Molecular hallmarks of ageing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, severely debilitating and rapidly progressing disorder affecting motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. Unfortunately, there are few effective treatments, thus there remains a critical need to find novel interventions that can mitigate against its effects. Whilst the aetiology of ALS remains unclear, ageing is the major risk factor. Ageing is a slowly progressive process marked by functional decline of an organism over its lifespan. However, it remains unclear how ageing promotes the risk of ALS. At the molecular and cellular level there are specific hallmarks characteristic of normal ageing. These hallmarks are highly inter-related and overlap significantly with each other. Moreover, whilst ageing is a normal process, there are striking similarities at the molecular level between these factors and neurodegeneration in ALS. Nine ageing hallmarks were originally proposed: genomic instability, loss of telomeres, senescence, epigenetic modifications, dysregulated nutrient sensing, loss of proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion, and altered inter-cellular communication. However, these were recently (2023) expanded to include dysregulation of autophagy, inflammation and dysbiosis. Hence, given the latest updates to these hallmarks, and their close association to disease processes in ALS, a new examination of their relationship to pathophysiology is warranted. In this review, we describe possible mechanisms by which normal ageing impacts on neurodegenerative mechanisms implicated in ALS, and new therapeutic interventions that may arise from this.

ALS/FTD-associated mutation in cyclin F inhibits ER-Golgi trafficking, inducing ER stress, ERAD and Golgi fragmentation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severely debilitating neurodegenerative condition that is part of the same disease spectrum as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Mutations in the CCNF gene, encoding cyclin F, are present in both sporadic and familial ALS and FTD. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration remain unclear. Proper functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus compartments is essential for normal physiological activities and to maintain cellular viability. Here, we demonstrate that ALS/FTD-associated variant cyclin FS621G inhibits secretory protein transport from the ER to Golgi apparatus, by a mechanism involving dysregulation of COPII vesicles at ER exit sites. Consistent with this finding, cyclin FS621G also induces fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus and activates ER stress, ER-associated degradation, and apoptosis. Induction of Golgi fragmentation and ER stress were confirmed with a second ALS/FTD variant cyclin FS195R, and in cortical primary neurons. Hence, this study provides novel insights into pathogenic mechanisms associated with ALS/FTD-variant cyclin F, involving perturbations to both secretory protein trafficking and ER-Golgi homeostasis.

Efficacy and safety of carvedilol in infants with dilated cardiomyopathy: a preliminary report

BACKGROUND

Carvedilol has proven to be beneficial in a majority of adult patients with congestive heart failure. Although the experience from adult patients may be extrapolated to older children, symptomatic infants remain a subset for whom dosage, safety and efficacy need to be established. The purpose of this study was to assess whether treatment with carvedilol is efficacious and safe for infants with dilated cardiomyopathy who do not show satisfactory clinical improvement despite treatment with conventional medications.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eight infants with dilated cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction <30%) who were symptomatic despite tailored treatment with decongestive medications, were enrolled in the study. Echocardiographic findings and heart failure symptom scores were analyzed before and after starting carvedilol. Patients were hospitalized and monitored for side-effects during up-titration of carvedilol. At a follow-up of 4.5+/-2.2 months, patients receiving carvedilol showed a significant improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction (38.5+/-11% v. 24.4+/-5%), and heart failure symptom score (p<0.05). No adverse events related to carvedilol administration occurred. There were no deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Carvedilol is well tolerated in infants with dilated cardiomyopathy and there is significant improvement in their functional status. Optimal timing of starting therapy, dosage and long-term effects need to be investigated with multi-institutional trials.

Studies on esterases levels in various tissues of Uromastix Hardwickii during activity and hibernation

Esterases, acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterase activities were determined in various tissues of Uromastix hardwickkii during hibernation and activity.

1. The protein concentration was significantly reduced during hibernation.

2. The esterase activity in all the tissues was found to be significantly reduced during hibernation.

3. Acetylcholinesterase activity was significantly increased in all the tissues.

4. There was no significant difference in the cholinesterase activity duriing the two periods.

5. The specific activities of all the enzymes were found to be significantly increased during hibernation.

Postoperative Pain Following Multi-Visit Root Canal Treatment of Teeth with Vital and Non-Vital Pulps

Introduction: Post-obturation pain is one of the primary problems following root canal treatment. Although in most cases pain does not last long, but could be a source of embarrassment to the dentist and annoying for the patient.Objectives: This prospective study was conducted to assess the incidence of postoperative pain after multivisit root canal treatment of teeth with vital and nonvital pulps.Methods: Total, 52 patients with teeth requiring endodontic treatment were identified and included in this study. The patients were randomly assigned and treated in a military hospital and in government dental college hospital into two groups. The teeth of patients in group 1 were with vital inflamed pulp; group 2 were with non-vital pulp with or without periapical radiolucency (0-5mm). Patients were treated in multiple visit procedure. They were asked whether they experienced any postoperative pain to rate the level of discomfort as no, mild, moderate, or severe pain. Data were analyzed statistically using the chi-square test.Results: No significant difference in postoperative pain was found between vital and non-vital pulps (p=0.2). Mild and moderate pain occurred in 4.34% and 4.34% respectively in teeth with vital pulp and 17.3% and 3.44% in teeth with non-vital pulp respectively. There was no significant difference in postoperative pain between the two groups (p>0.05).Conclusions: The incidence of postoperative pain did not differ between vital and non-vital teeth.Key words: Postoperative dental pain; root canal treatment; vital and non-vital pulp DOI: 10.3329/jafmc.v6i2.7271JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 6, No 2 (December) 2010 pp.28-31