Metformin reverts aortic calcifications and elastin loss induced by an experimental metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and accumulation of arterial calcifications (AC). Metformin (MET) inhibits this transdifferentiation in vitro. Here, we evaluate the in vivo efficacy of oral MET to reduce AC in a model of MetS.

Osteoporosis and vascular calcifications.

In post-menopausal women, aged individuals, and patients with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal disease, bone mineral density (BMD) decreases while the vasculature accumulates arterial calcifications (ACs). AC can be found in the tunica intima and/or in the tunica media. Prospective studies have shown that patients with initially low BMD and/or the presence of fragility fractures have at follow-up a significantly increased risk for coronary and cerebrovascular events and for overall cardiovascular mortality.

Antidepressant and antinociceptive activities in animal models and in vitro assessment of the anti-thyroid activity of bis(DL-pyroglutamate)magnesium complex.

Background: Magnesium is an essential element related with biochemistry of the brain and different types of depression have been associated with its deficiency.

Methods: The structure of a novel magnesium bis(DL-pyroglutamate) (Mg(DL-pGlu)) was elucidated by X-ray crystallography. Wistar rats were used in the in vivo experiments.

Potential bio-protective effect of copper compounds: mimicking SOD and peroxidases enzymes and inhibiting acid phosphatase as a target for anti-osteoporotic chemotherapeutics.

Copper complexes with transformed methimazole ligand have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, EPR, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Results support their stoichiometries and geometrical structures: [Cu(CHNS)Cl]·2HO(1), [Cu(CHNS)SOHO](2) and [Cu(CHNS)SO](3). ((CHN)S: bis(l-methylimidazol-2-yl)sulfide; (CHNS) = Bis[bis(l-methylimidazol-2-yl)disulfide]) Concurrently, the structurally distinct soluble species corresponding to complexes (1) and (2) were subsequently used in an in vitro investigation of their potential biological properties.

Evidence of promising biological-pharmacological activities of the sertraline-based copper complex: (SerH)[CuCl].

In the current study the ability of copper complex to exert multiple biological activities is combined with the pharmacological action of sertraline (SerHCl, antidepressant drug). The hydrated and anhydrous forms of the tetrachlorocuprate(II) salts, namely (SerH)[CuCl]·½HO and (SerH)[CuCl], were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. The crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction methods.

Biological activities of Zn(II)-S-methyl-cysteine complex as antiradical, inhibitor of acid phosphatase enzyme and in vivo antidepressant effects.

The antidepressant effect of simple Zn(II) salts has been proved in several animal models of depression. In this study, a coordination metal complex of Zn(II) having a sulfur containing ligand is tested as antidepressant for the first time. Forced swimming test method on male Wistar rats shows a decrease in the immobility and an increase in the swimming behavior after treatment with [Zn(S-Met)2] (S-Met=S-methyl-l-cysteine) being more effective and remarkable than ZnCl2.

Improving the antidepressant action and the bioavailability of sertraline by co-crystallization with coumarin 3-carboxylate. Structural determination.

To improve the antidepressant action of sertraline a new salt with coumarin-3-carboxylate anion (SerH-CCA) has been synthesized by two different methods and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and structural determinations by X-ray diffraction methods. The new salt is stabilized by strong intermolecular H-bonds involving the protonated amine group of SerH and the deprotonated carboxylate group of CCA. These findings can be correlated with the interpretation of the infrared spectrum.