Essential fatty acids for premenstrual syndrome and their effect on prolactin and total cholesterol levels: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study

Objective  

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of polyunsaturated fatty acids for the treatment of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) using a graded symptom scale and to assess the effect of this treatment on basal plasma levels of prolactin and total cholesterol.     

Assessment of Oxidative, Inflammatory, and Fibrinolytic Biomarkers and DNA Strand Breakage in Hypercholesterolemia

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic biomarkers as well as DNA strand breakage in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, total protein, albumin, apolipoprotein (Apo) A, Apo B, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), increased ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), ―SH, NOx, IL-6, and D-dimer levels were assessed, and DNA strand breakage was evaluated using comet assay in 38 patients with hypercholesterolemia and 20 healthy controls. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, Apo A, Apo B, AOPP, IMA, IL-6, and D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. However, NOx and plasma ―SH group concentrations were lower in hypercholesterolemic subjects, while no significant differences were observed with respect to DNA strand breakage between the two groups. Hypercholesterolemia is related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Accordingly, AOPP concentration was higher in subjects with hypercholesterolemia, and we speculate that AOPP can reflect the enhancement of protein oxidation and inflammation.     

Historia de la neurocirugía española. La escuela de Valencia: J.J. Barcia Goyanes

Professor Juan José Barcia-Goyanes started neurosurgical practice from anatomy and neuropsychiatry in response to a vacancy at a department known as “Nervous diseases”, in 1931 at Hospital General in Valencia, Spain. Since the first intervention, based on the methods and surgical instruments already used in Europe and the U.S.A., the neurosurgical practice became the mainstay of the department, from which other auxiliary specialties emerged, such as neuroradiology, neurophysiology, neuropathology and also new techniques such as stereotactic surgery, functional neurosurgery and palencephalography. This year, the department celebrates its 80th anniversary. The broad spectrum of Prof. Barcia's scientific work included fields like neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry, as well as anthropology, medical thought, history of medicine, morphology and history of anatomical language in his work “Onomatologica anatomica nova”, in addition to an interesting poetic work. He was a founding member of the Luso-Spanish Neurosurgical Society and the Neurosurgical Society of Levante.     

Effect of Aloe vera. on Rat Pulp Tissue

Abstract

Aloe vera. L. (Aloeaceae) has been extensively studied for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cellular regeneration properties. This work evaluated in vivo. the effects of powder of freeze-dried Aloe vera. on rat pulp tissue. Pulp tissue was mechanically exposed to Aloe vera., and it was evaluated at 1 to 30 days after the procedure by histopathologic examination. A predominant acute-moderate inflammatory infiltrate was observed in the Aloe vera.–treated group 1 to 7 days after treatment. At 14 to 30 days, pulp tissue took a normal pattern when comparing Aloe vera. treatment with the Ca(OH)₂ treatment; it was found that both treatment groups stimulated reparative dentin and the formation of complete bridge. Strong superficial necrosis was detected exclusively for Ca(OH)₂. It seems evident that application of Aloe vera. in direct contact with the exposed pulp has acceptable biocompatibility and can lead to tertiary bridge formation.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Tabernaemontana catharinensis

In this work we describe the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and toxic activities as well as the phytochemical profile of the ethanol extract from Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC. (Apocynaceae) stem bark. Analgesic evaluation was carried out against chemical and thermal stimuli. Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated on carrageenan-induced edema in rats and toxicological studies (LD₅₀) were conducted in mice. Phytochemical analyses were performed by standardized methodology. In an analgesic assay, acetic acid-induced writhings were significantly inhibited by extract doses of 37.5?mg/kg (40.97%), 75?mg/kg (77.70%) and 150?mg/kg (88.98%). A central analgesia was also observed using T. catharinensis extract at all doses tested, particularly noticed at 60 and 90?min following administration. The extract significantly reduced edema development by 30.35% (37.5?mg/kg), 34.46% (75?mg/kg), and 56.42% (150?mg/kg) when assessed 180?min following carrageenan intraplantar injection, demonstrating an effective anti-inflammatory action. The LD₅₀ value was 2200?mg/kg. Phytochemical analyses of ethanol extract from Tabernaemontana catharinensis stem bark showed the presence of alkaloids and terpenoids, which may be responsible for the observed pharmacological activities described in this work.     

Intranasal delivery of nanostructured lipid carriers,solid lipid nanoparticles and nanoemulsions: A current overview of in vivo studies

The management of the central nervous system (CNS) disorders is challenging, due to the need of drugs to cross the blood‒brain barrier (BBB) and reach the brain. Among the various strategies that have been studied to circumvent this challenge, the use of the intranasal route to transport drugs from the nose directly to the brain has been showing promising results. In addition, the encapsulation of the drugs in lipid-based nanocarriers, such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) or nanoemulsions (NEs), can improve nose-to-brain transport by increasing the bioavailability and site-specific delivery. This review provides the state-of-the-art of in vivo studies with lipid-based nanocarriers (SLNs, NLCs and NEs) for nose-to-brain delivery. Based on the literature available from the past two years, we present an insight into the different mechanisms that drugs can follow to reach the brain after intranasal administration. The results of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies are reported and a critical analysis of the differences between the anatomy of the nasal cavity of the different animal species used in in vivo studies is carried out. Although the exact mechanism of drug transport from the nose to the brain is not fully understood and its effectiveness in humans is unclear, it appears that the intranasal route together with the use of NLCs, SLNs or NEs is advantageous for targeting drugs to the brain. These systems have been shown to be more effective for nose-to-brain delivery than other routes or formulations with non-encapsulated drugs, so they are expected to be approved by regulatory authorities in the coming years.KEY WORDS: Nose-to-brain delivery, Intranasal administration, Nanostructured lipid carriers, NLC, Solid lipid nanoparticles, SLN, Nanoemulsions, In vivo studies, Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamics