MedWorm: Drugs & Pharmacology Top 20

Aripiprazole for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder: A review.

Clinical Therapeutics — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:06:03 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence supports the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. The placebo-subtracted differences in body composition and metabolic parameters suggest utility for aripiprazole in the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder. PMID: 20152551 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Therapeutics)

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Assessment of regional variation in polypharmacy

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To assess polypharmacy in a population with emphasis on regions.We studied the individual-based data of all dispensed prescription drugs (DP) during a 3-month study period in Sweden 2006. As an indicator of polypharmacy, five or more (DP [ge] 5) different drugs (substances) dispensed were applied. For analysis, we used comparisons of prevalence, correlation of prevalence of polypharmacy with different socioeconomic variables, and a novel weighted polypharmacy index.The national prevalence of polypharmacy, DP [ge] 5, was 10.5% (inter-regional variation 9.1-12.1%). The regional variation in the prevalence of polypharmacy was largest for the age groups [ge]90 (45.6-59.1%), 80-89 (46.1-53.4%) and 70-79 years (33.1-38.0%). The national prevalence of excessive polypharmacy, DP [ge] 10, was 2.2% ...

High levels of oxidative stress exist in the brain than serum or kidneys in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats at ten weeks of age.

Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:28:05 +0100

Authors: Michihara A, Shimatani M, Anraku M, Tomida H, Akasaki K In the present study, we examined levels of oxidative stress in the serum, brain and kidneys of normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) at 10 weeks of age. Levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), oxidized albumin and oxidized proteins, markers of oxidative stress, were significantly decreased in serum among SHRSP as compared with WKY. Levels of oxidized proteins determined by immunoblotting were significantly increased in the brain, but not kidney, of SHRSP. The mRNA level of super oxide dismutase (SOD) determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the protein level of catalase assessed by immunoblotting were significantly increased in the b...

Key To Antibiotic Resistance Is To Leave No Enemies Behind, Says Expert

MRSA / Drug Resistance News From Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

A new paper in the February 17th edition of the journal Molecular Cell describes how exposure to low levels of antibiotics increases mutations in E. coli and Staphylococcus bacteria hundreds of times more than normal, making the creation of drug-resistant strains more likely... (Source: MRSA / Drug Resistance News From Medical News Today)

Development of an efficient therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease: design and synthesis of dual inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and serotonin transporter.

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:56:03 +0100

Authors: Toda N, Kaneko T, Kogen H To date, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors have been clinically effective drugs for the palliative treatment of Alzheimer's disease, but their clinical efficacy is limited, mainly due to their adverse effects on peripheral organs. Since patients of Alzheimer's disease often exhibit depression as well as memory impairment, dual inhibitors of AChE and serotonin transporter (SERT) would be a better therapeutic method. Anti-depressive effects based on SERT inhibition would reduce the dose-related side effects of AChE inhibitors. Such dual inhibitors were designed by the hybridization of rivastigmine and fluoxetine based on a hypothetical model of the AChE active site. Various derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro inhibition, a...

A Rocking Good Lecture

MRSA / Drug Resistance News From Medical News Today — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

A University academic who left school early with dreams of being a rock star has been recognised for his internationally outstanding work in microbiology and his studies into the social lifestyle of the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa - the leading cause of death in Cystic Fibrosis patients and an important cause of hospital acquired infections... (Source: MRSA / Drug Resistance News From Medical News Today)

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Accelr8 Announces Acceptance Of Scientific Presentation, And Pilot Results With A New Rapid Test For A Major Emerging Resistance Threat

MRSA / Drug Resistance News From Medical News Today — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Accelr8 Technology Corporation (NYSE Amex: AXK) announced that it has received acceptance to present results for a study on 2-hour, culture-free, quantitative pathogen identification. The study was co-authored with principal investigators at the Denver Health Medical Center and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis... (Source: MRSA / Drug Resistance News From Medical News Today)

Suspected Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome During Quetiapine-Clozapine Cross-Titration

Journal of Pharmacy Practice — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:00:36 +0100

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a physiologic phenomenon that has been associated with the use of both first- and second-generation antipsychotics resultant to their ability to block dopamine blockade in the basal ganglia and hypothalamic regions of the brain. The typical reaction involves the presentation of muscle rigidity, changes in mental status, temperature elevation, labile blood pressure, and elevations in creatinine kinase and white blood cell counts. The reaction is most often reported early in the course of therapy but is well documented to have the potential to occur at any point in time. Untreated NMS can be fatal, often from secondary causes such as deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Treatment involves immediate discontinuation of the offending agent, supp...

Microwave-assisted, solvent-free and parallel synthesis of some novel substituted imidazoles of biological interest.

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:56:03 +0100

Authors: Sharma GK, Pathak D Solvent free microwave assisted synthesis of some novel substituted imidazoles of biological interest is reported. First, primary aromatic or heteryl amine was condensed with aryl or heteryl aldehydes to afford corresponding Schiff's base. The Schiff's base further on treatment with ammonium acetate (NH(4)OAC) and isatin using silica gel as the solid support, yielded the corresponding aryl imidazoles. In this paper a comparative study between the developed microwave method and conventional method is described. The synthesized compounds were analyzed by physical and analytical data. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial, anthelmintic, short-term anticancer and antitubercular activity. All the synthesized substituted imidazoles have...

Peginterferon--2b: Exacerbation of psoriasis, treated with UVB light therapy: case report

Reactions — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:50:10 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Effects of pentoxifylline on coagulation profile and disseminated intravascular coagulation incidence in Egyptian septic neonates

Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Pentoxifylline protects against sepsis-induced microcirculatory derangement in neonates. It significantly lowered the incidence of bleeding and MODS and shortened the length of hospital stay. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics)

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Localised H1N1 outbreaks continue

Pharmacy Europe — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:17:18 +0100

Experts warn local outbreaks of swine flu could remain across Europe this year as the weather changes. (Source: Pharmacy Europe)

Hyaluronidase Inhibitors from Takuran, Lycopus lucidus.

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:56:03 +0100

Authors: Murata T, Watahiki M, Tanaka Y, Miyase T, Yoshizaki F Takuran is a traditional herbal medicine that is produced from the herbal plant Lycopus lucidas TURCZ. (Lamiaceae). Takuran is used as a treatment for diseases in women. From Takuran, four new phenylpropanoids along with 18 known compounds were isolated, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Five phenylpropanoids isolated from the plant showed hyaluronidase inhibitory activity comparable to that of rosmarinic acid. PMID: 20190448 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin)

Novel Melphalan and Chlorambucil Derivatives of 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy Radicals: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation in Vitro.

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:56:03 +0100

Authors: Zhao H, Meng X, Yuan H, Lan M A series of spin-labeled melphalan and chlorambucil derivatives, coupling the alkylating agents with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) radicals, were synthesized, characterized, and their biological properties in vitro were evaluated. These compounds showed much higher cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell line K562 in vitro than their parent compounds. PMID: 20190437 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin)

FDA Drug Safety Communication: Ongoing review of rosiglitazone and cardiovascular safety

NeLM - News — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: FDA Area: News The U S Food and Drug Administration has announced that it is still reviewing data from a large, long-term clinical study on possible cardiovascular risks with rosiglitazone. The clinical study, called the Rosiglitazone Evaluated for Cardiovascular Outcomes and Regulation of Glycaemia in Diabetes or RECORD study was designed to evaluate the cardiovascular safety of rosiglitazone. Once the FDA completes its review of the data from the RECORD study, the agency will present the totality of new and existing cardiovascular safety data on rosiglitazone at a joint public meeting of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committees in July 2010. At that meeting, the Advisory Committee will provide an updated assessment...

Increased risk of abdominal wall hernia associated with combination anti-retroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients - results from a Swedish cohort-study

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To determine if anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients is associated with an increased risk for development of abdominal wall hernia.A cohort study of 1072 HIV-infected patients in Sweden. Information was collected by questionnaires to patients and treating physicians, chart reviews by study physicians and regular blood tests for metabolic disorders. Adjusted relative risks were estimated by Cox proportional hazards models.Sixty-three patients (5.9%) developed abdominal wall hernia during the study period, 34 inguinal and 29 midline. Compared to the male general population, inguinal hernia was twice as common in the male study population, standardized incidence ratio (SIR) 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-2.8). An increased incidence rate of abdominal wall hernia was f...

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In vitro and in vivo evaluation of buccal bioadhesive films containing salbutamol sulphate.

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:56:03 +0100

Authors: Singh S, Soni R, Rawat MK, Jain A, Deshpande SB, Singh SK, Muthu MS The aim of present study was to prepare and evaluate buccal bioadhesive films of salbutamol sulphate (SS) for the treatment of asthma. The films were designed to release the drug for a prolonged period of time so as to reduce the frequency of administration of the available conventional dosage forms of SS. The different proportions of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and Carbopol 940P (CP 940P) were used for the preparation of films. Carbopol was used to incorporate the desired bioadhesiveness in the films. The films were prepared by solvent casting method and evaluated for bioadhesion, in vitro drug release and anti asthmatic effect (bronchoprotection) in histamine induced bronchospasm of guinea pigs. In ...

5,6,3′,4′-Tetrahydroxy-7-methoxyflavone as a Novel Potential Proteasome Inhibitor

Planta Medica — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:18:55 +0100

In this study, the methanol extract from showed potent inhibition of proteasome activity. Twenty compounds, two macrocycylic diterpenoids, six aromatics, seven flavonoids, and five phenylethanoids were isolated from Fang Feng Cao the dried aerial parts of . Their structures have been established on the basis of spectral evidence. Using a proteolysis assay for inhibition of 26S proteasome from pig red blood cells, we found that 5,6,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-7-methoxyflavone inhibited 90.5 %, 85.4 % and 73.1 % the chymotrypsin-like, caspase-like and trypsin-like activities of 26S proteasome with IC values of 14.0, 5.4 and 24.1 µM, respectively, when Suc-LLVY‐AMC, Z‐LLE‐AMC and Ac-RLR‐AMC were used as substrates. 5,6,3′,4′-Tetr...

Sanofi-Aventis records net profit

Pharmacy Europe — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:09:30 +0100

Full year earnings at Sanofi-Aventis are above expectations due to the strong sales of its swine flu vaccine (Source: Pharmacy Europe)

Lenalidomide-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease

Pharmacotherapy: Official Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We describe a 73-year-old woman who received lenalidomide therapy for multiple myeloma. Nine weeks after starting the drug, she developed progressive dyspnea, cough, and constitutional symptoms, and was found to be hypoxic. A computed tomography scan of the chest showed bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Bronchoalveolar lavage was negative for infection, but transbronchial biopsy showed an organizing pneumonia. The patient was diagnosed with lenalidomide-induced interstitial lung disease after other causes were excluded. Clinical and radiologic resolution occurred after lenalidomide was discontinued and a tapering course of corticosteroids was begun. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability indicated a high probability (score of 7) that this adverse drug reaction was caused by...