Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current concepts

Closest horizons of Hsp70 engagement to manage neurodegeneration

Our review seeks to elucidate the current state-of-the-art in studies of 70-kilodalton-weighed heat shock proteins (Hsp70) in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). The family has already been shown to play a crucial role in pathological aggregation for a wide spectrum of brain pathologies. However, a slender boundary between a big body of fundamental data and its implementation has only recently been crossed. Currently, we are witnessing an anticipated advancement in the domain with dozens of studies published every month. In this review, we briefly summarize scattered results regarding the role of Hsp70 in the most common NDs including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We also bridge translational studies and clinical trials to portray the output for medical practice. Available options to regulate Hsp70 activity in NDs are outlined, too.

Application of Small Molecules in the Central Nervous System Direct Neuronal Reprogramming

The lack of regenerative capacity of neurons leads to poor prognoses for some neurological disorders. The use of small molecules to directly reprogram somatic cells into neurons provides a new therapeutic strategy for neurological diseases. In this review, the mechanisms of action of different small molecules, the approaches to screening small molecule cocktails, and the methods employed to detect their reprogramming efficiency are discussed, and the studies, focusing on neuronal reprogramming using small molecules in neurological disease models, are collected. Future research efforts are needed to investigate the in vivo mechanisms of small molecule-mediated neuronal reprogramming under pathophysiological states, optimize screening cocktails and dosing regimens, and identify safe and effective delivery routes to promote neural regeneration in different neurological diseases.

Palliative Care for Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Palliative care has emerged in response to the comfort needs of the terminally ill cancer patient. From our experience with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients and their families in different care settings, we believe that palliative care is also an appropriate approach for this population. The extent to which palliative care, as it is generally practised, fits the needs of the ALS patient and family and the ways that palliative care should be adjusted to meet their needs are discussed in this paper.

Progressive bulbar palsy: a case report of a type of motor neuron disease presenting with oral symptoms

A case is presented of a patient with progressive bulbar palsy, a form of motor neuron disease, which is a progressive degenerative disorder of the motor nuclei in the medulla producing atrophy and fasciculations of the musculature of the tongue, dysarthria, dysphagia, and excessive accumulation of secretions. The patient may initially seek dental consultation. Clinicians should be aware of the signs and symptoms of this inexorably fatal disease so that an early neurologic referral is made and the appropriate symptomatic therapies instituted.

Acoustic analysis of voices of patients with neurologic disease: rationale and preliminary data

This paper presents a rationale for acoustic analysis of voices of neurologically diseased patients, and reports preliminary data from patients with myotonic dystrophy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as from individuals at risk for Huntington's disease. Noninvasive acoustic analysis may be of clinical value to the otolaryngologist, neurologist, and speech pathologist for early and differential diagnosis and for documenting disease progression in these various neurologic disorders.

Elevated levels of amino acids in the CSF of motor neuron disease patients

Amino acid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with motor neuron disease were compared with an age-matched control group receiving diagnostic myelography. Five amino acids were significantly elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of the motor neuron disease patients compared to the controls. These were isoleucine, glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, and threonine, which were increased by 60, 58, 38, 26, and 25% respectively. A significant increase was also obtained when the amino acids with nonpolar R groups were grouped together (34%). The significance of these findings is discussed in terms of amino acid changes that occur in both normal aging and other neurological conditions.