Merck Index Research Articles

Validity of Brazilian Patents for Imported Pesticides for Use on Soybean and Sugarcane

Pesticides are designed to protect crops against pests and thereby ensure good harvests. Brazil is a major producer of soybean and sugarcane, competing with the USA on the world market. However, Brazil’s dependency on agricultural pesticides is very high. The aim of the research was to identify the pesticides most imported to Brazil for use on soybean and sugarcane, as well as whether or not the technology is patent-protected in Brazil. The Derwent Innovations Index database was accessed to survey the world's patent filings for insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.The Merck Index was used to identify the numbers of the priority patent applications for each of the pesticides. The Espacenet database was used for identification to patent family. The database of the Brazilian patent office, Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI), was accessed to consult the patent were still valid or had already expired. An analysis of the data reveals that many of the pesticides used on Brazilian crops were patented over 30 years ago. This study found that 84% of the pesticides imported to Brazil can be used on soybean and sugarcane. Although most of these compounds are no longer protected by patents, the Brazilian market is still dominated by their original manufacturers.

Time to market for drugs approved in Canada between 2014 and 2018: an observational study

ObjectivesThis study examines the length of time between when a patent application is filed in Canada for a new drug and when it is available for patients (time to market)...

The Oxford Catalogue of Opioids: A systematic synthesis of opioid drug names and their pharmacology.

AimThe growing demand for analgesia, coupled with an increasing need to treat opioid dependence and overdose, has escalated the development of novel opioids. We aimed to quantify the number of opioid drugs developed and to catalogue them based on their pharmacology.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of seven sources in November 2020, including the WHO's Anatomical Therapeutic Classification index, the British National Formulary, the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology, the International Narcotics Control Board Index of Names of Narcotic Drugs, the WHO's International Nonproprietary Names MedNet service, Martindale's Extra Pharmacopoeia and the Merck Index, to include opioid drugs that targeted or had an effect or coeffect at one or more opioid receptors. We extracted chemical and nonproprietary names, drug stems, molecular formulas, molecular weights, receptor targets, actions at opioid receptors and classes based on their origins. We used descriptive statistics and calculated medians and interquartile ranges where appropriate.ResultsWe identified 233 opioid drugs and created an online resource (https://www.catalogueofopioids.net/). There were 10 unique drug stems, and “‐fentanil” accounted for one‐fifth (20%) of all opioids. Most of the drugs (n = 133) targeted mu‐opioid receptors and the majority (n = 191) were agonists at one or more receptors. Most (82%) were synthetic opioids, followed by semisynthetic opioids (16%) and alkaloids (3%).ConclusionThis catalogue centralizes and disseminates information that could assist researchers, prescribers and the public to improve the safe use of opioids.

Obituary of Prof. E. Venkata Rao

Prof. Venkata Rao born on 1st July, 1931 completed his studies in Andhra University during the years 1950- 59. He was one of the founder members of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and instrumental in the growth of institution by way of his rich contributions over a period of 4 decades in different capacities from 1953-91. He visited UK on a Commonwealth Scholarship and worked under Prof. Sir James Baddiley FRS, in Newcastle University, which led to the award of a Ph. D. degree in Bio-Organic Chemistry in 1964 on the topic Studies on the Capsular Polysaccharides of Pneumococcus Type 10A, which work won him K. N. Welch Memorial Prize and this work also formed part of the 23-valent Pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax-23rm), which is official to Indian pharmacopeia 2007. Earlier to this significant contribution, Prof. Venkata Rao’s D. Sc. work at Andhra University on Thevetia neriifolia resulted in the discovery of a new clinically useful cardiotonic glycoside, peruvoside, the first modern drug discovery in India acclaimed by the International Scientific Community. This drug was developed for therapeutic use by M/s E. Merck and manufactured by an Italian Pharma Company, Simes, was listed in the Merck Index and Martindale-The Extra Pharmacopeia. Several other compounds his group isolated and worked on have found a place in the Merck Index.

Current and Under Development Treatment Modalities of Psoriasis: A Review.

Psoriasis is a chronic and complex autoimmune inflammatory skin disease that affects over 125 million people worldwide. It can exhibit at any age, in spite of the fact that children are less normally influenced than adults. It is characterized by distinct erythematous plaques shielded with conspicuous silvery scales that shows up in different areas of the skin. Knowledge of pathophysiology, especially the pathogenesis of psoriasis, has significantly progressed in the recent decade. Advancement in molecular knowledge leads to better understanding of the disease, thus influencing the development of efficient treatment modalities. However, even with the availability of various options of treatment most of the efficient treatment modalities are costly. Expenses of health care bring about major financial weight to the patients as well as to health care systems. Thus, it was important to review the available current treatment options and those which are under development, in terms of efficacy, safety and cost to assist in selecting the most appropriate treatment for psoriasis patients. Literatures were searched by using key words psoriasis, topical treatment, systemic treatment, biologics and phototherapies, on Embase, Medline, Jstor, Cochrane and Merck Index databases. Life-style choices such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity and stress are recognised as risk factors and triggers associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis poses psycho-social and economic burden on affected patients that sometimes leads to depression, reduced social interaction and suicidal tendencies in patients. Depending on the type, severity and extent of the disease, comorbidities, patient preference, efficacy and safety profile, numerous treatment modalities and therapeutic agents are available such as topical, systemic, biologic and phototherapeutic treatments. However, it was found that among all the current available treatments for psoriasis, biologic agents and phototherapeutic modalities are the most commonly employed treatment modalities for moderate to severe psoriasis. Evaluation of present-day available treatment alternatives will surely help physician to select a suitable module for each patient while keeping in mind the financial status of the patient. Future research should aim to develop therapies which are efficient, safe and cost-effective.

Citations to chemical resources in scholarly articles: CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics and The Merck Index

The use of authoritative chemical resources by scientists is an important first step to finding reliable and credible information for supporting and validating research results. Given the vast number of commercially and freely available online resources used for searching chemical and physical information, the utility of the traditional ready-reference print resources such as the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (referred to as the “Rubber Bible”) and The Merck Index (referred to as the “Chemist’s Bible”) may no longer be regarded suitable or useful for looking-up information and hence no longer required for purchase by academic institutions. To investigate this hypothesis, a study was undertaken to examine the usage and impact of these resources through citation in scholarly articles. The ‘Cited Reference Search’ from the Web of Science database is used to search, collect, and analyze article citations from the Science Citation Index Expanded to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics and The Merck Index, between the years 2002 and 2015 inclusive. The distribution of article citations to these chemical resources was analyzed by document type, research field, country, affiliation, and journal. The article citation yearly counts to these chemical resources were further compared to Wikipedia.

Cannabis (Marijuana):Psychoactive Properties, Addiction, Therapeutic Uses, and Toxicity

Cannabis (Marijuana):Psychoactive Properties, Addiction, Therapeutic Uses, and Toxicity Background and Objectives: To analyze the existing literature on cannabis (marijuana) under several sub topics; history of use, addiction, mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted. Data sources include original research articles, systematic reviews and meta- analysis, and web-based references such as Drug strategy monographs and Merck Index. Data bases such as PubMed and Cinhal was used. References were from 1979 -2016. Hypothesis: Based on the available literature it can be hypothesized that despite the addictive properties and adverse effects, marijuana has a therapeutic potential and should be used with caution. Results: The available literature on cannabis smoke was discussed under five major categories, which are history of use, addiction, mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Discussion and Conclusions: Marijuana (preparations of the hemp plant, cannabis sativa), is usually consumed as a smoke. It is an addictive compound that has been consumed for medical ailments for generations. The mechanism of action of cannabis was not known until the recent discovery of the endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoids are released from the post-synaptic neurons and act on the pre-synaptic neurons. ∆-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component present in Cannabis behaves similar to endocannabinoids. In addition to psychoactive modulations, cannabis consumption leads to cognitive impairments. Despite its’ medicinal and recreational value, due to its’ addictive properties cannabis consumption has been banned by several countries. In US, recreational and therapeutic use of cannabis is recently allowed in some states. Scientific Significance: Despite the psych activity associated with cannabis consumption, it can be used therapeutically for many diseases including epilepsy and to alleviate chronic neuropathic pain associated with many sicknesses. Cannabis also possesses anti-cancer properties. However, strict laws should be enforced to avoid its’ abuse while allowing its’ medicinal use.

The Merck Index (15th edition)

The Merck Index (15th edition)

New Developments in the Mechanism of Drug Action and Toxicity of Conjugated Imines and Iminiums, including Related Alkaloids

This review deals with mechanism and physiological activity of conjugated imine and iminium species, including those in the alkaloid category. An appreciable number can be found in the Merck Index. There is focus in mode of action on electron transfer (ET), reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress (OS) and reduction potential in the prior review. These aspects can be involved in both therapeutic action and toxicity. A unifying mechanistic approach involving ET-ROS-OS is applied to synthetic drugs and alkaloids in the imineiminium category in relation to both beneficial and adverse effects. Insight at the basic, molecular level can aid in practical pharmaceutical design.

The Merck Index Online

RETURN TO ISSUEPREVAdvertisementNEXTThe Merck Index OnlineCite this: Chem. Eng. News 2013, 91, 40, 8Publication Date (Print):October 7, 2013Publication History Published online31 March 2014Published inissue 7 October 2013https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-09140-ad06Copyright © 2013 Chemical & Engineering NewsArticle Views124Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (1 MB) Get e-Alerts

Review of The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, 15th Edition

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVBook and Media Revie...Book and Media ReviewNEXTReview of The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, 15th EditionRobert E. Buntrock*View Author Information Buntrock Associates, Orono, Maine 04473, United States*E-mail: [email protected]Cite this: J. Chem. Educ. 2013, 90, 9, 1115Publication Date (Web):August 19, 2013Publication History Published online19 August 2013Published inissue 10 September 2013https://doi.org/10.1021/ed4005613Copyright © 2013 The American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views5942Altmetric-Citations4LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (121 KB) Get e-AlertsSUBJECTS:Elements,Molecular electronics,Organic reactions,Pharmaceuticals Get e-Alerts

The Merck Index Online

RETURN TO ISSUEPREVAdvertisementNEXTThe Merck Index OnlineCite this: Chem. Eng. News 2013, 91, 27, ibcPublication Date (Print):July 8, 2013Publication History Published online31 March 2014Published inissue 8 July 2013https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-09127-ad15Copyright © 2013 Chemical & Engineering NewsArticle Views99Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (2 MB) Get e-Alerts

The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, 15th Edition Edited by M.J.O'Neil, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK ISBN 9781849736701; 2708 pages. April 2013, $150 with 1‐year free access to The Merck Index Online.

Drug Development ResearchVolume 74, Issue 5 p. 339-339 Book Review The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, 15th Edition Edited by M.J. O'Neil, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK ISBN 9781849736701; 2708 pages. April 2013, $150 with 1-year free access to The Merck Index Online. Michael Williams, Michael Williams Lake Forest, Illinois, USASearch for more papers by this author Michael Williams, Michael Williams Lake Forest, Illinois, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 03 July 2013 https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.21085Citations: 24Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume74, Issue5August 2013Pages 339-339 RelatedInformation

Identification of volatile and semivolatile compounds in chemical ionization GC-MS using a Mass-To-Structure (MTS) Search Engine with integral isotope pattern ranking

The mass-to-structure or MTS Search Engine is an Access 2010 database containing theoretical molecular mass information for 19,438 compounds assembled from common sources such as the Merck Index, pesticide and pharmaceutical compilations, and chemical catalogues. This database, which contains no experimental mass spectral data, was developed as an aid to identification of compounds in atmospheric pressure ionization (API)-LC-MS. This paper describes a powerful upgrade to this database, a fully integrated utility for filtering or ranking candidates based on isotope ratios and patterns. The new MTS Search Engine is applied here to the identification of volatile and semivolatile compounds including pesticides, nitrosoamines and other pollutants. Methane and isobutane chemical ionization (CI) GC-MS spectra were obtained from unit mass resolution mass spectrometers to determine MH(+) masses and isotope ratios. Isotopes were measured accurately with errors of <4% and <6%, respectively, for A + 1 and A + 2 peaks. Deconvolution of interfering isotope clusters (e.g., M(+) and [M - H](+)) was required for accurate determination of the A + 1 isotope in halogenated compounds. Integrating the isotope data greatly improved the speed and accuracy of the database identifications. The database accurately identified unknowns from isobutane CI spectra in 100% of cases where as many as 40 candidates satisfied the mass tolerance. The paper describes the development and basic operation of the new MTS Search Engine and details performance testing with over 50 model compounds.

The Merck index 15th edition (Book review)

The Merck index 15th edition (Book review)

Clarification concerning amoxicillin skin testing

Clarification concerning amoxicillin skin testing

Websites of note

Websites of note

Determination of pKa Values of Diclofenac and Ibuprofen in Aqueous Solutions by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

The analysis of drugs as emergent contaminants in waters and wastewaters is growing in the entire world (1) but in Mexico there are only few studies in this field (2). Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (CZE) is a very useful technique to develop chemical analysis in complex mixtures, based in charge and size of species. Although the knowledge of pKa values of the anlaytes in the specific conditions of separation is decisive to optimize the quantification method not always this information is available with accuracy and precision, and is common the citation of the pKa values reported in The Merck Index, that not always cite updated references in this matter. In this work we report the pKa determination of diclofenac and ibuprofen in buffer solutions that will be used to develop CZE analytical methods to determine the degree of pollution with drugs of some Mexican waters and wastewaters.

THE MERCK INDEX

THE MERCK INDEX

Multi-target spectral moment: QSAR for antiviral drugs vs. different viral species

The antiviral QSAR models have an important limitation today. They predict the biological activity of drugs against only one viral species. This is determined by the fact that most of the current reported molecular descriptors encode only information about the molecular structure. As a result, predicting the probability with which a drug is active against different viral species with a single unifying model is a goal of major importance. In this work, we use Markov Chain theory to calculate new multi-target spectral moments to fit a QSAR model for drugs active against 40 viral species. The model is based on 500 drugs (including active and non-active compounds) tested as antiviral agents in the recent literature; not all drugs were predicted against all viruses, but only those with experimental values. The database also contains 207 well-known compounds (not as recent as the previous ones) reported in the Merck Index with other activities that do not include antiviral action against any virus species. We used Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to classify all these drugs into two classes as active or non-active against the different viral species tested, whose data we processed. The model correctly classifies 5129 out of 5594 non-active compounds (91.69%) and 412 out of 422 active compounds (97.63%). Overall training predictability was 92.34%. The validation of the model was carried out by means of external predicting series, the model classifying, thus, 2568 out of 2779 non-active compounds and 224 out of 229 active compounds. Overall training predictability was 92.82%. The present work reports the first attempts to calculate within a unified framework the probabilities of antiviral drugs against different virus species based on a spectral moment analysis.