NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-17DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030091
Jonas M A Schlicht, Britt Hofmann, Uwe Kirchhefer, Joachim Neumann, Ulrich Gergs
{"title":"Effects of Haloperidol on Cardiac Histamine H<sub>2</sub> Receptors and β-Adrenoceptors in Isolated Mouse and Human Atrial Preparations.","authors":"Jonas M A Schlicht, Britt Hofmann, Uwe Kirchhefer, Joachim Neumann, Ulrich Gergs","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030091","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The antipsychotic drug haloperidol is found on the WHO list of essential drugs. In vitro, haloperidol demonstrates binding affinity for various receptors, including histamine H<sub>2</sub> receptors (H<sub>2</sub>Rs). Several cardiac effects of haloperidol are known, but it remains unclear whether H<sub>2</sub>Rs are involved. Here, the hypothesis was tested that haloperidol has the potential to act as either an agonist or an antagonist of human cardiac H<sub>2</sub>Rs. The contractile effects of haloperidol were studied in isolated left and right atrial preparations from transgenic mice overexpressing human H<sub>2</sub>Rs in the heart (H<sub>2</sub>-TG), and compared to human atrial preparations from adult patients. Haloperidol reduced the histamine-stimulated force of contraction in the human atrial preparations as well as the histamine-stimulated force of contraction and beating rate in the left and right atrial preparations from the H<sub>2</sub>-TG, respectively. Moreover, haloperidol reduced the isoprenaline-stimulated force of contraction in the human atrial preparations. In the wild-type mouse preparations, haloperidol only reduced the isoprenaline-stimulated beating rate in the right atria, but not the force in the left atria. Principally, haloperidol is capable of acting as an antagonist of both H<sub>2</sub>Rs and β-adrenoceptors in the human heart. However, the effects are only relevant at very high doses of haloperidol, which are never or seldom achieved in practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452768/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145115330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030090
Ciro Manzo, Jordi Serra-Mestres, Marco Isetta
{"title":"Catatonia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.","authors":"Ciro Manzo, Jordi Serra-Mestres, Marco Isetta","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030090","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is reported to be the most common rheumatological disorder associated with catatonia. To date, reports on catatonia manifestations in SLE patients are uncommon in published literature, which has often favored a fragmented vision. We performed a narrative review with the aim of identifying all published reports of catatonia in SLE patients to ascertain-in a comprehensive view-its clinical characteristics and to provide useful insights for daily clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Comprehensive literature searches were carried out on 10 March 2025 (subsequently repeated ahead of draft on 6 June) in all main bibliographic databases: MEDLINE and EMBASE (OVID interface); PsycINFO (ProQuest); and PubMed, to capture within-text references. All searches combined controlled (MESH, Entree, and APA Headings) and free-text elements for both areas under observation: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) AND catatonia, with primary focus on case reports and series. Sets of findings were reviewed separately by the authors, and the full text of selected items was sourced. Further useful references were retrieved through citation lists.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>39 cases of patients with SLE and catatonia were identified (35 females and 4 males), with a mean age of 22.64 years (range 11-46). Only three patients were over the age of 40; a total of 10 had catatonia at the same time of SLE onset and 5 within a month of SLE diagnosis. Antiphospholipid and anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies were rarely identified. Almost all the patients improved following treatment with lorazepam and/or electroconvulsive therapy. Only one case of malignant catatonia was reported. Finally, a large number of patients were Asian or Afro-American, at least in the reports where ethnicity was specified.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Catatonia can occur in patients with SLE, and it may be its first clinical manifestation, especially in young patients. Its prognosis is mostly favorable.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452725/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145115238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030089
Haylie J Pomroy, Arjun Mote, Simeon Mathew, Stebin Chanasseril, Victor Lu, Amanpreet K Cheema
{"title":"From Fork to Brain: The Role of AGE-RAGE Signaling and the Western Diet in Neurodegenerative Disease.","authors":"Haylie J Pomroy, Arjun Mote, Simeon Mathew, Stebin Chanasseril, Victor Lu, Amanpreet K Cheema","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030089","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are reactive compounds formed through non-enzymatic glycation in a process known as the Maillard reaction. While humans produce AGEs endogenously, these compounds can also enter the body through dietary sources, food preparation methods, and exposure to agricultural and food-related chemicals. AGEs can accumulate within cells and impair cellular function. In addition, when AGEs bind to receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), they activate intracellular signaling pathways that promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Sustained AGE-RAGE signaling drives chronic inflammation contributing to the development of various ailments, including neurodegenerative diseases. This review examines AGE formation, metabolism, and accumulation, with an emphasis on dietary sources as modifiable contributors to AGE-RAGE mediated pathology. We highlight the need for further research on dietary AGE restriction as a potential strategy to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145115261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030088
Julius Dengler, Bassam Abdullah, Juraj Kukolja, Ralf Kuhlen, Sven Hohenstein, Nora F Dengler, Andreas Bollmann, Frederick Palm
{"title":"Frailty in Stroke Care in Germany Between 2016 and 2022-A Retrospective, Hospital-Based Nationwide Cohort Study.","authors":"Julius Dengler, Bassam Abdullah, Juraj Kukolja, Ralf Kuhlen, Sven Hohenstein, Nora F Dengler, Andreas Bollmann, Frederick Palm","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030088","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines changes in frailty among patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in a nationwide hospital cohort in Germany. Data from AIS patients were compared between the period before the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-pandemic (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019) vs the pandemic phase (1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022). Frailty was categorized using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Inferential statistics were conducted using generalized linear mixed models. Among the 101,124 included AIS patients, the median HFRS decreased from 9.3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.2-15.5) in pre-pandemic years to 8.4 (IQR: 4.4-14.2) during the pandemic (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Among high frailty AIS patients, length of stay rose from 15.7 (±14.9) to 16.0 (±15.0) days, differing significantly from the decrease observed among low frailty patients from 5.9 (±3.7) to 5.0 (±3.5; <i>p</i> < 0.01) days. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, among low frailty patients, there was a significant increase in rates of thrombolysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.14 [95% CI 1.02-1.28; <i>p</i> = 0.020]) and thrombectomy (OR 1.35 [1.32-1.48; <i>p</i> = 0.047]). In this nationwide study in Germany, there was a longitudinal decrease in frailty among patients hospitalized for AIS which was accompanied by increased rates of thrombolysis and thrombectomy.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452760/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145115308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030087
Jacob Balconi, Dawn Langdon, Bishal Dhakal, Ralph H B Benedict
{"title":"An Update on New Approaches to Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis.","authors":"Jacob Balconi, Dawn Langdon, Bishal Dhakal, Ralph H B Benedict","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030087","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accessible, dependable cognitive assessment is integral to patient care of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Traditional neuropsychological tests are well validated in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population, but not without limitations, such as the time and financial cost associated with traditional in person administration. Recent endeavors have sought to refine assessment, with particular attention to psychometric properties, accessibility, efficiency, and other practical considerations. One approach has been to streamline neuropsychological batteries to brief measures of essential domains, such as the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS). Another approach is the use of computerized neuropsychological assessment devices (CNADs). A systematic review of CNADs in PwMS was published in 2019. However, research has continued to expand in the years since. Here, we present an updated review of the BICAMS and further development of CNADs in MS. Tests with strong psychometric foundations are highlighted.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452307/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145115293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030086
Paula Andreatta Maduro, Leandro Paim da Cruz Carvalho, Luiz Alcides Ramires Maduro, Ana Beatriz da Costa Rodrigues, Alaine Souza Lima Rocha, Lilian Ramine Ramos de Souza Matos, Marcelo de Maio Nascimento, Bruno Bavaresco Gambassi, Paulo Adriano Schwingel
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-04DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030085
Laurent Goffart
{"title":"Neurophysiology of Gaze Direction as Poly-Equilibrium.","authors":"Laurent Goffart","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030085","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The static orientation of the eyes during visual fixation is determined by the simultaneous operation of multiple equilibria. This phenomenon is collectively referred to as poly-equilibrium, which involves multiple systems that work together to cancel each other out and establish gaze direction. While other systems, such as audio- and cervico-ocular systems, may also contribute to gaze direction, this review focuses primarily on the commands issued by the vestibulo- and visuo-oculomotor systems that determine gaze direction, as they play a key role in the poly-equilibrium process. From the visual and vestibular activities accompanying the appearance of an object in the central visual field to the recruitment of premotor neurons responsible for the generation of slow and saccadic eye movements, a delicate balance is maintained. As long as the recruited channels convey commands that counterbalance each other, no movement is initiated. This alternative viewpoint leads to reconsidering the nature of saccadic and pursuit eye movements. Rather than viewing them as the dynamic reduction in brain signals encoding kinematic parameters such as position or velocity, they can be seen as the physical expression of intracerebral processes restoring balanced activities between sensorimotor channels whose recruitment leads to mutually opposed movements.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452416/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145115355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-09-03DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030084
Jorge Manzo, María Elena Hernández-Aguilar, María Rebeca Toledo-Cárdenas, Deissy Herrera-Covarrubias, Genaro A Coria-Avila, Hugo M Libreros-Jiménez, Lauro Fernández-Cañedo, Lizbeth A Ortega-Pineda
{"title":"The Long and Winding Road to Understanding Autism.","authors":"Jorge Manzo, María Elena Hernández-Aguilar, María Rebeca Toledo-Cárdenas, Deissy Herrera-Covarrubias, Genaro A Coria-Avila, Hugo M Libreros-Jiménez, Lauro Fernández-Cañedo, Lizbeth A Ortega-Pineda","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030084","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism Spectrum Disorder presents one of the most complex challenges in contemporary neuroscience. This review adopts an unconventional narrative structure, drawing inspiration from song titles by The Beatles to explore the multifaceted biological, developmental, and social dimensions of autism. Spanning historical perspectives to embryonic origins and adult cognition, we examine critical topics including cortical folding, sensory processing, and the contributions of various brain regions such as the cerebellum and brainstem. The role of mirror neurons and other neural systems in shaping social behavior is discussed, alongside insights from animal models that have advanced our understanding of autism's underlying mechanisms. Ultimately, this manuscript argues that autism is not merely a biomedical challenge, but a broader societal issue intersecting with education, human rights, and identity. Following the long and winding road of scientific discovery, we advocate for a more empathetic, interdisciplinary, and human-centered approach to autism research. Though the path ahead remains uncertain, every step informed by evidence and driven by collaboration brings us closer to deeper understanding, greater inclusion, and more effective support.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145114919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-08-27DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030083
Alexander Thomas, R Andrew Chambers
{"title":"Ketamine's Therapeutic Role in Substance Use Disorders: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Alexander Thomas, R Andrew Chambers","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030083","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interest in ketamine as a novel treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) has been increasing due to its N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonism and mounting evidence that glutamate neurotransmission is involved in the pathogenesis of both depression and addictions. This narrative review provides an outline of clinical evidence reported in the literature from the 1970s to 2025 that examines the efficacy of ketamine for the treatment of SUDs, focusing primarily on randomized blinded controlled trials (RBCTs). Key cohort studies, retrospective studies, secondary analyses, case reports, and relevant basic neuroscience studies are reviewed to complement the more rigorous human controlled trial data. Thus far, ketamine has been tested in nine RBCTs targeting cocaine (three studies), alcohol (three studies), opioid use disorder (two studies), and nicotine (one study), suggesting efficacy for addiction in combination with psychotherapies, and often when doses produce subjectively reported mystical or psychedelic experiences. This review highlights promising preliminary evidence, and the need for more rigorous studies to elucidate the scope of drug addictions ketamine may target, its optimal dosing or route of administration, the importance of concurrent psychotherapies, professional supervision and safety monitoring, and which psychiatric comorbidities or contexts may contraindicate its use for SUDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145115395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.3390/neurosci6030082
Ahya Ali, Kottil Rammohan, June Halper, Terrie Livingston, Sara McCurdy Murphy, Lisa Patton, Jesse Wilkerson, Yang Mao-Draayer, On Behalf Of The Narcrms Healthcare Economics Outcomes Research Advisory Group
{"title":"The Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Work Productivity: A Preliminary Look at the North American Registry for Care and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.","authors":"Ahya Ali, Kottil Rammohan, June Halper, Terrie Livingston, Sara McCurdy Murphy, Lisa Patton, Jesse Wilkerson, Yang Mao-Draayer, On Behalf Of The Narcrms Healthcare Economics Outcomes Research Advisory Group","doi":"10.3390/neurosci6030082","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci6030082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aimed to quantify multiple sclerosis (MS)-related work productivity and to illustrate the longitudinal trends for relapses, disease progression, and utilization of health care resources in a nationally representative cohort of working North Americans living with MS.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>The North American Registry for Care and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (NARCRMS) is a multicentered physician-reported registry which prospectively collects clinical information including imaging data over a long period of time from people with MS from sites across the U.S. and Canada. The Health Economics Outcomes Research (HEOR) Advisory Group has also incorporated Health-Related Productivity and Health Resource Utilization questionnaires, which collect information about health care economics of people with MS and its effects on daily life.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>This is a prospective observational study utilizing data from NARCRMS. Socio-demographic, clinical, and health economic outcome data were collected through previously validated and structured questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to calculate the relative odds of symptom impact, with a generalized logit link for number of relapses. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios for time to first relapse.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six hundred and eighty-two (682) people with MS were enrolled in NARCRMS and had completed the HEOR questionnaires at the time of the analysis. Among the participants, 61% were employed full-time and 11% were employed part time. Fatigue was the leading symptom reported to impact both work and household chores. Among the employed participants, 13% reported having missed work with a median of 6.8 (IQR: 3.0-9.0) missed hours due to MS symptoms (absenteeism), while 35% reported MS having impacted their work output (presenteeism). The odds of higher disease severity (EDSS 2.0-6.5 vs. 0.0-1.5) were 2.29 (95% CI = 1.08, 4.88; <i>p</i> = 0.011) times higher for participants who identified reduction of work output. Fatigue was the most identified symptom attributed to work output reduction. Among all participants, 33% reported having missed planned household work with a median of 3.0 (IQR: 2.0-5.0) hours. The odds of higher disease severity were 2.49 (95% CI = 1.37, 4.53; <i>p</i> = 0.006) times higher for participants who identified reduction in household work output, and 1.70 (CI = 1.27, 2.49; <i>p</i> = 0.006) times higher for those whose fatigue affected housework output as compared to other symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A preliminary review of the first 682 patients showed that people with MS had reduced work and housework productivity even at an early disease state. Multiple sclerosis (MS) can significantly impair individuals' ability to function fully at work and at home, with fatigue overwhelmingly identified as the primary contributing factor. The economic valu","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"6 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145114888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}