Magnesium Potentiates the Vortioxetine’s Effects on Physical Performances and Biological Changes in Exercise-Induced Stress in Rats

Background and objectives: Vortioxetine (VRT) is a relatively new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant and serotonin receptor modulator, approved for the treatment of major depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Depression has been linked with psychomotor disengagement, oxidative stress burden and decreased blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In our study we performed the experimental investigation of VRT, magnesium and of their association on the rats’ endurance capacity, motor behavior and blood biological disturbances in rats subjected to forced exercise in treadmill test. Materials and Methods: The substances were administered orally for 14 consecutive days, as follows: group 1 (control): distilled water 0.3 mL/100 g body; group 2 (Mg): magnesium chloride 200 mg/kg body; group 3 (VRT): VRT 20 mg/kg body; group 4 (VRT+Mg): VRT 20 mg/kg body + magnesium chloride 200 mg/kg body. Magnesium was used as positive control substance with known effects in treadmill test. The consequences of VRT treatment on glucose, cortisol, BDNF and oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide-dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione-peroxidase, lactate dehydrogenase) were also assessed. Results and conclusions: The use of VRT resulted in an improvement in motor capacity and an increase of the rats’ endurance to physical effort. The administration of VRT increased the serum BDNF levels and reduced the oxidative stress in rats subjected to physical effort. The association of magnesium potentiated the effects of VRT on physical performances, the antioxidant activity and the decreasing in serum stress markers in treadmill test in rats.

Assessment of the In Vivo Release and Biocompatibility of Novel Vesicles Containing Zinc in Rats

This paper is focused on the in vivo release and biocompatibility evaluation in rats of some novel systems entrapping zinc chloride in lipid vesicles. The particles were prepared by zinc chloride immobilization inside lipid vesicles made using phosphatidylcholine, stabilized with 0.5% chitosan solution, and dialyzed for 10 h to achieve a neutral pH. The submicrometric systems were physico-chemically characterized. White Wistar rats, assigned into four groups of six animals each, were treated orally with a single dose, as follows: Group I (control): deionized water 0.3 mL/100 g body weight; Group II (Zn): 2 mg/kg body weight (kbw) zinc chloride; Group III (LV-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles; Group IV (LVC-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles stabilized with chitosan. Haematological, biochemical, and immune parameters were assessed after 24 h and 7 days, and then liver fragments were collected for histopathological examination. The use of zinc submicrometric particles-especially those stabilized with chitosan-showed a delayed zinc release in rats. No substantial changes to blood parameters, plasma biochemical tests, serum complement activity, or peripheral neutrophils phagocytic capacity were noted; moreover, the tested substances did not induce liver architectural disturbances. The obtained systems provided a delayed release of zinc, and showed good biocompatibility in rats.

Immunological approaches and therapy in burns (Review)

Burns have become an important public health problem in the last two decades, with just over a quarter of a million deaths annually. Major burns are accompanied by a strong inflammatory response, which will most often lead to systemic response inflammatory syndrome, followed by sepsis and finally induce multiple organ failure. The main mechanism involved in wound healing after burns is the inflammatory process, characterized by the recruitment of myeloid and T cells and by the involvement of numerous cytokines, chemokines, complement fractions, as well as various growth factors. Inflammasomes, protein-based cytosolic complexes, activated during metabolic stress or infection, play a role in modulating and improving the defense capacity of the innate immune system. Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been studied predominantly and several hypotheses have been issued. Restoring the balance between the pro-inflammatory response and the anti-inflammatory activity is the key element to effective therapy in burns. Severe burns require nutritional support and pharmacotherapy not only for burn area but for different pathological complications of burn injury. In-depth research is required to find new ways to modulate the defense capacity, to prevent the complications of abnormal immune response and to treat burn injuries efficiently.

The Influence of Nitric Oxid Donors Nebivolol and S-Nitrosoglutathion of the Oxidatives Stress and Liver Function in Rats

We aimed to investigate the influence of two nitric oxide donors on the oxidative stress and the liver function in rats with experimental-induced acute paw inflammation.The experiment was carried out on white male Wistar rats (200-250 g), randomly assigned into 4 groups of 5 animals each, which received the substances intraperitoneal, as follows: group 1 (Control) saline solution 0.1 ml/100 g body weight; group 2 (IND) indomethacin 150 mg/kg body weight (kbw); groups 3 (NEB) and 4 (GSNO) nebivolol 1 mg/kbw, respectively S-nitroso-glutathione 1 mg/kbw. Carrageenan-induced rat�s paw edema test was used for the generation of acute inflammation. The activity of liver enzymes and of some antioxidant parameters was evaluated before the carrageenan injection, after 24 hours and 3 days. The experimental protocol was approved by the University�s Ethic Committee on Research and Ethical Issues.The administration of indomethacin, nebivolol and S-nitroso-glutathione appears to decrease the oxidative stress after 24 h in rats with experimental-induced acute paw inflammation. The nitric oxide donors nebivolol and S-nitroso-glutathione produced moderate functional and structural liver disturbances in rats with acute inflammation.

The Effects of Two Nitric Oxide Donors in Acute Inflammation in Rats Experimental data

We aimed to investigate the effects of two nitric oxide donors in acute inflammation in rats. The experiment was carried out on white Wistar rats, randomly distributed in 4 groups of 5 animals each; the substances were administered intraperitoneally as follows: Group 1 (SS): saline solution 0.1mL/100 g body weight (control); Group 2 (IND): indometacin 150 mg/kg body weight; Group 3 (NEB): nebivolol 1 mg/kg body weight; Group 4 (GSNO): S-nitroso-glutathione 1 mg/kg body weight. An experimental model of acute hind paw inflammation with carrageenan was used for the researches. The influence of the nitric oxide donors on blood parameters, specific inflammatory and immune markers was evaluated 24 h, respectively 72 hours after the injection of irritant agent. The experimental protocol was implemented according to the recommendations of our University Committee for Research and Ethical Issues. The administration of nitric oxide donors nebivolol and S-nitroso-glutathione was accompanied by a substantial diminution of paw edema, as well as by an important decrease in the percent of lymphocytes, a reduction of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha values. The effects of nebivolol were more accentuated than of S-nitroso-glutathione, but less intense than of indomethacin in the experiment. The treatment with nebivolol and S-nitroso-glutathione produced anti-inflammatory effects on local acute inflammation in the carrageenan-induced paw edema test in rats.

New Nitric Oxide Donors With Therapeutic Potential

Nitric oxide (NO), formerly known as the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, is a mediator with a key role in the body, both in the central nervous system and in periphery. NO is synthesized by several cell types, where it acts as an autocrine and paracrine signaling molecule. Harnessing the impressive therapeutic potential of nitric oxide (NO) remains an ongoing challenge. In order to overcome the limitations linked with the use of nitric oxide and specially to increase the release of the radical in the targeted area, promising therapeutic strategies have been implemented, based on specific technologies which create releasing agents and vehicles for nitric oxide. Organic nitrites are the most known NO donor drugs, used especially in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, technological advances have allowed obtaining variations synthetic derivatives (such as diazeniumdiolates, S-nitrosothiols), which can generate NO in a controlled mode in the body and to chemically stabilize it; these compounds were studied with promising results in various animal models of vasospasm and pulmonary hypertension. Another high value therapeutic path is represented by the development of hybrid drugs (new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory NO donor agents), with practical applications in inflammatory disorders accompanied by pain. Also, there is increasing evidence of the existence of NO donors with important antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.