88,191 research outputs found
Experimental Disease-Modifying Agents for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
No full textMarcello Giunta,1 Eino Solje,2 Fabrizio Gardoni,3 Barbara Borroni,1 Alberto Benussi1 1Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; 2Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; 3Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyCorrespondence: Alberto BenussiClinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, Brescia 25100, ItalyTel +39 0303995632Email [email protected]: Frontotemporal dementia is a clinically, genetically and pathologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, enclosing a wide range of different pathological entities, associated with the accumulation of proteins such as tau and TPD-43. Characterized by a high hereditability, mutations in three main genes, MAPT, GRN and C9orf72, can drive the neurodegenerative process. The connection between different genes and proteinopathies through specific mechanisms has shed light on the pathophysiology of the disease, leading to the identification of potential pharmacological targets. New experimental strategies are emerging, in both preclinical and clinical settings, which focus on small molecules rather than gene therapy. In this review, we provide an insight into the aberrant mechanisms leading to FTLD-related proteinopathies and discuss recent therapies with the potential to ameliorate neurodegeneration and disease progression.Keywords: frontotemporal dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, therapy, TDP-43, tau, C9orf72, GRN, MAP
The Data Protection in the Metaverse
No full textThe article examines the metaverse, detailing its user profiles and legal challenges. It highlights data protection principles and privacy concerns unique to virtual environments. Emphasis is placed on data minimisation strategies to safeguard user privacy, concluding with the necessity for robust regulatory measures to ensure ethical development of the metaverse
A weighting approach to the shared-control of lateral vehicle dynamics
No full textThis work focuses on the shared-control of vehicle lateral dynamics, proposing a control architecture that can help the driver following the desired trajectory in dangerous situations. To do this, a novel shared-control formulation is presented, in which the assistance and the driver steering torques are adaptively weighted to dynamically change the control authority share between driver and controller. Simulations in the CarSim multibody simulation environment favorably witness the effectiveness of the overall approach
Activation of motor pathways during observation and execution of hand movements
No full textSome neural properties of “motor resonance” - the subliminal activation of the motor system when observing actions performed by others - are investigated in humans. Two actions performed with the right hand are observed by experimental subjects: a finalised (transitive) action (reaching for and grasping a ball) and an intransitive action (cyclic up-and-down oscillation of the hand), while the H-reflex and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation techniques are utilised to test the excitability of the observer’s motor pathways to hand and forearm muscles (First Dorsal Interosseus, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis, Flexor Carpi Radialis).
Results indicate that motor resonance 1) is mainly mediated by the primary motor cortex; 2) involves the same forearm muscles as used in the execution of the observed movement 3) is also recorded in the homologous muscles of the arm contralateral to the one observed, and 4) is evoked by both transitive and intransitive movements of the human hand, but not by similar movements of inanimate objects. The similarities and discrepancies between the resonant response in humans and the properties of monkey “mirror neurones” are discussed
Effects of limb position on motor resonance
No full textAim: Observation of hand or foot flexion-extension movements executed by others evokes in limb-specific spinal motor pathways of the observer a “motor resonant” response (MR) with the same time course and muscular activation pattern as used in the observed movements. Changing the position of the hand (prone to supine) produces the same effects on the timing of both subliminal resonant response during observation and muscular contractions during movement, presumably by a different partitioning of the motor command to flexor and extensor muscles depending on hand kinaesthetic afferences (Borroni et al. 2005). Here we continue this line of investigation by studying the effects of changes in position of the foot, during observation of foot oscillation movements.
Methods: Modulation of the H-reflex in the right Soleus muscle was recorded in human observers sitting in a chair with their feet either suspended or in full contact with the ground (n=9 and n=10 respectively). Subjects observed a 1Hz sinusoidal oscillation of the suspended right foot performed by another subject sitting in front of them.
Results: In both foot positions, observation induced a significant (p<0.0001) H-reflex modulation which could be fitted by a sinusoidal function with the same period as the observed movement. The common fit of the H-reflex modulations from all subjects was phase-shifted with respect to movement ( by 66° (average 66° ± 15) when the foot was suspended and by 159° (average = 152° ± 41) when it was resting on the ground. Average values are significantly different (p<0.001, Watson-Williams test).
Conclusion: With the foot suspended, the time course of MR reflects the temporal relations between muscular activation and the flexion-extension movement at 1Hz. With the foot on the ground, the shift in and its greater variability (p<0.025, Mann-Whitney test on angular distances) may reflect an attempt to reproduce a movement similar but not identical to the observed one. In fact, in this position afferent input informs the observer that the flexion-extension movement cannot be executed
Narrow-band ultraviolet therapy in early-stage mycosis fungoides: study on 20 patients
No full textBackground: In recent years, narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB, 311-313 nm) has been found to be beneficial for early-stages mycosis fungoides (MF). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of NB-UVB in 20 patients with early-stage MF.
Methods: Twenty patients ( 10 women and 10 men, mean age 54 +/- 22 years) with clinically and histologically confirmed MF were enrolled in the study. All of the patients had clinical stage I disease (T1 or T2, N0, M0) with cutaneous involvement, consisting of patchstage disease of limited extent, in 50% of the cases (stage IA), and more widespread in the other 50% (stage IB). All the patients were treated with NB-UVB therapy until more than 95% clearance of the patient's skin lesions had occurred.
Results: A complete response was achieved in 90% of the cases after a mean of 29 +/- 14 treatments within a mean period of 4 months (range 1-8 months), with an average cumulative dose of 25 +/- 16.77 J/cm(2). In the follow-up period, relapse occurred after a mean period of 8 months (range 3-17 months), and then therapy was restarted.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that NB-UVB might be an efficient option for stage IA and IB MF patients
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