Preventive effects of Topiramate on methylphenidate induced behavioral disorders / Efectos preventivos de topiramato en los trastornos del comportamiento inducidos por metilfenidato

Neuronal cell damage is often caused by prolonged misuse of Methylphenidate (MPH). Topiramate (TPM) carries neuroprotective properties but its assumed mechanism remains unclear. The present study evaluates in vivo role of various doses of TPM and its mechanism against MPH-induced motor activity and related behavior disorder. Thus, we used domoic acid (DOM), bicuculline (BIC), Ketamine (KET), Yohimibine (YOH) and Haloperidole (HAL) as AMPA/kainite, GABAA, NMDA, ɑ2 adrenergic and D2 of dopamine receptor antagonists respectively. Open Field Test (OFT), Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Forced Swim Test (FST) were used to study motor activity, anxiety and depression level. TPM (100 and 120 mg/kg) reduced MPH-induced rise and inhibited MPH-induced promotion in motor activity disturbance, anxiety and depression. Pretreatment of animals with KET, HAL, YOH and BIC inhibited TPM- improves anxiety and depression through the interacting with Dopaminergic, GABAA, NMDA and ɑ2-adrenergic receptors.

El daño a las células neuronales a menudo es causado por el uso prolongado de metilfenidato (MPH). El topiramato (TPM) tiene propiedades neuroprotectoras, pero su mecanismo de acción no es claro. El presente estudio evalúa el papel in vivo de varias dosis de TPM y su mecanismo contra la actividad motora inducida por MPH y el trastorno de comportamiento relacionado. Utilizamos ácido domoico (DOM), bicuculina (BIC), ketamina (KET), yohimbina (YOH) y haloperidol (HAL), así como antagonistas AMPA/kainato, GABAA, NMDA, ɑ2-adrenérgico y D2 dopaminérgicos, respectivamente. Se utilizaron las pruebas de campo abierto (OFT), elevación de laberinto (EPM) y natación forzada (FST) para estudiar la actividad motora, la ansiedad y el nivel de depresión. El TPM (100 y 120 mg/kg) redujo el aumento inducido por MPH e inhibió la promoción inducida por MPH en la alteración de la actividad motora, la ansiedad y la depresión. El tratamiento previo de animales con KET, HAL, YOH y BIC inhibió el TPM, mejora la ansiedad y la depresión a través de la interacción con los receptores dopaminérgicos, GABAA, NMDA y ɑ2-adrenérgico.

Neurobehavioral, reflexological and physical development of Wistar rat offspring exposed to ayahuasca during pregnancy and lactation

Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic beverage prepared by the decoction of plants native to the Amazon Basin region. The beverage has been used throughout the world by members of some syncretic religious movements. Despite the recent legalization of ayahuasca in Brazil for religious purposes, there is little pre-clinical and clinical information attesting to its safety, particularly in relation to the use during pregnancy. The aim of the current work was to determine the effects of perinatal exposure to ayahuasca (from the 6th day of pregnancy to the 10th day of lactation) on physical, reflexology and neurobehavioral parameters of the Wistar rat offspring. The offspring showed no statistically significant changes in the physical and reflexology parameters evaluated. However, in adult rats, perinatally exposed to ayahuasca, an increase in frequency of entries in open arms in elevated plus-maze test, a decrease in total time of interaction in social interaction test, a decrease in time of latency for the animal to start swimming and a decrease of the minimum convulsant dose induced by pentylenetetrazol were observed. In conclusion, our results showed that the use of ayahuasca by mothers during pregnancy and lactation reduced the general anxiety and social motivation of the rat offspring. Besides, it promoted a higher sensitivity for initiation and spread of seizure activity.

Influência da síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono no comportamento infantil / Influence of sleep obstructive apnea syndrome on behavior of children

Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão bibliográfica acerca das alterações neurocomportamentais em crianças de 2 a 12 anos de idade que apresentam diagnóstico de síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono. Fontes de dados: Foram realizadas pesquisas bibliográficas por meio da base de dados Medline. As palavras-chaves utilizadas foram obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, snoring, behavior, neurocognitive implications, restringindo a período de tempo de 1993 a 2003, língua inglesa e idade de 2 a 12 anos. Após leitura do título e resumos foram selecionados apenas os trabalhos que avaliaram a relação entre síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono e alterações neurocomportamentais. Síntese dos dados: Observou-se uma relação positiva entre sonolência diurna, ronco e distúrbios do sono com o comportamento de crianças. A presença do ronco durante o sono foi associada com sonolência diurna, sono agitado e hiperatividade, além de ter se mostrado um importante indicador de presença da síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono. Hábito de fumar dos pais, tabagismo materno durante a gravidez e hipertrofia adenotonsilar, com redução das dimensões do orofaringe, foram apontados como os principais fatores que predispõem o público pediátrico ao desenvolvimento de doenças respiratórias do sono. A literatura pesquisada evidenciou que distúrbios do sono exercem influência no comportamento diurno de crianças, sendo o déficit de atenção e a hiperatividade as alterações neurocomportamentais mais observadas. Conclusões: A literatura não estabelece relação de causalidade entre SAOS e distúrbios neurocomportamentais em crianças, porém os resultados dos estudos sugerem que distúrbios do sono em crianças de 2 a 12 anos podem interferir nas funções neurocognitivas.

A study to the workers exposed to organic solvents by neurobehavioral tests / 예방의학회지

In order to evaluate the confounding factors of neurobehavioral tests and the neurobehavioral effects in the workers exposed to organic solvents, NCTB was carried out on 100 workers. 46 workers had never been exposed to neurotoxic substances, and the others were being exposed to the solvents, mainly toluene. Simple reaction time, digit symbol, Santa Ana dexterity test and persuit aiming were different with age in non exposure group. Simple reaction time was carried out well in males, and digit symbol and persuit aiming were in females. There was no difference at educational level when the subject was educated over 12 years. Santa Ana dexterity and Benton visual test differed according to exposure level to toluene, however simple reaction time didn't. The acute neurotoxic effect was not excluded in this study. But, NCTB could be used to evaluate and prevent neurobehavioral changes in workers exposed to neurotoxic solvents in Korea.