Medicinal Plants and Natural Products as Potential Sources for Antiparkinson Drugs.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative dysfunction characterized by the loss of pigmented dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system with a consequent dopamine decrease. The reduction of dopamine levels produces neuronal damage, depigmentation of the substantia nigra, and the presence of intracellular inclusions in dopaminergic neurons. Treatments for Parkinson's disease aim for improving these motor symptoms by increasing the dopaminergic signal in the striatum with levodopa in combination with enzyme inhibitors or anticholinergic drugs. Nevertheless, natural products can act as neuroprotective agents by reducing the progression of the disease and the inflammatory process.In the present review, we have compiled data on the principal medicinal plants and natural products as potential antiparkinsonian agents. They act by different mechanisms, such as the inhibition of α-synuclein condensation, reduction of oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation, increase of dopaminergic neurons survival, or the blockade of the A2 A receptor.

Association Between Erectile Dysfunction and Carotid Subclinical Atherosclerosis in HIV-Infected Patients.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequent in HIV-infected patients, and it can be associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. So, the objective was to evaluate whether the presence of moderate-severe ED was a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a cohort of HIV-infected patients. The presence of ED was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. The presence of SCA was determined by calculating the mean carotid intima-media thickness with Doppler ultrasound. A logistic regression analysis was performed to check the variables associated with SCA. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-nine men of 45 (10) years of age were included, of which 130 (94.9%) received antiretroviral therapy. In 30 (22%) patients, the Framingham score was higher than 10%. In 36 (25.9%) patients, ED was detected in a moderate-severe degree and in 53 (38.1%), SCA was detected. In the multivariate analysis, variables independently associated with the presence of SCA were as follows: older age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, confidence interval (CI) 95%: 1.1 to 1.35, P < 0.001] and moderate-severe ED (OR = 4.68, CI 95%: 1.18 to 18.5; P = 0.028). Variables associated with moderate-severe ED were as follows: age (OR = 1.107, CI 95%: 1.041 to 1.17, P < 0.001) and having antibodies for hepatitis C virus (OR = 5.12, CI 95%: 1.54 to 17.03, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HIV-Infected patients often have moderate-severe ED, especially the elderly and coinfected patients with hepatitis C virus. ED can be an early clinical manifestation of incipient atherosclerosis, so its presence should involve a deep control of cardiovascular risk factors and using a regimen with a better atherogenic profile.