We report two patients manifesting with involvement of central and peripheral nervous system with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes and pathological features of neuropathy possibly due to harmful and chronic use of various nitroimidazole group of medications for recurrent diarrheal illness. Patient 1, a 21-year-old man with obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulsive behavior and harmful use of substance (tinidazole), had developed encephalopathy and biopsy-proven neuropathy with partial remission. The MRI of brain showed involvement of bilateral caudate, lentiform and dentate nuclei, and splenium, with contrast enhancement of the caudate and putaminal lesions and restricted diffusion of the splenial lesion. Patient 2 was a 50-year-old woman with irritable bowel syndrome and was on harmful use of tinidazole and metronidazole. She manifested with encephalopathy, ataxia, and neuropathy. Her MRI of brain revealed involvement of bilateral putamen, dentate nuclei and periventricular white matter with restricted diffusion. Sural nerve biopsy revealed evidence of vasculitic neuropathy. At follow-up, there was definite, though incomplete, recovery in both the patients. The MRI alterations improved completely in patient 2 and substantially in patient 1. Increasing awareness among the physicians may enable early recognition of potentially reversible neurotoxicity and avoid unwarranted prescription of such medications.
Background: Many people believe that all cosmetics are safe but there are number of studies proving that majority of the cosmetics contains heavy metals or other chemicals. In this study we selected two heavy metals arsenic and lead because as per the Indian scenario is concerned most of the Hindu and Muslim females uses lead/arsenic based cosmetics.Methods: For the qualitative/quantitative estimation to detect heavy metals such as arsenic and lead in cosmetics, 20 different types of cosmetics were purchased from local market, labelled and analysed by qualitative test for heavy metals method and ICP-AES Analysis of cosmetics method.Results: A questionnaire was framed out in English and analysis showed that students had an adverse effect while using cosmetic products. Preliminary analysis of some samples gave positive results and for confirmation these samples were sent to IIT Bombay for ICP-AES analysis. Some of the samples showed variable level of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. Highest concentration of lead and arsenic was found in Surma followed by Sindoor, lip balm and Kajal.Conclusions: Heavy metals are one of the major contaminant in our eco system. Apart from this a number of cosmetic products also contain the same. Chronic use of this kind of cosmetic products will leads heavy metal toxicity.
The effect of valeric acid on the behavior of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-induced rats by aluminum chloride (100 mg/kg body weight) was assessed using elevated plus maze (EPM) and the Hebb Williams maze (HWM). Amyloid β 1–42(Aβ1–42) biomarker was estimated by ELISA. In this study, valeric acid-treated rats were compared with those treated with piracetam (200 mg/kg), rivastigmine (0.5 mg/kg), and the results showed the rats treated with valeric acid had a very less transfer latency of EPM and HWM when compared with other standard drugs. In addition, valeric acid-treated rats showed reduced levels of amyloid β1–42 biomarker in the plasma. Hence, this study found that valeric acid may be suggested as a better drug for Alzheimer's disease.
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