Neuroinflammation in Severe COVID-19: The Dynamics of Inflammatory and Brain Injury Markers During Hospitalization.

Patients with COVID-19 can develop excessive inflammation in the brain and consequent neurological complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory, endothelial and brain injury markers in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and compare those with or without neurological symptoms. A total of 30 intensive care unit (ICU) COVID-19 patients were allocated into COVID-19 (without neurological symptoms) or neuro-COVID-19 (with neurological symptoms) groups.

Moderate India Pale Ale beer consumption promotes antigenotoxic and non-mutagenic effects in ex vivo and in vivo mice models.

Background: Discussion of the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption is ongoing. Broadly, research focusing on ethanol consumption tends to report no benefits. However, studies that distinguish between different types of alcoholic beverages, particularly beers, often reveal positive effects.

Self-reported neurostimulant use among university students in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

University students frequently resort to psychostimulants to enhance their physical and mental performance and manage academic pressures. However, these substances can lead to dependence and other undesired symptoms, and little empirical data are available for relevant stakeholders, raising significant concerns in health care. Therefore, this study aims to characterize neurostimulant use among university students in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

What do we know about the sleep effects of caffeine used to treat apnoea of prematurity? A systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Scientific scrutiny has proved the safety and benefits of caffeine to treat apnoea of prematurity (AOP). However, there is no consensus on the effects of this treatment on sleep, especially considering the key role of adenosine and early brain development for sleep maturation. We systematically reviewed studies with sleep as a primary and/or secondary outcome or any mention of sleep parameters in the context of caffeine treatment for AOP.

Behavioral, genetic and biochemical changes in the brain of the offspring of female mice treated with caffeine during pregnancy and lactation.

The intrauterine environment is a critical location for exposure to exogenous and endogenous factors that trigger metabolic changes through fetal programming. Among the external factors, chemical compounds stand out, which include caffeine, since its consumption is common among women, including during pregnancy. Thereby, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioral, genetic, and biochemical parameters in the offspring of female mice treated with caffeine during pregnancy and lactation.

Alterations in CD39/CD73 axis of T cells associated with COVID-19 severity.

Purinergic signaling modulates immune function and is involved in the immunopathogenesis of several viral infections. This study aimed to investigate alterations in purinergic pathways in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Mild and severe COVID-19 patients had lower extracellular adenosine triphosphate and adenosine levels, and higher cytokines than healthy controls.

Reversal of haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia and neuroinflammation by isoflavones.

Background: Schizophrenia is a mental illness and its pharmacological treatment consists in the administration of antipsychotics like haloperidol. However, haloperidol often causes extrapyramidal motor disorders such as tardive dyskinesia (TD). So far, there is no effective treatment against TD and alternatives for it have been sought.

Functional interplay between adenosine A receptor and NMDA preconditioning in fear memory and glutamate uptake in the mice hippocampus.

N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) administered at subtoxic dose plays a protective role against neuronal excitotoxicity, a mechanism described as preconditioning. Since the activation of adenosinergic receptors influences the achievement of NMDA preconditioning in the hippocampus, we evaluated the potential functional interplay between adenosine A and A receptors (AR and AR) activities and NMDA preconditioning. Adult male Swiss mice received saline (NaCl 0.

Nanoencapsulation of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids as protection against oxidation: A systematic review and data-mining.

The chemical structure of unsaturated fatty acids makes them highly prone to oxidation, which decreases their nutritional properties. Nanocarriers have the ability to protect unstable nutraceuticals and take them to their specific targets. Thus, the aim is to determine the effectiveness of nanoencapsulation of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids as protection against oxidation, as well as to apply data-mining approach to identify nanoencapsulation profiles.

Stress and its contribution to the development of depression symptoms are reduced in caregivers of elderly with higher educational level.

Caregivers of elderly people with neurodegenerative diseases are highly vulnerable to stressful situations and mood disorders due to their work conditions. Stress has been associated with an increased risk of developing depression, and studies have supported that caffeine consumption can act as an independent protective factor for disorder. This study investigated indexes of stress and depression symptoms in caregivers of the elderly with neurodegenerative diseases, their caffeine intake and the association between stress and depressive symptoms with the salivary biomarkers cortisol, nitric oxide and DNA damage.

Simvastatin-loaded nanoemulsions: development, characterization, stability study and toxicity assays.

The aim of this study is to prepare and characterize simvastatin-loaded nanoemulsions (SIM-LN) as well as evaluate their physicochemical properties and toxicity. The SIM-LN were prepared, their characteristics evaluated for 30 days, and after that, the SIM-LN toxicity was evaluated using Vero cell culture and the model of . The prepared SIM-LN had an average droplet size of 139 ± 22 nm, with high encapsulation rate (>98.

Toxicological evaluation of naringin-loaded nanocapsules in vitro and in vivo.

Naringin is a flavonoid widely known for its pharmacological properties, such as: anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ones, being an ally to avoid oxidative damage. Although naringin is an active easily found in citrus fruits, it has low bioavailability, biodistribution and also undergoes biotransformation in naringenin, limiting the described effects. The use of nanocapsules as drug carriers may increase solubility, improve biodistribution, impede the biotransformation thereof, and thus could improve the performance of naringin for use in treating neurological diseases.

Adenosine and NMDA Receptors Modulate Neuroprotection-Induced NMDA Preconditioning in Mice.

The severity score of quinolinic acid (QA)-induced seizures was investigated after N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) preconditioning associated with adenosine receptors. Also, the levels of adenosine A and A receptors and subunits of NMDA receptors in the hippocampi of mice were determined to define components of the resistance mechanism. Adult CF-1 mice were treated intraperitoneally with saline or NMDA (75 mg/kg), and some mice were treated intracerebroventricularly (i.

Guanosine and GMP increase the number of granular cerebellar neurons in culture: dependence on adenosine A and ionotropic glutamate receptors.

The guanine-based purines (GBPs) have essential extracellular functions such as modulation of glutamatergic transmission and trophic effects on neurons and astrocytes. We previously showed that GBPs, such as guanosine-5'-monophosphate (GMP) or guanosine (GUO), promote the reorganization of extracellular matrix proteins in astrocytes, and increase the number of neurons in a neuron-astrocyte co-culture protocol. To delineate the molecular basis underlying these effects, we isolated cerebellar neurons in culture and treated them with a conditioned medium derived from astrocytes previously exposed to GUO or GMP (GBPs-ACM) or, directly, with GUO or GMP.

Effects of lithium and valproate on ERK/JNK signaling pathway in an animal model of mania induced by amphetamine.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and chronic psychiatric disorder, characterized by recurrent mood episodes of depression and mania. Some studies have indicated that there are ERK and JNK pathways alterations in the brain from bipolar patients. The animal model of mania induced by dextroamphetamine (d-AMPH) has been considered an excellent model to study intracellular alterations related to BD.

Caffeine Neuroprotection Decreases A2A Adenosine Receptor Content in Aged Mice.

Caffeine is a bioactive compound worldwide consumed with effect into the brain. Part of its action in reducing incidence or delaying Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases symptoms in human is credited to the adenosine receptors properties. However, the impact of caffeine consumption during aging on survival of brain cells remains debatable.

Production, characterization and toxicology assay of creatine pegylated nanoliposome with polysorbate 80 for brain delivery.

Creatine acts intracellularly as energy buffer and storage, demonstrating protective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its permeability throught blood-brain barrier (BBB) is reduced. The aim of the present study was developing a carrier to facilitate the delivery of creatine to the central nervous system.

Adenosine A1 receptor activation modulates N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) preconditioning phenotype in the brain.

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) preconditioning is induced by subtoxic doses of NMDA and it promotes a transient state of resistance against subsequent lethal insults. Interestingly, this mechanism of neuroprotection depends on adenosine A1 receptors (A1R), since blockade of A1R precludes this phenomenon. In this study we evaluated the consequences of NMDA preconditioning on the hippocampal A1R biology (i.

The Role of NMDA Receptors in the Development of Brain Resistance through Pre- and Postconditioning.

Brain tolerance or resistance can be achieved by interventions before and after injury through potential toxic agents used in low stimulus or dose. For brain diseases, the neuroprotection paradigm desires an attenuation of the resulting motor, cognitive, emotional, or memory deficits following the insult. Preconditioning is a well-established experimental and clinical translational strategy with great beneficial effects, but limited applications.

Long-term effects of ageing and ovariectomy on aversive and recognition memory and DNA damage in the hippocampus of female rats.

Objective: This study investigated the influence of ageing - in particular the decrease of gonadal hormone levels during the ageing process - on the memory and the levels of DNA damage in the hippocampus of female rats.

Methods: Three groups of female Wistar rats were investigated: Group I consisted of non-ovariectomised, adult animals (6 months old); Group II consisted of non-ovariectomised, aged animals (18 months old); and Group III consisted of ovariectomised, aged animals (18 months old). The memory of the animals in these groups was examined via novel object recognition and inhibitory avoidance tests.

Mitochondrial respiratory chain and creatine kinase activities following trauma brain injury in brain of mice preconditioned with N-methyl-D-aspartate.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces glutamatergic excitotoxicity through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, affecting the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane. Studies have pointed to mitochondria as the master organelle in the preconditioning-triggered endogenous neuroprotective response. The present study is aimed at understanding energy metabolism in the brains of mice after preconditioning with NMDA and TBI.

Methylphenidate treatment affects mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the striatum of young rats.

Objective: Methylphenidate (MPD) is a drug prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and its therapeutic effect is attributed to the inhibition of dopamine.

Methods: Young male Wistar rats were administered MPD (1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg) once a day or an intraperitoneal injection of saline for 28 days (chronic treatment) or for 1 day (acute treatment). Two hours after the last administration the animals were decapitated and their striatum was dissected.

Effects of neuropeptide S on seizures and oxidative damage induced by pentylenetetrazole in mice.

Neuropeptide S (NPS) and its receptor were recently discovered in the central nervous system. In rodents, NPS promotes hyperlocomotion, wakefulness, anxiolysis, anorexia, and analgesia and enhances memory when injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.

NMDA preconditioning prevents object recognition memory impairment and increases brain viability in mice exposed to traumatic brain injury.

Recent studies have focused on the role of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) in brain injury. The present study is aimed at verifying memory, anxiety/depression parameters, and cellular viability in the brain of mice preconditioned with NMDA and subjected to the model of mild traumatic brain injury. For this purpose, male albino CF-1 mice were pre-treated with NMDA (75 mg/kg) and subjected to brain trauma, and after 24h submitted to memory tasks and anxiety and depression-like behavioral tests.

Role of the ecto-nucleotidases in the cooperative effect of adenosine and neuropeptide-S on locomotor activity in mice.

Activation of adenosine receptors modifies the action of classic neurotransmitters (i.e. dopamine, glutamate and acetylcholine) and other neuromodulators, like vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neuropeptide S (NPS).