Light and electron microscopic study on the effect of lithium carbonate on the thyroid gland of adult male albino rat

Lithium carbonate is the treatment of choice for acute manic episodes. It is often referred to as an anti-manic drug as it prevents mood swings in patients with manic-depressive disorder. Thyroid disturbances during lithium treatment had been reported. This research was performed to study the effect of lithium carbonate on the thyroid gland of albino rat and the possibility of recovery after drug withdrawal. Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three equal groups; Group I [Control Group], group II received lithium carbonate at a daily dose of 14.4 rug for each rat for 6 weeks orallyand group III received the same dose of lithium carbonate as group II and then left untreated for another 6 weeks to study the possibility of recovery after the drug withdrawal. The specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. Sections of lithium carbonate treated rats showed enlarged irregular shaped thyroid follicles with papillary infoldings projecting into the follicular lumena. Detached and desquamated follicular cells were seen in the follicular colloid. The follicular cells showed apparent hyperplasia and bizarre-appearing nuclei. The interstitial tissue showed cellular infiltration, presence of deeply eosinophilic large cells and fibrosis in some specimens. Ultrastructurally, there was cellular debris in the follicular lumena. Some follicles showed dark follicular cells containing electron dense cytoplasm and indistinct organelles. The above structural changes were much less pronounced in group III [Recovery Group]. Lithium carbonate induced histological changes in the thyroid gland of albino rat and most of these changes were seen to be improved after withdrawal of the drug, So, the use of this drug should be justified in clinical situation under direct medical supervision

Neuroprotective effects of zinc on antioxidant defense system in lithium treated rat brain.

With a view to find out whether zinc affords protection against lithium toxicity the activities of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation profile were determined in the cerebrum and cerebellum of lithium treated female Sprague Dawley rats. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in both the cerebrum and the cerebellum of animals administered with lithium for a total duration of 4 months as compared to the normal control group. On the contrary, the activities of catalase and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) were significantly reduced after 4 months of lithium treatment. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly increased in the cerebrum after 4 months lithium administration, whereas in the cerebellum the enzyme activity was unaffected. No significant change in the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) was found in either cerebrum or cerebellum after 2 months of lithium treatment. However, 4 months lithium treatment did produce significant changes in GSH levels in the cerebrum and in the cerebellum. Zinc supplementation for 4 months in lithium-treated rats significantly increased the activities of catalase and GST in the cerebellum, showing that the treatment with zinc reversed the lithium induced depression in these enzyme activities. Though, zinc treatment tended to normalize the SOD activity in the cerebrum yet it was still significantly higher in comparison to normal levels. From the present study, it can be concluded that the antiperoxidative property of zinc is effective in reversing the oxidative stress induced by lithium toxicity in the rat brain.

Clopromazina, L-carnitina y carbonato de litio: evaluación de efectos eriprotectores in vitro ante estrés mecánico y fotohemólisis UVB / Chlorpromazine, L-carnitine and lithium carbonate: evaluation of erythoprotective efects in vitro under mechanical stress and UVB photohemolysis

Se evaluaron los efectos eritroprotectores de: Clorpromazina (CPZ), L-Carnitina (LCN) y Carbonato de Litio (Li). A las muestras de sangre de cobayos (n=15, 6mL; 1mL/vial) se añadió ringer (20µL), CPZ (20 µL; 0,5 mg.mL-¹), LCN (20µL; 4mg.mL-¹) o Li (20µL; 0,08mg.mL-¹) incubándose por 30, 60 y 90 min en rotación lenta, luego se sometieron a agitación calibrada por 10min, centrifugación (2500rpm, 15min) y determinación de Hemoglobina libre (HbL) en el sobrenadante por espectrofotometría a 415 nm. Otra serie de muestras (n=5), fueron sometidas a fotohemólisis con luz ultravioleta B (UVB) por 10 min, agregándose previamente Ringer ó LCN, comparándose con muestras sin adiciones (controles). En estrés mecánico la CPZ mostró valores de HbL mayores al Ringer a los 30 min (Mann-Whitney; Z= -3,8; p<0,001); 60 min (Z= -3,6 p<0,001) y 90 min (Z= -3,6; p<0,001). La incubaci¢n con LCN ó Li mostró valores similares al Ringer en todos los tiempos (Z<2,56; p>0,05) y significativamente menores que la CPZ (Z>3,0; pz0,001) sin diferencias entre LCN vs. Li (Z<1,0; p>0,05). En fotohemólisis UVB, la incubación con Ringer mostró valores de HbL inferiores al control (t=5,57; p<0,05) y mucho menores que los de LCN (t= 18,06; p<0,001). Las muestras controles presentaron menor HbL que aquellas con LCN (t= 3,44; p<0.05). Los resultados indican que en estrés mecánico la CPZ tiene efecto hemolítico, mientras qye la LCN y el Li no mostraron diferencias con el Ringer. En fotohemólisis UVB, la LCN no mostró efecto eritroprotector

Carcinoma de mama y síndrome de Sweet / Breast carcinoma and Sweet's syndrome

El síndrome de Sweet es una entidad dermatológica poco frecuente, definida como una dermatosis neutrofílica febril aguda. Esta patología presenta características clínicas bien definidad, y en un porcentaje minoritario de pacientes está asociada a neoplasias sólidas. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 71 años de edad que consulta debido a la aparición de placas eritemato-edematosas infiltradas y dolorosas en miembro superior y región mamaria derechas, extendiéndose a hemiabdomen homolateral y dorso, precedidas por fiebre y escalofríos. Como antecedentes personales de importancia destaca haber padecido cáncer de mama 4 años antes de la aparición de la dermatosis

Ultrastructural study on the effect of lithium carbonate administration on the kidney of adult male albino rat

Twenty-five adult male albino rats weighing 150-200 gm were used in this study. The animals were divided into five groups of five animals each. The results after intake of the therapeutic dose revealed fusion of the minor feet processes of the podocytes and apparent increase in the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane in comparison with the control group. Both proximal and distal convoluted tubules showed disappearance of their basal infoldings and evident mitochondrial degeneration in the form of swelling and loss of their cristae and dilated cisternae of rER were also noticed. In addition, microvilli of proximal convoluted tubules were lost in focal areas. The same changes, but in more severe form, were noticed after the intake of the toxic dose. In addition, there were tubular nuclear changes in the form of irregularity of contour, pyknosis or decreased density of chromatin

Iatrogenia farmacológica em psiquiatria / Pharmacologic iatrogenic disorders in psychiatry

O autor faz uma revisäo sobre iatrogenia farmacológica empsiquiatria. Inicialmente, discorre sobre o conceito de iatrogenia, chamando atençäo para sua distinçäo de erro médico e de efeito colateral de um medicamento. A seguir, cita os tipos de iatrogenia farmacológica em psiquiatria ( distúrbios näo-psiquiátricos causados pelos psicofármacos e distúrbios psiquiátricos provocados por medicamentos näo-psicotrópicos), dando exemplos de cada um deles. Dá ênfase à discinesia tardia, síndrome maligna do neuroléptico, dependência e morte súbita pela sua gravidade e importância em psiquiatria clínica. além disso, comenta outros efeitos colaterais dos psicofármacos e relata alguns distúrbios psiquiátricos causadas pro medicamentos näo-psicotrópicos comumente utilizados na prática médica. Conclui que: 1) Os distúrbios iatrogênicos säo, na grande maioria das vezes, efeitos secundários, incidentais ou inesperados, de tratamento bem intencionado; 2) Os psiquiatras e profissionais de saúde mental familiarizados com eles estäo em melhor posiçäo para preveni-los; e 3) Os pacientes devem ser informados sobre a possibilidade de desenvolvimento de reaçöes indesejáveis para que auxiliem na sua detecçäo precoce