The anti-inflammatory effects of anti-depressants have been demonstrated recently. Doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant drug (TCA), has some special properties in comparison with the other members of its family. It has some H1, H2, alpha-1 adrenergic and muscarinic receptor blocking effects. It revealed also anti-nociceptive and relatively potent sedative effects. This study was aimed to evaluate its possible anti-inflammatory effect in a well-established animal model. Male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used in carrageenan-induced inflammatory paw edema model. The test and control drugs were injected by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intracerebral (i.c.v.) routes. The anti-inflammatory activity of doxepin (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg, i.p. and 50 and 100 μg/rat, i.c.v.) and the reference drug, dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated by determination and comparison of some involved biological markers including the paw volume, cytokine levels (interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathological parameters. All i.p. doses of doxepin showed significant anti-inflammatory effect. It also significantly reduced MPO activity and cytokine levels and improved histopathologic parameters of carrageenan-injected paw tissues. I.c.v. administration of the drug did not show any significant reduction of carrageenan-induced paw edema. Although the exact mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of doxepin is not clear, it seems that reduced leukocyte migration and pro-inflammatory cytokines play important role in its anti-inflammatory effect. Also central sites are not involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of the drug.

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BackgroundDrug-induced myopathy is one of the frequent forms of muscle disease, and drugs used for hyperlipidemia, especially the statins are a common culprit, and particularly when combined with a fibrate. Clinicians usually measure plasma levels of three enzymes, creatine kinase (CK), aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for diagnosis of myopathy and determination of its severity. Physical exercise can aggravate statin-associated muscular disease. The question is whether antioxidants like ascorbic acid (vit. C) can prevent such myopathy.MethodsIn this experiment a combination of oral atorvastatin (ATV, 80 mg/kg/day, orally) and gemfibrozil (GMF, 1000 mg/kg/day, orally) was used for ten days plus exercise in days 8, 9 and 10 to induce myopathy in rats. To add physical exercise, the forced swimming test was applied in the last three days. Ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg/day, orally) was added to ATV/GMF plus exercise regimen throughout the 10 days in the treatment group. The mean blood levels of CK, aldolase and LDH were measured in addition to swimming tolerance times. ResultsThere was a significantly lower swimming tolerance time (P < 0.05) and higher CK levels (P < 0.01) in rats receiving ATV/GMF/Vit.C plus exercise compared with rats not taking Vit.C. LDH and aldolase didn’t decrease significantly.ConclusionsA protective role of vit.C against drug-induced myopathy is suggested by the findings of this study.

Background and Purpose: Burns are one of the most common injuries. There are few medications to repair skin in burns. Although antibacterial drugs such as topical silver sulfadiazine may prevent wound infections, they usually can’t attenuate skin healing. Marshmallow is used in Iranian traditional medicine to improve skin burns. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract of Althaea officinalis on the histopathologic parameters of second- and third-degree burns in mice. Experimental approach: The mice were randomly divided into 9 groups (n=6) including control and treatment groups. Experimental second- and third-degree burns were induced on dorsal skin of the mice by a metal plate (2 cm in diameter) under general anesthesia. Control and treatment groups were treated twice daily for 21 days topically. Normal saline was used for control group and hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Althaea officinalis in three concentrations (1%, 2% and 4%) were used for the treatment groups. All of the preparations were made in hydrogel base. Finally, the histopathological parameters of the burned skin including polymorphonuclear (PMN) migration, epithelialization, angiogenesis and collagenization were scored and total score of wound healing was calculated. Key Results: The findings showed that topical application of both hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Althaea officinalis attenuates the wound healing process. they reduce PMN migration, collagenization, epithelialization and angiogenesis scores compared to control group. Conclusions & Implications: Althaea officinalis can be used as an adjunct medication to attenuate wound healing in skin burns.

Sleep sex or sexsomnia is a relatively new disease that is considered an unusual sexual experience and behavior. Many facts about sexsomnia, including its causes, symptoms, and exact prevalence, are still unknown. Given that the symptoms of the disease occur accidentally during the night, it is tough to study this disease in the long run. This study reported a case of a 30-year-old man with sexsomnia who had no recollection of the sexual behavior he exhibited while asleep. He had lichen planopilaris and was not receiving any psychiatric medication at the time of the study. However, he was under treatment with corticosteroids for six months, which eventually worsened his depression. This behavior attracted his wife's attention, and he was referred to a doctor due to infertility.

Background: Statins frequently cause myopathy especially in combination with fibrates, and physical activity is considered a trigger for the muscle disorder. Elevated plasma levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aldolase, are the main indicators of the severity of myopathy. Carvedilol is commonly used with lipid-lowering drugs in the management of heart failure, hypertension and dyslipidemia. It is not yet clear whether carvedilol, an alpha and β blocker, and anti-oxidant, may influence the development of myopathy when combined with statins and fibrates in cardiac patients.  Methods: In this animal experiment, a 10 days regimen containing oral atorvastatin and gemfibrozil at doses of 80 and 1000 mg/kg/day, respectively, was used to induce myopathy in rats. The animals were forced to swim in a pool on days 8, 9 and 10 into the study. Carvedilol (2.5 mg/kg/day) was added to atorvastatin and gemfibrozil during the 10-day study period, in addition to the exercise protocol given to the treatment groups only. The mean of swimming tolerance times and the serum levels of CK, LDH and aldolase were measured at the completion of the study.  Results: Carvedilol did not significantly alter the swimming tolerance time or the plasma levels of CK, LDH and aldolase in the rats receiving ATV, GMF and carvedilol plus the exercise protocol, compared with those that did not receive carvedilol (P>0.05). Conclusion: Carvedilol may be used in combination with lipid-lowering drug in the management of patients with heart failure and hypertension, pending its safety approval by clinical studies in humans.