Kumpulan Jurnal-jurnal Farmasi

UJI MUTAGENISITAS DAN ANTI KANKER EKSTRAK ASETON DAN N-HEKSANA DARI KULIT BATANG SESOOT (Garcinia picrorrhiza Miq.)

2008-06-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

ISSN : 1693-9883

Majalah Ilmu Kefarmasian, Vol. I, No.2, Agustus 2004, 69 - 78

Maksum Radji, Atiek Sumiati dan Nuning Indani

Departemen Farmasi, FMIPA Universitas Indonesia

ABSTRAK

Mutagenicity and anti-mutagenicity of the acetone and n-hexane extracts of Garcinia picrorrhiza Miq.bark have been studied by Ames method using Salmonella typhimurium TA 97, TA 98 TA 100, TA 102, dan Escherichia coli WP2. The results showed that the two extracts had a positive effect. It can be concluded that the acetone and n-hexane extracts of Garcinia picrorrhiza Miq. bark have anticancer activity.

Keyward: mutagenicity, Ames test, anticancer, Garcinia picrorrhiza Miq.

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DAYA ANTIBAKTERI CAMPURAN EKSTRAK ETANOL BUAH ADAS (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) DAN KULIT BATANG PULASARI (Alyxia reinwardtii BL)

2008-06-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Yustina Sri Hartini*, C.J., Soegihardjo**, Ayu Intan Chrisna Putri*, Maria Imaculata Astuti Setyorini*, Donny Kurniawan*

*Fakultas Farmasi Universitas Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta

**Fakultas Farmasi Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta

Intisari

Masyarakat telah mengunakan buah adas dan kulit batang pulasari secara tradisional sebagai obat, baik secara terpisah maupun sebagai campuran yang sering disebut ‘adaspulowaras’. Pencampuran bahan obat dapat kemungkinan dapat menyebabkan peruabahan pada aktivitas farmakologisnya. Oleh karena itu dirasa perlu dilakukan penelitian tentang daya antibakteri buah adas dan kulit batang pulasari secara terpisah maupun campurannya. Ekstraksi dilakukan dengan metode maserasi menggunakan etanol. Uji daya antibakteri dengan metode difusi dan dilusi, sebagai mikroba uji digunakan Escherichia coli dan Staphylococcus aureus. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa baik ekstrak etanol buah adas, kulit batang pulasari maupun campuran buah adas dan kulit batang pulasari (4 : 3 ) menunjukan daya antibakteri yang lebih besar terhadap Staphylococcus aureus dibandingkan terhadap Escherichia coli. Daya antibakteri campuran ekstrak etanol buah adas dan kulit batang pulasari (4 : 3) lebih rendah dibandingkan ekstrak etanol buah adas maupun ekstrak etanol kulit batang pulasari.

Kata kunci : Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Alyxia reinwardtii BL, campuran, daya anti bakteri

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Efek Ekstrak Daun Jambu Biji Daging Buah Putih dan Jambu Biji Daging Buah Merah Sebagai Antidiare

2008-06-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

I Ketut Adnyana*, Elin Yulinah, Joseph I. Sigit, Neng Fisheri K., Muhamad Insanu
Unit Bidang Ilmu Farmakologi-Toksikologi, Departemen Farmasi, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha 10 Bandung 40132
(Diterima 10 Maret 2004, disetujui 28 April 2004)

Abstrak
Telah duji aktivitas antibakteri (penyebab diare) ekstrak etanol daun jambu biji daging buah putih dan jambu biji daging buah merah (Psidium guajava L., Myrtaceae) terhadap bakteri Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, dan Salmonella typhi dan uji antidiare dengan metode proteksi terhadap diare imbasan-minyak jarak dan metode transit intestinal pada mencit. Ekstrak etanol daun jambu biji daging buah putih memiliki kemampuan hambat bakteri yang lebih besar daripada jambu biji daging buah merah (KHM terhadap Escherichia coli (60 mg/ml vs >100 mg/ml), Shigella dysenteriae (30 mg/ml vs 70 mg/ml), Shigella flexneri (40 mg/ml vs 60 mg/ml), dan Salmonella typhi (40 mg/ml vs 60 mg/ml). Tidak terdapat perbedaan bermakna pada konsistensi feses, berat total feses, waktu munculnya diare, lamanya diare, dan kecepatan transit usus untuk kedua ekstrak uji dibandingkan dengan kelompok kontrol. Frekuensi defekasi mencit yang diberi ekstrak etanol daun jambu biji daging buah putih 150 mg/kg bb pada menit ke180-240 menunjukkan perbedaan bermakna dibanding kelompok kontrol (p<0,05).

Kata kunci : aktivitas antibakteri, metode transit intestinal, ekstrak etanol jambu biji daging buah merah, ekstrak etanol jambu biji daging buah putih

Abstract
Antibacterial activity of ethanol extracts of white guava and red guava (Psidium guajava L., Myrtaceae) leaves against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella typhi and antidiarrheal activity against minyak jarak-induced diarrhe and intestinal transit time method in Swiss webster mice had been tested. The ethanol extracts of white guava leaves showed stronger antibacterial activity than that of ethanol extracts of red guava leaves against Escherichia coli (MIC of 60 mg/ml vs >100 mg/ml), Shigella dysenteriae (MIC of 30 mg/ml vs 70 mg/ml), Shigella flexneri (MIC of 40 mg/ml vs 60 mg/ml), and Salmonella typhi (MIC of 40 mg/ml vs 60 mg/ml). There was no significant differences in increased stool consistency, stool weight, onset and diarrhea duration, and intestinal transit time in mice treated by both extracts compared to those of control group. Frequency of defecacy of mice administered by ethanol extracts of white guava at a dose of 150 mg/kg bw at minute 180-240 showed significantly different compared to that of control group (p<0,05).

Key words : antibacterial activity, intestinal transit time method, ethanol extracts of red and white guava leaves

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Efek Ekstrak Daun Jambu Biji Daging Buah Putih dan Jambu Biji Daging Buah Merah Sebagai Antidiare

2008-06-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

I Ketut Adnyana*, Elin Yulinah, Joseph I. Sigit, Neng Fisheri K., Muhamad Insanu

Unit Bidang Ilmu Farmakologi-Toksikologi, Departemen Farmasi, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha 10 Bandung 40132

Abstrak

Telah duji aktivitas antibakteri (penyebab diare) ekstrak etanol daun jambu biji daging buah putih dan jambu biji daging buah merah (Psidium guajava L., Myrtaceae) terhadap bakteri Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, dan Salmonella typhi dan uji antidiare dengan metode proteksi terhadap diare imbasan-minyak jarak dan metode transit intestinal pada mencit. Ekstrak etanol daun jambu biji daging buah putih memiliki kemampuan hambat bakteri yang lebih besar daripada jambu biji daging buah merah (KHM terhadap Escherichia coli (60 mg/ml vs >100 mg/ml), Shigella dysenteriae (30 mg/ml vs 70 mg/ml), Shigella flexneri (40 mg/ml vs 60 mg/ml), dan Salmonella typhi (40 mg/ml vs 60 mg/ml). Tidak terdapat perbedaan bermakna pada konsistensi feses, berat total feses, waktu munculnya diare, lamanya diare, dan kecepatan transit usus untuk kedua ekstrak uji dibandingkan dengan kelompok kontrol. Frekuensi defekasi mencit yang diberi ekstrak etanol daun jambu biji daging buah putih 150 mg/kg bb pada menit ke180-240 menunjukkan perbedaan bermakna dibanding kelompok kontrol (p<0,05).

Kata kunci : aktivitas antibakteri, metode transit intestinal, ekstrak etanol jambu biji daging buah merah, ekstrak etanol jambu biji daging buah putih

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PENGKAJIAN KAPANG ENDOFIT DARI TAMAN NASIONAL GUNUNG

2008-05-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

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American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Volume 72, Issue 2, 2008

2008-05-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

Volume 72, Issue 02

Viewpoints
43	Response Rates and Responsiveness for Surveys, Standards, and the Journal Jack E. Fincham, PhD
44	Diversifying the Team Marie A. Chisholm-Burns, PharmD, MPH
Statements
41	The Role of the Mentor in Retaining Junior Pharmacy Faculty Members Kathy Fuller, PharmD, Maria Maniscalco-Feichtl, PharmD, and Marcus Droege, PhD
42	Preparing for a Renaissance in Pharmacy Education: The Need, Opportunity, and Capacity for Change Robert A Blouin, PharmD, Pamela U. Joyner, EdD, and Gary M. Pollack, PhD
Special Articles
32	A Pharmacy Faculty Academy to Foster Professional Growth and Long-term Retention of Junior Faculty Members Charles T. Taylor, PharmD, and Tricia M. Berry, PharmD
33	The NAPLEX: Evolution, Purpose, Scope, and Educational Implications David W. Newton, PhD, Maria Boyle, MS, and Carmen A. Catizone, MS, DPh
34	Factors Influencing the Pharmacy Faculty Workforce Robert Beardsley, PhD, Gary R. Matzke, PharmD, Raylene Rospond, PharmD, et al
Research Articles
22	Influences on Pharmacy Students’ Decision to Pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Douglas C. Anderson, Jr, PharmD, DPh, Melody C. Sheffield, PharmD, Angela Massey Hill, PharmD,and Henry H. Cobb, PhD
23	A Summer Research Training Program to Foster PharmD Students’ Interest in Research Julie A. Johnson, PharmD, Mariellen J. Moore, PharmD, Jaekyu Shin, PharmD, and Reginald F. Frye, PharmD, PhD
24	Comparison of Attitudes, Beliefs, and Resource-seeking Behavior for CAM Among First- and Third-Year Czech Pharmacy Students Jitka Pokladnikova, MSc Pharm, and Desiree Lie, MD, MSED
25	Women’s Health Promotion Within a Community Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Jennifer Cerulli, PharmD, and Margaret Malone, PhD
26	Impact of a Dual PharmD/MBA Degree on Graduates’ Academic Performance, Career Opportunities, and Earning Potential Elinor C.G. Chumney, PhD, MSc, Kelly R. Ragucci, PharmD, and Kathy J. Jones, MA
Innovations In Teaching
31	Evaluation of an Instructional Model to Teach Clinically Relevant Medicinal Chemistry in a Campus and a Distance Pathway Naser Z. Alsharif, PharmD, PhD, and Kimberly A. Galt, PharmD
35	A Systems Approach to Scaffold Communication Skills Development Lourdes G. Planas, PhD, and Nelson L. Er, MS, MEd
36	Multi-faceted Approach to Improve Learning in Pharmacokinetics Adam M. Persky, PhD
37	Human Patient Simulation in a Pharmacotherapy Course Amy L. Seybert, PharmD, Lawrence R. Kobulinsky, and Teresa P. McKaveney
38	Use of an Audience Response System (ARS) in a Dual-Campus Classroom Environment Melissa S Medina, EdD, Patrick J Medina, PharmD, Donald S Wanzer, Jane E Wilson, PhD,Nelson Er, MEd, and Mark L Britton, PharmD
39	Using WebCt to Implement a Basic Science Competency Education Course Paul R. Lockman, PhD, Julie A. Gaasch, PhD, Karin Borges, PhD, Alan Ehlo, MS, and Quentin R. Smith PhD
40	Impact of Patient Empathy Modeling on Pharmacy Students Caring for the Underserved Judy T. Chen, PharmD, Joseph LaLopa, PhD, and Devra K. Dang, PharmD
Instructional Design and Assessment
27	Parenterals Laboratory Course to Reduce Microbial Contamination Rates in Media Fill Tests Performed by Pharmacy Students Christine M. Isanhart, PharmD, Kenneth L. McCall, PharmD, Diane Kretschmer, PharmD, and Barbie A. Grimes, PharmD
28	Expanding Voluntary Active-learning Opportunities for Pharmacy Students in a Respiratory Physiology Module Hardy Ernst, PhD, and Kay Colthorpe, PhD
29	Use of Case-Based Learning in a Clinical Pharmacokinetics Course Robert E. Dupuis, PharmD, and Adam M. Persky, PhD
30	A Seminar Course on Contemporary Pharmacy Issues Therese I. Poirier, PharmD, MPH
ACPE Report
45	Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education: Annual Report Peter H. Vlasses, PharmD, Jeffrey W. Wadelin, PhD, and Dimitra V. Travlos, PharmD
Book Reviews
46	Book Reviews, Vol 72, Iss 2 Donna S. West, PhD, Larry Sasich, Beatriz Manzor Mitrzyk, PharmD

A new issue of Clinical and Vaccine Immunology has been made available:

2008-05-12T09:28:00.001-07:00

1 May 2008; Vol. 15, No. 5

URL: http://cvi.asm.org/content/vol15/issue5/?etoc

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Immune Mechanisms
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A Neutralizing Antibody to the A Chain of Abrin Inhibits Abrin Toxicity
both In Vitro and In Vivo
Kalpana Surendranath and Anjali A. Karande
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 737-743
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/737?etoc

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Clinical Laboratory Immunology
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Measuring Immunoglobulin G Antibodies to Tetanus Toxin, Diphtheria Toxin,
and Pertussis Toxin with Single-Antigen Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays
and a Bead-Based Multiplex Assay
Sabine Reder, Marion Riffelmann, Christian Becker, and Carl Heinz Wirsing
von Konig
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 744-749
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/744?etoc

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays Using Novel Japanese Encephalitis Virus
Antigen Improve the Accuracy of Clinical Diagnosis of Flavivirus Infections
Shyan-Song Chiou, Wayne D. Crill, Li-Kuang Chen, and Gwong-Jen J. Chang
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 825-835
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/825?etoc

Use of Baculovirus-Expressed Glycoprotein H in an Enzyme-Linked
Immunosorbent Assay Developed To Assess Exposure to Chelonid
Fibropapillomatosis-Associated Herpesvirus and Its Relationship to the
Prevalence of Fibropapillomatosis in Sea Turtles
Lawrence H. Herbst, Shefali Lemaire, Ada R. Ene, David J. Heslin, Llewellyn
M. Ehrhart, Dean A. Bagley, Paul A. Klein, and Jack Lenz
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 843-851
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/843?etoc

Improved Performance of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays and the Effect
of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection on the Serologic Detection of
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Rakai, Uganda
Jordyn L. Gamiel, Aaron A. R. Tobian, Oliver B. Laeyendecker, Steven J.
Reynolds, Rhoda Ashley Morrow, David Serwadda, Ronald H. Gray, and Thomas
C. Quinn
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 888-890
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/888?etoc

Prevention of Assay Interference in Infectious-Disease Serology Tests Done
on the Liaison Platform
Mario Berth and Eugene Bosmans
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 891-892
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/891?etoc

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Vaccine Research
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Immune Response Induced by Three Mycobacterium bovis BCG Substrains with
Diverse Regions of Deletion in a C57BL/6 Mouse Model
S. M. Irwin, A. Goodyear, A. Keyser, R. Christensen, J. M. Troudt, J. L.
Taylor, A. Bohsali, V. Briken, and A. A. Izzo
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 750-756
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/750?etoc

Monitoring of Vaccine-Specific Gamma Interferon Induction in Genital Mucosa
of Mice by Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR
Veronique Revaz, Anne Debonneville, Martine Bobst, and Denise
Nardelli-Haefliger
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 757-764
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/757?etoc

Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of a Monovalent Heat Shock Protein 70-Herpes
Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Peptide-Based Vaccine Designed To Prime or
Boost CD8 T-Cell Responses in HSV-Naive and HSV-2-Infected Subjects
David M. Koelle, Amalia Magaret, Christopher L. McClurkan, Michael L.
Remington, Terri Warren, Florentina Teofilovici, and Anna Wald
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 773-782
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/773?etoc

Vaccine-Induced Opsonophagocytic Immunity to Neisseria meningitidis Group B
J. S. Plested and D. M. Granoff
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 799-804
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/799?etoc

Single-Dose, Therapeutic Vaccination of Mice with Vesicular Stomatitis
Virus Expressing Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Protein
John B. Liao, Jean Publicover, John K. Rose, and Daniel DiMaio
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 817-824
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/817?etoc

Kinesin Motor Domain of Leishmania donovani as a Future Vaccine Candidate
Ayan Dey, Pawan Sharma, Naresh Singh Redhu, and Sarman Singh
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 836-842
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/836?etoc

Comparison of Serum Humoral Responses Induced by Oral Immunization with the
Hepatitis B Virus Core Antigen and the Cholera Toxin B Subunit
Katleen Broos, Michiel E. Janssens, Ine De Goeyse, Peter Vanlandschoot,
Geert Leroux-Roels, Dirk Geysen, and Yves Guisez
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 852-858
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/852?etoc

Major Outer Membrane Proteins from Many Campylobacter Species Cross-React
with Cholera Toxin
M. John Albert, Shilpa Haridas, and Ben Adler
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 859-862
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/859?etoc

Mice with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treated with Mycobacterium vaccae Develop
Strikingly Enhanced Recall Gamma Interferon Responses to M. vaccae Cell
Wall Skeleton
Elisabeth Rodriguez-Guell, Gemma Agusti, Merce Corominas, Pere-Joan
Cardona, Marina Luquin, and Esther Julian
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 893-896
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/893?etoc

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Veterinary Immunology
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Enhanced Protection against Bovine Tuberculosis after Coadministration of
Mycobacterium bovis BCG with a Mycobacterial Protein Vaccine-Adjuvant
Combination but Not after Coadministration of Adjuvant Alone
D. Neil Wedlock, Michel Denis, Gavin F. Painter, Gary D. Ainge, H. Martin
Vordermeier, R. Glyn Hewinson, and Bryce M. Buddle
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 765-772
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/765?etoc

Live Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and a Killed-Bacterium
Vaccine Induce Distinct Subcutaneous Granulomas, with Unique Cellular and
Cytokine Profiles
Liying Lei, Brandon L. Plattner, and Jesse M. Hostetter
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 783-793
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/783?etoc

Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Expressing
the Carboxy-Terminal Domain of Alpha Toxin from Clostridium perfringens
Induces Protective Responses against Necrotic Enteritis in Chickens
Bereket Zekarias, Hua Mo, and Roy Curtiss, III
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 805-816
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/805?etoc

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Microbial Immunology
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Distribution of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV in Patients with Chronic
Tonsillitis
Milan Stankovic, Predrag Vlahovic, Verica Avramovic, and Miroljub Todorovic
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 794-798
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/794?etoc

Specificity of Subcapsular Antibody Responses in Ethiopian Patients
following Disease Caused by Serogroup A Meningococci
Gunnstein Norheim, Abraham Aseffa, Mohammed Ahmed Yassin, Getahun Mengistu,
Afework Kassu, Dereje Fikremariam, Wegene Tamire, Yared Merid, E. Arne
Hoiby, Dominique A. Caugant, Elisabeth Fritzsonn, Torill Tangen, Berhanu
Melak, Degu Berhanu, Morten Harboe, Jan Kolberg, and Einar Rosenqvist
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 863-871
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/863?etoc

Infection of Macrophages and Dendritic Cells with Primary R5-Tropic Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Inhibited by Natural Polyreactive Anti-CCR5
Antibodies Purified from Cervicovaginal Secretions
Jobin Eslahpazir, Mohammad-Ali Jenabian, Hicham Bouhlal, Hakim Hocini,
Cedric Carbonneil, Gerard Gresenguet, Francois-Xavier Mbopi Keou, Jerome
LeGoff, Hela Saidi, Mary Requena, Nadine Nasreddine, Jean de Dieu Longo,
Srinivas V. Kaveri, and Laurent Belec
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 872-884
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/872?etoc

Sex-Dependent Differences in Plasma Cytokine Responses to Hantavirus
Infection
Jonas Klingstrom, Therese Lindgren, and Clas Ahlm
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 885-887
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/885?etoc

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Case Report
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Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis Due to Detection of ESAT-6-Specific
Gamma Interferon Production in Cerebrospinal Fluid Enzyme-Linked Immunospot
Assay
Shuji Murakami, Mitsuhiro Takeno, Hideaki Oka, Atsuhisa Ueda, Takashi
Kurokawa, Yoshiyuki Kuroiwa, and Yoshiaki Ishigatsubo
Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15 897-899
http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/897?etoc

Sejarah Penggunaan Tanaman Obat-Obatan

2008-04-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

Penggunaan tanamana sebagai obat-obatan telah sejak berlangsung ribuan tahun yang lalu. Para ahli kesehatan bangsa Mesir kuno pada 2500 tahun sebelum masehi telah menggunakan tanaman obat-obatan. Sejumlah besar resep penggunaan produk tanaman untuk pengobatan berbagai penyakit, gejala-gejala penyakit dan diagnosanya tercantum dalam Papyrus Ehers.

Bangsa Yunani kuno juga banyak menyimpan catatan mengenai penggunaan tanaman obat yaitu Hyppocrates (466 tahun sebelum masehi), Theophrastus (372 tahun sebelum masehi) dan Pedanios Dioscorides (100 tahun sebelum masehi) membuat himpunan keterangan terinci mengenai ribuan tanaman obat dalam De Materia Medica.

Di Indonesia, pemanfaatan tanaman sebagai obat-obatan juga telah berlangsung ribuan tahun yang lalu. Tetapi penggunaan belum terdokumentasi dengan baik. Pada pertengahan abad ke XVII seorang botanikus bernama Jacobus Rontius (1592 – 1631) mengumumkan khasiat tumbuh-tumbuhan dalam bukunya De Indiae Untriusquere Naturali et Medica. Meskipun hanya 60 jenis tumbuh-tumbuhan yang diteliti, tetapi buku ini merupakan dasar dari penelitian tumbuh-tumbuhan obat oleh N.A. van Rheede tot Draakestein (1637 – 1691) dalam bukunya Hortus Indicus Malabaricus. Pada tahun 1888 di Bogor didirikan Chemis Pharmacologisch Laboratorium sebagai bagian dari Kebun Raya Bogor dengan tujuan menyelidiki bahan-bahan atau zat-zat yang terdapat dalam tumbuh-tumbuhan yang dapat digunakan untuk obat-obatan. Selanjutnya penelitian dan publikasi mengenai khasiat tanaman obat-obatan semakin berkembang.

Sumber : e-course.usu.ac.id

The Effect of Acute and Chronic Epinephrine Administration to Reticulocyte of Rat

2008-04-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Efek Pemberian Epinefrin Akut dan Kronis terhadap Jumlah Retikulosit pada Tikus Putih

Agustina Rahayu Magdaleni*

ABSTRACT
The effect of acute and chronic epinephrine administration on reticulocyte, remains controversial. The objective of this study was to monitor and evaluation of reticulocyte after injected of efinephrine. Physiological approach is needed to investigate epinephrine’s effect on erythrocyte quality. The analysis unit was blood taken directly from heart, and subjected to reticulocyte examination (cell/103 RBC). Treatment groups received epinephrine subcutaneous injection, and control groups received 0.9% NaCl subcutaneous injection. Data were taken 30 minutes after one injection (treatment 1), and after 7 days with 6 injections/day data were taken 30 minutes after one injection (treatment 2). Epinephrine dose was 0.05 mg/200 gr BW rats in each injection, and injection volume was 0.5 ml. The results of t-test between the delta of pretest and posttest group acute didn’t show difference (p 0.73) but chronic from which data were taken
directly shown difference (p 0.03). The results of t-test between the delta of posttest treatment-control groups acute and chronic were taken directly shown difference (p 0.22). In conclusion: acute epinephrin administration mayn’t increasing reticulocyte, while chronic epinephrine administration may decreasing reticulocyte.

Key words: epinephrine, reticulocyte, acute, chronic

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Predicting cancer involvement of genes from heterogeneous data

2008-04-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

Ramon Aragues , Chris Sander and Baldo Oliva
BMC Bioinformatics 2008, 9:172doi:10.1186/1471-2105-9-172
Published:
27 March 2008

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Systematic approaches for identifying proteins involved in different types of cancer are needed. Experimental techniques such as microarrays are being used to characterize cancer, but validating their results can be a laborious task. Computational approaches are used to prioritize between genes putatively involved in cancer, usually based on further analyzing experimental data.

Results

We implemented a systematic method using the PIANA software that predicts cancer involvement of genes by integrating heterogeneous datasets. Specifically, we produced lists of genes likely to be involved in cancer by relying on: (i) protein-protein interactions; (ii) differential expression data; and (iii) structural and functional properties of cancer genes. The integrative approach that combines multiple sources of data obtained positive predictive values ranging from 23% (on a list of 811 genes) to 73% (on a list of 22 genes), outperforming the use of any of the data sources alone. We analyze a list of 20 cancer gene predictions, finding that most of them have been recently linked to cancer in literature.

Conclusion

Our approach to identifying and prioritizing candidate cancer genes can be used to produce lists of genes likely to be involved in cancer. Our results suggest that differential expression studies yielding high numbers of candidate cancer genes can be filtered using protein interaction networks. We provide the complete list of human genes with the corresponding cancer gene prediction scores according to each type of data at

http://sbi.imim.es/piana/scored_genes.tab.txt.

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Sex Education Acceptable In Islam

2008-03-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

"There is no shame in knowing one's religion. Ask everything that you do not understand."

Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Sanusi Gumbi of Kaduna, Nigeria, is interviewed by Ilyasu Ibn Muhammad.

Q: At what age should a child be taught sex education?

Gumbi : As we all know, there is nothing which Islam has not taught its followers. Sex education in Islam is taught theoretically and not practically. If a child is being taught sex education it is not permissible for his teacher to come into body contact with him during the period of study. As long as a person has reached the age of puberty, it is not permissible for him/her to see the thigh of another person. However, sex education can be taught properly. When we look at the book of Buhari, a hadith from the Prophet (PBUH) shows where he (the Prophet) was teaching his companions how to perform purification bath, he said, "if he sits in between her (thighs) and exhausts her, then a purification bath becomes compulsory." Here, he only made a statement which explains how intercourse may take place, but he did not say come and sit here let me demonstrate how it is done. Therefore when teaching, there is no harm in explaining how it is done. There is even no harm in drawing on the board, but not when the teacher and his students come in contact. We have books in Islam, which explain the purification bath, what spoils ablution; some of these things explains how the sperm or semen is emitted.

Q: Still, at what age should a child know about sexual intercourse?

Gumbi: In modern times, a child of primary school, say age seven, should start knowing these things, before he/she becomes fully mature.

Q: Is it proper for children to start knowing about sexual oriented vices like homosexuality at such age?

Gumbi: Yes, it is in Islamic books of jurisprudence and history. It has shown that homosexuality and their likes exist. Children should be taught about this, likewise the punishment for it. If you go to our settlements in Northern Nigeria, remote areas where we grew up, you will find young children learning about these things. They learn about them and their punishments, so that by the time they grow up and mature, they will know how to deal with such cases. They should know that it is forbidden.

Q: What is the Islamic perspective on masturbation. Is it proper for young children to learn it?

Gumbi: Whatever it is that Allah has ordered mankind to adhere to and forbid them from, there is no harm in young children knowing about them. They should know them thoroughly and then learn their virtues and vices. All that matters is that they should not see them being done practically, so that they will not attempt doing it.

Q: What is the Islamic view on contraception and what effect does it have on children knowing about them?

Gumbi: Teaching children about contraceptives such as condom, is like encouraging them to go and have sex, because in the Hausa culture, what makes one to migrate to another area is the issue of pregnating a woman out of wedlock. With the introduction of condoms, these people of shameful character have found an avenue to do so as they wish. Therefore it has become necessary for children to know that these things have negative effects, even if they have advantages. They should know that it should be used when lawfully married.

Q: Is it permissible for young children to know the intensity of sexual arousement, like where to touch, how a partner should react, and other heated sensations, which cannot be mentioned here?

Gumbi: If it is all in explanation, there is no fault. In Abu Hanifah's school of thought, he said, there is no harm for a person seeking marriage to smell the lady he intends marrying and vice versa and there is also no harm for them looking at each other properly, because they are expected to be life partners. there is no harm in children knowing all these things. All that matters is that there should be no practicals. As a young man growing up, there was a time my Mallam [teacher] was teaching me, you know how raw Sokoto Hausa is [the local language], he said penis in Hausa, he said virgina in Hausa and then was explaining how one enters the other then I laughed, he cautioned me not to laugh and said that "fiqhu cannot be taught without explanation." Even the Prophet (PBUH) was asked by a woman as is narrated by a Hadith reported by Aisha. The woman asked what the Islamic injunction of a woman who sees what a man sees, she was referring to wet dreams, because a woman can have a wet dream just as a man does. Before the Prophet (PBUH) was able to answer, Aisha said to the woman "why are you asking such a question? do you want to embarrass us in front of the Prophet?" the Prophet then said there is no shame in knowing one's religion. Ask everything that you do not understand.

Q: In this part of the country, the mention of sexuality education makes people jittery due to lack of the knowledge of fiqh. Or is it the normal culture here?

Gumbi: People here like to wear the garb of ignorance whereas they know what is true. Somehow they are 100 years backwards. Even what they read in the fiqh books have not fully been comprehended. When in the past sexuality education was not taught, it led people to pregnanting women out of wedlock, which is very shameful. Islam is not against theoretical sex education. It only frowns at the practical aspect. Sex is a natural thing. no animal is taught it. it happens naturally.

Q: What is the Islamic view on abortion?

Gumbi: Abortion in Islam is haram (forbidden). However, there is the permissible abortion where a married woman is concerned, where it is discovered that if a child would become a nuisance to people if it was born with some deformity or something of that nature. Now, questions where thrown to scholars, where it was agreed that abortion is haram, except in a case where the foetus has not yet matured to become a living being.

Q: Still on sex education, some have the view that sex education should be left as parent's responsibility. What is your view?

Gumbi: There are schools where human mannequins are brought in front of the class and these mannequins are used to demonstrate the sexual act. Muslims have frowned at such demonstrations because children would practice it when it is practically shown to them. However, it has to be taught because children will mature and like we have been stressing, it should be taught theoretically, so that when these children mature, they will know what to do in the light of difficult circumstances and situations that arise in relation to sexual intercourse.

Source : http://www.islamfortoday.com/sex01.htm

Individual case safety reports in children in commonly used drug groups - signal detection

2008-03-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Gertrud Brunlof , Carina Tukukino and Susanna M Wallerstedt
BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-1
Published : 17 March 2008

Abstract (provisional)

Background
Due to few paediatric drug safety studies, knowledge on risks of drug treatment in children is limited. The knowledge needs to be increased to make proper risk-benefit analyses possible when treating paediatric patients with drugs. The aim of the present study was to investigate drug groups commonly used in children concerning type and frequency of individual case safety reports in children.

Methods
Number and type of individual case safety reports in the 30 groups of drugs (5th level ATC-code) most sold (number of defined daily doses) in outpatient treatment to children (<15>

Results
The number of individual case safety reports per million defined daily doses in children varied in the groups of drug between 0 and 24. The largest number was found in the drug group R03DC, the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast; the majority of the children being <5>

Conclusion
The number of individual case safety reports per million defined daily doses varies in different groups of drugs. A possible signal for montelukast and psychiatric adverse drug reactions was found, which should be further explored.

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The Handbook of Parenteral Drug Administration

2008-03-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

This handbook is very good for Pharmaceutical Student or Pharmacics research. Its to very well to Doctor or who needed drugs information.

INCOME, EDUCATION, RESIDENCE, AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR CHILD HEALTH INSURANCE: THE USE OF BIDDING GAME TECHNIQUE

2008-03-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Bhisma Murti

ABSTRACT

Backgrounds: Over recent years health policymakers and academicians in Indonesia have shown zealous interest in expanding the explicit role of health insurance in the health financing system. However, many health financing policies produced are lacking in prudent consideration of economic theory and empirical evidence. This paper presents the results of a willingness to pay study for child health insurance that used a robust contingent valuation method, namely the bidding game technique.

Subject and methods: A total of 409 children aged 3 to 7 years from 10 and 9 kindergartens in Surakarta and Boyolali (Central Java, Indonesia), respectively, were selected for study by proportional random sampling. Each father of these children was interviewed by use of a set of structured questionnaire. Willingness to pay was estimated by Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression.

Results: Thirty six percent of fathers did not want to buy a child health insurance scheme. Income, education, and residence do not determine this decision. Mean WTP for child’s premium is Rp28.743,00 per month, with standard deviation of Rp29.271,00, and median WTP of Rp20.000,00. Family income, education, and residence are important determinants for WTP for child’s health insurance, and they are all statistically significant at 1% level. Family income has an elasticity of 0.53 (95%CI 0.40 to 0.65), meaning that a 10% increase in family income leads to 5% rise in WTP for child health insurance.

Conclusion: The paper has informed policymakers of the demand for health insurance and feasible prices. It is particularly useful for estimating the level of subsidies required to fill the gap between the maximum possible premium to be charged to social health insurance participants and the costs of providing health care services. An understanding of the determinants of WTP is useful for selecting the appropriate strategies for expanding the coverage of health insurance.

Source from jmpk-online.net

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Journal of Pharmacological Sciences Vol. 106 (2008) , No. 3 pp.361-368

2008-03-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

Journal of Pharmacological Sciences Vol. 106 (2008) , No. 3 pp.361-368

Pharmacological Characterization of the Newly Synthesized Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ–Receptor Agonist 1-[1-(1-Methylcyclooctyl)-4-piperidinyl]-2-[(3R)-3-piperidinyl]-1H-benzimidazole as an Anxiolytic Agent

Akiko Hirao1), Aki Imai1), Yutaka Sugie1), Yoshinari Yamada1), Shigeo Hayashi2) and Katsuo Toide1)

1) Department of Discovery Biology Research, Global Research & Development, Nagoya Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Japan. 2) Department of Discovery Chemistry Research, Global Research & Development, Nagoya Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Japan

ABSTRACT:

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP)-receptor agonists have been shown to produce anxiolytic-like effects in rodents subjected to various behavioral assays. Recently, we developed a new nonpeptide agonist of the NOP receptor, 1-[1-(1-methylcyclooctyl)-4-piperidinyl]-2-[(3R)-3-piperidinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (MCOPPB), as an anxiolytic agent. MCOPPB has a high affinity for the human NOP receptor (pKi = 10.07 ± 0.01) and selectivity for the NOP receptor over other members of the opioid receptor family: 12-, 270- and >1000-fold more selective for the NOP receptor than for the μ-, κ-, and δ-receptor, respectively. In an ex vivo binding study, MCOPPB (10 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited signaling through the NOP receptor in the mouse brain, suggesting that it penetrated into the brain after it was orally administered. In the mouse Vogel conflict test, MCOPPB (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and diazepam (3 mg/kg, p.o.) elicited anxiolytic-like effects, although MCOPPB produced a bell-shaped response curve. In addition, MCOPPB (10 mg/kg, p.o.) was still effective as an anxiolytic agent even after repeated administration for 5 days. MCOPPB at an oral dose of 10 mg/kg did not affect locomotor activity or memory, nor did it contribute to ethanol-induced hypnosis. On the other hand, the benzodiazepine-type anxiolytic agent diazepam caused memory deficits and enhanced ethanol-induced hypnosis. These findings suggest that MCOPPB – a compound with few adverse effects on the central nervous system – is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of anxiety.

Keywords : nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor, MCOPPB, non-peptide agonist, Vogel conflict test, anxiety.

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Phenoxazine Derivatives Inactivate Human Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus-1, and Herpes Simplex Virus-2 In Vitro

Kyoko Hayashi1), Toshimitsu Hayashi1) and Akio Tomoda2)
1) Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan2) Department of Biochemistry, and Intractable Immune System Disease Research Center, Tokyo Medical University, Japan

ABSTRACT:

We examined whether phenoxazine derivatives, 2-amino-4,4α-dihydro-4α-7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one (Phx-1), 3-amino-1,4α-dihydro-4α-8-dimethyl-2H-phenoxazine-2-one (Phx-2), and 2-amino-phenoxazine-3-one (Phx-3) may have antiviral activity against herpes family viruses: human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The antiviral activity was evaluated by the selectivity index (SI), which is the ratio of 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and 50% antiviral concentration (IC50). Among these phenoxazines, Phx-2 exerted strong antiviral activity to HCMV with the SI of 200, while Phx-1 and Phx-3 exerted no marked anti-HCMV activity. Phx-2 also showed moderate inhibition of HSV-1 and HSV-2, with the SI of 6.7 and 17, respectively. In the time-of-addition experiments, inhibitory effect of Phx-2 against HCMV was active even when applied to cells at 100 h after HCMV infection, while ganciclovir (GCV) showed potent inhibition when applied to cells before 42-h post-infection, but its inhibitory effects disappeared thereafter. Attachment and penetration of HCMV was not affected by the presence of Phx-2. When HCMV was pretreated with Phx-2, concentration-dependent virucidal action was observed, suggesting that Phx-2 inactivates HCMV directly. From these data, it was found that Phx-2 might have a different anti-HCMV target from GCV.

Keywords : human cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, phenoxazine.

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Analysis of the Vasorelaxant Action of Angiotensin II in the Isolated Rat Renal Artery

Leposava Grbovic1), Jelena Djokic1), Miroslav Radenkovic1) and Srdan Pesic2)

1) Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia. 2) Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.

ABSTRACT :

Taking into consideration that mechanisms involved in the vasodilatator actions of angiotensin II have not yet been completely elucidated, the present study was undertaken in order to examine the mechanisms underlying the angiotensin II–induced relaxation of rat renal artery (RRA). Angiotensin II produced concentration-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxation of isolated RRA. Angiotensin II–induced relaxation was partially reduced by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and guanylyl cyclase. The remaining dilatation was inhibited by a potassium channel blocker, charybdotoxin. Precontraction of RRA with high concentration of K+ partially reduced angiotensin II–evoked relaxation, while indomethacin, glibenclamide, apamin and barium did not alter the angiotensin II concentration-response curve. Losartan had no effect on angiotensin II effect. Oppositely, HOE 140 and PD123319, separately or in combination, partially antagonized vasorelaxation induced by angiotensin II. Complete blockade of RRA response was obtained after simultaneous incubation of all three receptor antagonists HOE-140, PD123319, and losartan; L-NOARG plus HOE-140; or PD123319 plus charybdotoxin. These results indicate that angiotensin II produces endothelium-independent relaxation of RRA, which is most probably mediated by the interaction of the NO-cGMP pathway and K+ channels. Moreover, we can assume that AT1, AT2, and B2 receptors are involved in the vasorelaxant effect of angiotensin II.

Keywords : angiotensin II, rat renal artery, vasorelaxation, K+ channel, AT receptor

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Possible Involvement of Altered Arginase Activity, Arginase Type I and Type II Expressions, and Nitric Oxide Production in Occurrence of Intimal Hyperplasia in Premenopausal Human Uterine Arteries

Galina Vasileva Marinova, Renzo Ygor Loyaga-Rendon, Satoshi Obayashi, Tomoko Ishibashi, Toshiro Kubota, Masatoshi Imamura and Hiroshi Azuma

[Abstract] Download [PDF (797K)]

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AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation by 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) Inhibits Palmitate-Induced Endothelial Cell Apoptosis Through Reactive Oxygen Species Suppression

Ji-Eun Kim, Yong-Woon Kim, In Kyu Lee, Jong-Yeon Kim, Young Jin Kang and So-Young Park

[Abstract] Download [PDF (857K)]

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A Functional RNAi Screen for Runx2-Regulated Genes Associated With Ectopic Bone Formation in Human Spinal Ligaments

Masaki Kishiya, Toshitada Sawada, Kohta Kanemaru, Hitoshi Kudo, Takuya Numasawa, Toru Yokoyama, Sunao Tanaka, Shigeru Motomura, Kazumasa Ueyama, Seiko Harata, Satoshi Toh and Ken-Ichi Furukawa

[Abstract] Download [PDF (1794K)]

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Characteristics of Gabexate Mesilate–Induced Cell Injury in Porcine Aorta Endothelial Cells

Tomoko Aki, Nobuaki Egashira, Mika Hama, Yui Yamauchi, Takahisa Yano, Yoshinori Itoh and Ryozo Oishi

[Abstract] Download [PDF (929K)]

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Read more article on this Journal http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/jphs/106/3/_contents

Optimizations for the EcoPod field identification tool

2008-03-18T05:45:00.000-07:00

Aswath Manoharan , Jeannie Stamberger , YuanYuan Yu and Andreas Paepcke
BMC Bioinformatics 2008, 9:150doi:10.1186/1471-2105-9-150
Published:17 March 2008

Abstract

Background
We sketch our species identification tool for palm sized computers that helps knowledgeable observers with census activities. An algorithm turns an identification matrix into a minimal length series of questions that guide the operator towards identification. Historic observation data from the census geographic area helps minimize question volume. We explore how much historic data is required to boost performance, and whether the use of history negatively impacts identification of rare species. We also explore how characteristics of the matrix interact with the algorithm, and how best to predict the probability of observing a previously unseen species.

Results
Point counts of birds taken at Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve between 2000 and 2005 were used to examine the algorithm. A computer identified species by correctly answering, and counting the algorithm's questions. We also explored how the character density of the key matrix and the theoretical minimum number of questions for each bird in the matrix influenced the algorithm. Our investigation of the required probability smoothing determined whether Laplace smoothing of observation probabilities was sufficient, or whether the more complex Good-Turing technique is required.

Conclusions
Historic data improved identification speed, but only impacted the top 25% most frequently observed birds. For rare birds the history based algorithms did not impose a noticeable penalty in the number of questions required for identification. For our dataset neither age of the historic data, nor the number of observation years impacted the algorithm. Density of characters for different taxa in the identification matrix did not impact the algorithms. Intrinsic differences in identifying different birds did affect the algorithm, but the differences affected the baseline method of not using historic data to exactly the same degree. We found that Laplace smoothing performed better for rare species than Simple Good-Turing, and that, contrary to expectation, the technique did not then adversely affect identification performance for frequently observed birds.

Full Text click here

Source : PubMedCentral

Zidovudine — a harbinger of hope for sufferers from AIDS in the 1980s

2008-03-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

In this sixth article in a series on landmark drugs, Jenny Bryan looks at the antiviral zidovudine, which, as the first drug to be licensed for the treatment of AIDS, brought hope to sufferers, who at the time were mainly gay men, and saved them from an automatic death sentence.

Landmark drugs series

If ever a product deserved the much overused description of “breakthrough”, it was zidovudine (Retrovir) — the first antiviral drug licensed for the treatment of AIDS, 21 years ago this month.

At a time when a diagnosis of AIDS was an automatic death sentence, zidovudine brought hope to a community of mainly gay men who had been watching their friends succumb to the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS since it was first reported in 1981.1

“It was the first example of a drug that worked in AIDS and so it was a tremendously important first step,” says Brian Gazzard, HIV/GUM clinical research and education director at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.

Zidovudine was not developed for AIDS. It was first synthesised in 1964 as part of a research programme at the Michigan Cancer Foundation. Without any promise as an anticancer drug, it was dropped until the US pharmaceutical subsidiary of the Wellcome Foundation, ultimately to become part of GlaxoSmithKline, screened it for antiviral activity late in 1984. The Wellcome scientists discovered activity against the AIDS virus and, within a few months, this was confirmed by National Cancer Institute, Food and Drug Administration and Duke University laboratories.

Zidovudine is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). Retroviruses, such as HIV, use the enzyme, reverse transcriptase, to transcribe their RNA into DNA so that it can be integrated into that of the host cells it is infecting.

As a thymidine analogue, zidovudine uses the HIV reverse transcriptase to incorporate itself into the growing chain of viral DNA. But, once incorporated, zidovudine’s different chemical structure from the viral deoxynucleotide ensures that no further elongation of the viral DNA can occur. In effect, it acts as a terminator.

Toxicological and pharmacological testing of zidovudine in spring 1985 was quickly followed by the first phase I clinical study. This showed that zidovudine was well absorbed and penetrated the blood-brain barrier, which was important because of the neurological complications of AIDS.2 Fifteen of the 19 patients in this first study had a significant increase in their T cell count.

A subsequent phase II, 24-week, placebo-controlled trial of 282 AIDS patients with the opportunistic infection Pneumocystis carinii with or without AIDS-related complex, (ARC), started in February 1986, was halted early, in September 1986, because of the obvious benefits of zidovudine.3 One patient in the zidovudine group died and 24 had opportunistic infections compared with 19 deaths and 45 infections in the placebo group.

Further trials were under way in Europe and the US, and Wellcome reported that it had diverted large numbers of research staff from other projects to work on zidovudine. The extra effort paid off and, within a few months, the drug had a licence in the UK for “the management of the serious manifestations of HIV infection in patients with AIDS or ARC”. It was licensed in March 1987.

“After such a dramatic reduction in mortality, zidovudine was licensed in record time, with less than six months’ experience in human beings. There was a problem with toxicity because, on the 1,200mg dose that was used initially, 50 per cent of patients needed blood transfusions, but we soon found that 600mg was just as effective,” Professor Gazzard recalls.

In 1990, zidovudine’s licence was extended to include patients with early symptomatic disease, and asymptomatic, progressive disease.

But it was not all plain sailing. As early as 1989, The Sunday Times raised questions about the speed with which the drug had been licensed and suggested that the side effects of the drug outweighed any benefits. In 1993, the newspaper jumped on the results of the Concorde trial, which failed to show any advantage of early treatment for asymptomatic HIV patients compared with delaying treatment until patients developed AIDS or ARC or had a low CD4 count.4 “The cure that failed”, blazed the headline on 4 April 1993.

“The results were misunderstood,” explains Professor Gazzard. “It wasn’t that the drug didn’t work, but that there was no additional benefit to starting treatment early before symptoms appeared. We also realised that, because of the high risk of resistance with zidovudine, starting treatment too soon would just bring forward the time when the drug was likely to become ineffective.”

While AIDS specialists unexpectedly found themselves having to defend zidovudine in response to adverse publicity about Concorde, there was no doubting the positive benefits of zidovudine for babies born to women infected with HIV when the 076 study was published the same year.5 In this placebo-controlled trial of nearly 500 pregnant HIV-infected women, zidovudine given before and during childbirth, and for six weeks afterwards, reduced the risk of maternal-infant transmission by two thirds.

By the time that Concorde and 076 were published, zidovudine had competition from two other NRTIs — didanosine or ddI (Videx) and zalcitabine or ddC (Hivid). And, in 1996, the Delta trial showed that using two NRTIs together to treat symptomatic AIDS patients and asymptomatic patients with low CD4 counts could prolong life and delay progression compared with using zidovudine alone.6

Subsequent use of ddC was limited by toxicity but combining ddI and zidovudine was shown to help delay resistance and opened the door to a growing range of anti-retroviral combinations.

The most recent update of the British HIV Association guidelines7 for adults with HIV recommends treatment for those with:

Symptomatic HIV infection or AIDS, regardless of CD4 count or viral load

Asymptomatic patients with a CD4 count <200cells/ml,>
Asymptomatic patients with a CD4 count of 201–350cells/ml, depending on viral load, rate of CD4 decline, patient’s wishes and presence of hepatitis C infection

Standard treatment is now a combination of two NRTIs as the “backbone” of so-called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), together with either a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a protease inhibitor, depending on the patient and the presence of drug resistance.

“People still take zidovudine and combining it with a second NRTI, lamivudine, as Combivir, gave it a new lease of life because lamivudine slows the development of resistance to zidovudine. It’s a very popular combination in Africa, for example,” says Professor Gazzard.

Lipodystrophy — unsightly fat redistribution associated with some antiretroviral drugs, including zidovudine — has impacted on drug choices. But combined formulations of NRTIs and, more recently, NRTIs and NNRTIs are making treatment easier and more convenient to take.

“At one time, people were having to take 18 pills a day, at set times of day, but those days are gone and even the most complicated regimens are only four or five tablets twice a day,” adds Professor Gazzard.

However, he believes that pharmaceutical companies have probably gone as far as they can with the current approaches to treatment. They have reduced the side effects of anti-HIV drugs, made them easier to take and lowered prices. But, as Professor Gazzard points out, they have not yet managed to cure AIDS:

“Before 1987, we thought that HIV treatment was hopeless, but zidovudine did change all that. It didn’t prove as effective as we originally hoped, but it did show us that we could affect outcomes and slow progression of HIV.”

References

Pneumocystis pneumonia — Los Angeles. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1981;30:250–2.

Yarchoan R, Klecker RW, Weinhold KJ, Markham PD, Lyerly HK, Durack DT et al. Administration of 3’-azido-3’-deoxythymidine, an inhibitor of HTLV-III/LAV replication, to patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex. Lancet 1986;1:575–80.

Fischl MA, Richman DD, Grieco MH, Gottlieb MS, Volberding PA, Laskin OL et al. The efficacy of azidothymidine (AZT) in the treatment of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. N Engl J Med 1987; 317:185-91

Concorde: MRC/ANRS randomised double-blind controlled trial of immediate and deferred zidovudine in symptom-free HIV infection. Concorde Coordinating Committee. Lancet 1994;343:871–81.

Connor EM, Sperling RS, Gelber R, Kiselev P, Scott G, O’Sullivan MJ et al. Reduction of maternal-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with zidovudine treatment. Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 076 Study Group. New England Journal of Medicine 1994;331:1173–80.

Delta: a randomised double-blind controlled trial comparing combinations of zidovudine plus didanosine or zalcitabine with zidovudine alone in HIV-infected individuals. Delta Coordinating Committee. Lancet 1996;348:283–91.

Gazzard B on behalf of the BHIVA Writing Committee. British HIV Association (BHIVA) guidelines for the treatment of HIV-infected adults with antiretroviral therapy (2006). HIV Medicine 2006;7:487–503.

source from http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080315/articles/p309zidovudine.html

Basic and Clinical Aspects of Non-neuronal Acetylcholine:

2008-03-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

Overview of Non-neuronal Cholinergic Systems and Their Biological Significance

Koichiro Kawashima1) and Takeshi Fujii2)
1) Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, Japan 2) Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, Japan

ABSTRACT:

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a phylogenetically ancient molecule involved in cell-to-cell signaling in almost all life-forms on earth. Cholinergic components, including ACh, choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, and muscarinic and nicotinic ACh receptors (mAChRs and nAChRs, respectively) have been identified in numerous non-neuronal cells and tissues, including keratinocytes, cancer cells, immune cells, urinary bladder, airway epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and reproductive organs, among many others. Stimulation of the mAChRs and nAChRs elicits cell-specific functional and biochemical effects. These findings support the notion that non-neuronal cholinergic systems are expressed in certain cells and tissues and are involved in the regulation of their function and that cholinergic dysfunction is related to the pathophysiology of certain diseases. They also provide clues for development of drugs with novel mechanisms of action.

Keywords : acetylcholine, choline acetyltransferase, non-neuronal cholinergic system, muscarinic receptor, nicotinic receptor

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Pembentukan Akrilamid Dalam Makanan dan Analisisinya (review)

2008-03-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

Yahdiana Harahap

ABSTRAK

Acrylamide is a chemical substance which derived from acrylonitrile, is the material used in polyacrylamide production. Recent research has found acrylamide is contained in some food, especially food is rich in carbohydrate and treated in high temperature (more than 120°C). Due to its nature, acrylamide is classified as a hazardous material to be contained in human’s food. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified acrylamide into group 2A (probably carcinogenic for humans). Many methods that used to analyse the acrylamide in some foods with sophisticated equipment, and in department of pharmacy FMIPA-UI there were also develop the method with simple extraction and conventional HPLC.

Keywords : acrylamide, HPLC, carcinogenic.

Artikel Lengkap PDF

Effects of Medicago sativa on nephropathy in diabetic rats

2008-03-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Mehranjani MS1, Shariatzadeh MA1, Desfulian AR2, Noori M1, Abnosi MH1,

Moghadam ZH11 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran2 Departmant of Histology and Embryology, Ahvas Gondey Shapoor Medical Science University, Ahvaz, Iran

Correspondence Address:Mehranjani M SDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak Iran
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

In this investigation, blood sugar and the kidney histopathological changes in diabetic rats were studied stereologically after being treated with the aqueous ethanol extract of Medicago sativa . Thirty two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, control+extract, diabetic and diabetic+extract groups (n=8). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 90 mg/kg of streptozotocin. Treatment with aqueous ethanol extract of Medicago sativa (550 mg/kg) was followed for 4 weeks. Then the left kidneys were excised and stereologically studied. The results revealed that blood sugar of the diabetic rats was reduced highly significant following treatment with aqueous ethanol extract of Medicago sativa . The final body weight in the diabetic, control and control+extract rats increased significantly in comparison with the first body weight but not in the diabetic+extract group. The kidney weight was the same in all groups except for the diabetic+extract rats which increased significantly compared to the control+extract ones. The total volume of kidney and the volume of cortex were the same in all groups while the volume of medulla increased significantly in the diabetic+extract groups compared to the control+extract ones. In addition the total glomerular volume increased significantly in diabetic rats compared to the control ones. In conclusion, although the consuming dose of the extract of Medicago sativa caused a noticeable reduction of blood sugar; however, it had no distinct effect on nephropathy side effects in this short term study.

Source : ijpsonline.com

Pain Receptor In Brain May Be Linked To Learning And Memory

2008-03-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Scientists have long known that the nervous system receptor known as TRPV1 can affect sensations of pain in the body. Now a group of Brown University scientists has found that these receptors – a darling of drug developers – also may play a role in learning and memory in the brain.

In surprising new research, published in the journal Neuron, Julie Kauer and her team show that activation of TPRV1 receptors can trigger long-term depression, a phenomenon that creates lasting changes in the connections between neurons. These changes in the brain – and the related process of neural reorganization known as long-term potentiation – are believed to be the cellular basis for memory making.

“We’ve known that TRPV1 receptors are in the brain, but this is some of the first evidence of what they actually do there,” Kauer said. “And the functional role we uncovered is unexpected. No one has previously linked these pain receptors to a cellular mechanism underlying memory. So we may have found a whole new player in brain plasticity.”

The study findings have implications for drug development, Kauer said.

The research points out potentially effective new targets for drugs that could prevent memory loss or could possibly treat neural disorders such as epilepsy, Kauer said. The other implication may be cautionary. Drug makers already sell drugs – such as the weight-loss pill rimonabant, which is sold in Europe under the name Acomplia – that can block TRPV1 receptors. Other drugs aimed at reducing pain and inflammation by blocking or activating TRPV1 receptors are in the research pipeline. But drugs that bind to TRPV1 receptors in the central nervous system are likely to influence more than just pain-related functions, Kauer said.

“Our findings suggest the possibility that some of the psychiatric side effects from rimonabant could be due to the blocking of TRPV1 receptors,” she said.

TRPV1, short for transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype, can be found all over the nervous system, including in skin, the spinal cord and the brain. These receptors can sense heat, trigger inflammation and transmit pain. TRPV1 receptors not only respond to heat but also to capsaicin, the compound that creates the spicy kick in chili peppers.

In her study, Kauer, professor of medical science in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology at Brown, treated rat brain tissue from the hippocampus, the brain’s seat of learning and memory, with capsaicin. The team found that this compound activated TRPV1 channels – which alone triggered long-term depression in the brain tissue. Further, rimonabant entirely blocked long-term depression by blocking TRPV1 channels.

The team then tested brain tissue from mice that lacked TRPV1 receptors and found that long-term depression was absent – and that applying capsaicin still couldn’t elicit the changes to the synapses.

Kauer’s Brown research team includes postdoctoral research associate Helen Gibson, undergraduate student Rachel Page, and graduate student Matthew Van Hook. Jeffrey Edwards, a former postdoctoral research associate and current neuroscience professor at Brigham Young University, also contributed to the work.

The National Institutes of Health funded the work.

Source : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080313125347.htm

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Efek Pemberian Epinefrin Akut dan Kronis terhadap Jumlah Retikulosit pada Tikus Putih

2008-02-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

(The Effect of Acute and Chronic Epinephrine Administration to Reticulocyte of Rat)

Agustina Rahayu Magdaleni*

ABSTRACT

The effect of acute and chronic epinephrine administration on reticulocyte, remains controversial. The objective of this study was to monitor and evaluation of reticulocyte after injected of efinephrine. Physiological approach is needed to investigate epinephrine’s effect on erythrocyte quality. The analysis unit was blood taken directly from heart, and subjected to reticulocyte examination (cell/103 RBC). Treatment groups received epinephrine subcutaneous injection, and control groups received 0.9% NaCl subcutaneous injection. Data were taken 30 minutes after one injection (treatment 1), and after 7 days with 6 injections/day data were taken 30 minutes after one injection (treatment 2). Epinephrine dose was 0.05 mg/200 gr BW rats in each injection, and injection volume was 0.5 ml. The results of t-test between the delta of pretest and posttest group acute didn’t show difference (p 0.73) but chronic from which data were taken directly shown difference (p 0.03). The results of t-test between the delta of posttest treatment control groups acute and chronic were taken directly shown difference (p 0.22). In conclusion: acute epinephrin administration mayn’t increasing reticulocyte, while chronic epinephrine administration may decreasing reticulocyte.

Key words: epinephrine, reticulocyte, acute, chronic

Source : JURNAL BIOSAINS PASCASARJANA Volume 8 No 2 Mei 2006

Chemical Composition of the Fixed and Volatile Oils of Nigella sativa L. from Iran

2008-02-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

The chemical composition of the extracted fixed oil (total fatty acid composition) and volatile oil of Nigella sativa L. seeds grown in Iran were determined by GC and GC/MS. Eight fatty acids (99.5%) and thirty- two compounds (86.7%) have been identified in the fixed and volatile oils, respectively. The main fatty acids of the fixed oil were linoleic acid (55.6%), oleic acid (23.4%), and palmitic acid (12.5%). The major compounds of the volatile oil were trans-anethole (38.3%), p-cymene (14.8%), limonene (4.3%), and carvone (4.0%).

Key words: Nigella sativa L., Fixed Oil Composition, Volatile Oil Composition

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Antimicrobial Activity of the Volatile Oil of Nigella sativa Linneaus Seeds

2008-02-27T11:59:00.000-08:00

MOHAMED A. TOAMA, TAHA S. EL-ALFY, AND HAMED M. EL-FATATRY
Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Received for publication 21 March 1974

The antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa Linneaus seeds was studied. The antimicrobial principle has been isolated, identified as thymohydroquinone, and found to be active against gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.

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Mitochondria use actin filaments as rails for fast translocation in Arabidopsis and tobacco cells

2008-02-20T10:13:00.000-08:00

Yoko Doniwa1), Shin-ichi Arimura1) and Nobuhiro Tsutsumi1)

1) Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Abstract

Although mitochondria are known to move actively in plant cells, little is known about how they move. In higher plants, actin filaments have been reported to be involved in the movement of organelles, such as chloroplasts, peroxisomes, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Mitochondria were visualized in living Arabidopsis thaliana plants using fluorescent proteins fused to a mitochondria targeting signal. To compare the movement of mitochondria to the movements of another organelle, we also examined peroxisomes because of their similarity in size. Velocities of individual mitochondria and peroxisomes, as measured by time-lapse laser scanning microscopy, varied, although the average velocities of the two organelles were similar. Latrunculin B, an actin-depolymerizing drug, stopped movement of mitochondria and peroxisomes, demonstrating that movement of these organelles depends on actin filaments. On the other hand, propyzamide, a microtubule-depolymerizing drug, did not affect the movement of mitochondria and peroxisomes. In living Arabidopsis plants in which mitochondria or peroxisomes are visualized by red fluorescent protein and cytoskeletal elements are simultaneously visualized by green fluorescent protein, both organelles moved using actin filaments as rails. In contrast, their movement was not related to arrays of microtubules. We also examined mitochondrial movement in tobacco cultured cells visualizing mitochondria and cytoskeletal element simultaneously. Mitochondrial movement was often seen along actin filaments but not along microtubules. These findings suggest that mitochondria move along actin filaments rapidly and over long distances in higher plants.

Key words ; cytoskeleton, mitochondrial movement

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