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Toxicol Lett 2020 Jun 6;331:227-234. Epub 2020 Jun 6.

Global Drug Safety Research Evaluation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Pharmaceutical Research Division, 9625 Towne Centre Dr, San Diego, CA, 92121, United States.

An important mechanism of chemical toxicity is the induction of oxidative stress through the production of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we show that the level of drug-induced ROS production between NRK52E and HepG2 cells is significantly different for several marketed drugs and a number of Takeda's internal proprietary compounds. Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker and the initial focus of the study, was demonstrated to promote in vitro ROS production and a decrease in cell viability in NRK52E cells but not HepG2 cells. Read More

Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars 2020 06;48(4):410-424

Department of Medical Pharmacology, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of plants used in the formulations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which were also used in clinical trials to treat patients with the novel coronavirus COVID-19, and to assess their effects on the cardiovascular system.

Methods: A literature review of PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library, and TCM monographs was conducted and the effects of the plants on the cardiovascular system and the mechanisms of action in COVID-19 treatment were evaluated.

Results: The mechanism of action, cardiovascular effects, and possible toxicity of 10 plants frequently found in TCM formulations that were used in the clinical treatment of COVID-19 were examined. Read More

J Med Toxicol 2020 Jun 3. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

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

Introduction: Calcium channel blocker (CCB) overdoses cause significant morbidity and mortality. Dihydropyridine CCBs cause peripheral vascular dilation and at high doses cardiac dysfunction. Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine, causes peripheral vasodilation from release of nitric oxide (NO) in addition to calcium channel blockade; NO scavenging is a potential treatment. Read More

Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020 May 18. Epub 2020 May 18.

Laboratório de Parasitologia Básica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, Brazil

Mining existing agents that enhance the therapeutic potential of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (EBI) is a promising approach to improve Chagas disease chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ravuconazole, an EBI, combined with amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, upon experimental infection. assays confirmed the trypanocidal activity of both compounds in monotherapy and demonstrated an additive effect (∑FIC>0. 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

Plant Physiol 2020 Jul 4;183(3):1331-1344. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Horticulture and International Research Centre for Environmental Membrane Biology, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China

Hydrogen gas (H) has a possible signaling role in many developmental and adaptive plant responses, including mitigating the harmful effects of cadmium (Cd) uptake from soil. We used electrophysiological and molecular approaches to understand how H ameliorates Cd toxicity in pak choi ( ssp. ). Read More

WMJ 2020 Mar;119(1):66-68

Marshfield Medical Center, Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Introduction: Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are commonly used but have the potential to cause substantial toxicity. One such underreported toxicity of CCB use is the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Case Presentation: 44-year-old previously healthy woman presented to the emergency department (ED) having taken 60 tablets of 125 mg extended-release verapamil and 90 tablets of 0. Read More

J Neuroinflammation 2020 Apr 25;17(1):132. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1 Hospital Drive, MA102C, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.

Background: The ways in which microglia activate and promote neovascularization (NV) are not fully understood. Recent in vivo evidence supports the theory that calcium is required for the transition of microglia from a surveillance state to an active one. The objectives of this study were to discover novel L-type voltage-gated channel (L-VGCC) blockers and investigate their application for the prevention of inflammation and angiogenesis. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Apr 23;10(1):6900. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, U.P., India.

In this study, Ca mediated NO signalling was studied in response to metalloid (As) stress in Brassica seedlings. Arsenic toxicity strongly suppressed the growth (fresh weight, root and shoot length), photosynthetic pigments, Chl a fluorescence indices (Kinetic traits: F, F, F/F, F/F, ФP or F/F, Ψ, ФE, PI, Area and N and redox status (AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios) of the cell; whereas energy flux traits: ABS/RC, TR/RC, ET/RC and DI/RC along with F, F/F, F/F, ФD and S) were enhanced. Further, addition of EGTA (Ca scavenger) and LaCl (plasma membrane Ca channel blocker) to As + Ca; while c‒PTIO (NO scavenger) and L‒NAME (NO synthase inhibitor) to As + SNP treated seedlings, siezed recovery on above parameters caused due to Ca and NO supplementation, respectively to As stressed seedlings thereby indicating their signalling behaviour. Read More

Int J Pharm 2020 May 8;582:119302. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address:

Lacidipine is a potent dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker used for management of hypertension and atherosclerosis. The drug has low and fluctuating oral bioavailability owing to its extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism and reduced water solubility. Accordingly, this work aimed at overcoming the aforementioned challenges through the formulation of intranasal nano-sized lacidipine glycerosomes. Read More

Toxicon 2020 Jun 4;180:11-17. Epub 2020 Apr 4.

Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Isparta, Turkey.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic metabolite produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungus. OTA found in the human and animal tissues can contaminate many foods that we daily consume in our lives. It accumulates especially in kidney. Read More

Pulm Circ 2020 Jan-Mar;10(1):2045894020910685. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Atrial arrhythmias are common during episodes of acute respiratory failure in patients with chronic lung disease-associated pulmonary hypertension. Expert opinion suggests that management of atrial arrhythmias in patients with pulmonary hypertension should aim to restore sinus rhythm. This is clinically challenging in pulmonary hypertension patients with coexisting chronic lung disease, as there is controversy on the use of rhythm control agents; generally, in regard to either their pulmonary toxicity profile or the lack of evidence supporting their use. Read More

J Physiol Pharmacol 2019 Dec 20;70(6). Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Streptozotocin (STZ) is commonly used to induce diabetes mellitus in experimental animal studies on peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN). Animals with STZ model of diabetes commonly develop changes in test stimulus-evoked pain behavior. However, it is still unclear whether rats with STZ model of diabetes have ongoing pain. Read More

Semin Nephrol 2020 01;40(1):49-58

Renal Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Electronic address:

The incidence of kidney cancer has been increasing steadily and, until recently, there was a substantial lack of effective therapies for a cancer that is now among the 10 most common cancers in men and women. During the past 10 years, novel therapies have been developed including antiangiogenic drugs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors that have resulted in a significant improvement in clinical outcomes in a traditionally difficult-to-treat cancer. These new drugs, however, also have important side effects and toxicities that often have an impact on the treatment of these patients. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2020 18;15:1161-1172. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: Nimodipine (NIMO) is used clinically to treat ischemic damage resulting from subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, clinical application of NIMO is limited by poor aqueous solubility and low safety. To overcome these limitations, a novel two-vial NIMO-loaded nanoemulsion (NIMO-TNE) was designed in this study. Read More

J Recept Signal Transduct Res 2020 Apr 5;40(2):97-108. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Neuroscience Research Center, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.

Cisplatin (CiSP), a chemotherapeutic agent, is widely used to treat several types of cancers. However, its clinical use is limited due to adverse side effects caused by excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and death of neurons. The transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin 2 (TRPM2) cation channel is activated by ADP-ribose (ADPR) and ROS. Read More

Nat Commun 2020 Jan 27;11(1):535. Epub 2020 Jan 27.

MEMS and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.

To date, numerous biosensing platforms have been developed for assessing drug-induced cardiac toxicity by measuring the change in contractile force of cardiomyocytes. However, these low sensitivity, low-throughput, and time-consuming processes are severely limited in their real-time applications. Here, we propose a cantilever device integrated with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-encapsulated crack sensor to measure cardiac contractility. Read More

J Agric Food Chem 2020 Feb 5;68(7):2193-2200. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology , Nanchang University , No. 235 Nanjing East Road , Nanchang 330047 , China.

Various mycotoxins widely co-exist in agro-products, and their combined effects cause toxicity and potential carcinogenicity to humans and animals. In this work, we developed an economical and sensitive quantum dots (QDs)/QD microbead (QDs/QB)-based multiplex immunochromatographic assay (mICA) for the rapid detection of fumonisin B (FB), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A (OTA) without the building-up process of mycotoxin conjugates. QDs and QBs were selected as fluorescent reporters and conjugated with antimycotoxin monoclonal antibodies for improving sensitivity. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 01 23;117(1):448-453. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden;

Voltage-gated calcium 3.1 (Ca3.1) channels are absent in healthy mouse β cells and mediate minor T-type Ca currents in healthy rat and human β cells but become evident under diabetic conditions. Read More

Environ Pollut 2020 Mar 26;258:113677. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

State Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Heifei 230036, China. Electronic address:

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent mycotoxin that frequently contaminates agro-products and threatens food safety. A highly efficient OTA degrading strain Lysobacter sp. CW239 was isolated, and the OTA degradation characteristics were investigated. Read More

Int J Med Sci 2019 9;16(12):1621-1630. Epub 2019 Nov 9.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, 15 Jinju-daero 816 beon-gil, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 52727, Republic of Korea.

The goal of this study was to examine the effect of lipid emulsion on the vasodilation induced in isolated endothelium-denuded rat aortae by a toxic dose of amlodipine. We examined the effects of lipid emulsion and verapamil on amlodipine-induced vasodilation. We also examined the effects of a mixture of lipid emulsion and amlodipine, as well as the centrifuged aqueous extract (CAE) obtained by ultracentrifuging such a mixture and then removing the upper lipid layer, on amlodipine-induced vasodilation. Read More

J Psychiatr Pract 2019 Nov;25(6):481-484

SIKAVI: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA MCMAHON, FROMSON: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.

Tacrolimus, a potent posttransplant immunosuppressant, has been associated with major neuropsychiatric complications, including catatonia and psychosis. We report a novel case of tacrolimus-induced encephalopathy that developed 16 years after renal transplantation while the drug was at a therapeutic level. Discontinuation of tacrolimus and switching to an alternative immunosuppressant resulted in significant clinical improvement over 1 week. Read More

Life Sci 2020 Mar 7;244:117095. Epub 2019 Dec 7.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Aims: Investigate Melatonin administration along with Vincristine (VCR) owing to two reasons: First, Melatonin's sciatic nerve protective effect against Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN). Second, Vincristine's anticancer work potentiation that may lead to a decrease in its dose and its side effects accordingly.

Main Methods: In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted in the study. Read More

J BUON 2019 Sep-Oct;24(5):1870-1875

Guangxi Key Laboratory of AIDS Prevention and Treatment, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China.

Purpose: Berbamine is a plant-derived alkaloid with amazing and wide diversity of pharmacological properties which range from antimicrobial and anticancer. Nonetheless, the anticancer properties of Berbamine have not been thoroughly evaluated against colon cancer cells. This study was undertaken to evaluate the anticancer effects of Berbamine against human colon cancer cells (HT-29 colon cancer cells). Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2020 Jan 22;867:172799. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei City, Taiwan; National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei City, Taiwan; Clinical Drug Development of Herbal Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and disabling joint disease mainly characterized by cartilage degradation, with the knees most commonly affected. No effective treatment for the cartilage degradation of OA exists. Preliminary studies have revealed the protective and osteogenic effects of osthole, a natural coumarin first isolated from Cnidium monnieri (Fructus Cnidii); however, no evidence of osthole in an OA-related model has been published to date. Read More

J Pharmacol Sci 2019 Dec 2;141(4):153-159. Epub 2019 Nov 2.

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan. Electronic address:

Experimental evidence regarding the risk of proarrhythmic potential of acehytisine is limited. We assessed its electropharmacological effect together with proarrhythmic potential at intravenous doses of 4 and 10 mg/kg (n = 6) using isoflurane-anesthetized guinea pigs in comparison with that of bepridil at 1 and 3 mg/kg, intravenously (n = 6). Acehytisine at therapeutic dose (4 mg/kg) decreased the heart rate, prolonged P wave duration, QRS width, QT interval, QTc, MAP, MAP and MAP At supratherapeutic dose (10 mg/kg), it prolonged the PR interval besides enhancing the changes induced by the therapeutic dose. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2020 Jan 9;186:111854. Epub 2019 Nov 9.

University of Tours, Inserm U1069 Nutrition, Croissance et Cancer (N2C), Faculty of Medicine, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37032, Tours Cedex, France. Electronic address:

Small Conductance Calcium (Ca)-activated potassium (K) channels (SKCa) are now proved to be involved in many cancer cell behaviors such as proliferation or migration. The SK3 channel isoform was particularly described in breast cancer where it can be associated with the Orai1 Ca channel to form a complex that regulates the Ca homeostasis during tumor development and acts as a potent mediator of bone metastases development in vivo. Until now, very few specific blockers of Orai1 and/or SK3 have been developed as potential anti-metastatic compounds. Read More

Methods Enzymol 2019 3;629:115-150. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

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

The P2X7 receptor [P2X7R or P2RX7 in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) gene nomenclature] is a member of the P2X receptor (P2XR) subfamily of P2 receptors (P2Rs). The P2X7R is an extracellular ATP-gated ion channel with peculiar permeability properties expressed by most cell types, mainly in the immune system, where it has a leading role in cytokine release, oxygen radical generation, T lymphocyte differentiation and proliferation. A role in cancer cell growth and tumor progression has also been demonstrated. Read More

Bioanalysis 2019 Dec 14;11(23):2189-2205. Epub 2019 Nov 14.

Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Center & Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5165665811, Iran.

Verapamil (VER) is a calcium channel blocker that is widely used to treat various cardiovascular diseases and is also effective in migraine prophylaxis. As the therapeutic range of VER is very narrow and toxicity can occur in patients after oral administration, therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended to optimize pharmacotherapy. The choice of an appropriate bioanalytical method for therapeutic drug monitoring of VER in the biological samples is a very important step in achieving fast and reliable results. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Mar 21;242:125143. Epub 2019 Oct 21.

Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin widely found in foodstuffs, reportedly damages multiple brain regions in developing rodents, but the corresponding mechanisms have not been elucidated. In this study, zebrafish embryos at 6 h post fertilization (hpf) were exposed to various concentrations of OTA and the phenomenon associated with intracerebral hemorrhage was observed at 72 hpf. Exposure of embryos to OTA significantly increased their hemorrhagic rate in a dose-dependent manner. Read More

Clin Biochem 2019 Dec 28;74:24-30. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland.

Background: In some clinical situations (pregnancy, aging, drug resistance, toxicity), measurements of lamotrigine plasma levels may be reliable. Limited studies indicate that saliva and hair could be alternative sources for monitoring lamotrigine therapy. The drug content in hair can also be used to assess the history of drug therapy and to ascertain long-term patient compliance. Read More

Environ Pollut 2020 Jan 19;256:113374. Epub 2019 Oct 19.

College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address:

Melatonin is a hormone which is generated from pineal gland, and it is responsible for the regulation of wake-sleep cycle. Melatonin is a well-known antioxidant and free radical scavenger to protect against multiple type of tissue damage. While ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin found widely in contaminated food and foodstuffs, which causes nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and reproductive damage in humans and animals. 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

J Sci Food Agric 2020 Feb 11;100(3):1118-1123. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.

Background: Dairy farming feed can be contaminated with mycotoxins, affecting animals' health and milk quality. Dairy farming is also prone to occupational exposure to mycotoxins, and feed is recognized as a source of contamination in the workplace. An exploratory study was developed in a dairy farm located in Portugal intending to assess the mycotoxins present in the feed. Read More

Bratisl Lek Listy 2019 ;120(10):789-793

Aim: Lipid emulsions are promising with regard to the treatment of toxicity by agents of high lipophilic nature. Our objective is to investigate the efficacy of intralipid 20% and calcium administration at different times when symptoms of cardiac toxicity occur during verapamil infusion.

Method: 24 adult male Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 different groups, the control group, calcium group, calcium following 20% intralipid group and concomitant 20% intralipid and calcium group. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Dec 15;238:116953. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Institute for Medical Biology & Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plants in Wuling Area & Hubei Medical Biology International Science and Technology Cooperation Base, College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, China. Electronic address:

Aims: This study focused on investigating whether NS8593 reverses airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction and the underlying mechanism.

Main Methods: ASM contraction in mouse tracheal rings and lung slices was measured. Currents mediated by voltage dependent Ca channels (VDCCs) and ACH-activated channels were measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in single tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). Read More

Nutrients 2019 Oct 15;11(10). Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Graduate Institute of Food Science and Technology, Center for Food and Biomolecules, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, 1 Roosevelt Road, Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan.

Adlay ( L. var. Stapf) contains various phytonutrients for treating many diseases in Asia. Read More

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019 12 13;384:114778. Epub 2019 Oct 13.

Centre for Sports, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, United Kingdom.

Background And Purpose: Tiotropium bromide (TB) is a long acting muscarinic receptor antagonist used to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent meta-analyses suggest an increased risk of cardiovascular events with TB. Ca/calmodulin dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and L-type Ca channels regulate Ca concentrations allowing management of Ca across membranes. Read More

J Gastrointest Oncol 2019 Oct;10(5):1010-1014

Genitourinary Malignancy Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an important component of chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer and can be administered as an intravenous infusion or bolus. Coronary vasospasm is a known complication of infusional and bolus 5-FU administration. In patients who experience coronary vasospasm, 5-FU is often discontinued. Read More

J Appl Toxicol 2020 Feb 9;40(2):257-269. Epub 2019 Oct 9.

Division of Neurotoxicology, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas.

Calcium channel blocker (CCB) poisoning is a common and sometimes life-threatening emergency. Our previous studies have shown that acetyl l-carnitine (ALCAR) prevents cardiotoxicity and developmental toxicity induced by verapamil, a CCB used to treat patients with hypertension. Here, we tested whether toxicities of nifedipine, a dihydropyridine CCB used to treat hypertension, can also be mitigated by co-treatment with ALCAR. 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

Mar Drugs 2019 Oct 4;17(10). Epub 2019 Oct 4.

Regulatory Toxicology Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Tunney's Pasture, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.

Currently, animal experiments in rodents are the gold standard for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) investigations; however, testing guidelines for these experiments are insufficient in terms of animal use, time, and costs. Thus, alternative reliable approaches are needed for predicting DNT. We chose rat neural stem cells (rNSC) as a model system, and used a well-known neurotoxin, domoic acid (DA), as a model test chemical to validate the assay. Read More

PLoS One 2019 3;14(10):e0223232. Epub 2019 Oct 3.

School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant cancers and the treatment options for this disease are limited and generally not effective. ROCK has been reported to be highly expressed in many cancer types and its inhibitor Fasudil has shown anti-cancer potential. However, its high toxicity and low solubility restrict its clinical application. Read More

Plant Physiol Biochem 2019 Oct 13;143:286-298. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Genetic Department, Science Faculty, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.

In this study, the effect of seed priming with sodium hydro sulfide (NaHS) and CaCl as well as the possible relationship between them in inducing post-germinative cross-adaptation in zucchini seedlings (cv Courgette d'Italie) were investigated. Results showed that Ni toxicity reduced plant growth and photosynthetic pigments, decreased the content of ascorbate (AsA) and total thiols, increased hydrogen peroxide (HO) content and electrolyte leakage (EL), up-regulated the transcription levels of Ca-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and phytochelatin (PCs) genes and elevated HS content in leaves of zucchini seedlings. Individual or combined seed priming with Ca and NaHS improved the content of photosynthetic pigments and seedling biomass, reduced HO content and EL, increased the content of AsA and total thiols, decreased ascorbate peroxidase activity and enhanced glutathione reductase activity in leaves. Read More

J Agric Food Chem 2019 Oct 27;67(40):11230-11235. Epub 2019 Sep 27.

School of Life Sciences and Engineering , Foshan University , Foshan 528225 , Guangdong Province , China.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin which could cause strong immunosuppressive toxicological effects in animals and humans. Heterophil extracellular traps (HETs) as a novel defense of chicken heterophils play an important role against pathogen infection. It has been reported that OTA can weaken the phagocytosis function of neutrophils. 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

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Nov 6;184:109637. Epub 2019 Sep 6.

Laboratory of Animal Biology, National Institute for Research and Development for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Calea Bucuresti No. 1, Balotesti, Ilfov, 077015, Romania.

OTA is a toxic metabolite produced by fungus belonging to Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Kidney is the main target of this toxin; OTA is considered as one of the etiological factors at the origin of the human Balkan endemic nephropathy. microRNA are short non-coding transcrips (18-22 nucleotides in length) regulating key cellular processes. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2019 12 3;54(12):1941-1947. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

Pediatric Critical Care, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.

Objective: Magnesium sulfate (Mg) is one of several "second-tier" therapies for treating severe status asthmaticus. Pediatric reports primarily describe bolus use with limited data regarding prolonged infusions. We sought to describe the safety of prolonged Mg infusions during therapy of status asthmaticus in critically ill children. Read More

Hum Exp Toxicol 2019 Dec 2;38(12):1384-1396. Epub 2019 Sep 2.

Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey.

Zonisamide (ZNS) is an anticonvulsant which is used to treat the symptoms of epilepsy. Although it is frequently used during reproductive ages, studies that investigated the effects of ZNS on reproductive system are limited. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of ZNS on male reproductive system by oral administration to rats in 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg doses for 28 days. Read More