Comparative inhibitory effects of niflumic acid and novel synthetic derivatives on the rat isolated stomach fundus

Detection of potential drug-drug interactions for outpatients across hospitals

The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) has adopted smart cards (or NHI-IC cards) as health cards to carry patients' medication histories across hospitals in Taiwan. The aims of this study are to enhance a computerized physician order entry system to support drug-drug interaction (DDI) checking based on a patient's medication history stored in his/her NHI-IC card. For performance evaluation, we developed a transaction tracking log to keep track of every operation on NHI-IC cards. Based on analysis of the transaction tracking log from 1 August to 31 October 2007, physicians read patients' NHI-IC cards in 71.01% (8,246) of patient visits; 33.02% (2,723) of the card reads showed at least one medicine currently being taken by the patient, 82.94% of which were prescribed during the last visit. Among 10,036 issued prescriptions, seven prescriptions (0.09%) contained at least one drug item that might interact with the currently-taken medicines stored in NHI-IC cards and triggered pop-up alerts. This study showed that the capacity of an NHI-IC card is adequate to support DDI checking across hospitals. Thus, the enhanced computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system can support better DDI checking when physicians are making prescriptions and provide safer medication care, particularly for patients who receive medication care from different hospitals.

Catalyst-Free Amination of 2-Chloronicotinic Acid in Water under Microwave Irradiation

A simple, efficient and environmental friendly method for the synthesis of 2-arylaminonicotinic acids derivatives by reacting 2-chloronicotinic acid with anilines with potassium carbonate as the base and water as the media under microwave irradiation is described. The synthesis of 2-arylaminonicotinic acids is important because they are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Role of serotoninergic system in the development of gastrointestinal diseases

Experimental gastroduodenal ulcer was simulated after pre-injection of serotonin; gastroesophageal reflux disease and duodenogastral reflux were induced. Activation of the serotoninergic system promoted the development of alteration processes in gastroduodenal ulcer.

Calcium-activated chloride channels

Calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) play important roles in cellular physiology, including epithelial secretion of electrolytes and water, sensory transduction, regulation of neuronal and cardiac excitability, and regulation of vascular tone. This review discusses the physiological roles of these channels, their mechanisms of regulation and activation, and the mechanisms of anion selectivity and conduction. Despite the fact that CaCCs are so broadly expressed in cells and play such important functions, understanding these channels has been limited by the absence of specific blockers and the fact that the molecular identities of CaCCs remains in question. Recent status of the pharmacology and molecular identification of CaCCs is evaluated.

Effects of chloride channel blockers on hypotonicity-induced contractions of the rat trachea

1. We have investigated the inhibitory effects of blockers of volume-activated (Cl(vol)) and calcium-activated (Cl(Ca)) chloride channels on hypotonic solution (HS)-induced contractions of rat trachea, comparing their effects with those of the voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) blocker nifedpine. 2. HS elicited large, stable contractions that were partially dependent on the cellular chloride gradient; a reduction to 41.45+/-7.71% of the control response was obtained when extracellular chloride was removed. In addition, HS-induced responses were reduced to 26.8+/-5.6% of the control by 1 microm nifedipine, and abolished under calcium-free conditions, indicating a substantial requirement for extracellular calcium entry, principally via VDCCs. 3. The established Cl(vol) blockers tamoxifen (</=10 microm) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (1-100 microm), at concentrations previously reported to inhibit Cl(vol) in smooth muscle, did not significantly inhibit HS-induced contractions. 4. In contrast, the recognized Cl(Ca) blocker niflumic acid (NFA; 1-100 microm) produced a reversible, concentration-dependent inhibition of HS responses, with a reduction to 36.6+/-6.4% of control contractions at the highest concentration. The mixed Cl(vol) and Cl(Ca) blocker, 5-nitro 2-(3-phenylpropylamine) benzoic acid (NPPB; 10-100 microm) also elicited concentration-related inhibition of HS-induced contractions, producing a decrease to 35.9+/-11.3% of the control at 100 microm. 5. Our results show that HS induces reversible, chloride-dependent contractions of rat isolated trachea that were inhibited by NFA and NPPB, while exhibiting little sensitivity to recognized blockers of Cl(vol). The data support the possibility that opening of calcium-activated chloride channels under hypotonic conditions in respiratory smooth muscle may ultimately lead to VDCC-mediated calcium entry and contraction.