The Influence of Atorvastatin, Amlodipine and Ethoxidol on Ubiquinol and Ubiquinone Endogenous Plasma Concentrations in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Coenzyme Q10 is a key component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and a fat-soluble endogenous antioxidant performing many vital functions in the human body. Many researchers studied the plasma concentrations of ubiquinol, ubiquinone, total CoQ10 and the redox state (ubiquinol/ubiquinone ratio) of CoQ10 in healthy volunteers. However, these parameters in the plasma of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) remain almost uninvestigated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the effect of atorvastatin, amlodipine and ethoxidol on endogenous plasma concentrations of ubiquinol, ubiquinone, total CoQ10 and its redox state in patients with CHF. METHODS: The study included 62 patients with CHF divided into four groups depending on the prescribed therapy. For the quantitative determination of ubiquinol, ubiquinone, and total CoQ10 in the plasma of patients, HPLCMS/ MS was used. RESULTS: It was established that the endogenous plasma concentration of total CoQ10 in patients with CHF is significantly lower than in healthy volunteers, and the ratio of reduced and oxidized forms of CoQ10 is shifted towards ubiquinone. It was a statistically significant effect of drugs with different physicochemical structures and pharmacological action on the plasma concentrations of ubiquinol, ubiquinone and total CoQ10: atorvastatin administration led to a decrease in the concentration of ubiquinol (-33.3Δ%), and total CoQ10 (-15Δ%), administration of amlodipine contributed to an increase in the levels of ubiquinol (+27.7Δ%) and total CoQ10 (+18.2Δ%), and the administration of ethoxidol caused an increase in the concentration of ubiquinol (+25Δ%), ubiquinone (+17.7Δ%) and total CoQ10 (+20.2Δ%). CONCLUSION: Amlodipine is able to neutralize the negative effect of atorvastin on the redox balance of CoQ10 in patients with CHF. An additional prescription of the antioxidant ethoxidol to standard therapy for patients with CHF was substantiated. Determination of the redox state of CoQ10 in plasma can be used to diagnose and assess the degree of oxidative stress in patients with cardiovascular diseases, as well as to assess the efficacy and safety of ongoing pharmacotherapy.

The effect of coenzyme Q10 as a part of standard therapy on plasma concentrations of ubiquinol, ubiquinone, total CoQ10 and its redox state in patients with ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Despite CoQ10 being a powerful antioxidant and its redox state that may characterize the body's antioxidant system, the latter remains unstudied in patients with cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: This prospective case-control study aimed to investigate the concentrations of ubiquinol, ubiquinone, total CoQ10 and its redox state in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and arterial hypertension (AH) during standard therapy and with the additional prescription of CoQ10. METHODS: The study included 54 healthy individuals and 26 patients, who were divided into a control group receiving standard therapy and a test group receiving CoQ10 in addition to standard therapy. Quantitative determination of COQ10, ubiquinone and ubiquinol was carried out by HPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS: It was found that the CoQ10 level in patients was significantly lower than in healthy individuals (on average -32Δ%). In the test group, after treatment, the concentrations of ubiquinol (+53 Δ%), ubiquinone (-28 Δ%), total CoQ10 (+27 Δ%) and redox state (+112 Δ%) were significantly different from the baseline, while in the control group no significant differences were noticed. In the test group after treatment, the levels of total CoQ10 (+25 Δ%), ubiquinol (+43 Δ%), and redox state (+86 Δ%) were statistically significantly higher than in the control group and total CoQ10 concentration did not significantly differ from that in healthy individuals (-12 Δ%). CONCLUSION: The additional prescription of CoQ10 for patients with IHD significantly increases the level of total CoQ10, which leads to the increase of body antioxidant potential .

Quantitative Assay of B. pertussis Lipopolysaccharide.

We studied activity of Bordetella pertussis LPS in the LAL test. The mean activity of various series of LPS preparations obtained from B. pertussis cells ranged from 1,950,000 to 2,940,000 endotoxin units/µg (EU/µg). Activity of the LPS preparation obtained from the culture medium supernatant was significantly higher (4,640,000 EU/µg). Activity of the control standard E. coli 055:B5 LPS was 19,500±500 EU/µg. These data indicate that activity of the obtained preparations of B. pertussis LPS in the LAL test is 100-200 times higher than activity of E. coli LPS used as a reference control. It was concluded that the results of the LAL test when assessing the permissible content of B. pertussis endotoxins require correction, probably by introducing a correction factor.

Coenzyme Q10 in COPD: An Unexplored Opportunity?

COPD represents a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, is linked to systemic inflammation and tends to coexist with a variety of comorbidities. Inflammation, oxidative stress and protease-antiprotease imbalance represent the pathogenic triad of COPD. Even though oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-studied phenomenon in COPD and there is a variety of studies that aim to counteract its effect, there is limited data available on the use of coenzyme Q10 in COPD. The aim of the current review is to analyze the current data on the use of coenzyme Q10 in the management of COPD and frequently encountered comorbidities.

[Myostatin - a modern understanding of the physiological role and significance in the development of age-associated diseases.]

Myostatin is a protein belonging to the myokine class, the family of transforming growth factors ß (TGF-ß). The review article, based on the analysis of literature data, shows the key role of myostatin in the development of senile sarcopenia and cachexia in various pathological conditions, such as cancer, chronic heart failure, chronic renal failure, COPD, etc. The article discusses the structure of myostatin, provides a detailed diagram of the synthesis and activation of myostatin, the ways of implementing the mechanism of action as a negative regulator of muscle growth and differentiation in these pathological conditions. The main physiological properties and clinical significance are highlighted. Exogenous and endogenous factors regulating myostatin expression and possible mechanisms of their action are considered.

[Study of the influence of etoxidol on expression of follistatin-like protein-1 (FSTL-1) in myocardium after experimental infarction in rats]. / Issledovanie vliianiia étoksidola na ékspressiiu follistatin-podobnogo belka-1 (FSTL-1) v miokarde posle éksperimental'nogo infarkta.

In heart attack, FSTL-1 is actively secreted by cardiomyocytes, accelerates growth of heart myofibrils and stimulates of vascular endothelial growth factor expression. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of Etoxidol on synthesis of FSTL-1 in rats after myocardial infarction. The experiments were performed on Wistar rats weighing 250-350 g with simulated myocardial infarction or intact (group 5). Animals of control groups (groups 1, 2) were treated with saline for 7 and 14 days; Ethoxidol (24 mg/kg) was injected to animals of experimental groups (group 3, 4) (the daily dose was 6.36 mg/animal) for 6 or 14 days. The injection volume was 0.2 ml. At the beginning and at the end of the study plasma concentrations of FSTL-1 were determined by the ELISA method. Myocardial FSTL-1 gene expression was determined by real-time PCR. At the end of the experiments, the hearts were also used for histochemical analysis. To determine the size of the scar formed after the modeled heart attack, we used the classic Mallory staining method. The results show that the development of experimental acute myocardial infarction is accompanied by a significant increase in FSTL-1 expression in the heart, which was detected on the 7th day and stored increased by 14 days after a heart attack. After therapy with Ethoxidol, a tendency to a decrease in the expression of FSTL-1 by the 14th day was observed; it coincided with the dynamics of the plasma protein FSTL-1 level. It can be assumed that the downregulation trend in the FSTL-1 expression is associated with a more effective repair process after a heart attack, since FSTL-1 increases precisely in response to myocardial damage and decreases when the incentives for its expression from damaged heart tissue are reduced. Indirectly, this assumption is confirmed by the detected tendency to reduce the size of post-infarction fibrosis in the treatment with Ethoxidol. The results indicate the ability of Ethoxidol to influence FSTL-1 synthesis of in rats after myocardial infarction.

Peculiarities of Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Some Cardiovascular Drugs under Conditions of Antiorthostatic Hypokinesia.

We studied pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of verapamil, propranolol, and ethacizine in healthy volunteers after single oral administration under normal conditions and on the second day of simulated antiorthostatic hypokinesia modeling some effects of microgravity. Under conditions of antiorthostatic hypokinesia, a tendency to a decrease in half-elimination period, mean retention time, and volume of distribution and an increase in the rate of absorption, ratio of maximum concentrations, and relative rate of absorption of verapamil and propranolol were revealed. For ethacizine, a statistically significant increase in the time of attaining maximum concentration and volume of distribution and a decrease in the maximum concentration, rate of absorption, ratio of maximum concentrations, and relative rate of absorption under conditions of antiorthostatic hypokinesia were found.

The Mechanism of Action of Ethoxidol on Oxidative Stress Indices in Heart Failure and Hypotension.

The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine malate (Ethoxidol) on the concentration of oxidative stress metabolites in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 126 patients with FC I-III CHF have been examined. In addition to their individual therapy these patients received intravenous infusions of Ethoxidol. Blood content of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), oxygen tension (рО2), pH, concentration of total peroxides, lactate, and aldosterone were identified. 2,3-DPG levels (g/L erythrocytes) in whole blood samples were determined by an enzyme assay using the reagent kit (Rosh, Germany), values of рО2, рСО2, рН, lactate in the venous blood were measured using gas analyzer Stat Profil pHOx Ultra (Nova Biomedical, USA). Indices of oxidative stress, i.e. the concentration of plasma total peroxides, were investigated by ELISA using OxyStat kit (Biomedica, Austria). Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all patients before and 6 days after the daily intravenous Ethoxidol infusion. RESULTS: In patients with FC I, II, III CHF, on day 7 after intravenous Ethoxidol infusion at a dose of 100 mg/day, statistically significant growth (p=0.0002) of PaO2 level by 15.7, 17.4, and 22.8%, respectively, was noted. In patients with FC I, II, III CHF in the group receiving standard therapy, statistically significant (p=0.002) reduction of 2,3-DPG level by 2.7, 2.4, and 4.0%, respectively, was registered. On day 7 after the infusion of Ethoxidol at a dose of 100 mg/day, its decrease by 5.7, 10.5, and 26.2%, respectively (p<0.0001), was also observed. CONCLUSION: The increased concentrations of active oxygen forms have been established to negatively affect various bodily functions and adversely influence the pathophysiology of numerous diseases. Application of antioxidants, including Ethoxidol presented by us in this article, may become a clue to the development of preventive measures for many serious diseases.

Experimental and Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Fluoxetine and Amitriptyline: Comparative Analysis and Possible Methods of Extrapolation.

The pharmacokinetics of two fluoxetine capsulated dosage forms and two amitriptyline tablet forms after a single oral intake was studied in dogs and healthy volunteers. High significant correlations were detected between plasma concentrations of fluoxetine (r=0.96, p<0.00001, n=11) and amitriptyline (r=0.78, p<0.0224, n=8) in dogs and volunteers. A correlation of medium strength (though insignificant) was detected between nortriptyline concentrations in the plasma of dogs and volunteers (r=0.69, p<0.199, n=5). The bioavailability parameters of the test drugs in dogs and volunteers did not differ. Similar trends of fluoxetine and amitriptyline pharmacokinetic parameters were revealed in volunteers and animals. Methods for extrapolation of experimental pharmacokinetics parameters of fluoxetine and amitriptyline obtained on dogs for humans are proposed and validated.

[Hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract from Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir. shoots in the model of acute hepatitis induced by acetaminophen in rats]. / Gepatoprotektornaia aktivnost' vodnogo izvlecheniia iz pobegov Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir. na modeli ostrogo gepatita, indutsirovannogo atsetaminofenom u krys.

The aim of the study was to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of an aqueous extract of Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir. Acute experimental hepatitis was induced by acetaminophen administration of 1000 mg/kg. Studies were conducted in white Wistar rats. The aqueous extract of C. jubata demonstrated the hepatoprotective effect, comparable to that of the reference preparation "Carcil". This was manifested by the normalization of biochemical blood parameters (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, total bilirubin) and antioxidant activity of liver homogenates, determined by the method based on oxidation of luminol induced by 2,2¢-azo-bis-2-amidinopropane. Normalization of morphofunctional indices was also shown in a histological study of liver of rats that received aqueous extract from C. jubata.

[Use of pharmacogenetic testing to prevent adverse drug reactions during statin therapy]. / Ispol'zovanie farmakogeneticheskogo testirovaniia dlia predotvrashcheniia nezhelatel'nykh lekarstvennykh reaktsii pri terapii statinami.

The number of patients receiving statins increases every year and due to the fact that they should take statins during their lives, the problem of their safety use comes to the forefront. The paper analyzes the safety of using the medications of this group and discusses the diagnosis of myopathies induced by statins and the occurrence of immune-mediated statin myopathies. It considers a personalized approach to prescribing statins, analyzes Russian and foreign experience in using pharmacogenetics to reduce the risk of myopathies, publishes the results of the authors' experience in clinically introducing pharmacogenetic testing at hospitals, and analyzes the long-term results of determining the polymorphism of the SLCO1B1 gene for the prediction of the risk of adverse events when using statins and estimating patient compliance to prescribed treatment.

[PERSONALIZED MEDICINE IN INTERNAL MEDICINE].

Personalized medicine - a new direction in medicine, which is based on the study of various biomarkers and the use of new methods of molecular analysis (primarily evaluating the activity of isoenzymes of cytochrome P450), allowing individualized approach to the selection of both the drugs and the selection of the dosing regimen for the purpose of maximize the effectiveness and safety of pharmacotherapy. This personalized medicine is to change the development and use of preventive and curative interventions. Genetic polymorphism isozymes of cytochrome P450 may determine the individual activity of a particular isozyme, and thus, to predict the clinical effectiveness, and in some cases, the risk of adverse reactions. The article is an example of the use of information on the activity of cytochrome P450 in clinical practice in matters of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. The scheme of the five best-known activity of isoenzymes of cytochrome P450 is shown.

Correction of oxidative stress in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia.

A pilot study of the effect of the antioxidant drug ethylmethylhydroxypyridine malate on indicators of oxidative stress in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia. At 6 day course administration investigated the antioxidant in these patients significantly accelerates the process of generation of superoxide anion radical, established by lucigenin-depended chemiluminescence that probably regulate a feedback mechanism oxidase systems. This increases the activity of superoxide dismutase, and reduced the concentration of secondary peroxidation product - malondialdehyde, making reasonable use of antioxidants in the treatment of this pathology.

Taurine modulates catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 3A4.

The influence of the biologically active compound taurine on the stability and catalytic properties of the hemoprotein cytochrome P450 3A4 has been investigated. The catalytic properties were analyzed by electrochemical methods (cyclic and square-wave voltammetry) using cytochrome P450 3A4 immobilized on the electrode. Taurine at concentrations in the range 10-70 µM stimulated the electrochemical reduction of cytochrome P450 3A4, and the reduction was the highest (115 ± 3%) in the presence of 50 µM taurine. Taurine pronouncedly attenuated the itraconazol-caused inhibition of the P450 isoenzyme P450 3A4. Taurine protected cytochrome P450 3A4 due to stabilizing it during electrolysis at controlled voltage in the presence of erythromycin as a substrate. This protection was manifested by an increase in the amount of the "residual" reduced form of the hemoprotein (52 ± 5 and 71 ± 8%, respectively).

[Role of antioxidants in electro catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 3A4].

The electrochemical analysis of cytochrome Р450 3А4 catalytic activity has shown that vitamins C, A and Е influence on electron transfer and Fe3+/Fe2+ reduction process of cytochrome Р450 3А4. These data allow to assume possibility of cross effects and interference of vitamins-antioxidants with drugs metabolised by cytochrome Р450 3А4, at carrying out of complex therapy. This class of vitamins shows antioxidant properties that lead to increase of the cathodic current corresponding to heme reduction of this functionally significant haemoprotein. Ascorbic acid of 0.028-0.56 mM concentration stimulates cathodic peak (an electrochemical signal) of cytochrome Р450 3А4. At the presence of diclofenac (Voltaren) - a typical substrate of cytochrome Р450 3А4 - the increase growth of a catalytic current testifying to an electrocatalysis and stimulating action of ascorbic acid is observed. In the presence of vitamins A and Е also is registered dose-dependent (in a range of 10-100 M) increase in a catalytic current of cytochrome Р450 3А4: the maximum increase corresponds to 229 ± 20% for 100 M of vitamin A, and 162±10% for 100 M of vitamin E. Vitamin E in the presence of P450's inhibitor itraconazole doesn't give essential increase in a reductive current, unlike retinol (vitamin A). This effect can manifest substrate properties of tocopherol (vitamin E). The electrochemical approach for the analysis of catalytic activity of cytochrome Р450 3А4 and studies of influence of biologically active compounds on an electrocatalysis is the sensitive and effective sensor approach, allowing to use low concentration of protein on an electrode (till 10-15 mol/electrode), to carry out the analysis without participation of protein redox partners, and to reveal drug-drug or drug-vitamins interaction in pre-clinical experiments.

[Efficiency of mildronate in rats of different age with experimental-induced myocardial ischemia].

Under experimental myocardial ischemia in rats of 10 months treatment with mildronate resulted in essential changes in metabolism of cardiomyocites. This includes stimulation of aerobic and anaerobic ways of power supply of heart cells: activation of glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative pyruvate decarboxylation with restoration of adenosine triphosphate pool to intact rats level in myocardium, serum and erythrocytes with signs of stabilization of cardiomyocytes membranes and essential decrease of tissue hypoxia. Introduction of mildronate to old rats (24 months) with an experimental myocardium ischemia was accompanied by lesser expressed changes of metabolism: activation of glycolysis and oxidative pyruvate decarboxylation without stimulation of Crebs' cycle enzymes. This became sufficient for restoration of adenosine triphosphate pool in myocardium without change of its quantity in serum and erythrocytes with signs of stabilization of cardiomyocytes membranes and moderate reduction of tissue hypoxia degree.

[Efficiency of trimetazidine treatment of experimental ischemic heart disease in age aspect].

Introduction of trimetazidine to 10-month-aged rats with experimental ischemic heart disease leads to an increase in carbohydrate utilization with energy purposes in myocardium, which is manifested by increasing activity of glycolysis enzymes with decreasing lactate level in myocardium, increasing activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase in mitochondrial cardiomyocytes, and increasing ATP content in myocardium. This is accompanied by signs of stabilization of cardiomyocyte membranes and reduction in the degree of tissue hypoxia. The efficiency of trimetazidine decreases with increasing age: in 24-month-aged rats, the direction of changes is retained, but they are less pronounced.

CYP2C9 and VKORC1 gene polymorphism is inessential for bleeding development under conditions of oral application of anticoagulant acenocoumarol in Russian patients at high risk of thromboembolic complications.

The study included 52 patients at a high risk of thromboembolic complications, with permanent atrial fibrillation. All patients were treated with acenocoumarol for 6 months and the incidence of hemorrhages was evaluated in all of them. All patients were genotyped by CYP2C9 and VKORC1. The presence of CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 alleles of CYP2C9 locus and AA genotype of VCORC1 gene polymorphic G-1639(3673)A marker was not associated with the development of hemorrhages under conditions of acenocoumarol treatment (p=0.144 for CYP2C9, p=0.809 and 0.918 for VCORC1 in the total group and subgroup of patients with CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype, respectively). The search for other genetic markers of acenocoumarol efficiency and safety is needed for predicting the risk of hemorrhages during this treatment.

[The influence of vitamin B group on monooxygenase activity of cytochrome P450 3A4: pharmacokinetics and electro analysis of catalytic properties].

It was shown that vitamin B group permit to shorten the longitude of diclofenak therapy and to reduce the daytime dose of this drug. All three schemes of diclofenac treatment - only diclofenac, diclofenac plus 2 tablets of Gitagamp (mixture of vitamin B group), and diclofenac plus 4 tablets of Gitagamp--gave maximum value of diclofenal in blood through 1 hour after treatment. In the case of diclofenak treatment without vitamins Cmax corresponds to 1137.2 +/- 82.4 ng/ml, with 2 tablets of Gitagamp--Cmax 1326.7 +/- 122.5 ng/ml, and with 4 tablets--Cmax 2200.4 +/- 111.3 ng/ml. Positive influence of vitamin B group on the decrease of pain syndrome was shown. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics data were confirmed in electrochemical experiments with cytochrome P450 3A4. For enzyme immobilization screen printed graphite electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles and synthetic membrane-like compound didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB/Au) were used. Electrochemical analysis reviled the influence of vitamin B group on metabolism of non steroid anti inflammation drug diclofenac catalyzed by cytochrome P450 3A4. Riboflavin was the most effective inhibitor of diclofenac hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 3A4 as was compared at 300 M concentration of vitamin B group (B1, B2, B6). These data confirmed the opportunity of pharmacokinetic parameters regulation and the level of pharmacodynamic effects by the influence of vitamin B group on the catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 3A4.

[CYP2C9 and VKORC1 gene polymorphism and acenocoumarol anticoagulant activity in Russian patients at high risk of thromboembolic complications].

The study included 25 patients at high risk of thromboembolic complications. All of them were treated with acenocoumarol for 6 months under control of the frequency of hemorrhage and episodes of severe hypocoagulation (a more than 3-fold rise in INR). All the patients underwent CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotyping. It was shown that the presence of CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 alleles in the CYP2C9 locus and the AA genotype of the polymorphous G-1639(3673)A marker of the VKORC1 gene was not associated with the development of severe hypocoagulation episodes (p = 0.261--for CYP2C9, p = 0.616 and 0.361 for VKORC1 in the total group and a subgroup of patients having the CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype respectively and treated with acenocoumarol. The search for other genetic markers of efficacy and safety of this drug should be continued.