The Pivotal Role of the Glutamate - glutamine Cycle in Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy. An experimental magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

The glutamate-glutamine cycle is essential for sustaining the neuronal secretion of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Hepatic encephalopathy, even in its most discreet form, minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), interferes with the glutamate and glutamine balance due to the increase in ammonia levels in the central nervous system (CNS), induced by a combination of liver dysfunction, increased blood-brain barrier permeability and many other factors. An experimental study on 21 patients with chronic liver disease and 11 healthy volunteers was performed. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated an increase of the glutamate-glutamine complex peak, with high predictive value for MHE, especially when the metabolites are referenced to creatine, a stabile metabolite in the CNS. This paper also explores the pathophysiology of MHE with emphasis on the involvement of the glutamate-glutamine cycle in the development of this complication.

Comparative Study of the Dyes Induced Citotoxicity in Cultures of Cerebelar Granular Neurons

Determining neural viability in cell cultures is an essential element in both fundamental and clinical research, including testing the efficacy of certain neuroprotective drug compounds. Therefore, for a more rigorous evaluation of neuronal death associated with either experimental conditions or experimental models of neurological diseases, it is important that the research method and especially the staining method does not produce additional neural injuries and does not change the number destroyed cells. In the present study we tested how several types of dyes: Trypan Blue (TB), Calcein AM, Hoechst 33342, Propidium Iodide and WST-1/Formazan, affect neuronal viability in cell cultures before and after hypoxia and also, which dyes are associated with a higher percentage of cytotoxicity.

Capsaicin: Effects on the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers, and to date, there have been very few drugs available that can improve survival, the most well-known being sorafenib. The pathogenesis of HCC is complex, involving multiple processes including abnormal cell and tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, genomic instability, cellular proliferation, and signaling pathway alterations. Capsaicin is a substance that holds increasingly high interest and is studied as a therapeutic option in a wide array of diseases. Several studies have investigated capsaicin roles in various stages of HCC oncogenesis. This paper aims to thoroughly detail the available information on the individual effects of capsaicin on the cellular mechanisms and pathways involved in HCC development, as well as investigate their possible cooperation and interferences. The synergistic antitumor effects of capsaicin and sorafenib are also addressed.