فصلنامه علوم اعصاب شفای خاتم
سال ششم شماره 4 (پیاپی 37، پاییز 1397)

Epilepsy is primarily a neuronal network disorder characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures. Epilepsy is not only characterized by marked changes in ion channels but also by the abnormal synaptic protein expression. It has been reported that the expression of axon guidance proteins was changed in experimental models of epilepsy. In this letter to the editor, we review and discuss the changes of axon guidance proteins in epilepsy. Collectively, further insight into dysregulation of axon guidance proteins may help to develop novel therapeutic strategies for epilepsy.

Exposure to Valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy in rats leads to oxidative stress, brain deficits, and autistic-like behaviors in the offspring. On the other hand, Gallic acid (GA) can effectively be used in the treatment of free radicals-induced nervous system disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GA on motor learning and cerebellar level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats embryonically exposed to VPA. Pups of 30 pregnant rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, VPA (500 mg/kg Valproic acid) at embryonic day (ED) 12.5 groups as well as three groups of VPA+GA50, VPA+GA100, and VPA+ GA200 (receiving 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg GA, respectively). GA was orally administered from 12 to 19 ED. Then, to assess the motor disorders beam walking and rotarod tests were carried out at postnatal day 30. Finally, the cerebellar level of BDNF was measured using ELISA. Impairments were observed in the motor function test of the VPA group compared to the control rats. In contrast, GA-treated groups have a significant improvement in speed on beam and balance in beam walking test as well as an increase time spent in rotarodas well. A significant increase of BDNF was seen in GA-treated rats compared to VPA group. GA can alleviate the adverse effects of VPA on motor learning and balance in a rat model of autism.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most prevalent group of primary brain tumors. Terminalia chebula has traditionally been used for its anti-cancer, laxative, diuretic, and anti-oxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alcoholic extract of Terminalia Chebula (TCAE) on the glioblastoma multiforme (U87) cell line. Cellular cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay and intracellular active oxygen species were measured using DCFDA (2 'and 7'-dichloro fluorescein diacetate) assay kit. In addition, apoptotic cells were detected with an Annexin V-FITC early apoptosis staining. TCAE reduced the proliferation of U87 cells in a concentration- dependent manner. IC50 was 145.3 and 192.3 μg/mL after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Activated reactive species decreased significantly at 2 and 6 hours after treatment compared to the control group. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis occurred in the first 24 hours. TCAE caused the destruction of cancer cells enhance the free radical species of oxygen and induce apoptosis on glioblastoma cell line. It seems that TCAE has the potential to use as an adjuvant drug for treatment of glioblastoma

Iron is an essential and potentially toxic metal in the mammalian body. In the present study, the effects of Ferrous Sulphate as an exogenous iron on the neuronal degeneration induced by unilateral sciatic nerve transection (SNT) in L4 dorsal root ganglion (L4-DRG) have been investigated in rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rat were divided into 4 groups (n=6); control (intact), SNT+ Salin, SNT+ iron (5.6 mg/kg; i.p), and sham. Treatment was started 1 hour after injury and continued for 7 days following the injury. The L4-DRG were dissected out, fixed (formalin 10%) and then processed for paraffin embedding 3 weeks after injury. Serial sections of L4-DRGs were prepared, stained (H&E and Toluidine blue) and examined microscopically. The mean volume of L4-DRG was estimated using Cavalieri principle and neuron count was done by a stereological approach (Disector method). The mean number of neurons in SNT and SNT+ iron groups were significantly decreased compared to the control group. In addition, the mean DRG volume in SNT+iron group was significantly lower than control group. Treatment with iron seems to exacerbate the neuronal death induced by SNT in rats.

Since the people with developmental coordination disorder are weak in executive functions, the present study was aimed to investigate the effect of two different physical activity organizing methods on the executive functions of children with developmental coordination disorder. Among the children with developmental coordination disorder that were eligible to enter the study, 45 subjects were randomly selected and after completing Conner’s Executive Functioning Scale as pretest, randomly divided into three groups; random practice group (15 subjects), blocked practice group (15 subjects), and control group (15 subjects). Then, the two interventional groups performed physical practices with different underlying interactions for 8 weeks, with three 45-minute sessions each week. At the end, all the subjects underwent a posttest by executive functioning scale. After the interventions, the results showed a significant improvement in the executive functions of the two intervention groups. However, no significant improvement was observed in the executive functions of the control group. In addition, a significant difference between random and blocked practice groups was observed. However, the random practice group had a greater improvement in the sensory-motor functions. According to our data, random physical practices can be considered as an ideal method to improve executive functions of the children with developmental coordination disorder.

Parkinson's disease (PD), a degenerative disorder commonly affects the extrapyramidal system, is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. It has been shown that caloric restriction increases life expectancy, decreases the incidence of several age-related diseases, and preserves youth activities in a large scale of laboratory animals. Several studies have revealed that exercise may have neuroprotective effects and increase neurogenesis and angiogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caloric restriction diet on reserpine-induced catalepsy in a rat model of PD. 54 Wistar male rats were divided into 9 groups (control, exercise, PD, caloric restriction, PD + exercise, caloric restriction + exercise, PD + caloric restriction, caloric restriction+ PD II, and PD + exercise +caloric restriction). PD was induced by administration of reserpine (1 mg/kg, i.p). The bar- test was used to measure cataleptic symptoms. All animals in the Exercise group were forced to run on a motorized treadmill (24 m/min for 20 min, 5 days/week) for 3weeks. Animals in the caloric restriction groups were under 30% caloric restriction diets. Catalepsy was significantly lower in the caloric restriction + PD and PD + exercise groups than in the PD group. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in catalepsy was observed in the PD + exercise +caloric restriction group compared to the PD. Caloric restriction of 30 percent and treadmill exercise can improve reserpine-induced catalepsy in an animal model of PD. In addition, application of caloric restriction before induction of PD may reduce the severity of complications in PD, including catalepsy.

Patient satisfaction is one of the important indicators in the quality of health care. Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS) questionnaire is one of the robust questionnaires measuring patient satisfaction in anesthesia care. However, the Persian version of this questionnaire is not available. Therefore, this study examines the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the ISAS questionnaire. This questionnaire has 11 questions (3 questions about pain, 6 questions about patient experiences during the surgery, and 2 questions about satisfaction of patient). Patient pain is one of the most important factors that modulate the patient satisfaction in anesthetic care. In this clinical trial, 230 candidates for eye surgery with topical anesthesia entered the study. After obtaining informed consent, the Persian version of the ISAS questionnaire was completed during and one hour after the operation. Reliability, face, content, concurrent and criterion validity was evaluated. The questionnaire was completed for 205 patients. The mean age was 68.26 ± 10.61, including 98 (47.8%) men and 107 (52.2%) women. The average ISAS scores of patients are 1.02± 0.65 and its range was -1.55-2.00. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.71 and there was a positive and significant correlation between test-retest scores. Facial and content validity was approved. In addition, a significant correlation with the satisfaction of the surgeon and visual analog scale (VAS) scores was observed, which suggests concurrent and criterion validity. In this study the satisfaction of pain extensively was considered and compared with VAS. There was significant correlation between the ISAS questionnaire and VAS (r= -0.524, p=0.0001). The findings of this study confirm the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the ISAS in outpatient satisfaction of anesthesia cares. Furthermore, our data suggest that this questionnaire is completely useful for considering the patient satisfaction of anesthesia and pain.

New neurons are constantly created in specific areas of the adult brain and functionally integrated into neuronal networks. Neural stem cells exist in specific microenvironments in the brain called the stem cell niches. It has been shown that neurotransmitters provide vital components of the niche signals and modulate several aspects of neurogenesis. It has been demonstrated that changes in neurotransmitter signaling may influence adult neurogenesis. Further works are required to clarify how neurotransmitter signaling pathways control neurogenesis. In this review, we discuss how neurotransmitter signaling regulates the development of new functional neurons. We also review the potential roles of neurotransmitters for cell therapy.

Semaphorins are large family of secretory and membrane-bound proteins that first were recognized in the nervous system as axon guidance molecules. Semaphorins family has more than 30 members and has been classified into eight subclasses. Different classes of these molecules involved in various phases of immune responses are considered as immune semaphorins. Main receptors for semaphorins are plexins and neuropilins. Moreover, other types of molecules can act as receptor for semaphorins, such as TIM-2 (T cell, immunoglobulin, and mucin domain protein 2), CD72 that bind to Sema 4A (Semaphorin 4A), and Sema 4D. Both forms of semaphorins, namely secretory and membrane-bound semaphorins, play important roles in the immune system. Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, is characterized by infiltration of lymphocytes into the central nervous system and demyelination. Recent investigations have shown that increased serum level or increased expression of some immune semaphorins is associated with severity of MS disease. Moreover, immune semaphorins-deficient mice are resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which is attributed to impaired production of myelin basic protein-specific T cells. Identification of specific expression patterns of semaphorins and their receptors in the nervous system and a comprehensive understanding of their function in autoimmune brain disorders could provide a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for these disorders. The present study reviews the role of semaphorins and their receptors in the development and differentiation of immune cells and their relation to MS

Autism spectrum disorder is one of the serious developmental disorders that usually diagnosed before the age of three years. Although the symptoms and severity vary in different individuals, all types of autism affect the ability to communicate with others. Poor maturation-related changes of the brain are effective in the development of autism. The number of children with autism is on the rise. Although there is no definite treatment for autism, acute and timely treatment of autism creates great changes in the lives of children with this disease. Autism causes impairment of social behaviors and communication skills. Children and adults with autism have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as in fun activities. In this review, we describe the importance of the issue of autism, definition, symptoms and diagnosis as well as its evolution and provide a comprehensive plan of therapeutic intervention strategies.