A Study on the Role of Catecholamine in Reperfusion Damage of Ischemic Heart in Rat : Effect on Xanthine Oxidase Conversion

The present study was performed to investigate the role catecholamine in the genesis of reperfusion injury of ischemic heart. The possible involvement of catecholamine in the xanthine oxidase-linked production of oxygen free radicals was studied. langendorff preparations of rat hearts were made ischemic for 60 min followed by reperfusion. Upon reperfusion norepinephrine(NE) was significantly released into the coronary effluent regardless of oxygenation of the perfusion solution. Both the increased releases of creatine phosphokinase(CPK) and malondialdehyde(MDA) and the production of superoxide anion in the ischemic-reperfused hearts were significantly reduced by the treatment with either reserpine, a catecholamine depletor, or propranolol, a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker. In the reserpinized hearts, infusion of exogenous NE reversed the releases of CPK and MDA and the superoxide anion production to the original higher levels. The releases of CPK and MDA as well as the production of superoxide anion induced by NE in the reserpinized hearts were significantly depressed either by allopurinol, a specific competitive inhibior of xanthine oxidase(XOD), or by the calcium removal from the perfusion solution. Compared with the XOD activity of control ischemic hearts, that of the hearts treated with reserpine or propranolol showed lower activity in the oxygen radical producing 0-form and higher activity in D/0-form. In the reserpinized ischemic hearts, infusion of exogenous NE increased 0-form, but decreased D/0-form of XOD. The changes in XOD activities induced by exogenous NE was prevented by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride(a serine protease inhibitor) and pimoxide(a calmodulin inhibitor) as well as by calcium removal from the perfusion solution. It is suggested from the results that in the inchemic-reperfused heart of rat catecholamine participates in D/0 to 0-form conversion of XOD by promoting the calcium-calmodulin-dependent proteolysis and plays a contributing role in the production of oxygen free radical.

Chronotropic Actions of Higenamine in the Isolated Right Atrium of the Rabbit

Higenamine is known to possess stimulatory activity on beta-receptor of the heart. Chronotropic actions of higenamic were studied in spontaneously beating right atrial muscle isolated from rabbits. The frequency of spontaneous beating and the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium were examined. The relative threshold voltage was defined as the minimal voltage of the given impulse above which the right atrium could be paced at the frequency of 20% of higenamine was also observed. Higenamine caused the postive chronotropic effect. This response became prominent as the ca2+ concentration in the bathing solution lowered. When tetrodotoxin was added to the bathing solution, the effect of higenemine altered and became similar to that of epinephrine. Higenamine reduced the relative threshold voltage of the right atrium in the bathing solution with [ca2+] of 0.5mM. Such effect was abolished by tetrodotoxin. The effects of verapamill on the spontaneous rate and the relativel threshold voltage were inhibited by higenemine. The above results suggest that, aithough the main action og higenamine is on the Ca channel, higenamine also have a minor effect of augmenting the Na channel.

An Experimental Study on Adrenergic Effect of Higenamine in Rabbit Cardiovascular System

Higenamine was isolated originally from Aconiti tuber from Aconitum species and recently Higenamine was synthesized. The purpose of this study is to investigate the adrenergic effect of Higenamine on rabbit cardiovascular system. Blood pressure, cardic output, systemic vascular resistance and heart rate were measured after intravenous injection of Higenamine(2-100microg/kg/min). The effects of Higenamine were compared with those of other sympathomimetic drugs. The changes in the cardiovascular systems after pretreatment with Propranolol, Atenolol and Hexamethonium were also studied. The following results were obtained. 1) Higenamine increased the cardic output and the heart rate and decreased the blood pressure and the systemic vascular resistance. Those changes were dose-dependent. The duration of action of Higenamine was 5 to 8 minutes. 2) The effects of Higenamine were similar to those of Isoproterenol. The amount of Higenamine was more than 100 times the required amount of Isoproterenol in order to obtain the same casdiovascular effects. 3) The effects of Higenamine were blocked by Propranolol, The increase of cardic output and heart rate were blocked by Hexamethonium. Higenamine has stimulating action on beta1 and beta2 receptors. But Higenamine is much less potent than Isoproterenol.

Effect of oxantel/pyrantel pamoate tablets against intestinal nematodes in Korea

A total of 48 subjects harbouring Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and/or Enterobius vermicularis were treated with oxantel/pyrantel pamoate tablets (100 mg of each) in a single dose of 20 mg base per kg of body weight. In all 37 cases of A. lumbricoides and 8 cases of A. duodenale infections cured completely, and the mean recovered worm-load was 3.8 with a range of 1-21 and 5.8 with a range of 3-9 respectively. In T. trichiura infection, 32(71.1%) of 45 cases cured completely and the average egg reduction rate was 90.8 per cent. The mean recovered worm-load was 14.6 with a rnage of 1-77 worms. On the other hand, in E. vermicularis infection, 37 (84.1 %) of 44 patients were negative eggs by anal swab tests on the 10 to 11th days and 27 (61.4%) on the 20 to 21st days after treatment. The mean recovered worm-load was 17.7 with a range of 1-62. Only one patient with Trichostrongylus orientalis treated with this drug showed no eggs in his stools throughout the post-treatment examinations. Side effects were not noted in all treated cases. These findings demonstrate that a single dose of oxantel/pyrantel pamoate tablets can be considered a drug of choice for multiple infections with these nematodes.

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Low-dose-Longterm Vibramycin on Acne Vulgaris with Double-blind Study / 대한피부과학회지

In order to evaluate the the effectiveness of low-dose longterm Vibramycin (Doxycycline) treatment on Acne Vulgaris, a double-blind study was performed on fifty two patients with Acne Vulgaris. The patients were classified as to the severi.ty of their disease before treatment according to Wand. et al. The degree of the effcctiveness of the treatment was evaluated every other week for 12 weeks on the grounds of clinical improvement. The therapeutic results obtaincd were as follovs: araong the 19 patients who received 50 mg per day for 12 weeks, 13 cases (72.2%) showed excellent improverrent after 6 weeks; whereas in thc placebo group only 4 out of 15 patients (26. 7%) showed good response, Statistical analysis of the data revealed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in effectiveness between the Vibrarzycin 50mg per day group and the placebo group. Among the 19 patient who received a 100mg capsile orally per day for 4 weeks (subsequently this group received 50mg per day for 8 weeks) 13 cases.(68.4%) showed excellent improvement in 4 weeks; whereas in the placebo group only 4 cases(26, 7%) showed good respnnse Statistical analysis of this data revealed that there was a significant difference (p<0. 05) in efectivencess the Vibramycin 100mg per day group and the placebo group, It was noted that 44 out of 52 patients (83%) had a distinct family history of the disease, suggesting that there might be a predisposing hereditary factor involvcd in the manifestation of Acne Vulgaris It is concluded f rom this study that Vibramycin, when administrated in a dose of 50mg per day for more than 6 weeks is effective in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris.

Anthelmintic effect of oxantel and oxantel/pyrantel tablets against intestinal nematode infections

Present trial was carried out to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of oxantel/pyrantel tablets against intestinal nematode infections, and to determine the efficacy of oxantel tablels against Trichuris infection. A total of 34 subjects with the mixed infections were treated with oxantel/pyrantel tablets (100 mg/tablet each) in a single dose of 15 mg/kg body weight, and another group of 22 Trichuris infected cases received oxantel pamoate tablets (125 mg/tablet) in a single dose of 15 mg/kg. All stool examinations were done before the treatment and 3 weeks after the treatment. The cellophane thick smear (Kato's technique) and Stoll's dilution egg counting method were employed. The results of the trial were summarized as follows: The cure rates (egg negative conversion rates) and egg reduction rates for oxantel/pyrantel tablets were 85.3 percent and 97 percent in trichuriasis, 100 percent each in ascariasis and ancylostomiasis. The oxantel tablet treated group demonstrated a cure rate of 90.9 percent and an egg reduction rate of 96.3 percent in the treatment of Trichuris. There were no detectable objective and subjective side effects in this trial. Both oxantel/pyrantel and oxantel pamoate tablets were readily accepted and well tolerated.

Anthelmintic effect of oxantel pamoate and pyrantel pamoate suspension against intestinal nematode infestations

A total of 56 subjects with multiple nematode infections with T. trichiura, Ascaris, hookworms and Enterobius were treated with oxantel and pyrantel pamoate mixture in a paratable suspension(50 mg of each per ml). A single dose of 10 mg per kg body weight in each cured 100 per cent of 54 subjects with Ascaris, 97.1 per cent of 35 subjects with hookworms, 77.8 per cent of 36 with Enterobius and 73.2 per cent of 56 subjects with T. trichiura infestation. The mean egg per gram stool reduction rate in T. trichiura infection was 91.9%. Of the 31 subjects infected with Ancylostoma doudenale 96.8% were cured with a single dose and 4 infected with Necator americanus showed a 100% cure rate with a similar daily dose on 3 consecutive days. Side effects were few and mild. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of drug toxicity. These findings show a single dose of oxantel and pyrantel pamoate mixture to be a highly effective and acceptable treatment for multiple infections with these nematodes.

Pyrantel embonate and bephenium hydroxynaphthoate in the treatment of hookworm infection

A total of 100 hookworm infested patients were divided into two groups. One group of 49 received pyrantel embonate in a single oral dose of 10 mg as the base per kg body weight and the other group of 51 a single oral dose of 5.0 gm bephenium hydroxynaphthoate for a comparison of efficacy on hookworm infestation and other intestinal helminths. Forty-two(85.7%) cases of hookworm treated with pyrantel embonate were cured and there was a 99.9 per cent mean reduction in fecal egg count. Of the 51 patients who received bephenium hydroxynaphthoate complete cure occurred in 76.5 per cent and the mean reduction in fecal egg count was 91.8 per cent. These results plus the lower incidence of side effects recorded in the pyrnatel group suggest that pyrantel embonate is the more desirable trestment. Pyrantel embonate was highly effective against Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichostrongylus orientalis and both drugs were moderately effective against Trichuris trichiura. During the course of the study measurements of hematology, biochemistry and examinations of urine specimens were carried out. All values were normal throughout the study and no significant difference was observed between pyrantel embonate and bephenium hydroxynaphthoate treated subjects. Side effects were more common in the bephenium hydroxynaphthoate treated group.

Clinical trial of Tinidazole (Fasigyn) in acute and chronic intestinal amoebiasis

Tinidazole (Fasigyn), a new drug which is active in vitro and in vivo against Entamoeba histolytica, was used in 30 Korean patients with acute and chronic intestinal amoebiasis. In aute amoebic dysentry eight of ten patients given tinidazole 150 mg q.i.d. for 10 days were cured clinically and parasitologically. In chronic intestinal amoebiasis, the parasitological cure was obtained 6 out of 10 patients given150 mg q.i.d. for 10 days and 8 out of 10 in patients given 300 mg q.i.d. for 7 days. Tinidazole is well tolerated and is free from serious toxicity. There was no significant alteration in blood count, liver function tests and urine analysis of any of the patients treated with tinidazole.