Preventive Effect of Mebicar and Ginsenoside Rg1 on Neurobehavioral and Immunological Disruptions Caused by Intermittent Unpredictable Stress in Mice.

OBJECTIVES: Ginsenoside Rg1 and mebicar have been reported to have broad efficacy spectrum, including anti-anxiety and anti-stress. These drugs have been used not only for treatment but also for the purpose of increasing resistance from disease. A specific aim of this study was to investigate whether mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1 can prevent physiological changes resulting from intermittent unpredictable stress (IUS). METHODS: Seven week-old Balb/cByJ mice were administered orally with mebicar (10 mg/kg) or ginsenoside Rg1 (10 mg/kg) starting from a week before they were exposed to IUS until the end of the experiment. IUS, which consists of psychological stress and physical fatigue, was set as 3 bouts (24 h/bout) exposure in a 2-week period. RESULTS: IUS caused hyperactivity and anxiety-like behavior, which were not inhibited by mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1. IUS mice treated with mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1 recovered rapidly from anxiety-like behavior induced by the multiplexed stress compared to the mice not orally treated with mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1. Mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1 could not prevent the decrease of brain-derived neurotropic factor by IUS exposure. However, mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1 prevented elevation of serum corticosterone and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from splenocytes due to IUS exposure. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1 may have little preventive effect on neurobehavioral disruption by IUS exposure, but mebicar or ginsenoside Rg1 shortened the lasting duration of the anxiety caused by exposure to a novel environment. The anti-stress effect of mebicar and ginsenoside Rg1 may be restricted in peripheral stress responses.

[An experience of using mebicar in patients with autonomic dysfunction associated with anxiety disorder]. / Opyt primeneniia mebikara u patsientov s vegetativnoi disfunktsiei, sochetaiushcheisia s kognitivnymi narusheniiami i trevozhnym rasstroistvom.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairments are one of the most frequent and maladaptive factors in patients with autonomic dysfunction associated with anxiety disorder. The majority of anxiolytics manage to compensate anxiety but suppress cognitive functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with autonomic dysfunction and anxiety disorder, including 39 women (mean age 25±6.7 years) and 15 men (mean age 27±8.4 years), were treated with mebicar during 3 months. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A reduction in the degree of autonomic dysfunction and anxiety symptoms as well as a significant improvement of cognitive functions were noted. Mebicar showed a good tolerability and minimum drug-related adverse events, and can be recommended as a first line anti-anxiety remedy in wide clinical practice.

[A dyad approach to the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Diadnyi podkhod k lecheniyu sindroma defitsita vnimaniya c giperaktivnost'yu.

AIM: To study anxiety in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their mothers and to evaluate the efficacy of a dyad approach (simultaneous treatment of the mother and the child) to ADHD treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-four adolescents, aged 12-15 years, with ADHD and their mothers were studied. All participants of the study received anxiolytic treatment: children were treated with noophen (500 mg per day 45 days) and their mothers received adaptol (1500 mg per day 45 days). In the comparison group with the same clinical/psychological characteristics, anxiolytic therapy with noophen was used only in adolescents. RESULTS: Symptoms of anxiety were found in 61.7% of adolescents with ADHD and in 79.4% of the mothers. After the dyad therapy, an improvement was noted in 73.5% of adolescents and 69.7% of the mothers. There was an improvement in 63.3% of patients in the comparison group. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate the high efficacy of the dyad approach in treatment of ADHD with comorbid anxiety disorders.

[An open comparative observational study of the efficacy and safety of adaptol in anxiety-asthenic disorders in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia]. / Otkrytoe sravnitel'noe nablyudatel'noe issledovanie effektivnosti i bezopasnosti preparata adaptol v terapii trevozhno-astenicheskikh rasstroistv u bol'nykh s khronicheskoi ishemiei golovnogo mozga.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of adaptol in anxiety-asthenic disorders in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients with CCI and comorbid anxiety-asthenic disorder were randomized to standard treatment group (20 patients) and main group which consisted of 29 patients treated with adaptol (500 mg 2 times daily for 6 weeks) in addition to standard treatment. The efficacy of treatment was assessed with HADS-A, HADS-D, FAS and SF-36. Physical fatigue was evaluated using cycle ergometry test. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, anxiety symptoms were stopped in the most of the patients of the main group (72.4%). The threshold during cycle ergometry was higher in the patients of the main group compared to the comparison group (132.2 vs 114.0 VT, respectively) and the patients experienced less fatigue after the test. Quality-of-life was improved by >10% in patients treated with adaptol and did not changed in the patients of the comparison group. CONCLUSION: The addition of adaptol to standard treatment of patients with CCI allows to stop symptoms of anxiety, increase the tolerance to load and improve quality-of-life.

[Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia]. / Farmakoterapiya trevozhnykh rasstroistv u patsientov s khronicheskoi ishemiei golovnogo mozga.

AIM: To compare the effects of the daytime anxiolytic adaptol and the tranquilizer/nootropic drug noophen on target symptoms related to anxiety spectrum disorders in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients with CCI and comorbid anxiety spectrum disorders were randomized to adaptol group (n=29) and noophen group (n=33). Results of treatment were assessed with CGI, MFI-20, HADS-A and HADS-D, MMSE. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both drugs showed the comparable efficacy and speed of achievement of anxiolytic effect. Anxiety symptoms were stopped in 79.0% of the patients. Adaptol was superior to noophen in regard to nonspecific somatic symptoms (р=0.037). Asthenia and sleep disorders have decreased significantly in the noophen group. Use of target symptoms in the individual choice of anxiolytic therapy in patients with anxiety spectrum disorders associated with CCI can increase treatment efficacy.

[Parallel pharmacological correction of myocardial dysfunction, cognitive and psychopathological disordres in patients with congestive heart failure].

Was examined 92 patients with congestive heart failure III-IV FC with fraction of emission left ventricle < 45% against coronary artery disease. Patients of control group received basic therapy (according to recommendations of the Ukrainian society of cardiology), the 1 group--in addition received a preparation of Vazonat within 15 days intravenously in a dose of 1000 mg a day further are out-patient within 1 month on 250 mg 3 times per os; the 2 group--under the same scheme a preparation of Vazonat and a day tranquilizer of Adapto in a dose of 500 mg twice a day throughout all term of supervision. It is established that addition of Vazonat to basic treatment leads to additional effect concerning improvement of indicators cardio-hemodynamic, to improvement congestive functions. Joint appointment of preparations of Vazonat and Adaptol against basic treatment leads to more expressed improvement congestive functions, to progressive reduction of degree of trouble, depression.

[Asthenic disorders in children and their differentiated treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To study clinical/psychological characteristics of neurasthenia and residual asthenia and to assess the efficacy of noofen and adaptol in the treatment of these disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Authors examined 30 adolescents with neurasthenia and 30 with residual asthenia. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), A.M. Vein questionnaire, Spilberger-Khanin questionnaire, The Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) were used. Patients were divided into two equal groups (n=30), each included 15 patients with residual asthenia and neurasthenia. Patients of the first group received adaptol in dosage 1000 mg daily and patients of the second group received noofen in dosage 500 mg daily. The duration of the study was 30 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The significantly higher levels of fatigue, inattention and exhaustibility were identified in patients with residual asthenia. Adolescents with neurasthenia were characterized by higher anxiety. The higher efficacy of adaptol in treatment of neurasthenia (80% in adolescents with neurasthenia and 60% of patients with residual asthenia) was shown. Noofen was more effective in treatment of residual asthenia (66.7% of adolescents with neurasthenia and 86.7% with residual asthenia.

[Psychoautonomic disorders in patients with hypertension, stage I and possibilities of their treatment].

The article is devoted to the study of psychoautonomic features of patients with essential hypertension stage 1. The authors present the results of the clinical and psychological examinations of 62 patients with this pathology. These results show an increase in the levels of state and trait anxiety, which confirms the leading role of the psycho-emotional sphere in the formation of hypertensive reactions. This study evaluated the efficacy of the drug adaptol usage during 8 weeks in daily dose 1500 mg divided into three parts in the treatment of this group of patients. The results clearly demonstrate the positive effect of adaptol on psychoautonomic adaptation of patients with essential hypertension stage 1.

[Attention deficit syndrome in adults: clinical, psychophysiological features and treatment].

The authors present the results of examination of 34 patients, aged from 18 to 30 years, with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (ICD-10 item F90.0). The study has shown that inattentive type of ADHD is noted in 50%, combined type in 38.3% and hyperactivity/impulsivity type in 11.7% of patients. Adult patients with ADHD also have a high level of anxiety and asthenic disorders. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of adaptol in dosage 1500 mg daily during 8 weeks in the treatment of this group of patients. The high efficacy (improvement in 64,7% of cases) and safety of adaptol confirmed by the data of clinical, psychological and neurophysiological studies.

[Neurophysiological monitoring of the efficacy of the complex therapy of vascular and posttraumatic encephalopathy].

Authors have studied the efficacy of adaptol and neyromidin in the combined treatment of patients with chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency and consequences of closed head injury using neurophysiological monitoring which included dynamic evaluation of central conductivity, neuropsychological tests and analysis of blood BDNF levels. Severe autonomic disorders, anxiety and low level of learning observed in all patients are correlated with neurophysiological (increased central conductivity time) and neurotrophic (decreased blood BDNF levels) profiles. These indicators may change throughout the treatment. The combination of adaptol and neyromidin enhanced greatly the efficacy of combined treatment. The received data allow recommending neurophysiological monitoring for treatment optimization of numerous neurological diseases that demand neuroplasticity stimulation.

[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with comorbid anxiety disorders: pharmacotherapy options].

Comorbid anxiety disorders are observed in many patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): 25-33% compared to 6-10% in pediatric population. Therapeutic effects of Adaptol have been studied, indicated for children and adolescents with ADHD as monotherapy, in dosages of 25-35 mg/kg for 1-3 months. The positive influence of Adaptol on the core symptoms of ADHD was confirmed: reduction of hyperactivity and impulsivity was registered after 1st month, while clinical manifestations of the attention deficit were decreased on the 2nd-3rd months of the treatment. Anxiolytic activity became apparent from the 1st month and continued to increase on the 2nd-3rd months of the treatment. Simultaneously significant reduction of the oppositional-defiant disorder manifestations were observed.

[The prognostic significance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) for phobic anxiety disorders, vegetative and cognitive impairments during conservative treatment including adaptol of some functional and organic diseases of nervous system].

We have studied the efficacy of adaptol in the treatment of 45 patients with somatoform dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and 30 patients with closed head injury. The condition of patients during the treatment was evaluated with clinical and neuropsychological scales. The serum level of BDNF before and after the treatment has been studied as well. Adaptol has been shown to enhance the production of BDNF, reduce significantly the intensity of anxiety, autonomic disorders and improve intellectual processes. The dose-dependent effect of the drug has been demonstrated. In conclusion, adaptol can be recommended for treatment of diseases that demand stimulation of neuroplasticity in the CNS.

[Chronic tic disorders in children and adolescents and their treatment with adaptol].

We examined 162 patients, aged from 10 to 15 years, with tic hyperkineses. Transient and chronic tic disorders were observed in 82 and 80 patients, respectively. The relationship of clinical features, frequency, psychological and encephalographic characteristics of the patients with age-at-onset was studied. The effect of adaptol on the course of chronic tic disorders was evaluated. In addition to our results reported previously for transient tic disorders, we demonstrated the efficacy of adaptol administered in dose 1000 mg per day during 60 days in patients with chronic tic disorders.

[Adaptol--verges of possible].

The analysis of the available in the modern literature researches allows us to consider Adaptol (active substance mebicarum) as drug with tranquilizing, nootropic and antioxidant activity that improves the adaptive capabilities of the body and certain organs and systems. However, described in some studies antianginal and antihyperlipidemic effect of the drug requires clarification of mechanisms of its occurrence: independent or by reducing the impact of stress influence.

[Neurocirculatory asthenia: psychoautonomic features and treatment possibilities].

The authors present the results of clinical, physiological and psychological examination of 31 patients with neurocirculatory asthenia with arterial hypertension syndrome. There was an increase in the levels of state and trait anxiety correlated with a number of physiological traits that confirmed a leading role of psycho-emotional sphere in the formation of hypertensive reactions. An evaluation of the efficacy of the drug Adaptol used in daily dosage 1500 mg during 8 weeks in the treatment of these patients revealed its high efficacy (the improvement was seen in 74% of cases) confirmed by the data of clinical and psychological studies.

[Clinical-neurophysiological study of efficacy of adaptol in discirculatory encephalopathy].

Sixty-eight patients, aged from 40 to 70 years, with discirculatory encephalopathy, I and II stages, have been examined. Thirty-five patients of the main group received non-benzodiazepine tranquilizer adaptol in dose 500 mg 2 times daily in addition to regular vasoactive treatment and 33 patients of the control group received only regular treatment. The following characteristics were assessed at baseline and after 1 month of treatment: complaints and neurological status, anxiety level (the Spielberger-Khanin scale), quality of life (SF-36) and parameters of P300 cognitive evoked potentials. To the end of treatment, there were the significant decrease of state and trait anxiety, improvement of quality of life, decrease of P300 latencies and increase of P300 amplitudes. No significant side-effects were seen, only 2 (5.7%) patients had transitory dyspepsia. In conclusion, adaptol in dose 1000 mg daily is effective and safe for the complex treatment of discirculatory encephalopathy of I and II stages.

[Anti-inflammatory effects of amitriptyline, diazepam and mebicar using model of acute carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats].

The anti-inflammatory activity of amitriptyline, diazepam and a new, Russian tranquilizer mebicar was studied in a wide range of therapeutic doses on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Mebicar at low doses showed greater and longer (up to 24 h) lasting anti-inflammatory activity as compared to that of amitriptyline and diazepam.