Metformin, only in the average human antidiabetic dose, offers a protective effect against scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment, while no deleterious effect was observed with the higher dose, which may support a bonus effect of metformin in type 2 diabetic patients.

A growing body of evidence supports the concept of helminths therapy in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of autoclaved Schistosoma mansoni antigen (ASMA) and Trichinella spiralis antigen (ATSA) on the clinical and immunopathological features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Adjuvant arthritis was induced by subcutaneous and intradermal injections of complete Freund’s adjuvant into the plantar surface of the right hind paw and the root of the tail, respectively. Rats were randomly assigned to serve as normal control, untreated arthritis, ASMA or ATSA-treated arthritis groups. Antigens were given by intradermal injection in two doses, two weeks apart. The development, progression of arthritic features, and the impact on animals’ gait and body weight were followed up for 4 weeks. The associated changes in serum cytokines (IL-17, IFN-γ and IL-10), joints’ histopathology and immunohistochemistry of Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) were evaluated at the end of the study. Treatment with either ASMA or ATSA attenuated the progression of clinical features of polyarthritis, improved gait and body weight gain, reduced the elevated serum IL-17 and further increased both IFN-γ and IL-10. Histopathologically, this was associated with a remarkable regression of paws’ inflammation that was limited only to the subcutaneous tissue, and a significant increase in the number of Foxp 3+ cells versus the untreated arthritis group. In conclusion, both Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis derived antigens exerted protective effect against adjuvant arthritis with better effect achieved by ASMA treatment. This anti-arthritic activity is attributed to upregulation of the Foxp3+ Tregs, with subsequent favorable modulation of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The use of autoclaved parasitic antigens excludes the deleterious effects of imposing helminthic infection by using live parasites, which may pave the way to a new therapeutic modality in treating RA.

Nebivolol possesses multifaceted actions that make it advantageous to combat the CsA-induced toxic effects on renal and endothelial functions.

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Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has attracted interest as a gaseous mediator involved in diverse processes in the nervous system, particularly with respect to learning and memory. However, its therapeutic potential in Alzheimer disease (AD) is not fully explored. Therefore, the effects of H2S-releasing compounds against AD-like behavioural and biochemical abnormalities were investigated. Memory deficit was induced by intracerberoventicular injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 3 mg·kg(-1)). Animals were randomly assigned into 5 groups (12 rats each): normal control, STZ treated, and 3 drug-treated groups receiving naproxen, H2S-releasing naproxen (ATB-346), and diallyl trisulfide in 20, 32, 40 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1), respectively. Memory function was assessed by passive avoidance and T-maze tasks. After 21 days, hippocampal IL-6, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and acetylcholinestrase activity were determined. ATB-346 and diallyl trisulfide ameliorated behavioural performance and reduced malondialdehyde, ADMA, and acetylcholinestrase activity while increasing GSH. This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of H2S release in STZ-induced memory impairment by modulation of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and cholinergic function. It also delineates the implication of ADMA to the cognitive impairment induced by STZ. These findings draw the attention to H2S-releasing compounds as new candidates for treating neurodegenerative disorders that have prominent oxidative and inflammatory components such as AD.

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