Factors not considered in the study of drug-resistant epilepsy: Drug-resistant epilepsy: Assessment of neuroinflammation.

More than one-third of people with epilepsy develop drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of DRE. Accumulating evidence suggests the contribution of neuroinflammation, modifications in the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and altered immune responses in the pathophysiology of DRE.

Simvastatin, edaravone and dexamethasone protect against kainate-induced brain endothelial cell damage.

Background: Excitotoxicity is a central pathological pathway in many neurological diseases with blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. Kainate, an exogenous excitotoxin, induces epilepsy and BBB damage in animal models, but the direct effect of kainate on brain endothelial cells has not been studied in detail. Our aim was to examine the direct effects of kainate on cultured cells of the BBB and to test three anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drugs used in clinical practice, simvastatin, edaravone and dexamethasone, to protect against kainate-induced changes.

Allergic sensitization modifies the pulmonary expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors in guinea pigs.

There is mounting evidence that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) plays a role in asthma. However, scarce information exists about the pulmonary expression of 5-HT receptors and its modification after allergic sensitization. In the present work, we explored the expression of 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT3, 5-HT4, 5-ht5a, 5-HT6, and 5-HT7 receptors in lungs from control and sensitized guinea pigs through qPCR and Western blot.

Role of the blood-brain barrier in the nutrition of the central nervous system.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic and complex interface between the blood and the central nervous system regulating brain homeostasis. Major functions of the BBB include the transport of nutrients and protection of the brain from toxic compounds. This review summarizes the most important transport pathways contributing to the nutrition of the brain.

Modifications of plasma 5-HT concentrations during the allergic bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.

Several contractile mediators involved in the antigen-induced airway obstruction have been identified, but the role of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine or serotonin) has been scantily investigated. In this work, the potential role of 5-HT in the allergic bronchoconstriction was evaluated through a pharmacological approach and plasma 5-HT measurement in blood samples from the right and left ventricles of anesthetized guinea-pigs. Intravenous 5-HT caused a dose-dependent increase of the lung resistance in anesthetized, nonsensitized guinea pigs.

[Inverse association between asthma and neural tube defects: a binational ecological study].

Objective: Dietary intake of methyl donors such as folic acid prevents neural tube defects (NTD), but recent studies showed that it might also favor the development of asthma. In this work a possible ecological association between NTD and asthma was explored.

Material And Methods: Data bases from Mexico and the United States (US) were reviewed to obtain information about geographical distribution (by state) and temporal trends (by year) of NTD and asthma.

Airway smooth muscle relaxation induced by 5-HT(2A) receptors: role of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase pump and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels.

Aims: Although 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) contracts airway smooth muscle in many mammalian species, in guinea pig and human airways 5-HT causes a contraction followed by relaxation. This study explored potential mechanisms involved in the relaxation induced by 5-HT.

Main Methods: Using organ baths, patch clamp, and intracellular Ca(2+) measurement techniques, the effect of 5-HT on guinea pig airway smooth muscle was studied.

Alpha-methyl-5-HT, a 5-HT2 receptor agonist, stimulates beta2-adrenoceptors in guinea pig airway smooth muscle.

Alpha-methyl-5-HT is widely used as a high-affinity 5-HT(2) receptors agonist, though some studies have postulated that this drug also activates other serotonergic receptors. In the present work, we found that a wide range of concentrations of alpha-methyl-5-HT induced biphasic responses (contraction followed by relaxation) in guinea pig tracheal rings. The relaxing phase caused by 32microM alpha-methyl-5-HT was blocked by 0.

Effect of Gnaphalium conoideum HBK on guinea pig airway smooth muscle: role of L-type Ca2+ channels.

Plants from the Gnaphalium genus have been used in the Mexican traditional medicine for digestive and respiratory complaints. In the present study, the effect of methanolic extract from Gnaphalium conoideum HBK on the responses to contractile agonists was assessed in guinea pig tracheas, and the possible role of L-type Ca2+ channels was explored in tracheal guinea pig isolated myocytes. Cumulative concentration-response curves to carbachol or histamine, as well as contractile responses to 60 mM KCl were evaluated with or without 30 min preincubation with 20 or 100 microg ml(-1) Gnaphalium conoideum.

Effect of acute ozone exposure on pregnant rat uterus contractile responses.

Pulmonary effects of ozone (O(3)) inhalation have been comprehensively studied, but little is known about its extrapulmonary consequences, particularly in the reproductive tract. Thus, the effects of an acute O(3) exposure on the contractile response of the pregnant rat uterus were evaluated. Nonpregnant and pregnant (5, 10, and 18 days of gestation) rats were exposed to air or O(3) (3 ppm) for1 h, and uterine strips isolated from these animals were studied 16-18 h later.