Nervous System Diseases Commons^™

Elucidating The Role Of O-Glcnacylation And Gsk3b In Alzheimer's Disease, Emily Valencia

Selected Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common types of neurodegenerative disease. There are currently no treatment methods for AD, but there are treatments for some of the symptoms. Aberrant levels of both O-GlcNAcylation and GSK3ß have been found in patients with AD. Studies have suggested that there is a relationship between the level of O-GlcNAcylation and the phosphorylation of GSK3ß. In order to discover new treatment methods, the phosphorylation of GSK3ß should be explored. This study uses a western blot analysis to quantify the ratio of p-GSK3ß:GSK3ß between the experimental group (higher levels of O-GlcNAcylation) and a control …

Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency (Ssadhd): Qualitative Needs Assessment For Patients With A Rare Neurological Disorder, Cassandra Bovee, Kayla Woodring

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Multiple Sclerosis: Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Quality Of Life In Persons With Low Versus High Disability, Judith Bijoux-Leist, Thomas P. Leist

Counseling & Psychological Services

Background: Health Locus of Control (HLOC) is the degree to which individuals believe that their health outcomes are controlled by 'external' factors - environmental forces, chance, fate, other people, or some higher power - or by 'internal' factors - their own behavior or action. Most of the literature on HLOC associates an Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLOC) to pro-health behaviors and better health outcomes. However, a few studies also suggest that in chronic illnesses, an External Health Locus of Control (EHLOC) could be beneficial with respect to pro-health behaviors and perceptions of Quality of Life (QoL), challenging assumptions about …

The Last Conversation, Muhammad Ismail Khalid Yousaf

Journal of Wellness

The brain-death exam is one of the most sensitive undertakings for a physician, especially a neurologist, because of its social and legal implications. It is the vital examination establishing a clear lack of meaningful vitals, allowing a family to mark the end of a journey and a life finally complete. Physicians who perform and establish this death-decision must ensure they are au courant with the family's sentiments and concerns. It would behoove this obligated physician to bear in mind that it is a human being who will go through this invasive and rough exam. This comatose person is a father …

Covid-19 In Cns And Pns: Basic And Clinical Focus On The Mechanisms Of Infection And New Tools For The Therapeutic Approach, Jorge Matias-Guiu, Jordi A. Matias-Guiu, Carmen Garrido, Genaro Pimienta, Patricio F. Reyes, Abdul Mannan Baig, Ulises Gomez-Pinedo

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Selective Gsk3Β Inhibition Mediates An Nrf2-Independent Anti-Inflammatory Microglial Response, Mohamed H. Yousef

Theses and Dissertations

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3) is associated with the proinflammatory phenotype of microglia and has been shown to act in concert with Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). . GSK3 is also a suppressor of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the principal regulator of redox homeostasis. Agreeing with the oxidative paradigm of aging, Nrf2 is often deregulated in parainflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we aimed to explore a multimodal disease-modifying utility of GSK3 inhibition, beyond neuronal proteopathologies, Furthermore, we aimed to underscore the difference in therapeutic value between the two GSK3 paralogs by isoform-selective chemical inhibition.

The …

A Pdk-1 Allosteric Agonist Neutralizes Insulin Signaling Derangements And Beta-Amyloid Toxicity In Neuronal Cells And In Vitro, Henry Querfurth, John Marshall, Keykavous Parang, Mengia S. Rioult-Pedotti, Rakesh Tiwari, Bumsup Kwon, Steve Reisinger, Han-Kyu Lee

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The Alzheimer’s brain is affected by multiple pathophysiological processes, which include a unique, organ-specific form of insulin resistance that begins early in its course. An additional complexity arises from the four-fold risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in type 2 diabetics, however there is no definitive proof of causation. Several strategies to improve brain insulin signaling have been proposed and some have been clinically tested. We report findings on a small allosteric molecule that reverses several indices of insulin insensitivity in both cell culture and in vitro models of AD that emphasize the intracellular accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβi). PS48, a chlorophenyl …

The Company Prosodic Deficits Keep Following Right Hemisphere Stroke: A Systematic Review, Shannon M. Sheppard, Melissa D. Stockbridge, Lynsey M. Keator, Laura L. Murray, Margaret Lehman Blake

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives:

The aim of this systematic review was to identify the presence and nature of relationships between specific forms of aprosodia (i.e., expressive and receptive emotional and linguistic prosodic deficits) and other cognitive-communication deficits and disorders in individuals with right hemisphere damage (RHD) due to stroke.

Methods:

One hundred and ninety articles from 1970 to February 2020 investigating receptive and expressive prosody in patients with relatively focal right hemisphere brain damage were identified via database searches.

Results:

Fourteen articles were identified that met inclusion criteria, passed quality reviews, and included sufficient information about prosody and potential co-occurring …

An Investigation Of Hhv6'S Impact On The Cognitive Progression And Microglial Changes In An Alzheimer's Disease Cohort, Charles E. Seaks

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

The role of herpesviruses and, more specifically, HHV6 in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and associated cognitive decline is still being investigated. High ubiquity and prevalence in the population have led to a high degree of skepticism about HHV6 as a potential contributor to cognitive decline and dementias. However, recent evidence related to another herpesvirus, herpes simplex virus 1, suggests that reactivation, not carriage, of the virus may be the key factor to explain the dissonance between the virus’ ubiquity and contributions to dementias. With that in mind, we set out to assess cases from the Sanders-Brown Center on …

Apoe Genotype And Sex Modulate Ketogenic Diet Enhancements To Metabolism And Gut Microbiome In Young Mice, Andrew T. Yackzan

Theses and Dissertations--Medical Sciences

The apolipoprotein ε (APOE) allele in humans has been associated with risk for development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There are predominately three variations of the allele – ε2 (E2), ε3 (E3), and ε4 (E4) – with E4 contributing the greatest risk of AD development. Recent research has unveiled evidence of neurometabolic and neurovascular deficits in E4 carriers present decades before the onset of dementia; it is believed these chronic defects play a major role in the development of AD, thus making them a potential target for preventative intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a …

Current And Novel Neuroregenerative Therapies, Arrin Brooks

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Underlying the physical and cognitive deficits consequent of many neuropathologies is one common factor, the loss of neurons. While neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, and traumatic brain injury arise from a variety of etiologies, they all ultimately result in injury and/or death of neuronal cells and concomitant functional deficits. In the present work we primarily focus on current and potential treatments for localized lesions, particularly those in the striatum of Parkinson’s disease (PD) or the cortex as in stroke. First, we discuss a new surgical technique for deep brain stimulator (DBS) placement, as DBS is a mainstay treatment for movement disorders including …

Factors That Contribute To Life Satisfaction Of Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Trinidad & Tobago, Paul Gerard Richards

Dissertations

Problem

The goal of the study was to understand factors contributing to life satisfaction of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the perspective of positive psychology. The challenges of parenting a child with ASD have been documented extensively, with these parents experiencing higher levels of stress, depression, and lower overall mental health than parents of typically developing children. Stress and hardship can lead to mental health problems for such families. A lack of research was observed about positive outcomes for parents of children with ASD; in particular, no research was available for these parents in Trinidad and …

Effects Of Mindfulness And Stress Management On Neurocardiovascular And Psychological Outcomes, Aditi P. Vyas

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

There has been a higher prevalence of developing anxiety due to frequent episodes of stress among adults in recent years. Chronic anxiety can contribute to the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension. High anxiety and stress also contribute to overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system which can be quantified by increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Sympathetic overactivation can lead to vasoconstriction and loss of arterial elasticity. Anxiety, MSNA, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness are all interconnected, thus studying these relationships is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Non-pharmacological and mind-body …

Putative Mechanisms Underlying The Antidepressant Actions Of Ketamine: A Review And Study Proposal, Tristan Reece

CMC Senior Theses

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a highly debilitating and common psychiatric disorder that affects over 250 million people globally; it is among the most financially and emotionally burdensome illnesses in the world. Currently approved antidepressants are suboptimal in their efficacy and latency of therapeutic action. In contrast, single administrations of sub-anesthetic ketamine have been shown to rapidly alleviate depressive symptoms within hours, even in treatment-resistant patients. Ketamine is believed to exert these effects by increasing glutamatemediated neurotransmission and promoting rapid neurotrophic factor release, restoring the integrity of neural circuits that are compromised in depression. However, uncertainty surrounding its specific antidepressant …

Ataxia Pancytopenia Syndrome Associated Ocular Albinism: A Clinical Vignette, Dru Curtis, Catherine Boon, Stephanie Ryan, Nausheen Khuddus

North Florida Division Research Day 2022

No abstract available.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease After Receiving The Second Dose Of Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 Vaccine, Andrea J. Folds, Melanie-Belle Ullrich, Sann Htoo, Anjeza Chukus

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Neuronal Growth Factors On Lps-Activated Schwann Cells, Caitlyn E. Henry, Peyton Kimmel, Angela Asirvatham Ph.D.

Student Research Poster Presentations 2022

Schwann cells (SCs) are the principal support cells of neurons in the peripheral nervous system, that both myelinate axons for the rapid conduction of electrical impulses as well as assist in axonal repair during nerve injury. During nerve injury, SCs secrete tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)^1,5,6 and other proinflammatory mediators^1,6, attracting macrophages to the site of injury to induce inflammation and clear myelin debris.^1,6 Once the debris is cleared, the neuron stimulates SC proliferation by secreting neuronal mitogens, such as heregulin^3,4, and an unknown factor that activates the cAMP pathway³, an important …

Simulation Of An Inflammatory Model Using Schwann Cells, Caitlyn Henry, Peyton Kimmel, Angela Asirvatham

Student Research Poster Presentations 2022

During peripheral nerve injury, the myelin surrounding the neuronal axons is damaged, initiating an inflammatory response to remove myelin debris. Once myelin debris is cleared, Schwann cells acquire a proliferating phenotype which allows them to grow and divide so that remyelination can occur. The neuron stimulates Schwann cell division by secreting growth factors, like heregulin, and an unknown growth factor that activates the cAMP pathway. Although the role of cAMP in axonal regeneration is well-known, not much has been explored about its function in Schwann cells during nerve injury and inflammation. To simulate an inflammatory environment, the S16 Schwann cell …

A Family With Neuropathies And An Mfn2 Variant, Leah Miller

Larner College of Medicine Fourth Year Advanced Integration Teaching/Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: The axonal subtype of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT2A) is commonly caused by dominant mutations in MFN2, which encodes a protein involved in mitochondrial dynamics and axonal transport. Over 100 variants in MFN2 are reportedly pathogenic. MFN2 dysfunction yields heterogenous neuropathies which can include optic atrophy, dysautonomia and diaphragmatic/airway dysfunction.

CASE REPORT: A 52-year-old man presented with a 10-year history of burning forefoot dysthesias and orthostasis. His examination revealed reduced sensation to light touch and pinprick distally with preserved strength and reflexes. NCS/EMG demonstrated mild, symmetric axonal polyneuropathy. Autonomic testing revealed orthostatic tachycardia and postganglionic sudomotor dysfunction. Laboratory evaluation for common causes …

Left Atrial Enlargement In Cryptogenic Strokes Without Atrial Fibrillation: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis, Hytham Rashid, Tushar Pansuriya, Jonathan Brown, Jarey Wang, Sivatej Sarva, Syed Raza

Gulf Coast Division Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.