Protective effect of thymus extract against stress-induced gastric ulcer in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of thymus extract against peptic ulcer in stress-induced gastric ulcer model in rats, together with the determination of its effect on gastric secretion. The possible effect of thymus extract on the isolated fundal strip of rat stomach and the isolated smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum was also studied. The oral administration of thymus extract [50 mg/kg/day] for one week significantly reduced the incidence of ulceration, the mean ulcer score and the ulcer index compared with the saline control group and achieved a preventive index of 57%. Also, it decreased gastric acidity, as it significantly reduced the mean pepsin concentration as compared with the saline control animals. On the other hand, thymus extract produced a dose- dependent relaxant effect on the isolated smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum, but not the isolated fundal strip of rat stomach

Possible interactions between gentamicin, cefotaxime, ofloxacin and metronidazole with some non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs on rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation

The present study was conducted to investigate the neuromuscular blocking activity for gentamicin, cefotaxime, ofloxacin and metronidazole and the possible interaction with the nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers; atracurium, rocuronium and vecuronium, using the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation. Gentamicin and cefotaxime exerted concentration dependent neuromuscular blocking activities on the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation. Also, they potentiated significantly the neuromuscular blocking activity of the used neuromuscular blocking agents, atracurium, rocuronium and vecuronium at most of the used concentrations. On the other hand, ofloxacin and metronidazole had no effect on the rat phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm preparation when used alone or with the used neuromuscular blockers. It was concluded that anesthesiologists should be aware of the neuromuscular blocking activity of gentamicin and cefotaxime when used perioperatively. Also, the use of ofloxacin and metronidazole, which appears to be safe and does not affect the action of neuromuscular blockers, still needs further investigations