ABSTRACT
Ethanol is a central nervous system depressant that is widely consumed worldwide. When consumed chronically, it may have several consequences to the organism, such as oxidative stress. Ethanol metabolism increases the production of oxidant molecules and its consumption may cause changes in enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems that maintain cellular homeostasis. The activity of endogenous enzymes and lipid peroxidation are altered in alcohol consumers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate oxidative stress parameters in ethanol users compared to a control group. For that, the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), and malondialdehyde were evaluated. The influence of the amount of ethanol consumed on the analyzed parameters was also verified. The group of alcohol users consisted of 52 volunteers, 85% male and 15% female, with a mean age of 41±13 years. The control group consisted of 50 non-drinkers, 40% male and 60% female, with a mean age of 50±10 years. There was a significant difference in superoxide dismutase (P<0.001) and malondialdehyde (P=0.007) measurements between groups, as both parameters were increased in the group of ethanol users. Because of the higher amount of ethanol consumed, there was an increase of the catalase activity parameters and gradual reduction of FRAP. Thus, the ethanol-consuming participants were most likely under oxidative stress.
ABSTRACT
Con motivo de la publicación de un caso en el cual la risa involuntaria e inmotivada constituye la única manifestación clínica de Epilepsia en la edad adulta, se hace una revisión histórica del problema, se discute la fisiología de la risa normal, se enmarca la Epilepsia Gelástica en el contexto de la risa patológica y se comentan múltiples etiologías, diversas localizaciones lesionales y un espectro de patrones clínicos y electroencefalográficos en relación con Epilepsia Gelástica
Subject(s)
Epilepsy/etiology , Laughter , Brain Neoplasms/complications , Niemann-Pick Diseases/complications , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Epilepsy/physiopathology , Temporal Lobe/injuries , Psychosurgery/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 68 años afectada de hipotensión ortostática, disfunción pupilar, sudoral y vesical, y respuestas hemodinámicas anormales a la maniobra de Valsalva, además de signos piramidales, extrapiramidales, disartria y amiotrofias distales, compatible con atrofia multisistémica (AMS), discutiendo la relación de este cuadro con la enfermedad o síndrome de Shy y Drager, del cual parece tratarse de una variante un tanto atípica por: 1) La ausencia de signos cerebelosos, 2) La preservación de respuestas parasimpáticas y 3) La rareza de los hallazgos neuroquímicos.