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Biomedical subjects

A Rozin

Publications and source records attributed to A Rozin.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Cotrimoxazole treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To review the literature on the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of cotrimoxazole (CTX)-a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, to summarize the use of this medication in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, to stimulate and renew the interest of both physicians and researchers in this possible therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to inspire further investigation in this field. METHODS: A MEDLINE search of the literature from 1966 until 2000 was performed, and information about the pharmacology of CTX and its use in the therapy of rheumatic diseases was critically reviewed. RESULTS: RA treatment is associated with numerous problems such as lack of efficacy, frequent side effects, and high cost. Analysis of the relevant literature revealed that experience with CTX in the treatment of RA is limited. However, the results of several nonrandomized and evidently forgotten clinical trials and laboratory investigations suggested that CTX might serve as an effective and inexpensive therapy for RA. Several lines of evidence suggested that CTX has nonspecific anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Although nausea and vomiting were common reasons for CTX withdrawal, they were noted in only some studies, and no major organ toxicity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its therapeutic qualities, low cost, and relative nontoxicity, CTX seems to warrant a role in the treatment of RA.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1997

Social play with an unfamiliar group in weanling rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Early signs of aggressive behavior toward an intruder were examined in Sprague-Dawley rats. The interactions between groups of four 24-day-old pups (2 males, 2 females) and an unfamiliar male pup from another litter were observed. Some patterns of social play were asymmetric. Compared to the playmate from the group, the unfamiliar pup was most likely to be underneath the other rats, either during play fighting or by crawling under a playmate. The single pup was most frequently involved in the following behaviors: on top (One animal climbs on top of another animal placing its forepaws on the second animal.), grooming, or crawling under a playmate. The effects of relative birth weight, ambient temperature during the lactation period, relative body weight, and relative body temperature during the observation period were studied. Results show that pups born and raised in a warm environment interacted socially more than pups raised in a colder environment. Pups lighter than the mean body weight of playmates tended to use submissive behaviors more than relatively heavier pups. Relatively heavy pups tended to use play behaviors that might be considered more aggressive during the interaction. The results suggest that under appropriate conditions, early evidence for dominance, i.e., asymmetry can be revealed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Neurobehavioral development of neonatal rats after in-utero hypothyroxinemia: efficacy of prenatal thyroxine treatment.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact on neonatal neurobehavioral development of methimazole (MMI)-induced in-utero hypothyroxinemia and of correction by maternal-fetal thyroxine (T4) transfer in the rat. Two groups of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received MMI as drinking water from gestation day 10 until birth. From day 16 until parturition, one of these groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of L-T4 and the other received saline injections. A third (control) group drank tap water and received saline injections. From day of birth, offspring from all groups were raised by untreated foster dams. Their neurobehavioral development was monitored, on postnatal days 5-14 (N = 3/litter, from 30 litters) by experimenters blind to treatment group. Prenatal T4 treatment resulted in correction of MMI-induced delayed appearance of three different reflexes. Body-weight gain of treated pups was similar to that of controls and more rapid than development of rats treated with MMI-alone. T4 treatment did not prevent, however, MMI-induced delay in maturation of physiological landmarks (e.g. ear opening). At least a portion of the developmental delay resulting from prenatal (maternal) MMI administration may be reversed by maternal-fetal transfer of T4 administered to the gravid dam.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Somatostatin levels during infancy, pregnancy, and lactation: a review.

This paper reviews research on somatostatin (SS) levels during infancy, pregnancy, and lactation. Neonates have elevated levels of circulating SS, which reach a peak at the age of 3 months and then decrease gradually, but remain elevated during the first years of life. SS response to feeding is not well developed in newborns. Elevated levels are also found during pregnancy, especially during the late phases. Influence of sucking on maternal SS plasma levels is varied and could be related to vagal stimulation. pH levels, and basal SS levels. SS has been found in high concentrations in maternal milk. Milk-borne SS appears to be protected from proteolysis by milk components, but apparently SS is not absorbed in its intact form through the duodenal wall and its effects could be indirect. More research is needed to determine the regulating role of milk-borne SS and the contribution of SS to development.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1995

A simple model for studying the correction of in utero hypothyroidism in the rat.

Although the placenta is only a limited barrier for the transfer of thyroxine (T4) to the fetus, we have recently demonstrated that maternal T4 does not suffice to prevent the effects of in utero hypothyroidism. The current study presents a convenient and minimally invasive animal model to study whether maternal-fetal transfer of T4 administered to the pregnant rat corrects the newborn's in utero hypothyroidism. In this model pregnant rats receive the goitrogen methimazole in their drinking water from d 10 of gestation until birth, either alone or together with L-T4. Circulating T4 levels in the dams and newborn pups are measured from blood spotted on filter paper by RIA. Using blood T4 levels as the measure, in the present study we found similar effects for orally and intraperitoneally administered T4. This rat model will allow future studies of whether maternal-fetal T4 transfer can correct the detrimental neurobehavioral effects of intrauterine hypothyroidism.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral effects of gut hormones in neonatal rats: I. Somatostatin administration during the first postnatal week.

This exploratory study attempted to uncover behavioral and physical outcomes of changes in the peripheral SMS system in the first postnatal week. On postnatal days 1-7, Sprague-Dawley rat pups received daily s.c. injections of Somatostatin (SMS; 8 or 40 micrograms/kg), saline, or CPP-1 (8 or 40 micrograms/kg), a putative SMS receptor antagonist. Physical growth and neurobehavioral development of the pups, assessed on days 3, 6, 9 and 12, were not affected, in 3 separate replications (n = 11/treatment/replication). In contrast, neonatal CPP-1 (40 micrograms/kg) reduced separation distress on day 14, as measured by ultrasonic vocalization and activity. In addition, neonatal SMS (40 micrograms/kg) tended to impair learning on a milk-rewarded Y-maze on days 15-16. These findings support further examination of the potential role of SMS in behavioral development.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral effects of gut hormones in neonatal rats: II. Cholecystokinin administration during the first postnatal week.

This exploratory study attempted to uncover physical and behavioral consequences of changes in the peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK) system in the first postnatal week. Sprague-Dawley rat pups received s.c. injections of CCK (8 micrograms/kg) or saline, on postnatal days 1-7 (2 times/day). Physical growth and neurobehavioral development of the pups were assessed on days 3, 6, 9 & 12, their social play was assessed on day 35, and the maternal behavior of their dams was assessed on days 9-12. CCK administration was associated with slower maturation of physical characteristics, more rapid reflexive performance on day 9, and increased maternal licking of pups. These findings stress the importance of further examining the impact of CCK and other gut-hormones on physical and behavioral development and on the quality of the mother-infant interaction.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seasonal distribution of relapse onset in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathy: the possible effect of the solar factor.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The seasonal effect on the relapse of rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathies is still unclear. To assess the seasonal distribution of relapse onset in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and its association with solar factors. METHODS: The monthly distribution of relapse onsets during the years 1998-2000 was retrospectively chart reviewed in 364 patients. In 1998 a total of 131 patients were studied; 60 with seropositive (sp) RA, 30 with seronegative (sn) RA and 41 with SpA; 113 patients in 1999: 44 with spRA, 38 with snRA and 31 with SpA; 120 patients in 2000: 56 with spRA, 38 with snRA and 26 with SpA. All of them were treated in the Department of Rheumatology, which serves the population of northwestern Israel. Solar activity was analyzed according to the "Solar Terrestrial Activity Report Charts 1998-2000". The Central Israel Bureau of Statistics provided the sun global radiation data. Data was assessed during the summer (April-September) and winter (January-March, October-December). The correlation between the monthly distribution of disease relapses and solar factors was measured (SPSS-10 for WIN). RESULTS: Relapses in spRA patients occurred mostly during the summer months with peak activity during the month of July 2000. Single monthly peaks of spRA relapse onset were noted in January 1998-1999 and April 1998 and for snRA in January 1998 and June 2000, but there were no seasonal differences for spRA, snRA and SpA in 1998-1999 and for snRA and SpA in 2000. Relapses in spRA patients were associated with a summer bias of increased solar activity and global solar radiation in 2000 compared with lower peak solar activity in 1998-1999. Furthermore, in 2000 we found a significant correlation of the spRA monthly relapse count to solar activity (p = 0.005) and global sun radiation (p = 0.048) unlike snRA and SpA. No above-mentioned association and correlation was noted in 1998-1999. We revealed mild negative correlation (p = 0.046) of SpA relapse count only to peak solar flux (PSF) by analysis of data for 1998-2000 as one united group. CONCLUSIONS: Relapses were more frequent during the summer of 2000 (May-June-July) in spRA but not in snRA and SpA. The reasons are still unclear. No seasonal differences were observed in 1998-1999. Enhanced solar activity in summer-2000 compared with 1998-1999 may be inferred to be the proposed cause but coincidence may occur as well. Outbreak in RA and SpA was not registered despite increased peak solar activity in 2000. We observed mild evidence of reciprocal relation between SpA relapsing and solar activity during 1998-2000. Solar and any other possible contributory factors remain still to be elucidated.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗