Effect of fluoxetine and paroxetine on intestinal motility

Background: Serotonin (5-HT) is a biogenic amine that functions as a neurotransmitter of sensorimotor functions in the digestive tract. Te role of 5-HT agents in the modulation of lower gastrointestinal function. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are of potential benefit in functional gastrointestinal diseases although formal evidence is lacking. Apart from central effects, they may have peripheral. The present study was carried out to find out the possible effects of fluoxetine and paroxetine on gastrointestinal smooth muscles of rabbit as they cause severe nausea and vomiting initially.Methods: Experimental study design. Power lab (USA) for recording the contractions of ileal smooth muscle of rabbit in response to serotonin, fluoxetine and paroxetine.Results: The percent responses with serotonin, fluoxetine and paroxetine were 100, 10.53, and 4.75 percent respectively.Conclusions: SSRIs (fluoxetine and paroxetine) were unable to enhance the serotonergic transmission in vitro inturn decreases the qualitative response

Insulin causes airway hyper-reactivity

Background: We explored the acute effects of insulin and one possible mechanism underlying the acute contractile effects of insulin on isolated tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pig in vitro.Methods: Effects of increasing concentrations of histamine (10−7-10−3 M), insulin (10−7-10−3 M), insulin pretreated with a fixed concentration of indomethacin (10−6 M) were studied on isolated tracheal tissue of guinea pig in vitro by constructing cumulative concentration response curves. The tracheal smooth muscle contractions were recorded with transducer on four channel oscillograph.Results: Histamine and insulin produced a concentration-dependent reversible contraction of isolated tracheal muscle of guinea pig. The mean±standard error of the mean of maximum amplitudes of contraction with histamine, insulin and insulin pretreated with indomethacin were 92.5±1.20 mm, 35±1.13 mm and 14.55±0.62 mm respectively. Indomethacin shifted the concentration-response curve of insulin to the right and downwards.Conclusions: Insulin has acute contractile effects on guinea pig airways, which were significantly inhibited by prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin confirming the involvement of contractile prostaglandins in insulin-induced airway hyper-responsiveness

Early detection of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and its prevention by carvedilol

Background: The objective was to detect doxorubicin (Dox) - induced myocardial injury at early stage by quantitative estimation of cardio specific protein, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and to explore the cardioprotective effects of carvedilol.Methods: The study design was lab-based randomized controlled in-vivo in rabbits conducted from January to August 2012. Cardiotoxicity was produced by single intravenous injection of 12 mg/kg body weight (BW) of Dox in a group of rabbits, control group was treated with normal saline only and the rabbits of third group were pre-treated with carvedilol 30 mg/kg of BW for 10 days before injecting Dox.Results: Dox induced cardiotoxicity was depicted by markedly raised serum levels of cTnI, creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, and Grade 3 necrosis of the heart tissue in rabbits. The pre-treatment with carvedilol resulted in improved serum levels of these biomarkers and the histological picture of heart tissue.Conclusions: Quantitative serum estimation of cTnI detects the presence of cardiotoxicity much before cardiac dysfunctions can be revealed by any other diagnostic technique. It can lead to significant economic impact in the management of cancer patients because the troponin-negative subjects can be excluded from long-term cardiac monitoring programs that involve high costs imaging techniques. The outcome of Dox chemotherapy can be made successful with the concurrent use of carvedilol

Inhibitory Effect of Sodium Cromoglycate on Insulin Induced Airway Hyper-Reactivity

Objective: To explore the acute effect of insulin on airway reactivity of guinea pigs and protective effects of sodium cromoglycate against insulin induced airway hyper-reactivity on isolated tracheal tissues of guinea pigs in vitro. Subjects and Methods: Effects of insulin (10-7- 10-3 M) and insulin pretreated with sodium cromoglycate (10-6 M) were observed on isolated tracheal strip of guinea pig (n=12) in vitro by constructing cumulative concentration response curves. The tracheal smooth muscle contractions were recorded with Transducer on Four Channel Oscillograph. Results: Insulin produced a concentration dependent reversible contraction of isolated tracheal muscle of guinea pig. The mean ± SEM of maximum amplitudes of contraction with insulin and insulin pretreated with sodium cromoglycate were 35 ± 1.13 mm and 14.55 ± 0.62 mm respectively. Cromoglycate shifted the concentration response curve of insulin to the right and downwards. Conclusion: Sodium cromoglycate significantly reduced the insulin mediated airway hyper-reactivity in guinea pigs. So we suggest that pretreatment of inhaled insulin with cromoglycate may have clinical implication in amelioration of its potential respiratory adverse effects such as bronchoconstriction

Preventive Effects of Ipratropium and Salbutamol Against Insulin Induced Tracheal Smooth Muscle Contraction in Guinea Pig Model: Ipratropium and Salbutamol inhibit Tracheal Contractions

Inhalational insulin was withdrawn from the market due to its potential to produce airway hyper-reactivity and bronchoconstriction. So, the present study was designed to explore the acute effects of insulin on airway reactivity of guinea pigs and protective effects of salbutamol and ipratropium against insulin induced airway hyper-responsiveness on isolated tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pig. The tracheal muscle contractions were recorded with transducer on four channel oscillograph. The mean ± SEM of maximum amplitude of contraction with increasing concentrations of insulin (10-7- 10-3 M), insulin pretreated with fixed concentration of salbutamol (10-7 M) and ipratropium (10-6 M) were 35 ± 1.13 mm, 14.55 ± 0.62 mm, and 27.8 ± 1.27 mm respectively. Salbutamol inhibited the contractile response of insulin greater than ipratropium on isolated tracheal muscle of guinea pig. So, we suggest that pretreatment of inhaled insulin with salbutamol may be preferred over ipratropium in amelioration of its potential respiratory adverse effects such as bronchoconstriction

Physicochemical Properties, Contamination and Suitability of Canal Water for Irrigation, Lahore Branch Pakistan

The pollution status of Lahore branch canal was determined by physical, chemical and metal constituents because the water is used for irrigation of lands in and around the city. The average result of each physical, chemical and metal parameter at 12 different sites (Location-1 to Location-12) of Lahore branch canal was compared with Food and Agricultural organization (FAO). All physical and chemical parameters were within standards limit while metals concentrations were found in variable quantities in canal water samples. cadmium, copper and chromium concentration was found much higher than the permissible FAO standards

A mesh network of MnO nanowires and CNTs reinforced by molecularly imprinted structures for the selective detection of para-nitrophenol

Advanced material architecture can be used to develop tailor-made interfaces for innovative and selective sensor platforms. An intricate mesh structure of manganese oxide nanowires and carbon nanotubes was synthesized. Further, the mesh was strengthened by a molecularly imprinted network to generate template cavities and impart selective recognition. Termed as MIP@MnO:CNT, this mesh structure was used as the receptor interface for microarray transducers. The unique hybrid composition and morphology enhanced binding performance for detection of para-nitrophenol (P-NP), an important pollutant. The sensor showed exceptional sensitivity towards P-NP monitoring with a limit of detection of 3 nM (S/N = 3). Benefitted from the imprinting strategy, the designed sensor exhibited 85–99% selectivity when compared to other aromatic compounds. Moreover, the designed interface was able to detect P-NP in water samples. As demonstrated in this study, other chemical compositions and morphology of multi-dimensional materials can be crafted for the improved and specific detection of analytes. </p

Synthesis and Characterization of Calcium Alginate-Based Microspheres Entrapped with TiO₂ Nanoparticles and Cinnamon Essential Oil Targeting Clinical <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

It is important to create new generations of materials that can destroy multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, which are a serious public health concern. This study focused on the biosynthesis of an essential oil entrapped in titanium dioxide (TiO2) calcium alginate-based microspheres. In this research, calcium alginate-based microspheres with entrapped TiO2 nanoparticles and cinnamon essential oil (CI-TiO2-MSs) were synthesized, using an aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds for TiO2 nanoparticle preparation, and the ionotropic gelation method for microsphere preparation. The microspheres obtained were spherical, uniformly sized, microporous, and rough surfaced, and they were fully loaded with cinnamon essential oil and TiO2 nanoparticles. The synthesized microspheres were analyzed for antibacterial activity against the clinical multidrug-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Disc diffusion and flow cytometry analysis revealed strong antibacterial activity by CI-TiO2-MSs. The synthesized CI-TiO2-MSs were characterized by the SEM/EDX, X-ray diffraction, and FTIR techniques. Results showed that the TiO2 nanoparticles were spherical and 99 to 150 nm in size, whereas the CI-TiO2-MSs were spherical and rough surfaced. Apoptosis analysis and SEM micrography revealed that the CI-TiO2-MSs had strong bactericidal activity against S. aureus. The in vitro antibacterial experiments proved that the encapsulated CI-TiO2-MSs had strong potential for use as a prolonged controlled release system against multidrug-resistant clinical S. aureus