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Jack · Guest

anonymous@nowhere.you.know wrote:
[quote]""This study shows that topically applied oil can be
absorbed in neonates and is probably available for
nutritional purposes.""

Sooo, it means we digest things through the skin? No
more eating, just rub it on and get all the nutrition you
need? When digested in the gut does oil remain the same
by the time it gets to the blood? Could undigested
substances like oil be toxic if introduced directly into
the blood?
[/quote]
To your last question the answer is yes. For example, you should never
handle nitroglycerin or dynamite with your bare hands, you>ll get a raging
headache.

CyberDroog · Guest

On Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:12:37 -0800 (PST), ironjustice
<teamtanner@hotmail.com> wrote:

[quote]Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a
[/quote]

One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only
vegetables. Romans 14:2

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of
conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord>s, and everything in it."
1 Corinthians 10:25-26

--
We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action
always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.

- Frank Tibolt

CyberDroog · Guest

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:36:09 -0800 (PST), ironjustice
<teamtanner@hotmail.com> wrote:

[quote]On Nov 18, 8:31 am, CyberDroog <CyberDr...@ClockworkOrange.com> wrote:
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats
only
vegetables. Romans 14:2
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of
conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord>s, and everything in it."
1 Corinthians 10:25-26
We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing.
Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates
action.
Frank Tibolt

Sounds kinda heavy .. but I have no clue what it .. means ..

Decipher it for me will ya ..

I am not sure how the mind of truly insane people thinks ..
[/quote]
I see, you are one of those Christians who don>t believe in the bible.

--
ARENA, n. In politics, an imaginary rat-pit in which the statesman
wrestles with his record.

- Ambrose Bierce

charles · Guest

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:01:43 -0800 (PST), "ironjustice@aol.com"
<ironjustice@aol.com> wrote:

[quote]On Nov 17, 7:46Â pm, ironjustice <teamtan...@hotmail.com> wrote:
One generation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deprivation
increases
depression and aggression test scores in rats

"5 weeks of a PUFA blend containing 70% alpha-linolenic acid"

PUFA induce antidepressant-like effects in parallel to structural and
molecular changes in the hippocampus.
Venna VR, Deplanque D, Allet C, Belarbi K, Hamdane M, Bordet R
Psychoneuroendocrinology 2008 Oct 8.

Epidemiological data suggest that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFA) consumption may be inversely correlated to the prevalence and
severity of depression but little is known about the underlying
mechanisms.
In this study, we experimentally investigated whether a chronic
supplementation with PUFA may induce antidepressant-like effects in
mice in parallel to brain structural and molecular changes.
Six weeks feeding with a PUFA-enriched diet induced behavioral
changes
in the Forced Swim Test (FST), the Tail Suspension Test and the
Novelty-Suppressed Feeding Test.
Moreover, more than 5 weeks supplementation with a PUFA blend
containing 70% alpha-linolenic acid induced antidepressant-like
effects in the FST with an increase in both swimming and climbing
behaviors.
The combination of a shorter duration of PUFA supplementation with a
low dose of imipramine also induced an additive effect in the FST.
Finally, PUFA supplementation was associated with an increase in the
hippocampal volume, an over-expression of both synaptophysin and
BDNF,
and a raise in the number of newborn cells.
Besides the possible modulation of brain plasticity, present results
highlight the effectiveness of PUFA given alone or in combination
with
antidepressant drug as potential treatment of depressive disorders.

Psychoneuroendocrinology [Psychoneuroendocrinology]

[/quote]

I* hope I can remember all this next time when I>m a rat.

Jack · Guest

ironjustice@aol.com wrote:
[quote]On Nov 18, 10:11 am, charles <ckr...@SPAMTRAP.west.net
wrote:I* hope I can remember all this next time when I>m
a rat.

I would be happy to understand how one mouse eating the
brain of another mouse TRAINED to use a maze allows it to
do THAT very maze at an accelerated rate as opposed to
the mice who didn>t eat mouse preconditioned brains.

I just may need to catch up on some of my math skills ..
[/quote]
That>s the weirdest thing I>ve ever heard someone say would make him happy.

[quote]

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk[/quote]

CyberDroog · Guest

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:48:44 -0800 (PST), "ironjustice@aol.com"
<ironjustice@aol.com> wrote:

[quote]On Nov 18, 8:45 am, CyberDroog <CyberDr...@ClockworkOrange.com> wrote:
I see, you are one of those Christians who don>t believe in the
bible.

I use the Bible ..
It is a matter of whether you take the Bible at face value.
Each and every word MEANING exactly what it says.
[/quote]
Yeah, just read it and let it mean whatever *you* want it to mean. Not much
point in even reading it then. Especially when you come away with such
ridiculous ideas as Jesus being a vegetarian when he quite clearly was not.

Or perhaps you consider fish to be vegetables...

--
In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder,
and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the
Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of
democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.

- Orson Wells, playing Harry Lime in the film The Third Man.

Taka · Guest

If you want to punish or sedate prisoners give them Omega-3s ... But
for normal people who want to live long lives without any degenerative
diseases a much safer solution would be to just reduce their Omega-6
intake.

Taka

On Nov 18, 12:46 pm, ironjustice <teamtan...@hotmail.com> wrote:
[quote]One generation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deprivation increases
depression and aggression test scores in rats
James C. DeMar, Jr.*, Kiazong Ma*, Jane M. Bell*, Miki Igarashi*,
Deanna Greenstein and Stanley I. Rapoport1,*

* Brain Physiology and Metabolism Section, National Institute on
Aging, and Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD, 20892
National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, MD 20892

Published, JLR Papers in Press, October 6, 2005.

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail:
s...@helix.nih.gov

Male rat pups at weaning (21 days of age) were subjected to a diet
deficient or adequate in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs)
for 15 weeks.
Performance on tests of locomotor activity, depression, and aggression
was measured in that order during the ensuing 3 weeks, after which
brain lipid composition was determined.
In the n-3 PUFA-deprived rats, compared with n-3 PUFA-adequate rats,
docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) in brain phospholipid was reduced by
36% and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6) was elevated by 90%, whereas
brain phospholipid concentrations were unchanged.
N-3 PUFA-deprived rats had a significantly increased (P = 0.03) score
on the Porsolt forced-swim test for depression, and increased blocking
time (P = 0.03) and blocking number (P = 0.04) scores (uncorrected for
multiple comparisons) on the isolation-induced resident-intruder test
for aggression.
Large effect sizes (d > 0.8) were found on the depression score and on
the blocking time score of the aggression test.
Scores on the open-field test for locomotor activity did not differ
significantly between groups, and had only small to medium effect
sizes.
This single-generational n-3 PUFA-deprived rat model, which
demonstrated significant changes in brain lipid composition and in
test scores for depression and aggression, may be useful for
elucidating the contribution of disturbed brain PUFA metabolism to
human depression, aggression, and bipolar disorder.

Supplementary key words docosahexaenoic • locomotor • rat • activity •
behavior • diet

----------------------

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reverses stress-induced
modifications on brain monoamine levels in mice.
* Unité de Nutrition et Régulation Lipidique des Fonctions Cérébrales,
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, domaine de Vilvert,
78352 Jouy-en-Josas cedex, France

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation
with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on stress responses in
mice subjected to an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)
procedure.
Stress-induced modifications in coat and aggressiveness were
evaluated, and phospholipid PUFA profiles and monoamine levels were
analyzed in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. The results
showed that repeated exposure to mild stressors induced degradation in
the physical state of the coat, lowered body weight gain, and
increased aggressiveness, without any effect of n-3 PUFA
supplementation.
The UCMS induced a significant decrease in the levels of
norepinephrine in the frontal cortex and striatum, and a
nonsignificant decrease in the hippocampus.
The tissue levels of serotonin (5-HT) were 40% to 65% decreased in the
three brain regions studied.
Interestingly, the n-3 PUFA supplementation reversed this stress-
induced reduction in 5-HT levels.
These findings showed that supplementation in n-3 long-chain PUFAs
might reverse certain effects of UCMS in cerebral structures involved
in stress-related behaviors.

Supplementary key words chronic mild stress • omega 3 •
docosahexaenoic acid
S. Vancassel*, S. Leman,, L. Hanonick**, S. Denis*, J. Roger,, M.
Nollet,, S. Bodard,, I. Kousignian,, C. Belzung, and S. Chalon1,,

* Unité de Nutrition et Régulation Lipidique des Fonctions Cérébrales,
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, domaine de Vilvert,
78352 Jouy-en-Josas cedex, France
EA 3248 Psychobiologie des Emotions, Faculté des Sciences &
Techniques, Université François Rabelais, Tours, F-37000, France
Institut Fédératif de Recherche 135, Tours, F-37000, France
** Endocrinologie et Maladies Métaboliques, CHU Henri Mondor, Créteil,
F-94000, France
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U619,
Tours, F-37000, France

Published, JLR Papers in Press, November 8, 2007.

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail:
sylvie.cha...@univ-tours.fr

Originally published In Press as doi:10.1194/jlr.M700328-JLR200 on
November 8, 2007

Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 49, 340-348, February 2008
Copyright © 2008 by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology
-------------------------

Prisoners given supplements in new trial
By Shane Starling

09-Sep-2008 - An Oxford University study being conducted in three UK
prisons is investigating the link between nutrition and behaviour.

It follows a 2002 UK trial that found consumption of food supplements
could reduce anti-social behaviour in teenagers as well as 30 years
inquiry into the subject by one of the lead researchers, professor
Alexander Schauss, PhD, FACN, senior director of natural and medicinal
products research at natural products consultancy, AIBMR Life
Sciences.

Schauss noted more than 20 controlled clinical trials carried out in
state and county juvenile and adult institutions confirmed that diet
could be used to reduce the incidence of antisocial behavior by up to
60 percent.

The new study, one of the largest ever conducted, is being funded by a
$2.6m (€1.83m) grant from the Wellcome Trust, the UK>s largest medical
research charity.

Behaviour modification

The study aims to find out if nutrient levels required for optimum
brain function are also responsible for behaviour modification.

Similar studies carried out in the US and Europe have determined the
link between nutrition and behaviour.

"Seeing the level of research on diet and crime reach this level of
financial support by the medical community is heartening,” said
Schauss.

“But it took over 30 years, even though the evidence was there back in
the 1970s."

The director of the Wellcome Trust stated: "If this study shows
nutritional supplementation affects behaviour, it could have profound
significance for nutrition guidelines not only within the criminal
justice system, but in the wider community, in schools, for example.
We are all used to nutritional guidelines for our physical health,
but this study could lead to revisions taking into account our mental
health, as well."

The researchers will investigate the affect of different food
supplements on behaviour compared to groups on placebo.

"It is my hope that we see better nutrition education and start with
pre-conceptual care programs that focus on nutrition and other
lifestyle factors and behaviors that can decrease the risk of
antisocial behavior," Schauss said.

Schauss is the author of a book called Diet, Crime and Delinquency,
written in 1978 and which posited the idea that diet and behaviour
were closely linked.

The study is being conducted in conjunction with the Institute of
Psychiatry at Imperial College, University of London, the University
of Surrey, the University of Liverpool and the Medical Research
Council on Human Nutrition Research.

The 2002 study gave essential fatty acid supplements to 18-21-year-old
prisoners and found antisocial behaviour was reduced by 37 per cent
compared to placebo.

---------------------------------

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKINGhttp://tinyurl.com/zk9fk[/quote]

ironjustice@aol.com · Guest

On Nov 18, 6:08 pm, Taka <taka0...@gmail.com> wrote:
If you want to punish or sedate prisoners give them Omega-3s <<

???

It looks to me the studies .. per depression .. per alleviation .. and
YOUR "sedation" .. may jibe .. then .. ?

You .. agree .. ?

You agree a person who manifests aberrent behavior CAN be
rehabilitated / "sedated" through simple dietary means / Omega-3 plant
oil .

You>re coming around ..

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

ironjustice@aol.com · Guest

On Nov 18, 1:47 pm, CyberDroog <CyberDr...@ClockworkOrange.com> wrote:
Plus! The answer to all physical illness: leaching. Yeah, that>s
never been
tried before. <<

I don>t really think it HAS been actually used as a treatment in a
very long time.

Doctors simply take people down into a state of what THEY consider to
be iron deficiency.
The ONLY ones it seems WILLING to take people down to those levels are
Japanese doctors with hepatitis C patients.
They aggressively lower their iron bi-weekly through phlebotomy for at
least six months and they also consume a low-iron diet.

Seeing medical professionals ceased to use bloodletting over a century
ago and the double blind method of scientific discovery has only JUST
been implemented / relatively .. then double blind studies of
bloodletting just don>t YET exist.

BUT .. 1000>s of years of bloodletting attest to its' effectiveness.

IF it didn>t work .. IE: placebo .. then WHY would it have endured for
so many thousands of years .. ?

WHY would your great great grandfather be HAPPY to see the bloodletter
Dr. Rush .. ?

WHY did George Washington have the best doctors on Earth and they were
bloodletters .. ?

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

[quote]
--
The interesting thing about staring down a gun barrel is how small the hole
is where the bullet comes out, yet what a big difference it would make in
your social schedule.

- P.J. O>Rourke[/quote]

CyberDroog · Guest

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:47:33 -0800 (PST), "ironjustice@aol.com"
<ironjustice@aol.com> wrote:

[quote]BUT .. if one goes to other teachings and other history books the
tendency towards vegetarianism is there ..

AND the **fact** that .. **I** .. said I found it.

My cred as to decipherment is batting 1000 when one considers the
treatment for all disease .. stats.

Sooo .. history and my detective work .. says vegetarian ..

That would be .. my .. humble .. opinion ..
[/quote]
And there you have it folks... the humble opinion of an internet loon who
has single-handedly deciphered the bible better than anyone.

Plus! The answer to all physical illness: leaching. Yeah, that>s never been
tried before.

--
The interesting thing about staring down a gun barrel is how small the hole
is where the bullet comes out, yet what a big difference it would make in
your social schedule.

- P.J. O>Rourke

ironjustice@aol.com · Guest

On Nov 18, 6:55 pm, "ironjust...@aol.com" <ironjust...@aol.com> wrote:
You agree a person who manifests aberrent behavior CAN be
rehabilitated / "sedated" through simple dietary means / Omega-3
plant
oil . <<

They seem to be attempting at least to use lipids in treatment.
THIS lipid is derived FROM the ALA .. or EPA comes from ALA ..
That 70% ALA diet mentioned earlier IE: "5 weeks of a PUFA blend
containing 70% alpha-linolenic acid"

Bleeding time and metabolic changes with EPA treatment
By Liam Davenport
05 November 2008
Psychiatry Res 2008; Advance online publication
MedWire News:
Psychiatric patients treated with the omega-3 fatty acid
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may have increases in bleeding time and
changes in body mass index (BMI) and lipid metabolism, warn South
African scientists.

While studies on the use of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, in
the treatment of psychiatric patients have largely focused on
efficacy, there has been little examination of their safety and
tolerability.

To investigate further, Robin Emsley, from the University of
Stellenbosch in Cape Town, and colleagues randomized 84 schizophrenia
patients to EPA 2 g/day or placebo in addition to their antipsychotic
medication for 12 weeks, with 47 patients entered into a 40-week open-
label extension phase of EPA 2 g/day.

A total of 74 patients were included in the final analysis, for which
the effects of EPA on BMI, glucose metabolism, lipid profiles,
prolactin secretion, bleeding time, haematology, and liver functions
were assessed.

EPA patients had an average age of 42.0 years and an average disease
duration of 16.0 years, versus 43.0 years and 16.8 years,
respectively, in the placebo group. The use of concomitant medications
was similar between the two groups.

Fourteen per cent of the EPA patients discontinued medication
prematurely, compared with 33% in the placebo group. Of those in the
open-label extension, 26% discontinued treatment, the team notes in
the journal Psychiatry Research. The occurrence of adverse events was
comparable.

During the blinded phase of the study, EPA patients had significant
increases in BMI and bleeding time, from an average of 24.6 kg/m2 to
25.1 kg/m2 and from 398 seconds to 469 seconds, respectively. Compared
with placebo-treated patients, the increase in bleeding time among
patients treated with EPA approached significance.

The was also a modest, but significant, increase in BMI during the
open-label EPA extension phase, from 24.5 kg/m2 to 25.2 kg/m2, and a
trend for increased fasting blood glucose, from 5.6 mmol/l to 5.9 mmol/
l. Both total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
decreased significantly during the open-label phase, from 5.3 mmol/l
to 5.0 mmol/l and from 1.4 mmol/l to 1.3 mmol/l, respectively.

The team concludes: “Clinicians should be aware of possible increases
in bleeding time, as well as changes in weight and lipid metabolism,
and regular monitoring of these variables would seem prudent.”
-------------------------

"5 weeks of a PUFA blend containing 70% alpha-linolenic acid"

PUFA induce antidepressant-like effects in parallel to structural and
molecular changes in the hippocampus.
Venna VR, Deplanque D, Allet C, Belarbi K, Hamdane M, Bordet R
Psychoneuroendocrinology 2008 Oct 8.

Epidemiological data suggest that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFA) consumption may be inversely correlated to the prevalence and
severity of depression but little is known about the underlying
mechanisms.
In this study, we experimentally investigated whether a chronic
supplementation with PUFA may induce antidepressant-like effects in
mice in parallel to brain structural and molecular changes.
Six weeks feeding with a PUFA-enriched diet induced behavioral
changes in the Forced Swim Test (FST), the Tail Suspension Test
and the Novelty-Suppressed Feeding Test.
Moreover, more than 5 weeks supplementation with a PUFA blend
containing 70% alpha-linolenic acid induced antidepressant-like
effects in the FST with an increase in both swimming and climbing
behaviors.
The combination of a shorter duration of PUFA supplementation with a
low dose of imipramine also induced an additive effect in the FST.
Finally, PUFA supplementation was associated with an increase in the
hippocampal volume, an over-expression of both synaptophysin and
BDNF, and a raise in the number of newborn cells.
Besides the possible modulation of brain plasticity, present results
highlight the effectiveness of PUFA given alone or in combination
with antidepressant drug as potential treatment of depressive
disorders.

Psychoneuroendocrinology [Psychoneuroendocrinology]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

[quote]
You>re coming around ..

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKINGhttp://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKINGhttp://tinyurl.com/zk9fk[/quote]

ironjustice@aol.com · Guest

On Nov 18, 9:37 pm, CyberDroog <CyberDr...@ClockworkOrange.com> wrote:
Good going. You>ve joined the "salt lady" in internet whackdom. <<

Seems like this drug Atropine is pretty popular.
It seems to act by UPPING the choline / acetylcholine in the brain.
The SAME acetylcholine raised by rice bran chaff grain
phosphatidylcholine alpha-linolenic acid containing .. **food** ..

"When the subjects ate lecithin serum choline levels rose by 265%"

"Striatal release of acetylcholine was stimulated by atropine
infusion"

http://www.drugs.com/ppa/atropine.html

Atropine
Pronouncation: (AT-troe-peen)
Class: Belladonna alkaloid, Cycloplegic mydriatic
Trade Names:
AtroPen

Indications and Usage
Administration prior to anesthesia to reduce or prevent secretions of
respiratory tract; to control rhinorrhea; treatment of parkinsonism;
restoration of cardiac rate and arterial pressure in some situations;
treatment of peptic ulcers; management of hypersecretion, irritation,
or inflammation of stomach, intestines, or pancreas; treatment of
diarrhea; relief of infant colic; management of spasms of bile tract;
treatment of hypertonicity of small intestine and uterus; management
of hypermotility of colon; prevention of spasm of pylorus, biliary
tree, ureters, and bronchi; treatment of frequent urination and bed-
wetting; therapy for certain bradycardias and heart blocks; treatment
of closed head injury with acetylcholine release; reduction of
laughing and crying associated with brain lesions; treatment of
alcohol withdrawal symptoms; relief of motion sickness. Antidote for
CV collapse in certain overdoses or poisonings (eg, organophosphorous
nerve agents having cholinesterase activity, organophosphorous or
carbamate insecticides, muscarinic symptoms of insecticide or nerve
agent poisonings). Short-term treatment and prevention of bronchospasm
associated with chronic bronchial asthma, bronchitis, and COPD.
---------------------------

Relations between dietary choline or lecithin intake, serum choline
levels, and various metabolic indices*1, , *2
Madelyn J. Hirschb, a, John H. Growdonb, a and Richard J. Wurtman, a,
b,
a Department of Endocrinology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, Mass., USA
b Department of Metabolism, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, Mass., USA
Received 18 November 1977. Available online 27 April 2004.

Abstract
Choline administration increases blood choline, brain choline, and
brain acetylcholine levels in rats.
It also increases blood choline levels in humans and appears to be a
useful treatment for some patients with tardive dyskinesia, a brain
disease probably associated with deficient cholinergic tone.
In order to characterize other possible metabolic and hormonal effects
of choline-containing compounds, we measured changes in serum choline,
glucose, insulin, cortisol, prolactin, cholesterol, and triglyceride
levels resulting from ingestion of low- or high-choline meals in 16
normal human subjects.
After the consumption of a single meal containing 3 g choline
chloride, serum choline rose by 86% (p < 0.01), attaining peak values
after 30 min.
When the same subjects ate a meal containing an equivalent amount of
choline in the form of lecithin, serum choline levels rose by 33%
after 30 min, and continued to rise for at least 12 hr, to 265% over
control values (p < 0.001).
Serum choline concentrations were related to the amount of choline in
the diet: they did not vary significantly during 24-hr periods when
the subjects consumed a low-choline diet for two consecutive days, but
rose substantially (p < 0.01) after each high-choline meal.
Serum glucose, insulin, cortisol, and prolactin levels were not
significantly modified by choline or lecithin ingestion. Lecithin
consumption increased serum triglyceride levels and lowered serum
cholesterol concentration.

doi:10.1016/0026-0495(78)90139-7

Copyright © 1978 Published by Elsevier Science (USA).

---------------------

"Lecithin may therefore be the method of choice for
accelerating acetylcholine synthesis"

Lancet. 1977 Jul 9;2(8028):68-9. Related Articles, Links

Lecithin consumption raises serum-free-choline levels.

Wurtman RJ, Hirsch MJ, Growdon JH.

Consumption of choline by rats sequentially increases serum-choline,
brain-choline, and brain-acetylcholine concentrations.
In man consumption of choline increases in levels in the serum and
cerebrospinal fluid; its administration is an effective way of
treating tardive dyskinesia.
We found that oral lecithin is considerably more
effective in raising human serum-choline levels than an equivalent
quantity of choline chloride. 30 minutes after ingestion of choline
chloride (2-3 g free base), serum-choline levels rose by 86% and
returned to normal values within 4 hours; 1 hour after lecithin
ingestion, these levels rose by 265% and remained significantly
raised for 12 hours.
Lecithin may therefore be the method of choice for
accelerating acetylcholine synthesis by increasing the availability
of choline, its precursor in the blood.

PMID: 69151
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effect of choline administration on the release of acetylcholine from
the striatum as determined by microdialysis in awake rats.
Author: Westerink, B H : de Boer, P
Citation: Neurosci-Lett. 1990 May 4; 112(2-3): 297-301
Abstract: The release of acetylcholine from the striatum was recorded
by an on-line microdialysis method during intraperitoneal
administration of high doses of choline (1 mmol/kg). The effect of
choline administration was also studied in rats in which the striatal
release of acetylcholine was stimulated by atropine infusion. The
results did not support the idea that the release of acetylcholine in
the striatum is under the control of precursor availability.
Review References: None
Notes: None
Language: English
Publication Type: Journal-Article
Keywords: Acetylcholine metabolism : Atropine pharmacology : Choline
pharmacology : Corpus Striatum metabolism
URL: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/neulet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

ironjustice@aol.com · Guest

On Nov 18, 10:07 pm, "ironjust...@aol.com" <ironjust...@aol.com>
wrote: Atropine is pretty popular. It seems to act by UPPING the
choline / acetylcholine in the brain.The SAME acetylcholine raised by
rice bran chaff grain
phosphatidylcholine alpha-linolenic acid containing .. **food** .. <<

Scopolamine is another popular drug much like atropine.

"Scopolamine modulates acetylcholine release"
"Rapid, robust antidepressant responses to scopolamine in currently
depressed patients who predominantly had poor prognoses,"

Peripherally injected scopolamine differentially modulates
acetylcholine release in vivo in the young and aged rats.
Scali C; Vannucchi M G; Pepeu G; Casamenti F
Neuroscience letters 1995;197(3):171-4.

Abstract
The effect of intraperitoneal administration of scopolamine (1 mg/kg)
on acetylcholine (ACh) release in vivo in 3- and 24-month-old freely
behaving rats was investigated in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and
striatum by means of transverse microdialysis.
In the parietal cortex, the increase in ACh release after scopolamine
administration was significantly greater in the old than in the young
rats, reaching a maximum increase of about 600 and 300% in the old and
young animals, respectively.
In the hippocampus, scopolamine caused a larger increase in ACh
release in the young (+900%) than in the old rats (+600%).
In the striatum of aged rats, a 40% increase occurred only at 40 min
after scopolamine administration while in the striatum of young
animals the increase lasted for at least 2 h, reaching a maximum of
about 100%.
These findings demonstrate that the modulation of ACh release in vivo
is affected in a different manner in the cerebral cortex than in the
hippocampus and striatum by aging.
---------
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/545534

Scopolamine May Help Reduce Symptoms of Major Depression CME
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Charles Vega, MD, FAAFP

October 4, 2006 -- Scopolamine therapy is effective in reducing
depressive symptoms in patients with major depression, according to
the results of a randomized controlled trial reported in the October
issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

"Rapid, robust antidepressant responses to the antimuscarinic
scopolamine occurred in currently depressed patients who predominantly
had poor prognoses,"

"The need for improved therapeutic agents that more quickly and
effectively treat depression is critical," write Maura L. Furey, PhD,
and Wayne C. Drevets, MD, from the National Institute of Mental Health
in Bethesda, Maryland. "In a pilot study we evaluated the role of the
cholinergic system in cognitive symptoms of depression and
unexpectedly observed rapid reductions in depression severity
following the administration of the antimuscarinic drug scopolamine
hydrobromide (4 ¦Ìg/kg intravenously) compared with placebo (P = .002).
Subsequently a clinical trial was designed to assess more specifically
the antidepressant efficacy of scopolamine."

The investigators conducted 2 studies at the National Institute of
Mental Health: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study,
followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical
trial.

Of 39 eligible patients, currently depressed outpatients aged 18 to 45
years meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for recurrent major
depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, 19 were randomized and 18
completed the study. Subjects underwent multiple sessions 3 to 5 days
apart, including intravenous infusions of placebo or 4 ¦Ìg/kg of
scopolamine, and they were randomized to a placebo/scopolamine or
scopolamine/placebo sequence (series of 3 placebo sessions and series
of 3 scopolamine sessions). The primary endpoints were psychiatric
evaluations using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and
the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.

Compared with baseline, the placebo/scopolamine group had no
significant change during placebo infusion, but there were reductions
in depression and anxiety rating scale scores (P < .001 for both)
after the administration of scopolamine compared with placebo. The
scopolamine/placebo group also had reduced depression and anxiety
rating scale scores (P < .001 for both) relative to baseline after
receiving scopolamine, and these effects persisted as they received
placebo. Both groups showed improvement at the first evaluation after
scopolamine administration (P ¡Ü .002).

"Rapid, robust antidepressant responses to the antimuscarinic
scopolamine occurred in currently depressed patients who predominantly
had poor prognoses," the authors write. "Determination of the optimal
schedule of administration and the potential long-term use of
scopolamine as an antidepressant agent requires further study,
particularly because potential adverse effects include confusion and
delirium. Future studies also may examine the antidepressant efficacy
of scopolamine when using routes of administration that are more
clinically practical in outpatient settings."

The National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of
Health, supported this study. A use-patent application for the use of
scopolamine as an antidepressant agent has been filed.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:1121-1129.

Clinical Context
Several lines of evidence suggest that acetylcholine has a role in the
etiology of depression. The administration of physostigmine, an
inhibitor of cholinesterase, can exacerbate depression, and patients
with depression experience exaggerated polysomnographic findings and
pupillary responses following administration of cholinergic
medications. These findings suggest that anticholinergic medications
may improve depression, but a controlled study of the anticholinergic
medication biperiden failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of
therapy.

In the current study, the authors report on the efficacy of
scopolamine in the management of depression and bipolar disorder. The
study began as an investigation of the effect of anticholinergic
treatment on cognition in depression, but the authors designed a
randomized, crossover trial after noting an improvement of depression
scores associated with scopolamine.

Study Highlights
Adults between the ages of 18 and 45 years who met DSM-IV criteria for
major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder were eligible for study
participation. Patients treated with psychotropic or anticholinergic
medications within 3 weeks of the study were excluded from study
participation, and subjects were generally healthy.
In the first part of the study, 15 subjects were randomized to receive
scopolamine at doses of 2, 3, and 4 ¦Ìg/kg or matching placebo.
Infusions were performed every 3 days during four 15-minute sessions.
The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was measured at baseline
and after each infusion with scopolamine.
Depression scores improved with time in all subjects. Only scopolamine
4 ¦Ìg/kg improved depression scores significantly more than placebo.
In the follow-up study, 19 participants were randomized to a crossover
trial of scopolamine 4 ¦Ìg/kg and placebo. These subjects met the same
eligibility criteria as listed above. Treatment consisted of 1 placebo
session for all subjects, and then 3 treatments each with scopolamine
and placebo.
Researchers followed multiple measures of mood as well as a test of
the ability to concentrate.
The mean age of subjects was 33 years, and 77.8% of participants were
women. Most subjects had duration of disease greater than 2 years.
Depression scores were similar between randomization groups at
baseline.
Scopolamine was effective in reducing measures of depression compared
with placebo, and this difference was evident after only one active
treatment. Continued treatment with scopolamine further reduced
depression scores.
Participants who received scopolamine in the first 3 sessions
continued to experience lower depression scores compared with baseline
through the remainder of the 7-week study, implying a lasting
beneficial effect of treatment with scopolamine.
11 subjects achieved at least a 50% reduction in depression scores by
the end of the study period, and 10 experienced a remission of
depression.
Scopolamine was similarly effective in reducing anxiety scores. Scores
were significantly reduced compared with placebo after the first
active treatment, and further treatment contributed to even lower
anxiety scores. Scopolamine>s beneficial effects on anxiety also
extended into the placebo treatment period.
Participants with both major depression and bipolar disorder benefited
from scopolamine. Scopolamine was more effective for patients with
less severe disease.
Scopolamine did not affect ratings of mania symptoms among patients
with bipolar disorder.
Scopolamine did not reduce reaction times, although subjects receiving
scopolamine had a slight reduction in accuracy compared with placebo
during attention testing.
No serious adverse events were associated with study treatment, but
scopolamine increased the rates of blurry vision and lightheadedness
compared with placebo.
Pearls for Practice
Depression may be worsened by the cholinesterase inhibitor
physostigmine, and patients with depression experience exaggerated
polysomnography and pupillary responses following cholinergic
stimulation. However, a previous trial of an anticholinergic
medication in patients with depression failed to demonstrate a
significant benefit of treatment.
The current study in a small patient cohort with either depression or
bipolar disorder demonstrates that scopolamine infusions can quickly
and effectively reduce depression and anxiety symptoms.

Medscape Medical News 2006. (c)2006 Medscape
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

% · Guest

Taka wrote:
[quote]If you want to punish or sedate prisoners give them Omega-3s ... But
for normal people who want to live long lives without any degenerative
diseases a much safer solution would be to just reduce their Omega-6
intake.

Taka

On Nov 18, 12:46 pm, ironjustice <teamtan...@hotmail.com> wrote:
One generation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deprivation
increases depression and aggression test scores in rats
James C. DeMar, Jr.*, Kiazong Ma*, Jane M. Bell*, Miki Igarashi*,
Deanna Greenstein and Stanley I. Rapoport1,*

* Brain Physiology and Metabolism Section, National Institute on
Aging, and Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD, 20892
National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, MD 20892

Published, JLR Papers in Press, October 6, 2005.

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail:
s...@helix.nih.gov

Male rat pups at weaning (21 days of age) were subjected to a diet
deficient or adequate in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs)
for 15 weeks.
Performance on tests of locomotor activity, depression, and
aggression was measured in that order during the ensuing 3 weeks,
after which brain lipid composition was determined.
In the n-3 PUFA-deprived rats, compared with n-3 PUFA-adequate rats,
docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) in brain phospholipid was reduced by
36% and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6) was elevated by 90%, whereas
brain phospholipid concentrations were unchanged.
N-3 PUFA-deprived rats had a significantly increased (P = 0.03) score
on the Porsolt forced-swim test for depression, and increased
blocking time (P = 0.03) and blocking number (P = 0.04) scores
(uncorrected for multiple comparisons) on the isolation-induced
resident-intruder test for aggression.
Large effect sizes (d > 0.8) were found on the depression score and
on the blocking time score of the aggression test.
Scores on the open-field test for locomotor activity did not differ
significantly between groups, and had only small to medium effect
sizes.
This single-generational n-3 PUFA-deprived rat model, which
demonstrated significant changes in brain lipid composition and in
test scores for depression and aggression, may be useful for
elucidating the contribution of disturbed brain PUFA metabolism to
human depression, aggression, and bipolar disorder.

Supplementary key words docosahexaenoic • locomotor • rat • activity
• behavior • diet

----------------------

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reverses
stress-induced modifications on brain monoamine levels in mice.
* Unité de Nutrition et Régulation Lipidique des Fonctions
Cérébrales, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, domaine
de Vilvert, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas cedex, France

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation
with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on stress responses in
mice subjected to an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)
procedure.
Stress-induced modifications in coat and aggressiveness were
evaluated, and phospholipid PUFA profiles and monoamine levels were
analyzed in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. The
results showed that repeated exposure to mild stressors induced
degradation in the physical state of the coat, lowered body weight
gain, and increased aggressiveness, without any effect of n-3 PUFA
supplementation.
The UCMS induced a significant decrease in the levels of
norepinephrine in the frontal cortex and striatum, and a
nonsignificant decrease in the hippocampus.
The tissue levels of serotonin (5-HT) were 40% to 65% decreased in
the three brain regions studied.
Interestingly, the n-3 PUFA supplementation reversed this stress-
induced reduction in 5-HT levels.
These findings showed that supplementation in n-3 long-chain PUFAs
might reverse certain effects of UCMS in cerebral structures involved
in stress-related behaviors.

Supplementary key words chronic mild stress • omega 3 •
docosahexaenoic acid
S. Vancassel*, S. Leman,, L. Hanonick**, S. Denis*, J. Roger,, M.
Nollet,, S. Bodard,, I. Kousignian,, C. Belzung, and S. Chalon1,,

* Unité de Nutrition et Régulation Lipidique des Fonctions
Cérébrales, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, domaine
de Vilvert, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas cedex, France
EA 3248 Psychobiologie des Emotions, Faculté des Sciences &
Techniques, Université François Rabelais, Tours, F-37000, France
Institut Fédératif de Recherche 135, Tours, F-37000, France
** Endocrinologie et Maladies Métaboliques, CHU Henri Mondor,
Créteil, F-94000, France
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U619,
Tours, F-37000, France

Published, JLR Papers in Press, November 8, 2007.

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail:
sylvie.cha...@univ-tours.fr

Originally published In Press as doi:10.1194/jlr.M700328-JLR200 on
November 8, 2007

Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 49, 340-348, February 2008
Copyright © 2008 by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology
-------------------------

Prisoners given supplements in new trial
By Shane Starling

09-Sep-2008 - An Oxford University study being conducted in three UK
prisons is investigating the link between nutrition and behaviour.

It follows a 2002 UK trial that found consumption of food supplements
could reduce anti-social behaviour in teenagers as well as 30 years
inquiry into the subject by one of the lead researchers, professor
Alexander Schauss, PhD, FACN, senior director of natural and
medicinal products research at natural products consultancy, AIBMR
Life Sciences.

Schauss noted more than 20 controlled clinical trials carried out in
state and county juvenile and adult institutions confirmed that diet
could be used to reduce the incidence of antisocial behavior by up to
60 percent.

The new study, one of the largest ever conducted, is being funded by
a $2.6m (€1.83m) grant from the Wellcome Trust, the UK>s largest
medical research charity.

Behaviour modification

The study aims to find out if nutrient levels required for optimum
brain function are also responsible for behaviour modification.

Similar studies carried out in the US and Europe have determined the
link between nutrition and behaviour.

"Seeing the level of research on diet and crime reach this level of
financial support by the medical community is heartening,” said
Schauss.

“But it took over 30 years, even though the evidence was there back
in the 1970s."

The director of the Wellcome Trust stated: "If this study shows
nutritional supplementation affects behaviour, it could have profound
significance for nutrition guidelines not only within the criminal
justice system, but in the wider community, in schools, for example.
We are all used to nutritional guidelines for our physical health,
but this study could lead to revisions taking into account our mental
health, as well."

The researchers will investigate the affect of different food
supplements on behaviour compared to groups on placebo.

"It is my hope that we see better nutrition education and start with
pre-conceptual care programs that focus on nutrition and other
lifestyle factors and behaviors that can decrease the risk of
antisocial behavior," Schauss said.

Schauss is the author of a book called Diet, Crime and Delinquency,
written in 1978 and which posited the idea that diet and behaviour
were closely linked.

The study is being conducted in conjunction with the Institute of
Psychiatry at Imperial College, University of London, the University
of Surrey, the University of Liverpool and the Medical Research
Council on Human Nutrition Research.

The 2002 study gave essential fatty acid supplements to
18-21-year-old prisoners and found antisocial behaviour was reduced
by 37 per cent compared to placebo.

---------------------------------

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKINGhttp://tinyurl.com/zk9fk
[/quote]

look at all the crossposts , hi everybody

ironjustice@aol.com · Guest

On Nov 18, 10:56Â pm, "ironjust...@aol.com" <ironjust...@aol.com>
wrote:
Atropine is pretty popular. The SAME acetylcholine raised by rice
bran chaff grain
phosphatidylcholine alpha-linolenic acid containing .. **food** .. <<

"The results clearly demonstrate hippocampal acetylcholine release
could be facilitated when the availability of choline for
acetylcholine synthesis was enhanced by dietary or pharmacological
means."

http://www.smart-drugs.net/galantamine-new.htm

GALANTAMINE BOOSTS ACETYLCHOLINE
Nor can it be a coincidence that there is also widespread activity
throughout the body of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme that
nature designed to attack and destroy acetylcholine. The purpose is
to preserve a proper physiological balance (an example of
homoeostasis), but AChE sometimes gets the upper hand and depletes our
ACh too much, thereby upsetting the balance. Because ACh deficiency
is characteristic of Alzheimer>s disease and other age-related
cognitive impairments, the primary treatment is administration of
agents that inhibit the action of AChE. One such agent is
galantamine, a compound extracted from the snowdrop and daffodil,
among other plants.

------------------------

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/282/3/1139

Acetylcholine Release and Choline Availability in Rat Hippocampus:
Effects of Exogenous Choline and Nicotinamide1
Andrea KÃ¶ppen, Jochen Klein, Christina Erb and Konrad LÃ¶ffelholz
Department of Pharmacology, University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher
StraÃŸe 67, D-55101 Mainz, Germany
Vol. 282, Issue 3, 1139-1145, 1997
Abstract

The influence of choline availability on acetylcholine (ACh) release
in the hippocampus of the awake rat was investigated using the
microdialysis procedure. Three treatments enhancing choline
availability for basal and atropine-evoked ACh release were evaluated:
acute administration of choline chloride (20 mg/kg i.p.); pretreatment
of animals with nicotinamide (10 mmol/kg s.c.) 2 hr before atropine
injection and dietary choline supplementation (5-fold increase of
choline intake for 15-18 days).
Although acute choline administration led to a short-lasting (15 min)
increase of basal choline efflux by 25% and nicotinamide caused a long-
lasting (5 hr) increase by 105%, neither one affected basal ACh
release.
However, basal release of choline (1.38 pmol/min) and of ACh (114 fmol/
min) in the hippocampus was slightly increased in choline-supplemented
animals (choline: 1.92 pmol/min; ACh: 140 fmol/min).
In untreated animals, atropine administration caused a 3-fold increase
of ACh efflux that lasted approximately 2.5 hr.
All treatments, acute or chronic choline and nicotinamide, led to
significant increases of the maximum and duration of atropine-evoked
ACh release.
Total atropine-evoked ACh efflux (area under the curve) was increased
2- to 3-fold, with the largest effect evoked by the combination of
nicotinamide and choline.
The results clearly demonstrate that, under stimulated conditions,
hippocampal ACh release could be facilitated when the availability of
choline for ACh synthesis was enhanced by dietary or pharmacological
means.
Under certain conditions, significant effects of increased choline
availability on ACh release can be revealed in the absence of an
overall increase of extracellular choline.

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

It seems to act by UPPING the
[quote]choline / acetylcholine in the brain.The SAME acetylcholine raised by
rice bran chaff grain
phosphatidylcholine alpha-linolenic acid containing .. **food** ..

Scopolamine is another popular drug much like atropine.

"Scopolamine modulates acetylcholine release"
"Rapid, robust antidepressant responses to scopolamine in currently
depressed patients who predominantly had poor prognoses,"

Peripherally injected scopolamine differentially modulates
acetylcholine release in vivo in the young and aged rats.
Scali C; Vannucchi M G; Pepeu G; Casamenti F
Neuroscience letters 1995;197(3):171-4.

Abstract
The effect of intraperitoneal administration of scopolamine (1 mg/kg)
on acetylcholine (ACh) release in vivo in 3- and 24-month-old freely
behaving rats was investigated in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and
striatum by means of transverse microdialysis.
In the parietal cortex, the increase in ACh release after scopolamine
administration was significantly greater in the old than in the young
rats, reaching a maximum increase of about 600 and 300% in the old and
young animals, respectively.
In the hippocampus, scopolamine caused a larger increase in ACh
release in the young (+900%) than in the old rats (+600%).
In the striatum of aged rats, a 40% increase occurred only at 40 min
after scopolamine administration while in the striatum of young
animals the increase lasted for at least 2 h, reaching a maximum of
about 100%.
These findings demonstrate that the modulation of ACh release in vivo
is affected in a different manner in the cerebral cortex than in the
hippocampus and striatum by aging.
---------http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/545534

Scopolamine May Help Reduce Symptoms of Major Depression Â CME
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Charles Vega, MD, FAAFP

October 4, 2006 -- Scopolamine therapy is effective in reducing
depressive symptoms in patients with major depression, according to
the results of a randomized controlled trial reported in the October
issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

"Rapid, robust antidepressant responses to the antimuscarinic
scopolamine occurred in currently depressed patients who predominantly
had poor prognoses,"

"The need for improved therapeutic agents that more quickly and
effectively treat depression is critical," write Maura L. Furey, PhD,
and Wayne C. Drevets, MD, from the National Institute of Mental Health
in Bethesda, Maryland. "In a pilot study we evaluated the role of the
cholinergic system in cognitive symptoms of depression and
unexpectedly observed rapid reductions in depression severity
following the administration of the antimuscarinic drug scopolamine
hydrobromide (4 Î¼g/kg intravenously) compared with placebo (P = .002).
Subsequently a clinical trial was designed to assess more specifically
the antidepressant efficacy of scopolamine."

The investigators conducted 2 studies at the National Institute of
Mental Health: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study,
followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical
trial.

Of 39 eligible patients, currently depressed outpatients aged 18 to 45
years meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for recurrent major
depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, 19 were randomized and 18
completed the study. Subjects underwent multiple sessions 3 to 5 days
apart, including intravenous infusions of placebo or 4 Î¼g/kg of
scopolamine, and they were randomized to a placebo/scopolamine or
scopolamine/placebo sequence (series of 3 placebo sessions and series
of 3 scopolamine sessions). The primary endpoints were psychiatric
evaluations using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and
the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.

Compared with baseline, the placebo/scopolamine group had no
significant change during placebo infusion, but there were reductions
in depression and anxiety rating scale scores (P < .001 for both)
after the administration of scopolamine compared with placebo. The
scopolamine/placebo group also had reduced depression and anxiety
rating scale scores (P < .001 for both) relative to baseline after
receiving scopolamine, and these effects persisted as they received
placebo. Both groups showed improvement at the first evaluation after
scopolamine administration (P â‰¤ .002).

"Rapid, robust antidepressant responses to the antimuscarinic
scopolamine occurred in currently depressed patients who predominantly
had poor prognoses," the authors write. "Determination of the optimal
schedule of administration and the potential long-term use of
scopolamine as an antidepressant agent requires further study,
particularly because potential adverse effects include confusion and
delirium. Future studies also may examine the antidepressant efficacy
of scopolamine when using routes of administration that are more
clinically practical in outpatient settings."

The National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of
Health, supported this study. A use-patent application for the use of
scopolamine as an antidepressant agent has been filed.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:1121-1129.

Clinical Context
Several lines of evidence suggest that acetylcholine has a role in the
etiology of depression. The administration of physostigmine, an
inhibitor of cholinesterase, can exacerbate depression, and patients
with depression experience exaggerated polysomnographic findings and
pupillary responses following administration of cholinergic
medications. These findings suggest that anticholinergic medications
may improve depression, but a controlled study of the anticholinergic
medication biperiden failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of
therapy.

In the current study, the authors report on the efficacy of
scopolamine in the management of depression and bipolar disorder. The
study began as an investigation of the effect of anticholinergic
treatment on cognition in depression, but the authors designed a
randomized, crossover trial after noting an improvement of depression
scores associated with scopolamine.

Study Highlights
Adults between the ages of 18 and 45 years who met DSM-IV criteria for
major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder were eligible for study
participation. Patients treated with psychotropic or anticholinergic
medications within 3 weeks of the study were excluded from study
participation, and subjects were generally healthy.
In the first part of the study, 15 subjects were randomized to receive
scopolamine at doses of 2, 3, and 4 Î¼g/kg or matching placebo.
Infusions were performed every 3 days during four 15-minute sessions.
The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was measured at baseline
and after each infusion with scopolamine.
Depression scores improved with time in all subjects. Only scopolamine
4 Î¼g/kg improved depression scores significantly more than placebo.
In the follow-up study, 19 participants were randomized to a crossover
trial of scopolamine 4 Î¼g/kg and placebo. These subjects met the same
eligibility criteria as listed above. Treatment consisted of 1 placebo
session for all subjects, and then 3 treatments each with scopolamine
and placebo.
Researchers followed multiple measures of mood as well as a test of
the ability to concentrate.
The mean age of subjects was 33 years, and 77.8% of participants were
women. Most subjects had duration of disease greater than 2 years.
Depression scores were similar between randomization groups at
baseline.
Scopolamine was effective in reducing measures of depression compared
with placebo, and this difference was evident after only one active
treatment. Continued treatment with scopolamine further reduced
depression scores.
Participants who received scopolamine in the first 3 sessions
continued to experience lower depression scores compared with baseline
through the remainder of the 7-week study, implying a lasting
beneficial effect of treatment with scopolamine.
11 subjects achieved at least a 50% reduction in depression scores by
the end of the study period, and 10 experienced a remission of
depression.
Scopolamine was similarly effective in reducing anxiety scores. Scores
were significantly reduced compared with placebo after the first
active treatment, and further treatment contributed to even lower
anxiety scores. Scopolamine>s beneficial effects on anxiety also
extended into the placebo treatment period.
Participants with both major depression and bipolar disorder benefited
from scopolamine. Scopolamine was more effective for patients with
less severe disease.
Scopolamine did not affect ratings of mania symptoms among patients
with bipolar disorder.
Scopolamine did not reduce reaction times, although subjects receiving
scopolamine had a slight reduction in accuracy compared with placebo
during attention testing.
No serious adverse events were associated with study treatment, but
scopolamine increased the rates of blurry vision and lightheadedness
compared with placebo.
Pearls for Practice
Depression may be worsened by the cholinesterase inhibitor
physostigmine, and patients with depression experience exaggerated
polysomnography and pupillary responses following cholinergic
stimulation. However, a previous trial of an anticholinergic
medication in patients with depression failed to demonstrate a
significant benefit of treatment.
The current study in a small patient cohort with either depression or
bipolar disorder demonstrates that scopolamine infusions can quickly
and effectively reduce depression and anxiety symptoms.

Medscape Medical News 2006. (c)2006 Medscape
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Â-----------

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKINGhttp://tinyurl.com/zk9fk[/quote]


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