Translation: The University of Toledo Journal of Medical Sciences

Editorial for Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry 2024 Research Symposium

Chris "Gabby" Vento — 2024-11-21

Memantine's Role in Refractory Catatonia

Jack Mariani — 2024-11-21

Profound Non-Randomness in Dinucleotide Arrangements within Ultra-Conserved Non-Coding Elements and the Human Genome.

Emily Crossley — 2024-11-21

Squalamine as a Potential Neuroprotective Agent in Parkinson's Disease Related Cognitive Decline

Dipesh Pokharel — 2024-11-21

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by a range of motor and non-motor clinical manifestations. Motor symptoms such as resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural imbalance, along with non-motor symptoms including cognitive decline, sleep disturbances, constipation, depression, and anxiety, contribute to the multifaceted nature of the disease. Among the various non-motor features under intense investigation is a cognitive decline stand out prominently.In previous research, we introduced a novel rat model of PD by administering subthreshold doses of Paraquat (P) and Lectins (L) orally. This model aimed to simulate the environmental gut-brain pathogenesis of PD, leading to associated nigral synucleinopathy and levodopa-responsive parkinsonism. Notably, protection against PD was observed through subdiaphragmatic vagotomy performed before exposure to P+L (Anselmi L et al., 2018). Studies have suggested the potential protective role of Squalamine, a natural bile salt derived from the dogfish shark, when administered orally (Perni M et al., 2017). Paraquat dichloride is a commonly used herbicide to control weeds and grass, while Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins found in uncooked vegetables, dairy, or eggs. Another component is cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone produced in the small intestine that aids in the digestive process.?

Objective: Our hypothesis is that animals with more severe parkinsonian motor symptoms will exhibit poorer performance in various cognitive tasks.

Methods: The Y-maze has been used extensively in animal models of PD to assess short-term memory. Twenty-five Sprague Dawley rats were placed in a Y-Maze apparatus with an overhead automated movement tracking system (AnyMaze). For five minutes, each rat’s movement was tracked and scored for their independent spontaneous alternation pattern with minimal distractions. The validity of the software’s output was confirmed by manual scoring. Each spontaneous alternation was reported as a raw score based on the total of triads completed in each trial. We tested this using three treatment groups: no treatment (Normal), paraquat + lectin via oral gavage (P+L), paraquat + lectin and squalamine solution (P+L+S). Within the P+L group, animals exhibited varying degrees of motor deficits as confirmed by our battery of behavioral tests.

Results: One-way ANOVA confirmed a significant difference (p=0.02) in spontaneous alternation and a value approaching significance (p=0.090) for the percent spontaneous alternation between treatment groups. Post-hoc analysis using student t-tests shows a significant difference when comparing all three P+L subcategories to normal animals. No significant difference was noted between P+L+S and normal animals. These preliminary results suggest that although motor deficits differed between animals treated with P+L, the short-term memories of these animals were equally affected regardless of the extend of the motor deficits.

Conclusion: Parkinsonian symptoms are linked to poorer maze task performance, indicating a motor-cognitive connection. Squalamine treatment improved motor symptoms and boosted maze task performance, suggesting neuroprotection.

References:

Anselmi, L., Bove, C., Coleman, F. H., Le, K., Subramanian, M. P., Venkiteswaran, K., Subramanian, T., & Travagli, R. A. Ingestion of subthreshold doses of environmental toxins induces ascending Parkinsonism in the rat. NPJ Parkinson's disease, 2018. 4: 30. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-018-0066-0
Perni, M., Galvagnion, C., Maltsev, A., Meisl, G., Müller, M. B., Challa, P. K., Kirkegaard, J. B., Flagmeier, P., Cohen, S. I., Cascella, R., Chen, S. W., Limbocker, R., Sormanni, P., Heller, G. T., Aprile, F. A., Cremades, N., Cecchi, C., Chiti, F., Nollen, E. A., Knowles, T. P., … Dobson, C. M. A natural product inhibits the initiation of ?-synuclein aggregation and suppresses its toxicity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2017. 114(6): pp. E1009–E1017.
Stoelting Co., IL https://www.any-maze.com/.

Understanding the Dynamics of Elder Abuse in Ohio Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Blair Hermiller — 2024-11-21

An Independent C1 Nerve Root Variant of the Ansa Cervicalis:

Eric Lassiter — 2024-11-21

Highlighting the Importance of a Comprehensive Workup for Altered Mental Status on the Detox Floor: A Case Report

Jonathan Irvin — 2024-11-21

Understanding the Impact of Naloxone Distribution in Undeserved Communities

Chadwick Huss — 2024-11-21

PreLapse Prototype Software Development for Opioid Use Disorder Patients

Jacob Schmieder — 2024-11-21

Effects of developmental pesticide exposure on Folate metabolism pathway in prairie voles

Ibrahim Haseeb — 2024-11-21

All Aboard! Sail the Seas of Resident Onboarding

Victoria Kelly — 2024-11-21

Targeting the gut to protect from ascending pathology in the paraquat and lectin model of Parkinson's disease

Caroline Swain — 2024-11-21

Measuring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prefrontal cortex structure of PTSD patients

Sharad Chandra — 2024-11-21

Effect of developmental pyrethroid exposure in prairie voles as a model of neurodevelopmental disorders

Nilanjana Saferin — 2024-11-21

Predicting Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on Parents’ Traits

Kaitlin Cole — 2024-11-21

Neuropsychiatric Features of Untreated Secondary Hypothyroidism

Gregory Everett — 2024-11-21

Unveiling the Interplay:

Hunter Eby — 2024-11-21

Teachers’ rating on social cognition is a great early predictor of ASD diagnosis

Gabrielle Mcmunn — 2024-11-21

Perturbation of Cell-Subtype Specific Active Kinome Networks in Schizophrenia

Ali Sajid Imami — 2024-11-21

Analysis and Prediction of PTSD through Functional Data Analysis

Derrick Asante — 2024-11-21

Advancing the detection of early Alzheimer’s via clinical biomarkers

Smita Sahay — 2024-11-21

Social transmission of negative valence in prairie voles using a new behavioral assay that assesses social learning.

Daniella Pabon Gamboa — 2024-11-21

Consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Cortical Thickness: an ENIGMA-standardized Mixed Effect Model Study Mega-Analysis

Charles Adams — 2024-11-21

Cortical Volume Abnormalities in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: an ENIGMA-PTSD Working Study Mega Analysis

Safiya Dzotsi — 2024-11-21

Uncovering biologically relevant Autism subtypes using advanced machine learning techniques

Christopher "Gabby" Vento — 2024-11-21

MultiomicMenu: Streamlining Multiomics Data Interpretation for Insights into Neuronal Responses to Glutamate Treatment

William Ryan — 2024-11-21

Bilateral C5 Nerve Branch Supplies the Levator Scapulae and Serratus Anterior Muscles: A Cadaveric Case Report

Sarah Porter — 2024-11-21

Role of Insulin Signaling in Prostaglandins Synthesis

Marziyeh Salehi Jahromi — 2024-11-21

Predicting PTSD Development with Early Post-Trauma Assessments: A Concise Tree-Based Classification Method

Elyssa Feuer — 2024-11-21

First, Do No Harm: Buprenorphine Use for Pain Associated with Chronic Diseases

Amanda Springer — 2024-11-21

Developmental pyrethroid exposure disrupts molecular pathways for circadian rhythms and synaptic plasticity in mouse brain.

Jennifer Nguyen — 2024-11-21

Knowledge and Attitudes of Trainees Regarding Psychopharmacological Management of Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Quality Improvement Project

Adam Koenig — 2024-11-21

Trends in Opioid Overdose Deaths and Naloxone Distribution from 2019-2022 in Lucas County, Ohio: A Retrospective Study

Kelli Curcillo — 2024-11-21

PACAP-mediated Regulation of Chromaffin Cell Secretion

Nicole Bell — 2024-11-21

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prefrontal cortex structure and mental health of PTSD patients

Sharad Chandra — 2024-11-21

Gene Expression, Pathway Analysis, and Drug Discovery of Neurofibromatosis 2 Vestibular Schwannomas

Mark Houdi — 2024-11-21