No abstract

Both metformin and glyburide are suitable for use in the management of gestational diabetes because of good glycemic control. However, glyburide treatment is associated with increased risk of neonatal hypoglycemia, high maternal weight gain, high neonatal birth weight, and macrosomia.

Doxorubicin (DOX), a potent broad‑spectrum chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of several types of cancer, is largely limited due to its serious side effects on non‑target organs. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether berberine (Ber), an isoquinoline alkaloid, could reduce DOX‑induced acute hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: i) Control group, ii) DOX group, iii) DOX+Ber (5 mg kg) group; iv) DOX+Ber (10 mg kg), and v) DOX+Ber (20 mg kg) group. In the tests, body weight, organ index, general condition and mortality were observed. In addition, the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TCHO) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined to evaluate hepatorenal function. Hepatorenal toxicity was further assessed using hematoxylin and eosin stained sections. Furthermore, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat serum or tissue homogenate were also assessed to determine the mechanisms of action. Results suggested that pretreatment with Ber ameliorated the DOX‑induced liver and kidney injury by lowering the serum ALT, AST, TCHO and BUN levels, and the damage observed histologically, such as hemorrhage and focal necrosis of liver and kidney tissues induced by DOX were also attenuated by Ber. Furthermore, Ber also exerted certain antioxidative properties through reversing the changes in the levels of MDA, SOD, GSH and MDA induced by DOX. These findings indicate that Ber has protective effects against DOX‑induced acute hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Combination of Ber with DOX is a novel strategy that has the potential for protecting against DOX‑induced hepatorenal toxicity in clinical practice.

No abstract

The purpose of this work is to investigate the efficacy of exogenous melatonin in the treatment of sleep disorders in patients with neurodegenerative disease. We searched Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from inception to July 2015. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared melatonin with placebo and that had the primary aim of improving sleep in people with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). We pooled data with the weighted mean difference in sleep outcomes. To assess heterogeneity in results of individual studies, we used Cochran's Q statistic and the I (2) statistic. 9 RCTs were included in this research. We found that the treatment with exogenous melatonin has positive effects on sleep quality as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in PD patients (MD: 4.20, 95 % CI: 0.92-7.48; P = 0.01), and by changes in PSQI component 4 in AD patients (MD: 0.67, 95 % CI: 0.04-1.30; P = 0.04), but not on objective sleep outcomes in both AD and PD patients. Treatment with melatonin effectively improved the clinical and neurophysiological aspects of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), especially elderly individuals with underlying neurodegenerative disorders. This meta-analysis provided some evidence that melatonin improves sleep quality in patients with AD and PD, and melatonin can be considered as a possible sole or add-on therapy in neurodegenerative disorders patients with RBD.

Aconitum plants, which have analgesic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects, have been widely used to treat various types of disease. However, the apparent toxicity of Aconitum-derived agents, particularly in the cardiovascular system, has largely limited their clinical use. Thus, the present study investigated whether berberine (Ber), an isoquinoline alkaloid, may reduce myocardial injury induced by aconitine (AC) in rats and the underlying mechanisms. Rats (n=40) were randomly divided into four groups: Control, Chuan-wu and Chuan-wu + Ber (8 and 16 mg/kg doses). Electrocardiograms (ECG) of the rats were recorded and serum biomarkers of cardiac function [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB] were assayed. Histopathological changes were assessed using myocardial tissue sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Additionally, the effects of Ber on AC-induced arrhythmias in rats were observed. The changes in ECG following AC perfusion were observed, and the types and onset time of arrhythmias were analyzed. Furthermore, the effects of Ber and AC on papillary muscle action potentials were observed. The results suggested that Ber ameliorated myocardial injury induced by Chuan-wu, which was indicated by reduced arrhythmias and decreased LDH, CK and CK-MB levels in serum. Furthermore, histological damage, including dilation of small veins and congestion, was also markedly attenuated by Ber. In addition, the occurrence of arrhythmias was significantly delayed, and the dosage of AC required to induce arrhythmias was also increased by Ber pretreatment. Additionally, AC-induced changes in action potential amplitude, duration of 30% repolarization and duration of 90% repolarization in the papillary muscle were attenuated by Ber. All of these results indicate that Ber had a preventive effect on acute myocardial injury induced by Chuan-wu and arrhythmias caused by AC, which may be associated with the inhibition of delayed depolarization and triggered activity caused by AC. Thus, combination treatment of Ber with Aconitum plants may be a novel strategy to prevent AC-induced myocardial injury in clinical practice.

Aim: To study chiral selective effects of doxazosin enantiomers on blood pressure and urinary bladder pressure in anesthetized rats. Methods: In anesthetized rats, the carotid blood pressure, left ventricular pressure of the heart and the urinary bladder pressure were recorded. Results: Administration of S-doxazosin at 0.25, 2.5, 25, and 250 nmol/kg iv produced a dose-dependent decrease in blood pressure, but its depressor effect was significantly weaker than that induced by R-doxazosin and racemic-doxazosin (rac-doxazosin), and the ED 30 values (producing a 30% decrease in mean arterial pressure) of R-doxazosin, rac-doxazosin and Sdoxazosin were 15.64, 45.93, and 128.81, respectively. Rac-doxazosin and its enantiomers administered cumulatively in anesthetized rats induced a dose-dependent decrease in the left ventricular systolic pressure and ±dp/dt max , and the potency order of the 3 agents was R-doxazosin >rac-doxazosin >S-doxazosin. Rac-doxazosin and its enantiomers decreased the vesical micturition pressure dose-dependently at 2.5, 25, and 250 nmol/kg, and the inhibitory potency among the 3 agents was not significantly different. Conclusion: S-doxazosin decreases the carotid blood pressure and left ventricular pressure of the heart less than R-doxazosin and racdoxazosin, but its effect on the vesical micturition pressure is similar to R-doxazosin and rac-doxazosin, indicating that S-doxazosin has chiral selectivity between cardiovascular system and urinary system in anesthetized rats.

No abstract