Levosimendan exerts anticonvulsant properties against PTZ-induced seizures in mice through activation of nNOS/NO pathway: Role for K<inf>ATP</inf> channel

Aims Although approving new anticonvulsants was a major breakthrough in the field of epilepsy control, so far we have met limited success in almost one third of patients suffering from epilepsy and a definite and reliable method is yet to be found. Levosimendan demonstrated neuroprotective effects and reduced mortality in conditions in which seizure can be an etiology of death; however, the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms of levosimendan still eludes us. In the light of evidence suggesting levosimendan can be a KATP channel opener and nitrergic pathway activator, levosimendan may exert antiseizure effects through KATP channels and nitrergic pathway. Main methods In this study, the effects of levosimendan on seizure susceptibility was studied by PTZ-induced seizures model in mice. Key findings Administration of a single effective dose of levosimendan significantly increased seizures threshold and the nitrite level in the hippocampus and temporal cortex. Pretreatment with noneffective doses of glibenclamide (a KATP channel blocker) and L-NAME (a non-selective NOS inhibitor) neutralize the anticonvulsant and nitrite elevating effects of levosimendan. While 7-NI (a neural NOS inhibitor) blocked the anticonvulsant effect of levosimendan, Aminoguanidine (an inducible NOS inhibitor) failed to affect the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Cromakalim (a KATP channel opener) or L-arginine (an NO precursor) augmented the anticonvulsant effects of a subeffective dose of levosimendan. Moreover, co-administration of noneffective doses of Glibenclamide and L-NAME demonstrated a synergistic effect in blocking the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Significance Levosimendan has anticonvulsant effects possibly via KATP/nNOS/NO pathway activation in the hippocampus and temporal corte

Comparison of the effect of receiving three different stresses during pregnancy on anxiety in male rats

Introduction: Evidence shows that pregnancy conditions have a lasting effect on the fetus. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal three common stresses, namely electromagnetic field, social stress, and movement restriction on the anxiety in male rats. Methods: In this experimental study, pregnant female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including 1. Control (with normal pregnancy) 2. Group exposed to electromagnetic field 2. The group receiving immobility stress and 3. Social stress group. The 3 treatment groups received one of the name different stresses daily from the 8 to the 18th day of pregnancy. 3 months after birth, the anxiety level of the male offspring was assessed using plus-maze. Results: The mean percentage of open arms entrance and their presence duration was significantly decreased in offerings that were under all three types of fetal stress compared to the control (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings, fetal stress increases anxiety disorders in children. Also, immobility stress has the greatest effect and social stress has the least effect in this regard

Comparison between the effects of quercetin on seizure threshold in acute and chronic seizure models

Flavonoids are important constituents of food and beverages, and several studies have shown that they have neuroactive properties. Many of these compounds are ligands for γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors in the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the anticonvulsant effects of quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), which is a flavonoid found in plants, in rats treated with pentylenetetrazole in acute and chronic seizure models. Single intraperitoneal administration of quercetin did not show anticonvulsive effects against acute seizure. Similarly, multiple oral pretreatment with quercetin did not have protective effects against acute seizure. However, multiple intraperitoneal administration of quercetin (25 and 50 mg/kg) significantly increased time to death compared with the control (p < 0.001). However, quercetin pretreatment had no significant effects on the pattern of convulsion development during all periods of kindling. But on the test day, quercetin (100 mg/kg) could significantly increase generalized tonic–clonic seizure onset (GTCS) and decrease GTCS duration compared with the control (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). We conclude that quercetin has a narrow therapeutic dose range for anticonvulsant activities in vivo, and it has different effects on the seizure threshold. The different effects of quercetin on seizure threshold may occur through several mechanisms

Cost-effectiveness analysis of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography in an Iranian high-risk population

Objective: The results of recent studies have shown that using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for screening of lung cancer (LC) improves cancer outcomes. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of LDCT in an Iranian high-risk population. Methods: A Markov cohort simulation model with four health states was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of LDCT from a healthcare system perspective in the people aged 55–74 who smoked 25 or more cigarettes per day for 10–30 years. Cost data were collected, reviewing 324 medical records of patients with LC, and utilities and transition probabilities were extracted from the literature. The Monte Carlo simulation method was applied to run the model. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis and one-way analysis were also performed. Results: LC screening in comparison to a no-screening strategy was costly and effective. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of screening versus no-screening was IRR (Iranian rials) 98,515,014.04 which falls below the Iranian threshold of three times GDP (gross domestic product) per capita. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the results of the economic analysis were robust to variations in the key inputs for both. Conclusions: Using LDCT for screening of LC patients in a high-risk population is a cost-effective strategy.</p

Levosimendan exerts anticonvulsant properties against PTZ-induced seizures in mice through activation of nNOS/NO pathway: Role for K-ATP channel

Aims: Although approving new anticonvulsants was a major breakthrough in the field of epilepsy control, so far we have met limited success in almost one third of patients suffering from epilepsy and a definite and reliable method is yet to be found. Levosimendan demonstrated neuroprotective effects and reduced mortality in conditions in which seizure can be an etiology of death; however, the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms of levosimendan still eludes us. In the light of evidence suggesting levosimendan can be a K-ATP channel opener and nitrergic pathway activator, levosimendan may exert antiseizure effects through K-ATP channels and nitrergic pathway. Main methods: In this study, the effects of levosimendan on seizure susceptibility was studied by PTZ-induced seizures model in mice. Key findings: Administration of a single effective dose of levosimendan significantly increased seizures threshold and the nitrite level in the hippocampus and temporal cortex. Pretreatment with noneffective doses of glibenclamide (a K-ATP channel blocicer) and L-NAME (a non-selective NOS inhibitor) neutralize the anticonvulsant and nitrite elevating effects of levosimendan. While 7-NI (a neural NOS inhibitor) blocked the anticonvulsant effect of levosimendan, Aminoguanidine (an inducible NOS inhibitor) failed to affect the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Cromakalim (a K-ATP, channel opener) or L-arginine (an NO precursor) augmented the anticonvulsant effects of a subeffective dose of levosimendan. Moreover, co-administration of noneffective doses of Glibenclamide and L-NAME demonstrated a synergistic effect in blocking the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Significance: Levosimendan has anticonvulsant effects possibly via K-ATP/nNOS/NO pathway activation in the hippocampus and temporal cortex. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

A review on the use of carbon nanotubes nanofluid for energy harvesting system

This paper reviews recent progress and applications of CNT nanofluids in energy harvesting system especially solar collectors. In addition to reviewing the efficiency of solar collectors which use CNT nanofluids, the paper also discusses the preparation methods, factors for enhancing thermal conductivity and optical properties of CNT nanofluids. Finally, the challenges and future trends related to the application of CNT nanofluids in thermal solar collector is discussed