A Comprehensive Description of the Anatomy and Histochemistry of Psychotria capillacea (Müll. Arg.) Standl. and an Investigation into Its Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Mice and Role in Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment.

Species of the genus Psychotria are used in popular medicine for pain, inflammatory symptoms, and mental disorders. Psychotria capillacea (Müll. Arg.) Standl. (Rubiaceae) is commonly known as coffee and some scientific studies have demonstrated its therapeutic potential. The goal of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of a methanolic extract obtained from leaves of P. capillacea (MEPC), as well as the micromorphology and histochemistry of the leaves and stems of this plant. In addition, the MEPC was analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS and the alkaloidal fraction (AF) obtained from the MEPC was tested in a mouse model of inflammation. MEPC contained three indole alkaloids, one sesquiterpene (megastigmane-type) and two terpene lactones. MEPC (3, 30 and 100 mg/kg) and AF (3 and 30 mg/kg) were evaluated in inflammation models and significantly inhibited edema at 2 h and 4 h, mechanical hyperalgesia after 4 h and the response to cold 3 h and 4 h after carrageenan injection. Scopolamine significantly increased the escape latency, and reduced the swimming time and number of crossings in the target quadrant and distance, while MEPC (3, 30 and 100 mg/kg), due to its neuroprotective actions, reversed these effects. AChE activity was significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex (52 ± 3%) and hippocampus (60 ± 3%), after MEPC administration. Moreover, micromorphological and histochemical information was presented, to aid in species identification and quality control of P. capillacea. The results of this study demonstrated that P. capillacea is an anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesic agent that can treat acute disease and enhance memory functions in mouse models.

Potential anti-arthritic and analgesic properties of essential oil and viridiflorol obtained from Allophylus edulis leaves in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Viridiflorol was identified and isolated from the essential oil of Allophylus edulis leaves (EOAE). A. edulis was used as "tereré", which is a drink made by the infusion of herbs in cold water, to treat pain (toothache and headache). All anti-nociceptive (analgesic) and anti-arthritic properties of EOAE and viridiflorol have not been completely scientifically clarified. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to investigate the analgesic (anti-hyperalgesic and anti-nociceptive) and anti-arthritic properties of EOAE and viridiflorol using in vivo models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The oral administration (p.o.) of EOAE (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg), viridiflorol (30, 100 and 200 mg/kg), morphine (1 mg/kg, subcutaneous route (s.c.)) and the intraplantar (local) administration (i.pl.) of viridiflorol (100 µg/paw) were tested using formalin model in Swiss mice. EOAE (100 mg/kg, p.o.), viridiflorol (200 mg/kg, p.o.), and dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, s.c.) were tested by zymosan-articular inflammation and in open-field models. Viridiflorol (0.3, 20 and 200 µg/paw) was also tested in carrageenan model, and viridiflorol (200 µg/paw) was also tested in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and dopamine (DOPA) models. RESULTS: The oral administration of EOAE (100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.), viridiflorol (200 mg/kg, p.o.), morphine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) (MOR) and local administration of viridiflorol (100 µg/paw) significantly inhibited edema and nociception in formalin model. Oral treatments with EOAE and viridiflorol (200 mg/kg) did not cause motor impairment in the open field test since they did not reduce locomotor activity. EOAE, viridiflorol and dexamethasone significantly reduced mechanical hyperalgesia, edema, total leukocytes, polymorphonuclear cells, nitric oxide and protein exudation in the zymosan-induced articular inflammation model. The local administration of viridiflorol (200 µg/paw, i.pl.) significantly inhibited mechanical hyperalgesia and edema induced by carrageenan, TNF-α and DOPA. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the potential anti-arthritic, anti-nocicepttive and anti-hyperalgesic properties of EOAE and viridiflorol. These properties could explain, at least in part, the folk use of A. edulis against including pain (toothache and headache). Viridiflorol could be partially responsible for the EOAE anti-hyperalgesic, anti-nociceptive and anti-arthritic properties and its mechanism of action could involve the inhibition of TNF-α and DOPA pathways.

Contribution of spathulenol to the anti-nociceptive effects of Psidium guineense.

Objectives: Araçá-verdadeiro is the popular name of Psidium guineense (Myrtaceae), whose fruits and leaves are used in Brazilian folk medicine for treatment of inflammation and pain. The focus of the present research was an investigation of the anti-nociceptive, and anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oil from P. guineense (EOPG) leaves, and of spathulenol. The anxiolytic and antidepressive effects associated with chronic pain were also investigated in models of acute or persistent nociception or/and inflammatory pain.Methods and Results: Oral treatment with EOPG (10-100 mg/kg) or spathulenol (10 mg/kg) significantly inhibited formalin-induced nociceptive responses, both sensitivity to cold and edema. Oral treatment with EOPG (10 mg/kg) and spathulenol (10 mg/kg) did not reduce locomotor activity (open field test). Local administration of spathulenol (1000 µg/paw) significantly prevented formalin-induced nociceptive sensitivity to cold and paw edema, and carrageenan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia, paw edema and sensitivity to cold. In the Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA) model, oral treatment with EOPG (10 mg/kg) or spathulenol (10 mg/kg) for 21 days significantly inhibited all analyzed parameters. The percentage maximal inhibition by spathulenol was 76.00% (mechanical hyperalgesia), 71.90% (cold response), 85.00% (edema), 77.16% (myeloperoxidase activity), 97.72% (time in the closed arms in the elevated plus maze), and 49.00% (immobility time in the tail suspension test), in the CFA model. Models employed male Swiss mice, except for the CFA test, which employed C57bL6 male mice (n=6 /group).Conclusion: This study demonstrates that EOPG is an anti-nociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic agent, in acute and continuous treatment, and an anxiolytic and antidepressive agent when tested with the chronic pain experimental state.

Dissociation, Delusion and the Splitting of the Self in The Trial by Franz Kafka: Phenomenology and Neurobiology of Schizophrenia.

In this essay, we propose an association between Franz Kafka's novel, The Trial, and phenomenological and neurobiological processes in schizophrenia. We begin by presenting a summary of the plot, pointing to some of its remarkable literary aspects. We next compare the mental processes of dissociation, disorientation and delusion as represented in the novel with phenomenological processes that take place in the prodromal states of schizophrenia. We discuss how such disorders of the self and disorders of thought, both crucial aspects of the schizophrenic experience, appear in The Trial and in other literary and private writings by Franz Kafka. We relate how these disorders may arise from the false attribution of salience and false associative learning caused by hyperactivity of dopaminergic function associated with chaotic firing of dopaminergic neurons. Finally, we show how Kafka leads not just the protagonist of The Trial, but even more the reader to experience a quasi-delusional state. We discuss the relationship between the perturbation of thought and disorientation of mind evoked by the novel in the reader and the need of our brains for empathy and predictability.

A Neurodevelopmental Model for the Origin of Depression Amongst People living with HIV: Convergence of Social and Neuroimmunological Mechanisms / Modelo neurodesenvolvimentista da origem da depressão entre as pessoas que vivem com o HIV: convergência de mecanismos sociais e neuroimunológicos

Depression is a major challenge facing people living with HIV (PLHIV), with prevalence rates ranging from 25-36%. Depression impacts negati vely upon adherence and response to combined anti retroviral therapy (CART) and thetransmission of HIV infection through increased sexually risky behavior. This article proposes a neurodevelopmental model of depression, which tries to integrate the interplay between psychosocial adversity and HIV related- sti gma, on one hand, and HIV associated neuroinfl ammation, on the other hand, in the eti ology of depressionamongst PLHIV. We conclude that PLHIV should be provided an individualized treatment program that develops strategies including personal empowerment for coping with, and overcoming, psychosocial adversity. Further, neurobiologicalstudies should be vigorously pursued tounderstand the neuroplasti c changes leading to depression in PLHIV and to identi fy biomarkers of depression to be employed for clinical diagnosis, treatment follow-up and investigational purposes(AU)

A depressão é um grande desafio para as pessoas que vivem com o HIV (PVHIV) com taxas de prevalência entre 25-36%. A depressão tem um impacto negativo sobre a aderência e a resposta à terapia antirretroviral (CART) e a transmissão da infecção pelo HIV, devido ao aumento do comportamento sexual de risco. Este artigo propõe um modelo neurodesenvolvimentista da depressão, que tenta integrar a interação entre adversidade psicossocial e estigma relacionado ao HIV, por um lado, e a neuroinflamação associada ao HIV, por outro, na etiologia da depressãoentre as PVHIV. Nós concluímos que as PVHIV deveriam receber um programa de tratamento individualizado que desenvolvesse estratégias de empoderamento para o enfrentamento e a superação da adversidade psicossocial. Ademais, estudos neurobiológicos deveriamser vigorosamente incentivados, visando compreender as mudanças neuroplásticas que levam à depressão nas PVHIV e identificarbiomarcadores de depressão, aplicáveis para fins de diagnóstico e de acompanhamento clínicos, assim como para fins de pesquisa(AU)

Socioeconomic disadvantage increasing risk for depression among recently diagnosed HIV patients in an urban area in Brazil: cross-sectional study.

Depression is the most common psychiatric co-morbidity among people living with HIV (PLHIV), with prevalence rates ranging from 25% to 36%. Depression impacts negatively upon adherence and response to combined antiretroviral therapy (CART) and the transmission of HIV infection through increased sexually risky behavior. This cross-sectional study presents data from a reference HIV-outpatient service in Dourados (Brazil) that evaluated the association between depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, and clinical, socioeconomic, and demographic factors in newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients. Using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 61% with a predominance of self-deprecating and cognitive-affective factors. Depressive symptoms were associated with lower income (p=0.019) and disadvantaged social class (p=0.005). Poorer quality of life was related to depressive symptoms (p<0.0001), low educational level (p=0.05), and lower income (p=0.03). These data suggest that socioeconomic factors, including level of income and education, are mediating the risk of depression and poor quality of life of PLHIV. Possible explanations for this effect are discussed, including the possible role of stigma.

A neurodevelopmental model for the origin of depression amongst people living with HIV: convergence ofsSocial and neuroimmunological mechanisms / Modelo neurodesenvolvimenti sta da origem da depressão entre as pessoas que vivem com o HIV: convergência de mecanismos sociais e neuroimunológicos

Depression is a major challenge facing people living with HIV (PLHIV), with prevalence rates ranging from 25-36%. Depression impacts negati vely upon adherence and response to combined anti retroviral therapy (CART) and thetransmission of HIV infection through increased sexually risky behavior. This article proposes a neurodevelopmental model of depression, which tries to integrate the interplay between psychosocial adversity and HIV related- sti gma, on one hand, and HIV associated neuroinfl ammation, on the other hand, in the eti ology of depressionamongst PLHIV. We conclude that PLHIV should be provided an individualized treatment program that develops strategies including personal empowerment for coping with, and overcoming, psychosocial adversity. Further, neurobiologicalstudies should be vigorously pursued tounderstand the neuroplasti c changes leading to depression in PLHIV and to identi fy biomarkers of depression to be employed for clinical diagnosis, treatment follow-up and investigational purposes

A depressão é um grande desafio para as pessoas que vivem com o HIV (PVHIV) com taxas de prevalência entre 25-36%. A depressão tem um impacto negativo sobre a aderência e a resposta à terapia antirretroviral (CART) e a transmissão da infecção pelo HIV, devido ao aumento do comportamento sexual de risco. Este artigo propõe um modelo neurodesenvolvimentista da depressão, que tenta integrar a interação entre adversidade psicossocial e estigma relacionado ao HIV, por um lado, e a neuroinflamação associada ao HIV, por outro, na etiologia da depressão entre as PVHIV. Nós concluímos que as PVHIV deveriam receber um programa de tratamento individualizado que desenvolvesse estratégias de empoderamento para o enfrentamento e a superação da adversidade psicossocial. Ademais, estudos neurobiológicos deveriamser vigorosamente incentivados, visando compreender as mudanças neuroplásticas que levam à depressão nas PVHIV e identificar biomarcadores de depressão, aplicáveis para fins de diagnóstico e de acompanhamento clínicos, assim como para fins de pesquisa