Sunflower:
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus .L) is one of the few crop species that originated in North America (most originated in the Fertile Crescent, Asia or South or Central America). It is a twelve-monthly plant. The sunflower got its name from its huge fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to represent the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, irregular leaves and circular heads of flowers. The heads consist of 1,000-2,000 individual flowers joined together by a receptacle base.
Sunflower seeds were taken to Europe in the 16th century where, along with sunflower oil, they became a wide-spread cooking ingredient. Sunflower leaves can be used as a cattle food, while the stems contain a fiber which may be used in paper production.
History
Sunflower was probably primary introduced to Europe through Spain, and spread through Europe as a curiosity until it reached Russia where it was readily adapted. Selection for high oil in Russia began in 1860 and was mainly responsible for increasing oil content from 28% to almost 50%. The high-oil lines from Russia were reintroduced into the U.S. after World War II, which rekindled interest in the crop. However, it was the discovery of the male-sterile and restorer gene system that made hybrids feasible and increased commercial interest in the crop. Sunflower acreage is now moving westward into dryer regions; however, 85% of the North American sunflower seed is still produced in North and South Dakota and Minnesota.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Helianthus
Species: Helianthus annuus
Description
With sunflower, what is usually called the flower is actually a flower head (also known as a composite flower) of numerous florets, (small flowers) crowded together. The outer petal-bearing florets are the sterile ray florets and can be yellow, red, orange, or other colors. The florets inside the circular head are called disc florets, which mature into seeds.
Sunflowers most generally grow to heights between 1.5 and 3.5 m (5–12 ft). Scientific literature reports that a 12 m (40 ft), traditional, single-head, sunflower plant was grown in Padua in 1567. The same seed lot grew almost 8 m (26 ft) at other times and places, including Madrid. During the 20th century, heights of over 8 m have been achieved in both Netherlands and Ontario, Canada.
Heliotropism
A common misconception is that sunflowers track the sun. In fact, mature flower heads typically face east and do not move. The leaves and buds of young sunflowers do exhibit heliotropism (sun turning). Their direction changes from east to west during the course of a day. The leaf and flower head bud phototropism occurs while the leaf petioles and stems are still actively growing, but once mature, the movements stop. These movements involve the petioles bending or twisting during the day then unbending or untwisting at night.
Varieties of Sunflowers:
There are many types of sunflowers. And, gardeners like to grow a wide variety of them.
•Sunflowers are basically separated by size. The giant varieties grow over ten feet. Regular sunflowers typically grow from six to ten feet. Miniatures are gaining in popularity as borders. They are very popular in Asia, and grow two to four feet.
•Some varieties of sunflowers have one big head or flower. They are usually the giant sunflower varieties. Other large headed varieties, have a few much smaller heads that form on lower branches. Some varieties have multiple heads. These are typically midsized sunflowers, and are perfect for flower gardens in attracting birds.
•Sunflower seeds are usually a dark brown to black, or large, grey and white striped. The latter is the most popular for eating due, to their large size. Don't worry over selection. The birds will eat ample quantities of both, and so will you. Whether you are feeding the wildlife or not, there are plenty of wildlife that enjoy sunflower. They include all sorts of birds of course, squirrels, and rodents.
•Giant Sunflowers - Many people find growing these to be addicting. A giant sunflower can be either a very tall plant, or an enormous flowerhead.
•Tithonia, or Mexican Sunflower- Grow 4-6 feet tall, with daisy-like flowers. Blooms summer to fall.
Cultivation
To rapid grow, sunflowers need full sun. They grow most excellent in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with a lot of mulch. In commercial planting, seeds are planted 45 cm (1.5 ft) apart and 2.5 cm (1 in) deep.
Sunflower plants grow well in average to rich soils. They need to grow their roots deep and wide, to enable them to withstand strong winds. If you have a choice, sandy soils are not recommended, as they are easily uprooted in loose soil. Rich soil is important, when growing giant varieties.
Deep roots help sunflowers to withstand most droughts. They will benefit from a dose of fertilizer when you apply it to the rest of your garden. Apply extra phosphorus and potassium when the flower bud begins to develop, to promote bigger blooms.
Tip: If you are crowded for space, plant one or two sunflowers amidst your vine crops. One or two will not seriously shade the vines. Make sure not to plant them near their tap roots for the vines.
Harvesting:
Harvest sunflower seeds after the flower begin to die back, and most if not all, of the petals have fallen off. Pull out a seed and open it to see if it is full. Cut off the head, leaving a few inches of stalk. Hang the stalks to dry in a well ventilated area. Do not stack them in a box, as mold can develop during the drying process. As soon as the flowers have dried, extract the seeds by rubbing two flower heads together. They should come off of the flower head fairly easily. Sunflowers are also used as dried flowers in vases and for craft projects. They can be cut just before the flowers die off and dried over a few weeks. Miniature sunflowers make lovely fresh bouquets also. For craft projects, it is important to leave a sufficient amount of stalk.
Uses
Sunflowers “whole seed” (fruit) are sold as a snack food, after roasting in ovens, with or without salt added.
It is also sold as food for birds and can be used directly in cooking and salads.
American Indians had various uses for sunflowers in the past, such as in bread, medical ointments, dyes and body paints [citation needed].
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking, as carrier oil and to produce margarine and biodiesel, as it is cheaper than olive oil. Commercially available sunflower contain from 39 to 49% oil in the seed. In 1985-86, sunflower seed was the third largest source of vegetable oil worldwide, following soybean and palm. The growth of sunflower as an oilseed crop has rivaled that of soybean, with both increasing production over 6-fold since the 1930s. Sunflower accounts for about 14% of the world production of seed oils (6.9 million metric tons in 1985-86) and about 7% of the oilcake and meal produced from oilseeds. The oil accounts for 80% of the value of the sunflower crop, as contrasted with soybean which derives most of its value from the meal. Sunflower oil is generally considered a premium oil because of its light color, high level of unsaturated fatty acids and lack of linolenic acid, bland flavor and high smoke points. The primary fatty acids in the oil are oleic and linoleic (typically 90% unsaturated fatty acids), with the remainder consisting of palmitic and stearic saturated fatty acids. The primary use is as a salad and cooking oil or in margarine. In the USA, sunflower oils account for 8% or less of these markets, but in many sunflower-producing countries, sunflower is the preferred and the most commonly used oil.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)
Human immunodeficiency virus. The term "HIV" has been internationally accepted in the scientific community as the appropriate name for the retrovirus that is the causative agent of AIDS.
HIV is a virus which attacks the immune system and prevents it from functioning. It can be transferred from human to human via blood and bodily fluids.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which progressive letdown of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to prosper. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four most important routes of transmission are unsafe sex, unhygienic needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth (perinatal transmission).
HIV infection in humans is considered pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Nevertheless, satisfaction about HIV may play a key role in HIV risk. From its discovery in 1981 to 2006, AIDS killed over 25 million people. HIV infects about 0.6% of the world's population. In 2009, AIDS claimed an estimated 1.8 million lives, down from a global peak of 2.1 million in 2004. In the order of 260,000 children died of AIDS in 2009. A disproportionate number of AIDS deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and growing poverty. In 2005, it was estimated that HIV would infect 90 million people in Africa, resulting in a minimum estimate of 18 million orphans.
History of HIV
The history of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dates back to 1981, when homosexual men with symptoms of a disease that now are considered typical of AIDS were primary described in Los Angeles and New York. The men had an unusual type of lung infection (pneumonia) called Pneumocystis carinii (now known as Pneumocystis jiroveci) pneumonia (PCP) and rare skin tumors called Kaposi's sarcomas. The patients were renowned to have a severe reduction in a type of cell in the blood (CD4 cells) that is a vital part of the immune system. These cells, often referred to as T cells, help the body fight infections. Shortly thereafter, this disease was familiar throughout the United States, Western Europe, and Africa. In 1983, researchers in the United States and France described the virus that causes AIDS, now known as HIV, belonging to the group of viruses called retroviruses. While HIV infection is required to develop AIDS, the actual definition of AIDS is the development of a low CD4 cell count (<200 cells/mm3) or any one of a long list of complications of HIV infection ranging from a variety of so-called "opportunistic infections," cancers, neurologic symptoms, and wasting syndromes.
AIDS
When CD4+ T cell numbers decline lower a dangerous level of 200 cells per µL, cell-mediated immunity is vanished, and infections with a variety of opportunistic microbes appear. The first symptoms often include moderate and unexplained weight loss, recurring respiratory tract infections (such as sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, pharyngitis), prostatitis, skin rashes, and oral ulcerations.
Common opportunistic infections and tumors, the greater parts of which are normally controlled by robust CD4+ T cell-mediated immunity then start to affect the patient. Typically, resistance is vanished early on to oral Candida species and to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which leads to an increased susceptibility to oral candidiasis (thrush) and tuberculosis. Later, reactivation of latent herpes viruses may cause worsening recurrences of herpes simplex eruptions, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell lymphomas, or Kaposi's sarcoma.
HIV spread (transmitted)
HIV is present to changeable degrees in the blood and genital secretions of virtually all individuals infected with HIV, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. The spread of HIV can occur when these secretions come in contact with tissues such as those lining the vagina, anal area, mouth, eyes (the mucus membranes), or with a break in the skin, such as from a cut or puncture by a needle. The most common ways in which HIV is spreading throughout the world include sexual contact, sharing needles, and by transmission from infected mothers to their newborns during pregnancy, labor (the delivery process), or breastfeeding. (See the section below on treatment during pregnancy for a discussion on reducing the risk of transmission to the newborn.)
Sexual transmission of HIV has been described from men to men, men to women, women to men, and women to women through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The best way to avoid sexual transmission is abstinence from sex until it is certain that both partners in a monogamous relationship are not HIV-infected. Because the HIV antibody test can take months to turn positive after infection occurs, both partners would need to investigation negative for at least 12 and up to 24 weeks after their last potential exposure to HIV.
The spread of HIV by exposure to infected blood usually results from sharing needles, as in those used for illicit drugs. HIV also can be spread by sharing needles for anabolic steroids to increase muscle, tattooing, and body piercing. To prevent the spread of HIV, as well as other diseases including hepatitis, needles should never be shared. At the beginning of the HIV epidemic, many individuals acquired HIV infection from blood transfusions or blood products, such as those used for hemophiliacs. At present, however, because blood is tested for both antibodies to HIV and the actual virus before transfusion, the risk of acquiring HIV from a blood transfusion in the United States is extremely small and is considered insignificant.
There is small evidence that HIV can be transferred by casual exposure, as might occur in a household setting. For example, unless there are open sores or blood in the mouth, kissing is generally considered not to be a risk factor for transmitting HIV. This is because saliva, in contrast to genital secretions, has been shown to contain very little HIV. Still, theoretical risks are associated with the sharing of toothbrushes and shaving razors because they can cause bleeding, and blood can contain large amounts of HIV. Consequently, these items should not be shared with infected people. Similarly, without sexual exposure or direct contact with blood, there is little if any risk of HIV contagion in the workplace or classroom.
Types of treatment
There are five main groups of drugs involved:
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Protease inhibitors
Fusion inhibitors.
Usually, three different drugs from at least two of these groups are taken together, two to four times a day. Some tablets now contain two or three dissimilar drugs. The advantage of these combination drugs is that people do not need to take as many tablets each day.
How treatment works
When the HIV virus gets into a body cell, it normally starts to make copies of itself. These copies then spread out of that cell and into another. Drug treatments control the virus by interfering with the chemicals it uses to make copies of itself inside the body cells. The fusion inhibitors stop the HIV binding onto a new cell so it can no longer enter.
Over time, the virus can become resistant to the drugs, which means that they won’t work as well. The treatment may then have to be changed to a different combination of drugs.
People taking drug treatment for HIV will probably need to take it for the rest of their lives. Stopping drug treatment, even for little periods of time, can cause the virus to become resistant to those drugs. It is not recommended that anyone interrupt drug treatment without medical advice.
Drug treatment does not work well for everyone. Even when it is working well, it cannot control all of the virus, so the person will still have HIV in their body.
Treatment does not stop someone with HIV from being able to pass on the virus through unprotected sex or sharing needles or injecting equipment.
Human immunodeficiency virus. The term "HIV" has been internationally accepted in the scientific community as the appropriate name for the retrovirus that is the causative agent of AIDS.
HIV is a virus which attacks the immune system and prevents it from functioning. It can be transferred from human to human via blood and bodily fluids.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which progressive letdown of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to prosper. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four most important routes of transmission are unsafe sex, unhygienic needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth (perinatal transmission).
HIV infection in humans is considered pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Nevertheless, satisfaction about HIV may play a key role in HIV risk. From its discovery in 1981 to 2006, AIDS killed over 25 million people. HIV infects about 0.6% of the world's population. In 2009, AIDS claimed an estimated 1.8 million lives, down from a global peak of 2.1 million in 2004. In the order of 260,000 children died of AIDS in 2009. A disproportionate number of AIDS deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and growing poverty. In 2005, it was estimated that HIV would infect 90 million people in Africa, resulting in a minimum estimate of 18 million orphans.
History of HIV
The history of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dates back to 1981, when homosexual men with symptoms of a disease that now are considered typical of AIDS were primary described in Los Angeles and New York. The men had an unusual type of lung infection (pneumonia) called Pneumocystis carinii (now known as Pneumocystis jiroveci) pneumonia (PCP) and rare skin tumors called Kaposi's sarcomas. The patients were renowned to have a severe reduction in a type of cell in the blood (CD4 cells) that is a vital part of the immune system. These cells, often referred to as T cells, help the body fight infections. Shortly thereafter, this disease was familiar throughout the United States, Western Europe, and Africa. In 1983, researchers in the United States and France described the virus that causes AIDS, now known as HIV, belonging to the group of viruses called retroviruses. While HIV infection is required to develop AIDS, the actual definition of AIDS is the development of a low CD4 cell count (<200 cells/mm3) or any one of a long list of complications of HIV infection ranging from a variety of so-called "opportunistic infections," cancers, neurologic symptoms, and wasting syndromes.
AIDS
When CD4+ T cell numbers decline lower a dangerous level of 200 cells per µL, cell-mediated immunity is vanished, and infections with a variety of opportunistic microbes appear. The first symptoms often include moderate and unexplained weight loss, recurring respiratory tract infections (such as sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, pharyngitis), prostatitis, skin rashes, and oral ulcerations.
Common opportunistic infections and tumors, the greater parts of which are normally controlled by robust CD4+ T cell-mediated immunity then start to affect the patient. Typically, resistance is vanished early on to oral Candida species and to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which leads to an increased susceptibility to oral candidiasis (thrush) and tuberculosis. Later, reactivation of latent herpes viruses may cause worsening recurrences of herpes simplex eruptions, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell lymphomas, or Kaposi's sarcoma.
HIV spread (transmitted)
HIV is present to changeable degrees in the blood and genital secretions of virtually all individuals infected with HIV, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. The spread of HIV can occur when these secretions come in contact with tissues such as those lining the vagina, anal area, mouth, eyes (the mucus membranes), or with a break in the skin, such as from a cut or puncture by a needle. The most common ways in which HIV is spreading throughout the world include sexual contact, sharing needles, and by transmission from infected mothers to their newborns during pregnancy, labor (the delivery process), or breastfeeding. (See the section below on treatment during pregnancy for a discussion on reducing the risk of transmission to the newborn.)
Sexual transmission of HIV has been described from men to men, men to women, women to men, and women to women through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The best way to avoid sexual transmission is abstinence from sex until it is certain that both partners in a monogamous relationship are not HIV-infected. Because the HIV antibody test can take months to turn positive after infection occurs, both partners would need to investigation negative for at least 12 and up to 24 weeks after their last potential exposure to HIV.
The spread of HIV by exposure to infected blood usually results from sharing needles, as in those used for illicit drugs. HIV also can be spread by sharing needles for anabolic steroids to increase muscle, tattooing, and body piercing. To prevent the spread of HIV, as well as other diseases including hepatitis, needles should never be shared. At the beginning of the HIV epidemic, many individuals acquired HIV infection from blood transfusions or blood products, such as those used for hemophiliacs. At present, however, because blood is tested for both antibodies to HIV and the actual virus before transfusion, the risk of acquiring HIV from a blood transfusion in the United States is extremely small and is considered insignificant.
There is small evidence that HIV can be transferred by casual exposure, as might occur in a household setting. For example, unless there are open sores or blood in the mouth, kissing is generally considered not to be a risk factor for transmitting HIV. This is because saliva, in contrast to genital secretions, has been shown to contain very little HIV. Still, theoretical risks are associated with the sharing of toothbrushes and shaving razors because they can cause bleeding, and blood can contain large amounts of HIV. Consequently, these items should not be shared with infected people. Similarly, without sexual exposure or direct contact with blood, there is little if any risk of HIV contagion in the workplace or classroom.
Types of treatment
There are five main groups of drugs involved:
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Protease inhibitors
Fusion inhibitors.
Usually, three different drugs from at least two of these groups are taken together, two to four times a day. Some tablets now contain two or three dissimilar drugs. The advantage of these combination drugs is that people do not need to take as many tablets each day.
How treatment works
When the HIV virus gets into a body cell, it normally starts to make copies of itself. These copies then spread out of that cell and into another. Drug treatments control the virus by interfering with the chemicals it uses to make copies of itself inside the body cells. The fusion inhibitors stop the HIV binding onto a new cell so it can no longer enter.
Over time, the virus can become resistant to the drugs, which means that they won’t work as well. The treatment may then have to be changed to a different combination of drugs.
People taking drug treatment for HIV will probably need to take it for the rest of their lives. Stopping drug treatment, even for little periods of time, can cause the virus to become resistant to those drugs. It is not recommended that anyone interrupt drug treatment without medical advice.
Drug treatment does not work well for everyone. Even when it is working well, it cannot control all of the virus, so the person will still have HIV in their body.
Treatment does not stop someone with HIV from being able to pass on the virus through unprotected sex or sharing needles or injecting equipment.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Gemifloxacin
Gemifloxacin
Gemifloxacin mesylate is a synthetic broad spectrum antibacterial for oral administration. Gemifloxacin a compound related to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics is available as the mesylate salt in the sesquihydrate form.
Mode of action
Gemifloxacin is a DNA gyrase inhibitor and also inhibits topoisomerase IV. DNA gyrase (topoisomerase IV) is an essential bacterial enzyme that maintains the superhelical structure of DNA. DNA gyrase is required for DNA replication and transcription, DNA repair, recombination, and transposition, bactericidal.
Pharmacokinetics
Gemifloxacin is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with absolute bioavailability of about 71%. Peak plasma concentrations occur 0.5 to 2 hours after an oral dose. Gemifloxacin is widely distributed into body tissues including the bronchial mucosa and lungs, and is about 55 to75% bound to plasma proteins. It undergoes limited hepatic metabolism and has an elimination half life of about 7 hours. It excreted as unchanged drug and metabolites in the faeces and urine. Urinary excretion is by active tubular secretion and is reduce by probenecid. Distribution into milk has been found in rats.
Indications
Gemifloxacin is indicated for the treatment of infections caused by susceptible of the designated microorganisms in the condition listed below.
• Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, or Moraxella catarrhalis.
• Community-acquired pneumonia (of mild to moderate severity) caused by Streptococcus pneumonia (including multi- drug resistant strains [MDRSP]), Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamybia pneumoniae, or Klebsiella pneumoniae.
• Acute sinusitis
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections
• Acute pyelonephritis
Contraindication
Gemifloxacin is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to gemifloxacin, floroquinolone antibiotic agents, or any of the product components.
Use in pregnancy and Lactation
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Reports of arthropathy (observed in immature animals and reported rarely in humans) have limited the use of fluoroquinolones in pregnancy. Reversible fatal growth retardation was observed with gemifloxacin in some animal studies. Based on limited data, quinolones are not expected to be a major human teratogen. Although quinolone antibiotics should not be used as first-line agents during pregnancy, when considering treatment for life-threatening infection and/or prolonged duration of therapy, the potential risk to the fetus must be balanced against the severity of the potential illness. Excretion in breast milk is unknown. So, Gemifloxacin is not recommended in lactating women.
Side Effect
There are many serious side effects of Gemifloxacin:
1. fast or pounding heartbeats
2. feeling light-headed, fainting, drowsiness, dizziness
3. seizure (convulsions)
4. confusion, and feeling restless or anxious
5. a red, blistering, peeling skin rash, vaginal itching or discharge & mild skin itching
6. urinating less than usual or not at all
7. tremors or shaking
8. easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness
9. nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
10. sudden pain or swelling near your joints (especially in your arm or ankle)
11. numbness, tingling, or weakness in any part of your body
12. diarrhea that is watery or bloody
Drug Interaction
May interact with blood thinners (e.g. warfarin), corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone), diabetes medications (e.g. insulin), probenecid, live vaccines. Report the use of drug which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with Gemifloxacin such as phenothiazines (e.g. thioridazine), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline), isoniazid (INH) or theophylline.
Except those drugs more over have another drugs which are interact with previous mentions drugs:
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Medications for heart arrhythmias
• Erythromycin
• Antipsychotics
• Water pills
• Steroid medications
• Antacids
• Sucralfate
• Didanosine
Gemifloxacin may interact with other medications or substances that are not listed above. In order to avoid potentially hazardous interactions, patients should talk with their doctor about the use of any other medicines, vitamins or supplements before beginning treatment with gemifloxacin.
Precautions
• Before taking Gemifloxacin, caution should be taken if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to gemifloxacin or any other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin , moxifloxacin; any other medications.
• You are taking antacids containing aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide or vitamin or mineral supplements that contain iron, magnesium, or zinc, take these medications 3 hours before or 2 hours after you take gemifloxacin.
• Before using this medication, tells your doctor about rain or nervous system disorder if any (e.g. Cerebral arteriosclerosis, tumors increased intracranial pressure), heart problems (e.g. Cardiomyopathy, slow heart rate, QTc prolongation), history of seizures kidney disease, muscle/joint/tendon problems.
• Gemifloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet light. So avoid prolong sun exposure.
• This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before breast feeding.
Overdosage
Any signs or symptoms of overdosage should be treated symptomatically. No specific antidote is known. In the event of acute oral overdosage, the stomach should be emptied by inducing vomiting or by gastric lavage; the patient should be carefully observed and treated symptomatically with appropriate hydration maintained. Hemodialysis removes approximately 20 to 30% of an oral dose of gemifloxacin from plasma.
Mortality occurred at oral gemifloxacin doses of 1600 mg/kg in rats and 320 mg/kg in mice. The minimum lethal intravenous doses in these species were 160 and 80 mg/kg, respectively. Toxic signs after administration of a single high oral dose (400 mg/kg) of gemifloxacin to rodents included ataxia, lethargy, piloerection, tremor, and clonic convulsions.
Gemifloxacin mesylate is a synthetic broad spectrum antibacterial for oral administration. Gemifloxacin a compound related to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics is available as the mesylate salt in the sesquihydrate form.
Mode of action
Gemifloxacin is a DNA gyrase inhibitor and also inhibits topoisomerase IV. DNA gyrase (topoisomerase IV) is an essential bacterial enzyme that maintains the superhelical structure of DNA. DNA gyrase is required for DNA replication and transcription, DNA repair, recombination, and transposition, bactericidal.
Pharmacokinetics
Gemifloxacin is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with absolute bioavailability of about 71%. Peak plasma concentrations occur 0.5 to 2 hours after an oral dose. Gemifloxacin is widely distributed into body tissues including the bronchial mucosa and lungs, and is about 55 to75% bound to plasma proteins. It undergoes limited hepatic metabolism and has an elimination half life of about 7 hours. It excreted as unchanged drug and metabolites in the faeces and urine. Urinary excretion is by active tubular secretion and is reduce by probenecid. Distribution into milk has been found in rats.
Indications
Gemifloxacin is indicated for the treatment of infections caused by susceptible of the designated microorganisms in the condition listed below.
• Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, or Moraxella catarrhalis.
• Community-acquired pneumonia (of mild to moderate severity) caused by Streptococcus pneumonia (including multi- drug resistant strains [MDRSP]), Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamybia pneumoniae, or Klebsiella pneumoniae.
• Acute sinusitis
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections
• Acute pyelonephritis
Contraindication
Gemifloxacin is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to gemifloxacin, floroquinolone antibiotic agents, or any of the product components.
Use in pregnancy and Lactation
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Reports of arthropathy (observed in immature animals and reported rarely in humans) have limited the use of fluoroquinolones in pregnancy. Reversible fatal growth retardation was observed with gemifloxacin in some animal studies. Based on limited data, quinolones are not expected to be a major human teratogen. Although quinolone antibiotics should not be used as first-line agents during pregnancy, when considering treatment for life-threatening infection and/or prolonged duration of therapy, the potential risk to the fetus must be balanced against the severity of the potential illness. Excretion in breast milk is unknown. So, Gemifloxacin is not recommended in lactating women.
Side Effect
There are many serious side effects of Gemifloxacin:
1. fast or pounding heartbeats
2. feeling light-headed, fainting, drowsiness, dizziness
3. seizure (convulsions)
4. confusion, and feeling restless or anxious
5. a red, blistering, peeling skin rash, vaginal itching or discharge & mild skin itching
6. urinating less than usual or not at all
7. tremors or shaking
8. easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness
9. nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
10. sudden pain or swelling near your joints (especially in your arm or ankle)
11. numbness, tingling, or weakness in any part of your body
12. diarrhea that is watery or bloody
Drug Interaction
May interact with blood thinners (e.g. warfarin), corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone), diabetes medications (e.g. insulin), probenecid, live vaccines. Report the use of drug which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with Gemifloxacin such as phenothiazines (e.g. thioridazine), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline), isoniazid (INH) or theophylline.
Except those drugs more over have another drugs which are interact with previous mentions drugs:
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Medications for heart arrhythmias
• Erythromycin
• Antipsychotics
• Water pills
• Steroid medications
• Antacids
• Sucralfate
• Didanosine
Gemifloxacin may interact with other medications or substances that are not listed above. In order to avoid potentially hazardous interactions, patients should talk with their doctor about the use of any other medicines, vitamins or supplements before beginning treatment with gemifloxacin.
Precautions
• Before taking Gemifloxacin, caution should be taken if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to gemifloxacin or any other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin , moxifloxacin; any other medications.
• You are taking antacids containing aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide or vitamin or mineral supplements that contain iron, magnesium, or zinc, take these medications 3 hours before or 2 hours after you take gemifloxacin.
• Before using this medication, tells your doctor about rain or nervous system disorder if any (e.g. Cerebral arteriosclerosis, tumors increased intracranial pressure), heart problems (e.g. Cardiomyopathy, slow heart rate, QTc prolongation), history of seizures kidney disease, muscle/joint/tendon problems.
• Gemifloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet light. So avoid prolong sun exposure.
• This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before breast feeding.
Overdosage
Any signs or symptoms of overdosage should be treated symptomatically. No specific antidote is known. In the event of acute oral overdosage, the stomach should be emptied by inducing vomiting or by gastric lavage; the patient should be carefully observed and treated symptomatically with appropriate hydration maintained. Hemodialysis removes approximately 20 to 30% of an oral dose of gemifloxacin from plasma.
Mortality occurred at oral gemifloxacin doses of 1600 mg/kg in rats and 320 mg/kg in mice. The minimum lethal intravenous doses in these species were 160 and 80 mg/kg, respectively. Toxic signs after administration of a single high oral dose (400 mg/kg) of gemifloxacin to rodents included ataxia, lethargy, piloerection, tremor, and clonic convulsions.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Pizotifen
Pizotifen
Pizotifen is a tricyclic compound having antiserotoninergic and antihistaminergic effects together with a weak anticholinergic action, but a little or no activity on kinins or their liberators. At low concentration Pizotifen may potentiate the actions of serotonin.
Mechanism of action
Pizotifen, like all triptans, is a serotonin agonist, which means it acts like serotonin. Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter that regulates communication between nerve cells and the widening of blood vessels. It acts by activating proteins on nerve endings and blood vessels, called 5-HT receptors. Pizotifen also activates these receptors. Activation prevents the release of chemicals that mediate pain and narrows blood vessels, which reduces their leakiness.
Pharmacology
Pizotifen is characterized by its polyvalent inhibition effect on biogenic amines, such as serotonin, histamine and tryptamine. Pizotifen also possesses appetite stimulation properties.
Indication
Pizotifen is indicated for the prophylactic treatment of vascular headaches of migraine types such classical migraine, common migraine, and cluster headaches. It is also indicated in appetite loss of somatic or psychogenic organ in underweight patients as an adjuvant to treatment of the underlying condition, such as infection or parasitic diseases (including during convalescence), chronic diarrhea, anorexia nervosa, or depressive states in the elderly and mood disturbances in the elderly.
Contraindication
It is Contraindication in patient with `a history of hypersensitivity to any components of the product. Although its achlinergic activity it’s relatively weak, Pizotifen should be probably not be administered in the presence of narrow-angle glaucoma or prostate hypertrophy. Pizotifen should not be given in to children under 2 years of age.
Side effect
The most commonly occurring side effect are drowsiness and an increase in appetite, which may lead to increase in body weight. Other side effects such as dizziness, dry mouth nausea and constipation have been reported infrequency. In children, CNS stimulation may occur.
Pregnancy and lactation
As clinical data with Pizotifen in Pregnancy is very limited, although no ill effects have been reported. The drug should therefore only be given during pregnancy if the potential benefit to mother justifies the potential risk to the fetus. The safety of Pizotifen during lactation has not been established, so mother should avoid taking it when breast feeling.
Caution
Urinary retention, renal impairment, pregnancy and beast feeding should be taken in consideration. Drowsiness may affect the performance of skilled task (e.g. Dividing), effect of alcohol is enhances.
Precaution
Patient should be warned about the possibility of drowsiness and its significance in the driving of vehicle and the operation of machinery.
Drug interaction
Tolerance to alcohol may be lowered. Prolong the drowsiness that occurs as adverse effect of concurrently used tranquilizers, hypnotics and antidepressant. It should not be used in patients receiving monoamine oxidize inhibitors.
Dose and Administration
The recommended dose is as followings:
Adult: the initial dose is 1.5mg daily; this may be taken at bedtime as a single dose or in three divided dose. Dosage can be adjusted according to the individual patient requirement up to a maximum of 4.5mg daily. Up to 3mg may be given as a single daily dose.
Children: up to 1.5mg daily, usually as a divide dose. Use of 1.5mg at a time is not recommended, but up to 1mg can be given as a single daily dose at night. Children below two years of age should not be given Pizotifen.
Or, a directed by the registered physician.
Pharmaceuticals precaution
Store in a cool dry place protected from light. Keep out of reach of children.
Market competitors
Serial no.
|
Company Name
|
Brand name
|
Pack size
|
Unite per price
|
Selling price(per year)
|
01
|
Square
|
Migranil
|
Box containing 5×10 tablet Or 5×1 tablets in blister pack
|
3tk
|
TK. 22,751,915
|
02
|
Bexcimco
|
Avidro
|
Box containing 1×10 tablet Or 10×10 tablets in blister pack
|
3tk
|
TK. 5,938,344 tk
|
03
|
Drug International Ltd.
|
De-fen
|
Box containing 10×10 tablet Or 1×10 tablets in blister pack
|
2tk
|
TK. 6,580,221
|
04
|
Aristopharma Ltd.
|
Zofen
|
Box containing 10×10 tablet in blister pack
|
3tk
|
TK. 18,752,830
|
05
|
Opsonin Pharm
|
Pifen
|
Box containing 5×10 tablet in blister pack
|
2tk
|
TK. 2,503,136
|
SWOT analysis:
Seiral no.
|
Strength(Pizotifen)
|
Weakness(Rizatriptan)
|
01
|
It required low dose of Pizotifen as 1.5mg daily for acute treatment. So it active therapeutic effect at low dose
|
Rizatriptan required high dose as 5mg or 10mg daily for acute treatment it’s given low at high dose.
|
02
|
Children above 2 years it should be given
|
It is not recommended in children.
|
03
|
The bioavailability of this drug is 75%
|
The bioavailability of this drug is 45%
|
04
|
About 90% bound to plasma proteins. Peak plasma concentrations occur about 5 hr after a single oral dose.
|
About 5% bound to plasma proteins. Peak plasma concentrations occur about 10-15 hr after a single oral dose.
|
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