Carvacrol hinders the progression of hepatic fibrosis via targeting autotaxin and thioredoxin in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rat.

Fibrosis is a common outcome of nearly all chronic diseases of liver that results in changes of its functions which requires medical attention. The current research aims to investigate the potential anti-fibrotic efficacy of Carvacrol against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in male rats using Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as a reference anti-fibrotic product. Carvacrol (25 and 50 mg/kg) markedly declined TAA-increased serum liver enzymes; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) as well as total bilirubin (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB) levels as well as increased levels of total protein (TP) and albumin. Carvacrol significantly reduced glutathione depletion (GSH), Nitric oxide (NOX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in liver tissue. Additionally, its anti-oxidant effect brightened up via affecting markers of stress found in the cell as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) where it still had high content and decreased Thioredoxin (Trx) level. The anti-inflammatory effect of Carvacrol was confirmed by decreasing nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contents. Carvacrol showed anti-fibrotic effect clarified by turning down fibrosis-related markers; TGF-ß1, matrix metalloproteinase-3 and 9 (MMP-3 and 9) and Autotaxin (ATX) contents. Furthermore, it decreased alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and caspase-3 immune-expression. The overall outcome of aforementioned markers results showed that Carvacrol suppresses the progression of liver fibrosis via its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic effect and its ability in lowering Thioredoxin and Autotaxin; hence it can be categorized as a hepatoprotective natural substance.

Synthesis and evaluation of 2,6-piperidinedione derivatives as potentially novel compounds with analgesic and other CNS activities.

New 2,6-piperidinediones 2(a-g) and 4(a-d) were prepared by initial condensation of aromatic aldehydes or cycloalkanones with cyanoacetamide to give alpha-cyanocinnamides l(a-g) or cycloalkylidenes 3(a,b) which underwent Michae1 addition with ethyl cyanoacetate or diethylmalonate. Compounds 4(a-d) were alkylated by various alkyl halides to produce the N-alkylated 2,6-piperidinedione derivatives 5(a-m). Some new selected compounds 2(a-c,f), 4(a-d) and 5(e,h,j) were pharmacologically evaluated for potential anticonvulsant, sedative and analgesic activities. These compounds exhibited significant anticonvulsant and analgesic effects after a single I.P. administration 100 mg/kg b.wt. On the other hand all the investigated compounds induced hypnotic activity and prolonged the phenobarbital sodium- induced sleep as compared with the control group and the most potent compound was found to be 2(f).

A five-year survey of pneumococcal peritonitis in two Danish counties--incidence, diagnosis and clinical entities.

Eighteen patients with pneumococcal peritonitis were hospitalized in a five-year survey period from a Danish catchment population of 730 000 (0.5/100 000/year). They were naturally divided into three groups: (1) six children with appendicitis; (2) eight women of childbearing age with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); and (3) four elderly patients with ulcerating gastric diseases. Complications were observed in six patients. All infections were community-acquired, but the pneumococcal etiology was not suspected before the organism was isolated in the laboratory. A classification of peritonitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is discussed.

The effect of etodolac on bile salt and histamine-mediated gastric mucosal injury in the rat.

The effect of the selective cyclo-oxygenase-type-2 (COX-2) inhibitor etodolac on gastric mucosal integrity and gastric acid secretion was investigated in the rat. Etodolac was given in doses comparable with those being used in man for therapy of rheumatic conditions. The effect of etodolac was studied in the presence of a mild barrier breaker and in the presence of increased rates of endogenous acid secretion. In conscious pylorus-ligated rats, etodolac given intragastrically in 16 or 32 mg /kg for 3 h did not by itself give rise to visible gastric mucosal injury. Etodolac, however, exacerbated gastric mucosal injury evoked by intragastric application of acidified sodium taurocholate (5 mM in 150 mM HCl) in a dose-dependent manner. This effect of edotolac was independent of changes in gastric acid secretory responses. In rats whose gastric acid secretion was stimulated by intraperitoneal histamine (5 mg/kg), and etodolac (given i.g. in doses of 16 or 32 mg/kg) also increased gastric mucosal injury caused by histamine dose-dependently in the 3-h pylorus-ligated rats. Etodolac decreased gastric mucus in the saline- and in the sodium taurocholate-treated rats. In urethane-anaesthetized acute gastric fistula rats, intragastric etodolac (32 mg/kg) did not modify basal gastric acid secretion. Our data suggest that etodolac, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, impairs gastric mucosal resistance and can exacerbate gastric mucosal injury caused by other mucosal barrier breaking agents. Cyclooxygenase type-2 thus contributes to the gastric mucosal defences.

[Ritual circumcision. A medicosocial problem]. / Rituel cirkumcision. Et medikosocialt problem.

Circumcision is one of the oldest and most common operations, which has been practised for thousands of years by Moslems, Jews and various tribes in Africa, America, and Australia. Unfortunately, complications may occur during and after circumcision, ranging from trivial to tragic. Our investigation shows a higher incidence of complications when performed by a non-qualified surgeon. We therefore recommend that the operation should only be done by a surgeon in the public health service.

[Circumcision performed by a hairdresser--formerly a circumciser]. / Cirkumcision foretaget af en frisør--tidligere omskaerer.

A case of circumcision undertaken by the newborn boy's grandfather is described.

Study on the possible interaction between an ace inhibitor, a diuretic and an anti-inflammatory drug in normal rats.

Captopril was effective in the long term reduction of serum sodium and aldosterone in normotensive rats, the addition of HCT produced a further decrease in serum sodium and was also useful in preventing hypokalemia produced by HCT. On the other hand, the concurrent therapy with Diclofenac attenuated the hypotensive effect of Captopril and HCT, it was observed that to combine Diclofenac with captopril was more beneficial as regards the metabolic parameters.

Studies on the glycemic and lipidemic effect of atenolol and propranolol in normal and diabetic rats.

The effects of the non-selective beta-blocker propranolol (CAS 525-66-6) and the cardioselective drug atenolol (CAS 29122-68-7) on serum glucose, insulin levels and some serum lipid components, were compared in normal and diabetic rats receiving glibenclamide. The two beta-blockers, when administered concurrently with glibenclamide in normal rats, exerted a significant hypoglycemic effect (p < 0.01), while in diabetic rats the two drugs caused a more significant decrease (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, resp.). Serum insulin levels were mainly unaffected by the two beta-blockers. Propranolol was found to exhibit a hypolipidemic effect in diabetic rats when administered alone or in combination with glibenclamide. In comparison atenolol, when used alone, exerted a significant increase in triglycerides and total lipid levels (p < 0.05) in normal rats. This effect was masked when atenolol was administered concurrently with glibenclamide, but a hypercholesterolemic effect (p < 0.01) was noticed. Paradoxically in diabetic rats, atenolol caused a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in triglycerides level, while its combined use with glibenclamide showed no effect.