OXIDATIVE STRESS IN GASTRIC MUCOSA IN EXPERIMENTAL MODELS OF ACUTE ULCEROGENESIS. EFFECT OF PARACETAMOL AND PROPACETAMOL

The role of the oxidative stress in acute experimental ulcerogenesis with different pathogenesis and the effect of paracetamol and propacetamol were investigated. The study was performed on male Wistar rats (220-250g) body weight. Gastric ulcer was induced by cold restraint stress (CRS, 4 hours, 4°C), acetyl salicylic acid (ASA, 300mg/kg, 0,2mL/100 g b. w., p. o.) and absolute ethanol (1 ni 1. animal, p. o.). For the assessment of the ulcerogenesis a mean ulcer area and as markers for the oxidative stress malon dialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and uric acid (UA) levels in mucosa were used. The mean ulcer area was 101,4, 13,6 and 9,31mm2 for ethanol, CRS and ASA models. Lipid peroxidation evaluated as MDA level was activated strongly in CRS and ASA and mildly in ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis. The GSH was significantly higher in CRS and ASA models. Paracetamol (250mg/kg) and propacetamol (500mg/kg) exerted antiulcerogenic effect in the three experimental models, more pronounced for paracetamol. Their protective effect was strongest (68% and 85%, respectively) for absolute ethanol. Paracetamol and propacetamol decreased MDA in gastric mucosa and sustained the elevated levels of GSH and uric acid. Gastric ulcer induced by CRS, ASA and absolute ethanol was associated with activation of lipid peroxidation. Paracetamol and propacetamol showed gastroprotective effect associated with decreased lipid peroxidation in gastric mucosa

STUDY OF FREE AMINO ACIDS IN WHITE RAT KIDNEYS FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH MERCURY BICHLORIDE AND PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE "HYDROPROT"

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Structure of the SMC - Stellar component distribution from 2MASS data

The spatial distribution of the SMC stellar component is investigated from 2MASS data. The morphology of the different age populations is presented. The center of the distribution is calculated and compared with previous estimations. The rotation of the stellar content and possible consequence of dark matter presence are discussed. The different stellar populations are identified through a CMD diagram of the 2MASS data. Isopleth contour maps are produced in every case, to reveal the spatial distribution. The derived density profiles are discussed. The older stellar population follows an exponential profile at projected diameters of about 5 kpc (~5 deg) for the major axis and ~4 kpc for the minor axis, centred at RA: 0h:51min, Dec: -73deg 7' (J2000.0). The centre coordinates are found the same for all the different age population maps and are in good accordance with the kinematical centre of the SMC. However they are found considerably different from the coordinates of the centre of the gas distribution. The fact that the older population found on an exponential disk, gives evidence that the stellar content is rotating, with a possible consequence of dark matter presence. The strong interactions between the MCs and the MilkyWay might explain the difference in the distributions of the stellar and gas components. The lack in the observed velocity element, that implies absence of rotation, and contradicts with the consequences of exponential profile of the stellar component, may also be a result of the gravitational interactions.Comment: 7 Pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Comparative Analysis Of The Structure And Content Of Faculties Of Pharmacy Curricula For Pharmacy Master Degree In Bulgaria

Фармацевтичната професия е регулирана, защото представлява дейност от обществена значимост и е от съществено значение за живота и здравето на хората. Правото за упражняването ѝ е определено чрез законови, подзаконови или административни разпоредби. Проучени и анализирани са актуалните учебни планове в петте факултета по фармация в България. Минималният хорариум по задължителните, общо 26 учебни дисциплини е 3015 часа, съгласно Единните държавни изисквания (ЕДИ). Всеки един от петте фармацевтични факултета в България се характеризира с различия в заложената в учебния план теоретична подготовка и брой учебни дисциплини.The pharmaceutical profession is regulated because it is an activity of social significance and is essential for the lifeand health of people. The right to practice it is determined by laws, regulations or administrative provisions. The current curricula at the five faculties of pharmacy in Bulgaria have been studied and analyzed. The minimum horarium of the compulsory, totally 26 subjects is 3015 hours, according to the Unified State Requirements. Each of the five faculties of pharmacy in Bulgaria is characterized by differences in the theoretical education set in the curriculum and the number of subjects

DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC DILEMMAS IN MALIGNANT LYMPHOMAS

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Effects of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice on exploratory behaviour and locomotor activity in rats

The main bioactive substances in Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) are polyphenols (flavonoids, procyanidins, and phenolic acids). A great number of polyphenols are able to traverse the blood-brain barrier. In recent years more attention is drawn to the ability of these substances to influence central nervous system functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of AMFJ on exploratory behaviour and locomotor activity in male Wistar rats. AMFJ was administered orally for 7, 14, 21, and 30 days at three increasing doses (2.5, 5, and 10 ml kg−1). The changes in exploratory behaviour and locomotor activity were recorded in an Opto Varimex apparatus. It was found that the low doses of AMFJ (2.5 and 5 ml kg−1) for all treatment periods did not significantly affect exploratory behaviour and locomotor activity of rats compared to the saline-treated controls. AMFJ at the highest dose of 10 ml kg−1 had no significant effect on exploration and locomotion for the treatment periods of 7 and 14 days, while for the periods of 21 and 30 days it significantly decreased the number of horizontal and vertical movements, which might be the result of a sedative effect. At all the doses and testing periods, AMFJ did not disturb the progressive decrease in motor behaviour, suggesting habituation

The astrometric Gaia-FUN-SSO observation campaign of 99 942 Apophis

Astrometric observations performed by the Gaia Follow-Up Network for Solar System Objects (Gaia-FUN-SSO) play a key role in ensuring that moving objects first detected by ESA's Gaia mission remain recoverable after their discovery. An observation campaign on the potentially hazardous asteroid (99 942) Apophis was conducted during the asteroid's latest period of visibility, from 12/21/2012 to 5/2/2013, to test the coordination and evaluate the overall performance of the Gaia-FUN-SSO . The 2732 high quality astrometric observations acquired during the Gaia-FUN-SSO campaign were reduced with the Platform for Reduction of Astronomical Images Automatically (PRAIA), using the USNO CCD Astrograph Catalogue 4 (UCAC4) as a reference. The astrometric reduction process and the precision of the newly obtained measurements are discussed. We compare the residuals of astrometric observations that we obtained using this reduction process to data sets that were individually reduced by observers and accepted by the Minor Planet Center. We obtained 2103 previously unpublished astrometric positions and provide these to the scientific community. Using these data we show that our reduction of this astrometric campaign with a reliable stellar catalog substantially improves the quality of the astrometric results. We present evidence that the new data will help to reduce the orbit uncertainty of Apophis during its close approach in 2029. We show that uncertainties due to geolocations of observing stations, as well as rounding of astrometric data can introduce an unnecessary degradation in the quality of the resulting astrometric positions. Finally, we discuss the impact of our campaign reduction on the recovery process of newly discovered asteroids.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Effect of buspirone on thermal sensory and pain thresholds in human volunteers

Background Buspirone is a partial 5-HT1A receptor agonist. Animal studies have shown that modulation of serotoninergic transmission at the 5-HT1A receptor can induce analgesia in acute pain models. However, no studies have been published so far on the effects of serotonin receptor agonists on pain perception in humans. Methods The effects of buspirone (30 mg p.o.) on thermal sensory and pain thresholds were investigated in twelve female volunteers (26 ± 2 yrs) in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled study with morphine (10 mg i.v.) as positive control. Results Morphine significantly increased the heat pain detection threshold (ΔT: placebo 1.0°C and 1.3°C, p < 0.05) at 60 minutes. Buspirone caused mild sedation in six participants at 60 minutes, but was without effect on any of the measured parameters. Conclusion Buspirone in the maximal recommended dose was without significant effect on thermal pain. However, as it is only a partial agonist at the 5-HT1A receptor and also acts on other receptor types, the negative results of the present study do not rule out a possible analgesic effect of more specific 5-HT1A receptor agonists

Low Concentrations of Methamphetamine Can Protect Dopaminergic Cells against a Larger Oxidative Stress Injury: Mechanistic Study

Mild stress can protect against a larger insult, a phenomenon termed preconditioning or tolerance. To determine if a low intensity stressor could also protect cells against intense oxidative stress in a model of dopamine deficiency associated with Parkinson disease, we used methamphetamine to provide a mild, preconditioning stress, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) as a source of potentially toxic oxidative stress, and MN9D cells as a model of dopamine neurons. We observed that prior exposure to subtoxic concentrations of methamphetamine protected these cells against 6-OHDA toxicity, whereas higher concentrations of methamphetamine exacerbated it. The protection by methamphetamine was accompanied by decreased uptake of both [3H] dopamine and 6-OHDA into the cells, which may have accounted for some of the apparent protection. However, a number of other effects of methamphetamine exposure suggest that the drug also affected basic cellular survival mechanisms. First, although methamphetamine preconditioning decreased basal pERK1/2 and pAkt levels, it enhanced the 6-OHDA-induced increase in these phosphokinases. Second, the apparent increase in pERK1/2 activity was accompanied by increased pMEK1/2 levels and decreased activity of protein phosphatase 2. Third, methamphetamine upregulated the pro-survival protein Bcl-2. Our results suggest that exposure to low concentrations of methamphetamine cause a number of changes in dopamine cells, some of which result in a decrease in their vulnerability to subsequent oxidative stress. These observations may provide insights into the development of new therapies for prevention or treatment of PD