Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and End-Stage Renal Disease.

The role of oral anticoagulants (OAC) in atrial fibrillation (AF) is well established. However, none of the randomized controlled trials included patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) leaving a lack of evidence in this large, challenging and unique patient group. Patients on hemodialysis (HD) with AF have additional risk factors for stroke due to vascular comorbidities, HD treatment, age, and diabetes.

Formulation of Herbal Fast Disintegrating Tablets and its ex-vivo Study for Anti-histaminic Activity in Guinea Pig Ileum.

Objective: The aim of present research work was to develop a herbal fast disintegrating tablet containing Fagonia schweinfurthii Hadidi dried extract and determining its antihistaminic activity using guinea pig ileum.

Method: The tablets were formulated by wet granulation technique using three different superdisintegrants (croscarmillose, crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate) at three different levels. The tablets were evaluated for various physical properties like hardness, friability weight variation etc.

Does sex influence the incidence or severity of reperfusion-induced cardiac arrhythmias?

Unlabelled: Whether sex affects the acute phase of myocardial ischemia in experimental animal models is currently being debated. Our purpose was to determine if sex influences either the incidence or severity of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias resulting from a brief coronary occlusion. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the study.

Synthesis, hydrolysis kinetics and pharmacological evaluation of aceclofenac prodrugs.

The mutual prodrugs of aceclofenac with various naturally available antioxidants; menthol, thymol, eugenol, guiacol and vanillin have been synthesized by the DCC coupling method, purified and characterized by spectral data, as well as, partition coefficient, solubility and hydrolytic studies. The title compounds have more lipophilic character as compared to the parent moieties and good stability in acidic environment, which is prerequisite for the oral absorption of the drug. Under gastric as well as intestinal pH conditions these prodrugs showed variable susceptibility towards hydrolysis.

Physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with HPTLC fingerprinting of Nigella sativa L. seeds.

This study was designed to perform the physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with HPTLC fingerprinting of Nigella sativa seeds in order to establish the standard pharmacognostical parameters of this miracle herb. Different parameters like extractive values; total ash value, acid insoluble ash value and water soluble ash value, moisture content, loss on drying, pH values of Nigella sativa seeds were performed. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done to detect different phytoconstituents by using the Harborne's phytochemical methods.

Pharmacist involvement in the patient care improves outcome in hypertension patients.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of pharmaceutical care interventions in patients with essential hypertension in Lakshmi Pat Singhania Institute of Cardiology, Kanpur, India.

Methods: The study was carried out from July 2010 to August 2011. Pharmaceutical care was provided for 54 patients (intervention group) which was comprised of the patient education, the prescription assistance and the life style modifications and motivation for health.

Amiodarone reduces the amount of ablation during catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: The step-wise approach to catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) requires considerable substrate modification targeting at complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) in addition to pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. An alternative strategy that minimizes the amount of ablation would be desirable. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of pre-procedural amiodarone affects: (i) the amount of ablation required to achieve procedural success, and (ii) long-term outcomes.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Salvadora persica in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Context: Many synthetic antidiabetic components show toxic and/or mutagenic effects. Hence, attention has been given to naturally occurring antidiabetic components. Identification of effective antidiabetic components from plants origin is an ideal strategy for new drug development.

Pharmacognostic standardization with various plant parts of Desmostachya bipinnata.

Context: Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf [Gramineae (Poaceae)] has been traditionally used to treat various disorders such as asthma, kidney stone, diarrhea, wound healing, etc.

Objective: The present study involves pharmacognostic, botanical, and preliminary phytochemical examination of various plant parts and powders of D.

Development of a new nanovesicle formulation as transdermal carrier: formulation, physicochemical characterization, permeation studies and anti-inflammatory activity.

Context: Ibuprofen is an important NSAID, however, it can cause GI disturbances when given orally, and employment of transdermal route will require permeation enhancer causing skin injury.

Objective: Drug-loaded nanovesicles of ceramide-2, cholesterol, palmitic acid, and cholesteryl sulfate (ICVG) were formulated and analyzed for physicochemical and permeation properties.

Materials And Method: Vesicles were formulated using film hydration method and physicochemical parameters, in vitro drug release, and stability were assessed.

Interpreting changes in quality of life in atrial fibrillation: how much change is meaningful?

Background: The Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy of Life (AFEQT) questionnaire is a novel quality of life (QOL) measure previously shown to be valid, reliable, and sensitive to clinical change in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The clinical relevance of a given change in the score is not known. The most useful "anchor" for a measure of meaningful change in QOL is patient-reported magnitude of change.

Development and characterization of stable nanovesicular carrier for drug delivery.

Lipid vesicles are an important drug carrier which can serve for controlled delivery of drugs; however, these vesicles are quite unstable at ambient temperature and require stringent storage condition. Present work was done to develop a stable vesicular system for drug delivery. Vesicles of ceramide-2, cholesterol, cholesterol sulfate, and palmitic acid were prepared and compared with phosphatidylcholine vesicles for physicochemical parameters and accelerated stability.

Ceramide-2 nanovesicles for effective transdermal delivery: development, characterization and pharmacokinetic evaluation.

Unlabelled: Abstract Context: The vesicles based on skin lipid have a drug localization effect and its main lipid, ceramide provides protective and regenerative effects while oleic acid (OA) is a penetration enhancer, however, it causes slight irritation, so we have formulated formulation incorporating both of these to develop a transdermal formulation for better permeation.

Objective: Present study investigated the preparation and characterization of physicochemical properties and permeation of nanovesicles of ceramide-2 containing OA and palmitic acid (PA) respectively and a commercial gel.

Materials And Methods: The vesicles were made using ceramide 2, cholesterol (Chol), cholesteryl sulfate (CS) and OA or PA, respectively, using film hydration method.

Antioxidant potential and total phenolic content of methanolic bark extract of Madhuca indica (koenig) Gmelin.

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of methanolic extract of Madhuca indica bark in varios systems. DPPH radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical, hydroxyl radical, lipid peroxidation, and total phenolic content assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extract. The percentage inhibition of 40 μg/ml concentration of MMI in DPPH radical scavenging model was found as 74.

Preparation, characterization and permeation studies of a nanovesicular system containing diclofenac for transdermal delivery.

Context: Transdermal formulations contain permeation enhancer which causes skin damage. Ceramide 2 is natural lipid found in stratum corneum (SC).

Objective: Drug-loaded nanovesicles of ceramide-2, cholesterol, palmitic acid, cholesteryl sulfate were formulated and analyzed for physical and biological properties.

The effect of acute versus delayed remote ischemic preconditioning on reperfusion induced ventricular arrhythmias.

Introduction: The effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on arrhythmias in in vivo models is unknown. Our purpose was to determine effects of both acute and delayed RIPC on arrhythmias.

Methods And Results: In the acute protocol anesthetized open chest rats were exposed to 5 minutes of proximal left coronary artery occlusion (CAO) and 10 minutes of reperfusion.

Strychnos nux-vomica seeds: Pharmacognostical standardization, extraction, and antidiabetic activity.

Background: Strychnos nux-vomica, commonly known as kuchla, contains strychnine and brucine as main constituents. Minor alkaloids present in the seeds are protostrychnine, vomicine, n-oxystrychnine, pseudostrychnine, isostrychnine, chlorogenic acid, and a glycoside. Seeds are used traditionally to treat diabetes, asthma, aphrodisiac and to improve appetite.

Genetic predisposition to oxcarbazepine induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare immunologic reaction that may involve skin or various mucosal surfaces. The etiology may range from multiple pharmacologic agents to viral infections. Associated findings can range from minimal skin and mucosal involvement to extensive dermal exfoliation, nephritis, lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, and multiple serologic abnormalities.

Sepbox technique in natural products.

Natural compounds still play an increasingly important role in many areas of research and development. Their structural diversity is enhanced by the synthetic potential of combinatorial chemistry. Fractionation and separation of samples obtained from nature remain time-consuming, tedious and extremely expensive even though the assays for testing these samples have become faster and more cost-effective thanks to advanced high-throughput screening (HTS) processes.

Correlation of haloperidol levels between saliva and plasma of acutely ill schizophrenic patients.

Objective: Clinical usefulness of monitoring haloperidol in salivary samples based on plasma:saliva correlation.

Design And Methods: Plasma and saliva samples of schizophrenic patients [N=105] were analyzed by highly sensitive reverse phase liquid chromatographic method to measure haloperidol at 240 nm using UV-PDA detector. Mobile phase consist of acetonitrile and water [50:50], pH 2.

First direct comparison of the late sodium current blocker ranolazine to established antiarrhythmic agents in an ischemia/reperfusion model.

Introduction: There are few safe antiarrhythmics for ischemic heart disease. Whereas ranolazine is a promising late INa blocker with antiarrhythmic effects, and devoid of pro-arrhythmic properties, there are no direct comparisons between ranolazine and other antiarrhythmic agents in an ischemia/reperfusion setting. HYPOTHESIS AND METHODS: To determine whether ranolazine was as effective as sotalol and lidocaine to reduce ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, anesthetized rats were subjected to 5 minutes of proximal left coronary artery occlusion plus 5 minutes of reperfusion, which causes severe ventricular arrhythmias.

Recent updates on codeine.

Alleviation of pain is a major objective in medicine to increase the quality of life. Analgesics are agents that relieve pain by elevating the pain threshold without disturbing consciousness or altering other sensory modalities. Opium is an isoquinoline alkaloid obtained from poppy plant Papaver somniferum (Papaveraceae).

Development and validation of the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-Life (AFEQT) Questionnaire in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has a deleterious impact on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), but measuring this outcome is difficult. A comprehensive, validated, disease-specific questionnaire to measure the spectrum of QoL domains affected by AF and its treatment is not available. We developed and validated a 20-item questionnaire, Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life (AFEQT), in a 6-center, prospective, observational study.

Comparison of the point-by-point versus catheter dragging technique for curative radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: The relationship between the applied techniques and clinical outcomes after radiofrequency (RF) ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. We compared the results of ablation by RF delivered via a point-by-point versus catheter dragging technique for the treatment of AF.

Methods: This study included 66 patients with drug-refractory AF who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein (PV) ablation.