<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The endocannabinoid system (ECS) received a lot of attention ever since its discovery. Advancements of the last three decades have shown that there are numerous mechanisms by which the ECS regulates the energy metabolism. These can either be central (regulating appetite and calorie expenditure) or peripheral (adipocyte-specific and other) mechanisms. The current review highlights some of the most important observations leading to the discovery of the ECS first, followed by a part detailing the synthesis and transport of these mediators, the receptor types and second messenger systems involved. The next part is dedicated to the mechanisms by which this system regulates the energy metabolism. Lastly, the drugs that reached the clinical phase and the main targets and strategies for future drug development will be reviewed.</abstract>

University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures

Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy

Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, Faculty of Medicine

The endocannabinoid system: from the receptors to therapy

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) are non-selective cation channels predominantly localized on capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons; however both receptors have been described in non-neuronal tissues. It has been published that both receptors upregulated in peritoneal endometriosis in humans. Our research group demonstrated that TRPA1 and TRPV1 expression is elevated in human deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) lesions and the receptors have an estrogen-dependent expression pattern in rat endometrium. Here, we investigated the expression changes of TRPA1/V1 and the role of the capsaicin-sensitive sensory-nerve endings in a rat model of peritoneal endometriosis. Peritoneal endometriosis was surgically induced in 8-week-old female rats (n=7-7) for 2-weeks (acute condition) and 8-weeks (chronic condition). TRPA1/V1 mRNAs were quantified with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The expression levels were compared with the results obtained earlier from human DIE samples. The blockade of the TRPA1/V1 expressing capsaicin-sensitive nerve endings was induced with resiniferatoxin (RTX), followed by the measurement of the weight and size of the endometriosis lesions. We detected TRPV1 and TRPA1 mRNA in normal rat endometrium, their expression was not altered in sham-operated animals. In chronic, but not in acute endometriosis the expression was significantly elevated in the lesions, which results are consistent with our previous findings in human DIE. The elimination of capsaicin-sensitive nerve endings decreased the weight of the endometriosis lesions while the size of the ectopic tissue was not altered. Taken together, our results obtained from the rat endometriosis model are consistent with the previous human results, therefore this model is considered to have translational significance and it is suitable for functional analysis of the ion channels. The local, non-neuronal TRPA1 and TRPV1 might play a role in inflammation and sensory neuronal activation in endometriosis related pain, which is mediated by a broad range of pro-inflammatory molecules.</abstract>

Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy

Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Presence and upregulation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in translational rat endometriosis model

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Corticosterone is an adrenocortical steroid hormone with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid effects. Based on previous studies, the plasma level of corticosterone correlates with the stress exposure of rodents. Because the half-life of corticosterone in blood is short, its plasma concentration can be used as an acute stress marker. But hair is accumulating the systemic and locally produced corticosterone, therefore it can be used to study chronic stress. However, the accurate quantification of corticosterone is an analytical challenge owing to the very low amount of hormone found in a complicated biological matrix. The high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) can provide the required selectivity and sensitivity for this purpose. Currently published methods for corticosterone quantification involve complicated sample preparation and long run time. Accordingly, the aims of the study were to simplify the extraction method of the corticosterone from rat hair samples and to develop an optimized HPLC-MS method for the accurate quantification. The rat hair samples were washed with methanol, dried and cut, then extracted with methanol at room temperature for 24 hours. The lipids were precipitated with formic acid aqueous solution and eliminated by centrifugation. The corticosterone was separated from other compounds with reverse phase chromatography using acetonitrile and 0,1% aqueous solution of formic acid as mobile phase. The detection was performed in positive SIM mode measuring the 347 m/z molecular ion. A six point calibration was performed in the range of 0,5-20 ng/ml, the accuracy was tested with quality control samples at two different concentration level. The total run time is only 4,2 minutes and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) is 0,5 ng/ml, with 10 pg absolute sensitivity. By determining the quantity of the hormone for a well-defined hair region, based on the speed of hair growth, we can characterize the retrospective stress exposure of the animals in different conditions.</abstract>

Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mureș

University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mureș

Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry

Determination of corticosterone from rat hair samples by HPLC-MS method

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The premotor phase of Parkinson’s disease (PD) precedes the appearance of motor symptoms by years. Many non-motor diseases have been associated with an increased risk of developing PD, but results of these studies are conflicting. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of certain internal diseases (metabolic, circulatory, gastrointestinal) based on diagnosis codes, before the diagnosis of PD. There were 5209 patients included in the study who received diagnosis of PD at least in 2 years and we analyzed data retrospectively between 2004 and 2016. Out of metabolic diseases dyslipidemia (41%) and diabetes mellitus (32%), out of circulatory diseases hypertension (89%) and ischemic heart disease (51%) and out of gastrointestinal diseases gastroesophageal reflux disease (51%) and gallstones (25%) were the first two most common disorders in the examined PD patients. This is the first study in Hungary which analyzed PD in a large database in the context of internal diseases, and raised the possibility of a link between dyslipidemias, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, gastooesophagial reflux, gallstones and PD.</abstract>

Occurrence of internal diseases in the premotor phase of Parkinson’s disease by analyzing a large database covering a whole population

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Introduction: Camellia sinensis, a widely used plant, optimally grows in a low pH soil that in most cases contains high amounts of aluminum. Objectives: The aluminum content of the tea obtained from Camellia sinensis and other plants was compared. The influence of pH on the aluminum content of the tea was also measured. Materials and methods: The aluminum content of 48 samples was measured using a colorimetric method. The method is based on the ability of aluminum to form a stable complex with xylenol orange at low pH; this complex has an absorption maximum of 555 nm. Results: The method was validated for tea obtained with water and for tea obtained with water containing citric acid. The method proved linear over the rage of 0.7 – 7 ug/ml, coefficient of variation ranged between 2.6 – 7.68% (was dependent on the pH of the solution used to obtain the tea), accuracy was suitable for quantitative measurement (92.39-102.92%) and the complex proved to be stable for at least 1 hour. The following concentrations were measured: green tea (1.59 - 7.70 µg/ml), black tea (1.39 - 5.60 µg/ml), fruit tea (1.01 - 5.63 µg/ml) and herbal tea (1.03 - 5.24 µg/ml). Conclusion: The method proved useful and easily applicable for screening aluminum content of plants used for tea brewing. Camellia sinensis both green and black types had significantly higher aluminum contents than other type of teas. Adding citric acid, as would result from use of lemon juice, significantly increased the aluminum extraction from the plants used for tea brewing.</abstract>

University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Tîrgu Mureş

Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology and Biopharmacy

Aluminium contamination of several types of tea

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The aim of this experimental work was the enhancement of water solubility of the lipid lowering atorvastatin, by embedding it in polymer based micro sized fibers obtained by electrospinning. We prepared a polyvinylpyrrolidone (Kollidon 90F®) dispersion and added the active substance. By setting the experimental parameters we obtained four different microfibers containing atorvastatin, and one without the drug. The pH, viscosity and conductivity of the dispersions have been measured. The drug content and dissolution of atorvastatin had been studied by capillary electrophoresis. The size and thermal behavior of the fibers was determined. The parameters of the microfibers are influenced by the experimental parameters of electrospinning. The micro-method for dissolution showed a twofold solubility enhancement.</abstract>

University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mureş

Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and cosmetology discipline

Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical chemistry discipline

Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical industry and management discipline

Solubility enhancement of atorvastatin by embedding in micro sized carrier

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Triptans are specific drugs for migraine attack, their use leads to selective vasoconstriction, while the inflammatory condition that usually occurs during migraine is reduced. The structurally indolamine derivatives are selective agonists of the serotonin 1B/1D receptor. This review presents the history, representatives, production, and physico-chemical properties of triptans, but also discusses their pharmacological properties and mechanism of action.</abstract>

Chemical and pharmacological characterization of triptans

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In Kolozsvár, on 17th of September 1872, a Hungarian royal university was founded with 4 faculties 1- Law and Political Sciences, 2. Medical, 3. Arts (liberal), Language and History of Science, 4. Mathemathics and Natural History faculties. In 1881 the University picked up the Ferencz József University of Science name. There was no independent Medicine trainingfacultyt at this time yet. Pharmacists were taught in the Medical and Natural History faculties. In December 1918, during the first world war, Kolozsvár was moved under Romanian rule. On the 9th of May in 1919 the Romanian authorities called the acadamic senate (school staff) to do loyalty oath for the Romanian king.This was refused by the university teachers. After this event, teachers were moved out from this building along with the entire equipement of the University, and the place was occupied by the Romanian university. As, by this, theHungarian language acadamic education became impossible the first stage of the life of(Hungarian King) Ferencz József University of Sciense ended. First, the major part of theprofessors and students emigrated to Budapest while later on in 1921 the University wastemporarily established in Szeged. The University in Szeged took not onlythe legal continuity of the institute through its name but its professors also maintained and cherished all the traditions of the institute through many long coming years. Starting from 1921/1922 many student with transilvanian origin obtained pharmacist’s degree here many of whom later returned and worked in their native country.</abstract>

An event that impacted the Transylvanian pharmacist education 100 years ago

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Tibor Széki pharmacist, professor of pharmacy, member of the Hungarian Academy of Science, co-worker at Kolozsvár University, rector at Szeged University, professor of Budapest. He was a talented teacher, intuitive researcher, well organizing (founder of several institutes of chemistry) and public personality. His importance is beyond dispute in development of Hungarian chemical education.</abstract>

University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures

Famous Hungarian chemists and pharmacists: Tibor Széki

Volume 95 (2022): Issue 1 (July 2022)

Volume 94 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)

Volume 94 (2021): Issue 1 (July 2021)

Volume 93 (2020): Issue 2 (December 2020)

Volume 93 (2020): Issue 1 (July 2020)

Volume 92 (2019): Issue 2 (December 2019)

Volume 92 (2019): Issue 1 (July 2019)

Volume 91 (2018): Issue 2 (December 2018)

Volume 91 (2018): Issue 1 (July 2018)

Bulletin of Medical Sciences

 Why subscribe and read One of the few and last medical journal in the region that is published in Hungarian language with a long history looking back into the second half of the 19th century.The journal was established in 1876 with continous appearance until 1962 when due to the establishment of the totalitarian communist regime it was banned.It continuead to publish medical articles after the fall of the communist regime after 1990 and is serving medical professionals ever since.  Why submit Our journal offers fast and accurate peer-review process. Articles ar published in Hungaran language including an English abstract.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 