PharmacologyPub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2023-12-19DOI: 10.1159/000535350
Mirla Rossana Nogueira Mourão, Cícero André Ferreira Macedo, Tiago Feitosa Ribeiro, Mariana Coelho Brito, Pedro Modesto Nascimento Menezes, Felipe Santana de Medeiros, Fernanda Pires Rodrigues de Almeida Ribeiro, Julianeli Tolentino de Lima, Marigilson Pontes de Siqueira Moura, Fabrício Souza Souza
{"title":"Carvacrol-Loaded Nanoemulsion Promotes Tocolytic and Anti-Dysmenorrhea Effects in Rodents.","authors":"Mirla Rossana Nogueira Mourão, Cícero André Ferreira Macedo, Tiago Feitosa Ribeiro, Mariana Coelho Brito, Pedro Modesto Nascimento Menezes, Felipe Santana de Medeiros, Fernanda Pires Rodrigues de Almeida Ribeiro, Julianeli Tolentino de Lima, Marigilson Pontes de Siqueira Moura, Fabrício Souza Souza","doi":"10.1159/000535350","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000535350","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Carvacrol is a phenolic constituent of essential oils that has antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro spasmolytic and in vivo anti-dysmenorrhea potential of a nanoemulsion-containing carvacrol (nanoCARV).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In isolated rat uterus, nanoCARV reduced spontaneous contractions (pEC50 = 3.91 ± 0.25) and relaxed preparations pre-contracted with oxytocin (pEC50 = 3.78 ± 0.2), carbachol (pEC50 = 4.15 ± 0.4), prostaglandin F2α (pEC50 = 3.00 ± 0.36), and KCl (pEC50 = 3.98 ± 0.32). The investigation of the mechanism of action revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the pEC50 values of nanoCARV in the absence or presence of aminophylline or tetraethylammonium. In a primary dysmenorrhea model, treatment with nanoCARV reduced the number of oxytocin-induced abdominal writhes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These data indicate that the anti-dysmenorrhea effect of nanoCARV may be related to the relaxation of uterine smooth muscle, with participation of the cAMP signaling pathway and potassium channels.</p>","PeriodicalId":20209,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"115-120"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138809004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PharmacologyPub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2024-03-01DOI: 10.1159/000536616
Andrea Abate, Elisa Rossini, Mariangela Tamburello, Daniela Paganotti, Massimo Cinquini, Sandra Sigala, Fabio Lodi Rizzini
{"title":"Retrospective Analysis of Patient-Reported Adverse Drug Reactions in an Italian Allergy Unit: ALLERG-RAF Study.","authors":"Andrea Abate, Elisa Rossini, Mariangela Tamburello, Daniela Paganotti, Massimo Cinquini, Sandra Sigala, Fabio Lodi Rizzini","doi":"10.1159/000536616","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000536616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The Italian Medicines Agency indicates that about 5% of hospital admissions are due to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Several factors are recognized to be associated with an increased risk for ADRs, such as the female gender and polytherapy. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the suspected ADRs reported by patients during the anamnestic interview at the Allergy Unit.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>ALLERG-RAF study is a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients evaluated in the Allergy Unit of ASST Spedali Civili and the University of Brescia from 2000 to 2016. The inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and medical consultation requested for suspected ADRs. Data relating to the patient's intrinsic characteristics, the drug supposed to be the cause, and the prescribed pharmacological therapy were collected. Pseudonymized data from each patient were collected in an informatics database.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 2000 to 2016, 35,817 accesses to the Allergy Unit were made, and 2,171 unique events related to a suspected ADR were collected in 1,840 patients. More than two-thirds of the reports concerned females (70.4%). Antibiotics were involved in the majority of the self-reported suspected ADRs (48.7%), particularly beta-lactams (61.1%). Anti-inflammatory drugs, mainly NSAIDs, were second in incidence and suspected in 25.2% of reports. As a site of ADR manifestation, most of the reported reactions involve the skin. No clinical sequelae were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results underline the importance of patient reporting in pharmacovigilance. Furthermore, gender gap data emphasizes the importance of the gender-specific medicine approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":20209,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"129-137"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140022474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PharmacologyPub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2024-03-16DOI: 10.1159/000537964
Wenyan Zhong, Jingjing Chen, Guangfu Xu, Li Xiao
{"title":"Kaempferol Ameliorated Alcoholic Hepatitis through Improving Intestinal Barrier Function by Targeting miRNA-155 Signaling.","authors":"Wenyan Zhong, Jingjing Chen, Guangfu Xu, Li Xiao","doi":"10.1159/000537964","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000537964","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of kaempferol on alcoholic steatohepatitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>C57BL/6 N mice were utilized to establish Binge-on-Chronic alcohol exposure mice model. Kaempferol was given as the interventional drug to chronic alcohol-fed mice for 6 weeks to assess its effects. In vitro, intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells were stimulated by alcohol, and miRNA-155 mimics were used to further study the effect of kaempferol to miRNA-155 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells. HE staining and oil red O staining were used to observe the liver and intestinal tissue damage in each group of mice, and ALT, AST, IL-1β, and TNF-α were detected by kits; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) expression was detected by ELISA kit, and the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was assessed by qRT-PCR; Western blot was utilized to assess the excessive inflammatory response of liver and colon tissue and the related signaling pathway activation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Kaempferol treatment significantly improved pathological changes such as steatosis and vacuolated lesions in liver tissue of the alcohol diet model group, and reduced serum ALT and AST enzyme activities and liver tissue interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression levels. Kaempferol significantly reduced the expression of miRNA-155 in the intestinal tissue of alcohol-fed mice, significantly increased their cytokine suppressor signaling 1 (SOCS1) protein expression, inhibited the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B and significantly increased the production of the intestinal tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occludens-1. More importantly, kaempferol significantly reduced serum LPS levels in alcoholic steatohepatitis mice. In vitro experiments showed that compared with the control group, kaempferol significantly inhibited the expression level of miRNA-155 in Caco-2 cells under ethanol exposure, decreased the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B, led to an increase in the expression of SOCS1 protein, and increased the production level of occludin protein in Caco-2 cells under the effect of alcohol. In contrast, overexpression of miRNA-155 significantly decreased occludin and SOCS1 protein production and increased nuclear factor kappa-B activation levels in Caco-2 cells, and the administration of kaempferol significantly inhibited this effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Kaempferol improved the stability of gut barrier function to ameliorate hepatic injury induced by alcohol intake through enhancing occludin protein expression, by targeting miR-155 to inhibit the excessive inflammatory response in the intestine.</p>","PeriodicalId":20209,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"138-146"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140144027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PharmacologyPub Date : 2023-01-01DOI: 10.1159/000527887
Grazia Ilaria Caruso, Dhwani S Korde, Christian Humpel
{"title":"Melatonin Supports the Survival of Cholinergic Neurons in Organotypic Brain Slices of the Basal Nucleus of Meynert.","authors":"Grazia Ilaria Caruso, Dhwani S Korde, Christian Humpel","doi":"10.1159/000527887","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000527887","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The nucleus basalis of Meynert (nBM) is the major source of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain, which require nerve growth factor (NGF) for their survival. Melatonin, a pleiotropic hormone, has been shown to exert neuroprotection in several experimental models, but its effect on nBM neurons is not well known. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of melatonin in organotypic brain slices of the nBM. Organotypic nBM slices were incubated for 2 weeks without (control) or with 100 ng/mL NGF, 1 μM melatonin, or a combination of both. Cholinergic neurons were immunohistochemically stained for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and subjected to a co-localization study with silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and melatonin receptor 1A (MT1A), both potentially involved in melatonin neuroprotection. Counting of ChAT-positive neurons in nBM slices showed that melatonin and NGF significantly increased the number of ChAT-positive neurons compared to the control in a dose-dependent manner (1-10 μM). In co-treatment with NGF, melatonin did not potentiate the maximal NGF-mediated effect. Immunohistochemical analysis proved that cholinergic nBM neurons co-localized with SIRT1 and MT1A receptor. Our data show that melatonin improves the survival of cholinergic nBM neurons and confirm that they express SIRT1 and MT1A.</p>","PeriodicalId":20209,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacology","volume":"108 2","pages":"204-212"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9391733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oral Administration of Artemisia argyi Polysaccharide Increases Estrogen Level and Maintains Blood Lipid Homeostasis in Ovariectomized Rats.","authors":"Pengfei Zhang, Huimin Sun, Dexin Yang, Yuanyuan Wang, Jiejuan Cheng, Changchun Zeng","doi":"10.1159/000527465","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000527465","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Artemisia argyi polysaccharide (AAP) has a beneficial effect on menstruation-related symptoms and the potential regulation of lipid metabolism. It is expected to be a safe and effective ingredient for estrogen deficiency and lipid metabolic disorders. Here, we investigate the effect of AAP on body weight gain, estrogen level, and blood lipid changes in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-six female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six treatment groups, including a sham-operated (Sham) group, OVX group, estrogen replacement (OVX + E2) group, and AAP treatment (OVX + 125, 250, 500 mg/kg AAP) group. The body weight and feed intake were recorded every week. The level of estrogen and blood lipid was determined. The gene expressions and protein expressions of estrogen receptors (ERs), fatty acid synthetase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2), and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) were determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>AAP treatment significantly decreased the body weight gain and average daily food intake of rats in the OVX group. Treatment with AAP significantly increased the relative weight of the uterus, plasma estrogen level, and the gene expression and protein expression of ER-α in the uterus. For blood lipids, plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced by AAP treatment in OVX rats. AAP treatment decreased the expression of FAS and HMGR in the liver of OVX rats. Furthermore, AAP treatment significantly increased the gene expression of ACC2, the protein expression of P-ACC2, and the ratio of P-ACC2/ACC2.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In summary, AAP treatment exerts beneficial effects on body weight gain and lipid metabolism disorder induced by ovariectomy through increasing estrogen levels, inhibiting FAS, and promoting fatty acid oxidation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20209,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacology","volume":"108 2","pages":"147-156"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9407527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lafutidine Ameliorates Indomethacin-Induced Small Intestinal Damage in Rats by Modifying the Intestinal Mucosal Barrier, Inflammation, and Microbiota.","authors":"Lanping Zhu, Junyi Guo, Qinlingfei Liu, Yang Luo, Jing Zhao, Weilong Zhong, Siyuan Sun, Xiuxiu Xu, Huixi Liang, Chenxi Lou, Chongfei Song, Jihua Chen, Jingwen Zhao, Bangmao Wang, Xin Chen","doi":"10.1159/000529879","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000529879","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced small intestinal damage is a serious and escalating clinical problem without effective treatment. Lafutidine (LAF) is a novel histamine H2 receptor antagonist with a mucosal protective action. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of LAF on indomethacin (IND)-induced enteropathy in rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Rats were treated with LAF for 10 days with concomitant IND treatment on the final 5 days. Changes in metabolism and hematological and biochemical parameters were measured, and intestinal damage was blindly scored. Intestinal mucosal tissue and luminal contents were collected for transcriptome and microbiota sequencing. Intestinal inflammation and barrier function were also evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>LAF treatment prevented anorexia and weight loss in rats and ameliorated reductions in hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, and albumin levels. LAF reduced the severity of IND-induced intestinal damage including macroscopic and histopathological damage score. Transcriptome sequencing results indicated that LAF might have positive effects on intestinal inflammation and the intestinal mucosal barrier. Further research revealed that LAF decreased neutrophil infiltration, and IL-1β and TNF-α expression in intestinal tissue. Besides, the treatment increased mucus secretion, MUC2, Occludin, and ZO-1 expression, and decreased serum D-lactate levels. LAF treatment also ameliorates microbial dysbiosis in small intestine induced by IND and increased the abundance of Lactobacillus acidophilus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>LAF may protect against NSAID enteropathy via enhancing the intestinal mucosal barrier, inhibiting inflammation, and regulating microbiota.</p>","PeriodicalId":20209,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacology","volume":"108 3","pages":"286-300"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9528683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PharmacologyPub Date : 2023-01-01Epub Date: 2023-09-06DOI: 10.1159/000533344
Esther Juarez Cortés, Gustavo López Y López, Eduardo I Perez Muñoz, Betzabel Rodriguez Reyes, Damian A Madrigal-Aguilar, Rosa A Bobadilla-Lugo
{"title":"Impact of Normal and Overweight Pregnancy in GLUT4 and Glucose-Dependent Vascular Contractility.","authors":"Esther Juarez Cortés, Gustavo López Y López, Eduardo I Perez Muñoz, Betzabel Rodriguez Reyes, Damian A Madrigal-Aguilar, Rosa A Bobadilla-Lugo","doi":"10.1159/000533344","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000533344","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Obesity during pregnancy can contribute to hypertensive complications through changes in glucose utilization. We investigated the impact of vascular glucose uptake, GLUT4 density, and endothelium on agonist-induced vasoconstriction in the aortas of overweight pregnant rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Isolated aortic rings with or without endothelium from pregnant or nonpregnant rats fed a standard (SD) or hypercaloric diet (HD) were contracted with phenylephrine or serotonin (10-9 to 10-4<sc>M</sc>) using standard (11 m<sc>m</sc>) or without (0 m<sc>m</sc>) glucose Krebs solution. GLUT4 density in the aortas was measured using the en face method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Aortas from overweight pregnant animals (PHD) showed increased Phe-induced vasoconstriction (p < 0.05 vs. pregnant standard diet [PSD]), which was endothelium-independent. The contraction decreased significantly in the absence of glucose. In contrast, vessels from pregnant SD rats maintained their contraction in glucose-free Krebs solution. 5-HT increases PHD aortic contraction only in the absence of glucose. The fetal aortas from PHD mothers showed blunted vasoconstriction. Overweight significantly reduced GLUT4 expression in maternal and fetal aortas (p < 0.05 vs. PSD).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Aortic contractility is independent of glucose uptake during healthy pregnancy. In contrast, overweight pregnancy increases contractility. This increase depends directly on smooth muscle glucose uptake and inversely on GLUT-4 density. The increased contraction observed in the vasculature of overweight mothers was inverted in the fetal aortas.</p>","PeriodicalId":20209,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"521-529"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10169381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}