Pharmacology Books

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Book SynopsisTamoxifen was first approved in 1977 and up to now remains a noteworthy therapeutic weapon to treat mainly breast cancer. However, further considerations exist regarding the tamoxifen profile. This book discusses recent research and future perspectives in the tamoxifen field. The topics discussed include tamoxifen pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse effects, clinical indications, therapeutic drug monitoring, autophagy mechanisms, tamoxifen topical formulation and breast cancer risk prevention, the use of tamoxifen in an oestrogen-independent manner for various neoplasms (Hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, high grade glioma), mechanisms of resistance, potential role of CYP2D6, tamoxifen and antidepressants interaction in a psychiatric view, obesity influence in tamoxifen treatment, electrical pulse-mediated tamoxifen delivery, and tamoxifen in melanoma treatment.

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Book SynopsisCongress has exhibited a strong and ongoing interest in facilitating the development of new, innovative pharmaceuticals for the marketplace while reducing the cost of drugs to consumers. Policies pertaining to funding for research and development (R&D), intellectual property protection, and co-operative ventures have played an important role in the economic success of the pharmaceutical sector. Industry-specific legislation, also work to encourage innovation in the pharmaceutical sector while facilitating the entry of lower cost generic competition. While many factors contribute to innovation in the brand pharmaceutical industry and its ability to bring new and inventive products to the marketplace, this sector is facing significant issues associated with loss of revenue for additional R&D due to patent expirations and generic competition. This book examines the challenges associated with striking the proper balance between lower cost drugs and maintaining an innovative domestic pharmaceutical sector.

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Book SynopsisRising health care costs have for many years focused congressional attention upon the development and availability of prescription drugs. Recently, the presence of "authorised generic" pharmaceuticals in the drug marketplace has been the subject of congressional concern. An "authorised generic" is a pharmaceutical that is marketed by or on behalf of a brand-named drug company, but is sold under a generic name. The brand-name firm may distribute the drug under its own auspices or via a license to a generic drug company. The price of this "authorised copy" is ordinarily lower than that of the brand-name drug. Some sources refer to authorised generics as "branded," "flanking," or "pseudo" generics." This book presents an analysis of the innovation and public health issues relating to authorised generic drugs beginning with a review of the procedures through which independent generic drug companies receive government permission to market their products and resolve patent disputes with brand-name firms and consumer welfare.

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Book SynopsisThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the approval and regulation of drugs entering the U.S. market. Two regulatory frameworks support the FDA''s review of prescription drugs. First, FDA reviews the safety and effectiveness of new drugs that manufacturers wish to market in the United States; this process is called pre-market approval or pre-approval review. Second, once a drug has passed that threshold and is FDA-approved, FDA acts through its post-market or post-approval regulatory procedures. This book is a primer on drug approval and regulation. It describes how drugs are approved and come to market, including the FDA''s role in that process and the FDA and industry roles once drugs are on pharmacy shelves.

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Book SynopsisLearning and understanding how medicine acts, what the body does to the drug, with both the beneficial and potentially deleterious effects it has, are among the key steps in becoming a pharmacist. Scientific disciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, genetics, biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry are required to clearly and complexly understand the concepts of general pharmacology. This book provides current, readable, necessary background information of this branch of basic pharmacology. It reviews the underlying mechanisms of action of drugs; which factors influence the fate of the drug administered to the organism; and how they can be modulated by a concomitant disease and other therapy. In addition, basic principles of drug interactions are also discussed. This book will be applicable and adaptable to various educational programs for pharmacists and other medical professionals.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors discuss the principles, methodology and emerging challenges of drug development. Topics include outsourcing and technology transfer in pharmaceutical companies; analytical tools and chemometrics in the drug development process; the use of cytometry for drug development of cell cycling inhibitors; and the antiproliferative effects of phenolic compounds isolated from the Brazilian propolis.

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Book SynopsisThe past quarter-century has seen tremendous progress in biomedical research, leading to increasing understanding of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other devastating diseases. The Nation has led the world in such progress, due in significant part to wise investments by the Federal Government in basic biomedical research. These breakthroughs are beginning to pay off in terms of new therapies for American patients. Still, the pace of new therapeutic development has not kept up with the explosion in scientific knowledge. The number of novel drugs has remained constant for several decades, even though R&D budgets have substantially increased. This situation poses an increasing challenge for ensuring the creation of innovative therapies for patients and throughout the biomedical ecosystem. This book examines the efforts being made to double over the next decade, the rate of invention of innovative new medicines for patients, while increasing drug safety, in the hopes that these actions will advance the health of Americans, as well as provide economic growth for the Nation.

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Book SynopsisValproic acid (VPA) is a short chain fatty acid which has been used medicinally to treat conditions as far reaching as epilepsy, Bipolar disorder, migraines, and cancer. In this book, the authors research the pharmacology, mechanisms of action and clinical implications of valproic acid. Topics discussed include novel applications of the anticonvulsant drug valproic acid in cancer therapeutics; VPA treatment for epilepsy; use of fish models in fetal valproate syndrome studies; prenatal valproic acid exposure correlating with the occurrence of autism; and using 3D spheroids to determine the acute and chronic lethal thresholds of valproic acid.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors present topical research in the study of the clinical pharmacology, medical uses, and adverse effects of ibuprofen. Topics discussed include the occurrence, ecotoxicity and water remediation technologies of ibuprofen in the aquatic environment; associated adverse drug reaction in ibuprofen use; hybrid multifunctional ibuprofen drugs; a pharmaceutical nanotechnology approach to ibuprofen delivery; vibrational dynamics and chiral properties of racemate and pure enantiomers of ibuprofen complexed in cyclodextrins; therapeutic effects of ibuprofen on transgenic mice models of neurodegenerative diseases; and the use of ibuprofen for pain relief in gynaecology.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors present new developments in the study of antibiotic therapy. Topics discussed include analgesia and sedation in severe sepsis and septic shock; combining antibiotics and photosensitisers in antibacterial treatment; biofilm formation and bacterial pathogenesis; and heliobacter pylori antibiotic resistance and the use of phage therapy.

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Book SynopsisImatinib has brought a revolution in the management of Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a disease which had very limited therapeutic options including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and interferon-alpha 10 years ago. The clinical success of imatinib in CML and gastrointestinal tumors (GIST) has brought up a new paradigm in cancer therapy that has very broad potentials. Imatinib is active against a number of related tyrosine kinases, namely ABL, BCR-ABL, KIT, PFGFR, and TEL. Now, as more than a decade has passed since the approval of Imatinib, and after the change of CML from a rapidly fatal disease to a more chronic and manageable disease, we wanted to have a look back at what we know about the drug and its effect on various body systems. Its efficacy, side effects and how to manage its use in non-hematological malignancies is discussed in detail. Gathering all this information in one book will be of immense benefit for healthcare workers including physicians, pharmacists and nurses and this in turn will help them improve the care of their patients. It will also benefit pharmacists who are a source of clinical and pharmacological knowledge. For people undertaking research in the field of hemato-oncology or pharmacology, this will be a useful starting point for reviewing the literature. Imatinib is still being studied in patients in the clinic and laboratory models, and researchers are assessing the use of imatinib in other cancers. The editors have tried to allow information in book chapters to show different aspects and various view points on related issues.

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Book SynopsisDexamethasone is a potent, long-term acting synthetic glucocorticoid class of steroid drugs that have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties. The authors in this book discuss the therapeutic uses, mechanisms of action and potential side effects of dexamethasone. Topics include dexamethasone for the treatment of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS); dexamethasone effects in hyperinfection syndrome due to strongyloidiasis; dexamethasone use in retinal disease and anti-tumour activities; perioperative uses of dexamethasone; comparison between cortisol and dexamethasone negative feed-back action in humans; the effect of dexamethasone on parathyroid hormone-related protein expression by oral cancer cells; and the effects of dexamethasone on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.

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Book SynopsisRibavirin has been studied for over 20 years as a potential therapy against a number of RNA and DNA viruses. It is well known that Ribavirin in combination with Interferon is a key antiviral component in the treatment of Hepatitis C virus infection. In this book, the authors discuss the biochemistry, clinical applications and potential side effects of Ribavirin. Topics include optimising Ribavirin use for the treatment of Hepatitis C; Ribavirin and its great potential in infectious diseases; the antiviral actions of Ribavirin; a novel prediction method for the responsiveness of Hepatitis C patients to drug treatment; and Ribavirin''s intolerable cough during HCV combination therapy which can be overcome by replacement with Nitazoxanide.

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Book SynopsisVincristine is a naturally occurring alkaloid isolated from the leaves of the plant Catharanthus roseus. It has a wide range of clinical applications. Extracts of the plant have found application in wound healing, in the treatment of diabetic ulcers and diabetes mellitus, and in cancer chemotherapy. In this book, the authors discuss the clinical uses, pharmacokinetics and impacts on health of Vincristine. Topics discussed include Vincristine as an inductor of drug resistance marker expression in neoplastic cells; clinical utility of Vincristine in the treatment of human carcinomas; inadvertent intrathecal administration of Vincristine; and Vincristine''s mechanism of anti-tumor activity.

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Book SynopsisThis book, published in two volumes, Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively, represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date collection of current literature on angiotensin inhibition and related topics in medicine, nephrology and cardiovascular medicine ever compiled. Top experts in the various fields of nephrology, hypertension, cardiovascular medicine, pharmacotherapeutics and related fields from all five continents have contributed essays, original papers, reviews and editorial opinions to this volume. This book has turned out to be the most authoritative reference source on ACEIs, with contributions made by leading experts in their various fields of medicine, from the USA, Europe, including the United Kingdom, South America, Australia-New Zealand, Asia including Japan, and Africa. Critically vital clinical topics are covered in this book by top world-renowned experts in different subspecialties, including classic topics such as the efficacy of ACE inhibition as an antihypertensive among the various ethnicities and races, as written from American, African, Caribbean and European perspectives. This volume should indeed serve as a major literature reference text for physicians in general, internists, researchers, cardiologists and hypertension specialists, and especially the practitioners of the art of nephrology in all the countries around the world. Medical students and various physician training programs should reach for a copy of this volume as a research and teaching tool for many years to come. There is also a place here for research scientists in the pharmaceutical industry to review current and newly emerging indications for angiotensin inhibition and the future of reno-protection.

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Book SynopsisCompounding has been traditionally defined as a process where a pharmacist or a physician combines, mixes, or alters ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient. Traditionally compounded drugs (CDs) are made in response to an individual prescription from a licensed health provider in the context of a pharmacist''s and health care professional''s relationship with a specific patient. This book provides background information on CDs and non-traditional compounding pharmacies relevant to policy discussions. This book will also examine the FDA''s regulation of drug compounding and will discuss relevant legal authorities. Specifically, the status of FDA''s authority to oversee drug compounding, and the gaps, if any, between state and federal authority will be discussed, as well as how FDA has used its data and authority to oversee drug compounding, and the actions taken or planned by states or national pharmacy organisations to improve oversight of drug compounding.

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Book SynopsisGemcitabine was synthesised in the 1980s at Lilly Research Laboratories (Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, IN). It was initially developed as an antiviral agent, but it had an extremely narrow therapeutic index due to its cytotoxicity against the parental cell lines. As it presented wide activity against various solid tumors it was then evaluated as an anticancer drug. This pyrimidine antimetabolite was firstly approved in 1996 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. It is currently used for the treatment of many other malignancies such as lung cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, bladder cancer, mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. This book discusses the molecular pharmacology, and the pharmacogenetics of gemcitabine. It also discusses the antineoplastic mechanism of gemcitabine on tumour cells; the systemic adverse effects; and provides detail on the clinical uses gemcitabine has on breast cancer.

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Book SynopsisBuprenorphine was introduced in the United States as an injectable analgesic in 1981 and treatment option for opioid dependence in 2002; a transdermal formulation was approved for pain management in 2010. Following the introduction of this variety of dosage forms, buprenorphine use and misuse have increased significantly. This book begins by reviewing the pharmacology of buprenorphine and co-ingredient naloxone; its use in addiction medicine and pain management; and clinical challenges, with special emphasis on drug-drug interactions (pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic), safety concerns, and buprenorphine misuse. The book continues to discuss the role of buprenorphine as an analgesic; the application of buprenorphone in acute and chronic pancreatitis; and the substitution maintenance treatment of opioid dependence with buprenorphine and naloxone.

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Book SynopsisExamples of plant-derived pharmaceuticals that have become the focus of continuous and exponential research and development interest have, to date, been somewhat scarce. After a long period, the last two decades have been characterized by a 100-fold increase in the number of scientific articles published annually that are of relevance to the use of curcumin in biomedicine. Today, the already-wide spectrum of potential clinical applications of this natural drug and its synthetic derivatives continues to grow, including chemoprevention and the treatment of cancers, inflammatory and immune diseases, diabetes, bacterial and viral infections, parasitosis, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Over the last two decades, numerous findings have confirmed the safety of curcumin, both in preclinical and clinical studies. Its physicochemical properties, low bioavailability and rapid metabolism have, however, somewhat limited its potential therapeutic applications. To overcome these limitations, the last few years have seen an impressive development of research on analogs, prodrugs and nanostructured systems, a number of which are already demonstrating improved properties compared with the parent structure. In parallel, new administration routes have been explored, and additional pharmacological properties have been documented, leading in particular to promising prospects for pain management.

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Book SynopsisZoledronic acid is a third generation bisphosphonate which is administered intravenously once yearly at a dose of 5mg for multiple reasons including the treatment of post-menopausal women with osteoporosis to reduce the incidence of vertebral, hip and non-vertebral fractures and to increase bone mineral density (BMD), the prevention of clinical fractures after hip fracture in women and men, treatment of osteoporosis in men, prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO), the prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis (in the US) and the treatment of Paget''s disease of the bone. This book discusses the clinical uses, therapeutic effects and pharmacokinetics of zoledronic acid.

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Book SynopsisStatins are well-known drugs to lower cholesterol levels and play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. They inhibit hydroxymethylglutarylcoenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase, an enzyme that plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver. Despite the growing experience in the use of statins, it is still difficult to predict the individual patient response in term of efficacy and possible adverse effects. This book discusses several medical uses for statins. It also discusses the mechanisms of action and clinical outcomes of using statins.

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Book SynopsisFor an American in the 21st century, it is hard to imagine the world before antibiotics. At the beginning of the 20th century, as many as nine women out of every 1,000 who gave birth died, 40 percent from sepsis. In some cities as many as 30 percent of children died before their first birthday. One of every nine people who developed a serious skin infection died, even from something as simple as a scrape or an insect bite. Pneumonia killed 30 percent of those who contracted it; meningitis killed 70 percent. Ear infections caused deafness; sore throats were not infrequently followed by rheumatic fever and heart failure. Surgical procedures were associated with high morbidity and mortality due to infection. This picture changed dramatically with three major developments: improvements in public health, vaccines, and antibiotics. Over the course of the 20th century, deaths from infectious diseases declined markedly and contributed to a substantial increase in life expectancy. Antibiotics, in particular, have saved millions of lives. This book discusses combating antibiotic resistance and provides reports to the presidents and national strategies.

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Book SynopsisThe drug package that a community pharmacist hands to a patient, or a hospital pharmacist sends to a patient''s bedside, or a physician administers in the medical office has reached the end of a complicated path. That path is called a supply or distribution chain. The upstream portion of the chain includes the journey of each active and inactive ingredient and their chemical components to the manufacturer that creates the finished drug product. The downstream chain, which this report addresses, includes the repackagers, wholesale distributors, associated storage and transport companies, and, finally, the dispenser. Dispensers include independent community or chain pharmacies, hospitals or other health care facilities, and physicians'' offices. Usually the supply chain provides consumers with unadulterated prescription drugs. However, the chain is potentially vulnerable, and when it breaks, a dispenser might provide a counterfeit product containing no active ingredient, less-than-labelled dosage, or a dangerous substitution. The dispenser might also provide a mishandled or diverted drug that has become sub- or superpotent or has gone past its expiration Usually the supply chain provides consumers with unadulterated prescription drugs. However, the chain is potentially vulnerable, and when it breaks, a dispenser might provide a counterfeit product containing no active ingredient, less-than-labelled dosage, or a dangerous substitution. The dispenser might also provide a mishandled or diverted drug that has become sub- or superpotent or has gone past its expiration. This book serves as a primer on pharmaceutical supply chain issues. It describes the chain from manufacturer13 to patient, including where it is vulnerable; summarises current federal law, regulation, and FDA policies that Congress and the agency designed to protect the integrity of the final drug product, and indicates where those protections may falter; notes state-level and professional association activities; and discusses areas that Congress, FDA, and industry, health care, and patient stakeholders have suggested might be changed to increase the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

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Book SynopsisAdenosine is a ubiquitous adenine base purine that mediates diverse biological and physiological processes in the cardiovascular system, both in cardiac and vascular tissues. Adenosine was reported to be involved in smooth muscle contraction, neurotransmission/neuromodulation, immune response and inflammation, platelet aggregation and modulation of cardiac function. Adenosine availability, in the extracellular space, depends on its release from a variety of cell types, as a result of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) enzymatic breakdown of both intra- and extracellular adenine nucleotides and intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine. This book discusses the pharmacology, functions and therapeutic aspects of adenosine receptors.

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Book SynopsisThis text contains seven chapters, five of which are original articles. One of them deals with the invention and development of cyclophosphamide, mechanisms of action and side effects while a separate chapter deals with the management of hemorrhagic cystitis, the most important and serious side effect after using the drug at high doses. Other chapters deal with the clinical application in metastatic breast cancer and the role of cyclophosphamide in improving breast cancer microenvironment through mobilization of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow. The idea of metronomic chemotherapy in combination with Aromatase inhibitors (AI) in breast cancer with bone metastasis is also explained in this book. Cyclophosphamide may replace Ifosfamide in case of an Ifosfamide shortage in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. Finally, the drug that forms one of the back bones of the ACEP protocol used to treat the aggressive Peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma is described by the authors.

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Book SynopsisThis book, published in two volumes, Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively, represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date collection of current literature on angiotensin inhibition and related topics in medicine, nephrology and cardiovascular medicine ever compiled. Top experts in the various fields of nephrology, hypertension, cardiovascular medicine, pharmacotherapeutics and related fields from all five continents have contributed essays, original papers, reviews and editorial opinions to this volume. This book has turned out to be the most authoritative reference source on ACEIs, with contributions made by leading experts in their various fields of medicine, from the USA, Europe, including the United Kingdom, South America, Australia-New Zealand, Asia including Japan, and Africa. Critically vital clinical topics are covered in this book by top world-renowned experts in different subspecialties, including classic topics such as the efficacy of ACE inhibition as an antihypertensive among the various ethnicities and races, as written from American, African, Caribbean and European perspectives. This volume should indeed serve as a major literature reference text for physicians in general, internists, researchers, cardiologists and hypertension specialists, and especially the practitioners of the art of nephrology in all the countries around the world. Medical students and various physician training programs should reach for a copy of this volume as a research and teaching tool for many years to come. There is also a place here for research scientists in the pharmaceutical industry to review current and newly emerging indications for angiotensin inhibition and the future of reno-protection.

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Book SynopsisThis book, published in two volumes, Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively, represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date collection of current literature on angiotensin inhibition and related topics in medicine, nephrology and cardiovascular medicine ever compiled. Top experts in the various fields of nephrology, hypertension, cardiovascular medicine, pharmacotherapeutics and related fields from all five continents have contributed essays, original papers, reviews and editorial opinions in this volume. This book has turned out to be the most authoritative reference source on ACEIs, with contributions made by leading experts in their various fields of medicine, from the USA, Europe, including the United Kingdom, South America, Australia-New Zealand, Asia including Japan, and Africa. Critically vital clinical topics are covered in this book by top world-renowned experts in different subspecialties, including classic topics such as the efficacy of ACE inhibition as an antihypertensive among the various ethnicities and races, as written from American, African, Caribbean and European perspectives. This volume should indeed serve as a major literature reference text for physicians in general, internists, researchers, cardiologists and hypertension specialists, and especially the practitioners of the art of nephrology in all the countries around the world. Medical students and various physician training programs should reach for a copy of this volume as a research and teaching tool for many years to come. There is also a place here for research scientists in the pharmaceutical industry to review current and newly emerging indications for angiotensin inhibition and the future of reno-protection.

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Book SynopsisDrugs (medicines) are considered either the primary therapy or an adjunct to another modality. Physicians of all specialties prescribe drugs on a daily basis, and therefore they need to understand the mode and action by which drugs exert their therapeutic effects. Written records of the use of natural products as medicinal agents date back thousands of years. However, it was not until the early 1800''s that the active principles from plants were isolated. Since then thousands of drugs have been introduced to the drug''s market. With advances in drug design, molecular biology and genetics, the rate of developing new potent drugs is accelerated. Due to the vast progress in drug development and discovery, medical and pharmacy students, doctors, nurses and pharmacists in training need to learn the principles of therapeutics in order to follow up with the frequent changes in the therapeutics and adapt to them. With contributions from some of my colleagues, this book provides a clear and concise overview of the most important commonly used drugs with emphasis on the pharmacology aspects necessary for a basic understanding of the subject. It reviews the concepts, clinical applications, dosage forms, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and side effects of a large number of drugs used to alleviate pain, lower cholesterol levels, and treat bacterial infections, diabetes, osteoporosis, bleeding, psoriasis and multiple Sclerosis. This book, with over 750 references, is an excellent pharmacology text for the student who is looking to broaden his/her strengths prior to the exam. The beauty of this text is that it includes essential pharmacology concepts in a compact book that can be quickly referenced and read multiple times during the course of a student''s studies. In addition, this guide assists scientists trained in molecular biology, medicinal chemistry and related fields who need to know the basic theories, principles and practical applications of pharmacology. With the addition of pharmacokinetics coverage, ways to improve the bioavailability of commonly used drugs and sections on therapeutics that will help readers identify with diseases and drug treatments, this book provides better preparation of researchers in the basics of pharmacology.

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Book SynopsisArterial hypertension is one of the most important preventable contributors to disease and death, and is commonly treated with antihypertensive drugs combined with appropriate changes in life-style. The first chapter focuses on the options in the enantioseparation of antihypertensive drugs, the synthesis of single enantiomers and chiral aspects of their action and dispositions. The second chapter of this book examines the potential genotoxic effects of five Angiotensin II receptor blockers, analysed in vivo and in vitro in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The third chapter includes a general description about polymorphism and some techniques used in polymorphism characterisation. Then, the specific description of some antihypertensive drugs that present polymorphism phenomena are introduced. Finally, hypertension is by far the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In this book, the authors discuss the ethnic/racial peculiarities in the incidence, pathophysiology and management of hypertension in the black hypertensive patient.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents an overview of recent developments for an "old drug", simvastatin. It belongs to the class of statins, the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia or related diseases, being considered of superior effectiveness for that purpose. Now, millions of patients benefit from the use of simvastatin in preventing coronary heart disease (25 million in 2005 in the United States alone). Additionally, simvastatin has been recently identified as a multifaceted drug, addressing different physiological and pathological conditions, thus extending beyond the conventional cholesterol-dependent mechanisms. It has triggered the development of new strategies in order to promote the respective delivery through novel routes of administration. In this book, a comprehensive selection of topics is presented, encompassing aspects that firstly include chemical synthesis, pharmacology and pharmacoeconomics. In the second part, several delivery systems for new therapeutic areas are explored. These comprise of nanoemulsions administered through the parenteral route, nanostructured lipid carriers for transdermal delivery and supramolecular systems for local applications. Cancer therapy and bone regeneration are some of the therapeutic targets addressed along with the classical treatment of hypercholesterolemia, now in drug combination therapies. This book benefits from the participation of recognised experts from different areas. These include researchers from pharmaceutical technology, pharmacology, synthetic chemistry, and members of regulatory boards.

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Book SynopsisCorticosteroids (CS) are naturally occurring biomolecules produced in the adrenal cortex and have a multitude of roles which includes carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, inflammation and regulation of water, electrolyte etc. Based on their functions, steroids are classified as glucocorticoids and/or mineralocorticoids, and only the former have anti-inflammatory properties which have been chemically modified to produce potent anti-inflammatory drugs which also retain the metabolic and bone effects of the primary chemical. This book provides new research which includes the role of corticosteroids in diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, adenoids, chronic subdural hematoma, osteonecrosis, and autoimmune diseases.

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Book SynopsisThis book highlights recent advances in beta blockers research. Beta blockers have been used for the treatment of several clinical conditions and it is of paramount importance to understand their role and applications. Chapters of the book were written by experts in the fields of vascular disease, plastic surgery, cardiovascular medicine, pharmaceutical medicine and physiology from various countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and New Zealand. Clinical topics on recent advances in beat-blockers research covered in this book include the clinical effectiveness of beta-blockers in patients with peripheral arterial disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, object memory recognition, portal hypertension and infantile haemangioma. These chapters were written by authors who are experts in their fields and by researchers who are most up-to-date in the recent literature on advances in beta-blockers research.

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Book SynopsisThere is a growing interest in coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and its involvement in many aspects of daily living including physical and mental health, energy, aging, stress, skin care and exercise. This book aims to highlight our current understanding of CoQ10 in each of these areas by presenting a selection of topics that clearly illustrates its role in both health and disease. Each chapter provides a specialist''s insight into the subject whilst being written in a manner that is accessible to the non-CoQ10 expert. Is CoQ10 deficiency a contributor to heart disease, depression or migraines? Can taking CoQ10 supplements reduce symptoms of menopause, increase exercise tolerance or make our skin look younger? What is known about the genetics of CoQ10 biosynthesis? These are just some of the questions addressed in this book: which of them is fact and which is fiction?

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Book SynopsisThe role of adenosine and adenosine receptors in normal cell physiology and in diseases has been an area of active research over the last several decades. The field has advanced from the use of limited tools to examine receptor signaling and function to the use of various molecular and receptor knockout techniques to examine the details of the expression and functions and regulation of these receptors. This book highlights important milestones in adenosine receptor research and reviews recent findings from experts in different research areas. Several research areas, ranging from cardiovascular, cancer, and central nervous system research are discussed. Several of the chapters describe how understanding the basic cellular mechanisms regulated by adenosine could lead to the development of important therapeutics. The editors, Vickram Ramkumar and Roberto Paes-de-Carvalho, have published extensively on adenosine receptors for more than two decades and are still active in this field of research. It is our hope that this book provides an excellent synopsis of the current status of adenosine receptor research which would be valuable for researchers in the field and as a reference source for clinicians and others interested in this area.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides basic and applied knowledge about monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), their classification, and clinical application as neuroprotective agents and will be a valuable source of new knowledge for doctors, patients, medical students, teachers, researchers, and basic biomedical scientists interested in learning the appropriate clinical application of MAOIs without any misunderstanding for the prevention and/or treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The book will be of immediate interest to patients suffering from Parkinson''s disease (PD), Alzheimer''s disease (AD), post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), panic disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), and major depression. Physicians interested in learning more about MAOIs and their molecular and pharmacological mechanism of action will highly benefit from the book''s clinically-interesting contents. In general, this book will be a valuable source of knowledge for the basic researcher, clinically useful for the physician, and therapeutically-beneficial for the patients. The book can also serve as a guide for Masters and Ph.D students interested in conducting research on MAOIs. Particularly, MD doctors, students, and professors will find this book interesting to enhance their basic knowledge about MAOIs and their potential benefits and adverse effects for the better clinical management of drug-resistant PD, AD, and MDDs. Furthermore, recent knowledge regarding the molecular mechanism of MAOIs-mediated protection at the cellular, molecular, and genetic level is thought-provoking and motivates the young scientists to augment research on developing novel drugs with minimum or no adverse effects. It is envisaged that future research on specific CB-targeted MAOIs will have superior pharmacogenomics profiles, enhanced margin of safety, maximum therapeutic index, and minimum or no adverse effects.''

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Book SynopsisOxytocin (OT), a hormone with a well-known function in childbirth, breast milk secretion, formation of the mother-infant bonding process and social empathy, has recently been revisited from a systemic perspective to uncover possible links with or etiological characteristics of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Chapter one aims to provide an overview of the association of OT and its genetic polymorphisms with the most prevalent NCDs in the world population, seeking to integrate it to the thrifty phenotype hypothesis throughout the ontogenetic process. Chapter two examines the experimental evidence accumulated over the last few decades which indicates that oxytocin can play a beneficial role in cardiovascular control. Chapter three studies recent evidence that demonstrates intranasal inhalation of oxytocin improves face-processing. The final chapter contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the age-related changes in body composition, sexual, and feeding behavior, in which oxytocin and cortisol probably play a relevant role.

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a set of chapters which describes the procedure for drug treatment of the principal diseases that older people suffer from. In the pharmacological concept, it has been established that pharmacokinetics is the most useful strategy to determine the prime schedule of different medications for seniors. These strategies can be applied in a clinic or nursing home as well as in a home. The initial chapter describes optimising this technique, continuing with a description of the most common illnesses due to old age. The next chapter discusses deep concepts of pharmacokinetics. Afterwards, some examples of pharmacokinetics studies are described. The text finishes with a description based on previous studies about the patterns of drug consumption in older individuals. The authors hope this material can be useful first to aid the elderly population and can motivate the investigation of pharmacokinetic studies, since this material is lacking in the global context.

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Book SynopsisThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety and effectiveness of drugs sold on the U.S. market. When there is an unmet need for the treatment of a serious condition, FDA may use one or more of its expedited programs, such as fast track and breakthrough therapy designation, which are intended to bring drugs to market more quickly. FDA is also responsible for monitoring the safety of drugs and reporting on those efforts. This book examines the number and types of requests for fast track or breakthrough therapy designation; the number and types of FDA-approved drug applications that used an expedited program; and the extent to which FDAs data on tracked safety issues and postmarket studies allowed the agency to meet its reporting and oversight responsibilities.

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