Effects of Perinatal Exposure to Ketamine on the Developing Brain

Initially used as an analgesic and anesthetic, ketamine has unfortunately been abused as a popular recreational party drug due to its psychotropic effects. Over the last decade, ketamine has also emerged as an effective rapid-onset anti-depressant. The increasingly widespread use and misuse of the drug in infants and pregnant women has posed a concern about the neurotoxicity of ketamine to the immature brains of developing fetuses and children. In this review, we summarize recent research findings on major possible mechanisms of perinatal ketamine-induced neurotoxicity. We also briefly summarize the neuroprotective effects of ketamine in the presence of noxious stimuli. Future actions include implementation of more drug abuse education and prevention campaigns to raise the public’s awareness of the harmful effects of ketamine abuse; further investigations to justify the clinical use of ketamine as analgesic, anesthetic and anti-depressant; and further studies to develop alternatives to ketamine or treatments that can alleviate the detrimental effects of ketamine use, especially in infants and pregnant women

Review of Evidence Suggesting That the Fascia Network Could Be the Anatomical Basis for Acupoints and Meridians in the Human Body

The anatomical basis for the concept of meridians in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has not been resolved. This paper reviews the evidence supporting a relationship between acupuncture points/meridians and fascia. The reviewed evidence supports the view that the human body's fascia network may be the physical substrate represented by the meridians of TCM. Specifically, this hypothesis is supported by anatomical observations of body scan data demonstrating that the fascia network resembles the theoretical meridian system in salient ways, as well as physiological, histological, and clinical observations. This view represents a theoretical basis and means for applying modern biomedical research to examining TCM principles and therapies, and it favors a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment

Protective effects and potential mechanisms of Pien Tze Huang on cerebral chronic ischemia and hypertensive stroke

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Stroke caused by brain ischemia is the third leading cause of adult disability. Active prevention and early treatment of stroke targeting the causes and risk factors may decrease its incidence, mortality and subsequent disability. Pien Tze Huang (PZH), a Chinese medicine formula, was found to have anti-edema, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic effects that can prevent brain damage. This study aims to investigate the potential mechanisms of the preventive effects of Pien Tze Huang on brain damage caused by chronic ischemia and hypertensive stroke in rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of Pien Tze Huang on brain protein expression in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and stroke prone SHR (SHRsp) were studied with 2-D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometric analysis with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)/TOF tandem mass spectrometer and on brain cell death with enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunostaining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pien Tze Huang decreased cell death in hippocampus and cerebellum caused by chronic ischemia and hypertensive stroke. Immunostaining of caspase-3 results indicated that Pien Tze Huang prevents brain cells from apoptosis caused by ischemia. Brain protein expression results suggested that Pien Tze Huang downregulated QCR₂in the electron transfer chain of mitochondria preventing reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage and possibly subsequent cell death (caspase 3 assay) as caused by chronic ischemia or hypertensive stroke to hippocampus and cerebellum.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pien Tze Huang showed preventive effects on limiting the damage or injury caused by chronic ischemia and hypertensive stroke in rats. The effect of Pien Tze Huang was possibly related to prevention of cell death from apoptosis or ROS/oxidative damage in mitochondria.</p

Neurotransmitters and peptides in the developing human facial nucleus

The human facial nucleus can be sub-divided into five structurally discrete regions. Immunohistochemistry was used to locate various neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the neurons and nerve fibres of the human facial nucleus at 14 and 27 weeks of gestation and in the neonate. Whilst choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons were observed in the facial nucleus at all stages of development, dopamine β-hydroxylase-positive neurons were only found in the neonate. In addition, afferent nerve fibres positive for choline acetyltransferase, enkephalin and substance P were observed at all stages of development. In the younger specimens these fibres were evenly distributed; however, in the neonates the fibres were asymmetrically distributed as the different types became concentrated in the various structurally distinct regions of the facial nucleus

Differential expression of the soluble 170 kDa brain protein in the fetal and adult human brain

The expression of the soluble 170 kDa brain protein (BP170) was studied in the developing human brain. Using immunohistochemical methods, it was possible to demonstrate that BP170 was expressed very strongly in the visual cortex up to approximately 27 weeks of gestation. After this time, the level of expression was reduced so that by adulthood the levels of BP170 were negligible. Similarly, BP170 was expressed in the hippocampus at all stages of development; however, unlike in the visual cortex, this protein was still apparent, albeit at low levels, in the adult. In addition, BP170 was co-expressed with tyrosine hydroxylase which suggests its possible role in the dopamine pathway