Treatment of acute rhinitis with a nasal spray containing tramazoline and essential oils: a multicenter, uncontrolled, observational trial

BACKGROUND: In this observational trial, data were collected on the effectiveness and tolerability/safety of a nasal spray containing tramazoline and essential oils (trade name Rhinospray((R)) Plus) used for symptomatic treatment of acute rhinitis due to common cold. METHODS: The trial was performed in 300 children, adolescents and adults, who were to be treated with Rhinospray((R)) Plus for up to 4 times per day for up to 10 days. Primary endpoints were the change from baseline to final visit in the mean of three single symptom scores (blocked nose, sneezing, and runny nose) and the mean improvement in two quality-of-life parameters (ability to perform normal daytime activities and quality of sleep). RESULTS: A total of 108 children, 30 adolescents and 162 adults were treated with Rhinospray((R)) Plus. No patient discontinued prematurely. There was a mean reduction of 2.0 +/- 0.6 (standard deviation) in nasal symptom scores from baseline to final visit; 297 of 300 of patients (99.0 %) reported an improvement. The mean value for improvement in quality-of-life parameters was 1.3 +/- 0.5. Improvement in daytime activities was reported by all 300 patients (100.0 %) and in quality of sleep by 292 patients (97.4 %). Effectiveness and tolerability were rated as 'very good' or 'good' by 95.4 % and 97.4 % of patients, respectively; the investigators rated effectiveness and tolerability as 'very good' or 'good' for 97.4 % and 100.0 % of patients, respectively. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based patients reported a relief in acute rhinitis symptoms and improvement in quality of life as a result of treatment with Rhinospray((R)) Plus. Treatment was well-tolerated

Diabetes Alters Intracellular Calcium Transients in Cardiac Endothelial Cells

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a diabetic complication, which results in myocardial dysfunction independent of other etiological factors. Abnormal intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) homeostasis has been implicated in DCM and may precede clinical manifestation. Studies in cardiomyocytes have shown that diabetes results in impaired [Ca2+]i homeostasis due to altered sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) and sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) activity. Importantly, altered calcium homeostasis may also be involved in diabetes-associated endothelial dysfunction, including impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation and a diminished capacity to generate nitric oxide (NO), elevated cell adhesion molecules, and decreased angiogenic growth factors. However, the effect of diabetes on Ca2+ regulatory mechanisms in cardiac endothelial cells (CECs) remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of diabetes on [Ca2+]i homeostasis in CECs in the rat model (streptozotocin-induced) of DCM. DCM-associated cardiac fibrosis was confirmed using picrosirius red staining of the myocardium. CECs isolated from the myocardium of diabetic and wild-type rats were loaded with Fura-2, and UTP-evoked [Ca2+]i transients were compared under various combinations of SERCA, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) and NCX inhibitors. Diabetes resulted in significant alterations in SERCA and NCX activities in CECs during [Ca2+]i sequestration and efflux, respectively, while no difference in PMCA activity between diabetic and wild-type cells was observed. These results improve our understanding of how diabetes affects calcium regulation in CECs, and may contribute to the development of new therapies for DCM treatment