Acta pharmaceutica : a quarterly journal of Croatian Pharmaceutical Society and Slovenian Pharmaceutical Society, dealing with all branches of pharmacy and allied sciences
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The present study was designed to evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical profiles of clozapine and risperidone in rats in a dose-dependent manner. Animals injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with clozapine (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg kg-1) or risperidone (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg kg-1) were sacrificed 1 h later to collect brain samples. Hypolocomotive effects (home cage activity and catalepsy) were successively monitored in each animal after the drug or saline administration. ⋯ The striatal HVA/DA ratio increased and the 5-HT turnover rate remained unchanged in the rest of the brain. Results suggest that the affinity of the two drugs towards D2/5-HT1A receptors interaction is involved in lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. Role of 5-HT1A receptors in the treatment of schizophrenia is discussed.
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In addition to several well-known drug delivery strategies developed to facilitate effective chemotherapy with anticancer agents, some new approaches have been recently established, based on specific effects arising from the applications of ultrasound, magnetic and electric fields on drug delivery systems. This paper gives an overview of newly developed methods of drug delivery to tumors and of the related anticancer therapies based on the combined use of different physical methods and specific drug carriers. The conventional strategies and new approaches have been put into perspective to revisit the existing and to propose new directions to overcome the threatening problem of cancer diseases.
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Valdecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, produces serious side effects when given orally. This has led to its withdrawal. Topical application of valdecoxib was formulated and evaluated for its efficacy and safety. ⋯ Valdecoxib gel containing 1% (m/m) of the drug was significantly (p < 0.05) more effective in inhibiting hyperalgesia associated with inflammation, compared to placebo gel, but exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower suppression of inflammation than commercial rofecoxib gel. Concentration of valdecoxib used in the preparation minimizes the risk of systemic effects, as shown by the analysis of rat plasma for the presence of valdecoxib; hence, this may be the alternative to oral preparations. The bleeding and clotting time showed no significant difference before and after application of F-X.
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Selenium is a trace element, essential in small amounts, but it can be toxic in larger amounts. Levels in the body are mainly dependent on the amount of selenium in the diet, which is a function of the selenium content of the soil. Humans and animals require selenium for normal functioning of more than about 30 known selenoproteins, of which approximately 15 have been purified to allow characterisation of their biological functions. ⋯ A great number of studies confirm that selenium supplementation plays a preventive and therapeutical role in different diseases. Definitive evidence regarding the preventive and therapeutical role of selenium as well as the exact mechanism of its action should be investigated in further studies. Investigations in Croatia indicate a possibility of inadequate selenium status of people in the area.