Neurological conditions

Author(s):  
Maria Flynn ◽  
Dave Mercer

The nervous system’s central role in all human functions means that neurological disorders often directly impact on other body systems, so the management of neurological conditions is a complex and specialized area of nursing practice. People with neurological disorders will normally be cared for by specialist clinical teams working in neurological or neurosurgical units or spinal centres. However, general adult nurses will come into contact with people who have a collection of symptoms suggesting a neurological disorder, and they are highly likely to encounter people who are living with dementia. It is therefore important that general adult nurses can recognize neurological changes and communicate effectively with people who have disorders of the brain or nervous system. This chapter outlines key facts about neurological conditions which are likely to be useful to the general nurse. These include an overview of conditions, clinical examinations, and key nursing considerations. A summary of frequently prescribed medicines is also presented.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Stockdale ◽  
L. A. Draper ◽  
S. M. O’Donovan ◽  
W. Barton ◽  
O. O’Sullivan ◽  
...  

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurological disorder associated with the misfolding of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) into Lewy body aggregates within nerve cells that contribute to their neurodegeneration. Recent evidence suggests α-syn aggregation may begin in the gut and travel to the brain along the vagus nerve, with microbes a potential trigger initiating the misfolding of α-syn. However, changes in the gut virome in response to α-syn alterations have not been investigated. In this study, we show longitudinal changes in the faecal virome of rats administered either monomeric or preformed fibrils (PFF) of α-syn directly into their enteric nervous system. Differential changes in rat viromes were observed when comparing monomeric and PFF α-syn. The virome β-diversity changes after α-syn treatment were compounded by the addition of LPS as an adjunct. Changes in the diversity of rat faecal viromes were observed after one month and did not resolve within the study’s five month observational period. Overall, these results suggest that microbiome alterations associated with PD may, partially, be reactive to host α-syn associated changes.


Neurosurgery describes the surgical treatment and management of various disease processes that target the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. The specialty is wide and varied as increasing numbers of neurological conditions can now be improved following neurosurgery; for example, some types of epilepsy respond to the insertion of a vagal nerve stimulator, Parkinson’s disease symptoms can be diminished with a deep brain stimulator, and intractable back pain may be improved following spinal surgery. Practitioners must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to care for these patients and meet their immediate and long-term needs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuqi Chen ◽  
Wenmei Lu ◽  
Danhong Wu

As a type of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylases, sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is predominantly found in the cytoplasm of cells in the central nervous system (CNS), suggesting its potential role in neurological disorders. Though SIRT2 is generally acknowledged to accelerate the development of neurological pathologies, it protects the brain from deterioration in certain circumstances. This review summarized the complex roles SIRT2 plays in the pathophysiology of diverse neurological disorders, compared and analyzed the discrete roles of SIRT2 in different conditions, and provided possible explanations for its paradoxical functions. In the future, the rapid growth in SIRT2 research may clarify its impacts on neurological disorders and develop therapeutic strategies targeting this protein.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Warepam ◽  
Khurshid Ahmad ◽  
Safikur Rahman ◽  
Hamidur Rahaman ◽  
Kritika Kumari ◽  
...  

Most of the human diseases related to various proteopathies are confined to the brain, which leads to the development of various forms of neurological disorders. The human brain consists of several osmolytic compounds, such as N-Acetylaspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (mI), glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), creatine (Cr), and choline-containing compounds (Cho). Among these osmolytes, the level of NAA drastically decreases under neurological conditions, and, hence, NAA is considered to be one of the most widely accepted neuronal biomarkers in several human brain disorders. To date, no data are available regarding the effect of NAA on protein stability, and, therefore, the possible effect of NAA under proteopathic conditions has not been fully uncovered. To gain an insight into the effect of NAA on protein stability, thermal denaturation and structural measurements were carried out using two model proteins at different pH values. The results indicate that NAA increases the protein stability with an enhancement of structure formation. We also observed that the stabilizing ability of NAA decreases in a pH-dependent manner. Our study indicates that NAA is an efficient protein stabilizer at a physiological pH.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhath Sherin ◽  
S. Gomathy ◽  
Shanish Antony

Abstract:: Sirtuins are NAD+ dependent enzymes that have a predominant role in neurodegenerative disorders and also regulate the inflammatory process, protein aggregation, etc. The relation between Sirtuins with that of the nervous system and neurodegeneration are widely studied consequently. Sirtuins have a strong role in metabolic syndrome in mitochondria also. The activities of Sirtuins can be altered by using small molecules that would be developed into drugs and it is proven that manipulation of SIRT1 activity influences neurodegenerative disease models. They are especially thrilling since using small molecules, which would be developed into a drug, it is feasible to alter the activities of sirtuins. Different functions of Sirtuins are depended upon their subcellular localization. In this review paper, we are discussing different Sirtuins, differential expression of sirtuins, and expression of sirtuin in the brain and briefly about sirtuin3 (SIRT3).


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Poff ◽  
Sara Moss ◽  
Maricel Soliven ◽  
Dominic P. D'Agostino

Diverse neurological disorders are associated with a deficit in brain energy metabolism, often characterized by acute or chronic glucose hypometabolism. Ketones serve as the brain's only significant alternative fuel and can even become the primary fuel in conditions of limited glucose availability. Thus, dietary supplementation with exogenous ketones represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy to help meet the energetic needs of the brain in an energy crisis. Preliminary evidence suggests ketosis induced by exogenous ketones may attenuate damage or improve cognitive and motor performance in neurological conditions such as seizure disorders, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and neurotrauma.


2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-189
Author(s):  
Liliyanti Fauzi ◽  
Tiara Bunga

The eye is a complex sensory organ that is responsible for vision. Within the protective sheath, each eye has receptors, a lens system for focusing light on receptors, and a nervous system for transmitting impulses from the receptors to the brain. Visual dysfunction can be caused by abnormal eye movements or changes in visual acuity, refraction, color vision, or accommodation. Visual dysfunction may also be a secondary effect of other neurological disorders. This narrative review aims to describe the structure of the eye in general and visual disturbances caused by the aging process and disorders of the protective structure of the eye.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satyakam Bhagavati

Remarkable discoveries over the last two decades have elucidated the autoimmune basis of several, previously poorly understood, neurological disorders. Autoimmune disorders of the nervous system may affect any part of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system, CNS) and also the peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction and skeletal muscle (peripheral nervous system, PNS). This comprehensive overview of this rapidly evolving field presents the factors which may trigger breakdown of self-tolerance and development of autoimmune disease in some individuals. Then the pathophysiological basis and clinical features of autoimmune diseases of the nervous system are outlined, with an emphasis on the features which are important to recognize for accurate clinical diagnosis. Finally the latest therapies for autoimmune CNS and PNS disorders and their mechanisms of action and the most promising research avenues for targeted immunotherapy are discussed.


Author(s):  
Colleen O’neill ◽  
Therese Nestor

This chapter aims to give you knowledge and understanding of the skills required to provide safe and effective care to a child presenting with a neurological disorder. The chapter will focus mainly on the more frequently encountered neurological conditions and procedures both in a hospital and community setting. In addition the importance of family centred care (Chapter Two) and a culturally sensitive approach to care will be discussed. ● The rationale for undertaking a neurological assessment and how to carry out a neurological assessment on a child. ● The important elements of care of the child with a head injury based on the best practice. ● Key responsibilities of the nurse before, during, and after a lumbar puncture procedure. ● Various approaches to neurological imaging and the main principles involved in preparing a child for these. ● The main causes of seizures in childhood. ● The main principles involved in caring for a child with a convulsive seizure. ● The nurse’s role in caring for an unconscious child. Good knowledge of national and local polices and guidelines in relation to this area are recommended to compliment learning in this chapter. Furthermore it is essential for students to have a good understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the neurological system when caring for a child with a neurological disorder. A thorough understanding and knowledge of the key structures and functions of the brain will assist in understanding neurological conditions and will help in appreciating the significance and relevance of monitoring neurological status (this section will concentrate mainly on the structure and function of the brain). Nevertheless, it is advisable to revise in more depth the nervous system in your core anatomy and physiology book. Knowledge from other chapters is also advisable in order to understand the interdependence between body systems and the brain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 6773
Author(s):  
Yuze Wu ◽  
Guojun Wei ◽  
Ningning Zhao

As a newly identified manganese transport protein, ZIP14 is highly expressed in the small intestine and liver, which are the two principal organs involved in regulating systemic manganese homeostasis. Loss of ZIP14 function leads to manganese overload in both humans and mice. Excess manganese in the body primarily affects the central nervous system, resulting in irreversible neurological disorders. Therefore, to prevent the onset of brain manganese accumulation becomes critical. In this study, we used Zip14−/− mice as a model for ZIP14 deficiency and discovered that these mice were born without manganese loading in the brain, but started to hyper-accumulate manganese within 3 weeks after birth. We demonstrated that decreasing manganese intake in Zip14−/− mice was effective in preventing manganese overload that typically occurs in these animals. Our results provide important insight into future studies that are targeted to reduce the onset of manganese accumulation associated with ZIP14 dysfunction in humans.


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