Smart Drugs and Synthetic Androgens for Cognitive and Physical Enhancement: Revolving Doors of Cosmetic Neurology

Cognitive enhancement can be defined as the use of drugs and/or other means with the aim to improve the cognitive functions of healthy subjects in particular memory, attention, creativity and intelligence in the absence of any medical indication. Currently, it represents one of the most debated topics in the neuroscience community. Human beings always wanted to use substances to improve their cognitive functions, from the use of hallucinogens in ancient civilizations in an attempt to allow them to better communicate with their gods, to the widespread use of caffeine under various forms (energy drinks, tablets, etc.), to the more recent development of drugs such as stimulants and glutamate activators. In the last ten years, increasing attention has been given to the use of cognitive enhancers, but up to now there is still only a limited amount of information concerning the use, effect and functioning of cognitive enhancement in daily life on healthy subjects. The first aim of this paper was to review current trends in the misuse of smart drugs (also known as Nootropics) presently available on the market focusing in detail on methylphenidate, trying to evaluate the potential risk in healthy individuals, especially teenagers and young adults. Moreover, the authors have explored the issue of cognitive enhancement compared to the use of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) in sports. Finally, a brief overview of the ethical considerations surrounding human enhancement has been examined.     

Mechanical circulatory support in patients with cardiogenic shock not secondary to cardiotomy: a network meta-analysis

Heart Failure Reviews - To compare the efficacy and safety of different mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices in CS. A total of 24 studies (7 randomized controlled...     

Relative risk of plaque erosion among different age and sex groups in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Postmortem studies reported plaque erosion is frequent in young women. Recent in vivo studies failed to show age and sex differences in the plaque erosion prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of plaque erosion by age and sex among acute coronary syndromes (ACS) patients. From 1699 ACS patients, 1083 with plaque erosion or rupture were analyzed. Patients were categorized as 5 age groups (≤?50, 51–60, 61–70, 71–80,?≥?81 years). Overall prevalence of plaque erosion was similar between males and females (p?=?0.831). Males age?≤?50 had higher (p?=?0.018) and age 71–80 had lower (p?=?0.006) prevalence of plaque erosion. Females age 61–70 had higher (p?=?0.021) and age 71–80 had lower (p?=?0.045) prevalence of plaque erosion. In advanced age groups (≥?71 years), rupture was the dominant etiology in both sexes. In multivariate analysis of males, age?≤?50 demonstrated a trend to increase (OR 1.418, 95% CI 0.961–2.093, p?=?0.078) the erosion risk. Females age?≤?70 independently increased (OR 2.138, 95% CI 1.249–3.661, p?=?0.006) the risk for erosion. The prevalence of plaque erosion was similar between males and females. Plaque erosion risk was increased in the males age?≤?50 and in the females age?≤?70 among ACS patients.

     

Association of cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein with total and phospho-tau181 protein concentrations and brain amyloid load in cognitively normal subjective memory complainers stratified by Alzheimer's disease biomarkers

Introduction

Several neurodegenerative brain proteinopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are associated with cerebral deposition of insoluble aggregates of α-synuclein. Previous studies reported a trend toward increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) α-synuclein (α-syn) concentrations in AD compared with other neurodegenerative diseases and healthy controls.