Summary Clotrimazole is a broad‐spectrum antimycotic drug mainly used for the treatment of Candida albicans and other fungal infections. A synthetic, azole antimycotic, clotrimazole is widely used as a topical treatment for tinea pedis (athlete's foot), as well as vulvovaginal and oropharyngeal candidiasis. It displays fungistatic antimycotic activity by targeting the biosynthesis of ergosterol, thereby inhibiting fungal growth. As well as its antimycotic activity, clotrimazole has become a drug of interest against several other diseases such as sickle cell disease, malaria and some cancers. It has also been combined with other molecules, such as the metals, to produce clotrimazole complexes that show improved pharmacological efficacy. Moreover, several new, modified‐release pharmaceutical formulations are also undergoing development. Clotrimazole is a very well‐tolerated product with few side effects, although there is some drug resistance appearing among immunocompromised patients. Here, we review the pharmaceutical chemistry, application and pharmacology of clotrimazole and discuss future prospects for its further development as a chemotherapeutic agent.

P Pu ur rp po os se e: : Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is evident in 26% of elderly patients seven days after major non-cardiac surgery. Despite the growing popularity of day surgery, the influence of anesthetic techniques on next day POCD has not been investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the incidence of POCD and changes in serum markers of neuronal damage (S-100ß protein and Neuron-Specific Enolase), 24 hr after single-agent propofol or sevoflurane anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing minor surgery.M Me et th ho od ds s: : Patients (n = 30, mean age 73, range 65-86 yr) coming for cystoscopy or hysteroscopy, were randomized, in an observer-blind design, to receive either single-agent propofol or sevoflurane anesthesia. Changes in neuropsychological tests (the Stroop test and the modified Word-Recall Test), 24 hr postoperatively were compared with age-matched control subjects (n = 15) using Z-score analysis. Changes in S-100ß protein and NeuronSpecific Enolase levels were also documented.R Re es su ul lt ts s: : POCD was present in 7/15 [47% (95% confidence interval (CI) 21 to 72%)] patients who received propofol and 7/15 [47% (95% CI 21 to 72%)] patients who received sevoflurane, compared with 1/15 [7% (95% CI 6 to 19%)] control patients, P = 0.03. S-100ß protein and Neuron-Specific Enolase levels were not significantly different in anesthetized patients postoperatively compared with preoperative values. C Co on nc cl lu us si io on n: : The incidence of POCD in elderly patients on the first day after minor surgery is higher than previously reported for seven days after major surgery, and is increased after both propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia, compared with age-matched controls. S-100ß protein and Neuron-Specific Enolase levels were unaffected by anesthetic technique. Objectif : Le dysfonctionnement cognitif postopératoire (DCPO) se manifeste chez 26 % des patients âgés, sept jours après une opéra-tion non cardiaque majeure. Nous avons évalué l'incidence de DCPO et les modifications des marqueurs sériques d'atteinte neuronale (protéine S-100ß et énolase neurospécifique), 24 h après une anesthésie à un seul médicament, le propofol ou le sévoflurane, chez des patients âgés qui ont subi une opération mineure. Méthode : Les patients (n = 30, moyenne de 73 ans, limites de 65-86 ans) opérés pour cystoscopie ou hystéroscopie, ont été randomisés à l'insu d'un observateur pour une anesthésie avec propofol ou sévoflurane. Les changements aux tests neuropsychologiques (test Stroop, test modifié de remémoration de mots) ont été notés 24 h après l'opération et comparés à ceux de sujets témoins appariés selon

The highly potent and selective 5-HT 6 receptor antagonist SB-271046 [5-chloro-N-(4-methoxy-3-piperazin-1-yl-phenyl)-3-methyl-2-benzothiophenesulfonamide] has previously been demonstrated to improve retention significantly in a spatial water maze paradigm in adult rats. However, SB-271046 did not have any effect on task acquisition. As these apparently contradictory findings may be reconciled by a prime influence of SB-271046 on memory consolidation, the ability of this compound to reverse the discrete temporal action of a cholinergic antagonist in the 6-h period following passive avoidance training was investigated. SB-271046, given orally, by gavage, 30 min prior to training Wistar rats in a step-through, light-dark passive avoidance task, was found to reverse significantly the amnesia produced by administering scopolamine (0.8 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in the 6-h post-training period. The effect was dose-dependent over a range of 3-20 mg/kg. Further, we investigated the cognition-enhancing effects of chronic SB-271046 administration (10 or 20 mg/kg/day; 40 days) on the acquisition and consolidation of a water maze spatial learning task in a population of 20-month-old Wistar rats with age-related learning deficits. Drug treatment progressively and significantly decreased platform swim angle and escape latencies over the five sequential trials on four consecutive daily sessions compared to vehicle-treated controls. SB-271046 also improved task recall as measured by significant increases in the searching of the target quadrant on post-training days 1 and 3, when the animals would have been substantially drug-free. This significant improvement of task recall suggests SB-271046, in addition to inducing symptomatic cognition-enhancing actions, also attenuates age-related decline in neural function.

Serum from patients given sevoflurane anaesthesia and opioids for primary breast cancer surgery reduces apoptosis in ER-negative breast cancer cells to a greater extent than serum from patients given propofol-paravertebral anaesthesia. Anaesthetic technique might affect the serum milieu in a manner that impacts cancer cell apoptosis, and thereby tumour metastasis.