BACKGROUND: Lithospermic acid B (LAB), an active component isolated from Salvia miltiorrhizae, has been reported to have renoprotective effects in type 1 and type 2 diabetic animal models. We examined the effects of LAB on the prevention of diabetic nephropathy compared with amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, and losartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, in Otsuka Long-Evans-Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: LAB (20 mg/kg), amlodipine (10 mg/kg), or losartan (10 mg/kg) was given orally once daily to 10-week-old male OLETF rats for 28 weeks. RESULTS: None of LAB, losartan, and amlodipine exhibited effects on blood glucose levels. Treatment with amlodipine or losartan resulted in similar reductions in blood pressure; however, LAB was less effective in lowering blood pressure. Albuminuria was markedly suppressed by losartan and LAB, but not by amlodipine. LAB treatment decreased levels of renal lipid peroxidation, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LAB has beneficial effects on the diabetic nephropathy in OLETF rats by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation as potent as losartan.
Albuminuria ; Amlodipine ; Angiotensins ; Animals ; Benzofurans ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Depsides ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Losartan ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Oxidative Stress ; Pyridines ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Thiazoles

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate changes of subjective medication satisfaction and clinical benefit after once-daily paliperidone extended release (ER) in treatment of schizophrenia. METHODS: In an open-label, observational, and multicenter study, 374 patients with schizophrenia who switched to paliperidone ER due to any reason were recruited. Medication Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement and visual analogue scale for sleep (VAS) were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment. We also examined the type, frequency, and severity of adverse events newly formed. RESULTS: Among 374 patients, 320 patients (76.5%) were included in the intent-to-treat analysis set. The mean dose of paliperidone ER was 5.33+/-2.31 mg/day at the initiation. At the endpoint, the mean dose of paliperidone ER was 6.68+/-3.13 mg/day. The percentages of patients satisfied with medication were changed from 40.9% at baseline to 67.8% at endpoint (p<0.001). Both CGI-S scores and VAS for daytime drowsiness were significantly decreased after 8 weeks (both p<0.0001) and mean scores of MSQ and VAS for sleep quality were improved after 8 weeks (both p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: After switching to paliperidone ER, 67.8% of patients with schizophrenia who had any reason to switch medication showed subjective satisfaction for medication and clinical improvement without significant adverse events. Regarding that medication satisfaction was associated with changes of clinical states, medication satisfaction can be used for measures for clinical scales in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Humans ; Isoxazoles ; Prospective Studies ; Pyrimidines ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Schizophrenia ; Sleep Stages ; Weights and Measures