Cystine reduces mitochondrial dysfunction in C2C12 myotubes under moderate oxidative stress induced by H2O2.

Moderate oxidative stress induces temporal impairment in mitochondrial ATP production. As glutathione (GSH) content is reduced to eliminate oxidative stress by oxidation-reduction reaction, intracellular GSH content is crucial for maintaining mitochondrial function under oxidative stress. GSH precursors such as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and cysteine are known to suppress oxidative stress based on the supply of cysteine residues being rate-limiting for GSH synthesis. However, it remains unclear whether cystine (Cys2) can suppress mitochondrial dysfunction under oxidative stress conditions. Therefore, we examined whether Cys2 could attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction under moderate oxidative stress without scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the medium. C2C12 myotubes were incubated for 120 min in a Cys2-supplemented medium and subsequently exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression, intracellular cysteine and GSH content, intracellular ATP level, and maximal mitochondrial respiration were assessed. Cys2 treatment significantly increased GSH content in a dose-dependent manner under oxidative stress. Cys2 treatment significantly decreased HO-1 expression induced by H2O2 exposure. In addition, maximal mitochondrial respiration rate was decreased by H2O2 exposure, but improved by Cys2 treatment. In conclusion, Cys2 treatment mitigates oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by maintaining GSH content under moderate oxidative stress without scavenging ROS in the medium.

Greater Amino Acid Intake Is Required to Maximize Whole-Body Protein Synthesis Immediately after Endurance Exercise Than at Rest in Endurance-Trained Rats, as Determined by an Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Method.

BACKGROUND: The indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has contributed to establishing protein and amino acid (AA) requirements by determining the optimal protein and AA intake that maximizes whole-body protein synthesis. However, it has not been used with endurance-trained subjects. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the optimal AA intake immediately after endurance exercise and at rest in endurance-trained rats by using the IAAO method. METHODS: Four-week-old male Fischer rats were divided into a sedentary (SED) group and a trained (TR) group, which underwent treadmill training 5 d/wk for 6 wk at 26 m/min for 60 min/d. On the metabolic trial day, half of the TR group was provided with test diets after daily treadmill running (TR-PostEx). The other half of the TR group (TR-Rest) and all of the SED group were provided with test diets while at rest. The test diets contained different amounts of AAs (3.3-37.3 g ⋅ kg(-1) ⋅ d(-1)). Phenylalanine in the test diet was replaced with L-[1-(13)C]phenylalanine. The phenylalanine oxidation rate (PheOx) was determined with (13)CO2 enrichment in breath, CO2 excretion rate, and enrichment of phenylalanine in blood during the feeding period. The optimal AA intake was determined with biphasic mixed linear regression crossover analysis for PheOx, which identified a breakpoint at the minimal PheOx in response to graded amounts of AA intake. RESULTS: The optimal AA intake in the TR-PostEx group (26.8 g ⋅ kg(-1) ⋅ d(-1); 95% CI: 21.5, 32.1 g ⋅ kg(-1) ⋅ d(-1)) was significantly higher than in the SED (15.1 g ⋅ kg(-1) ⋅ d(-1); 95% CI: 11.1, 19.1 g ⋅ kg(-1) ⋅ d(-1)) and TR-Rest (13.3 g ⋅ kg(-1) ⋅ d(-1); 95% CI: 10.9, 15.7 g ⋅ kg(-1) ⋅ d(-1)) groups, which did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: Greater AA intake is required to maximize whole-body protein synthesis immediately after endurance exercise than at rest, but not at rest in endurance-trained rats.

Quantification of multiple respiratory viruses in wastewater in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: Potential implications of wastewater-based epidemiology for community disease surveillance in developing countries.

Despite being the major cause of death, clinical surveillance of respiratory viruses at the community level is very passive, especially in developing countries. This study focused on the surveillance of three respiratory viruses [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A virus (IFV-A), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)] in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, by implication of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). Fifty-one untreated wastewater samples were from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) between April and October 2022. Among eight combinations of the pre-evaluated methods, the combination of concentration by simple centrifugation, pretreatment by DNA/RNA Shield (Zymo Research), and extraction by the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN) showed the best performance for detecting respiratory viruses. Using this method with a one-step reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), SARS-CoV-2 RNA was successfully detected from both WWTPs (positive ratio, 100 % and 81 %) at concentrations of 5.6 ± 0.6 log10 copies/L from each WWTP. Forty-six SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive samples were further tested for three mutation site-specific one-step RT-qPCR (L452R, T478K, and E484A/G339D), where G339D/E484A mutations were frequently detected in both WWTPs (96 %). IFV-A RNA was more frequently detected in WWTP A (84 %) compared to WWTP B (38 %). RSV RNA was also detected in both WWTPs (28 % and 8 %, respectively). This is the first study on detecting IFV-A and RSV in wastewater in Nepal, showing the applicability and importance of WBE for respiratory viruses in developing countries where clinical data are lacking.

Detection of enteroviruses related to hand foot and mouth disease in wastewater of Asian communities.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is contagious and predominantly affects children below the age of five. HFMD-associated serotypes of Enterovirus A (EVA) family include EVA71, Coxsackievirus A type 6 (CVA6), 10 (CVA10), and 16 (CVA16). Although prevalent in numerous Asian countries, studies on HFMD-causing agents in wastewater are scarce. This study aimed to conduct wastewater surveillance in various Asian communities to detect and quantify serotypes of EVA associated with HFMD. In total, 77 wastewater samples were collected from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam from March 2022 to February 2023. The detection ratio for CVA6 RNA in samples from Vietnam was 40 % (8/20). The detection ratio for CVA6 and EVA71 RNA each was 25 % (5/20) for the Indonesian samples, indicating the need for clinical surveillance of CVA6, as clinical reports have been limited. For the Philippines, 12 % (2/17) of the samples were positive for CVA6 and EVA71 RNA each, with only one quantifiable sample each. Samples from Thailand had a lower detection ratio (1/20) for CVA6 RNA, and the concentration was unquantifiable. Conversely, CVA10 and CVA16 RNAs were not detected in any of the samples. The minimum and maximum concentrations of CVA6 RNA were 2.7 and 3.9 log10 copies/L and those for EVA71 RNA were 2.5 and 4.9 log10 copies/L, respectively. This study underscores the importance of wastewater surveillance in understanding the epidemiology of HFMD-associated EVA serotypes in Asian communities. Long-term wastewater surveillance is recommended to monitor changes in dominant serotypes, understand seasonality, and develop effective prevention and control strategies for HFMD.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant RNA in wastewater samples from Manila, Philippines.

Manila, a highly urbanized city, is listed as one of the top cities with the highest recorded number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines. This study aimed to detect and quantify the RNA of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the Omicron variant in 51 wastewater samples collected from three locations in Manila, namely Estero de Santa Clara, Estero de Pandacan, which are open drainages, and a sewage treatment plant (STP) at De La Salle University-Manila, between July 2022 and February 2023. Using one-step reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant RNA were detected in 78 % (40/51; 4.9 ± 0.5 log10 copies/L) and 60 % (24/40; 4.4 ± 0.3 log10 copies/L) of wastewater samples collected from all sampling sites, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected frequently at Estero de Santa Clara (88 %, 15/17); its highest concentration was at the STP (6.3 log10 copies/L). The Omicron variant RNA was present in the samples collected (4.4 ± 0.3 log10 copies/L) from all sampling sites, with the highest concentration at the STP (4.9 log10 copies/L). Regardless of normalization, using concentrations of pepper mild mottle virus RNA, SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations exhibited the highest positive correlation with COVID-19 reported cases in Manila 5 days after the clinical report. These findings revealed that wastewater-based epidemiology may aid in identifying and monitoring of the presence of pathogens in open drainages and STPs in the Philippines. This paper provides the first documentation on SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron variant in wastewater from Manila.

Wastewater monitoring in tourist cities as potential sentinel sites for near real-time dynamics of imported SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) complements the clinical surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants' distribution in populations. Many developed nations have established national and regional WBE systems; however, governance and budget constraints could be obstacles for low- and middle-income countries. An urgent need thus exists to identify hotspots to serve as sentinel sites for WBE. We hypothesized that representative wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in two international gateway cities, Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand, could be sentineled for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants to reflect the clinical distribution patterns at city level and serve as early indicators of new variants entering the country. Municipal wastewater samples (n = 132) were collected from eight representative municipal WWTPs in Bangkok and Phuket during 19 sampling events from October 2021 to March 2022, which were tested by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using the US CDC N1 and N2 multiplex and variant (Alpha, Delta, and Omicron BA.1 and BA.2) singleplex assays. The variant detection ratios from Bangkok and Phuket followed similar trends to the national clinical testing data, and each variant's viral loads agreed with the daily new cases (3-d moving average). Omicron BA.1 was detected in Phuket wastewater prior to Bangkok, possibly due to Phuket's WWTPs serving tourist communities. We found that the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 viral loads predominantly drove the SARS-CoV-2 resurgence. We also noted a shifting pattern in the Bangkok WBE from a 22-d early warning in early 2021 to a near real-time pattern in late 2021. The potential application of tourist hotspots for WBE to indicate the arrival of new variants and re-emerging or unprecedented infectious agents could support tourism-dependent economies by complementing the reduced clinical regulations while maintaining public health protection via wastewater surveillance.

Specific COVID-19 risk behaviors and the preventive effect of personal protective equipment among healthcare workers in Japan.

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks in healthcare facilities are a serious public health concern, we performed a case-control study to investigate the risk of COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers. We collected data on participants' sociodemographic characteristics, contact behaviors, installation status of personal protective equipment, and polymerase chain reaction testing results. We also collected whole blood and assessed seropositivity using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and microneutralization assay. In total, 161 (8.5%) of 1,899 participants were seropositive between August 3 and November 13, 2020. Physical contact (adjusted odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.1-5.6) and aerosol-generating procedures (1.9, 1.1-3.2) were associated with seropositivity. Using goggles (0.2, 0.1-0.5) and N95 masks (0.3, 0.1-0.8) had a preventive effect. Seroprevalence was higher in the outbreak ward (18.6%) than in the COVID-19 dedicated ward (1.4%). Results showed certain specific risk behaviors of COVID-19; proper infection prevention practices reduced these risks.

Discovery and evaluation of selective N-type calcium channel blockers: 6-unsubstituted-1,4-dihydropyridine-5-carboxylic acid derivatives.

A structure-activity relationship study of 6-unsubstituted-1,4-dihydropyridine and 2,6-unsubstituted-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives was conducted in an attempt to discover N-type calcium channel blockers that were highly selective over L-type calcium channel blockers. Among the tested compounds, (+)-4-(3,5-dichloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-1,4-dihydro-pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid 3-cinnamyl ester was found to be an effective and selective N-type calcium channel blocker with oral analgesic potential.

[Dexmedetomidine is an excellent sedative for voice monitoring surgery].

We experienced anesthesia for three cases of unilateral recurrent nerve palsy scheduled for thyroplasty type I requiring voice monitoring. The patients were sedated with dexmedetomidine and locally anesthetized. Dexmedetomidine provided sedation of high quality with natural sleep, good response to asking for phonation and very few respiratory depressions. We conclude that dexmedetomidine is an excellent sedative as a drug used for voice monitoring surgery.

Nosocomial outbreak of coronavirus disease in two general wards during the initial wave of the pandemic in 2020, Tokyo, Japan.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in China and subsequently spread worldwide. In Japan, many clusters occurred during the first wave in 2020. We describe the investigation of an early outbreak in a Tokyo hospital. Methods: A COVID-19 outbreak occurred in two wards of the hospital from April to early May 2020. Confirmed cases were individuals with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection linked to Wards A and B, and contacts were patients or workers in Wards A or B 2 weeks before the index cases developed symptoms. All contacts were tested, and cases were interviewed to determine the likely route of infection and inform the development of countermeasures to curb transmission. Results: There were 518 contacts, comprising 472 health-care workers (HCWs) and 46 patients, of whom 517 were tested. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in 42 individuals (30 HCWs and 12 patients). The proportions of SARS-CoV-2 infections in HCWs were highest among surgeons, nurses, nursing assistants and medical assistants. Several HCWs in these groups reported being in close proximity to one another while not wearing medical masks. Among HCWs, infection was thought to be associated with the use of a small break room and conference room. Discussion: Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred in two wards of a Tokyo hospital, affecting HCWs and patients. Not wearing masks was considered a key risk factor for infection during this outbreak; masks are now a mandated countermeasure to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital settings.

Asymmetric synthesis and biological evaluations of (+)- and (-)-6-dimethoxymethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylic acid derivatives blocking N-type calcium channels.

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives is described. The key step is the stereoselective Michael addition using t-butyl ester of L-valine as a chiral auxiliary to achieve good ee (>95% for all the tested experiments) and moderate yield. With this method, (+)-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-dimethoxymethyl-2-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid cinnamyl ester was obtained and was characterized as a promising N-type calcium channel blocker with improved selectivity over L-type compared to its (-)- and racemic isomers.

Effectiveness of protocol-based pharmacotherapy management collaboration between hospital and community pharmacists to address capecitabine-related hand-foot syndrome in cancer patients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Pharmaceutical care of capecitabine-related hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is extremely important to avoid the progression of the syndrome. Protocol-based pharmacotherapy management (PBPM) of HFS by community pharmacists has been introduced in our community, whereby the community pharmacist instructs patients to use steroid creams if they develop HFS of grade 2 or higher. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PBPM in cancer patients with HFS by comparing it to conventional pharmaceutical care using monitoring reports for pharmacotherapy management by community pharmacists. METHODS: From September 2017 to August 2019, we retrospectively investigated the medical records of 396 cancer patients who received capecitabine adjuvant chemotherapy. Before PBPM implementation, conventional pharmaceutical care was administered from September 2017 to August 2018; these patients served as the control group. Care was switched to PBPM in September 2018, and PBPM was applied from September 2018 to August 2019; these patients served as the PBPM group. We excluded patients who received both conventional pharmaceutical care and PBPM. We categorized all cases into two groups: age ≤ 69 years and age ≥ 70 years. RESULTS: In all, 396 cases were included, of which 227 were ineligible, such as those of cancer patients who received both conventional pharmaceutical care and PBPM. Among patients aged higher than 70 years, the incidence and severity of HFS associated with PBPM were significantly lower than those associated with conventional care (grade 0: 59.5% [44/74] vs. 30.6% [11/36], grade 1: 33.8% [25/74] vs. 63.9% [23/36]). All patients continued to receive the capecitabine, HFS severity improved to grade 1 during the study period, and treatment of HFS was not stopped. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PBPM is effective for addressing capecitabine-related HFS among cancer patients aged higher than 70 years, in that it helps prevent an increase in HFS severity.

Dietary histidine ameliorates murine colitis by inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production from macrophages.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Elemental diet (ED) is effective for human Crohn's disease (CD). Although some of this effectiveness may be due to its low antigenic load and low fat content, the mechanisms remain unclear. We sought to assess the role of histidine, one of the constituent amino acids of ED, in controlling colitis. METHODS: The interleukin (IL)-10-deficient (IL-10(-/-)) cell transfer model of colitis was used. SCID mice with colitis induced by transfer of IL-10(-/-) cells were maintained on experimented diets containing either single amino acids or a mixture. The severity of colitis was assessed by wet colon weight. Colonic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was detected by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), with or without amino acids. The concentration of cytokines in the supernatant was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB-alpha and nuclear p65 were confirmed by immunoblotting. RESULTS: In the IL-10(-/-) transfer model, dietary histidine, but not alanine, reduced histologic damage and colon weight and TNF-alpha mRNA expression. Histidine inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha and IL-6 production by mouse macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas alanine or histidine-related metabolites had no such effect. Histidine inhibited LPS-induced NF-kappaB in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that histidine could be a novel therapeutic agent for CD by inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, following down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages. Thus, our studies provided new insights into the roles of amino acid metabolism in the pathophysiology of CD and for therapeutic strategies.

Change of intestinal microbiota with elemental diet and its impact on therapeutic effects in a murine model of chronic colitis.

Elemental diet (ED) has been used as an enteral nutritional therapy for Crohn's disease. However, the precise mechanisms of ED remain unclear. In interleukin-10 (IL-10)-deficient cell-transferred mice, we investigated the change of intestinal microbiota with ED using molecular terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and culture method, and evaluated its influence on therapeutic effects of ED. ED significantly suppressed intestinal inflammation. The total amount of bacteria in colitis mice fed the regular diet was higher than in normal mice but decreased in colitis mice fed ED. T-RFLP profiles of the ED group markedly differed from those of the regular diet groups. The diversity of bacterial species in the ED group decreased to 60% of that found in the regular diet groups. Among the cultivated bacteria, the change in lactic acid bacteria composition was remarkable. Lactobacillus reuteri and L. johnsonii decreased and Enterococcus faecalis and E. durans increased in the ED group. The culture supernatant of L. reuteri isolates induced significant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-6 activity in RAW 264 cells, while the culture supernatant of E. faecalis and E. durans barely induced their activity. These data suggested that reduction in amount and diversity of intestinal microbiota and decrease of proinflammatory cytokines via a change in composition of lactic acid bacteria by ED seem to contribute to reduction of bowel inflammation in this model.

Isolation and characterization of Kit-independent melanocyte precursors induced in the skin of Steel factor transgenic mice.

Steel factor (SLF, also called KIT-ligand, mast cell growth factor, or stem cell factor) acting through the tyrosine kinase receptor KIT is thought to be indispensable for the early phase of melanocyte development both in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, Kit-independent precursor cells were generated in mice expressing exogenous SLF in their skin keratinocytes and were detected as pigmented spots after administration of Kit function-blocking antibody. We successfully purified these precursor or stem cells as Kit+CD45- cells by flow cytometry. The purified cells showed normal but delayed differentiation into mature melanocytes, indicating the immature nature of Kit-independent precursors. The Kit-independent interfollicular population generated in SLF transgenic mice was suggested to be the counterpart of the follicular melanocyte stem cell based on the Kit-independent nature for their survival.

The structure-activity relationship study on 2-, 5-, and 6-position of the water soluble 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives blocking N-type calcium channels.

In order to find an injectable and selective N-type calcium channel blocker, we have performed the structure-activity relationship (SAR) study on the 2-, 5-, and 6-position of 1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylate derivative APJ2708 (2), which is a derivative of Cilnidipine and has L/N-type calcium channel dual inhibitory activities. As a consequence of the optimization, 6-dimethylacetal derivative 7 was found to have an effective inhibitory activity against N-type calcium channels with more than 170-fold lower activity for L-type channel compared to that of APJ2708.

Purification and molecular cloning of an intracellular 3-hydroxybutyrate-oligomer hydrolase from Paucimonas lemoignei.

An intracellular 3-hydroxybutyrate-oligomer hydrolase was purified from a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-degrading bacterium, Paucimonas lemoignei. It hydrolyzed the 3-hydroxybutyrate dimer with the highest specific activity of any of the enzymes reported so far. The gene was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that the enzyme is a homolog of the PhaZc of Ralstonia eutropha H16.

The sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine are mediated by NMDA receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

The use of glycine as a therapeutic option for improving sleep quality is a novel and safe approach. However, despite clinical evidence of its efficacy, the details of its mechanism remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the site of action and sleep-promoting mechanisms of glycine in rats. In acute sleep disturbance, oral administration of glycine-induced non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and shortened NREM sleep latency with a simultaneous decrease in core temperature. Oral and intracerebroventricular injection of glycine elevated cutaneous blood flow (CBF) at the plantar surface in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in heat loss. Pretreatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists AP5 and CGP78608 but not the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine inhibited the CBF increase caused by glycine injection into the brain. Induction of c-Fos expression was observed in the hypothalamic nuclei, including the medial preoptic area (MPO) and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) shell after glycine administration. Bilateral microinjection of glycine into the SCN elevated CBF in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no effect was observed when glycine was injected into the MPO and dorsal subparaventricular zone. In addition, microinjection of D-serine into the SCN also increased CBF, whereas these effects were blocked in the presence of L-701324. SCN ablation completely abolished the sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine. These data suggest that exogenous glycine promotes sleep via peripheral vasodilatation through the activation of NMDA receptors in the SCN shell.

Antisympathetic and hemodynamic property of a dual L/N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker cilnidipine in rats.

The in vivo antisympathetic property of a dual L/N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker cilnidipine compared with that of typical N-type Ca(2+) channel blockers has never been clarified. We investigated the effects of the drug on a sympathetic nerve-mediated vascular response and vasodilating action in rats in comparison with those of an N-type Ca(2+) channel blocker omega-conotoxin MVIIA. In pithed rats, omega-conotoxin MVIIA preferentially suppressed the sympathetic nerve stimulation-induced pressor response, whereas cilnidipine suppressed the pressor response induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation and angiotensin II. In anesthetized rats, cilnidipine or omega-conotoxin MVIIA decreased mean blood pressure, while heart rate was decreased by omega-conotoxin MVIIA, but slightly increased by cilnidipine. These results suggest that cilnidipine can affect sympathetic N-type Ca(2+) channels in addition to vascular L-type Ca(2+) channels in antihypertensive doses in the rat in vivo. The antisympathetic activity of cilnidipine is not excessive for an antihypertensive drug in comparison with that of omega-conotoxin MVIIA.

[Comparison of zopiclone and midazolam premedication for preoperative anxiolysis].

To compare the anxiolysis property of zopiclone (ZPC) and midazolam (MDZ), 117 patients were given zopiclone 7.5 mg p.o. or midazolam 0.05 mg.kg-1 i.m. as premedication. In the study 1, patients were randomly allocated to 4 groups: ZZ group (n = 16) received ZPC in the night before operation and 2 h before operation, ZM group (n = 18) received ZPC in the night before operation and MDZ 1 h before operation, Z group (n = 18) received ZPC 2 h before operation, and M group (n = 24) received MDZ 1 h before operation. The degree of anxiety was evaluated using the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) on the day before operation and after receiving premedication. ZPC showed a significant reduction in the STAI score in the ZZ and Z group, but premedication with MDZ showed no changes in the STAI score. In the study 2, patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups: ZPC group (n = 22) received ZPC 2 h before operation, and M group (n = 19) received MDZ 1 h before operation. The degree of anxiety was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) on the day before operation and after receiving premedication. ZPC showed a significant reduction in the VAS score, but MDZ showed no changes in the VAS. It is concluded that ZPC (7.5 mg p.o.) is suitable to reduce the preoperative anxiety in patients who are to undergo surgery as compared to MDZ (0.05 mg.kg-1 i.m.).