Metabolic brain disease
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Metabolic brain disease · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyAnalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of honey: the involvement of autonomic receptors.
The use of honey for therapeutic purposes is on the increase and many studies have shown that honey has the ability to influence biological systems including pain transmission. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of honey and the effects of concurrent administration of autonomic nervous system blocking drugs. Studies on analgesic activities was carried out using hotplate and formalin-induced paw licking models while the anti-inflammatory activity was by the carrageenan paw oedema method. ⋯ Hexamethonium also spared the effects of honey at the early and late phases of the test while atropine only inhibited the early phase of the test. However, atropine and hexamethonium spared the anti-inflammatory effects of honey but tamsulosin abolished the effects while propranolol only abolished the anti-inflammatory effects at the peak of the inflammation. The results suggest the involvement of autonomic receptors in the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of honey although the level of involvement depends on the different types of the receptors.
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Metabolic brain disease · Mar 2014
Omega-3 fatty acids alter behavioral and oxidative stress parameters in animals subjected to fenproporex administration.
Studies have consistently reported the participation of oxidative stress in bipolar disorder (BD). Evidences indicate that omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids play several important roles in brain development and functioning. Moreover, preclinical and clinical evidence suggests roles for ω3 fatty acids in BD. ⋯ Additionally, the administration of fenproporex resulted in a marked increased of TBARS in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum and cerebral cortex, and prevent this damage in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum. In conclusion, we are able to demonstrate that fenproporex-induced hyperlocomotion and damage through oxidative stress were prevented by ω3 fatty acids. Thus, the ω3 fatty acids may be important adjuvant therapy of bipolar disorder.
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Metabolic brain disease · Dec 2013
Predominant gray matter volume loss in patients with end-stage renal disease: a voxel-based morphometry study.
To investigate the pattern of brain volume changes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and correlation with clinical and neuropsychological (NP) tests. Fifty seven ESRD patients with no anatomical abnormalities in conventional magnetic resonance imaging [24 patients with abnormal NP scores, 16 male, 39 ± 12 years; 33 patients with normal NP scores, 23 male, 35 ± 9.7 years] and 22 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (14 male, 36 ± 10.1 years) were recruited in this study. Results from VBM analysis were analyzed with ANOVA test among 3 groups (controls, minimal nephro-encephalopathy group, non-nephro-encephalopathy group). ⋯ No correlation was found between white matter volume and any NP test scores in ESRD patients. This study found predominantly decreased gray matter volume in ESRD patients, which was associated with neurocognitive dysfunction. Serum urea level may be a risk factor for decreased gray matter in ESRD patients.
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Metabolic brain disease · Sep 2013
Rivastigmine reverses cognitive deficit and acetylcholinesterase activity induced by ketamine in an animal model of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is one of the most disabling mental disorders that affects up to 1 % of the population worldwide. Although the causes of this disorder remain unknown, it has been extensively characterized by a broad range of emotional, ideational and cognitive impairments. Studies indicate that schizophrenia affects neurotransmitters such as dopamine, glutamate and acetylcholine. ⋯ Moreover, we observed that rivastigmina reversed the increase of acetylcholinesterase activity induced by ketamine in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum. However, rivastigmine was not able to prevent the ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion. In conslusion, ours results indicate that cholinergic system might be an important therapeutic target in the physiopathology of schizophrenia, mainly in the cognition, but additional studies should be carried.
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Metabolic brain disease · Jun 2013
ReviewLactulose, rifaximin or branched chain amino acids for hepatic encephalopathy: what is the evidence?
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a serious complication of acute and chronic liver disease associated with severe morbidity and mortality. We performed updated random effects meta-analyses to evaluate the evidence for non-absorbable disaccharides (lactulose and lactitol), rifaximin and branched chain amino acids (BCAA). A meta-analysis of randomized trials showed that, compared with placebo or no intervention, non-absorbable disaccharides have beneficial effects on HE manifestations and prevention of HE episodes. ⋯ No convincing effects of intravenous BCAA for episodic HE were identified. In conclusion, evidence-based treatment recommendations for patients with HE should include non-absorbable disaccharides combined with rifaximin or BCAA. Additional evidence is needed to evaluate the effect of combining all three interventions.