Cannabidiol for musculoskeletal regenerative medicine.

Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is one of the most prevalent causes, which lead patients to a physician's office. The most common disorders affecting MSK structures are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, and myofascial pain syndrome, which are all responsible for major pain and physical disability. Although there are many known management strategies currently in practice, phytotherapeutic compounds have recently begun to rise in the medical community, especially cannabidiol (CBD). This natural, non-intoxicating molecule derived from the cannabis plant has shown interesting results in many preclinical studies and some clinical settings. CBD plays vital roles in human health that go well beyond the classic immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive properties. Recent studies demonstrated that CBD also improves cell proliferation and migration, especially in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The foremost objective of this review article is to discuss the therapeutic potential of CBD in the context of MSK regenerative medicine. Numerous studies listed in the literature indicate that CBD possesses a significant capacity to modulate mammalian tissue to attenuate and reverse the notorious hallmarks of chronic musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The most of the research included in this review report common findings like immunomodulation and stimulation of cell activity associated with tissue regeneration, especially in human MSCs. CBD is considered safe and well tolerated as no serious adverse effects were reported. CBD promotes many positive effects which can manage detrimental alterations brought on by chronic MSDs. Since the application of CBD for MSK health is still undergoing expansion, additional randomized clinical trials are warranted to further clarify its efficacy and to understand its cellular mechanisms.

An Outbreak of the Nematode Parasite Eustrongylides spp. (Nematoda: Dioctophymatidae) in a Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Facility.

Despite advances in research employing zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model, it is still difficult to obtain animals with attested sanitary qualities from commercial breeders. This study reports the first-time occurrence of Eustrongylides spp. parasitism in a zebrafish colony recently acquired from a pet store supplier to begin a research colony at a scientific facility. This parasite has not been reported in any current zebrafish health-monitoring guidelines to date. Thus, this report is a warning to breeders and researchers that this nematode can parasitize zebrafish, causing high lethality rates and compromising research outcomes.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-like and its receptor in a crustacean optic ganglia: a role in neuronal differentiation?

The neural system appears before the vascular system in the phylogenetic tree. During evolution, vascular system generation takes advantage of the pre-existing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in order to form its networks. Nevertheless, the role of VEGF in neuronal and glial cells is not yet completely understood. In order to support the hypothesis of a neural role for VEGF, we searched for VEGF- and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-like immunoreactivities (immunohisto/cytochemistry and Western blotting) in the eyestalk of the invertebrate Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ucididae). Our results showed that both neurons and glial cells expressed VEGF-immunoreactivity, and that VEGFR was evidenced in neural cells. This is the first report about the VEGF/VEGFR-like immunoreactivities in the nervous tissue of a crustacean, and enables U. cordatus to be included in the repertoire of animal models used for ascertaining the role of VEGF in the nervous system.

Reduced occurrence of programmed cell death and gliosis in the retinas of juvenile rabbits after shortterm treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab.

OBJECTIVE: Bevacizumab has been widely used as a vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist in the treatment of retinal vasoproliferative disorders in adults and, more recently, in infants with retinopathy of prematurity. Recently, it has been proposed that vascular endothelial growth factor acts as a protective factor for neurons and glial cells, particularly in developing nervous tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bevacizumab on the developing retinas of juvenile rabbits. METHODS: Juvenile rabbits received bevacizumab intravitreously in one eye; the other eye acted as an untreated control. Slit-lamp and fundoscopic examinations were performed both prior to and seven days after treatment. At the same time, retina samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to detect autophagy and apoptosis as well as proliferation and glial reactivity. Morphometric analyses were performed, and the data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: No clinical abnormalities were observed in either treated or untreated eyes. However, immunohistochemical analyses revealed a reduction in the occurrence of programmed cell death and increases in both proliferation and reactivity in the bevacizumab-treated group compared with the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab appears to alter programmed cell death patterns and promote gliosis in the developing retinas of rabbits; therefore, it should be used with caution in developing eyes.

Reduced occurrence of programmed cell death and gliosis in the retinas of juvenile rabbits after shortterm treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab

OBJECTIVE: Bevacizumab has been widely used as a vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist in the treatment of retinal vasoproliferative disorders in adults and, more recently, in infants with retinopathy of prematurity. Recently, it has been proposed that vascular endothelial growth factor acts as a protective factor for neurons and glial cells, particularly in developing nervous tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bevacizumab on the developing retinas of juvenile rabbits. METHODS: Juvenile rabbits received bevacizumab intravitreously in one eye; the other eye acted as an untreated control. Slit-lamp and fundoscopic examinations were performed both prior to and seven days after treatment. At the same time, retina samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to detect autophagy and apoptosis as well as proliferation and glial reactivity. Morphometric analyses were performed, and the data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: No clinical abnormalities were observed in either treated or untreated eyes. However, immunohistochemical analyses revealed a reduction in the occurrence of programmed cell death and increases in both proliferation and reactivity in the bevacizumab-treated group compared with the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab appears to alter programmed cell death patterns and promote gliosis in the developing retinas of rabbits; therefore, it should be used with caution in developing eyes.

Meloxicam e prednisona: efeitos do tratamento oral de curto prazo sobre os níveis de pressão intraocular em cães / Meloxican and prednisone: the effects of orally short term treatment on the intra-ocular pressure levels in dogs

Para possível observação da hipertensão ocular com o uso de antiinflamatórios, foram selecionados 28 cães da raça Beagle. Para avaliação da pressão intra-ocular antes do tratamento, no dia 0 (zero) todos os animais tiveram a pressão intra-ocular avaliada às 08 horas e às 16 horas. No dia seguinte dez cães receberam meloxicam na dose de0,2 mg/kg, e 0,1mg/kg nos restantes quatro dias. Nove cães receberam prednisona na dose de 1,0 mg/kg durante cinco dias. Nove cães receberam somente porção de ração úmida. No quinto dia do tratamento todos os animais tiveram novamente a pressão intra-ocular avaliada às 08 horas e às 16 horas. Em todos os grupos, incluindo o grupo-controle, as maiores médias de pressão intra-ocular foram observadas no dia 5 (cinco). A diferença dos valores de pressão intra-ocular observada entre as medições das 08 horas e das 16 horas foi significativa, independente do tratamento e do dia considerado. O uso dos anti-inflamatórios esteroidal e não-esteroidal não foi capaz de causar hipertensão ocular e alguns fatores podem ser incriminados, como via de administração, dose e duração do tratamento utilizado, além da ausência de doença glaucomatosa nos cães selecionados

In order to observe a possible ocular hypertension associated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, 28 beagle dogs were selected. For evaluation of intraocular pressure before treatment, the totality of animals had their intraocular pressure measured at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.on day 0 (zero). On the following day 10 animals received meloxican on dose of 0.2 mg/Kg and 0.1 mg/Kg on the four remaining days. Nine dogs received prednisone on dose of 1,0 mg/Kg during five days. Nine dogs received only wet feeding. On the fifth day of treatment the totality of dogs had their intraocular pressure measured at 8 a.m.and 4 p.m. For all groups, including control-group, the highest average values of intraocular pressure were observed on day 5 (five). The difference between the two evaluations of intra-ocular pressure (8a.m. and 4 p.m) was significant, independent of treatment and of the considered day. The use of both steroidal or non-steroidal antiinflammatory were not capable of causing ocular hypertension and some factors can be pointed out, such as route of administration, dosage and duration of therapy chosen, besides absence of glaucomatous disorder between the selected dogs