Annals of neurology
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Annals of neurology · Mar 2014
Lewy body extracts from Parkinson disease brains trigger α-synuclein pathology and neurodegeneration in mice and monkeys.
Mounting evidence suggests that α-synuclein, a major protein component of Lewy bodies (LB), may be responsible for initiating and spreading the pathological process in Parkinson disease (PD). Supporting this concept, intracerebral inoculation of synthetic recombinant α-synuclein fibrils can trigger α-synuclein pathology in mice. However, it remains uncertain whether the pathogenic effects of recombinant synthetic α-synuclein may apply to PD-linked pathological α-synuclein and occur in species closer to humans. ⋯ α-Synuclein species contained in PD-derived LB are pathogenic and have the capacity to initiate a PD-like pathological process, including intracellular and presynaptic accumulations of pathological α-synuclein in different brain areas and slowly progressive axon-initiated dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurodegeneration.
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Annals of neurology · Mar 2014
Overlapping demyelinating syndromes and anti–N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.
To report the clinical, radiological, and immunological association of demyelinating disorders with anti–Nmethyl- D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. ⋯ Patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis may develop concurrent or separate episodes of demyelinating disorders, and conversely patients with NMO or demyelinating disorders with atypical symptoms (eg, dyskinesias, psychosis) may have anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
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Annals of neurology · Feb 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialHyperbaric oxygen for blast-related postconcussion syndrome: three-month outcomes.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and postconcussion syndrome (PCS) are common among military combatants. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2 ) is a proposed treatment for these conditions, but it has not been rigorously studied. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of HBO2 by 3 months post compression at 2 commonly employed dosing levels to treat PCS; whether specific subgroups may have benefited; and if no overall effect was found, whether benefit is masked by other conditions. ⋯ Using a randomized control trial design and analysis including a sham, results showed no evidence of efficacy by 3 months post-compression to treat the symptomatic, cognitive, or behavioral sequelae of PCS after combat-related mTBI.
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Annals of neurology · Feb 2014
Chronic neuropathological and neurobehavioral changes in a repetitive mild traumatic brain injury model.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a recognized risk factor for later development of neurodegenerative disease. However, the mechanisms contributing to neurodegeneration following TBI remain obscure. ⋯ Importantly, these data provide evidence that, although a single mTBI produces a clinical syndrome and pathology that remain static in the period following injury, repetitive injuries produce behavioral and pathological changes that continue to evolve many months after the initial injuries. As such, this model recapitulates many aspects described in human studies of TBI, providing a suitable platform on which to investigate the evolving pathologies following mild TBI and potential strategies for therapeutic intervention.