Cannabis therapy in neurological disorders: Recent advances and perspectives

Both phytocannabinoids (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol) and synthetic derivatives (nabilone, dronabinol) showed therapeutic benefits in some neurological disorders. Cannabis inhalation was reported to attenuate several symptoms (rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor) in Parkinson’s disease. A significant reduction in monthly seizures in patients with epilepsy has been noted for cannabidiol, while administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol resulted in benefits on psychomotor agitation in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Although there are clinical studies supporting the use of cannabis preparations as adjuvant therapy in neurological disorders, more investigations are needed to assess their safety and efficacy

Small Distributed Renewable Energy Generation for Low Voltage Distribution Networks

Driven by the existing energy policies, the use of renewable energy has increased considerably all over the world in order to respond to the increasing energy consumption and to reduce the environmental impact of the electricity generation. Although most policy makers and companies are focusing on large applications, the use of cheap small generation units, based on local renewable resources, has become increasingly attractive for the general public, small farms and remote communities. The paper presents several results of a research project aiming to identify the power quality issues and the impact of RES based distributed generation (DG) or other non-linear loads on low voltage (LV) distribution networks in Romania; the final goal is to develop a Universal Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) able to diminish the existing disturbances. Basically, the work analyses the existing DG technologies and identifies possible solutions for their integration in Romania; taking into account the existent state of the art, the attention was paid on small systems, using wind and solar energy, and on possibility to integrate them into suburban and rural LV distribution networks. The presence of DG units at distribution voltage level means the transition from traditional passive to active distribution networks. In general, the relatively low penetration levels of DG does not produce problems; however, the nowadays massive increase of local power generation have led to new integration challenges in order to ensure the reliability and quality of the power supply. Power quality issues are identified and their assessment is the key element in the design of measures aiming to diminish all existing disturbances

Management of unknown origin cerebral metastases

Aim: The present study attempts todetermine the steps for obtaining theetiological diagnosis of brain metastaseswith unknown origin.Material and methods: A total of 190patients with brain metastases diagnosed inthe Department of Neurosurgery inEmergency Hospital ”N. Oblu” Iasibetween 2007-2010 were included in thisstudy. The clinical characteristics andpathological features were analyzed.Results: There were 102 males and 88females with a M:F ratio of 1.15:1. Themedian age of patients was 47.07 years(range 31-77 years). Females patients wereolder (mean age 57.21 years) than malespatients (49.15 years). 154 patients (81.05%)had single brain metastasis, and 36 patients(18.95%) had more than two. The lesionswere supratentorial in 142 patients(74.73%), infratentorial in 18 (9.47%), andboth infratentorial and supratentorial in 30patients (15.78%). Surgical treatmentinvolved complete resection in 47.9% ofcases, subtotal resection in 26.8%, andbiopsy alone in the remainder (25.3%).Brain metastases originating in lung cancerrepresented the most common type(47.39%), followed by those from breastcancer (19.79%), then those from skin(melanoma) (8.33%), genitourinarycarcinoma (6.30%), and gastrointestinalcarcinoma (2.62%). In 16.31% of cases, theprimary tumor remained unknown, despiteextensive investigation.Conclusion: The primary cancer leadingto brain metastases can be detected eitherby obtaining a sample of tumoral tissuethrough a neurosurgical operation on theintracerebral tumor (total ablation orstereotactic biopsy) with histopathologicalexamination, or by additional tests of thewhole body. Taken into consideration theresults of our own study, the managementof the patients with brain metastases shouldinclude a thoracic CT scan oranteroposterior and lateral chest X-ray,clinical breast examination andmammography, abdominal ultrasoundexploration, and skin, kidney and prostateexamination. With the most sophisticatedmethods of diagnosis in approximately 16%of cases the origin of metastasis remainsunknown. The identification of the primarysite by the neuropathologist afterstereotactic biopsy would clearly beadvantageous

Software Tool for the Analysis of Electromagnetic Disturbances Propagation

The analysis of the conducted electromagnetic disturbances propagation is a complex issue, involving detection and analysis of electromagnetic disturbances, modelling of power grids’ elements, and study of the influenceon the grids’ elements (electric lines and power transformers)of the existing disturbances.Postprint (published version

Cytotoxic activity of Pinus cembra L. needle extract: A preliminary study on HeLa cell line

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of a hydromethanolic extract obtained from cembran pine needles in HeLa cell line. In this respect, the effects of needle extract on protein synthesis, viability, proliferation and cell cycle in HeLa cells were evaluated after 48 h treatment. Cembran pine needle extract dose-dependently decreased protein synthesis in HeLa cells causing 44.26% reduction in protein synthesis at 100µg/ml. At 25, 50 and 100µg/ml, it increased cell death in comparison with the control (20.99%, 21.49% and 23.63%, respectively vs. 9.83%). In addition, at 100µg/ml, cembran pine needle extract showed a remarkable antiproliferative effect whereas at 25 and 50µg/ml, it induced sub-G1 phase cells accumulation (11.68 ± 0.81% and 14.69 ± 0.56%, respectively in comparison with control, 6.03 ± 0.55%), an indicator of proapoptotic effects. Taken together, these results indicate that cembran pine needles are a source of compounds with antitumor potential which needs to be further investigated and exploited