1
|
Yoshida K, Forrest SL, Ichimata S, Tanaka H, Kon T, Tartaglia MC, Tator CH, Lang AE, Nishida N, Kovacs GG. Revisiting the relevance of Hirano bodies in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2024; 50:e12978. [PMID: 38634242 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Hirano bodies (HBs) are eosinophilic pathological structures with two morphological phenotypes commonly found in the hippocampal CA1 region in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study evaluated the prevalence and distribution of HBs in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS This cross-sectional study systematically evaluated HBs in a cohort of 193 cases with major neurodegenerative diseases, including AD (n = 91), Lewy body disease (LBD, n = 87), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, n = 36), multiple system atrophy (MSA, n = 14) and controls (n = 26). The prevalence, number and morphology of HBs in the stratum lacunosum (HBL) and CA1 pyramidal cell layer were examined. In addition, we investigated the presence of HBs in five additional hippocampal subregions. RESULTS The morphological types of HBs in CA1 were divided into three, including a newly discovered type, and were evaluated separately, with their morphology confirmed in three dimensions: (1) classic rod-shaped HB (CHB), (2) balloon-shaped HB (BHB) and the newly described (3) string-shaped HB (SHB). The prevalence of each HB type differed between disease groups: Compared with controls, for CHB in AD, AD + LBD, PSP and corticobasal degeneration, for BHB in AD + LBD and PSP, and SHB in AD + LBD and PSP were significantly increased. Regression analysis showed that CHBs were independently associated with higher Braak NFT stage, BHBs with LBD and TDP-43 pathology, SHBs with higher Braak NFT stage, PSP and argyrophilic grain disease and HBLs with MSA. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that HBs are associated with diverse neurodegenerative diseases and shows that morphological types appear distinctively in various conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koji Yoshida
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Discovery Tower, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Shelley L Forrest
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Discovery Tower, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program & Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shojiro Ichimata
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Tanaka
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Discovery Tower, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tomoya Kon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Discovery Tower, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles H Tator
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Discovery Tower, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Rossy Program for PSP Research and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naoki Nishida
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Krembil Discovery Tower, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program & Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Rossy Program for PSP Research and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kon T, Lee S, Martinez-Valbuena I, Yoshida K, Tanikawa S, Lang AE, Kovacs GG. Molecular Behavior of α-Synuclein Is Associated with Membrane Transport, Lipid Metabolism, and Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathways in Lewy Body Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2676. [PMID: 38473923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewy body diseases (LBDs) feature α-synuclein (α-syn)-containing Lewy bodies, with misfolded α-syn potentially propagating as seeds. Using a seeding amplification assay, we previously reported distinct α-syn seeding in LBD cases based on the area under seeding curves. This study revealed that LBD cases showing different α-syn seeding kinetics have distinct proteomics profiles, emphasizing disruptions in mitochondria and lipid metabolism in high-seeder cases. Though the mechanisms underlying LBD development are intricate, the factors influencing α-syn seeding activity remain elusive. To address this and complement our previous findings, we conducted targeted transcriptome analyses in the substantia nigra using the nanoString nCounter assay together with histopathological evaluations in high (n = 4) and low (n = 3) nigral α-syn seeders. Neuropathological findings (particularly the substantia nigra) were consistent between these groups and were characterized by neocortical LBD associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change. Among the 1811 genes assessed, we identified the top 20 upregulated and downregulated genes and pathways in α-syn high seeders compared with low seeders. Notably, alterations were observed in genes and pathways related to transmembrane transporters, lipid metabolism, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the high α-syn seeders. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the molecular behavior of α-syn is the driving force in the neurodegenerative process affecting the substantia nigra through these identified pathways. These insights highlight their potential as therapeutic targets for attenuating LBD progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tanikawa
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kim A, Martinez-Valbuena I, Keith JL, Kovacs GG, Lang AE. Misfolded α-Synuclein Seeding Is Detected in Suspected LRRK2-Parkinson's Disease without Immunohistochemically Detectable α-Synuclein Pathology. Mov Disord 2024; 39:218-220. [PMID: 37986700 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ain Kim
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, the Rossy PSP Centre You died in May and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia L Keith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, the Rossy PSP Centre You died in May and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, the Rossy PSP Centre You died in May and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Vijiaratnam N, Foltynie T. How should we be using biomarkers in trials of disease modification in Parkinson's disease? Brain 2023; 146:4845-4869. [PMID: 37536279 PMCID: PMC10690028 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent validation of the α-synuclein seed amplification assay as a biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has formed the backbone for a proposed staging system for incorporation in Parkinson's disease clinical studies and trials. The routine use of this biomarker should greatly aid in the accuracy of diagnosis during recruitment of Parkinson's disease patients into trials (as distinct from patients with non-Parkinson's disease parkinsonism or non-Parkinson's disease tremors). There remain, however, further challenges in the pursuit of biomarkers for clinical trials of disease modifying agents in Parkinson's disease, namely: optimizing the distinction between different α-synucleinopathies; the selection of subgroups most likely to benefit from a candidate disease modifying agent; a sensitive means of confirming target engagement; and the early prediction of longer-term clinical benefit. For example, levels of CSF proteins such as the lysosomal enzyme β-glucocerebrosidase may assist in prognostication or allow enrichment of appropriate patients into disease modifying trials of agents with this enzyme as the target; the presence of coexisting Alzheimer's disease-like pathology (detectable through CSF levels of amyloid-β42 and tau) can predict subsequent cognitive decline; imaging techniques such as free-water or neuromelanin MRI may objectively track decline in Parkinson's disease even in its later stages. The exploitation of additional biomarkers to the α-synuclein seed amplification assay will, therefore, greatly add to our ability to plan trials and assess the disease modifying properties of interventions. The choice of which biomarker(s) to use in the context of disease modifying clinical trials will depend on the intervention, the stage (at risk, premotor, motor, complex) of the population recruited and the aims of the trial. The progress already made lends hope that panels of fluid biomarkers in tandem with structural or functional imaging may provide sensitive and objective methods of confirming that an intervention is modifying a key pathophysiological process of Parkinson's disease. However, correlation with clinical progression does not necessarily equate to causation, and the ongoing validation of quantitative biomarkers will depend on insightful clinical-genetic-pathophysiological comparisons incorporating longitudinal biomarker changes from those at genetic risk with evidence of onset of the pathophysiology and those at each stage of manifest clinical Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nirosen Vijiaratnam
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Thomas Foltynie
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kon T, Forrest SL, Lee S, Martinez-Valbuena I, Li J, Nassir N, Uddin MJ, Lang AE, Kovacs GG. Neuronal SNCA transcription during Lewy body formation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:185. [PMID: 37996943 PMCID: PMC10666428 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01687-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Misfolded α-synuclein (α-syn) is believed to contribute to neurodegeneration in Lewy body disease (LBD) based on considerable evidence including a gene-dosage effect observed in relation to point mutations and multiplication of SNCA in familial Parkinson's disease. A contradictory concept proposes early loss of the physiological α-syn as the major driver of neurodegeneration. There is a paucity of data on SNCA transcripts in various α-syn immunoreactive cytopathologies. Here, the total cell body, nuclear, and cytoplasmic area density of SNCA transcripts in neurons without and with various α-syn immunoreactive cytopathologies in the substantia nigra and amygdala in autopsy cases of LBD (n = 5) were evaluated using RNAscope combined with immunofluorescence for disease-associated α-syn. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing was performed to elucidate cell-type specific SNCA expression in non-diseased frontal cortex (n = 3). SNCA transcripts were observed in the neuronal nucleus and cytoplasm in neurons without α-syn, those containing punctate α-syn immunoreactivity, irregular-shaped compact inclusion, and brainstem-type and cortical-type LBs. However, SNCA transcripts were only rarely found in the α-syn immunoreactive LB areas. The total cell body SNCA transcript area densities in neurons with punctate α-syn immunoreactivity were preserved but were significantly reduced in neurons with compact α-syn inclusions both in the substantia nigra and amygdala. This reduction was also observed in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus. Only single SNCA transcripts were detected in astrocytes with or without disease-associated α-syn immunoreactivity in the amygdala. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing revealed that excitatory and inhibitory neurons, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, oligodendrocytes, and homeostatic microglia expressed SNCA transcripts, while expression was largely absent in astrocytes and microglia. The preserved cellular SNCA expression in the more abundant non-Lewy body type α-syn cytopathologies might provide a pool for local protein production that can aggregate and serve as a seed for misfolded α-syn. Successful segregation of disease-associated α-syn is associated with the exhaustion of SNCA production in the terminal cytopathology, the Lewy body. Our observations inform therapy development focusing on targeting SNCA transcription in LBD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Rm 6KD414, Tanz CRND, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Shelley L Forrest
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Rm 6KD414, Tanz CRND, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Rm 6KD414, Tanz CRND, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Rm 6KD414, Tanz CRND, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Jun Li
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Rm 6KD414, Tanz CRND, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | | | - Mohammed J Uddin
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
- GenomeArc Inc, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Rm 6KD414, Tanz CRND, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- Edmund J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Rm 6KD414, Tanz CRND, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada.
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Edmund J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Vasilevskaya A, Martinez-Valbuena I, Anastassiadis C, Taghdiri F, Khodadadi M, Tarazi A, Green R, Colella B, Wennberg R, Mikulis D, Davis KD, Kovacs GG, Tator C, Tartaglia MC. Misfolded α-Synuclein in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Contact Sport Athletes. Mov Disord 2023; 38:2125-2131. [PMID: 37792643 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Misfolded α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) can be detected using the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) technique in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). OBJECTIVES The objectives are (1) to examine misfolded CSF α-synuclein incidence, and (2) to compare clinical presentation, sports history, brain volumes, and RT-QuIC α-synuclein positivity in former athletes. METHODS Thirty former athletes with magnetic resonance imaging, neuropsychological testing, and CSF analyzed for phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau), total tau (t-tau), amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42), and neurofilament light chain (NfL). CSF α-synuclein was detected using RT-QuIC. RESULTS Six (20%) former athletes were α-synuclein positive. α-Synuclein positive athletes were similar to α-synuclein negative athletes on demographics, sports history, clinical features, CSF p-tau, t-tau, Aβ42, and NfL; however, had lower grey matter volumes in the right inferior orbitofrontal, right anterior insula and right olfactory cortices. CONCLUSIONS α-Synuclein RT-QuIC analysis of CSF may be useful as a prodromal biofluid marker of PD and DLB. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vasilevskaya
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chloe Anastassiadis
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Foad Taghdiri
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mozhgan Khodadadi
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Apameh Tarazi
- Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robin Green
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brenda Colella
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Wennberg
- Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Mikulis
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neuroradiology, Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen Deborah Davis
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Brain, Imaging, and Behaviour; Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles Tator
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Forrest SL, Lee S, Nassir N, Martinez-Valbuena I, Sackmann V, Li J, Ahmed A, Tartaglia MC, Ittner LM, Lang AE, Uddin M, Kovacs GG. Cell-specific MAPT gene expression is preserved in neuronal and glial tau cytopathologies in progressive supranuclear palsy. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:395-414. [PMID: 37354322 PMCID: PMC10412651 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02604-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) aggregates in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Tau is a target of therapy and the strategy includes either the elimination of pathological tau aggregates or reducing MAPT expression, and thus the amount of tau protein made to prevent its aggregation. Disease-associated tau affects brain regions in a sequential manner that includes cell-to-cell spreading. Involvement of glial cells that show tau aggregates is interpreted as glial cells taking up misfolded tau assuming that glial cells do not express enough MAPT. Although studies have evaluated MAPT expression in human brain tissue homogenates, it is not clear whether MAPT expression is compromised in cells accumulating pathological tau. To address these perplexing aspects of disease pathogenesis, this study used RNAscope combined with immunofluorescence (AT8), and single-nuclear(sn) RNAseq to systematically map and quantify MAPT expression dynamics across different cell types and brain regions in controls (n = 3) and evaluated whether tau cytopathology affects MAPT expression in PSP (n = 3). MAPT transcripts were detected in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and varied between brain regions and within each cell type, and were preserved in all cell types with tau aggregates in PSP. These results propose a complex scenario in all cell types, where, in addition to the ingested misfolded tau, the preserved cellular MAPT expression provides a pool for local protein production that can (1) be phosphorylated and aggregated, or (2) feed the seeding of ingested misfolded tau by providing physiological tau, both accentuating the pathological process. Since tau cytopathology does not compromise MAPT gene expression in PSP, a complete loss of tau protein expression as an early pathogenic component is less likely. These observations provide rationale for a dual approach to therapy by decreasing cellular MAPT expression and targeting removal of misfolded tau.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Forrest
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Nasna Nassir
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Valerie Sackmann
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Jun Li
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Awab Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- University Health Network Memory Clinic, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Rossy PSP Centre and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammed Uddin
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
- Cellular Intelligence (Ci) Lab, GenomeArc Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CRND), University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Tower, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada.
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Rossy PSP Centre and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Shvartsman M, Shaul S. The Role of Working Memory in Early Literacy and Numeracy Skills in Kindergarten and First Grade. Children (Basel) 2023; 10:1285. [PMID: 37628284 PMCID: PMC10453593 DOI: 10.3390/children10081285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The working memory system supports learning processes such as acquiring new information and the development of new skills. Working memory has been found to be related to both early literacy and early numeracy in kindergarten and to linguistic and mathematical academic skills at older ages, but the contribution of each of the memory components at these ages is not yet clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the unique connections among the various systems of WM, early literacy, and early numeracy using various assessment tests of simple WM and complex WM, as well as a variety of tasks in math and language skills administered to the same 250 children in kindergarten and 150 children in first grade. Consistent with the predictions, significant relations among all components of memory and mathematics and language knowledge at both ages were found, although these connections were differential for the different types of tasks and memory systems. The connection of complex WM was stronger in its contribution and more significant in first grade in both mathematics and language domains. Complex WM resources were more important in early literacy at kindergarten age, while simple WM seems to be important in early numeracy. The theoretical and educational implications of these results are discussed accordingly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Shelley Shaul
- Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, Department of Learning Disabilities, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ichimata S, Martinez-Valbuena I, Lee S, Li J, Karakani AM, Kovacs GG. Distinct Molecular Signatures of Amyloid-Beta and Tau in Alzheimer's Disease Associated with Down Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11596. [PMID: 37511361 PMCID: PMC10380583 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Limited comparative data exist on the molecular spectrum of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau deposition in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). We assessed Aβ and tau deposition severity in the temporal lobe and cerebellum of ten DS and ten sAD cases. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies against eight different Aβ epitopes (6F/3D, Aβ38, Aβ39, Aβ40, Aβ42, Aβ43, pyroglutamate Aβ at third glutamic acid (AβNp3E), phosphorylated- (p-)Aβ at 8th serine (AβpSer8)), and six different pathological tau epitopes (p-Ser202/Thr205, p-Thr231, p-Ser396, Alz50, MC1, GT38). Findings were evaluated semi-quantitatively and quantitatively using digital pathology. DS cases had significantly higher neocortical parenchymal deposition (Aβ38, Aβ42, and AβpSer8), and cerebellar parenchymal deposition (Aβ40, Aβ42, AβNp3E, and AβpSer8) than sAD cases. Furthermore, DS cases had a significantly larger mean plaque size (6F/3D, Aβ42, AβNp3E) in the temporal lobe, and significantly greater deposition of cerebral and cerebellar Aβ42 than sAD cases in the quantitative analysis. Western blotting corroborated these findings. Regarding tau pathology, DS cases had significantly more severe cerebral tau deposition than sAD cases, especially in the white matter (p-Ser202/Thr205, p-Thr231, Alz50, and MC1). Greater total tau deposition in the white matter (p-Ser202/Thr205, p-Thr231, and Alz50) of DS cases was confirmed by quantitative analysis. Our data suggest that the Aβ and tau molecular signatures in DS are distinct from those in sAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shojiro Ichimata
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Jun Li
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Ali M. Karakani
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Gabor G. Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; (S.I.); (I.M.-V.); (S.L.); (J.L.); (A.M.K.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease, Rossy Program for PSP Research and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cohen-Mimran R, Reznik-Nevet L, Gott D, Share DL. Preschool morphological awareness contributes to word reading at the very earliest stages of learning to read in a transparent orthography. Read Writ 2022; 36:1-21. [PMID: 36247690 PMCID: PMC9549447 DOI: 10.1007/s11145-022-10340-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to examine whether morphological awareness measured before children are taught to read (Kindergarten in Israel) predicts reading accuracy and fluency in the middle of first grade, at the very beginning of the process of learning to read pointed Hebrew - a highly transparent orthography, and whether this contribution remains after controlling for phonemic awareness. In a longitudinal design, 680 Hebrew-speaking children were administered morphological and phonemic awareness measures at the end of the preschool year (before they were taught to read) then followed up into first grade when reading was tested in mid-year. The results indicated that even at this early point in learning to read a transparent orthography, preschool morphological awareness contributes significantly to both reading accuracy and reading fluency, even after partialling out age, non-verbal general ability, and phonemic awareness. The current results extend the Functional Opacity argument (Share, 2008) which proposes that at the initial stages of reading acquisition, when children still have incomplete mastery of some aspects of the spelling-sound system, non-phonological sources of information about word identity such as morphology can assist in the decoding process. The practical implications of these results with regard to early reading instruction are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravit Cohen-Mimran
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 31905 Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Dana Gott
- Department of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - David L. Share
- Department of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Coen M, Sader J, Junod-Perron N, Audétat MC, Nendaz M. Clinical reasoning in dire times. Analysis of cognitive biases in clinical cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Intern Emerg Med 2022; 17:979-988. [PMID: 34997906 PMCID: PMC8742156 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-021-02884-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive biases are systematic cognitive distortions, which can affect clinical reasoning. The aim of this study was to unravel the most common cognitive biases encountered in in the peculiar context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Case study research design. Primary care. Single centre (Division of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland). A short survey was sent to all primary care providers (N = 169) taking care of hospitalised adult patients with COVID-19. Participants were asked to describe cases in which they felt that their clinical reasoning was "disrupted" because of the pandemic context. Seven case were sufficiently complete to be analysed. A qualitative analysis of the clinical cases was performed and a bias grid encompassing 17 well-known biases created. The clinical cases were analyzed to assess for the likelihood (highly likely, plausible, not likely) of the different biases for each case. The most common biases were: "anchoring bias", "confirmation bias", "availability bias", and "cognitive dissonance". The pandemic context is a breeding ground for the emergence of cognitive biases, which can influence clinical reasoning and lead to errors. Awareness of these cognitive mechanisms could potentially reduce biases and improve clinical reasoning. Moreover, the analysis of cognitive biases can offer an insight on the functioning of the clinical reasoning process in the midst of the pandemic crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Coen
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- grid.150338.c0000 0001 0721 9812Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julia Sader
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988iEh2-Institute for Ethics, History, and the Humanities-Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Noëlle Junod-Perron
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Claude Audétat
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- grid.8591.50000 0001 2322 4988Institute of Primary Care (IuMFE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Vijiaratnam N, Lawton M, Heslegrave AJ, Guo T, Tan M, Jabbari E, Real R, Woodside J, Grosset K, Chelban V, Athauda D, Girges C, Barker RA, Hardy J, Wood N, Houlden H, Williams N, Ben-Shlomo Y, Zetterberg H, Grosset DG, Foltynie T, Morris HR. Combining biomarkers for prognostic modelling of Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:jnnp-2021-328365. [PMID: 35577512 PMCID: PMC9279845 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-328365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have variable rates of progression. More accurate prediction of progression could improve selection for clinical trials. Although some variance in clinical progression can be predicted by age at onset and phenotype, we hypothesise that this can be further improved by blood biomarkers. OBJECTIVE To determine if blood biomarkers (serum neurofilament light (NfL) and genetic status (glucocerebrosidase, GBA and apolipoprotein E (APOE))) are useful in addition to clinical measures for prognostic modelling in PD. METHODS We evaluated the relationship between serum NfL and baseline and longitudinal clinical measures as well as patients' genetic (GBA and APOE) status. We classified patients as having a favourable or an unfavourable outcome based on a previously validated model, and explored how blood biomarkers compared with clinical variables in distinguishing prognostic phenotypes . RESULTS 291 patients were assessed in this study. Baseline serum NfL was associated with baseline cognitive status. Nfl predicted a shorter time to dementia, postural instability and death (dementia-HR 2.64; postural instability-HR 1.32; mortality-HR 1.89) whereas APOEe4 status was associated with progression to dementia (dementia-HR 3.12, 95% CI 1.63 to 6.00). NfL levels and genetic variables predicted unfavourable progression to a similar extent as clinical predictors. The combination of clinical, NfL and genetic data produced a stronger prediction of unfavourable outcomes compared with age and gender (area under the curve: 0.74-age/gender vs 0.84-ALL p=0.0103). CONCLUSIONS Clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies might usefully stratify patients using clinical, genetic and NfL status at the time of recruitment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nirosen Vijiaratnam
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Michael Lawton
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Amanda J Heslegrave
- Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
| | - Tong Guo
- Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
| | - Manuela Tan
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Edwin Jabbari
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Raquel Real
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| | - John Woodside
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Katherine Grosset
- Department of Neurology, Southern General Hospital, University of Glasgow and Institute of Neurological Sciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Viorica Chelban
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Dilan Athauda
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Christine Girges
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Roger A Barker
- Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John Hardy
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
- Molecular Neuroscience, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Nicholas Wood
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| | - Henry Houlden
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Nigel Williams
- Cardiff University, Cardiff University Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff, UK
| | - Yoav Ben-Shlomo
- Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Hong Kong Center, for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Donald G Grosset
- Department of Neurology, Southern General Hospital, University of Glasgow and Institute of Neurological Sciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas Foltynie
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Huw R Morris
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hafner C, Schneider J, Schindler M, Braillard O. Visual aids in ambulatory clinical practice: Experiences, perceptions and needs of patients and healthcare professionals. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263041. [PMID: 35108328 PMCID: PMC8809598 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to explore how visual aids (VA) are used in ambulatory medical practice. Our research group (two doctors, one graphic designer and one sociologist) have led a qualitative study based on Focus Groups. A semi-structured guide and examples of VA were used to stimulate discussions. Participants were healthcare professionals (HP) working in ambulatory practice in Geneva and French-speaking outpatients. After inductive thematic analysis, the coding process was analyzed and modified to eventually reach consensus. Six focus groups gathered twenty-one HP and fifteen patients. Our study underlines the variety of purposes of use of VA and the different contexts of use allowing the distinction between “stand-alone” VA used out of consultation by patients alone and “interactive” VA used during a consultation enriched by the interaction between HP and patients. HP described that VA can take the form of useful tools for education and communication during consultation. They have questioned the quality of available VA and complained about restricted access to them. Patients expressed concern about the impact of VA on the interaction with HP. Participants agreed on the beneficial role of VA to supplement verbal explanation and text. Our study emphasizes the need to classify available VA, guarantee their quality, facilitate their access and deliver pertinent instructions for use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Hafner
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Nutrition and Therapeutic Education, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Mélinée Schindler
- Department of Community Medicine, Primary and Emergency Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Braillard
- Department of Community Medicine, Primary and Emergency Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gilvesy A, Husen E, Magloczky Z, Mihaly O, Hortobágyi T, Kanatani S, Heinsen H, Renier N, Hökfelt T, Mulder J, Uhlen M, Kovacs GG, Adori C. Spatiotemporal characterization of cellular tau pathology in the human locus coeruleus-pericoerulear complex by three-dimensional imaging. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 144:651-676. [PMID: 36040521 PMCID: PMC9468059 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02477-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Tau pathology of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is a hallmark of several age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. However, a comprehensive neuropathological examination of the LC is difficult due to its small size and rod-like shape. To investigate the LC cytoarchitecture and tau cytoskeletal pathology in relation to possible propagation patterns of disease-associated tau in an unprecedented large-scale three-dimensional view, we utilized volume immunostaining and optical clearing technology combined with light sheet fluorescence microscopy. We examined AT8+ pathological tau in the LC/pericoerulear region of 20 brains from Braak neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) stage 0-6. We demonstrate an intriguing morphological complexity and heterogeneity of AT8+ cellular structures in the LC, representing various intracellular stages of NFT maturation and their diverse transition forms. We describe novel morphologies of neuronal tau pathology such as AT8+ cells with fine filamentous somatic protrusions or with disintegrating soma. We show that gradual dendritic atrophy is the first morphological sign of the degeneration of tangle-bearing neurons, even preceding axonal lesions. Interestingly, irrespective of the Braak NFT stage, tau pathology is more advanced in the dorsal LC that preferentially projects to vulnerable forebrain regions in Alzheimer's disease, like the hippocampus or neocortical areas, compared to the ventral LC projecting to the cerebellum and medulla. Moreover, already in the precortical Braak 0 stage, 3D analysis reveals clustering tendency and dendro-dendritic close appositions of AT8+ LC neurons, AT8+ long axons of NFT-bearing cells that join the ascending dorsal noradrenergic bundle after leaving the LC, as well as AT8+ processes of NFT-bearing LC neurons that target the 4th ventricle wall. Our study suggests that the unique cytoarchitecture, comprised of a densely packed and dendritically extensively interconnected neuronal network with long projections, makes the human LC to be an ideal anatomical template for early accumulation and trans-neuronal spreading of hyperphosphorylated tau.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abris Gilvesy
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Evelina Husen
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zsofia Magloczky
- Human Brain Research Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine, ELKH, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Mihaly
- Department of Pathology, St. Borbála Hospital, Tatabánya, Hungary
| | - Tibor Hortobágyi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Age-Related Medicine, SESAM, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shigeaki Kanatani
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helmut Heinsen
- Clinic of Psychiatry and Institute of Forensic Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
- LIM-44, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nicolas Renier
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, INSERM, CNRS, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Tomas Hökfelt
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Mulder
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathias Uhlen
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Csaba Adori
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Åsenius F, Gorrie-Stone TJ, Brew A, Panchbhaya Y, Williamson E, Schalkwyk LC, Rakyan VK, Holland ML, Marzi SJ, Williams DJ. The DNA methylome of human sperm is distinct from blood with little evidence for tissue-consistent obesity associations. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009035. [PMID: 33048947 PMCID: PMC7584170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological research suggests that paternal obesity may increase the risk of fathering small for gestational age offspring. Studies in non-human mammals indicate that such associations could be mediated by DNA methylation changes in spermatozoa that influence offspring development in utero. Human obesity is associated with differential DNA methylation in peripheral blood. It is unclear, however, whether this differential DNA methylation is reflected in spermatozoa. We profiled genome-wide DNA methylation using the Illumina MethylationEPIC array in a cross-sectional study of matched human blood and sperm from lean (discovery n = 47; replication n = 21) and obese (n = 22) males to analyse tissue covariation of DNA methylation, and identify obesity-associated methylomic signatures. We found that DNA methylation signatures of human blood and spermatozoa are highly discordant, and methylation levels are correlated at only a minority of CpG sites (~1%). At the majority of these sites, DNA methylation appears to be influenced by genetic variation. Obesity-associated DNA methylation in blood was not generally reflected in spermatozoa, and obesity was not associated with altered covariation patterns or accelerated epigenetic ageing in the two tissues. However, one cross-tissue obesity-specific hypermethylated site (cg19357369; chr4:2429884; P = 8.95 × 10-8; 2% DNA methylation difference) was identified, warranting replication and further investigation. When compared to a wide range of human somatic tissue samples (n = 5,917), spermatozoa displayed differential DNA methylation across pathways enriched in transcriptional regulation. Overall, human sperm displays a unique DNA methylation profile that is highly discordant to, and practically uncorrelated with, that of matched peripheral blood. We observed that obesity was only nominally associated with differential DNA methylation in sperm, and therefore suggest that spermatozoal DNA methylation is an unlikely mediator of intergenerational effects of metabolic traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fredrika Åsenius
- UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ama Brew
- The Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yasmin Panchbhaya
- UCL Genomics, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Williamson
- Fertility & reproductive medicine laboratory, University College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Vardhman K. Rakyan
- The Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle L. Holland
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J. Marzi
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Williams
- UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Niccolini F, Wilson H, Hirschbichler S, Yousaf T, Pagano G, Whittington A, Caminiti SP, Erro R, Holton JL, Jaunmuktane Z, Esposito M, Martino D, Abdul A, Passchier J, Rabiner EA, Gunn RN, Bhatia KP, Politis M. Disease-related patterns of in vivo pathology in Corticobasal syndrome. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2018; 45:2413-2425. [PMID: 30090966 PMCID: PMC6208819 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-018-4104-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess disease-related patterns of in vivo pathology in 11 patients with Corticobasal Syndrome (CBS) compared to 20 healthy controls and 33 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients due to Alzheimer's disease. METHODS We assessed tau aggregates with [18F]AV1451 PET, amyloid-β depositions with [18F]AV45 PET, and volumetric microstructural changes with MRI. We validated for [18F]AV1451 standardised uptake value ratio (SUVRs) against input functions from arterial metabolites and found that SUVRs and arterial-derived distribution volume ratio (DVRs) provide equally robust measures of [18F]AV1451 binding. RESULTS CBS patients showed increases in [18F]AV1451 SUVRs in parietal (P < 0.05) and frontal (P < 0.05) cortices in the affected hemisphere compared to healthy controls and in precentral (P = 0.008) and postcentral (P = 0.034) gyrus in the affected hemisphere compared to MCI patients. Our data were confirmed at the histopathological level in one CBS patient who underwent brain biopsy and showed sparse tau pathology in the parietal cortex co-localizing with increased [18F]AV1451 signal. Cortical and subcortical [18F]AV45 uptake was within normal levels in CBS patients. In parietal and frontal cortices of the most affected hemisphere we found also grey matter loss (P < 0.05), increased mean diffusivity (P < 0.05) and decreased fractional anisotropy (P < 0.05) in CBS patients compared to healthy controls and MCI patients. Grey matter loss and white matter changes in the precentral gyrus of CBS patients were associated with worse motor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate disease-related patterns of in vivo tau and microstructural pathology in the absence of amyloid-β, which distinguish CBS from non-affected individuals and MCI patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Niccolini
- Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Heather Wilson
- Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | | | - Tayyabah Yousaf
- Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Gennaro Pagano
- Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Alexander Whittington
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Silvia P Caminiti
- Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Roberto Erro
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND) Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Janice L Holton
- Division of Neuropathology, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Zane Jaunmuktane
- Division of Neuropathology, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Marcello Esposito
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Davide Martino
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Ali Abdul
- Imanova Ltd, Centre for Imaging Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Jan Passchier
- Imanova Ltd, Centre for Imaging Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Eugenii A Rabiner
- Imanova Ltd, Centre for Imaging Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King s College London, London, UK
| | - Roger N Gunn
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Imanova Ltd, Centre for Imaging Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Kailash P Bhatia
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Marios Politis
- Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NU, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Junod Perron N, Louis-Simonet M, Cerutti B, Pfarrwaller E, Sommer J, Nendaz M. The quality of feedback during formative OSCEs depends on the tutors' profile. BMC Med Educ 2016; 16:293. [PMID: 27846882 PMCID: PMC5111213 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-016-0815-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During their pre-clinical years, medical students are given the opportunity to practice clinical skills with simulated patients. During these formative objective structured clinical encounters (OSCEs), tutors from various backgrounds give feedback on students' history taking, physical exam, and communication skills. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the content and process of feedback varied according to the tutors' profile. METHODS During 2013, all 2nd and 3rd year medical students and tutors involved in three formative OSCEs were asked to fill in questionnaires, and their feedback sessions were audiotaped. Tutors were divided into two groups: 1) generalists: primary care, general internist and educationalist physicians 2) specialists involved in the OSCE related to their field of expertise. Outcome measures included the students' perceptions of feedback quality and utility and objective assessment of feedback quality. RESULTS Participants included 251 medical students and 38 tutors (22 generalists and 16 specialists). Students self-reported that feedback was useful to improve history taking, physical exam and communication skills. Objective assessment showed that feedback content essentially focused on history taking and physical exam skills, and that elaboration on clinical reasoning or communication/professionalism issues was uncommon. Multivariate analyses showed that generalist tutors used more learner-centered feedback skills than specialist tutors (stimulating student's self-assessment (p < .001; making the student active in finding solutions, p < .001; checking student's understanding, p < .001) and elaborated more on communication and professionalism issues (p < 0.001). Specialists reported less training in how to provide feedback than generalists. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that generalist tutors are more learner-centered and pay more attention to communication and professionalism during feedback than specialist tutors. Such differences may be explained by differences in feedback training but also by differences in practice styles and frames of references that should be further explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noelle Junod Perron
- Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Primary Care Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Primary Care and Emergencies, Geneva University Hospitals, 4 rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
| | - Martine Louis-Simonet
- Service of General Internal Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bernard Cerutti
- Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eva Pfarrwaller
- Unit of Primary Care Teaching and Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Sommer
- Unit of Primary Care Teaching and Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Nendaz
- Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Service of General Internal Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Eliseyev A, Aksenova T. Penalized Multi-Way Partial Least Squares for Smooth Trajectory Decoding from Electrocorticographic (ECoG) Recording. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154878. [PMID: 27196417 PMCID: PMC4873044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current paper the decoding algorithms for motor-related BCI systems for continuous upper limb trajectory prediction are considered. Two methods for the smooth prediction, namely Sobolev and Polynomial Penalized Multi-Way Partial Least Squares (PLS) regressions, are proposed. The methods are compared to the Multi-Way Partial Least Squares and Kalman Filter approaches. The comparison demonstrated that the proposed methods combined the prediction accuracy of the algorithms of the PLS family and trajectory smoothness of the Kalman Filter. In addition, the prediction delay is significantly lower for the proposed algorithms than for the Kalman Filter approach. The proposed methods could be applied in a wide range of applications beyond neuroscience.
Collapse
|