Synthesis, Anticonvulsant, and Antinociceptive Activity of New 3-(2-Chlorophenyl)- and 3-(3-Chlorophenyl)-2,5-dioxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl-acetamides.

The new series of 3-(2-chlorophenyl)- and 3-(3-chlorophenyl)-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione-acetamide derivatives as potential anticonvulsant and analgesic agents was synthesized. The compounds obtained were evaluated in the following acute models of epilepsy: maximal electroshock (MES), psychomotor (6 Hz, 32 mA), and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizure tests. The most active substance-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-{2-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxoethyl}-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione () showed more beneficial ED and protective index values than the reference drug-valproic acid (68.

The Influence of Trehalose on Atherosclerosis and Hepatic Steatosis in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice.

Atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are frequent causes of death in the Western countries. Recently, it has been shown that autophagy dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both atherosclerosis and NAFLD; thus, activators of autophagy might be useful for novel therapeutic interventions. Trehalose-a naturally occuring disaccharide present in plants, bacteria, fungi, insects, and certain types of shrimps-is a known inducer of autophagy.

In vitro maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells results in two populations of cells with different surface marker expression, independently of applied concentration of interleukin-4.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in the development of adaptive immune response. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) are generated in vitro to study DC biology and for use in immunotherapy. However, procedures to generate MDDCs vary and an impact this may have on their final phenotype is insufficiently studied.

Anti-Atherosclerotic Action of Agmatine in ApoE-Knockout Mice.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which dysfunction of mitochondria play an important role, and disorders of lipid management intensify this process. Agmatine, an endogenous polyamine formed by decarboxylation of arginine, exerts a protective effect on mitochondria and modulates fatty acid metabolism. We investigated the effect of exogenous agmatine on the development of atherosclerosis and changes in lipid profile in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE-/-) mice.

Influence of atorvastatin on angiotensin I metabolism in resting and TNF-α -activated rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Introduction: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are essential for maintaining vasculature homeostasis and function. By influence on its growth and activation both proinflammatory cytokines and peptides of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are potent regulators of VSMCs. Interestingly, angiotensin (Ang) II and Ang-(1-7) elicit opposite effects on VSMC activation, differentiation and proliferation.

Metabolism of bradykinin in aorta of hypertensive rats.

Alterations in the formation and metabolism of bradykinin (Bk) are hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of hypertension, atherosclerosis and vascular complications of diabetes. However, despite its prominent role in cardiovascular regulation, studies on bradykinin have been limited by various difficulties in accurate measurements of this peptide in biological samples. In this study, using the LC-ESI-MS method we estimated the conversion of exogenous Bk to its main metabolites - Bk-(1-5) and Bk-(1-7) - in endothelial cell culture and in fragments of aorta of normotensive (WKY) and hypertensive rats (SHR).

Application of magnetic resonance imaging in vivo for the assessment of the progression of systolic and diastolic dysfunction in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The impairment of cardiac diastolic function is essential for the development and progression of heart failure, regardless of the systolic performance of the heart. Novel methods of diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction in experimental animals are needed in order to validate the effectiveness of novel heart failure treatment.

Aim: The in vivo characterisation of diastolic and systolic function of the heart during heart failure progression in Tgalphaq*44 mice using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and original image analysis.

[NOS-2 induction in rat lungs after Escherichia coli lupopolisaccharide administration].

Endotoxin-induced acute lung injury may be differently modulated by nitric oxide, dependently on the phase of endotoxemia as well as on the amounts and cellular source of this free radical. We investigated rapid (within 1 hr) increase of NOS-2 mRNA and activity in rat lungs following endotoxin treatment. The increase of lung NOS-2 correlated with LPS-induced pulmonary neutrophil sequestration.

NO and PGI(2) in coronary endothelial dysfunction in transgenic mice with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The aim of the present work was to analyze coronary endothelial function in the transgenic mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy (Tgalphaq*44 mice).

Methods: Coronary vasodilatation, both NO-dependent (induced by bradykinin) and PGI(2)-dependent (induced by acetylcholine), was assessed in the isolated hearts of Tgalphaq*44 and FVB mice. Cardiac function was analyzed in vivo (MRI).

Evaluation of Apolipoprotein M Serum Concentration as a Biomarker of HNF-1alpha MODY.

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a 26-kDa protein expressed mainly in the liver and kidneys. It is present predominantly in high-density lipoproteins (HDL). ApoM expression is influenced by the hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF-1alpha), which is a transcription factor associated with the pathogenesis of MODY.

The role of haem oxygenase-1 in the decrease of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression by curcumin.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is involved in neutrophil transmigration across endothelium during sepsis-induced acute lung injury and anti-ICAM-1 interventions may represent new strategy of pulmonary protection. Haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory actions via decrease of expression of adhesion molecules. We investigated the role of HO-1 in the action of curcumin, a naturally occurring yellow pigment isolated from plant Curcuma longa L.

Compensation of endothelium-dependent responses in coronary circulation of eNOS-deficient mice.

Nitric oxide plays a fundamental role in the regulation of blood flow. Here we analyzed compensatory mechanisms for the genetic eNOS deficiency in aorta and in coronary circulation. Vasodilation induced by acetylcholine, bradykinin, adenosine, and ADP as well as by S-nitroso-penicillamine (SNAP) was assessed in isolated aorta and in isolated mouse hearts from eNOS-/- and age-matched eNOS+/+ mice.