Rectal roflumilast improves trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced chronic colitis in rats

Roflumilast, a highly selective oral phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor, exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. Oral roflumilast causes gastrointestinal side effects, especially vomiting, which could be reduced by administering roflumilast via off-label routes. Inhaled roflumilast reportedly improved inflammatory and histopathological changes in asthmatic mice. The current study investigated the effects of oral and rectal roflumilast on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced chronic colitis in rats, an experimental model resembling human Crohn's disease. Five groups of rats (n=8) were used: normal control, TNBS-induced colitis, and three TNBS-treated colitic groups, which received oral sulfasalazine (500 mg·kg-1·day-1), oral roflumilast (5 mg·kg-1·day-1), or rectal roflumilast (5 mg·kg-1·day-1) for 15 days after colitis induction. Then, the following were assessed: the colitis activity score, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-6 serum levels, colonic length, and myeloperoxidase, malonaldehyde, and glutathione levels. Histological examinations employed H&E, Masson trichrome, and PAS stains in addition to immunostaining for KI-67 and TNF-α. The TNBS-induced colitis rats showed significant increases in disease activity scores, serum TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-6 levels, and colonic myeloperoxidase and malonaldehyde content. They also showed significant decreases in colonic length and glutathione levels in addition to histopathological and immunohistochemical changes. All the treatments significantly improved all these changes. Sulfasalazine provided the greatest improvement, followed by oral roflumilast, and then rectal roflumilast. In conclusion, both oral and rectal roflumilast partially improved TNBS-induced chronic colitis, suggesting the potential of roflumilast as an additional treatment for Crohn's disease.

Genetic diversity of termites from Ta'if City, Saudi Arabia

Aim: In Saudi Arabia, termites are considered as notorious pests that cause enormous damage in both rural and urban areas. The diversity of termites collected from various locations in Ta'if City were characterized, based on the mitochondrial genes mt12S rRNA, mtCOI and mtCOII. Methodology: Termite samples were manually collected during the spring of 2016 from different areas. Five different areas were surveyed to cover all regions of Ta'if City. Molecular identification method was applied to study genetic diversity of termite. Results: A total of 2229 termites were identified as eight species from three families on the basis of best gene (mt12S rRNA). Microcerotermes sp. was the most abundant species, whereas Angulitermes sp. was the least abundant with 0.8% representation. Anacanthotermes ochraceus and Microtermes sp. showed the least amount of intraspecific variation, the two species being 100% identical. Microcerotermes arboreus showed the highest intraspecific variation, ranging from 0.0% to 4.0%. Interspecific variability between the collected and identified species ranged from 7% to 21%. Interpretation: The results indicated the presence of eight different species of termites and the possibility of three new species based on genetic data.