The Effects of Four Compounds That Act on the Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Systems on Working Memory in Animal Studies; A Literature Review.

The dopaminergic and serotonergic systems are two of the most important neuronal pathways in the human brain. Almost all psychotropic medications impact at least one neurotransmitter system. As a result, investigating how they affect memory could yield valuable insights into potential therapeutic applications or unanticipated side effects. The aim of this literature review was to collect literature data from animal studies regarding the effects on memory of four drugs known to act on the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. The studies included in this review were identified in the PubMed database using selection criteria from the PRISMA protocol. We analyzed 29 articles investigating one of four different dopaminergic or serotonergic compounds. Studies conducted on bromocriptine have shown that stimulating D2 receptors may enhance working memory in rodents, whereas inhibiting these receptors could have the opposite effect, reducing working memory performance. The effects of serotonin on working memory are not clearly established as studies on fluoxetine and ketanserin have yielded conflicting results. Further studies with better-designed methodologies are necessary to explore the impact of compounds that affect both the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems on working memory.

Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease.

Silicosis, an occupational lung disease that can be prevented, is still a significant public health concern in many countries, despite its considerably decreased incidence over the years. The latency period for silicosis ranges from a few years to several decades, depending on the duration and intensity of exposure to silica dust. The complex pathogenic mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood, but it is known to be characterized by inflammation, the formation of silicotic nodules, and progressive and irreversible fibrosis. The aim of this paper was to present the current sources of exposure to silica dust and summarize the updates on risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, genetic susceptibility) and sex differences, silico-tuberculosis, prognostic markers including 16-kDa Clara cell secretory protein, antifibrotic treatment, and other therapeutic possibilities with promising results. There are no effective treatment options for silicosis, and prevention remains the primary tool to significantly reduce the risk of disease. There are promising new treatments under investigation including antifibrotic, cellular, and immunomodulatory therapies, but further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of these therapies in adequately powered clinical trials.

Near Missed Case of Occupational Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma, a Case Report and Latest Therapeutic Options.

Asbestos use started to be gradually banned in Europe from 1991 onwards, and there are currently strict occupational exposure limits for asbestos. However, malignant mesothelioma has a long latency time (in some cases up to 50-60 years), so the risks related to asbestos exposure should not be forgotten. Considering the increased risk of lung cancer following the inhalation of asbestos fibers, lifetime health monitoring should be considered in people occupationally exposed to asbestos, with an emphasis on the respiratory system. An assessment of their occupational history should be performed rigorously, especially in the areas with a history of asbestos production/use, as this is a key element for an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This case report presents a near-missed case of occupational pleural malignant mesothelioma. The latency time between the first asbestos exposure and the diagnosis of occupational pleural malignant mesothelioma was 49 years. The accurate diagnosis was made two years after the first symptoms appeared.

The Effect of Food on the Single-Dose Bioavailability and Tolerability of the Highest Marketed Strength of Duloxetine.

Duloxetine is a combined serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor indicated in adults for the treatment of major depressive disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, and generalized anxiety disorder. The aim of these studies was to evaluate the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics and safety of duloxetine 60-mg gastroresistant hard capsules following single-dose administration. The data were obtained from 2 phase 1 bioequivalence studies, 1 in a fasting state and the other under fed conditions. Both studies have shown that, when administered as a single dose in the same prandial state, the test and reference duloxetine treatments were bioequivalent and exhibited similar safety profiles. The mean fed and fasting pharmacokinetic parameters and drug-related adverse events from the 2 studies were compared in order to assess the effect of food on the duloxetine bioavailability and respectively, tolerability. Administration of duloxetine in fed conditions increased peak plasma concentration by up to 30% and delayed mean time to peak concentration by an average of 1.15 hours while having an insignificant effect on extent of absorption (area under the plasma concentration-time curve in fed state within ±6% as compared with fasting conditions). Even though peak plasma levels were substantially higher in the fed state, there was no negative impact on the drug's safety profile. Actually, administration with food resulted in a lower average number of adverse events per single dose exposure. The negligible variation in overall systemic exposure suggests that efficacy remains unchanged irrespective of administration conditions; however, a better tolerability of the 60-mg dose is expected when the drug is taken with food.

Bioavailability and safety study of resveratrol 500 mg tablets in healthy male and female volunteers.

Over the past few decades, trans-resveratrol has received widespread attention as a preventive agent for numerous diseases. Several studies have demonstrated that it has significant biological and pharmacological properties. Trans-resveratrol has been reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, anti-aging, cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, which can be relevant in chronic diseases and longevity in humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate the rate and extend of absorption, and also the safety of resveratrol following a single 500 mg oral dose. This was an open label, single dose, one period, bioavailability study in 15 healthy volunteers under fasting conditions. Blood samples were collected at predefined time points up to 24 h after resveratrol administration, and plasma concentrations of resveratrol and its conjugated (glucuronated and sulphated) metabolites were determined using a validated high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-inf, Tmax, T1/2 and MRT, were determined from plasma concentration-time profiles and found to be in good agreement with previously reported data. Cmax and AUC0-inf were lower for resveratrol when compared with the values for its glucuronated and sulphated metabolites. Cmax for resveratrol, glucuronated resveratrol and sulphated resveratrol were 71.2±42.4 ng/ml, 4,083.9±1,704.4 ng/ml and 1,516.0±639.0 ng/ml, respectively, while the AUC0-inf values were 179.1±79.1 ng/ml, 39,732.4±16,145.6 ng/ml and 14,441.7±7,593.2 ng/ml, respectively. No adverse reactions associated with resveratrol were reported during the study. The plasma concentrations of resveratrol (free and conjugated) were in agreement with those mentioned in the literature, and were adequate to promote the pharmacological activities of resveratrol. In conclusion, resveratrol 500 mg tablets were well-tolerated by all participants of the study.