"Epirubicin cardiotoxicity" the underlying mechanism behind the possible protection by lacidipine versus natural antioxidants

The current study probes the utility of two adjuvant regimens, vitamin E and vitamin C combination or lacidipine in hope to minimize or abort epirubicin cardiotoxic potential. The study was conducted on 40 albino rats, divided into 4 equal groups: one received 0.4 mg/kg epirubicin, the second and third received either epirubicin with vitamin E and vitamin C, 100 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg respectively, or epirubicin with lacidipine 3 mg/kg, the fourth group served as control. Cardiotoxic profile was assessed biochemically [serum cardiac enzymes] and histopathologicaljy while the oxidative stress was assessed by determining the tissue level of glutathione, superoxide dismutase [SOD] and malondialdehyde [MDA]. The results have demonstrated that both regimens, whether vitamin E and vitamin C or lacidipine, significantly suppressed the increase in serum cardiac enzymes, and tissue MDA, and significantly elevated the decreased tissue glutathione and SOD induced by epirubicin. it can be concluded that vitamin E and vitamin C combination or lacidipine are good candidates as adjuvant therapy that can be utilized to reduce epirubicin cardiotoxic potential and they are worthy for clinical evaluation

Simultaneous monitoring of amikacin and gentamycin levels in plasma versus prostatic fluid can predict thir in vivo therapeutic efficacy in chronic bacterial prostatitis

The study was conducted on 20 chronic bacterial prostatitis patients, they were divided into amikacin and gentamycin groups. They received therapeutic doses of i.m. twice daily amikacin and gentamycin. Their peak drug levels and pH measurements in plasma versus prostatic secretion were assessed after the first and last dose of the 7-day course together with post therapeutic bacteriological assessment. Results revealed a positive correlation between beneficial levels of the two aminoglycosides recovered in the prostatic fluid and the absence of bacterial growth in post therapeutic specimens. No definite relationship was correlated between drug levels and pH measurements in prostatic secretion. Therefore, performing initial quantitative detection of peak levels of aminoglycosides in the expressed prostatic secretion after the first dose was recommended, to determine whether the drugs are recovered in beneficial levels. So, the physician could take early decision whether to continue the course or to cut it short when the therapeutic value is not worth the hazards, costs and disappointment of inadequate response

Gingival and salivary changes induced by agents that after the cytosolic functional availability of calcium

Drugs that alter the cytosolic functional availability of calcium [Ca2+] verapamil hydrochloride [V], and trifluoperazine [TFP], were probed for probable gingival and/or salivary involvements and were compared with result induced by phenytoin [Ph]. The study was conducted on 28 dogs that were equally divided into 4 group receiving IM twice daily saline [1 ml] as control [C] [n=7], 5 mg/kg [Ph][n=7] 200ug/kg [V] [n=7] and 250 ug/kg [TFP] [n=7] for three continous months. Gingival findings revealed, that overgrowth index [OGI] was significantly increased by Ph, but was insignificantly increased by V and TFP, while the growth index [Gl] was significantly increased by V and TFP but not by Ph in comparison to C. When comparing to Ph, the OGI was significantly lower and theGI significantly higher by V and TFP, but no significant difference was found between the results of the two drugs. Histopathologically, Ph induced fibroblastic gingival hyperplasia, TFP induced epithelial gingival hyperplasia and V induced atrophic gingival changes. Parotid results revealed that, norepinephrine and 5-hydroxy tryptamine significantly decreased by V and TFP in comparisn to C and Ph. Sodium was significantly lowered by Ph and V but not by TFP, potassium was significantly increased by V but not by Ph and TFP and chlorides were insignificantly altered by any drug in comparison to C. No significant change in any of the monovalentions existed between V, TFP and Ph and no significant change in all chemical estimates were found between V and TFP. Histopathologically, Ph preserved salivary parenchyema, TFP induced its shrinkage and V caused its atrophy. The probable causes behind the changes encountered were discussed. One can conclude that these groups of drugs, induce varying grades of gingival overgrowthes that are different in nature and etiopathogenesis. Regarding of V and TFP their salivary changes were markedly contributing to their gingival changes indicating that Ca2+ antagonism, though operating could not be the sole provocateur and that metabolites specific to each drug may have a modifying role