1.Intravaginal administration of metformin hydrochloride loaded cationic niosomes amalgamated with thermosensitive gel for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: In vitro and in vivo studies.
Saini N1, Sodhi RK2, Bajaj L1, Pandey RS3, Jain UK1, Katare OP4, Madan J5. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2016 Apr 8;144:161-169. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.04.016. [Epub ahead of print]
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Metformin hydrochloride (MTF-HCl) is extensively recommended by physicians for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Mechanistically, MTF-HCl activates AMP-dependent kinase-α (AMPK-α) pathway to decrease the glucose production, enhances fatty acid oxidation and elevates the uptake of glucose in tissues. However, despite favourable physicochemical properties, oral administration of MTF-HCl is associated with impaired bioavailability (50-60%), lactic-acidosis and frequent dosing (500mg 2-3 times a day) in PCOS that ultimately influence the patient compliance. Therefore, in present investigation, MTF-HCl loaded unmodified and cationic small unilamellar niosomes were separately amalgamated with thermosensitive gel (MTF-HCl-SUNs-Gel and MTF-HCl-C-SUNs-Gel) for the treatment of PCOS through vaginal route of administration.
2.Mucosal acidification increases hydrogen sulfide release through up-regulating gene and protein expressions of cystathionine gamma-lyase in the rat gastric mucosa.
Mard SA1, Veisi A2, Ahangarpour A2, Gharib-Naseri MK2. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2016 Feb;19(2):172-7.
OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the effects of mucosal acidification on mRNA expression and protein synthesis of cystathionine gamma lyase (CSE), cystathionine beta synthase (CBS), and mucosal release of H2S in gastric mucosa in rats.
3.Ursolic acid induced anti-proliferation effects in rat primary vascular smooth muscle cells is associated with inhibition of microRNA-21 and subsequent PTEN/PI3K.
Jiang Q1, Han Y1, Gao H1, Tian R1, Li P2, Wang C3. Eur J Pharmacol. 2016 Apr 13. pii: S0014-2999(16)30205-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.04.001. [Epub ahead of print]
This study focused on the anti-proliferation effects of ursolic acid (UA) in rat primary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and investigated underlying molecular mechanism of action. Rat primary VSMCs were pretreated with UA (10, 20 or 30μM) or amino guanidine (AG, 50μM) for 12h or with PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 30min or with Akt inhibitor MK2206 for 24h, then 10% fetal bovine serum was used to induce proliferation. CCK-8 was used to assess cell proliferation. To explore the mechanism, cells were treated with UA (10, 20 or 30μM), LY294002 or MK2206, or transient transfected to inhibit miRNA-21 (miRNA-21) or to overepxress PTEN, then quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess the mRNA levels of miRNA-21 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) for cells treated with UA or miRNA-21 inhibitor; western blotting was used to measure the protein levels of PTEN and PI3K. UA exerted significant anti-proliferation effects in rat primary VSMCs.
4.Prolonged Drainage and Intrapericardial Bleomycin Administration for Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to Cancer-Related Pericardial Effusion.
Numico G1, Cristofano A, Occelli M, Sicuro M, Mozzicafreddo A, Fea E, Colantonio I, Merlano M, Piovano P, Silvestris N. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Apr;95(15):e3273. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000003273.
Malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) is a serious complication of several cancers. The most commonly involved solid tumors are lung and breast cancer. MPE can give rise to the clinical picture of cardiac tamponade, a life threatening condition that needs immediate drainage. While simple pericardiocentesis allows resolution of the symptoms, MPE frequently relapses unless further procedures are performed. Prolonged drainage, talcage with antineoplastic agents, or surgical creation of a pleuro-pericardial window are the most commonly suggested ones. They all result in MPE resolution and high rates of long-term control. Patients suitable for further systemic treatments can have a good prognosis irrespective of the pericardial site of disease. We prospectively enrolled patients with cardiac tamponade treated with prolonged drainage associated with Bleomycin administration.Twenty-two consecutive patients with MPE and associated signs of hemodynamical compromise underwent prolonged drainage and subsequent Bleomycin administration.
