Farmaceutické špecifiká v latinskej dizertačnej tlači De phthisi (O tuberkulóze) z roku 1679 od slovenského lekára Matúša Palumbiniho

The objective of the article is to present and analyse one part of the printed dissertation De phthisi (On Tuberculosis) by Matúš Palumbini, namely chapter VIII, Curatio perfecta (Perfect Treatment). Treatment of diseases in the 17th century was solely dependent on and linked to the medicinal products, many a time of exotic origin, prepared by pharmacists. In this regard our main research contribution is that it provides the then description of tuberculosis and elucidates the use and pecularities in its treatment. Simultaneously, we also present the author’s view over the treatment methods, which he identified as the most effective in tuberculosis. As follows from the text, all conceivable treatments and medications to treat tuberculosis in the 17th century were widely used and prescribed. Many abbreviations and alchemical symbols were mentioned in the dissertation, especially in the prescriptions. Each prescription contains drug components, their amount expressed in apothecary measures and weights, and finally instructions for drug preparation and use, including designation of the prepared drug and dosage instructions. The combinations of drug components in prescriptions (from herbal to animal and mineral ones) might currently seem bizarre, e.g. looh de pulmone vulpis – thick syrup from fox lungs, or lapides cancrorum – crayfish stones.

Triazavirin might be the new hope to fight Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Since the beginning of the outbreak, a large number of clinical trials have been registered worldwide, and thousands of drugs have been investigated to face new health emergency of highly contagious COVID-19 caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Drug repurposing, i.e., utilizing an approved drug for a different indication, offers a time- and cost-efficient alternative for making new (relevant) therapies available to physicians and patients. Considering given strategy, many approved and investigational antiviral compounds, alone or in various relevant combinations, used in the past to fight Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-1, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1, or Influenza viruses are being evaluated against the SARS-CoV-2. Triazavirin (TZV), a non-toxic broad--spectrum antiviral compound, is efficient against various strains of the Influenza A virus (Influenza Virus A, Orthomyxoviridae), i.e., swine flu (H1N1, or H3N2), avian influenza (H5N1, H5N2, H9N2, or highly pathogenic H7N3 strain), Influenza B virus (Influenza Virus B, Orthomyxoviridae), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Orthopneumovirus, Pneumoviridae), Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (known as Forest-Spring Encephalitis Virus; Flavivirus, Flaviviridae), West Nile Virus (Flavivirus, Flavaviridae), Rift Valley Fever Virus (Phlebovirus, Bunyaviridae), and Herpes viruses (Simplexviruses, Herpesviridae) as well. In regard to COVID-19, the molecule probably reduced inflammatory reactions, thus limiting the damage to vital organs and reducing the need for therapeutic support, respectively. In addition, in silico computational methods indicated relatively satisfactory binding affinities of the TZV ligand to both structural (E)- and (S)-proteins, non-structural 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3-CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 as well as human angiotensin-I converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2). The interactions between TZV and given viral structures or the ACE-2 receptor for SARS-CoV-2 might effectively block both the entry of the pathogen into a host cell and its replication. Promising treatment patterns of COVID-19 positive patients might be also based on a suitable combination of a membrane fusion inhibitor (umifenovir, for example) with viral RNA synthesis and replication inhibitor (TZV).

Influence of emulsification mode, stirring speed and volume on ibuprofen-loaded PLGA microparticles

Microparticles based on biodegradable synthetic lactic acid and glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) were successfully prepared by the solvent evaporation method. Ibuprofen was chosen as the model drug. Various formulation and process parameters have been used to prepare each sample with emphasis on size reduction. The effect of the emulsification method (direct emulsification or emulsification using an ULTRA-TURRAX or a NE-1000 dispenser), the volume of the aqueous phase (200, 800 ml) and the stirring speed of the emulsion system (600, 1000 rpm) on the characteristic properties of microparticles, such as encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and particle morphology, was observed. The resulting microparticles were evaluated by optical microscopy or laser diffraction and the dissolution test was performed. It was found that the sample prepared by direct emulsification with 800 ml of an aqueous phase at 600 rpm provided the most favorable results, meanwhile the emulsification pre-step using a homogenizer caused promising particle size reduction. Gradual emulsification was evaluated as inapplicable due to great losses.

Investigation of the effect of a modified fragment of neuropeptide Y on memory phases and extrapolation escape of animals

The article presents a study of the effect of a modified fragment of neuropeptide Y (H-L-Ile-L-Asn-L-Leu-L-Nle-L-SerL-Arg-L-Asn-L-Arg-L-Tyr-NH2 ) named nonapeptide NP9 on the memory phases and extrapolation escape of animals. The study was performed in th

Friction cost approach methodology in pharmacoeconomic analyses

he use of a societal perspective in pharmacoeconomic analyses is a widely discussed topic. One of the fundamental problems of using the social perspective is the inconsistency of indirect costs calculation. We searched published articles on the use and di

Postavení vitaminu D v primární a sekundární prevenci u ortopedických pacientů

The article discusses the effect of vitamin D on primary and secondary prevention of fractures and its effect on conditions after selected orthopaedic procedures. Fractures can be divided into traumatic, fatigue and pathological according to the cause. One of the complications of fracture is the formation of a nonunion. In addition to dealing with fractures, a total joint replacement is another common procedure in orthopaedic surgery. Because insufficient muscle strength can increase the risk of falls and thus result in a fracture, these topics are also mentioned in this article. Due to the impact of vitamin D deficiency on various musculoskeletal disorders, orthopaedic surgeons should pay more attention to the patient’s vitamin D status and be familiar with different strategies for preventing hypovitaminosis D, although clear evidence-based medical recommendations are still insufficient.

Specifický charakter léčiv a hodnota léčiv

Medicines are not ordinary consumer or industrial goods but goods of a specific nature. The article provides an overview of the fundamental characteristics that distinguish medicines from common consumer goods. Another essential attribute of the term medicine is its values (clinical, economic, human), which form a crucial concept of the medicine category.

Study of anabolic activity of dry extracts of leaves and rhizomes of Iris hungarica on a model of hydrocortisone-induced protein catabolism

This article presents the results of the study of the anabolic effect of dry extracts of Iris hungarica leaves and rhizomes on the model of hydrocortisoneinduced protein catabolism. Previous studies have established the presence of anabolic activity of dry extracts of Iris hungarica leaves and rhizomes in intact animals. Therefore, it was reasonable to study the effect of the experimental extracts on the state of protein metabolism, which is regulated by glucocorticoids. The model of hydrocortisoneinduced protein catabolism was used to determine anabolic activity for dry extracts of Iris hungarica leaves and rhizomes at a dose of 150 mg/kg by monitoring the recovery of body weight and the increase in the total protein in the cardiac muscle of rats and in muscle tissue homogenate, which is aimed to promote myofibrillar hypertrophy. Dry extract of Iris hungarica rhizomes reduced urea excretion, normalized metabolism, restored nitrogen balance, and inhibited protein catabolism. The results indicate that dry extract of Iris hungarica has the ability to correct protein metabolism, which is regulated in part by glucocorticoids, due to the high content of isoflavonoids and amino acids, and suggest that there is a potential use for this herbal product in the development of a new drug aimed at correcting protein metabolism and muscular atrophy.

68Ga-DOTATOC

The radiopharmaceutical 68Ga-DOTATOC represents the latest radiopharmaceutical in the diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumor with somatostatin receptor overexpression. Technological and economic difficulties of preparing and quality control of the radiopharmaceutical limit its use to specialised departments. Background of the department with rich experience with radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography allows handling more difficult 68Ga-radiopharmacy and may increase and improve the care of oncology patients.

Další vývoj obsahu Národní části Českého lékopisu 2017 v jeho doplňcích z pohledu přípravy léčiv v lékárnách

The paper deals with developing the national part of the Czech Pharmacopoeia 2017 (CL 2017) in its supplements from 2018, 2019, and 2020. It focuses on the preparation of medicinal products in pharmacies. The possibilities of further developing the national part of the CL 2017 to accelerate the necessary changes in its content are also discussed.