Elżbieta Nowakowska

Concomitant use of tramadol and venlafaxine – evaluation of antidepressant-like activity and other behavioral effects in rats

BACKGROUNDnThe aim of this study was to evaluate antidepressant-like effect (Porsolt test), locomotor activity and motor coordination of joint administration of tramadol (TRM) and venlafaxine (VEN) in rats.nnnMETHODSnThe tests were performed on male Wistar rats after single and chronic treatment (7 and 14 days) with TRM intraperitoneally (ip) and VEN orally (po) administered once a day. The controls were given 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) solution (0.5 ml per rat, ip and po).nnnRESULTSnIt was found that combination of TRM (5 mg/kg ip) with VEN (20 mg/kg po) caused an increased antidepressant effect compared to TRM and VEN administered alone, with no effect on locomotor activity or motor coordination in rats, which may be of clinical significance. It was also observed that reduced time of active swimming of animals in Porsolt test with an increased dose (10 and 20 mg/kg) and time of administration (7 and 14 days) of TRM were correlated with a decreased locomotor activity in rats. It may indicate the development of tolerance to TRMs antidepressant effect in rats during chronic treatment with doses higher than 5 mg/kg.nnnCONCLUSIONnIt can be expected that combination of low doses of TRM and VEN could potentially be feasible and relatively safe in cases with acute pain with co-existing depression, however, further investigations are needed.

Influence of aripiprazole and olanzapine on behavioral dysfunctions of adolescent rats exposed to stress in perinatal period

BACKGROUNDnSchizophrenia is a group of mental disorders of unclear origin, affecting around 1% of global population, most commonly young people. Of various treatment methods, pharmacotherapy using atypical neuroleptics such as aripiprazole (ARI) and olanzapine (OLA) seems to be the most effective. The aim of this paper was to show that prenatal stress causes impairment of cognitive functions in adolescent rats.nnnMETHODSnThe effect of chronic stress used in pregnant rats and the use of drugs such as ARI (1.5 mg/kg) and OLA (0.5 mg/kg) were studied in the Morris Water Maze (spatial memory) and Porsolt test (antidepressant effect).nnnRESULTSnThe behavioral tests showed that ARI improved spatial memory both in the non-stressed control group (NSCG) (after single and chronic treatment) and in the prenatally stressed group (PSG) (only in 14 and 21 days of treatment). An antidepressant effect was observed in the NSCG (only in 1 and 7 days) and the PSG (after single and chronic administration). OLA also showed memory improvement in the NSCG (chronic treatment - 14 and 21 days) and the PSG (all days of treatment) rats, but the antidepressant effect was noted only in single administration in both study groups (NSCG and PSG).nnnCONCLUSION(S)nResults suggest that ARI and OLA may prove effective in treating both schizophrenia and depression and may improve disturbed memory functions observed in these diseases.

The influence of aripiprazole, olanzapine and enriched environment on depressant-like behavior, spatial memory dysfunction and hippocampal level of BDNF in prenatally stressed rats

BACKGROUNDnCognitive function deficits caused by impaired neurogenesis of the brain structures are considered an important pathogenic factor in many neurological and mental diseases such as schizophrenia and depression. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the enriched environment on cognitive functions and antidepressant-like effect of prenatally stressed rats. It was important to determine the effect of aripiprazole ARI and olanzapine OLA and clarify whether the enriched environment induces increases in brain derived neurothropic factor BDNF in the hippocampus in the prenatally stressed group (PSG) and non-stressed control group (NSCG).nnnMETHODSnThe effect of chronic stress applied to pregnant rats and the use of ARI (1.5mg/kg ip) and OLA (0.5mg/kg ip) were studied in the Morris water maze (MWM), Porsolt Forced swimming test (FST) and by determining BDNF levels.nnnRESULTSnThe results indicated that enriched environment improved spatial memory and also had an antidepressant-like effect on prenatally stressed rats. ARI improved spatial memory both in the NSCG and PSG, while OLA caused memory improvement only in the PSG. Moreover, both ARI and OLA reduced immobility time in the NSCG and PSG. In PSG rats, BDNF decrease was observed while chronic treatment with ARI and OLA increased BDNF levels in the hippocampi of NSCG and PSG rats.nnnCONCLUSIONnIt has been confirmed that enriched environment improves spatial memory of animals, removes symptoms of stress, has an antidepressant-like effect, and that new neuroleptics, such as ARI or OLA, modulate these functions (increased BDNF).

Schizophrenia and Employment: Evaluation From Professionals Point of View

Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic disorder requiring long-lasting and comprehensive treatment. Because of this disorder patients are socially isolated. Consequently, schizophrenia has a significant economic burden both in a group of direct and indirect costs. The aim was to analyse experts’ opinions in the field of psychiatry concerning work possibilities among people with schizophrenia and to present the importance of employment for more effective treatment. A worldwide study was conducted between June 2011 and June 2013 using a questionnaire consisting of six open-closed questions and a short metrics. The questionnaire was delivered to experts and spread all over the world by post and via the internet. Over 3000 questionnaires were sent and the addressed specialists were requested to return them. From received 403 questionnaires 320 were included into the study, based on adopted inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although patients are afraid of looking for a job, respondents indicated that they crave for employment. The number of people that are able to work during remission of schizophrenia is considerably higher (50.35xa0%) than the number of actually employed (15.85xa0%). Non-pharmacological therapies were indicated as important to improve patients′ chances of finding a job during remission of schizophrenia. The number of people that can work during remission of schizophrenia is considerably higher than the number of affected people employed. Patients crave for a job and supported employment should be treated as priority by health-care decision makers.

The cost of inpatient care of schizophrenia in the Polish and Ukrainian academic centers--Poznan and Lviv.

ObjectiveThe authors aimed to analyze and compare treatments of schizophrenia in Poznan and Lviv to present the potential differences between Poland and Ukraine in pharmacotherapy and economic availability of medicines, to emphasize the role of academic centers in the effective treatment of schizophrenia, and to raise the awareness of residents about economics and the cost of inpatient care.MethodsThe analysis was based on 307 hospital records of patients treated in 2010 and 2011 and data from the hospital accounting department. Per the inclusion criteria, 108 adult patients (50 in Poznan and 58 in Lviv) were enrolled in the study. Monetary values were converted into euros (EUR) at the rate published by the National Bank of Poland (NBP) on October 9, 2012.ResultsThe total cost of schizophrenia treatment in Poznan was EUR 160,489.26, x¯

The effect of ethyl alcohol on the function of spatial memory in rats.

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Effect of gabapentin on cognitive processes in rats not exposed and exposed to tobacco smoke during fetal life.

u2009=u2009EUR 3,209.78 per patient, and in Lviv it was EUR 30,943.38, x¯