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Cureus 2020 May 22;12(5):e8236. Epub 2020 May 22.

Internal Medicine, HCA Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness, USA.

Metoprolol is a common medication used by the elderly because it is affordable and has proven to decrease mortality in cardiovascular disease. Multiple studies have reported central nervous system (CNS) side effects associated with use of beta-blockers. The risk of beta-blocker CNS side effects is directly associated with the lipophilic property of the drug. Read More

Toxicol Res (Camb) 2020 Feb 11;9(1):45-54. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Department of Forensic Medicine& Clinical Toxicology-Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Theophylline toxicity results in substantial morbidity and mortality particularly due to its narrow therapeutic index. The development of new treatments for acute theophylline toxicity is a point of research interest. The aim of the present work was to assess the efficacy of L-carnitine (LC) and propranolol in the management of patients with acute theophylline toxicity. Read More

Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

Biotechnology research center, Pasteur institute of Iran, Tehran. Iran.

Heart dysfunctions are the major complications of trastuzumab in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancers. In this study, the cytotoxicity of trastuzumab on H9c2 cardiomyoblasts was demonstrated, and the proteome changes of cells were investigated by a tandem mass tagging quantitative approach. The differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified and functionally enriched. Read More

Chest 2020 May;157(5):e145-e149

Intensive Care Department, Ealing Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Southall, United Kingdom.

A 33-year-old woman experienced 90 min of in-hospital cardiac arrest following an intentional overdose of anhydrous caffeine powder. In the face of prolonged and apparently futile resuscitation attempts, high-dose insulin euglycemic therapy was initiated. A loading dose of 1 IU/kg/h of IV insulin resulted in a dramatic improvement in perfusion. Read More

Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2020 Apr 20:1-41. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Victorian Poisons Information Centre, Austin Health, Victoria, Australia.

Beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist (beta-blocker) poisoning is a common overdose which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. To evaluate the effects of treatments for beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist poisoning. Searches were conducted across MEDLINE (1946-26 November 2019, Ovid); Embase (1974-26 November 2019, Ovid); and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, to 26 November 2019) utilising a combination of subject headings and free text. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2020 07 7;393:122490. Epub 2020 Mar 7.

University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Trg D. Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. Electronic address:

In this work, we have investigated the stability of pindolol (PIN), a non-selective β-blocker detected in the river and wastewater of hospitals, in water solution under solar irradiation. Further, detailed insights into the stability of PIN were obtained by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. The kinetics of PIN photocatalytic degradation and mineralization has been studied using four commercial photocatalysts ZnO and TiO (P25, Hombikat, and Wackherr). Read More

Drug Res (Stuttg) 2020 Apr 2;70(4):151-157. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Propranolol and atenolol are known as β receptor blocker drugs. These drugs are used to treat some heart diseases. There are controversies in the relationship between the use of beta-blocker drugs and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Read More

Gastroenterology Res 2020 Feb 1;13(1):40-43. Epub 2020 Feb 1.

Department of Medicine, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health, Neptune, NJ 07753, USA.

Hepatotoxicity caused by chronic oral amiodarone is well documented with around 15-20% incidence rate. However, acute liver failure due to intravenous (IV) amiodarone is rare clinical presentation with 3% incidence rate. Incidence of concomitant renal failure is even rarer. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Jun 24;248:125957. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, PR China.

This study reports on the propranolol (PRO) degradation performance and product toxicity of an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED)/chlorine process. The effects of experimental parameters including solution pH, chlorine dosage, and water matrix constituents on PRO removal were evaluated. Up to 94. Read More

J Med Toxicol 2020 Apr 24;16(2):212-221. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Minnesota Poison Control System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Introduction: Vasopressors are a commonly used treatment in beta-blocker poisoning despite evidence they may be ineffective or harmful. The primary objective of the present study is to use previously collected data from two prior studies (high-dose insulin (HDI) versus vasopressin + epinephrine and a placebo-controlled HDI study) to compare survival between vasopressin + epinephrine and placebo. Secondary outcomes included a comparison with HDI as well as comparisons with hemodynamic parameters, including mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Apr 7;712:136564. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.

Pharmaceutical compounds are continuously released into the aquatic environment, resulting in their ubiquitous presence in many estuarine and coastal systems. As pharmaceuticals are designed to produce effects at very low concentrations and target specific evolutionary conserved pathways, there are growing concerns over their potential deleterious effects to the environment and specifically to aquatic organisms, namely in early life-stages. In this context, the long-term effects of exposure of juvenile meagre Argyrosomus regius to three different pharmaceuticals were investigated. Read More

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2020 Apr 23;230:108683. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address:

Pharmaceutical drugs are usually and continuously carried to the aquatic environment in different ways. Thus, they are pseudo-persistent in the environment, and they may exert deleterious effects on aquatic organisms. The objective of the present study was to investigate the acute and chronic effects of two widely used pharmaceutical drugs, paracetamol (analgesic and antipyretic) and propranolol (β-blocker) on the activity of specific biomarkers (namely cholinesterase enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase) of the neotropical fish Phalloceros harpagos. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Feb 18;27(5):5469-5481. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.

The pharmaceuticals bisoprolol (BIS), sotalol (SOT), and ranitidine (RAN) are among the most consumed pharmaceuticals worldwide and are frequently detected in different aquatic ecosystems. However, very few ecotoxicity data are available in the literature for them. To help fill these data gaps, toxicity tests with the algae Raphidocelis subcapitata, the macrophyte Lemna minor, the cnidarian Hydra attenuata, the crustacean Daphnia similis, and the fish Danio rerio were performed for assessing the ecotoxicity of these pharmaceuticals. Read More

Pediatrics 2020 01;145(1)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Regions Hospital, St Paul, Minnesota; and.

Nadolol is a β-adrenergic antagonist that has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of infantile hemangioma. It has been suggested that this drug may have fewer side effects compared with the gold standard therapy, propranolol, because it does not exhibit membrane-stabilizing effects and has little ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, the pharmacokinetics and safety of nadolol in infants are not well understood, potentially making this therapy dangerous. Read More

Cardiovasc Toxicol 2020 Feb;20(1):11-19

Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong, Chongqing, 400016, People's Republic of China.

Anthracycline-containing chemotherapy is commonly associated with irreversible cardiovascular toxicity. Beta blockers are currently recommended as first-line drugs for improving cardiac function. However, the effects of beta blocker on cardiac preservation and the duration of beta blocker intervention therapy in anthracycline-treated patients remain unclear. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Feb 1;702:134703. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China. Electronic address:

Cardiovascular agents are among the most frequently prescribed pharmaceuticals worldwide. They are widely detected in aquatic ecosystems, while their ecotoxicological implications are rarely explored. Here, by the use of a new developed high-throughput zebrafish embryo screening approach, we systematically assessed the cardiovascular disruptive effects of 32 commonly used cardiovascular agents at environmental relevant concentrations and above (0. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Dec 31;239:116878. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand; Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. Electronic address:

Aims: We previously demonstrated that iron-overload in non-thalassemic rats induced neurotoxicity and cognitive decline. However, the effect of iron-overload on the brain of thalassemic condition has never been investigated. An iron chelator (deferiprone) provides neuroprotective effects against metal toxicity. Read More

Pharm Pat Anal 2019 Sep;8(5):203-209

Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts of asymmetric organic cations and inorganic/organic anions and are considered green alternative to organic solvents. ILs have high thermal stability, low volatility, low toxicity and high biodegradability. ILs are frequently used for enhancing the solubility and stability of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Read More

J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2019 Sep-Oct;24(5):378-389

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications used in several disease states including hypertension, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation. Inadvertent exposure or intentional overdose of CCBs may result in hypotension, bradycardia, dysrhythmias, conduction disturbances, and hyperglycemia. In the most severe cases, CCB toxicity can lead to rapid cardiovascular collapse. Read More

Environ Pollut 2019 Dec 11;255(Pt 1):113189. Epub 2019 Sep 11.

Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, Coppito, 67100, 10 L'Aquila, Italy.

A growing concern for contamination due to pharmaceutical compounds in groundwater is expanding globally. The β-blocker propranolol is a β-adrenoceptors antagonist commonly detected in European groundwater bodies. The effect of propranolol on stygobiotic species (obligate groundwater dweller species) is compelling in the framework of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of groundwater ecosystems. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Nov 20;234:962-970. Epub 2019 Jun 20.

Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy.

The possible impact of carbamazepine (CBZ) and propranolol (PROP), two widespread pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, were investigated on morphology and gene transcription of early larvae of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Pharmaceuticals were first tested in a wide concentration range (from 0.01 to 1000 μg/L) through the 48-hpf embryotoxicity assay. Read More

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019 11 10;382:114750. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt. Electronic address:

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (H-IRI) is associated with irreversible liver damage. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effect of carvedilol against H-IRI in high-fructose high-fat diet (HFrHFD)-fed mice and the role of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 and 5 (GRK2 and GRK5). Mice were fed HFrHFD for 16 weeks; then mice were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion at the end of feeding period. Read More

Retin Cases Brief Rep 2019 Sep 10. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Departments of Ophthalmology and Oncology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Institute, John Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

Background/purpose: To describe a patient with visually symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) treated successfully with intravitreal beta-blocker.

Methods: This is an interventional single case report of a 63 year-old man with a juxtafoveal CCH and extensive subretinal fluid (SRF) unsuccessfully treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF. Off-label intravitreal use of metoprolol (50μg/0. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Nov 14;183:109513. Epub 2019 Aug 14.

Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland.

The aim of the present study was to develop (i) a technique for identifying metabolites of organic contaminants by using an in vitro system of trout S9 and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry-based identification method and (ii) to apply this technique to identify the interactive potential of carbamazepine on the formation rate of other metabolites. The pharmaceuticals carbamazepine and propranolol and the pesticides azoxystrobin, diazinon, and fipronil were selected as test contaminants. As a result, a total of ten metabolites were identified for the five parent substances, six of which were confirmed using reference standards. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Nov 13;183:109555. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.

In this study, we investigated the transformation of atenolol (ATL) by the naturally occurring laccase from Trametes versicolor in aqueous solution. Removal efficiency of ATL via laccase-catalyzed reaction in the presence of various laccase mediators was examined, and found that only the mediator 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) was able to greatly promote ATL transformation. The influences of TEMPO concentration, laccase dosage, as well as solution pH and temperature on ATL transformation efficiency were tested. Read More

J Anal Toxicol 2020 Mar;44(2):200-205

Service de Toxicologie, Hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, 2 Rue Ambroise Paré, Paris 75010, France.

Amphetamines, frequently used recreational drugs with high risk of toxicity, are commonly included in urine drug screens. This screening is based on enzyme immunoassay, which is a quick and easy-to-perform technique, but may lack specificity resulting from cross-reactivity with other compounds, causing false positive results. We present two cases of presumed false positive MULTIGENT® amphetamine/methamphetamine and MULTIGENT® ecstasy (Abbott®) immunoassays with the beta-blocker metoprolol. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Sep 20;26(26):27435-27443. Epub 2019 Jul 20.

Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 44 Circle Drive, Science Building West, Box - 1652, Edwardsville, IL, 62026-1652, USA.

Production, distribution, and disposal of pharmaceutical products, including beta-blockers, have become a global issue. Beta-blockers are known to persist in the environment months after their release and may result in the disruption of the homeostatic system in non-target organisms. Here, we study the bioconcentration of three of the most commonly used beta-blockers and their effect on the regeneration of Girardia dorotocephala, a freshwater brown planarian. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 07 16;19(1):169. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Background: Anthracyclines are highly effective anticancer medication prescribed for the treatment of breast cancer. Nevertheless, the use of anthracyclines as chemotherapeutic agents involves a risk for development of cardiac toxicity which may cause restrictive and dilated cardiomyopathy. Currently, genetic predisposition is not considered as a risk factor for cardiotoxicity associated to the use of anthracyclines. Read More

GE Port J Gastroenterol 2019 May 10;26(3):196-201. Epub 2018 Jul 10.

Serviço de Medicina Interna B, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Introduction: Drug-induced liver injury is an increasingly prevalent consequence of the diversification of available therapeutic weapons, mostly idiosyncratic and with several possible mechanisms and patterns of specific damage for each drug. Carvedilol, a widely used non-selective alpha and beta blocker leads, in very rare cases, to injury of the bile ducts by toxic metabolites, resulting in a mixed-pattern hepatitis with possible progression to chronic cholestatic syndrome and cirrhosis. The authors report the second known case of this important toxicity. Read More

Environ Pollut 2019 Sep 2;252(Pt A):706-714. Epub 2019 Jun 2.

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, CA, 92521, United States. Electronic address:

Treated wastewater is increasingly used to meet agriculture's water needs; however, treated wastewater contains numerous contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). With exposure and uptake of CECs, phytotoxicity and health of crop plants is of concern, but is poorly understood. This study evaluated the effect of low-dose, chronic exposure to a mixture of 10 CECs, including 4 antibiotics, 3 anti-inflammatory drugs, 1 antiepileptic, 1 beta-blocker, and 1 antimicrobial, on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and cucumber (Cucumis sativa L. Read More

J Immunol Res 2019 30;2019:3019794. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, AGS, Mexico.

Liver cirrhosis is the result of an uncontrolled fibrogenetic process, due to the activation and subsequent differentiation into myofibroblasts of the hepatic stellate cells (HSC). It is known that HSC express adrenoreceptors (AR), and the use of AR antagonists protects experimental animals from cirrhosis. However, several studies suggest that the toxicity generated by metabolism of these antagonists would hinder its use in cirrhotic patients. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2019 06;73(22):2859-2868

University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Background: Trastuzumab is highly effective for human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer but is associated with a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or beta-blockers reduce the rate of trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity (left ventricular ejection fraction decrease >10%, or >5% if below 50%) and limit treatment interruptions.

Methods: In this double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial, cardiotoxicity and treatment interruptions in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab for 12 months were evaluated over a 2-year period. Read More

J Emerg Med 2019 Aug 30;57(2):e41-e44. Epub 2019 May 30.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Rowan University School of Medicine, Inspira Health Network, Vineland, New Jersey.

Background: Bradycardia is a common vital sign encountered in the emergency department. These patients are often hemodynamically stable and require no emergent intervention. On occasion, bradycardia can cause hemodynamic instability, and there are established treatment pathways involving atropine, ionotropic and vasopressive infusions, and eventual mechanical pacing, if necessary. Read More

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2019 Aug 28;70:103198. Epub 2019 May 28.

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, 61511, El-Minia, Egypt.

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal with several harmful effects including cardiotoxicity. For the first time, we aimed to evaluate the possible cardioprotective effect of carvedilol (CAR) in Cd induced cardiotoxicity and study the mechanisms involved in such protection including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and HO1/Nrf2 pathway. CAR (1,10 mg/kg/d) was administered orally for 4 weeks with Cd induced cardiac injury (3 mg/kg/d) orally for 4 weeks. Read More

Oman Med J 2019 May;34(3):244-248

Department of Anesthesia and ICU, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.

Chloral hydrate (CH) poisoning is not commonly seen in the emergency department. CH is a commonly prescribed sedative agent for various day care procedures despite its toxic profile even when other safe sedative medications are available. We report a case of CH poisoning that manifested with neurotoxicity followed by cardiotoxicity leading to cardiac arrest. Read More

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019 Jun 18;138:173-177. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.

Pre-clinical data has shown that beta adrenergic stimulation can affect the development and progression of many types of cancer. The use of beta blockers as an anti-neoplastic therapy has been studied in retrospective trials and observational trials, but no definitive conclusions about efficacy have been made. Within the realm of breast cancer, significant advances in therapy have led to improved survival outcomes, yet there is room for improvement. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019 Aug 16;172:50-57. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Fengyang Street 2, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, PR China.

Two novel sorbents based on polydopamine (PDA)-coated magnetic graphite oxide-metal organic frameworks nanoparticles [Cu(L-mal)(bpy)]·HO (MGO-CuLBH) and [Cu(D-mal)(bpy)]·HO (MGO-CuDBH) possessing of both magnetic property and excellent enantioselective ability were prepared and characterized. Solutions of racemic propranolol hydrochloride (Rac-PRO) were chosen to investigate the enantioselective performance of MGO-CuLBH and MGO-CuDBH by dispersive magnetic nanoparticle solid phase extraction (d-MNSPE). The results showed that the nanocomposites have excellent enantioselectivity to PROs with enantiomeric excess (ee) values reaching up to 98%. Read More

Environ Pollut 2019 Jul 9;250:493-502. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada. Electronic address:

β-Blockers (BB) are one of the most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals used for treating cardiovascular and acute anxiety-related disorders. This class of drugs inhibit β-adrenoceptor signalling and given their growing, widespread use, BB are routinely detected in surface waters at nM concentrations. This is concerning as trace levels of BB impart developmental and reproductive dysfunction in non-target aquatic organisms, with potential for ecological risks. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 04 24;9(1):6475. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Previous data from our laboratory show that expression of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is needed for amyloid β (Aβ)-stimulated microglia activation and IL-1β release in vitro and in vivo. We also showed that Aβ-dependent stimulation is inhibited by the dihydropyridine nimodipine at an intracellular site distal to the P2X7R. In the present study, we used the N13 microglia cell line and mouse primary microglia from wt and P2rx7-deleted mice to test the effect of nimodipine on amyloid β (Aβ)-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome expression and function, and on mitochondrial energy metabolism. Read More

Cardiol Rev 2019 Sep/Oct;27(5):256-259

Department of Medicine, New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY.

Anthracycline (doxorubicin) and trastuzumab treatments for cancer patients have been known to cause cardiotoxicity. The current recommendations for prevention of cardiac events from cancer chemotherapies are largely based on opinion. The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends active screening and prevention of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Read More

PLoS One 2019 9;14(4):e0214740. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) increases the work of the right ventricle (RV) and causes right-sided heart failure. This study examined RV mitochondrial function and ADP transfer in PH animals advancing to right heart failure, and investigated a potential therapy with the specific β1-adrenergic-blocker metoprolol. Adult Wistar rats (317 ± 4 g) were injected either with monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg kg-1) to induce PH, or with an equivalent volume of saline for controls (CON). Read More

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2019 Jul 21;69:26-35. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61511 El-Minia, Egypt.

The aim of this study was to investigate effect of nitric oxide (NO) modulation on possible nephroprotective mechanisms of nebivolol (NEB) in cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were treated with 20 mg/kg/day s.c. Read More

Environ Toxicol Chem 2019 06 13;38(6):1313-1322. Epub 2019 May 13.

Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit (GhEnToxLab), Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium.

To estimate mixture effects caused by the high number of chemicals simultaneously present in the environment, methods for routine effect assessment of environmentally realistic contaminant mixtures are needed. We repeatedly exposed the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to Speedisk passive sampler extracts and observed statistically significant growth stimulation up to 6 and 7% for samples from inside and outside the harbor of Zeebrugge, respectively. These effects were found at summed contaminant concentrations (159-166 ng L ) that were within a 1. Read More

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2019 Aug 15;125(2):178-186. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Mainz Poison Center, Mainz, Germany.

Beta-blocker overdose is potentially harmful due to the strong blood pressure-lowering and heart rate-lowering effects. However, conflicting data exist as to their differential toxicity, single-substance exposures and the effect of co-exposure with additional antihypertensive medication. For this, a 10-year retrospective, explorative analysis of the Mainz Poison Center/Germany database with regard to circumstances of beta-blocker exposure, doses, symptoms and treatment was carried out. Read More

J Med Toxicol 2019 07 20;15(3):178-183. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN, 55101, USA.

Introduction: High-dose insulin (HDI) therapy has been used successfully for beta-blocker toxicity, but needs further study when hypotension persists despite HDI. The objective was to develop a model of propranolol toxicity with persistent hypotension despite HDI and to develop means to measure cerebral oxygen tension (PbrO).

Methods: Eight anesthetized Yorkshire pigs were instrumented with a tracheostomy, Swan-Ganz catheter, arterial catheter, and intra-cerebral pressure and oxygen monitor. Read More

Chem Biol Interact 2019 May 12;305:28-39. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, PR China. Electronic address:

Collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2),by regulating voltage-gated calcium channel activity, is a crucial regulator of neuronal excitability. Hyperphosphorylation of CRMP2 has been reported in brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and other neurodegenerative diseases. CRMP2 acting on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) may contribute to AD pathology. Read More

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019 Jun 9;175(3):595-603. Epub 2019 Mar 9.

Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 4000 Reservoir Road NW, 120 Building D, Washington, DC, 20057-1400, USA.

Purpose: HER2-targeted therapies have substantially improved the outcome of patients with breast cancer, however, they can be associated with cardiac toxicity. Guidelines recommend holding HER2-targeted therapies until resolution of cardiac dysfunction. SAFE-HEaRt is the first trial that prospectively tests whether these therapies can be safely administered without interruptions in patients with cardiac dysfunction. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 7;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Renal/General Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.

A 26-year-old cachectic man presented with an altered mental status. He was agitated, tremulous, hyperthermic and diaphoretic with largely dilated pupils. Collateral history revealed acute ingestion of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on a background of chronic drug abuse. Read More

Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2019 Nov 26;57(11):1073-1079. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Regions Hospital , St. Paul , MN , USA.

Although cerebral perfusion (CP) is preserved across a wide range of mean arterial pressures (MAP) through cerebral-vascular autoregulation, the relationship between MAP and CP in refractory poison-induced cardiogenic shock (PICS) has never been studied. We compared the effects of therapies used in PICS: high-dose insulin (HDI), HDI plus norepinephrine (NE), and vasopressors alone (NE plus epinephrine (Epi)) on cerebral tissue oxygenation (PO). Fifteen swine were randomized to either HDI, HDI + NE, or NE + Epi. Read More

Neuroscience 2019 04 14;404:314-325. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas-Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Several studies have demonstrated the antitumor effect of doxazosin, an α1-adrenergic blocker, against glioma and breast, bladder and prostate cancers. Doxazosin is also being evaluated as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcoholism, and α1-adrenergic blockers have been linked to neuroprotection in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Cancer and AD have an inverse relationship in many aspects, with several factors that contribute to apoptosis inhibition and proliferation being increased in cancers but decreased in AD. Read More