Neurodegenerative Diseases and Autophagy

Most neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of aggregated proteins within neurons. These aggregate-prone proteins cause toxicity, a phenomenon that is further exacerbated when there is defective protein clearance. Autophagy is an intracellular clearance pathway that can clear these protein aggregates and has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in a variety of model systems. Here, we introduce the key components of the autophagy machinery and signaling pathways that control this process and discuss the evidence that autophagic flux may be impaired and therefore a contributing factor in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis. Finally, we review the use of autophagy upregulation as a therapeutic strategy to treat neurodegenerative disorders

<i>Cis</i> P-tau is induced in clinical and preclinical brain injury and contributes to post-injury sequelae

Induction of the cis form of phosphorylated tau (cis P-tau) has previously been shown to occur in animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and blocking this form of tau using antibody was beneficial in a rodent model of severe TBI. Here the authors show that cis P-tau induction is a feature of several different forms of TBI in humans, and that administration of cis P-tau targeting antibody to rodents reduces or delays pathological features of TBI

A Survey on Some of Social Factors Related to Cultural Identity Crisis among Tabriz High School Students

Identity process specifies who the individual is psychically and socially and what position he has. In other words, identification enables social active to reply the fundamental questions referring to who and what he is appropriately and convincingly. Cultural identity crisis is a term applied to describe individuals' disability to adopt the role expected from them by the society.Cultural identity crisis means that human being ruptured and alienated from cultural origins and roots in which he has lived and mixed with it; need for attaching to other cultural origins and roots that is manifested in the form of forgetting and devaluing individual culture and traditions and ignoring it. This study intends to survey some factors related to cultural identity crisis among Tabriz high school students. Required data has been compiled through a questionnaire and sample of 378 high school students by categorical sampling method. In this survey, to clarify and define cultural identity crisis, the theories of theoreticians for symbolic interaction have been combined with Parsons' theory and conformed to Hobermouse's crisis theory. It should be mentioned that cultural identity crisis has been measured by some variables as interest in ethnic language and common history and attention to them, obligation to religious affairs and traditions, influence by friends and coevals and ...The results of performed analyses show that the variables of impressibility by friends and coevals group, individual education, sexuality and impressibility by satellite have most effects on clarifying the dependent variable, i.e., cultural identity crisis, respectively and have clarified about 41% of the variance for cultural identity crisis. The variable for social class can also contribute to specify the dependent variable

The Role of Public Places in Increasing the Tendency to Addiction in Yazd City in 2015

Background: Addiction is a serious threat to the health of a community, such that treatment costs and the likelihood of its high recurrence necessitate a turning point in the areas of prevention. Considering the role of public places in shaping the motives and beliefs of individuals, this research was conducted with the aim of studying the role of these places in creating a tendency toward addiction in Yazd. Methods: Cross-sectional method was employed in this research and the statistical population consisted of citizens aged 15 - 50 years old in Yazd of which, 400 samples were selected by multistage cluster sampling and they were studied using a self-made questionnaire. Results: The findings unveiled&nbsp; that there is a direct and significant relationship between the use of public places and the tendency to addiction and the highest percentage of drug distribution in parks was observed by 35.8% of respondents. Similarly, 19% in cafes, 9.3% in coffee shops, 6.5% in gyms and 4.1% in hairdressers observed drug distribution. Locations with less damage were government-licensed and located on main streets. Also, there was a significant relationship between the family's supervision of the children's travel and the unreliable trust of visitors to these places with tendency toward drug use. Conclusion: Identification of unlicensed personal service centers and outlying sites, monitoring smoking and drug use in parks and cafes and applying age restrictions and regulations in entry to these places, while paying attention to the companionship of families with their offspring are effective strategies to reduce the tendency toward addiction

MicroRNAs and multiple sclerosis: from physiopathology toward therapy.

International audienceINTRODUCTION: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an emerging group of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally, by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for translational repression or degradation. They have roles in multiple facets of immunity, from regulation of cell development to activation and function in immune responses. Recent evidence underlines an involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases as well as multiple sclerosis (MS). AREAS COVERED: In this review, the current knowledge of miRNA biogenesis, diverse roles of miRNAs in different cells that could be involved in the process of the disease, and their potential therapeutic applications are summarized. The authors searched MEDLINE and Science direct databases. EXPERT OPINION: The miRNAs in central nervous system lesions and peripheral blood are potential biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic use. Also, miRNA mimics, small-molecule inhibitors of specific miRNAs, and antisense oligonucleotides could be therapeutic weapons that facilitate us to combat the disease

Influence of Social Support on Treatment of Type II Diabetes in Yazd

Introduction: Social support can be defined as the interactive process through which emotional and instrumental support is obtained. Social support has been found to be a relevant factor in diabetes self-management. Diabetes refers to complex chronic metabolic conditions that are characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose if untreated. Diabetes is one of the biggest health care problems facing Yazd with regards to prevalence, cost, and the onus it places on patients and its high morbidity rates. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among social factors on the control and treatment of type II diabetes. Methods: The population under study included 4990 diabetes type II patients referring to Yazd Diabetes Research Center and a sample of 256 cases was selected by simple random sampling method through statistical society. This study was based on survey method and the instrument for collecting data was a questionnaire. Results: About 65.4% of the patients were women and 35.6 were men. The mean age of patients was 56 years. Significant correlations were found between perceived social support (r= 0.193, p= 0.001), positive reinforcing behaviors (r= 0.455, p= 0.000), and adherence to self-care activities. Misguided support behaviors did not show a significant correlation with adherence to self-care activities. A total of 25% of variance in self-care behavior can be explained by positive reinforcing behaviors and misguided support behaviors. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that by increasing the positive reinforcing behaviors and perceived social support and decreasing the misguided support behaviors, the diabetic patients can adhere better to self-care activities