Years In Pharmacology Research Articles

The Enduring Legacy of 250 Years of Pharmacology in Edinburgh.

In 1768, 250 years ago, the University of Edinburgh appointed Francis Home to the first chair of materia medica, the accumulated knowledge of materials used in healing. Francis Home and his colleagues were determined to improve the quality of medical training in Edinburgh by introducing a final examination and compiling a catalog of medicines validated by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The catalog, known as the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, was a great success, partly due to the orderly nature of its contents, its routine editing to eliminate worthless entries, and the introduction of new treatments whose preparation was precisely documented. In a relatively short time, the worth of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia was recognized throughout Europe, America, and the British Empire. Today, the British and European Pharmacopoeias are catalogs of publicly available, legally enforceable standards for active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage forms of pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Home and the many luminaries who succeeded him would surely take pleasure and pride in the fact that the mantra of today's medicines regulators worldwide is little different from that of these early visionaries: "To take better advantage of the best possible science in the service of the public health and our health-care systems" ( 1 , p. 492).

Up-regulation of BSEP and MRP2 by Calculus Bovis administration in 17α-ethynylestradiol-induced cholestasis: Involvement of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Ethnopharmacology relevanceCalculus Bovis, also known as Niuhuang, is a rare traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used in China for 2000 years in pharmacology for sedation, anti-spasm, relieving fever, diminishing inflammation and recovering gallbladder functions. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to investigate the choleretic potential and molecular responses in rats to Calculus Bovis (CB) administration after 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE)-induced cholestasis. Material and methodsCB (50 and 100mg/kg per day) was intragastrically (i. g.) given to experimental rats for five consecutive days in coadministration with EE (5mg/kg daily for five days, s.c.). The levels of serum biomarkers were determined biochemically. The histopathology of the liver tissue was evaluated. Expression of bile salt export pump (BSEP) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) were studied by western blot and immunohistochemical assay. The expression of Akt and phospho-Akt (pAkt) were also measured by western blot. ResultsIn response to EE, CB treatment significantly prevented an increase in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TBIL). CB treatment also repaired tissue lesions caused by EE. Western blots showed that EE significantly decreased the protein expression of BSEP and MRP2. EE also dramatically increased levels of pAkt and decreased levels of Akt. Compared to the EE group, CB treatment increased levels of hepatic BSEP and MRP2 while pAkt levels decreased and Akt levels increased. Immunohistochemistry also indicated that EE decreased the expression of BSEP and MRP2. LY294002 is a selective PI3K inhibitor and showed similar beneficial effects as CB. Decreased expression of BSEP and MRP2 caused by EE were also prevented by LY294002 treatment. ConclusionCalculus Bovis administration can alleviate liver injury and up-regulate the expression of BSEP and MRP2 in 17α-ethynylestradiol-induced cholestasis by a mechanism that may involve inhibiting the activated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Theoretical Aspects of GPCR-Ligand Complex Pharmacology.

Over the past 50 years in pharmacology, an understanding of seven transmembrane (7TMR) function has been gained from the comparison of experimental data to receptor models. These models have been constructed from building blocks composed of systems consisting of series and parallel mass action binding reactions. Basic functions such as the the isomerization of receptors upon ligand binding, the sequential binding of receptors to membrane coupling proteins, and the selection of multiple receptor conformations have been combined in various ways to build receptor systems such as the ternary complex, extended ternary complex, and cubic ternary complex models for 7TMR function. Separately, the Black/Leff operational model has furnished an extremely valuable method of quantifying drug agonism. In the past few years, incorporation of the basic allosteric nature of 7TMRs has led to additional useful models of functional receptor allosteric mechanisms; these models yield valuable methods for quantifying allosteric effects. Finally, molecular dynamics has provided yet another new set of models describing the probability of formation of multiple receptor states; these radically new models are extremely useful in the prediction of functionally selective drug effects.

JNN Captures 40 Years of Pharmacology

Log in or Register Subscribe to journalSubscribe Get new issue alertsGet alerts Enter your Email address: Wolters Kluwer Health may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without your express consent. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. Subscribe to eTOC Secondary Logo Journal Logo All Articles Images Videos Podcasts Blogs Advanced Search Toggle navigation Subscribe Register Login Articles & Issues Current IssuePrevious IssuesPublished Ahead-of-Print Collections Advacnced Practice NursingAssesment ToolsCEEpilepsyGeriatricMovement DisordersMultiple SclerosisNeuro-OncologyNeurotramaPediatricsSpineStroke CEVideosFor Authors Submit a ManuscriptInformation for AuthorsLanguage Editing ServicesAuthor Permissions Journal Info About the JournalAbout the SocietyJournal Contacts and Editorial BoardSubmit a ManuscriptAdvertising InformationSubscription ServicesReprintsRights and PermissionsOpen Access All Articles Images Videos Podcasts Blogs Advanced Search

Twenty Years of Pharmacology

During the past 20 years in pharmacology, a number of innovations have appeared that have resulted in significant changes in the drugs available for people with traumatic brain injury. Among the anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, new drugs have appeared with fewer cognitive side effects. In these classes of drugs, as well as among central nervous system stimulants, once-daily or other sustained-release preparations have been introduced that make it considerably more likely that the patient will take his or her medication, with smaller fluctuations in drug levels as well. New drugs have also resulted in a greater number of medications for the clinician to choose from. The overall effect has been a dramatic change in pharmacology that has benefited people with traumatic brain injury.