Aluminium co-localises with Biondi ring tangles in Parkinson's disease and epilepsy

Study on adsorption behavior of humic acid on aluminum in Enteromorpha prolifera

High level of aluminum content in Enteromorpha prolifera posed a growing threat to both its growth and human health. This study focused on exploring the factors, impacts, and process of removing aluminum from Enteromorpha prolifera using humic acid. The results showed that under experimental conditions of 0.0330 g·L-1 humic acid concentration, pH 3.80, 34 °C, and a duration of 40 min, the removal rate was up to 80.18%. The levels of major flavor components, proteins, and amino acids in Enteromorpha prolifera increased significantly after treatment, while polysaccharides and trace elements like calcium and magnesium decreased significantly. Infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that the main functional groups involved in binding with Al3+ during humic acid adsorption were hydroxyl, carboxyl, phenol, and other oxygen-containing groups. The adsorption process of Al3+ by humic acid was a spontaneous phenomenon divided into three key stages: fast adsorption, slow adsorption, and adsorption equilibrium, which resulted from both physical and chemical adsorption effects. This study provided a safe and efficient method in algae metal removal.

Alpha Synuclein Toxicity and Non-Motor Parkinson's

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common multisystem neurodegenerative disorder affecting 1% of the population over the age of 60 years. The main neuropathological features of PD are the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the presence of alpha synuclein (αSyn)-rich Lewy bodies both manifesting with classical motor signs. αSyn has emerged as a key protein in PD pathology as it can spread through synaptic networks to reach several anatomical regions of the body contributing to the appearance of non-motor symptoms (NMS) considered prevalent among individuals prior to PD diagnosis and persisting throughout the patient's life. NMS mainly includes loss of taste and smell, constipation, psychiatric disorders, dementia, impaired rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, urogenital dysfunction, and cardiovascular impairment. This review summarizes the more recent findings on the impact of αSyn deposits on several prodromal NMS and emphasizes the importance of early detection of αSyn toxic species in biofluids and peripheral biopsies as prospective biomarkers in PD.

The role of neutrophils in the dysfunction of central nervous system barriers

Leukocyte migration into the central nervous system (CNS) represents a central process in the development of neurological diseases with a detrimental inflammatory component. Infiltrating neutrophils have been detected inside the brain of patients with several neuroinflammatory disorders, including stroke, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. During inflammatory responses, these highly reactive innate immune cells can rapidly extravasate and release a plethora of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic factors, potentially inducing significant collateral tissue damage. Indeed, several studies have shown that neutrophils promote blood-brain barrier damage and increased vascular permeability during neuroinflammatory diseases. Recent studies have shown that neutrophils migrate into the meninges and choroid plexus, suggesting these cells can also damage the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). In this review, we discuss the emerging role of neutrophils in the dysfunction of brain barriers across different neuroinflammatory conditions and describe the molecular basis and cellular interplays involved in neutrophil-mediated injury of the CNS borders.