X Yang, H Gong, Z Liu, H Liu, H Wang, Zhenzhong Li
{"title":"Similar and different effects of capsaicin and resiniferatoxin on substance P release and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 expression of cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.","authors":"X Yang, H Gong, Z Liu, H Liu, H Wang, Zhenzhong Li","doi":"10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1444424","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1444424","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of capsaicin (CAP) and resiniferatoxin (RTX) on substance P (SP) release and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) expression of cultured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Dissociated DRG cells of embryonic 15-day-old Wistar rat were cultured for 3 days and then exposed to CAP (1 micromol/L, 10 micromol/L) or RTX (10 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L) for 10 min. At 3 days of culture growth, SP release increased significantly after 10 min of stimulation with CAP or RTX as compared with controls. Six days after acute exposure to CAP or RTX, SP release and SP expression of cultured rat DRG neurons decreased significantly in both CAP- and RTX-treated cultures as compared with controls. Preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA, TRPV1 mRNA and TRPV1 protein expression decreased in CAP-treated cultures and RTX cultures treated with the higher concentration, whereas RTX cultures treated with the lower concentration were not affected. The results indicate that CAP and high concentrations of RTX are more neurotoxic to cultured rat DRG neurons while the inability of the neurons to express SP or TRPV1 after acute exposure to the lower concentration of RTX could be partially reversed after a period of incubation. The efficacy and therapeutic potential of the reversible action of RTX are more applicable as strategies for pain or neurogenic inflammation therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"32 1","pages":"3-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28914293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J R Appidi, M T Yakubu, D S Grierson, A J Afolayan
{"title":"Antidiarrheal activity of aqueous extract of Hermannia incana Cav. leaves in Wistar rats.","authors":"J R Appidi, M T Yakubu, D S Grierson, A J Afolayan","doi":"10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1464613","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1464613","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hermannia incana Cav. is a prostrate herb used to treat diarrhea, stomach ache, nausea and vomiting, by the people of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The phytochemical screening as well as the antidiarrheal activity of H. incana leaf extract at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight was evaluated in rats. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive agents such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics, triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, cardenolides and dienolides. The extract significantly prolonged the time of induction of diarrhea, reduced the frequency of diarrheal episodes and water content of the feces, and inhibited castor oil-induced enteropooling. The extract also suppressed intestinal propulsive movement of a charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract. These results demonstrate the antidiarrheal properties of the extract, thereby supporting the folkloric use of the plant as an antidiarrheal agent in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"32 1","pages":"27-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28914725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tommaso Cai, S Mazzoli, P Addonisio, V Boddi, P Geppetti, R Bartoletti
{"title":"Clinical and microbiological efficacy of prulifloxacin for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis infection: results from a prospective, randomized and open-label study.","authors":"Tommaso Cai, S Mazzoli, P Addonisio, V Boddi, P Geppetti, R Bartoletti","doi":"10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1423885","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1423885","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of a 14-day course of prulifloxacin 600 mg with standard antibiotic therapy for the treatment of chronic prostatitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection. All patients with clinical and instrumental diagnosis of bacterial chronic prostatitis (CP) due to Ct infection were enrolled. After randomization, all patients were administered oral prulifloxacin 600 mg once daily for 14 days or doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 21 days. At enrollment and 30 days after beginning treatment, all patients underwent microbiological cultures for uropathogens bacteria and yeasts, DNA extraction and mucosal IgA evaluation for Ct diagnosis, seminal plasma IL-8 evaluation and serum IgA and IgG anti-Ct analysis. The National Institutes of Health - Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was given to each patient. A total of 109 patients received prulifloxacin and 102 received standard therapy. Prulifloxacin had clinical efficacy rates equivalent to standard therapy (82.5% vs. 79.9%) (P = 0.08) and showed superior microbiological efficacy rates compared to standard therapy, in terms of decreasing mucosal IgA (P < 0.001) and IL-8 levels (P < 0.001). Prulifloxacin was also equivalent to standard therapy for clinical success, as demonstrated by a decrease in the number of patients affected by CP due to Ct infection.","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"32 1","pages":"39-45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28914728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ameliorative potential of angiotensin1-7/Mas receptor axis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats.","authors":"T Singh, K Singh, P L Sharma","doi":"10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1434160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1434160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study was designed to investigate the effects of angiotensin(1-7) (Ang(1-7)) a Mas receptor agonist, and A-779, a Mas receptor antagonist, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN). A single administration of streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg i.p.) to rats produced diabetes, and diabetic nephropathy developed after 8 weeks of STZ administration. The extent of DN was assessed biochemically and morphologically by measuring serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), proteinuria, urinary N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminadase activity, renal collagen contents, lipid profile, serum nitrite/nitrate concentration and kidney weight/body weight (%). Treatments with Ang(1-7) (576 microg/kg/day i.p. for 4 weeks) and Ang(1-7) plus A-779 (744 microg/kg/day i.p. for 4 weeks) were started after 4 weeks of STZ administration. The treatment with Ang(1-7) attenuated STZ-induced nephropathy in rats by decreasing proteinuria, renal collagen content and by improving endothelial functions without preventing tubular damage. It has been shown for the first time that treatment with Ang(1-7) decreases dyslipidemia and BUN in diabetic rats, implying a renoprotective effect of the peptide. However, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance and kidney weight/body weight (%) remained unaffected with Ang(1-7) treatment. It may be concluded that activation by specific agonists of the Mas receptor may be useful in combating glomerular damage in DN.</p>","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"32 1","pages":"19-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28914294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Upregulation of Fas and FasL expression in nicotine-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells.","authors":"X L Cheng, H Zhang, D Guo, Z D Qiao","doi":"10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1428742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2010.32.1.1428742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although smoking-related coronary vascular disease is well documented, the effects of nicotine have not been fully investigated. There is controversy over reports about the effect of nicotine on apoptosis. The effect of nicotine on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the expressions of Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) and caspase-3 were evaluated in this study. Annexin V fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide double staining demonstrated that nicotine (0.2 microM, 0.5 microM and 1 microM) could induce apoptosis of HUVECs; reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Western blotting analysis demonstrated that levels of Fas and FasL expression were increased in nicotine-treated HUVECs. Moreover, caspase-3 expression was also increased. These data indicate that nicotine induces the apoptosis of HUVECs, and that the Fas/FasL pathway may play an important role. This provides evidence that nicotine may have an important role in cardiovascular pathology and atherogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"32 1","pages":"13-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28914292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G J Amabeoku, S J Erasmus, J A O Ojewole, J T Mukinda
{"title":"Antipyretic and antinociceptive properties of Mentha longifolia Huds. (Lamiaceae) leaf aqueous extract in rats and mice.","authors":"G J Amabeoku, S J Erasmus, J A O Ojewole, J T Mukinda","doi":"10.1358/mf.2009.31.10.1441861","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2009.31.10.1441861","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The antipyretic and antinociceptive properties of Mentha longifolia Huds. (Lamiaceae) leaf aqueous extract were investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyrexia in rats, and acetic acid and hot plate analgesia tests in mice. Pentoxifylline, paracetamol and morphine were used as standard drugs for comparison. M. longifolia leaf aqueous extract and pentoxifylline (37.5-150 mg/kg i.p.) significantly (P < 0.05-0.02) reduced the LPS (50 g/kg i.m.)-elicited pyrexia. Pentoxifylline (50 mg/kg i.p.) also significantly (P < 0.01) reduced LPS (50 g/kg i.m.)-induced pyrexia. M. longifolia leaf aqueous extract (6.25-100 mg/kg i.p.) and paracetamol (500 mg/kg i.p.) profoundly inhibited the writhes produced by 3% acetic acid. Furthermore, the plant extract (25-400 mg/kg i.p.) and morphine (10 mg/kg i.p.) significantly (P < 0.001) delayed the hot plate reaction time in mice. The LD(50) values for oral and intraperitoneal administration of the plant extract were > 3200 mg/kg and 1730 mg/kg, respectively. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides and triterpene steroids in the leaves of M. longifolia. These data indicate that M. longifolia leaf aqueous extract has antipyretic and antinociceptive properties. Furthermore, the relatively high LD(50) values obtained for oral and intraperitoneal administration of the plant extract demonstrate that the plant extract is non-toxic to mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"31 10","pages":"645-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28699751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of a proprietary Bacillus coagulans preparation on symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.","authors":"B J Dolin","doi":"10.1358/mf.2009.31.10.1441078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2009.31.10.1441078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have a profound impact on quality of life for many patients and current treatments are sometimes unsatisfactory. This controlled pilot study was conducted to evaluate effects of the proprietary GanedenBC(30) (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086) probiotic on IBS symptoms, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial including patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). Patients were randomized to receive either B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 or placebo once a day for 8 weeks. Patients filled out a quality-of-life questionnaire, and self-assessment diaries were provided to record stool count and consistency, symptom severity, and medication consumption. Of the 61 patients enrolled, six did not meet the inclusion criteria and three were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 52 patients with IBS-D, the average number of bowel movements per day was significantly reduced for patients treated with B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 when compared to placebo (P = 0.042). Large variability in baseline scores prevented the assessment of severity scores and quality of life. This small pilot study provides evidence that the proprietary B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 probiotic is safe and effective for reducing daily bowel movements in patients with IBS-D.</p>","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"31 10","pages":"655-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28701228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High glucose inhibits gene expression of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in osteoblast cells.","authors":"Jun Hoe Kim, Yun-Young Kim, Sung-Jin Kim","doi":"10.1358/mf.2009.31.10.1441114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1358/mf.2009.31.10.1441114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It has been suggested that bone metabolism disorders are one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus. However, the exact mechanisms as to how diabetes affects bone metabolism are yet to be determined. In the present study, we have searched for high glucose regulated genes in osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells. UMR-106 cells were treated with normal glucose (5.5 mM), high glucose (16.5 mM or 30.5 mM) and mannitol (16.5 mM) as a hyperosmotic control. Following the isolation of total RNA, GeneFishing differential display-PCR (DDPCR) was carried out and followed by cloning, sequencing and searching in a gene bank data base to identify the high glucose induced gene(s). Through the DD-PCR technique which employs Annealing Control Primer, or ACP, it has been found that expression of a PCR product was significantly decreased by high glucose treatment: it was identified as tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. Furthermore, reverse transcriptase PCR analysis confirmed that high glucose significantly decreases mRNA expression of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, whereas mannitol treatment does not cause any change in such expression. These results suggest that high glucose may play a significant role in the protein synthesis process of osteoblast cells by decreasing expression of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. In a Western blot analysis, the protein expression of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase was also decreased by high glucose treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that high glucose could affect bone metabolism by regulating the expression of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18443,"journal":{"name":"Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology","volume":"31 10","pages":"639-44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28699750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}