The effect of general anaesthetics on brain lactate release

The effects of anaesthetic agents on brain energy metabolism may explain their shared neurophysiological actions but remain poorly understood. The brain lactate shuttle hypothesis proposes that lactate, provided by astrocytes, is an important neuronal energy substrate. Here we tested the hypothesis that anaesthetic agents impair the brain lactate shuttle by interfering with astrocytic glycolysis. Lactate biosensors were used to record changes in lactate release by adult rat brainstem and cortical slices in response to thiopental, propofol and etomidate. Changes in cytosolic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced (NADH) and oxidized (NAD+) ratio as a measure of glycolytic rate were recorded in cultured astrocytes. It was found that in brainstem slices thiopental, propofol and etomidate reduced lactate release by 7.4 ± 3.6% (P < 0.001), 9.7 ± 6.6% (P < 0.001) and 8.0 ± 7.8% (P = 0.04), respectively. In cortical slices, thiopental reduced lactate release by 8.2 ± 5.6% (P = 0.002) and propofol by 6.0 ± 4.5% (P = 0.009). Lactate release in cortical slices measured during the light phase (period of sleep/low activity) was ~25% lower than that measured during the dark phase (period of wakefulness) (326 ± 83 μM vs 430 ± 118 μM, n = 10; P = 0.04). Thiopental and etomidate induced proportionally similar decreases in cytosolic [NADH]:[NAD+] ratio in astrocytes, indicative of a reduction in glycolytic rate. These data suggest that anaesthetic agents inhibit astrocytic glycolysis and reduce the level of extracellular lactate in the brain. Similar reductions in brain lactate release occur during natural state of sleep, suggesting that general anaesthesia may recapitulate some of the effects of sleep on brain energy metabolism

Carvacrol, a Food-Additive, Provides Neuroprotection on Focal Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Carvacrol (CAR), a naturally occurring monoterpenic phenol and food additive, has been shown to have antimicrobials, antitumor, and antidepressant-like activities. A previous study demonstrated that CAR has the ability to protect liver against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of CAR on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in a middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model. We found that CAR (50 mg/kg) significantly reduced infarct volume and improved neurological deficits after 75 min of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion. This neuroprotection was in a dose-dependent manner. Post-treatment with CAR still provided protection on infarct volume when it was administered intraperitoneally at 2 h after reperfusion; however, intracerebroventricular post-treatment reduced infarct volume even when the mice were treated with CAR at 6 h after reperfusion. These findings indicated that CAR has an extended therapeutic window, but delivery strategies may affect the protective effects of CAR. Further, we found that CAR significantly decreased the level of cleaved caspase-3, a marker of apoptosis, suggesting the anti-apoptotic activity of CAR. Finally, our data indicated that CAR treatment increased the level of phosphorylated Akt and the neuroprotection of CAR was reversed by a PI3K inhibitor LY-294002, demonstrating the involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway in the anti-apoptotic mechanisms of CAR. Due to its safety and wide use in the food industry, CAR is a promising agent to be translated into clinical trials

Measurement of heat capacity and thermal conductivity of HDPE/expanded graphite nanocomposites by differential scanning calorimetry

Purpose: In this study, heat capacity and thermal conductivity of nanocomposites formed by high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix and expanded graphite (EG) conductive filling material were investigated. Design/methodology/approach: Nanocomposites containing up to 20 weight percent of expanded graphite filler material were prepared by mixing them in a Brabender Plasticorder. Two grades of expanded graphite fillers were used namely expanded graphite with 5 μm (EG5) and 50 μm (EG50) in diameter. Heat capacity and thermal conductivity of pure HDPE and the nanocomposites were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Findings: A substantial increase in thermal conductivity was observed with the addition of expanded graphite to HDPE. Thermal conductivity increased from 0.442 W/m.K for pure HDPE to 0.938 W/m.K for nanocomposites containing 7% by weight of expended graphite. Heat capacity increases with the increase in temperature for both pure HDPE and the nanocomposites filled with expanded graphite and no appreciable difference in the values of heat capacity were detected due to particle size. Heat capacity decreased with increasing graphite particle content for both particle size, following the low of mixtures. Practical implications: Layers of expanded graphite have become of intense interest as fillers in polymeric nanocomposites. Upon mixing the expanded graphite intercalates and exfoliates into nanometer thickness sheets due to their sheet-like structure and week bonds normal to the graphite sheets. That way they have very big surface area and high aspect ratio (200-1500) what results in a formation of percolating network at very low filler content. The nanoparticles usage results in significant improvement in thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of polymers even with very low loading levels compared with microparticles. Originality/value: To see the effect of conducting fillers on thermal conductivity and heat capacity two different sizes of expanded graphite were used. © International OCSCO World Press

Consumption of Coprinus comatus polysaccharide extract causes recovery of alcoholic liver damage in rats

Excess use of alcohol is known to be associated with liver diseases such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Various practices may be applied to prevent or treat the damage caused by chronic alcoholism. Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Pers. (Agaricaceae) is a macrofungus that has been reported to aid the recovery of murine livers damaged by benzopyrene

Effects of polysaccharide from fruiting bodies of Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus brasiliensis, and Phenllinus linteus on alcoholic liver injury

In the present study, the curative effects of crude polysaccharides (PSs) from mushrooms on the symptoms of alcoholic liver injury were investigated. PSs from Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus brasiliensis, and Phellinus linteus fruiting bodies were administered by gavage at levels of 100¿mg per kg body weight per day for 7¿d after the onset of the disease. The caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial outer membrane integrity of the liver tissues of sacrificed rats, and the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined. In addition, light and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies were performed for histopathological and cytological evaluations on liver sections. PSs from A. brasiliensis decreased ALT level and mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the outer membrane integrity; microscopic examinations also revealed normal hepatocytes and tissue. On the basis of our data, it can be argued that crude PSs from Agaricus brasiliensis have therapeutic potential for alcoholic liver injury

Evaluation of Cybercrime Economy via MCDM and Decision Tree Approaches: The Case of Zonguldak

One of the most important economic problems that developed/ing countries are facing today is the informal economy. Unregistered economic activities are generally defined as all economic activities that are not included in national accounts. The informal economy has an informal structure as well as a criminal structure. Cyber-attack/s (CA) are increasing day by day as an important part of the informal economy due to the economic effects they produce. Credit card fraud, emptying a bank account, cryptolocker viruses that can be used to encrypt data on the user’s computer, the use of websites and e-commerce sites such as DDOS attacks, espionage, information smuggling, and many new computing crimes can be given as examples in this field. This study aims to evaluate the relations/determiners of CA-damages and information technology (IT) investments to firms’ economics and present the findings to the researchers/decision makers. In this sense, IT investments and CA/CA costs to 321 Zonguldak firms having more than 20 employees in 2016 have been surveyed by Turkish Statistical Institute. According to CA-damage severity indexes generated via TOPSIS, statistical methods and decision tree approaches supported by regression analysis are used in the analysis. According to the analysis, CA-damage increased as IT investments increased. IT investments dimensions’ existence of “website/mobile applications” and “IT policy implementation” accepted the main CA-damage determiners. Meanwhile, the firm’s less usage of firewalls/IPS/IDS indicates that CA are not fully understood, and the security policies’ application is also important along with its preparation. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG