Search results for " TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICS"
showing 10 items of 461 documents
The non-neuronal cholinergic system in humans: expression, function and pathophysiology.
2003
Acetylcholine, a prime example of a neurotransmitter, has been detected in bacteria, algae, protozoa, and primitive plants, indicating an extremely early appearance in the evolutionary process (about 3 billion years). In humans, acetylcholine and/or the synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), have been found in epithelial cells (airways, alimentary tract, urogenital tract, epidermis), mesothelial (pleura, pericardium), endothelial, muscle and immune cells (mononuclear cells, granulocytes, alveolar macrophages, mast cells). The widespread expression of non-neuronal acetylcholine is accompanied by the ubiquitous presence of cholinesterase and receptors (nicotinic, muscarinic). …
The role of long-acting injectable antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a critical appraisal
2014
Despite their widespread use, long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics (APs) are often regarded with some negativity because of the assumption of punishment, control and insufficient evolution towards psychosocial development of patients. However, LAI APs have proved effective in schizophrenia and other severe psychotic disorders because they assure stable blood levels, leading to a reduction of the risk of relapse. Therapeutic opportunities have also arisen after introduction of newer, second-generation LAI APs in recent years. Newer LAI APs are more readily dosed optimally, may be better tolerated and are better suited to integrated rehabilitation programmes. This review outlines the …
Impact of depressive symptoms on subjective well-being: the importance of patient-reported outcomes in schizophrenia
2011
Jorge Mauriño1, Julio Sanjúan2, Josep Maria Haro3, Teresa Díez1, Javier Ballesteros41AstraZeneca Medical Department, Madrid, Spain; 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Valencia, CIBERSAM, Valencia, Spain; 3Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, CIBERSAM, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain; 4Department of Neuroscience-Psychiatry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, CIBERSAM, Leioa, SpainObjective: The subjective experience of psychotic patients toward treatment is a key factor in medication adherence, quality of life, and clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the subjective well-being in patients with schizophrenia and to examine its relationsh…
A low threshold to ECG-gated repeat CTA reduces the risk of false-positive diagnosis of type A dissection in interhospital referrals: a case series s…
2018
Angela Kornberger,1 Iris Burck,2 Hazem El Beyrouti,1 Nancy Halloum,1 Andres Beiras-Fernandez,1 Christian-Friedrich Vahl1 1Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany; 2Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Background: False-positive diagnosis of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD) on computed tomography angiography (CTA) is still an issue and may lead to substantial consequences. Given that electrocardiography (ECG)-gated CTA provides greater diagnostic safety, it may be assumed that interhospital referral…
Release of non-neuronal acetylcholine from the isolated human placenta is affected by antidepressants.
2007
Non-neuronal acetylcholine (ACh) is released from the human placenta into the extracellular space via organic cation transporters (OCTs). The present experiments investigated whether ACh release from epithelial cells is affected by drugs which are substrates of OCTs. The antidepressant drugs amitriptyline and doxepine were tested as both substances are not approved for pregnant women but frequently used. Release of ACh was measured in 10 min intervals over a period of 100 min. Test substances were added from t=50 min of incubation onwards. The effect was calculated by comparing the ACh release of the last three samples (t=70-100 min; B2) with that immediately before the application of the t…
Proliferative effect of acetylcholine on rat trachea epithelial cells is mediated by nicotinic receptors and muscarinic receptors of the M1-subtype.
2003
Acetylcholine (ACh), synthesized in mammalian non-neuronal cells such as epithelial cells of the airways, digestive tract and skin, is involved in the regulation of basic cell functions (so-called non-neuronal cholinergic system). In the present experiments rat trachea epithelial cells have been cultured to study the proliferative effect of applied ACh by [3H]thymidine incorporation. ACh (exposure time 24 h) caused a concentration-dependent increase in cell proliferation with a doubling of the [3H]thymidine incorporation at a concentration of 0.1 microM. This effect was partly reduced by 30 microM tubocurarine and completely abolished by the additional application of 1 microM atropine. The …
PS-075 Evaluation of fall risks in elderly patients
2014
Background Falls among hospitalised elderly patients are a major public health concern since they can cause loss of independence, injury and sometimes patient death. Purpose To examine risk factors, especially drugs, potentially related to falls in elderly patients and to define possible actions. Materials and methods A retrospective (May 1 2010–March 31 2013) study was performed at ISMETT, a 90-bed hospital. Patient characteristics (age/gender/body mass index, BMI), clinical conditions (diagnosis/comorbidity), ward (Intensive Care Unit, Step-Down Unit, Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit and Abdominal Surgery Unit), length of stay, number of medicines taken within three days before falling and sev…
Role of the hospital pharmacist in an Italian antimicrobial stewardship programme
2020
The inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents is contributing to an increasing phenomenon of bacterial resistance. For this reason, there is a growing interest in ‘antimicrobial stewardship’, a series of coordinated and multidisciplinary interventions aimed to promote the safe and appropriate use of antimicrobials in which the pharmacist’s contribution is necessary for the optimal choice of drug, dose, duration of therapy and the implementation of cost containment strategies. AIM OF THE STUDY: We wanted to create a reference model and a specific training manual on antibiotic stewardship to introduce the role of the department pharmacist with specific infection disease skills in the Italian …
Patient preferences in the treatment of hemophilia A: impact of storage conditions on product choice
2018
Bernd Tischer,1 Renato Marino,2 Mariasanta Napolitano3 1Kantar Health, Munich, Germany; 2Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, University Hospital of Bari, Apulia, Italy; 3University of Palermo, Reference Regional Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis Hematology Unit, Palermo, Italy Objectives: To gain insights into the usage of factor VIII (FVIII) products by patients diagnosed with moderate/severe hemophilia A, and to assess the impact and perceived importance of product storage.Methods: In this study, 200 patients diagnosed with moderate or severe hemophilia A across seven countries participated. Data were collected via a 30-minute, face-to-face interview in six countries and via a web-based…
The evolution of European Medicines Agency drug approval: the adaptive licensing: Table 1
2015
In March 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) launched a pilot project of ‘adaptive licensing’ to speed up access to drugs in development, in order to respond to unmet medical needs. The project will involve parallel scientific advice from the regulatory agency, pharmaceutical industry, the companies Health Technology Assessment (HTAs) bodies, organisations studying guidelines on clinical treatment and patient associations. The traditional process of drug authorisation is divided into several parts, involving in vitro studies and in vivo studies in animals (preclinical studies), as well as phase 1–3 randomised controlled trials conducted in humans over a predefined period. When authori…