Life sciences
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In this study, we investigated the combined effect of Neurotropin® and pregabalin for L5-spinal nerve ligation (L5-SNL) model in rats and thiopental-induced sleep in mice. ⋯ It was suggested that when Neurotropin was administered in combination with pregabalin, it might provide more effective pain relief than that obtained with each agent alone in neuropathic pain without aggravating adverse effects of pregabalin.
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Fenofibrate is a peroxisome proliferator-associated receptor alpha agonist (PPARα) used clinically for the management of dyslipidemia and is a myocardial fatty acid oxidation stimulator. It has also been shown to have cardiac anti-hypertrophic properties but the effects of fenofibrate on the development of eccentric LVH and ventricular function in chronic left ventricular (LV) volume overload (VO) are unknown. This study was therefore designed to explore the effects of fenofibrate treatment in a VO rat model caused by severe aortic valve regurgitation (AR) with a focus on cardiac remodeling and myocardial metabolism. ⋯ Fenofibrate decreased LV eccentric remodeling associated with severe VO and helped maintain systolic function. Studies with a longer follow-up will be needed to assess the long-term effects of fenofibrate in chronic volume overload caused by aortic regurgitation.
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Comparative Study
Effect of acetaminophen on the progression of renal damage in adenine induced renal failure model rats.
Acetaminophen is a safe antipyretic and analgesic drug within the clinically recommended dosage range, but overdose can cause fatal liver and or kidney damage. Most of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) exert their analgesic effect via inhibition of cyclooxygenase, which also results in a reduction of renal blood flow. Therefore, the use of NSAIDs in pain treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is of particular concern. Acetaminophen lacks the anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulatory properties of the NSAIDs. In this study, we investigate whether acetaminophen has an impact on the progression of renal failure. ⋯ Acetaminophen has no effect on the progression of renal damage in adenine-induced renal failure model rats. This result is in part due to acetaminophen's antioxidant activity. These results suggest that acetaminophen is a suitable analgesic agent for treating CKD patients.
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Hypercholesterolemia is known to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and diet-induced hypercholesterolemia has been shown to accelerate amyloid pathology in animals. While growing evidence has shown that synaptic and cognitive dysfunction in AD is associated with intraneuronal accumulation of Aβ, the relationships between hypercholesterolemia, memory impairment, and intraneuronal Aβ remains unclear. The present study aims to clarify this association. ⋯ Our findings suggest that hypercholesterolemia accelerates intraneuronal accumulation of Aβ oligomers and subsequent synapse loss, resulting in memory impairment.
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There is mounting evidence that use of B vitamins can help control neuropathic pain. This study investigated if treatment with B1, B6 and B12 vitamins, alone or in combination with carbamazepine, can ameliorate distinct nociceptive behaviors in a model of trigeminal neuropathic pain. ⋯ We suggest that B vitamins might constitute a relevant adjuvant to control some aspects of the pain afflicting patients suffering from trigeminal neuropathic pain.