Swine flu

Swine flu:
Swine flu was a respiratory disease of pigs. Its mutation in March 2009 has started the outbreak of new strain of Influenza virus (H1N1) that can cause infections in humans. 64 cases have been reported in United States in which 45 are only in New York to the date 28 April, 2009. (CDC)

Diagnosis and Treatment:
rRT-PCR Swine Flu Panel diagnostic test is used for the diagnosis of this virus. Relenza and Tamiflu antiviral products have been reported for the use against this virus. (Medline Plus)

Source:
Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC)

U. S. National Library of Medicine (Medline Plus)

Lectures on some Pharmacological Topics

1. Factors affecting drug distribution

2. G-Protein Receptor

3. G-Protein Receptor (Take II)

4. Diuretic action in Kidney

5. Agonists and Antagonists

6. Acid-Base Interaction

7. Inner workings of Enzyme Cytochrome P-450 2C9

8. Aspirin (Absorption and deprotonation)

9. Signal Transduction

Source:
University of Rhode Island

Parasympathomimetic Drugs

Q: 1. Classify parasympathomimetic drugs?
Ans:

(A)Direct acting:

(1)Muscarinic agonists:

(a)Choline Esters:

Bethanechol

(b)Alkaloids:

Muscarine, Pilocarpine, Oxotremorine

(2)Nicotinic agonists:

Alkaloids:

Nicotine, Lobeline

(3)Mixed agonists:

Choline esters:

Acetylcholine, Methacholine, Carbachol

(B)Indirect acting (Anti-Cholinesterase)

(1)Reversible:

(a)Quaternary alcohols:

Edrophonium

(b)Carbamate esters:

Neostigmine, Physostigmine, Ambenonium

(2)Irreversible:

Organophosphate compounds:

Echothiofate, Parathion, Melathoin

Q: 2. Classify Parasympatholytic drugs.

Ans.

(A)Anti-Muscarinic drugs:

(1)Natural alkaloids:

Atropine, Scopolamine (Hyoscine)

(2)Synthetic

(a)Mydriatic:

Homatropine, Eucatropine, Tropicamide

(b)Anti-Parkinsonism:

Benzhexol, Benztropine

(c)Anti-asthmatics:

Ipratropium

(d)Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary:

(i)Tertiary amines:

Pirenzepine, Dicyclomine, Oxybutynin

(ii)Quaternary amines:

Propantheline, Mepenzolate

(B)Anti-Nicotinic drugs:

(1)Ganglion blockers:

(a)Depolarizers:

Nicotine

(b)Competitive:

(i)Secondary amines:

Mecamylamine

(ii)Tertiary amines:

Pempidine

(iii)Quaternary amines:

Hexamethonium, Trimethaphan

(2)Neuromuscular blockers:

(a)Depolarizers:

Succinylcholine, Decamethonium

(b)Competitive:

Tubocurarine, Atracurium, Gallamine

(C)Cholinesterase regenerators:

Pralidoxime

Q: 3. What ALLAH has said about Seafood in Holy Qur’an?Ans: ALLAH has said in Holy Qur’an:“Anything you catch in the sea is lawful for you, and all food from it, for your enjoyment and that of travelers, but land game is forbidden for you while you are in the state of pilgrimage.So have fear of Allah, Him to Whom you will be gathered. (96)
(Surah Al-Ma’ida (The Table, The Table Spread), Surah # 5: Ayah # 96)”

Q: 4. What ALLAH has said about saying "Insha ALLAH"?
Ans:ALLAH has said in Holy Qur'an:

"Never say about anything, ‘I am doing that tomorrow,’(23) without adding ‘If Allah wills.’ Remember your Lord when you forget, and say, ‘Hopefully my Lord will guide me to something closer to right guidance than this.’(24)
(Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave), Surah # 18: Ayah # 23-24)"

Name of New Drugs approved in 2008

1. Almivopan (Entereg):It is used for the fast recovery of upper and lower GIT after resection surgery of small or large bowels.

2. Bendamustine Hydrochloride (Treanda):
It is an alkylating agent active against quiescent and dividing cells.

3. C1 inhibitor, Human (Cinryze):It works for complement and intrinsic coagulation pathways and resulates the fibrinolytic system.

4. Certolizumab Pegol (Cimzia):
It is an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).

5. Ciclesonide (Alvesco):Maintenance therapy of asthma for adult patients.

6. Clevidipine (Cleviprex):A calcium channel blocker.

7. Difluprednate (Durezol):
To reduce inflammation and pain after ocular surgery.

8. Eltrombopag (Promacta):To treat increased risk of bleeding in patients of thrombocytopenia.

9. Etravirine (Intelence):It is used in combination of anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-1.

10. Fesoterodine Fumarate (Toviaz):
Treatment of overactive bladder.

11. Lacosamide (Vimpat):
For partial onset seizure in epileptic patients.

12. Methylnaltrexone Bromide (Relistor):
For treating opioid induced constipation.

13. Plerixafor (Mozobil):
For non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

14. Romiplostim (Nplate):
Increases platelet production in bone marrow.

15. Rufinamide (Banzel):
For patients of epilepsy.

16. Somatropin (Accretropin):
For pediatric patients who are showing growth failure due to inappropriate Growth Hormone secretion.

17. Tetrabenazine (Xenazine):
For the treatment of chorea from Huntington's disease.

References:
Erin Sears and Nicole Ladd, (2009), 2008 New drug approvals, Proceedings, 22 (2), 168-174

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Lots of Downloadable and Online books for free

Vaccine designed to lower blood pressure

CYT006-AngQb is a vaccine against angiotensin II. The 300 microgram dose of this vaccine has the ability of reducing the blood pressure in pateints of mild to moderate blood pressure. Moreover, it did not cause any serious side effects. (Tissot, A. C., et al.)

References:
Tissot, A. C., et al. (2008). Effect of immunisation against angiotensin II with CYT006-AngQb on ambulatory blood pressure: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase IIa study. The Lancet, 371 (9615), 821-827

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