Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Apr 2020
ReviewRenin-angiotensin system inhibitors in management of hypertension during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19, which is caused by the single-stranded RNA severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has introduced significant therapeutic dilemmas in several areas. One of these is concern regarding the use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors. Dysfunction of the RAS has been observed in COVID-19 patients, but whether RAS inhibitors, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockers (ARBs), are associated with improved or worse clinical outcomes, remains unclear. ⋯ While the SARS-CoV-2 viral load remains the highest in upper respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients, it has also been reported in multiple sites in COVID-19, and patients not infrequently require the Intensive Care Units (ICU) admission. However, despite the theoretical concerns of possible increased ACE2 expression by RAS blockade, there is no evidence that RAS inhibitors are harmful during COVID-19 infection, and indeed they have been shown to be beneficial in some animal studies. In this review we summarise the pathophysiology of the interaction between RAS, ACEIs/ARBs inhibitors and COVID-19, and conclude, on the basis of current data, that RAS blockade should be maintained during the current coronavirus pandemic.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Aug 2017
ReviewCrataegus special extract WS 1442: up-to-date review of experimental and clinical experiences.
Extracts and tinctures made from Crataegus spp. (Hawthorn) have been used as cardioprotective remedies since ancient times. WS 1442 special extract, manufactured by Dr. W. ⋯ Moreover, WS 1442 also carries proven vasorelaxant activity, via affecting eNOS synthase, and prevents ischemic heart tissue swelling by influence on calcium signaling pathways, and thus detain hyperpermeability of endothelium. Actions of WS 1442 special extract were investigated in in vitro as well as in vivo studies including large clinical trials. In this review authors present current state of knowledge about possible beneficial effects of WS 1442 special extract on cardiovascular system.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Aug 2017
Association between standard laboratory and functional tests of coagulation in dilutional coagulopathy: an in vitro study.
Standard laboratory tests (SLTs) of coagulation are in common use in clinical practice. We aimed to determine the association between SLTs and functional tests of coagulation in blood samples diluted with balanced crystalloid and colloid solutions in an ex vivo setting. The study group comprised 32 healthy young male volunteers. ⋯ Fibrinogen concentration correlated positively with fibrinogen function as determined by FIBTEM (i.e. fibrinogen deficiency/dysfunction screening test) maximum clot firmness (R = 0.49 to 0.73; P < 0.05). ROTEM results were predominantly associated with fibrinogen concentration and number of platelets. When there is no access to functional tests, concentration of fibrinogen is the most reliable test of coagulation, also in the context of fluid-induced coagulopathy.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Dec 2016
Successful therapy of Clostridium difficile infection with fecal microbiota transplantation.
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea and represents an important burden for healthcare worldwide. Symptoms of severe CDI include watery, foul-smelling diarrhea, peripheral leucocytosis, increased C-reactive protein (CRP), acute renal failure, hypotension and pseudomembranous colitis. Recent studies indicate that the main cause of CDI is dysbiosis, an imbalance in the normal gut microbiota. ⋯ The sequencing analysis demonstrated an elevated abundance of beneficial bacterial species such as Lactobacillaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Sutterellaceae and Porphyromonodacea after FMT. No serious side effects were observed. We concluded that FMT represented a very effective and safe treatment of recurrent and/or severe CDI and led to favorable shifts in the composition of gut microbiome.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Aug 2016
Comparative StudyPronociceptive effects induced by cutaneous application of a transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel agonist methylglyoxal in diabetic animals: comparison with tunicamycin-induced endoplastic reticulum stress.
Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive carbonyl compound generated in diabetes mellitus. MG is an established transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel agonist that contributes to TRPA1-mediated diabetic pain hypersensitivity. Here we studied whether exposure to diabetes and thereby to elevated endogenous MG modulates hypersensitivity induced by intradermal MG. ⋯ In vitro patch clamp recording indicated that tunicamycin itself (30 μM) is not a TRPA1 agonist. The results indicate that pain hypersensitivity induced by non-diabetic ER stress as well as that induced by diabetes is mediated TRPA1. Reduction of MG-induced hypersensitivity in diabetes or ER stress may, at least partly, be explained by peripheral mechanisms.