Deposition of insulin powders for inhalation in vitro and pharmacodynamic evaluation of absorption promoters in rats.

AIM: To prepare insulin powder for inhalation by spray-drying technology, determine the deposition of the insulin powder formulation in vitro and preliminarily investigate hypoglycemic response of the dry powder with/without absorption promoters. METHODS: The depositions of the insulin powder for inhalation were determined by the China Pharmacopoeia 2000 version addenda XH and hypoglycemic effects were evaluated by testing serum glucose with glucose oxidase-peroxidase (GOD-PAP) method. RESULTS: The depositions of the spray-dried insulin powder for inhalation were more than 40% under various humidity and their changes were not significant when air flow was no less than 18 L x min(-1). The coadministration of insulin with 8 mmol x L(-1)/dose sodium taurocholate [PA = 59.91%, Cnadir = (33 +/- 6) %] and 10 mmol x L(-1)/dose sodium deoxycholate [PA = 47.46% , Cnadir = (32 +/- 7)%] induced a significantly greater decline in blood glucose levels, while coadministration with 1% sodium caprylate, 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, 250 microg/dose lecithin, 10 mmol x L(-1)/dose EDTA appeared to have no significant effect (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Insulin powder for inhalation was relatively stable under various humidity conditions and different flow current. The use of 8 mmol x L(-1)/dose sodium taurocholate and 10 mmol x L(-1)/dose sodium deoxycholate could be able to potentially improve the bioavailability of insulin by pulmonary route.

Effect of rhIL-2 in inhalant form on experimental respiratory tract infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice.

AIM: To determine the protective effect of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) in inhalant form on experimental respiratory tract infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice. METHODS: Mice were infected with the method of nasal intubation drip. During infection, mice were given rhIL-2 by sc injection and the method of nasal intubation drip. There were normal group, vehicle group, model group, rhIL-2 groups and gentamicin group. In the end, the pathological changes in the lung were observed. The survival time and the mortality within a week of each group were recorded. The total protein content, the albumin content, the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the activity of lactic dehydrogenase of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were dertermined and compared. RESULTS: Symptoms of Klebsiella pneumoniae were remarkably relieved because of rhIL-2 administration. The total protein content, the albumin content, the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the activity of lactic dehydrogenase of BALF were less than those in the vehicle group and the model group. CONCLUSION: Inhalation of rhIL-2 can alleviate the pathological changes in the lung after infection. At the same dose, it could be seen that the effect of rhIL-2 in inhalant form was better than that of the injection.

Discontinued drugs in 2010: cardiovascular drugs.

This perspective is a paper discussing drugs dropped from clinical development in the previous years. Specifically, this paper focuses on 16 cardiovascular drugs discontinued in 2010 after reaching Phase I - III clinical trials. Information for this perspective is mainly derived from a search of Pharmaprojects.

Discontinued drugs in 2008: cardiovascular drugs.

This perspective is part of an annual series of papers discussing drugs dropped from clinical development in the previous year. Specifically, this paper focuses on the 16 cardiovascular drugs discontinued in 2008. Information for this perspective was derived from a search of the Pharmaprojects database for drugs discontinued after reaching Phase I-III clinical trials.

Discontinued drugs in 2007: cardiovascular drugs.

This perspective is part of an annual series of papers discussing drugs dropped from clinical development in the previous year. Specifically, this paper focuses on the 16 cardiovascular drugs discontinued in 2007. Information for this perspective was derived from a search of the Pharmaprojects database for drugs discontinued after reaching Phase I - III clinical trials.