Interplay between α-synuclein and parkin genes: Insights of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The pathogenesis of PD is intimately linked to the roles of two key molecular players, α-synuclein (α-syn) and Parkin. Understanding the intricate interplay between α-syn and Parkin is essential for unravelling the molecular underpinnings of PD. Their roles in synaptic function and protein quality control underscore their significance in neuronal health. Dysregulation of these processes, as seen in PD, highlights the potential for targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring normal protein homeostasis and mitigating neurodegeneration. Investigating the connections between α-syn, Parkin, and various pathological mechanisms provides insights into the complex web of factors contributing to PD pathogenesis and offers hope for the development of more effective treatments for this devastating neurological disorder. The present compilation provides an overview of their structures, regional and cellular locations, associations, physiological functions, and pathological roles in the context of PD.

Unveiling the interplay of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis in brain health: Promising targets against aging and NDDs

The escalating prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) within an aging global population presents a pressing challenge. The multifaceted pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these disorders, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation, remain complex and elusive. Among these, the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway emerges as a pivotal network implicated in neuroprotection against these destructive processes. This review sheds light on the potential therapeutic implications of targeting this axis, specifically emphasizing the promising role of flavonoids in mitigating NDD-related complications. Expanding beyond conventional pharmacological approaches, the exploration of non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise and calorie restriction (CR), coupled with the investigation of natural compounds, offers a beacon of hope. By strategically elucidating the intricate connections within these pathways, this review aims to pave the ways for novel multi-target agents and interventions, fostering a renewed optimism in the quest to combat and manage the debilitating impacts of NDDs on global health and well-being.

Cross Talks between CNS and CVS Diseases: An Alliance to Annihilate

Cardiovascular and neurological diseases cause substantial morbidity and mortality globally. Moreover, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. About 17.9 million people are affected by cardiovascular diseases and 6.8 million people die every year due to neurological diseases. The common neurologic manifestations of cardiovascular illness include stroke syndrome which is responsible for unconsciousness and several other morbidities significantly diminished the quality of life of patients. Therefore, it is prudent need to explore the mechanistic and molecular connection between cardiovascular disorders and neurological disorders. The present review emphasizes the association between cardiovascular and neurological diseases specifically Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease.

Paradigms and Success Stories of Natural Products in Drug Discovery Against Neurodegenerative Disorders (NDDs)

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are multifaceted complex disorders that have put a great health and economic burden around the globe nowadays. The multi-factorial nature of NDDs has presented a great challenge in drug discovery and continuous efforts are in progress in search of suitable therapeutic candidates. Nature has a great wealth of active principles in its lap that has cured the human population since ancient times. Natural products have revealed several benefits over conventional synthetic medications and scientists have shifted their vision towards exploring the therapeutic potentials of natural products in the past few years. The structural mimicking of natural compounds to endogenous ligands has presented them as a potential therapeutic candidate to prevent the development of NDDs. In the presented review, authors have summarized demographical facts about various NDDs including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD) and various types of sclerosis in the brain. The significant findings of new active principles of natural origin along with their therapeutic potentials on NDDs have been included. Also, a description of clinical trials and patents on natural products has been enlisted in this compilation. Although natural products have shown promising success in drug discovery against NDDs, still their use is associated with several ethical issues which need to be solved in the upcoming time.

Unlocking the therapeutic potential of natural stilbene: Exploring pterostilbene as a powerful ally against aging and cognitive decline

The therapeutic potential of natural stilbenes, with a particular focus on pterostilbene (PTE), has emerged as a promising avenue of research targeting age-associated conditions encompassing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and cognitive decline. This comprehensive investigation delves into the intricate mechanisms through which PTE, a polyphenolic compound abundant in grapes and blueberries, exerts its advantageous effects as an anti-aging agent. Central to its action is the modulation of hallmark aging processes, including oxidative damage, inflammatory responses, telomere attrition, and cellular senescence. PTE's ability to effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier amplifies its potential for safeguarding neural health, thereby facilitating the regulation of neuronal signalling cascades, synaptic plasticity, and mitochondrial functionality. Through engagement with sirtuin proteins, it orchestrates cellular resilience, longevity, and metabolic equilibrium. Encouraging findings from preclinical studies portray PTE as a robust candidate for counteracting age-linked cognitive decline, augmenting memory consolidation, and potentially ameliorating neurodegenerative maladies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The synthesis of current scientific insights accentuates the promising translational prospects of PTE as a potent, naturally derived therapeutic agent against cognitive impairments associated with aging. Consequently, these collective findings lay a solid groundwork for forthcoming clinical inquiries and innovative therapeutic interventions in this realm.

Treatment of diabetic complications: do flavonoids holds the keys?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrinological disorder in which blood sugar levels get elevated and if unmanaged, it leads to several critical complications. Existing therapies or drugs are not able to attain absolute control of DM. Moreover, associated side/adverse effects associated with pharmacotherapy further worsen the Quality of life of patients. Present review is focused on therapeutical potential of flavonoids in management of diabetes and diabetic complications. Plenteous literature has established significant potential of flavonoids in the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications. A number of flavonoids are found to be effective in treatment of not only diabetes but progression of diabetic complication was also found to be attenuated with the use of flavonoids. Moreover, SAR studies of some flavonoids also indicated the that efficacy of flavonoids is increased with a change in functional group of flavonoids in the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications. A number of clinical trials are into action to investigate the therapeutic potential of flavonoids as first-line drugs or as adjuvants for treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications.. Owing to their diverse mechanism of action, efficacy and safety, flavonoids may be conscripted as potential candidate for treatment of diabetic complications.

Microbiota- Brain-Gut-Axis Relevance to Parkinson's Disease: Potential Therapeutic Effects of Probiotics

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common type of neurogenerative disease among middleaged and older people, characterized by aggregation of alpha-synuclein and dopaminergic neuron loss. The microbiota- gut-brain axis is a dynamic bidirectional communication network and is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. The aggregation of misfolded protein alpha-synuclein is a neuropathological characteristic of PD, originates in the gut and migrates to the central nervous system (CNS) through the vagus nerve and olfactory bulb. The change in the architecture of gut microbiota increases the level short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other metabolites, acting on the neuroendocrine system and modulating the concentrations of gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, and other neurotransmitters. It also alters the vagus and intestinal signalling, influencing the brain and behaviour by activating microglia and systemic cytokines. Both experimental and clinical reports indicate the role of intestinal dysbiosis and microbiota host interaction in neurodegeneration. Probiotics are live microorganisms that modify the gut microbiota in the small intestine to avoid neurological diseases. Probiotics have been shown in clinical and preclinical studies to be effective in the treatment of PD by balancing the gut microbiota. In this article, we described the role of gut-microbiota in the pathogenesis of PD. The article aims to explore the mechanistic strategy of the gut-brain axis and its relation with motor impairment and the use of probiotics to maintain gut microbial flora and prevent PD-like symptoms.

Manganese and related neurotoxic pathways: A potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases comprise a group of disorders characterized by progressive loss of neurons over a period of time due to various factors such as oxidative stress, inflammation, accumulation of toxic proteins, excitotoxicity, and metal overexposure. Among those, chronic exposure to manganese (Mn) is known to initiate neurodegeneration resembling extrapyramidal effects like Parkinson's disease (PD). Mn overexposure leads to mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting the complexes of electron transport chains (ETC), thus generating oxidative stress (OS). It also alter calcium homeostasis, dysregulate enzyme activity, and an imbalance in neurotransmitters level like dopamine, serotonin etc. Mn in excess convert the monomer form of α-synuclein into oligomers that are toxic to neurons. Furthermore, it increases the exocytosis of misfolded α-synuclein, which activates microglia, chemokines, and proinflammatory cytokines. Despite the critical research and investment, no preventive or disease-modifying treatment has been found because of diverse pathological factors. This review focuses on the pathological involvement of Mn and its mechanistic similarities with various neurodegenerative diseases. Further, the source of Mn exposure, various transporters, and its kinetics inside the human body is compiled. The relationship between Mn overexposure and pathogenesis of PD, Huntington's disease (HD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been discussed. Over and above that, the emerging treatment approaches for Mn toxicity utilizing bioinformatics tools, chelation therapy with calcium ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (Ca²⁺EDTA), para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), and phytochemicals like flavonoids that are known to rescue neurons from oxidative stress and inflammation are enveloped in the compilation.

Sequential ordinal modeling with applications to survival data

This paper considers the class of sequential ordinal models in relation to other models for ordinal response data. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms, based on the approach of Albert and Chib (1993, Journal of the American Statistical Association 88, 669-679), are developed for the fitting of these models. The ideas and methods are illustrated in detail with a real data example on the length of hospital stay for patients undergoing heart surgery. A notable aspect of this analysis is the comparison, based on marginal likelihoods and training sample priors, of several nonnested models, such as the sequential model, the cumulative ordinal model, and Weibull and log-logistic models.