Discovery of HSD-621 as a Potential Agent for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

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Pouch-vaginal fistula

Pouch-vaginal fistula is a dreaded complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis creation and can greatly impact patients’ quality of life. Success rates with surgical closure vary in the literature and there is no single gold standard surgical method for closing the fistula. This is a complex condition that requires detailed history taking and examination. Success may not be always achieved and recurrences are common. Consideration should be given for treating this group of women in specialized centers by expert surgeons.     

Mechanically induced focal adhesion assembly amplifies anti-adipogenic pathways in mesenchymal stem cells

The fate of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is determined through integration of chemical, spatial, and physical signals. The suppression of MSC adipogenesis by mechanical stimuli, which requires Akt-induced inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) with β-catenin activation, can be enhanced by repetitive dosing within a single day. Here, we demonstrate that reapplication of cyclic strain within a 24-hour period leads to amplification of both Akt activation and its subsequent inhibition of GSK3β, such that total cycle number can be reduced while still inhibiting adipogenesis. Amplification of Akt signaling is facilitated by a dynamic restructuring of the cell in response to mechanical signals, as evidenced by a transient increase in focal adhesion (FA) number and increased RhoA activity. Preventing FA assembly or development of tension blocks activation of Akt by mechanical signals, but not by insulin. This indicates that the FA infrastructure is essential to the physical, but not necessarily the chemical, sensitivity, and responsiveness of the cell. Exploiting the transient nature of cytoskeletal remodeling may represent a process to enhance cell responsiveness to mechanical input and ultimately define the fate of MSCs with a minimal input.     

Effects of risperidone, quetiapine and ziprasidone on ethanol withdrawal syndrome in rats

Comorbid substance use in schizophrenic patients is common, and substance dependence is a predictive factor for psychosis. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of risperidone, quetiapine and ziprasidone, atypical antipsychotic drugs, on ethanol withdrawal syndrome (EWS) in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were used in the study. Ethanol (7.2%, v/v) was given to rats via a liquid diet for 21 days. An isocaloric liquid diet without ethanol was given to control rats. Risperidone (1 and 2 mg/kg), quetiapine (8 and 16 mg/kg), ziprasidone (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and vehicle were injected into rats intraperitoneally at 1.5 and 5.5 h of ethanol withdrawal. At the 2nd, 4th and 6th hours of ethanol withdrawal, rats were observed for 5 min, and withdrawal signs that included locomotor hyperactivity, stereotyped behaviors, abnormal gait and posture, tail stiffness and agitation were recorded or rated. Following the observations at the 6th hour, the rats were tested for audiogenic seizures. All three drugs had some significant inhibitory effects on EWS-induced behavioral signs beginning at the 2nd hour of withdrawal. The drugs also significantly reduced the incidence of audiogenic seizures. Overall, risperidone and quetiapine seemed to be more effective than ziprasidone in ameliorating the withdrawal signs. Doses of the drugs used in the present study did not produce any significant changes in locomotor activities of naïve rats. Our results suggest that risperidone, quetiapine and ziprasidone had beneficial effects on EWS in rats. Thus, these drugs may be helpful for controlling withdrawal signs in ethanol-dependent patients.     

Breastfeeding duration and postpartum psychological adjustment: role of maternal attachment styles

Aim:   Depressive and anxiety symptoms are common in new mothers. The aim of this study is to explore the link between postpartum psychological adjustment and feeding preferences of the mothers.
Methods:   Sixty mothers and newborns were enrolled in this prospective, longitudinal study. Maternal depressive symptoms were screened by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and maternal anxiety level was assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at 1 month postpartum. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was used for the assessment of maternal social support. The Adult Attachment Scale was used to determine the attachment style of the mother. Infants were examined and evaluated at 1 and 4 months of life.
Results:   All mothers started breastfeeding their infants postpartum; 91% and 68.1% continued exclusive breastfeeding at 1 and 4 months, respectively. The first-month median EPDS score of mothers who breastfeed at the fourth month was statistically significantly lower than those who were not breastfeeding (6 and 12, respectively) ( P  = 0001). The first-month median EPDS score of mothers with secure attachment was lower than the median score of mothers with insecure attachment (5 and 9, respectively) ( P  < 0001). Exclusive breastfeeding rate was not statistically different among mothers with secure and insecure attachment styles. The median state and trait anxiety scores and social support scores of mothers were not different between groups according to breastfeeding status.
Conclusions:   This study has shown an association between higher EPDS scores and breastfeeding cessation by 4 months after delivery.     

Pharmacological and chemical features of Nepeta L. genus: Its importance as a therapeutic agent

Medicinal plants have always had great value for the human population due to their valuable constituents and potential bioactivities. The objective of this review is to present an updated overview of an important medicinal plant genus Nepeta L., from the family Lamiaceae, revealing its traditional utilization, biological activity, phytoconstituents, and mechanisms of action. For this purpose, a literature survey was carried out by using SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science followed by a revision of the bibliographies of the related articles. We have described and analyzed the role of plants in drug discovery and the importance of Nepeta species. Information on the utilization purposes of Nepeta species in folk medicine has been emphasized, and scientific studies on the biological effects and secondary metabolites are addressed. Nepeta species are characterized by terpenoid‐type compounds and phenolic constituents, which exert several activities such as an antimicrobial, repellent against major pathogen vector mosquitoes, insecticide, larvicide against Anopheles stephensi, cytotoxic anticarcinogen, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti‐inflammatory agent, and antidepressant, revealing its importance in medicinal and agricultural fields. On the basis of numerous studies, the Nepeta genus demonstrates remarkable therapeutic effects against various diseases. However, clinical studies are warranted to confirm preclinical findings.