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Anatomical Science International Jan 2024Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is an agent that is contained in common cold medications. The agent, which is used to treat cold and cough, is the fourth most prescribed drug...
Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is an agent that is contained in common cold medications. The agent, which is used to treat cold and cough, is the fourth most prescribed drug group in some countries. During pregnancy, expectant mothers use PSE for colds and other reasons. One out of every four expectant mothers use PSE alone or in combination with other medicines for various reasons. This study was aimed to investigate effects of PSE on long bones development in rat during fetal growth. Pregnant rats were divided into five groups: control and four experimental groups (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg PSE). Between 1 and 20 days of pregnancy, PSE was given to them by gavage. Weights and heights of fetuses isolated by cesarean on the 21st day were measured. Ossification of femur and humerus was examined by three different methods mentioned earlier. Depending on the dose increase, all morphometric data, ossification rate and bone length of the fetuses were decreased. Besides, it was determined that the amount of Calcium in the bone tissue decreased in the analyzes made with SEM-EDX Analysis. The data obtained from this study reveal that the use of PSE during pregnancy disrupts the existing balance in the bone and negatively affects ossification due to the dose increase. In conclusion, we present descriptive and novel data on the effects of PSE use during pregnancy on the bone development of rat fetal long bones.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Rats; Animals; Pseudoephedrine; Bone and Bones; Osteogenesis; Fetus; Bone Development
PubMed: 37389734
DOI: 10.1007/s12565-023-00733-7 -
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo... Apr 2023Shegan Mahuang Decoction has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years, and is a classical formula for treating asthma and other respiratory diseases, with...
Shegan Mahuang Decoction has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years, and is a classical formula for treating asthma and other respiratory diseases, with the effects of ventilating lung, dispersing cold, and relieving cough and asthma. This paper summarized the history, clinical application and mechanism of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, and predicted its quality markers(Q-markers) based on the "five principles" of Q-markers. The results suggested that irisflorentin, tectoridin, tectorigenin, irigenin, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, asarinin, methyleugenol, shionone, epifriedelanol, tussilagone, 6-gingerol, trigonelline, cavidine, schizandrin, and schizandrin B could be used as Q-markers of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, which provided a basis for the quality control and subsequent research and development of Shegan Mahuang Decoction.
Topics: Humans; Ephedra sinica; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Asthma; Lung; Cough
PubMed: 37282895
DOI: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20230302.201 -
Journal of Clinical and Translational... Jun 2023Acute ischemic colitis (IC) has been linked with the use of oral decongestants. However, clinical evidence on this association remains limited. We aim to evaluate the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Acute ischemic colitis (IC) has been linked with the use of oral decongestants. However, clinical evidence on this association remains limited. We aim to evaluate the occurrence and clinical outcomes of acute IC following over-the-counter (OTC) use of pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Embase databases between inception and July 20, 2022. Specific search terms were used. The inclusion criteria consisted of English-language articles describing acute IC secondary to pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine.
RESULTS
A total of 18 case reports (level of clinical evidence: IV) fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The mean age of patients was 51.6 ± 15.3 years, with 14 (77.8%) cases reported in women. The clinical presentation was mainly related to abdominal pain 16 (88.9%), hematochezia 15 (83.3%), and/or abdominal tenderness 10 (55.6%). The medical background showed that 5 (27.8%) patients were previously healthy. In the 13 (72.2%) patients with comorbidities, hypertension 6 (46.2%), a history of tobacco use 5 (38.5%), and psychiatric illnesses 4 (30.8%) were commonly reported. Leukocytosis was encountered in 13 (72.2%) patients. Diagnostic investigations included a combination of computed tomography scan and colonoscopy in 10 (55.6%), colonoscopy alone in 6 (33.3%), and flexible sigmoidoscopy in 1 (5.6%) patient. Colonoscopic biopsy was the mainstay of diagnosis in 15 (83.3%) patients. Treatment was based on supportive care in 18 (100%), concurrent antibiotic use in 2 (11.1%), and surgical intervention in 1 (5.6%) patient. Recurrent episodes of IC occurred in 4 (22.2%) patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Acute IC secondary to oral decongestants remains a rare but important clinical phenomenon. Clinical suspicion and imaging findings are important for the early diagnosis.
RELEVANCE TO PATIENTS
In unexplained cases of IC, clinicians should specifically inquire about oral decongestants since they are OTC and patients commonly fail to reveal their usage. These drugs should be avoided for transient cold symptoms, especially in women.
PubMed: 37275581
DOI: No ID Found -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and the inflammatory mechanism plays a crucial role in stroke-related brain injury and post-ischemic...
Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and the inflammatory mechanism plays a crucial role in stroke-related brain injury and post-ischemic tissue damage. Xiaoxuming decoction (XXMD) is the first prescription for the treatment of "zhongfeng" (a broad concept referring to stroke) in the Tang and Song Dynasties of China and has a significant position in the history of stroke treatment. Through the study of ancient medical records and modern clinical evidence, it is evident that XXMD has significant efficacy in the treatment of stroke and its sequelae, and its pharmacological mechanism may be related to post-stroke inflammation. However, XXMD contains 12 medicinal herbs with complex composition, and therefore, a simplified version of XXMD, called Xiaoxuming decoction cutting (XXMD-C), was derived based on the anti-inflammatory effects of the individual herbs. Therefore, it is necessary to explore and confirm the anti-inflammatory mechanism of XXMD-C. Based on the previous experiments of our research group, it was found that both XXMD and XXMD-C have anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced microglia, and XXMD-C has a better anti-inflammatory effect. Since miRNAs in exosomes also participate in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, and traditional Chinese medicine can regulate exosomal miRNAs through intervention, this study aims to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of XXMD-C in the treatment of post-stroke inflammation through transcriptome sequencing, providing a basis for the application of XXMD-C. XXMD-C was extracted using water and filtered through a 0.22 μm membrane filter. The main chemical components of the medicinal herbs in XXMD-C were rapidly qualitatively analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Cell viability was determined using the CCK-8 assay, and an LPS-induced BV-2 cell inflammation model was established. The expression of inflammatory cytokines was detected using ELISA and Western blot (WB). Extracellular vesicles were extracted using ultracentrifugation, and identified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis, and WB. Differential miRNAs were screened using smallRNA-seq sequencing, and validated using RT-PCR and Western blot. The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis revealed that representative components including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, cinnamaldehyde, baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, and ginsenoside Rg1 were detected in XXMD-C. The results of ELISA and WB assays showed that XXMD-C had a therapeutic effect on LPS-induced inflammation in BV-2 cells. TEM, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and WB results demonstrated the successful extraction of extracellular vesicles using high-speed centrifugation. Differential miRNA analysis by smallRNA-seq identified miR-9-5p, which was validated by RT-PCR and WB. Inhibition of miR-9-5p was found to downregulate the expression of inflammatory factors including IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and TNF-α. The study found that XXMD-C has anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Through smallRNA-seq sequencing of extracellular vesicles, miR-9-5p was identified as a key miRNA in the mechanism of XXMD-C for treating neuroinflammation, and its anti-inflammatory mechanism deserves further investigation.
PubMed: 37266151
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1183612 -
BMJ Case Reports Apr 2023We describe a man in his 40s with a history of chronic intranasal cocaine use and C5-C7 incomplete quadriplegia complicated by neurogenic orthostatic hypotension,...
We describe a man in his 40s with a history of chronic intranasal cocaine use and C5-C7 incomplete quadriplegia complicated by neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, admitted to the intensive care unit for worsening bradycardia and hypotension requiring initiation of dopamine and an increase of his home midodrine dose. The patient experienced refractory bradycardia and hypotension with weaning of dopamine, and therefore a recommendation was made to add pseudoephedrine to his current regimen. This case describes the addition of pseudoephedrine to facilitate weaning off intravenous vasopressors within 24 hours in a patient with refractory bradycardia and hypotension secondary to autonomic dysfunction.
Topics: Male; Humans; Pseudoephedrine; Bradycardia; Dopamine; Hypotension; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Midodrine
PubMed: 37185313
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-253274 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Apr 2023Seizures are common neurological emergencies in the elderly that are frequently provoked. Geriatrics have higher rates of neurological disorders and other comorbidities...
BACKGROUND
Seizures are common neurological emergencies in the elderly that are frequently provoked. Geriatrics have higher rates of neurological disorders and other comorbidities that could affect seizure threshold.
CASE PRESENTATION
An 83-year-old male Arabic patient presented to the emergency department with an acute confusional state and urinary incontinence followed by a witnessed tonic-clonic seizure in the hospital. Thorough investigations and imaging were positive only for nonspecific magnetic resonant imaging findings with a negative electroencephalogram. The patient was diagnosed with provoked seizure due to over-the-counter cold medications that included pseudoephedrine and caffeine. He was not prescribed antiepileptic medications at discharge and did not develop subsequent seizures up to this date.
CONCLUSION
Over-the-counter cough and cold medications with sympathomimetic ingredients can be associated with provoked seizures in the elderly. Physicians should be aware of the potentially serious adverse events associated with commonly used nonprescription sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine and caffeine in elderly patients.
Topics: Male; Humans; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cough; Pseudoephedrine; Caffeine; Seizures; Anticonvulsants
PubMed: 37118829
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-023-03912-2 -
Heliyon Mar 2023The ground state molecular energy, vibrational frequencies and HOMO-LUMO analysis of the title compound have been calculated with density functional theory in the...
The ground state molecular energy, vibrational frequencies and HOMO-LUMO analysis of the title compound have been calculated with density functional theory in the B3LYP/6-311 + G (d,p) basis set using Gaussian 09 W software. The FT-IR spectrum of pseudoephedrine has been computed in the gas phase and in the presence of solvent water both in neutral and anionic structures. The TED assignments of the vibrational spectra have been assigned in the selected intense region. On isotopic substitution of carbon atoms, the shifting of frequencies is distinctly observed. The reported values and HOMO-LUMO mappings reveal the possibility of different charge transfers occurring within the molecule. A MEP map is depicted and the Mulliken atomic charge is also calculated. The UV-Vis spectra have been illustrated and explained from the frontier molecular orbitals using a TD-DFT approach.
PubMed: 37101481
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14801 -
PloS One 2023Ephedra sinica Stapf. is a shrubby plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine due to its high level of medicinal value, thus, it is in high demand. Ephedrine (E)...
Ephedra sinica Stapf. is a shrubby plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine due to its high level of medicinal value, thus, it is in high demand. Ephedrine (E) and pseudoephedrine (PE) are key medicinal components and quality indicators for E. sinica. These two ephedrine-type alkaloids are basic elements that exert the medicinal effect of E. sinica. Recently, indiscriminate destruction and grassland desertification have caused the quantity and quality of these pharmacological plants to degenerate. Predicting potentially suitable habitat for high-quality E. sinica is essential for its future conservation and domestication. In this study, MaxEnt software was utilized to map suitable habitats for E. sinica in Inner Mongolia based on occurrence data and a set of variables related to climate, soil, topography and human impact. The model parametrization was optimized by evaluating alternative combinations of feature classes and values of the regularization multiplier. Second, a geospatial quality model was fitted to relate E and PE contents to the same environmental variables and to predict their spatial patterns across the study area. Outputs from the two models were finally coupled to map areas predicted to have both suitable conditions for E. sinica and high alkaloid content. Our results indicate that E. sinica with high-quality E content was mainly distributed in the Horqin, Ulan Butong and Wulanchabu grasslands. E. sinica with high-quality PE content was primarily found in the Ordos, Wulanchabu and Ulan Butong grasslands. This study provides scientific information for the protection and sustainable utilization of E. sinica. It can also help to control and prevent desertification in Inner Mongolia.
Topics: Humans; Ephedrine; Ephedra sinica; Alkaloids; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; China; Pseudoephedrine; Ephedra
PubMed: 37083689
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283967