Economic Extraterritorial Regulation Amongst the American States

By analyzing historical and contemporary examples, this study demonstrates the reality of extraterritorial regulation and how concepts of federalism and political representation shape legal precedents that allow this practice to occur. Second, using a case study focused on the State of California, the State of Texas, and the State of New York, this study looked for pending or promulgated legislation with extraterritorial effect outside of environmental regulation and where the Congress preempts state law. Conclusively, the practice of economically-powerful American states regulating extraterritorially exists in other policy areas and occurs as a means of national influence outside of federal channels. Additionally, this practice diminishes the political decision-making power of individuals and businesses in non-originating states by influencing or preventing commerce without access to political representation. The findings of this study suggest that the Supreme Court, Congress, or both bodies may use their powers to close loopholes that enable states to regulate with far-reaching effects

Role of Diet and Nutritional Supplements in Parkinson’s Disease Progression

Objectives. The goal of this study is to describe modifiable lifestyle variables associated with reduced rate of Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression. Methods. The patient-reported outcomes in PD (PRO-PD) were used as the primary outcome measure, and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary intake. In this cross-sectional analysis, regression analysis was performed on baseline data to identify the nutritional and pharmacological interventions associated with the rate of PD progression. All analyses were adjusted for age, gender, and years since diagnosis. Results. 1053 individuals with self-reported idiopathic PD were available for analysis. Foods associated with the reduced rate of PD progression included fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts and seeds, nonfried fish, olive oil, wine, coconut oil, fresh herbs, and spices (P<0.05). Foods associated with more rapid PD progression include canned fruits and vegetables, diet and nondiet soda, fried foods, beef, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese (P<0.05). Nutritional supplements coenzyme Q10 and fish oil were associated with reduced PD progression (P=0.026 and P=0.019, resp.), and iron supplementation was associated with faster progression (P=0.022). Discussion. These are the first data to provide evidence that targeted nutrition is associated with the rate of PD progression

Treatment of Nonmotor Symptoms in Parkinson&apos;s Disease

Nonmotor symptoms (NMS) are integral to Parkinson's disease (PD) and the management can often be challenging. In spite of the growing evidence that NMS have a key impact on the quality of life of patients and caregivers, most clinical trials still focus on motor symptoms as primary outcomes. As a consequence strong evidence-based treatment recommendations for NMS occurring in PD are spare. In this chapter, the current data addressing the treatment of major NMS such as sleep, cognitive and autonomic dysfunction, and depression and anxiety are described

Dietary Variations in a Multiethnic Parkinson’s Disease Cohort and Possible Influences on Nonmotor Aspects: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study

Dietary habits may differ between Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients of different ethnicities. The primary aim of this cross-sectional analysis was to compare dietary habits in a multiethnic PD population and investigate potential nonmotor differences. All patients completed a dietary habits questionnaire. Besides basic demographics, patients’ motor involvement (Hoehn and Yahr (HY)) and nonmotor symptoms (Nonmotor Symptoms Scale; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were assessed. 139 PD patients were included (mean age 66.8 ± 11.6 years; 61.2% male; mean disease duration 6.2 ± 5.2 years; median HY 3): 47.5% were White, 24.5% Asian, and 28.0% Black African and Caribbean (BAC). We found dietary differences between the groups, including a greater frequency of vegetarians and greater consumption of cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon as well as lower consumption of beef in Asian patients than in White and BAC and greater consumption of chili than in White patients and higher consumption of pork in White than Asian and BAC patients. There were no significant differences in dietary supplement consumption after correction for multiple comparisons. None of the dietary factors examined were associated with differences in nonmotor symptoms. Diet and supplement use vary in PD patients across ethnicities, this is both a problem and opportunity for nutritional medicine research. These data support the importance of considering ethnic diversity as part of recruitment strategy in nutrition and clinical studies

Glutathione as a Biomarker in Parkinson’s Disease: Associations with Aging and Disease Severity

Objectives. Oxidative stress contributes to Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathophysiology and progression. The objective was to describe central and peripheral metabolites of redox metabolism and to describe correlations between glutathione (Glu) status, age, and disease severity. Methods. 58 otherwise healthy individuals with PD were examined during a single study visit. Descriptive statistics and scatterplots were used to evaluate normality and distribution of this cross-sectional sample. Blood tests and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were used to collect biologic data. Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the strength and direction of the association. The Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes in PD (PRO-PD) were used to rate disease severity using regression analysis. Results. Blood measures of Glu decreased with age, although there was no age-related decline in MRS Glu. The lower the blood Glu concentration, the more severe the UPDRS (P=0.02, 95% CI: −13.96, −1.14) and the PRO-PD (P=0.01, 95% CI: −0.83, −0.11) scores. Discussion. These data suggest whole blood Glu may have utility as a biomarker in PD. Future studies should evaluate whether it is a modifiable risk factor for PD progression and whether Glu fortification improves PD outcomes

Coenzyme Q10 Levels Are Decreased in the Cerebellum of Multiple-System Atrophy Patients

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in brain tissue of multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients differ from those in elderly controls and in patients with other neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: Flash frozen brain tissue of a series of 20 pathologically confirmed MSA patients [9 olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) type, 6 striatonigral degeneration (SND) type, and 5 mixed type] was used for this study. Elderly controls (n = 37) as well as idiopathic Parkinson's disease (n = 7), dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 20), corticobasal degeneration (n = 15) and cerebellar ataxia (n = 18) patients were used as comparison groups. CoQ10 was measured in cerebellar and frontal cortex tissue by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: We detected a statistically significant decrease (by 3–5%) in the level of CoQ10 in the cerebellum of MSA cases (P = 0.001), specifically in OPCA (P = 0.001) and mixed cases (P = 0.005), when compared to controls as well as to other neurodegenerative diseases [dementia with Lewy bodies (P<0.001), idiopathic Parkinson's disease (P<0.001), corticobasal degeneration (P<0.001), and cerebellar ataxia (P = 0.001)]. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a perturbation in the CoQ10 biosynthetic pathway is associated with the pathogenesis of MSA but the mechanism behind this finding remains to be elucidated

Antioxidant and oxidative stress: a mutual interplay in age-related diseases

Aging is the progressive loss of organ and tissue function over time. Growing older is positively linked to cognitive and biological degeneration such as physical frailty, psychological impairment, and cognitive decline. Oxidative stress is considered as an imbalance between pro- and antioxidant species, which results in molecular and cellular damage. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of age-related diseases. Emerging research evidence has suggested that antioxidant can control the autoxidation by interrupting the propagation of free radicals or by inhibiting the formation of free radicals and subsequently reduce oxidative stress, improve immune function, and increase healthy longevity. Indeed, oxidation damage is highly dependent on the inherited or acquired defects in enzymes involved in the redox-mediated signaling pathways. Therefore, the role of molecules with antioxidant activity that promote healthy aging and counteract oxidative stress is worth to discuss further. Of particular interest in this article, we highlighted the molecular mechanisms of antioxidants involved in the prevention of age-related diseases. Taken together, a better understanding of the role of antioxidants involved in redox modulation of inflammation would provide a useful approach for potential interventions, and subsequently promoting healthy longevity

Lithium Deficiency in Parkinson's Disease

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2013It is undisputed in the literature that lithium is essential to human health, but a lithium deficiency syndrome has yet to be defined. Lithium deficiency has been associated with learning disorders, violent crime, impulse controls disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome, and depressed mood in humans. Physiologically, the high ionic potential of lithium causes antagonism with other minerals, e.g. displacement of magnesium, competition with calcium. Lithium is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant at higher doses, although the mechanisms and dose ranges have yet to be elucidated. A substantial body of literature supports the role of lithium in neuroprotection, neurorepair, and neurogenesis throughout the lifespan. Given the purported roles of lithium in the function of the CNS, it was hypothesized that lithium deficiency would be unusually prevalent in patients with neurological disorders. This thesis reviews the roles of lithium in the CNS, reports the frequency of lithium deficiency in patients with Parkinson's disease, and summarizes the state of evidence that lithium is an essential element for neurological health

Glutathione in Parkinson's disease

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-03Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is one of several prevalent neurodegenerative diseases plaguing the aging population. To date, no therapies have been shown to slow, stop, or reverse disease progression; the disease is considered irreversible and progressive. Post mortem brain from individuals with premotor PD show a deficiency of reduced glutathione, GSH, and it has been hypothesized that deficiency of GSH contributes to PD neurodegeneration. The role of GSH in the healthy brain is described, and evidence of GSH deficiency in PD is reviewed. The pros and cons of various augmentation strategies are discussed. Subsequent chapters demonstrate intranasal GSH, (in)GSH, is safe and tolerable and provide evidence that 200 mg (in)GSH is capable of augmenting brain GSH by more than 200%. In congruence with intravenous GSH studies, (in)GSH intervention groups had a mild symptomatic improvement following three months of (in)GSH administration. In a cross-sectional analysis of 58 individuals with PD, low blood GSH was associated with greater disease severity. Taken together, this body of research supports the hypothesis that GSH depletion contributes to PD and that (in)GSH has therapeutic potential as both a symptomatic treatment and a disease modification strategy. The final chapter describes an underlying GSH deficiency syndrome, with elderly, sick, and/or malnourished individuals at greatest risk. Sufficient data exists to warrant further investigation of GSH as a biomarker and (in)GSH as a disease-modifying therapy in PD