Vinpocetine is the semi-synthetic derivative (ethyl ester) of the alkaloid, apovincamine, found in the Lesser Periwinle (Vinca minor). It has previously been reported to have neuroprotective properties and to increase cerebral blood flow. Although it is used in Eastern Europe…
Blog Archives
Opposing Roles for Brain Macrophages
Systemic infection and inflammation lead to release of cytokines, such as IL-1, which activate the brain’s stress response mechanisms, producing typical symptoms such as lethargy, fever, and lack of appetite. In response to inflammation or infection, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing…
P-glycoprotein Opens Gate to Neuroinflammation
P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1) was originally characterized by its ability to confer a multidrug-resistant phenotype to cancer cells. It was also the first drug efflux transporter to be detected on blood-brain barrier endothelial cells and is now recognized to be involved…
Reflux Esophagitis May Not Be Caused Directly by Acid Burn
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or acid reflux, which occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter opens spontaneously or doesn’t close properly, is experienced intermittently by most people. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the amount of gastric juice that refluxes into the…
Antioxidant Role for Thiocyanate: Implications for Cystic Fibrosis Treatment
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder affecting the secretory glands, resulting from mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The disease predominantly involves the respiratory and digestive systems, with lung injuries and infections responsible for…
A-NO-ther Incarnation for COX Inhibitors?
Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors were developed to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects associated with the older non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2. The withdrawal of rofecoxib (Vioxx™) in 2004 and valdecoxib (Bextra™) in 2005…
New Indication for Aldose Reductase Inhibitors?
The physiological role of aldose reductase (AR) is still incompletely understood, although it has long been associated with the pathogenesis of diabetes-associated diseases such as cataract and neuropathy. In the last twenty years a number of AR inhibitors have entered…
Resveratrol’s Anti-inflammatory Effect Linked to Sphingosine Kinase
Since the early 1990s, when it was first suggested that the presence of the anti-oxidant, resveratrol, could explain the cardioprotective effects of red wine, the health benefits attributed to this compound have grown and grown. Based largely on studies in…
GERD Linked to Changes in Oesophageal Microbiome
The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has increased significantly in the United States since the 1970s. The chronic inflammation associated with GERD can lead to the development of Barrett’s oesophagus, a precancerous condition that, in rare cases, leads to…
Homing in on Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. First described by Burrill Bernard Crohn and co-workers in 1932, the disease is believed to be an autoimmune disorder but the precise causes…
