Early thinking palliative care for people with Parkinson's disease: A thematic synthesis based on a systematic mixed-methods review.

BackgroundParkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Awareness and the evidence supporting the merits of palliative care (PC) approaches to people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) are increasing.ObjectiveThis review aimed to address four key questions related to PC for PwPs and their caregivers: i) What are the indicators for timely access to PC? ii) When should PC be introduced? iii) What are the current care models for providing PC? iv) What are the barriers and facilitators at the organizational level?MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, and MEDLINE (2006-2024).

Structural and time-resolved mechanistic investigations of protein hydrolysis by the acidic proline-specific endoprotease from Aspergillus niger.

Proline-specific endoproteases have been successfully used in, for example, the in-situ degradation of gluten, the hydrolysis of bitter peptides, the reduction of haze during beer production, and the generation of peptides for mass spectroscopy and proteomics applications. Here we present the crystal structure of the extracellular proline-specific endoprotease from Aspergillus niger (AnPEP), a member of the S28 peptidase family with rarely observed true proline-specific endoprotease activity. Family S28 proteases have a conventional Ser-Asp-His catalytic triad, but their oxyanion-stabilizing hole shows a glutamic acid, an amino acid not previously observed in this role.

Neural underpinnings of freezing-related dynamic balance control in people with Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: People with Parkinson's disease (PD) with freezing of gait (FOG; freezers) show impaired dynamic balance and experience falls more frequently compared to those without (non-freezers). Here, we explore the neural underpinnings of these freezing-related balance problems.

Methods: 12 freezers, 16 non-freezers and 14 controls performed a dynamic balance task in the lab.

The Effect of a Multidisciplinary Blended Learning Program on Palliative Care Knowledge for Health Care Professionals Involved in the Care for People with Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is an increasingly prevalent and progressive degenerative disease. Palliative care for PD should be integrated into the routine care for people with PD. However, PD health care professionals typically lack knowledge of palliative care, highlighting the necessity of educational programs in this field.

The Role of Tryptophan in π Interactions in Proteins: An Experimental Approach.

In proteins, the amino acids Phe, Tyr, and especially Trp are frequently involved in π interactions such as π-π, cation-π, and CH-π bonds. These interactions are often crucial for protein structure and protein-ligand binding. A powerful means to study these interactions is progressive fluorination of these aromatic residues to modulate the electrostatic component of the interaction.

Compromised Brain Activity With Age During a Game-Like Dynamic Balance Task: Single- vs. Dual-Task Performance.

Postural control and cognition are affected by aging. We investigated whether cognitive distraction influenced neural activity differently in young and older adults during a game-like mediolateral weight-shifting task with a personalized task load. Seventeen healthy young and 17 older adults performed a balance game, involving hitting virtual wasps, serial subtractions and a combination of both (dual-task).

Application of microbial 3-ketosteroid Δ-dehydrogenases in biotechnology.

3-Ketosteroid Δ-dehydrogenase catalyzes the 1(2)-dehydrogenation of 3-ketosteroid substrates using flavin adenine dinucleotide as a cofactor. The enzyme plays a crucial role in microbial steroid degradation, both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, by initiating the opening of the steroid nucleus. Indeed, many microorganisms are known to possess one or more 3-ketosteroid Δ-dehydrogenases.

Impaired Weight-Shift Amplitude in People with Parkinson's Disease with Freezing of Gait.

Background: People with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait (FOG; freezers) suffer from pronounced postural instability. However, the relationship between these phenomena remains unclear and has mostly been tested in paradigms requiring step generation.

Objective: To determine if freezing-related dynamic balance deficits are present during a task without stepping and determine the influence of dopaminergic medication on dynamic balance control.

Thalamic morphology predicts the onset of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.

The onset of freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is a critical milestone, marked by a higher risk of falls and reduced quality of life. FOG is associated with alterations in subcortical neural circuits, yet no study has assessed whether subcortical morphology can predict the onset of clinical FOG. In this prospective multimodal neuroimaging cohort study, we performed vertex-based analysis of grey matter morphology in fifty-seven individuals with PD at study entry and two years later.

Relationship of Agaricus bisporus mannose-binding protein to lectins with β-trefoil fold.

Agaricus bisporus mannose-binding protein (Abmb) was discovered as part of the mushroom tyrosinase (PPO3) complex, but its function in the mushroom has remained obscure. The protein has a β-trefoil structure that is common for Ricin-B-like lectins. Indeed, its closest structural homologs are the hemagglutinin components of botulinum toxin (HA-33) and the Ricin-B-like lectin from Clitocybe nebularis (CNL), both of which bind galactose, and actinohivin, a recently discovered mannose-binding lectin from actinomycetes.

Functional neuroimaging of human postural control: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Postural instability is a strong risk factor for falls that becomes more prominent with aging. To facilitate treatment and prevention of falls in an aging society, a thorough understanding of the neural networks underlying postural control is warranted. Here, we present a systematic review of the functional neuroimaging literature of studies measuring posture-related neural activity in healthy subjects.

The New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire: Unsuitable as an Outcome in Clinical Trials?

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common gait deficit in Parkinson's disease. The New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q) is a widely used and valid tool to quantify freezing of gait severity. However, its test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change remain unknown.

Phenylthiourea Binding to Human Tyrosinase-Related Protein 1.

Tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) is one of the three human melanogenic enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of melanin, a pigment responsible for the color of the skin, hair, and eyes. It shares high sequence identity with tyrosinase, but has two zinc ions in its active site rather than two copper ions as in tyrosinase. Typical tyrosinase inhibitors do not directly coordinate to the zinc ions of TYRP1.

Xylanases from marine microorganisms: A brief overview on scope, sources, features and potential applications.

Global economic growth often leads to depletion of raw materials and generation of greenhouse gases, as industry manufactures goods at ever increasing levels to keep up with the demand. The currently implemented production processes mostly rely on non-renewable resources, they suffer from high energy consumption, and generate waste that often has a negative environmental impact. Eco-friendly production methods are therefore intensely searched for.

β-Xylosidases: Structural Diversity, Catalytic Mechanism, and Inhibition by Monosaccharides.

Xylan, a prominent component of cellulosic biomass, has a high potential for degradation into reducing sugars, and subsequent conversion into bioethanol. This process requires a range of xylanolytic enzymes. Among them, β-xylosidases are crucial, because they hydrolyze more glycosidic bonds than any of the other xylanolytic enzymes.

Functional MRI to Study Gait Impairment in Parkinson's Disease: a Systematic Review and Exploratory ALE Meta-Analysis.

Purpose Of Review: Whilst gait impairment is a main cause for disability in Parkinson's disease (PD), its neural control remains poorly understood. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies of surrogate features of gait in PD.

Findings: Assessing the results from PET or SPECT scans after a period of actual walking as well as fMRI during mental imagery or virtual reality (VR) gait paradigms, we found a varying pattern of gait-related brain activity.

The role and mechanism of microbial 3-ketosteroid Δ-dehydrogenases in steroid breakdown.

3-Ketosteroid Δ-dehydrogenases are FAD-dependent enzymes that catalyze the introduction of a double bond between the C1 and C2 atoms of the A-ring of 3-ketosteroid substrates. These enzymes are found in a large variety of microorganisms, especially in bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinobacteria. They play a critical role in the early steps of the degradation of the steroid core.

Towards understanding neural network signatures of motor skill learning in Parkinson's disease and healthy aging.

In the past decade, neurorehabilitation has been shown to be an effective therapeutic supplement for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, patients still experience severe problems with the consolidation of learned motor skills. Knowledge on the neural correlates underlying this process is thus essential to optimize rehabilitation for PD.

Structural basis of product inhibition by arabinose and xylose of the thermostable GH43 β-1,4-xylosidase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans IT-08.

Complete degradation of the xylan backbone of hemicellulosic plant cell walls requires the synergistic action of endo-xylanases and β-1,4-xylosidases. While endo-xylanases produce xylooligosaccharides from xylan, β-1,4-xylosidases degrade the xylooligosaccharides into xylose monomers. The glycoside hydrolase family 43 β-1,4-xylosidase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans IT-08 is a promising, heat stable catalyst for the saccharification of hemicellulosic material into simple fermentable sugars, but it is competitively inhibited by its products arabinose and xylose.

Structure and Function of Human Tyrosinase and Tyrosinase-Related Proteins.

Melanin is the main pigment responsible for the color of human skin, hair and eye. Its biosynthesis requires three melanogenic enzymes, tyrosinase (TYR), and the tyrosinase-related proteins TYRP1 and TYRP2. The difficulty of isolating pure and homogeneous proteins from endogenous sources has hampered their study, and resulted in many contradictory findings regarding their physiological functions.

Structure of Human Tyrosinase Related Protein 1 Reveals a Binuclear Zinc Active Site Important for Melanogenesis.

Tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) is one of three tyrosinase-like glycoenzymes in human melanocytes that are key to the production of melanin, the compound responsible for the pigmentation of skin, eye, and hair. Difficulties with producing these enzymes in pure form have hampered the understanding of their activity and the effect of mutations that cause albinism and pigmentation disorders. Herein we show that the typical tyrosinase-like subdomain of TYRP1 contains two zinc ions in the active site instead of copper ions as found in tyrosinases, which explains why TYRP1 does not exhibit tyrosinase redox activity.

Clinical balance scales indicate worse postural control in people with Parkinson's disease who exhibit freezing of gait compared to those who do not: A meta-analysis.

Postural instability and freezing of gait (FOG) are key features of Parkinson's disease (PD) that are closely related to falls. Uncovering the postural control differences between individuals with and without FOG contributes to our understanding of the relationship between these phenomena. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether postural control deficits, as detected by clinical balance scales, were more apparent in FOG+ compared to FOG-.

The light subunit of mushroom Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase: Its biological characteristics and implications.

The light subunit of mushroom Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase (LSMT) is a protein of unknown function that was discovered serendipitously during the elucidation of the crystal structure of the enzyme. The protein is non-immunogenic and can penetrate the intestinal epithelial cell barrier, and thus, similar to its structural homologue HA-33 from Clostridium botulinum, may be potentially absorbable by the intestine. LSMT also shares high structural homology with the ricin-B-like lectin from the mushroom Clitocybe nebularis (CNL), which has been shown to display biological activity against leukemic cancer cells and dendritic cells.

Crystal Structure of 4,6-α-Glucanotransferase Supports Diet-Driven Evolution of GH70 Enzymes from α-Amylases in Oral Bacteria.

Food processing and refining has dramatically changed the human diet, but little is known about whether this affected the evolution of enzymes in human microbiota. We present evidence that glycoside hydrolase family 70 (GH70) glucansucrases from lactobacilli, synthesizing α-glucan-type extracellular polysaccharides from sucrose, likely evolved from GH13 starch-acting α-amylases, via GH70 4,6-α-glucanotransferases. The crystal structure of a 4,6-α-glucanotransferase explains the mode of action and unique product specificity of these enzymes.