Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Walter Schubert
International Human Toponome Project, Toposnomos Ltd, Germany
Keynote: A molecular geometry imaging platform enabling life saving measures in ALS
Biography:
Walter Schubert is the Director of the International Human Toponome Project, Munich, Germany. Based on observations on the island of KOS, Greece, in 1987, he formulated the sun light hypothesis and derived MUSIC robotics for simultaneous imaging of millions of molecular signals in one and the same sample, e.g. in diseased tissues of ALS: the imaging cycler technology applying millions of quasi channels. He is Emeritus Professor for Toponomics of the International Faculty, CAS-MPI partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China. He has received many national and international awards and honors. He has 150 publications, and holds over 80 technology and therapy patents.
Abstract:
This presentation deals with a molecular geometry imaging platform capable of mapping the spatial protein-colocalization and anti-colocalization code of large molecular systems at a time. The platform called molecular unlimited systems imaging cycler (MUSIC) robotics was applied to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The detection of ALS specific cells with a corresponding multi molecular geometry in the blood led to therapeutic depletion of these cells and to recovery of the treated patient, obviously because this therapy interferes with pathogenic invasion of these cells into the central nervous system, where they axotomize motor axons. Large scale geometry MUSIC robotics imaging of up to 4.5x10481 power of combinatorial molecular resolution is key to detect these cells and to control depletion therapy for clinical success. These data and new possibilities may argue for clinical application and for a systematic research in the field of molecular geometry of diseases to discover new mathematically defined insight.
Keynote Forum
Kostas Konstantopoulos
European University Cyprus, Cyprus
Keynote: The use of electroglottography in the assessment of voice in neurological diseases
Biography:
Kostas Konstantopoulos has expertise in the “Quantification of dysarthrophonia in different neurological diseases”. The major emphasis of his present research is on the differentiation among neurological groups from their speech/voice in order to contribute to the differential neurological diagnosis. He is an Assistant Professor in Speech Language Pathology at the European University, Cyprus, teaching a wide range of neurogenic courses in undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2018, he has been elected as a Vice President in the School of Health Sciences. Also, he has been Coordinator in the graduate program from 2016 to 2018 and now he serves as a Coordinator in the Bachelor’s degree in Speech Therapy. He is also a Clinician at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics since 2012.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: In the last eight years, there are an increased number of studies that gave emphasis on the quantification of voice symptomatology in different neurological diseases. The present speech aims to discuss the findings of voice production in these studies in neurological diseases such as myasthenia gravis (MG), multiple sclerosis (MS), essential voice tremor (ET), and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: All studies used a pair-matched methodology. A combination of tasks (sustained phonation and reading of a standard text passage) was used to measure voice. Electroglottography (EGG) as an indirect and non-invasive imaging technique, measures changes in electrical resistance between electrodes placed over the thyroid cartilage. EGG waveforms measure the duration of the relative vocal fold contact patterns within the glottal cycle and they are produced when the contact of the vocal folds increases as electrical impedance decreases. In ENT, EGG has been used to describe irregularities in vocal fold vibration in patients diagnosed with vocal fold nodules, vocal fold cysts and glottal cancers. In the present study, EGG numerical data were extracted and measures of central tendency were shown as a distribution of frequencies. The recordings were obtained using a laptop Sony Vaio that was connected to an electroglottograph processor (PCLX) (Laryngograph Ltd, London, UK).
Findings: The mean fundamental frequency of the vibrating vocal folds, the standard deviation of the vibrating vocal folds, the jitter and the fundamental frequency range were found to differentiate patient groups from the control groups.
Conclusion & Significance: EGG is a sensitive measure of pathology in the dysarthrophonia of different neurological diseases. Further research may study the quantification of voice early in the disease process to help in the differential neurological diagnosis (for example in diseases such as myasthenia gravis vs. ALS).
- Clinical Neurology | Neurological Intensive Care | Neurodevelopment Disorders | Movement Disorders | Neurology Case Reports | Brain Disorders
Location: Taunus
Chair
Kostas Konstantopoulos
European University Cyprus, Cyprus
Session Introduction
Lionel O Mavoungou
University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Title: Characterization of mesoangioblasts and modulation of their engraftment capacity for Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy
Biography:
Lionel O Mavoungou is a First Assistant in Prof Nicolas Mermod’s laboratory at the University of Lausanne. After completing his PhD at the University of Montreal, he specialized in Stem Cell Biology and their interactions with their environment via signaling pathways. He joined Nicolas Mermod’s laboratory in order to work on a gene therapy model focused on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This project integrates gene therapy aspects with stem cell engineering as well as metabolomic and genomic approaches, aiming to enhance stem cells capacity to restore diseased muscle function.
Abstract:
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal monogenic pathology characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. We designed a potential autologous gene therapy protocol based on the intra-muscular transplantation of dystrophic mdx mesoangioblasts (MABs) transfected with full length dystrophin using the piggyBac transposon system into mdx SCID mice. This approach allowed us to detect transplanted MAB-derived dystrophin expression in myofibers and a functional amelioration of the muscle function. Transplanted muscle analysis revealed different fates for MABs. Some fused with myofibers, while the fate of other cells remained unclear. In order to characterize these cell populations, a mass cytometry analysis was performed before and after MABs transplant. This revealed that a subpopulation deriving from the MABs, that we named MAB-SAT, express satellite cell markers. A transcriptome analysis of this MAB-SAT subpopulation revealed an identity intermediate to MABs and endogenous satellite cells. The characterization of other MAB fates revealed a diverse spectrum of differentiation paths after transplant which allows quantifying the proportion of MABs for each particular differentiation lineage. In parallel, we screened signaling pathways affecting satellite cell markers expression in MABs, allowing the identification of several signaling pathways that favor the expression of satellite cell markers in MABs before transplant, in attempts to enhance the MABs potential to engraft and differentiate into myogenic lineage when used in autologous cell therapy.
Abou Dao
Hôpital de District de Bogodogo, Burkina Faso
Title: Neurocysticercosis discovered incidentally during an asynchronous single brain metastasis of breast adenocarcinoma
Biography:
Abou Dao is a Radiotherapist Doctor. He is Doctor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso in 2005. He practiced in the western region of Burkina till 2010. He was trained in Radiotherapy in Casablanca in Morocco for 4 years and completed his Specialist Diploma in 2014. Currently, he is in a university hospital and interested in the management of neurological tumors, particularly brain metastases. As cysticercosis is present in Burkina Faso, he seeks to see if there is a link between brain metastases and the presence of cysticercus in the brain.
Abstract:
Background: Neurocysticercosis is anthropozoonosis of the central nervous system. We report a case of an asynchronous single brain metastasis of breast adenocarcinoma.
Clinical Observation: In 2011, we received Mrs M P L, 37 years old, who had a left breast adenocarcinoma, classified as T4bN1M0, positive for hormonal receptors and HER2+++ for whom she received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then a patey. Histopathology concluded a residual adenocarcinoma classified TBNA of Sataloff. 50Gy radiotherapy was administered on the wall followed by tamoxifen prescribed for 5 years. The patient, considered in complete remission, was followed. Twenty months after chemotherapy, she was admitted to rebel headaches and vertigo. The examination found a patient with 80% Karnofsky index, apyretic with a separation of the levitation polygon. Cerebral MRI revealed a single 32x30 mm left temporo-occipital lesion with peri-lesional infiltration. CA15.3 was high at 159.8 IU/ml. No other metastasis has been revealed. A stereotaxic biopsy was performed and histopathology concluded a breast adenocarcinoma, CK7 positive, Her2 negative, hormonal receptors positive and discovery of a live cysticercus larva. Management consisted of corticosteroid therapy, albendazole and brain radiotherapy in toto, followed by boosting the lesion. The evolution was marked a clear clinical and radiological improvement. CA15.3 control was normal. Unfortunately, patients die one year after the brain radiotherapy.
Conclusion: The association of a neurocysticercosis with an adenocarcinoma is possible especially in tropical zone patients. Concurrent management could improve local control but survival remains short.
David Boyer Ramsden
University of Birmingham, UK
Title: Parkinson’s disease (PD): Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2
Biography:
David Boyer Ramsden (Honorary Professor), S-L Ho (Professor of Neurology) and PW-L Ho (Assistant Professor) have collaborated for twenty years on the causes, effects and treatment of Parkinson’s disease. He got his Ph.D degree in Biochemistry from Bradford University. Currently, he is an Honorary Professor at The Medical School, University of Birmingham. His current researches are based on endocrine disruptors, evolution N-methyltransferases in primates, Parkinsons disease and other. He had 190 publications on a range of topics and 21 chapters in various books.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are associated with familial and sporadic PD. How LRRK2 interacts with synaptic proteins, and its role in dopamine (DA) homeostasis, synaptic vesicle recycling and α-synuclein catabolism are unclear.
Methods: To explore the pathogenic effects of LRRK2 mutation, we generated C57BL/6N mice with homozygous LRRK2R1441G knock in (KI).
Findings: Although no abnormal phenotype was observed in mutant LRRK2R1441G mice, the KI mutation increased vulnerability to reserpine-induced striatal DA depletion and perturbed DA homeostasis resulting in presynaptic dysfunction and locomotor deficits. Subsequently, we found that mutant primary cortical and mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons were more susceptible to rotenone-induced ATP deficiency. Compared with wild-type controls, striatal synaptosomes isolated from young mutant mice exhibited significantly lower dopamine uptake after rotenone toxicity, due to reduced striatal synaptosomal mitochondria and synaptic vesicular proton pump protein (V-ATPase H) levels. Mutant mice developed greater locomotor deficits in open-field tests than wild-type mice following low oral rotenone doses given twice weekly over 50 weeks (half their lifespan). The increased locomotor deficit was associated with specific reduction in striatal mitochondrial complex-I (NDUFS4) in rotenone-treated mutant mice. Finally, we showed greater age-dependent increases of striatal oligomeric α-synuclein (toxic species) in KI mice compared to wild-type (WT). Given that a significant proportion of cellular α-synuclein is metabolized via lysosomal degradation, such accumulation of its oligomers may be a result of an age-dependent decrease in chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) activity associated with impaired assembly/disassembly of multimeric lamp2a translocation complexes.
Conclusion: Enhancement of CMA represents a potential treatment for PD.
Biography:
Husham Bayazed has completed his PhD at University of Mosul, College of Medicine. He is now a Consultant at the Scientific Research Center, University of Zakho/Kurdistan Region, Iraq. He is a Specialist and Consultant in Microbiology and Immunology and has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a Scientific Reviewer for many local and international medical journals. In addition, he has a Fellowship of ISC, Infection, Cancer, Immunology Advisory Board Member (EUROMDnet) Belgium, Membership of World Stroke Organization, Membership of Metabolomics, USA, and Membership of American Association of Science & Technology with more than 20 participations in international scientific meetings all over the world.
Abstract:
Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease. Cerebral ischemia associated with APS occurs at a younger age than typical atherothrombotic cerebrovascular disease, is often recurrent and is associated with high positive IgG anti-phospholipid (GPL) unit levels. This study sought to determine the frequency rates of anti-cardiolipin (aCL) dependent on the presence of β2-GPI, anti-β2-glycoprotein I (aβ2-GPI) and anti-phosphatidyl serine (aPS) IgG autoantibodies among stroke patients and thus demonstrate the importance of testing for aβ2-GPI autoantibodies. Stroke patients and control subjects recruited from Mosul, Erbil and Dohuk provinces in Northern Iraq were evaluated. All cases were under 50 years-of-age and had no recognizable risk factors. ELISA was used to evaluate the presence of IgG isotype of aCL, aβ2-GPI, and aPS autoantibodies in their blood, the results indicated that the frequency of aβ2-GPI was 14/50 (28%), aCL was 11/50 (22%) and aPS was 9/50 (18%) among stroke patients. In contrast, aCL was detected in 2/30 (6.7%) of control subjects; each of the other anti-phospholipid antibodies (APLA) was never observed. Of all the aβ2-GPI+ cases, the incidence of stroke patients having the combined profile of aβ2-GPI+aCL was 11/14 (78.6%) and of aβ2-GPI+aPS was 9/14 (64.3%) only 2/14 (14.3%) of these aβ2-GPI+ patients expressed aCL in the absence of aPS. The frequency of patients expressing all three markers was only 9/14 (64.3 %). In none of the APS/stroke patients were aCL or aPS expressed in the absence of the aβ2-GPI. Conversely, IgG aβ2-GPI as a sole marker was seen in 3/14 (21.4%) of these patients (i.e. in absence of either other marker). It can be concluded from these studies that among the three major forms of APLA examined, the presence of IgG aβ2-GPI autoantibodies appeared to correlate best with stroke in patients who were concurrently suffering from APS.