scholarly journals Cardiotoxic Effects of Yew Tree and Pink Periwinkle Alkaloids

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 165-172
Author(s):  
G. S. Mal ◽  
E. B. Artyushkova ◽  
M. P. Gladchenko ◽  
A. A. Ivanova

Antitumour herbal medicines based on pink periwinkle and yew tree alkaloids are included in combination therapies for many types of cancer. The use of these classes of products may entail cardiotoxic effects leading to life-threatening conditions. The aim of the study was to analyse scientific literature on cardiotoxic effects of anticancer drugs based on yew tree alkaloids (taxanes) and pink periwinkle alkaloids (vinca alkaloids). The results of the analysis demonstrated that the main manifestations of taxane-induced cardiotoxicity were bradycardia, atrioventricular block, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Concomitant use of taxanes and anthracycline antibiotics exacerbated cardiotoxic effects of both drug classes. The use of vinca alkaloids was associated with haematological toxicity in the form of neutropenia, while cardiotoxic effect was rarely observed during monotherapy. Raising awareness among oncologists, cardiologists, and other specialists involved in the management of cancer patients about potential cardiac complications of antitumour therapy contributes to early detection of adverse reactions and allows for individual correction of treatment regimens, especially in patients with predisposition to cardiovascular disease.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-233
Author(s):  
Maryam Jameshorani ◽  
Akram Pourshams ◽  
Anahita Sadeghi ◽  
Hiva Saffar ◽  
Reza Malekzadeh

Celiac crisis is a rare, acute, and life-threatening presentation of celiac disease. Its clinical presentations consist of severe watery non-bloody diarrhea, electrolyte disturbances (i.e. hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, and metabolic acidosis), hypoproteinemia, and dehydration. Here we present a 33-year-old woman who referred with profuse diarrhea, weight loss, hemodynamic instability, hypokalemia, hypoproteinemia, ascites, pancytopenia, and iron deficiency anemia. She used herbal medicines for constipation and had severe weakness after her childbirth. The patient was diagnosed as having celiac disease through pathological and serological evaluations 10 months earlier. Diagnosis of celiac crisis after ruling out the other causes of resistant celiac was made and she was treated with steroids.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanoo Suroowan ◽  
Fawzi Mahomoodally

Background: Common auto-inflammatory disorders (CAIDs) constitute a wide array of ailments ranging from acute allergies to chronic conditions. Globally, CAIDs remain one of the leading causes of disability and morbidity. Despite playing a leading therapeutic role, the vast profusion of anti-inflammatory synthetic agents have not been able to fully resolve a panoply of CAIDs. Additionally, contemporary synthetic therapy approaches remain bounded by a wide array of limitations essentially being adverse effects and unaffordable costs. In this advent, the use of herbal products provides an interesting avenue to explore in view of developing such treatment regimens. Objective: This review article endeavors to highlight potential herbal products and isolated phytochemicals which can be of benefit in the prophylaxis, management, and treatment alongside avoiding the relapse of CAIDs. Conclusion: This review article has highlighted that herbals, herbal products, and isolated metabolites hold a huge potential in the prophylaxis, management, and treatment of CAIDs. Herbals can act on various targets involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders. In addition, novel approaches for the management of CAIDs are numerous. Indeed, nanoparticles loaded with phytochemicals have been developed to specifically target the colon for IBD treatment. In silico approaches using herbals also offer unlimited avenues to decipher new pharmacophores. Investigating the potential of polyherbal formulations is another unique approach which can be investigated. Given the inefficacy of conventional medicines, the concomitant use of conventional and herbal medicines can also be explored.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (28) ◽  
pp. 2554-2566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurelio Ortiz ◽  
Estibaliz Sansinenea

Background:: Candida species are in various parts of the human body as commensals. However, they can cause local mucosal infections and, sometimes, systemic infections in which Candida species can spread to all major organs and colonize them. Objective:: For the effective treatment of the mucosal infections and systemic life-threatening fungal diseases, a considerably large number of antifungal drugs have been developed and used for clinical purposes that comprise agents from four main drug classes: the polyenes, azoles, echinocandins, and antimetabolites. Method: : The synthesis of some of these drugs is available, allowing synthetic modification of the molecules to improve the biological activity against Candida species. The synthetic methodology for each compound is reviewed. Results: : The use of these compounds has caused a high-level resistance against these drugs, and therefore, new antifungal substances have been described in the last years. The organic synthesis of the known and new compounds is reported. Conclusion: : This article summarizes the chemistry of the existing agents, both the old drugs and new drugs, in the treatment of infections due to C. albicans, including the synthesis of the existing drugs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Klehm ◽  
Elisabeth Hildebrand ◽  
Maureen S. Meyers

ABSTRACTChronic diseases and preexisting conditions shape daily life for many archaeologists both in and out of the field. Chronic issues, however, can be overlooked in safety planning, which more often focuses on emergency situations because they are considered mundane, or they are imperceptible to project directors and crews until a serious problem arises. This article focuses on asthma, diabetes, and depression as common medical conditions that impact otherwise healthy archaeologists during fieldwork, with the goal of raising awareness of these conditions in particular, and the need to be more attentive to chronic diseases in general. Archaeological fieldwork presents novel situations that put those with chronic diseases and preexisting conditions at risk: environmental hazards, remoteness from medical and social resources and networks, lack of group awareness, and varying cultural norms. As a result, if chronic diseases are not attended to properly in the field, they can lead to life-threatening situations. Managing the risk presented by these conditions requires a group culture where team members are aware of issues, as appropriate, and collaborate to mitigate them during fieldwork. Descriptions of how chronic diseases affect archaeologists in the field are followed by “best practice” recommendations for self-management and for group leaders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13
Author(s):  
Charles E. Middleton IV ◽  
William Daley ◽  
Neha Varshney

The clinical features of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are variable, but the majority of patients experience mild flu-like symptoms. The cases of severe disease include complications such as progressive pneumonia, acute kidney injury, multi-organ failure, and even death. This paper explores the association between COVID-19 and its effect on multiple organ systems and how the subsequent treatment of this disease can itself lead to morbidity and mortality. We present a case which emphasizes the life threatening gastrointestinal complications associated with treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a patient with COVID-19. We conclude that the patients whose treatment regimens utilize medical resins should be closely monitored for gastrointestinal complications so as to mitigate the known adverse effects associated with these drugs, such as colonic mucosal ulceration, perforation, or even death.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Rasmus G. Bandick ◽  
Soraya Mousavi ◽  
Stefan Bereswill ◽  
Markus M. Heimesaat

AbstractInfections with multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria including carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are emerging worldwide but are difficult to treat with the currently available antibiotic compounds and therefore constitute serious threats to human health. This prompted us to perform a literature survey applying the MEDLINE database and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials including clinical trials comparing different treatment regimens for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. Our survey revealed that a combined application of antibiotic compounds such as meropenem plus vaborbactam, meropenem plus colistin and carbapenem plus carbapenem, resulted in significantly increased clinical cure and decreased mortality rates as compared to respective control treatment. However, further research on novel antibiotic compounds, but also on antibiotic-independent molecules providing synergistic or at least resistance-modifying properties needs to be undertaken in vitro as well as in large clinical trials to provide future options in the combat of emerging life-threatening infections caused by MDR bacteria.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vegim Zhaku ◽  
Sheqibe Beadini ◽  
Nexhbedin Beadini ◽  
Gazmend Amzai

Abstract Raising awareness about treating options in North Macedonia, while sperm parameters are decreasing because of increased oxidative stress, in a terrain like this, represents a big challenge. All the patients that fulfilled the required criteria, 37 were enrolled in the study signing a document that explains nature of the study. The first semen sample was collected with at least three days of abstinence. From the sample 0.5 ml was used for standard semen analysis, 1.2 ml was used to evaluate the levels of malonedialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC). The last sample was collected after 6 months. Mean, Standard Deviation, the Pearson Correlation and an independent student t-test were used for statistical analyses. Concentration and motility were significantly increased after 6 months of treatment (p<0.001).The level of MDA shows significantly lower values after six months of therapy with antioxidants (p<0.001).Whereas another marker which is denoted by PC was also lower after the treatment, but was not statistically significant (p=0.0554). There is, however, lack of agreement, because improvement is not consistent and there is wide variation in the treatment regimens, on the dose and duration of treatment and whether mono or combined oral antioxidants should be administered. Always keep on mind that, antioxidants are not free from potential side effects “antioxidant paradox”.


Author(s):  
Anjali Tarai ◽  
Kali Prasad Pattnaik ◽  
Kumar Haraprasad Mishra

Background: In Multi drug resistant falciparum malaria anti-malarial combinations are frequently used i.e. Quinine and IV Artesunate. Quinine is associated with electrocardiographic disturbances. Artesunate in high dose produce QTC prolongation in animal models, so the electrocardiogram (ECG) is thoroughly studied.Methods: Severe falciparum malaria cases 15 to 60 years were randomly allocated into 3 treatment regimens i.e. Artesunate, Quinine alone and their combination. Electrocardiographic recordings were taken periodically in 3 groups and compared statistically.Results: The mean QTC interval is significantly prolonged in combination treatment group from 0.40+0.02 to 0.49+0.09 (P<0.05) ECG disturbance (44%). QTC prolongation was commonest (i.e. 27%) with electrolyte imbalance could produce life threatening cardiac arrhythmia (Polymorphic VT with Sr K+ 2.9). Artesunate alone was list prone (i.e. only 6%) Quinine though has comparatively more (i.e. 25%) but there is no life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia in artesunate and Quinine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Ziwen Tong ◽  
Jingru Shi ◽  
Yuqian Jia ◽  
Tian Deng ◽  
...  

AbstractAntimicrobial resistance has been a growing concern that gradually undermines our tradition treatment regimens. The fact that few antibacterial drugs with new scaffolds or targets have been approved in the past two decades aggravates this crisis. Repurposing drugs as potent antibiotic adjuvants offers a cost-effective strategy to mitigate the development of resistance and tackle the increasing infections by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Herein, we found that benzydamine, a widely used non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug in clinic, remarkably potentiated broad-spectrum antibiotic-tetracyclines activity against a panel of clinically important pathogens, including MRSA, VRE, MCRPEC and tet(X)-positive Gram-negative bacteria. Mechanistic studies showed that benzydamine dissipated membrane potential (▵Ψ) in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which in turn upregulated the transmembrane proton gradient (▵pH) and promoted the uptake of tetracyclines. Additionally, benzydamine exacerbated the oxidative stress by triggering the production of ROS and suppressing GAD system-mediated oxidative defensive. This mode of action explains the great bactericidal activity of the doxycycline-benzydamine combination against different metabolic states of bacteria involve persister cells. As a proof-of-concept, the in vivo efficacy of this drug combination was evidenced in multiple animal infection models. These findings indicate that benzydamine is a potential tetracyclines adjuvant to address life-threatening infections by MDR bacteria.


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