Chronic peripheral inflammation: a possible contributor to neurodegenerative diseases

The contribution of chronic peripheral inflammation to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is an outstanding question. Sustained activation of the peripheral innate and adaptive immune systems occurs in the context of a broad array of disorders ranging from chronic infectious diseases to autoimmune and metabolic diseases. In addition, progressive systemic inflammation is increasingly recognized during aging. Peripheral immune cells could potentially modulate the cellular brain environment via the secretion of soluble molecules. There is an ongoing debate whether peripheral immune cells have the potential to migrate into the brain under certain permissive circumstances. In this perspective, we discuss the possible contribution of chronic peripheral inflammation to the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative diseases with a focus on microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain parenchyma.     

Electrical stimulation for the suppression of pathological tremor

Pathological tremor is manifested as an involuntary oscillation of one or more body parts. Tremor greatly decreases the quality of life and often prevents the patient from performing daily activities. We hypothesized that sensors-driven multichannel electrical stimulation could stabilize affected joints by activating the antagonistic muscles during involuntary activation of agonist muscles and vice versa (out-of-phase stimulation). Here, we present the new system (hardware and software) and the testing of its operation. The hardware consists of a multichannel stimulator and inertial sensors for feedback. The software implements adaptive sensors-driven control for the out-of-phase stimulation. The system was initially applied to healthy persons at the wrist and elbow joints to test the efficiency of the hardware and software solutions. Predefined rhythmic stimulation resulted in tremulous movement, which subjects could not prevent; yet, they were still able to functionally use their hand. The system was then applied to seven patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor for minimization of the wrist joint tremor. In six patients, the adaptive out-of-phase stimulation resulted in a significant decrease in the amplitude of tremor (67 ± 13%). In one patient, the stimulation did not result in the expected reduction of tremor.     

Effects of mental illness on the family: experiential family assessment to promote students' affective learning

Mental health nursing faculty are challenged to connect with students on an affective level in their courses. One important strategy to promote affective learning is to understand the experience of the family caregiver. There is relatively little student access to family caregivers of individuals who are identified as severely and persistently mentally ill. Consequently, nursing students may not appreciate the myriad psychosocial challenges and adaptations that family caregivers of these individuals are forced to make, often for a lifetime. This article describes a unique teaching strategy that promotes cognitive and affective learning while also providing students with a clear window into the dynamics of families of people with mental illness.     

Recruitment of patients with type 2 diabetes for target group specific exercise programs at an Outpatient Department of a Medical University: A factor analysis

We aimed to evaluate if an outpatient department is a suitable place to recruit people who suffer from Diabetes Mellitus for exercise programs. Therefore, a survey was conducted at the outpatient department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the Medical University of Vienna. All in all, 104 persons (44 women, 60 men; age: 62.38 ± 13.69 years) were included in the study. We evaluated their interest in exercise programs, which consisted of cardiovascular exercise, strength- and flexibility-training and were offered in the 10th and 13th districts of Vienna. Almost half of the interviewed patients (43%) were interested in exercise programs and eventually almost one quarter (23%) participated in the program. Crucial factors were young age (p = 0.034) and a good economic situation (p = 0.046), which positively affected the participation in the exercise program. We could also detect gender-specific health awareness, as more women than men were interested and finally took part in the courses (3 of 10 women vs. 1 of 10 men, p = 0.023). Our results show that an outpatient department is a suitable place to recruit diabetic patients for exercise programs. However, the limited number of high-quality exercise programs might have decreased the number of participants, as the courses were only offered in two districts. Due to that, the majority of the interviewed persons could not be offered these programs in the vicinity of their places of residence. To promote health awareness and to cover the demand of exercise courses, more high-quality facilities and more focused health care provider services are needed.     

GeneChip analyses point to novel pathogenetic mechanisms in mantle cell lymphoma

The translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32) is the genetic hallmark of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) but is not sufficient for inducing lymphomagenesis. Here we performed genome-wide 100K GeneChip Mapping in 26 t(11;14)-positive MCL and six MCL cell lines. Partial uniparental disomy (pUPD) was shown to be a recurrent chromosomal event not only in MCL cell lines but also in primary MCL. Remarkably, pUPD affected recurrent targets of deletion like 11q, 13q and 17p. Moreover, we identified 12 novel regions of recurrent gain and loss as well as 12 high-level amplifications and eight homozygously deleted regions hitherto undescribed in MCL. Interestingly, GeneChip analyses identified different genes , encoding proteins involved in microtubule dynamics, such as MAP2 , MAP6 and TP53, as targets for chromosomal aberration in MCL. Further investigation, including mutation analyses, fluorescence in situ hybridisation as well as epigenetic and expression studies, revealed additional aberrations frequently affecting these genes. In total, 19 of 20 MCL cases, which were subjected to genetic and epigenetic analyses, and five of six MCL cell lines harboured at least one aberration in MAP2, MAP6 or TP53 . These findings provide evidence that alterations of microtubule dynamics might be one of the critical events in MCL lymphomagenesis contributing to chromosomal instability.     

Late afternoon blood pressure increase is associated with diabetic retinopathy in normotensive type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

AimsTo identify if the variability of blood pressure (BP) is associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in normotensive type 2 DM patients.MethodsSixty-five normotensive type 2 DM patients that had 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) were grouped according any degree of DR.ResultsFourteen (21%) patients had DR. Office BP and 24-h BP parameters did not differ between groups. At late afternoon period, patients with DR had higher increment in both systolic (11.3 ± 12.7 mmHg vs. 1.0 ± 11.4 mmHg, P = 0.006) and diastolic (6.7 ± 8.6 mmHg vs. ?0.73 ± 10.0 mmHg, P = 0.017) BP levels than those without. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed with DR as a dependent variable. Each 1 mmHg increment in systolic BP at the late afternoon period was associated with a 10.2% increase in DR prevalence [OR 1.102 (CI 95% 1.011–1.202, P = 0.027)], after adjustments for A1C test, DM duration, age, albuminuria and current smoking.ConclusionsIn conclusion, in normotensive type 2 DM patients, BP increase at late afternoon is associated to DR independently from confounder factors or other ABPM parameters.