Calpain signaling: from biology to therapeutic opportunities in neurodegenerative disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders represent a major and growing healthcare challenge globally. Among the numerous molecular pathways implicated in their pathogenesis, calpain signaling has emerged as a crucial player in neuronal dysfunction and cell death. Calpain is a family of calcium-dependent cysteine proteases that is involved in many biological processes, such as signal transduction, cytoskeleton remodeling, and protein turnover. Dysregulation of calpain activation and activity has been associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. Understanding the intricate structure of calpains is crucial for unraveling their roles in cellular physiology and their implications in pathology. In addition, the identification of diverse abnormalities in both humans and other animal models with deficiencies in calpain highlights the significant progress made in understanding calpain biology. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the recent roles attributed to calpains and provide an overview of the mechanisms that govern their activity during the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The possibility of utilizing calpain inhibition as a potential therapeutic approach for treating neuronal dysfunctions in neurodegenerative disorders would be an area of interest in future calpain research.

Enhancement of chronic wound healing with maltodextrin/ascorbic acid gel: a clinical evaluation of distal limb wounds in horses

Delayed healing associated with distal limb wounds is highly challenging in equine clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate healing rates between chronic non-granulating wounds of horse distal limbs that were treated with maltodextrin/ascorbic acid gel alone or in combination with povidone-iodine 1% solution and those treated with povidone-iodine 1% only throughout the study period (35 days) in clinical settings. The study was conducted on 18 adult horses (3–15 years old). Based on the treatment regimen utilized, the horses were divided into three groups (n = 6), with each group having a similar mean wound area. The percentages of wound contraction, epithelialization, and overall wound healing were determined weekly for each wound. By the end of the study, the total wound healing percentage was significantly increased between the study groups (p < 0.05). The use of maltodextrin/ascorbic acid gel resulted in considerable wound contraction, rapid epithelialization, and complication-free wound healing. Based on the findings of this study, maltodextrin/ascorbic acid gel, independently or in combination with a 1% povidone-iodine solution, might be applied as a safe and effective wound healing promoting agent in horses with chronic non-granulating wounds.

Patients' Perspectives of Surgical Safety Before and After Their Elective Surgeries at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background Patients need to be educated and all possible treatment alternatives should be explored. Patients should be given options that they can choose from based on their demographic information, clinical information, and possible options for treating a given issue. This is especially true in elective surgery. The concept of safety plays a major part in every field, particularly in medicine. The patient's safety is a key factor for a better experience and a better outcome.  Objective This study aims to determine patient perceptions of surgical safety with an emphasis on surgical team interaction throughout the phases of care. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional prospective study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Patients undergoing elective surgery and hospitalized for more than 24 hours were asked to give their opinions regarding interactions between them and the surgical teams, including the nurses, anesthesiologists, and surgeons who operated on them. Only patients aged 18 or above were included in the sample. The analysis was carried out using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). Results More than 70% of the study respondents had had more than one surgery. One hundred and ten of the study respondents said that the specific surgeons who attended to them encouraged them to ask questions. The majority of the respondents (76.7%) said that the surgical team gave them definite physical comfort, while the rest (23.3%) stated that they got somewhat less physical comfort from the surgical team. The average rating of the satisfaction pre-surgery was mean (M) = 8.51, standard deviation (SD) = 1.9, (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.19 - 8.83) while the average satisfaction rating for postoperative care was M = 9.05, SD = 1.35, (95% CI: 8.82 - 9.27). Conclusions Most patients valued surgeon-patient interaction as it was seen to reduce pre-surgery anxiety, helped in giving options, and improved the patient's overall understanding of the surgical procedure. Surgical teams are generally highly rated in terms of overall service pre- and post-surgery.

Ameliorating effect of olive oil on fertility of male rats fed on genetically modified soya bean

BACKGROUND

Genetically modified soya bean (GMSB) is a commercialized food. It has been shown to have adverse effects on fertility in animal trials. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has many beneficial effects including anti-oxidant properties. The aim of this study is to elucidate if addition of EVOO ameliorates the adverse effects on reproductive organs of rats fed on GMSB containing diet.

METHODS

Forty adult male albino rats (150-180 g) of Sprague Dawley strain were separated into four groups of 10 rats each: Group 1 - control group fed on basal ration, Group 2 - fed on basal ration mixed with EVOO (30%), Group 3 - fed on basal ration mixed with GMSB (15%), and Group 4 - fed on basal ration mixed with GMSB (15%) and EVOO (30%). This feeding regimen was administered for 65 days. Blood samples were collected to analyze serum zinc, vitamin E, and testosterone levels. Histopathological and weight changes in sex organs were evaluated.

RESULTS

GMSB diet reduced weight of testis (0.66±0.06 vs. 1.7±0.06, p<0.001), epididymis (0.489±0.03 vs. 0.7±0.03, p<0.001), prostate (0.04±0.009 vs. 0.68±0.04, p<0.001), and seminal vesicles (0.057±0.01 vs. 0.8±0.04, p<0.001). GMSB diet adversely affected sperm count (406±7.1 vs. 610±7.8, p<0.001), motility (p<0.001), and abnormality (p<0.001). GMSB diet also reduced serum zinc (p<0.05), vitamin E (p<0.05), and testosterone (p<0.05) concentrations. EVOO diet had no detrimental effect. Addition of EVOO to GMSB diet increased the serum zinc (p<0.05), vitamin E (p<0.05), and testosterone (p<0.05) levels and also restored the weights of testis (1.35±0.16 vs. 0.66±0.06, p<0.01), epididymis (0.614±0.13 vs. 0.489±0.03, p<0.001), prostate (0.291±0.09 vs. 0.04±0.009, p<0.001), seminal vesicle (0.516±0.18 vs. 0.057±0.01, p<0.001) along with sperm count (516±3.1 vs. 406±7.1, p<0.01), motility (p<0.01), and abnormality (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

EVOO ameliorates the adverse effects of GMSB on reproductive organs in adult male albino rats. This protective action of EVOO justifies its use against the oxidative damage induced by GMSB in reproductive organs.