Posted by admin on Aug 31, 2015 in |
Drugs currently used to treat cough are among the most widely used over-the-counter drugs in the world, despite a recent analysis suggesting that there is a little evidence to such drugs produce any meaningful efficacy. The primary action of currently available cough suppressants (opiates, dextromethorphan etc.) is on the central cough pathway. The significant side effects of these agents such as constipation, respiratory depression, dependence, drowsiness and death from this action limit their use in human and thus highly unsatisfactory. There is a current huge unmet need for the development of safe, effective antitussive therapeutic options in the treatment of persistent cough as alternative to existing medications. Medicinal plants are an important source for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds, which have served and continue to serve as lead molecules for the development of new drugs. Thus this review may provide an insight into herbs possessing antitussive and expectorant activity individually or in combination. These findings will be useful towards establishing pharmacopoeial standards for crude drugs as well as...
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Posted by admin on Aug 31, 2015 in |
E7010 (N-[2-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)amino] – 3 pyridinyl] – 4 -methoxybenzenesulfonamide), an orally active sulfonamide antitumor agent that is currently in a Phase I clinical trial, showed rather consistent growth-inhibitory activities against a panel of 26 human tumor cell lines (IC50 = 0.06–0.8 µg/ml), in contrast to vincristine (VCR; IC50 = 0.0002–0.04 µg/ml), 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 0.2–30 µg/ml), Adriamycin (IC50 = 0.002–0.7 µg/ml), 1-β-D-arabinofuranoxylcytosine (IC50 = 0.005 to >30 µg/ml), camptothecin (IC50 = 0.002–0.4 µg/ml), and cisplatin (IC50 = 0.5–20 µg/ml). It caused a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of mitotic cells in parallel with a decrease in cell proliferation, like VCR. It also showed a dose-dependent inhibition of tubulin polymerization, which correlated well with the cell growth-inhibitory activity. 14C-labeled E7010 bound to purified tubulin, and this binding was inhibited by colchicine but not by VCR. However, its binding properties were different from those of colchicine, as well as those of VCR. E7010 was active against two kinds of VCR-resistant P388 cell lines, one of which showed multidrug resistance due to the over expression of P-glycoprotein (resistant to Taxol), and...
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Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2015 in |
Today, humans and wildlife are constantly exposed to thousands of chemical residues, through air, food and water. Organochlorines are widespread pollutants and comprise a variety of compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. Chlorinated insecticides, solvents, and fumigants are widely used around the world. Exposure to organochlorine chemicals has been associated with many deleterious effects on human health. Concerns have been raised about their implication in reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption, because organochlorine chemicals persist in the environment. Organochlorines interfere with normal hormonal function in animals and humans. Reproductive abnormalities, including feminization of males, abnormal sexual behavior, birth defects, altered sex ratios, decreased sperm production, reduced testicular size, infertility, and thyroid dysfunction, have been reported in laboratory animals and wildlife exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This review deals with adverse effects of different organochlorine chemicals on male reproductive system, thus indicates limited use of organochlorines to improve the quality of life for human...
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Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2015 in |
Objective: Maternal Mortality: Ten year review study in The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Goa Medical College. Method: A retrospective study was conducted in the Dept. of OBG GMC over a period of10 years spanning between Jan 4 to Dec 13 regarding Maternal Mortality. Results: There were total of 58 deaths out of 54604 live births during this 10 year period giving maternal mortality ratio(MMR) of 106.15/ 100000 live births which is 50% less as compared to MMR in India(212 maternal deaths/100,000 live births). In last 2 years i.e. in 2012 and 2013 it has come down 86.35-94.46 maternal deaths/100,000 live births, thus already reaching MDG 5 of WHO Referral cases accounted 87.85%. The majority of cases were in 21-30 year age group (93.2%) and mostly they were primigravida (55.1%). Hemorrhage (29cases) was the commonest cause of death followed by pregnancy induced hypertension (26cases). Conclusion: Hemorrhage (PPH, accidental hemorrhage, ruptured uterus), pregnancy induced hypertension including eclampsia, HELP Syndrome, Sepsis and DIC were found to be the direct major causes...
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Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2015 in |
In the battle against cancer, platinum drugs have contributed a lot so far but still the prerequisite is to mend their flaws e.g., resistance and reduced sensitivity. In addition to side effects, intrinsic and acquired resistance decreases the effects of cisplatin on cancer cells by lowering the formation of DNA adducts and subsequent DNA damage. Resistance against cisplatin includes; the increased DNA repair of cisplatin induced DNA adducts by MMR, NER pathways, increased tolerance, and interaction with cellular proteins instead of DNA resulting in cellular detoxification of cisplatin, and, decreased accumulation of drug due to abnormal role of efflux and influx pumps. With therapy of cisplatin survival pathways (Akt, MKPI) are also triggered, occasioning in the activation of NF-kb, XIAP that subsidizes to cisplatin resistance. Development of new platinum compounds that can combat with the intrinsic and acquired drug resistance would be the promising strategy in the cancer therapeutic field. Combination or adjuvant therapies of cisplatin with gemcitabine, etoposide, topotecan etc. have been shown to reduce the cellular resistance...
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