In vitro methods in autophagy research: Applications in neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders

BackgroundAutophagy is a conserved physiological intracellular mechanism responsible for the degradation and recycling of cytoplasmic constituents (e.g., damaged organelles, and protein aggregates) to maintain cell homeostasis. Aberrant autophagy has been observed in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington’s Disease (HD), and recently aberrant autophagy has been associated with mood disorders, such as depression. Several in vitro methods have been developed to study the complex and tightly regulated mechanisms of autophagy. In vitro methods applied to autophagy research are used to identify molecular key players involved in dysfunctional autophagy and to screen autophagy regulators with therapeutic applications in neurological diseases and mood disorders. Therefore, the aims of this narrative review are (1) to compile information on the cell-based methods used in autophagy research, (2) to discuss their application, and (3) to create a catalog of traditional and novel in vitro methods applied in neurodegenerative diseases and depression.MethodsPubmed and Google Scholar were used to retrieve relevant in vitro studies on autophagy mechanisms in neurological diseases and depression using a combination of search terms per mechanism and disease (e.g., “macroautophagy” and “Alzheimer’s disease”). A total of 37 studies were included (14 in PD, 8 in AD, 5 in ALS, 5 in %, and 5 in depression).ResultsA repertoire of traditional and novel approaches and techniques was compiled and discussed. The methods used in autophagy research focused on the mechanisms of macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy. The in vitro tools presented in this review can be applied to explore pathophysiological mechanisms at a molecular level and to screen for potential therapeutic agents and their mechanism of action, which can be of great importance to understanding disease biology and potential therapeutic options in the context of neurodegenerative disorders and depression.ConclusionThis is the first review to compile, discuss, and provide a catalog of traditional and novel in vitro models applied to neurodegenerative disorders and depression

Molecular Targets of Bis (7)-Cognitin and Its Relevance in Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review

Background: The exact mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative conditions are not fully known. The design of drugs that act on multiple targets represents a promising approach that should be explored for more effective clinical options for neurodegenerative disorders. B7C is s synthetic drug that has been studied for over 20 years and represents a promising multi-target drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as AD.Aims: The present systematic review, thus, aims at examining existing studies on the effect of B7C on different molecular targets and at discussing the relevance of B7C in neurological disorders.Methods: A list of predefined search terms was used to retrieve relevant articles from the databases of Embase, Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The selection of articles was done by two independent authors, who were considering articles concerned primarily with the evaluation of the effect of B7C on neurological disorders. Only full-text articles written in English were included; whereas, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, book chapters, conference subtracts, and computational studies were excluded.Results: A total of 2,266 articles were retrieved out of which 41 articles were included in the present systematic review. The effect of B7C on molecular targets, including AChE, BChE, BACE-1, NMDA receptor, GABA receptor, NOS, and Kv4.2 potassium channels was evaluated. Moreover, the studies that were included assessed the effect of B7C on biological processes, such as apoptosis, neuritogenesis, and amyloid beta aggregation. The animal studies examined in the review focused on the effect of B7C on cognition and memory.Conclusions: The beneficial effects observed on different molecular targets and biological processes relevant to neurological conditions confirm that B7C is a promising multi-target drug with the potential to treat neurological disorders

The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy for Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review

Background. Depression is one of the greatest health concerns affecting 350 million people globally. Aromatherapy is a popular CAM intervention chosen by people with depression. Due to the growing popularity of aromatherapy for alleviating depressive symptoms, in-depth evaluation of the evidence-based clinical efficacy of aromatherapy is urgently needed. Purpose. This systematic review aims to provide an analysis of the clinical evidence on the efficacy of aromatherapy for depressive symptoms on any type of patients. Methods. A systematic database search was carried out using predefined search terms in 5 databases: AMED, CINHAL, CCRCT, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Outcome measures included scales measuring depressive symptoms levels. Results. Twelve randomized controlled trials were included and two administration methods for the aromatherapy intervention including inhaled aromatherapy (5 studies) and massage aromatherapy (7 studies) were identified. Seven studies showed improvement in depressive symptoms. Limitations. The quality of half of the studies included is low, and the administration protocols among the studies varied considerably. Different assessment tools were also employed among the studies. Conclusions. Aromatherapy showed potential to be used as an effective therapeutic option for the relief of depressive symptoms in a wide variety of subjects. Particularly, aromatherapy massage showed to have more beneficial effects than inhalation aromatherapy

Exogenous neural stem cell transplantation for cerebral ischemia

Cerebral ischemic injury is the main manifestation of stroke, and its incidence in stroke patients is 70–80%. Although ischemic stroke can be treated with tissue-type plasminogen activator, its time window of effectiveness is narrow. Therefore, the incidence of paralysis, hypoesthesia, aphasia, dysphagia, and cognitive impairment caused by cerebral ischemia is high. Nerve tissue regeneration can promote the recovery of the aforementioned dysfunction. Neural stem cells can participate in the reconstruction of the damaged nervous system and promote the recovery of nervous function during self-repair of damaged brain tissue. Neural stem cell transplantation for ischemic stroke has been a hot topic for more than 10 years. This review discusses the treatment of ischemic stroke with neural stem cells, as well as the mechanisms of their involvement in stroke treatment

Computational simulation of transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced electric fields in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of heavy cannabis using individuals

We aimed to investigate the influence of demographic and clinical modulators on the strength of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced electric fields (EFs) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) in heavy cannabis using individuals. Structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans of 20 heavy cannabis using individuals and 22 non-cannabis users (the controls) in the age range of 18-25 were retrieved. Computational simulations of TMS-induced EFs in the lDLPFC were performed. No significant difference in the strength of TMS-induced EFs was observed between heavy cannabis using individuals and the controls. A negative correlation between the scalp-to-cortex distance demonstrated and the strength of the induced EFs. The severity of cannabis use related problems did not correlate with the induced EFs in the lDLPFC of heavy cannabis using individuals. However, the severity of alcohol use related problems was negatively correlated with the induced EF in the lDLPFC localized by the 5-cm method in the whole sample. Early adulthood seems related to an increase in the induced EFs in the lDLPFC. In conclusion, the dominant factor influencing TMS-induced EFs was the scalp-to-cortex distance. In early adulthood, the interaction between age and comorbid substance use may influence with the magnitude of TMS-induced EFs, thereby complicating the treatment effect of TMS in young people with substance use disorders.</p

Computational simulation of transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced electric fields in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of heavy cannabis using individuals

We aimed to investigate the influence of demographic and clinical modulators on the strength of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced electric fields (EFs) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) in heavy cannabis using individuals. Structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans of 20 heavy cannabis using individuals and 22 non-cannabis users (the controls) in the age range of 18-25 were retrieved. Computational simulations of TMS-induced EFs in the lDLPFC were performed. No significant difference in the strength of TMS-induced EFs was observed between heavy cannabis using individuals and the controls. A negative correlation between the scalp-to-cortex distance demonstrated and the strength of the induced EFs. The severity of cannabis use related problems did not correlate with the induced EFs in the lDLPFC of heavy cannabis using individuals. However, the severity of alcohol use related problems was negatively correlated with the induced EF in the lDLPFC localized by the 5-cm method in the whole sample. Early adulthood seems related to an increase in the induced EFs in the lDLPFC. In conclusion, the dominant factor influencing TMS-induced EFs was the scalp-to-cortex distance. In early adulthood, the interaction between age and comorbid substance use may influence with the magnitude of TMS-induced EFs, thereby complicating the treatment effect of TMS in young people with substance use disorders.</p

Impacts of Cigarette Smoke (CS) on Muscle Derangement in Rodents—A Systematic Review

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can induce systemic manifestations, such as skeletal muscle derangement. However, inconsistent findings of muscle derangement were reported in previous studies. The aim of the present study was to consolidate the available evidence and assess the impact of CS on muscle derangement in rodents. A comprehensive literature search of five electronic databases identified ten articles for final analysis. Results showed that the diaphragm, rectus femoris, soleus, and gastrocnemius exhibited significant oxidative to glycolytic fiber conversions upon CS exposure. In contrast, the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), plantaris, and tibialis did not exhibit a similar fiber-type conversion after CS exposure. Hindlimb muscles, including the quadriceps, soleus, gastrocnemius, and EDL, showed significant reductions in the CSA of the muscle fibers in the CS group when compared to the control group. Changes in inflammatory cytokines, exercise capacity, and functional outcomes induced by CS have also been evaluated. CS could induce a shift from oxidative fibers to glycolytic fibers in high-oxidative muscles such as the diaphragm, rectus femoris, and soleus, and cause muscle atrophy, as reflected by a reduction in the CSA of hindlimb muscles such as the quadriceps, soleus, gastrocnemius, and EDL