Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Apr 2009
Is referring patients with a positive history of allergic drug reactions or atopy for allergy testing to local anesthetics justified?
Although no more than 1% of adverse reactions to local anesthetics (LA) are thought to be immunologically mediated, many patients continue to be referred to allergy clinics for allergy workup. We evaluated the impact of a history of drug hypersensitivity or atopy on results of allergy testing to LA, with the aim of determining the appropriateness of allergy testing to LA in such patients. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 112 consecutive patients referred for allergy testing to LA in a 9-year period (1996-2005). ⋯ The prevalence of multiple drug hypersensitivity, IgE values and eosinophil count were not significantly higher among the patients who tested positive as compared to the patients who tested negative. According to our data, allergy testing to LA is not justified in patients with atopy or histories of adverse drug reactions other than to LA. Further studies using validated methods of allergy testing to LA coupled with analysis of defined risk factors are needed to definitively establish the indications for referral of patients for allergy testing to LA.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Mar 2009
Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of Solanum nigrum aqueous extract in animal models.
The present study was carried out to evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of the aqueous extract of Solanum nigrum leaves using various animal models. The extract, at concentrations of 10, 50 and 100%, was prepared by soaking (1:20; w/v) air-dried powdered leaves (20 g) in distilled water (dH2O) for 72 h. The extract solutions were administered subcutaneously in mice/rats 30 min prior to the tests. ⋯ The extract also produced significant (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities when assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema and brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia tests, respectively. Overall, these activities occurred in a concentration-dependent manner, except for the 50% concentration of the extract, which was not effective in the abdominal constriction test. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that S. nigrum leaves possessed antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects and thus supported traditional claims of its medicinal uses.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Nov 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEfficacy of oral paracetamol and ketoprofen for pain management after major orthopedic surgery.
The hypothesis of this study was that oral paracetamol or ketoprofen can reduce opioid consumption and the adverse effects of opioids after major orthopedic surgery. Sixty patients who had elective total hip replacement surgery took part in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The total doses were paracetamol 4 g and ketoprofen 300 mg. ⋯ Patients in the ketoprofen group consumed a mean of 22% less fentanyl (P < 0.05) in a 20-h period than the placebo group, and 28% less than the patients in the paracetamol group (P < 0.05). Oral ketoprofen (300 mg) decreased fentanyl consumption by 22% in the 20-h period immediately following major orthopedic surgery; fentanyl consumption was unaffected by paracetamol (4 g). The frequency of adverse effects was not reduced by using adjunctive nonopioid analgesics.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Jul 2008
Synergistic antiallodynic interaction between gabapentin or carbamazepine and either benfotiamine or cyanocobalamin in neuropathic rats.
Anticonvulsants, including gabapentin and carbamazepine, have shown activity against several types of neuropathic pain; however, they have limiting side effects that may minimize their use. In this study the possible synergistic interaction between anticonvulsants and benfotiamine or cyanocobalamin on spinal nerve ligation-induced tactile allodynia was assessed. Oral administration of gabapentin (15-300 mg/kg), carbamazepine (10-300 mg/kg), benfotiamine (30-600 mg/kg) or cyanocobalamin (0.3-6.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced tactile allodynia in rats. ⋯ At the highest tested doses, gabapentin, but not carbamazepine, benfotiamine or cyanocobalamin, significantly reduced motor coordination. Coadministration of gabapentin or carbamazepine with benfotiamine or cyanocobalamin in a fixed ratio markedly reduced spinal nerve ligation-induced tactile allodynia, showing a synergistic interaction between anticonvulsants and B vitamins. Data indicate that combinations of anticonvulsants with benfotiamine or cyanocobalamin are able to reduce tactile allodynia without affecting motor coordination in rats, and suggest the possible clinical use of these combinations in the treatment of neuropathic pain in humans.
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Apr 2008
Effects of succinylcholine on the recovery of block produced by mivacurium in rats.
This study investigates the effects of succinylcholine on the recovery of neuromuscular blockade produced by mivacurium in rats. In 48 anesthetized animals, the sciatic nerve was prepared and stimulated, and twitches of the flexor digitorum longus muscle were recorded. ⋯ Duration of action of succinylcholine was more prolonged when it was given in the presence of deeper neuromuscular block induced by mivacurium (p < 0.001 in GroupMivSch(25) and p < 0.01 in GroupMivSch(75)). Our results suggest that, in rats, mivacurium administration has a significant potentiating effect on a subsequent succinylcholine-induced neuromuscular block.