Main Drug Types Research Articles

Оценка чувствительности тромбоцитов крови человека к агонисту активации аденозиндифосфату методом сканирующей проточной цитометрии в условиях применения антитромбоцитарной терапии

Cardiovascular diseases occupy a leading place among the causes of death in the population. The main complications of the disease in this group are closely related to changes in the functioning of the hemostasis system, including primary hemostasis. Antiplatelet therapy is used to prevent the development of complications associated with disorders in the hemostasis system. This paper examines the behavior of the platelet population of healthy donors before and after the use of two main types of drugs: acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel. Using the method of scanning flow cytometry, the shape index of single platelets was measured, followed by the construction of distributions according to this characteristic for native samples and after exposure to a small amount of an activation agonist. The sensitivity of platelets to the activation agonist is assessed by the change in distributions before and after the application of a short course of therapy. As a result of the assessment, the threshold value for the onset of changes in the shape of platelets and sensitivity increased with the use of acetylsalicylic acid, and decreased with the use of clopidogrel. The demonstrated approach for assessing sensitivity can be useful both in assessing the degree of effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy used and in diagnosing the presence of complications in the course of diseases of the cardiovascular system on the part of primary hemostasis.

Antifungal drugs work together to treat germs causing fungal infections.

Life-threatening infections can be caused by a fungus called Candida auris (shortened to C. auris) that is found in the hospital environment. This study looked at how well different drugs could treat C. auris infection. Samples were collected from 36 people who had C. auris infection. The samples were treated with single drugs and in combination. We found that the main drug types did not work on most samples. Genetic differences we found in the C. auris samples could explain why the main drugs did not work. However, a drug called isavuconazole worked on almost all samples. We also found that a drug called anidulafungin worked better against C. auris when it was combined with either isavuconazole or another drug called voriconazole. To read the full Plain Language Summary of this article, click on the View Article button above and download the PDF.

Preparation and characterization of PLGA-PEG-PLGA polymeric nanoparticles for co-delivery of 5-Fluorouracil and Chrysin

Despite significant advances in cancer therapy, chemotherapeutic agents are still the main types of drugs used to treat cancer patients. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the first-line treatment in several types of human cancers, however, nonspecific function, low plasma half-life, and high doses toxicity are the important barrier to achieve efficient response in cancer patients. The use of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) for tumor targeted delivery of 5-FU in combination with other potent anticancer agent is considered an important strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of 5-FU. In this study, we proposed to use PLGA-PEG-PLGA NPs to co-encapsulate 5-FU and Chrysin, a natural compound known to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy. NPs were prepared by double emulsion method and characterized for size and drug encapsulation efficacy. The cell growth inhibitory effect of prepared NPs was assessed by MTT assay in HT29 human colon cancer cell line. The analysis of NPs by dynamic light scattering showed that the developed NPs have average size of 40 nm. The encapsulation efficiency of NPs was 81.3% and 97.5% for 5-FU and Chrysin, respectively. Furthermore, the NPs showed a remarkable uptake in HT29 cells. NPs loaded with both 5-FU and Chrysin (5-FU@Chrysin loaded NPs) were found to have significantly higher growth inhibitory effects compared with NPs loaded with each drug alone in HT29 cell line. The synergistic anticancer effects of 5-FU and Chrysin loaded in NPs were confirmed with the combination index (CI) being 0.35. CI for combination therapy with free 5-FU and Chrysin was found to be 0.73, indicating weaker synergistic anticancer effects of these two drugs in free forms as compared with 5-FU@Chrysin loaded NPs. These finding indicates that co-delivery of 5-FU and Chrysin with PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymer can be used to improve the therapeutic and functional delivery efficacy of 5-FU and Chrysin in cancer.

Effect of haptoglobin on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon.

There are two main types of drugs that are used to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB), including interferon (IFN) and nucleotide analogues. IFN inhibits the virus through direct antiviral activity and via immune regulation, and it has been widely applied for the treatment of CHB and other infections. However, the efficiency of IFN therapy is not entirely satisfactory. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors affecting IFN therapy. The plasma of patients with CHB treated with IFN was collected and divided into the virological response group and non-virological response group according to their virological response. Serum proteins of virologically responsive patients were compared before and after IFN therapy using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation technology. ELISA was used to validate these results in the same sample. In in vitro cell experiments, HepG2.2.15 cells were transfected with haptoglobin (Hp)-targeting small interfering RNA to inhibit expression of the Hp protein, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were utilized to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA, IFN and downstream molecular changes in the cell supernatants. The Hp protein levels were demonstrated to be significantly lower following 48 weeks of IFN therapy, and the levels of Hp in patients in the virological response group were significantly lower than those in the non-virological response group. In in vitro cell experiments, following inhibition of Hp protein expression, significantly decreased levels of HBV-DNA, and elevated levels of IFN and its downstream molecules were observed. These findings suggest that Hp may be able to predict the efficacy of IFN therapy, and it may inhibit HBV clearance. There is an association between Hp and IFN, which requires further clinical and laboratory studies to explore.

МИКРОБИОТА КИШЕЧНИКА У КАРДИОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ БОЛЬНЫХ: ФАКТОР АГРЕССИИ ИЛИ ФАКТОР ЗАЩИТЫ?

Gut microbiota (GM) is a peculiar marker of the macroorganism status, capable of responding to the age, physiological, dietary, climatic and geographical factors by changing the qualitative and quantitative compositions. The last decade is characterized by a significant reassessment of the involvement of gut microbiota into the progression of chronic human diseases. This article presents an overview of recent experimental and clinical data on the role of gut microbiota in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. An attempt has been made to analyze the mutual modifying effects of GM and the main types of drugs used in cardiology, as well as the limitations and directions of future research in this field.

Role-Play Preceded by Fieldwork in the Teaching of Pharmacology: from “Raw Sap” to “Elaborated Sap”

ABSTRACT Background: The task of teaching abilities, attitudes and knowledge, which can sometimes be complex, related to the safe and efficient use of medications, stands as a great challenge faced by medical schools nowadays. The role of the prescriber, therefore, who promotes the rational use of medication at undergraduate level gains importance in professional training, with a direct impact on public healthcare. In this context, the implementation of teaching methods that allow an active, critical and reflexive medical training for students is desirable in order to enable them to develop the skills required to manage the main pharmacological classes used by the general practitioner. We intend to describe and analyse role-play preceded by fieldwork as an educational strategy. Methods: Following the fieldwork regarding the utilization of the main pharmacological classes used in primary healthcare, 5-6 groups of students prepared scripts and staged role-plays involving practical aspects of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, side effects, and potential drug interactions regarding the main drug types. The intervention was assessed using students’ responses to questionnaires coupled with Likert scales, the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREMM) and semi-structured interviews. There was a correlation between participation in teaching practice and performance in multiple-choice questions in the final course evaluation. Results: All students felt involved and motivated in the activity. 78.5% strongly agreed and 19% partially agreed that the method allowed reflection on knowledge, abilities and attitude, all important to professional practice regarding rational therapeutic prescribing. The DREMM revealed a score of 129.23, consistent with a more positive learning environment in a reliable sample (Cronbach's alpha=0.86). Analysis of the open interviews allowed us to infer that the students considered the method efficient, dynamic, fun, and enjoyable, which enabled greater understanding and consolidation of the content. The strategy was considered stimulating regarding group activities, with active participation. Furthermore, it allowed students an opportunity to experience their future professional reality. The main weaknesses found were the unequal involvement of individuals in some groups and the great length of time spent in the preparation of activities. In the final exam, the students who participated in the intervention had, on average, a higher performance than those who did not take part in it. However, there was no statistically significant difference. Discussion: Role-play preceded by fieldwork proved to be a promising pedagogical strategy and may be used in other basic sciences.

How to spot illicit drug abuse in your patients

PREVIEWAlthough the incidence of drug abuse may be stabilizing in some areas of the United States, many of your patients may present with telltale signs of a drug-induced condition. What are the clinical clues that suggest use of various types of drugs? How can you differentiate between drug-induced conditions and psychiatric illness? The authors of this article answer these questions and review the clinical pharmacology of the most common classes of illicit drugs. They also provide a handy list of contemporary street names and adverse effects of the five main types of drugs of abuse.

Drugs for travel sickness

The main types of drugs used in the treatment of travel sickness have been anticholinergics and antihistaminics. Newer drugs are now available and drug management needs to be reviewed.

A Rapid General Screening Method for Drugs in Post Mortem Viscera

A method is described for screening viscera for all the main types of drugs by precipitating proteins with a dilute hydrochloric acid solution of aluminium chloride at 40°C. Subsequent filtration is rapid and the drugs are extracted by solvents from the filtrate under acid and alkaline conditions. Ethyl acetate was found to be a useful alternative extractant for some acidic drugs which were only sparingly soluble in ether, and the use of ethyl acetate instead of the usual chloroform-alcohol mixture to extract morphine possessed certain advantages as the residue could be screened directly for morphine by paper-chromatography. Ethyl acetate is suggested as being a satisfactory extractant for all types of drug. The behaviour of some of the drugs examined to colour tests and UV light are described, and the use of Liebermann's reagent (a solution of nitrous fumes in sulphuric acid) as a colour screening agent for a variety of compounds is suggested.