Penile Mondor’s disease

Mondor’s disease is a rare, self-limiting, benign process with acute presentation characterized by subcutaneous bands in several parts of the body. Penile Mondor’s disease (PMD) is thrombophlebitis of the superficial dorsal vein of the penis. It is usually considered as thrombophlebitis or phlebitis of subcutaneous vessels. Some findings suggest that it might be of lymphatic origin. The chest, abdominal wall, penis, upper arm, and other parts of the body may also be involved by the disease. Although its physiopathology is not exactly known, transection of the vessel during surgery or any type of trauma such as external compression may trigger its possible development. This disease almost always limits itself. It may be associated with psychological distress and sexual incompatibility. The patients usually feel the superficial vein of the penis like a hard rope and present with complaint of pain around this hardness. Diagnosis is usually easy with physical examination but color Doppler ultrasound examination is important for differential diagnosis. Thus, a close collaboration is required between radiologist and urologist in order to determine the correct diagnosis and appropriate therapies.     

Parkin-associated Parkinson’s disease

Mutations in the PARK2 gene coding for parkin cause autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP), a familial form of Parkinsons disease (PD). Parkin functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and loss of this ubiquitin ligase activity appears to be the mechanism underlying pathogenesis of AR-JP. Recently, the spectrum of genetic, clinical, and pathological findings on AR-JP has been significantly expanded. Moreover, a considerable number of parkin interactors and/or substrates have been identified and characterized, and animal models of parkin deficiency have been generated. In this review, we provide an overview of the most relevant findings and discuss their implications for the pathogenesis of AR-JP and sporadic PD.     

Glutamate and Parkinson’s disease

Altered glutamatergic neurotransmission and neuronal metabolic dysfunction appear to be central to the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The substantia nigra pars compacta—the area where the primary pathological lesion is located—is particularly exposed to oxidative stress and toxic and metabolic insults. A reduced capacity to cope with metabolic demands, possibly related to impaired mitochondrial function, may render nigral neurons highly vulnerable to the effects of glutamate, which acts as a neurotoxin in the presence of impaired cellular energy metabolism. In this way, glutamate may participate in the pathogenesis of PD. Degeneration of dopamine nigral neurons is followed by striatal dopaminergic denervation, which causes a cascade of functional modifications in the activity of basal ganglia nuclei. As an excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate plays a pivotal role in normal basal ganglia circuitry. With nigrostriatal dopaminergic depletion, the glutamatergic projections from subthalamic nucleus to the basal ganglia output nuclei become overactive and there are regulatory changes in glutamate receptors in these regions. There is also evidence of increased glutamatergic activity in the striatum. In animal models, blockade of glutamate receptors ameliorates the motor manifestations of PD. Therefore, it appears that abnormal patterns of glutamatergic neurotransmission are important in the symptoms of PD. The involvement of the glutamatergic system in the pathogenesis and symptomatology of PD provides potential new targets for therapeutic intervention in this neuro-degenerative disorder.     

Alpha-interferon in Kikuchi’s disease

In Japan, histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi’s disease) is a relatively common reactive lesion affecting lymph nodes, but the histogenesis and pathogenesis of the disease have not been clarified. Alpha-interferon has a role in the body’s defense against, viral infections. Using a polyclonal antibody to human alpha-interferon, we found numerous cells, mainly histiocytes, containing alpha-interferon in affected foci in the lymph nodes from 24 patients with Kikuchi’s disease. Tubuloreticular structures, thought by some authors to be associated with the production of interferon, were detected by electron microscopy in histiocytes, activated lymphocytes and vascular endothelial cells in the affected foci. These results suggested that the formation of tubuloreticular structures is a secondary phenomenon following stimulation by alpha-interferon. Further, the activity of 2′–5′ oligoadenylate synthetase, which is induced by alpha-interferon and enhanced during the early or active stage of viral infection, showed increased levels of activity in the active stage of Kikuchi’s disease and decreased to normal levels in the convalescent stage 2 weeks later. These results suggested the possibility of a viral etiology for Kikuchi’s disease.     

Pathogenesis of parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra projecting to striatum. The cause of idiopathic PD is obscure, and most cases are sporadic. It is widely accepted that there is a genetic component of the disease, and the earlier the age of onset, the greater the likelihood that genetic factors play a dominant role. Oxidative stress of the substantia nigra seems to contain the driving force for neurodegeneration, leading to a destructive "toxic cycle." The most prevalent therapy is levodopa administration, but it is not efficacious after several years of treatment. Several alternative therapies are currently being explored, such as neuroprotective approaches. Compounds with potentially neuroprotective efficacy such as selegiline, dopamine agonists, riluzole, creatine, and coenzyme Q10 are currently being tested. Trophic factors represent another class of neuroprotective compounds, but their intracerebral administration is difficult to achieve. In this respect, a potentially useful therapeutic approach is grafting cell vectors that release trophic molecules that stimulate regeneration in the damaged nigrostriatal system. Promising results have been obtained with fibroblasts engineered to secrete glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or viral vectors expressing GDNF. We have tested the suitability of intrastriatal grafts of chromaffin cells obtained from the Zuckerkandl's organ, which exert beneficial effects in parkinsonian rats, and release trophic factors such as GDNF and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).     

Chasing genes in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimers disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, and Parkinsons disease (PD), the most common movement disorder, are both neurodegenerative adult-onset diseases characterized by the progressive loss of specific neuronal populations and the accumulation of intraneuronal inclusions. The search for genetic and environmental factors that determine the fate of neurons during the ageing process has been a widespread approach in the battle against neurodegenerative disorders. Genetic studies of AD and PD initially focused on the search for genes involved in the aetiological mechanisms of monogenic forms of these diseases. They later expanded to study hundreds of patients, affected relative-pairs and population-based studies, sometimes performed on special isolated populations. A growing number of genes (and pathogenic mutations) is being identified that cause or increase susceptibility to AD and PD. This review discusses the way in which strategies of gene hunting have evolved during the last few years and the significance of finding genes such as the presenilins, -synuclein, parkin and DJ-1. In addition, we discuss possible links between these two neurodegenerative disorders. The clinical, pathological and genetic presentation of AD and PD suggests the involvement of a few overlapping interrelated pathways. Their imbricate features point to a spectrum of neurodegeneration (tauopathies, synucleinopathies, amyloidopathies) that need further intense investigation to find the missing links.     

Tackling neurodegenerative diseases: animal models of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

Our ageing society is confronted with a dramatic increase in incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases; biomedical research leading to novel therapeutic strategies is crucial to address this problem. Animal models of neurodegenerative conditions are invaluable in improving our understanding of the molecular basis of pathology, potentially revealing novel targets for intervention. Here, we review transgenic animal models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease reported in mice, zebrafish, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. This information will enable researchers to compare different animal models targeting disease-associated molecules by genomic engineering and to facilitate the development of novel animal models for any particular study, depending on the ultimate research goals.     

Adenosine A<Subscript>2A</Subscript> receptors in Parkinson’s disease treatment

Latest results on the action of adenosine A_2A receptor antagonists indicate their potential therapeutic usefulness in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Basal ganglia possess high levels of adenosine A_2A receptors, mainly on the external surfaces of neurons located at the indirect tracts between the striatum, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra. Experiments with animal models of Parkinson’s disease indicate that adenosine A_2A receptors are strongly involved in the regulation of the central nervous system. Co-localization of adenosine A_2A and dopaminergic D2 receptors in striatum creates a milieu for antagonistic interaction between adenosine and dopamine. The experimental data prove that the best improvement of mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease could be achieved with simultaneous activation of dopaminergic D2 receptors and inhibition of adenosine A_2A receptors. In animal models of Parkinson’s disease, the use of selective antagonists of adenosine A_2A receptors, such as istradefylline, led to the reversibility of movement dysfunction. These compounds might improve mobility during both monotherapy and co-administration with L-DOPA and dopamine receptor agonists. The use of adenosine A_2A receptor antagonists in combination therapy enables the reduction of the L-DOPA doses, as well as a reduction of side effects. In combination therapy, the adenosine A_2A receptor antagonists might be used in both moderate and advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease. The long-lasting administration of adenosine A_2A receptor antagonists does not decrease the patient response and does not cause side effects typical of L-DOPA therapy. It was demonstrated in various animal models that inhibition of adenosine A_2A receptors not only decreases the movement disturbance, but also reveals a neuroprotective activity, which might impede or stop the progression of the disease. Recently, clinical trials were completed on the use of istradefylline (KW-6002), an inhibitor of adenosine A_2A receptors, as an anti-Parkinson drug.     

Mathematical model on Alzheimer’s disease

Background

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys memory and cognitive skills. AD is characterized by the presence of two types of neuropathological hallmarks: extracellular plaques consisting of amyloid β-peptides and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. The disease affects 5 million people in the United States and 44 million world-wide. Currently there is no drug that can cure, stop or even slow the progression of the disease. If no cure is found, by 2050 the number of alzheimer’s patients in the U.S. will reach 15 million and the cost of caring for them will exceed $ 1 trillion annually.

Results

The present paper develops a mathematical model of AD that includes neurons, astrocytes, microglias and peripheral macrophages, as well as amyloid β aggregation and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. The model is represented by a system of partial differential equations. The model is used to simulate the effect of drugs that either failed in clinical trials, or are currently in clinical trials.

Conclusions

Based on these simulations it is suggested that combined therapy with TNF- α inhibitor and anti amyloid β could yield significant efficacy in slowing the progression of AD.

     

Molecular genetics of Parkinson’s disease

The current views on the role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease are considered. The review is focused on monogenic forms of the disease, for which 11 loci are mapped and seven genes whose mutations cause the disease are identified. In addition, a number of candidate genes for sporadic Parkinson’s disease are described. The further development of studying genetic bases of Parkinson’s disease will follow two main directions: in-depth analysis of genes related to the monogenic form of the disease and more large-scale associative investigation of candidate genes for the sporadic form of Parkinson’s disease.     

Parkinson’s disease: clinical aspects

Parkinsonism is a clinical syndrome characterized by akinesia, muscular rigidity, and resting tremor. The most frequent cause of parkinsonism is Parkinsons disease (PD). Progressive loss of substantia nigra neurons together with the occurrence of Lewy bodies are considered essential neuropathological features of PD. Recent neuropathological studies suggest that nigral degeneration is only part of a more extended brain degeneration that starts in the medulla oblongata and then spreads to the mesencephalon and cerebral cortex. Correspondingly, the clinical symptoms occurring in PD go far beyond parkinsonism. Depending on the disease stage, autonomic dysfunction, olfactory disturbances, depression, and dementia are frequently encountered in PD. These neuropathological and clinical observations have major implications for future research in PD. In particular, the analysis of the properties that the neuronal cell types involved in PD have in common and that might make them susceptible to degeneration is essential.     

Oxidative imbalance in alzheimer’s disease

Oxidative stress is a striking feature of susceptible neurons in the Alzheimer’s disease brain. Importantly, because oxidative stress is an early event in Alzheimer’s disease, proximal to the development of hallmark pathologies, it likely plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Investigations into the cause of such oxidative stress show that interactions between abnormal mitochondria and disturbed metal metabolism are, at least in part, responsible for cytoplasmic oxidative damage observed in these susceptible neurons, which could ultimately lead to their demise. Oxidative stress not only temporally precedes the pathological lesions of the disease but could also contribute to their formation, which, in turn, could provide some protective mechanism to reduce oxidative stress and ensure that neurons do not rapidly succumb to oxidative insults. In this review, we present the evidence for oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s disease and its likely sources and consequence in relation to other pathological changes.     

Calcium signaling in Parkinson’s disease

Calcium (Ca²⁺) is an almost universal second messenger that regulates important activities of all eukaryotic cells. It is of critical importance to neurons, which have developed extensive and intricate pathways to couple the Ca²⁺ signal to their biochemical machinery. In particular, Ca²⁺ participates in the transmission of the depolarizing signal and contributes to synaptic activity. During aging and in neurodegenerative disease processes, the ability of neurons to maintain an adequate energy level can be compromised, thus impacting on Ca²⁺ homeostasis. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), many signs of neurodegeneration result from compromised mitochondrial function attributable to specific effects of toxins on the mitochondrial respiratory chain and/or to genetic mutations. Despite these effects being present in almost all cell types, a distinguishing feature of PD is the extreme selectivity of cell loss, which is restricted to the dopaminergic neurons in the ventral portion of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain such selectivity, but only recently it has been convincingly shown that the innate autonomous activity of these neurons, which is sustained by their specific Cav1.3 L-type channel pore-forming subunit, is responsible for the generation of basal metabolic stress that, under physiological conditions, is compensated by mitochondrial buffering. However, when mitochondria function becomes even partially compromised (because of aging, exposure to environmental factors or genetic mutations), the metabolic stress overwhelms the protective mechanisms, and the process of neurodegeneration is engaged. The characteristics of Ca²⁺ handling in neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta and the possible involvement of PD-related proteins in the control of Ca²⁺ homeostasis will be discussed in this review.     

Copper transport and Alzheimer’s disease

This brief review discusses copper transport in humans, with an emphasis on knowledge learned from one of the simplest model organisms, yeast. There is a further focus on copper transport in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Copper homeostasis is essential for the well-being of all organisms, from bacteria to yeast to humans: survival depends on maintaining the required supply of copper for the many enzymes, dependent on copper for activity, while ensuring that there is no excess free copper, which would cause toxicity. A virtual orchestra of proteins are required to achieve copper homeostasis. For copper uptake, Cu(II) is first reduced to Cu(I) via a membrane-bound reductase. The reduced copper can then be internalised by a copper transporter where it is transferred to copper chaperones for transport and specific delivery to various organelles. Of significance are internal copper transporters, ATP7A and ATP7B, notable for their role in disorders of copper deficiency and toxicity, Menkes and Wilson’s disease, respectively. Metallothioneins and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase can protect against excess copper in cells. It is clear too, increasing age, environmental and lifestyle factors impact on brain copper. Studies on AD suggest an important role for copper in the brain, with some AD therapies focusing on mobilising copper in AD brains. The transport of copper into the brain is complex and involves numerous players, including amyloid precursor protein, Aβ peptide and cholesterol.     

TREM2 in Alzheimer’s disease

Recent works have demonstrated a rare functional variant (R47H) in triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) 2 gene, encoding TREM2 protein, increase susceptibility to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with an odds ratio similar to that of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele. The reduced function of TREM2 was speculated to be the main cause in the pathogenic effects of this risk variant, and TREM2 is highly expressed in white matter, as well as in the hippocampus and neocortex, which is partly consistent with the pathological features reported in AD brain, indicating the possible involvement of TREM2 in AD pathogenesis. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that TREM2 could suppress inflammatory response by repression of microglia-mediated cytokine production and secretion, which may prevent inflammation-induced bystander damage of neurons. TREM2 also participates in the regulation of phagocytic pathways that are responsible for the removal of neuronal debris. In this article, we review the recent epidemiological findings of TREM2 that related with late-onset AD and speculate the possible roles of TREM2 in progression of this disease. Based on the potential protective actions of TREM2 in AD pathogenesis, targeting TREM2 might provide new opportunities for AD treatment.     

Neuronal pathology in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinsons disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra leading to the major clinical and pharmacological abnormalities of PD. In order to establish causal or protective treatments for PD, it is necessary to identify the cascade of deleterious events that lead to the dysfunction and death of dopaminergic neurons. Based on genetic, neuropathological, and biochemical data in patients and experimental animal models, dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway, and inflammation have all been identified as important pathways leading to excitotoxic and apoptotic death of dopaminergic neurons. Toxin-based and genetically engineered animal models allow (1) the study of the significance of these aspects and their interaction with each other and (2) the development of causal treatments to stop disease progression.