Treating Depression and other Serotonin Deficiency Brain Disorders with Tryptophan

: Deficits of brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) are implicated in a number of psychiatric illnesses including depression. Treatment efficacy of this highly prevalent brain disorder is not adequate largely because serotonin stores are depleted. Tryptophan an essential amino acid is the sole precursor of serotonin; its systemic or oral administration increases serotonin synthesis because tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme of 5-HT biosynthesis, is physiologically unsaturated with its substrate. The present article targets importance of tryptophan supplementation in treating serotonin deficiency and improving therapeutic intervention in depression and other serotonin deficiency brain disorders.

Cerebellum, GABA, and ataxia

: Various clinical results are obtained regarding the effects of cerebellar GABA transmission on spinocerebellar ataxias. Based on animal studies, it is proposed that balanced GABAergic transmission between GABA and other neurotransmitters such as glutamate may lead to more promising results in treating such conditions.

In Drug Repurposing Tactics Against Covid-19

Background: Now a days, due to high substantial costs and slow rate of new drug discovery and development, repurposing of old drugs to treat diseases is becoming an emerging drug approach. Repurposing approach involves the identification of new pharmacological activity for old drugs. This strategy is time saving, more effective and has lesser failure risks. Methods: The present review involves the challenge by summarising the COVID‐19 drug repurposing research into three large groups, including repurposing of Antivirals, Anti-Cancer Drugs, existing Quinoline based drugs. Results: Number of medications, for example remdesivir, umifenovir, favipiravin, ribavirin, rapamycin, carfilzomib, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, saquinavir, elvitegravir, and oxolinic acid and rilapladib have indicated inhibitory effects against the SARS-CoV2 in vitro just as in clinical conditions. These medications either act through infection related targets, for example, RNA genome, polypeptide pressing and take-up pathways or target have related pathways including angiotensin-changing over protein 2 (ACE2) receptors also, inflammatory pathways. Conclusion: From the literature studies it can be concluded that, In the current scenario repositioning of the drugs could be considered the new avenue for the treatment of COVID-19.

Co-administration of Saffron and Chamomile give additive effects of antidiabetic and antioxidant activity with in-vivo augmentation of brain BDNF, acetylcholine levels and cognitive functions in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objectives: Co-administration of chamomile and saffron are effective against diabetes and related complications. Background: Diabetes mellitus refers to comorbidities associated with reduced release of the brain-derived neurotropic factor and disruption in the metabolism of neurotransmitters leading to depression and cognitive impairment. Allopathic medications are available for the treatment of diabetes but there is no cure and multiple adverse effects adhere to it. The therapeutic effects of co-administered chamomile with saffron may reverse the diabetes and its complications. Methods: The present study sought to test hypothesis, conducted on eighty Sprague-Dawley rats randomly divided into eight groups (n=10) including healthy controls, diabetic controls, methanolic extract treatment groups and water decoction treatment groups with respective dosage once a day for two weeks. The dose of single herb group in methanolic extract and water decoction was saffron 10 mg/kg and chamomile 30 mg/kg, while co-administered groups received both herbs in half doses, saffron 5 mg/kg and chamomile 15 mg/kg. Two widely used tests for the assessment of memory (Elevated plus maze and novel object recognition) were used to assess the mood and memory (cognitive) performance after the treatment. Results: It was observed that all treatment groups exhibited antidiabetic effects with improved mood and enhanced memory, high antioxidant profile, increased brain-derived neurotropic factor and acetylcholine concentration. However, the affects were greater in the co-administered groups of saffron and chamomile especially the combined water decoction group. Conclusion : The study provides the successful results of co-administration of chamomile and saffron to alleviate the diabetes and related complications.

Methadone Contrasted with Acetaminophen Codeine plus Clonidine: An Inpatient Pilot Study

Introduction: The mainstay of pharmacological management of opioid dependence is opioid substitution treatment. Methadone is a long‐acting opioid agonist, which is used for detoxification and maintenance of opioid-dependent people. Objective: Objective of the present evaluation included a comparison between methadone and acetaminophen codeine plus clonidine for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms. Methods: All patients of an acute ward of a psychiatric hospital, who met dual diagnosis of primary psychiatric disorder plus opioid use disorder, were selected as accessible sample for the current evaluation. Duration of assessment was around elven months and the study was performed according to a single-blind plan. Among 96 patients, cases, who were using methadone, before their recent admission in hospital, continued their substitution treatment according to the recommended dosage and formulation till release (n = 42). The remaining group of patients, had been given acetaminophen codeine plus clonidine, as substitution treatment, during their inpatient management (n = 54). The primary outcome measures were the ‘Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure’ and the ‘Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale’, which were scored at baseline, week 1 and week 2. The study was performed according to the ‘per-protocol’ analysis, and the assessor was blind with respect to the said protocols. Results: while the mean total score of primary outcome measures decreased significantly in both groups, the between-group analysis did not show any significant difference between these two groups in a head-to-head analysis. Conclusion: Acetaminophen codeine plus clonidine was as good as methadone for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in inpatient setting.

A Review of Phenobarbital for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Background: Alcohol use disorder represents a serious health problem worldwide which is increasing in pervasiveness. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a common clinical problem encountered in emergency departments and inpatient settings, including intensive care units. While benzodiazepines are the most widely used class of medication for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, in recent years, there is renewed interest in using phenobarbital, a barbiturate, in the treatment of refractory alcohol withdrawal. Objective: This review provides an overview of phenobarbital in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, as well as clinical outcomes in patients, while also outlining some of the limitations of existing studies in comparing phenobarbital to benzodiazepines. Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were searched using the terms phenobarbital, barbiturates, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Prospective and retrospective trials comparing phenobarbital with benzodiazepines to treat alcohol withdrawal in English were included. Results: Two prospective randomized controlled and eleven retrospective cohort trials were identified. Phenobarbital is safe alone and as an adjunct to benzodiazepine in the emergency department, intensive care units, general medical units and acute trauma surgery service. In a randomized controlled trial, one dose of phenobarbital in the emergency department significantly reduced the intensive care admission rate. There is some evidence that phenobarbital may be effective in the treatment of benzodiazepine-refractory alcohol withdrawal. Conclusion: Although existing knowledge and practice regarding phenobarbital for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal are increasing, there currently remains limited evidence in support of phenobarbital over benzodiazepines in superior efficacy and outcomes.

Current Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Plants Derived Neuroprotective Phytoconstituents: A Comprehensive Review

Background: The exact pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is still a matter to debate, currently there is no reliable therapy established for Alzheimer’s disease. However, several pieces of evidence suggest that the use of plant based phytoconstituents mainly delays the onset of Alzheimer. So, in this review, we collect information about the cause of Alzheimer’s disease hypothesis and neuroprotective effect of phytoconstituents. Objective: This review paper aimed to analyze the current pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and the therapeutic effect of plant phytoconstituents that play a vital role in neuroprotective and antistress activities in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: The source of literature review obtained from Scopus, Science direct, PubMed, web of science database, and journal by using Alzheimer’s pathogenesis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, amyloid beta, flavonoids, alkaloids are important part of these review research. Results: The current review explored the different types of pathogenesis involved in Alzheimer’s disease and the role of phytoconstituents in treatment of it. The collected information showed that plant based constituents inhibit the major cause of Alzheimer’s disease related to amyloid beta, tau protein, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation etc. Conclusion: The study provide the clue for the investigation of eminent bioactive constituents may serves as an alternative candidate against Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.