Summary:Purpose: Adenosine is a major negative neuromodulator of synaptic activity in the central nervous system and can exert anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects in many experimental models of epilepsy. Extracellular adenosine can be formed by a membrane-anchored enzyme ecto-5 -nucleotidase. The purposes of this study were to characterize the role of adenosine receptors in modulating status epilepticus (SE) induced by pilocarpine and evaluate its neuroprotective action. Ecto-5 -nucleotidase activity was studied during the different phases of pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in rats.Methods: Adult rats were pretreated with different adenosinergic agents to evaluate the latency and incidence of SE induced by pilocarpine in rats. The neuroprotective effect also was evaluated.Results: A proconvulsant effect was observed with DPCPX and DMPX that reduced the latency of SE in almost all rats. Pretreatment with the MRS 1220 did not alter the incidence of SE but reduced the latency to develop SE. An anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effect was detected with R-PIA. Rats pretreated with R-PIA had a decreased number of apoptotic cells in the hippocampus, whereas pretreatment with DPCPX did not modify the hippocampal damage. An intensification of neuronal death was observed in the dentate gyrus and CA3 when rats were pretreated with DMPX. MRS-1220 did not modify the number of apoptotic cells in the hippocampus. An increase in the ecto-5´-nucleotidase staining was detected in the hippocampus during silent and chronic phases.Conclusions: The present data show that adenosine released during pilocarpine-induced SE via A1-receptor stimulation can exhibit neuroprotective and anticonvulsant roles. Similar effects could also be inferred with A2a and A3 adenosinergic agents, but further experiments are necessary to confirm their roles. Ecto-5´-nucleotidase activity during silent and chronic phases might have a role in blocking spontaneous seizures by production of inhibitory neuromodulator adenosine, besides taking part in the mechanism that controls sprouting.

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Studies have confirmed that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used for treatment of several nervous system diseases. However, isolation of bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) is an invasive and painful process and the yield is very low. Therefore, there is a need to search for other alterative stem cell sources. Adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs) have phenotypic and gene expression profiles similar to those of BMSCs. The production of ADSCs is greater than that of BMSCs, and ADSCs proliferate faster than BMSCs. To compare the effects of venous grafts containing BMSCs or ADSCs on sciatic nerve injury, in this study, rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham (only sciatic nerve exposed), Matrigel (MG; sciatic nerve injury + intravenous transplantation of MG vehicle), ADSCs (sciatic nerve injury + intravenous MG containing ADSCs), and BMSCs (sciatic nerve injury + intravenous MG containing BMSCs) groups. Sciatic functional index was calculated to evaluate the function of injured sciatic nerve. Morphologic characteristics of nerves distal to the lesion were observed by toluidine blue staining. Spinal motor neurons labeled with Fluoro-Gold were quantitatively assessed. Compared with sham-operated rats, sciatic functional index was lower, the density of small-diameter fibers was significantly increased, and the number of motor neurons significantly decreased in rats with sciatic nerve injury. Neither ADSCs nor BMSCs significantly improved the sciatic nerve function of rats with sciatic nerve injury, increased fiber density, fiber diameters, axonal diameters, myelin sheath thickness, and G ratios (axonal diameter/fiber diameter ratios) in the sciatic nerve distal to the lesion site. There was no significant difference in the number of spinal motor neurons among ADSCs, BMSCs and MG groups. These results suggest that neither BMSCs nor ADSCs provide satisfactory results for peripheral nerve repair when using MG as the conductor for engraftment.

It has been more than 200 years since James Parkinson made the first descriptions of the disease that bears his name. Since then, knowledge about Parkinson’s disease has been improved, and its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatments are well described in the scientific and medical literature. However, there is no way to prevent the disease from its progressive nature yet and only its symptoms can be minimized. It is known that the process of neurodegeneration begins before the onset of motor signs and symptoms of the disease, when diagnosis is usually made. Therefore, recognizing manifested non-motor symptoms can make an early diagnosis possible and lead to a better understanding of the disease. Autonomic dysfunctions are important non-motor manifestations of Parkinson’s disease and affect the majority of patients. Importantly, heart failure is the third leading cause of death in people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Several evidences have shown the correlation between Parkinson’s disease and the preexistence of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, cardiovascular monitoring and identification of its dysfunctions can have a prodromal role for Parkinson’s disease. This review presents studies of the literature that can lead to a better understanding of Parkinson’s disease with special attention to its relation to heart and cardiovascular parameters.

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Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da regeneração nervosa através da contagem de neurônios comparando duas técnicas cirúrgicas no tratamento da perda de substância nervosa nos membros inferiores em 15 ratos. Inicialmente obteve-se tubo de veia de 12mm de comprimento retirado da jugular externa esquerda. A seguir, opera-se os dois membros inferiores, expondo o nervo tibial de cada lado e ressecando um segmento de 8 mm do nervo, simulando, ao mesmo tempo, a perda de substância e a obtenção do enxerto nervoso autógeno. A reparação da perda de substância do lado esquerdo consistiu numa enxertia convencional simples para a reparação de lesão nervosa por meio de sutura microcirúrgica. A do membro inferior direito foi pela tubulização com 8 mm de enxerto de músculo quadríceps denaturado com nitrogênio líquido coberto com veia jugular. Após quatro meses, os animais foram submetidos à nova cirurgia para exposição dos nervos tibiais ao marcador neuronal Fluoro Gold®. Após 48 horas, foram perfundidos e o segmento medular entre L3 e S1 foi removido e posteriormente cortado em secções de 40 µm. Houve contagem neuronal de todos os cortes e não foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas entre as duas técnicas cirúrgicas.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is a chronic condition characterized by epileptic seizures originating mainly in temporal lobe areas. Epileptogenesis is a process in which a central nervous system injury can lead surviving neuronal populations to generate abnormal, synchronous and recurrent epileptiform discharges producing focal or generalized seizures. Hipocampal sclerosis, a massive cell death in the hippocampal formation and in the other regions of temporal lobe, is considered as hallmark of TLE. Despite the numerous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) commercially available, about 30-40% of patients remain with seizures refractory to pharmacological treatment. In addition, there is no drug with significant efficacy to modify the epileptogenesis process. In this review we present some data regarding the neuroprotective effect of some adenosinergic agents, erythropoietin and carisbamate regarding the disease- and epileptogenesis-modifying effect.

Tuberculosis (TB) and depression is common and is associated with poor TB outcomes. The World Health Organization End TB Strategy explicitly calls for the integration of TB and mental health services. Interpersonal Counseling (IPC) is a brief evidence-based treatment for depression that can be delivered by non-mental health specialists with expert supervision. The goal of this study was to explore potential barriers and facilitators to training non-specialist providers to deliver IPC within the TB Control Program and primary care in Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro state. Data collection consisted of six focus groups (n = 42) with health professionals (n = 29), program coordinators (n = 7), and persons with TB (n = 6). We used open coding to analyze the data, followed by deductive coding using the Chaudoir multi-level framework for implementation outcomes. The main structural barriers identified were poverty, limited access to treatment, political instability, violence, and social stigma. Organizational barriers included an overburdened and under-resourced health system with high staff turnover. Despite high levels of stress and burnout among health professionals, several provider-level facilitators emerged including a high receptivity to, and demand for, mental health training; strong community relationships through the community health workers; and overall acceptance of IPC delivered by any type of health provider. Patients were also receptive to IPC being delivered by any type of professional. No intervention-specific barriers or facilitators were identified. Despite many challenges, integrating depression treatment into primary care in Itaboraí using IPC was perceived as acceptable, feasible, and desirable.