AbstactBackgroundGamma amino butyric acid (GABA), the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the cerebral cortex, maintains the inhibitory tones that counter balances neuronal excitation. When this balance is perturbed, seizures may ensue.MethodsIn the present study, alterations of the general GABA, GABAA and GABAB receptors in the cerebral cortex of the epileptic rat and the therapeutic application of Bacopa monnieri were investigated.ResultsScatchard analysis of [3H]GABA, [3H]bicuculline and [3H]baclofen in the cerebral cortex of the epileptic rat showed significant decrease in Bmax (P < 0.001) compared to control. Real Time PCR amplification of GABA receptor subunits such as GABAAά1, GABAAγ, GABAAδ, GABAB and GAD where down regulated (P < 0.001) in epileptic rats. GABAAά5 subunit and Cyclic AMP responsible element binding protein were up regulated. Confocal imaging study confirmed the decreased GABA receptors in epileptic rats. Epileptic rats have deficit in radial arm and Y maze performance.ConclusionsBacopa monnieri and Bacoside-A treatment reverses epilepsy associated changes to near control suggesting that decreased GABA receptors in the cerebral cortex have an important role in epileptic occurrence; Bacopa monnieri and Bacoside-A have therapeutic application in epilepsy management.

Summary B7-2-/-non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice develop a spontaneous autoimmune polyneuropathy (SAP) that mimics the progressive form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). In this study, we focused on the role of regulatory T cells (T regs ) and regulatory B cells (B regs ) in SAP. We found that deletion of B7-2 in female NOD mice led to a lower frequency and number of T regs and B regs in spleens and lymph nodes. T regs but not B regs suppressed antigen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation, whereas B regs inhibited the T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine response. Both T regs and B regs induced an increase in CD4 1 interleukin (IL)210 1 cells, although less effectively in the absence of B7-2. Adoptive transfer studies revealed that T regs , but not B regs , suppressed SAP, while B regs attenuated disease severity when given prior to symptom onset. B cell deficiency in B cell-deficient (muMT)/B7-2 -/-NOD mice prevented the development of SAP, which would indicate that the pathogenic role of B cells predominates over its regulatory role in this model. We conclude that B regs and T regs control the immunopathogenesis and progression of SAP in a non-redundant fashion, and that therapies aimed at expansion of B regs and T regs may be an effective approach in autoimmune neuropathies.

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Background: Chronic renal failure is one among the chronic illness which due to persistence of the disease has various effects on the physiological, psychological and functional ability of the patient and his family. Although haemodialysis has become a highly safe medical procedure that significantly extended life of such patients, it is nevertheless a stressful and lengthy treatment process. The task of personal life care for such patients falls primarily on the family members. The caregiver is expected to aid in patient’s daily life activities resulting in increased physical and emotional burden. With the considerable level of burden involved the concept of resilience thus become crucial as they could function as protective factors. The current study aims to assess the level of caregiver burden and resilience in caregivers of haemodialysis patients.Methods: A cross sectional observational study was done in 120 caregivers of patients diagnosed as having ESRD on maintenance hemodialysis. Zarit Burden Interview was used for assessing caregiver’s burden. Brief Resilience Scale was used to assess caregiver’s resilience.Results: 35.8% of caregivers had severe caregiver burden while looking after dialysis patients while 45% of caregivers had moderate burden. Caregivers showed low resilience about 72.5% which displays poor problem solving and emotion-focused coping strategies.Conclusions: The study shows that more than 80% of caregivers suffered from moderate to severe burden and poor resilience among them would be a contributing factor. The study also shows that female caregivers were most affected. The burden was significantly higher in caregivers as the years spent on caregiving increased and more hours spent per day looking after the patients. Health-care providers need to address these concerns based on both patient- and caregiver-focused approaches, rather than only patient focused.

Epilepsy is a syndrome of episodic brain dysfunction characterized by recurrent unpredictable, spontaneous seizures. Cerebellar dysfunction is a recognized complication of temporal lobe epilepsy and it is associated with seizure generation, motor deficits and memory impairment. Serotonin is known to exert a modulatory action on cerebellar function through 5HT(2C) receptors. 5-HT(2C) receptors are novel targets for developing anti-convulsant drugs. In the present study, we investigated the changes in the 5-HT(2C) receptors binding and gene expression in the cerebellum of control, epileptic and Bacopa monnieri treated epileptic rats. There was a significant down regulation of the 5-HT content (p<0.001), 5-HT(2C) gene expression (p<0.001) and 5-HT(2C) receptor binding (p<0.001) with an increased affinity (p<0.001). Carbamazepine and B. monnieri treatments to epileptic rats reversed the down regulated 5-HT content (p<0.01), 5-HT(2C) receptor binding (p<0.001) and gene expression (p<0.01) to near control level. Also, the Rotarod test confirms the motor dysfunction and recovery by B. monnieri treatment. These data suggest the neuroprotective role of B. monnieri through the upregulation of 5-HT(2C) receptor in epileptic rats. This has clinical significance in the management of epilepsy.