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A new water-soluble, orally absorbable de- N-acetyl-lysoganglioside (WILD20), breakdown product of the monosialoganglioside GM, was found to influence some parameters of neutrophil response to inflammation stimuli. Superoxide anion production appears inhibited, along with neutrophil killing properties. A block of both pathways of arachidonic acid cascade and PAF was also found, as well as neutrophil ICAM-1-mediated adhesion to endothelial cells. Of particular interest was the significant reduction of neutrophils observed at the site of inflammation, whichever agonist was used. The effects on neutrophil physiology found in normal or in pathological conditions, are in favour of a WILD20-related inhibitory effect on neutrophil contribution to inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of clinical and experimental data supports the view that the efficacy of probiotics is strain-specific and restricted to particular pathological conditions, which means that newly isolated probiotic strains need to be targeted to a specific disease. Following national and international guidelines, we used a conventional in vitro experimental approach to characterize a novel strain of Lactobacillus reuteri , LMG P-27481, for safety (sensitivity to antibiotics and genome analysis) and putative efficacy (resistance to gastro-intestinal transit, adhesiveness, induction of cytokines, and release of antimicrobial metabolites). In vitro assays, which were carried out to examine the probiotic's effect on diarrhea (lactose utilization, inhibition of pathogens such as bacteria and Rotavirus), showed that it was more efficacious with respect to well-known reference strains in antagonizing Clostridioides difficile (CD). Data confirming that the probiotic can effectively treat CD colitis was gained from in vivo trials involving mice conditioned with large spectrum antibiotics before they were subjected to CD challenge. Two out of the three antibiotic-treated groups received daily LMG P-27481 for different time durations in order to simulate a preventive approach (LMG P-27481 administered prior to CD challenge) or an antagonistic one (LMG P-27481 administered after CD challenge). Both approaches significantly reduced, with respect to the untreated controls, CD DNA concentrations in caecum and C. difficile toxin titers in the gut lumen. In addition, LMG P-27481 supplementation significantly mitigated body weight loss and the extent of inflammatory infiltrate and tissue damage. The study results, which need to be confirmed by in vivo clinical trials, have demonstrated that the L. reuteri LMG P-27481 strain is a promising probiotic candidate for the treatment of CD infection., (Copyright © 2020 Sagheddu, Uggeri, Belogi, Remollino, Brun, Bernabè, Moretti, Porzionato, Morelli, Castagliuolo and Elli.)

Amtolmetin guacyl (MED15) is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which shares anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity with the other drugs of the NSAID family but which shows, unexpectedly, strong gastroprotective activity similar to misoprostol. This effect has been attributed to the presence in its molecule of a vanillic moiety responsible for stimulation of capsaicin receptors present throughout the length of the gastrointestinal tract. MED15 shows antispasmodic activity in the bowel against a number of agonists and compares favourably with reference compounds. In in vivo indomethacin-induced rat ileitis, MED15 heals better than 5-aminosalicylic acid and sulfasalazine, as well as down-regulating intestinal wall myeloperoxidase content. In acetic acid-induced colitis in the rat, levels of malondialdehyde were found to be more markedly reduced with MED15 than with 5-aminosalicylic acid. In contrast with the effect in the stomach, MED15 protective effect in the bowel appears to be unrelated to nitric oxide (NO) production. The MED15 enteroprotective effect is related to stimulation of intestinal capsaicin receptors as demonstrated by the loss of protective effect in the presence of capsazepine, a specific receptor antagonist of capsaicin. In conclusion, following the favourable results obtained in animal models and notwithstanding the pharmacological effects typical of an NSAID, MED15 may rationally be proposed for the treatment of various human colitis conditions and Crohn's disease.

Amtolmetin guacyl (CAS 873344-06-7, MED 15) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which has shown gastroprotective effects attributable to capsaicin receptor stimulation through the presence of a vanillic moiety in its molecular structure. The present paper further defines the anti-inflammatory activity of the product in an exudative rat model and in an arthritic rat model. The results obtained from both studies demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects comparable to those of the traditional NSAIDs in use. This study also demonstrated that amtolmetin guacyl possesses high antiaggregatory activity comparable to acetylsalicylic acid (CAS 50-78-2), when expressed as inhibition of blood thromboxane synthesis; the in vitro antiaggregatory activity was decidedly superior to that expressed by either acetylsalicylic acid or tolmetin (CAS 26171-23-3) (a traditional NSAID and metabolite of amtolmetin guacyl). The characteristics of gastroprotection along with control of inflammation and platelet aggregation render amtolmetin guacyl recommendable in the treatment of inflammatory and thromboembolic conditions where long-term therapy is required.

The effect on platelets of a new molecule denominated MED 27 (1-methyl-5-(4-methylbenzoyl)pyrrole-2-acetic acid 2-(theophylline-7-yl)ethyl ester, CAS 104333-87-1) was investigated. In vitro in the rat and using scalar doses of adenosine 5-diphosphate as challenge, the substance was found to be a platelet antiaggregating agent; in human platelets this effect was also found using stimuli such as epinephrine, collagen, arachidonic acid (AA), platelet aggregating factor (PAF) and U46619 (15-hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-epoxymethanoprosta-5,13-dienoic acid). MED 27 ex vivo induced a dose-dependent inhibition of rat platelet aggregation at doses much lower than that of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Confirmation of the antiplatelet effect was obtained through in vitro human thromboxane B2(TXB2) synthase inhibition and MED 27 was very active compared with various non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). These findings were confirmed in vivo in the rat: in this model MED 27 demonstrated dose-dependent and long-lasting activity. The drug was also found to be a TXA2 receptor antagonist and in this case also, the effect was dose-dependent and of long duration. In summary, MED 27 dually inhibits both thromboxane synthase and thromboxane receptors. It compares favourably with other NSAIDs of reference as an antiplatelet agent; this is also true when compared with ASA which, as opposed to MED 27, lacks any effect on TXA2 receptors.

Unexpectedly high levels of gastric tolerance to the new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) amtolmetin guacyl (CAS 87344-06-7, MED15) were observed in clinical practice. Further investigation of the drug was, therefore, undertaken in order to evaluate its gastrointestinal side-effects in animals. This new agent, which possesses high anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity, was recently introduced into medical therapy. In rats, repeated administration of MED15, even at high dosages, failed to produce any adverse effects on the gastric mucosa, unlike the reference NSAIDs used; the effect on the gastric mucosa was evaluated macro- and microscopically with a staining technique. In immature rat isolated stomachs MED15 strongly down-regulated the HCl output evoked by histamine, acetylcholine and gastrin. An effective NSAID which presents the added advantage of antisecretory properties has not previously been described amongst the many currently available, and reverses the dogma of the inevitable correlation between NSAID assumption and gastrointestinal reactions.

Treatment of systemic infection with Candida albicans with a combination of an antifungal agent (i.e. fluconazole) and a thymus-derived immunostimulant (i.e. thymosin alpha 1 (T alpha 1)) in mice immunosuppressed by morphine treatments was investigated. In normal mice, fluconazole given after infection with 10(6) C. albicans cells was more effective than in mice treated with morphine. Combination treatment with fluconazole and T alpha 1 prolonged survival and reduced the fungal burden in the kidneys of immunosuppressed mice. We also investigated the influence of this combined treatment on killing properties of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) and natural killer (NK) cell activity, inhibited by morphine administrations. Treatment with T alpha 1 or fluconazole as single agents promoted a recovery of normal NK cell activity and intracellular killing of C. albicans by PMN, while the combination significantly increased both of these responses, probably through the modulation of lymphokine production. Our data suggest that the additive effect of T alpha 1 and fluconazole is due to a direct antifungal action and activation of the immunocompetence.

The effects of cocaine on the number of murine peripheral blood cells and on phenotypic expression of lymphocyte subsets were examined using different regimens of drug exposure. Cocaine administered to mice for 7 consecutive days at 1 and 10 mg/kg/day reduced the absolute number of circulating white blood cells and the relative number of cells stained as lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes. Cocaine did not modify the relative proportion between lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes. Parallely, there were no changes in the percentage of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, while the number of natural killer cells increased. In sharp contrast, we didn't observe any significant change in peripheral blood cells after 30 days of consecutive drug administrations.

Gal beta 1-->3GalN beta 1-->4Gal(3<--2 alpha Neu)beta 1-->4Glc beta-->1Sph (WILD20), a new glycosphingolipid, a breakdown product of the monosialoganglioside GM1 obtained through alkaline hydrolysis, shows dose-dependent platelet anti-aggregating properties in vitro and in vivo. This effect is agonist- and species-independent. The family of lysosphingolipids, to which the compound belongs, is present in platelets particularly after thrombin treatment. WILD20 antiplatelet effect is due to the interference with ADP or thrombin-induced aggregation, probably via phospholipase A2 (PLA2) blockade; the substance is also effective when arachidonic acid is used as an agonist. Serotonin blood levels are also reduced. The substance, orally active at dosages of 0.1-0.01 mg/kg as antiplatelets agent, prolonged bleeding time without interfering with the coagulative or fibrinolytic processes.

A comparison of the effects of methadone and morphine on phagocytic physiology was carried out in mice, using a number of tests, to estimate the risk of using methadone in maintenance protocols for opiates addicts. Results indicate that methadone, like morphine, reduces (a) R.E.S. activity and (b) PMN superoxide anion production, while unlike morphine it (a) does not produce haematologic changes, (b) does not exacerbate C. albicans infections, (c) does not inhibit phagocytosis and killing by murine polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages, or by rabbit alveolar macrophages, and (d) does not reduce spleen and liver weight. These results are in strict agreement with those previously found in human subjects receiving controlled administration of morphine or methadone. Compared to morphine methadone therefore appears to have a lower toxic potentiality.