Alternative and complementary therapies in osteoarthritis and cartilage repair.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint condition and, with a burgeoning ageing population, is due to increase in prevalence. Beyond conventional medical and surgical interventions, there are an increasing number of 'alternative' therapies. These alternative therapies may have a limited evidence base and, for this reason, are often only afforded brief reference (or completely excluded) from current OA guidelines. Thus, the aim of this review was to synthesize the current evidence regarding autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), vitamin D and other alternative therapies. The majority of studies were in knee OA or chondral defects. Matrix-assisted ACI has demonstrated exceedingly limited, symptomatic improvements in the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee and is not supported for the treatment of knee OA. There is some evidence to suggest symptomatic improvement with MSC injection in knee OA, with the suggestion of minimal structural improvement demonstrated on MRI and there are positive signals that PRP may also lead to symptomatic improvement, though variation in preparation makes inter-study comparison difficult. There is variability in findings with vitamin D supplementation in OA, and the only recommendation which can be made, at this time, is for replacement when vitamin D is deplete. Other alternative therapies reviewed have some evidence (though from small, poor-quality studies) to support improvement in symptoms and again there is often a wide variation in dosage and regimens. For all these therapeutic modalities, although controlled studies have been undertaken to evaluate effectiveness in OA, these have often been of small size, limited statistical power, uncertain blindness and using various methodologies. These deficiencies must leave the question as to whether they have been validated as effective therapies in OA (or chondral defects). The conclusions of this review are that all alternative interventions definitely require clinical trials with robust methodology, to assess their efficacy and safety in the treatment of OA beyond contextual and placebo effects.

Determinants, consequences and potential solutions to poor adherence to anti-osteoporosis treatment: results of an expert group meeting organized by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).

Many patients at increased risk of fractures do not take their medication appropriately, resulting in a substantial decrease in the benefits of drug therapy. Improving medication adherence is urgently needed but remains laborious, given the numerous and multidimensional reasons for non-adherence, suggesting the need for measurement-guided, multifactorial and individualized solutions. INTRODUCTION: Poor adherence to medications is a major challenge in the treatment of osteoporosis. This paper aimed to provide an overview of the consequences, determinants and potential solutions to poor adherence and persistence to osteoporosis medication. METHODS: A working group was organized by the European Society on Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal diseases (ESCEO) to review consequences, determinants and potential solutions to adherence and to make recommendations for practice and further research. A systematic literature review and a face-to-face experts meeting were undertaken. RESULTS: Medication non-adherence is associated with increased risk of fractures, leading to a substantial decrease in the clinical and economic benefits of drug therapy. Reasons for non-adherence are numerous and multidimensional for each patient, depending on the interplay of multiple factors, suggesting the need for multifactorial and individualized solutions. Few interventions have been shown to improve adherence or persistence to osteoporosis treatment. Promising actions include patient education with counselling, adherence monitoring with feedback and dose simplification including flexible dosing regimen. Recommendations for practice and further research were also provided. To adequately manage adherence, it is important to (1) understand the problem (initiation, implementation and/or persistence), (2) to measure adherence and (3) to identify the reason of non-adherence and fix it. CONCLUSION: These recommendations are intended for clinicians to manage adherence of their patients and to researchers and policy makers to design, facilitate and appropriately use adherence interventions.

Age dependent changes of arterial wall viscoelasticity.

Viscoelastic characteristics (VEC) of old rat aorta (Wistar, 10 months) were obtained by sinusoidal excitation of intraluminal pressure (p) in cylindrical arterial preparations. The pressure excitation frequency (f(exc)) was swept in the range 3-30 Hz up and down at several mean-pressure levels while response volume oscillations were recorded and resonance curves were plotted. Natural frequency (f(0)), dynamic modulus of elasticity (E') and coefficient of viscosity (beta) were estimated from resonance curves and the dependences of VEC on p were drawn. The results showed that f(0) decreased linearly with p whereas our previous data for young rat aorta (Wistar, 4 months) showed independence of f(0) on p. E' increased nonlinearly with p with the values being higher in comparison to young rat aorta. This means stiffening of rat aorta with age in accordance with the known literature data. beta-values increased linearly with p being higher in comparison to young rat aorta, demonstrative of raised intrinsic friction in the wall. VEC values were higher at decreasing f(exc) suggesting that the direction of excitation sweeping also determines the arterial wall biomechanical behaviour. It could be concluded that blood vessels VEC worsen with age, which endangers the arterial wall integrity, especially at higher intraluminal pressure.

Acute pain: a multifaceted challenge - the role of nimesulide.

BACKGROUND: This article summarizes the outcome from an international consensus meeting, which took place in Vienna on 4 November 2014. SCOPE: The aim of the meeting was to provide the state of the art on the pathophysiology and treatment of acute pain with special emphasis on nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indicated for the treatment of acute pain and primary dysmenorrhea. Besides the data on the mechanisms of acute inflammatory pain and on the efficacy and safety of nimesulide in patients affected by different forms of acute pain, the clinical experience of attending experts was discussed based on selected case reports. RESULTS: The members of this consensus group recognized that nimesulide is a NSAID highly effective in the treatment of several painful situations with an acute inflammatory component including primary dysmenorrhea. Although safety concerns regarding nimesulide have emerged in recent years, both robust new epidemiological data and clinical experience confirm a positive benefit/risk profile of nimesulide in the treatment of several forms of acute pain. CONCLUSIONS: The members of this international consensus group concluded that nimesulide, when used appropriately, remains a particularly valuable and safe option for the treatment of several conditions characterized by the presence of acute inflammatory pain because of the rapid onset of the analgesic action, and the positive evidence-based benefit/risk profile.

P2X3 knock-out mice reveal a major sensory role for urothelially released ATP.

The present study explores the possible involvement of a purinergic mechanism in mechanosensory transduction in the bladder using P2X(3) receptor knock-out (P2X(3)-/-) and wild-type control (P2X(3)+/+) mice. Immunohistochemistry revealed abundant nerve fibers in a suburothelial plexus in the mouse bladder that are immunoreactive to anti-P2X(3). P2X(3)-positive staining was completely absent in the subepithelial plexus of the P2X(3)-/- mice, whereas staining for calcitonin gene-related peptide and vanilloid receptor 1 receptors remained. Using a novel superfused mouse bladder-pelvic nerve preparation, we detected a release of ATP proportional to the extent of bladder distension in both P2X(3)+/+ and P2X(3)-/- mice, although P2X(3)-/- bladder had an increased capacity compared with that of the P2X(3)+/+ bladder. The activity of multifiber pelvic nerve afferents increased progressively during gradual bladder distension (at a rate of 0.1 ml/min). However, the bladder afferents from P2X(3)-/- mice showed an attenuated response to bladder distension. Mouse bladder afferents of P2X(3)+/+, but not P2X(3)-/-, were rapidly activated by intravesical injections of P2X agonists (ATP or alpha,beta-methylene ATP) and subsequently showed an augmented response to bladder distension. By contrast, P2X antagonists [2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ATP and pyridoxal 5-phosphate 6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid] and capsaicin attenuated distension-induced discharges in bladder afferents. These data strongly suggest a major sensory role for urothelially released ATP acting via P2X(3) receptors on a subpopulation of pelvic afferent fibers.

Adrenocorticotropin and beta-endorphin release from rat adenohypophysis in vitro: inhibition by prostaglandin E2 formed locally in response to vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing factor.

The present study examined the involvement of prostaglandins (PGs) in the mechanisms of ACTH and beta-endorphin release from rat anterior pituitary quarters incubated in vitro. Various cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin, diclofenac, flurbiprofen) had no effect on basal release of ACTH-like or beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-EI), but enhanced ACTH-immunoreactivity/beta-EI release upon stimulation by arginine-vasopressin (AVP) or synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor [CRF-(1-41)]. The lowest effective concentration of indomethacin was just sufficient to prevent PG synthesis. Indomethacin was similarly active after blockade of the phosphodiesterase by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. When added to the incubation media in concentrations up to 1 microM, PGE2, D2, F2 alpha, or prostacyclin (PGI2) did not alter basal beta-EI release; however, with stimulation by AVP or CRF-(1-41), PGE2 but not PGD2, F2 alpha, or I2 inhibited beta-EI release by about 60%. The concentrations of PGE2 in the incubation media, as measured by RIA, were somewhat higher than those of any other cyclooxygenase product (PGD2, F2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, thromboxane B2). Upon stimulation by AVP or CRF-(1-41), the concentrations of PGE2 increased, whereas those of PGD2 or F2 alpha remained unchanged. The release of beta-EI stimulated by high potassium concentration was not enhanced by indomethacin, although this release was sensitive to inhibition by PGE2. We conclude that PGE2 is formed locally subsequent to binding of the neurohormones and may act as a negative feedback-modulator of vasopressin's and CRF-(1-41)'s activity in the anterior pituitary gland.

In vitro adrenocorticotropin/beta-endorphin-releasing activity of vasopressin analogs is related neither to pressor nor to antidiuretic activity.

The ability of vasopressin and related analogs to induce ACTH, beta-endorphin, and beta-lipotropin release was studied in vitro using incubated rat anterior pituitary quarters or a perifused rat isolated anterior pituitary cell column. Vasopressin and its analogs exhibited corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like activity in a rank order which was different from those for vasopressor or antidiuretic activity. Two dissimilar antagonists with antivasopressor activity showed different effects: one possessed CRF-like activity itself, the other blocked the CRF-like activity of vasopressin. Another antagonist with antipressor and also antiantidiuretic activity had no effect when given alone and also didn't block the CRF-like activity of vasopressin. Some analogs were also tested for their effects on cAMP accumulation. Analogs, which possessed CRF-like activity or blocked CRF-like activity of vasopressin, stimulated cAMP accumulation or inhibited vasopressin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in anterior pituitary quarters, respectively. These results imply that the structural requirements of the CRF-like activity of vasopressin differ from those of the pressor and antidiuretic activity. Therefore, it is possible that the pituitary receptors responsible for CRF-like activity of vasopressin represent a separate category of vasopressin receptors which may be linked to an adenylate cyclase.

Noradrenergic-nitrergic interactions in the rat anococcygeus muscle: evidence for postjunctional modulation by nitric oxide.

1. The distribution of NADPH-diaphorase positive and catecholamine-containing nerve structures, and functional noradrenergic-nitrergic interactions, were studied in the rat anococcygeus muscle. 2. The morphological findings demonstrated NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons mostly as aggregates in intramural ganglia, nerve tracts and few single nerve fibres forming plexus-like structures. 3. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) inhibited concentration-dependently the nitrergic relaxation, an effect reversed by L-arginine. The drug had dual effects on noradrenergic contractile responses: at lower concentrations (0.1-10 microM) it decreased the amplitude of contractions and this was not affected by L-arginine; higher concentrations (50-500 microM) potentiated the contractions, an effect that was prevented by L-arginine. 4. The electron acceptor, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) produced a rapid inhibition of the noradrenergic contractile responses (EC50 0.178 +/- 0.041 microM). The drug decreased the tone of the preparations. However, it potentiated concentration-dependently the nitrergic relaxations. 5. NBT (1 microM) had no significant effect on the relaxations induced by exogenously applied nitric oxide (NO)-donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.01-50 microM). However, the effect of NBT (0.1-10 microM) on the electrically induced relaxation was significantly decreased by L-NOARG (10 and 50 microM). The inhibition was of a non-competitive type. 6. Neither L-NOARG (100 microM) nor NBT (1 microM) had any effect on the spontaneous or electrically-induced release of 3H-radioactivity from the tissues preincubated in [3H]-noradrenaline. 7. It is concluded that L-arginine-NO pathway can modulate noradrenergic transmission in the rat anococcygeus muscle at postjunctional, but not prejunctional site(s).

Inhibition by prostaglandin E2 of the release of vasopressin and beta-endorphin from rat pituitary neurointermediate lobe or medial basal hypothalamus in vitro.

The present study was performed to examine the effect of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, and that of various prostaglandins on the release of vasopressin and beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-EI) from the rat neurointermediate lobe of the hypophysis, which was superfused in vitro. Indomethacin (2.8 and 28 mumol/l) changed neither basal secretion of vasopressin nor that evoked by electrical stimulation, whereas the resting release of beta-EI was enhanced by indomethacin (28 mumol/l). Prostaglandin (PG) E2 did not influence resting release of vasopressin but markedly inhibited (by about 50%) electrically induced release of vasopressin (least effective concentration: 300 nmol/l) as well as spontaneous secretion of beta-EI (least effective concentration: 100 nmol/l) in the presence of indomethacin (28 mumol/l). Prostaglandin F2 alpha (5 mumol/l) also inhibited the evoked release of vasopressin, whereas PGD2 (5 mumol/l) did not. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (5 mumol/l), D2 and I2 (1.5 mumol/l each) produced no effects on beta-EI release. As observed in the neurohypophysis, PGE2 inhibited the electrically induced release of vasopressin from the medial basal hypothalamus in vitro. We conclude that prostaglandins (especially PGE2) can inhibit (1) the stimulated release of vasopressin when acting on vasopressin-containing nerve terminals of either neurosecretory system (neurohypophysis, median eminence region), and (2) the secretion of beta-EI and, as can be inferred, alpha-MSH, by a direct action on intermediate lobe cells.

The effects of morphine treatment and morphine withdrawal on the dynorphin and enkephalin systems in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effect of morphine tolerance and withdrawal on prodynorphin peptides was studied in relevant brain areas and in the pituitary gland of male Sprague-Dawley rats, and compared with effects on the proenkephalin-derived peptide Met-enkephalin. After 8 days of morphine injections (twice daily), dynorphin A and B levels increased in the nucleus accumbens and dynorphin A levels increased also in the striatum. Morphine treatment increased striatal Met-enkephalin. Leu-enkephalinArg6 levels were reduced in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Morphine-treated rats had very low Leu-enkephalinArg6 levels in the hippocampus as compared to saline control rats. Comparison of the relative amounts of dynorphin peptides and the shorter prodynorphin-derived peptides, Leu-enkephalinArg6 and Leu-enkephalin, revealed a relative increase in dynorphin peptides versus shorter fragments in the nucleus accumbens, VTA and hippocampus. Morphine-tolerant rats had lower levels of dynorphin A in both lobes of the pituitary gland, whereas hypothalamic dynorphin levels were unaffected by morphine. Leu-enkephalinArg6 levels were reduced in the hypothalamus, but not changed in the pituitary gland. Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal accentuated the increase in dynorphin A and B levels in the accumbens and dynorphin A levels in the striatum, while inducing an increase in enkephalin levels in the accumbens and Met-enkephalin in the VTA. In the hippocampus, Leu-enkephalinArg6 levels remained low in the withdrawal state. The low dynorphin levels in the anterior part of the pituitary gland were reversed by naloxone, whereas the low dynorphin A levels in the neurointermediate lobe were 0ven lower in the withdrawal state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain dynorphin and enkephalin systems in Fischer and Lewis rats: effects of morphine tolerance and withdrawal.

Lewis rats are more likely to self-administer various drugs of abuse than Fischer rats. Here these two strains of rats were compared with regard to basal brain opioid peptide levels and the response to chronic morphine treatment and to naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Lewis rats had lower basal dynorphin peptides in the substantia nigra, striatum (not Leu-enkephalinArg6) and VTA (not dynorphin B) and the pituitary gland. Leu-enkephalinArg6 levels were also lower in these structures (with the exception of striatum which had higher levels) and in the nucleus accumbens. There were also strain differences in the response to chronic morphine treatment; in the nucleus accumbens, morphine treatment increased dynorphin A levels in Fischer rats only, in the ventral tegmental area effects were opposite with increased dynorphin levels in Fischer and decreased levels in Lewis rats, in the hippocampus dynorphin levels were markedly reduced in Lewis rats only. In Fischer rats, chronic morphine strongly affected peptide levels in the substantia nigra and striatum, whereas Lewis rats responded less in these areas. Leu-enkephalin, which derives from both prodynorphin and proenkephalin, and Met-enkephalin, which derives from proenkephalin, were affected by chronic morphine mainly in Fischer rats, increasing levels in most of the brain areas examined. The results in this study show (1) strain differences in basal levels of prodynorphin-derived opioid peptides, (2) the prodynorphin system to be differently influenced by morphine in Lewis rats than in Fischer rats and 3) the proenkephalin system to be influenced by chronic morphine in brain areas related to reward processes only in Fischer rats.

Release of prostaglandin E2 and beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity from rat adenohypophysis in vitro: variations after adrenalectomy or lesions of the paraventricular nuclei.

Previous studies in vitro have shown that prostaglandin (PG) E2 is formed in rat adenohypophysis upon stimulation by arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF-(1-41]. The aim of the present study was to examine whether long-term changes in the hypothalamic stimulation of the pituitary corticotrophs in vivo may influence PG synthesis in subsequent in vitro incubations of rat anterior pituitary quarters. The release of PGE2 from adenohypophyses obtained from adrenalectomized rats was increased to about 300% of controls both under basal conditions and after stimulation by AVP; by contrast, the release of PG D2 was changed neither by adrenalectomy nor by AVP. Simultaneously, basal release of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-EI) was increased after adrenalectomy to about 300% of controls, parallel to the increase in the tissue content, whereas AVP-induced beta-EI release was unchanged. Addition of PG E2 inhibited, whereas blockade of PG formation by indomethacin enhanced AVP-induced beta-EI release both in controls and after adrenalectomy. When anterior pituitary glands were taken from rats with lesions of the paraventricular nuclei, release of PG E2 was decreased as compared to controls both under basal conditions and after stimulation by AVP or CRF-(1-41). Simultaneously, basal and evoked release of beta-EI was unchanged. We conclude that the formation of PG E2 in the adenohypophysis varies according to long-term changes in the hypothalamic stimulation of adrenocorticotropin and beta-endorphin release supporting the view that PG E2 synthesis is related to, and may be involved in mechanisms controlling peptide hormone release from the corticotrophs.

Biotransformation of nociceptin/orphanin FQ by enzyme activity from morphine-naive and morphine-treated cell cultures.

The biotransformation of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOFQ) by enzyme activity isolated from U1690 human lung carcinoma and SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell lines, and from rat brain cortex cells in primary culture was investigated. The identification and quantification of the cleavage products were performed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry linked to size-exclusion chromatography. The effect of chronic morphine treatment of the cells (5 days) on NOFQ biotransformation was also studied. It was found that major products generated from NOFQ were the amino-terminal peptides N1-9 and N1-13. The pattern of NOFQ biotransformation was quite similar for all three cell cultures. However, different proportions of the formed peptides were noted. The cleavage was inhibited by EDTA, PMSF, Hg2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+. Dynorphin A2-13 inhibited NOFQ cleavage in a manner suggesting competition of the two peptides for the same enzyme. Chronic morphine treatment of the cell cultures resulted in a substantial increase in the enzyme activity, leading to higher levels of the major fragments and accumulation of N1-12 and the shorter peptides N1-5, N1-6. Since the effect of morphine treatment of the cells was blocked by naloxone, it is likely that it was receptor specific. Taken together, the findings suggest that a metallosensitive endopeptidase, the activity of which is increased by chronic morphine treatment of the cells, is responsible for the biotransformation of NOFQ with fragments N1-9 and N1-13 being the major products.

Opiate modulation of dynorphin conversion in primary cultures of rat cerebral cortex.

Rat brain cortical cells in primary culture were used to investigate long-term effects of opiates on endopeptidases acting on dynorphin peptides. Enzyme activity in the soluble fraction of the cells converted dynorphin B to Leu-enkephalin-Arg6 and to a lesser extent to Leu-enkephalin. Five day treatment with 10 microM morphine increased the conversion to Leu-enkephalin-Arg6 by 370%. This effect was prevented by the presence of naloxone in the culture medium. The opiate-inducible activity was directed to the Arg-Arg bond in dynorphins with preference for dynorphin B > alpha-neoendorphin > > dynorphin A. The Km for the generation of Leu-enkephalin-Arg6 from dynorphin B was 40 microM. Enzyme activity was inhibited by dynorphin fragments, in the following order of potency: dynorphin A(1-13) > A(2-13) > A(1-17) > A(2-17) and by SH-reagents, suggesting the presence of a cysteine-protease. The opiate-stimulated dynorphin-converting enzyme (DCE)-activity affects the balance between dynorphin peptides (selective for kappa-opioid receptors) and enkephalin peptides (selective for delta-opioid receptors). Since both types of opioid peptides can influence the development of opiate tolerance, the change in the extent of this transformation may be functionally important.

In vitro CRF activity of vasopressin analogs is not related to pressor activity.

The relative abilities of four vasopressin analogs to stimulate the release of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity from rat anterior pituitary quarters in vitro were found by the present study to be somewhat related to their relative antidiuretic activities, but to be very different from their relative pressor potencies. We conclude that vasopressin exerts its direct beta-endorphin-releasing activity via receptors with conformational requirements which are different from those of the vascular receptor type.

Profile of prostaglandins generated in the detrusor muscle of rat urinary bladder: effects of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine.

The generation and release of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in the rat detrusor muscle were studied by means of radioimmunoassays. The effect of ATP (0.1 mmol/1) and adenosine (0.1 mmol/1) on the content and profile of PGs in the incubation medium was investigated. It was found that PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha accounted for more than 80% of the total PG activity. ATP increased the amounts of PGs in the incubation medium (percentage change of the control values, N = 6: PGE2 54.53 +/- 12.69, PGF2 alpha 31.01 +/- 8.82, PGD2 44.52 +/- 12.36, TXB2 17.29 +/- 10.45, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha 36.62 +/- 5.0) but did not change their profile. Adenosine had no effect on either content or profile of the PGs. The results suggest that ATP but ot adenosine may activate PG biosynthesis via P2-purinoceptor-mediated mechanisms.

Vasopressin release from rat medial basal hypothalamus in vitro after adrenalectomy or lesions of the paraventricular nuclei.

Rat medial basal hypothalami (MBH) or neurointermediate lobes of the hypophysis (NIL) were superfused in vitro and stimulated electrically. The evoked release of vasopressin from the MBH was enhanced to 700% of controls when the tissue was taken from adrenalectomized rats. By contrast, the evoked release of vasopressin from the NIL was not changed after adrenalectomy. After bilateral lesions of the paraventricular nuclei, the evoked release of vasopressin from the MBH was reduced in subsequent in vitro experiments. The marked changes in vasopressin release occurred in spite of no or only small changes in the total tissue content of vasopressin. These data support the view that vasopressin may be released from the external layer of the median eminence into the hypophysial portal blood after activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis.

A mu-receptor opioid agonist induces AP-1 and NF-kappa B transcription factor activity in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons.

Activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) represent mammalian transcription factors which bind to distinct enhancer motifs. The specific mu-receptor opioid agonist, Tyr, D-Ala2, Gly, N-Me-Phe4, Gly-ol5 (DAMGO), was found to increase AP-1 and NF-kappa B activity in primary cultures of neurons from rat cerebral cortex. Acute (2 h, 4 h) and long-term (72 h) treatment with DAMGO time-dependently increased the DNA-binding activity of both AP-1 and NF-kappa B and the stimulation could be abolished or inhibited by concurrent incubation with naloxone. However, acute naloxone-precipitated withdrawal did not significantly change AP-1 or NF-kappa B activity. These results indicate a mu-opioid receptor-related co-induction of AP-1 and NF-kappa B transcription factors in cultured cortical neurons.

Nandrolone modulates the non-opioid and opioid analgesia and tolerance/dependence: role of sexual dimorphism.

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of the doping steroid nandrolone on metamizol and morphine-induced analgesia and tolerance/dependence in rats. Nandrolone per se did not change the basal nociceptive thresholds in both sexes. It diminished the analgesic effect of metamizol in females, revealed by tail flick test, and males, revealed by paw pressure and hot plate tests. In general, the action of nandrolone was to decrease the morphine-induced analgesia in female and male rats. This was strongly manifested by paw pressure and tail flick tests in male, and tail flick tests in female animals. Nandrolone slowed the development of opioid tolerance/dependence. It aggravated the withdrawal syndrome in the females and invigorated aggression in the males. The data provide evidence that anabolic steroid nandrolone might decrease the analgesic action of metamizol or morphine. The doping steroid could modulate opioid tolerance/dependence and the aggressive behavior in a gender dependent manner. The action of nandrolone is most likely due to profound long-term effects on the central nervous system and might be a gateway to addiction of other drugs of abuse.

Dynamics of Parecoxib or Meloxicam effect on acute postoperative pain after orthopedic surgical interventions: comparative study in hospitalized women and men.

The dynamics of Parecoxib or Meloxicam analgesic effect on acute postoperative pain was studied in 48 patients (22 female and 26 male) sustaining arthroprosthetic (Parecoxib analgesia) or arthroscopic (Meloxicam analgesia) orthopedic surgery. The results show higher postoperative pain and slower dynamics of Parecoxib and Meloxicam analgesia in women than in men, which necessitates supplementation of the applied analgesic medication in the female patients.