Eugenol and Lippia alba essential oils as effective anesthetics for the Amazonian freshwater stingray Potamotrygon wallacei (Chondrichthyes, Potamotrygonidae).

This study assessed the potential of eugenol and the essential oil of Lippia alba (EOLA) in providing suitable anesthetic induction and recovery times, and their consequent effects on the blood and respiratory physiology, as well as the gill architecture of an Amazonian freshwater stingray, Potamotrygon wallacei, shortly after reaching the recovery and 48 h later. Juveniles of P. wallacei were exposed to increasing concentrations of eugenol (75, 100, 125, and 150 µL L-1) and EOLA (150, 175, 200, and 225 µL L-1) in an immersion bath. Anesthetic induction was found to be faster with the use of eugenol compared to EOLA. On the other hand, the stingrays anesthetized with eugenol displayed a longer recovery time than those exposed to EOLA. The highest concentrations of eugenol caused moderate to severe histological changes in the gills. No significant changes were found for hematocrit and plasma energy metabolites in the stingrays anesthetized with all concentrations of both eugenol and EOLA shortly after reaching the recovery from the ansthesia, when compared to those recovered after 48 h. Investigations regarding the potential use of these natural anesthetics are unprecedented for freshwater stingray species, and 200 µL L-1 EOLA is recommended as the most suitable anesthetic for use in juveniles of P. wallacei.

Association between leisure time, physical activity, and mood disorder levels in individuals with epilepsy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity levels (occupational, sports, and leisure time activities), depression, anxiety, and epilepsy. The behavioral outcomes of individuals with epilepsy (E) were also compared with healthy control subjects (C). The sample included 31 individuals with epilepsy (12 with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and 19 with partial epilepsy) and 31 control subjects. Self-rating questionnaires were used to assess mood (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety, and depression as well as habitual physical activity. Patients with epilepsy were more severely impaired compared to control subjects in both mood questionnaires and presented higher levels of depression (35%), state anxiety (18%), and trait anxiety (12.6%) when compared to the C group. Although physical activity level did not differ significantly between groups, linear regression analyses showed that the physical activity leisure level predicted 31% of depression levels and 26% of anxiety levels in the E group. These data suggest that low levels of physical activity may be considered a risk factor for the development of depression and anxiety and can play an important role in the quality of life of individuals with epilepsy.

Physiological and electroencephalographic responses to acute exhaustive physical exercise in people with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Although the available evidence suggests that exercise may positively affect epilepsy, whether this effect is applicable to different types of epilepsy has not been established. Physiological responses during rest, acute physical effort, and a recovery period were studied by concomitant analysis of cerebral electric activity using EEGs in subjects with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and healthy controls. In addition, level of habitual physical activity, body composition, and 1 week of actigraphy monitoring data were evaluated. Twenty-four subjects (12 with JME and 12 controls) participated in this study. Compared with the control group, the JME group had a significantly lower V˙O(2) at rest (13.3%) and resting metabolic rate (15.6%). The number of epileptiform discharges in the JME group was significantly reduced during the recovery period (72%) compared with the resting state. There were no significant differences between the JME and control groups in behavioral outcomes and sleep parameters evaluated by actigraphy monitoring. The positive findings of our study strengthen the evidence for the benefits of physical exercise for people with JME.

Cardiorespiratory and electroencephalographic responses to exhaustive acute physical exercise in people with temporal lobe epilepsy.

We evaluated physiological and electroencephalographic responses during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in people with epilepsy. Behavioral outcomes of people with epilepsy were also compared with those of healthy controls. Thirty-eight subjects (19 people with epilepsy and 19 controls) participated in this study. Poor outcomes in the behavioral analyses (habitual level of physical activity and quality of life) were observed in the people with epilepsy. With respect to the CPET, V.O(2max) (14.6%) and V.O(2) at anaerobic threshold (16.1%) were significantly lower in the epilepsy group than in the control group. Although not statistically significant, a decrease in the number of epileptiform discharges was observed between the rest state and exercise (82%) and between the rest state and recovery period (74%). In conclusion, the lower aerobic fitness in people with epilepsy observed may be associated with their sedentary habits. Moreover, our findings reinforce the hypothesis that exhaustive exercise is not a seizure-inducing factor.

Histopathological Findings of Uncomplicated Hair Transplant for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: Can Lichen Planopilaris Features Be Present?

INTRODUCTION: Insufficient hair growth after hair transplant, as well as erythema and perifollicular scaling, may be diagnosed as lichen planopilaris and treated as such based on clinical and histopathological findings. The purpose of this study is to observe graft biopsies of patients after uncomplicated hair transplants and to discuss if histological findings are enough to diagnose lichen planopilaris. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight patients diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia who were submitted to hair transplant were enrolled. In each of the participants, a scalp biopsy was performed in the receptor area and in the adjacent area. Biopsies were performed between 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Exams were analyzed by 3 pathologists. The t test was performed for paired observations, comparing the transplanted and the nontransplanted area for lymphocytic infiltrate and fibrosis. The significance level was considered as 5% (p < 0.05). Four of 8 participants had perifollicular lymphocytic infiltrate, from moderate to dense intensity in the recipient area. Fibrosis was seen in 6 patients. These findings were not seen in the control area. CONCLUSIONS: It is questioned whether lymphocytic infiltrate and fibrosis may be expected in patients who are submitted to normal hair transplants.

Effects of acute physical exercise in the light phase of sleep in rats with temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the influence of an acute exercise session on sleep pattern in rats with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control (C); acute exercise (EX); epilepsy (E) and epilepsy acute exercise (EEX). Two sleep electrocorticography recordings were performed during the light phase [baseline and day 2 (after the acute physical exercise session)]. After baseline recording, the exercise groups (EX and EEX) were submitted to an exercise session on a motor-driven treadmill at 12m/min for 30min. Twelve hours later, the rats were submitted to the second sleep recording. RESULTS: At baseline, the E group showed a higher wakefulness and a lower Total sleep time, Slow Wave Sleep and REM sleep compared with the C group. After acute exercise, there was an increase in Total sleep time and Slow Wave Sleep and a decrease of wakefulness in EEX (+11.10%, +20.29% and -11.25%, respectively) and EX (+5.20%, +11.60% and -8.12%, respectively) groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that acute physical exercise positively impacts the sleep pattern of rats with TLE, inducing a more consolidated sleep.

Knowledge about epilepsy among health professionals: a cross-sectional survey in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epilepsy knowledge among health professionals in São Paulo, Brazil. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Professionals with academic degrees in physical education (n=134), nutrition (n=116), medicine (n=100), psychology (n=53), nursing (n=122) and physiotherapy (n=99) who lived in São Paulo City, Brazil. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge of health professionals about epilepsy. METHODS: Professionals with academic degrees in physical education (n=134), nutrition (n=116), medicine (n=100), psychology (n=53), nursing (n=122) and physiotherapy (n=99) who lived in São Paulo City, Brazil, were invited to participate in the study. The subjects (n=624) answered a questionnaire composed of 25 simple closed-ended questions from three areas: personal, educational and knowledge. RESULTS: Out of all subjects, 88.5% (n=552) had a postgraduate education, while 11.5% (n=72) had only an undergraduate degree. The authors found that physical educators, nutritionists and physiotherapists received lower scores on their epilepsy knowledge than other health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals are considered better-educated group inside the society, especially with regards to healthcare issues. Thus, it is important they also have an accurate and correct knowledge about epilepsy. The findings of the present study indicate an imperative improvement in education about epilepsy, as well as an inclusion of formal programmes for epilepsy education especially for non-medical professionals. An improvement in epilepsy education might contribute to an improvement in epilepsy care and management.