Potential Protective Effects of Metformin on Ocular Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) as a chronic condition is a growing global problem. Its numerous complications, including ocular diseases, affect patients’ quality and length of life. Metformin is an effective, safe, and inexpensive first-line pharmacotherapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The current evidence indicates metformin’s multiple sites of action and multiple molecular mechanisms leading to its beneficial impact on metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, aging, as well as to its cardiovascular, neurological, bone, and antiproliferative properties. These impacts are the result of its acting on adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent and AMPK-independent pathways. Limited data suggest the protective role of metformin on microvascular ocular complications, including retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration in patients with T2D. However, to confirm its mentioned protective and therapeutic effects, more large, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical studies are needed

Antiproliferative, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. essential oil

Introduction: We studied the chemical composition and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of essential oils from flowers of Lavandula angustifolia grown in Southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: The chemical profile of essential oil was evaluated by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial activity was tested against six bacterial strains. The antioxidant activity by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test and the antiproliferative activity against three human cancer cell lines, MCF-7, NCI-H460, and MOLT-4, were investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide tests. Results: In L. angustifolia essential oil, monoterpene alcohols were the most represented class of volatiles (51.8%), including linalool, lavandulol, and terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol as the major components, followed by monoterpene esters (22.6%). The most important antibacterial activity of essential oil was expressed on Gram-negative strains. Investigated essential oil was able to reduce DPPH radicals into the neutral DPPH-H form (inhibitory concentration 50% [IC50] = 0.421 mg/ml), and this activity was dose dependent. The essential oil showed significant antiproliferative activity against three cancer cell lines, MOLT-4, MCF-7, and NCI-H460 cells, with IC50 values of 17, 94, and 97 µg/ml, respectively. The result of the antiproliferative assay indicates that MOLT-4 cell line was the most sensitive to investigated essential oil. Conclusion: The results revealed that L. angustifolia essential oil may be important growth inhibitor against the microbes studied. It also possesses significant antioxidant activity and demonstrated excellent antiproliferative activity against MOLT-4 cells

Models of treatment with antipsychotics of the schizophrenic patients

The aim of this study were to determine which antipsychotic are currently in use, to establish which doses are administrated to patients, to find out is there a practice of proscribing simultaneously more then one antipsychotic drug, to determine whether antipsychotic are proscribed in divided doses, to establish whether there is, besides antipsychotics, treatment with other medicaments (co-administration), especially with antiparkinsonics. The research (study) is epidemiological-clinical prospective, descriptive and analytical and it was conducted at University hospitals in Sarajevo, Tuzla and Mostar. Criteria for inclusion, non-inclusion and exclusion from the study were precisely defined as a mean for formation of sample. Based on this hypothesis were established, zero and alterative. According to zero hypothesis in the treatment of schizophrenia at University hospitals in FBiH new antipsychotic drugs are in use, small doses are proscribed (up to 20 mg), not more then one antipsychotic drug is used simultaneously, antipsychotics are administrated once a day and alongside with antipsychotics other medicaments are not co-administrated, especially antiparkinsons. The results of our study are showing that majority of patients are treated with classical antipsychotics. Minority of patients is treated with atypical neuroleptics like olanzapine, which is proscribed only in Sarajevo. Use of risperidone and ziprasidone is registered also only in Sarajevo, but only small number of patients is treated with these drugs. Most frequent antipsychotics were promazine and haloperidol. The range between minimal and maximal daily dose of promazine was from 50 to 450 mg/daily, and for haloperidol from 1 to 75 mg/daily. Above-mentioned drugs were administrated in an average from two to three times a day. Alongside with antipsychotics, other drugs were used. Most frequent was the use of biperidine in oral and parenteral formulation, as well as nitrazepam and diazepam. The importance of this study is following: data are useful for the current mental health care reform in FBiH, results will point out place and position of FBiH in contemporary world trends in the treatment of schizophrenia, they will contribute to rational use of antipsychotic therapy, they will point out possible ways in reduction of side effects, often dangerous adverse effects of antipsychotics, and they will give contribution to faster rehabilitation of schizophrenics with the reduction of financial means for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia

Frequency and characteristics of side effects associated with antidepressant drugs.

Depression is among the most common of chronic health problems. WHO report predicts that depression will be the leading cause of disability in the industrial world by the year 2020. To be successful, treatment for the patients suffering from depression must be continued until complete recovery, but most patients do not stay on their antidepressant medication long enough. One of the most frequent reasons for break down is appearance of unpleasant side effects. In this study we followed up dynamics of the characteristic side effects of antidepressant therapy, with the major goal to assess their frequency and characteristics. The sample was all female patients taking antidepressant drugs in the Department of Psychiatry of Clinical Centre of University in Sarajevo. The treatment with antidepressants was efficient in most of the patients. A major advantage of SSRI over TCA was less pronounced side effects. The most intensive side effects of TCA (amitriptyline) were dry mouth, tremor and tachycardia while the most frequent side effects included blurred vision, tachycardia, dry mouth, tremor and sedation. Side effects of SSRI (fluoxetine/fluvoxamine) were mild, and the most frequent were nausea, tachycardia, swelling, dry mouth

Topical treatment of standardised burns with herbal remedies in model rats

Experimental studies of burns require the use of different animal models. The aim of this work was to establish experimental model of thermal injuries and to evaluate the effects of topical agents on healing of the burn wounds. Forty female Wistar rats were randomly classified in 4 groups and isolated for 2 weeks before the onset of experiment. Animals were primarily anaesthetized with pentobarbital-sodium and then shaved (skin area of their back with diameters 5 cm x 5 cm). A round metal stamp with contact area of 5 cm2 and total weight of 100 g was heated up to 80°C and then applied without additional pressure on the depilated skin of the back for 14 seconds. This procedure produced a standardized burn wound. Induced burn wounds were immediately drowned in the 4°C-water for 3 s in order to maintain microcirculation. After the inducement of thermal injures, all rats were treated with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream, herbal topical preparations or were not treated at all. Burn wounds were treated twice a day until the healing completion. The result of treatment application was a significant reduction of burn wound diameters. Herbal topical preparations expressed positive therapeutic effects on the parameters of burn wounds. The efficiency of silver sulfadiazine cream in burn wound healing was significantly more expressed in comparison to healing process in control group of animals (p<0,001). We conclude that herbal topical preparations efficiently caused the completion of burn wound healing process without scar formation

Topical treatment of standardised burns with herbal remedies in model rats

Experimental studies of burns require the use of different animal models. The aim of this work was to establish experimental model of thermal injuries and to evaluate the effects of topical agents on healing of the burn wounds. Forty female Wistar rats were randomly classified in 4 groups and isolated for 2 weeks before the onset of experiment. Animals were primarily anaesthetized with pentobarbital-sodium and then shaved (skin area of their back with diameters 5 cm x 5 cm). A round metal stamp with contact area of 5 cm2 and total weight of 100 g was heated up to 80°C and then applied without additional pressure on the depilated skin of the back for 14 seconds. This procedure produced a standardized burn wound. Induced burn wounds were immediately drowned in the 4°C-water for 3 s in order to maintain microcirculation. After the inducement of thermal injures, all rats were treated with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream, herbal topical preparations or were not treated at all. Burn wounds were treated twice a day until the healing completion. The result of treatment application was a significant reduction of burn wound diameters. Herbal topical preparations expressed positive therapeutic effects on the parameters of burn wounds. The efficiency of silver sulfadiazine cream in burn wound healing was significantly more expressed in comparison to healing process in control group of animals (p<0,001). We conclude that herbal topical preparations efficiently caused the completion of burn wound healing process without scar formation

Cytogenetic effects of combination of tridecactide and met-enkephalin on lymphocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis

Introduction: The met-enkephalin (1-5 Adrenorphin) and tridecactide (alpha-corticotropin 1-13) combination is used in the multiple sclerosis (MS) immuno-modulatory treatment. A testing of cytogenetic effects of met-enkephalin resulted in reductions of lymphocytic aberrations in the in the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood (PBL) of patients with immune-mediated diseases. The aim of this research is to evaluate the in vitro effects of the combination of the met-enkephalin and tridecactide on the number and the type of chromosome aberrations in PBL of the MS patients. Methods: We used blood samples from seven female patients with the diagnosis multiple sclerosis based on a McDonald Diagnostic Criteria. The tested combination, met-enkephalin and alpha-ACTH 1-13 was added at three different concentrations and constant volume. Results: Results showed that the combination of tested substances did not reduce the number of structural aberrations, although the treatment did not result in severe aberrations such as ring, fragmented, and dicentric chromosomes. Furthermore, it elicited an increase in the number of numerical aberrations and aneuploidy after the treatment with the test combo. Conclusion: As the changes in ploidy significantly change the DNA as well as the biochemical cell phenotype, we concluded that more research in this field should be conducted, including both toxicological as well as the pharmacodynamic considerations

Improvement of a diet-induced model of hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats: Assessment of biochemical parameters, the thickness of the abdominal aorta and liver histology

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an improved and more reliable atherogenic diet-induced model of hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats for a better insight into pathophysiological changes and their effects on relevant biochemical and histological markers as well as on the thickness of the abdominal aorta. Methods: The study was conducted on a total number of 24 Wistar rats, three-month-old, weighing 180–230g that were divided into two groups: the standard rodent diet (SD) group (n = 12; 6 males and 6 females) in which rats were fed with commercially available standard rodent diet (SRD), and the atherogenic rodent diet (AD) group (n = 12; 6 males and 6 females) in which rats were fed with our mixture of atherogenic rodent diet (ARD) throughout the study period of 28 days. The body weight of rats was recorded weekly. The blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and values of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were determined at baseline, after the 14 days, and on the last day of the study, while other parameters high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, total protein (TP), glucose (GC), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were determined only on the last day of the study. The liver and abdominal aorta were collected after sacrifice and stored for further analysis. Results: Feeding rats with an ARD for 14 days resulted in the successful development of hyperlipidemia, as the TC and TG values were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Further feeding with an ARD for a total of 28 days resulted in significantly increased levels of TC, TG, LDL, non-HDL, and decreased levels of HDL compared to rats fed with SRD (p < 0.05). Greater risk predispositions for CVDs were documented for rats in the AD group, due to the significant increase in AI and LDL/HDL ratio compared to the SD group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Obtained lipid profile and predictors confirm the establishment of a diet-induced model of hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats and prove the suitability of our model for future testing and proving the effectiveness of lipid-lowering agents

SCHOOL CHILDREN EXPOSURE TO LOW INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN CLASSROOMS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY

Background: Indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms affects children’s health and academic performance. The aim of this pilot study was to determine IAQ in elementary schools different in their internal and external characteristics, in settings of COVID-19 epidemics. Methods: IAQ parameters: fine particulate matter (PM2,5) mass concentration, CO2 concentration, temperature and relative humidity were measured in parallel in four elementary schools/classrooms during October (non-heating season) and four months (including holiday in January) of heating season. IAQ parameters were measured in settings of anti-epidemic restrictions (≤13 students in classroom, frequent ventilation). Results: During October, except in one school, PM2,5 concentrations were below the upper recommended value (25μg/m³), but started rising in all schools in the heating season. The highest concentrations of PM2,5 were registered in two schools with closed or shortly opened windows. CO2 concentrations were mostly in the recommended range (up to 1000ppm) except in the school with constantly closed windows and in three schools in February when concentrations were higher. Except in one, the same school, and in January, both temperature and relative humidity were out of the recommended range (24,0–27,0°C in non-heating; 20,0–24,0°C in heating season; and 45–55%), with temperature mainly above and relative humidity mainly below it in three schools. The largest deviation in temperature and relative humidity were registered in urban schools. Registered differences may be explained by different internal and external characteristics. Conclusion: Despite anti-epidemic restrictions, most of the measured IAQ parameters were out of the recommended values in heating season. In addition, further deterioration of IAQ could be expected if all students had been presented in the classroom. Finally, to assure a healthy school environment in heating season, further optimisation of both indoor and outdoor conditions is needed in both pandemic and non-pandemic settings