Chronic consumption of distilled sugarcane spirit induces anxiolytic-like effects in mice

OBJECTIVE: Chronic ethanol consumption is a major public health problem throughout the world. We investigated the anxiolytic-like effects and the possible ever injury induced by the chronic consumption of ethanol or sugarcane spirit in mice. METHOD: Adult mice were exposed to a two-bottle free-choice paradigm for 6 weeks. The mice in Group A (n = 16) had access to sugarcane spirit + distilled water, the mice in Group B (n = 15) had access to ethanol + distilled water, and the mice in Group C (control, n = 14) had access to distilled water + distilled water. The ethanol content in the beverages offered to Groups A and B was 2% for the first week, 5% for the second week and 10% for the remaining four weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the mice were evaluated using the elevated-plus maze and the hole-board test to assess their anxiety-related behaviors. We also determined the serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels. RESULTS: In the elevated-plus maze, the time spent in the open arms was increased in the mice exposed to chronic ethanol (32 + 8 vs. 7 + 2 s, n = 9) or sugarcane spirit (36 + 9 vs. 7 + 2 s, n = 9) compared to the controls. In the hole-board test, the mice exposed to ethanol or sugarcane spirit displayed increases in their head-dipping frequency (16 + 1 for the control group, 27 + 2 for the ethanol group, and 31 + 3 for the sugarcane-spirit group; n = 9 for each group). In addition, the mice exposed to sugarcane spirit displayed an increase in the aspartate aminotransferase / alanine aminotransferase ratio compared to the ethanol group (1.29 + 0.17 for the control group and 2.67 + 0.17 for the sugarcane spirit group; n = 8 for each group). CONCLUSION: The chronic consumption of sugarcane-spirit produces liver injury and anxiolytic-like effects and the possible liver injury in mice

Effects of Panax ginseng extract in patients with fibromyalgia : a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an extract of Panax ginseng in patients with fibromyalgia. A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was carried out over 12 weeks to compare the effects of P. ginseng (100 mg/d) with amitriptyline (25 mg/d) and placebo in 38 patients with fibromyalgia: 13 in Group I (amitriptyline), 13 in Group II (placebo), and 12 in Group III (P. ginseng). Ratings on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) revealed a reduction in pain in the P. ginseng group (p < .0001), an improvement in fatigue (p < .0001) and an improvement in sleep (p < .001), with respect to baseline characteristics, but there were no differences between the three groups. With respect to anxiety, improvements occurred in the P. ginseng group compared to baseline (p < .0001); however, amitriptyline treatment resulted in significantly greater improvements (p < .05). P. ginseng reduced the number of tender points and improved patients' quality of life (using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire - FIQ); however, there were no differences between groups. The beneficial effects experienced by patients for all parameters suggest a need for further studies to be performed on the tolerability and efficacy of this phytotherapic as a complementary therapy for fibromyalgia

Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activity of Ouabain in Mice

Ouabain, an inhibitor of the Na+/K+-ATPase pump, was identified as an endogenous substance of human plasma. Ouabain has been studied for its ability to interfere with various regulatory mechanisms. Despite the studies portraying the ability of ouabain to modulate the immune response, little is known about the effect of this substance on the inflammatory process. The aim of this work was to study the effects triggered by ouabain on inflammation and nociceptive models. Ouabain produced a reduction in the mouse paw edema induced by carrageenan, compound 48/80 and zymosan. This anti-inflammatory potential might be related to the inhibition of prostaglandin E2, bradykinin, and mast-cell degranulation but not to histamine. Ouabain also modulated the inflammation induced by concanavalin A by inhibiting cell migration. Besides that, ouabain presented antinociceptive activity. Taken these data together, this work demonstrated, for the first time, that ouabain presented in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects

Anxiolytic Effect of Citrus aurantium

The objective of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of the essential oil (EO) of Citrus aurantium L. in patients experiencing crack withdrawal. This was developed with internal users in therapeutic communities in Paraíba, Brazil. The test population consisted of 51 volunteers, subdivided into three groups. To elicit anxiety, the Simulated Public Speaking (SPS) method was used. Physiological measures were assessed at specific phases during the experiment using appropriate equipment. Psychological measures of anxiety were assessed using the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory (IDATE) and the Analog Smoke Scale (HAS). EO was administered by nebulization. The experiment was developed in individual sessions and consolidated to four phases. The results demonstrated that the test subjects in the groups that were given the EO maintained controlled anxiety levels during SPS, when compared to the Control Group (no treatment). Subjects who used the EO also maintained levels of “discomfort” and “cognitive impairment” during SPS. It was concluded that individuals who are experiencing internal crack cocaine withdrawal present high anxiety traits and that nebulization of the EO of Citrus aurantium L. provided an acute anxiolytic effect in crack cocaine users exposed to SPS

Effects of the single supplementation and multiple doses of Passiflora incarnata L. on human anxiety: A Clinical Trial, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized

Object: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Passiflora incarnata L. on anxiety in humans. Method: The individuals were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: Placebo or experimental, n =30, single dose, as well as Placebo or Experimental, n =15, multiple dose.&nbsp; The experimental human anxiety was induced by simulated public speaking test in the following phases: Basal (B), stressful (A), speech 1 (S1), speech 2 (S2) and Final (F). We evaluated the Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), and Diastolic (DBP), Heart Rate (HR), Electrical Conductance of Skin and extremities temperature (ET) and filled The state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI S e T). Results: During the single dose, the HR was reduced at the end of the speech (86±2,0 to 74±3,0 bpm) the experimental group compared to the placebo group (p&lt;0,05); the STAI-S did not change. In the delineation of multiple doses, SBP was reduced, in mmHg, in the experimental group compared to the placebo group during all phases. Experimental: 106±1,0 (B), 111±1,0 (A), 121±2,0 (S1), 115±3 (S2), 104±2,0 (F) e Placebo: 121±3,0; 127±3,0; 130±3,0; 130±4,5; 117±3,0 (p&lt;0,05). Conclusions: It is suggested that supplementation using Passiflora incarnata L. Capsules (500 mg) decreased cardiovascular signals both in single and in multiple doses, associated with the stress of public speaking

Narrativas de estudantes de psicologia : significando o consumo de substâncias psicoativas

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Narrativas de alunos da UFPB acerca do consumo de substâncias psicoativas/ Narratives of the UFPB Psychology students’ experience as to the meaning of the psychoactive substances consumption

O presente estudo buscou compreender a experiência de alunos do curso de Psicologia da UFPB com o consumo de substâncias psicoativas (SPAs), a partir das narrativas de 7 estudantes sobre suas vivências, realçando o significado que esse uso tem sobre suas vidas. Para tanto, utilizou-se de metodologia de pesquisa qualitativa, de cunho fenomenológico, cujo instrumento foi uma entrevista a partir de uma pergunta disparadora. Foram encontrados 5 Eixos de Sentido: Eixo 1-Relação pessoal com substâncias psicoativas; Eixo 2 - Relações interpessoais e o consumo de substâncias psicoativas; Eixo 3-Motivação para consumir ou não consumir substâncias psicoativas; Eixo 4-Significado do uso de substâncias psicoativas específicas; e Eixo 5-Percepção sobre substâncias psicoativas. Esses Eixos contemplam 42 Unidades de Significado apreendidas da experiência de cada participante, que foram agrupadas de acordo com os sentidos convergentes entre si. Foi possível perceber a multiplicidade de sentidos que a experiência com o consumo de substâncias psicoativas pode proporcionar, mostrando também que se trata de uma vivência singular cujos significados são fluidos e podem mudar ao longo da vida. A diversidade de repercussões, efeitos, entendimentos e sentidos em torno da droga acompanha, e reflete, seus variados contextos de existência e uso. Os resultados apresentados assinalam que a pesquisa alcançou o objetivo proposto. Destaca- se a relevância do estudo, que propiciou um olhar detalhado à questão do fenômeno drogadição entre universitários, bem como possibilitará a oferta de mais elementos à UFPB, especialmente ao Curso de Psicologia, na elaboração de políticas estudantis.

Efecto analgésico del extracto hidroalcoholico de las hojas de Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl

Existen varios estudios que evidencian que la Cissampelos sympodialis posee atividad anti-inflamatoria, antialérgica, antidepresiva y de baja toxicidad. Este estudio evaluó los efectos de la administración intraperitoneal, del extracto hidroalcohólico de hojas de cissampelos sympodialis (EHACS), en las dosis de 50, 100 y 200 mg/Kg, en modelos de analgesia en camumdongos. En el modelo de las contracciones inducidas por el ácido acético (0,85%) fue encontrada una reducción en el número de contracciones proporcional a las dosis usadas (p&lt;0,05). En el test de la reacción al formaldeído las dosis utilizadas no presentaron efecto significante en la primera fase del test (0-5 minutos). Sin embargo, la dosis de 200mg/Kg presentó una significante inhibición en la segunda fase (15 – 30 minutos) del test (p&lt;0,05). Los resultados mostraron que el EHACS presentó una actividad antinociceptiva periférica probablemente relacionada con la alegada actividad anti-inflamatoria

Synthesis of New Imidazolidin-2,4-dione and 2-Thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones via C-Phenylglycine Derivatives

Hydantoins and their derivatives constitute a group of pharmaceutical compounds with anticonvulsant and antiarrhythmic properties, and are also used against diabetes. N-3 and C-5 substituted imidazolidines are examples of such products. As such, we have developed a synthesis of 2,4-dione and 2-thioxo-4-one imidazolidinic derivatives by reaction of amino acids with C-phenylglycine, phenyl isocyanate and phenyl isothiocyanate. Four amino-derivatives IG(1-4) and eight imidazolidinic derivatives, IM(1-8), were obtained in yields of 70–74%. The mass, infrared, 1H and 13C-NMR spectra of representative products are discussed