This book succeeds Review of Medical Pharmacology , by Meyers, Jawetz, and Goldfien. Edited by B. G. Katzung, some of the important areas covered include drug receptors and pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics of absorption and biotransformation of drugs, autonomic pharmacology of cholinergic and adrenergic receptor stimulants and antagonists, antihypertensive agents, cardiac glycosides and other agents used in the treatment of congestive heart failure, therapeutic drugs for cardiac arrhythmias, diuretics, pharmacology of the CNS drugs such as anticonvulsants and anesthetics, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, endocrine pharmacology, antimicrobial and antimycobacterial drugs, antiprotozoal and antihelmintic drugs, cancer chemotherapy, and drugs and the immune system. Written by several prominent researchers and scientists, each chapter begins with a section on the basic pharmacology, chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the agents under discussion. This is followed by a section on clinical pharmacology, which deals with relevant information regarding the clinical use of drugs on the various

Basic and Clinical Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether effects on food intake are seen in obese subjects receiving exogenous administration of ghrelin.DESIGN:Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of intravenous ghrelin at doses 1 pmol/kg/min and 5 pmol/kg/min.SUBJECTS:In all, 12 healthy lean subjects (mean body mass index (BMI) 20.5±0.17 kg/m2) and 12 healthy overweight and obese subjects (mean BMI 31.9±1.02 kg/m2).MEASUREMENTS:Food intake, appetite and palatability of food, ghrelin and other obesity-related hormones, growth hormone.RESULTS:Low-dose infusion of ghrelin increased ad libitum energy intake at a buffet meal in the obese group only (mean increase 36.6±9.4%, P<0.01.) High-dose ghrelin infusion increased energy intake in both groups (mean increase 20.1±10.6% in the lean and 70.1±15.5% in the obese, P<0.01 in both cases.) Ghrelin infusion increased palatability of food in the obese group.CONCLUSION:Ghrelin increases food intake in obese as well as lean subjects. Obese people are sensitive to the appetite-stimulating effects of ghrelin and inhibition of circulating ghrelin may be a useful therapeutic target in the treatment of obesity.

Ghrelin increases food intake in obese as well as lean subjects

The newly released IEEE Std C95.1™-2019 defines exposure criteria and associated limits for the protection of persons against established adverse health effects from exposures to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields, in the frequency range 0 Hz to 300 GHz. The exposure limits apply to persons permitted in restricted environments and to the general public in unrestricted environments. These limits are not intended to apply to the exposure of patients by or under the direction of physicians and care professionals, as well as to the exposure of informed volunteers in scientific research studies, or to the use of medical devices or implants. IEEE Std C95.1™-2019 can be obtained at no cost from the IEEE Get Program https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8859679.

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Synopsis of IEEE Std C95.1™-2019 “IEEE Standard for Safety Levels With Respect to Human Exposure to Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields, 0 Hz to 300 GHz”

http://www.wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/Ruediger+2009.pdf

Genotoxic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

We investigated whether exposure of rat brain to microwaves (MWs) of global system for mobile communication (GSM) induces DNA breaks, changes in chromatin conformation and in gene expression. An exposure installation was used based on a test mobile phone employing a GSM signal at 915 MHz, all standard modulations included, output power level in pulses 2 W, specific absorption rate (SAR) 0.4 mW/g. Rats were exposed or sham exposed to MWs during 2 h. After exposure, cell suspensions were prepared from brain samples, as well as from spleen and thymus. For analysis of gene expression patterns, total RNA was extracted from cerebellum. Changes in chromatin conformation, which are indicative of stress response and genotoxic effects, were measured by the method of anomalous viscosity time dependencies (AVTD). DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Effects of MW exposure were observed on neither conformation of chromatin nor DNA DSBs. Gene expression profiles were obtained by Affymetrix U34 GeneChips representing 8800 rat genes and analyzed with the Affymetrix Microarray Suite (MAS) 5.0 software. In cerebellum from all exposed animals, 11 genes were upregulated in a range of 1.34-2.74 fold and one gene was downregulated 0.48-fold (P < .0025). The induced genes encode proteins with diverse functions including neurotransmitter regulation, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and melatonin production. The data shows that GSM MWs at 915 MHz did not induce PFGE-detectable DNA double stranded breaks or changes in chromatin conformation, but affected expression of genes in rat brain cells.

Exposure of rat brain to 915 MHz GSM microwaves induces changes in gene expression but not double stranded DNA breaks or effects on chromatin conformation.

In a preliminary study to examine possible lymphocyte chromosomal damage, we have tested two cytogenetic endpoints, namely, chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchange frequencies (SCE), in 24 mobile phone users (12 nonsmoker–nonalcoholic subjects and 12 smoker–alcoholics), who used digital mobile phones for at least 2 years, employing Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying modulations with uplink frequencies at 935–960 MHz. and downlinks at 890–915 MHz. For comparison, the control study group included another 24 individuals, matched according to their age, sex, drinking and smoking habits, as well as similar health status, working habits, and professional careers; but did not use mobile phones. Blood samples of 12 mobile users (6 smoker–alcoholic and 6 nonsmoker–nonalcoholic) and 12 controls (identical to mobile users in every respect) were further treated with a known mutagen Mitomycin‐C (MMC) to find out comutagenic/synergistic effect. A complete blood picture for each individual was assessed wit...

A Preliminary Study to Assess Possible Chromosomal Damage Among Users of Digital Mobile Phones

The incidences of chromosomal aberrations(CAs) as well as sister chromatid exchange frequencies (SCEs) was evaluated from 12 photocopying machine operators working on an average 8-9 hours per day for more than five years. A complete blood picture of each individual was assessed with an automatic particle cell counter. Additionally, blood pressure was measured at the time of blood collection from all photocopying machine operators. For comparison, the control group included another 12 individuals matched according to age, sex, socioeconomic conditions as well as other personal habits. The observations of the present study are indicators of health hazard for, although small, there was a significant increase in the percentage of aberrant cells (P<0.05), total aberrations (P<0.01) as well as total aberrations excluding chromatid gaps (P<0.01) among photocopying machine operators when compared to controls. However, results on SCE analysis of photocopying operators revealed no significant difference from the controls. At the same time all photocopying operators exhibited normal hematological parameters as well as blood pressure values.

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A preliminary cytogenetic and hematological study of photocopying machine operators

KEYWORDS Radiation workers; human chromosomes; CAs; SCE; micronuclei ABSTRACT The study group comprised of 12 occupationally exposed "radiotherapeutic and diagnostic workers", working since last 12 years on an average (service duration 3 to 20 years), with 12 age and sex-matched controls not exposed to any kind of radiation and belonging to same socio-economic status as the radiation workers. Cytogenetic end points studied were CAs (Chromosomal aberrations), SCE (Sister chromatid exchange) and MN (Micronuclei). Hematological parameters were also studied. In addition, co-mutagenic/synergistic in vitro effects of known mutagen Mitomycin-C (MMC) on lymphocytes of these workers were evaluated. Results revealed a significant increase in dicentric (P < 0.05) as well as MN (P< 0.01) among radiation exposed workers when compared to controls. By contrast, no change in SCE frequencies and hematological parameters were observed. After in vitro MMC treatment CA (mainly dicentric and ring) increased significantly in lymphocytes of radiation exposed workers. Based on these observations, a preliminary indication of the study could be that long term low level radiation exposure may probably damage the genetic constitution of an individual.

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Cytogenetic Analysis of Radiotherapeutic and Diagnostic Workers Occupationally Exposed to Radiations

KEYWORDS Human lymphocytes; Malignancies; Spontaneous SCE rates; Cell cycle progression ABSTRACT Total 23 patients with different malignancies viz. Ca. Lung (5), Ca. Uterine & Cervix (5), Ca. Head & Neck (5), Sarcomas (5) and Malignant Melanoma (3); were studied for spontaneous sister chromatid exchange frequencies (SCE) as well as cell cycle progression. All blood samples were collected prior to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to exclude the influence of these therapies, if any, on SCEs. Totally 15 healthy, age and sex matched individuals and belonging to the same socio- economic status, but no direct relatives of the patients were studied simultaneously as controls. The SCE rates, when compared to controls (4.00 ± 0.39) were found to be significantly high for patients with Ca. lung (9.42 ± 1.20), malignant melanoma (8.14 ± 0.21), Ca. head & neck (6.85 ± 0.89) as well as sarcomas (6.29 ± 0.79). However, no detectable difference was observed in the SCE rate for patients with Ca. uterine & cervix (5.02 ± 0.88). Cell cycle proliferation and thereby replicative index was significantly elevated in patients with carcinoma of head & neck as well as malignant melanoma. On the other hand, rest of the patients showed no much variation in cell cycle progression when compared to controls.

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Some Observations on Spontaneous Sister Chromatid Exchange Frequencies and Cell Cycle Progression in Stimulated Lymphocytes of Patients With Different Malignancies

The anti - inflammatory properties of aqueous extract of Anisomeles indica leaves were studied in rat model using carageenan induced paw edema. Aspirin 100mg/kg was used as standard drug. The extract of A indica leaves at 250mg/kg were administered orall y in rat models 1 hr before induction of carageenan and compared with a negative control group given 10ml/kg distilled water. Using the similar dose of extract the analgesic activity was also studied by tail immersion method in which 100mg/kg diclofenac as standard drug and 10ml/kg distilled water were used for negative control. The results showed maximum anti - inflammatory effect and analgesic effect after 4 hr. The results indicate that Anisomeles indica has potential in phytomedicine.

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Meonis Pithawala

Papers

A Preliminary Study to Assess Possible Chromosomal Damage Among Users of Digital Mobile Phones

A preliminary cytogenetic and hematological study of photocopying machine operators

Cytogenetic Analysis of Radiotherapeutic and Diagnostic Workers Occupationally Exposed to Radiations

Some Observations on Spontaneous Sister Chromatid Exchange Frequencies and Cell Cycle Progression in Stimulated Lymphocytes of Patients With Different Malignancies

Ascertaining Anti - Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity in Aqueous Leaf Extract of Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze