Influence of zinc supplementation on imipramine effect in a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model in rats

Zinc is an endogenous modulator of neuronal activity and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression. Recent studies have shown that zinc exhibits antidepressant-like activity in some models of depression in rodents. Our previous studies have shown that the footshock-induced fighting behavior was reduced in the rats subjected to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). This test is used as the new experimental model of depression. Various antidepressant drugs given repeatedly prevented this kind of behavioral depression. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of prolonged treatment with zinc hydroaspartate and to examine if zinc supplementation could modulate the imipramine effect in CUS model of behavioral depression in rats. The experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats. Chronic stress (persisting for 16 days) was induced by the modified method described by Katz et al. Zinc hydroaspartate at the dose of 30 mg/kg/day or 15 mg/kg/day and imipramine at the dose of 5 mg/kg/day were administered once daily for 14 days. Imipramine was given (ip) 1 h before every stress session and zinc hydroaspartate (ip) l h before the antidepressant. The footshock-induced fighting behavior test was performed 48 h after the last session of the chronic stress. It was demonstrated that in chronically stressed rats the number of fighting attacks was significantly reduced (by about 75%). Zinc hydroaspartate at the dose of 30 mg/kg/day, given alone, prevented the deficit in fighting behavior in chronically stressed rats. Neither imipramine at the dose of 5 mg/kg/day nor zinc hydroaspartate (15 mg/kg/day) administered alone changed the intensity of fighting behavior in chronically stressed rats. However, when imipramine was given at the same dose in the rats pretreated with zinc hydroaspartate (15 mg/kg/day) the deficit of fighting behavior was not observed. The present results indicate that zinc similarly to antidepressants protects the rats against the CUS-induced behavioral depression. Moreover, our findings suggest that zinc supplementation could potentiate the antidepressant effect of imipramine.

Pulmonary Complications in Patient with Ulcerative Colitis, Treated with 5-Aminosalicylic Preparations

Pulmonary complications in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid are infrequent adverse events. The authors present a 35-year-old man, talcing sulfasalazine and mesalazine in whom pulmonary abnormalities resembling tuberculosis were observed during several months of therapy. Withdrawal of mesalazine resulted in complete resolution of lung injury. Patient is doing well on maintenance treatment with im­munosuppressants.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of short-term smoking cessation treatment in patients of the Pulmonary Department, Medical University of Lublin

From August to December 2001 antinicotine program was performed in the Pulmonary Department of the Medical University of Lublin in order to achieve smoking cessation of hospitalized patients, their families and other people coming to the ambulatory during the "open door" days. The usefulness of the smoker's registration in a specialist ambulatory and effectiveness of specialist advice was analyzed. Three hundred ninety persons were examined and given advice. One hundred thirty-four patients (34.4%) were included in the study during hospitalization, 256 (65.5%) during open door action and from patients' families. Fifty-eight (14.9%) persons had Zyban prescribed, 23 (5.9%) nicotine replacement medications. 183 persons came for control visit (46.9%). One hundred and one subjects resist nonsmoking within the month after first visit. In all of them CO concentration in the expired air was normal. This made patients' declaration more objective. Consciousness of tobacco smoking harmfulness and activities taken to quit smoking seem to rise among the Lublin region population. Accessibility of spirometric tests in the screening diagnosis of COPD, one of the main tobacco-related diseases, rises as well. A specialist plays the main role in motivating the patient to smoking cessation. He shows the patient benefits of such an activity during diagnostic and therapeutic process, keeps essential control and supports psychologically. The family doctor has to play a similar role. There is considerable relative effectiveness of short-term antinicotine treatment. Hospitalization favors resisting smoking, especially when the hospital is a tobacco smoke free zone.