Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Gene Med 2019 Feb 20:e3082. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Genetics, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.

Aims: Set of unique sequences in bacterial genomes, responsible for protecting bacteria against bacteriophages, have been recently used for genetic manipulation of specific points in the genome. These system comprises of one RNA component and one enzyme component, known as CRISPR and Cas9, respectively. The present review focuses on the applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the development of cellular and animal models of human disease. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2019 4;7:2050313X19827747. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Joan C Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA.

Osteonecrosis is a pathological condition that could lead to a debilitating physical disease and impede daily activities. It is generally categorised into aetiology - primary (idiopathic) or secondary. When direct damage to the bone vasculature or direct injury of the bone marrow is related to an identifiable cause such as traumatic injuries, steroid or bisphosphonate use, increased alcohol intake, sickle cell disease, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy or malignancy, it is categorised as secondary osteonecrosis. Read More

Indian J Pharmacol 2018 Nov-Dec;50(6):309-319

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, PDM University, Bahadurgarh, Haryana, India.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the solanesol (SNL)-mediated coenzyme-Q10 restoration to ameliorate 3-nitropropionic (3-NP)-induced behavioral, biochemical, and histological changes which resemble Huntington's disease (HD)-like symptoms in men.

Materials And Methods: Various behavioral and biochemical parameters were carried out to evaluate the activity of SNL on 3-NP-treated rats. To determine the therapeutic significance of SNL on HD, different behavioral tests such as memory task, locomotor activity, grip strength, and beam cross and some biochemical test along with histopathological findings were done. Read More

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Vanderbilt Univ. School of Medicine Nashville, TN, United States.

Bile acids are involved in the emulsification and absorption of dietary fats as well as acting as signaling molecules. Recently, bile acid signaling through farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and G Protein-Coupled Bile Acid Receptor (TGR5) has been reported to elicit changes in not only bile acid synthesis but also metabolic processes including altering gluconeogenic gene expression and energy expenditure. A role for bile acids in glucose metabolism is also supported by a correlation between changes in the metabolic state of patients (i. Read More

Clin Exp Nephrol 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, 4-23-15 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, 130-8575, Japan.

Background: Although recovery of renal function after an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important clinical measure of morbidity, predictors of withdrawal from renal replacement therapy (RRT) among AKI patients remain unclear.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we examined the clinical records of AKI patients requiring RRT who were hospitalized in the ICU or general wards at our hospital from January 2010 to December 2013. A priori-determined covariates of age, sex, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), mean arterial pressure (MAP), sepsis, nephrotoxic agents, and hypoalbuminemia were assessed in Cox hazard models to estimate hazard ratio (HR). Read More

J Neuroendocrinol 2019 Feb 18:e12699. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Section for Metabolic Receptology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a heritable neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by metabolic disturbances, along with cognitive and psychiatric impairments. Targeting metabolic HD dysfunction through maintenance of body weight and fat mass and restoration of peripheral energy metabolism can improve the progression of neurological symptoms. In this respect, we focused on the therapeutic potential of the orexigenic peptide hormone ghrelin, which plays an important role in promoting a positive energy balance. Read More

J Huntingtons Dis 2019 ;8(1):115-125

UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK.

In this edition of the Huntington's Disease Clinical Trials Corner we expand on the GENERATION-HD1 and PACE-HD trials, and we list all currently registered and ongoing clinical trials in Huntington's disease. Read More

MAGMA 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 851 S Morgan St, 218 SEO (MC 063), Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.

Objective: The goal of this work is to study the changes in white matter integrity in R6/2, a well-established animal model of Huntington's disease (HD) that are captured by ex vivo diffusion imaging (DTI) using a high field MRI (17.6 T).

Materials And Methods: DTI and continuous time random walk (CTRW) models were used to fit changes in the diffusion-weighted signal intensity in the corpus callosum of controls and in R6/2 mice. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 Jun;14(6):931-938

Department of Hand Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.

Common neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system are characterized by progressive damage to the function of neurons, even leading to the permanent loss of function. Gene therapy via gene replacement or gene correction provides the potential for transformative therapies to delay or possibly stop further progression of the neurodegenerative disease in affected patients. Adeno-associated virus has been the vector of choice in recent clinical trials of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases due to its safety and efficiency in mediating gene transfer to the central nervous system. Read More

BMC Med 2019 Feb 13;17(1):36. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.

Background: Financial risk protection (FRP) is a key objective of national health systems and a core pillar of universal health coverage (UHC). Yet, little is known about the disease-specific distribution of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) at the national level.

Methods: Using the World Health Surveys (WHS) from 39 countries, we quantified CHE, or household health spending that surpasses 40% of capacity-to-pay by key disease areas. Read More

Mov Disord Clin Pract 2018 Mar-Apr;5(2):227-228. Epub 2018 Mar 23.

Department of Neurology University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich Germany.

Mov Disord Clin Pract 2018 Mar-Apr;5(2):223-224. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Movement Disorder Division, Neurology Department New York University School of Medicine New York New York USA.

Neurobiol Dis 2019 Feb 6;125:219-231. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Research Center on Aging, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada. Electronic address:

Olfactory dysfunction is observed in several neurological disorders, including Huntington disease (HD), and correlates with global cognitive performance, depression and degeneration of olfactory regions in the brain. Despite clear evidence demonstrating olfactory dysfunction in HD patients, only limited details are available in murine models and the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In order to determine if alterations in the olfactory bulb (OB) are observed in HD we assessed OB weight or area from 3 to 12 months of age in the BACHD transgenic lines (TG5 and TG9). Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 7;9(1):1605. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

MedImmune Ltd, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a serine protease inhibitor (serpin) that regulates fibrinolysis, cell adhesion and cell motility via its interactions with plasminogen activators and vitronectin. PAI-1 has been shown to play a role in a number of diverse pathologies including cardiovascular diseases, obesity and cancer and is therefore an attractive therapeutic target. However the multiple patho-physiological roles of PAI-1, and understanding the relative contributions of these in any one disease setting, make the development of therapeutically relevant molecules challenging. Read More

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, USA.

This study examined the effect of high-temperature conditions and uniform wear time durations (expeditionary, 33 h continuous wear; garrison, 3 days, 8 h/day wear) on permethrin exposure, assessed by urinary permethrin biomarkers, from wearing post-tailored, factory-treated military uniforms. Four group study sessions took place over separate 11-day periods, involving 33 male Soldiers. Group 1 (n = 10) and Group 2 (n = 8) participants wore a study-issued permethrin-treated Army uniform under high heat environment (35 °C, 40% relative humidity (rh)) and expeditionary and garrison wear-time conditions, respectively. Read More

Mov Disord 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. This mutation leads to progressive dysfunction that is largely attributable to dysfunction of the striatum. The earliest signs of striatal pathology in HD are found in indirect pathway gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic spiny projection neurons that innervate the external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe). Read More

Front Cell Neurosci 2018 18;12:528. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland.

In Huntington disease (HD) subtle symptoms in patients may occur years or even decades prior to diagnosis. HD changes at a molecular level may begin as early as in cells that are non-lineage committed such as stem cells or HD patients induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offering opportunity to enhance the understanding of the HD pathogenesis. In addition, juvenile HD non-linage committed cells were previously not directly investigated in detail by RNA-seq. Read More

Neurotox Res 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.

Disruption of Akt and Erk-mediated signal transduction significantly contributes in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's diseases, Huntington's disease, and many others. These regulatory proteins serve as the regulator of cell survival, motility, transcription, metabolism, and progression of the cell cycle. Therefore, targeting Akt and Erk pathway has been proposed as a reasonable approach to suppress ND progression. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 31;9(1):1069. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Biology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.

Transmembrane protein 67 (TMEM67) is mutated in Meckel Gruber Syndrome type 3 (MKS3) resulting in a pleiotropic phenotype with hydrocephalus and renal cystic disease in both humans and rodent models. The precise pathogenic mechanisms remain undetermined. Herein it is reported for the first time that a point mutation of TMEM67 leads to a gene dose-dependent hydrocephalic phenotype in the Wistar polycystic kidney (Wpk) rat. Read More

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Congenital Heart Center, Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

An infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) presented with complete heart block and severe myocardial dysfunction requiring ECMO support due to complete left main coronary artery (LMCA) thrombosis. Current guidelines for managing coronary artery thrombosis in infants with single ventricle physiology are inadequate. We describe successful LMCA and branch recanalization via intra coronary infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and discuss management of acute coronary thrombosis in children with single ventricle physiology. Read More

Curr Opin Neurol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) Institut de Neurociències Centro de Investigación Biomedica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED).

Purpose Of Review: Anti-IgLON5 disease is a novel entity characterized by a distinctive sleep disorder associated with a variety of neurological symptoms, antibodies against IgLON5, and pathological findings of neuronal tauopathy. The characteristic sleep disorder occurs in most patients, but other neurological symptoms are also important because they can be the presenting and most disabling problem and mimic other conditions. This review focuses on nonsleep neurological symptoms and presentations of anti-IgLON5 disease. Read More

Environ Health 2019 01 28;18(1). Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Building 1, Room 1401, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.

Background: Exposure to ambient particulate matter generated from coal-fired power plants induces long-term health consequences. However, epidemiologic studies have not yet focused on attributing these health burdens specifically to energy consumption, impeding targeted intervention policies. We hypothesize that the generating capacity of coal-fired power plants may be associated with lung cancer incidence at the national level. Read More

J Huntingtons Dis 2019 ;8(1):23-31

George-Huntington-Institute, Technology Park Muenster, Muenster, Germany.

Background: To increase the reliability of translating preclinical findings to humans, large animal models, such as the transgenic (tg) Libechov minipig, were established. As minipigs possess high genetic homology with humans and have similarities in anatomy, physiology and metabolism to humans, they are considered for studying neurodegenerative diseases longitudinally. Recently, sleep abnormalities and changes in circadian rhythm in Huntington's disease (HD) patients were acknowledged to present one of the early symptoms in HD. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 May;14(5):749-756

Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.

Mitophagy is activated by a number of stimuli, including hypoxia, energy stress, and increased oxidative phosphorylation activity. Mitophagy is associated with oxidative stress conditions and central neurodegenerative diseases. Proper regulation of mitophagy is crucial for maintaining homeostasis; conversely, inadequate removal of mitochondria through mitophagy leads to the generation of oxidative species, including reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, resulting in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Read More

Eur J Neurosci 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.

Multiple targeted therapeutics for Huntington's disease are now in clinical trials, including intrathecally delivered compounds. Previous research suggests that CSF dynamics may be altered in Huntington's disease, which could be of paramount relevance to intrathecal drug delivery to the brain. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a prospective cross-sectional study comparing people with early stage Huntington's disease with age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Read More

Mol Cell Neurosci 2019 Jan 24;95:43-50. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder encoding a mutant form of the huntingtin protein (HTT). HD is pathologically characterized by loss of neurons in the striatum and cortex, which leads to progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms. Stem cell-based therapy has emerged as a feasible therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and may be effective in alleviating and/or halting the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HD. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 01 25;10(1):431. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA.

Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer (r = 0. Read More

Neuroimage Clin 2019 Jan 7;21:101666. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Huntington's Disease-Like 2 (HDL2), caused by a CTG/CAG expansion in JPH3 on chromosome 16q24, is the most common Huntington's Disease (HD) phenocopy in populations with African ancestry. Qualitatively, brain MRIs of HDL2 patients have been indistinguishable from HD. To determine brain regions most affected in HDL2 a cross-sectional study using MRI brain volumetry was undertaken to compare the brains of nine HDL2, 11 HD and nine age matched control participants. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2018 23;2018:8014820. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

MU Internal Medicine Residency Program, Marshall University, 1249 15th Street, Huntington, WV 25701, USA.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder notable for rapidly progressive vascular aneurysmal disease and craniofacial defects. Patients are at an increased risk for aneurysm rupture and dissection at younger ages compared to other aneurysmal syndromes. Early surgical intervention is important for prevention of ruptures and/or dissection. Read More

Pilot Feasibility Stud 2019 15;5. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, #268, Boston, MA 02111 USA.

Background: The long-term management of cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, is complex and can be facilitated by supporting patient-directed behavioral changes. The concurrent application of wireless technology and personalized text messages (PTMs) based on behavioral economics in managing cardiometabolic diseases, although promising, has not been studied. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the concurrent application of wireless home blood pressure (BP) monitoring (as an example of "automated hovering") and PTMs (as an example of "nudging") targeting pharmacotherapy and lifestyle habits in patients with cardiometabolic disease (type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension). Read More

J Cell Biochem 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Huntington disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) at the N-terminal of the huntingtin exon 1 protein. The detailed structure and the mechanism behind this aggregation remain unclear and it is assumed that the polyQ undergoes a conformational transition to the β-sheet structure when it aggregates. Investigating the misfolding of polyQ facilitates the determination of the molecular mechanism of aggregation and can potentially help in developing a novel approach to inhibit polyQ aggregation. Read More

J Patient Rep Outcomes 2019 Jan 22;3(1). Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, 300 North Ingalls Building, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.

Background: Measurement of health utilities is required for economic evaluations. Few studies have evaluated health utilities for rare conditions; even fewer have incorporated disutility that may be experienced by caregivers. This study aimed to (1) estimate health utilities for three rare conditions currently recommended for newborn screening at the state or federal level, and (2) estimate the disutility, or spillover, experienced by parents of patients diagnosed with a rare, heritable disorder. Read More

Br J Nutr 2019 Jan 23:1-19. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

6Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Hunter Medical Research Institute,University of Newcastle,Lot 1,Kookaburra Circuit,New Lambton Heights,New South Wales,2305,Australia.

Nutrients 2019 Jan 21;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Division of Food Sciences and Nutrition, School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA.

The approach to studying diet⁻health relationships has progressively shifted from individual dietary components to overall dietary patterns that affect the interaction and balance of low-molecular-weight metabolites (metabolome) and host-enteric mic{Citation}robial ecology (microbiome). Even though the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been recognized as a powerful strategy to improve health, the accurate assessment of exposure to the MedDiet has been a major challenge in epidemiological and clinical studies. Interestingly, while the effects of individual dietary components on the metabolome have been described, studies investigating metabolomic profiles in response to overall dietary patterns (including the MedDiet), although limited, have been gaining attention. Read More

Nat Rev Nephrol 2019 Mar;15(3):159-175

Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA.

The term uraemic cardiomyopathy refers to the cardiac abnormalities that are seen in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Historically, this term was used to describe a severe cardiomyopathy that was associated with end-stage renal disease and characterized by severe functional abnormalities that could be reversed following renal transplantation. In a modern context, uraemic cardiomyopathy describes the clinical phenotype of cardiac disease that accompanies CKD and is perhaps best characterized as diastolic dysfunction seen in conjunction with left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis. Read More

Stem Cell Reports 2019 Feb 17;12(2):191-200. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK. Electronic address:

Striatal interneurons are born in the medial and caudal ganglionic eminences (MGE and CGE) and play an important role in human striatal function and dysfunction in Huntington's disease and dystonia. MGE/CGE-like neural progenitors have been generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for studying cortical interneuron development and cell therapy for epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we report the capacity of hPSC-derived MGE/CGE-like progenitors to differentiate into functional striatal interneurons. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2019 Apr 16;1864(4):466-488. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, 1700 3rd Ave, Huntington, WV 25755-0001, United States. Electronic address:

With obesity rates reaching epidemic proportions, more studies concentrated on reducing the risk and treating this epidemic are vital. Redox stress is an important metabolic regulator involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Oxygen and nitrogen-derived free radicals alter glucose and lipid homeostasis in key metabolic tissues, leading to increases in risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Read More

IDCases 2019 2;15:e00481. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Infectious Disease, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25701, USA.

Of the 200 spp. known to exist, approximately 30 have been associated with human disease. Commonly found in soil, marine sediment and mammalian intestinal tracts, these gram-positive bacilli are known to cause infections ranging from cellulitis to septicemia. Read More

Mov Disord 2019 Feb 14;34(2):274-280. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

Background: Disease-modifying clinical trials in persons without symptoms are often limited in methods to assess the impact associated with experimental therapeutics. This study suggests sample enrichment approaches to facilitate preventive trials to delay disease onset in individuals with the dominant gene for Huntington disease.

Methods: Using published onset prediction indexes, we conducted the receiver operating curve analysis for diagnosis within a 3-year clinical trial time frame. Read More

Nat Med 2019 Feb 14;25(2):270-276. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment are increasingly recognized as shown by neuropathological, neuroimaging, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker studies. Moreover, small vessel disease of the brain has been estimated to contribute to approximately 50% of all dementias worldwide, including those caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Vascular changes in AD have been typically attributed to the vasoactive and/or vasculotoxic effects of amyloid-β (Aβ), and more recently tau. Read More

Alzheimers Dement 2019 Jan;15(1):158-167

Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Increasing evidence recognizes Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a multifactorial and heterogeneous disease with multiple contributors to its pathophysiology, including vascular dysfunction. The recently updated AD Research Framework put forth by the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association describes a biomarker-based pathologic definition of AD focused on amyloid, tau, and neuronal injury. In response to this article, here we first discussed evidence that vascular dysfunction is an important early event in AD pathophysiology. Read More

Isr J Health Policy Res 2019 Jan 14;8(1):10. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel.

Background: Devastation from the tobacco epidemic continues, with strong government tobacco control policy absent in most countries. Knowledge of the full scope of tobacco harm in populations may form the basis for healthier behavior, de-normalization of smoking, and a consensus about necessary public policy. However, many populations may be poorly-informed about the risks, and this ignorance may undermine both effective policy-making and implementation of tobacco control policies. Read More

J Occup Environ Med 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

School of Public Health, & Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China (Wang, Hao, Xia), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Au), University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu Mures, Romania (Au); and Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA 02115, USA (Christiani).

Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis of short-term PM exposure and COPD hospitalizations in China, included data from two-pollutant model.

Methods: From PubMed and Web of Science, we selected case-crossover or time-series studies conducted in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan to investigate the association between PM exposure and COPD hospitalizations. The meta-analysis was performed using data from both single-pollutant and two-pollutant model for PM2. Read More

Am J Med 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Professor of Population Health and Geography, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building Rm 716, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

Introduction: While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, its determinants include unhealthy behaviours and clinical risk factors and are recognised as the "actual causes" of death. Risk likely accumulates over the life course and adverse childhood experiences may increase the risk of "actual causes" of death. To determine the prevalence and test the association of adverse childhood experiences among unhealthy behaviours and risk factors as a primordial risk factor among young adults. Read More

Mov Disord Clin Pract 2018 Nov-Dec;5(6):643-644. Epub 2018 Sep 30.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Miami Florida USA.

Ann Neurol 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Objective: Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by variable motor and behavioral symptoms attributed to major neuropathology of mainly the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. The role of the cerebellum, a brain region involved in the coordination of movements, in HD neuropathology has been controversial. This study utilizes postmortem human brain tissue to investigate whether Purkinje cell degeneration in the neocerebellum is present in HD, and how this relates to disease symptom profiles. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2019 Jan 10;19(2). Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Laboratory of Images, Signals and Intelligent Systems (LISSI), University of Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), 122 rue Paul Armangot, 94400 Vitry-Sur-Seine, France.

This article presents a machine learning methodology for diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) based on the use of vertical Ground Reaction Forces (vGRFs) data collected from the gait cycle. A classification engine assigns subjects to healthy or Parkinsonian classes. The diagnosis process involves four steps: data pre-processing, feature extraction and selection, data classification and performance evaluation. Read More