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In haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the addition of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (Cy) can help to induce immunotolerance between the donor and haploidentical immune system, preventing graft-versus-host disease between the haploidentical immune system and organs/ tissues of the recipient. We hypothesized that the situation could be reversed and replicated during the transplantation of allogenic tissue and syngeneic (autologous model) HSCT with post-HSCT Cy. We hypothesized that conditioning (pre-HSCT Cy) causes immunoablation of the recipient, and post-HSCT Cy deletes allo-reactive clones from transplanted HSC thus enabling immunotolerance to simultaneously transplanted tissue (organ). To test this hypothesis, we developed a model of autologous HSCT (syngeneic HSCT) with simultaneous transplantation of allogenic tissue in rat. The study rats received: first immunoablation, then allogenic skin graft and syngeneic HSCT, and later post-transplantation Cy. The administration of Cy before and after syngeneic HSCT with simultaneous transplantation of skin graft prolonged skin graft survival from 3 to 12 days and changed the pattern of rejection. The addition of Cy post-HSCT resulted in a statistically significant increase in TNFα secretion before rejection compared to acute rejection without Cy post-HSCT. The sole administration of Cy before and after syngeneic HSCT with simultaneous organ transplantation is not sufficient to achieve full tolerance to allogenic tissue. However, with changes to conditioning or additional immunosuppression, this goal could be achieved.

Background/Objectives: Psilocibin (PSY), a serotonergic hallucinogen, has attracted increasing scientific interest due to its therapeutic potential, particularly in treatment-resistant depression. In parallel with its growing clinical and research relevance, important questions have emerged regarding its safety profile, including potential effects on the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, and immune function. The aim of this narrative review was to systematically collect, critically appraise, and organize the dispersed evidence regarding potential multi-organ safety signals associated with PSY exposure. Methods: A narrative review was conducted including preclinical studies, pharmacological investigations, available clinical data, and published case reports, including reports of mushroom-related intoxications involving PSY-containing species. All available sources addressing potential toxicological outcomes associated with PSY were considered, regardless of exposure context, in order to reflect the current state of evidence. Results: The available evidence base is limited and heterogeneous, consisting primarily of case reports, observational data, and mechanistic preclinical studies. Reported adverse events are rare and frequently confounded by polysubstance use, uncertainty of dose, co-ingestion of other compounds, and lack of exposure standardization. Despite these limitations, biologically plausible mechanisms related to serotonergic receptor activation provide a rationale for further investigation of potential organ-specific effects. However, current controlled clinical data do not provide consistent evidence supporting intrinsic multi-organ toxicity of PSY. Conclusions: Current evidence does not confirm clinically meaningful intrinsic multi-organ toxicity of PSY under controlled conditions. Nevertheless, the available literature suggests the presence of potential safety signals that warrant further systematic evaluation. In the context of growing clinical interest in PSY, this review provides a structured synthesis of current knowledge and highlights critical gaps in understanding its organ-specific safety profile.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by immune-mediated demyelination and subsequent axonal injury and neurodegeneration. Traditionally, the pathogenesis of MS has been attributed primarily to autoreactive immune responses targeting myelin sheaths antigens. However, growing evidence highlights the role of neurotransmitter dysregulation, particularly involving glutamate, acetylcholine, and dopamine pathways, in the development and progression of MS. These alterations in neurotransmitter systems may be especially relevant to the emergence of neuropsychiatric manifestations, including psychosis, which appears to occur more frequently in individuals with MS than in the general population. Also, some of the medications used in MS treatment might cause psychosis itself. Despite increasing recognition of MS-associated psychosis (P-MS), its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of this often underestimated and potentially underdiagnosed clinical phenomenon. The current literature was reviewed with regard to the prevalence and risk factors of P-MS, as well as proposed pathophysiological mechanisms, including inflammatory, neurochemical, and structural contributors. Clinical presentations and differential diagnostic considerations are also discussed. Furthermore, evidence-based strategies for the management of P-MS are examined, with emphasis on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between neurologists and psychiatrists. By synthesizing current knowledge, this review seeks to raise awareness of P-MS as a clinically significant comorbidity that warrants further research and improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, is a naturally occurring tropane alkaloid derived from plants of the Solanaceae family. Clinically, the compound has long been used for the prevention of motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well as for ophthalmological procedures requiring mydriasis and cycloplegia. However, beyond these established indications, increasing attention has been directed toward its broader neuropharmacological actions. This narrative review aims to summarise current knowledge regarding the pharmacological properties of scopolamine, with particular emphasis on its mechanisms of action and emerging implications in neuroscience and neuropsychiatric disorders. Scopolamine acts as a non-selective antagonist of muscarinic receptor subtypes M1–M5, interfering with cholinergic neurotransmission. Experimental and clinical studies demonstrate that scopolamine induces transient cognitive impairment. This property has led to its widespread use as a pharmacological model of Alzheimer’s disease, enabling investigation of cholinergic contributions to cognitive decline. More recently, several early clinical studies suggested that intravenous administration may produce rapid reductions in depressive symptoms, possibly through modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission and activation of mTORC1-dependent synaptic plasticity pathways in the prefrontal cortex. Nevertheless, subsequent trials have yielded inconsistent results, and the therapeutic relevance of these findings remains uncertain. Current evidence indicates that scopolamine’s neuropsychiatric effects likely arise from complex interactions between cholinergic, glutamatergic, and neurotrophic signalling systems. Taken together, scopolamine represents both a valuable experimental tool for studying cholinergic function and a mechanistic framework for the development of novel therapeutics targeting rapid neuroplastic processes in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is closely associated with oxidative stress (OS), and apelin-13 has been proposed as a potential cardioprotective peptide. However, its effects on specific oxidative stress (OS) markers remain poorly understood. This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the impact of apelin-13 on oxidative stress markers in rats chronically treated with doxorubicin (DOX). Male rats received DOX with or without apelin-13 (40 µg/kg body weight/day). The levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured as indicators of oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, respectively. The DOX treatment resulted in increased MDA levels, which were unaffected by apelin-13. Conversely, 8-OHdG levels decreased with DOX alone but returned to baseline levels in the presence of DOX and apelin-13. In conclusion, while apelin-13 did not mitigate DOX-induced lipid oxidative damage, it may selectively influence nuclear OS markers. This suggests a complex and context-dependent role of apelin-13 in modulating oxidative stress associated with DOX treatment.

Background: Doxorubicin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, has been shown to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, disrupting cellular homeostasis not only in cancer cells but also in healthy tissues, particularly in cardiomyocytes, which leads to chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Therefore, new strategies are continually being explored to mitigate these adverse effects. One such approach is the use of additional substances with cardioprotective properties during doxorubicin therapy. A promising candidate is elabela, a peptide of the apelinergic system, which may exert protective effects against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the modulatory effects of elabela on oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the left ventricle of the myocardium following chronic doxorubicin administration in rats. Material and Methods: 32 male, 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (SPRD) were randomly assigned to four experimental groups. For 28 days, all animals received continuous infusions (2.5 μL/h) via subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps of 0.9% NaCl or elabela (40 μg/kg body weight/day or 200 μg/kg body weight/day). Simultaneously, animals were injected intraperitoneally 4 times at weekly intervals with 0.9% NaCl or DOX (3.5 mg/kg body weight). Next, the animals were sacrificed, and left ventricular (LV) cardiac tissue was collected for further analysis. MDA and 8-OHdG and elabela level in LV lysate were assessed by ELISA. The Ela expression in LV was quantified by Real-Time PCR. The TUNEL assay, labeled with a 5′-triphosphate strand, was used to assess the degree of apoptosis. Results: DOX treatment decreased both the Ela expression and elabela levels in the LV. Elabela administration at a dose of 200 µg/kg body weight/day significantly decreased ELA levels and Ela expression compared to the control group. The level of 8-OhdG was unexpectedly decreased in the DOX group compared to controls, while elabela treatment at both doses restored 8-OHdG levels observed in the control group. However, TUNEL staining demonstrated that elabela administration at 200 µg/kg body weight/day reduced the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes compared to the DOX-only group, indicating a protective effect against DOX-induced apoptosis. The lower dose of 40 µg/kg body weight/day showed a moderate, non-significant attenuation of apoptosis. Conclusions: Elabela showed a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the LV by promoting processes that reduce oxidative stress in cardiac cells.

A rodent eyeball is a powerful tool for researching the pathomechanisms of many ophthalmic diseases, such as glaucoma, hypertensive retinopathy, and many ... Jove

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by pathological processes of demyelination, subsequent axonal loss, and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Despite the availability of numerous disease-modifying therapies that effectively manage this condition, there is an emerging need to identify novel therapeutic targets, particularly for progressive forms of MS. Based on contemporary insights into disease pathophysiology, ongoing efforts are directed toward developing innovative treatment modalities. Primarily, monoclonal antibodies have been extensively investigated for their efficacy in influencing specific pathological pathways not yet targeted. Emerging approaches emphasizing cellular mechanisms, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy targeting immunological cells, are attracting increasing interest. The evolving understanding of microglia and the involvement of ferroptotic mechanisms in MS pathogenesis presents further avenues for targeted therapies. Moreover, innovative treatment strategies extend beyond conventional approaches to encompass interventions that target alterations in microbiota composition and dietary modifications. These adjunctive therapies hold promise as complementary methods for the holistic management of MS. This narrative review aims to summarize current therapies and outline potential treatment methods for individuals with MS.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to demyelination and damage to the central nervous system. It is well known, the significance of the involvement and influence of the immune system in the development and course of MS. Nowadays, more and more studies are demonstrating that an important factor that affects the action of the immune system is the gut microbiota. Changes in the composition and interrelationships in the gut microbiota have a significant impact on the course of MS. Dysbiosis affects the disease course mainly by influencing the immune system directly but also by modifying the secreted metabolites and increasing mucosal permeability. The essential metabolites affecting the course of MS are short-chain fatty acids, which alter pro- and anti-inflammatory responses in the immune system but also increase the permeability of the intestinal wall and the blood–brain barrier. Dietary modification alone can have a significant impact on MS. Based on these interactions, new treatments for MS are being developed, including probiotics administration, supplementation of bacterial metabolites, fecal microbiota transplantation, and dietary changes. Further studies may serve to develop new drugs and therapeutic approaches for MS.