Compound formed during fermentation of beer, wine has potential to prevent organophosphate-triggered seizures from developing into epilepsy, revealed new research published in eNeuro.
Left untreated, organophosphate poisoning can lead to severe breathing and heart complications. It is also known to cause seizures. Some patients are resistant to treatment with the anti-anxiety drug diazepam, the first line of defense for such poisoning, and its effectiveness decreases the longer the seizure lasts.
Epilepsy
Fits or convulsions or Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, involuntary seizures and is described as a chronic neurological disorder
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‘Urethane found in trace amounts in alcoholic beverages acts as a potential therapeutic for preventing organophosphate-triggered seizures from developing into epilepsy.’
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Asheebo Rojas and colleagues compared the ability of two treatments -- diazepam and the anesthetic urethane (ethyl carbamate), commonly formed in trace amounts during fermentation of beer and wine from the reaction of urea and ethanol -- to interrupt seizures in rats exposed to the organophosphate diisopropyl fluorophosphate.
The researchers found urethane to be more effective than diazepam, suppressing seizures for multiple days and accelerating recovery of weight lost while protecting the rats from cell loss in the hippocampus. They did not observe any evidence of lung tumors in the urethane-treated animals seven months later, suggesting that the dose used in this study is not carcinogenic.
Source: Eurekalert
Source: Eurekalert
Quiz on Fits
Fits or Seizures could happen due to a number of reasons. Not all fits qualify to being labeled as epilepsy. Fits manifest in various forms. Test your knowledge on fits by taking this quiz.
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 15 Key Facts About EpilepsyEpilepsy is a non-communicable, chronic neurological condition that affects people of all ages. Here are some interesting facts about epilepsy. | Advertisement
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Children Exposed to Epilepsy Drug in the Womb Show Poorer School Test Results
Exposure to epileptic drug in the womb is linked to significantly poorer school test results in children.
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