European journal of pharmacology
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Modulation of neutrophil and inflammation markers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by short-term azithromycin treatment.
The anti-inflammatory potential of azithromycin in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients was explored following a standard oral dosing regimen. Patients with moderate and severe COPD were treated with azithromycin (500 mg, n=16) or placebo (n=8) once daily for 3 days in a randomized, double blind design, to compare effects on inflammation markers with those seen in a previous study in healthy volunteers. A battery of tests was made on serum, blood neutrophils and sputum on days 1 (baseline), 3, 4, 11, 18 and 32. ⋯ Blood neutrophil glutathione peroxidase activity showed a prolonged increase after azithromycin treatment. The biphasic facilitatory-then-inhibitory response to azithromycin seen in healthy volunteers is not so clearly detectable in COPD patients, only potential anti-inflammatory effects. Treatment for longer periods may give therapeutic anti-inflammatory benefit in these patients.
-
Cyclooxygenase-2 is harmful in models of cerebral ischemia yet plays a protective role in preconditioning-induced ischemic tolerance in the heart. This study examined the mechanisms underlying cyclooxygenase-2-mediated neurotoxicity and preconditioning-induced neuroprotection in an in vitro model of cerebral ischemia. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 protects cortical neuronal cultures from death induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation and reduces oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced increases in intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)). ⋯ Furthermore, cultures were rendered tolerant to oxygen-glucose deprivation by the transient exposure to exogenous PGE(2) 24 h prior to the insult, indicating that this product of the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway is sufficient to induce ischemic tolerance. This study shows that cyclooxygenase-2 and PGE(2) are involved in both oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neurotoxicity and preconditioning-induced neuroprotection. While neurotoxic in the context of lethal oxygen-glucose deprivation, the moderate activation of this signalling pathway confers ischemic tolerance.
-
Comparative Study
alpha(2)-Adrenoceptor involvement in the in vitro inhibitory effect of citalopram on a subpopulation of rat locus coeruleus neurons.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the modulation of locus coeruleus neurons by the selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor citalopram using single-unit extracellular recordings in rat brain slices. Citalopram inhibited the activity of a subpopulation of locus coeruleus neurons; thus 10 microM citalopram inhibited neurons by 53+/-17% (5 out of 15 cells), whereas the inhibition due to 100 microM was 64+/-4% (32 out of 42 cells). ⋯ Long-term treatment with citalopram (20 mg/kg/day) did not modify the effect of noradrenaline and bromoxidine. Taken together, our results indicate that citalopram exerts an inhibitory effect on locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons. alpha(2)-adrenoceptor activation may underlie this effect as a result of elevated levels of noradrenaline in the synaptic cleft.