Biochemical Aspects in Sera of Iraqi Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is one of the most commonly painful cranial neuralgia characterized by paroxysmal attacks as short lasting facial pain along the trigeminal nerve branches. The aim of the present study is to innovate a biochemical relationship between (melatonin, GALNT12 and Zn) and TN and also to examine the biochemical action of tegretol (carbamazepine) as a treatment on the above biochemical parameters. Blood samples were collected from fifty four (54) trigeminal neuralgia patients diagnosed by magnetic radiation image (MRI). Patients were classified into four groups: G3 (40- 70) years composed of (12) diagnosed male (without treatment), G4 (48- 75) years composed of (12) diagnosed female (without treatment), G5 (34- 76) years composed of (15) male under treatment with tegretol (200 mg /daily) and G6 (49-65) years composed of (15) female under treatment with tegretol (200 mg/ daily). Patients were compared with healthy subjects (have approximately the same range of age) as control groups: G1 composed of (15) males (43-70) years and G2 composed of (15) females (50-55) years. The present study is the first reporting that melatonin is a novel biochemical marker in Iraqi patients with TN (with significant and highly significant decrease in males and females respectively compared with healthy subjects). Also it is the first reporting that GALNT12 and Zn are novel biochemical markers in Iraqi patients with TN (with highly significant decrease in both genders compared with healthy subjects). The present study is the first highlighting and dealing with the biochemical action of tegretol (carbamazepine) on melatonin, GALNT12 and Zn by submitting unique and novel mechanisms. Finally the present study confirms the specific role of tegretol (carbamazepine) on postmenopausal women regarding melatonin, and GALNTI2 by focusing on its interaction with female sexual hormones.

UV synchrotron radiation linear dichroism spectroscopy of the anti-psoriatic drug anthralin

Anthralin (1,8-dihydroxyanthrone, 1,8-dihydroxy-9(10H)-anthracenone), also known as dithranol and cignolin, is one of the most efficient drugs in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases. The precise mode of biochemical action is not fully understood, but the activity of the drug is increased by the influence of UV radiation. In the present investigation, the UV absorption of anthralin is studied by synchrotron radiation linear dichroism (SRLD) spectroscopy on molecular samples partially aligned in stretched polyethylene, covering the near and vacuum UV regions with wavenumbers ranging from 23,000 to 58,000 cm–1(430–170 nm). The observed polarization spectra are well predicted by quantum chemical calculations using time-dependent density functional theory (TD–DFT). About a dozen spectral features are assigned to computed electronic transitions. The calculations support interpretation of the anomalous fluorescence of anthralin as a result of barrier-less excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) to the tautomer 8,9-dihydroxy-1(10H)-anthracenone.

Application of the game “drugs knowledge in action” as biochemical education strategies

INTRODUCTION: Different learning methods can be used to better assimilate program content. The biochemical mechanism of drugs in our body generally converts lipophilic chemical compounds into products more readily excreted. Its rate is an important determinant of the duration and intensity of the drug's pharmacological action. OBJECTIVES: To show the effect of drugs on the body through play as a teaching-learning tool. METHODOLOGY: For this understanding was applied a game for students of the 5th. Semester of Chemistry, in the discipline of Supervised Internship of the semesters of 2018.1 and 2019.2, totaling 24 participants. The game "Drugs Knowledge in Action" consists of 110 cards. It consists of a deck with three types of cards, drug effects, drug image and drug chemical formula. Each participant (in all 4) received five cards, consisting of three sets of different drug titles. The winner was the one who formed the three sets first.Each participant resorted to the block of cards and retired until it had at least 9 cards in the hand, when exceeding that number, the other cards should be discarded. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Biochemical action maps of these drugs were constructed throughout the game. When questioned with the application of a quick QUIZ on the subject, 57% reponed that they were not aware of the chemical formula of the drugs in question. When it came to the effects of these drugs, 89% said they knew them, but some effects are common to two or more drugs. As for drug metabolism in the body only 35% of the participants knew this subject. The majority of the group 87% stated that they have clarified many doubts on the subject. During the game participants exchanged many ideas and concepts about metabolism of drugs. CONCLUSION: The applied game and other methodologies offer greater knowledge to the students and concretely strengthen their learning.