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Epilobium hirsutum L., commonly known as hairy willowherb, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia. In Romania, the Epilobium genus includes 17 species that are used in folk medicine for various purposes. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antitumor potential of the optimized extract of Epilobium hirsutum (EH) in animal models. The first study investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of EH optimized extract and the model used was carrageenan-induced paw inflammation. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: negative control, positive control treated with indomethacin, and a group treated with the extract. Oxidative stress markers, cytokine levels, and protein expressions were assessed. The extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties comparable to those of the control group. In the second study, the antitumor effects of the extract were assessed using the tumor model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Swiss albino mice with Ehrlich ascites were divided into four groups: negative, positive treated with cyclophosphamide (Cph), Group 3 treated with Cph and EH optimized extract, and Group 4 treated with extract alone. Samples from the ascites fluid, liver, and heart were analyzed to evaluate oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer markers. The extract showed a reduction in tumor-associated inflammation and oxidative stress. Overall, the EH optimized extract exhibited promising anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects in the animal models studied. These findings suggest its potential as a natural adjuvant therapeutic agent for addressing inflammation and oxidative stress induced by different pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known as the primary and most common cause of dementia in the middle-aged and elderly population worldwide. Chemical analyses of B. pendula leaf extract (BPE), performed using spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods (LC/MS), revealed high amounts of polyphenol carboxylic acids (gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic, trans-p-coumaric, ferulic, and salicylic acids), as well as flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, naringenin, hyperoside, quercetin, and quercitrin). Four groups of Wistar rats were used in this experiment (n = 7/group): control (untreated), Aβ1-42 (2 μg/rat intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), Aβ1-42 + BPE (200 mg/Kg b.w.), and DMSO (10 μL/rat). On the first day, one dose of Aβ1-42 was intracerebroventricularly administered to animals in groups 2 and 3. Subsequently, BPE was orally administered for the next 15 days to group 3. On the 16th day, behavioral tests were performed. Biomarkers of brain oxidative stress Malondialdehyde (MDA), (Peroxidase (PRx), Catalase (CAT), and Superoxid dismutase (SOD) and inflammation (cytokines: tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2)) in plasma and hippocampus homogenates were assessed. Various protein expressions (Phospho-Tau (Ser404) (pTau Ser 404), Phospho-Tau (Ser396) (pTau Ser 396), synaptophysin, and the Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) signaling pathway) were analyzed using Western blot and immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus. The results show that BPE diminished lipid peroxidation and neuroinflammation, modulated specific protein expression, enhanced the antioxidant capacity, and improved spontaneous alternation behavior, suggesting that it has beneficial effects in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article titled "Evaluating Hepatic Toxicity of Chitosan and Chitosan-Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in a Rat Model of Peripheral Nerve Injury -- Relevance for Rehabilitation Medicine" by Nadina Liana Pop et al. was published in the Balneo & PRM Research Journal in June 2024. The study examines the potential liver toxicity of chitosan and chitosan-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury. The authors aim to determine the relevance of these findings for rehabilitation medicine. The article provides the necessary references and contact information for further exploration. [Extracted from the article]

Raman microspectroscopy was tested as an alternative/complementary method for biochemical evaluation of the synaptosomes obtained from neonatal rat brain prenatally exposed to sodium valproate and treated with allicin. Spectrophotometric assays of several oxidative stress markers (catalase, superoxide dismutase, total thiols) and acetylcholine esterase activity revealed the redox balancing function and pro-cholinergic effect of the allicin as compared to the valproate effect. Raman evaluation showed no significant changes in our experimental conditions. Different concentrations and volumes of the synaptosomes vesicles must be tested for the optimal Raman examination of these purified synaptosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance skiing is associated with competition stress and many neuropsychological coping mechanisms. 60 performance skiers, adult males and young boys, within alpine skiing competition with two descending states were engaged fo r saliva sampling in order to assess the testosterone and cortisol concentrations. Three sampling moments were used for the identification of the key moment when the competition stress was enhanced: before competition, (Tl), after the first descending (T2) and after posting the results of all skiers (T3). Cortisol was the central stress regulation hormone in adults and children whereas testosterone played a complementary function only in adult males at(T2). The crucial moment of the competition stress was between first and second descending, in (T2), which became the central moment when the trainer had to implement his/her psychological methods of stress management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, comparative neurobiology is in a shadow cone as compared to other aspects of the neurosciences. Studies with experimental models or representative organisms are exposed to erroneous generalizations as the diversity of the class of organisms increases. Thus, the structure of the pigeon's brain is different from the brain of a crow or the brain of a zebra finch, even though they are all birds. The whole brain of Corvus frugilegus was analyzed with a wide variety of histological methods such as Golgi, Golgi-Cox, Hortega, Nissl, H&E, Kluver-Barera, Bielschowsky, and Jones with tissue fixed in neutral formalin, Bouin's liquid, potassium dichromate, silver nitrate, dichromate-potassium chromate-HgCl. Positive immunohistochemical detection was observed for NeuN, CNP, DCX, and PCNA, while other markers were not clearly detected. The ultrastructural examination was performed using transmission electron microscopy. Confocal microscopy was performed with a Nikon AX1 microscope. Data gathered to date suggest that neurons and gliocytes are organized into structural and perhaps functional clusters with a central young motile neuron and 5-12 peripheral glial cells, perhaps some type of oligodendrocyte. The study is still ongoing and more studies will be conducted on the phenotype of neuroglial clusters and their function in the brain of C. frugilegus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PSD-95 is a key scaffolding protein that is localized to the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses where it regulates a wide variety of receptors, channels, and signaling molecules. PSD-95 specifically accumulates at the excitatory postsynaptic membranes and mediates cell surface ion channel clustering, such as AMPARs/TARPs. Cortical spreading depression is associated with the activation of NMDA receptors, which interact with the postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) that binds to nitric oxide synthase. Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is often used to treat depression and is sometimes used for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or panic attacks. Our study was organized in 4 cohorts (Control, Depression, Escitalopram 5mg/kg, Escitalopram 10 mg/kg) Immunohistochemical detection of PSD-95 was performed with PSD-95 monoclonal antibody, HRP-biotinylated secondary antibody, and DAB final reaction on 5 µm thickness coronal brain sections. Interestingly, escitalopram has induced high expression of PSD-95 in thalamic neurons in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, we saw a connection between the PSD-95, escitalopram, and thalamus, which we would like to research deeply and see what other effects might appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of the body to stress has different effects on it, depending on the period of stress it was subjected to. While exposure for a short period of time can give the body certain benefits, chronic stress has mostly harmful effects. To prove this fact, Wistar male rats were subjected to repeated restraint stress for 3 and 7 days, 3 hrs/day. These procedures were followed by a series of biochemical, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analyzes to express the hypoxic background produced after the stress exposure. Therefore, the applied techniques and biochemical analyzes for brain tissue or brain lysates (cortical-thalamic area) are as follows: superoxide dismutase, catalase, TBARS, free leucine-like levels, total proteins, glucose, expression of the neuroglobin, and HIF1α as well as glial cells markers GFAP and CNP. As the data shows, the hypoxic background after 7 days of repeated stress exposure was a more severe one, due to the inability of the system to face oxidative stress. These data showed a stress balance reaction of the brain via oxygen sensing reactions and proliferating glial cells, in a time-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive type of cancer worldwide, which rapidly develops resistance to conventional treatments, resulting in metastasis and recurrence. This study aims to test the potential of IL-13-PEG-LCL-SIM and PEG-EVs-DOX to decrease the aggressiveness of B16.F10 murine melanoma by applying an innovative therapy that targets both tumor-associated-macrophages and cancer cells. Melanoma-bearing mice intravenously received the combined therapy, or the individually formulations of SIM or DOX. In order to detect the level of expression of HIF-1α, a key promoter of hypoxia and of Bcl-xL and Bax, apoptotic proteins, western blot analysis was performed. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in tumor lysates, a marker of oxidative damage, was assessed by HPLC. Our data showed a strong inhibition of tumor development for the group treated with the combined therapy. Also, there was a substantial decrease of expression of HIF-1α due to PEG-EVs-DOX therapy, which was not noticed in the case of combined therapy. However, the concentration of MDA was highly increased, indicating a disruption of intratumor ROS levels, that alters the balance needed for HIF-1α proper activity. Thus, our findings suggest that the combined active targeted therapy which was tested, strongly inhibits tumor growth. Additional studies must be performed to understand the actions of this new active therapy on other processes which maintain the tumor development, such as angiogenesis and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe intricate cooperation between cancer cells and nontumor stromal cells within melanoma microenvironment (MME) enables tumor progression and metastasis. We previously demonstrated that the interplay between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and melanoma cells can be disrupted by using long-circulating liposomes (LCLs) encapsulating prednisolone phosphate (PLP) (LCL-PLP) that inhibited tumor angiogenesis coordinated by TAMs. In this study, our goal was to improve LCL specificity for protumor macrophages (M2-like (i.e., TAMs) macrophages) and to induce a more precise accumulation at tumor site by loading PLP into IL-13-conjugated liposomes (IL-13-LCL-PLP), since IL-13 receptor is overexpressed in this type of macrophages. The IL-13-LCL-PLP liposomal formulation was obtained by covalent attachment of thiolated IL-13 to maleimide-functionalized LCL-PLP. C57BL/6 mice bearing B16.F10 s.c melanoma tumors were used to investigate the antitumor action of LCL-PLP and IL-13-LCL-PLP. Our results showed that IL-13-LCL-PLP formulation remained stable in biological fluids after 24h and it was preferentially taken up by M2 polarized macrophages. IL-13-LCL-PLP induced strong tumor growth inhibition compared to nonfunctionalized LCL-PLP at the same dose, by altering TAMs-mediated angiogenesis and oxidative stress, limiting resistance to apoptosis and invasive features in MME. These findings suggest IL-13-LCL-PLP might become a promising delivery platform for chemotherapeutic agents in melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]