1,720,970 research outputs found
Insights into the role of cerebrospinal fluid cytokines in Alzheimer's disease: A commentary on recent findings
Full text link: We read the study by Bruno et al. (2025), which highlights the interplay between neuroinflammation and cortical activity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Their findings on IL-4, IL-7, IL-8, and IL-12 levels and their association with EEG alterations complement our recent research on IL-6, GDF-15, and neuronal damage. We discuss the implications of IL-8 in blood-brain barrier permeability and neurodegeneration, the role of APOE4 in epilepsy-related phenotypes, and the need for better patient stratification. Future studies should explore these inflammatory pathways to clarify the relationship between neurodegeneration and interictal epileptiform discharges in AD
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Serum growth differentiation factor-15, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and neurofilament light chain: Their link and role in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Full text linkBackground: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal damage. Emerging biomarkers, such as serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP), and growth differentiation factor-15 (sGDF-15), are currently being studied for their potential use in this disease. Objectives: This study analyzes the levels of sNfL, sGFAP, and sGDF-15, as well as their relationships, in patients with CJD compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods: A total of 19 CJD patients and 81 age- and sex-matched HCs were enrolled. Serum levels of sNfL and sGFAP were measured using ultrasensitive immunoassays, while sGDF-15 levels were assessed via ELISA. Statistical analyses included correlation analysis and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models. Results: CJD patients showed significantly higher serum levels of sNfL and sGFAP compared to HCs (p <0,001). sNfL levels were positively correlated with both sGFAP (Rho = 0,70; p < 0,001) and sGDF-15 (Rho = 0,60; p = 0,004). Interestingly, sGFAP levels were higher in female CJD patients compared to males (p = 0,001), while no significant difference in sNfL levels was observed between sexes. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study explores the potential of sNfL, sGDF-15, and sGFAP as biomarkers in CJD patients. The higher levels of sNfL and sGFAP in CJD patients compared to healthy controls, along with the observed sex differences in sGFAP, highlight the need for further research into the interaction between astroglia and neurons in CJD, with a focus on sex as a key variable
An atypical case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease mimicking frontotemporal dementia: genotypic influence and clinical implications
Full text linkWe report an atypical case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) mimicking Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) in a 68-year-old male. The patient initially presented with an anxious-depressive syndrome, progressing over 29 months to include dysexecutive syndrome, stereotyped speech, inertia, social withdrawal, verbal fluency impairments, and marked dyspraxia. Diagnostic imaging revealed signal alterations on MRI, while CSF analysis showed elevated T-TAU, neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels. A second-generation RT-QuIC (SG-RT-QuIC) confirmed prion disease, with genetic testing identifying a codon 129 MV polymorphism and a deletion in the third octapeptide repeat. This case highlights the importance of integrating advanced diagnostic tools, such as SG-RT-QuIC and comprehensive genotyping, in evaluating atypical presentations of CJD. Early elevated GFAP levels highlight the usefulness of considering neuroinflammatory markers in slowly progressive forms of CJD
FOLR1 Gene Variation With Adult-Onset Cerebral Folate Deficiency and Stable Clinical and MRI Features up to 2 Years
Full text linkObjectives
The objective of this case report was to describe the first report of FOLR1 variants associated
with adult-onset paucisymptomatic leukoencephalopathy associated with cerebral folate deficiency (CFD).
Methods
Considering the patient’s symptoms, a nonprogressive leukoencephalopathy was suspected.
CSF 5-methyltetrahydrofolate levels were low (10 nmol/L, normal range 41–117). With no
other identifiable causes, a genetic analysis was conducted, revealing a compound heterozygous
FOLR1 variation (c.45G>T and c. 493+2T>C).
Results
A 47-year-old man with a history of drug and alcohol abuse was admitted to the hospital for
double vision and postural instability. MRI of the brain was performed, which showed bilateral
leukoencephalopathy. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed a diffuse reduction in fractional anisotropy, suggesting microstructural changes. MRI of the brain and overall clinical picture were
stable on subsequent serial examinations.
Discussion
Scientific evidence supports the deleterious effect of c.45G>T and c.493+2T>C variations on
the folate receptor-α (FRα) protein structure and function. The weakness of the expression and
function of FRα without elimination of its function caused by specific compound heterozygous
variations may explain the atypical features observed in our patient. Although rare, CFD should
be considered in paucisymptomatic adult patients with stable diffuse MRI white matter changes
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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