UHPLC-MS/MS同时检测大鼠血浆中5种CYP450探针药物

目的 采用UHPLC-MS/MS同时检测大鼠血浆中非那西丁、甲苯磺丁脲、奥美拉唑、美托洛尔、咪达唑仑的血药浓度。方法 血浆样品经乙腈沉淀,采用Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C₁₈色谱柱（2.1 mm×50 mm,1.8 μm）;流动相为乙腈-含0.1%甲酸的水,梯度洗脱,流速为0.4 mL·min^-1。检测采用电喷雾离子源,多反应监测。非那西丁：[M+H]⁺,m/z 180.1→109.9;甲苯磺丁脲：[M+H]⁺,m/z 271.1→91.0;奥美拉唑：[M+H]⁺,m/z 346.1→135.9;美托洛尔：[M+H]⁺,m/z 268.2→115.0;咪达唑仑：[M+H]⁺,m/z 326.1→290.8;内标卡马西平：[M+H]⁺,m/z 237.1→194.0。6只♂ SD大鼠,单剂量口服灌胃10 mg·kg^-1非那西丁,1 mg·kg^-1甲苯磺丁脲,10 mg·kg^-1奥美拉唑,10 mg·kg^-1美托洛尔和10 mg·kg^-1咪达唑仑,分别在给药后多点尾静脉采血。用DAS计算药动学参数。结果 血浆中非那西丁、甲苯磺丁脲、奥美拉唑、美托洛尔和咪达唑仑在各自浓度范围内线性关系良好。日内及日间RSD均<15%,提取回收率>75%,稳定性考察结果良好。非那西丁的AUC_0-t为（5 868.30±2 062.87）ng·mL^-1·h;甲苯磺丁脲的AUC_0-t为（58 056.34±15 569.16）ng·mL^-1·h;奥美拉唑的AUC_0-t为（14 181.67±4 085.40）ng·mL^-1·h;美托洛尔的AUC_0-t为（1 123.67±180.469）ng·mL^-1·h;咪达唑仑的AUC_0-t为（946.91±322.03）ng·mL^-1·h。结论 该方法灵敏度高、操作方便、结果准确,可作为CYP450酶活性及相关研究的测定方法。     

青蒿琥酯自微乳在大鼠体内的药动学研究

目的 建立大鼠血浆中青蒿琥酯的HPLC-MS/MS测定方法,并研究青蒿琥酯自微乳在大鼠体内的药动学特征。方法 12只SD大鼠随机分为2组,单剂量分别灌胃（50 mg·kg^-1）青蒿琥酯自微乳和青蒿琥酯原料药,以格列吡嗪为内标,用LC-MS/MS测定给药后血浆中的药物浓度,并计算药动学参数。结果 青蒿琥酯血浆样品的线性范围为1.0~1 000.0 ng·mL^-1,回归方程为A=294.74C-439.33（r=0.999 6）,定量下限为1.0 ng·mL^-1。日内、日间变异系数（RSD）均<10%,符合生物样品的分析要求。青蒿琥酯原料药和青蒿琥酯自微乳的药动学参数C_max、t_1/2和AUC_0→t分别为：（87.6±8.80）ng·mL^-1,（1.88±0.33）h和（43.3±1.74）h·ng·mL^-1;（421±41.6）ng·mL^-1,（1.48±0.17）h和（282±17.7）h·ng·mL^-1。其中,C_max和AUC_0→t存在显著性差异（p<0.01）。结论 该方法简便灵敏,可用于血浆中青蒿琥酯的含量测定,经灌胃给药后,与原料药比较,青蒿琥酯自微乳能显著提高生物利用度。     

盐酸二甲双胍缓释片的人体生物等效性研究

目的 评价中国健康受试者空腹和餐后状态下单次口服盐酸二甲双胍缓释片的生物等效性。方法 采用单剂量、随机、开放、两制剂、两周期、交叉对照的试验设计,健康受试者每周期在空腹或餐后状态下口服盐酸二甲双胍缓释片受试制剂和参比制剂500 mg。采用经验证的液相色谱-串联质谱（LC-MS/MS）法测定二甲双胍的血浆浓度,使用Phoenix WinNonlin 8.0计算药动学参数并用SAS9.4软件进行生物等效性评价。结果 空腹状态下,受试制剂和参比制剂中二甲双胍C_max分别为（733.00±178.25）、（665.80±146.58） ng·mL^-1,AUC_0～t分别为（4 848.60±1 204.80）、（4 743.00±1 104.34） h·ng·mL^-1,AUC_{0 ～ ∞}分别为（4 940.70±1 219.48）、（4 832.58±1 093.55） h·ng·mL^-1。餐后状态下,受试制剂和参比制剂中二甲双胍C_max分别为（519.10±92.55）、（475.50±65.88） ng·mL^-1,AUC_0～t分别为（5 989.20±1 112.01）、（5 946.50±1 094.81） h·ng·mL^-1,AUC_{0 ～ ∞}分别为（6 052.20±1 118.35）、（6 049.80±1 062.28） h·ng·mL^-1。受试制剂和参比制剂二甲双胍C_max、AUC_0～t和AUC_0～∞几何均值比的90%置信区间均在80.00%～125.00%的生物等效性范围内。结论 盐酸二甲双胍缓释片受试制剂和参比制剂在空腹和餐后状态下均具有生物等效性。     

LC-MS/MS测定阿齐沙坦及其盐在大鼠血浆中的药动学研究

目的 建立液相色谱-串联质谱法测定大鼠血浆中阿齐沙坦及其盐的浓度并研究其药动学。方法 大鼠血浆样本以乙腈沉淀蛋白后,采用Eclipse Plus C₁₈色谱柱（50 mm×3.0 mm,1.8 μm）;流动相（乙腈：水=60：40）,流速为0.35 mL·min^-1,柱温为40℃;采用Agilent 6430三重四极杆串联质谱仪,离子化方式：电喷雾-正离子（API-ES）;监测方式：MRM;阿齐沙坦监测离子对457.3/233.1,缬沙坦监测离子对436.2/291.4,用作内标。SD大鼠灌胃给予阿齐沙坦1.0 mg·kg^-1及阿齐沙坦盐1.2 mg·kg^-1。结果 阿齐沙坦在5~30 000 ng·mL^-1内线性关系良好;回收率为85%~115%,精密度RSD在±15%内。阿齐沙坦盐大鼠体内主要动力学参数如下：AUC_{（0-24 h）}为（12.9±3.2）μg·mL^-1·h^-1,AUC_（0-∞）为（14.2±4.1）μg·mL^-1·h^-1,C_max为（3.8±0.3）μg·mL^-1,T_1/2为（13.4±0.5）h。阿齐沙坦的主要动力学参数如下：AUC_{（0-24 h）}为（8.1±2.6）μg·mL^-1·h^-1,AUC_（0-∞）为（9.7±3.1）μg·mL^-1·h^-1,C_max为（2.3±0.5）μg·mL^-1,T_1/2为（10.5±0.5）h。结论 本法经方法学验证,适用于大鼠血浆中阿齐沙坦及其盐的浓度测定,可用于阿齐沙坦及其盐大鼠体内药动学研究。     

珍菊降压片在大鼠体内药动学研究

目的 建立同时测定大鼠血浆中芦丁和氢氯噻嗪的LC-MS/MS方法,并研究珍菊降压片在大鼠体内的药动学。方法 采用蛋白质沉淀法处理血浆样品,色谱柱为Pntulips BP-C₁₈柱（2.1 mm×50 mm,5μm）,流动相为乙腈-水梯度洗脱,柱温为30℃;流速为0.45 mL·min^-1。采用电喷雾离子源,选择离子反应监测模式。采用DAS 2.0软件计算药动学参数。结果 方法学验证结果表明内源性杂质不干扰待测物和内标的测定,芦丁和氢氯噻嗪的线性范围分别为5~1 000 ng·mL^-1（r²=0.997 1）和2.5~500 ng·mL^-1（r²=0.995 8）。芦丁和氢氯噻嗪药动学参数：AUC_（0-t）为（107 157.31±38 056.63）,（130 387.28±46 306.69）ng·mL^-1·min^-1;T_1/2z为（108.65±20.95）,（240.86±46.44）min;T_max为（34.25±16.34）,（120.00±0.00）min;C_max为（683.44±254.03）,（368.45±136.95）ng·mL^-1。结论 该方法准确度、精密度、回收率和基质效应均符合生物基质样品测试要求,适用于珍菊降压片在大鼠体内的药动学研究。     

PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒经鼻腔、静脉给药后的药动学研究

目的 采用与静脉注射对比的方式,研究聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-α-细辛脑纳米粒（PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒）鼻腔给药后在大鼠体内的药物动力学。方法 以大鼠为动物模型,采用血药动力学、脑药动力学及荧光标记法对比研究PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒经鼻腔给药与静脉注射后药物/纳米粒在大鼠体内的分布情况。结果 PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒静脉注射及鼻腔给药后血浆中的AUC_（0-∞）分别为（11032.4±1 827.1）ng·mL^-1·min及（5 992.9±717.5）ng·mL^-1·min,C_max分别为（421.9±100.2）ng·mL^-1及（171.7±26.3）ng·mL^-1,PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒鼻腔给药后的绝对生物利用度F为54.3%。PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒静脉注射后α-细辛脑在脑组织中的C_max与鼻腔给药后α-细辛脑在脑组织中的浓度C_max分别为（217.9±29.9）ng·mL^-1及（334.2±62.7）ng·mL^-1,PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒静脉注射与鼻腔给药后的AUC_brain/AUC_plasma值分别为1.37和2.85,且两者具有统计学意义。PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒鼻腔给药后的药物脑靶向效率及鼻-脑传递百分比分别为208.03%及52.01%。荧光标记法结果显示,PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒鼻腔给药后脑靶向性比静脉注射后更强。结论 PEG-PLA-α-细辛脑纳米粒适合于鼻腔给药治疗脑部疾病。     

柱前衍生-HPLC测定白消安在家兔体内的药动学参数

目的 建立测定家兔血清中白消安浓度和家兔体内药动学特征的柱前衍生化HPLC。方法 以1,5-戊二醇二甲磺酸酯为内标,二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸钠为衍生化试剂。流动相：甲醇-水（54∶46）,流速：0~20 min（1.0 mL·min^-1）,20~27 min（1.3 mL·min^-1）。柱温：30℃,检测波长：280 nm,进样量：25 μL。家兔分别以灌胃、静注的方式给予白消安,按本法测定血药浓度,DAS 3.0计算药动学参数。结果 白消安的血药浓度在0.1~3.4 mg·-L¹ 内线性关系良好（r=0.999 7）,日内、日间精密度以及样品稳定性符合中国药典2015年版的规定。低、中、高浓度的萃取回收率分别为90.0%,89.0%,91.5%。不同给药途径获得的药动学参数：单剂量口服t_1/2=（2.26±0.66）h,k=（0.33±0.12）·h^-1,k_a=（2.54±1.3）·h^-1,AUC_0–t=（1.95±0.18）h·mg·mL^-1;单剂量静脉注射t_1/2=（1.53±0.09）h,k=（0.45±0.03）·h^-1,AUC_0–∞=（4.38±0.26）h·mg·mL^-1。多剂量口服后C_ss=（0.48±0.03）mg·mL^-1,AUC_0–τ=（3.87±0.26）h·mg·mL^-1。结论 建立的柱前衍生-HPLC法适用于白消安血药浓度测定及药动学研究,不同给药途径的药动学参数为临床药动学研究提供了依据。     

瑞戈非尼片在健康受试者体内的生物等效性研究

目的 考察在空腹、餐后状态下健康受试者口服瑞戈非尼片受试制剂或参比制剂体内瑞戈非尼的血药浓度和药动学参数，评价瑞戈非尼片的生物等效性和安全性。方法 采用单中心、单剂量、双制剂、随机、开放、双序列、双周期、自身交叉的试验设计，112例受试者分别在空腹（n＝64）或餐后（n＝48）口服40 mg的瑞戈非尼受试制剂或参比制剂，并在规定的时间点采集血样。以LC-MS/MS法测定血浆中瑞戈非尼的浓度，Phoenix WinNonlin 8.3软件的非房室模型计算各受试者的药动学参数，SAS 9.4软件进行临床安全性统计分析。结果 受试者空腹、餐后单次口服瑞戈非尼受试制剂及参比制剂后，药动学参数C_max分别是（599±245）、（569±209），（507±152）、（572±161）ng·mL^-1；AUC_0～t分别是（8 688±2 459）、（8 600±2 584），（12 203±3 973）、（13 495±3 910） h·ng·mL^-1； AUC_0～∞分别是（9 107±2 692）、（9 078±2 832），（12 834±4 422）、（14 121±4 391）h·ng·mL^-1。两制剂主要药动学参数的几何均值比均在等效范围内。空腹、餐后试验组的不良事件发生率分别是39.06%、41.67%，均未发生严重不良事件。结论 瑞戈非尼药时曲线出现二次达峰现象，认为与肝肠循环有关。高脂饮食可提高瑞戈非尼暴露量。受试制剂和参比制剂生物等效，单次服用安全且耐受性良好。     

丙戊酸钠和丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的药动学研究

目的 研究丙戊酸钠和丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的药动学特征,评价其优势丙戊酸盐,为临床合理用药提供参考。方法 SD大鼠随机分为2组,分别灌胃给予丙戊酸钠片和丙戊酸镁片。于不同时间点眼眶取血。采用HPLC测定血清中丙戊酸的血药浓度,计算2种丙戊酸盐在大鼠体内的药动学参数,并比较2种丙戊酸盐之间的差异。结果 HPLC测定丙戊酸血药浓度方法专属性好,血清丙戊酸浓度在10.00~110.00 μg·mL^-1内线性关系良好。精密度、稳定性和回收率均符合要求。丙戊酸钠和丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的主要药动学参数：T_1/2分别为（14.02±3.86） h和（12.11±1.95） h;T_max分别为（3.67±0.58） h和（2.67±0.26） h;C_max分别为（67.10±10.87）μg·mL^-1和（75.67±12.94）μg·mL^-1;AUC_（0-t）分别为（969.86±72.08）μg·mL^-1·h和（1 093.56±48.69）μg·mL^-1·h;AUC_（0-∞）分别为（1 178.10±185.29）μg·mL^-1·h和（1 279.35±109.18）μg·mL^-1·h;MRT_0-t分别为（10.73±2.05） h和（13.06±3.24） h。V_d分别为（16.31±2.18） L和（23.47±2.19） L;CL分别为（0.056 3±0.009） L·h^-1和（0.051 1±0.004） L·h^-1。结论 与丙戊酸钠相比,丙戊酸镁在大鼠体内的药动学参数具有一定的优势,可能是一种更具有治疗优势的丙戊酸盐。     

UPLC-MS/MS快速测定大鼠血浆中盐酸美沙酮及其代谢产物含量

目的 建立超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UPLC-MS/MS）测定大鼠血浆中盐酸美沙酮及其代谢产物乙二胺二甲基次磷酸（2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine,EDDP）的含量。方法 以地西泮为内标,大鼠血浆用乙腈沉淀蛋白,运用UPLC-MS/MS检测大鼠灌胃盐酸美沙酮6 mg·kg^-1后血浆中美沙酮和EDDP的血药浓度,并对数据进行分析。结果 大鼠血浆中盐酸美沙酮和EDDP的定量限均为0.5 ng·mL^-1;线性相关系数r>0.999;日内精密度和日间精密度的RSD均<15%;绝对回收率均>85%,相对回收率在90%~110%之间;基质效应在92.80%~97.71%之间。主要药动学参数：美沙酮、EDDP在大鼠血浆中的消除半衰期（t_1/2）为（1.479±0.839）,（2.590±0.760）h;最高血药浓度（C_max）为（48.562±10.501）,（25.542±3.706）μg·L^-1;平均滞留时间（MRT_0-t）为（3.476±0.310）,（3.883±0.514）h;曲线下面积（AUC_0-t）为（204.036±61.145）,（86.031±15.287）μg·h·L^-1;清除率（CL）为（32.338±14.343）、（70.137±10.786）L·h^-1·kg^-1,各项药动学参数比较差异均有统计学意义。结论 该法专属性强、分离完全、快速灵敏,适用于大鼠血浆中盐酸美沙酮及其代谢产物EDDP的含量测定和药动学研究。     

Efficacy of gut lavage,hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the therapy of paraquat or diquat intoxication

Clinical and in vitro investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of gut lavage, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the treatment of poisoning with paraquat or diquat. In a patient suffering from diquat intoxication 130 times more diquat was removed by gut lavage 30 h after ingestion than was removed by complete aspiration of the gastric contents.Determination of in vitro clearances for paraquat and diquat by hemodialysis showed that, at serum concentrations of 1–2 ppm, such as are frequently encountered in poisoning in man, toxicologically relevant quantities of herbicide cannot be removed from the body. At a concentration of 20 ppm, on the other hand, hemodialysis proved to be effective, the clearance being 70 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 100 ml/min. The efficacy of hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal was on the whole better. Especially at concentrations around 1–2 ppm, the clearance values for hemoperfusion were some 5–7 times higher than those for hemodialysis.In a patient suffering from paraquat poisoning, both hemodialysis as well as hemoperfusion were carried out. The in vitro results could be confirmed: At serum concentrations of paraquat less than 1 ppm no clearance could be obtained by hemodialysis while by hemoperfusion with activated charcoal quite high clearance values were measured and the serum level dropped down to zero.

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Zusammenfassung Klinische Untersuchungen und Laboratoriumsversuche wurden durchgeführt, um die Wirksamkeit von Darmspülung, Hämodialyse und Hämoperfusion bei Paraquat- und Deiquat-Vergiftungen zu prüfen.Bei einem Patienten wurde 30 Std nach Deiquat-Aufnahme durch Darmspülung 130mal mehr Deiquat entfernt als durch vollständige Aspiration des Mageninhaltes. In vitro-Versuche ergaben, daß bei Blutserumkonzentrationen von 1–2 ppm, die bei Vergiftungen oft gemessen werden, durch Hämodialyse keine toxikologisch relevanten Paraquat- oder Deiquat-Mengen entfernt werden können. Dagegen erwies sich die Hämodialyse bei 20 ppm und einer Blutumlaufgeschwindigkeit von 100 ml/min mit einer Clearance von 70 ml/min als wirksam. Die Hämoperfusion mit beschicheter Aktivkohle war in diesen Versuchen aber eindeutig überlegen, denn insbesondere bei Konzentrationen um 1–2 ppm waren die Clearance-Werte 5–7mal höher als bei der Hämodialyse.Die in vitro-Ergebnisse wurden bei einem Patienten mit einer Paraquat-Vergiftung bestätigt: Bei Konzentrationen unter 1 ppm war die Hämodialyse wirkungslos, während durch Hämoperfusion relativ hohe Clearance-Werte erreicht wurden, so daß der Serumspiegel rasch unter die Nachweisgrenze abfiel.

     

In vitro studies on sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) as enzyme carriers in organophosphorus (OP) antagonism

This study describes a new approach for organophosphorous (OP) antidotal treatment by encapsulating an OP hydrolyzing enzyme, OPA anhydrolase (OPAA), within sterically stabilized liposomes. The recombinant OPAA enzyme was derived from Alteromonas strain JD6. It has broad substrate specificity to a wide range of OP compounds: DFP and the nerve agents, soman and sarin. Liposomes encapsulating OPAA (SL)* were made by mechanical dispersion method. Hydrolysis of DFP by (SL)* was measured by following an increase of fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selective electrode. OPAA entrapped in the carrier liposomes rapidly hydrolyze DFP, with the rate of DFP hydrolysis directly proportional to the amount of (SL)* added to the solution. Liposomal carriers containing no enzyme did not hydrolyze DFP. The reaction was linear and the rate of hydrolysis was first order in the substrate. This enzyme carrier system serves as a biodegradable protective environment for the recombinant OP-metabolizing enzyme, OPAA, resulting in prolongation of enzymatic concentration in the body. These studies suggest that the protection of OP intoxication can be strikingly enhanced by adding OPAA encapsulated within (SL)* to pralidoxime and atropine.     

Pharmacological treatment of COVID-19: an opinion paper

The precocity and efficacy of the vaccines developed so far against COVID-19 has been the most significant and saving advance against the pandemic. The development of vaccines has not prevented, during the whole period of the pandemic, the constant search for therapeutic medicines, both among existing drugs with different indications and in the development of new drugs. The Scientific Committee of the COVID-19 of the Illustrious College of Physicians of Madrid wanted to offer an early, simplified and critical approach to these new drugs, to new developments in immunotherapy and to what has been learned from the immune response modulators already known and which have proven effective against the virus, in order to help understand the current situation.     

Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability,Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity

Abstract

The uptake of metals from food and water sources by insects is thought to be additive. For a given metal, the proportions taken up from water and food will depend both on the bioavailable concentration of the metal associated with each source and the mechanism and rate by which the metal enters the insect. Attempts to correlate insect trace metal concentrations with the trophic level of insects should be made with a knowledge of the feeding relationships of the individual taxa concerned. Pathways for the uptake of essential metals, such as copper and zinc, exist at the cellular level, and other nonessential metals, such as cadmium, also appear to enter via these routes. Within cells, trace metals can be bound to proteins or stored in granules. The internal distribution of metals among body tissues is very heterogeneous, and distribution patterns tend to be both metal and taxon specific. Trace metals associated with insects can be both bound on the surface of their chitinous exoskeleton and incorporated into body tissues. The quantities of trace meals accumulated by an individual reflect the net balance between the rate of metal influx from both dissolved and particulate sources and the rate of metal efflux from the organism. The toxicity of metals has been demonstrated at all levels of biological organization: cell, tissue, individual, population, and community. Much of the literature pertaining to the toxic effects of metals on aquatic insects is based on laboratory observations and, as such, it is difficult to extrapolate the data to insects in nature. The few experimental studies in nature suggest that trace metal contaminants can affect both the distribution and the abundance of aquatic insects. Insects have a largely unexploited potential as biomonitors of metal contamination in nature. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms mediating trace metal bioavailability and exchange will facilitate the development of general predictive models relating trace metal concentrations in insects to those in their environment. Such models will facilitate the use of insects as contaminant biomonitors.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.     

Alzheimer’s disease – current trends in basic and clinical research. Highlights from the 16th ECNP

Advances in the molecular biological knowledge of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have led to a growing interest by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds that selectively modulate nAChR function. The ability of (-)-nicotine, an activator of nAChRs, to enhance attentional aspects of cognition in animals and humans, to exert neuroprotective and anxiolytic-like effects, and presumably to mediate the negative correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's) Disease, has focused interest on the potential therapeutic utility of modulators of nAChR function for treatment of some of the deficits associated with these progressive, neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous compounds are known which activate nAChRs and which might serve as lead compounds toward the development of such agents. The pharmacologic diversity of neuronal nAChR subtypes suggests the possibility of developing selective compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents. This broader class of agents, collectively called cholinergic channel modulators (ChCMs), is anticipated to encompass compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents, which generally exhibit low selectivity. This selectivity may be achieved by preferentially activating some subtypes of nAChRs (i.e., Cholinergic Channel Activators, ChCAs) or inhibiting the function of other subtypes (Cholinergic Channel Inhibitors, ChCIs). An overview of the biology of nAChRs and the rationale for the use of ChCMs for the treatment of dementia related to neurodegenerative diseases are presented, followed by a discussion of lead compounds and compounds under consideration for clinical evaluation.