BACKGROUND Older people carry a high burden of illness for which medications are indicated, along with increased risk of adverse drug reactions. We developed an index to determine drug burden based on pharmacologic principles. We evaluated the relationship of this index to physical and cognitive performance apart from disease indication. METHODS Data from the Health, Aging, and Body Compositi...

To the Editor: In their review of the neurobiology of the switch process in bipolar disorder, Salvadore et al1 discuss such neurobiological factors as abnormalities in catecholamine levels, up-regulation of neurotrophic and neuroplastic factors, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, and circadian rhythms. However, they have ignored anticholinergic enhancement as a possible factor i...

OBJECTIVE  A study of the utilization pattern of pre-anesthetic medications in major surgical procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS  A cross-sectional, pharmacoepidemiological study was conducted among patients undergoing surgical procedures in routine or emergency conditions under general anesthesia. The utilization of pre-anesthetic medicines in all patients was reported. RESULTS A total of 11...

BACKGROUND Although airflow limitation improved by inhaled anticholinergic drugs varies among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the relationship between actual bronchodilation and improved pulmonary function and where in the lung such bronchodilation occurs remains unknown. A study was undertaken to determine the relationship between improved pulmonary function and ...

We studied the role of the anticholinergic properties of disopyramide and quinidine in mediating the electrophysiological effects of these agents on isolated cardiac tissue. In right atria, disopyramide, quinidine, and procainamide administered alone elicited negative chronotropic responses. However, after cholinergic stimulation with physostigmine (1 X 10" M), disopyramide and quinidine produc...

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response refers to a reduction in response to a strong stimulus (pulse) if this is preceded shortly by a weak non-startling stimulus (prepulse). Consistent with theories of deficiencies in early stages of information processing, PPI is found to be reduced in patients with schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotics are found to be more effective than typical ...

We studied the role of the anticholinergic properties of disopyramide and quinidine in mediating the electrophysiological effects of these agents on isolated cardiac tissue. In right atria, disopyramide, quinidine, and procainamide administered alone elicited negative chronotropic responses. However, after cholinergic stimulation with physostigmine (1 X 10" M), disopyramide and quinidine produc...