Abdominal Cramps (abdominal + cramp)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Bioavailability and Biological Efficacy of a New Oral Formulation of Salmon Calcitonin in Healthy Volunteers,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 8 2002
Thierry Buclin
Abstract Salmon calcitonin (SCT) is a well-tolerated peptide drug with a wide therapeutic margin and is administered parenterally for long-term treatments of bone diseases. Its clinical usefulness would be enhanced by the development of an orally active formulation. In this randomized crossover double-blinded phase I trial, controlled by both a placebo and a parenteral verum, we have tested a new oral formulation of SCT associated with a caprylic acid derivative as carrier. Eight healthy volunteers received single doses of 400, 800, and 1200 ,g of SCT orally, a placebo, and a 10-,g (50 IU) SCT intravenous infusion. SCT was reliably absorbed from the oral formulation, with an absolute bioavailability of 0.5,1.4%, depending on the dose. It induced a marked, dose-dependent drop in blood and urine C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), a sensitive and specific bone resorption marker, with the effects of 1200 ,g exceeding those of 10 ,g intravenously. It also decreased blood calcium and phosphate, and increased the circulating levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and, transiently, the urinary excretion of calcium. It was well-tolerated, with some subjects presenting mild and transient nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrheic stools, and headaches. This study shows that oral delivery of SCT is feasible with reproducible absorption and systemic biological efficacy. Such an oral formulation could facilitate the use of SCT in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases. [source]

Studies on spasmogenic and spasmolytic activities of Calendula officinalis flowers

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2006
Samra Bashir
Abstract The aqueous-ethanol extract of Calendula officinalis flowers (Co.Cr) was studied for its possible spasmolytic and spasmogenic effects in isolated gut preparations. In rabbit jejunum, Co.Cr caused a dose-dependent (0.03,3.0 mg/mL) relaxation of spontaneous and K+-induced contractions, suggestive of calcium channel blockade (CCB). In a few preparations, a mild non-reproducible spasmogenic effect was observed at lower doses, followed by relaxation. The CCB effect was confirmed when pretreatment of the jejunum preparations with Co.Cr produced a dose-dependent rightward shift in the Ca++ dose-response curves, similar to that of verapamil. Activity-directed fractionation revealed that the spasmolytic activity of the plant was concentrated in its organic fractions. The aqueous fraction exhibited a marked atropine sensitive spasmogenic effect but was found to be devoid of any spasmolytic effect. These data indicate that the crude extract of Calendula officinalis flowers contains both spasmolytic and spasmogenic constituents, exhibiting these effects through calcium channel blocking and cholinergic activities and this study provides a scientific base for its traditional use in abdominal cramps and constipation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Antimalarial compounds from Kniphofia foliosa roots

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005
Abraham Abebe Wube
Abstract During the course of screening Ethiopian medicinal plants for their antimalarial properties, it was found that the dichloromethane extract of the roots of Kniphofia foliosa Hochst. (Asphodelaceae), which have long been used in the traditional medicine of Ethiopia for the treatment of abdominal cramps and wound healing, displayed strong in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum with an ED50 value of 3.8 µg/mL and weak cytotoxic activity against KB cells with an ED50 value of 35.2 µg/mL. Five compounds were isolated from the roots and evaluated for their invitro antimalarial activity. Among the compounds tested, 10-(chrysophanol-7,-yl)-10-(,)-hydroxychrysopanol-9-anthrone and chryslandicin, showed a high inhibition of the growth of the malaria parasite, P. falciparum with ED50 values of 0.260 and 0.537 µg/mL, respectively, while the naphthalene derivative, 2-acetyl-1-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3-methylnaphthalene, exhibited a less significant antimalarial activity with an ED50 value of 15.4 µg/mL. To compare the effect on the parasite with toxicity to mammalian cells, the cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds against the KB cell line were evaluated and 10-(chrysophanol-7,-yl)-10-(,)-hydroxychrysopanol-9-anthrone and chryslandicin displayed very low toxicity with ED50 values of 104 and 90 µg/mL, respectively. This is the first report of the inhibition of the growth of P. falciparum by anthraquinone-anthrone dimers and establishes them as a new class of potential antimalarial compounds with very little host cell toxicity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Fumagillin for Treatment of Intestinal Microsporidiosis in Renal Transplant Recipients

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 8 2010
L. Champion
We report 10 cases of intestinal microsporidiosis due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi in renal transplant (RT) recipients who were treated with fumagillin. All patients presented with afebrile subacute diarrhea (median of 2 weeks), associated with abdominal cramps (n = 5), and weight loss (n = 6), a mean of 68 months after RT. The diagnosis was made by the identification of microsporidial spores in stools with the use of appropriate staining and confirmed by a specific polymerase chain reaction assay for E. bieneusi in 7 patients. Median CD4 cell count was 292 cells/mm3. All patients received a median of 14 days of oral fumagillin (20 mg tid), and four patients also discontinued or tapered their immunosuppressive regimen (mycophenolate mofetil in 3, and azathioprine in 2). Clinical symptoms resolved rapidly with the clearance of microsporidial spores from stools in all patients. A severe but reversible thrombocytopenia was observed in one patient during fumagillin therapy, and another patient presented with abdominal cramps. Trough levels of tacrolimus measured in seven patients dropped below 5 ng/mL in six of them after 7,14 days of fumagillin. Intestinal microsporidiosis can cause subacute diarrhea in RT recipients. Fumagillin is an effective treatment with an acceptable safety profile, but monitoring of tacrolimus levels is warranted. [source]

Cannabinoid CB2 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract: a regulatory system in states of inflammation

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
K L Wright
The emerging potential for the cannabinoid (CB) system in modulating gastrointestinal inflammation has gained momentum over the last few years. Traditional and anecdotal use of marijuana for gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhoea and abdominal cramps is recognized, but the therapeutic benefit of cannabinoids in the 21st century is overshadowed by the psychoactive problems associated with CB1 receptor activation. However, the presence and function of the CB2 receptor in the GI tract, whilst not yet well characterized, holds great promise due to its immunomodulatory roles in inflammatory systems and its lack of psychotropic effects. This review of our current knowledge of CB2 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract highlights its role in regulating abnormal motility, modulating intestinal inflammation and limiting visceral sensitivity and pain. CB2 receptors represent a braking system and a pathophysiological mechanism for the resolution of inflammation and many of its symptoms. CB2 receptor activation therefore represents a very promising therapeutic target in gastrointestinal inflammatory states where there is immune activation and motility dysfunction. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 263,270; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707486; published online 1 October 2007 [source]