Effects of aqueous extract of Notobasis syriaca on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of a dry aqueous extract of Notobasis syriaca (N. syriaca) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in rats. Methods: Rats were fed the dried extract [500 mg/(kg•d)] for three consecutive days and then were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg). Two hours after LPS injection, rats were sacrificed and blood and brain regions were collected. Inflammatory mediators' levels in plasma and homogenates of brain regions were determined by ELISA. Results: Pretreatment with the N. syriaca extract resulted in significant anti-inflammatory effects (P<0.05), including: i) attenuated LPS-induced hypothermia; ii) decreased hypothalamus and hippocampus prostaglandin E2 levels in the LPStreated rats; and, iii) reduced hypothalamus and hippocampus interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-levels in the LPS-treated rats. Conclusions: These results suggest that N. syriaca possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it is possible that long-term consumption of this plant may result in beneficial pharmacological effects.

Effects of aqueous extract of Notobasis syriaca on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of a dry aqueous extract of Notobasis syriaca (N. syriaca) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in rats.Methods:Rats were fed the dried extract [500 mg/(kgod)] for three consecutive days and then were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg). Two hours after LPS injection, rats were sacrificed and blood and brain regions were collected. Inflammatory mediators’ levels in plasma and homogenates of brain regions were determined by ELISA.Results:Pretreatment with the N. syriaca extract resulted in significant anti-inflammatory effects (P<0.05), including: i) attenuated LPS-induced hypothermia; ii) decreased hypothalamus and hippocampus prostaglandin EConclusions:These results suggest that N. syriaca possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it is possible that long-term consumption of this plant may result in beneficial pharmacological effects.

Analgesic effects of gabapentine in tonsillectomy

To evaluate the preemptive effects of gabapentin on postoperative pain relief and its effect on meperidine consumption in patients undergoing tonsillectomy. This study took place in King Abdulaziz Naval Base Hospital in the year 2009. Sixty patients ASA I and II were randomly assigned in a prospective randomized double- blind placebo-control clinical trial. Gabapentine 1200 mg or placebo was given orally two hours before induction of anesthesia to patients undergoing tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. Postoperative pain score was recorded on a visual analogue scale at 1, 3,6, 12, 18 and 24 postoperative hours. Patients received meperidine 1 mg/ kg i.m once every 4 h if pain score >/= 3 or if requested by the patient. Total dose of meperidine consumption was recorded. Thirty patients in the gabapentine group and 30 patients in the placebo group completed the study. Patients in gabapentine group had significantly lower pain score in comparison to placebo group. Total postoperative meperidine consumption in the gabapentin group was [48.8 +/- 33.9 VS 93.8 +/- 54.6] in the placebo group [P< 0.001]. There was higher incidence of nausea, vomiting, and use of antiemetic drugs in the placebo group. Preemptive use of gabapentine decreased pain score and post operative meperidine consumption and reduced meperidine -related adverse effects in patients undergoing tonsillectomy under general anesthesia

Vascular endothelial growth factor: does it play a pathogenic role in systemic sclerosis?

To evaluate the level of the vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in the sera of systemic sclerosis [SSc] patients and its possible correlation with the clinical findings for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. Thirty-two SSc patients, 20 with diffuse SSc [dSSc] and 12 with limited SSc [lSSc] as well as 11 apparently healthy controls participated in this study. Clinical evaluation was done for all of them. Skin involvement was assessed using the modified Rodnan Skin Score and nailfold capillaroscopy [NFC] and pulmonary function tests including forced vital capacity% [FVC%] and forced expiratory volume% in the first second [FEV[1]%] were done for all participants. Their sera were collected and some laboratory investigations were carried out. Additionally, serum VEGF level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Serum VEGF level was significantly higher in both SSc and dSSc patients than the controls [p< 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively]. Also, dSSc patients showed a significantly higher serum VEGF level than lSSc patients [p< 0.001]. No statistically significant difference was found between lSSc and the control group [p> 0.05]. There was a significant lowering of nailfold capillary density in SSc patients as compared to the control group [p < 0.05]. SSc patients with elevated serum VEGF level had pulmonary fibrosis more frequently than those with normal VEGF [p < 0.01]. There was a positive correlation between serum VEGF level and extent of skin sclerosis as determined by modified Rodnan Skin Score [r= 0.55]. However, serum VEGF level correlated negatively with nailfold capillary density, FVC%, and FEV[1]% [r= -0.62, r= -0.63, and r= -0.71, respectively]. The elevated serum VEGF level may contribute to the disease process in SSc patients in particular to the development of skin sclerosis and pulmonary fibrosis. Serum VEGF level may also serve as an indicator of nailfold capillary damage in SSc