndrome during his lifetime were particularly strongly stained. This is consistent with the knowledge gained to date, largely from animal experiments, that the channel shows increased expression in pain conditions in dorsal root ganglia. In the future, TRPC6 could therefore be a target in pain therapy. Full article

Limbic encephalitis (LE) associated with anti-LGI1 antibodies is an autoimmune disorder characterized by memory decline, behavioral changes, and temporal lobe epilepsy. Faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDS) are a hallmark symptom, often preceding cognitive and psychiatric issues. This report presents an 80-year-old male with LGI1 encephalitis, initially manifesting as FBDS. A lung adenocarcinoma was diagnosed two months after the onset of neurological symptoms. Clinical and paraclinical data, including MRI and [18]FDG PET imaging, are described. The patient responded to immunotherapy, including steroids and plasma exchange, along with tumor resection. Following treatment, neurological symptoms resolved, except for mild anxiety and apathy. Further research is needed to determine whether LGI1 encephalitis may occasionally have a paraneoplastic origin, potentially influencing screening and management strategies. Full article

This paper proposes a theoretical model of meaning-making grounded in proprioceptive awareness and embodied imagination, arguing that human cognition is inherently multimodal, anticipatory, and sensorimotor. Drawing on Peircean semiotics, Lotman’s model of cultural cognition, and current research in neuroscience, we show that readiness to act—a proprioceptively grounded anticipation of movement—plays a fundamental role in the emergence of meaning, from perception to symbolic abstraction. Contrary to traditional approaches that reduce language to a purely symbolic or visual system, we argue that meaning arises through the integration of sensory, motor, and affective processes, structured by axial proprioceptive coordinates (vertical, horizontal, sagittal). Using Peirce’s triadic model of interpretants, we identify proprioception as the modulatory interface between sensory stimuli, emotional response, and logical reasoning. A study on skilled pianists supports this view, showing that mental rehearsal without physical execution improves performance via motor anticipation. We define this process as proprioceptive resonance, a dynamic synchronization of embodied states that enables communication, language acquisition, and social intelligence. This framework allows for a critique of linguistic abstraction and contributes to ongoing debates in semiotics, enactive cognition, and the origin of syntax, challenging the assumption that symbolic thought precedes embodied experience. Full article

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a multifactorial etiology involving genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. This review focuses on the current understanding of these contributing elements, examining how they interact to influence ADHD development. Genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, and epigenetic modifications collectively shape the risk and manifestation of the disorder. Despite advancements in research, significant challenges remain in identifying precise mechanisms and translating them into effective treatments. The variability of symptoms across individuals, influenced by factors such as age, gender, and cultural background, further complicates diagnosis and treatment. Addressing these challenges requires a deeper investigation into the underlying causes of ADHD and the development of tailored interventions. This review aims to highlight both the progress made in understanding ADHD etiology and the current gaps in treatment approaches, calling for more targeted research and personalized therapeutic strategies. Full article

Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a parasitic infection caused by Taenia solium larvae, remains a leading cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation and healthcare access. We present a case of NCC reactivation in a 64-year-old female who developed anomic aphasia—a rare manifestation of NCC—decades after her initial diagnosis. The patient’s clinical course was complicated by a potential trigger of semaglutide, which potentially attenuated the protective inflammatory response maintained by astrocytes and microglia, leading to the reactivation of dormant cysts. Brain imaging confirmed localized cystic changes, and treatment with antiparasitic agents and corticosteroids led to marked clinical improvement. This case highlights the complexity of NCC reactivation, highlighting the interplay of metabolic, immune, and parasitic factors. It emphasizes the need for vigilance in managing patients with dormant infections and investigating potential risks associated with novel therapeutic agents like GLP-1 receptor agonists. Further research is essential to unravel the mechanisms linking metabolic modulation to parasitic reactivation, offering insights into prevention and treatment strategies. Full article

Background:Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic, plastic-adherent, and self-renewing cells capable of in vitro trilineage differentiation into fat, bone, and cartilage tissue. Suggestively, MSCs have additional plasticity, as demonstrated by their ability to differentiate in vitro into myocytes, neuron-like cells, and hepatocytes. MSCs are ideal for therapeutic application owing to their numerous advantages; they exhibit limited growth and differentiation abilities, leading to heterogeneous cell populations with inconsistent functions. However, highly purified MSCs, namely, rapidly expanding clones (RECs) that are isolated by single-cell sorting, display uniform functionality. RECs have the potential to offer many benefits, such as transplantable cells for treating several disorders of bone, heart, peripheral nerves, brain, and other organs. This study aimed to assess the effects of RECs on the pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line, a well-known neuronal cell model.Methods: PC12 cells were cultured under the following conditions: co-culture with RECs, treatment with REC-derived conditioned medium (CM), or co-culture with RECs using Transwell inserts for 7 days. The cells were stained with anti-βIII-tubulin antibody; the lengths of neurites were measured by image analysis. Results: Regarding the co-culture with RECs, PC12’s outgrowth was significantly increased. The RECs expressed nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophic factor that could act on PC12 cells to trigger cellular differentiation.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that RECs via direct culture, intercellular communication in Transwell culture, and RECs CM promoted PC12 cell survival and outgrowth via NGF signaling. Full article

The SCN9A gene, a critical regulator of pain perception, encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7, a key mediator of pain signal transmission. This study conducts a multimodal assessment of SCN9A, integrating genetic variation, structural architecture, and molecular dynamics to elucidate its role in pain regulation. Using advanced computational methods, I-TASSER simulations generated structural decoys of the SCN9A homology domain, producing an ensemble of conformational states. SPICKER clustering identified five representative models with a C-score of −3.19 and TM-score of 0.36 ± 0.12, reflecting moderate structural similarity to experimental templates while highlighting deviations that may underpin functional divergence. Validation via ProSA-web supported model reliability, yielding a Z-score of −1.63, consistent with native-like structures. Central to the analysis was the R1150W non-synonymous variant, a potential pathogenic variant. Structural modeling revealed localized stability in the mutant conformation but disrupted hydrogen bonding and altered charge distribution. Its pathogenicity was underscored by a high MetaRNN score (0.7978498) and proximity to evolutionarily conserved regions, suggesting functional importance. Notably, the variant lies within the Sodium-Ion-Transport-Associated Domain, where perturbations could impair ion conductance and channel gating—mechanisms critical for neuronal excitability. These findings illuminate how SCN9A variants disrupt pain signaling, linking genetic anomalies to molecular dysfunction. While computational insights advance mechanistic understanding, experimental validation is essential to confirm the variant’s impact on Nav1.7 dynamics and cellular physiology. By refining SCN9A’s molecular blueprint and highlighting its therapeutic potential as a target for precision analgesics, this work provides a roadmap for mitigating pain-related disorders through channel-specific modulation. Integrating structural bioinformatics with functional genomics, this study deciphers SCN9A’s role in pain biology, laying the groundwork for novel strategies to manage pathological pain. Full article

Penetrating brain injuries (PBI) constitute a significant subset of traumatic brain injuries, characterized by high morbidity and mortality due to their unique pathophysiological mechanisms. Despite its clinical prevalence in civilian and military settings, progress in translational research remains limited due to a lack of well-characterized pre-clinical models that accurately replicate human PBI. Existing models often fail to adequately simulate critical aspects such as ballistic dynamics, tissue cavitation, and secondary injury cascades, limiting their translational relevance and hindering therapeutic advancements. This scoping review aims to systematically evaluate existing pre-clinical models, including animal, computational, ballistic, and hybrid simulations, to assess their methodological rigor, translational applicability and reported outcome measures. Using PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we will conduct a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases, extracting data on model characteristics, injury induction techniques, histopathological findings, biomolecular markers, and functional assessments. Additionally, bibliometric analyses will provide insights into research trends and gaps in PBI modeling, particularly concerning replicating real-world injury mechanisms and long-term functional outcomes. Through this evaluation, we aim to identify optimal experimental frameworks for studying PBI pathophysiology and recovery mechanisms while informing future model development for therapeutic advancements. The findings from this review will serve as a foundation for advancing pre-clinical PBI research, guiding future model development and therapeutic innovations, and ultimately enhancing treatment strategies and patient outcomes. Full article

The sensation of dyspnea is related to various cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular diseases and is characterized by its sensory and affective qualities. Although there is a vast number of studies investigating its pathophysiology, less is known about the neuroanatomy of dyspnea perception. An activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of 13 studies investigating different breathing challenges using either PET or fMRI was performed to demonstrate the neuroanatomical correlates of dyspnea perception. The ALE meta-analysis was performed using the GingerAle software 3.0.2 and was displayed with the Mango software 4.1. Synthesizing the results of all included studies, clusters involving the insula and cingulated cortex in both hemispheres were observed. Subgroup analysis for the restrained breathing condition revealed activation involving the right and left cingulate cortex and left anterior cingulate cortex. For the loaded breathing condition, statistically significant activation was found for the postcentral gyrus, the superior temporal gyrus, and the right thalamus. The combined ALE map for both conditions showed activity patterns in the right cingulate cortex, the right insula, and the right thalamus. This ALE meta-analysis demonstrates that two separate neuronal pathways related to either the affective or intensity domain are involved in the central processing of dyspnea perception. Full article

Eye tracking is a tool that is widely used in scientific research, enabling the acquisition of precise and detailed data on an individual’s eye movements during interaction with visual stimuli, thus offering a rich source of information on visual perception and associated cognitive processes. In this work, a new software called SPEED (labScoc Processing and Extraction of Eye tracking Data) is presented to process data acquired by Pupil Lab Neon (Pupil Labs, Berlin, Germany). The software is written in Python which helps researchers with the feature extraction step without any coding skills. This work also presents a pilot study in which five healthy subjects were included in research investigating oculomotor correlates during MDMT (Moral Decision-Making Task) and testing possible autonomic predictors of participants’ performance. A statistically significant difference was observed in reaction times and in the number of blinks made during the choice between the conditions of the personal and impersonal dilemma. Full article

Background: Stent-assisted coil embolization (SACE) is a common endovascular technique for managing intracranial aneurysms. The permanent presence of a stent inside the cerebral artery necessitates the postoperative use of antiplatelets. However, a consensus about how long to continue on it remains debated. This systematic review aims to discuss and quantify the risk of ischemic complications after antiplatelet discontinuation following SACE. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) were systematically searched for studies assessing the outcomes after antiplatelet discontinuation following SACE for cerebral aneurysms. The primary outcome was the odds of ischemic complications after antiplatelet discontinuation. Using a random-effects model, the pooled event rate, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI), was calculated. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (CMA) software was used for the analysis. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for the quality assessment. Results: A total of five observational cohort studies were included in this systematic review. The studies recruited cases from 2009 and 2020, predominantly in Korea and Japan. Data from 18,425 cases obtained from four studies were analyzed. The duration of antiplatelet therapy varied widely across the included studies. Additionally, most studies reported a median follow-up of 24 months or more after antiplatelet discontinuation. We extracted and analyzed the odds of thromboembolic complications occurring within 6 to 24 months after the discontinuation of antiplatelets. The pooled rate of thromboembolism after antiplatelet discontinuation in this meta-analysis was 0.01 (95% CI: 0.006 to 0.018). Conclusion: This review demonstrates that the risk of thromboembolic complications after discontinuing antiplatelet therapy post-SACE is low. However, no strong consensus exists on the ideal duration for maintaining dual- or single-antiplatelet therapy. Further prospective studies with longer follow-ups are warranted to clarify the optimal durations needed to balance thromboembolic risk with hemorrhagic complications. Full article

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between burning, xerostomia, dysgeusia and other subjective symptoms in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dental Polyclinic Split, Split, Croatia. A total of 71 patients with BMS, i.e., 60 women and 11 men, were included in the study. The patients were divided into four subgroups: burning (B), burning and xerostomia (BX), burning and dysgeusia (BD), burning, xerostomia and dysgeusia (BXD). The following data were collected from all patients: sociodemographic status, comorbidities, medications, characteristics of the burning, presence of other subjective symptoms, topography of the burning. The majority of patients with BMS were women (86.0%) with an average age of about 65 years. Gastrointestinal diseases were the most common comorbidity (48.35%), and the most commonly used medications were proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (29.8%). In the largest number of patients (N = 34), the burning symptom worsened in the evening hours (p = 0.059). The majority of BMS patients suffered from burning symptoms that occurred continuously (N = 54, 75.13%) and from an improvement (reduction/cessation) of symptoms during meals (N = 54, 76.65%). Of the other subjective symptoms, changes in the morphology of the tongue (10.6%) and a feeling of swelling (9.1%) were the most common. The tongue was the most common localization (67.35%). The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant effect of female gender (p = 0.049) as a potential positive predictor in subgroup B. The sociodemographic and medical data collected cannot explain the different occurrence of symptoms in the four subgroups of patients with BMS. Full article