Rebaudioside A inhibits pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in rats

AbstractThe safety of patients with epilepsy consuming sweetening agents, which is becoming increasingly prevalent for various reasons, is a topic that should be emphasized as sensitively as it is for other diseases. Patients with epilepsy consume sweetening agents for different reasons such being diabetic or overweight. They can occasionally be exposed to sweetening agents unrestrainedly through consuming convenience food, primarily beverages. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rebaudioside A (Reb-A), which is a steviol glycoside produced from the herb Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni), on epileptic seizures and convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Forty-eight male rats were used. Twenty-four rats were administered 35 mg/kg PTZ to trigger epileptiform activity; the remaining 24 rats were administered 70 mg/kg PTZ to trigger the convulsion model. The epileptiform activity was evaluated by spike percentage, whereas convulsion was evaluated by Racine's Convulsion Scale and the onset time of the first myoclonic jerk. Statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in the Racine's Convulsion Scale score and increase in the latency of first myoclonic jerk in a dose-dependent manner for the rat groups in which PTZ epilepsy had been induced and Reb-A had been administered. For the groups that were administered Reb-A, the spike decrease was apparent in a dose-dependent manner, based on the spike percentage calculation. These results indicated that Reb-A has positive effects on PTZ-induced convulsions

Assessment of sympathetic skin response to acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common pilosebase unit disease characterized by peripheral inflammation. Because it is associated with the peripheral nervous system, the cranial nervous system and the autonomic nervous system, the skin is a neuroimmunoendocrine organ. Various neuroendocrine hormones and catecholamines are also released by keratinocytes, which stimulate inflammation in the pilosebase unit. In this study, sympathetic skin response (SSR) evaluating the sympathetic nervous system function as a reflex against internal and external stimuli in AV will be evaluated. 31 AV patients (mean age: 22.48 ± 2.35, 20 female, 11 male) and 29 healthy volunteers (mean age: 23.19 ± 1.27, 18 female, 11 male) between the ages of 18-30 were included in the study. All patient and control groups were questioned about detailed disease and medication intake history. Dermatologic examination was performed by a single experienced dermatologist, and global acne score (GAS) was calculated. For SSR measurement, both median nerve were warned separately on both wrists. The frequency filters is set to 0.5-2000 Hz and the analysis time is set to about 10 seconds. The SSR latencies were recorded in seconds (s) and the amplitudes were recorded in millivolts (mV). The mean age and sex of the groups were similar (p> 0,05, for each). There was no significant difference between AV and healthy control groups in terms of SSR latencies and amplitudes in both extremes ((p> 0.05, for each) AV patients had a mean GAS of 15.61. There was no correlation between GAS and latency and amplitude values of both extremities in AV patients (p> 0.05). As a result, it was found that SSR did not differ from normal people in AV cases. Changes in the autonomic nervous system in AV should be evaluated with more sensitive tests. [Med-Science 2017; 6(4.000): 668-670

Decreased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis

Abstract Background To identify thickness variations in the retinal nerve fiber layer around the optic disc and macula in patients with cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) without papilledema. Methods This study included 28 patients with CVT diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Detailed ophthalmologic examination found bilateral vision 10/10, vision field test normal and fundus examination found no papilledema images. The patients had macular and optic retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) measured with spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (Optovue, Fremont, CA). Patients had retinal nerve fiber thickness compared with a control group. Results When the effect on the macula and RNFL near the optic nerve disk is investigated, there was significant thinning identified in the macula inferior inner, temporal inner, superior inner and temporal outer quadrants (p = 0.009, 0.001, 0.026, 0.014, respectively) and in the inferior temporal quadrant of the optic nerve disk (p = 0.020) in CVT patients compared to normal individuals. Conclusions Even after appropriate treatment of CVT patients, axonal loss was identified with OCT. As a result, it may be important to use OCT measurements to monitor CVT treatment

Frequency of subclinical peripheral neuropathy in cases of untreated brucellosis

Introduction: Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease in some areas of the world. It may affect several organs and is known to involve the nervous system in 2.7-17.8% of affected patients. During the progression of brucellosis, peripheral neuropathies (PNs) have been reported. However, there are few studies investigating the presence of subclinical neuropathy in asymptomatic patients. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of peripheral neuropathy using electrophysiological methods in newly-diagnosed untreated brucellosis patients. Methodology: The study included a control group of 60 healthy volunteers and 60 untreated brucellosis patients with a positive result of 1/160 or above on a brucella tube agglutination test. The patient and control groups were evaluated by electrophysiological methods. Results: In the patient group, all investigated motor nerves had slower average motor conduction speeds, reduced compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes and delayed F response and terminal latency compared to the control group. The sural nerve sensory conduction speed was slower and the sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) was found to be reduced. Conclusion: Among the 60 patients with acute brucellosis, 18% had sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy of widespread axonal character. Brucellosis can have many effects in the nervous system, including clinical or subclinical peripheral neuropathy in the peripheral nervous system. Brucellosis should be considered for differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained neurological and clinically relevant electrophysiological findings, especially in regions with endemic brucellosis

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension presenting with coma: a case report and literature review

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is characterized by orthostatic headache in the absence of a history of head trauma or lumbar puncture, and diagnosis is confirmed by a specific cerebrospinal fluid pressure and neuroimaging findings. It rarely presents with coma. A 62-year-old man presented with progressive cognitive decline of 2 to 4 weeks' duration. He was diagnosed with spontaneous intracranial hypotension according to cerebrospinal fluid pressure and neuroimaging findings, and treated conservatively

Accumulation of alpha-Synuclein in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells of Diabetic Rats and Its Potential Relationship with Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Markers

WOS: 000392134300001PubMed ID: 28133547Objective. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between plasma oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), inflammatory marker pentraxin-3 (PTX3), and cerebellar accumulation of alpha-synuclein in streptozotocin-(STZ-) induced diabetes model in rats. Methods. Twelve rats were included in the study. Diabetes (p = 6) was induced with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg). Diabetes was verified after 48 h by measuring blood glucose levels. Six rats served as controls. Following 8 weeks, rats were sacrificed for biochemical and immunohistochemical evaluation. Results. Plasma MDA levels were significantly higher in diabetic rats when compared with the control rats (p < 0.01), while plasma GSH levels were lower in the diabetic group than in the control group (p < 0.01). Also, plasma pentraxin-3 levels were statistically higher in diabetic rats than in the control rats (p < 0.01). The analysis of cerebellar alpha-synuclein immunohistochemistry showed a significant increase in alpha-synuclein immunoexpression in the diabetic group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusion. Due to increased inflammation and oxidative stress in the chronic period of hyperglycemia linked to diabetes, there may be alpha-synuclein accumulation in the cerebellum and the plasma PTX3 levels may be assessed as an important biomarker of this situation