Phytochemistry: ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil.

Newly pressed extra-virgin olive oil contains oleocanthal--a compound whose pungency induces a strong stinging sensation in the throat, not unlike that caused by solutions of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen. We show here that this similar perception seems to be an indicator of a shared pharmacological activity, with oleocanthal acting as a natural anti-inflammatory compound that has a potency and profile strikingly similar to that of ibuprofen. Although structurally dissimilar, both these molecules inhibit the same cyclooxygenase enzymes in the prostaglandin-biosynthesis pathway.

Performance and retention of basic life support skills improve with a peer-led training program.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pharmacy students' performance and retention of Basic Life Support (BLS) skills were evaluated 120 days after completion of a peer-led BLS training program. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: This was a single-center, parallel group, observational study. Doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students in their third professional year completed a peer-led BLS training program (n = 148) and participated in a high-fidelity mannequin simulation activity 120 days later. Students were randomly assigned to rapid response teams (n = 24) of five to six members and the American Heart Association's standardized form for BLS assessment was used to assess BLS skills performance. The performance of skills was compared to that of students two years prior to the implementation of the peer-led BLS program. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION: Students who received peer-led BLS training demonstrated retention of BLS skills 120 days after the BLS training program. The teams also displayed significant improvement of the skills evaluated when compared to student teams prior to implementation of the peer-led training (n = 22). Improvement was demonstrated for assessment of responsiveness (96% vs. 41%, p < 0.001), assessment for breathing (100% vs. 32%, p < 0.001), assessment for pulse (96% vs. 36%, p < 0.001), and administration of appropriate ventilation (100% vs. 32%, p < 0.001). Numerical superiority was exhibited for high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) initiation by teams who received peer-led training (100% vs. 86%, p = 0.101). SUMMARY: Students who received peer-led BLS training demonstrated significant improvement in BLS skills performance and retention 120 days after the training program. Data suggests that peer-led BLS training can improve student BLS skills performance and retention.

Adenosine Signaling Increases Proinflammatory and Profibrotic Mediators through Activation of a Functional Adenosine 2B Receptor in Renal Fibroblasts.

Interstitial renal fibrosis is a major pathophysiological manifestation of patients diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) and other inflammatory diseases. Adenosine signaling is an innate autocrine and paracrine cellular signaling pathway involving several key mediators that are elevated in the blood and kidneys of patients with DN. In these studies, we hypothesized that extracellular adenosine signals through one or more functional adenosine GPCRs on renal fibroblasts which increases profibrotic and proinflammatory mediators by inducing an activated fibroblast phenotype. Utilizing the renal fibroblast cell line NRK-49F, the presence and relative abundance of adenosine receptors (AR) A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 were quantified by RT-PCR. Under normal homeostatic conditions, only AR1 and AR2B were detected. The functionality of each receptor was then assessed by receptor specific pharmacological agonism and antagonism and assessed for modulation of the GPCR associated secondary messenger molecule, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Agonism of the AR2B receptor resulted in increased intracellular cAMP while agonism of the AR1 receptor inhibited cAMP modulation. Upon direct agonism of the AR2B receptor, transcripts for profibrotic and inflammatory mediators including SMA-α, IL-6, TGF-ß, CTGF, and fibronectin were elevated between 2-4 fold. These data indicate that renal fibroblasts express a functional AR1 receptor that inhibits cAMP upon stimulation, leading to a functional AR2B receptor that increases cAMP upon stimulation and also induces an activated fibroblast phenotype resulting in increased fibrotic and inflammatory mediators.

A pharmaceutical industry elective course on practice experience selection and fellowship pursuit by pharmacy students.

OBJECTIVE: To design and implement 2 pharmaceutical industry elective courses and assess their impact on students' selection of advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) and pursuit of pharmaceutical industry fellowships. METHODS: Two 2-credit-hour elective courses that explored careers within the prescription and nonprescription pharmaceutical drug industries were offered for second- and third-year pharmacy students in a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree program. RESULTS: The impact of the courses on pharmacy students' pursuit of a pharmaceutical industry fellowship was evaluated based on responses to annual graduating students' exit surveys. A greater percentage (17.9%) of students who had taken a pharmaceutical industry elective course pursued a pharmaceutical industry fellowship compared to all PharmD graduates (4.8%). Of the students who enrolled in pharmaceutical industry APPEs, 31% had taken 1 of the 2 elective courses. CONCLUSION: Exposure to a pharmaceutical industry elective course within a college or school of pharmacy curriculum may increase students' interest in pursuing pharmaceutical industry fellowships and enrolling in pharmaceutical industry APPEs.

In vitro investigation of integrin-receptor antagonist-induced vascular toxicity in the mouse.

An αVß3 receptor antagonist (SB-273005) induced unique vascular lesions in the aorta of mice, but not other pharmacologically responsive species. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) necrosis was observed ~6 h postdose followed by VSMC loss with no evidence of hemorrhage/thrombosis, inflammation or damage to endothelium. Since direct drug-induced vascular toxicity is uncommon, involvement of VSMC-endothelial cell (EC) interactions was hypothesized. In vitro model systems of murine aortic VSMC and EC monocultures and cocultures were established and used to investigate the mechanism of toxicity. Incubation of cultures with SB-273005 within a dose range and timeframe comparable to in vivo studies, showed a concentration-dependent decrease in viability with increases in cytotoxicity for monocultures and VSMC/EC cocultures; however, VSMC monocultures responded at lower doses (were most sensitive) suggesting a direct effect on VSMC which is not mediated or enhanced through EC/VSMC interactions. Further studies revealed increased caspase-9 and caspase-3/7 activation in VSMC beginning as early as 0.5 and 1h following treatment, respectively. These findings suggest SB-273005 causes direct chemical vascular toxicity in murine VSMC which involves apoptosis mediated through the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report to provide a link between VSMC apoptosis and treatment with an αVß3 receptor antagonist.

A selective Akt inhibitor produces hypotension and bradycardia in conscious rats due to inhibition of the autonomic nervous system.

Akt is a serine-threonine kinase that is amplified in a variety of human cancers, and as with other anticancer agents, some Akt inhibitors have produced functional cardiovascular effects such as marked hypotension that may limit their clinical benefit. Although identified in preclinical studies, the mechanism(s) responsible for these effects are often not fully characterized; potential targets include Akt signaling disruption in cardiac tissue, vascular smooth muscle, and/or autonomic system signaling. A selective Akt inhibitor was found to produce a rapid and marked hypotension and bradycardia in conscious rats. Isolated right atrial tissue and isolated thoracic aortic rings were used to examine direct effects of Akt inhibition on cardiac and vascular tissues, respectively. In addition, rats surgically prepared with telemetry units for monitoring blood pressure and heart rate were used to investigate potential effects on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Whereas this Akt inhibitor did not produce any significant effect on atrial tissue, it did cause vasorelaxation of aortic rings. More significantly, in conscious rats, the Akt inhibitor inhibited the neural pressor response to the known nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) agonist dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP). In fact, the response observed was comparable to the response observed with the known ganglionic blocker hexamethonium. Thus, the hypotension and bradycardia produced by the Akt inhibitor is primarily due to blockade of nAchRs in autonomic ganglia. This finding highlights the importance of evaluating the ANS for cardiovascular effects associated with new chemical entities as well as suggesting a novel direct effect of an Akt inhibitor on nAchRs.

Carotenoids normally present in serum inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation of a human monocyte/macrophage cell line (U937).

Carotenoids, plant pigments with potent antioxidant activity, are implicated in chronic disease protection. They are absorbed from the diet and transported by plasma lipoproteins. Monocytes, as circulating blood cells, are exposed to carotenoid-rich lipoproteins. Such exposure may lead to enrichment with carotenoids and may affect the functions of monocyte-derived macrophages. This study explored the effect of cellular enrichment in vitro with beta-carotene, lycopene, or lutein on monocyte/macrophage function, using U937 cells as a model. Cell proliferation, production of reactive oxygen species, and cell-substrate adhesion were examined. Maximal carotenoid levels in medium supplemented with preenriched human serum were 2-8 mumol/L; incubation for 1-6 d resulted in 0.2-1.1 nmol carotenoid/mg cell protein (0.25-1 nmol/10(6) cells), approximately 10-fold more than that reported in normal tissue in vivo but within the range that might be anticipated with dietary supplementation. beta-Carotene, lycopene, and lutein markedly inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells, to an extent similar to or greater than that due to phorbol myristic acetate, a known differentiation/activation agent. Lycopene, but not beta-carotene or lutein, caused a significant increase in reactive oxygen species, indicating the induction of cell differentiation. Adhesion and LDL oxidation were unaffected. Thus, cellular carotenoids inhibit proliferation, and for lycopene at least, this may involve cell differentiation. The effectiveness of lycopene, a nonprovitamin A carotenoid, is consistent with a vitamin A-independent pathway modulating cell function.

Carotenoid uptake and secretion by CaCo-2 cells: beta-carotene isomer selectivity and carotenoid interactions.

In presence of oleate and taurocholate, differentiated CaCo-2 cell monolayers on membranes were able to assemble and secrete chylomicrons. Under these conditions, both cellular uptake and secretion into chylomicrons of beta-carotene (beta-C) were curvilinear, time-dependent (2-16 h), saturable, and concentration-dependent (apparent K(m) of 7-10 microM) processes. Under linear concentration conditions at 16 h incubation, the extent of absorption of all-trans beta-C was 11% (80% in chylomicrons), while those of 9-cis- and 13-cis-beta-C were significantly lower (2-3%). The preferential uptake of the all-trans isomer was also shown in hepatic stellate HSC-T6 cells and in a cell-free system from rat liver (microsomes), but not in endothelial EAHY cells or U937 monocyte-macrophages. Moreover, extents of absorption of alpha-carotene (alpha-C), lutein (LUT), and lycopene (LYC) in CaCo-2 cells were 10%, 7%, and 2.5%, respectively. Marked carotenoid interactions were observed between LYC/beta-C and beta-C/alpha-C. The present results indicate that beta-C conformation plays a major role in its intestinal absorption and that cis isomer discrimination is at the levels of cellular uptake and incorporation into chylomicrons. Moreover, the kinetics of cellular uptake and secretion of beta-C, the inhibition of the intestinal absorption of one carotenoid by another, and the cellular specificity of isomer discrimination all suggest that carotenoid uptake by intestinal cells is a facilitated process.