Objective To explore the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of benzodiazepines on Helicobacter pylori (Hp).Methods The Hp international standard strain ATCC43504 was treated with benzodiazepines diazepam,midazolam,and remimazolam,respectively.The treatments with amoxicillin and clarithromycin were taken as the positive controls,and that with water for injection as the negative control.The inhibition zone of each drug was measured by the disk diffusion method.The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC)of each drug against Hp were determined.Hp suspension was configured and treated with diazepam and midazolam,respectively.The bacterial suspension without drug added was used as the control group.The concentration of K⁺ in each bacterial suspension was measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer before drug intervention(T₀)and 1(T₁),2(T₂),3(T₃),4(T₄),5(T₅),6(T₆),and 7 h(T₇)after intervention.Hp urease was extracted and treated with 1/2 MIC diazepam,1 MIC diazepam,2 MIC diazepam,1/2 MIC midazolam,1 MIC midazolam,2 MIC midazolam,1 mg/ml acetohydroxamic acid,and water for injection,respectively.The time required for the rise from pH 6.8 to pH 7.7 in each group was determined by the phenol red coloring method.Results The inhibition zones of diazepam,midazolam,remimazolam,amoxicillin,clarithromycin,and water for injection against Hp were 52.3,42.7,6.0,72.3,60.8,and 6.0 mm,respectively.Diazepam and midazolam showed the MIC of 12.5 μg/ml and 25.0 μg/ml and the MBC of 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml,respectively,to Hp.The concentrations of K⁺ in the diazepam,midazolam,and control groups increased during T₁-T₇ compared with those at T₀(all P<0.01).The concentration of K⁺ in diazepam and midazolam groups during T₁-T₄ was higher than that in the control group(all P<0.01).The time of inhibiting urease activity in the 1/2 MIC diazepam,1 MIC diazepam,2 MIC diazepam,1/2 MIC midazolam,1 MIC midazolam,and 2 MIC midazolam groups was(39.86±5.11),(36.52±6.65),(38.58±4.83),(39.25±6.19),(36.36±4.61),and(35.81±6.18)min,respectively,which were shorter than that in the acetohydroxamic acid group(all P<0.01)and had no significance differences from that in the water for injection group(all P>0.05).Conclusion Diazepam and midazolam exerted inhibitory effects on Hp,which may be related to the cleavage of Hp cells rather than inhibiting urease.
Midazolam ; Helicobacter pylori ; Urease ; Clarithromycin/pharmacology* ; Benzodiazepines/pharmacology* ; Diazepam/pharmacology* ; Amoxicillin ; Water ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*

Sleep medicine is a relatively new field to which medical practitioners have a limited exposure. During the last 20 years, many categories of sleep disorders have been defined. Sleep disorders produce various, sometimes serious, symptoms that cause physical, neuropsychological, and psychiatric problems. Medical doctors should recognize what symptoms are related to sleep disorders and make a first step to establish treatment plans that can help the patients. Based on sleep pharmacology we can understand the mechanisms of sleep physiology and ultimately can make appropriate prescriptions for patients. In Korea, actually, the physicians usually prescribe hypnotics indiscriminately for sleep problems, without considering any various sleep disorders and precise diagnostic procedures. Insomnia is not a simple homogenous disease entity, thus the exact diagnosis is essential for appropriate treatment. Especially, primary insomnia has a psychophysiological origin. Hypnotic medication is just one of the several treatment modalities for insomnia. To certain patients, behavioral modifications, rather than hypnotics, are effective. In fact, antidepressants and benzodiazepines can aggravate certain sleep disorders. In this article, the author reviews nonpharmacological treatment of insomnia, the medication specific to different sleep disorders, and treatment guidelines of hypnotics.
Antidepressive Agents ; Benzodiazepines ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Korea ; Pharmacology ; Physiology ; Prescriptions ; Sleep Wake Disorders* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Animals ; Benzodiazepines ; pharmacology ; Ducks ; physiology ; Growth Hormone ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Serum ; metabolism ; Weight Gain ; drug effects

AIMDesign, synthesis and evaluation of a series of 7-imidazolylalkanamido-1-carboxylalkylbenzodiazepine farnesyltransferase (FTase) inhibitors.

METHODS AND RESULTSCoupling of imidazolylalkylcarboxylic acids and 1-substituted 7-aminobenzodiazepines (5a-5c) yielded 10 new compounds (6-12, 16-18) which were biologically tested against FTase using scintillation proximity assay method.

CONCLUSIONFive target compounds were found to be potential farnesyltransferase inhibitors.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; drug effects ; Benzodiazepines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Farnesyltranstransferase ; Imidazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of bromdomain protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor GSK525762A on the proliferation, apoptosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line RS4;11 cells, and to further explore the mechanism.

METHODSCompared with Jurkat leukemia cells, the activity of BRD4 on RS4; 11 cells were inhibited by the inhibitor GSK525762A. The inhibitory effects of BRD4 on RS4; 11 cells were measured by CCK-8 test and the apoptosis of those cells was determined by AnnexinV/7-AAD dyeing using flow cytometry. The transcripts of anti-apoptotic genes c-myc, Bcl-2, CDK6 and proapoptotic genes Bad, Bak, Bax were detected by quantitative PCR, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bak proteins were detected via Western blot.

RESULTSProliferation of RS4;11 cells could be inhibited by GSK525762A in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and the inhibitory IC50 at 48 and 72 h was 6.174 and 1.996 μmol/L, respectively. Compared with DMSO in control group, the levels of c-myc, Bcl-2 and CDK6 mRNA transcripts in RS4; 11 cells were reduced in GSK525762A treated group, while the levels of Bad, Bak, Bax mRNA transcripts were enhanced,moreover, Bcl- 2 protein levels decreased and Bak protein levels increased. However, the inhibitory effect of GSK525762A on Jurkat cells proliferation was not obvious.

CONCLUSIONGSK525762A can inhibit the proliferation of RS4; 11 cells and promoted cells apoptosis. The possible mechanisms underlying this phenomenon might be achieved via downregulation of Bcl-2 protein induced apoptosis of leukemia cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzodiazepines ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor GSK525762A on the proliferation and apoptosis of chronic myeloid leukemia blast crisis KU812 cells and its mechanism. KU812 cells were treated with different concentrations of GSK525762A (100, 250, 500, 1 000, 2 500 and 5000 nmol/L) and the inhibitory effects of drug on KU812 cell proliferation after 48 and 72 hours were detected by using CCK-8 assay. KU812 cells were treated with 3 different concentrations of GSK525762A (1.0, 2.5 and 5 µmol/L) and the cell apoptosis after 72 hours were assayed by using flow cytometry. KU812 cells were treated with DMSO and 2.5 µmol/L GSK525762A, and the mRNA levels of C-MYC, BCL-2, CDK6, BCL-xL, BAK and BAX were determined by using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results showed that GSK525762A could significantly inhibit the proliferation of KU812 cells and the inhibitory effect on KU812 cell proliferation was dependent on the dose-course and time-course of GSK525762A treatment. GSK525762A treatment could induce apoptosis of KU812 cells in a dose-dependent manner. After GSK525762A treatment, the mRNA levels of proliferation-promoting genes ( C-MYC and CDK6) and pro-survival genes ( BCL-2 and BCL-xL) decreased, while the transcription level of pro-apoptosis genes BAK and BAX increased, as compared to that of the control group. It is concluded that GSK525762A can inhibit the proliferation of KU812 cells and induce cell apoptosis possibly through depressing the transcription of C-MYC, BCL-2, CDK6 and BCL-xL gene, and down-regulating BAK and BAX transcription.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzodiazepines ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Nuclear Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Transcription Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to compare the effects of the two most commonly prescribed atypical antipsychotics, olanzapine and risperidone, on fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profile of the recipients.

METHODSA randomised, comparative, open clinical study was conducted on 60 schizophrenic patients. The patients were divided into two groups, one receiving olanzapine and the other receiving risperidone. The patients were assessed for changes in fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profile (triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], very-low-density lipoprotein [VLDL] and total cholesterol) eight weeks after starting treatment. The number of patients positive for fasting blood sugar and lipid profile criteria of metabolic syndrome was calculated by applying the modified National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines (NCEP ATP III) criteria at eight weeks.

RESULTSPatients treated with olanzapine showed a highly significant increase in the observed parameters, whereas those treated with risperidone showed a significant increase in fasting blood sugar, HDL and LDL levels, and a highly significant increase in other parameters. Intergroup comparison was insignificant except for TG, VLDL and total cholesterol levels. More men as compared to women fulfilled the NCEP ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome in both groups.

CONCLUSIONOlanzapine has a higher propensity to cause derangement of some parameters of lipid profile than risperidone. These parameters include TG, VLDL and total cholesterol levels.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzodiazepines ; pharmacology ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; drug effects ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, VLDL ; drug effects ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Risperidone ; pharmacology ; Schizophrenia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Triglycerides ; blood

Psychopharmacology has developed over approximately the past five decades. The remarkable proliferation of information in this area has made it difficult for clinicians to understand the characteristics of various psychotropic agents. Atypical antipsychotics including amisulpride, asenapine, aripiprazole, blonanserin, clozapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, and zotepine cause fewer extrapyramidal problems and have many clinical applications, but they can cause metabolic disturbances. Mood stabilizers and lamotrigine are widely used for bipolar disorder. Other novel anticonvulsants such as topiramate, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, tiagabine, pregabalin, vigabatrin, levetiracetam, and riulzole have also been tested with diverging or inconclusive results. Antidepressants are commonly used in the clinical treatment of depression and anxiety disorder. However, the mechanism of action of medications used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders remains unclear. Understanding the mechanisms of action and clarifying the diagnosis may enhance the treatment outcome in psychiatry. In this review, we analyzed clinical pharmacology data for each drug within a class and discussed clinical strategies for administering currently available antipsychotics, mood stabilizer/anticonvulsants, and antidepressants widely used for various psychiatric indications.
Aripiprazole ; Amines ; Anticonvulsants ; Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Anxiety Disorders ; Benzodiazepines ; Bipolar Disorder ; Carbamazepine ; Clozapine ; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids ; Depression ; Dibenzothiazepines ; Dibenzothiepins ; Fructose ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Heterocyclic Compounds with 4 or More Rings ; Lurasidone Hydrochloride ; Isoindoles ; Isoxazoles ; Nipecotic Acids ; Quetiapine Fumarate ; Pharmacology, Clinical ; Pregabalin ; Piperazines ; Piperidines ; Piracetam ; Psychopharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; Quinolones ; Risperidone ; Sulpiride ; Thiazoles ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazines ; Vigabatrin

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor GSK525762A on the proliferation and apoptosis of primary common B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (common B-ALL) cells from adult patients, then to further explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODSPurified leukemia cells from 14 common B-ALL adult patients (4 Ph⁺ and 10 Ph⁻ cases) were obtained by flow cytometry sorting, and maintained in a mimic bone marrow microenvironment culture system for short-term culture. Leukemia cells were treated with various concentrations of GSK525762A. The inhibitory effects of BRD4 inhibitor on common B-ALL leukemia cells were measured by CCK-8 assay and the apoptosis of those cells was determined by AnnexinⅤ/7-AAD staining using flow cytometry. The transcripts of c-MYC, CDK6 and Bcl-2 were detected by quantitative RT-PCR, and the expression of c-MYC, CDK6 and Bcl-2 proteins were detected via Western blot.

RESULTSGSK525762A could inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells from all 14 common B-ALL patients in a dose-dependent manner, the median value of IC50 was 256.25 (90.64-1 378.39)nmol/L. GSK525762A could promote cells apoptosis of B-ALL leukemia cells in a dose-dependent manner, the median apoptosis rates respectively were 45.17%(9.38%-70.91%), 66.02% (24.36%-96.34%) and 89.29% (39.29%-99.37%) after treated by 500, 1 000 and 2 500 nmol/L GSK525762A. GSK525762A has a similar effect on Ph⁺ ALL and Ph⁻ B-ALL, but the effect of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis enhancement on Ph+ B-ALL is weaker than that on Ph⁻ B-ALL. Compared with vehicle control group, the levels of c-MYC, Bcl-2 and CDK6 transcripts in leukemic cells were reduced after treatment for 24 h and 48 h by 1 000 nmol/L GSK525762A, and there are no significant differences in the downregulation of c-MYC and CDK6 mRNA between Ph⁺ and Ph⁻ B-ALL; however, the inhibitory effect on Bcl-2 transcription was weaker in Ph⁺ B-ALL cells than that in Ph⁻ B-ALL cells. Moreover, c-MYC, Bcl-2 and CDK6 protein levels decreased in GSK525762A treated group.

CONCLUSIONGSK525762A could strongly inhibit the proliferation of common B-ALL and trigger apoptosis; meanwhile it has certain effects against Ph⁺ ALL in vitro. The effect may be achieved by down-regulation of c-MYC, CDK6 and Bcl-2 expression.

Apoptosis ; Benzodiazepines ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors