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Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is a natural dipeptide with multiple neuroprotective properties. Previous studies have advertised that carnosine scavenges free radicals and displays anti-inflammatory activity. However, the underlying mechanism and the efficacies of its pleiotropic effect on prevention remained obscure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammative, and anti-pyroptotic effects of carnosine in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model. After a daily pre-treatment of saline or carnosine (1000 mg / kg / day) for 14 days, mice (n = 24) were subjected to tMCAO for 60 min and continuously treated with saline or carnosine for additional 1 and 5 days after reperfusion. The administration of carnosine significantly decreased infarct volume 5 days after the tMCAO (*p < 0.05) and effectively suppressed the expression of 4-HNE, 8-OHdG, Nitrotyrosine 5 days, and RAGE 5 days after tMCAO. Moreover, the expression of IL-1β was also significantly suppressed 5 days after tMCAO. Our present findings demonstrated that carnosine effectively relieves oxidative stress caused by ischemic stroke and significantly attenuates neuroinflammatory responses related to IL-1β, suggesting that carnosine can be a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors disclose no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder characterized by the loss of synapses and neurons in the brain, and results in the accumulation of amyloid-based neurotic plaques. Amyloid-β oligomers (AβO) are widely accepted as the main neurotoxin that induces oxidative stress and neuronal loss in AD. In this study, an oxidative stress model of the neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line exposed to AβO was established to simulate an AD cell model. Exposure to AβO significantly reduced the viability of cultured SH-SY5Y cells (p < 0.05) and significantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.01). AβO exposure also induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, AβO significantly increased the level of hyperphosphorylation of tau at sites T181 and T205 in SH-SY5Y cells (p < 0.01). Using edaravone, a free radical scavenger with neuroprotective properties, as the control, the possible protective and anti-oxidative effects of curcumin (40 μM) and resveratrol (20 μM) were evaluated. The results suggest that curcumin and resveratrol decreased ROS generation, attenuated oxidative stress, inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation, and protected SH-SY5Y cells from AβO damage. Both curcumin and resveratrol are promising supplements or medicine as therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Due to an increasing number of dementia patients, the development of a rapid and sensitive method for cognitive assessment is awaited. Here, we examined the usefulness of a novel and short (3 min) eye tracking device to evaluate the cognitive function of normal control (NC, n = 52), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 52), and Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 70) subjects. Eye tracking total score declined significantly in MCI (**p < 0.01 vs NC) and AD (**p < 0.01 vs NC, ## p < 0.01 vs MCI), and correlated well with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score (r = 0.57, *p < 0.05). Furthermore, the eye tracking test, especially memory and deductive reasoning tasks, effectively discriminated NC, MCI and AD. The present novel eye tracking test clearly discriminated cognitive functions among NC, MCI, and AD subjects, thereby providing an advantage for the early detection of MCI and AD in screening., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To detect vascular Notch3 extracellular domain aggregates in CADASIL, we developed a novel dot-blot assay with both autopsy and biopsy skin samples. We obtained samples from 11 patients with CADASIL and 12 control patients, and we performed dot-blot analyses by using sequential biochemical tissue extractions with three different antibodies against specific regions of the Notch3 extracellular domain. We also analyzed clinical features and vascular accumulations of Notch3 by immunohistochemistry. Via the dot-blot assay with the antibody against the C-terminal region of the Notch3 extracellular domain, we successfully detected Notch3 extracellular domain aggregates in skin tissue homogenates obtained from patients with CADASIL. Our novel method may therefore aid the diagnosis of CADASIL., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The free radical scavenger edaravone is a proven neuroprotective drug for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our objective was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of edaravone for oxidative stress and anti-oxidative activity in ALS patients., Methods: Twenty-two ALS patients with a disease duration of 2 years, treated by edaravone, and 25 control participants were evaluated according to their clinical scores, including ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R), and serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of oxidative stress dROM and anti-oxidative activity OXY., Results: Serum and CSF markers of anti-oxidative activity OXY were significantly decreased in ALS patients at pre-treatment compared with controls ( ## p < .01), which was improved in the course of edaravone treatment. Both serum and CSF OXY were significantly correlated with ALS clinical scores including ALSFRS-R (*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001). Furthermore, serum OXY at pre-treatment was significantly correlated with a change in the ALSFRS-R score in the sixth cycle of edaravone treatment (*p < .05)., Conclusions: The present study suggests significant correlations between anti-oxidative activity and ALS clinical severity, and the therapeutic efficacy of edaravone for decreased anti-oxidative activity in ALS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis is an adult-onset, systemic disorder caused by mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. As ATTRv amyloidosis is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, family members of the patients are at risk of developing the disease., Methods: With an objective of discussing recommendations on monitoring of family members for early diagnosis of ATTRv amyloidosis, we held a medical advisory board meeting in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2017., Results: Our recommendations are summarized as follows: periodic follow-up genetic counseling should be offered to asymptomatic gene mutation carriers; follow-up assessments should be started when the carriers are still asymptomatic to test for amyloidosis onset, irrespective of TTR genotype and age at onset in the particular family. We suggest annual routine assessments and in-depth assessments every 3-5 years, with the frequency of these increased as required. Periodical monitoring of asymptomatic gene mutation carriers is crucial for attending physicians to detect early signs or symptoms of the disease and start disease-modifying therapy (DMT)., Conclusions: The monitoring strategy for asymptomatic TTR gene mutation carriers should progress toward rapid diagnosis and early intervention with DMT. This approach may be more appropriate for countries with more resources., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Mitsuharu Ueda, Yoshiki Sekijima, Haruki Koike, Taro Yamashita, Tsuneaki Yoshinaga, and Yukio Ando have received consulting fees (or honoraria), travel support for study or other purposes, provision for writing assistance or medicines or equipment or administrative support, and/or funding from Pfizer Japan Inc., all related to the submitted work. Yoshiki Sekijima receives royalties from Pfizer related to tafamidis patents. Haruki Koike has received honoraria from Pfizer Japan Inc., unrelated to the present work. Yukio Ando has received consulting fees and travel or accommodation for an advisory board from Pfizer Japan Inc., unrelated to the submitted work. Tomonori Ishii is an employee of Pfizer Japan Inc., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Objective: Parietal ataxia has been mainly reported as a consequence of acute ischemic stroke, while degenerative parietal ataxia has not been reported., Methods: We investigated clinical characteristics, neuroimaging data, and genetic analysis of patients with cerebellar ataxia plus parietal atrophy., Results: We identified seven patients, including five patients from two families, with chronic progressive cerebellar ataxia due to degenerative parietal atrophy but not stroke. Age at onset of ataxia was 57.6 ± 6.9 years. All patients showed chronic progressive cerebellar ataxia with severity of ataxic gait > limb ataxia > dysarthria. Patients showed no cognitive dysfunction, muscle weakness, or parkinsonism, and only two patients showed mild sensory disturbances. The seven patients showed lateralized limb ataxia with greater contralateral parietal lobe atrophy by magnetic resonance imaging, and hypoperfusion by single photon emission computed tomography, without any abnormal cerebellar pathology (i.e., crossed cerebellar diaschisis). Pathogenic mutations in the microtubule-associated protein tau gene were not found using two single nucleotide polymorphisms., Conclusions: This is the first description showing unique clinical features of familial and sporadic chronic progressive degenerative parietal ataxia., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Evaluating the cognitive and behavioral features in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients is important for therapy and care. Fifty-seven ALS, 5 ALS with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (ALS-FTD), 12 FTD patients, and 35 control subjects were evaluated by 10 different tests for cognitive and behavioral (mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Hasegawa dementia rating scale - revised (HDS-R), frontal assessment battery (FAB), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), ALS-frontotemporal dementia-Questionnaire (ALS-FTD-Q), and anosognosia scale), affective (depression, apathy, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)), and activities of daily living (ADL) assessments. The motor functions of ALS patients were evaluated by ALS functional rating scale - revised (ALSFRS-R) and modified Norris scale. ALS-FTD-Q scores showed intermediate behavioral disturbances of ALS patients between ALS-FTD and FTD patients and control subjects, but FAB, MoCA, and anosognosia scales did not. Both FAB and MoCA scores were significantly correlated with MMSE and HDS-R in ALS patients, but ALS-FTD-Q was not. ALS-FTD-Q score was significantly correlated with ALSFRS-R, apathy, BPSD, and ADL scores in ALS patients. Thus, in ALS patients, both FAB and MoCA tests were useful to assess frontal cognitive impairments, while ALS-FTD-Q was useful to detect mild behavioral and affective disturbances., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Peroxisome biogenesis factor 10 (PEX10) is involved in the import of peroxisomal matrix proteins, and the mutation of this gene causes 3 subtypes of peroxisome biogenesis disorders, namely Zellweger syndrome (severe), neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy (moderate) and an ataxic form (mild). Here, we report 3 siblings of the ataxic form with cerebellar ataxia, mild mental retardation, and 3 additional characteristic features: mydriasis, hyperreflexia and involuntary head movement. All 3 siblings are compound heterozygous for a previously reported mutation, c.2T>C (p.M1T), and a novel mutation, c.920G>A, causing a missense change (p.C307Y) located in the RING finger domain of PEX10. The present cases suggest that these PEX10 mutations involve not only cerebellar but also more multiple nervous systems including pupillary autonomic, pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate a potential multisystem involvement of neurodegeneration in Asidan, in addition to cerebellar ataxia and signs of motor neuron disease., Methods: We compared the new Asidan patients and those identified in previous studies with Parkinson's disease (PD, n=21), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, n=13) patients using 123 I-2β-Carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane ( 123 I-FP-CIT) dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT) and 123 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy (Asidan, DAT: n=10; MIBG: n=15)., Results: Both the PD and PSP groups served as positive controls for DAT decline. The PD and PSP groups served as a positive and negative control, respectively, of MIBG decline in the early phase H/M ratio. Of the Asidan patients, 60.0% showed DAT decline without evident parkinsonian features and 6.7% showed impaired MIBG in only the delayed phase H/M ratio. Combined with a normal range of the early phase H/M ratio, this phenotype was newly named Declined DAT Without Evident Parkinsonism (DWEP)., Interpretation: The results of present study including DWEP suggest a wider spectrum of neurodegeneration for extrapyramidal and autonomic systems in Asidan patients than expected, involving cerebellar, motor system and cognitive functioning., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)