Amygdalus spinosissima root extract enhanced scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment in mice

The Amygdalus spinosissima (Rosaceae) plant has been used in the Iranian folk medicine as a remedy for the burn wound. Hence, in this study, we aimed to determine the possible medicinal potential of the plant focusing on the root part. The bioactive phenolic and flavonoid compounds present in the root extract of the Amygdalus spinosissima plant as well as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were determined. Moreover, the effects of root extract on learning and memory in mice were evaluated. The results revealed that the root methanolic extract contained phenolic and flavonoid compounds including apigenin, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, gallic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, and ellagic acid. The extract possessed antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities in vitro. These biological activities were attributed to the presence of phenolics and flavonoids. The A. spinosissima root extract improved learning and memory function in scopolamine-induced memory dysfunction in mice as determined using the Morris water maze task. The extract modulated the AChE, BChE, and inflammatory genes and enhanced the expression of the antioxidant enzymes in the brain. Consequently, A. spinosissima root extract could be considered as a promising source of potent bioactive compounds in the retarding the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

     

Biomechanical investigation of the modified Tardieu Scale in assessing knee extensor spasticity poststroke

Objective

The modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) is a clinical tool for the measurement of muscle spasticity. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the MTS and the slope of the work‐velocity curve as a biomechanical measure in assessing knee extensor muscle spasticity in patients with stroke.

Methods

Thirty patients with stroke (22 female, 8 male; mean age 55.4 ± 12.0 years) participated in this study. The knee extensor spasticity was assessed with the MTS. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to move the knee passively from full extension to 90° flexion at speeds of 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s to collect torque‐angle data. The slope of the work‐velocity curve was calculated using linear regression [J/(°/s)].

Results

The mean of R2‐R1 component of MTS was 19.73 (SD 29.85). The mean work significantly decreased as the speed increased (p < .001). The mean (SD) slope for the work‐velocity curve was ?0.83 (SD 0.73, range ?2.6–0.3). There was no significant relationship between the R₂‐R₁ and the slope of work‐velocity curve (r = 0.09, p = .62).

Conclusions

The lack of significant relationship between the MTS and the slope of work‐velocity curve may question the usefulness of the MTS as a valid measure of muscle spasticity after stroke.     

Safety and tolerability of antipsychotic-mood stabilizer co-treatment in the management of acute bipolar disorder: results from a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis

Introduction: Mood stabilizer (MS) plus antipsychotic (AP) co-treatment is common in patients with acute bipolar disorder (BD), but adverse effects (AEs) of this strategy have not been systematically reviewed.

Areas covered: We conducted a systematic review searching PubMed/MEDLINE and PsycINFO on April 1, 2015 for randomized trials in ≥ 20 adults with acute manic/mixed or depressed BD comparing MS or AP monotherapy with their combination that reported quantitative AE data. Pooled together, MS+AP versus MS monotherapy (studies = 18, n = 4419) was associated with significantly higher burden regarding 21/53 (39.6%) individual AEs, particularly weight gain-related (5/5 = 100%), extrapyramidal (5/12 = 41.7%) and glucose/lipid-related AEs (3/8 = 37.5%). AP+MS versus AP monotherapy (studies = 3, n = 397) was associated with significantly higher burden regarding 4/21 (19.0%) individual AEs (≥ 1 AE, tremor, sedation/somnolence, vomiting).

Expert opinion: Efficacy advantages of AP+MS co-treatment versus monotherapy should be balanced with its greater AE burden. AE risk is higher for adding AP to MS (17 additional AEs) than adding MS to an AP, including the particularly concerning cardiometabolic AEs. More data are needed, as only one or two studies provided data for 21/21 (100%) AEs of MS augmentation of AP, and 13/53 (24.5%) AEs of AP augmentation of MS, and as sparse data suggest clinically relevant AE differences across individual AP+MS combinations.     

The impact of polymer coatings on magnetite nanoparticles performance as MRI contrast agents: a comparative study

Background

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are the most commonly used negative MRI contrast agent which affect the transverse (T₂) relaxation time. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of various polymeric coatings on the performance of magnetite nanoparticles as MRI contrast agents.

Methods

Ferrofluids based on magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (SPIONs) were synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method and coated with different biocompatible polymer coatings including mPEG-PCL, chitosan and dextran.

Results

The bonding status of different polymers on the surface of the magnetite nanoparticles was confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis confirmed the superparamagnetic behavior of all synthesized nanoparticles. The field–emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) indicated the formation of quasi-spherical nanostructures with the final average particle size of 12–55 nm depending on the type of polymer coating, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) determined inverse spinel structure of magnetite nanoparticles. The ferrofluids demonstrated sufficient colloidal stability in deionized water with the zeta potentials of −24.2, −16.9, +31.6 and −21 mV for the naked SPIONs, and for dextran, chitosan and mPEG-PCL coated SPIONs, respectively. Finally, the magnetic relaxivities of water based ferrofluids were measured on a 1.5T clinical MRI instrument. The r₂/r₁ value was calculated to be 17.21, 19.42 and 20.71 for the dextran, chitosan and mPEG-PCL coated SPIONs, respectively.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrated that the value of r₂/r₁ ratio of mPEG-PCL modified SPIONs is higher than that of some commercial contrast agents. Therefore, it can be considered as a promising candidate for T₂ MRI contrast agent.     

Microvascular changes at different stages of chronic kidney disease

Patients with progressing chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more likely to experience cardio‐ and cerebrovascular events than progressing to end‐stage renal disease. The authors explored whether retinal microvascular calibers differed with the degree of renal impairment and between the standard and extended optic disk and may serve as a simple additional tool for risk stratification in this highly vulnerable patient cohort. The authors analyzed central retinal arteriolar and venular equivalent calibers (CRAE, CRVE) at different retinal zones (zone B&C) using digital retinal imaging in hypertensive patients with stage 2 (n = 66) or stage 3 CKD (n = 30). Results were adjusted for age, sex, HbA1c, and 24‐hour diastolic blood pressure. Mean eGFR was 77.7 ± 8.9 and 48.8 ± 7.9 ml/min/1.73 m² for stage 2 and 3 CKD, respectively. CRAE and CRVE in zones B and C were significantly lower in patients with stage 3 CKD compared to patients with stage 2 CKD (CRAE‐B:141.1 ± 21.4 vs. 130.5 ± 18.9 µm, p = .030; CRAE‐C:137.4 ± 19.4 vs 129.2 ± 18.2 µm, p = .049; CRVE‐B:220.8 ± 33.0 vs. 206.0 ± 28.4 µm, p = .004; and CRVE‐C:215.9 ± 33.0 vs. 201.2 ± 25.1µm, p = .003). In patients with stage 2 CKD, CRAE‐B was higher than CRAE‐C (141.1 ± 21.4 vs. 137.4 ± 19.4µm, p < .001). In contrast, such a difference was not found in patients with stage 3 CKD. CRAE of both retinal zones correlated with eGFR for the entire cohort. In patients with stage 3 CKD, retinal narrowing is more pronounced compared to patients with stage 2 CKD. Whether the novel observation of difference in arteriolar caliber between zones B and C in stage 2 CKD could serve as an early marker of CKD progression warrants further investigation.     

Predictors of COVID-19 related death in diabetes patients: A case-control study in Iran

BackgroundIdentifying the predictors of COVID-19 related death in diabetes patients can assist physicians for detecting risk factors related to the worse outcome in these patients. In this study we investigated the predictors of the death in patients with diabetes compared with non-diabetic COVID-19 patients.MethodsIn the present case-control study, the case group were diabetic patients with COVID-19 and the control group included Non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. The data source regarding the demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, laboratory, and radiological findings on admission as well as the complications, treatment, and outcomes during hospitalization were gathered from their medical record through two trained nurses. Adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios (OR) estimate were calculated using the simple and multiple logistic regression through backward model.ResultsThe mean (SD) age of the case group was higher than that of the control group; [65.24 (12.40) years vs. 59.35 (17.34) years, respectively (P < 0.001)]. Results of the adjusted logistic regression model showed that, advanced age (+60 year) (OR = 5.13, P = 0.006), addiction (OR = 5.26, P = 0.033), high level of Blood urea nitrogen (OR = 5.85, P < 0.001), and high level of Alkaline Phosphatase (OR = 3.38, P = 0.012) in diabetic patients were significantly associated with increase the odds of death in COVID-19 patients.ConclusionWe found that in COVID-19 patients with diabetes; advanced age, addiction, high level of BUN and Alp and in non-diabetic COVID-19 patients advanced age, dyspnea, high level of BUN and SGOT were associated with increase risk of death in these patients.     

Facile Synthesis of Ag Nanowire/TiO2 and Ag Nanowire/TiO2/GO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B

This paper investigates the photocatalytic characteristics of Ag nanowire (AgNW)/TiO₂ and AgNW/TiO₂/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites. Samples were synthesized by the direct coating of TiO₂ particles on the surface of silver nanowires. As-prepared AgNW/TiO₂ and AgNW/TiO₂/GO nanocomposites were characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV/visible absorption spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images confirmed the successful deposition of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of AgNWs. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized nanocomposites was evaluated using Rhodamine B (RhB) in an aqueous solution as the model organic dye. Results showed that synthesized AgNW/TiO₂/GO nanocomposite has superior photocatalytic activities when it comes to the decomposition of RhB.