To the question of the influence of experimental inflammation on the content of K, Ca and water in the skin of rabbits

E. Nathan and F. Stern (Dermat. Ztschr., Bd. 55, H. 1), as a result of intense illumination of the skin of rabbits with ultraviolet rays, an increased content of Ca was observed in the areas of inflamed skin, the amount of water at the beginning of inflammation increased, by the end of inflammation it decreased. By the end of the inflammation, the K content in these areas increased under low illumination with the same rays. The content of Ca and water was the same as in the case of intense irradiation, but an increase in the content of K was noted already from the onset of inflammation. The changes in the skin of rabbits after irritation with mustard oil were in general the same as when they were irradiated with light.

Knock-In Mice Expressing a 15-Lipoxygenating Alox5 Mutant Respond Differently to Experimental Inflammation Than Reported Alox5−/− Mice

Arachidonic acid 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes. We recently created knock-in mice (Alox5-KI) which express an arachidonic acid 15-lipoxygenating Alox5 mutant instead of the 5-lipoxygenating wildtype enzyme. These mice were leukotriene deficient but exhibited an elevated linoleic acid oxygenase activity. Here we characterized the polyenoic fatty acid metabolism of these mice in more detail and tested the animals in three different experimental inflammation models. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), Alox5-KI mice displayed an earlier disease onset and a significantly higher cumulative incidence rate than wildtype controls but the clinical score kinetics were not significantly different. In dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis (DSS) and in the chronic constriction nerve injury model (CCI), Alox5-KI mice performed like wildtype controls with similar genetic background. These results were somewhat surprising since in previous loss-of-function studies targeting leukotriene biosynthesis (Alox5−/− mice, inhibitor studies), more severe inflammatory symptoms were observed in the EAE model but the degree of inflammation in DSS colitis was attenuated. Taken together, our data indicate that these mutant Alox5-KI mice respond differently in two models of experimental inflammation than Alox5−/− animals tested previously in similar experimental setups.

Chemically-Induced Inflammation Changes the Number of Nitrergic Nervous Structures in the Muscular Layer of the Porcine Descending Colon

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the part of the nervous system that is located in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and regulates the majority of the functions of the stomach and intestine. Enteric neurons may contain various active substances that act as neuromediators and/or neuromodulators. One of them is a gaseous substance, namely nitric oxide (NO). It is known that NO in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may possess inhibitory functions; however, many of the aspects connected with the roles of this substance, especially during pathological states, remain not fully understood. An experiment is performed here with 15 pigs divided into 3 groups: C group (without any treatment), C1 group (“sham” operated), and C2 group, in which experimental inflammation was induced. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of inflammation on nitrergic nervous structures in the muscular layer of the porcine descending colon using an immunofluorescence method. The obtained results show that inflammation causes an increase in the percentage of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-positive neurons in the myenteric plexus of the ENS, as well as the number of nitrergic nerve fibers in the muscular layer of the descending colon. The obtained results suggest that NO is involved in the pathological condition of the large bowel and probably takes part in neuroprotective and/or adaptive processes.

Nigella Sativa’s Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Effects in Experimental Inflammation

Nigella sativa (NS) has been used for centuries in various inflammatory conditions because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) in two models of acute (carrageenan-induced) and sub-acute inflammation (complete Freund’s adjuvant induced) in rats. Materials and Methods: NSO was administered orally 1, 2 and 4 mL/kg in the acute phase. For subacute phase, NSO was administered 4 mL/kg, 7 days before or after inflammation induction, or in association with diclofenac 5 mg/kg. Results: The gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis showed that NSO is an important source of bioactive compounds, especially p-cymene and thymoquinone. In the acute phase, 1.5 h after administration, NSO (2 and 4 mL/kg) determined an anti-inflammatory effect comparable with that of diclofenac. In the sub-acute administration, NSO had no anti-inflammatory effect. The analgesic effect of NSO was observed only in the sub-acute inflammation in the analgesy-meter test. NSO as treatment proved its antioxidant effect through the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and increases in hydrogen donor capacity (DH) compared to the control group, but the effect was not as intense as that of diclofenac. Conclusion: The present study has proven inconstant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidative properties of NSO.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Ampelocissus Indica (L.) Planch (Chembravalli) in Wistar Rats

Background Ampelocissus indica (L.)Planch, Vitaceae locally known as Chembravalli, is medicinal plant used for inflammatory skin ailments and documented in Hortus Malabaricus, and traditional Ayurveda books. Objective To conduct phyto-chemical and acute toxicity of root of A.indica and to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity. Materials and methods Phyto-chemical profiling of root of A.indica was done as per standard ICMR methods and acute toxicity as per OECD-425. Decoction of A.indica (AI-8.64 ml/kg, AI-4.32 ml/kg) and ethanolic extract (AIE-500 mg/kg) were orally given to rats with Carrageenan induced rat paw edema and also in other rats with Cotton pellet induced granuloma; paw volume, weight of granuloma, histopathology, serum TNF α, IL1β were assessed. Results Oral administration of decoction AI-8.64 ml/kg, AI-4.32 ml/kg, and AIE-500 mg/kg significantly reduced inflammation by reducing paw volume, serum TNF α, IL1β. AI-8.64 ml/kg significantly reduced weight of granuloma and serum TNF α, IL1β. No acute toxicity was found upto 2000 mg/kg. Flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and steroids found in A.indica extract. Conclusion The present finding suggested that A.indica has a protective effect on experimental inflammation in rats and phytochemical profile will be useful for further studies

Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in porcine health management

ObjectiveTreatment of inflammation and pain management is an important topic in the welfare of pigs. It is very difficult for veterinary practitioners to choose the most appropriate product for a certain problem. This review aims to summarise and discuss the characteristics of different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as paracetamol and metamizole, available for pigs in the European Union.MethodsThe databases Pubmed, Google Scholar, CliniPharm CliniTox and European Medicines Agency were searched. Relevant terms (eg,‘meloxicam’, ‘fever’, ‘swine’, ‘pig’, ‘inflammation’, ‘castration’, ‘pain’) were used to search for original articles, reviews and books. Only peer-reviewed articles were used. References from studies were also analysed in order to find additional relevant studies.ConclusionStudies which have investigated the efficacy of NSAIDs for different conditions, using different treatment regimens, are scarce. Most studies focused on the efficacy of NSAID-related pain alleviation in piglet castration, as well as the anti-inflammatory potential of NSAIDs in experimental inflammation models. Little research has been carried out on the use of metamizole, tolfenamic acid, paracetamol and sodium salicylate and their effect in pigs.