Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 2001
To compare the use of patient-performed peak expiratory flow (PEFR) and symptom monitoring as ast... more To compare the use of patient-performed peak expiratory flow (PEFR) and symptom monitoring as asthma self-management tools initiated from community pharmacies. 110 patients over 6 years of age were recruited from five private-sector community pharmacies. Patients were identified from pharmacist recall as having 'asthma'. Information on the frequency of their asthma symptoms, medication use, level of physical activity, school or work attendance and lung function was obtained using a questionnaire to classify patients as either mild, moderate or severe. Each patient was alternately assigned to either the symptom or PEFR monitoring procedure in the order they were recruited. Patients performing symptom monitoring used a visual analogue scale to assess symptoms, whereas those in the PEFR monitoring group assessed symptoms and used a pocket-size peak flow meter to measure lung function. Both self-monitoring groups were required to adhere to an individualized management plan based on guideline recommendations and to record their monitored data in a diary card for 2 months. Data from the diary cards were reviewed, collated, transcribed and analysed using the Student t and Mann-Whitney tests. The average monthly frequency of appropriate patient responses determined from their adherence to the self-management plan was used to compare the usefulness of symptom and PEFR self-monitoring. In particular, appropriate use of medication and need for medical consultation was compared. 21 symptom and 40 PEFR-assigned patients completed 2 months' monitoring. The average monthly frequency of appropriate responses in patients using PEFR (0.76) was significantly higher than that of patients using symptom monitoring (0.53, P < 0.006). Patients applying symptom monitoring had a higher monthly frequency (0.39) of inappropriate medication use compared to the PEFR group (0.14). Furthermore, the patients' mean daily symptom scores (2.85) were significantly lower than that estimated by the researcher (4.12, P < 0.03). For all three asthma severity groups a higher monthly average of appropriate responses was observed in patients using PEFR monitoring compared to those who used symptom monitoring. PEFR self-monitoring proved to be a more useful asthma tool than symptom self-monitoring. Patients applying symptom monitoring tend to underestimate the severity of their condition and use medication inappropriately. Active involvement of community pharmacists in facilitating and reinforcing out-patient self-monitoring would help to optimize asthma management.
The effects of some noradrenergic agents, phenobarbitone, diazepam and phenytoin on seizures prod... more The effects of some noradrenergic agents, phenobarbitone, diazepam and phenytoin on seizures produced by propranolol were investigated in mice. Isoprenaline and DL-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) effectively antagonized the seizures elicited by propranolol. Pargyline and imipramine significantly attenuated propranolol-induced seizures and also significantly potentiated the protecting effect of DOPS against the seizures. α-Methyl-p-tyrosine, disulfiram and reserpine significantly potentiated propranolol-elicited seizures. However, DOPS significantly antagonized the seizure-potentiating effects of α-methyl-p-tyrosine, disulfiram and reserpine. Phenylephrine, clonidine, prazosin, idazoxan, phenobarbitone, diazepam and phenytoin did not significantly alter propranolol-induced seizures. These results suggest that propranolol-induced seizures in mice may involve a noradrenergic mechanism mediated via central β-adrenoceptors.
ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was e... more ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Purpose. To evaluate and classify the hydrolases of the primate lung. Methods. Homologous series ... more Purpose. To evaluate and classify the hydrolases of the primate lung. Methods. Homologous series of aromatic, aliphatic, and choline ester substrates were assayed with the pH-stat method to obtain the Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants, Vmax and Km, for the enzymes in pulmonary alveolar tissue with esterase activity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was employed to determine the number of such hydrolytic enzymes. Inhibition studies with selective esterase inhibitors were carried out to classify enzymes as either arylesterases, carboxylesterases, or cholinesterases. Results. Aromatic, aliphatic, and choline ester drugs were hydrolyzed by alveolar tissue of the primate lung. The catalytic enzymes were more specific for aromatic esters since these were metabolized at faster rates than the other substrates. Aromatic ester hydrolysis was also inhibited by triorthocresylphosphate (TOCP), a potent inhibitor of carboxylesterases. Inhibitors of arylesterases and cholinesterases had minimal effect on the enzymic hydrolysis of all substrates. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated three enzymes to have esterolytic activity, two (MWs 269 and 281 kDa) of which were sensitive to TOCP and are therefore carboxylesterases. The third enzyme (MW 34 kDa), was unaffected by esterase inhibitors and, thus, cannot be classified as an esterase. Conclusions. Primate pulmonary alveolar tissue contains two isozymes of carboxylesterases.
Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Sutherlandia frutescens led to the isolation of four... more Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Sutherlandia frutescens led to the isolation of four new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl-containing flavonol glycosides, sutherlandins A-D ( 1- 4). Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods as quercetin 3- O- beta- D-xylopyranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 1), quercetin 3- O- beta- D-apiofuranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 2), kaempferol 3- O- beta- D-xylopyranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 3), and kaempferol 3- O- beta- D-apiofuranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 4).
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 2001
To compare the use of patient-performed peak expiratory flow (PEFR) and symptom monitoring as ast... more To compare the use of patient-performed peak expiratory flow (PEFR) and symptom monitoring as asthma self-management tools initiated from community pharmacies. 110 patients over 6 years of age were recruited from five private-sector community pharmacies. Patients were identified from pharmacist recall as having 'asthma'. Information on the frequency of their asthma symptoms, medication use, level of physical activity, school or work attendance and lung function was obtained using a questionnaire to classify patients as either mild, moderate or severe. Each patient was alternately assigned to either the symptom or PEFR monitoring procedure in the order they were recruited. Patients performing symptom monitoring used a visual analogue scale to assess symptoms, whereas those in the PEFR monitoring group assessed symptoms and used a pocket-size peak flow meter to measure lung function. Both self-monitoring groups were required to adhere to an individualized management plan based on guideline recommendations and to record their monitored data in a diary card for 2 months. Data from the diary cards were reviewed, collated, transcribed and analysed using the Student t and Mann-Whitney tests. The average monthly frequency of appropriate patient responses determined from their adherence to the self-management plan was used to compare the usefulness of symptom and PEFR self-monitoring. In particular, appropriate use of medication and need for medical consultation was compared. 21 symptom and 40 PEFR-assigned patients completed 2 months' monitoring. The average monthly frequency of appropriate responses in patients using PEFR (0.76) was significantly higher than that of patients using symptom monitoring (0.53, P < 0.006). Patients applying symptom monitoring had a higher monthly frequency (0.39) of inappropriate medication use compared to the PEFR group (0.14). Furthermore, the patients' mean daily symptom scores (2.85) were significantly lower than that estimated by the researcher (4.12, P < 0.03). For all three asthma severity groups a higher monthly average of appropriate responses was observed in patients using PEFR monitoring compared to those who used symptom monitoring. PEFR self-monitoring proved to be a more useful asthma tool than symptom self-monitoring. Patients applying symptom monitoring tend to underestimate the severity of their condition and use medication inappropriately. Active involvement of community pharmacists in facilitating and reinforcing out-patient self-monitoring would help to optimize asthma management.
The effects of some noradrenergic agents, phenobarbitone, diazepam and phenytoin on seizures prod... more The effects of some noradrenergic agents, phenobarbitone, diazepam and phenytoin on seizures produced by propranolol were investigated in mice. Isoprenaline and DL-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) effectively antagonized the seizures elicited by propranolol. Pargyline and imipramine significantly attenuated propranolol-induced seizures and also significantly potentiated the protecting effect of DOPS against the seizures. α-Methyl-p-tyrosine, disulfiram and reserpine significantly potentiated propranolol-elicited seizures. However, DOPS significantly antagonized the seizure-potentiating effects of α-methyl-p-tyrosine, disulfiram and reserpine. Phenylephrine, clonidine, prazosin, idazoxan, phenobarbitone, diazepam and phenytoin did not significantly alter propranolol-induced seizures. These results suggest that propranolol-induced seizures in mice may involve a noradrenergic mechanism mediated via central β-adrenoceptors.
ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was e... more ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Purpose. To evaluate and classify the hydrolases of the primate lung. Methods. Homologous series ... more Purpose. To evaluate and classify the hydrolases of the primate lung. Methods. Homologous series of aromatic, aliphatic, and choline ester substrates were assayed with the pH-stat method to obtain the Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants, Vmax and Km, for the enzymes in pulmonary alveolar tissue with esterase activity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was employed to determine the number of such hydrolytic enzymes. Inhibition studies with selective esterase inhibitors were carried out to classify enzymes as either arylesterases, carboxylesterases, or cholinesterases. Results. Aromatic, aliphatic, and choline ester drugs were hydrolyzed by alveolar tissue of the primate lung. The catalytic enzymes were more specific for aromatic esters since these were metabolized at faster rates than the other substrates. Aromatic ester hydrolysis was also inhibited by triorthocresylphosphate (TOCP), a potent inhibitor of carboxylesterases. Inhibitors of arylesterases and cholinesterases had minimal effect on the enzymic hydrolysis of all substrates. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated three enzymes to have esterolytic activity, two (MWs 269 and 281 kDa) of which were sensitive to TOCP and are therefore carboxylesterases. The third enzyme (MW 34 kDa), was unaffected by esterase inhibitors and, thus, cannot be classified as an esterase. Conclusions. Primate pulmonary alveolar tissue contains two isozymes of carboxylesterases.
Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Sutherlandia frutescens led to the isolation of four... more Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Sutherlandia frutescens led to the isolation of four new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl-containing flavonol glycosides, sutherlandins A-D ( 1- 4). Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods as quercetin 3- O- beta- D-xylopyranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 1), quercetin 3- O- beta- D-apiofuranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 2), kaempferol 3- O- beta- D-xylopyranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 3), and kaempferol 3- O- beta- D-apiofuranosyl(1 --> 2)-[6- O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]- beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 4).
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