Protective effects of Embelin in Benzo[α]pyrene induced cognitive and memory impairment in experimental model of mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the neurons in the hippocampus, resulting in cognitive and memory impairment. The most prominent clinical characteristics of AD are the production of amyloid-beta (Aß) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation in neurons. It has been proven that embelin (Emb) possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, we assessed the therapeutic potential of Emb in Benzo [α]pyrene (BaP)-induced cognitive impairment in experimental mice. BaP (5 mg/kg, i. p) was given to mice daily for 28 days, and Emb (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, i. p) was given from 14 to 28 days of a protocol. In addition, locomotor activity was evaluated using open-field and spatial working, and non-spatial memory was evaluated using novel object recognition tasks (NORT), Morris water maze (MWM), and Y- maze. At the end of the study, the animal tissue homogenate was used to check biochemicals, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter changes. BaP-treated mice showed a significant decline in locomotor activity, learning and memory deficits and augmented oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, nitrite, and GSH). Further, BaP promoted the release of inflammatory tissue markers, decreased acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, serotonin, and norepinephrine, and increased glutamate concentration. However, treatment with Emb at dose-dependently prevented biochemical changes, improved antioxidant levels, reduced neuroinflammation, restored neurotransmitter concentration, and inhibited the NF-κB pathway. The current study's finding suggested that Emb improved cognitive functions through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective mechanisms and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activities and Aß-42 accumulation.

Adoption of practice guidelines and assessment tools in substance abuse treatment.

BACKGROUND: The gap between research and practice limits utilization of relevant, progressive and empirically validated strategies in substance abuse treatment. METHODS: Participants included substance abuse treatment programs from the Northeastern United States. Structural equation models were constructed with agency level data to explore two outcome variables: adoption of practice guidelines and assessment tools at two points in time; models also included organizational, staffing and service variables. RESULTS: In 1997, managed care involvement and provision of primary care services had the strongest association with increased use of assessment tools, which, along with provision of counseling services, were associated with a greater use of practice guidelines. In 2001, managed care involvement, counseling services and being a stand-alone drug treatment agency were associated with a greater use of assessment tools, which was in turn related to an increase in the use of practice guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides managers, clinicians and policy-makers with a framework for understanding factors related to the adoption of new technologies in substance abuse treatment.

Another breed of "service" animals: STARS study findings about pet ownership and recovery from serious mental illness.

This study elucidates the role of pets in recovery processes among adults with serious mental illness. Data derive from interviews with 177 HMO members with serious mental illness (52.2% women, average age 48.8 years) in the Study of Transitions and Recovery Strategies (STARS). Interviews and questionnaires addressed factors affecting recovery processes and included questions about pet ownership. Data were analyzed using a modified grounded theory method to identify the roles pets play in the recovery process. Primary themes indicate pets assist individuals in recovery from serious mental illness by (a) providing empathy and "therapy"; (b) providing connections that can assist in redeveloping social avenues; (c) serving as "family" in the absence of or in addition to human family members; and (d) supporting self-efficacy and strengthening a sense of empowerment. Pets appear to provide more benefits than merely companionship. Participants' reports of pet-related contributions to their well-being provide impetus to conduct more formal research on the mechanisms by which pets contribute to recovery and to develop pet-based interventions.

'Stealing me from myself': identity and recovery in personal accounts of mental illness.

OBJECTIVES: To understand and promote recovery from serious mental illnesses, it is important to study the perspectives of individuals who are coping with mental health problems. The aim of the present study was to examine identity-related themes in published self-narratives of family members and individuals with serious mental illness. It adds to the body of research addressing how identity affects the process of recovery and identifies potential opportunities for using published narratives to support individuals as they move toward positive identities that facilitate recovery. METHOD: Forty-five personal accounts from individuals with severe mental illness, which were published in two prominent research journals between 1998 and 2003, were qualitatively analysed. RESULTS: Individuals with mental illness and their family members described a loss of self and identity that had to be overcome, or at least managed, for recovery to become possible. Writers described (i) a loss of self, (ii) the duality of (ill/well) selves, (iii) perceptions of normality, (iv) specific concerns about parenting and identity, and (v) hope and reconciliation. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals' stories of their experiences of severe mental illness describe severe challenges managing identity. Efforts to publish personal accounts that focus on strengths-based patient-centred stories, rather than on deficits, could be helpful to provide hope for patients. These published narratives highlight the importance of moving recovery and hope to the forefront among patient, family, and clinician groups. Increasing such information and role models can provide important resources to individuals working to redefine themselves and create a sense of self-worth and stable identity that will support productive, happy lives.

Guía metodológica para docentes: Folletos de conocimientos y ejercicios educativos sobre gestión de riesgos

Esta guía describe el proceso metodológico para el uso de los folletos de conocimientos y ejercicios educativos sobre gestión del riesgos para de 1-2 grado, 2-4 grado y 5-6 grado