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INTRODUCTION: The goal of the present work was to assess the incidence of dementia with onset before the age of 65 years (i.e., young‐onset dementia [YOD]) and define the frequencies of young‐onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) in the general population. METHODS: The study was conducted from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 in Brescia province (population: 1,268,455). During the study period, all new YOD cases (incident YOD) were counted, and all patients' records reviewed. The incidence was standardized to the Italian general population in 2019. RESULTS: A total of 29 YOD patients were diagnosed. The age‐sex standardized incidence rate was 4.58 (95% confidence interval, 3.07–6.58) per 100,000 person‐years. No difference in incidence rate between YOD due to AD or FTLD (P = 0.83) and between sexes (P = 0.81) was observed. YOD incidence increased with age, reaching its peak after 60 years. DISCUSSION: Presenting neurodegenerative YOD phenotypes encompasses both AD and FTLD. Improved knowledge on YOD epidemiology is essential to adequately plan and organize health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, a few studies have systematically investigated differences in the clinical spectrum between acquired and idiopathic dystonias. Objectives: To compare demographic data and clinical features in patients with adult‐onset acquired and idiopathic dystonias. Methods: Patients were identified from among those included in the Italian Dystonia Registry, a multicenter Italian dataset of patients with adult‐onset dystonia. Study population included 116 patients with adult‐onset acquired dystonia and 651 patients with isolated adult‐onset idiopathic dystonia. Results: Comparison of acquired and idiopathic dystonia revealed differences in the body distribution of dystonia, with oromandibular dystonia, limb and trunk dystonia being more frequent in patients with acquired dystonia. The acquired dystonia group was also characterized by lower age at dystonia onset, greater tendency to spread, lower frequency of head tremor, sensory trick and eye symptoms, and similar frequency of neck pain associated with CD and family history of dystonia/tremor. Conclusions: The clinical phenomenology of dystonia may differ between acquired and idiopathic dystonia, particularly with regard to the body localization of dystonia and the tendency to spread. This dissimilarity raises the possibility of pathophysiological differences between etiologic categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess whether non‐invasive brain stimulation with transcranial alternating current stimulation at gamma‐frequency (γ‐tACS) applied over the precuneus can improve episodic memory and modulate cholinergic transmission by modulating cerebral rhythms in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: In this randomized, double‐blind, sham controlled, crossover study, 60 AD patients underwent a clinical and neurophysiological evaluation including assessment of episodic memory and cholinergic transmission pre and post 60 minutes treatment with γ‐tACS targeting the precuneus or sham tACS. In a subset of 10 patients, EEG analysis and individualized modelling of electric field distribution were carried out. Predictors to γ‐tACS efficacy were evaluated. Results: We observed a significant improvement in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning (RAVL) test immediate recall (p < 0.001) and delayed recall scores (p < 0.001) after γ‐tACS but not after sham tACS. Face‐name associations scores improved with γ‐tACS (p < 0.001) but not after sham tACS. Short latency afferent inhibition, an indirect measure of cholinergic transmission, increased only after γ‐tACS (p < 0.001). ApoE genotype and baseline cognitive impairment were the best predictors of response to γ‐tACS. Clinical improvement correlated with the increase in gamma frequencies in posterior regions and with the amount of predicted electric field distribution in the precuneus. Interpretation: Precuneus γ‐tACS, able to increase γ‐power activity on the posterior brain regions, showed a significant improvement of episodic memory performances, along with restoration of intracortical excitability measures of cholinergic transmission. Response to γ‐tACS was dependent on genetic factors and disease stage. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:322–334 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, some research groups have reported the occurrence of low apospory levels and/or integumentary embryony in wild Helianthus species. Considering the potential impact of apomixis as a tool to optimize plant breeding programs, we aimed to characterize the reproductive development of nine self‐pollinated sunflower cultivars (Helianthus annuus L.) with diverse genetic backgrounds, in order to detect the possible occurrence of apospory features that would allow future harnessing of maternal reproduction into breeding. Cyto‐embryological studies were made by differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy on 1,224 clarified ovules from nine genotypes with divergent genetic backgrounds, and the seed set was evaluated in an experimental pollination assay. Biometrical parameters of the embryo sac and the endothelial layer were compared by multivariate statistical methods. Significant cytoembryological variability in the development of female gametophyte was detected and a genotype‐dependent shape index allowed three embryo sac categories to be recognized. After three seasons of experimental repetition, the qualitative analysis of the developing megagametophyte revealed genotype‐dependent endothelial alterations, multiple embryo sac formation possibly related to aposporous‐like development, and defective embryo growth during embryogenesis in self‐pollinated sunflower lines. Our analysis points to the potential occurrence of apospory and integumentary embryony in H. annuus inbred lines, which is in agreement with previous reports involving wild sunflower species and reveals four genotypes of cultivated sunflower expressing this ability. These results provide new insights for development of breakthrough breeding strategies in this crop. Core Ideas: Low apospory levels and integumentary embryony have been reported in wild Helianthus species.Genotype‐dependent variability in reproductive development was newly identified in H. annuus.Extra megagametophytes resembling aposporous embryo sacs were found in sunflower lines.We report potential aposporous ability for future exploitation of the apomixis trait in this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: In relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients (RRMS) disability progressively accumulates over time. To compare the cumulative probability of 6‐month confirmed disability‐worsening events using a fixed baseline or a roving Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) reference, in a real‐world setting. Methods: A cohort of 7964 RRMS patients followed for 2 or more years, with EDSS scores recorded every 6 months, was selected from the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Register. The overall probability of confirmed disability‐worsening events and of confirmed disability‐worsening events unrelated to relapse was evaluated using as reference a fixed baseline EDSS score or a roving EDSS score in which the increase had to be separated from the last EDSS assessment by at least 6 or 12 months. Results: Using a fixed baseline EDSS reference, the cumulative probability of 6‐year overall confirmed disability‐worsening events was 33.2%, and that of events unrelated to relapse was 10.9% (33% of overall confirmed disability‐worsening events). Using a roving EDSS, the proportions were respectively 35.2% and 21.3% (61% of overall confirmed disability‐worsening events). Conclusions: In a real‐world setting, roving EDSS reference scores appear to be more sensitive for detecting confirmed disability‐worsening events unrelated to relapse in RRMS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the forensic literature, peculiar and uncommon cases of suicides defined as "complicated" are reported. In these circumstances, the suicide method chosen by the victim fails, and death occurs due to a subsequent unforeseen accidental event defined as secondary trauma. Through retrospective examination of 25,512 autopsies in 27 years (1993–2019) at the Bureau of Legal Medicine of Milan, a unique case of complicated suicide was identified from a total of 4497 suicides. It concerns an elderly man who, after killing his wife by inflicting incised wounds to her neck, tried to hang himself by tying a rope to a heater and jumping from the window located over the heater itself. However, the rope suddenly snapped and the man fells to the ground causing fatal traumatic injuries. Death occurred because of an accidental event caused by the failure of the hanging mechanism. Therefore, a peculiar yet characteristic case of complicated suicide is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the forensic literature, peculiar and uncommon cases of suicides defined as "complicated" are reported. In these circumstances, the suicide method chosen by the victim fails, and death occurs due to a subsequent unforeseen accidental event defined as secondary trauma. Through retrospective examination of 25,512 autopsies in 27 years (1993–2019) at the Bureau of Legal Medicine of Milan, a unique case of complicated suicide was identified from a total of 4497 suicides. It concerns an elderly man who, after killing his wife by inflicting incised wounds to her neck, tried to hang himself by tying a rope to a heater and jumping from the window located over the heater itself. However, the rope suddenly snapped and the man fells to the ground causing fatal traumatic injuries. Death occurred because of an accidental event caused by the failure of the hanging mechanism. Therefore, a peculiar yet characteristic case of complicated suicide is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that imazapyr herbicide induces male sterility in Imisun Sunflower during early stages of development and it also alters gene expression of acetohydroxyacid synthase and pollen yields.

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by a marked shift of electroencephalographic (EEG) power and dominant rhythm, from the α toward the θ frequency range. Transcranial alternate current stimulation (tACS) is a non‐invasive brain stimulation technique that allows entrainment of cerebral oscillations at desired frequencies. Objectives: Our goal is to evaluate the effects of occipital α‐tACS on cognitive functions and neurophysiological measures in patients with DLB. Methods: We conducted a double‐blind, randomized, sham‐controlled, cross‐over clinical trial in 14 participants with DLB. Participants were randomized to receive either α‐tACS (60 minutes of 3 mA peak‐to‐peak stimulation at 12 Hz) or sham stimulation applied over the occipital cortex. Clinical evaluations were performed to assess visuospatial and executive functions, as well as verbal episodic memory. Neurophysiological assessments and EEG recordings were conducted at baseline and following both α‐tACS and sham stimulations. Results: Occipital α‐tACS was safe and well‐tolerated. We observed a significant enhancement in visuospatial abilities and executive functions, but no improvement in verbal episodic memory. We observed an increase in short latency afferent inhibition, a neurophysiological marker indirectly and partially dependent on cholinergic transmission, coinciding with an increase in α power and a decrease in Δ power following α‐tACS stimulation, effects not seen with sham stimulation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that occipital α‐tACS is safe and enhances visuospatial and executive functions in patients with DLB. Improvements in indirect markers of cholinergic transmission and EEG changes indicate significant neurophysiological engagement. These findings justify further exploration of α‐tACS as a therapeutic option for DLB patients. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]