Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of prostaglandin E1 on the disease activity in adjuvant arthritic rats

The effect of oral prostagladin E[1] on the disease activity, histolpathological pattern of gastrointestinal tract and on serum cortisol level were:studied in rats rendered arthritic by intradermal inoculation of Freund's adjuvant In the arthritic rats PGE[1] 100ug/kg/day orally was given first day of adjuvant inoculation till full development of arthritis [28 days] i.e as a prophylactic agent or given after establishment of arthritis for 2 weeks i.e. as a therapeutic agent. It was found that the prophylactic or the therapeutic administration of PGE[1] significantly decreased the arthritic disease activity as evidenced by the reduced development of paw oedema, increased pain threshold and correction of biochemical inflammatory markers namely serum C-reactive protein and serum albumin. The histopathological examination revealed marked gastrointestinal trophic action of PGE[1] which was more pronounced in the stomach. Serum cortisol level was significantly raised in the groups treated with PGE[1] The present findings strongly suggest the prophylactic and therapeutic value, of oral PGE[1] and investigate some of the possible underlying mechanism for their action in rheumatic diseases. However, further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of PGE[1] in management of arthritis

Isradipine and indomethacin effects on collagen adjuvant arthritic rats

This work was carried out to study the effect of a relatively new calcium channel blocker "isradipine" on some therapeutic and side effects of indomethacin. Inflammatory collagen polyarthritis model which bears resemblence to rheumatoid arthritis was induced by injection of collagen in complete Freund's adjuvant. Treatment of arthritic rats either by indomethacin or isradipine or combination of both drugs for 15 days resulted in significant analgesic activity as evaluated by the analgesimeter. Meanwhile, indomethacin either alone or in combination with isradipine reduced the rats hind paw thickness. Induction of arthritis was accompanied by significant elevation of serum C-reactive protein and a decrease in albumin, with no significant change in cortisol levels. These parameters were not significantly affected by treatment with any drug i.e. these drugs improved the symptoms and did not affect the progress of the disease. Histopathologic changes of the stomach revealed that, isradipine improved the gastric lesions of nontreated and indomethacin treated arthritic rats. Also, isradipine partially protected the kidney from renal tubular necrosis and interstitial nephritis caused by indomethacin. It could be concluded that administration of calcium channel blockers in association with N.S.A.I.Ds in rheumatologic practice may be used to increase the analgesic effect and decrease the gastric erosion and nephrotoxicity of NSAIDs

Effect of calcium antagonists on rat's testis; serum prolactin and testosterone

The effect of chronic administration of phenylakylamine derivatives [Verapamil] on the gonadal structure and function of adult male rats were investigated and compared with dihydropyridine dervatifves [nifedipine and isradipine] 64 male albino rats were included in this study, they were divided into four equal groups the first group received water and served as control Verapamil 20 mg/kg/day, nifedipine 1 mg/kg/day and israpidine 0.3 mg/kg/day were given orally through a stomach tube without anaesthesia for 6 weeks to group II, III and IV respectively. Serum testosterone and prolactin were estimated by radioimmunoassay method. Furthermore, histopathological study of testis was performed Verapamil included marked alteration in histopathology of testis, which was followed by some recovery after drug withdrwal serum prolactin was significantly increased while serum testosterone was significantly decreased. The histopathologic changes in testis following nifedipine were less marked but irreversible, however, no significant decrease in serum testosterone level were observed. Israpidine, neither, induced histopathologicl changes in testis, nor changes in serum prolactin and testosterone thus, this study shows that the effects of calcium antagonists are variable on fertility, though israpidine is more safe for long term therapy

Evaluation of the prophylactic and the possible therapeutic effects of silymarin in experimental liver cirrhosis

The present work was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic and possible therapeutic effects of silymarin in experimental liver cirrhosis 60 albino rats were included in this study, they were divided into four equal groups The first group was non cirrhotic and served as control, the other three groups were rendered cirrhotic by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride every other day for 10 weeks.The second group was chosen as a cirrhotic control and received saline, the third group was given silymarin orally [80 mg/kg/day]throughout the induction of cirrhotic and the fourth group was given silymarin orally [80 mg/kg/day] for 10 weeks after induction cirrhotic. For laboratory evaluation of functional state of liver, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase [SGOT], glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT], Alkaline phosphate, bilirubin, free fatty acids, triglycerides and total cholesterol were estimated. In addition, histopathological study of liver was performed Simultaneous administration of silymarin with CCL[4] throughout the induction of cirrhosis [Group III] i.e.as prophylactic agent produced marked improvement in the histopathological changes of liver and completely normalized the biochemical abnormalities of CCL[4] induced liver cirrhosis. On the other hand, administration of silymarin for the same period after cirrhosis [Group IV] i.e. as a therapeutic agent produced partial improvement of the histopathological changes and significant but not complete correction of the biochemical abnormalities.The result of the present study indicate that silymarin has both prophylactic and therapeutic effects However it`s prophylactic use exerts a more hepatoprotective effects than its therapeutic use.This point is worthy to be considered in the clinical use of silymarin as early as possible in the management of any hepatic disease or on exposure of the liver to any injurious agent

Plasma B-Endorphin Levels in patient with chronic low back pain treated with needle acupuncture

This study is carried out to evaluate the therapeutic role of needle acupuncture in chronic low back pain and to find out its effect on plasma B-endorphin. Thirty patients with chronic low back pain with and without sciatica and ten apparently healthy subjects were included. Patients were divided into two groups. In the first group [20] patients were treated with needle acupuncture for one month, while patients in the second group [10] were treated by placebo. Clinical evaluation was carried out before and after treatment. Plasma B-endorphin immunoreactivity level was determined by radioimmunoassay. The plasma B-endorphin level was significantly [P<0.001] higher in normal subject than in the chronic low back pain patients. However, there was a significant [P<0.001] increase in plasma B-endorphin in chronic low back pain patients after one month treatment with needle acupuncture. There was a statistically significant reduction [P<0.001] of low back pain after one month of acupuncture treatment. There was a significant increase [P<0.001] in the range of movement of the lumbar spine. Also there was a significant improvement in straight leg raising [SLR] [P<0.001].From these results we could conclude that needle acupuncture is effective in management of patients with chronic low back pain and this therapeutic effect is accompanied by a significant increase in plasma -endorphin level

Experimental comparative study of cyclosporin a CYA versus currently used immunosuppressive drugs

72 Ginea pigs were prepared and randomized to demonstrate the adverse effects of long term therapy of cyclosporine A [Cy A] and other currentely used immunosuppressive drugs [methotrexate, azathioprine, prednisone of the spleen, liver and kidney and also to estimate the effects of these drugs on the brain monoamines content and plasma cortisol level. From our histopathological and biochemical findings, it was concluded that Cy A is the safest and least toxic drug as compared with the ordinary immunsupressive drugs. On the other hand, it was clear that Cy A is the only drug which rises the plasma cortisol level and brain monoamines content significantly and may had a role in the pathogensis of induced system ic hypertension and cushingoid features associated with prolonged administration of this drug, a point that may be taken in consideration in therapeutic uses of Cy A as a potent immunosuppressive agent in transplanted patients

Effect of interaction between the tricyclic antidepressant [Doxepin] and the B-adrenoceptor blocker [timolol] on the brain monoamines and systemic arterial blood pressure. [Experimental and clinical study]

Daily oral administration of timolol 5 mg/kgm for 2 weeks in albino rats produced significant increase in whole brain [A] and [NA] concentration while [5-HT] was significantly reduced. Doxepin administration 10 mg/kgm/day orally for 2 weeks induced significant increase of rat whole brain [A] and significant reduction of [NA] and [5-HT]. The effects of concurrent timolol and doxepin administration on brain [A], [NA] and [5-HT] were similar to effects of timolol but of less magnitude. In patients with mild to moderate hypertension timolol oral therapy [10 mg b.i.d.] induced a highly significant reduction of both diastolic and systolic pressures, while doxepin therapy 25 mg b.i.d. orally for 2 weeks alone or concurrently with timolol [10 mg b.i.d.] induced just significant reduction of diastolic pressure but the systolic pressure was insignificantly lowered, these effects were significantly less than the effects of timolol therapy alone. The effects of timolol or doxepin therapy as well as the effects of interaction between them on the arterial blood pressure could be partly explained by the changes induced by these druge in the brain monoamines estimated in the present work

Assessment of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities on the co-administration of acetyl salicylic acid and ibuprofen in adjuvent-arthritic rats

The effects of interaction between acetyl salicylic acid [300 mg/kgm/day orally for 2 weeks] and ibuprofen [100 mg/kgm/day orally for 2 weeks] were studied in albino rats rendered arthritic by intradermal injection of mycobactrium butyricum. The fluorimetric estimation of plasma cortisol level showed significant elevation following acetyl salicylic acid administration and also following combined ibuprofen and acetyl salicylic acid administration but to a less extent, while ibuprofen alone failed to produce any significant change. Analgesic activity was assessed by analgesymeter test. Acetyl salicylic acid and ibuprofen given seperately or conceurrently produced a highly significant analgesic action which did not differ statistically in various groups. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by the paw oedema test, the anti-inflammatory action of ibuprofen was statistically more marked than that of acetyl salicylic acid, but was more or less similar to the effect of concurrent drug administration. It could be concluded that the analgesic action of combined acetyl salicylic acid and ibuprofen administration was not superior to either drug when given alone, and the anti-inflammatory action of combined administration did not differ from that of ibuprofen alone, thus one could suggest that, this form of combined drug therapy has no advantage over ibuprofen alone