The results, including the inhibition of mediators (BK, NO, SP, PGE(2) and TNF-á) and enzyme (MPO and ADA) activity, validate the use of the plant under study for therapeutic treatment of anti-inflammatory, painful and wound healing processes.

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LPS induces dose-dependent sickness behavior and hypothermia in pregnant mice. Our findings suggest that the presence of inflammation may be a causative factor for premature labor and that Escherichia coli antigens modify the concentration of pro-inflammatory agents in circulatory system and intra-uterine environment.

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Objective: To evaluate serum levels of bone metabolism biomarkers in patients with Paget's disease of bone (PDB). Methods: Serum levels of osteopontin, sclerostin, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin, Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1), and soluble frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP-1) were measured in 57 patients with Paget’s disease of bone and 24 controls with primary osteoarthritis. Subgroup analysis was employed to identify any differences in bone metabolism biomarker levels according to disease activity or current treatment. Results: Patients with PDB presented higher levels of osteopontin and RANKL. When compared with patients with inactive disease, patients with active disease presented higher levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and osteopontin. There was a significant correlation between serum levels of BAP and osteopontin. There was no significant correlation between levels of BAP and other bone metabolism biomarkers. Current disease extension on bone scintigraphy had a significant correlation with serum levels of osteopontin and BAP. There was no significant correlation between current disease extension and other bone metabolism biomarkers. Serum levels of osteopontin and RANKL were correlated to serum levels of BAP and disease extension. Conclusion: Patients with PDB presented higher levels of osteopontin and RANKL. Osteopontin could be a useful biomarker for activity and extension of PDB.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of rosiglitazone (ROSI) in a pleurisy model of carrageenan-induced inflammation. Efficacy was monitored in the mouse pleural cavity by evaluating leukocyte migration, exudate concentration, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities concomitantly with nitrate/nitrite (NOx), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), and vascular endothelial growth factor-alpha (VEGF-α) levels 4 and 48 h after pleurisy induction. In both phases (4 and 48 h) of pleurisy, ROSI inhibited all the inflammation parameters that were tested (p<0.05). These results provide evidence that ROSI was efficacious in inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators. These anti-inflammatory effects are assumed to mainly result from the inhibition of products released from activated leukocytes, such as MPO, ADA, NOx, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17A, and VEGF-α.