Behavioural and molecular study of the effects of rosuvastatin on acquisition and retention of spatial memory impaired by H-89 in rats

There is controversy on the effect of statins on cognitive functions such as spatial memory. In the present study, effect of ten- day oral gavage of rosuvastatin (Ros, 20 mg/kg) on spatial learning and spatial memory retention impaired by H-89, was investigated in male rats. This study was comprised of two sets of experiments each including the following 3 groups (n = 8): Control group treated with DMSO; H-89 group received bilateral intra-hippocampal H-89 (10 μM/side, in DMSO) and Ros- H-89 group orally treated with Ros (20 mg/kg) and H-89 (similar to the H-89 group). For spatial learning (acquisition phase) assessment, from day 7 of Ros gavage, rats were trained in the Morris water maze (MWM) for four days (one block of 4 stages each day) and received daily H-89, 30 min after Ros gavage. On day 11, the probe test was performed. Also, to assess spatial memory retention, from day 7 to 10 of Ros gavage, rats were trained in MWM but received H-89 on day 10 only. On day 12, the probe test was performed. Besides, CREB and p-CREB protein expression was assessed in hippocampal samples and oxidative stress status was assessed in serum samples. We observed that H-89 led to a clear impairment of the spatial learning and spatial memory recall, increased levels of lipid peroxidation and downregulated CREB and p-CREB proteins, compared to the control group. However, Ros prevented H-89-induced deleterious consequences which might be probably in part due to its ameliorative effects on lipid peroxidation index and CREB and p-CREB expression

Melatonin: A Silent Regulator of the Glucose Homeostasis

In the human organism, the circadian regulation of carbohydrates metabolism is essential for the glucose homeostasis and energy balance. Unbalances in glucose and insulin tissue and blood levels have been linked to a variety of metabolic disorders such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Melatonin, the pineal hormone, is the key mediator molecule for the integration between the cyclic environment and the circadian distribution of physiological and behavioral processes and for the optimization of energy balance and body weight regulation, events that are crucial for a healthy organism. This chapter reviews the interplay between melatonin modulatory physiological effects, glucose homeostasis and metabolic balance, from the endocrinology perspective. The tremendous effect of melatonin in the regulation of metabolic processes is observed from the chronobiology perspective, considering melatonin as a major synchronizer of the circadian internal order of the physiological processes involved in energy metabolism

Quality Profile Evaluation of Topical Semi-Solid Systems with Ibuprofen

The topical administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is described as an alternative route for inflammatory disease treatment and is frequently used because it determines local effects therapeutically, similar to oral administration, but with fewer side effects. [...

COVID-19-Current Therapeutical Approaches and Future Perspectives

The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) stimulated an unprecedented international collaborative effort for rapid diagnosis, epidemiologic surveillance, clinical management, prevention, and treatment. This review focuses on the current and new therapeutical approaches, summarizing the viral structure and life cycle, with an emphasis on the specific steps that can be interfered by antivirals: (a) inhibition of viral entry with anti-spike monoclonal antibodies; (b) inhibition of the RNA genome replication with nucleosidic analogs blocking the viral RNA polymerase; (c) inhibition of the main viral protease (Mpro), which directs the formation of the nonstructural proteins. An overview of the immunomodulatory drugs currently used for severe COVID-19 treatment and future therapeutical options are also discussed