epiglucan and Brain-Diseases

To investigate the protective effect of Bg on cisplatin (CP)-induced neurotoxicity in rats.. Twenty eight rats were randomly distributed into four groups. The first group was kept as a control. In the second group, CP was given at the single dose of 7 mg/kg intraperitoneally. In the third group, βg was orally administered at the dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 14 days. In the fourth group, CP and βg were given together at the same doses.. CP treatment caused significant oxidative damage via induction of lipid peroxidation and reductions antioxidant defense system potency in the brain tissue. In addition, histopathological damage increased with CP treatment. On the other hand, βg treatment largely prevented oxidative and histopathological negative effects of CP.. Cisplatin has severe neurotoxic effects in rats and βg supplementation has significant beneficial effects against CP toxicity depending on its antioxidant properties. Thus, it appears that βg might be useful against CP toxicity in patients with cancer in terms of nervous system.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; beta-Glucans; Brain; Brain Diseases; Cerebral Cortex; Cisplatin; Male; Models, Animal; Oxidative Stress; Protective Agents; Random Allocation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

Topics: beta-Glucans; Brain Chemistry; Brain Diseases; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Child, Preschool; Granuloma; Humans; Proteoglycans

A case of cerebral aspergillosis was diagnosed by the detection of Aspergillus flavus-specific DNA in brain biopsy and serum specimens. The diagnosis was also supported by detection of elevated levels of galactomannan and (1-->3)-beta-d-glucan in serum specimens. Despite the presence of dichotomously branched septate hyphae in brain biopsy, the culture remained negative. The inability to isolate the organism in culture suggested that combined therapy of AmBisome and caspofungin was fungicidal for the fungus in the brain abscess.

Topics: Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Aspergillus flavus; beta-Glucans; Brain; Brain Diseases; Caspofungin; Diagnosis, Differential; DNA, Fungal; Echinocandins; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Galactose; Humans; Lipopeptides; Male; Mannans; Middle Aged; Peptides, Cyclic; Polymerase Chain Reaction