Axonal degeneration in Parkinson's disease - Basal ganglia circuitry and D2 receptor availability

Basal ganglia (BG) circuitry plays a crucial role in the control of movement. Degeneration of its pathways and imbalance of dopaminergic signalling goes along with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. In this study, we explore the interaction of degeneration in two BG pathways (the nigro-striatal and dentato-pallidal pathway) with D2 receptor signalling to elucidate an association to motor impairment and medication response. Included in the study were 24 parkinsonian patients [male, 62 years ( +/- 9.3 SD)] compared to 24 healthy controls [male, 63 years ( +/- 10.2 SD)]; each participant passed through three phases of the study (i) acquisition of metadata/clinical testing, (ii) genotyping and (iii) anatomical/diffusion MRI. We report a decline in nigro-striatal (p .05). Interplay between basal ganglia connectivity and D2 receptor availability influence the clinical presentation and medication response of parkinsonian patients. Furthermore, while current models of basal-ganglia function emphasize that balanced activity in the direct and indirect pathways is required for normal movement, our data highlight a role of the cerebellum in compensating for physiological imbalances in this respect

KARRIÄRVÄGLEDNING FÖR PERSONER MED UTMATTNINGSSYNDROM : En kvalitativ studie om livslångt lärande och karriärkompetens

Många som drabbas av utmattningssyndrom (UMS) upplever en nedsatt kognitiv förmåga och att sjukdomen blir en brytpunkt och ett vägval som kräver en väl fungerande handlingsplan inför framtiden. Denna studie har intervjuat individer med UMS och frågat hur de ser på karriärvägledning, om den behövs och vilken typ av vägledning som de efterfrågar. Resultaten från de kvalitativa intervjuerna analyserades utifrån careershipteorin och konstruktivistisk teori och visar att personer med UMS är i behov av en livsförändring som kräver ny insikt, utsikt och framsikt för en lyckad återgång till arbetslivet och ett hälsosamt förhållningssätt till arbete och prestation. Vidare framkom det ett behov av ett holistiskt förhållningssätt där individens egen livshistoria sätts i centrum då det inte finns några mediciner eller färdiga lösningar som passar alla. Karriärkompetens och livslångt lärande är centrala delar av denna studie och med en fördjupad kunskap inom detta område kan en studie- och yrkesvägledarens insats, det vill säga karriärvägledning, vara till stor nytta för personer med UMS.Many people who suffer from fatigue syndrome (UMS) experience a reduced cognitive ability that becomes a turning point, leading to a crossroad that requires a well-functioning action plan for the future. In this study, interviews with people that are or have been diagnosed with UMS have shared their opinions regarding career guidance, whether career guidance is needed, and what type of guidance they perceive as needed. The results from the qualitative interviews were analyzed drawing on careership theory and constructivist theory, showing that people with UMS are in need of a life change that requires new insight, perspective and foresight for a successful return to work and a healthy way of relating to work and accomplishment. Furthermore, the study shows that there is a need for a holistic approach where the individual's own life story is put at the center, since no medications or ready-made solutions that suit everyone exist. Career management skills and lifelong learning are central parts of this study and with an expertise within this area, a career counsellor’s contribution, i.e. career guidance, can be of great benefit to people with UMS

Pathway to industrial application of heterotrophic organisms in critical metals recycling from e-waste

The transition to renewable energies and electric vehicles has triggered an unprecedented demand for metals. Sustainable development of these technologies relies on effectively managing the lifecycle of critical raw materials, including their responsible sourcing, efficient use, and recycling. Metal recycling from electronic waste (e-waste) is of paramount importance owing to ore-exceeding amounts of critical elements and high toxicity of heavy metals and organic pollutants in e-waste to the natural ecosystem and human body. Heterotrophic microbes secrete numerous metal-binding biomolecules such as organic acids, amino acids, cyanide, siderophores, peptides, and biosurfactants which can be utilized for eco-friendly and profitable metal recycling. In this review paper, we presented a critical review of heterotrophic organisms in biomining, and current barriers hampering the industrial application of organic acid bioleaching and biocyanide leaching. We also discussed how these challenges can be surmounted with simple methods (e.g., culture media optimization, separation of microbial growth and metal extraction process) and state-of-the-art biological approaches (e.g., artificial microbial community, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, advanced fermentation strategies, and biofilm engineering). Lastly, we showcased emerging technologies (e.g., artificially synthesized peptides, siderophores, and biosurfactants) derived from heterotrophs with the potential for inexpensive, low-impact, selective and advanced metal recovery from bioleaching solutions.</p

Human vitreous in proliferative diabetic retinopathy: Characterization and translational implications

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the working-age population. DR is a progressive eye disease caused by long-term accumulation of hyperglycaemia-mediated pathological alterations in the retina of diabetic patients. DR begins with asymptomatic retinal abnormalities and may progress to advanced-stage proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), characterized by neovascularization or preretinal/vitreous haemorrhages. The vitreous, a transparent gel that fills the posterior cavity of the eye, plays a vital role in maintaining ocular function. Structural and molecular alterations of the vitreous, observed during DR progression, are consequences of metabolic and functional modifications of the retinal tissue. Thus, vitreal alterations reflect the pathological events occurring at the vitreoretinal interface. These events are caused by hypoxic, oxidative, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and leukostatic conditions that occur during diabetes. Conversely, PDR vitreous can exert pathological effects on the diabetic retina, resulting in activation of a vicious cycle that contributes to disease progression. In this review, we recapitulate the major pathological features of DR/PDR, and focus on the structural and molecular changes that characterize the vitreal structure and composition during DR and progression to PDR. In PDR, vitreous represents a reservoir of pathological signalling molecules. Therefore, in this review we discuss how studying the biological activity of the vitreous in different in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in-vivo experimental models can provide insights into the pathogenesis of PDR. In addition, the vitreous from PDR patients can represent a novel tool to obtain preclinical experimental evidences for the development and characterization of new therapeutic drug candidates for PDR therapy