miércoles, diciembre 21, 2005

El cerebro y su yo, libro de Joseph Knoll

"oseph Knoll" sería la traducción aproximada del titulo de un nuevo libro de Joseph Knoll, famoso por su desarrollo de la droga deprenyl (selegilina). Si alguien lo tiene me gustaría saber.

The Brain and Its Self
A Neurochemical Concept of the Innate and Acquired Drives
Knoll, Joseph
2005, XIV, 176 p. 24 illus., Hardcover
ISBN: 3-540-23969-3

Se pueden leer los indices y partes de capítulos en springer.com o el índice en formato HTML



lunes, diciembre 19, 2005

NAUKI KOGNITYWNE - Marek Kasperski sitio polaco de ciencias cognitivas

"This page deals with cognitive science. I have made it thinking about polish readers. In my country this topic is a kind of novelty and is known to broader audience for about five years. This page is the largest undertaking of this kind in Poland. Its goal is to make clear everything about mind, brain and Artificial Intelligence. Naturally for all those who are hungry for this kind of knowledge. Unfortunately, English version of this page does not function yet. So, I let myself to present you headlines:"

http://www.kognitywistyka.net/a/english_version.htm

domingo, diciembre 18, 2005

Revision de las propiedades farmacologicas del piracetam

Es interesante que haya estudios nuevos sobre el piracetam, aunque de este esté disponible sólo el abstract y parece que es una revisión de estudios anteriores.

 CNS Drug Rev. 2005 Summer;11(2):169-82.        

Piracetam: a review of pharmacological properties and clinical uses.

Winblad B.

Karolinska Institutet, Neurotec, Huddinge, University Hospital B 84, S-14186 Stockholm, Sweden.

Piracetam, a derivative of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), has a variety of physiological effects that may result, at least in part, from the restoration of cell membrane fluidity. At a neuronal level, piracetam modulates neurotransmission in a range of transmitter systems (including cholinergic and glutamatergic), has neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties, and improves neuroplasticity. At a vascular level, it appears to reduce erythrocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium, hinder vasospasm, and facilitate microcirculation. This diverse range of physiological effects is consistent with its use in a range of clinical indications. Its efficacy is documented in cognitive disorders and dementia, vertigo, cortical myoclonus, dyslexia, and sickle cell anemia. While high doses are sometimes necessary, piracetam is well tolerated.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16007238 [PubMed - in process]


sábado, diciembre 17, 2005

Interaccion calcio y magnesio

Me puse a ver un informe para médicos que tengo de hace tiempo que intenta explicarles por qué en el producto Berocca (creo que esto está en casi todo el mundo) le ponen calcio y magnesio juntos a pesar de que se sepa que se afectam mutuamente.

En una parte dice que: a nivel del sistema nervioso, el magnesio actúa como antagonista del calcio, al impedir la liberación excesiva de catecolaminas -tal como ocurre, por ejemplo, en situacionesde stress (Classen y Hirneth, 1987; Henrotte et. al., 1985 ;Henrotte, 1986; Iseri y French, 1984, Levine y Coburn 1984). A nivel de la sinapsis, una mayor concentración de magnesio inhibe la liberación de acetilcolina por medio del antagonismo del calcio (Goodman y Gilman, 1985).


jueves, diciembre 15, 2005

La disciplina es mas importante que la inteligencia


Self-discipline matters more than IQ
An American study has found that a school pupil’s self-discipline is a stronger predictor of their future academic success than their IQ, leading researchers to conclude that self-discipline may be the “royal road” to building academic achievement.

In a first study, Angela Duckworth and [Martin Seligman](http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~seligman/) (Positive Psychology Centre, University of Pennsylvania) recruited 140 school children (average age 13 years) at the start of the academic year. In the Autumn, the children, their parents and teachers, all completed questionnaires about the children’s self-discipline. The measures asked things about the children’s ability to follow rules, to avoid acting impulsively, and to put off instant rewards for later gratification. Scores from the different measures were combined to create an overall indicator of self-discipline.

The researchers found self-discipline predicted all sorts of academic measures taken seven months later, including the children’s average grade for the academic year, their Spring exam result and their selection into High School.

A second study with 164 children (average age 13) followed a similar procedure but also involved the children taking an IQ test in the Autumn. Self-discipline again predicted later academic performance, as measured by their average grade for the year and their Spring exam result. Moreover, the researchers found that the children’s self-discipline scores accounted for twice as much of the variation in their later academic performance as their IQ did.

The researchers said “Underachievement among American youth is often blamed on inadequate teachers, boring textbooks, and large class sizes. We suggest another reason for students falling short of their intellectual potential: their failure to exercise self-discipline”.
__________________________________

Duckworth, A.L. & Seligman, M.E.P. (2005). [Self-discipline outdoes IQ in predicting academic performance of adolescents](http://tinyurl.com/72uqk). Psychological Science, 16, 939-944.

Via: http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2005/12/self-discipline-matters-more-than-iq.html)

Interesante leer los cometarios también.

jueves, diciembre 08, 2005

Para recuperar sueno hay que dormir mas temprano

Para recuperar sueño es mejor irse a dormir antes que quedarse más tiempo durmiendo, según un estudio, dado que esto último incrementa el desfase y hace más difícil volver a levantarse temprano.

 "If you have been working long hours, the best way to recover from a sleep deficit is to go to bed earlier rather than sleeping in."

Wake Time Influences Circadian Clock More Than Bed Time

Yael Waknine
Medscape Medical News 2005.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/507491?rss

June 28, 2005 — A late wake time causes a significantly greater phase delay in the circadian rhythm than does a late bedtime, according to the results of a small prospective study presented at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Denver, Colorado.

lunes, diciembre 05, 2005

Los neurotransmisores, las hormonas y la memoria segun Braverman


Distintas funciones de los neurotransmisores en relación a la memoria. Resumen de neurotransmisor, función y suplementos que lo favorecen.

Dopamina: (aminoácido precursor: tirosina) estimula la memoria operativa. Cromo, rhodiola, tiamina. Levantamiento de pesas. Ajedrez.
Acetilcolina: (aminoácido precursor: fosfatidilserina, acetil-l-carnitina) estimula el acceso a la memoria y su velocidad y la memoria inmediata. Manganeso, hupericina, ácido lipoico. Escribir.
GABA: (aminoácido precursor: glutamina) ayuda a organizar la memoria especialmente la verbal. Inositol, vitaminas B, aminoácidos de cadena ramificada. Caminatas en la naturaleza. Meditación, cantar, rezar.
Serotonina: (aminoácido precursor: triptófano) ayuda a la memoria visual y la percepción. B6, Hipérico, aceites de pescado. Ejercicio aeróbico, meditación.

Incrementar el efecto del GABA (ej. clonazepam) permite bajar la ansiedad y así retener más información.

Incrementar la serotonina (ej. sertralina) puede permitir dormir bien y así recargar la función cognitiva del cerebro.

Las hormonas también afectan la memoria: hormona del crecimiento, vasopresina, DHEA, pregnenolona y en las mujeres: estrógenos y progesterona y en hombres testosterona.

El equilibrio se puede lograr mediante el uso de fármacos o la dieta (ej. los huevos contienen colina y glutamina que elevan la acetilcolina y el GABA respectivamente) o precursores (ej. aminoácidos). Los fármacos actúan más rápido pero considera ideal usarlos con precaución mientras se corrigen desequilibrios mediante otros recursos para lograr sostener el cambio a largo plazo.

Según el libro "The edge effect" de Dr. Braverman pág. 242-243
Se puede ver en http://books.google.com

Lo he puesto muy resumido y simplicficado (un poco como es el libro).

Braverman tiene un website en www.pathmed.com y hay un test para hacer gratis.





domingo, diciembre 04, 2005

Ejercicio contra el Alzheimer y otros males


El ejercicio aumenta la proteína megalina que expulsa del cerebro a la proteína beta amiloide que se acumula en el cerebro de los enfermos de Alzheimer's .

Beat Alzheimer's with exercise

Charlotte Schubert

Exercise helps to flush a toxic molecule from the brain and causes a
beneficial one to move in and protect nerve cells
, research on mice shows.
The discovery might help to explain why staying fit and keeping mentally
active seem to fend off Alzheimer's disease in humans.

"Our experiments support the idea that exercise is a good approach to all
types of problems in the brain and that a sedentary lifestyle is a risk
factor,"
says Ignacio Torres-Aleman, who led the study at the Cajal
Institute in Madrid.

Torres-Aleman and his colleagues were intrigued by previous studies showing
that exercise slows mental decline in mice engineered to mimic Alzheimer's
disease. They set out to discover the reason.

They found that exercise doubled the levels of a protein that helps to
flush molecules thought to underlie Alzheimer's disease
out of the mice's
brains and into their blood. The protein, called megalin, ejects a
potentially destructive protein called amyloid-beta
. In Alzheimer's
patients, amyloid-beta accumulates in clumps throughout the brain.

http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051128/full/051128-14.html

jueves, diciembre 01, 2005

How to read a paper


How to read a paper

Education and debate
[Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research) ](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7110/740)
Trisha Greenhalgh, Rod Taylor

[Papers that summarise other papers (systematic reviews and meta-analyses)](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7109/672)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[Papers that tell you what things cost (economic analyses)](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7108/596)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[Papers that report diagnostic or screening tests](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7107/540)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[Papers that report drug trials](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7106/480)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[Statistics for the non-statistician. II: "Significant" relations and their pitfalls ](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7105/422)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[Statistics for the non-statistician](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7104/364)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[Assessing the methodological quality of published papers](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7103/305)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[Getting your bearings (deciding what the paper is about)](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7102/243)
Trisha Greenhalgh

[The Medline database ](http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/315/7101/180)
Trisha Greenhalgh

Via mindhacks.com

sábado, noviembre 26, 2005

vida media de los nutrientes


La vida media de ciertos nutrientes, especialmente los hidrosolubles (ADEK son las vitaminas liposulubles), es corta. Por vida media se entiende el tiempo que tarda una dada cantidad de una sustancia en reducirse su concrentración en el cuerpo a la mitad por procesos biológicos.

La vida media de la vitamina B1 es de 2.5 horas. Por lo tanto conviene distribuir las dosis en varias tomas en el día o usar fórmulas de liberación controlada.

"The half-lives of certain important nutrients, especially water-soluble ones, such as the B-vitamins, are relatively short. (Half-life is the time required for any given amount or concentration of a nutrient to decrease by half, through biological processes.)

For example, the half-life of oral thiamine (vitamin B1) is only about 2.5 hours.1 So if it’s advantageous to maintain high levels of this vitamin (in your liver, for example) and not to let down your safety shield, it’s advisable to take three, or preferably four, servings daily. Otherwise your body is left with less than optimal protection against free radicals and is thus more susceptible to disease. With regard to vitamin C, which also has a short half-life, Linus Pauling advocated taking it throughout the day in divided doses, which overcomes this problem.2

Tallaksen CM, Sande A, Bohmer T, Bell H, Karlsen J. Kinetics of thiamin and thiamin phosphate esters in human blood, plasma and urine after 50 mg intravenously or orally. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1993;44(1):73-8.
Hickey S, Roberts H. Ascorbate: The Science of Vitamin C. Lulu Press, Inc., Napa, California, 2004."

life-enhancement.com

lunes, noviembre 14, 2005

Conferencia sobre extension de la vida en Atlanta


Se realizó la primera conferencia del Immortality Institute Life Extension Conference en Atlanta, GA el 5 de noviembre de 2005.

Hay una serie de trabajos que se pueden ver sobre temas que nos pueden interesar porque tienen que ver con la extensión de la vida, la biología, el cerebro, la inteligencia, etc.

La página principal es: http://www.imminst.org/conference/

There were a number of media and film teams covering the event.  ImmInst has planned a DVD of the even to be available soon.

Pictures of the conference are found here:
http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=191&t=8443

Speakers power points (13) are found here: 
http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?s=&act=SF&f=191

Randy Wicker(ImmInst Advisor) has some conference video here:
http://www.randywickerreporting.blogspot.com/

lunes, noviembre 07, 2005

BrainConnection.com - Tests Stress = Problems For Students



BrainConnection.com - Tests Stress = Problems For Students - Page 1: "
Tests Stress = Problems For Students
July 2000
by Daniel Edelstein


Anecdotal reports from educators, combined with a surge in prescriptions for such medications as Ritalin and Prozac, suggest that students are experiencing increased stress in the classroom. At the root of the problem, some researchers suggest, are schools that primarily rank students based on their test scores."

viernes, noviembre 04, 2005

Inhaladores y parches de nicotina


Hay formas de administración de nicotina que tienen muchos menos efectos perjudiciales que fumar. ¿Pero cuán segura es la nicotina?.


The New Brain Power from Philip Morris

Yep, it’s true. When nicotine-dependent human subjects abstain from cigarette smoking, they exhibit a decline in working memory. [Biological Psychiatry 58: 143-50, 2005] In fact, how are we going to tell the public, after all the years of saying nicotine in cigarettes is potentially harmful, that nicotine is maybe the best memory enhancing brain stimulant available. Nicotine skin patches could actually be used to enhance memory, or even treat Alzheimer’s disease. Nicotine skin patches even improve attention function among people with Attention Deficit Disorder! Better yet, nicotine is safe. [Current Drug Targets CNS Neurological Disorders 4: 423-31, 2002]

Get this, nicotine-treated mice develop less beta amyloid plaque in their brain than sugar-fed animals. Researchers in Sweden say nicotine drug treatment may be a novel protective therapy in Alzheimer's disease. [J Neurochemistry 81:655-8, 2002]


Here is where Philip Morris, the tobacco giant, comes in. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, “Philip Morris has developed an inhaler that could deliver a nicotine mist deep into the lungs, giving smokers a satisfying dose of the addictive drug without the carcinogens, gases and toxic metals that make tobacco smoke so dangerous.”

Ver nota completa en knowledgeofhealth.com

miércoles, octubre 26, 2005

Crean compuestos que pasan la barrera hematoencefalica


http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-10/slu-arr102505.php

Alcoholism research reveals promising new approach to treating Alzheimer's
disease

ST. LOUIS -- Saint Louis University research shows a new class of drugs may
hold promise in treating brain chemical problems such as Alzheimer's

disease, says the principal investigator of research published in an early
on-line version of Peptides.

"We found that we can develop antisense ­ which is a molecular compound ­
to cross the blood brain barrier enough to alter brain function
. This can
have a profound effect on treating diseases that occur because there is too
much or too little of a certain kind of protein in the brain," says William
A. Banks, M.D., professor of geriatrics and pharmacological and
physiological sciences at Saint Louis University and principal investigator.

"The blood brain barrier is the Holy Grail ­ it's the most difficult tissue
to pass through."  The article will run in the April print issue of Peptides.

Antisense molecules are very specific compounds that scientists can create
to plug into genetic pathways and block certain genes from producing
harmful proteins.

Many scientists believe that overproduction of the amyloid beta protein in
the brain causes Alzheimer's disease. Previous Saint Louis University
research has found that scientists can develop antisense to cross the blood
brain barrier and lower levels of amyloid beta protein in mice
.

sábado, octubre 22, 2005

El aceite de lino aumenta el riesgo de cancer de prostata y el de pescado lo baja


En fin... siempre cosas contradictorias. Como mandé el oro mando esto.

Flax Seed Oil Actually Increases Prostate Cancer While Fish Oil Decreases It

A recent study of about 47,000 men has found the ALA omega-3 fatty acids stimulate the growth of prostate tumors in men. Of the men monitored over 14 years, some 3,000 struggled with prostate cancer and about one in seven were suffering from the advanced stages of the disease.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition July 2004 80(1);204-216

http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/21/flax_seed_oil.htm

viernes, octubre 21, 2005

El aceite de lino incrementa el EPA


Este estudio es interesante porque muchas veces se dice que no es muy seguro que los aceites Omega 3 se conviertan adecuadamente en EPA (que está presente en los aceites de pescado junto con DHA y que es bueno para las arterias y el cerebro).


Eur J Clin Nutr. 1995 Mar;49(3):169-78. Related Articles, Links         

Supplementation with flaxseed oil versus sunflowerseed oil in healthy young men consuming a low fat diet: effects on platelet composition and function.

Allman MA, Pena MM, Pang D.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Sydney, Australia.
...
 The platelet eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) more than doubled in the group taking flaxseed oil
...
This study provides further evidence that consumption of alpha-linolenic acid-rich oils may offer protective effects against cardiovascular disease over linoleic acid-rich oils via their ability to decrease the tendency of platelets to aggregate.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7774533&dopt=Abstract


jueves, octubre 20, 2005

Denuncian vinculos economicos entre laboratorios y medicos




SALUD : INVESTIGACION DE LA REVISTA BRITANICA "NATURE"

Denuncian vínculos económicos entre laboratorios y médicos

Un estudio a nivel mundial señala que muchos profesionales que elaboran las guías para recomendar la prescripción de medicamentos reciben algún tipo de honorario. Dicen que eso atenta contra los pacientes.

Valeria Román.

Las asociaciones de médicos se reúnen, debaten y difunden lineamientos generales sobre cuáles son los tratamientos adecuados para cada enfermo. Se supone que la selección de fármacos sólo está orientada a salvar a los pacientes. Y que deja de lado cualquier interés comercial. Sin embargo, un estudio realizado por la revista británica Nature revela que no hay imparcialidad en gran parte de los paneles que aconsejan fármacos.

Incluso, se dio a conocer que hay integrantes de los mismos paneles médicos que directamente tienen acciones en las empresas que producen los fármacos. Es decir, según la revista británica, los "investigadores y médicos que escriben las normas para prescribir fármacos tienen amplias conexiones financieras con la industria farmacéutica".

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/10/20/sociedad/s-03201.htm

martes, octubre 18, 2005

Healthy Head - Newsweek Health - MSNBC.com

Healthy Head - Newsweek Health - MSNBC.com : "Amen's latest book, 'Making a Good Brain Great,' published this month by Harmony (a division of Random House), is based partly on research that uses brain-imaging technology, called SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scans, to help pinpoint problems in the brain. Patients at his clinics are injected with an extremely low dose of radioactive material. Then a technician uses a special nuclear medicine camera, which records the distribution of the radioactive material in the brain, to take a picture that reveals brain activity and blood flow. Some of the images have been reprinted in the book to show where and how Alzheimer's, drugs and disorders can affect the brain. When compared to a scan of a healthy brain, the difference is noticeable.

The good news, says Amen, is that before and after scans have also shown that brains can actually change with medication, behavioral therapy or a better diet and exercise. NEWSWEEK's Jennifer Barrett spoke with Amen about ways to improve our brain function. Excerpts:"

martes, octubre 11, 2005

El lino como fuente de Omega 3 y su consumo adecuado


Como ya se sabe las semillas y el aceite de lino es una buena fuente de acidos grasos omega 3 (linolenico). Las semillas de lino contienen algunos compuestos que no son saludables si no se consumen con cuidado. En el sitio Flax Council of Canada hay muy buena informacion de la que extractamos lo siguiente:


 Linaza - Una Recopilacion sobre sus Efectos en la Salud y Nutricion
     por Diane H. Morris, PhD, RD


Las semillas enteras de linaza pueden ser almacenadas a temperatura
ambiente por al menos un año. Por otro lado, la linaza molida puede
ser almacenada a temperatura ambiente por al menos cuatro meses

 El almacenaje de la linaza entera ó molida en el
refrigerador ó congelador, prolonga su frescura.

 la linaza molida es estable
cuando se almacena a temperatura ambiente y se mantiene fresca por varios
meses, debido principalmente a su contenido de lignanos. Los lignanos son
antioxidantes poderosos que pueden proteger de la oxidación a las grasas
poliinsaturadas de la linaza. De hecho, la acción antioxidante del
secoisolariciresinol y el enterodiol es más fuerte que la de la vitamina E

El ácido alfa-linolénico (AAL) puede resistir las temperaturas del
horneado. Un estudio comprobó que el calentamiento de linaza entera y
linaza molida a 100°C ó 350°C por 60 minutos tenía un efecto muy bajo
en la composición de sus ácidos grasos ó su oxidación.

25 gramos (equivalente a dos cucharadas) de linaza molida

 las semillas enteras de linaza deben ser masticadas repetidamente
para remover la cubierta de la semilla y asegurar la digestión de los
nutrientes que radican en su interior.

 un adulto puede alcanzar el consumo adecuado de AAL comiendo
alrededor de 1 cuchda. de linaza molida al día.

El consumo de cantidades moderadas de linaza (por ej. 1 a 2
cuchdas.) diariamente, no debe representar riesgo alguno a la salud de
los Norteamericanos que tienen un consumo adecuado de proteínas y
yodo.

 la linaza contiene algunos compuestos que influencian la
absorción de los nutrientes en el cuerpo ó cuyos beneficios para la
salud se encuentran actualmente bajo estudio. Este capítulo describe el
papel de estos compuestos en la nutrición humana y algunas reacciones
alérgicas a la linaza.

Glucósidos Cianógenos
Los glucósidos cianógenos son un grupo de substancias naturales que
se encuentran en las plantas que liberan cianuro, un compuesto que es
venenoso cuando es degradado por las enzimas ó ácidos orgánico
Por otra parte, el consumo de productos horneados con linaza parece
tener un efecto mínimo en los niveles de tiocinatos urinarios.

El lino como fuente de Omega 3 y su consumo adecuado


Como ya se sabe las semillas y el aceite de lino es una buena fuente de acidos grasos omega 3 (linolenico). Las semillas de lino contienen algunos compuestos que no son saludables si no se consumen con cuidado. En el sitio Flax Council of Canada hay muy buena informacion de la que extractamos lo siguiente:


 Linaza - Una Recopilacion sobre sus Efectos en la Salud y Nutricion
     por Diane H. Morris, PhD, RD


Las semillas enteras de linaza pueden ser almacenadas a temperatura
ambiente por al menos un año. Por otro lado, la linaza molida puede
ser almacenada a temperatura ambiente por al menos cuatro meses

 El almacenaje de la linaza entera ó molida en el
refrigerador ó congelador, prolonga su frescura.

 la linaza molida es estable
cuando se almacena a temperatura ambiente y se mantiene fresca por varios
meses, debido principalmente a su contenido de lignanos. Los lignanos son
antioxidantes poderosos que pueden proteger de la oxidación a las grasas
poliinsaturadas de la linaza. De hecho, la acción antioxidante del
secoisolariciresinol y el enterodiol es más fuerte que la de la vitamina E

El ácido alfa-linolénico (AAL) puede resistir las temperaturas del
horneado. Un estudio comprobó que el calentamiento de linaza entera y
linaza molida a 100°C ó 350°C por 60 minutos tenía un efecto muy bajo
en la composición de sus ácidos grasos ó su oxidación.

25 gramos (equivalente a dos cucharadas) de linaza molida

 las semillas enteras de linaza deben ser masticadas repetidamente
para remover la cubierta de la semilla y asegurar la digestión de los
nutrientes que radican en su interior.

 un adulto puede alcanzar el consumo adecuado de AAL comiendo
alrededor de 1 cuchda. de linaza molida al día.

El consumo de cantidades moderadas de linaza (por ej. 1 a 2
cuchdas.) diariamente, no debe representar riesgo alguno a la salud de
los Norteamericanos que tienen un consumo adecuado de proteínas y
yodo.

 la linaza contiene algunos compuestos que influencian la
absorción de los nutrientes en el cuerpo ó cuyos beneficios para la
salud se encuentran actualmente bajo estudio. Este capítulo describe el
papel de estos compuestos en la nutrición humana y algunas reacciones
alérgicas a la linaza.

Glucósidos Cianógenos
Los glucósidos cianógenos son un grupo de substancias naturales que
se encuentran en las plantas que liberan cianuro, un compuesto que es
venenoso cuando es degradado por las enzimas ó ácidos orgánico
Por otra parte, el consumo de productos horneados con linaza parece
tener un efecto mínimo en los niveles de tiocinatos urinarios.

jueves, octubre 06, 2005

Mecanismos de la arterioesclerosis


Una nota en www.lef.org explicativa de los mecanismos de la arterioesclerosis, a pesar de que al final promueve ciertos productos comerciales.

Why Our Arteries Become Clogged As We Age
By John Colman

Preserving and Restoring Brain Function


Preserving and Restoring Brain Function
By Dale Kiefer

Una nota en www.lef.org

Recomiendan:

GPC Benefits Brain Health
Glycerophosphocholine, or GPC (formerly called L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, or choline alfocerate)

Ashwagandha and the Brain
Ashwagandha is a medicinal plant used in India to treat a wide range of age-related disorders.53-63 Its most remarkable effect may involve its ability to preserve the health of the aging brain.

Phosphatidylserine Maintains Brain Cell Membranes
Phosphatidylserine, a natural and integral component of every cell membrane, is a powerful weapon in the fight against brain aging.

Grape Seed Counters Brain Cell Aging
Wine has always been popular, but its health benefits are now the subject of intense scientific scrutiny. Wine is an excellent source of beneficial polyphenol compounds. For those unwilling or unable to imbibe regularly, the remarkable benefits of grape polyphenols are available through grape seed extracts.

Vinpocetine Enhances Brain Circulation
Vinpocetine is a semi-synthetic derivative of the periwinkle (Vinca minor) plant. Developed more than three decades ago, vinpocetine has been hailed as an important neuroprotective agent with several key mechanisms of action.

Pregnenolone Promotes Nerve Growth
Pregnenolone is a powerful natural hormone that is synthesized directly from cholesterol in the mitochondria, the "power plants" contained in all human cells. Pregnenolone for supplemental use is derived from a compound that occurs naturally in wild yams.

Ginger and Rosemary: Natural Anti-inflammatories
The next time you need relief from pain or inflammation, consider heading for the spice rack rather than the medicine cabinet. Some of nature´s most potent anti-inflammatories are found in ginger and rosemary.

miércoles, septiembre 28, 2005

Proponen que hubo un cerebro primigenio comun


Mother of All Brains Probed

By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

­ All brains originated from a single common ancestral brain that emerged
at least 700 million years ago, according to a recent analysis of brain
studies from the past decade.

The finding suggests this mother brain for all creatures with a central
nervous system ­ such as insects, birds, animals and humans ­ evolved only
once before each species underwent its own evolutionary course.

"What we see today in humans, insects and all other multicellular animals
with a central nervous system are probably just variations of one ancient
scheme," said Rudi Loesel, who conducted the analysis.

Loesel, a scientist in the Department of Developmental Biology and
Morphology of Animals at RWTH Aachen University in Germany, added, "What
this ancestral brain looked like, we do not know. Its architecture might
have been very simple, but the basic genetic mechanisms and the principal
chemical setup was already there (before 700 million years ago)."

The researchers don't know what the creature that contained the mother of
all brains looked like. Some scientists speculate that it could have been a
segmented flatworm, while others think it was a more complex creature.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20050926/brain.html

domingo, septiembre 25, 2005

Proporcion entre vitaminas C y E

Also of great importance as an antioxidant is vitamin E, which ideally should be taken along with vitamin C in a ratio of roughly 1 part E for every 3 1/2 parts C. In long-lived wildlife, the ratios of these two antioxidants are typically found to be between 1:4 and 1:6. However, most animals have very low body fat—roughly 2–4%, which is far lower than that of humans. Hence the recommended ratio of 1:3 1/2. (It’s interesting to note that vitamin E and ascorbyl palmitate together constitute a good system for protecting foods from oxidation.)

life-enhancement.com

viernes, septiembre 23, 2005

Polemico: afirma que el stress no incrementa la necesidad de vitaminas

drmirkin.com:

September 18, 2005
Stress Does Not Increase Need for Vitamins

Several years ago a major drug company claimed that its vitamin pills helped to relieve stress from the "complications of everyday life" and gave their products names such as "StressTabs." The New York Attorney General forced them to stop their deceptive advertising, but many people still remember and believe this claim. There is no evidence that stress increases your needs for vitamins or that taking vitamins will help you handle stress. When you eat vitamins in pills or in your food, they go into your bloodstream and then into cells. They function by combining with other chemicals in cells called apoenzymes, to form complete enzymes that cause reactions to proceed in your body. All chemical reactions in your body require enzymes to make them go, and that is why vitamins are essential. For example, all of the B vitamins form enzymes that convert food to energy. But since enzymes only start chemical reactions and are not used up by them, they can be used over and over again and only minuscule amounts are needed from your diet.

In the 1930's, Hans Selye of McGill University in Montreal reported that the adrenal glands contain the highest concentration in the body of vitamin C. The adrenal glands make cortisol from vitamin C. When a person is under stress, the adrenal glands make tremendous amounts of cortisol and the concentration of vitamin C in them drops. However, scientists have known for more than forty years that the levels of vitamin C in the adrenal glands are still high enough to continue to produce cortisol and that giving extra vitamin C will not increase production of cortisol. So the myth that vitamins treat stress is based on a misinterpretation of one study on one vitamin, and that research did not show that taking extra vitamins prevents stress."

Several years ago a major drug company claimed that its vitamin pills helped to relieve stress from the 'complications of everyday life' and gave their products names such as 'StressTabs.' The New York Attorney General forced them to stop their deceptive advertising, but many people still remember and believe this claim. There is no evidence that stress increases your needs for vitamins or that taking vitamins will help you handle stress. When you eat vitamins in pills or in your food, they go into your bloodstream and then into cells. They function by combining with other chemicals in cells called apoenzymes, to form complete enzymes that cause reactions to proceed in your body. All chemical reactions in your body require enzymes to make them go, and that is why vitamins are essential. For example, all of the B vitamins form enzymes that convert food to energy. But since enzymes only start chemical reactions and are not used up by them, they can be used over and over again and only minuscule amounts are needed from your diet.

In the 1930's, Hans Selye of McGill University in Montreal reported that the adrenal glands contain the highest concentration in the body of vitamin C. The adrenal glands make cortisol from vitamin C. When a person is under stress, the adrenal glands make tremendous amounts of cortisol and the concentration of vitamin C in them drops. However, scientists have known for more than forty years that the levels of vitamin C in the adrenal glands are still high enough to continue to produce cortisol and that giving extra vitamin C will not increase production of cortisol. So the myth that vitamins treat stress is based on a misinterpretation of one study on one vitamin, and that research did not show that taking extra vitamins prevents stress."

Articulo en SciAm Mind sobre los nootropicos y sobre la conciencia

smart drugs, consciousness

SciAm Mind: 'Smart drugs' and consciousness:
The new edition of [Scientific American Mind](http://www.sciammind.com/) has hit the shelves and two articles are freely available online: one on '[smart drugs](http://www.sciammind.com/article.cfm?articleID=0000E503-E27C-1329-A27C83414B7F0000)' and the other on the problem of [consciousness](http://www.sciammind.com/article.cfm?articleID=00019F6C-E9EC-1329-A41C83414B7F0000).

The article on 'smart drugs' or 'cognitive enhancers' is by neuroscientist [Michael Gazzaniga](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gazzaniga) - most renowned for his work on [split-brain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-brain) patients.

Gazzaniga examines the ethical implications of having a society cranked-up on pharmaceutical brain enhancers, and looks at the science behind some of the most recent developments in the field.

He makes one particularly interesting point in relation to the relatively developed field of memory enhancing drugs, which have the potential to make the important process of forgetting more difficult:
For a society that spends significant time and money trying to be liberated from past experiences and memories, the arrival of new memory enhancers has a certain irony. Why do people drink, smoke marijuana and engage in other activities that cause them to take leave of their senses? Why are psychiatry offices full of patients with unhappy memories they would like to lose? And why do victims of horrendous emotional events such as trauma, abuse or stressful relationships suffer from their vivid recollections? A pill that enhances memory may lead to a whole new set of disorders.

The article on consciousness is by [Christof Koch](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christof_Koch), who highlights recent research which has looked for the '[neural correlates](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_correlate_of_consciousness) of consciousness' - i.e. which parts of the brain are active when conscious experience is known to occur.

This is a common but controversial approach to understanding consciousness, and one that has been championed by Koch in his own work.

Additional articles that appear in the print edition only include a discussion of the developing mind of infants and what it could tell us about the differences between men and women, the psychology of child-parent interaction and how it is understood (or misunderstood) by the courts, plus an exploration of synaesthesia.


[Link](http://www.sciammind.com/) to Scientific American Mind.

—[Vaughan](http://tinyurl.com/6udmu).

En http://www.mindhacks.com/blog/2005/09/sciam_mind_smart_d.html

jueves, septiembre 22, 2005

Ejercicio y te verde contra el Alzheimer


Research Suggests Simple Behavior Changes Can Ward Off Alzheimer's
NewsMax.com
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005
<http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/21/173254.shtml>http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/21/173254.shtml

Exciting news in the battle against Alzheimer's disease appears in the current issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

Animal studies strongly suggest that simple changes in diet and behavior – namely, drinking tea and exercising daily - can slow or even halt the onset of the memory-robbing brain disease.

Después de tanto leer sobre este tema me parece que el ejercicio sigue siendo lo mejor y más importante.

domingo, septiembre 18, 2005

Contenido de Omega 3 y 6 de aceites, frutos secos y semillas

Omega-3, Omega-6 in Oils Nuts Seeds. Essential Fatty Acids

Buenas tablas.

Las nueces parecen mejores de los frutos secos:
Omega-3s (100g) (g) Omega-6s (100g) (g)
Walnuts 5.5 Walnuts 28

y de las semillas las de lino:

Omega-3s (100g) (g) Omega-6s (100g) (g)
Flax / Linseeds 15-25 Flax / Linseeds 6

Por lo tanto dado que son mucho más baratas y contienen más Omega 3 que 6, !a comer semillas de lino!.

El problema es que son duras y feas de gusto por lo que recomiendo molerlasun poco y mezclar con un poco de otras.

viernes, septiembre 16, 2005

Cuando estamos mas alertas?

When Are You Most Alert?: Corante > Brain Waves > : "When Are You Most Alert?
Posted by Zack

People reach their peak of alertness between 6pm and 7pm according to [Circadian Technologies](http://www.circadian.com/). From an evolutionary perspective, this time of day, early evening, was most likely spent securing the hearth for a safe night's sleep. Human alertness also rises at dawn or early morning. While a [CMO magazine](http://www.cmomagazine.com/) piece warns employers that trying to mess with this natural cycle won't get them very far, emerging neurotechnologies from companies like [Cortex Pharmaceuticals](http://www.cortexpharm.com/main.html) are making are making headway on improving alertness and attention.

Located in Irvine, California, Cortex is a neuroscience company focused on novel drug therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders. The company is pioneering a new class of proprietary pharmaceuticals called [AMPAKINE](http://www.cortexpharm.com/html/research/index.html) compounds, which act to increase the strength of signals at connections between brain cells. The loss of these connections is thought to be responsible for memory and behavior problems in [Alzheimer's disease](http://www.cortexpharm.com/html/research/index.html). Many psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, occur as a result of imbalances in the brain's neurotransmitter system. These imbalances may be improved by using the AMPAKINE technology.

A recently completed clinical study with AMPAKINE compounds in patients with schizophrenia indicated improvement in a number of symptoms also common to patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ('ADHD''). The US Department of Defense is also studying the use of these compounds to improve alertness in air force pilots and infantry."

martes, septiembre 13, 2005

Freud y su adiccion a la cocaina y al tabaco



No se puede minimizar inocentemente las profundas alteraciones asociativas, cognitivas y emocionales que la ingesta de una alta dosis permanente -como en el caso de Freud- puede provocar en una persona sensible a la sustancia adictiva. Más aun si está potenciada por el abuso de tabaco en enormes cigarros con los que el creador del psicoanálisis aparece en muchas fotos.

Todo esto abre una interesante perspectiva antropológica que une las plantas usadas por los chamanes incaicos desde tiempos inmemoriales y las técnicas y las construcciones teóricas del psicoanálisis, muchas de las cuales fueron, al menos, facilitadas por el uso frecuente que hizo Freud en los años liminares de la construcción del edificio teórico de la Psicología del inconsciente. ¿Cuánto le deben a la cocaína la técnica de la libre asociación y las Topologías del Aparato Psíquico?, ¿cómo ayudó a abrir las primeras puertas de exploración del Inconsciente esta sustancia que fue, y es usada aun hoy día, medicinalmente por los sabios indígenas que vivían en las zonas de Perú, Colombia, Bolivia y el Norte Argentino?

Sabido es que la coca (Erithroxylon coca) se dirige fundamental al lóbulo frontal e influye directamente sobre todo el sistema nervioso, la sensación de hambre, cansancio, fatiga (para eso la usaban también los chasquis incaicos), produciendo una extraña lucidez en la asociación de las ideas y afecta rápidamente al corazón, acelerando el latido cardiaco, facilitando el impulso nervioso que hace circular la sangre y llegando a producir muertes por paro cardio-respiratorio, justamente a partir de ese motivo. Desde épocas remotas y todavía en este siglo, las hojas de Coca son usadas en todos los rituales religiosos de la zonas mencionadas por los chamanes indígenas, quienes en verdad descubrieron sus usos medicinales de la planta de la cual se extrae, a través de un proceso verdaderamente alquímico, el poderoso “oro blanco”. Su uso no era sólo sacrificial y como ofrenda, ese es su aspecto degradado y menos importante que subsiste hoy en día. En verdad los sacerdotes y chamanes ingerían la sustancia, como cualquier antropólogo nos puede informar, para lograr estados de trance que les permitiera una comunicación más directa, una comunicación sin trabas con los Dioses y Demonios que regulaban sus creencias.

Polémica e interesante nota para leer en:
http://www.sexovida.com/psicologia/freud5.htm

domingo, septiembre 04, 2005

Crean nanoparticulas que, introducidas en la sangre, reparan las neuronas

Crean nanopart�culas que, introducidas en la sangre, reparan las neuronas: "Crean nanopart�culas que, introducidas en la sangre, reparan las neuronas
Cient�ficos norteramericanos y japoneses abren una nueva era en el tratamiento de las enfermedades neurol�gicas

La nanotecnolog�a ha dado un significativo paso en sus aplicaciones m�dicas despu�s de que un equipo nipo-norteamericano desarrollara nanotubos de platino, 100 veces m�s delgados que el cabello humano, que pueden introducirse en las venas y permitir a los m�dicos intervenir en el cerebro de una persona. Estos nanocaptores permitir�n asimismo un mayor conocimiento de las interacciones entre neuronas, as� como abrir�n el camino a nuevas terapias para el tratamiento de enfermedades neurol�gicas y tumores cerebrales. La nanotecnolog�a promete mejorar asimismo la detecci�n precoz del c�ncer y el suministro de medicamentos desde dentro del organismo. A m�s largo plazo, nanom�quinas pueden recorrer nuestro cuerpo limpiando las arterias, regulando los niveles de az�car, colesterol u hormonas o apoyando al sistema inmunol�gico. Incluso podr�a llegar a conseguir la inmortalidad si, como prev�n algunos expertos, se descubren nanodispositivos que puedan modificar la estructura gen�tica y celular del ser humano. Por Eduardo Mart�nez."

miércoles, agosto 31, 2005

Crean el primer test argentino de inteligencia para bebes

Crean el primer test argentino de inteligencia para beb�s: "SALUD : ESPECIALISTAS DEL CONICET

Crean el primer test argentino de inteligencia para beb�s

Eval�a la inteligencia global de chicos de entre 6 y 24 meses. Permite detectar en forma precoz retrasos o alteraciones cognoscitivas. Seg�n los especialistas, hay retrasos reversibles con la debida estimulaci�n."

martes, agosto 30, 2005

Mis recomendaciones para Blogday 2005

La propuesta de Blogday es comentar cinco weblogs nuevos.

No me parece muy original ni muy revolucionario, ni siquera útil, pero me voy a sumar, así que aquí van los míos, aunque algunos no son tan nuevos para mí sí creo que lo serán para ustedes, si es que alguien lee esto, cosa que dudo mucho.

No están en orden de ningún mérito ni nada.

Loxosceles
Beth es una chicha muy interesante, se dedica a la bioinformática y es muy adepta al soft libre. A su weblog lo nombró como a una especie de araña. Tiene una serie de links interesantes y el blog me gusta por diseño, porque lo hizo ella misma, etc. Me da la impresión de una persona inteligente y para los que no creen que las mujeres son racionales, pues acá tienen. Es curioso que el prejuicio masculino diga que las mujeres no tienen mentalidad científica o técnica siendo que hay tantas estudiantes de matemática. E fin larga la discusión, mejor disfrutar de su blog. La admiro en cierta forma. (USA)

Mixing Memory
Este sí es más nuevo y es un blog sobre ciencia cognitiva muy interesante y que incluso tiene un grupo de discusión en Yahoogroups sobre un libro que han elegido comentar. (USA).

neurodudes.com at the intersection of neuroscience and AI. Sobre neurociencias e inteligencia articifial. Buenos links a la derecha. (USA)

How to save the world Dave Pollard's environmental philosophy, creative works, business papers and essays. ¿Pretencioso el título eh?. Pero es muy bueno por los temas. (Canadá)

Cool tools por Kevin Kelly. Cool tools really work. A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. Es uno de una serie de blogs que han salido que tienen recomendaciones de productos que realmente sirven, son ecológicos e interesantes. Puse este porque es uno de los que no parece sólo un pretexto para publicidad. (USA)

Si tuviera tiempo y recursos hubiera sido lindo hacer algo con Google maps y las localizaciones de estos weblogs.

Si quieren saber más sobre Blogday2005:
http://www.blogday.org



Consultar interacciones entre distintos medicamentos y otras sustancias

Check drug interactions

En drugdigest.org se pueden consultar las interacciones entre distintos medicamentos y otras sustancias.

Como aprender mas en el mismo tiempo

Curioso método para aprender más en el mismo tiempo. Para analizar.

Open Loops: A Secret They Should Have Taught You In School: How to Learn More with No Extra Effort : " The brain learns more at the start of the learning and the end of the learning (the beginning and end of the data set). Your teachers have known this for a long time. This is why the beginning and end of a class is the most important. At the beginning of the class, the teacher should spell out the learning goals of the period and provide some teacher input. An overview of the procedures to be followed are also usually taught at the beginning of the period. At the end of the period, the teacher sums everything up and hits the most important parts again. They do that because students remember what is taught at the beginning and end of the class much more accurately than what is taught in the middle of the period.

How can you exploit this? When you are learning something for your job, simply increase the number of starts and stops in your study time. That’s right, simply throw some breaks in the study period to break it up into more starts and stops. By tossing in two 10–minute breaks into one three-hour study period, you can now have three one-hour study periods, each separated by a 10–minute break. Instead of one start and one stop, you now have three starts and three stops. Although you have increased the time from three hours to three hours and twenty minutes, there is still only three hours of study time. The additional time are rest breaks. You have not studied any harder or longer, yet, the Primacy and Recency Effect guarantees that you will remember more of your learning.

To go fast…go slow."

domingo, agosto 28, 2005

Revalorizan y promocionan el cafe

Un estudio realizado en Estados Unidos revela que es bueno para evitar enfermedades como las cardiovasculares, el cáncer y diabetes

(EFE).- El café empieza a ser visto en Estados Unidos no sólo como la bebida ideal para mantenerse despierto sino como una fuente de salud, según reveló un estudio presentado ante la Sociedad de Química estadounidense.

"Los estadounidenses reciben más antioxidantes del café que de cualquier otra fuente dietética. No hay nada que se le acerque", señaló Joe Vinson, profesor de química de la Universidad de Scranton, en Pensilvania, a cargo del estudio.

Según Vinson, tanto la versión con cafeína como la descafeinada proporcionan un nivel más alto de antioxidantes que muchas frutas y verduras, y ello ha empujado a los estadounidenses a acudir al café en desmedro del té o de otras infusiones.

Es la homeopatia efectiva?

"Es la homeopatia efectiva?
La pregunta del millon, que durante años ha enfrentado a los adeptos de la medicina convencional y la alternativa, ya tiene una respuesta. O por lo menos asi lo afirma la prestigiosa revista cientifica Lancet.

De acuerdo con la publicacion, la homeopatia no es mas efectiva que las sustancias que carecen de accion terapeutica o placebos.

Lancet considera que el tiempo para los estudios sobre este tema ha terminado y que los doctores deberian ser honestos con los pacientes sobre "la falta de beneficios" de la homeopatia."

martes, agosto 23, 2005

New Blood Test Furthers Personalized Medicine

New Blood Test Furthers Personalized Medicine : "The Invader UGT1A1 Molecular Assay detects a genetic variation that determines how a particular body processes certain drugs. Doctors can use the results to help determine dosing information and whether a person might be subject to dangerous drug reactions, the agency said."

El Ginseng y el Guarana se potencian

grafico rendimiento guarana ginseng

Speed-of-memory test scores, showing improvements produced by ginseng, guarana, and their combination. Negative values indicate faster responses. Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. Improved cognitive performance in human volunteers following administration of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract: comparison and interaction with Panax ginseng. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2004;79:401-11.



Ver nota en life-enhancement.com

lunes, agosto 22, 2005

Medidas para mantener el alerta en el trabajo


El Reloj de la Aldea Global
Daniel P. Cardinali* y Antonio M. Battro

Desctacado de http://www.byd.com.ar/relojln.pdf

El alerta es el estado activado óptimo del sistema nervioso. Nos permite tomar
decisiones, prestar atención a nuestro medio ambiente y decidir qué hacer y qué
no hacer. El objetivo primario de la planificación de los turnos de trabajo es el
diseño de rutinas que tiendan a mantener el alerta continuo en los operadores.
Un instrumento idóneo para aumentar el alerta es el diseño de sistemas de
iluminación, temperatura, sonidos, convección de aire, etc., sobre bases
fisiológicas. Entre estos factores, el más efectivo es la luz. Medidas como atenuar
las luces por la noche en los lugares de trabajo nocturno son totalmente
contraproducentes para el rendimiento laboral: lo que en realidad se debiera hacer
es aumentar la intensidad lumínica hasta niveles adecuados para cada caso y
tarea. Otras medidas para el mantenimiento del alerta comprenden rutinas de
actividad física predeterminadas y una dieta adecuada.

viernes, agosto 12, 2005

Aguante el mate!


No sé si será verdad, pero estos vendedores dicen que el mate tiene 196
componentes activos contra 144 del té verde.

"Yerba Maté contains 196 Active Compounds-vitamins, minerals, and amino
acids vs. 144 found in Green Tea from Asia."

guayaki.com

martes, agosto 09, 2005

Buying Nootropics and Smartdrugs in Latin America


For those that are planning to travel to a Spanish speaking latin american country here are some suggestions that can help find what you need.

I will give you same names in Spanish and the brand names we use in Argentina (most labs export, so names can be similar). To look for brand names and other drugs you can use an online vademecum like

http://www.prvademecum.com/

At the top it reads: "cambiar de país", select and then chose the country of your interest.

Some name equivalents for most commons nootropics:

English         Spanish         (brand names in Argentina)

ALC             l acetil carnitina (Neuroactil)
aniracetam      aniracetam      (Pergamid)
CDP choline     citidincolina   (Reagin)
centrophenoxine centrofenoxina (not available)
co Q10  coenzima Co Q10
deprenyl        deprenyl, selegilina    (Jumex, Kinabide)
desmopressin    desmopresina
hydergine       hydergina       (Hydergina)
Idebenone       idebenona       (Idesole,Esanic, Geniceral, Nemocebral, Lucebanol, Sicoplus)
lipoic acid     ácido lipoico/ácido tióctico?   (Biletan)
phosphatidylserine fosfatidilserina (Bros)
piracetam       piracetam       (not available)
pyritinol       piritinol               (Epocan)
soy lecithin    lecitina de soja        (at health shops, dietéticas)
vinpocetine     vinpocetina     (Kavinton)

Most of this products you will not find in a supplement/vitamin stores here (except lecithin, CoQ10, Ginkgo Biloba) but you can buy them over the counter although they are prescription in some countries.

Ask for the products at a Farmacia (drugstore). If they do not have the brand names or generic ask if they make "recetas magistrales" (compounds) or if they know of any farmacia that make them. Most farmacias that make compounds have sign. Sometimes some products that are not available as brand names are available for compounding pharmacies (e.g. there is not a lab that commercialize centrophenoxine here but I have seen the product listed in a compounding pharmacy, same with piracetam).

Here some compounding pharmacies will ask you for a prescription. Sometimes it depends on the dose of the product. High doses can cause more problem to obtain, chose lower doses and more capsules as an alternative. If they ask you for a prescription explain that in your country it is OTC and you forgot it at home (having the brochure could help or print from a website) . Most probably the first time they will make it to you and if you want a refill they will ask for a prescription, but it depends on the product. I am not promoting the irresponsible use of pharmaceuticals and I assume you have already consulted with your doctor and you are not taking any medicine just to experiment.

There are some idiosyncrasies that will surprise you here. DMAE and piracetam, when they were available required special prescriptions like for psychotropic (maybe because they can potentiate other drugs). So avoid problems, get informed and explain to the pharmacist.

Storing medicine safely

Storing medicine safely: "Storing medicine safely
Alternative Names:
Medicine storage

Information:

Many people store their medications in the bathroom. But this popular spot is actually one of the worst places to keep medicine. Bathroom cabinets tend to be warm and humid, an environment that accelerates a drug's decomposition. Instead, keep medicines in a cool, dry place away from the bathroom and out of a child's reach.

This is especially true for tablets and capsules. Unnecessary exposure to heat and moisture can cause them to lose their potency prior to their labeled expiration date. For example, a warm, muggy environment can cause aspirin tablets to break down into acetic acid (vinegar) and salicyclic acid, both of which are potential stomach irritants.

If you must keep them in the bathroom, always keep the containers tightly closed. Never repackage them.

If medicines are to be stored in a kitchen, store them away from the stove, sink, and any heat-releasing appliances.

In rare cases, an improperly stored medication can actually become toxic. To prevent danger, follow these tips:
Store drugs out of harm's way. Always keep them out of the reach of children.
Don't leave the cotton plug in a medication vial. Doing so can draw moisture into the container.
Check the expiration date each time you take a drug. Discard and replace any medications that are out of date.
Never use a medication that has changed color, consistency, or odor, regardless of the expiration date. Throw away capsules or tablets that stick together, are harder or softer than normal, or cracked or chipped.
Ask your pharmacist about any specific storage instructions.

TRAVEL TIPS

Travelers need to follow additional tips for safe storage of their medications:
Before leaving home, list all your medications, as well as the name and number of your pharmacist and physician.
To prevent your medicine from making a detour while on vacation, keep your medicine in a carry-on bag rather than a checked suitcase.
Bring an extra supply with you in case your return is delayed.
Never leave medicines in an automobile, where heat can rapidly destroy the drug.
Watch time changes. Set a separate watch to your usual time so you can remember when to take any medication.

More information on travel tips and safe storage of medicines is available through the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists at www.safemedication.com."

lunes, agosto 08, 2005

El ejercicio es un potenciador cerebral

Fragmentos de : Exercise gives your brain a boost, too

Exercise, however, has emerged as a low-tech cognitive enhancement method. The news is filled with reports that Alzheimer's disease and other memory problems are less common among people who exercise regularly. Exercise also boosts brainpower in younger people.

The "hows" and "whys" lie in the results of landmark medical studies done in the late 1990s by a research team headed by Fred H. Gage of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif.

Until then, conventional wisdom said that people are born with a life supply of brain cells and never grow new ones. The brain does get bigger, growing from about 12 ounces at birth to three pounds in the average adult. But scientists said that's mainly because brain cells themselves get bigger, just like muscle cells.

That traditional idea seemed a little bleak. It suggested that not only are people born with all the brain cells they will ever have, but lose cells during life. Brain cells start dying off around age 20, when people begin loose about 50,000 brain cells every day. By age 70 to 75, people have lost about 10 percent of their brain cells.

Often lost in the numbers, however, was the fact that remaining nerve cells do grow interconnections with other cells that help make up for the loss.

The old idea headed for science's junk pile when the Salk Institute team found that laboratory mice do grow new brain cells, hinting that the same was true for humans and other animals. In 1998, Mr. Gage's team found clear evidence that new brain cells do grow in humans. New cells grew in a brain region called the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory.

Studies with laboratory mice showed that mice kept in a stimulating environment - with toys, exercise apparatus, and chances to interact with other mice - grew more new brain cells than mice raised in regular cages. They also did better on learning and memory tests that involved navigating mazes.

Exercise turned out to be a key factor. Mice that got regular voluntary exercise on running wheels grew twice as many new brain cells as those in cages without any exercise device.

Other studies have found that even gentle, low-intensity exercise - like the stretching of yoga - can improve mental performance.

Michael Woods is the Blade's science editor. His health columns appear each Monday and his columns on computers and technology appear each Saturday.    
» Read more Michael Woods columns at www.toledoblade.com/woods

toledoblade.com

Reparar efectos cerebrales de la esclerosis multiple


OHSU researchers discover potential mechanism to repair brain damage linked
to MS

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon Health & Science University researchers have
identified some of the key factors that prevent the repair of brain damage
caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), complications of premature birth, and
other diseases and conditions. The findings offer important clues about why
the nervous system fails to repair itself and suggest ways that at least
some forms of brain damage could be reversed. The research is published in
the August edition of the scientific journal Nature Medicine.

"For many years, scientists have understood that damage to the
insulation-like sheath surrounding nerve cells in the brain, called myelin,
is part of the disease process for MS and other brain disorders," said
Larry Sherman, Ph.D., an associate scientist in the Division of
Neuroscience at the Oregon National Primate Research Center and an adjunct
associate professor of cell and developmental biology in the OHSU School of
Medicine. "In recent years, it became clear that there were cells at the
sites of this damage that should have the capacity to repair the brain and
spinal cord but they fail to do so. Our studies have revealed that there is
a particular signal in the damaged brain that prevents these cells from
restoring lost myelin
. We're hopeful that we can develop methods to
counteract this process in animal models in our search for human treatments."

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-08/ohs-ord080505.php

sábado, agosto 06, 2005

Los peces regeneran sus nervios


A Fishy Recipe for Healing Nerves

Unlike people, fish can regrow damaged nerve fibers in their central
nervous systems
. Now a study may have found the reason: The creatures lack
a protein called Nogo-A that prevents nerve regeneration in mammals.

Axons, or nerve fibers, are the transmission lines that conduct electrical
signals throughout the body. The fibers are protected by sheaths of myelin,
a fatty insulator that speeds the electrical impulses along. Damaged axons
in the brain and spinal cord of mammals don't regenerate, and spinal cord
injuries can therefore lead to permanent paralysis. Fish are luckier: They
can regrow the axons in their central nervous system, but curiously this
regeneration stops if their nerve endings come into contact with mammalian
myelin.

Because a protein in mammalian myelin called Nogo-A is known to inhibit
central nervous system axon growth in mammals
, a team of researchers led by
biologist Claudia Stürmer at the University of Konstanz in Germany wondered
if fish might be missing this protein. When the researchers exposed
goldfish axons to rat Nogo-A, the nerves stopped growing. Furthermore, a
comparison of genomes between ten species of fish, including zebrafish and
pufferfish, and humans revealed that fish lack the genetic information to
make Nogo-A or a similar inhibitor. The team reports its findings in the
August issue of Molecular Biology and Evolution.

The paper's careful study of fish phylogeny supports an existing notion
that Nogo-A may be a recent evolutionary development that correlates with
more complex nervous systems and more complex functions, says Stephen
Strittmatter, a neurologist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
"It's an important addition to our growing understanding of the role these
inhibitors play," he says.

--CAROLYN GRAMLING

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2005/805/1

jueves, agosto 04, 2005

Students turn to drugs during finals - Globe Link - Campus

Students turn to drugs during finals - Globe Link - Campus: "According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, the number one 'easy out' is pain relievers, followed closely by anxiety and sleep medications, and stimulants. College students most often use Adderall, '[a] fast-acting mixture of amphetamines...one of a handful of stimulants prescribed for ADHD,' said the Wall Street Journal in a recent report.

Ritalin, 'a stimulant approved by the Food and Drug administration in 1955 [and] frequently prescribed for children,' takes a close second. Most pills that are taken during final exams are rarely prescribed-rather they are taken from someone else's medicine cabinet.

According to the TriState Observer, various 'surveys and interviews of students point to increasing use of amphetamines and other prescription stimulants to help them keep awake and focused on their goal of higher grades.' And more and more college students are learning about it.

Though some would say that a student who uses drugs simply to get through a difficult exam could hardly be classified with someone who uses on a regular basis, the results are often the same: heart or brain damage-even death.

Students who take the drugs never plan on making the choice a habit-it may simply be a way to work less for greater results. Some students have even opted for the 'smart drug' choice using Nootropics such as Ginkgo biloba, Dmae and Choline for 'increased alertness, energy, short and long term memory capacity, concentration levels, and work performance,' said Smartbomb.com, a nutrition emporium online."

martes, agosto 02, 2005

Sustancias similares a las anfetaminas en las especias?


Prague Med Rep. 2005;106(1):27-38.

Christmas gingerbread (Lebkuchen) and Christmas cheer--review of the
potential role of mood elevating amphetamine-like compounds formed in vivo
and in furno.

Idle JR.

Institute of Pharmacology of the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles
University, Prague, Czech Republic. jidle_lf1.cuni.cz

The typical spices used in winter include nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and
anise. These spices contain two groups of chemicals, the allylbenzenes and
their isomers, the propenylbenzenes. It was suggested 40 years ago by
Alexander Shulgin that these substances act as metabolic precursors of
amphetamines. The biotransformation of these precursors to
nitrogen-containing metabolites is reviewed. These reactions have not been
reported in humans. Whether or not the pharmacology and toxicology of
spices such as nutmeg can be explained on the basis of their allylbenzene
or propenylbenzene content is speculative. Humans may be exposed to
amphetamines derived from these precursors in forno, the formation during
baking and cooking, for example in the preparation of Lebkuchen, or
Christmas gingerbread. It is possible that this may be responsible, in
part, for uplifting our mood in winter. However, the role of these aromatic
substances, acting simply as odours, evoking old memories of winters past,
cannot be ignored. Whether spices have a true pharmacological effect or
they act as aromatherapy remains to be elucidated through clinical and
laboratory studies

sábado, julio 23, 2005

Entrevista con Ivan Izquierdo sobre la memoria

Entrevista com Ivan Izquierdo: "A MEMORIA

Entrevista com Ivan Izquierdo

por
Ignacio Brusco, MD; Diego Golombek, PhD e Sergio Strejilevich, MD


Atualmente vivendo em Porto Alegre, o argentino Ivan Izquierdo �um dos maiores pesquisadores do mundo na �rea de fisiologia da mem�ria e seus artigos e livros j�s�o parte imprescind�vel das bibliograf�as b�sicas dos trabalhos dedicados ao tema. Este atrativo personagem converteu o nosso encontro em um momento adequadamente estimulante, desses que deixam mem�rias !

Nesta entrevista, concedida com exclusividade para RAN, e reproduzida em 'C�rebro & Mente', o Prof. Izquierdo responde a quest�es palpitantes sobre a neurobiologia da mem�ria, tais como:
O que �a mem�ria e seus circuitos neurais
O impacto da pesquisa b�sica no conceito da mem�ria
A mem�ria guarda fatos ou emo�es ?
Estresse e mem�ria
Como as mem�rias se apagam ?
O papel das endorfinas no esquecimento
Mem�ria: digital ou anal�gica ?
Proteinas celulares e a forma�o da mem�ria
A potencia�o sin�ptica na mem�ria
Homocentrismo e nosso conceito de mem�ria
Os mecanismos gen�ticos e individuais"

miércoles, julio 20, 2005

Interesante nota sobre investigacion cerebral de Revista Nueva

Repruduzco una nota de la Revista Nueva del 17/07/05 por si desaparece. La revista se distribuye con diarios del interior.



Lo
ultimo a la cabeza



Marcapasos cerebral, implante
de chips, estimulacion de neuronas,
resonancia magnetica que registra la actividad cerebral
cuando dormimos, comemos o hacemos
el amor.

No son predicciones.

El futuro es hoy. Destacados
especialistas del pais y del mundo revelan
como la ciencia y la tecnologia se
ponen actualmente al servicio del paciente.


No
son pocos los adelantos científicos vinculados
al estudio del cerebro. Las revistas especializadas
abundan en artículos que hablan de la implementación
de tecnología para conocer cómo funciona
nuestra cabeza por dentro o novedosas terapias para
las patologías de siempre, entre una infinidad
de temas. A veces cuesta imaginar cómo funcionan.
Sin embargo, están más al alcance de
lo que pensamos y prometen cambiar nuestra vida para
siempre. Se aplican a estrategias de mercado, líneas
de belleza, prevención, diagnóstico
o tratamiento de enfermedades, y hasta al estudio
del comportamiento sexual.


Continuar...