Oral sustained delivery of theophylline using in-situ gelation of sodium alginate.

Gels formed in situ following oral administration of aqueous solutions of sodium alginate (1.0-2.0%w/v) to rats were evaluated as sustained release vehicles for the delivery of theophylline.

[Pharmacological role of isatin, an endogenous MAO inhibitor].

Isatin (indole-2,3-dione) has been found in mammalian tissues as one of major components of tribulin, a postulated endogenous marker of stress and anxiety. I previously identified isatin as an endogenous inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the human urine and the brain of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) using GC-MS. A single dose of isatin significantly increased norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentrations measured 2 h later in the various brain regions of normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY).

Differential effects of talipexole and bromocriptine on serotonin release from rat intestinal tissues--an in vitro study of the emetic response of antiparkinsonian dopamine agonists.

In order to elucidate the role of emetic action, the effects of talipexole and bromocriptine, two antiparkinsonian dopamine receptor agonists, on serotonin (5-HT) release from enterochromaffin (EC) cells were studied by measuring 5-HT concentrations in the perfusate of the isolated rat ileum. Bromocriptine (10(-8)-10(-6) M), which exerts agonistic effects on D1 and D2 receptors, increased 5-HT release in a concentration-dependent manner. No significant increase in 5-HT release was seen after addition of talipexole, which selectively stimulates D2 receptors and blocks 5-HT3 receptors, even at 10(-6) M.

In situ-gelling gellan formulations as vehicles for oral drug delivery.

Gels formed in situ following oral administration of 1% (w/v) aqueous solutions of gellan to rats and rabbits were evaluated as sustained-release vehicles. The formulation contained calcium ions in complexed form, the release of which in the acidic environment of the stomach caused gelation of the gellan gum. The in vitro release of theophylline from the rigid gellan gels followed root-time kinetics over a period of 6 h.

Thermally reversible xyloglucan gels as vehicles for oral drug delivery.

The potential, as sustained release vehicles, of gels formed in situ following the oral administration of dilute aqueous solutions of a xyloglucan polysaccharide derived from tamarind seed has been assessed by in vitro and in vivo studies. Aqueous solutions of xyloglucan that had been partially degraded by beta-galactosidase to eliminate 44% of galactose residues formed rigid gels at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.

Application of Schiff base copper(II) and iron(III) chelates to site-specific cleavage of a trypsin.

Amidine-containing Schiff base iron(III) and copper(II) chelates were prepared from alpha-amino acid, metal ion, and salicylaldehyde. These chelates behaved as specific inhibitors of trypsin, with Ki values in the range 10(-5)-10(-6) M. Selective cleavage of the trypsin backbone resulting from specific binding of the chelate to the trypsin active site was investigated.

Beta2-glycoprotein I is necessary to inhibit protein C activity by monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies.

Objective: To clarify mechanisms of the thrombosis associated with anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), we examined the effects on activated protein C (APC) of monoclonal aCL and beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), which is required for formation of the epitopes of aCL.

Methods: We developed the chromogenic assay, in which the degradation of coagulation factor Va by APC is reflected in the reduced generation of thrombin from prothrombin, using soybean trypsin inhibitor to inhibit APC. APC activities were measured in the presence and absence of 3.

Thermally reversible xyloglucan gels as vehicles for rectal drug delivery.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential application of thermoreversible gels formed by a xyloglucan polysaccharide derived from tamarind seed for rectal drug delivery. Xyloglucan that had been partially degraded by beta-galactosidase to eliminate 44% of galactose residues formed gels at concentrations of between 1 to 2% w/w at gelation temperatures decreasing over the range 27 to 22 degreesC with increasing concentration. The in vitro release of indomethacin and diltiazem from the enzyme-degraded xyloglucan gels followed root-time kinetics over a period of 5 h at 37 degreesC; the diffusion coefficients increasing with temperature increase between 10 and 37 degreesC.

[Gamma-heavy chain disease associated with MALT lymphoma of the duodenum].

We report a case of a 63-year-old woman with gamma heavy chain disease (HCD) associated with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the duodenum. She was suffering from drug-resistant tonsillitis with high fever. Examination on admission showed leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia.

The influence of beta2-glycoprotein I on tissue factor activity.

The beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) is known for its procoagulant as well as anticoagulant properties. The influence of beta2-GPI on tissue factor (TF) activity was investigated by chromogenic assays for both factor Xa generation and factor VIIa activity. When 1.

Effect of pulsed output ultrasound on the transdermal absorption of indomethacin from an ointment in rats.

The effect of pulsed output ultrasound (1 MHz) with on/off ratios of 1:2, 1:4 and 1:9 on transdermal absorption of indomethacin from an ointment was studied in rats. Ultrasound energy was supplied for between 10 and 19 min at a range of intensities (1.0-2.

Effects of talipexole on emesis-related changes in abdominal afferent vagal activity and ileal serotonin metabolism in rats.

The involvement of abdominal afferent vagal activity and serotonergic mechanisms were examined following intravenous administration of talipexole, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist used for treatment of Parkinson's disease, in anesthetized rats. Intravenous administration of dopamine receptor agonists including D1/D2 components increased the spontaneous firing of afferent vagal neurons as did 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine. Both talipexole (0.

[The transition of psychotropic drugs in Japanese pharmacopoeia (JP) (Part 10). The study for transition of cultivation of valerianae radix].

Valerianae Radix (V.R.) had a large advantage throughout domestic and foreign markets before the Second World War.

[The transition of psychotropic drugs in Japanese pharmacopoeia (JP) (Part 9). The transition of valerianae radix drugs in the books].

Valerianae Radix (V.R.) has been written about in every kind of books concerning the vegetable drugs and medicinal plants, published between the Meiji period and the Heisei period.

Thermally gelling poloxamine Synperonic T908 solution as a vehicle for rectal drug delivery.

Thermally reversible gels of the block copolymer, Synperonic T908, have been evaluated as vehicles for the rectal administration of indomethacin. Prolonged plasma levels of indomethacin following rectal administration in such gels was observed with the 40% w/w Synperonic T908 gels when compared with commercial suppositories. The release rate decreased with an increase in gel concentration over the range 30% to 40% w/w.

Percutaneous absorption of indomethacin from pluronic F127 gels in rats.

Thermally reversible gels of the poly(oxyethylene)-poly (oxypropylene)-(polyoxyethylene) triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127, were evaluated as vehicles for the percutaneous administration of drugs using indomethacin as a model drug. In-vivo percutaneous absorption studies using a rat model suggest that a 20% w/w aqueous gel of Pluronic F127 may be of practical use as a base for topical administration of the drug. The addition of isopropyl myristate or (+)-limonene to the gel formulation significantly improved percutaneous absorption, particularly when the gel was applied using an occlusive dressing technique.

Antimetastatic effects of PSK (Krestin), a protein-bound polysaccharide obtained from basidiomycetes: an overview.

PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide obtained from cultured mycelia of Coriolus versicolor in basidiomycetes, is a biological response modifier, diverse operations of which include an antitumor action. We have previously reviewed recent research which had demonstrated that in animals, PSK has a preventive effect on chemical carcinogen-induced, radiation-induced, and spontaneously developed carcinogenesis (Kobayashi et al., Cancer Epidemiol.

Chitosan and sodium alginate based bioadhesive tablets for intraoral drug delivery.

Bioadhesive tablets for intraoral drug delivery were prepared by directly compressing the drug with a mixture of chitosan and sodium alginate in weight ratios of 4:1, 1:1 and 1:4, and the adhesion and release characteristics of the prepared systems were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Ketoprofen was used as a model drug. The magnitudes of the adhesion force of chitosan/alginate tablets were observed to be comparable to that of Aftach, which is a typical commercial preparation of an oral mucosal adhesive tablet.