Comparative analysis of the effects combined physical procedures and alpha-lipoic acid on the electroneurographic parameters of patients with distal sensorimotor diabetic polyneuropathy

The effects of combined physical procedures on the functional status of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy

Introduction: Diabetic polyneuropathy is a common chronic complication in patients with diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to determine the importance of applied physical procedures on the functional status in diabetic polyneuropathy patients in comparison to the group of respondents with the applied alpha-lipoic acid. Materials and Methods: 60 subjects were divided into two groups: group A - diabetic polyneuropathy patient?s treatment with physical procedures; and group B - diabetic polyneuropathy patient?s treatment with alpha-lipoic acid. The study protocol implied that the study has lasted for three diagnostic and therapeutic cycles, each lasting for 16 days with the time between cycles of 6 weeks. Results: Manual muscle test, range of motion, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument and Berg balance scale values showed statistically significant improvement at the end of testing the group A respondents, while in the group B respondents there was not any improvement shown. Conclusions: The application of the combined physical procedures shows clear benefit for improvement of muscle strength and mobility of the ankle joint in respondents with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Alpha lipoic acid ameliorates THIM-induced prefrontal cell loss and abnormal enzymatically contents in the developing rat

Thimerosal (THIM) is a common preservative used in many pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, cosmetics and many other products. Today, it was somewhat clear that Thimerosal (THIM) is a neurotoxicant preservative. We aimed to use of a suitable agent for preventing of THIM side effects on brain. Therefore, in this research, the protective effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), against THIM-induced brain cell loss, changes in neuroimmune cell and enzymatically contents were examined. Male Wistar rats (n = 60) were randomly distributed into five groups: 1- THIM group; this group received THIM at dose of 300 μg /kg on 7, 9, 11, 15 days after birth 2- ALA group; received ALA (20 mg/kg) in the same order. 3- THIM & ALA group; this group received ALA in the same dose, 30 min before THIM administration.4& 5; Saline and ALA vehicle groups were also included. At 56th postnatal day, samples of the prefrontal cortex were collected and prepared for stereological, immune-histochemical, and enzymatic evaluations. The result showed that ALA, prevents the adverse effects of THIM on brain cell loss, abnormal changes in neuroimmune cells (p < 0.05), prefrontal cortex volume (p < 0.05), and the glutathione content of prefrontal cortex (p < 0.05). In conclusion, neonatal exposure to THIM can induce abnormal alterations in neuroimmune cells and brain cell density as well as prefrontal cortex volume & glutathione content, and ALA can ameliorate these abnormalities.

Protective role of alpha-lipoic acid in impairments of social and stereotyped behaviors induced by early postnatal administration of thimerosal in male rat

Aim Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative has been widely used in a number of biological and drug products, including many vaccines, and has been studied as a possible etiological factor for some neurodevelopmental disabilities. Here, the protective effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), an organosulfur compound derived from Octanoic Acid, on Thimerosal-induced behavioral abnormalities in rat were examined.

METHODS

108 male Wistar rats were divided into three cohorts and treated as follows: 1) Thimerosal at different doses (30, 300, or 3000 μg Hg/kg) in four i.m. injections on 7, 9, 11, 15postnatal days. 2) ALA (at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), following the same order; 3) single dose of Thimerosal (3000 μg Hg/kg) plus ALA at different doses (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg), by the previously described method. A saline treated control group and a ALA vehicle control (0.1% NaOH) were also included. At 5 and 8 weeks after birth, rats were evaluated with behavioral tests, to assess locomotor activity, social interactions and stereotyped behaviors, respectively.

RESULTS

The data showed that Thimerosal at all doses (30, 300 and 3000 μg Hg/kg) significantly impacted locomotor activity. Thimerosal at doses of 300 and 3000 but not 30 μg Hg/kg impaired social and stereotyped behaviors. In contrast, ALA (at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) did not alter behaviors by itself, at doses of 20 mg/kg, it reduced social interaction deficits induced by the highest dose of Thimerosal (3000 μg Hg/kg). Moreover, ALA, at all doses prevented the adverse effects of Thimerosal on stereotyped behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

the results of this preclinical study, consistent with previous studies on mice and rats, reveals that neonatal dose-dependent exposure to Thimerosal mimicking the childhood vaccine schedule can induce abnormal social interactions and stereotyped behaviors similar to those observed in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, and, for the first time, revealed that these abnormalities may be ameliorated by ALA. This indicates that ALA may protect against mercurial-induced abnormal behaviors.

The association of vitamin D with inflammatory cytokines in diabetic peripheral neuropathy

[Purpose] The effects of vitamin D on the circulating levels of IL-17 and IL-13 were investigated in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 without neuropathy, and healthy controls. [Subjects and Methods] A single-blind controlled clinical study was performed, including70 type 2 diabetic patients with or without diabetic peripheral neuropathy and 33 healthy volunteer controls. The 25(OH)D levels were evaluated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography, and IL-17 and IL-13 levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. [Results] The 25(OH) vitamin D concentration was lower in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients than in diabetes mellitus patients without neuropathy and healthy controls. Similarly, 25(OH)D levels were lower in diabetes mellitus patients than healthy controls. IL-17 and IL-13 levels were higher in diabetes mellitus patients than in controls. Additionally, IL-13 levels were higher in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients than in diabetes mellitus patients without neuropathy. These differences were statistically significant. There was a significant positive correlation between 25(OH)D and IL-13,and a negative correlation between 25(OH)D andIL-17 in the diabetic and diabetic neuropathy groups. [Conclusion] Vitamin D is a potential modifiable risk factor for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and may regulate inflammatory mediators, e.g., IL-17 and IL-13.