The use of captopril in heart failure and hypertension is becoming increasingly accepted. Captopril has a sulphydryl group in its molecular structure. We wondered if this might confer free radical scavenging activity on the drug and have investigated this in an in vitro system. Results show that captopril is a free radical scavenger and we suggest that this action might be relevant in its use in heart failure and other vascular diseases.
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) therapy by UK healthcare professionals involved in the care of pregnant women, and to identify key predictors of use.Design A prospective survey.Setting Maternity services in Grampian, North East Scotland.Sample All healthcare professionals (135) involved in the care of pregnant women (midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists).Methods Questionnaire development, piloting, and distribution. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis.Results A response rate of 87% was achieved. A third of respondents (32.5%) had recommended (prescribed, referred, or advised) the use of CAMs to pregnant women. The most frequently recommended CAMs modalities were: vitamins and minerals (excluding folic acid) (55%); massage (53%); homeopathy (50%); acupuncture (32%); yoga (32%); reflexology (26%); aromatherapy (24%); and herbal medicine (21%). Although univariate analysis identified that those who recommended CAMs were significantly more likely to be midwives who had been in post for more than 5 years, had received training in CAMs, were interested in CAMs, and were themselves users of CAMs, the only variable retained in bivariate logistic regression was 'personal use of CAM', with an odds ratio of 8.26 (95% CI 3.09-22.05; P < 0.001).Conclusion Despite the lack of safety or efficacy data, a wide variety of CAM therapies are recommended to pregnant women by approximately a third of healthcare professionals, with those recommending the use of CAMs being eight times more likely to be personal CAM users.
The hypertrophy of renal proximal tubular cells occurs as an adaptive response to a variety of stimuli and may be involved with the progression of renal disease. Angiotensin II acting alone or in combination with other growth factors has been implicated in this process. The aims of this study were to identify the role of both angiotensin II and the angiotensin receptor subtypes in DNA synthesis and protein synthesis in human renal proximal tubular cells. Primary cultures of human renal proximal tubular cells were incubated with angiotensin II (10(-10) M, 10(-8) M, 10(-6) M) for 24 to 120 hours either alone or in combination with losartan, PD123319 or 8-bromo-cAMP. Incubation of human proximal tubular cells with angiotensin II (10(-10) M, 10(-8) M) induced a significant early increase in [3H]thymidine uptake by 19% and 56% (P < 0.01), respectively, and a later increase in total protein content by 30% (P < 0.01). The effect of angiotensin II upon DNA and protein synthesis was inhibited by 8-bromo-cAMP and losartan but not by PD 123319, indicating that the responses are mediated via the AT1 receptor and dependent upon the inhibition of adenylate cyclase.
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