Neuroprotective Effect of Exogenous Galectin-1 in Status Epilepticus.

Intrahippocampal pilocarpine microinjection (H-PILO) induces status epilepticus (SE) that can lead to spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and neurodegeneration in rodents. Studies using animal models have indicated that lectins mediate a variety of biological activities with neuronal benefits, especially galectin-1 (GAL-1), which has been identified as an effective neuroprotective compound. GAL-1 is associated with the regulation of cell adhesion, proliferation, programmed cell death, and immune responses, as well as attenuating neuroinflammation. Here, we administrated GAL-1 to Wistar rats and evaluated the severity of the SE, neurodegenerative and inflammatory patterns in the hippocampal formation. Administration of GAL-1 caused a reduction in the number of class 2 and 4 seizures, indicating a decrease in seizure severity. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in inflammation and neurodegeneration 24 h and 15 days after SE. Overall, these results suggest that GAL-1 has a neuroprotective effect in the early stage of epileptogenesis and provides new insights into the roles of exogenous lectins in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Ventilação mecânica em pacientes com esclerose lateral amiotrófica: revisão de literatura e reflexão / Mechanical ventilation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: literature review and reflection / Ventilación mecánica en pacientes con esclerosis lateral amiotrófica: revisión de la literatura y reflexión

Objetivo: avaliar a importância da fisioterapia respiratória por meio da ventilação mecânica (invasiva ou não invasiva) dada a aplicabilidade e importância dessa prática no trato com a esclerose lateral amiotrófica. Método: foi elaborada uma revisão da literatura através de pesquisa bibliográfica em diversas bases de dados que versam sobre o tema. Resultados: Na fisioterapia respiratória não-invasiva, se usam ventiladores e máscara sem necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica, já a ventilação mecânica invasiva consiste principalmente na realização da traqueostomia. Conclusão: não há uma regra efetiva sobre qual o tipo de ventilação mecânica é mais adequada na lida de pacientes com esclerose lateral amiotrófica. No entanto, pôde se observar que se aplica a ventilação mecânica não invasiva geralmente no estágio inicial da doença e a partir do momento em que o paciente perde a autonomia respiratória passa-se a utilizar a ventilação mecânica invasiva. É consenso também que cabe ao paciente e à família, devidamente esclarecidos, optar ou não pela ventilação mecânica, e por uma ou outra modalidade

Objective: to evaluate the importance of respiratory physiotherapy through mechanical ventilation (invasive or non-invasive), given the applicability and importance of this practice without treatment with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Method: a literature review was carried out through bibliographic research in several databases dealing with the topic. Results: In non-invasive respiratory physiotherapy, ventilators and a mask are used without the need for surgical intervention, whereas invasive mechanical ventilation consists mainly of performing a tracheostomy. Conclusion: there is no effective rule on which type of mechanical ventilation is most appropriate in dealing with patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, it was observed that non-invasive mechanical ventilation is generally applied in the initial stage of the disease and from the moment the patient loses respiratory autonomy, invasive mechanical ventilation is used. There is also a consensus that it is up to the patient and family, duly clarified, to choose mechanical ventilation or not, and one or the other modality

Objetivo: evaluar la importancia de la fisioterapia respiratoria a través de la ventilación mecánica (invasiva o no invasiva) dada la aplicabilidad y la importancia de esta práctica en el tratamiento de la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica. Método: Tres muestras de yugo de caña de azúcar de establecimientos distribuidos en diferentes regiones del Distrito Federal. Todos los experimentos se llevaron a cabo utilizando el método de sedimentación y se analizaron por triplicado. El análisis de los resultados se realizó con la ayuda de microscopía óptica, para investigar la presencia de humanos, quistes, ooquistes y otras formas evolutivas parasitarias. Resultados: En todos los casos, existe la presencia de algún tipo de contaminación, con levaduras registradas en el 100% de los casos, en 50% Entamoeba sp., 10% Taenia sp., 10% Giardia sp. y en 10% Ascaris sp. Conclusión: es posible observar una ineficiencia en las prácticas higiénico-sanitarias de los establecimientos responsables del procesamiento y del molino de vegetales, lo que permite la contaminación en la mayoría de las mujeres. Esta contaminación puede causar diferentes tipos de enfermedades en humanos, particularmente ofreciendo más riesgo a las personas inmunocomprometidas, lo que requiere un monitoreo más efectivo de este tipo de alimentos, así como su distribución.

Divergent brain changes in two audiogenic rat strains: A voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging comparison of the genetically epilepsy prone rat (GEPR-3) and the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR).

Acoustically evoked seizures (e.g., audiogenic seizures or AGS) are common in models of inherited epilepsy and occur in a variety of species including rat, mouse, and hamster. Two models that have been particularly well studied are the genetically epilepsy prone rat (GEPR-3) and the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR) strains. Acute and repeated AGS, as well as comorbid conditions, displays a close phenotypic overlap in these models. Whether these similarities arise from convergent or divergent structural changes in the brain remains unknown. Here, we examined the brain structure of Sprague Dawley (SD) and Wistar (WIS) rats, and quantified changes in the GEPR-3 and WAR, respectively. Brains from adult, male rats of each strain (n=8-10 per group) were collected, fixed, and embedded in agar and imaged using a 7 tesla Bruker MRI. Post-acquisition analysis included voxel-based morphometry (VBM), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and manual volumetric tracing. In the VBM analysis, GEPR-3 displayed volumetric changes in brainstem structures known to be engaged by AGS (e.g., superior and inferior colliculus, periaqueductal grey) and in forebrain structures (e.g., striatum, septum, nucleus accumbens). WAR displayed volumetric changes in superior colliculus, and a broader set of limbic regions (e.g., hippocampus, amygdala/piriform cortex). The only area of significant overlap in the two strains was the midline cerebellum: both GEPR-3 and WAR showed decreased volume compared to their control strains. In the DTI analysis, GEPR-3 displayed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum, posterior commissure and commissure of the inferior colliculus (IC). WAR displayed increased FA only in the commissure of IC. These data provide a biological basis for further comparative and mechanistic studies in the GEPR-3 and WAR models, as well as provide additional insight into commonalities in the pathways underlying AGS susceptibility and behavioral comorbidity.