Impact of magnesium sulfate on serum magnesium concentrations and intracellular electrolyte concentrations among patients undergoing radio frequency catheter ablation.

Background: We evaluated the impact of intravenous magnesium on intracellular magnesium (iMg) and serum magnesium (sMg) in patients undergoing radio frequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Method: Patients with AF received 4g intravenous magnesium sulfate or normal saline in a randomized, double-blinded fashion. Venous blood and buccal cells were collected for evaluation of sMg and iMg at baseline, postinfusion, at the end of ablation procedure and six-hours posttherapy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Treatment of metastatic colorectal disease has evolved over the last decade. Two epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies--cetuximab and panitumumab--have been developed in an effort to provide yet another therapeutic option. The EGFR is a transmembrane glycoprotein, expressed constitutively throughout the body and found on many epithelial tissues.

A newer immunoglobulin intravenous (IGIV) - Gammagard liquid 10%: evaluation of efficacy, safety, tolerability and impact on patient care.

Background: Even though all immunoglobulin intravenous (IGIV) end products have high IgG concentrations, variations in manufacturing processes lead to unique product characteristics.

Objective: Solvent/detergent-treated IGIV (IGIV-S/D) liquid 10% (Gammagard or Kiovig liquid) is one of the newer products, and this article will discuss and compare its efficacy, safety, tolerability and effect on patient care.

Methods: The search terms 'immunoglobulin,' 'IGIV,' 'IVIG,' and 'liquid' were entered into PubMed/Medline and Google for the literature search in preparation of this manuscript.

Monotherapy versus combination therapy with class III antiarrhythmic agents to attenuate transmural dispersion of repolarization: a potential risk factor for torsade de pointes.

Class III antiarrhythmic agents are used for conversion to and maintenance of sinus rhythm from arrhythmias of atrial or ventricular origin. Monotherapy can be limited by adverse events or recurrent arrhythmias. Sotalol, dofetilide, and ibutilide may induce torsade de pointes in 2-8% of patients, whereas amiodarone induces torsade de pointes in less than 1%.

Lenalidomide in myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma.

The use of thalidomide is limited by adverse effects of sedation, constipation, neuropathy and thromboembolism. In order to discover more potent and less toxic immunomodulators than thalidomide, its chemical structure was modified and lenalidomide was formed. Lenalidomide is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality.

Effects of echinacea on electrocardiographic and blood pressure measurements.

Purpose: The effects of Echinacea purpurea on electrocardiographic and blood pressure measurements in healthy volunteers were evaluated.

Methods: Healthy volunteers were randomized to receive a single 350-mg dose of E. purpurea or placebo in a crossover fashion with a seven-day washout period between treatment phases.

Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis.

Echinacea is one of the most commonly used herbal products, but controversy exists about its benefit in the prevention and treatment of the common cold. Thus, we did a meta-analysis evaluating the effect of echinacea on the incidence and duration of the common cold. 14 unique studies were included in the meta-analysis.

The relationship between statin use and atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between statin therapy and the development of new-onset, recurrent, and postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF).

Research Design And Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted through September 2006. Included studies were either randomized, controlled trials or observational studies with adjusted analyses using multivariate regression or covariate matching, compared patients receiving or not receiving a statin, and reported data on the incidence of AF.

Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE1) splice variants from bovine cardiac muscle.

Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phopshodiesterase (PDE1) has been extensively characterized and is a key enzyme involved in the complex interaction between cyclic nucleotide and Ca(2+) second-messenger systems. It is well established that PDE1 exists in different isozymes. For example, bovine brain tissue has two PDE1 isozymes (PDE1A2 and PDE1B1) whereas only one form (PDE1A1) is reported in bovine cardiac tissue.

Impact of gender on statin efficacy.

Objective: To determine the impact of statin therapy on the combined endpoint of cardiovascular events in women and men separately.

Research Design And Methods: A systematic literature search through May 2006 was conducted to identify randomized, controlled statin trials evaluating the gender specific incidence of cardiovascular events. Weighted averages were reported as relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated via random-effects model.

Electrocardiographic and hemodynamic effects of coenzyme Q10 in healthy individuals: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an endogenous cofactor required for mitochondrial energy production and touted to treat heart failure and prevent statin-induced myopathy. In guinea pig ventricular myocytes, CoQ10 prolongs action potential duration, an effect that might prolong the QTc interval in humans. Additionally, CoQ10 reduced blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.

Purification by silica gel chromatography using dialysis tubing and characterization of sophorolipids produced from Candida bombicola grown on glucose and arachidonic acid.

The yeast Candida bombicola (ATCC 22214) grown on primary carbon source glucose (100 g l(-1)) and secondary carbon, arachidonic acid (2 g l(-1)) produced mixture of sophorolipids up to 1.44 g l(-1). The crude product was a heterogeneous mixture of sophorolipids, which are glycolipids of sophorose linked to the fatty acid through glycosidic bond between omega and omega-1 carbon of arachidonic acid.

Delivery of esomeprazole magnesium through nasogastric and gastrostomy tubes using an oral liquid vehicle as a suspending agent in vitro.

Purpose: The optimal delivery medium for esomeprazole magnesium enteric-coated pellets dispersed in various concentrations of Ora-Plus suspension through commonly used nasogastric and gastrostomy tubes using a previously used standardized in vitro protocol was studied.

Methods: The study was conducted in two phases. In phase A, 60 size 14 French nasogastric tubes were used to compare esomeprazole pellet delivery via tap water or 30, 50, or 70% Ora-Plus concentrations (15 tubes for each).

Evaluation of clinical pharmacy services in a hematology/oncology outpatient setting.

Background: The Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System in Dallas, TX, provides a unique opportunity for clinical pharmacists to work as providers. Even though clinical pharmacists are actively involved in patient care, many of their efforts remain undocumented, resulting in an underestimation of the importance of their services and missed opportunities for improvements and new directions.

Objective: To document and evaluate the services of a hematology/oncology clinical pharmacy in the outpatient setting.

Pemetrexed, a novel antifolate therapeutic alternative for cancer chemotherapy.

Pemetrexed is a newly approved antifolate agent for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We performed a PubMed/MEDLINE database search to identify relevant literature from January 1966-April 2005. Bibliographies from identified references were searched as well, as were abstracts from the 2004 and 2005 proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Pharmacy considerations for the use of IGIV therapy.

Purpose: A number of immunoglobulin intravenous (IGIV) products have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are available commercially. Factors that need to be taken into consideration when selecting an appropriate IGIV product are discussed.

Summary: Pathogen safety is of particular concern in IGIV products.

Use of i.v. immune globulin and occurrence of associated acute renal failure and thrombosis.

Purpose: The use trends of i.v. immune globulin (IGIV) and the frequency of acute renal failure (ARF) and thrombosis at one institution were studied.

Complications associated with lumbar stenosis surgery in patients older than 75 years of age.

Object: An aging population will require that surgeons increasingly consider operative intervention in elderly patients. To perform this surgery safely will require an understanding of the factors that predict successful outcomes as well as complications.

Methods: Records of patients older than the age of 75 years who underwent lumbar spinal stenosis surgery were retrospectively reviewed.

Clinical outcomes following cervical laminoplasty for 204 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Background: Laminoplasty is a well-recognized technique for decompressing the cervical spine in cases of spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. This technique, originally popularized in Asia, is becoming more widespread, but to date there have been few reports of clinical series from North American centers.

Methods: Retrospectively we reviewed (1986-2001) 204 cases of open door laminoplasty.

Immobilization of Candida bombicola cells on free-standing organic-gold nanoparticle membranes and their use as enzyme sources in biotransformations.

Preparation of chemically functionalized biocompatible surfaces is of current interest, with application in the immobilization of various bioactive species such as DNA, enzymes, whole cells, etc. We report herein the one-step synthesis of a self-supporting gold nanoparticle membrane, its surface modification, and application in the immobilization of Candida bombicola (yeast) cells. The gold nanoparticle membrane is prepared by the spontaneous reduction of aqueous chloroaurate ions by a diamine at a liquid-liquid interface.

Ability of CT to alter decision making in elderly patients with acute abdominal pain.

The study objective was to assess the ability of computerized tomography (CT) to alter clinical decision-making in the evaluation of elderly Emergency Department (ED) patients with abdominal pain. A prospective, observational cohort study of a convenience sample of ED patients, 65 years of age, with abdominal or flank pain of 1-week duration was conducted. ED attending physicians completed a structured data collection instrument recording 5 primary endpoints before and after CT.

Postnatal lactate as an early predictor of short-term outcome after intrapartum asphyxia.

Objectives: To compare the predictive value of pH, base deficit and lactate for the occurrence of moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and systemic complications of asphyxia in term infants with intrapartum asphyxia.

Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 61 full-term neonates (> or =37 weeks gestation) suspected of having suffered from a significant degree of intrapartum asphyxia from a period of January 1997 to December 2001. The clinical signs of HIE, if any, were categorized using Sarnat and Sarnat classification as mild (stage 1), moderate (stage 2) or severe (stage 3).