Genetic Polymorphisms Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis Development and Antirheumatic Therapy Response

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthropathy worldwide. Possible manifestations of RA can be represented by a wide variability of symptoms, clinical forms, and course options. This multifactorial disease is triggered by a genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Both clinical and genealogical studies have demonstrated disease case accumulation in families. Revealing the impact of candidate gene missense variants on the disease course elucidates understanding of RA molecular pathogenesis. A multivariate genomewide association study (GWAS) based analysis identified the genes and signalling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. However, these identified RA candidate gene variants only explain 30% of familial disease cases. The genetic causes for a significant proportion of familial RA have not been determined until now. Therefore, it is important to identify RA risk groups in different populations, as well as the possible prognostic value of some genetic variants for disease development, progression, and treatment. Our review has two purposes. First, to summarise the data on RA candidate genes and the increased disease risk associated with these alleles in various populations. Second, to describe how the genetic variants can be used in the selection of drugs for the treatment of RA.

Precision measurement of the neutral pion lifetime

The explicit breaking of the axial symmetry by quantum fluctuations gives rise to the so-called axial anomaly. This phenomenon is solely responsible for the decay of the neutral pion π⁰ into two photons (γγ), leading to its unusually short lifetime. We precisely measured the decay width Γ of the [Formula: see text] process. The differential cross sections for π⁰ photoproduction at forward angles were measured on two targets, carbon-12 and silicon-28, yielding [Formula: see text], where stat. denotes the statistical uncertainty and syst. the systematic uncertainty. We combined the results of this and an earlier experiment to generate a weighted average of [Formula: see text] Our final result has a total uncertainty of 1.50% and confirms the prediction based on the chiral anomaly in quantum chromodynamics.

Medicinal Plants as a Potential and Successful Treatment Option in the Context of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic multifactorial disease characterized by mainly changes of blood lipids profile and inflammation in vessel wall. The cardiovascular disease based on atherosclerosis is currently the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. Therefore, timely prevention and therapy of atherosclerosis are able to reduce the risk of the development of its clinical manifestations. Anti-atherosclerotic activity of medicinal plants mainly appears in their multiple effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-atherogenic, hypotensive, lipid-lowering, anti-thrombotic. Moreover, most of medicinal plants are characterized by their pleiotropic anti-atherosclerotic action. In addition, the medicinal plants-derived pharmacological substances and/or compounds are characterized by relative safety and fewer side effects that allows considering them as one of potential anti-atherosclerotic effective agents. The direct anti-atherosclerotic effect of some medicinal plants was confirmed in clinical trials of carotid Intima-media thickness (IMT) progression during long-term medication with medicinal plants. This review attempted to determine the current status of the databases PubMed and Scopus (until November, 2019) to investigate the medicinal plants possessing anti-atherosclerotic activity in experimental and clinical studies.

Sphingosine kinase and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor signaling pathway in inflammatory gastrointestinal disease and cancers: A novel therapeutic target

Inflammatory gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and malignancies are associated with growing morbidity and cancer-related mortality worldwide. GI tumor and inflammatory cells contain activated sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes, including sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and SphK2, that generate sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a highly bioactive compound. Many inflammatory responses, including lymphocyte trafficking, are directed by circulatory S1P, present in high concentrations in both the plasma and the lymph of cancer patients. High fat and sugar diet, disbalanced intestinal flora, and obesity have recently been linked to activation of inflammation and SphK/S1P/S1P receptor (S1PR) signaling in various GI pathologies, including cancer. SphK1 overexpression and activation facilitate and enhance the development and progression of esophageal, gastric, and colon cancers. SphK/S1P axis, a mediator of inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, has recently been defined as a target for the treatment of GI disease states, including inflammatory bowel disease and colitis. Several SphK1 inhibitors and S1PR antagonists have been developed as novel anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. In this review, we analyze the mechanisms of SphK/S1P signaling in GI tissues and critically appraise recent studies on the role of SphK/S1P/S1PR in inflammatory GI disorders and cancers. The potential role of SphK/S1PR inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of inflammation-mediated GI diseases, including GI cancer, is also evaluated.

Feasibility of Targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells: From Concept to Clinical Trials

OBJECTIVE

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive and invasive brain and Central Nervous System (CNS) tumor. Current treatment options do not prolong overall survival significantly because the disease is highly prone to relapse. Therefore, research to find new therapies is of paramount importance. It has been discovered that glioblastomas contain a population of cells with stem-like properties and that these cells are may be responsible for tumor recurrence.

METHODS

A review of relevant papers and clinical trials in the field was conducted. A PubMed search with related keywords was used to gather the data. For example, "glioblastoma stem cells AND WNT signaling" is an example used to find information on clinical trials using the database ClinicalTrials.gov.

RESULTS

Cancer stem cell research has several fundamental issues and uncertainties that should be taken into consideration. Theoretically, a number of treatment options that target glioblastoma stem cells are available for patients. However, only a few of them have obtained promising results in clinical trials. Several strategies are still under investigation.

CONCLUSION

The majority of treatments to target cancer stem cells have failed during clinical trials. Taking into account a number of biases in the field and the number of unsuccessful investigations, the application of the cancer stem cells concept is questionable in clinical settings, at least with respect to glioblastoma.

Alterations of Astrocytes in the Context of Schizophrenic Dementia

The levels of the astrocyte markers (GFAP, S100B) were increased unevenly in patients with schizophrenia. Reactive astrogliosis was found in approximately 70% of patients with schizophrenia. The astrocytes play a major role in etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Astrocytes produce the components that altered in schizophrenia extracellular matrix system which are involved in inflammation, functioning of interneurons, glio-, and neurotransmitter system, especially glutamate system. Astrocytes activate the interneurons through glutamate release and ATP. Decreased expression of astrocyte glutamate transporters was observed in patients with schizophrenia. Astrocytes influence on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors via D-serine, an agonist of the glycine-binding site of NMDA receptors, and kynurenic acid, an endogenous antagonist. NMDA receptors, on its turn, control the impulses of dopamine neurons. Therefore following theories of schizophrenia are proposed. They are a) activation of astrocytes for neuroinflammation, b) glutamate and dopamine theory, as astrocyte products control the activity of NMDA receptors, which influence on the dopamine neurons.

AA, Lukashev AN. Emerging Concepts and Challenges in Rheumatoid Arthritis Gene Therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory joint disease affecting about 1% of the population worldwide. Current treatment approaches do not ensure a cure for every patient. Moreover, classical regimens are based on nontargeted systemic immune suppression and have significant side effects. Biological treatment has advanced considerably but efficacy and specificity issues remain. Gene therapy is one of the potential future directions for RA therapy, which is rapidly developing. Several gene therapy trials done so far have been of moderate success, but experimental and genetics studies have yielded novel targets. As a result, the arsenal of gene therapy tools keeps growing. Currently, both viral and nonviral delivery systems are used for RA therapy. Herein, we review recent approaches for RA gene therapy.

Comparing the Treatment of Congenital Spine Deformity Using Freehand Techniques In Vivo and 3D-Printed Templates In Vitro (Prospective-Retrospective Single-Center Analytical Single-Cohort Study)

INTRODUCTION

Hemivertebrae excision with local posterior instrumentation is the most common technique for treatment of patients with congenital spine deformity-it is performed at a very young age. We conducted a comparative analysis for accuracy of pedicle screw positioning in infants with congenital scoliosis of the thoracolumbar area inserted using freehand technique in vivo and 3D-printed guiding templates in vitro.

METHODS

The study analyzes the results of 10 surgically treated patients with congenital deformity of the thoracolumbar spine due to vertebrae failure of formation. These patients were included in group 1 (in vivo) comprising six boys and four girls with a mean age of 3 years 8 months (2 years 2 months-6 years 8 month). Group 2 (in vitro) consisted of 27 plastic 3D-printed models of congenitally deformed spine of the same 10 patients in which screws were placed using 3D-printed guiding templates. The accuracy of screw position was assessed using computer tomography data performed postoperatively with Gertzbein-Robbins classification.

RESULTS

Results of our study show that screw insertion using 3D-printed guiding templates during surgical treatment of infants with congenital spine deformities is more accurate than using freehand technique (96.3% vs. 78.8% p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

The data show that this method of screw insertion is very promising and can be used in surgical treatment of infants with congenital spine deformities.

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A small proton charge radius from an electron-proton scattering experiment

Elastic electron-proton scattering (e-p) and the spectroscopy of hydrogen atoms are the two methods traditionally used to determine the proton charge radius, r_p. In 2010, a new method using muonic hydrogen atoms¹ found a substantial discrepancy compared with previous results², which became known as the 'proton radius puzzle'. Despite experimental and theoretical efforts, the puzzle remains unresolved. In fact, there is a discrepancy between the two most recent spectroscopic measurements conducted on ordinary hydrogen^3,4. Here we report on the proton charge radius experiment at Jefferson Laboratory (PRad), a high-precision e-p experiment that was established after the discrepancy was identified. We used a magnetic-spectrometer-free method along with a windowless hydrogen gas target, which overcame several limitations of previous e-p experiments and enabled measurements at very small forward-scattering angles. Our result, r_p = 0.831 ± 0.007_stat ± 0.012_syst femtometres, is smaller than the most recent high-precision e-p measurement⁵ and 2.7 standard deviations smaller than the average of all e-p experimental results⁶. The smaller r_p we have now measured supports the value found by two previous muonic hydrogen experiments^1,7. In addition, our finding agrees with the revised value (announced in 2019) for the Rydberg constant⁸-one of the most accurately evaluated fundamental constants in physics.

A Novel Heterocyclic System Based on Natural Epoxyalantolactone

Natural sesquiterpene lactones which contain an exocyclic methylene group in the β-position of the lactone ring react readily with N-nucleophiles. When studying the reaction of the natural epoxyalantolactone with the primary amines we demonstrate the formation of a new heterocyclic system—the hydrogenated benzo[g]furo[4,3,2-cd]indol-3(1H)-one. Spectral data on the characteristics of the synthesized compounds are presented. The data on the reaction mechanisms and its applicability for the preparation are discussed.

The Role of Melanin to Dissociate Oxygen from Water to Treat Retinopathy of Prematurity

BACKGROUND

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding disorder that commonly afflicts premature infants who are born prior to 31weeks of gestation or with a body weight less than 1250 grams (about 2.75 pounds). Another risk factor is excessive oxygen in incubators, which can lead to blindness. A compounding factor is that survival rates for premature infants are rising with concomitantly more cases of ROP. We have reported an unsuspected intrinsic property of melanin to dissociate water. This capability can be considered an alternative treatment option for adult and neonatal diseases. It is known that exogenous surfactant administration suppresses bronchopulmonary dysplasia and consequent death, randomized, controlled trials with various respiratory interventions did not show any significant reductions in morbidity and mortality rates. During a descriptive study about the three leading causes of blindness in the world, the ability of melanin to transform light energy into chemical energy through the dissociation of water molecule was unraveled. Initially, during 2 or 3 years; we tried to link together our findings with the widely accepted metabolic pathways already described in molecular pathway databases, which have been developed to collect and organize the current knowledge on metabolism scattered across a multitude of scientific evidence.

OBSERVATIONS

The current report demonstrates the main problems that afflict premature babies with an emphasis on the growth of abnormal vessels in the retina, the explanation for which is unknown until date. We also reported a case of a baby who suffered digestive and respiratory problems with a brain haemorrhage that was successfully treated by laser photocoagulation. We hypothesise that most likely this effect was due to the melanin level and melanin itself produces oxygen via dissociating with water molecules.

CONCLUSION

We postulate that the intrinsic effect of melanin may easily convert visible and invisible light into chemical energy via a water dissociation reaction similar to the one in plant's chlorophyll, and markedly elevated with diagnosis and treatment of the complications related to premature babies.

Chemosensitizing Activity of Histone Deacetylases Inhibitory Cyclic Hydroxamic Acids for Combination Chemotherapy of Lymphatic Leukemia

BACKGROUND

Anti-tumor effect of hydroxamic acid derivatives is largely connected with its properties as efficient inhibitors of histone deacetylases, and other metalloenzymes involved in carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

The work was aimed to (i) determine the anti-tumor and chemosensitizing activity of the novel racemic spirocyclic hydroxamic acids using experimental drug sensitive leukemia P388 of mice, and (ii) determine the structure-activity relationships as metal chelating and HDAC inhibitory agents.

METHOD

Outbreed male rat of 200-220 g weights were used in biochemical experiments. In vivo experiments were performed using the BDF1 hybrid male mice of 22-24 g weight. Lipid peroxidation, Fe (II) -chelating activity, HDAC fluorescent activity, anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activity, acute toxicity techniques were used in this study.

RESULTS

Chemosensitizing properties of water soluble cyclic hydroxamic acids (CHA) are evaluated using in vitro activities and in vivo methods and found significant results. These compounds possess iron (II) chelating properties, and slightly inhibit lipid peroxidation. CHA prepared from triacetonamine (1a-e) are more effective Fe (II) ions cheaters, as compared to CHA prepared from 1- methylpiperidone (2a-e). The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activity, lipophilicity and acute toxicity were influenced by the length amino acids (size) (Glycine < Alanine < Valine < Leucine < Phenylalanine). All compounds bearing spiro-N-methylpiperidine ring (2a-e) are non-toxic up to 1250 mg/kg dose, while compounds bearing spiro-tetramethylpiperidine ring (1a-e) exhibit moderate toxicity which increases with increasing lipophility, but not excite at 400 mg/kg.

CONCLUSION

It was shown that the use of combination of non-toxic doses of cisplatin (cPt) or cyclophosphamide with CHA in most cases result in the appearance of a considerable anti-tumor effect of cytostatics. The highest chemosensitizing activity with respect to leukemia Р388 is demonstrated by the CHA derivatives of Valine 1c or 2c.

Increased Pain Sensitivity in Obese Patients After Lung Cancer Surgery

Background: Obesity and cancer are recognized worldwide health threats. While there is no reported causal relationship, the increasing frequency of both conditions results in a higher incidence of obese patients who are being treated for cancer. Physiological data indicate that there is a relationship between obesity and susceptibility to pain; however, currently, there are no specific pharmacological interventions.

Objective: To evaluate the self-reported intensity of postoperative pain in obese and nonobese lung cancer who receive either thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) surgical therapy.

Material and Methods: In 50 obese [mean body mass index (BMI) of 34.1 ± 3.2 kg/m²] and 62 nonobese (mean BMI of 24.9 ± 3 kg/m²) lung cancer patients, the intensity of pain was estimated every 4 h using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating “worst imaginable pain”) beginning shortly after surgery (Day O) and continuing until the day of discharge (Day D).

Results: The self-reported pain was more severe in obese than in nonobese patients, both at the time of the operation [Day O (4.5 ± 1.2 vs 3.4 ± 1.1; p < 0.0001)] and at the day of discharge [Day D (3.9 ± 1.4 vs 2.6 ± 0.9, p < 0.0001)]. This finding was consistent both in the patients after thoracotomy and after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS, p < 0.0001). The patients with severe pain shortly after surgery (VAS score >4) had significantly higher BMI (31.8 ± 5.6 kg/m²vs 28.8 ± 5.2 kg/m², p < 0.01) and were hospitalized longer than the remaining patients (13.0 ± 13.6 days vs 9.5 ± 3.6 days, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The reported perception of pain in obese lung cancer patients is greater than in nonobese patients undergoing the same thoracic surgery. In obese patients, severe pain persisted longer. Pain management is an important consideration in the postoperative care of lung cancer patients, even more so with obese patients.

Alzheimer's Disease - Future Therapy Based on Dendrimers

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the loss of neurons. It is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly population accompanied by pathological degeneration of neurofibrillary tangles. Senile plaques are formed with beta-amyloid, hyperphosphoryled tau protein, apo-lipoprotein E and presenilin associated with protease activity [amyloid beta (Aβ), gamma-secretase (γS)]. The molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration include apoptosis, oxidative stress (free radical generation), inflammation, immune activa-tion, and others. The lack of effective treatments for AD stems mainly from the incomplete understanding the causes of AD. Currently, there are several hypotheses explaining the early mechanisms of AD pathogenesis. Recent years witnessed an un-precedented research growth in the area of nanotechnology, which uses atomic, molecular and macromolecular methods to create products in microscale (nanoscale) dimensions. In this article, we have discussed the role of nanotechnology in the de-velopment and improvement of techniques for early diagnosis and effective treatment of AD. Since AD pathology is practi-cally irreversible, applications of disease-modifying treatments could be successful only if early diagnosis of AD is available. This review highlights various possibilities for the early diagnosis and therapy of AD and investigates potential adaptation of nanoparticles-dendrimers as a class of well-defined branched polymers that are chemically synthesized with a well-defined shape, size and nanoscopic physicochemical properties reminiscent of the proteins for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Urotensin II: Molecular Mechanisms of Biological Activity

Urotensin II (UT II) is an important factor of cellular homeostasis. This regulatory peptide is involved in the pathophysiology of many disorders. For example, it plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic diseases, stressful and adaptive reactions of the body, in the development of cardiovascular pathologies, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, liver cirrhosis, renal failure, diabetic nephropathy, reproductive dysfunction, progression of psychosomatic, psychoendocrinal and psychiatric disorders. In this concern, the involvement of UT II in the pathophysiology of many processes determines the perspectives for the development of blockers of urotensin receptors for the treatment of the aforementioned diseases. It is important that even today this kind of perspective is feasible due to the synthesis of a series of GPR14 blockers. The objective of this review is to discuss current molecular mechanisms of biological activity, regulatory functions of UT II, its role in the pathogenesis of different nosologies, as well as analysis of the possible routes of exposure to GPR14 as potential therapeutic targets.

How Cancer Cells Resist Chemotherapy: Design and Development of Drugs Targeting Protein-Protein Interactions

Background:

Resistance toward chemotherapeutics is one of the main obstacles on the way to effective cancer treatment. Personalization of chemotherapy could improve clinical outcome. However, despite preclinical significance, most of the potential markers have failed to reach clinical practice partially due to the inability of numerous studies to estimate the marker’s impact on resistance properly.

Objective:

The analysis of drug resistance mechanisms to chemotherapy in cancer cells, and the proposal of study design to identify bona fide markers.

Methods:

A review of relevant papers in the field. A PubMed search with relevant keywords was used to gather the data. An example of a search request: drug resistance AND cancer AND paclitaxel.

Results:

We have described a number of drug resistance mechanisms to various chemotherapeutics, as well as markers to underlie the phenomenon. We also proposed a model of a rational-designed study, which could be useful in determining the most promising potential biomarkers.

Conclusion:

Taking into account the most reasonable biomarkers should dramatically improve clinical outcome by choosing the suitable treatment regimens. However, determining the leading biomarkers, as well as validating of the model, is a work for further investigations.

Application of Acyzol in the Context of Zinc Deficiency and Perspectives

Zinc is one of the most important essential trace elements. It is involved in more than 300 enzyme systems and is an indispensable participant in many biochemical processes. Zinc deficiency causes a number of disorders in the human body, the main ones being the delay of growth and puberty, immune disorders, and cognitive dysfunctions. There are over two billion people in the world suffering from zinc deficiency conditions. Acyzol, a zinc-containing medicine, developed as an antidote against carbon monoxide poisoning, demonstrates a wide range of pharmacological activities: Anti-inflammatory, reparative, detoxifying, immunomodulatory, bacteriostatic, hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, antioxidant, antihypoxic, and cardioprotective. The presence of zinc in the composition of Acyzol suggests the potential of the drug in the treatment and prevention of zinc deficiency conditions, such as Prasad's disease, immune system pathology, alopecia, allergodermatoses, prostate dysfunction, psoriasis, stomatitis, periodontitis, and delayed mental and physical development in children. Currently, the efficiency of Acyzol in the cases of zinc deficiency is shown in a large number of experimental studies. So, Acyzol can be used as a highly effective drug for pharmacologic therapy of a wide range of diseases and conditions and it opens up new perspectives in the treatment and prevention of zinc deficiency conditions.

Quality of Life and Social Support in Women with Urinary Incontinence

Background:

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a serious medical and social problem for about one-third of women in the world population. It is one of the most common chronic diseases of women. Despite significant improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of this illness, women continue to struggle with the stigma associated with incontinence. Research conducted in the last few years shows the importance of social support in respect of the illness.

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to determine how people perceive the disease and the influence of social support to deal with UI.

Materials and Methods:

The study involved 200 women in the age range of 34-78 with a diagnosis of incontinence. All women agreed to fill out an anonymous questionnaire, Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and Disease-Related Social Support Scale (DSRSS). The obtained results were subject to statistical analysis.

Results:

The greater the social support, the lesser the tendencies to judge the condition in terms of harm. Material support among respondents makes it easier for them to distance themselves from UI. Women having a sense of spiritual, emotional, and global support information found it easier to come in terms with UI.

Conclusion:

There is a relationship between the perception of disease for women, and social support received by women. Awareness of the availability support in disease allows peaceful thinking about a situation as difficult as UI.

Preventive and Therapeutic Potentials of Anthocyanins in Diabetes and Associated Complications

Diet is an essential factor affecting the development of and risk for diabetes mellitus. In search of preventative and therapeutic strategies, the potential role of certain foods and their bioactive compounds to prevent the pathogenesis associated with metabolic diseases is to be considered. Human consumption of anthocyanins is among the highest of all flavonoids. Epidemiological studies have suggested that the consumption of anthocyanins lowers the risk of diabetes and diabetic complications. Anthocyanins are important natural bioactive pigments responsible for red to blue colour of fruits, leaves, seeds, stems and flowers, which are present in a variety of plant species particularly in berries and cherries. A large number of bioactive anthocyanins, such as cyanidin, malvidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, petunidin and their metabolites have shown multiple biological activities with apparent effects on glucose absorption, glucose uptake, insulin secretion and sensitivity, on the enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, gene expressions, inflammatory mediators, glucose transporters in progression of diabetes and associated complications, such as diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and diabetic vascular diseases. The versatility of the anthocyanins provides a promising approach for diabetes management than synthetic drugs. Here we summarize the effect of several anthocyanins on many in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies and also reveal the mechanisms which could prevent or reverse the underlying mechanisms of diabetic pathologies including promotion of antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.

Dopaminergic Neuroprotection with Atremorine in Parkinson´s Disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are looking forward to new therapeutic strategies that may gradually decelerate the rate of neurodegenerative decline, associated with mobility restrictions and related morbidity. Its continuous neurodegenerative process, exacerbated by genetic mutations or environmental toxins, involves a progressive reduction in the dopamine neurotransmission levels, synaptic uptake density, oxidative glucose intake, deficient striatal lactate accumulation and chronic inflammation. Over the last decade, novel bioproducts have received considerable interest due to their unique potential of unifying nutritional, safety and therapeutic natural effects. Some nutraceuticals play a crucial role in the control of the signaling transduction pathways in neurotransmission and inflammation affected in PD, and some natural compounds can beneficially interact with each one of these biological mechanisms to slow down disease progression. Atremorine, a novel plant-derived nutraceutical, probably with a neuroprotective effect in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (pars compacta), is a prototype of this new category of bioproducts with potential effects in PD. The major focus of this review will be on the current knowledge and biomedical investigation strategies through a plant-derived neuroprotective approach to improve life quality in PD patients, being of paramount importance for health providers, caregivers and the patients themselves.

Late-life Depression and Alzheimer Disease: A Potential Synergy of the Underlying Mechanisms

A number of biological and clinical characteristics typical of late life depression (LLD) have been suggested by recent research findings. The close association of LLD with cognitive impairment is now well documented and evidenced. However, it is still not clear whether it is depression that leads to cognitive decline, and in more severe cases, to dementia. The work presented in this review article suggests that depression and dementia frequently and strongly copresent, even if the causality remains largely opaque.