Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · May 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialRamosetron for the management of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal events in patients with hematological malignancies.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ramosetron hydrochloride for the management of nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy in patients with hematological malignancies. A total of 30 patients with hematological malignancies were included in the ramosetron group. Ramosetron (0.3 mg i.v.) was administered 0.5 h before chemotherapy. ⋯ As compared to the tropisetron group, the response rate of the ramosetron group in controlling anorexia within 18-24 h after chemotherapy was higher (p < 0.05); within 18-24 h after chemotherapy, the complete response rate and effective rate in controlling nausea was higher (p < 0.05); within 12-18 h and 18-24 h after chemotherapy, the complete response rate and effective rate in controlling vomiting was higher (p < 0.05). The incidence of adverse effects was similar in both groups. We conclude that ramosetron belongs to a new generation of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and that it is a safe, economic and effective antiemetic drug.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Mar 2001
Effects of bupivacaine and ropivacaine on hemodynamic parameters in rabbits.
In the present study the toxic effects of ropivacaine and bupivacaine on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of rabbits were studied. Both drugs were administered intravenously at doses of 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mumol/kg. The effects of the two drugs on blood pressure, ECG and respiration rate were evaluated by considering the changes occurring 30 sec after intravenous bolus injection. ⋯ The 5 mumol/kg dose of bupivacaine caused ventricular tachycardia in 3 of 6 rabbits, whereas ropivacaine caused tachycardia in 1 of 5 rabbits. Neither drug had a significant effect on respiration rate or blood gas values (p > 0.05). The results indicate that ropivacaine is less cardiodepressive and arrhythmogenic than bupivacaine.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Apr 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine in electrically induced A delta-fiber pain.
Both ketamine and pethidine have previously been found to have analgesic effects in experimentally induced C-fiber pain. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of ketamine and pethidine in A delta-fiber-mediated pain induced by electrical tooth stimulation. ⋯ Ketamine and pethidine have only a marginal effect on pain thresholds in electrically induced A delta-fiber-mediated tooth pulp pain, in contrast to the analgesic effects previously found in experimental and postoperative C-fiber-mediated pain. The ketamine enantiomers at the doses used in this study showed equal analgesic properties but different side effect profiles.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Apr 2000
Effect of succinylcholine on the neuromuscular junction of hypoglycemic rats.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of neuromuscular blocking drugs on the neuromuscular junction in hypoglycemic rats. Three groups of 6 white adult Wistar albino rats were used. Group A consisted of the control animals with normal blood glucose levels ranging between 80-120 mg/dl. ⋯ On the other hand, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.02 being considered significant) in the n.bl/5'% (magnitude of neuromuscular blockage 5 min after the administration of succinylcholine) values only between the animals of group A and B. Our results indicate that under hypoglycemic conditions, the amount of succinylcholine required for final neuromuscular blockage is two times greater than that needed under normal glucose blood levels. This finding suggests that the integrity of the neuromuscular junction is altered during hypoglycemia.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Nov 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDouble-blind placebo-controlled study with citicoline in APOE genotyped Alzheimer's disease patients. Effects on cognitive performance, brain bioelectrical activity and cerebral perfusion.
Cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine (citicoline) is a an endogenous intermediate in the biosynthesis of structural membrane phospholipids and brain acetylcholine. Citicoline has been extensively used for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders associated with head trauma, stroke, brain aging, cerebrovascular pathology and Alzheimer's disease. In this study we have investigated the efficacy and safety of the treatment with citicoline versus placebo in patients with Alzheimer disease. ⋯ In addition, neither adverse side effects nor alterations in biological and hematological parameters were induced by citicoline. The present data indicate that citicoline (1,000 mg/day) is well tolerated and improves cognitive performance, cerebral blood perfusion and the brain bioelectrical activity pattern in AD patients. According to our results, it seems that citicoline might be a useful treatment in Alzheimer's disease, and that the efficacy of this compound is greater in patients with mild mental deterioration and/or bearing the epsilon 4 allele of the APOE.