Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology最新文献

Objectives: Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world. Animal studies indicate that acute caffeine exposure at high doses may induce seizures and diminish the anticonvulsant activity of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) at much lower doses. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of caffeine on the anticonvulsant action of levetiracetam (LEV) and vigabatrin (VGB).

Methods: The anticonvulsant activity of LEV and VGB was examined in the maximal electroshock seizure threshold test in mice (MEST test). All drugs were administered intraperitoneally by single injections, and caffeine was applied at doses capable of interfering with AEDs. Effects of caffeine exposure on AEDs were also investigated in tests of memory and motor performance.

Results: Caffeine reduced the protective effect of LEV against electroconvulsions. Total brain concentration of LEV was unaffected by caffeine as well as inversely; LEV had no significant impact on the brain caffeine concentration, suggesting a pharmacodynamic nature of the interaction between LEV and caffeine in the MEST test. VGB at applied doses did not affect the convulsive threshold. Administration of VGB, but not LEV, alone or in combination with caffeine, impaired memory retention. In the chimney test, the combined treatment with AEDs and caffeine did not cause motor coordination impairment.

Conclusions: It is suggested that caffeine may negatively affect the anticonvulsant action of LEV in patients with epilepsy.

Objectives: Acute renal injury (AKI) is a major limiting factor for cisplatin administration. Recent evidence suggests the potential contribution of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to rehabilitation from several disorders via both direct and indirect routes. Thus, the present study aimed, for the first time, to explore and compare the reno-protective potential of human dental pulp-derived stem cells (hDPSCs) vs. hDPSC-conditioned medium (hDPSC-CM) in recovery of impaired kidney tissues in a rat animal model of cisplatin-induced AKI.

Methods: AKI was induced via cisplatin injection (n=36). One day after, 24 rats were treated with either hDPSCs or hDPSC-CM (n=12). An extra set of rats (n=12) served as sham group. On days 2 or 7 (n=6), rats were humanly sacrificed for further analysis. Renal injury was explored via measuring serum creatinine and BUN. Renal level of oxidative stress was assessed by determining malondialdehyde, and enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Renal histopathological changes were scored for comparison among different experimental groups.

Results: A single dose of cisplatin resulted in considerable renal dysfunction and oxidative stress. Treatment with hDPSCs or hDPSC-CM resulted in significantly restored renal function, reduced level of oxidative stress, and improved histopathological manifestations. Furthermore, as compared to hDPSC-CM, administration of hDPSCs led to superior results in AKI-induced animals.

Conclusions: The current study described the first comparative evidence of reno-protective potential of hDPSCs and their CM against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in an AKI rat model, proposing them as useful adjunctive therapy in AKI. Yet, future explorations are still needed.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been shown to have a favorable effect on many diseases as a complementary therapy and is a critical component of healthy living. During the pandemic era, physical activity has been promoted for resistance against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is scarce evidence on whether MVPA could reduce the infectivity and susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the effect of MVPA on morbidity, mortality, and duration of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. We performed a comprehensive search of five online databases for eligible studies up to September 9, 2021. Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the association between MVPA and COVID-19-related morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality. The odds ratio (OR) was applied as the summary statistic for the primary outcomes. Secondary analyses were conducted to evaluate the difference in the metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs) between the outcome and non-outcome groups with the mean difference as the pooled effect. This meta-analysis included eight observational studies. We found that MVPA significantly reduced the odds of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR=0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.85-0.92), hospitalization (OR=0.56; 95% CI=0.35-0.92), and mortality (OR=0.42; 95% CI=0.21-0.81) due to COVID-19 compared to no physical activity. METs≥500 min/week were linked to decreased morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 (OR=0.94 [95% CI=0.90-0.98]; OR=0.56 [95% CI=0.38-0.83]). COVID-19 patients with MVPA demonstrated a lower risk of COVID-19-related morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality compared to those who were less active, highlighting the importance of an active lifestyle despite the pandemic situation where such activities are limited.

Objectives: To assess the predictive value of pre-discharge heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: 145 consecutive male patients with ACS (aged 57.12 ± 10.81 years) were included in this study. Fifteen minutes electrocardiogram recording was done to measure time-domain [standard deviation of N-N intervals (SDNN), root-mean square differences of successive R-R intervals (rMSSD)] and frequency-domain [low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power and total power (TP)] HRV parameters before and after PCI. The primary end point was the occurrence of major clinical events (MCE) defined as death, sudden death or re-acute myocardial infarction at the end of 3 months follow-up.

Results: At a follow-up of 3 months, MCE occurred in 06 patients (4.14%) (Cardiac death was 3.01%, while that of sudden death was 1.13%). Out of six-MCE, four deaths and two re-AMIs occurred. Pre-discharge HRV values (SDNN, rMSSD, TP, LF and HF) were significantly lower in patients with ACS without MCE. Only total power HRV index (AUC=0.748; p=0.040) showed greater prognostic accuracy.

Conclusions: In conclusion, study showed an increase in SDNN, rMSSD, LF, HF and TP after successful revascularization with PCI in patients who had MCE. The resultant sensitivity, specificity of HRV is still limited in the present study. Particularly, its sensitivity is higher (33-83%) with a modest specificity (61-72%).

Objectives: To compare differences of operative outcomes, post-operative complications and survival outcomes between open and laparoscopic cases in a multicenter study.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study performed at three European centers from September 2011 to January 2019. The surgeon decision to perform open inguinal lymphadenectomy (OIL) or video endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) was done in each hospital after patient counselling. Inclusion criteria regarded a minimum follow-up of 9 months since the inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Results: A total of 55 patients with proven squamous cell penile cancer underwent inguinal lymphadenectomy. 26 of them underwent OIL, while 29 patients underwent VEIL. For the OIL and VEIL groups, the mean operative time was 2.5 vs. 3.4 h (p=0.129), respectively. Hospital stays were lower in the VEIL group with 4 vs. 8 days in OIL patients (p=0.053) while number of days requiring drains to remain in situ was 3 vs. 6 days (p=0.024). The VEIL group reported a lower incidence of major complications compared to the OIL group (2 vs. 17%, p=0.0067) while minor complications were comparable in both groups. In a median follow-up period of 60 months, the overall survival was 65.5 and 84.6% in OIL and VEIL groups, respectively (p=0.105).

Conclusions: VEIL is comparable to OIL regarding safety, overall survival and post-operative outcomes.

Objectives: Olive (Olea europaea L.) plays a promising role in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic production. On the other hand, olive leaf is widely used in folk medicine due to its antihyperglycemic activity. For this aim, possible effects of olive leaf extract (OLE) in the brain tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated.

Methods: A total of 28 male rats were divided into four equal groups as control, diabetic (single dose of 45 mg/kg streptozotocin, i.p.), OLE (500 mg/kg/day), and diabetic + OLE groups. The study was terminated 21 days after the diabetes model was formed. At the end of the study, all the animals were sacrificed and blood and brain tissues were isolated. Relative brain weights, complete blood count, blood glycated hemoglobin, serum glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, gonadal hormone levels, production and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators, total thiol, total oxidative stress, and total antioxidant status levels and fatty acid composition in brain tissue were measured in all study groups.

Results: In diabetic rats, relative brain weight and serum insulin level decreased, glycated hemoglobin, oxidative stress, production and mRNA level of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators increased, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, degraded fatty acid composition, anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia occurred. After OLE treatment, a remarkable improvement in most of these parameters, except gonadal hormones, has been observed in diabetic rats.

Conclusions: This study suggests that olive leaf can be a precious neuroprotective agent in diabetes.

Objectives: Seizures are abnormal discharge of neurons in the brain. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic compound with antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. The present study aimed to investigate the role of the nitrergic system in the anticonvulsant effect of FA in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in male mice.

Methods: 64 male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice weighing 25-29 g were randomly divided into eight experimental groups (n=8). FA at doses 5, 10, and 40 mg/kg alone and in combination with L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) or L-arginine (L-arg) (nitric oxide [NO] precursor) was administrated (intraperitoneal). PTZ was injected (i.v. route) 30 min after drugs administration (1 mL/min). Seizure onset time was recorded and the nitrite levels of prefrontal cortex and serum were determined by the Griess method.

Results: FA at doses of 10 and 40 mg/kg significantly increased the seizure threshold as well as reduced the serum and brain NO levels in comparison to the saline-received group. Co-administration of the effective dose of FA (10 mg/kg) plus L-arg significantly decreased the seizure threshold in comparison to the effective dose of FA alone. Co-injection of the sub-effective dose of FA (5 mg/kg) with L-NAME significantly increased the seizure threshold as well as significantly decreased the brain NO level in comparison to the sub-effective dose of FA alone.

Conclusions: We showed that the nitrergic system, partially at least, mediated the anticonvulsant effect of FA in PTZ-induced seizures in mice. We concluded that L-NAME potentiated while L-arg attenuated the anticonvulsant effect of FA.