Cirrhosis induced by bile duct ligation alleviates acetic acid intestinal damages in rats: Involvements of nitrergic and opioidergic systems

Background

Colitis, a colonic inflammatory condition, showed a linkage with hepatobiliary disorders such as cirrhosis. It has been reported that both endogenous opioids and nitric oxide (NO) play critical roles in colitis pathogenesis. Moreover, opioid and NO levels showed elevation in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cirrhosis on the experimental model of colitis and the possible involvement of opioidergic/nitrergic systems in rats.

Microstructural white matter alterations associated with migraine headaches: a systematic review of diffusion tensor imaging studies

Brain Imaging and Behavior - The pathophysiology of migraine as a headache disorder is still undetermined. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has significantly improved our knowledge about brain...     

Minocycline attenuates testicular damages in a rat model of ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury

Testicular torsion is a serious urological disease leading to testicular damage. This study aimed to assess the effect of minocycline on testicular ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury caused by testicular torsion/detorsion. Male adult Wistar rats (n = 32) were assigned into four groups of sham, I/R, I/R + minocycline and minocycline. I/R injury was induced by two sets of surgical operations, including the rotation of the left testis (720°, counterclockwise), followed by detorsion after 4 hr. The administration of minocycline was carried out 30 min before detorsion and then continued for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8th week, rats were killed and sampling was done. Johnson's score, the height of seminiferous tubule epithelium, the mean seminiferous tubule diameter, as well as biochemical parameters, SOD, GPx and CAT, were significantly enhanced in the I/R + minocycline group compared with the I/R group. The administration of minocycline led to a marked decrease in expression levels of Caspase-3, Bax, IL-1β and TNF-α genes, and a remarkable increase in expression levels of Bcl-2, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD3 genes compared with the I/R group. Administration of minocycline could also reduce the rate of germ cell apoptosis (TUNEL staining). Hence, minocycline was useful in the management of testicular torsion/detorsion.     

超强力胶眼部损伤的研究进展

该研究旨在对超强力胶可能对眼部造成的损伤问题进行回顾。本文对以往有关强力胶有害影响的文献进行了系统的研究。在过去的30年中,超强力胶对眼部的损伤问题是很常见的,其中大多数是意外事件,虽然它对眼部组织具有毒性,但通过安全教育可以进行预防。本文阐述了眼部超强力胶损伤的处理方法,指出了预防眼部超强力胶损伤的重要性。     

Zinc Protoporphyrin Polymeric Nanoparticles: Potent Heme Oxygenase Inhibitor for Cancer Therapy

Purpose

Oxidation therapy is an antitumor strategy in which, apoptosis or necrosis is caused by either excess delivery of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as an oxidant or anti-oxidant inhibition. Heme oxygenase (HO) is an anti-oxidant enzyme that plays an important role in cell growth and proliferation. The purpose of this study was to prepare poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) to deliver the HO inhibitor into tumor.

Methods

PLGA NPs were prepared using nanoprecipitation technique and their characteristics were optimized by Box-Behnken experimental design. Scanning electron microscopy and in vitro studies consisting of drug release, HO inhibitory effect, cytotoxicity and cellular uptake followed by in vivo biodistribution and blood cytotoxicity were carried out. Internalization of coumerin-6 loaded NPs by PC3 cells was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy beside quantitatively analysis.

Results

NPs average size, entrapment efficiency and drug loading were 100.12?±?5.345 nm, 55.6%?±?2.49 and 7.98%?±?0.341 respectively. Equal HO inhibitory effect of NPs compared to free ZnPP was observed. The IC₅₀ value of ZnPP-NPs for PC3 human prostate cancer cells was found to be 2.14?±?0.083 μM.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ZnPP loaded PLGA NPs could exhibit enough HO inhibitory effect against cancer cells to be considered as a promising candidate for cancer treatment investigation.     

Ascorbic Acid Reduces the Adverse Effects of Delayed Administration of Tissue Plasminogen Activator in a Rat Stroke Model

Delayed treatment of stroke with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r‐tPA) induces overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9) which leads to breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and causes more injuries to the brain parenchyma. In this study, the effect of ascorbic acid (AA), an antioxidant agent, on the delayed administration of r‐tPA in a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was investigated. Forty male rats were randomly divided into four groups: untreated control rats (ischaemic animals), AA‐treated (500 mg/kg; 5 hr after stroke) rats, r‐tPA‐treated (5 hr after stroke 1 mg/kg) rats and rats treated with the combination of AA and r‐tPA. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced by occluding the right middle cerebral artery (MCA). Infarct size, BBB, brain oedema and the levels of MMP‐9 were measured at the end of study. Neurological deficits were evaluated at 24 and 48 hr after stroke. Compared to the control or r‐tPA‐treated animals, AA alone (p < 0.001) or in combination with r‐tPA (p < 0.05) significantly decreased infarct volume. Ascorbic acid alone or r‐tPA + AA significantly reduced BBB permeability (p < 0.05), levels of MMP‐9 (p < 0.05 versus control; p < 0.01 versus r‐tPA) and brain oedema (p < 0.001) when compared to either the control or the r‐tPA‐treated animals. Latency to the removal of sticky labels from the forepaw was also significantly decreased after the administration of AA + r‐tPA (p < 0.05) at 24 or 48 hr after stroke. Based on our data, acute treatment with AA may be considered as a useful candidate to reduce the side effects of delayed application of r‐tPA in stroke therapy.