PURPOSE: Postoperative adhesion is the most frequent complication of abdominal surgery. Therefore, we investigated the individual effects of synthetic barrier [hyaluronic acid/carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC)] and pharmacologic agents [low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor (COX-2 inhibitor)] using animal model of intra-abdominal adhesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cecum was rubbed with sterile alcohol wet gauze until subserosal haemorrhage and punctate bleeding developed under the general anesthesia. Five animal groups were prepared using the film HA/CMC, gel HA/CMC, LMWH and COX-2 inhibitor. RESULTS: The grade of adhesion by modified Leach method for group I (control), II (film type HA/CMC), III (gel type HA/CMC), IV (LMWH) and V (COX-2 inhibitor) were 5.35+/-1.8, 6.15+/-1.3, 4.23+/-2.6, 5.05+/-0.7 and 5.50+/-0.9, respectively. Group III showed the least grade of adhesion and it is statistically significant in adhesion formation (p=0.028). The numbers of lymphocytes were significantly low in group III and group V compared to the control group (lymphocyte: p=0.004). The mast cell counts were generally low except for the control group (I: 1.05, II: 0.35, III: 0.38, IV: 0.20, V: 0.37), however, it was not statistically significant (p=0.066). CONCLUSION: The gel barriers were shown to be partly efficient in inhibiting the formation of postoperative adhesions and might provide an option for abdominal surgery to reduce postoperative adhesions. The LMWH and COX-2 inhibitor had been known for their inhibitor effect of fibrin formation and anti-angiogenic/anti-fibroblastic activity, respectively. However, their preventive effects of adhesion and fibrosis were found to be obscure.
Animals ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/*pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Adhesions/*prevention & control

OBJECTIVES: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation dysfunction is the pathological basis of diabetic macroangiopathy. The utilization and adaptation of endothelial cells to high glucose determine the functional status of endothelial cells. Glycolysis pathway is the major energy source for endothelial cells. Abnormal glycolysis plays an important role in endothelium-dependent vasodilation dysfunction induced by high glucose. Pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2) is one of key enzymes in glycolysis pathway, phosphorylation of PKM2 can reduce the activity of pyruvate kinase and affect the glycolysis process of glucose. TEPP-46 can stabilize PKM2 in its tetramer form, reducing its dimer formation and phosphorylation. Using TEPP-46 as a tool drug to inhibit PKM2 phosphorylation, this study aims to explore the impact and potential mechanism of phosphorylated PKM2 (p-PKM2) on endothelial dependent vasodilation function in high glucose, and to provide a theoretical basis for finding new intervention targets for diabetic macroangiopathy. METHODS: The mice were divided into 3 groups: a wild-type (WT) group (a control group, C57BL/6 mice) and a db/db group (a diabetic group, db/db mice), which were treated with the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution (solvent) by gavage once a day, and a TEPP-46 group (a treatment group, db/db mice+TEPP-46), which was gavaged with TEPP-46 (30 mg/kg) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution once a day. After 12 weeks of treatment, the levels of p-PKM2 and PKM2 protein in thoracic aortas, plasma nitric oxide (NO) level and endothelium-dependent vasodilation function of thoracic aortas were detected. High glucose (30 mmol/L) with or without TEPP-46 (10 μmol/L), mannitol incubating human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) for 72 hours, respectively. The level of NO in supernatant, the content of NO in cells, and the levels of p-PKM2 and PKM2 protein were detected. Finally, the effect of TEPP-46 on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation was detected at the cellular and animal levels. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the levels of p-PKM2 in thoracic aortas of the diabetic group increased (P<0.05). The responsiveness of thoracic aortas in the diabetic group to acetylcholine (ACh) was 47% lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and that in TEPP-46 treatment group was 28% higher than that in the diabetic group (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in the responsiveness of thoracic aortas to sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Compared with the control group, the plasma NO level of mice decreased in the diabetic group, while compared with the diabetic group, the phosphorylation of PKM2 in thoracic aortas decreased and the plasma NO level increased in the TEPP-46 group (both P<0.05). High glucose instead of mannitol induced the increase of PKM2 phosphorylation in HUVECs and reduced the level of NO in supernatant (both P<0.05). HUVECs incubated with TEPP-46 and high glucose reversed the reduction of NO production and secretion induced by high glucose while inhibiting PKM2 phosphorylation (both P<0.05). At the cellular and animal levels, TEPP-46 reversed the decrease of eNOS (ser1177) phosphorylation induced by high glucose (both P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS p-PKM2 may be involved in the process of endothelium-dependent vasodilation dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes by inhibiting p-eNOS (ser1177)/NO pathway.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/pharmacology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism* ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism* ; Phosphorylation ; Pyruvate Kinase/metabolism* ; Vasodilation

OBJECTIVE: Rebampide is a gastroprotective agent used to treat gastritis. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis effects, but the mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. The objective of this study was to explore mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of rebamipide in inflammatory arthritis. METHODS: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in DBA/1J mice. DBA/1J mice were immunized with chicken type II collagen, then treated intraperitoneally with rebamipide (10 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg) or vehicle (10% carboxymethylcellulose solution) alone. Seven weeks later, plasma samples were collected. Plasma metabolic profiles were analyzed using ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics study and metabolite biomarkers were identified through multivariate data analysis. RESULTS: Low dose rebamipide treatment reduced the clinical arthritis score compared with vehicle treatment, whereas high dose rebamipide in CIA aggravated arthritis severity. Based on multivariate analysis, 17 metabolites were identified. The plasma levels of metabolites associated with fatty acids and phospholipid metabolism were significantly lower with rebamipide treatment than with vehicle. The levels of 15-deoxy-Δ¹²,¹⁴ prostaglandin J2 and thromboxane B3 decreased only in high dose-treated groups. Certain peptide molecules, including enterostatin (VPDPR) enterostatin and bradykinin dramatically increased in rebamipide-treated groups at both doses. Additionally, corticosterone increased in the low dose-treated group and decreased in the high dose-treated group. CONCLUSION: Metabolomics analysis revealed the anti-inflammatory effects of rebamipide and suggested the potential of the drug repositioning in metabolism- and lipid-associated diseases.
Animals ; Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Experimental ; Biomarkers ; Bradykinin ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium ; Chickens ; Collagen Type II ; Corticosterone ; Drug Repositioning ; Fatty Acids ; Gastritis ; Mass Spectrometry* ; Metabolism ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics* ; Mice ; Multivariate Analysis ; Plasma ; Statistics as Topic ; Therapeutic Uses

Albendazole is an orally administered broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used against helminthiasis, hydatid cyst disease and neurocysticercosis. The objectives of this investigation are to develop a sustained release drug delivery system for albendazole, and to target its delivery to colon. Albendazole matrix tablets containing varying proportions of single and binary blends of four polymers; polyacrylic acid (carbopol 971), ethylcellulose (Etcell), eudragit L100-55 (EUD), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were prepared by a modified wet granulation technique of kneading, extrusion and compaction. In vitro release profiles of albendazole was sequentially determined in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) without enzymes and in rat caecal content medium (RCCM) at 37 degrees C. The in vitro drug release from matrix tablets containing CMC and Etcell as single polymers showed initial burst effect in the first 2 h (>20% and 50% respectively), followed by a slow release in SIF. However, matrix tablets containing polymer blends showed that no appreciable drug release occurred up to 5 h. Drug release from tablets containing polymer blends in the dissolution medium containing rat caecal material suddenly increased to > or =30% after 5 h (RCCM), and reaching up to 90% in 24 h. Albendazole matrix tablets containing carbopol 971, Etcell, EUD, and CMC as single polymers and as blends were formulated for oral use. Drug release from the tablet matrices containing carbopol alone, binary blends of carbopol/Etcell, and CMC/EUD were found to be very slow and dependent on polymer concentration. Matrix tablets containing blends of these polymers formulated using kneading, extrusion and compaction technique could provide sustained drug release and can be utilized in the colonic delivery of albendazole.
Acrylic Resins ; chemistry ; Administration, Oral ; Albendazole ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Anthelmintics ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium ; chemistry ; Cellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Colon ; metabolism ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Rats ; Tablets ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods