Browsing by Author "Jančić, Jasna (35423853400)"

Recently, pharmacological research has shifted from pathophysiological causes of diseases associated with cognitive disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and schizophrenia, to cognitive enhancement potential of certain drugs in healthy individuals-“smart drugs”. Studies have shown that some of the current drugs for mental illness also show modest cognitive improvement in healthy individuals. The list of potential drugs that may enhance memory and/or attention is rather extensive, including substances acting on neurotransmitters, hormones, transduction systems, and brain perfusion and metabolism. While reports suggest that cognitive enhancers possess the potential to provide benefits in healthy population, their effectiveness and safety are still under investigation. Furthermore, age is a factor associated with cognition decline so the potential use of these drugs in healthy and young population could lower the rate of cognition decline with age. However, such drugs are often misused and abused. In this chapter, we will focus on the pharmacological properties of cognition-enhancing drugs and their safety profile, including current/potential clinical benefits and encouraging research strategies. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Recently, pharmacological research has shifted from pathophysiological causes of diseases associated with cognitive disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and schizophrenia, to cognitive enhancement potential of certain drugs in healthy individuals-“smart drugs”. Studies have shown that some of the current drugs for mental illness also show modest cognitive improvement in healthy individuals. The list of potential drugs that may enhance memory and/or attention is rather extensive, including substances acting on neurotransmitters, hormones, transduction systems, and brain perfusion and metabolism. While reports suggest that cognitive enhancers possess the potential to provide benefits in healthy population, their effectiveness and safety are still under investigation. Furthermore, age is a factor associated with cognition decline so the potential use of these drugs in healthy and young population could lower the rate of cognition decline with age. However, such drugs are often misused and abused. In this chapter, we will focus on the pharmacological properties of cognition-enhancing drugs and their safety profile, including current/potential clinical benefits and encouraging research strategies. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The aim of this study was to examine the morphology and the immunohistochemical features of displaced ganglion cells in the trigeminal nerve root (TNR). Forty human TNRs of 20 persons, obtained during routine autopsy in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, were examined following Klüver-Barrera and azan trichrome histological staining, and immunohistochemical reactions against certain neuronal markers, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters. A total number of 61 displaced neurons were investigated, which were present in 80% of individuals studied. Displaced neurons were found in 55.0% of the TNRs, either in the sensory portion (22.5%), motor portion (22.5%) or both (10.0%). Neuronal diameter varied from 12.5 × 25.0 to 45.0 × 63.7 (mean 27.6 × 41.6) μm, and in area between 245 and 2,065 (mean 927) μm2. Each neuron was surrounded by 2-17 elongated satellite cells per slice. The immune reaction was positive in all the neurons studied for neuron-specific enolase, protein gene product 9.5, neurofilament protein and synaptophysin, and in some neurons for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; 24.4%), cholecystokinin (CCK; 13.3%), somatostatin (SST; 17.8%), substance P (SP; 15.6%), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (4.4%), neuropeptide Y (8.9%), and serotonin (11.1%). The immune reactions were most frequent against the CGRP, SP, CCK and SST. We concluded that displaced neurons in the TNR morphologically and immunohistochemically resembled the sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglion. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

[No abstract available]

Background Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is the most common mitochondrial disorder. However, few countries have published their population-based findings related to this multisystemic disease. The aim In order to get a better insight into the epidemiological and clinical picture of this maternally inherited disorder, we performed the first population-based clinical and molecular-genetic study of LHON in the Serbian population. Methods Prospective study included patients who were diagnosed with LHON after detailed medical examination and molecular-genetic confirmation. Results We identified 41 individuals from 12 genealogically unrelated families, carrying one of the three "primary" mitochondrial (mt) DNA point mutations associated with LHON. Fourteen of them were clinically affected, giving a minimum point prevalence of 1.9 per 1 000 000. The minimum point prevalence for mtDNA LHON mutations was 5.2 per 1 000 000. Male to female ratio was 6:1. Only one affected patient harboured mutant mtDNA in heteroplasmic condition. All patients were presented with common clinical findings. Conclusion We observed significantly lower prevalence and higher gender ratio than expected. However, frequencies of primary mutations, incidence of heteroplasmy and clinical findings are in accordance with other studies in Caucasoid populations. Our results might be a consequence of poor recognition and misdiagnosis due to lack of diagnostic possibilities of the entity in different region of our country or less likely be in part due to specific haplotype background of Serbian population which should be further investigated. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of European Paediatric Neurology Society.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory, and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The etiology of MS is most likely multifactorial; it is dependent on genetic, autoimmune, and environmental factors, with a variable course among patients. The two main clinical events that characterize MS are relapses and progression. In recent years, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric MS has drawn attention of the scientific community. Management of pediatric MS focuses on reducing relapses and symptoms via administration of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) and specific symptomatic treatment. A multidisciplinary approach to pediatric MS treatment is preferred, which aims at alleviating and preventing the accumulation of neurological deficits. MS therapy should be based on DMDs, that is, immunomodulatory drugs. These drugs, which sequester immune system activity, are further subdivided into two categories: first-line and second-line immunomodulatory therapy. First-line immunomodulatory therapy (interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, and glatiramer acetate) is ineffective (either no response or partial response) in roughly 30% of patients. Patients with a poor response to first-line therapy require second-line immunomodulatory therapy (natalizumab, mitoxantrone, fingolimod, teriflunomide, azathioprine, rituximab, dimethyl fumarate, daclizumab, alemtuzumab, and ocrelizumab). In addition to immunomodulatory drugs, treatment of relapses also involves the use of high intravenous doses of corticosteroids, administration of intravenous immunoglobulins, and plasmapheresis. © The Authors.

Currently, arterial hypertension is the most massive chronic non-infectious disease of mankind. It may remain undiagnosed for years, provoking later complications, such as acute heart failure, cerebrovascular stroke, myocardial infarction, renal failure, hypertensive retinopathy, or sudden death. Primary arterial hypertension is more common, while secondary occurs in about 5–20% of cases. The recent studies have shown that stress may be a core factor in the development of essential hypertension in some patients. For the patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, stress is the dominant etiological factor that leads to the disease. It has been proven that chronic stress can affect blood pressure regulation and endocrine-metabolic functions through the limbic-hypothalamic centers; therefore, it can affect the arterial hypertension development. The strong association between stress and arterial hypertension has also been confirmed in preclinical and animal studies. For the pharmacotherapy approach, the most important are beta-adrenergic blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and AT1-receptor blockers (sartans). As a second line treatment, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, alpha-adrenergic blockers, and central antihypertensive agents may be required. The anxiolytics, such as benzodiazepines, should be considered if chronic anxiety and psychosomatic disorders are present. © 2021, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Introduction The trans-isomer of resveratrol is the active ingredient of Poligonum cuspidatum, known for its medicinal properties and traditionally used in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. It is also found abundantly in the skin of red grapes and red wine. Previous studies have suggested that trans-resveratrol demonstrates a variety of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, as well as neuroprotective properties and procognitive effects. Objective The goal of the present study was to examine the influence of trans-resveratrol on behavior in rats and its antidepressant properties. Methods Male Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with the increasing doses of trans-resveratrol (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide - DMSO), 30 minutes before testing of the spontaneous locomotor activity or forced swimming. For the experiments, the behavior of the animals was recorded by a digital camera, and the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey post-hoc test. Results Testing of spontaneous locomotor activity, after the application of vehicle or increasing doses of trans-resveratrol, showed no statistically significant difference between groups (p>0.05). In the forced swim test, one-way ANOVA indicated statistically significant effects of trans-resveratrol (p<0.001). Tukey post-hoc test showed that resveratrol significantly decreased immobility time at the doses of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, manifesting the acute antidepressant-like effects. There were no statistically significant differences between the resveratrol treatment of 5 mg/kg and vehicle (p>0.05). Conclusion The results from our study suggest that transresveratrol produces significant effects in the central nervous system. After single application, it has acute antidepressant effects, but without influence on locomotor activity.

[No abstract available]

We are presenting two Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) pedigrees with abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) findings but without neurological manifestation associated with LHON. The study included 14 LHON patients and 41 asymptomatic family members from 12 genealogically unrelated families. MRI showed white matter involvement and H-MRS exhibited metabolic anomalies within 12 LHON families. Main outcome measures were abnormal MRI and H-MRS findings in two pedigrees. MRI of the proband of the first pedigree showed a single demyelinating lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere, while the proband of the second family displayed multiple supratentorial and infratentorial lesions, compatible with the demyelinating process, and both the absolute choline (Cho) concentration and Cho/creatinine ratio were increased. MRI and H-MRS profiles of both affected and unaffected mitochondrial DNA mutation carriers suggest more widespread central nervous involvement in LHON. Although even after 12 years our patients did not develop neurological symptoms, MRI could still be used to detect possible changes during the disease progression. © 2015 S. Karger AG.

Introduction/Objective The aim of this study was to compare kinematic features and graphic rules of writing between children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (with and without medical treatment) and typically developed children (TDC). Methods In total, 55 children (26 with ADHD/ten subjects were on methylphenidate treatment and 29 TDC) completed a writing task on a digitizing board (in three repetitions; using non-inking stylus) which included a semicircle tracing, triangle, and letter copying. Kinematic features of movements in all tasks and graphic rules during a semicircle tracing were analyzed. Graphic rules were observed as expected movements (selecting the starting point and direction of tracing). Results The values of kinematic parameter jerk were significantly larger in TDC group compared to all ADHD subjects (regardless of treatment) and increased constantly with semicircle task progression and repetition in both groups. Children with ADHD without methylphenidate treatment used overall slower movements compared to TDC. The tracing of children with ADHD taking methylphenidate was more automated (with less change in movement velocity and acceleration) compared to TDC. In ADHD group only, those with treatment traced faster and more automated compared to those without treatment. The majority of subjects used expected movements in semicircle tracing and this percentage increased with the task repetition (without difference between ADHD and TDC). Conclusion Both children with ADHD and TDC used similar approach in the tracing task and were compliant with graphic rules. Methylphenidate treatment may positively influence writing kinematics in children with ADHD. Task repetition also influences writing. © 2020, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.