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Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is regarded as one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. It is a chronic, slowly progressing neurological illness that inhibits memory, cognition, and behavior. This research aimed to evaluate the protective effect of angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) blockers versus vitamin B12 (VB12) on the AD rat model. Methods: Thirty adult local strain male albino rats were randomly subdivided into 5 equal groups: Group I (control): vehicle only. Group II (AlCl3 induced AD group): AlCl3 175 mg/kg orally. Group III: telmisartan + AlCl3, Group IV: vitamin B12 + AlCl3, and Group V: vitamin B12 + telmisartan + AlCl3. Modified T maze test was used to evaluate the animal behavior. Rotarod test was employed to assess the animal muscle strength. In addition, serum and hippocampal level of brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) were assessed. Also, serum level of MDA and SOD were measured. Additionally, histopathological examination of hippocampus and brain tissue was performed. Results: AlCl3 administration resulted in changes similar to AD as proved by deterioration in behavioral tests, significant reduction in serum and hippocampal BDNF, serum SOD and significant increase in serum MDA level along with corresponding histopathological changes in hippocampus. Furthermore, vitamin B12 and telmisartan ameliorated the previously measured chemical biomarkers and behavioral parameters. Also, the antioxidant power was enhanced with combination prophylaxis therapy of both vitamin B12 and telmisartan. Conclusion: Angiotens in type 1 receptor blockade by telmisartan and vitamin B12 administration each one alone or both in combination could have a potential prophylactic and/or therapeutic effect in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Pain-related (nociceptive) information is carried from the periphery to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord mostly by two populations of small diameter primary afferents, the peptidergic and the non-peptidergic. The peptidergic population expresses neuropeptides, such as substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide, while the non-peptidergic fibers are devoid of neuropeptides, express the purinergic receptor P2X3, and bind the isolectin B4 (IB4). Although it has been known for some time that in rat the peptidergic afferents terminate mostly in lamina I and outer lamina II and non-peptidergic afferents in inner lamina II, the extent of the termination of the latter population in lamina I was never investigated as it was considered as very minor. Because our preliminary evidence suggested otherwise, we decided to re-examine the termination of non-peptidergic afferents in lamina I, in particular with regards to their innervation of projection neurons expressing substance P receptors (NK-1r). We used retrograde labeling of neurons from the parabrachial nucleus combined with lectin IB4 binding and immunocytochemistry. Samples were examined by confocal and electron microscopy. Results By confocal microscopy, we studied the termination of non-peptidergic afferents in lamina I using IB4 binding and P2X3 immunoreactivity as markers, in relation to CGRP immunoreactivy, a marker of peptidergic afferents. The number of IB4 or P2X3-labeled fibers in lamina I was higher than previously thought, although they were less abundant than CGRP-labeled afferents. There were very few fibers double-labeled for CGRP and either P2X3 or IB4. We found a considerable number of IB4-positive fiber varicosities in close apposition to NK-1r-positive lamina I projection neurons, which were distinct from peptidergic varicosities. Furthermore, we confirmed at the ultrastructural level that there were bona fide synapses between P2X3-immunoreactive non-peptidergic boutons and neurokinin-1 receptor-positive lamina I dendrites. Conclusions These results indicate the presence of direct innervation by non-peptidergic nociceptive afferents of lamina I projection neurons expressing NK-1r. Further investigations are needed to better understand the role of these connections in physiological conditions and chronic pain states.

Placenta accreta is an obstetrical emergency associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, hysterectomy at the time of cesarean section has been the mainstay of therapy especially in cases where diagnosis is made antenatally. In recent years different conservative treatments for partly or totally adherent placental tissue in the uterine cavity have been reported in patients willing to preserve fertility. We report a case of successfully managed placenta accreta with methotrexate in our department. The patient was haemodynamically stable, had desire for future fertility and gave informed consent to all the possible risks of conservative management including repeated episodes of bleeding, multiple blood transfusions, pain, infection, delayed hysterectomy and prolonged follow up. We used a regimen of two doses of methotrexate given a week apart. Further studies are required to study the effectiveness of methotrexate and to establish its dose and schedule in conservative management of placenta accreta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]