Effect of pentoxifylline on hepcidin and iron profile in hemodialysis patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients often have elevated levels of hepcidin hormone, which is a key regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. While pentoxifylline (PTX) has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties, it is unclear if these effects would also have an inhibitory effect on hepcidin. This study aimed to examine the potential role of PTX on hepcidin and its consequent effects on iron profile and anemia in HD patients.

Pentoxifylline improves anemia through its novel effect on hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to prospectively examine the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) and its role in controlling anemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: Eighty patients on HD were randomized to receive 400 mg of PTX or placebo twice daily for 6 months. The hemoglobin (Hb) and other hematologic parameters, the weekly erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), and the ESA resistance index (ERI) were assessed monthly during the study.

Metformin, pioglitazone, dapagliflozin and their combinations ameliorate manifestations associated with NAFLD in rats via anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important health threat that is strongly linked to components of metabolic syndrome, particularly the low-grade inflammatory changes. Significantly, several of the available anti-diabetic drug classes demonstrate a considerable anti-inflammatory effect, and hence might be of benefit for NAFLD patients. In this study, we used a rat model of diet-induced NAFLD to examine the potential effect of metformin, pioglitazone, dapagliflozin and their combinations on NAFLD manifestations.

Analgesia additive interaction between tadalafil and morphine in an experimental animal model.

Since both morphine and tadalafil have been proven to exert some of their analgesic activity through modulation of the NO-cGMP pathway, the aim of the current study is to evaluate the pharmacologic interaction between tadalafil and morphine to decrease the dose of morphine and subsequently its side effects. The assessment was carried out through isobolographic analysis relative to EDs of both morphine and tadalafil obtained by tail-flick test on BALB/c mice. Morphine and tadalafil EDs calculated from the dose-response curves were 8303 and 2080 μg/kg, respectively.

Assessment of Pregabalin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats: Mechanistic Role of Angiotensin 1-7.

Pregabalin (PRG) possesses great therapeutic benefits in the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. However, clinical data have reported incidence or exacerbation of heart failure following PRG administration. Experimental data exploring cardiac alterations and its underlying mechanisms are quite scarce.

Telmisartan and captopril ameliorate pregabalin-induced heart failure in rats.

Pregabalin (PRG) is highly effective in the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain and anxiety disorders. Despite its potential benefits, PRG administration has been reported to induce or exacerbate heart failure (HF). It has been previously documented that overactivation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in HF pathophysiological mechanism.

Antinociceptive effect of tadalafil in various pain models: Involvement of opioid receptors and nitric oxide cyclic GMP pathway.

Nitric oxide has been proven to play an important role in nociception, accordingly, its promoters, phosphodiesterase inhibitors have been investigated as pain response modulators. Aiming to evaluate the central antinociceptive effect of tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, and to determine its EC50, tail flick and hot plate tests were employed. On the other hand, tadalafil antinociceptive peripheral effect was assessed through acetic acid-induced writhing model.

Investigation of chronic efficacy and safety profile of two potential anti-inflammatory bipyrazole-based compounds in experimental animals.

Purpose: Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used to treat a variety of disorders, their administration is associated with gastrointestinal side effects, acute kidney injury and liver enzymes' elevation. Accordingly, researchers are encouraged to create novel agents with better safety profile. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the chronic efficacy and safety profile of two compounds previously proven to have acceptable acute anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.

Evaluation of Analgesic Activity of Extract in Mice: Involvement of Opioids Receptors.

is an endemic plant to Lebanese region (family Papaveraceae) that has not been investigated before. The present study aimed to explore the analgesic activity of dried ethanolic extract of (PLE) using tail flick, hot plate, and acetic acid induced writhing models in mice. The involvement of opioid receptors in the analgesic mechanism was investigated using naloxone antagonism.

Rosuvastatin safety: An experimental study of myotoxic effects and mitochondrial alterations in rats.

Myopathy is the most commonly reported adverse effect of statins. All statins are associated with myopathy, though with different rates. Rosuvastatin is a potent statin reported to induce myopathy comparable to earlier statins.

Do statins really cause diabetes? A meta-analysis of major randomized controlled clinical trials.

Objectives: To investigate and establish the relationship between the use of statin therapy and the risk of development of diabetes. 

Methods: PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was searched for randomized controlled end-point trials of statins, with more than 1000 subjects and a minimum of one-year follow-up period, published until August 2015. The odds ratio (OR) of diabetes incidence with overall statin therapy as well as with different statins in question was calculated through random effect meta-analysis model.

Elucidation of the mechanism of atorvastatin-induced myopathy in a rat model.

Myopathy is among the well documented and the most disturbing adverse effects of statins. The underlying mechanism is still unknown. Mitochondrial dysfunction related to coenzyme Q10 decline is one of the proposed theories.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory, analgesic activities, and side effects of some pyrazole derivatives.

Background And Purpose: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with several side effects, such as gastrointestinal mucosal damage, renal toxicity, and cardiovascular side effects. Aiming to find a novel analgesic/anti-inflammatory drug with minimal side effects, the present study was designed to screen and evaluate some newly synthesized pyrazole derivatives.

Method: Anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and cotton-pellet-induced granuloma, COX-1/COX-2 selectivity using thin layer chromatography, and analgesic using hot plate and tail flick tests as well as ulcerogenic and renal side effects of the ten compounds were assessed.

Synthesis of some new amide-linked bipyrazoles and their evaluation as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

Four series of new bipyrazoles comprising the N-phenylpyrazole scaffold linked to polysubstituted pyrazoles or to antipyrine moiety through different amide linkages were synthesized. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In vitro COX-1/COX-2 inhibition study revealed that compound 16b possessed the lowest IC50 value against both COX-1 and COX-2.

A novel COX-2 inhibitor pyrazole derivative proven effective as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug.

The introduction of new COX-2 inhibitors with high efficacy and enhanced safety profile would be a great achievement in the development of anti-inflammatory drugs. This study was designed to screen and assess the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities as well as some of the expected side effects of some pyrazole derivatives, newly synthesized as potential COX-2 inhibitors at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University and compared to indomethacin and celecoxib. Twelve compounds were screened for their anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma tests.