ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Major neurocognitive disorder (MNCD) affects millions of people worldwide. However, the pharmacological options for its management are limited, ineffective and frequently associated with severe adverse reactions. CASE REPORT: An 85-year-old man with history of multiple chronic brain injuries (alcohol-use disorder, haemorrhagic stroke, brain trauma, chronic use of benzodiazepines) developed an MNCD, reaching 7 points on the Reisberg Global Deterioration Scale. He had minimal response to antidepressants, antipsychotics and anticholinergic medications. After the use of mother tincture of Indian hemp (cannabis), a significant improvement was found in his cognitive function, ability to carry out activities of daily living and independence. DISCUSSION: The endocannabinoid system seems to be implicated in age-related cognitive decline. In addition, the evidence derived from in-vitro and animal models suggest that this system could play an important role in the management of MNCD of different causes. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabinoid treatment for MNCD emerges as a promising therapeutic approach that may benefit a growing number of patients who do not have other treatment options. It is therefore necessary to encourage more research efforts that will help to remove political and scientific barriers to its clinical use.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Introduction: Major neurocognitive disorder (MNCD) affects millions of people worldwide. However, the pharmacological options for its management are limited, ineffective and frequently associated with severe adverse reactions. Case report: An 85-year-old man with history of multiple chronic brain injuries (alcohol-use disorder, haemorrhagic stroke, brain trauma, chronic use of benzodiazepines) developed an MNCD, reaching 7 points on the Reisberg Global Deterioration Scale. He had minimal response to antidepressants, antipsychotics and anticholinergic medications. After the use of mother tincture of Indian hemp (cannabis), a significant improvement was found in his cognitive function, ability to carry out activities of daily living and independence. Discussion: The endocannabinoid system seems to be implicated in age-related cognitive decline. In addition, the evidence derived from in-vitro and animal models suggest that this system could play an important role in the management of MNCD of different causes. Conclusions: Cannabinoid treatment for MNCD emerges as a promising therapeutic approach that may benefit a growing number of patients who do not have other treatment options. It is therefore necessary to encourage more research efforts that will help to remove political and scientific barriers to its clinical use.
RESUMEN Introducción: El trastorno neurocognitivo mayor (TNM) afecta a millones de personas a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, las opciones farmacológicas para su manejo son limitadas, poco efectivas y se asocian a importantes reacciones adversas. Caso clínico: Se presenta el caso clínico de un hombre de 85 años, con antecedente de múltiples lesiones cerebrales crónicas (abuso de alcohol, enfermedad cerebrovascular, traumatismo cerebral, uso crónico de benzodiacepinas), quien desarrolló un TNM clasificado con 7 puntos en la Reisberg Global Deterioration Scale. Tuvo poca respuesta al manejo con antidepresivos, antipsicóticos y anticolinérgicos. Tras el uso de tintura madre de cáüamo índico (cannabis), se evidenció una mejoría en la función cognitiva, la capacidad de cuidado para las actividades de la vida diaria y la independencia. Discusión: El sistema endocanabinoide parece estar relacionado con los procesos de deterioro cognitivo asociados con la edad. Además, la evidencia derivada de modelos in vitro y animales sugiere que podría tener un papel importante en el manejo del TNM de diferentes etiologías. Conclusiones: El uso de cannabinoides en el TNM se presenta como una pista terapéutica prometedora. Por lo tanto, es necesario promover procesos de investigación que contribuyan a eliminar las barreras políticas y científicas para su uso clínico, beneficiando a un número creciente de pacientes que no poseen opciones terapéuticas eficaces.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Aged, 80 and over , Cannabinoids , Cognition , Neurocognitive Disorders , Antipsychotic Agents , Benzodiazepines , Cannabis , Brain Injury, Chronic , Stroke , Endocannabinoids , Alcoholism , Brain Injuries, Traumatic , Antidepressive AgentsABSTRACT
Cattle are a monotocous species, despite naturally conceived multiple births are sometimes observed. Although the number of twins has consistently increased, triplet and quadruplet pregnancies represent 0.015% and 0.004% of the total births, respectively. Multiple births are the result of multiple ovulation and/or the spontaneous cleavage of one fertilized oocyte, which is known as monozygotic (MZ) twinning. In cattle, approximately 5% to 14% of all twin births are MZ, and births with more than two MZ calves are extremely rare. Monozygotic animals are genetically identical, and those derived from two or more zygotes are genetically different. Furthermore, the presence of placental vascular anastomosis can result in foetal chimerism. Notwithstanding, animals born as single calves can be chimeras when one of the foetal twins dies undetected in utero. Here, we used DNA testing to study the zygotic condition of an unusual female quadruplet born from a Braford cow bred in a multi-sire natural mating system without hormone stimulation. Two tissues with different embryological origin were sampled to test zygosity and possible chimerism. The results showed an identical genotype, confirming they all originated in an MZ pregnancy and suggesting the lack of chimerism in all animals. The use of MZ twins in breeding and selection systems provides an alternative to the conventional progeny testing. Some works have suggested a genetic background of MZ twins in humans. This female and her daughters could be the founders of a lineage to study the possible inheritance of MZ multiple births in cattle.
