Comparison of serum adiponectin and interleukin 6 concentrations in nondiabetic hypertensive and diabetic hypertensive patients who developed cerebral infarct

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in western as well as developing countries. Adiponectin is a fat-derived plasma protein that has beneficial actions on cerebrovascular disorders. A low level of plasma adiponectin is associated with increased mortality after ischemic stroke. Interleukin 6 is a cytokine, which is elevated in inflammatory, traumatic and ischemic injuries. The objective of this study was to compare serum adiponectin and interleukin-6 levels in diabetic hypertensive and nondiabetic hypertensive patients and to measure the size of cerebral infarct. 89 patients [30 controls, 30 nondiabetic hypertensive and 29 diabetic hypertensive] were recruited in the study according to inclusion criteria of Ziauddin University Hospital. Serum adiponectin and interleukin 6 concentrations were measured by ELISA. Blood glucose and lipid profile was done by standard kit methods. Serum adiponectin concentration was significantly lower [P<0.05] in both study groups and interleukin 6 was significantly higher [P<0.05] in diabetic hypertensive group as compared with controls. The mean serum interleukin 6 in diabetic hypertensive patients with cerebral infarct was significantly higher than that of nondiabetic hypertensive patients with cerebral infarct [P< 0.001]. Serum adiponectin concentration was decreased while the infarct size was larger in diabetic hypertensive group as compared to nondiabetic. Hypertensive group but the difference in these parameters was statistically non significant. Hence the study supports to the evidence of involvement of adiponectin and interleukin 6 in patients of stroke

Antidepressant like actions of opuntia dillenii butanol fraction in rodents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant like actions of butanol fraction from methanol extract of Opuntia dillenii in rodents. Butanol fraction of Opuntia dillenii was obtained by bioassay guided fractionation of crude methanol extract of the plant. This fraction was evaluated for antidepressant activities using two behavioral tests viz a] forced swimming and b] tail suspension tests in rats and mice, respectively. Additionally, locomotor test and yohimbine potentiation test were also conducted to understand its mechanism of antidepressant action. One way analysis of variance and Student's paired t test were applied for data analysis and significance was defined as P value <0.05. The butanol fraction significantly reduced the duration of immobility time of rodents in a dose dependant manner in both behavioral stress models, indicating antidepressant-like activity. This effect was comparable to that of reference antidepressant drug fluoxetine. The butanol fraction did not cause significant change in the locomotor activity suggesting that the butanol fraction is not a stimulant. The four times higher mortality in yohimbine treated mice in the presence of butanol fraction as compared to control animals implies that butanol fraction is probably interfering with the alpha -2 feedback mechanism of norepinephrine. Hence the butanol fraction of Opuntia dillenii possesses antidepressant activity therefore it merits further research to identify active moiety and to further elaborate the possible mechanism[s] involved in its antidepressant activity

Comparison of the efficacy of fluoxetine, phenelzine and moclobemide in rodents using animal models of depression

Fluoxetine, phenelzine and moclobemide are reference antidepressant drugs that are commonly used to treat depression. In a present study we have compared the efficacy of fluoxetine, phenelzine and moclobemide in the rodents using forced swimming test [FST] and the tail suspension test [TST]. All the drugs caused marked reduction in immobility time of rodents in a dose dependent manner in both models of depression but FST appeared to be more sensitive behavioral model than TST, in our study. Moclobemide showed the highest efficacy as it caused 87.7% reduction in immobility time in rats using FST with an efficacy order as moclobemide > phenelzine > fluoxetine. On the basis of IC[30] values for the drugs, fluoxetine appeared to be the most potent in our investigations

Phytotherapy and its role in the treatment of depression

For centuries, man has used traditional remedies for the treatment of various ailments. Despite all the marvelous advancements in the field of medical science, traditional medicine has always been in practice. More than 50% of the developing world's population still depends on complementary and alternative systems of medicine [CAM], not only due to their efficacy but also because many of the modem drugs are beyond the financial reach of general population. Evidence-based CAM therapies have shown remarkable success in healing acute as well as chronic diseases. These therapies are first choice for problems such as infertility, epilepsy, psychosomatic disorders, depression and many other ailments. Phytotherapy is one of the therapeutic modalities in CAM that is gradually becoming very popular. Herbal remedies and extracts are traditionally being used and available worldwide for the treatment of many diseases including depression. Many of these plants have been scientifically validated by experiments that justify their traditional use. The standardized extract of Hypericum perforatum [St. John's wort] is the most promising herbal remedy, used as a therapeutic agent for depression in many countries and it seems to offer significant advantages over conventional antidepressants. Herbal practitioners have claimed for centuries that extracts from plants are effectively used for the alleviation of different types of diseases. Here we have reviewed the scientific status of some popular herbs that are being used in different parts of the world for the treatment of depression

Depression: prevalence, pathogenesis and treatment options

Depression represents a major public health problem that is characterized by disturbance of mood, poor concentration, loss of sense of control and a subjective experience of great distress. It affects the thinking and functioning processes of an individual, greatly diminishes his or her social role and productivity, even leading to suicide. The incidence of depression is gradually on a rise and afflicts all socioeconomic levels. Prevalence studies give very high figures of depression in all parts of the world. The pathogenesis of this mental health problem is very complex. Genetic factors greatly contribute in etiology of depression and the heritability of this illness is greater in females. Abnormalities in membrane bound signal transduction systems and intracellular signaling systems play an important role in the etiology of depression. Deregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and altered levels of several brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, glutamate, gamma amino butyric acid and dopamine are also implicated in depression. The cause and effect relationshiop in this mental disorder still remains unclear. Therapies that are available to treat depression are limited and suboptimal with regard to their efficacy and tolerability. These therapies include pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, exercise therapy, electro convulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, phytotherapy, meditation, phototherapy and negative ion therapy