The Promoter Polymorphism rs3918226 of the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene as a Novel Susceptibility Marker for Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background: This pilot study aimed to investigate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3918226 in the promoter of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) gene and the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: DNA samples from 1,263 unrelated subjects of Slavic origin, including 620 patients with PAD and 643 controls, were genotyped for the SNP rs3918226 using the MassArray-4 system.

Results: The rs3918226 polymorphism was found to be strongly associated with an increased risk of PAD regardless of coronary artery disease, hypertension, or cigarette smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.

Peptide ACTH-PGP: Effects on Various Types of Pain and Pain-Induced Behavior in Rats after Systemic and Central Administration.

The effects of peptide ACTH4-7-PGP (Semax) were studied in 12 min after its intraperitoneal (in doses of 5, 15, 50, 150, and 450 μg/kg) or intracerebroventricular (in doses of 16, 40, and 400 pg) administration to rats with different types of pain and pain-induced behavior. It was found that the peptide increased pain sensitivity and induced avoidance behavior during thermal stimulation ("hot plate" test), but had an analgesic effect (more pronounced after central administration) and weakened emotional-affective behavior in electrocutaneous stimulation of the paws (foot-shock model) and tail in rats. It was shown that changes in activity of supraspinal brain structures were of primary importance in the mechanism of action on the nociceptive process and the formation of behavior.

L-Lysine as the Molecule Influencing Selective Brain Activity in Pain-Induced Behavior of Rats.

Lysine-rich proteins are some of the most important proteins of neurons and it has become necessary to investigate the possible role of L-lysine as a brain functioning regulator. The purpose of our study is to identify the characteristics and the mechanisms of L-lysine effects on the different types of pain-induced behavior in the stimulation of tail and foot-shock models in 210 adult male Wistar rats. L-lysine was administered in intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular injections in doses of 0.

Effects of Tripeptide Gly-His-Lys in Pain-Induced Aggressive-Defensive Behavior in Rats.

We studied the effect of Gly-His -Lys tripeptide administered intraperitoneally in doses of 5, 15, 50 and 150 μg/kg on pain-induced aggressive-defensive behavior. A foot-shock model of aggression in rats grouped in pairs in an electrified chamber was used. Analgesic and antiaggresiogenic effects of the peptide were demonstrated.

Anxiolytic effects of Gly-His-Lys peptide and its analogs.

Intraperitoneal administration of tripeptide Gly-His-Lys to male rats in doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 μg/kg 12 min before the start of the experiment produced an anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus maze test manifested in an increase in the time spent in open arms and shortened time spent in the closed arms. The anxiolytic effect was most pronounced after injection of 0.