- Drug Resistance; Just 3 days of antibiotics tackles nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia in children
- Clinical Pharmacology; Reports from Aga Khan University, Medical Department highlight recent research in clinical pharmacology
- Dermatology; Study results from Aga Khan University provide new insights into dermatology
- Blood Pressure; Studies from Aga Khan University provide new data on blood pressure
30 April 2008
Biotech Week
(c) Copyright 2008, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com
2008 APR 30 – (NewsRx.com) — “Africa is considered a continent of mystery and intrigue with absurd concepts and beliefs. Cosmetic. dermatology is no less intriguing than other issues. While quick judgement may be passed condemning attitudes and misconceptions in this field, we need to analyze factors that contribute to such ideas,” scientists writing in the journal Clinics in Dermatology report (see also Dermatology).
“Acquiring a lighter skin forms the basis of Skin Care and Cosmetology in dark skinned people. This regretably has far reaching devastating effects on health and individual finances. This in return has enriched unscrupulous stake holders,” wrote M.M. Desouza and colleagues, Aga Khan University.
The researchers concluded: “Help from the international medical fraternity and the pharmaceutical/cosmetology industry is required to end this evil.”
Desouza and colleagues published their study in Clinics in Dermatology (The concept of skin bleaching in Africa and its devastating health implications. Clinics in Dermatology, 2008;26(1):27-29).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting M.M. Desouza, Aga Khan University Hospital, Doctors Pl, PO Box 20714, Nairobi 00202, Kenya.
The publisher of the journal Clinics in Dermatology can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.
This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.
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Blood Pressure; Studies from Aga Khan University provide new data on blood pressure
1 May 2008
Blood Weekly
2008 MAY 1 – (NewsRx.com) — “Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is traditionally used in various gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. Aim of the study: To rationalize cardamom use in constipation, colic, diarrhea, hypertension and as diuretic,” investigators in Karachi, Pakistan report (see also Blood Pressure).
“Cardamom crude extract (Ec.Cr) was studied using in vitro and in vivo techniques. Ec.Cr caused atropine-sensitive stimulatory effect in isolated guinea-pig ileum at 3-10 mg/ml. In rabbit jejunum preparations, Ec.Cr relaxed spontaneous and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions as well as shifted Ca++ curves to right, like verapamil. Ec.Cr (3-100 mg/kg) induced fall in the arterial blood pressure (BP) of anaesthetized rats, partially blocked in atropinized animals. In endothelium-intact rat aorta, Ec.Cr relaxed phenylephrine (1 mc M)-induced contractions, partially antagonized by atropine and also inhibited K+ (80 mM) contractions. In guinea-pig atria, Ec.Cr exhibited a cardio-depressant effect. Ec.Cr (1-10 mg/kg) produced diuresis in rats, accompanied by a saluretic effect. It enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice. Bio-assay directed fractionation revealed the separation of spasmogenic and spasmolytic components in the aqueous and organic fractions respectively. These
results indicate that cardamom exhibits gut excitatory and inhibitory effects mediated through cholinergic and Ca++ antagonist mechanisms respectively and lowers BP via combination of both pathways,” wrote A.H. Gilani and colleagues, Aga Khan University.
The researchers concluded: “The diuretic and sedative effects may offer added value in its use in hypertension and epilepsy.”
Gilani and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Gut modulatory, blood pressure lowering, diuretic and sedative activities of cardamom. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008;115(3):463-472).
For additional information, contact A.H. Gilani, Aga Khan University, Dept. of Biology & Biomedical Science, Nat Prod Research Division, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
The publisher of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology can be contacted at: Elsevier Ireland Ltd., Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland.
This article was prepared by Blood Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Blood Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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Clinical Pharmacology; Reports from Aga Khan University, Medical Department highlight recent research in clinical pharmacology
2 May 2008
Drug Week
2008 MAY 2 – (NewsRx.com) — “This study describes the spasmolytic, antidiarrhoeal, antisecretory, bronchodilatory and urinary bladder relaxant properties of Hyoscyamus niger to rationalize some of its medicinal uses. The crude extract of H. niger seeds (Hn.Cr) caused a complete concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous contractions of rabbit jejunum, similar to that caused by verapamil, whereas atropine produced partial inhibition,” scientists writing in the journal Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology report (see also Clinical Pharmacology).
“Hn.Cr inhibited contractions induced by carbachol (1 mc M) and K+ (80 mM) in a pattern similar to that of dicyclomine, but different from verapamil and atropine. Hn.Cr shifted the Ca2+ concentration-response curves to the right, similar to that caused by verapamil and dicyclomine, suggesting a Ca2+ channel-blocking mechanism in addition to an anticholinergic effect. In the guinea-pig ileum, Hn.Cr produced a rightward parallel shift of the acetylcholine curves, followed by a non-parallel shift with suppression of the maximum response at a higher concentration, similar to that caused by dicyclomine, but different from that of verapamil and atropine. Hn.Cr exhibited antidiarrhoeal and antisecretory effects against castor oil-induced diarrhoea and intestinal fluid accumulation in mice. In guinea-pig trachea and rabbit urinary bladder tissues, Hn.Cr caused relaxation of carbachol (1 mc M) and K+ (80 mM) induced contractions at around 10 and 25 times lower concentrations than in gut,
respectively, and shifted carbachol curves to the right. Only the organic fractions of the extract had a Ca2+ antagonist effect, whereas both organic and aqueous fractions had anticholinergic effect. A constituent, beta-sitosterol exhibited Ca2+ channel-blocking action. These results suggest that the antispasmodic effect of H. niger is mediated through a combination of anticholinergic and Ca2+ antagonist mechanisms. The relaxant effects of Hn.Cr occur at much lower concentrations in the trachea and bladder,” wrote A.H. Gilani and colleagues, Aga Khan University, Medical Department.
The researchers concluded: “This study offers explanations for the medicinal use of H. niger in treating gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders and bladder hyperactivity.”
Gilani and colleagues published their study in Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology (Gastrointestinal, selective airways and urinary bladder relaxant effects of Hyoscyamus niger are mediated through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ channels. Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology, 2008;22(1):87-99).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting A.H. Gilani, Aga Khan University, College Medical, Dept. of Biology & Biomedical Science, Nat Prod Research Division, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
The publisher of the journal Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.
This article was prepared by Drug Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Drug Week via NewsRx.com.
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Drug Resistance; Just 3 days of antibiotics tackles nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia in children
2 May 2008
Drug Week
2008 MAY 2 – (NewsRx.com) — Most children up to the age of 5 who are prescribed antibiotics for non-severe community acquired pneumonia will be treated for between 7 and 14 days. But, a Cochrane Systematic Review of available research showed that treating for just three days was effective (see also Drug Resistance).
“This short duration treatment is cheaper to give, is more likely to be taken by the child and is less likely to trigger antimicrobial resistance than longer-duration regimens,” says lead researcher Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta who heads the department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan.
The findings are important for the world as a whole, but will probably be of greatest benefit in resource-poor societies, where a shorter dose would be much easier for people to afford, acquire and comply with.
The systematic review identified three studies that included 5,763 children younger than 5. In these trials, some of children were treated for 3 days and the rest were given the same antibiotics for 5 days. The researchers ensured that any other differences between the children were kept to a minimum.
“Pneumonia accounts for the highest number of deaths in children under five in low income countries, so it is important to find the most efficient way of treating it,” says co-researcher Dr Batool Haider.
This review restricted itself to research that had compared 3 days of antibiotics against 5 days. The researchers are now keen to see more well-controlled randomised studies of different durations. This would make their conclusions stronger and would also allow more severe forms of pneumonia to be studied for optimal treatment strategies.
This article was prepared by Drug Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Drug Week via NewsRx.com.
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