Search results for " GaN"

Transcranial direct current stimulation for treatment of freezing of gait: A cross-over study

2014

Background and objective Progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) is frequently characterized by the occurrence of freezing of gait (FOG) representing a disabling motor complication. We aim to investigate safety and efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation of the primary motor cortex of PD patients with FOG. Methods In this cross-over, double-blind, sham-controlled study, 10 PD patients with FOG persisting in “on” state underwent anodal and sham direct current stimulation for 5 consecutive days. Clinical assessment over a 1-month period was performed. Results A significant improvement of gait, as assessed by the Stand Walk Sit test, with reduction in number and duration of FOG epi…

Catestatin-like immunoreactivity in the rat eye

2014

The aim of the study was to investigate the presence and distribution of the chromogranin A-derived peptide catestatin in the rat eye and trigeminal ganglion by immunofluorescence using an antibody which recognizes not only free catestatin but also larger fragments containing the sequence of catestatin. Western blots were performed in an attempt to characterize the immunoreactivities detected by the catestatin antiserum. Sparse immunoreactive nerve fibers were visualized in the corneal stroma, in the chamber angle, in the sphincter muscle but also in association with the dilator muscle, in the stroma of the ciliary body and processes, but dense in the irideal stroma, around blood vessels at…

Recent advances and disputes about curcumin in retinal diseases

2021

Abstract Curcumin belongs to the group of so-called phytocompounds, biologically active molecules produced by plants exerting a beneficial effect on health. Curcumin shows a wide spectrum of different properties, being an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antimutagenic molecule. The purpose of the review is to examine what literature reported on the characteristics of curcumin, particularly, on the beneficial and controversial aspects of this molecule, aiming for a better therapeutic management of retinal diseases. The retina is a constant target of oxidative stress, this tissue being characterized by cells rich in mitochondria and by vessels and being, obviously, continuous…

Mechanism of New Antipsychotic Medications

2003

Antagonism of D 2 -like dopamine receptors is the putative mechanism underlying the antipsychotic efficacy of psychotropic drugs. Positron emission tomographic studies suggest that the antipsychotic effect of dopamine receptor antagonists occurs within a therapeutic window between 60% and 80%(striatal) D 2 receptor occupancy. The incidence of extrapyramidal side effects increases above the 80% threshold. However, the novel atypical antipsychotic drug, aripiprazole, occupies up to 95% of striatal D 2 -like dopamine receptors at clinical doses, and the incidence of extrapyramidal side effects with aripiprazole is no higher than with placebo. The most likely explanation for this finding is ari…

Loss of striatal histamine H2receptors in Huntington's: Chorea but not in Parkinson's disease: Comparison with animal models

1993

Autoradiographic techniques were used to study the distribution of histamine H2-receptors as labeled with [125I]iodoaminopotentidine in the brains of patients affected by human neurodegenerative pathologies, as compared with control cases. The highest levels of histamine H2 binding sites in control cases were found in the caudate, putamen, and accumbens nuclei. In Huntington's chorea, the levels of histamine H2 receptor binding sites were found to be markedly decreased in virtually all regions examined, particularly in the putamen and globus pallidus lateralis. The loss of binding sites was related to the grade of the disease. Losses were more marked in grade III disease cases. The possible…

BDNF is essentially required for the early postnatal survival of nociceptors

2010

AbstractNeurotrophins promote the survival of specific types of neurons during development and ensure proper maintenance and function of mature responsive neurons. Significant effects of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) on pain physiology have been reported but the contribution of this neurotrophin to the development of nociceptors has not been investigated. We present evidence that BDNF is required for the survival of a significant fraction of peptidergic and non-peptidergic nociceptors in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) postnatally. Bdnf homozygous mutant mice lose approximately half of all nociceptive neurons during the first 2 weeks of life and adult heterozygotes exhibit hypoalgesia …

Clorgyline effect on pineal melatonin biosynthesis in adrenalectomized rats pretreated with 6-hydroxydopamine

1994

The response to administration of the specific monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) blocker clorgyline was investigated in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats which were adrenalectomized four days prior to treatment or were additionally sympathectomized as newborns by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. In both groups, the contents of pineal indoles melatonin and N-acetylserotonin were augmented, and the contents of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and 5-hydroxyindoletryptophol decreased 90 min following clorgyline injections when compared to rats receiving saline. The observed responses were less pronounced in rats both adrenalectomized and sympathectomized. The results are in line with the hypothesis that preser…

A case report of double etiology of ecthyma gangrenosum

2019

Rationale Ecthyma gangrenosum is a cutaneous infection, most commonly occurring during sepsis evolution with Pseudomonas aeruginosa on an immunocompromised background. There have been rare case reports in previously healthy children and rarer are the cases with double etiology. Patient concerns We present the case of a female Caucasian patient, aged 1 year and 8 months, who developed severe sepsis during flu evolution with predominant respiratory and cerebral manifestations. On admission, at skin level, there was noticed a necrotic coccygeal ulceration (with rapid increasing dimensions 0.5/0.5 cm in 24 hours), and with the transformation from a dry necrosis in a sphacelus at the periphery a…

Multifocal Pyoderma Gangrenosum Resistant to Infliximab in Active Ulcerative Colitis: Donʼt Forget the Role of Cyclosporin

2012

Alteration of dopamine D2/D3 receptor binding in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

2010

Summary Purpose:  To quantify extrastriatal and striatal D2/D3 receptor binding in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) using the high-affinity dopamine D2/D3 receptor positron emission tomography (PET) ligand 18F-Fallypride ([18F]FP). Methods:  Twelve patients with JME and 21 age-matched control subjects were studied. Dynamic images (180 min) were acquired after injection of [18F]FP. Patients had been seizure-free of all seizure types for at least 10 days before scanning. Parametric images of binding potential (BP) were created using the simplified reference tissue model. The images were stereotactically normalized using a ligand-specific template. We performed a voxel-based ana…