[Abnormal liver function during therapy with amiodarone in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation].

The aim of this work was to analyze the prevalence of level function disorder in patients with atrial fibrillation taking constantly amiodarone. Two groups of patients were studied: in group 1 (n = 78) patients with persistent atrial fibrillation taking constantly amiodarone for rhythm control were included, group 2 (n = 67) consisted of patients with permanent atrial fibrillation taking propafenon, ethacizine and digoxin for rate control. In studied groups liver transaminase activity and data of liver echography after 90 +/- 8 days of treatment were estimated. In 51.58% patients of group 1 asymptomatic increase of liver transaminase activity was found. If liver transaminase activity had been raised before taking amiodarone, frequency and degree of liver transaminase increase extended. Consequently, patients taking constantly amiodarone, require dynamic control of GGTP, AIAT, AsAT once a quarter. If liver transaminase activity increases because of amiodarone taking the method of treatment is possible to be changed and rate control therapy may be chosen.

[Tiotropium bromide for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Five different types of muscarine-sensitive receptors were identified until now. In routine practice, the nonselective antagonist of cholinoreceptors are replaced by ipratropium bromide that is selectively blocking M1, M2, and M3 subtypes with the same affinity to each of them. However, the blockage of M2 subtype leads to bronchoconstriction and is accompanied by inhibition of M3 receptors in bronchial smooth muscles. The new drug tiotropium bromide selectively inhibits only the M1 and M3 types of receptors and does not affect the M2 subtype. This drug is administered only once a day, which is very important in clinical practice. Thus tiotropium bromide is the drug of choice for basic therapy of COPD.

[The protector properties of a pseudopeptide drug ingamine studied on a model of bronchospasm in guinea pigs].

The original pseudopeptide drug ingamine (4-[N-[2-(imidazol-4-yl)ethyl]-carbamoyl] butyric acid) was studied on the traditional model of antigen-induced bronchospasm in actively sensitized guinea pigs. The drug was introduced using various methods (by inhalation, via intragastric tube, and by intraperitoneal injections) in a range of doses (20, 50, 150, or 500 mg/kg). The new drug exhibited a pronounced dose-dependent protector action for all ways of introduction, but the most significant effect was observed upon inhalation, whereby the degree of bronchospasm inhibition exceeded 80%. In comparison to the reference drug sodium cromoglycate, ingamine (in equimolar doses) showed a higher activity with respect to the antigen-dependent bronchospasmic reactions. It can be expected that ingamine will provide for the effective treatment of bronchial obstruction under clinical conditions.

[Antisense oligonucleotides: a new class of biologically active molecules]. / Antismyslovye oligonukleotidy--printsipial'no novyi klass aktivnykh molekul.

Data available in literature on the biological activity of antisense oligonucleotides are reviewed with emphasis on the results of tests of the related antitumor and antiasthmatic preparations and the basic novelty of these drugs.

[Gastroprotective effect of lycopene in acute gastritis induced by hydrocortisone]. / Issledovanie gastroprotektivnoi aktivnosti likopina na modeli ostrogo gastrita, indutsirovannogo gidrokortizonom.

Lycopine in a daily dose of 0.2 mg/kg produced a gastroprotector effect on the model of hydrocortisone-induced gastritis in rats. A change in the dosage (toward significant increase or decrease) significantly reduces the gastroprotector effect.

[The anti-inflammatory activity of intal and beta-carotene in a model of experimental granulomatous lung inflammation]. / Issledovanie protivovospalitel'noi aktivnosti intala i beta-karotina na modeli éksperimental'nogo granulematoznogo vospaleniia legkikh.

A-25 sephadex-induced granulomatous inflammation of the lungs in rats was treated with beta-carotene and intal in inhalations. Both drugs showed antiinflammatory activity reducing the area of alveolitis and emphysema in the lungs, number of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar fluid. The experimental data allow to recommend further trial of intal and beta-carotene in granulomatous pulmonary diseases.

[The effect of anti-asthmatic preparations on the proliferation of human peripheral mononuclear cells]. / Vliianie antiastmaticheskikh preparatov na proliferatsiiu perifericheskikh mononuklearov cheloveka.

The authors studied the effect of some antiasthmatic drugs (theophylline, budesonide, sodium cromalyne) and beta-carotene in vitro on spontaneous and PHA-induced proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclears (PBMN). It was found that the drugs had no effect on spontaneous cell proliferation. But budesonide caused a 4-fold and beta-carotene a 6-fold decrease of the index of PHA-stimulated PBMN proliferation. It is concluded that beta-carotene may be used in clinical practice as an anti-inflammatory agent for bronchial asthma treatment.

[Apoptosis: the pharmacological aspects]. / Apoptoz: farmakologicheskie aspekty.

The article deals with the latest achievements in the interpretation of the mechanism of programmed cell death (apoptosis). The effect of drugs on the different stages of the apoptotic signal conduction is analysed. The earliest prospects of creating apoptosis regulating agents are planned. It is suggested that tests for apoptosis should be included in the list of obligatory ones in the preclinical studies of new biologically active compounds.

[Current concepts of the structure and functions of retinoid receptors]. / Sovremennye predstavleniia o strukture i funktsiiakh retinoidnykh retseptorov.

The article discusses the principal structure of nuclear receptors. The structure and function of retinoid receptors, their main ligands and inhibitors are analysed. Data (experimental and clinical) concerning the immunotropic antineoplastic and cardiovascular activity of the main retinoids are given.

[Adhesive molecules as drugs and objects of pharmacological effect in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion]. / Adgezivnye molekuly kak lekarstvennye preparaty i ob''ekty farmakologicheskogo vozdelstviia pri ishemii miokarda i reperfuzii.

The modern advancements in the study of the mechanisms of reperfusion damage in myocardial infarction are analysed. Emphasis is placed on the leukocyte-endothelial interactions and the role of various adhesive molecules and cytokines. The effect of various biotechnological agents and drugs, products of chemical synthesis, on some links of the reperfusion syndrome are discussed. A classification of substances possessing a protective effect in ischemia/reperfusion is proposed.