Translational pharmacology: role and its impact

Translational Pharmacology is a newly evolved branch as an extension of clinical pharmacology. Translational Pharmacology aims to move the results of the molecular pharmacological research to the patient level, which is focussed on developing the new drug that correlates with the patient needs. The basic objective is to study the changing trends from experimental to clinical pharmacology. It also helps to gather data from the preclinical studies, so as to have accurate and effective dosing in the critical clinical trials. Thus, we can conclude that Translational Pharmacology tries to bridge the gap between the basic molecular research studies in pharmacology to the clinical trials. This also reduces the time and economic burden on research. Thus, it helps in translating the knowledge from the basic animal studies to the bedside patient studies

Effect of Sodium Valproate pretreatment on Apomorphine and Dexamphetamine induced Stereotyped Behavior in rats.

Sodium valproate a broad spectrum antiepileptic elevates the brain GABA levels. Studies have suggested regulatory role of GABA on dopaminergic neurons, which is evident by behavioral studies in animals that reveal functional interaction between GABAergic and DAergic systems. Hyperfunctioning of DAergic system in rats is responsible for occurrence of stereotyped behavior (SB) in them. Drugs like apomorphine (Apo) and amphetamine induce SB by acting directly or indirectly. GABA, by acting at different sites has shown to influence the dopaminergically mediated behaviors. Hence the study was taken up to investigate the effect of sodium valproate pretreatment on apomorphine and dexamphetamine induced SB in rats. Pretreatment with 100 to 400mg/kg sodium valproate did not antagonize the apomorphine induced SB, however pretreatment with 100 to 400mg/kg sodium valproate significantly antagonized SB induced by 10 & 15mg/kg dexamphetamine

Hepatoprotective effect of DL-methionine on diclofenac-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats: an experimental study

Background: Liver is the main detoxifying organ, which is affected by most of the drugs and xenobiotic agents that could result in liver damage. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of DL-Methionine against experimentally induced liver injury in albino rats.Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by administering high doses of positive control drug Diclofenac sodium in albino rats, which was confirmed by estimating Liver Function Tests. Hepatoprotective effect was determined by administering DL- Methionine concomitantly with positive control drug. Albino rats were administered with DL-Methionine (700 mg/kg and 1400 mg/kg) respectively as a single oral dose, concomitantly with positive control drug Diclofenac sodium (96 mg/kg and 240 mg/kg) respectively. After 24-hours of post-treatment, serum levels of the liver enzymes were evaluated to demonstrate the hepatoprotective effect of DL-Methionine on drug-induced hepatotoxicity, and all the liver samples were examined for the histopathological study.Results: Significant increase in serum transaminase enzymes were observed by the positive control drug Diclofenac sodium. There was significant reduction in the serum transaminases on concomitant administration of DL-Methionine with Diclofenac sodium. Liver injury induced by positive control drug; and its protection with DL-Methionine was revealed by histopathological study. The combination of Diclofenac sodium and DL-Methionine showed no significant histopathological difference when compared to the normal liver section.Conclusions: The results reveal that, DL-Methionine significantly prevented the rise in transaminases levels produced by hepatotoxic doses of the positive control drug

A study on management of type 2 diabetic patients with complications

Background: Diabetes is a major public health problem both in developing and non-developing countries across the world. It is a chronic disease, which in long term causes several complications resulting in poly pharmacy for its management. Hence, this study was determined to analyze the drug utilization pattern for the management of type 2 diabetes with complications.Methods: A prospective, observational and non-interventional study was carried out in 100 diabetic patients with one or other complications admitted in medicine wards at Dhiraj Hospital. Patients who signed informed consent form were only included in the study. All the data were recorded from patients’ case files and analyzed.Results: Result of total 100 patients, maximum number 52 (52%) were falling in group of 61-70 kg and only 2 (2%) in 81-90 kg. Out of 100 diabetic patients, 40 (40%) were managed with insulin in addition to oral antidiabetic agents, 37 (37%) were managed with only Oral Hypoglycemic Agents (OHA) and 23 (23%) were managed with only insulin. The most commonly prescribed oral antidiabetic group of drug was Biguanides in 60 (60%) and most prescribed insulin was short acting Insulin in 40 (40%) patients.Conclusions: The diabetic patients are more prone to cardiovascular and other complications leading to a co morbid condition. The poly pharmacy is likely to occur in diabetic patients suffering with secondary complications. Therefore, intense blood sugar control with proper education can prevent the co morbid state and finally helps in reducing the economic burden