Ageing spinal cord

J. N. Keller et al.. Decreased levels of proteaome activity and expression in aging spinal cord. Neuroscience 98 (2000) 149-156. 

Gupta SK, Dua A, Vohra BP (2003) Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) attenuates antioxidant defense in aged spinal cord and inhibits copper induced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modifications. Drug Metab Drug Interact 19 211-222... 

Tso and Lam suggested that astaxanthin could be useful for prevention and treatment of neuronal damage associated with age-related macular degeneration and may also be effective in treating ischemic reperfusion injury, Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson s disease, spinal cord injuries, and other types of central nervous system injuries. Astaxanthin was found to easily cross the blood-brain barrier and did not form crystals in the eye. 

Bilateral orchiectomy, or removal of the testes, rapidly reduces circulating androgens to castrate levels (andro-stenedione less than 50 ng/mL, 1.7 nmol/L).15 However, many patients are not surgical candidates owing to their advanced age, and other patients find this procedure psychologically unacceptable.15 Orchiectomy is the preferred initial treatment in patients with impending spinal cord compression or ureteral obstruction. 

Two types of OPIDN have been described in animals (Abou-Donia and Lapadula 1990). Type I is produced by compounds with a pentavalent phosphorus (like TOCP), and Type II is produced by compounds with a trivalent phosphorus. Characteristics used to differentiate between the types of OPIDN include species selectivity, age sensitivity, length of latent period, and morphology of neuropathologic lesions. Thus, at doses that did not produce death due to acetylcholinesterase inhibition, TOCP (a Type I compound) produced lesions in the spinal cord of rats without producing ataxia. In contrast, triphenyl phosphite (a Type II compound) produced delayed (1 week) ataxia in the rat and a distribution of spinal cord lesions distinct from those produced by TOCP (Abou-Donia and Lapadula 1990). 

Major surgery, age >40 years, and prior history of VTE Major surgery, age >40 years, and malignancy Major surgery, age >40 years, and hypercoagulable state Spinal cord injury or stroke with limb paralysis... 

People of any age who have any condition that may compromise respiratory function or increase the risk of aspiration (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, or epilepsy). 

Hematopoietic development of blood cells begins mainly in the spleen and liver of the fetus during early pregnancy. By the seventh month, however, the marrow of a fetus becomes the primary site of blood cell formation [1]. During childhood, the marrow of the central axial skeleton such as the pelvis, spinal cord, and ribs, and of the extremities, such as the wrist and ankle, provides the key site of hematopoiesis. Hematopoiesis at the periphery (also known as extramedullary hematopoiesis) slowly decreases with age. Chronic administration of hematopoietic growth factors can reverse this decline. Severe hemolytic anemia and hematopoietic malignancies can also reverse the process. 

Recently developed drugs, known as ampakines, have been clinically shown to enhance learning and memory skills. These "smart pills" are being developed as a possible treatment for narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder, and Alzheimer s disease. Once approved by the FDA, physicians can prescribe them for off-label uses, such as jet lag or age-related forgetfulness.These agents act primarily within the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and they do not cause the jitteriness commonly associated with caffeine or amphetamines. 

Drug Baclofen (Lioresal] Oral Dosage Adult 5 mg TID initially increase by 5 mg at 3-day intervals as required maximum recommended dosage is 80 mg/day. Children No specific pediatric dosage is listed the adult dose must be decreased according to the size and age of the child. Comments More effective in treating spasticity resulting from spinal cord lesions (versus cerebral lesions]. 

Gabapentin [Neurontin] Adult initially, 300 mg TID. Can be gradually increased up to 3600 mg/d based on desired response. Children (3-12 years of age] Initially, 10-15 mg/kg body weight in 3 divided dosages increase over 3 days until desired effect or a maximum of 50 mg/kg/d. Developed originally as an anticonvulsant may also be helpful as an adjunct to other drugs in treating spasticity associated with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. 

Procedure For Skin Preparations. A male hairless mouse, 8-12 weeks of age, was sacrificed by cervical cleavage of the spinal cord. A square section of the abdominal skin, 3 cm in each dimension, was excised from the animal with a surgical scissor. After the incision was made, the skin was lifted and the adhering fat and other visceral debris were removed carefully from the under surface. After the skin was mounted between half cells and clamped, excess skin was trimmed. 

Pernicious anemia is the megaloblastic anemia due specifically to vitamin B12 deficiency, in which there is also spinal cord degeneration and peripheral neuropathy. It is a disease of later life. Only about 10% of patients are under age 40 by the age of 60, about 1% of the population is affected, rising to 2% to 5% of people over age 65, as a result of atrophic gastritis and thus impaired absorption of vitamin B12 (Section 10.7.1). 

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