Georgios Papazisis

Gabapentin and pregabalin in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a systematic review and a meta-analysis

What is known and Objectives:  Fibromyalgia (FBM) is a common chronic pain disorder affecting up to 2% of the general population. Current treatment options are mostly symptom‐based and limited both in efficacy and number. Two promising alternatives are gabapentin (GP) and pregabalin (PB). We aimed to estimate the efficacy and safety/tolerability of the two compounds in FBM through a systematic review and a meta‐analysis of relevant randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled (RCT) were performed.

Eating habits, health attitudes and obesity indices among medical students in northern Greece.

Medical students represent not only the final but also the most crucial opportunity for education in the field of healthy lifestyles and nutritional habits. Eating habits and obesity indices among medical students in southern Greece were described almost a decade ago. However, there is a lack of current, relevant data concerning students living in northern Greece. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the body mass index distribution and nutritional and health-related behavior among medical students in northern Greece. The participants, 187 males (21.5 ± 1.9 years) and 203 females (21.3 ± 2.2 years), filled out a self-report questionnaire. Height and weight measurements were obtained. Dietary practices of fast food consumption (more frequent for males) and regular consumption of fruits and vegetables (more frequent for females) were reported. Females seemed to adopt different practices than males when trying to lose weight and were significantly better informed about the nutrient value of the food consumed. Although the prevalence of overweight (males: 32.1%, females: 8.4%) and obesity (males: 5.9%, females: 1.5%) in the present sample is lower compared to previous data, it remains high according to what would be health promoting. The above findings suggest a need for further improvement in strategies promoting healthier nutrition habits.

PDE5 Inhibitors: In Vitro and In Vivo Pharmacological Profile

PDE5 inhibitors have been clearly established as first-line therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Three PDE5 inhibitors--sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis)--are currently approved by the FDA and the EMEA for use in ED, whereas sildenafil is also marketed under a different proprietary name (Revatio) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A forth PDE5 inhibitor, udenafil (Zydena), is currently marketed. In the present review the molecular basis and the mechanism of action of PDE5 inhibitors is discussed. In addition experimental and clinical data concerning their effects on different tissues, organs and systems is systematically reviewed and their possible beneficial action in numerous disorders is presented.

Nandrolone abuse decreases anxiety and impairs memory in rats via central androgenic receptors

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) affect areas of the central nervous system, which are involved in emotional and cognitive responses such as sexuality, anxiety, and memory. In the present study we imitated the abuse of AASs by administering high doses of the AAS nandrolone decanoate (ND) to rats. Thereafter rats were exposed to an elevated plus-maze and an olfactory social memory test to evaluate their anxiety-like and cognitive behaviour. To reveal whether these emotional and cognitive changes evoked by ND were caused via direct activation of androgenic receptors (ARs) in the brain, the AR antagonist flutamide (FL) was administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). Male rats were randomly divided in four groups, one group received 15 mg/kg ND subcutaneously, once daily for 6 wk (ND group). In the second group, in addition to ND, a daily dose of 5 microg FL was injected i.c.v. also for 6 wk (ND+FL group). The third group of rats received only FL and in the control group the vehicle was injected. The ND group clearly spent more time investigating the open arms in the maze test and recognizing the juvenile during the olfactory social memory test in comparison to the control group. In the ND+FL group rats showed similar emotional behaviour and cognitive ability to that of the control group. Injection of FL alone did not affect either anxiety or memory. These results indicate that repeated, high-dose administration of ND decreases anxiety and impairs memory in rats via direct activation of central ARs.

Comorbidity of obsessive-compulsive disorder with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: Does it imply a specific subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

The present study examined whether the comorbidity of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) constitute a specific subtype of OCD. The study sample consisted of 146 consecutive outpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of OCD. Diagnoses were established using MINI, IPDE, YBOCS and YBOCS-SC. OCD patients with comorbid OCPD were compared with OCD patients without OCPD on various sociodemographic and clinical variables. Almost one third of the OCD subjects met criteria for comorbid OCPD. OCD+OCPD patients had a significantly earlier age at onset of initial OC symptoms, earlier age at onset of OCD and more obsessions and compulsions than pure obsessions compared to the patients with OCDOCPD. OCD+OCPD patients also had a higher rate of comorbidity with avoidant personality disorder and showed more impairment in global functioning. There were not differences between the two sub-groups on severity of OCD symptoms and also on type of OCD onset. Our results indicate that the comorbidity of OCD with OCPD is associated with a number of specific clinical characteristics of OCD. These findings in conjunction with of current clinical, family and genetic studies provide some initial evidence that OCD comorbid with OCPD constitute a specific subtype of OCD.

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of green tea catechins in the treatment of external anogenital warts: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background  External anogenital warts (EGWs) are non‐malignant skin tumours caused by human papillomavirus. They are one of the fastest growing sexually transmitted diseases. Current treatments are unsatisfactory. Green tea sinecatechin Polyphenon E ointment is a botanical extract from green tea leaves exhibiting anti‐oxidant, anti‐viral and anti‐tumour properties.

Religious and spiritual beliefs, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression among nursing students.

Research of the role of religious belief and/or spirituality has been conducted on a wide range of health-related topics, across many disciplines, and in many countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between religious beliefs, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression in nursing students in Cyprus. One hundred and twenty-three nursing students were asked to complete a survey consisting of four self-report questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, The Royal Free Interview for Religious and Spiritual Beliefs, and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale). The lowest levels of depression were observed in the third and fourth study year. Normal self-esteem levels were found in the majority of the students (71.3%) and most of them perceived current stress at mild levels. No significant differences on the basis of sex were observed. The vast majority (98.2%) of the students stated a strong religious and/or a spiritual belief that was strongly positively correlated with increased self-esteem and negatively correlated with depression, current stress, and stress as personality trait.

Pregabalin's abuse potential: a mini review focusing on the pharmacological profile.

Pregabalin, an analogue of the gamma-aminobutyric acid mammalian neurotransmitter and its structurally related compound gabapentin are known as α2δ ligands. They might act as inhibitory modulators of neuronal excitability that reduce ectopic neuronal activation of hyperexcited neurons while normal activation remains unchanged. However, the interaction with Ca²⁺ channel α2δ subunit is not sufficient to account for the broad clinical spectrum of pregabalin effects including the abuse potential. Pregabalin is approved for the treatment of partial epilepsy; generalized anxiety disorder; peripheral and central neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. Its prescribing is rapidly increasing and total sales of the drug worldwide reached 4.6 billion US

Pregabalin abuse after past substance-seeking behavior.

in 2012. Since entering widespread clinical use, reports of pregabalin abuse appeared more often, usually involving individuals with a history of abuse of other medications. The purpose of this mini review is to present available published data signaling pregabalins abuse liability reflecting on the pharmacological characteristics that might enable this agent to trigger addictive behaviors.

Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse and mood disorder: a case report

Pregabalin is a prescription drug, structurally related to the neurotransmitter GABA. Following the rapidly increasing use of pregabalin, data signaling its abuse liability have been published recently. We report a case of a 19-year-old man with a history of cannabis and alcohol-seeking behavior that showed similar drug-seeking behavior with pregabalin. This report highlights the potential for abuse of pregabalin in patients with a history of substance-seeking behavior. Considering that the drug has recently been proposed as a treatment for alcohol- and benzodiazepine-dependence a better clarification of its abuse potential is essential.