[Pharmacodynamics and results of a clinical trial of nitrogranulong, a new Soviet long-acting preparation of nitroglycerin]. / Farmakodinamika i rezul'taty klinicheskogo izucheniia nitrogranulonga--novogo otechestvennogo prolongirovannogo preparata nitroglitserina.

In the USSR, the Research and Production Association "Vitamins" and the Department of Pharmacology, All-Union Research Institute of Medicinal Plants were the first to develop commercial processes for manufacturing trinitroglycerol microgranules on the basis of the raw material available in this country and to design the new long-acting drug Nitrogranulong. Experimental examinations revealed that Nitrogranulong showed the same bioavailability as Nitro-Mack-Retard and sustac, produced a prolonged coronarolytic effect, and caused the hemodynamic and ECG changes typical of trinitroglycerol. The agent was found to be low toxic and well tolerated in a dosage form. Clinical examination of 467 patients indicated that Nitrogranulong exhibited the same antianginal potency, but in some cases it was superior to sustac, nitrong, 2% nitroglycerin ointment, and nitrosorbide. The agent caused significantly less adverse and toxic effects. Nitrogranulong is used in medical practice to prevent anginal episodes. It is produced in tablets in two dosages (2.9 and 5.2 mg trinitroglycerol), its action duration being 7-8 hours.

[The importance of food and drug plant factors in the combined treatment of patients with type-II diabetes mellitus]. / Znachenie pishchevykh i lekarstvennykh rastitel'nykh faktorov v kompleksnom lechenii bol'nykh sakharnym diabetom II tipa.

A study was made of the effect of natural (vegetable dish) and refined (food methylcellulose--MC-100 and citrus pectin) vegetable fibers and Arfazetin (antidiabetic species, USSR) on the level of glucose, immunoreactive insulin (IRI), C-peptide, glucagon and gastrin in the blood of 41 patients with type II diabetes mellitus. These parameters were investigated on an empty stomach, 1, 2 and 4 h after breakfast I with a standard set of foodstuffs and minimum content of nutritive fibers. Similar investigations were conducted after intake of the same breakfast I in combination with various vegetable components. All the vegetable factors under study were shown to contribute to a decrease in a value of a glycemic rise noted after food intake. A vegetable dish and Arfazetin equally caused a significant rise of IRI secretion and C-peptide 60-90 min. after breakfast. MC-100 and particularly pectin decreased IRI and C-peptide secretion. There was a significant rise of gastrin secretion 1, 2 and 4 h when pectin was added to breakfast. When Arfazetin, a vegetable dish and MC-100 were added to breakfast I, a tendency to a rise of serum gastrin was observed 1 h after breakfast. The level of IRG during investigations with vegetable components did not differ from the results of investigations without these components.

[Arfazetin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus]. / Arfezetin v lechenii sakharnogo diabeta.

Hypoglycemic activity of arfazetin, a Soviet antidiabetic species of medicinal plants, was studied in 32 patients with diabetes mellitus, types I and II. Arfazetin was administered to patients with diabetes mellitus, type I, in combination with a diet and an adequate dose of insulin. All the patients with diabetes mellitus, type II, were given infusion in addition to a diet and hypoglycemic drugs. The conclusions were the following. The species possessed hypoglycemic activity. In patients with diabetes mellitus, type II, it made it possible to decrease or even give up a daily dose of hypoglycemic drugs per os. In patients with diabetes mellitus, type II, arfazetin produced no significant effect on the level of hypoglycemia. The optimum daily dose of arfazetin was 1 glass of infusion prepared ex tempore out of 5 g of dried species to be taken 30 min. before meal (one-third of glass) 3 times a day for one month.

[Pharmacological properties of inulicin, a sesquiterpene lactone from Japanese inula]. / Farmakologicheskie svoistva inulitsina--seskviterpenovogo laktona iz deviasila iaponskogo.

Inulicin is a sesquiterpene lactone obtained from Inula Japonica L. (Compositae) possesses a fairly wide spectrum of pharmacological action. In doses from 5 to 60 mg/kg it exerts a certain stimulant action on the central nervous system and smooth muscles of the intestine, displays an anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity on pathological models of different genesis, and has capillary-strengthening diuretic properties. When given in low doses, the drug did not affect cardiac activity, while in high doses it might inhibit it. Inulicin is relatively little toxic. The LD50 for mice is 476 mg/kg intraperitoneally and 1330 mg/kg per os.