Publications by authors named "Uros Pecikoza"

The antidiabetic drug metformin has demonstrated antinociceptive efficacy in different pain models, and these effects are usually attributed to activation of the AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). However, the downstream targets that contribute to inhibition of nociception following AMPK activation have been only partially elucidated. Here, we examined the contribution of serotonergic mechanisms in mediating metformin's antinociceptive effects, seeing as AMPK activators (including metformin) have been shown to modulate serotonergic neurotransmission.

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Background And Purpose: Vortioxetine, a multimodal-acting antidepressant, has recently shown analgesic properties. We aimed to investigate its prophylactic effect in the osteoarthritis (OA) model and gain insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. Duloxetine was studied as a reference.

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The incorporation of polymers into drug delivery vehicles has been shown to be a useful approach to prolong the residence time of drugs in the precorneal tear film and to improve penetration into biological membranes. The main objective of this research was to formulate novel viscous eye drops with ketotifen as the active ingredient, containing the polysaccharides: chitosan (MCH), hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) and hyaluronic acid (SH) alone and in combination as functional polymers. DSC and FT-IR techniques showed the compatibility between ketotifen and polymers.

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Osteoarthritis represents a leading cause of disability with limited treatment options. Furthermore, it is frequently accompanied by cardiovascular and cognitive disorders, which can be exacerbated by osteoarthritis or drugs used for its treatment. Here, we examined the behavioral and cardiac effects of the novel antidepressant vortioxetine in an osteoarthritis model, and compared them to duloxetine (an established osteoarthritis treatment).

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Metformin (a widely used antidiabetic drug) has demonstrated efficacy in models of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), as well as certain clinical efficacy in relieving/preventing PDN. This study aimed to determine the type of interaction between metformin and duloxetine/oxycodone/eslicarbazepine acetate [ESL]/vitamin B in relieving diabetic pain hypersensitivity. Antihyperalgesic efficacy was determined using a Von Frey apparatus in mice with streptozotocin-induced PDN.

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Vortioxetine is a novel atypical antidepressant with multimodal activity that has recently demonstrated efficacy against neuropathic pain. There is no published data about its analgesic properties in models characterized by peripheral inflammation and consequent pain pathway sensitization, nor data on its mechanism of antinociceptive action. This study aimed to investigate vortioxetine's antinociceptive/antihyperalgesic effects in trigeminal, visceral, and somatic inflammatory pain models, and provide evidence on its mechanism of action in the modulation of trigeminal nociception.

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Chronic pain and depression commonly occur together so dual-acting agents might be particularly useful. The population of patients with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is increasing in parallel with the increase of population of cancer survivors and there is a compelling need for satisfactory treatment of symptoms of neuropathy and concomitant depression. We examined the effects of vortioxetine, a novel antidepressant with unique mechanism of action, on pain hypersensitivity and depression-like behavior in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy model in mice (OIPN).

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The study focused on formulation of carmellose sodium hydrogels and nonionic microemulsions with 5% and 10% of levetiracetam and investigation of drug concentration influence on their physicochemical characteristics and in-use stability as well as influence of drug concentration and carrier type on in vitro drug release and in vivo antihyperalgesic/antiedematous activity in a rat model of localized (intraplantar) carrageenan-induced inflammation. Hydrogels were pseudoplastic semisolids with thixotropy and pH 7.37-7.

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Present study investigated triterpene profile, antihyperalgesic and antiedematous activities of flowering aerial parts dichloromethane extract (SCH), and antihyperalgesic and antiedematous activities of previously chemically characterised polyphenol-rich and . flowering aerial parts methanol extracts (GLA and CAL, respectively). - and -Amyrin and their acetates, and lupeol acetate were identified and quantified in SCH by GC-FID and GC-MS.

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Rationale: Acute pain states in the trigeminal region (headaches, dental pain) fall into the most prevalent painful conditions. Standard analgesics (paracetamol/NSAIDs) represent the cornerstone of their treatment, whereas triptans are primarily used in migraine attacks. Due to limited efficacy and/or side effects of current treatments, identifying favorable combinations of available drugs is justified.

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Aims: Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is a novel dibenzazepine antiepileptic, that has demonstrated efficacy against trigeminal pain, both in preclinical and clinical studies. However, ESL's mechanism of antinociceptive action remains uncertain. Here, we aimed to examine the contribution of adrenergic/cholinergic/opioid receptors to the antinociceptive effects of ESL in a trigeminal pain model, as these neurotransmitter systems are known to have an important role in the modulation of trigeminal nociception.

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Inflammatory pain is the most common type of pain that is treated clinically. The use of currently available treatments (classic analgesics - NSAIDs, paracetamol and opioids) is limited by insufficient efficacy and/or side effects/tolerance development. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are widely used in neuropathic pain treatment, but there is substantial preclinical evidence on their efficacy against inflammatory pain, too.

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The aim of this study was to test the potential of high molecular weight exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by the putative probiotic strain BGCG11 (EPS CG11) to alleviate inflammatory pain in Wistar rats. The EPS CG11 was isolated from bacterial surface and was subjected to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis. FTIR spectra confirmed the polysaccharide structure of isolated sample, while the thermal methods revealed good thermal properties of the polymer.

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Rationale: We have reported that levetiracetam, a novel anticonvulsant with analgesic properties, synergizes with ibuprofen/aspirin/paracetamol in a model of diabetic painful neuropathy (DPN). Most guidelines recommend gabapentin, pregabalin, and duloxetine as first- or second-line agents for DPN.

Objective: We examined the effects of combination treatment of first-/second-line analgesics with levetiracetam in a model of DPN.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.), and dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris Moench) flowers are traditionally used to treat various ailments, including inflammatory conditions.

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Background: Metformin is a widely used and safe antidiabetic drug that has recently been shown to possess analgesic properties in models of inflammatory pain. Because various arthritic inflammatory disorders are highly prevalent in diabetic patients, we aimed to examine the type of interaction between metformin and several conventional and adjuvant analgesic drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin, tramadol, and pregabalin) in a rat model of somatic inflammatory hyperalgesia.

Methods: Inflammation of the rat hind paw was induced by an intraplantar injection of carrageenan (0.

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Background: Many clinical pain states that are difficult to treat share a common feature of sensitization of nociceptive pathways. Drugs that could normalize hyperexcitable neural activity (e.g.

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Painful diabetic neuropathy is difficult to treat. Single analgesics often have insufficient efficacy and poor tolerability. Combination therapy may therefore be of particular benefit, because it might provide optimal analgesia with fewer adverse effects.

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Background: Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug with analgesic efficacy shown in pain models and small clinical trials. Sumatriptan is used in acute migraine treatment. Caffeine is widely consumed in some beverages/foods and is also an adjuvant in analgesic formulations.

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