Electrocatalytic barium-oxide decorated MWCNT amperometric sensor for the quantification of anesthetic drug Procaine

Procaine hydrochloride (P.HCl) is one of the earliest and most well-established local anesthetic drugs used in medicine. Though it is employed frequently for effective clinical nerve blocks during surgeries, its immoderate administration has often shown reports of systemic toxicity. To prevent such repercussions, developing a sensor for the drug is crucial to enable real-time monitoring of the drug and assist in quality control procedures during its industrial preparations. Thus, in this work, we have fabricated a simple yet highly selective and sensitive amperometric sensor for P.HCl detection based on a Barium-oxide multi-wall carbon nanotube-modified carbon paste electrode (BaO-MWCNT/CPE). Herein, we have adopted a novel approach devoid of sophisticated procedures and pretreatments for rapidly determining P.HCl. Furthermore, experimental conditions, including supporting electrolytes, pH, and scan rate, were optimized to achieve a well-defined P.HCl anodic peak current at 631 mV, which is lower than the previously reported peak potentials, indicating an advantage of reduced overpotential. Besides, a striking 66-fold rise in current responsiveness to P.HCl was achieved upon modification with BaO-MWCNT. Such an intense signal enhancement upon electrode modification compared to bare CPE was due to the strong electrocatalytic feature of BaO-MWCNT, which was verified using surface morphology studies with scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, the charge transfer kinetics analyzed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) justified the enhancement of electrocatalytic activity upon electrode modification. The developed sensor exhibited a remarkable analytical performance over a wide linear dynamic range of 2.0-100.0 µM with a detection limit of 0.14 µM. Moreover, a significant merit of this sensor is its excellent selectivity towards P.HCl even in the presence of various common interferants. Finally, the versatility of the sensor was further validated by implementing it for the trace analysis of urine and blood serum real samples.

SERS and EC-SERS detection of local anesthetic procaine using Pd loaded highly reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite substrate

The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitations are critical towards achieving sizable spectral enhancements of the Raman scattered light. Herein, the synthesis of palladium-based highly reduced graphene oxide (Pd-HRG) with LSPR properties as an effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and its utility in the highly sensitive detection of procaine are reported. The concentration detection of procaine samples was optimized by applying a set of pre-concentration parameters. The Pd-HRG nanocomposite showed a remarkable LSPR response with a Raman enhancement factor of 8.7 × 10². The Pd-HRG is employed to modify fluorine doped tin oxide electrode (Pd-HRG/FTO), resulted with an enhancement factor of 7.5 × 10⁴ corresponding to the EC-SERS technique. The electronic and surface properties of synthesized Pd-HRG and functionalized FTO electrode were evaluated using Raman, infrared, EIS, XRD, FESEM and EDX techniques. Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to elaborate on the nature of interaction of procaine molecules with a nanostructured surface model. Pd-HRG, with an efficient and cost-effective fabrication, can be considered as a promising EC-SERS substrate for the detection of organic therapeutic drugs.

Design and analysis of interactions in ionic liquids based on procaine and pharmaceutically active anions

The present work focuses on modifying a local anaesthetic drug procaine into an ionic liquid and evaluating the resulting thermal behaviour and structural changes. Counter ions, salicylate, ibuprofenate, and docusate, were chosen due to different hydrogen-bonding abilities, molecular size, charge distribution, and functional groups. After synthesis of procaine salicylate, procaine ibuprofenate, and procaine docusate, spectroscopic investigations were performed using infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to confirm proton transfer. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis were used to determine the obtained ionic liquids' thermal behaviour. Experimental measurements of density, viscosity, and electrical conductivity were performed to get insight into the interactions occurring in the obtained ionic liquids. The viscosity and electrical conductivity data were analysed using the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) equation, while thermal expansion coefficients were calculated from measured density data. The obtained results found that the synthesised procaine salicylate and procaine docusate an ionic liquid's behaviours, including weak intermolecular forces, while procaine ibuprofenate showed more liquid co-crystal behaviour due to the absence of proton transfer for ibuprofen. In a theoretical phase of the investigation, the density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were conducted. The obtained descriptors and radial distribution functions were used to analyse the interactions between ions of synthesised ionic liquids. In addition, solubility determination results proved that procaine transformation into procaine salicylate and procaine ibuprofenate ionic liquids enhanced its solubility in water, while procaine docusate reduces procaine solubility.

Treatment of Localized Vulvar Pain with Neural Therapy: A Case Series and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Localized vulvar pain (LVP) is a common condition among fertile women, with physical and psychosexual implications. Treatment is complex with limited benefits. Neural therapy is a regulatory therapy that uses injections of local anesthetics in low concentrations in specific points to treat different conditions.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the cases of 5 women, ages 33-44 years, with LVP treated with procaine 0.5% injections in painful points. Complete relief from pain occurred in 2 patients, and significant improvement in 3. Only 1 or 2 sessions were required. Initial VAS score was ≥70 and decreased to ≤30 after the intervention. The improvement was maintained over time, with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months. None of the patients were able to have sex or use tampons due to pain, but they were able to resume after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

In this case series, local injections of procaine showed a favorable outcome. Future randomized clinical trials could help elucidate the role of this intervention in LVP.

The Effect of Neural Therapy on Long-Term Postoperative Discomforts after Bilateral Tubal Ligation

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of neural therapy in the prevention of post-tubal syndrome, which is the combination of dysmenorrhea, bloating, dyspareunia, heavy menstrual bleeding, chronic vaginitis, and cystitis, after elective bilateral tubal ligation with modified Pomeroy technique.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In total, 113 patients who have undergone bilateral tubal ligation with modified Pomeroy technique between January 2016 and December 2018 in our clinic have been included. Postoperatively, patients were divided into two groups. One group received neural therapy (n = 52), and the other group did not receive neural therapy (control group, n = 61). Both groups were evaluated in terms of preoperative and postoperative symptoms. One year after surgery, patients' pain levels were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS).

RESULTS

When both groups were compared in terms of symptoms, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, bloating, frequency of vaginitis, and cystitis per year and pain perception using VAS, the symptoms were significantly less in the neural therapy group. However, there was no difference between the groups in terms of the amount of menstrual bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who received neural therapy showed less pain symptoms (dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia), and their VAS scores were lower when compared to the control group. Thus, we concluded that neural therapy is effective in the treatment of post-tubal syndrome.

Design and Development of Novel 1,3,5-Triazine-Procaine Derivatives as Protective Agent against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Inhibitor of Nuclear Factor-κB

The aim of the present study was to determine the protective effect of novel 1,3,5-triazine-procaine derivatives against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Initially, the experiment has been started by the synthesis of procaine, which later got substituted with diverse 1,3,5-triazine derivatives to furnish the final compounds. The target compounds were tested for nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The antioxidant activity of most potent compound 9i was investigated using hydroxyl radical, DPPH, and superoxide anion scavenging assay. Compound 9i was further evaluated for protective effect against myocardial I/R injury on the basis numerous parameters, for example, hemodynamic parameters (left ventricular developed pressure [LVDP], ±dp/dtmax, coronary flow [CF], and heart rate [HR]), myocardial enzymes (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), oxidative stress (super oxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione [GSH], and glutathione peroxidise [GPx]), histopathology, western blots analysis for B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated x protein (Bax), lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), and NF-κB in cardiac tissues. Compounds showed significant inhibition of NF-ĸB transcriptional activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, revealing compound 9i as a most potent derivative. In vitro results showed efficient reduction of reduced hydroxyl radical, DPPH, and superoxide anion by 9i. The level LVDP, ±dp/dtmax, CF, HR, TBARS, SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx, and damaged cardiac histopathology were completely restored to normal in 9i-treated group, as compared to I/R group. In western blot analysis, the expression of Bax, LOX-1, and NF-ĸB was found to be decreased, while the level of Bcl-2 was found to be increased in 9i-treated group. The procaine-1,3,5-triazine derivatives showed significant cardioprotective action via inhibition of NF-ĸB.

Emotional release and physical symptom improvement: a qualitative analysis of self-reported outcomes and mechanisms in patients treated with neural therapy

Background

Neural Therapy (NT) is a common complementary treatment approach using injections with short-acting local anesthetics to treat pain and chronic diseases. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and the domains of treatment response. This study therefore analyzed patient experiences following NT injections with procaine.

Methods

Maximum variation sampling was used to collect data from semi-structured interviews conducted with 22 hospital inpatients aged 59.6 ± 14.9 years (81.8% female). Each had multiple (9.4 ± 6.9) diagnoses. They were undergoing two weeks of integrative treatment, which included individualized NT. The interview data were analyzed in MAXQDA using qualitative content analysis.

Results

With injection, patients first described local anesthetic effects including temporary blocking of pain and increased local warmth. Second, patients reported on vegetative reactions frequently leading to turmoil within the body like initial aggravation of existing symptoms or the appearance of new, concealed or phantom symptoms. This often required the need for rest to deal with the treatment stimulus. As a third step, many patients could gain physical and emotional release and relief in symptoms, mood and functioning. Emotional release was often accompanied by weeping and initially overwhelmed affected patients with dissociated memories. However, in cases where patients were able to experience those memories with a new distance, a fourth step of integration was achievable. It included reframing processes as well as a gain in pain perception and body-awareness. As a possible fifth step, patients experienced improved mood, increased pain acceptance and empowerment. Adverse events of NT included pain from the injections, vegetative complaints and emotional turmoil that lasted for minutes or hours, with a maximum of two days.

Conclusions

Patients treated with procaine injections reported different psychophysiological outcomes contributing to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying NT. Further efficacy studies should separate specific NT from non-specific/placebo effects.

Trial registration

DRKS00004567.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2369-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Intra-arterial procaine injection in peripheral arterial disease]

The report concerns a 61-year-old woman suffering from a chronic pain syndrome of peripheral arterial vascular disease. Despite level III-WHO medication she was not able to walk a distance of more than 100 m without pain. The patient received sonographically guided procaine injections into both femoral arteries. Directly after the injection the patient was free of pain for 4 weeks and for 6 months after a repeat injection.

Neural therapy of an athlete's chronic plantar fasciitis: a case report and review of the literature

Background

The focus of this case report is on the role of inflammation as a contributor to pain in plantar fasciitis and its cure by the injection of local anesthetics.

Case presentation

This is a case report on a 24-year-old white man, a middle-distance runner, with chronic unilateral plantar fasciitis and perceived heel pain for almost 1.5 years. He was treated with neural therapy (that is, injection of < 1 ml procaine 1% which is a local anesthetic with strong anti-inflammatory properties) of the surgical scar and along the surgical puncture channel. The follow-up period from the time of first presentation until publication was 2.5 years. At admission, pain intensity (visual analog scale) in the affected leg was severe (10 cm, visual analog scale; range 0–10 cm) when walking and moderate (5 cm, visual analog scale) when standing. After the first session of injections he could stand pain-free and pain when walking was markedly reduced (− 90%). After the third session, he reported no pain in the affected leg and could return to sports at his former level (no difference in training load compared to non-injured state). There was no recurrence of inflammatory signs or heel pain despite intense athletics training up to the date of publication.

Conclusions

In prolonged cases of plantar fasciitis, inflammation is an important component in the development of persistent pain. The results of our case describe the effects of three neural therapy sessions that abolished inflammation and associated heel pain. Neural therapy might be an effective and time-efficient approach in the treatment of plantar fasciitis, enabling an early return to sports.

Procaine and saline have similar effects on articular cartilage and synovium in rat knee

Background

Intra-articular local anaesthetics are widely used for providing postoperative analgesia and decreasing the need for opioids. Procaine has proven positive effects in carpal tunnel syndrome and chondromalacia patella. However, the effect of procaine on articular cartilage has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intra-articular procaine injection on the articular cartilage and the synovium.

Methods

Twenty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were enrolled in the study. After providing anaesthesia and aseptic conditions, 0.25 ml of 10% procaine was injected to the right knee joint, and 0.25 ml of normal saline (as control group) was injected to the left knee joint. Knee joint samples were obtained from four rats in each group after appropriate euthanasia on days 1, 2, 7, 14 and 21. The histological sections of the articular and periarticular regions and the synovium were evaluated by two histologists, and inflammatory changes were graded according to a five-point scale in a blinded manner. The apoptosis of chondrocytes was determined by the caspase-3 indirect immunoperoxidase method.

Results

There were no significant differences in inflammation between procaine and saline groups at any of the time intervals. Slight inflammatory infiltration due to injection was seen in both groups on the 1st day. Haemorrhage was observed in both groups at days 1 and 2, and the difference between groups was not found to be significant. No significant difference was detected in the percentage of apoptotic chondrocytes between groups at any of the time intervals.

Conclusions

Injection of procaine seems safe to use intra-articularly based on this in vivo study on rat knee cartilage. However, further studies investigating both the analgesic and histopathological effects of procaine on damaged articular cartilage and synovium models are needed.

Comparative therapeutic efficacy of Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) fruit extract and procaine penicillin in the treatment of subclinical mastitis in dairy buffaloes

To investigate the comparative therapeutic efficacy of Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) fruit extract and procaine penicillin in the treatment of subclinical mastitis, a total of 30 subclinical mastitis positive buffaloes out of 194 lactating buffaloes were divided into 3 equal groups viz. A, B and C. Group A was treated with procaine penicillin, group B was treated with Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract and group C was served as control for 5 days respectively. The collected milk samples were subjected to the treatment trials before and after the treatment at day 0, 7th and 14th day aseptically. The evaluation parameters were bacteriological cure rate, milk pH, milk yield. The percentage cure rate of sub-clinically mastitic quarters in group A, B and C were 80.95%, 64.7% and 22.22% at day 14 respectively. The quarter based bacteriological cure rate was highest in group A (80.95%) followed by group B (64.7%) and group C (22.22%). The pH was significant (P > .05) in group A, B and C at day 0, 7 and 14. It is concluded that Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract is an inexpensive source in the treatment of subclinical mastitis in dairy buffaloes and can be used as an alternative to antibiotic therapy as for procaine penicillin.

Inactivation of the medial mammillary nucleus attenuates theta rhythm activity in the hippocampus in urethane-anesthetized rats

Although the importance of the mammillary body for memory and learning processes is well known, its exact role has remained vague. The fact, that many neurons in one nucleus of the mammillary body in rats, i.e. the medial mammillary nucleus (MM), fires according with hippocampal theta rhythm, makes this structure crucial for a theta rhythm signaling in so-called extended hippocampal system. These neurons are driven by descending projections from the hippocampal formation, but it is still unknown whether the mammillary body only conveys theta rhythm or may also modulate it. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pharmacological inactivation (local infusion of 0.5μl of 20% procaine hydrochloride solution) of the MM on hippocampal theta rhythm in urethane-anesthetized rats. We found that intra-MM procaine microinjections suppress sensory-elicited theta rhythm in the hippocampus by reduction of its amplitude, but not the frequency. Procaine infusion decreased the EEG signal power of low theta frequency bands, i.e. 3-5Hz, down to 9.2% in 3-4Hz band in comparison to pre-injection conditions. After water infusion (control group) no changes of hippocampal EEG signal power were observed. Our findings showed for the first time that inactivation of the MM leads to a disruption of hippocampal theta rhythm in the rat, which may suggest that the mammillary body can regulate theta rhythm signaling in the extended hippocampal system.

Ryszard Rodzinski-A Forgotten Polish Inventor and Pioneer of Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia

Dr. Ryszard Rodzinski was a Polish surgeon who, in spite of his short life, had a productive career. His most important discovery was a safer method of performing regional anesthesia for abdominal surgery. The first description of combined spinal epidural anesthesia is generally attributed to Soresi in 1937. In the early 20th century, Rodzinski invented a novel technique, "combined lumbosacral anesthesia," which combined lumbar spinal anesthesia and sacral epidural anesthesia. During the 19th Meeting of Polish Surgeons in July 1922 in Warsaw, Rodzinski presented an article entitled "On Combined Lumbosacral Anaesthesia," in which he described this technique used in surgical clinic in Lwów since October 1921. Given this presentation, Rodzinski could be considered to have made the first known presentation of the combined spinal and epidural anesthesia.

Procaine Attenuates Pain Behaviors of Neuropathic Pain Model Rats Possibly via Inhibiting JAK2/STAT3

Neuropathic pain (NPP) is the main culprit among chronic pains affecting the normal life of patients. Procaine is a frequently-used local anesthesia with multiple efficacies in various diseases. However, its role in modulating NPP has not been reported yet. This study aims at uncovering the role of procaine in NPP. Rats were pretreated with procaine by intrathecal injection. Then NPP rat model was induced by sciatic nerve chronic compression injury (CCI) and behavior tests were performed to analyze the pain behaviors upon mechanical, thermal and cold stimulations. Spinal expression of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. JAK2 was also overexpressed in procaine treated model rats for behavior tests. Results showed that procaine pretreatment improved the pain behaviors of model rats upon mechanical, thermal and cold stimulations, with the best effect occurring on the 15(th) day post model construction (p<0.05). Procaine also inhibited JAK2 and STAT3 expression in both mRNA (p<0.05) and protein levels. Overexpression of JAK2 increased STAT3 level and reversed the improvement effects of procaine in pain behaviors (p<0.01). These findings indicate that procaine is capable of attenuating NPP, suggesting procaine is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating NPP. Its role may be associated with the inhibition on JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

Effects on hemodynamic variables and echocardiographic parameters after a stellate ganglion block in 15 healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND

The sympathetic nervous system has an important role in generating pain. Various pathomechanisms are involved that respond well to the application of local anesthetics (LA), for example to the stellate ganglion block (SGB).

OBJECTIVES

We wanted to know more about the effects of SGB on cardiovascular parameters.

METHODS

We included 15 healthy volunteers; another 15 healthy volunteers as a control group (sham injection of LA). In order to produce a more precise SGB, we employed only a small volume of LA (3mL), a LA with a lower permeability (procaine 1%), and a modified injection technique. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), heart rate (HR), and echocardiographic parameters were recorded before and after SGB. We also investigated whether there are side differences (left and right SBG).

RESULTS

At baseline all parameters were within the normal range. After performing right and left SGB DBP significantly increased (on the right side from 68.73±8.61 to 73.53±11.10, p=0.015; on the left side from 70.66±13.01 to 77.93±10.40, p=0.003). In the control group no increase in DBP was observed. No side-specific differences were found, except a significant reduction in the maximum velocity of myocardial contraction during the systole with left-sided SGB.

CONCLUSIONS

Even with our methods we could not prevent the simultaneous occurrence of a partial parasympatholytic effect. For this reason, the SGB has only minor hemodynamic effects, which is desirable as it enhances the safety of the SGB.

New perineal injection technique for pudendal nerve infiltration in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

PURPOSE

Pudendal nerve injection is used as a diagnostic procedure in the vulvar region and for therapeutic purposes, such as in vulvodynia. Here, we provide a new, easy-to-perform perineal injection technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed 105 perineal injections into the pudendal nerve with a local anesthetic (LA), procaine in 20 patients. A 0.4 × 40 mm needle was handled using a stop-and-go technique while monitoring the patient's discomfort. The needle was placed 1-2 cm laterally to the dorsal introitus. After aspiration, a small amount of LA was applied. After subcutaneous anesthesia, the needle was further advanced step-by-step. Thus, 5 ml could be applied with little discomfort to the patient. Anesthesia in the pudendal target region was the primary endpoint of our analysis.

RESULTS

In 93 of 105 injections (88.6 %), complete perineal anesthesia was achieved with a single injection. 12 injections were repeated. These injections were excluded from the analysis. Severity of injection pain, on visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 100, was 26.8 (95 % CI 7.2-46.4). Age (β = 0.33, p < 0.01) and the number of previous injections (β = 0.35, p < 0.01) inversely correlated with injection pain. Injection pain and anesthesia were not affected by BMI, the number and the side of previous injections, or order of injection. A reversible vasovagal reaction was common, but no serious adverse effects occurred.

CONCLUSION

Perineal pudendal injection is an effective and safe technique for anesthesia in diagnostic (vulva biopsy) and therapeutic indications (pudendal neuralgia), and regional anesthesia in perinatal settings.

Oseltamivir produces hypothermic and neuromuscular effects by inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor functions: comparison to procaine and bupropion

Oseltamivir, an anti-influenza virus drug, induces marked hypothermia in normal mice. We have proposed that the hypothermic effect arises from inhibition of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function of sympathetic ganglion neurons which innervate the brown adipose tissue (a heat generator). It has been reported that local anesthetics inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function by acting on its ionic channels, and that bupropion, a nicotinic antagonist, induces hypothermia. In this study, we compared the effects of oseltamivir, procaine and bupropion on body temperature, cardiovascular function and neuromuscular transmission. Intraperitoneal administration of oseltamivir (100mg/kg), procaine (86.6mg/kg) and bupropion (86.7mg/kg) lowered the core body temperature of normal mice. At lower doses (10-30mg/kg oseltamivir, 8.7-26mg/kg procaine and bupropion), when administered subcutaneously, the three drugs antagonized the hypothermia induced by intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (1mg/kg). In anesthetized rats, intravenous oseltamivir (30-100mg/kg), procaine (10mg/kg) and bupropion (10mg/kg) induced hypotension and bradycardia. Oseltamivir alone (100mg/kg) did not inhibit neuromuscular twitch contraction of rats, but at 3-30mg/kg it augmented the muscle-relaxing effect of d-tubocurarine. Similar effects were observed when lower doses of procaine (10-30mg/kg) and bupropion (3-10mg/kg) were administered, suggesting that systemic administration of oseltamivir inhibits muscular nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These results support the idea that the hypothermic effect of oseltamivir is due to its effects on sympathetic ganglia which innervate the brown adipose tissue, and suggest that oseltamivir may exert non-selective ion channel blocking effects like those of ester-type local anesthetics.

Charge-transfer complexes of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone with amino molecules in polar solvents

The charge-transfer complexes have scientific relevance because this type of molecular interaction is at the basis of the activity of pharmacological compounds and because the absorption bands of the complexes can be used for the quantification of electron donor molecules. This work aims to assess the stability of the charge-transfer complexes between the electron acceptor 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) and two drugs, procaine and atenolol, in acetonitrile and ethanol. The stability of DDQ in solution and the time required to obtain the maximum complex formation were evaluated. The stoichiometry and the stability of the complexes were determined, respectively, by Job's plot method and by the elaboration of UV-vis titrations data. The latter task was carried out by using the non-linear global analysis approach to determine the equilibrium constants. This approach to data elaboration allowed us to overcome the disadvantages of the classical linear-regression method, to obtain reliable values of the association constants and to calculate the entire spectra of the complexes. NMR spectra were recorded to identify the portion of the donor molecule that was involved in the interaction. The data support the participation of the aliphatic amino groups in complex formation and exclude the involvement of the aromatic amine present in the procaine molecule.

The effects of lidocaine and procaine on microRNA expression of adipocyte-derived adult stem cells

Background

The microRNA (miRNA) pathway has emerged as one of the biologic pathways implicated in stem cell regulation. miRNA is a noncoding, single-stranded RNA consisting of 20-25 nucleotides that inhibits the protein production at the step of translation. The molecular effects of lidocaine and procaine on adipose stem cells were investigated by examining RNA expression array.

Methods

Adipose stem cells were isolated from a prior abdominal liposuction procedure. The human adipose stem cells were cultured and then added to a mixture of 1 ml of culture medium plus 1 ml of 2% lidocaine or 2% procaine for the duration of 30 minutes. The expression levels of miRNAs were estimated by using peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-miRNA array analysis throughout the denaturation and hybridization processes after the isolation of miRNA. The miRNAs detected by microarray that either decreased by half fold or increased by 1.5 fold from the control level were interpreted as significant.

Results

According to microarray analysis there were 61 miRNAs in total, and no miRNA had decreased expression levels. The stem cells treatment with lidocaine showed 4 alteration of expression with miR-9a^* (1.53 fold), miR-29a (1.64 fold), miR-296-5p (1.64 fold) and miR-373 (1.94 fold). The stem cells treated with procaine showed 32 miRNAs that were significantly up-regulated with a range of 1.5 to 2.06 fold. They were stem cell differentiation-related miRNAs, apoptosis and cell cycle-associated miRNAs, immunity-associated miRNAs and hormonal response-related miRNAs.

Conclusions

Lidocaine and procaine affect the miRNA expression on adipose stem cells and the effect of procaine is more marked than that of lidocaine.

Antioxidant effect of lidocaine and procaine on reactive oxygen species-induced endothelial dysfunction in the rabbit abdominal aorta

BACKGROUND

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in the endothelium. We tested the antioxidant effect of lidocaine and procaine on ROS-induced endothelial damage in the rabbit aorta.

METHODS

Aortic rings isolated from rabbits were suspended in an organ bath filled with Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution bubbled with 5% CO(2) and 95% O(2) at 37.5. After precontraction with phenylephrine (PE, 10(-6) M), changes in tension were recorded following a cumulative administration of acetylcholine (ACh 3 x 10(-8) to 10(-6) M). Differences were measured as percentages of ACh-induced relaxation of aortic rings before and after exposure to ROS as generated by electrolysis of the K-H solution. The aortic rings were pretreated with lidocaine or procaine (10(-5) M to 3 x 10(-3) M) to compare their effects, as well as ROS scavengers, catalase, mannitol, sodium salicylate, and deferoxamine, and a catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3AT).

RESULTS

Lidocaine and procaine dose-dependently maintained endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by ACh despite ROS activity (P < 0.05 vs control value). The 3AT pretreated procaine (3 x 10(-3) M) group decreased more significantly than the un-pretreated procaine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that lidocaine and procaine dose-dependently preserve endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation against ROS attack, potentially via hydrogen peroxide scavenging.