Stress-another possible mechanism of neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases

Theliteratureassociatesoxidativestresswiththeproductionoffreeradicals,whichleadtoneurodegeneration.Theypresentinnumerablehypotheses,amongwhichareabnormalitiesinthefunctioningofthehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenalaxis,neurotoxiceffectsandneuronaloxidativedamage.ClinicalobservationhasshownthatinneurodegenerativediseasessuchasMultipleSclerosis(MS)andAmyotrophicLateralSclerosis(ALS)thereisareportofprolonged or violent emotionalstressprecedingthesymptoms.Aims:UsingtheCarilloComplexSystemsModel,presentsomepossibilitiesonhowstresscancontributetoneurodegeneration.Methodology:NinecasesofALSandsixcasesofMSwereevaluated,pathologiesalreadyclassifiedasbelongingtosyphilinism.Literaturereviewonstressandneurotoxicitycarriedout.Resultsanddiscussion:Syphilinism is instability with a predominantly intrinsicorigin to the system with a chronic caracter.This diathesis is characterized by a dissipative deficiency, predominantly hepatic, to the processing of certain elements or potentially toxic substances with exogenous origin or endogenous Such non-processed substances are unstable factors in the system, with greater affinity for certain tissues,like the nervous system. Among the toxins, we find alcohol, esters, formaldehyde, aloe, ketones, aldehydes, etc. The final hepatic metabolism of cortisol results in cortic acids and cortol, which use the same enzymatic system as alcohol, and can be considered syphilinic toxins. Ethanol can act directly at the circadian rhythm, disrupting it and generating stressful substances such as cortisol, regardless of an external event, increasing the toxin level. The inflammatory process generated by the production of free radicals and metabolic abnormalities, including the reduction of neuropeptide Y that modulates inflammatory activity in the nervous system, leads to changes that can result in neurodegeneration. Conclusion: Inflammation caused by toxins from prolonged/violent emotional stress can lead to several changes in syphilinic individuals, due to failure in the dissipative process, including neurodegeneration.

Determinantes do peso insuficiente e do baixo peso ao nascer na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 2001 / Determinants of Insufficient and Low Birth Weight in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2001

O objetivo desse trabalho foi investigar determinantes comuns do peso insuficiente e do baixo peso ao nascer com base nas informações do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (Sinasc) no Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, em 2001. O baixo peso (<2.500g) e o peso insuficiente ao nascer (2.500 a 2.999g) foram analisados separadamente e contrastados com o peso satisfatório (3.000 a 3.999g). Do total de nascidos vivos elegíveis (78.582), 8,7% e 24,8% apresentaram, respectivamente, baixo peso e peso insuficiente ao nascer. Nas análises univariadas, a escolaridade e idade materna, o número de consultas de pré-natal e a duração da gestação estiveram mais fortemente associadas ao baixo peso do que ao peso insuficiente ao nascer. Nos modelos de regressão de Poisson com níveis hierárquicos de determinação, a escolaridade materna e o número de consultas de pré-natal não se mostraram estatisticamente associados ao peso insuficiente. Apesar da limitação de informações disponíveis no Sinasc, foram praticamente comuns os determinantes do baixo peso e do peso insuficiente.

The present study aimed to investigate whether insufficient birth weight and low birth weight share the same determinants, based on data of the Live Birth Information System (Sinasc) in the city of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2001. The outcomes Insufficient Birth Weight (2,500- ,999g) and Low Birth Weight (<2,500g) were analyzed separately and compared to the Satisfactory Birth Weight (3,000-3,999g). Of the total newborns eligible for the study (78,582), 8.7% and 24.8% presented, respectively, low birth weight and insufficient birth weight. Based on the univariate analysis, the mother’s educational and age level, prenatal care and gestational were stronger associated with low birth weight than to insufficient birth weight. Based on the hierarchical Poisson regression modeling, the mother’s educational level and the number of prenatal care consultations weren’t statistically associated to insufficient birth weight. Insufficient birth weight determinants were found to be the same as of the low birth weight, in spite of the quantitative and qualitative limitations of information available at Sinasc.