HPLC-MS Method for Simultaneous Quantitative Determination of an Innovative Russian Gestagen and its Metabolites in Rat and Rabbit Blood Sera

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - An HPLC-MS method for simultaneous quantitative determination of a novel gestagenic pharmaceutical and two of its metabolites in rat and rabbit blood sera was...     

Therapeutic activity of Oriprim in bronchopulmonary diseases

A new chemotherapeutic drug oriprim was used for therapy of 36 patients with bronchopulmonary pathology. Its therapeutic efficacy was noted in 83.3% of the cases. In 6 patients oriprim therapy turned out to be ineffective as a result of early side-effects. The drug was effective in pneumococcal infection. In suspicion of anaerobic infection (B. fragilis, etc) oriprim was given in combination with metronidazole.     

Biological mechanisms of the individual variability of the anxiolytic action of opioids

The opioid system is one in a number of peptidergic regulatory systems that support an appropriate anxiety level. The drugs that interact with the opioid system have been shown to influence anxiety, although there is a notable variability in their pharmacological effects. Biological mechanisms of this variability are considered to be the heterogeneity of opioid receptors, the ratio of the processes of their expression and desensitization, and the balance between the synthesis and degradation of endogenous opioid peptides. For instance, the anxiolythic effect of the synthetic derivate of enkephalin in rats was detected after stress-induced exhaustion of endogenous opioids, and its efficacy depended on the degree of delta- and mu-opioid receptor desensitization in some brain regions. The anxiolythic properties of the heptapeptide Selanc that has also been shown to affect the opioid system are most prominent in subjects with elevated activity of enzymes degrading endogenous opioid peptides. Thus, delicate correction of the opioid system with drugs of peptide nature is supposed to become a new approach to treatment of some forms of anxiety disorders accompanied with exhaustion of the endogenous opioid system and, in particular, of generalized anxiety disorder.     

Reactive oxygen species modulate the differentiation of neurons in clonal cortical cultures

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important regulators of intracellular signaling. We examined the expression of ROS during rat brain development and explored their role in differentiation using cortical cultures. High levels of ROS were found in newborn neurons. Neurons produced ROS, not connected with cell death, throughout embryogenesis and postnatal stages. By P20, ROS-producing cells were found only in neurogenic regions. Cells with low levels of ROS, isolated from E15 brains by FACS, differentiated into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes in clonal cultures. Neurons produced high ROS early in culture and later differentiated into two types: large pyramidal-like neurons that fired no or only a single action potential and smaller neurons that expressed nuclear calretinin and fired repeated action potentials. Antioxidant treatment did not alter neuron number but increased the ratio of small to large neurons. These findings suggest that modulation of ROS levels influences multiple aspects of neuronal differentiation.     

Diagnosis of cardiac rhythm disorders in pilots using 24-hour ECG monitoring

As a result of comprehensive examinations of 57 pilots, aged 31 to 50 years, which included multi-step bicycle ergometry, specific tests simulating flight effects (e.g., positive pressure breathing, moderate hypoxia, radial acceleration) and 24-hour Holter monitoring, various cardiac arrhythmias were identified in 37 subjects (64.9%). They included supraventricular ectopic beats and ventricular ectopic beats of different grades. It was demonstrated that Holter monitoring was very reliable in comparison with conventional methods such as ECG at rest, bicycle ergometry or specific tests. In 5 cases, transient cardiac arrhythmias were associated with ischemic heart disease manifestations. The method of Holter monitoring is recommended to be used in medical expertise of the aircraft personnel.     

Inhibiting effects of fucoidans on Hantaan virus adsorption on a model of peritoneal macrophages in vitro

A model of peritoneal macrophages was used to study the effect of fucoidans from brown seaweeds on the adsorption of Hantaan virus. Fucoidans were found to have antiviral activity, but to differ in the inhibition of hantavirus adsorption, which was associated with their structural features. The mechanism of their action is assumed to be shown via ligand-receptor interaction with certain cell membrane receptors and via blockage of hantavirus glycoproteins (G1 and G2), resulting in adsorption inhibition and preventing viral penetration into the macrophages.