ABSTRACT
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, caused by the selective death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. ß-caryophyllene (BCP) is a phytocannabinoid with several pharmacological properties, producing anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive effects. In addition, BCP protects dopaminergic neurons from neuronal death induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), yet it remains unclear if this effect is due to its antioxidant activity. To assess whether this is the case, the effect of BCP on the expression and activity of NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) was evaluated in mice after the administration of MPTP. Male C57BL/6 J mice were divided into four groups, the first of which received saline solution i.p. in equivalent volume and served as a control group. The second group received MPTP. The second group received MPTP hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for seven consecutive days. The third group received BCP (10 mg/kg) for seven days, administered orally and finally, the fourth group received MPTP as described above and BCP for 7 days from the fourth day of MPTP administration. The results showed that BCP inhibits oxidative stress-induced cell death of dopaminergic neurons exposed to MPTP at the same time as it enhances the expression and enzymatic activity of NQO1. Also, the BCP treatment ameliorated motor dysfunction and protected the dopaminergic cells of the SNpc from damage induced by MPTP. Hence, BCP appears to achieve at least some of its antioxidant effects by augmenting NQO1 activity, which protects cells from MPTP toxicity. Accordingly, this phytocannabinoid may represent a promising pharmacological option to safeguard dopaminergic neurons and prevent the progression of PD.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/therapeutic use , MPTP Poisoning/metabolism , MPTP Poisoning/prevention & control , NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)/biosynthesis , Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes/therapeutic use , Animals , Antioxidants/pharmacology , MPTP Poisoning/pathology , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Pars Compacta/drug effects , Pars Compacta/metabolism , Pars Compacta/pathology , Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology , Random AllocationABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Epidemics of meningoencephalitis due to echovirus 9 were commonly occurred when a children population become susceptible for the first time in front the virus. OBJECTIVE: To present the intrathecal synthesis pattern of immunoglobulins of the epidemic that affected Cuba in 1999 and to probe the usefulness of reibergram and antibody index in the diagnostic and characterization of the outbreak. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 23 pediatric patients suffering from viral meningoencephalitis due to echovirus 9 were studied in the income moment. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid IgA, IgM, IgG, albumin and glucose were quantified. Cerebrospinal fluid total protein content and lactate were quantified. Titles of antibodies against echo 9 and Coxsackie A9 and differential cell count were performed. RESULTS: A mean of 555 cells/10 6 L mainly lymphocytes were obtained. Glucose in cerebrospinal fluid was over 50%, serum glucose and lactate levels below 2.1 mmol/L. In the reibergram an absence of intrathecal synthesis was predominant (15/23), IgM synthesis (6/23) and IgM+IgA (2/23). Blood cerebrospinal fluid dysfunction was observed in 15 patients. The mean antibody index was 1,8 for echo 9 and 0,9 for Coxsackie A9. CONCLUSIONS: The intrathecal synthesis pattern of immunoglobulins was different from other enterovirus and from echovirus 9 in non epidemic situations before this epidemic, probably with alteration of viral genome.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/cerebrospinal fluid , Echovirus 9/immunology , Echovirus Infections/immunology , Immunoglobulins/cerebrospinal fluid , Meningoencephalitis/immunology , Meningoencephalitis/virology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cuba/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Echovirus Infections/cerebrospinal fluid , Echovirus Infections/epidemiology , Humans , Meningoencephalitis/cerebrospinal fluid , Meningoencephalitis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Cada vez gana más interés en la investigación médica el efecto deletéreo de la ira sobre la enfermedad cardiovascular. Existen evidencias claras y convincentes de que la ira contribuye significativamente a la patogénesis y expresión de la enfermedad arterial coronaria. En este artículo revisamos los mecanismos fisiopatológicos responsables de la relación iraenfermedad arterial coronaria incluyendo: a) la ira como factor de riesgo coronario, b) el impacto de la ira sobre otros factores de riesgo, c) la ira y el desarrollo de un síndrome coronario agudo, d) la ira y las arritmias ventriculares y muerte súbita y e) finalmente, las implicaciones terapeúticas de la relación ira-enfermedad coronaria (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Anger , Coronary Disease/etiology , Stress, Physiological/complications , Death, Sudden/etiology , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/etiology , Coronary Disease/therapyABSTRACT
Eighteen cases of amelia in the Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECEMC) were analyzed epidemiologically. Prevalence at birth was 0.15 per 10,000 newborn infants, which is not different from that reported by other authors. Affected females outnumbered males. When compared with the control group, a lower birth weight, shorter gestation, lower placental weight, greater frequency of single umbilical artery, noncephalic presentation at birth, and more frequent maternal vaginal bleeding were observed in amelia cases. There were no significant variations of parental age. None of these patients was exposed to known teratogens, apart from 1 born to a diabetic mother; 3 patients had a genetic condition. Comparison of these variables with other studies is difficult because there is only one study that specifically analyzed amelia. Our data together with previous observations suggest that the genetic basis of amelia might be more important than has been considered previously.
Subject(s)
Ectromelia/epidemiology , Ectromelia/physiopathology , Birth Weight , Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Ectromelia/etiology , Female , Gestational Age , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio de un año que incluyó cinco circulos infantiles y cinco escuelas donde se ubicaronlos primeros medicos de la familia en la provincia de Cienfuegos, con el propósito de analizar los alumnos con dificultades en el aprendizaje y el componente causal que podia incidir en este aspecto. Se evaluaron un total de 40 niños, 10 de circulos infantilesy 30 que correspondían a la enseñanza preuniversitaria, la mayor presentaban retraso en el desarrollo intelectual, irascibilidad, problemas en la comunicación con los demás, negativismo, etc. Algunas de estascaracterísticas no son congénitas, constituyen una consecuencia de la educación y el desarrollo de estosniños en familias incompletas y desafavorables pedagogicamente, donde el médico de la familia estableció relaciones e hizo posible que todos los niños tuvieran adelantos en el aprovechamiento escolar
Subject(s)
Learning , Physicians, Family , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio de un año que incluyó cinco circulos infantiles y cinco escuelas donde se ubicaronlos primeros medicos de la familia en la provincia de Cienfuegos, con el propósito de analizar los alumnos con dificultades en el aprendizaje y el componente causal que podia incidir en este aspecto. Se evaluaron un total de 40 niños, 10 de circulos infantilesy 30 que correspondían a la enseñanza preuniversitaria, la mayor presentaban retraso en el desarrollo intelectual, irascibilidad, problemas en la comunicación con los demás, negativismo, etc. Algunas de estascaracterísticas no son congénitas, constituyen una consecuencia de la educación y el desarrollo de estosniños en familias incompletas y desafavorables pedagogicamente, donde el médico de la familia estableció relaciones e hizo posible que todos los niños tuvieran adelantos en el aprovechamiento escolar (AU)
Subject(s)
Physicians, Family , Learning , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
Multiprogrammable dual-demand AV sequential (DVI, MN) pacemakers were implanted in twenty-three patients (in one of them a DVI, MN unit was used as a VVI, MN with the aid of an atrial plug) with supraventricular tachycardias after electrophysiological studies revealed a great variety of AV reentry circuits. The latter included tachycardias involving accessory pathways of the Kent type, manifest or concealed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndromes, nodo-ventricular (Mahaim) tracts, "enhanced" AV node (or extra AV nodal) pathways and dual AV pathways. In addition, multiprogrammable "non-committed" AV sequential (DVI, MN and DDD, M) pacemakers were permanently implanted to treat different forms of ventricular tachyarrhythmias that included: torsade de pointes in the Romano-Ward syndrome and Chagas' cardiomyopathy, ventricular tachycardia which is bradycardia-dependent (in Chagas' cardiomyopathy) and reciprocal beats induced by, and producing severe hemodynamic derangements in a patient with a conventional VVI unit. With small-size multiprogrammable units, arrhythmias may be treated by changing parameters non-invasively. By temporary inhibition, one may analyze the underlying rhythm and pacemaker dependency. In patients without chronic atrial flutter/fibrillation who require pacing and possibly tachyarrhythmia control, our experience with multiprogrammable "non-committed" AV sequential pacing has been very satisfactory. The evolution toward newer pacing modes which provide atrial sensing and tracking (DDD), and thus preserve AV synchrony over a wider range of atrial rates, may contribute even further to successful patient management. This may be applicable to pediatric patients as well.
