Buccal absorption of enalapril and lisinopril

Objective: The buccal absorption of captopril does not exhibit the classical pH/partition hypothesis, suggesting that mechanisms other than passive diffusion are involved in its absorption; animal studies have suggested that a peptide carrier-mediated transport system may be responsible for its absorption. The present study evaluated the effects of pH on octanol partitioning, and on the buccal absorption of enalapril and lisinopril, using in vitro techniques and buccal partitioning in human volunteer subjects.

Pharmaceutical care of patients with congestive heart failure: Interventions and outcomes

We evaluated a structured pharmaceutical care program for elderly patients (> 65 yrs) with congestive heart failure (CHF) based on objective measures of disease control, quality of life, and use of health care facilities in a randomized, controlled, longitudinal, prospective clinical trial. The 42 patients in group A received education from a pharmacist on the disease and its treatment, and lifestyle changes that could help control symptoms. Patients also were encouraged to monitor their symptoms and comply with prescribed drug therapy. If necessary, dosage regimens were simplified in liaison with hospital physicians. The 41 control patients (group B) received standard care. The following outcome measures were assessed in all patients at baseline (before the start of the trial) and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months: 2-minute walk test, blood pressure, body weight, pulse, forced vital capacity, quality of life [disease-specific (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire) and generic (SF-36)], knowledge of symptoms and drugs, compliance with therapy, and use of health care facilities (hospital admissions, visits to emergency room, emergency calls). Patients in group A showed improved compliance with drug therapy, which in turn improved their exercise capacity compared with those in group B; education on management of symptoms, lifestyle changes, and dietary recommendations were also of benefit. Group A patients significantly improved knowledge of their drug therapy over the 12-month study and had fewer hospital admissions compared with group B patients. They also had improved outcomes compared with group B, despite the small samples. An extension of this trial to other sites with pooling of results would provide additional evidence of the value of this structured program in elderly patients with CHF.

Changing profile in the use of anti-asthma drugs

Data regarding the total number of anti-asthma drugs dispensed via community pharmacies within Northern Ireland from 1980 to 1997 were collected and analysed. The use of anti-asthma drugs within this population increased markedly over the study period from 19.84 DDDs/1000/day to 84.07 DDDs/1000/day. With the exception of the non-selective beta(2)-agonists, there has been an overall increasing trend in the utilization of all of the anti-asthma drugs during the study period. Most of the increase is attributable to the increase in prescribing of the selective beta(2)-agonists and the glucocorticoids, This increase in the utilization of anti-asthma drugs may be explained by an increasing prevalence of the condition, increased adherence to asthma management protocols or to the prescribing of more intensive drug therapies.

CHROMATOGRAPHIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NEUROPEPTIDE Y-LIKE AND PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE-LIKE PEPTIDES FROM THE NEMATODE ASCARIS-SUUM

1. Immunoreactivity (IR) towards neuropeptide Y (NPY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) has previously been demonstrated in nematodes by immunocytochemistry (ICC).

IMMUNOCHEMICAL AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSES OF A NEUROPEPTIDE FROM THE MONOGENEAN PARASITE, DICLIDOPHORA-MERLANGI - EVOLUTIONARY ASPECTS OF THE NEUROPEPTIDE-Y SUPERFAMILY

1. A neuropeptide exhibiting pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactivity (PP-IR) has been isolated and characterised from the parasitic platyhelminth, Diclidophora merlangi.

ISOLATION AND PARTIAL SEQUENCING OF A PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE-LIKE NEUROPEPTIDE FROM THE LIVER FLUKE, FASCIOLA-HEPATICA

1. A pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-immunoreactive neuropeptide has been isolated and partially sequenced from the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica.

TACHYKININ IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE EUROPEAN COMMON FROG, RANA-TEMPORARIA - LOCALIZATION, QUANTIFICATION AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION

1. Tachykinin immunoreactivity has been localized, quantified and chromatographically-characterized in the brain, stomach, intestine and skin of Rana temporaria.

Local DNA damage by proton microbeam irradiation induces poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis in mammalian cells

Cellular recovery from ionizing radiation (IR)-induced damage involves poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1 and PARP-2) activity, resulting in the induction of a signalling network responsible for the maintenance of genomic integrity. In the present work, a charged particle microbeam delivering 3.2 MeV protons from a Van de Graaff accelerator has been used to locally irradiate mammalian cells. We show the immediate response of PARPs to local irradiation, concomitant with the recruitment of ATM and Rad51 at sites of DNA damage, both proteins being involved in DNA strand break repair. We found a co-localization but no connection between two DNA damage-dependent post-translational modifications, namely poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of nuclear proteins and phosphorylation of histone H2AX. Both of them, however, should be considered and used as bona fide immediate sensitive markers of IR damage in living cells. This technique thus provides a powerful approach aimed at understanding the interactions between the signals originating from sites of DNA damage and the subsequent activation of DNA strand break repair mechanisms.