Meloxicam, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, displays anticonvulsive effects in pentylenetetrazole-induced acute seizures in mice through GABA and glutamate mediated mechanism

Aim: To investigate the possible anticonvulsive effect of the selective COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epileptic seizures in mice and to examine its possible role on inhibition and excitation balance in the brain. Method: 30 BALB-c albino mice (16-18 weeks old) weighing 30-33 gr were used. Animals were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6 for each group). Group 1: control, group 2: received saline (10 ml/kg, i.p.) 30 minutes before PTZ (60 mg/kg i.p.) administration, group 3: received saline (10 ml/kg, i.p.) 30 minutes after PTZ (60 mg/kg i.p.) injection, group 4: received 60 mg/kg meloxicam i.p., 30 minutes before PTZ (60 mg/kg i.p.) administration. Group 5: received meloxicam (60 mg/kg i.p.) 30 minutes after PTZ injection (60 mg/kg, i.p.). The animals were observed for 30 minutes and the seizure stages and first myoclonic jerk times (FMJ) were recorded. After 24 hours, brain tissues were removed and the cortex and hippocampus were separated for biochemical assessments. ELISA method was used to measure GABA and glutamate levels. Results: Administration of meloxicam before PTZ induced seizure, reduced seizure stages and prolonged FMJ duration (p<0.05). Pre-treatment with meloxicam increased GABA levels in the cortex and decreased glutamate levels in the hippocampus (p<0.05). Post-treatment of meloxicam after PTZ-induced seizure increased GABA levels in the hippocampus (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of our experimental study suggest that meloxicam has anti-convulsive effects and these effects may be mediated by GABA and glutamate, which are the main indicators of inhibition and excitation balance in the brain. &nbsp

A family of incomplete Hurwitz-Lerch zeta functions of two variables

Srivastava, Hari M./0000-0002-9277-8092WOS:000546781400001Inspired essentially by the work [H. M. Srivastava, M. A. Chaudhry and R. P. Agarwal [The incomplete Pochhammer symbols and their applications to hypergeometric and related functions, Integral Transforms Spec. Funct. 23 (2012), 659-683] (see [16])] , we introduce the families of the incomplete Hurwitz-Lerch Zeta functions of two variables. We then give the integral representations including the Mellin-Barnes contour integral representation, summation formulas, derivative formulas and recurrence relations for the incomplete Hurwitz-Lerch Zeta functions of two variables

Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy and puerperium: a case series

Intestinal obstruction due to sigmoid volvulus during pregnancy is rare. The presenting signs/symptoms seen in these patients are the same as with non-pregnant patients. Fetal and maternal mortality rates are higher during pregnancy due to delays in diagnosis. We aimed to present four patients diagnosed with sigmoid volvulus during pregnancy and puerperium in our clinic. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion in a patient who presents with complaints of abdominal pain and evidence of bowel obstruction. Prompt intervention is necessary to minimize maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality

Serum levels of TNF-α and osteoprotegerin and bone mineral density in patients with Behçet’s Disease

Objectives: Osteoporosis is commonly developed due tonatural course of Behçet’s disease (BD) and therapeuticagents. It was aimed to investigate levels of osteoprotegerinand TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor), and bone mineral density(BMD) and correlation between them in BD.Materials and methods: The study included two groupsas the study and the control group. Serum levels of TNF-α,osteoprotegerin, osteocalcine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and urinary creatinine anddeoxypyridinoline along with BMD level were evaluated andcompared. Correlation between TNF-α and osteoprotegerinlevel was investigated.Results: The study enrolled 41 BD patients and 36 agedmatchedcontrol subjects. Mean age was 42.26±11.64 and41.66±70.99, in the study and control groups, respectively.There was no significant difference in body mass index(BMI) of subjects between groups (p>0.05). Level of TNF-α(p<0.001), deoxypyridinoline (p<0.001) and osteocalcine(p=0.041) was significantly higher in the study group comparedto the control group. Osteoprotegerin was lower inBD patients, but the difference was not significant (p>0.05).Urinary deoxypyridinoline/ urinary creatinine ratio in patientswith BD was significantly higher than those in control group(p=0.030). Patients had significantly lower BMD comparfedto the control group, except L2-L4 vertebral area (p<0.001,p<0.001, p=0.035, p<0.001, p=0.012, p<0.001, p<0.001 andp=0.111, respectively). No correlation was found betweenTNF-α and osteoprotegerin.Conclusions: The present study indicated that TNF-α andBMD was negatively correlated with each other and TNF-αhad an effect on osteoporotic process in patients with BD.Osteoprotegerin level was not decreased, and not correlatedwith TNF-α.Key words: Behçet’s disease, osteoprotegerin, TNF-α, osteocalcin

Relationship between maternal blood ceruloplasmin level, catalase and myeloperoxidase activity and neural tube defects

Objectives: The exact pathogenesis of neural tube defects (NTDs) is poorly understood. We aimed at evaluating maternal anti-oxidant capacity (ceruloplasmin level, myeloperoxidase and catalase activity) in pregnancies complicated by NTDs. Material and methods: Fifty-four mothers with NTD-affected pregnancies and 61 healthy mothers, matched for gestational age, were recruited. Maternal venous blood samples were obtained after detailed fetal ultrasound examination to measure myeloperoxidase, catalase activity and ceruloplasmin levels. The clinical characteristics of all participants were collected. Results: Maternal blood catalase activity was significantly lower in the study group (117.1 ± 64.8 kU/L) as compared to controls (152.2 ± 110.6 kU/L) (p = 0.044). Maternal blood ceruloplasmin levels were also significantly lower in the study group (180.5 ± 37.7 U/L) as compared to controls (197.9 ± 35.9 U/L) (p = 0.012). Myeloperoxidase activity was similar in both groups (112.6 ± 22.2 U/L vs. 113.6 ± 38.1 U/L) (p = 0.869). Conclusions: In the present study, maternal blood ceruloplasmin level and catalase activity were found to be lower in NTD-affected pregnancies as compared to healthy controls. Thus, it seems safe to conclude that impaired antioxidant capacity may play a role in the development of NTDs during pregnancy, in addition to the genetic, environmental and metabolic factors