Chemotherapy-related adverse effects with anthracycline and taxane-containing regimens in patients with localized Breast cancer: a descriptive study : Mohammed VI University Hospital, Medical Oncology Department, Marrakech, Morocco

BACKGROUND

Although the side effects of chemotherapy are frequently described in research studies, there is little evidence on how common they are in everyday clinical care. This study's goal was to assess the most prevalent short-term side effects experienced by patients with localized breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy based on anthracyclines and taxane-containing treatments, at the medical oncology department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech, Morocco.

METHODS

This was a descriptive study. We conducted a listening session at the outpatient department of the hospital with the help of a structured questionnaire. The session engaged 122 women who had undergone cycles of chemotherapy. A chi-square test was used to compare the incidence and relative risk of short side effects with both anthracycline and taxane-containing regimens.

RESULTS

The average age of participants was 49.1 years. In both regimens, the findings highlighted the frequency and relative risk of the following adverse effects: systemic symptoms (fever, asthenia and sleep disorder), gastrointestinal toxicity (Vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, mucositis and loss of appetite), dermatological toxicity (Skin reactions on hands/feet, nail toxicity, allergies, alopecia and peripheral edema), neurological toxicity (neuropathy), arthromyalgia and ocular toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to be conscious of the significance of these adverse effects. They must also know how to manage them. Likewise, the listening approach highlights its importance in the daily follow-up and monitoring of patients.

Requirement of alpha5-GABAA receptors for the development of tolerance to the sedative action of diazepam in mice

Despite its pharmacological relevance, the mechanism of the development of tolerance to the action of benzodiazepines is essentially unknown. The acute sedative action of diazepam is mediated via alpha1-GABA(A) receptors. Therefore, we tested whether chronic activation of these receptors by diazepam is sufficient to induce tolerance to its sedative action. Knock-in mice, in which thealpha1-,alpha2-,alpha3-, oralpha(5)-GABA(A) receptors had been rendered insensitive to diazepam by histidine-arginine point mutation, were chronically treated with diazepam (8 d; 15 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and tested for motor activity. Wild-type, alpha2(H101R), and alpha3(H126R) mice showed a robust diminution of the motor-depressant drug action. In contrast, alpha5(H105R) mice failed to display any sedative tolerance. alpha1(H101R) mice showed no alteration of motor activity with chronic diazepam treatment. Autoradiography with [3H]flumazenil revealed no change in benzodiazepine binding sites. However, a decrease in alpha5-subunit radioligand binding was detected selectively in the dentate gyrus with specific ligands. This alteration was observed only in diazepam-tolerant animals, indicating that the manifestation of tolerance to the sedative action of diazepam is associated with a downregulation of alpha5-GABA(A) receptors in the dentate gyrus. Thus, the chronic activation of alpha(5)-GABA(A) receptors is crucial for the normal development of sedative tolerance to diazepam, which manifests itself in conjunction with alpha1-GABA(A) receptors.

[Update of a database on plants involved in the composition of 825 drugs: Pharmaplantes-Kénitra 98]

The main objective of this work lies in the setting up of a database on plants used in medicines which is aimed at pharmacological development of plant resources in Morocco. We have, as a first step, made an inventory of different plant species involved in medicine making in Morocco. This survey dealt with 825 miscellaneous pharmaceutical products and reveals the use of 445 different plant species in medicine making. For each plant species, we have also noted the parts of the plant which are used in the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, we have taken an interest in plant extracts involved in this medicine making. The results show that in all these medicines contain 46 extracts of a vegetal nature. At the top of the list, menthol is used in the manufacture of 110 pharmaceutical products. Finally, an analysis per pharmaco-therapeutic family reveals the impact of the involvement of these plants on each of these families. In fact, it turns out that 204 plant species play a part in medicines classified in the family of gastro-entero-hepatology whereas only one plant is involved in anti-inflammatory medicines.

Effects of amphetamine and phenylethylamine on catecholamine release in the glomerular layer of the rat olfactory bulb

In the present work, we have shown electrochemically that in the rat olfactory bulb (OB), extracellular dopamine (DA) was highest in the glomerular layer (GL), whereas extracellular noradrenaline (NA) appeared to be more uniformly distributed across layers. The GL catecholamine (CA) responses to amphetamine (AMPH) and phenylethylamine (PEA) were also characterized electrochemically using an in vivo model. Results of this investigation show that at a lower dose (1 mg/kg), PEA had no effect on CA release. In contrast, at a higher dose (10 mg/kg), it produced similar increases in either extracellular DA (17.5 +/- 7%) or extracellular NA (14 +/- 3%), and DA exhibited dose-independent increases to AMPH (93 +/- 8%: 1 mg/kg vs. 97 +/- 6%: 10 mg/kg) whereas NA exhibited dose-dependent increases to AMPH (24.5 +/- 6%: 1 mg/kg vs. 39 +/- 7%: 10 mg/kg). These data indicate that (i) PEA may increase CA release but less efficiently than AMPH. (ii) AMPH is more efficient on the DAergic than on the NAergic system since AMPH-induced DA release exceeded 2-4 times the AMPH-induced NA release.

Asymmetrical increases in dopamine turn-over in the nucleus accumbens and lack of changes in locomotor responses following unilateral dopaminergic depletions in the entorhinal cortex

Functional interdependence between mesencephalic dopaminergic pathways is an emerging concept. Using in vivo voltammetry and acute manipulation of dopaminergic transmission with pharmacological agents, we have previously reported the existence of a preferentially left lateralized functional interdependence between the entorhinal cortex and the nucleus accumbens. The aim of the present work was to test if this phenomenon is only a dynamic process or if compensation occurs when interdependent functioning is considered in a more long-term perspective. In this study 6-OHDA lesions of the dopamine terminals of the entorhinal cortex were performed separately in the left and right hemispheres. Spontaneous and (+)-amphetamine stimulated locomotor activity were recorded 3 weeks after unilateral interventions in the Ent. Variations in DA and DOPAC levels were measured in the nucleus accumbens 5 weeks after the lesion. The following results were obtained. After unilateral 6-OHDA in the left Ent, DA and DOPAC tissue contents as well as the DOPAC/DA ratio were found significantly changed in nucleus accumbens in the two hemispheres. After dopaminergic destruction in the right Ent only the DOPAC/DA ratio in the left Acc was found statistically elevated. No differences in spontaneous or (+)-amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity were observed after either left or right lesions. These data confirm those previously obtained with the voltammetric approach and further support the existence of an asymmetrical functional interdependence between mesencephalic DAergic pathways reaching the Ent and the Acc. These results may provide new insights in the pathophysiology of schizophrenic psychoses.

[The role of quinine chlorhydrate in the conditioned inhibition of the tarsal reflex in Drosophila melanogaster]

The proboscis extension reflex (PER) can be elicited by applying a sucrose stimulation to the tarsus of a walking fly. This reflex decreases in frequency with repetition, presumably habituation, a nonassociative learning. If each sucrose stimulation is followed by a bitter stimulation, quinine chloride, the PER declines more rapidly, probably the result of conditioning, an associative learning. The present work shows that quinine chloride does not always inhibit PER suppressions but depends on the moment of delivery, being most effective when presented immediately after a sucrose stimulation. A bitter stimulus presented before, or simultaneously with a sucrose stimulation is less effective than habituation to sucrose alone. This experiment provides evidence for an interpretation in terms of cognitive association. The model of learning is not a Pavlovian conditioning as advanced by Medioni and Vaysse (1975), but corresponds to the punishment paradigm of Dyal and Corning (1973).