Ginkgo biloba extract 761 reduces vascular permeability of the ovary and improves the symptom of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a rat model.

AIMS: Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) has been widely applied in the treatment of cerebrovascular and neurological diseases. However, the effect of EGb761 on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a vascular disorder and life-threatening complication of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection therapy (IVF/ICSI), has not been evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty female Wistar rats aged 22-days old (D22) were divided into eight groups: Control rats received intraperitoneal injection of saline for five consecutive days (D22-D26); OHSS model group received 10 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) for four consecutive days (D22-D25) and 30 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the 5th day (D26); Prophylactic treatment group received three doses of EGb761 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) 1 h before injection of eCG (hCG) for seven consecutive days; Therapeutic treatment group received three doses of EGb761 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) 48 h after injection of eCG (hCG) for seven consecutive days. RESULTS: All three doses of EGb761 therapeutic medication significantly reduced ovarian mass index of OHSS model rats (p ≤ .01). Furthermore, therapeutic treatment group exhibited improved vascular permeability, decreased estradiol and progesterone levels, lower corpus luteum, and higher follicle numbers compared with the OHSS model. Elevated protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor (VEGFR) in both ovary and kidney of the OHSS model was restrained by EGb761 therapeutic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: EGb761 therapeutic medication decreases vascular permeability in OHSS rat model by inhibiting VEGF and VEGFR expression, which may contribute to the treatment of OHSS.

Ginkgo biloba extract 761 reduces vascular permeability of the ovary and improves the symptom of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a rat model.

AIMS: Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) has been widely applied in the treatment of cerebrovascular and neurological diseases. However, the effect of EGb761 on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a vascular disorder and life-threatening complication of In Vitro Fertilization and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection therapy (IVF/ICSI), has not been evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty female Wistar rats aged 22-days old (D22) were divided into eight groups: Control rats received intraperitoneal injection of saline for 5 consecutive days (D22-D26); OHSS model group received 10 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) for 4 consecutive days (D22-D25) and 30 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the 5th day (D26); Prophylactic treatment group received three doses of EGb761 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d) one hour before injection of eCG (hCG) for 7 consecutive days; Therapeutic treatment group received three doses of EGb761 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d) 48 h after injection of eCG (hCG) for 7 consecutive days. RESULTS: All three doses of EGb761 therapeutic medication significantly reduced ovarian mass index in the OHSS model (p ≤ .01). Further, the therapeutic treatment group exhibited improved vascular permeability, decreased estradiol and progesterone levels, lower corpus luteum, and higher follicle numbers compared with the OHSS model. Elevated protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor (VEGFR) in both ovary and kidney of the OHSS model was restrained by EGb761 therapeutic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: EGb761 therapeutic medication decreases vascular permeability in OHSS rat model by inhibiting VEGF and VEGFR expression, which may contribute to the treatment of OHSS.

Management of cognitive impairment associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome: recommendations for primary care.

Introduction: Although post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) with cognitive impairment is increasingly encountered in primary care, evidence-based recommendations for its appropriate management are lacking. Methods: A systematic literature search evaluating the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment associated with PCS was conducted. Practical recommendations for the management of PCS-associated cognitive impairment in primary care are summarized, based on an evaluation of pharmacological plausibility and clinical applications. Results: Currently, the pathology of cognitive impairment associated with PCS remains unclear with no high-quality data to support targeted interventions. Existing treatment approaches are directed towards symptom relief where counseling on the chronicity of the disease and regular reassessments at 4- to 8-week intervals is considered reasonable. Patients should be informed and encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle that centers around balanced nutrition and appropriate physical activities. They may also benefit from the intake of vitamins, micronutrients, and probiotics. The administration of Ginkgo biloba extract could offer a safe and potentially beneficial treatment option. Other non-pharmacological measures include physiotherapy, digitally supported cognitive training, and, if indicated, ergotherapy or speech therapy. In most patients, symptoms improve within 8 weeks. If serious, ambiguous, or when new symptoms occur, specialized diagnostic measures such as comprehensive neurocognitive testing or neuroimaging should be initiated. Very few patients would require inpatient rehabilitation. Conclusion: PCS with cognitive impairment is a debilitating condition that could affect daily functioning and reduce work productivity. Management in primary care should adopt a multidisciplinary approach, centering around physical, cognitive, and pharmacological therapies.

Management of mild cognitive impairment (MCI): The need for national and international guidelines.

Objectives: To review available evidence of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for MCI and analyse information and limitations in national and international guidelines.Methods: Experts from several European countries conducted a qualitative review of the literature on MCI and treatments for MCI, as well as respective chapters in national and international guidelines on dementia/MCI. Psychotherapeutic/psychosocial treatments were excluded from the review.Results: Consensus diagnostic criteria for MCI are available, making early recognition and accurate classification of MCI subtypes possible. MCI can be identified in a primary care setting. Further corroboration and differential diagnosis should be done at specialist level. Mixed pathologies are the rule in MCI, thus a multi-target treatment approach is a rational strategy. Promising evidence has been generated for multi-domain interventions. Limited evidence is available for different pharmacological classes that have been investigated in MCI clinical trials (e.g. acetylcholinesterase inhibitors). EGb 761® improved symptoms in some clinical trials; it is the only pharmacological treatment recommended in existing guidelines for the symptomatic treatment of MCI.Conclusions: MCI is recognised as an important treatment target and some recent national guidelines have considered symptomatic treatment recommendations for MCI. However, more needs to be done, especially at an international level.