Raynaud’s phenomenon in a healthy Turkish population

Raynauds phenomenon (RP) is a vasospastic disease and is characterized by ischemia of the digits, nose, and ears. The vasospasm can be triggered by cold weather, cold water, or emotional stress and is followed by triphasic color changes. First white color (ischemia), then blue color (congestion and cyanosis), and finally red color change (reactive hyperemia) can be observed. The prevalence is reported to be between 0.5 and 20% in different studies and is dependent on genetic, occupational, and environmental factors. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of RP in an eastern part of Turkey among healthy subjects. A total of 768 people were included in the study. This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2003 and October 2003 at the University Hospital and at the State Hospital in Van, Turkey. The participants were interviewed and examined to diagnose RP and a questionnaire and color charts were used. Of these 768 patients, 25 women and 20 men were diagnosed to have RP. A female predominance (25/20) was observed. Their mean age was 24.78±5.71 years. The prevalence of RP was 5.9% in our study population.     

Effects of Nabumetone and Dipyrone on Experimentally Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Nabumetone and dipyrone are non-acidic, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Both of them are known to have weak inhibitory effects of cyclooxygenases. Gastric side effects represent the most common adverse drug effects of the widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The gastric effects of these drugs may be comparable in experimental ulcer models. In the present study, the gastric ulcerogenic activity of nabumetone and dipyrone were investigated on stress- and diethyldithiocarbamate-induced experimental ulcer models by determining the ulcer index and gastric mucus secretion in rats. It was found that diethyldithiocarbamate increased both ulcer index and mucus secretion. Nabumetone inhibited dose-dependently the increase of diethyldithiocarbamate-induced mucus secretion. Dipyrone inhibited both stress- and diethyldithiocarbamate-induced ulcer index and mucus secretion. Nabumetone inhibited stress-induced ulcer index at 25-mg/kg dose but stimulated dose-dependently mucus secretion. These effects may be attributed to their non-acidic structures and weak inhibitory effects on gastric mucosal cyclooxygenases.     

Synthesis and antinociceptive activity of (5-chloro-2(3H)-benzothiazolon-3-yl)propanamide derivatives

Ten new (5-chloro-2(3H)-benzothiazolon-3-yl)propanamide derivatives have been synthesized. The compounds were tested for antinociceptive activity by tail clip, tail flick, hot plate and writhing test by using aspirin and dipyrone as standards. Among these compounds, 1-[3-(5-chloro-2(3H)-benzothiazolon-3-yl)-propanoyl]-4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazine (11e) has been found to be significantly more active than the other compounds synthesized as well as the standards in all tests.     

Central components in the antinociceptive activity of dipyrone in mice

Dipyrone is classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It has analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties and exerts its analgesic effect via both peripheral and central action. Dipyrone at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg showed dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in the hot plate, tail flick tests to radiant heat and tail clip test and the writhing test induced by acetic acid in mice. The antinociceptive effects of dipyrone (500 mg/kg) were antagonized by naloxone (1, 2, 5 mg/kg) in the tail flick test to radiant heat and tail clip test and hot plate tests but not in the writhing test. Cyproheptadine (100 g/kg) decreased the antinociceptive effect of dipyrone. There was an increase in the antinociceptive effects of dipyrone (500 mg/kg) when combined with buspiron (0.5 mg/kg) in the tail flick test to radiant heat and tail clip test. The results provide evidence for a central antinociceptive effect of dipyrone antagonized by naloxone which suggests that its activity may also involve the serotoninergic system.     

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of some omega-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide and propionamide derivatives

In this study, eight new omega-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide and propionamide derivatives having 2,6-dimethyl, 2,6-dichloro, 2-chloro-6-methyl and 2-isopropyl substitutions on N-phenyl ring were synthesized to evaluate anticonvulsant activity against maximal electroshock test. The most active compounds in the series were the derivatives bearing 2-isopropyl and 2,6-dimethyl substituents on N-phenyl ring.