All posts; Tags Include "Pharmacology"
- April 29, 2013
- 10:37 AM
- 440 views
Essential Tremor as a Risk Factor for Parkinson's Disease
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
The number people suffereing from Parkison's disease in the United States is estimated to be between 500,000 and 1,000,000.The key symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremor and slowed movement or bradykinesia.Known risk factors for Parkinson's disease include advanced age, male gender, family history of Parkinson's disease and exposure to pesticides.Of note, smokers appear to have a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease although the mechanism for this protective effect is unknown.Romero and c........ Read more »
Romero JP, Benito-León J, & Bermejo-Pareja F. (2012) The NEDICES Study: Recent Advances in the Understanding of the Epidemiology of Essential Tremor. Tremor and other hyperkinetic movements (New York, N.Y.). PMID: 23439396
- April 17, 2013
- 04:30 PM
- 1,072 views
Is Nitroglycerin Bad for Severe Sepsis?
by Rogue Medic in Rogue Medic
Yesterday at "The Paramedic's Edge," this was the topic of discussion of a possible use of NTG (NiTroGlycerin – GTN GlycerylTriNitrate in Commonwealth countries).
NTG is a vasodilator and sepsis is a vasodialtion problem. There are other problems with sepsis, but vasodilation may be the primary problem.... Read more »
Guglin, M., & Postler, G. (2009) High dose nitroglycerin treatment in a patient with cardiac arrest: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 3(1), 8782. DOI: 10.4076/1752-1947-3-8782
SPRONK, P., INCE, C., GARDIEN, M., MATHURA, K., & ZANDSTRA, D. (2003) Nitroglycerin for septic shock. The Lancet, 361(9360), 880-880. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12692-X
Spronk, P., Ince, C., Gardien, M., Mathura, K., Straaten, H., & Zandstra, D. (2002) Nitroglycerin in septic shock after intravascular volume resuscitation. The Lancet, 360(9343), 1395-1396. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11393-6
- April 15, 2013
- 12:00 PM
- 440 views
The Taste of Beer May Stir Alcohol Cravings
by Shawn Radcliffe in Shawn Radcliffe | Health and Science Writer
Beer can be an acquired taste, but the taste of beer can still affect your brain's reward center and may increase alcohol cravings.... Read more »
Oberlin, B., Dzemidzic, M., Tran, S., Soeurt, C., Albrecht, D., Yoder, K., & Kareken, D. (2013) Beer Flavor Provokes Striatal Dopamine Release in Male Drinkers: Mediation by Family History of Alcoholism. Neuropsychopharmacology. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.91
- April 12, 2013
- 01:28 AM
- 475 views
A new cure for insomnia?
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
Many a nights I’ve tossed and turned, willing my brain to STFU and let me sleep. I’m not alone in this battle. 10-15% of adults suffer from insomnia, and up to a third take prescription sleeping pills to bring on the snooze – for a heavy cognitive price. Current sleeping drugs, such as Ambien and [...]... Read more »
Uslaner JM, Tye SJ, Eddins DM, Wang X, Fox SV, Savitz AT, Binns J, Cannon CE, Garson SL, Yao L.... (2013) Orexin receptor antagonists differ from standard sleep drugs by promoting sleep at doses that do not disrupt cognition. Science translational medicine, 5(179). PMID: 23552372
- April 11, 2013
- 10:50 AM
- 445 views
Human organ-on-chips: An alternative approach to drug and toxin testing?
by Professor Donald Ingber in NC3Rs Blog
In this first post, our 2012 NC3Rs 3Rs Prize winner, Professor Donald Ingber at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, USA, describes how his prize-winning lung-on-a-chip microdevice could change the face of how we test drugs and model human disease in the future.... Read more »
Huh, D., Leslie, D., Matthews, B., Fraser, J., Jurek, S., Hamilton, G., Thorneloe, K., McAlexander, M., & Ingber, D. (2012) A Human Disease Model of Drug Toxicity-Induced Pulmonary Edema in a Lung-on-a-Chip Microdevice. Science Translational Medicine, 4(159), 159-159. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004249
- April 2, 2013
- 07:52 PM
- 628 views
Antidepressant epigenetic action of a common fitness supplement
by Shelly Fan in Neurorexia
A short note on the history of antidepressant research: From MAOIs/SSRIs to ketamine and BDNF Traditional antidepressants, like Prozac, don’t work too well. Back in the 50s, researchers thought that depression was caused by a depletion of a group of neurotransmitters in the brain known chemically as the monoamines (i.e. serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine). Hence, the [...]... Read more »
Nasca C, Xenos D, Barone Y, Caruso A, Scaccianoce S, Matrisciano F, Battaglia G, Mathé AA, Pittaluga A, Lionetto L.... (2013) L-acetylcarnitine causes rapid antidepressant effects through the epigenetic induction of mGlu2 receptors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(12), 4804-9. PMID: 23382250
- April 2, 2013
- 11:28 AM
- 614 views
Film preparations for oral drug delivery
by Maren Preis in Pharmaceutical Solid State Research Cluster (PSSRC)
Oral films have gained interest in the last couple of years. Films for oral application offer an interesting new approach for drug administration. Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) can be implemented in thin-sheeted polymer film matrices. These dosage forms are intended to be placed in mouth to dissolve in the saliva without the need of additional liquid and without swallowing of a solid dosage form.... Read more »
Preis, M., Pein, M., & Breitkreutz, J. (2012) Development of a Taste-Masked Orodispersible Film Containing Dimenhydrinate. Pharmaceutics, 4(4), 551-562. DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics4040551
Garsuch V, & Breitkreutz J. (2010) Comparative investigations on different polymers for the preparation of fast-dissolving oral films. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, 62(4), 539-45. PMID: 20604845
Hoffmann EM, Breitenbach A, & Breitkreutz J. (2011) Advances in orodispersible films for drug delivery. Expert opinion on drug delivery, 8(3), 299-316. PMID: 21284577
Janßen E.M., Schliephacke R,, Breitenbach A,, & Breitkreutz J. (2013) Drug-printing by flexographic printing technology—A new manufacturing process for orodispersible films. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 441(1-2), 818-825. info:/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.12.023
Garsuch V, & Breitkreutz J. (2009) Novel analytical methods for the characterization of oral wafers. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 73(1), 195-201. PMID: 19482082
Woertz K, Tissen C, Kleinebudde P, & Breitkreutz J. (2011) Taste sensing systems (electronic tongues) for pharmaceutical applications. International journal of pharmaceutics, 417(1-2), 256-71. PMID: 21094230
- March 29, 2013
- 06:41 PM
- 605 views
Antibodies stymie rheumatoid arthritis
by Valerie Ashton in The Molecular Scribe
What do comedian Lucille Ball, impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, actress Kathleen Turner, chemist Dorothy Hodgkin and physician Christiaan Barnard share in common? Apart from being famous, they all had rheumatoid arthritis.... Read more »
Scott DL, Wolfe F, & Huizinga TW. (2010) Rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet, 376(9746), 1094-108. PMID: 20870100
John M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science. (2012) Drug Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Comparative Effectiveness. Agency for Heathcare Research and Quality. PMID: 23285486
Maini RN, & Taylor PC. (2000) Anti-cytokine therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Annual review of medicine, 207-29. PMID: 10774461
Bartelds GM, Krieckaert CL, Nurmohamed MT, van Schouwenburg PA, Lems WF, Twisk JW, Dijkmans BA, Aarden L, & Wolbink GJ. (2011) Development of antidrug antibodies against adalimumab and association with disease activity and treatment failure during long-term follow-up. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association, 305(14), 1460-8. PMID: 21486979
Scolnik PA. (2009) mAbs: a business perspective. mAbs, 1(2), 179-84. PMID: 20061824
- March 22, 2013
- 10:00 AM
- 610 views
Equipoise and Ethics and IRBs, Oh My!
by Rogue Medic in Rogue Medic
In the comments to what I wrote yesterday about seizures and a study comparing lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), and placebo,[1] Brooks Walsh had the following comment –
"Although I’ve read the study before, I am only wondering now how the IRB for Alldredge 2001 thought there was 'equipoise' between placebo and benzos."... Read more »
Alldredge BK, Gelb AM, Isaacs SM, Corry MD, Allen F, Ulrich S, Gottwald MD, O’Neil N, Neuhaus JM, Segal MR, Lowenstein DH. (2001) A Comparison of Lorazepam, Diazepam, and Placebo for the Treatment of Out-of-Hospital Status Epilepticus. New England Journal of Medicine, 345(25), 1860-1860. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200112203452521
Callaway, C. (2012) Questioning the Use of Epinephrine to Treat Cardiac Arrest. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(11), 1198. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.313
Hagihara A, Hasegawa M, Abe T, Nagata T, Wakata Y, Miyazaki S. (2012) Prehospital Epinephrine Use and Survival Among Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(11), 1161. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.294
- March 13, 2013
- 08:00 AM
- 1,281 views
One Man’s Poison Is Another Man’s Cure
by Mark Lasbury in As Many Exceptions As Rules
In the early 16th century Paracelsus stated that it is the dose that makes the poison. He had to be thinking about botulinum toxin. This most potent of all toxins known to man has been used as a cosmetic agent for several years, but is now moving into the realm of the necessary pharmacopia, not merely the vanity market.
Use as a muscle relaxant in spasmodic dysphonic and even plantar fasciitis is common now, but a new study links botulinum toxin to chronic pain treatment. It seems that opiod........ Read more »
Vacca, V., Marinelli, S., Luvisetto, S., & Pavone, F. (2013) Botulinum toxin A increases analgesic effects of morphine, counters development of morphine tolerance and modulates glia activation and μ opioid receptor expression in neuropathic mice. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2013.01.088
- February 20, 2013
- 10:05 PM
- 552 views
Polypharmacology – a novel and rising concept in treatment of the diseases
by Usman Paracha in SayPeople
Polypharmacology is the rising innovative concept that focuses on the multi-target drugs. This field is separated from the classical “one drug, one target” philosophy.
This concept has been gaining a growing attention since the 1990s.
Definition of Polypharmacology:
Polypharmacology is the treatment of diseases by modulating more than one target.
According to Andrew L. Hopkins from Department of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, UK, Polyph........ Read more »
Durrant, J., Amaro, R., Xie, L., Urbaniak, M., Ferguson, M., Haapalainen, A., Chen, Z., Di Guilmi, A., Wunder, F., Bourne, P.... (2010) A Multidimensional Strategy to Detect Polypharmacological Targets in the Absence of Structural and Sequence Homology. PLoS Computational Biology, 6(1). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000648
- February 14, 2013
- 07:20 PM
- 606 views
Antiviral drugs to fight the flu: yes or no?
Disclaimer: I'm not a medical doctor. I cannot recommend taking or not taking a certain drug. However, I am a human being, I've got kids who do get sick from time to time, and I work on viruses. So when I heard that people were battling the unusually nasty flu this year with antiviral drugs, well, I had to do a bit of research. Antiviral drugs have become increasingly popular after the highly pathogenic avian flu strain emerged. The idea is that in order to be prepared for a possible pandemic, w........ Read more »
Jefferson, T., Jones, M., Doshi, P., & Del Mar, C. (2009) Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 339(dec07 2). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b5106
Kay Wang, Matthew Shun-Shin, Peter Gill, Rafael Perera, Anthony Harnden. (2012) Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in children (published trials only). The Cochrane Library. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002744.pub4
Tom Jefferson, Mark A Jones, Peter Doshi, Chris B Del Mar, Carl J Heneghan, Rokuro Hama, Matthew J Thompson. (2012) Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children. The Cochrane Library. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008965.pub3
Urushihara, H., Doi, Y., Arai, M., Matsunaga, T., Fujii, Y., Iino, N., Kawamura, T., & Kawakami, K. (2011) Oseltamivir Prescription and Regulatory Actions Vis-à-Vis Abnormal Behavior Risk in Japan: Drug Utilization Study Using a Nationwide Pharmacy Database. PLoS ONE, 6(12). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028483
- February 11, 2013
- 12:02 PM
- 304 views
A GPS for Personalized Medicine
by Matt Wood in ScienceLife
The 1200 Patients Project creates a database of how patients with particular genetic profiles react to specific drugs, and then puts that information online to help doctors make better decisions for their patients.... Read more »
O'Donnell PH, Bush A, Spitz J, Danahey K, Saner D, Das S, Cox NJ, & Ratain MJ. (2012) The 1200 patients project: creating a new medical model system for clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, 92(4), 446-9. PMID: 22929923
- February 6, 2013
- 11:49 AM
- 656 views
Interferon-induced Depression: Genetics
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Photo of a pair of green wing tealInterferon remains a key first line treatment for treatment of hepatitis C. However, interferon has significant neuropsychiatric effects including risk for depression and even suicide in rare individuals.Some individuals with hepatitis C are unable to complete a course of interferon because of induced depression. This makes understanding this phenomenon important to develop prevention and treatment strategies.Understanding how interferon induces depr........ Read more »
Schlaak JF, Trippler M, Hoyo-Becerra C, Erim Y, Kis B, Wang B, Scherbaum N, & Gerken G. (2012) Selective hyper-responsiveness of the interferon system in major depressive disorders and depression induced by interferon therapy. PloS one, 7(6). PMID: 22701688
- February 5, 2013
- 12:25 PM
- 494 views
Donepezil Improves Dementia With Lewy Bodies
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a type of dementia less common than Alzheimer's disease. However, Lewy bodies (brain neuron deposits of the proteins alpha-synuclean and ubiquitin) are found in up to 10 to 15% of individuals dying of dementia.DLB is known to deplete brain acetylcholine and dopamine neurotransmitter levels in the brain. This leads to a clinical syndrome characterized by both cognitive decline and motor symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.DLB may be difficult to ........ Read more »
Mori E, Ikeda M, Kosaka K, & Donepezil-DLB Study Investigators. (2012) Donepezil for dementia with Lewy bodies: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Annals of neurology, 72(1), 41-52. PMID: 22829268
- February 1, 2013
- 11:44 AM
- 568 views
Oxytocin and Human Attachment
by William Yates, M.D. in Brain Posts
In a previous post, I summarized a recent review on the neuroscience of human attachment. This review highlighted research related to the human bonding and social interactions. Attachment ability shows significant variability in humans with insecure attachment styles contributing to risk for some mental disorders. The neuroanatomical framework for social processing is being investigated with brain imaging techniques.Hormonal factors including the role of oxytoc........ Read more »
Macdonald KS. (2012) Sex, receptors, and attachment: a review of individual factors influencing response to oxytocin. Frontiers in neuroscience, 194. PMID: 23335876
- January 31, 2013
- 10:30 AM
- 407 views
Need a Pen? Drug Companies Start Early When it Comes to Marketing to Med Students
by Matt Wood in ScienceLife
Drug companies spend billions of dollars on advertising to consumers online, in print and TV. Their ads are such an everyday part of the media landscape that Saturday Night Live can run a skit mocking the hilarious and scary list of disclaimers about side effects and everyone is in on the joke. And that’s just [...]... Read more »
Hodges LE, Arora VM, Humphrey HJ, & Reddy ST. (2012) Premedical Students' Exposure to the Pharmaceutical Industry's Marketing Practices. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges. PMID: 23269292
- January 18, 2013
- 08:31 AM
- 467 views
Sanford-Burnham cancer drug targets hard-to-reach leukemia stem cells
by admin in Beaker
Researchers find that certain types of drug-resistant leukemia stem cells are vulnerable to sabutoclax, a novel cancer stem cell-targeting drug based on Sanford-Burnham research.... Read more »
Goff, D., Recart, A., Sadarangani, A., Chun, H., Barrett, C., Krajewska, M., Leu, H., Low-Marchelli, J., Ma, W., Shih, A.... (2013) A Pan-BCL2 Inhibitor Renders Bone-Marrow-Resident Human Leukemia Stem Cells Sensitive to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition. Cell Stem Cell. DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.12.011
- January 6, 2013
- 09:31 PM
- 943 views
Have We Killed Half of our Soldiers with Cigarettes?
by Dirk Hanson in Addiction Inbox
Two long-term studies yield grim stats, and women are no exception.
We know that smoking kills. But until the results of 50 years’ worth of observations on British male smokers was published by Richard Doll and coworkers in the British Journal of Medicine in 2004, we didn’t know how many. Cigarettes will kill at least half of those who smoke them past the age of 30—possibly more. In older, specific populations, possibly as many as 2/3.
It took a prospective study of more ........ Read more »
Pirie, K., Peto, R., Reeves, G., Green, J., & Beral, V. (2012) The 21st century hazards of smoking and benefits of stopping: a prospective study of one million women in the UK. The Lancet. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61720-6
- December 27, 2012
- 09:00 PM
- 570 views
If the patient is asleep, does that mean that the pain is gone?
by Rogue Medic in Rogue Medic
Is it appropriate to stop giving pain medicine just because the patient is asleep?
My little burned patient was probably not expressing relief from pain with her periods of unresponsiveness – especially since she had not received anything for her severe pain. Each time that she woke up screaming, that was also a clue. the medical command doctor’s orders were to give no pain medicine.[1]
Is propofol effective at putting patients to sleep without relieving their pain?
Sleep do........ Read more »
Paqueron X, Lumbroso A, Mergoni P, Aubrun F, Langeron O, Coriat P, & Riou B. (2002) Is morphine-induced sedation synonymous with analgesia during intravenous morphine titration?. British journal of anaesthesia, 89(5), 697-701. PMID: 12393765
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