Decreased Motor Activity Research Articles

Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy: Can a Unilateral Birth Onset Peripheral Injury Significantly Affect Brain Development?

ABSTRACT Purpose: Examine brain structure and function in OBPP and relate to clinical outcomes to better understand the effects of decreased motor activity on early brain development. Methods: 9 OBPP, 7 controls underwent structural MRI scans. OBPP group completed evaluations of upper-limb function and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during motor tasks. Results: Mean primary motor area volume was lower in both OBPP hemispheres. No volume differences across sides seen within groups; however, Asymmetry Ratio in supplementary motor area differed between groups. Greater asymmetry in primary somatosensory area correlated with lower ABILHAND-Kids scores. fNIRS revealed more cortical activity in both hemispheres during affected arm reach. Conclusion: Cortical volume differences or asymmetry were found in motor and sensory regions in OBPP that related to clinical outcomes. Widespread cortical activity in fNIRS during affected arm reach suggests reorganization in both hemispheres and is relevant to rehabilitation of those with developmental peripheral and brain injuries.

МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ РУХОВОЇ АКТИВНОСТІ СТУДЕНТІВ РІЗНИХ ГРУП СПЕЦІАЛЬНОСТЕЙ

Introduction and purpose of the study. The article is devoted to theoretical substantiation of models of specially organized motor activity of students of different groups of specialties. The urgency of this problem is due to the fact that the decrease in motor activity of student youth, which is observed in the current conditions of intensification of education, causes the deterioration of health, decrease in physical fitness and working capacity of future specialists. The hypothesis of the study - the use of models of specially organized physical activity in the system of physical education of students of different groups of specialties, will allow to ensure the proper volume of their physical activity and will contribute to better training of future specialists for fulfilling their professional duties. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the models of motor activity of students of different groups of specialties in order to ensure the proper volume of motor activity and improve the quality of training of future specialists to perform their professional duties. Materials and methods: analysis, generalization and systematization of scientific and methodological literature data; pedagogical observation, sociological (questioning, questioning); method of expert evaluation, methods of mathematical statistics. The researches were conducted on the basis of institutions of higher education of the city of Dnipro - DNU, PDABA, DUAN. 60 teachers of physical education departments and 180 students of different specialty groups participated in the study. Results. The analysis of the scientific and methodological literature shows that one of the reasons for the deterioration of the state of health and the decrease of the physical fitness of the student youth is the insufficient level of physical activity. In order to solve this problem, the authors substantiate the models of physical activity of students of different groups of specialties, which are based on the combination of different forms of physical exercises, developed in accordance with the recommendations of teachers of the departments of physical education; the importance of various sports and exercise for the development of professionally important qualities; duration of self-preparation. The models are aimed at achieving the optimum level of physical activity of students within the recommendations of the current basic program in the discipline "Physical Education". Conclusions. The results of the peer review indicate the feasibility of using the proposed models to achieve the optimal level of motor activity of students, strengthen their health, improve physical fitness, improve the quality of training of future professionals. Keywords: students, different specialty groups, models, physical activity

The control of nocifensive movements in the caterpillar Manduca sexta.

In response to a noxious stimulus on the abdomen, caterpillars lunge their head towards the site of stimulation. This nocifensive 'strike' behavior is fast (∼0.5 s duration), targeted and usually unilateral. It is not clear how the fast strike movement is generated and controlled, because caterpillar muscle develops peak force relatively slowly (∼1 s) and the baseline hemolymph pressure is low (<2 kPa). Here, we show that strike movements are largely driven by ipsilateral muscle activation that propagates from anterior to posterior segments. There is no sustained pre-strike muscle activation that would be expected for movements powered by the rapid release of stored elastic energy. Although muscle activation on the ipsilateral side is correlated with segment shortening, activity on the contralateral side consists of two phases of muscle stimulation and a marked decline between them. This decrease in motor activity precedes rapid expansion of the segment on the contralateral side, presumably allowing the body wall to stretch more easily. The subsequent increase in contralateral motor activation may slow or stabilize movements as the head reaches its target. Strike behavior is therefore a controlled fast movement involving the coordination of muscle activity on each side and along the length of the body.

Associations between clinical signs and pathological findings in toxicity testing

Animal testing for toxicity assessment of chemicals and pharmaceuticals must take the 3R principles into consideration. During toxicity testing in vivo, clinical signs are used to monitor animal welfare and to inform about potential toxicity. This study investigated possible associations between clinical signs, body weight change and histopathological findings observed after necropsy. We hypothesized that clinical signs and body weight loss observed during experiments could be used as early markers of organ toxicity. This represents a potential for refinement in terms of improved study man­agement and decreasing of pain and distress experienced during animal experiments. Data from three sequential toxicity studies of an anti-cancer drug candidate in rats were analyzed using the multivariate partial least squares (PLS) regression method. Associations with a predictive value over 80% were found between the occurrence of mild to severe clinical signs and histopathological findings in the thymus, testes, epididymides and bone marrow. Piloerection, eyes half shut and slightly decreased motor activity were most strongly associated with the pathological findings. A 5% body weight loss was found to be a strong empirical predictor of pathological findings but could also be predicted accurately by clinical signs. Thus, we suggest using mild clinical signs and a 5% body weight loss as toxicity markers and as a non-invasive surveillance tool to monitor research animal welfare in toxicity testing. These clinical signs may also enable reduction of animal use due to their informative potential to support scientific decisions regarding drug candidate selection, dose setting, study design, and toxicity assessment.

A Holistic Model of Health in the Context of Teacher Training

Statistical data obtained by doctors, valeologists and teachers, indicate a significant decrease in motor activity of pupils, especially adolescents and young people (high school pupils and students in Years 1-3). The main reason, oddly enough, is technology: most young people spend their free time using electronic gadgets, including activity boosters (computer games, social networks, electronic exchanges).&#x0D; At present, pre-therapeutic propaedeutic “diagnoses” include hypodynamia, hypokinesia, passivity, which lead to the atrophy of the body’s adaptive functions and, consequently, to poor socialization, immunity, physical fitness, reproductive power. So far as is known, hypokinesia or hypodynamia is the cause of weak body&amp;apos;s functionality, including atrophy, underdevelopment or decline of physiological systems of the body (respiratory, circulatory, musculoskeletal and, as a result, mental, creative, self- determining).&#x0D; One should pay particular attention to the theoretical aspects of teacher training in the field of physical education to be able to solve the problems mentioned above. Although some of these aspects are entirely individual and even intimate, the student (future teacher) must be able to acknowledge the fact of observing / not observing daily routine. The vegetative needs of the body invariably influence the individual’s emotional and motivational sphere, given that professional competencies are rather well-developed.&#x0D; Integrated lessons and lectures on physical culture of global spiritual experience can contribute to forming an ideological component of valeology. According to Christian and many other religious philosophies, physical health is not the main factor in well- being. When caring about only physical fitness, the individual can negatively affect his or her spiritual health. At the level of pedagogical worldview, it is necessary to recognize and fully implement the idea of equivalence of spiritual and physical health. At the same time, the first component is more critical at the nosological stage and is the driving force in solving the first destructive physiological changes.

Oral repeated-dose toxicity studies of BIA 10–2474 in beagle dogs

BIA 10–2474 is a novel fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor developed for the treatment of medical conditions which would benefit from enhanced levels of endogenous anandamide (AEA) such as pain disorders. During a Phase I clinical trial one subject died after receiving BIA 10–2474 and others displayed neurological signs. We describe here the toxicology studies in beagle dogs that supported phase I testing of BIA 10–2474 in humans. A Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) study using once-a-day oral (capsule) application of BIA 10–2474 was first conducted to establish suitable dose levels for subsequent studies. Based on these results, 100 mg/kg/day was considered to be the MTD. The 4-week oral (capsule) toxicity study with a 3-week recovery period for BIA 10–2474 was therefore carried out at 20, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day. There were no changes recorded at 50 mg/kg/day and this was considered the oral No Observed Effect Level (NOEL) for four-week once-a-day capsule administration to Beagle dogs. At 100 mg/kg/day, the dose-limiting findings consisted of clinical symptoms including tremor, loss of balance, abnormal gait, decreased motor activity, weakness, vomits, salivation increase and miosis, increased severity of thymic atrophy/involution, and moderate acute, focal/multifocal bronchopneumonia in lungs of three animals.In a 13-week oral (capsule) toxicity study in the Beagle dog with a 6-week recovery period, using the same dose levels, clinical signs were recorded during treatment with BIA 10–274 at 50 and 100 mg/kg/day. The most frequent signs included difficulty breathing, respiratory sounds (with or without auscultation) and cough. Incoordination of the hind limbs with absence of correction reflex were also observed on some occasions. As a result, the 50 and 100 mg/kg/day doses were reduced to 35 and 50 mg/kg/day respectively on day 37. Because of the continued signs, the doses in both groups were further reduced to 20 mg/kg/day from day 77. Under the conditions of this study and given the severe signs recorded in groups treated at 100-50-20 and 50-35-20 mg/kg/day and only very occasional presence of signs in the group treated for the 13-week period at 20 mg/kg/day (abnormal respiratory sounds once in two animals), the dose of 20 mg/kg/day was considered the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL).

Cytokines in Relation to Motor Activity in an Acute Psychiatric Population.

Background: Deviations in motor activity are important clinical features of several psychiatric disorders in an acute state. Immune activity is associated with several psychiatric disorders and may affect motor activity. We aimed to examine the association between immune activity measured as serum levels of cytokines and deviations in motor activity, in an acute psychiatric setting. Methods: Data on motor activity and immune markers were available on 277 patients admitted to an acute psychiatric inpatient department. The degree of increased or decreased motor activity was clinically assessed at admission. Serum concentrations of the following immune markers were measured: interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, interferon (IFN) -γ, and transforming growth factor (TGF) -β. Results: Scores of increased motor activity were negatively correlated with IFN-γ (rho = −0.128, p = 0.033) in an acute psychiatric population. There was also a trend towards an association between motor activity and TGF-β (rho = 0.118, p = 0.050). In a multiple-linear-regression model correcting for age, gender, and body-mass index (BMI, kg/m2), the association did not remain significant. No significant correlations between motor retardation and circulating cytokines were found. Conclusions: After adjustment for potential confounders our study did not reveal any significant association between cytokines and motor activity. However, there is an indication of increased Th17 and decreased Th1 responses in relation to increased motor activity in line with the few previous reports in the field. The phenomenon however needs further exploration.

Subacute administration of both methcathinone and manganese causes basal ganglia damage in mice resembling that in methcathinone abusers

An irreversible extrapyramidal syndrome occurs in man after intravenous abuse of “homemade” methcathinone (ephedrone, Mcat) that is contaminated with manganese (Mn) and is accompanied by altered basal ganglia function. Both Mcat and Mn can cause alterations in nigrostriatal function but it remains unknown whether the effects of the ‘homemade’ drug seen in man are due to Mcat or to Mn or to a combination of both. To determine how toxicity occurs, we have investigated the effects of 4-week intraperitoneal administration of Mn (30 mg/kg t.i.d) and Mcat (100 mg/kg t.i.d.) given alone, on the nigrostriatal function in male C57BL6 mice. The effects were compared to those of the ‘homemade’ mixture which contained about 7 mg/kg of Mn and 100 mg/kg of Mcat. Motor function, nigral dopaminergic cell number and markers of pre- and postsynaptic dopaminergic neuronal integrity including SPECT analysis were assessed. All three treatments had similar effects on motor behavior and neuronal markers. All decreased motor activity and induced tyrosine hydroxylase positive cell loss in the substantia nigra. All reduced 123I-epidepride binding to D2 receptors in the striatum. Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) binding was not altered by any drug treatment. However, Mcat treatment alone decreased levels of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and Mn alone reduced GAD immunoreactivity in the striatum. These data suggest that both Mcat and Mn alone could contribute to the neuronal damage caused by the ‘homemade’ mixture but that both produce additional changes that contribute to the extrapyramidal syndrome seen in man.

In Vitro Schistosomicidal Activity of the Alkaloid-Rich Fraction from Ruta graveolens L. (Rutaceae) and Its Characterization by UPLC-QTOF-MS.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects million people worldwide, mostly in developing countries. Ruta graveolens (Rutaceae) is a plant used in folk medicine to treat several diseases, including parasitic infections. In this study, we reported the in vitro schistosomicidal activity of the R. graveolens extract (Rg) and its active fraction (Rg-FAE). Also, the characterization of Rg-FAE by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis and its in vitro antileishmanial activity against Leishmania braziliensis were also performed. In vitro schistosomicidal assays were assessed against adult worms of S. mansoni, while cell viability against peritoneal macrophages was measured by MTT assay. Rg (100 μg/mL) exhibited noticeable schistosomicidal activity, causing 100% mortality and decreasing motor activity of all adult male and female schistosomes, but with low activity against L. braziliensis. After chromatographic fractionation of Rg, fraction Rg-FAE was obtained, showing high activity against adult schistosomes. UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis of Rg-FAE revealed the presence of eleven alkaloids and one furanocoumarin. No significant antileishmanial activity was found for Rg, while Rg-FAE exhibited activity against L. braziliensis promastigotes. We demonstrated, for the first time, that the R. graveolens extract (Rg) and its alkaloid-rich fraction (Rg-FAE) are active against adult worms of S. mansoni, with no significant cytotoxicity on macrophages. Our findings open the route to further antiparasitic studies with the active fraction of R. graveolens and its identified compounds, especially alkaloids.

EFFECTS OF WILDFIRE EMISSION ON THE MORPHOFUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM IN WHITE RATS

Introduction. The study of the mechanisms of action of combustion products released during natural fires on the body and the development of appropriate preventive measures is an actual hygienic problem at the present stage. Material and methods. Experimental modeling of landscape fire was carried out for 7 days, 4 hours per day. Forest fuel, which is a living ground cover and plant residues, was used as a combustible substrate. The concentration of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, furfural, and acetaldehyde was determined in the exposure chamber, the general qualitative composition of air and the target qualitative analysis for volatile aldehydes and ketones were carried out. After exposure rat behavior was observed through an open field test and Morris water maze, histological studies of brain tissue were done. Results. During the experiment changes in the structure of the behavior of white rats exposed to smoke were established to be characterized by a decrease in motor and exploratory activity, and an increase in the level of anxiety in females was also observed. When testing in the water maze of Morris revealed violations of spatial memory and the ability to navigational learning. Histological examination of the cerebral cortex in animals of the experimental groups revealed multiple foci of neuronophagy, expansion of perivascular spaces, and the development of glial cell replacement hyperplasia was noted. Conclusion. The results indicate the presence of a neurotoxic effect of combustion products, characterized by a decrease in the motor activity of animals, increased anxiety and impaired memory processes, as well as morphological changes in the brain tissue of white rats. However, in order to reveal the role of the impact of a complex of substances released during forest fires, their contribution to morphological and functional disorders, furthermore in-depth studies are required.

Striatal histamine mechanism in the pathogenesis of restless legs syndrome.

Study ObjectivesRestless legs syndrome (RLS) has been hypothesized to be generated by abnormal striatal dopamine transmission. Dopaminergic drugs are effective for the treatment of RLS. However, long-term use of dopaminergic drugs causes adverse effects. We used iron-deficient (ID) and iron-replacement (IR) rats to address the neuropathology of RLS and to determine if a histamine H3 receptor (H3R) antagonist might be a useful treatment. Histamine H3R antagonists have been shown to decrease motor activity.MethodsControl and ID rats were surgically implanted with electrodes for polysomnographic recording. After 3 days of baseline polysomnographic recordings, rats were systemically injected with the H3R agonist, α-methylhistamine, and antagonist, thioperamide. Recordings were continued after drug injection. Striatal H3R levels from control, ID, and IR rats were determined by western blots. Blood from control, ID, and IR rats was collected for the measurement of hematocrit levels.Resultsα-Methylhistamine and thioperamide increased and decreased motor activity, respectively, in control rats. In ID rats, α-methylhistamine had no effect on motor activity, whereas thioperamide decreased periodic leg movement (PLM) in sleep. Sleep–wake states were not significantly altered under any conditions. Striatal H3R levels were highest in ID rats, moderate to low in IR rats, and lowest in control rats. Striatal H3R levels were also found to positively and negatively correlate with PLM in sleep and hematocrit levels, respectively.ConclusionsA striatal histamine mechanism may be involved in ID anemia-induced RLS. Histamine H3R antagonists may be useful for the treatment of RLS.

Non Concurrent Multimodal Stress Decreases Sperm Quality and Motor Activity in Male Wister Albino Rats

Every human being is exposed to the stress in one or the other form in the day to day life. Most of the existing studies on the impact of stress on the male reproduction were assessed by using single stressor, which may lead habituation to that stressor. The present study intends to estimate the consequence of stress on motor activity, sperm quality and histopathology of the testis in stress-induced male rats using multimodal stress one per day. Four weeks old Wister albino rats were randomly split into 4 groups and induced multimodal stress at different ages of life span. After induction of stress serum corticosterone levels, muscle strength and coordination, quality of sperm and histopathology of testes were estimated. Elevated serum corticosterone levels and body weight, reduced muscle strength, coordination. Sperm concentration and motility was significantly reduced and increased morphologically abnormal sperm in stress induced animals but sperm viability was not altered much. Histopathology of testes in stress received animals showed decreased tubular diameter and increased intertubular space. Multimodal stress caused elevated serum corticosterone and body weight, decreased motor activity, sperm quality and degenerative changes in the testis

P.12Active immunization mouse model of sporadic inclusion body myositis by cN1A peptides

Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is an intractable progressing inflammatory myopathy frequently affects elderly people. Lack of effective treatments and unclearness of pathogenesis in sIBM may be associated with absence of appropriate animal models. Recently, autoantibodies recognizing cytoplasmic 5′-nucleotidase 1a (cN1A) have been found in the sera of sIBM patients. However the roles of the anti-cN1A autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells are still unknown. In the current study, we aimed to generate the active immunization mouse model by cN1A peptides to realize the pathogenesis of sIBM. Three different sequences of murine cN1A peptides with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) were injected into the bilateral foot pads of C57BL/6J mice (n= 5 per each peptide). Pertusis toxins (PT) were injected intraperitoneally at the same time. Injection of peptides and CFA were repeated 3 times every week. As control mice, CFA and PT were injected alone. We evaluated time course of body weight, motor activity and myopathological changes. Autoantibodies recognizing injected cN1A peptides were detected in the sera of all the mice injected with cN1A peptides. Two of 3 peptide-injected groups showed significant decrease in motor activity. Inflammatory infiltrations of mononuclear cells including CD8-positive cells, surrounding or invading myofibers, were detected in the muscle specimens of the peptide-injected groups. Expression levels of p62 and LC3-II were increased in the muscle lysates from one of three peptide-injected group. Active immunization mouse model of cN1A peptides mimics histological and clinical aspects of sIBM. This murine model provides a useful tool for understanding the pathogenesis of sIBM and for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Дослідження гострої та хронічної токсичності зразків Гінкго Білоба (Ginkgo Biloba)

У статті наведені результати гострої та хронічної токсичності зразків Гінкго Білоба. Встановлено, що при оцінці загального стану тварин через 30 хв. та 1 год після однократного введення екстракту у дозах 1000, 2500 та 5000 мг/кг відмічено зменшення рухливості як мишей, так і щурів, що минула на третю годину спостереження. Жодних інших ознак інтоксикації, зокрема з боку центральної та вегетативної нервової системи (бічне положення, зниження м’язового тонусу, порушення координації рухів, блефароптоз, гіперсалівація тощо) не відмічено. Виходячи з результатів досліджень, екстракт Гінкго Білоба при підшкірному введенні білим мишам протягом 14 діб у терапевтичній дозі не спричиняв суттєвих змін загального стану, маси тіла, морфологічних та біохімічних показників крові.

Study of the Acute Toxicity of a New Dosage Form of Naloxone Hydrochloride for Intranasal Administration.

The experiment was conducted on 10 Wistar rats, male and female, with initial body weight 270-280 g (males) and 250-260 g (females). The drug was administered using a spray cap in 10 doses of 0.1 mg at 45 min intervals. The average cumulative dose of the drug per naloxone hydrochloride was 36.6 mg/kg for males and 39.4 mg/kg for females. The animals were monitored for 2 weeks after the exposure and then euthanized by a gentle decapitation.We noticed that after each drug administration the animals showed a decrease in motor activity. During the observation period there were no animal deaths or signs of abnormalities in their general state or behavior. Beginning on day 7 a significant increase in body weight of the animals was noted in comparison with the initial data. The relative mass of the internal organs of the treated rats remained within the physiological norm.We conclude that naloxone hydrochloride after an intranasal administration at 36.6 mg/kg for males and 39.4 mg/kg for females does not cause death of animals and or have a toxic effect on their general state, does not change their protein metabolism characteristics or the appearance of the internal organs and their mass.

ПРИЕМЫ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ДВИГАТЕЛЬНОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ ОБУЧАЮЩИХСЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ ШКОЛ КИТАЯ НА УРОКАХ ФИЗИЧЕСКОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ

The problem and goal. The problem of motor activity decrease in Chinese pupils is discussed in the article. The purpose of the article is to identify and substantiate the peculiarities of increasing schoolchildren motor activity in the PRC by improving the training process in physical education classes at rural schools. The research methodology consists in studying legal-normative documents in the field of physical culture and sports, a retrospective analysis of the problem, analysis and synthesis of scientific research by domestic and foreign scientists, the improvement of physical- education classes effectiveness. Results. Increasing the motor activity of modern schoolchildren is one of the targets of forming a healthy generation in China. The use of task-cards in the educational process of physical culture teaching in schools of China is proposed, and the results of their usage approbation are presented. Conclusion. The version of using the proposed task-cards at the classes of Physical Culture in countryside schools of China that is suggested in the article will favour motor activity of school-children and can be used in the educational process of the primary and secondary schools in the countryside as well as in the educational process of urban schools in China.

Study of the dynamics of anticonvulsant and anxiolytic action after oral administration of tin (II) chloride

This article is devoted to the study of anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activity of tin (II) chloride by oral administration. The anxiolytic effect was established in models of the Open Field and Black-and-White Camera tests; the anticonvulsant activity of SnCl (II) was evaluated in model of acute generalized seizures with the determination of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) minimum effective doses inducing clonic-tonic convulsions and tonic extension in test animals. Statistical indicators were calculated using the Microsoft Excel software package using the arithmetic mean value (M) and the mean deviation mean value (m). The obtained data show that tin (II) chloride is a promising compound for the prevention of anxiety states, as well as disorders containing the convulsive component. Three hours after the start of the experiment, the minimum doses of pentylenetetrazole for inducing clonic-tonic convulsions and tonic extension, exceeded the control group data by an average of 75%. A decrease in motor activity by half compared with the control in the open field test during the 5 hours of the experiment indicates the sedative effect of tin (II) chloride. Tin (II) chloride is a promising compound for the relief of convulsive states and correction of depressive disorders. Thus, it is of interest to further study the spectrum of its pharmacological activity in order the use it in medicine.

Experimental study of possible development of abstinence syndrome after long use of energetic drinks

Aim. To study in experiment the possible syndrome of withdrawal after a 30-day peroral use of energetic drinks.&#x0D; Materials and methods.In the groups of laboratory animals, who had caffeine solution (CS) and energetic drink (ED), as the only source of drinking in free access so as to form a stable use, and in the control group of rats, who received purified water (duration of experiment – 4 weeks), one day after the withdrawal there were studied body mass indices, behavioral functions (cognitive processes, anxiety, behaviour) and rectal temperature.&#x0D; Results. The 1.5-2-fold reduction of motor activity in white rats was established; it was reflected in decreased number of postures and crossed squares in the device “open field”.The increase in anxiety level against the background of energetic drink withdrawal was detected in “dark-light camera” with perforations. At the same time, no changes in motor activity and anxiety level were registered in the group of caffeine users. The following characteristic features of withdrawal syndrome as tooth chatter and gnashing, shaking arms and pads, ptosis, were registered in 87.5 %, 75 % and 37.5 %, respectively, in the group of energetic drink users, and 14.3 %, 42.9 %, 28.6 % in the group of caffeine solution users. During a 30-day period of using energetic drink by white rats, there was observed a negative dynamics of their weight.&#x0D; Conclusions. The decrease in motor activity, increase in anxiety level and presence of a number of signs, does not allow excluding the presence of withdrawal syndrome after a long use of energetic drinks, and in most cases, expression of the signs of withdrawal syndrome exceeds that of caffeine. This fact, in our opinion, needs more detailed studying.

Sleep and body temperature in TNFα knockout mice: The effects of sleep deprivation, β3-AR stimulation and exogenous TNFα

Increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is assumed to mediate increased sleep under inflammatory conditions, such as systemic infections or recovery from sleep loss. The role of cytokines in sleep regulation under normal conditions is less clear. In the present study, we investigated the role of endogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in sleep regulation using TNFα knockout (KO) mice. Under control conditions at thermoneutral ambient temperature, total sleep time did not differ between TNFα KO and wild-type (WT) mice, but TNFα KO mice had increased rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS), accompanied by decreased motor activity and body temperature. Exposure to 17 °C induced decreases in total sleep time similarly in both genotypes. Sleep deprivation by gentle handling elicited robust rebound increases in non-rapid-eye movement sleep (NREMS), REMS and electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity (SWA), accompanied by suppressed motor activity and decreased body temperature; there was no significant difference between the responses of WT and KO mice. Systemic injection of the beta3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) agonist CL-316,243 induced increases in NREMS and body temperature. The temperature response, but not the sleep effect, was attenuated in the KO animals. Systemic injection of TNFα induced increased NREMS, reduced REMS and biphasic temperature responses in both genotypes. In the KO mice, the NREMS-promoting effects of exogenously administered TNFα was decreased, while REMS suppression was enhanced, and the first, hypothermic, phase of temperature response was attenuated. Overall, TNFα KO mice did not show any deficiency in sleep regulation which suggests that the role of endogenous TNFα in sleep regulation is less pronounced than previously suggested.

Chemical Composition and Schistosomicidal Activity of Essential Oils of Two Piper Species from the Amazon Region

The essential oils of Piper marginatum Jacq and Piper callosum Ruiz & Pav were obtained by hydrodistillation and tested in vitro against the adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni species. The chemical constituents were evaluated by Gas chromatography / Mass spectrometry. The main constituents of the essential oil of the leaves of P. marginatum were 3,4- (methylenedioxy) propiophenone (10.41 %), bicyclogermacrene (10.16 %) and germacrene D (9.93 %). The extraction of the aerial parts (branches, leaves and inflorescences) from P. callosum provided two essential oils, one of them being transparent and of greater density than the water presenting safrole (29.32 %), α-pinene (19.23 %) and β-pinene (14.31 %) as major constituents and another yellow oil of smaller density than the water with 92 % safrole. The essential oils exhibited a dose-dependent effect on decreased motor activity and death of parasites. The essential oil of P. marginatum caused death of 100 % of the parasites in the concentration of 50 μg/mL, while the PC+ (denser than water) and PC- (less dense than water) samples obtained from P. callosum caused 100 % death in the concentration of 100 μg/mL.