Oxitefonium is an anticholinergic spasmolytic medication used for the treatment of asthma.

Raclopride is a salicylamide neuroleptic, that acts as a selective antagonist of D2 dopamine receptors both in vitro and in vivo. Tritium-labelled raclopride has properties that demonstrate its usefulness as a radioligand for the labelling of dopamine-D2 receptors : 3H-Raclopride has a high affinity for the rat and human dopamine-D2 receptors, the non-specific binding of 3H-raclopride is very low, not exceeding 5% of the total binding and the distribution of the 3H-raclopride binding sites in the brain closely correlates with the dopaminergic innervation. The binding of 3H-raclopride is blocked by dopamine-D2 agonists and antagonists, while the D1 agonist SKF 38393 and the Dl antagonist SCH 23390 have much less potency. The interaction of dopamine with 3H-raclopride binding results in a shallow competition curve, which suggests that 3H-raclopride, similar to other dopamine-D2 radioligands, labels both high and low agonist affinity states of the dopamine-D2 receptor. The in vivo receptor binding studies performed with 3H-raclopride also demonstrate its favorable properties as a dopamine-D2 receptor marker in vivo In contrast to some other compounds used as radioligands, raclopride enters the brain readily and binds with a low component of non-specific binding in all dopamine-rich brain areas. A saturation curve may be achieved in vivo binding studies since injections of increasing concentrations of 3H-raclopride appears to be saturated at concentrations above 25 mkCi (corresponding to approximately 5 nmol/kg). Raclopride antagonizes apomorphine-induced hyperactivity in the rat at low doses (ED50 = 130 nM/kg i.p.) but induces catalepsy only at much higher doses (ED50 = 27 mkM/kg i.p.). Radiolabelled raclopride has been used as a ligand for in vitro and in vivo autoradiography in rat and primate brains. Raclopride C 11 is used with positron emission tomography (PET) as a clinical research tool to determine dopamine type 2 (D 2) receptor density in the human brain under normal and pathological conditions. For example, raclopride C 11 used in PET studies has served to confirm the age-related decrease in striatal dopamine D2 receptor density, which may be associated with a decline in the motor as well as cognitive functions. In patients with Alzheimer's disease, raclopride C 11 may be used to examine neuroreceptor distribution and quantities, which may help in the analysis of degenerative alterations of neuron populations and neuroreceptor systems in patients with this disease. In Huntington's disease, in which degeneration of neostriatal interneurons occurs (postsynaptic to the dopaminergic input), specific binding of raclopride C 11 to D 2 receptors may serve as one of the parameters in predicting performance in cognitive tasks.

Sitafloxacin hydrate (DU-6859a, Gracevit), a new-generation, broad-spectrum oral fluoroquinolone that is very active against many Gram-positive, Gram-negative and anaerobic clinical isolates, including strains resistant to other fluoroquinolones, was recently approved in Japan for the treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections. This is a new quinolone oral antibacterial to inhibit DNA replication of bacteria at the time of infection, and shows antibacterial action. Sitafloxacin is active against methicillin-resistant staphylococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae and other streptococci with reduced susceptibility to levofloxacin and other quinolones and enterococci. Sitafloxacin has also demonstrated activity against clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (including about 67% of strains producing extended-spectrum, beta-lactamases and resistant to ciprofloxacin), Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa with some activity against quinolone-resistant strains and Acinetobacter baumannii. The in vitro activity against anaerobes is comparable to imipenem or metronidazole. Sitafloxacin showed dual inhibitory activity against both enzymes: Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.

Ractopamine hydrochloride, a beta-adrenoceptor agonist, is a phenethanolamine salt approved for use as a feed additive. Recently published studies indicate that the RR-isomer (butopamine) is the stereoisomer with the most activity at the beta-adrenoceptor. Butopamine was shown to be a non-selective ligand at the beta1 and beta2-adrenoceptors, but signal transduction is more efficiently coupled through the b2-adrenoceptor than the beta1 adrenoceptor. Therefore, the RR-isomer of ractopamine is considered to be a full agonist at the beta2-adrenoceptor and a partial agonist at the beta1¬adrenoceptor. These results are consistent with the pharmacological characterization of racemic ractopamine in isolated cardiac (atria) and smooth muscle (costo-uterine, vas deferens, trachea), which shows a maximal response at beta2- and a submaximal response at beta1¬adrenoceptors when compared with the full beta1 and beta2-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol. Butopamine is chemically similar to dobutamine but, unlike dobutamine, it is not a catecholamine. Butopamine induces a positive inotropic response in patients with congestive heart failure but for equal increments in cardiac output, butopamine increases heart rate more than dobutamine. Butopamine inproved cardiac performance in patients with ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. Butopamine was prepared by Tuttle et al (unpublished data) and has a structure similar to dobutamine. This compound is refractory to the action of catechol-O-methyl transferase and thus it is orally active and has a longlasting action. Clinical findings in acute heart failure cases have been reported by Thompson et al. Intravenous administration produced an increase in the cardiac index and heart rate and shortening of systolic time intervals. A few patients experienced ventricular ectopy, especially with the higher doses used. No data pertaining to oral administration are available.

Pelubiprofen, 2-[4-(Oxocyclohexylidene methyl)phenyl]propionic acid, is one of the 2-arylpropionic acid class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It has wide variety of indications proposed: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, post-operative trauma, backache, neck-shoulder syndrome and dental pain. Pelubiprofen is a prodrug of 2-arylpropionic acid with relatively selective effects on cyclooxygenase-2 activity. Antiinflammatory properties of pelubiprofen are due to its ability to both decrease prostaglandin synthesis by inhibiting the activities of cyclooxygenases (COXs) and IkB kinase-b (IKK-b). Pelubiprofen was found to have an anti-edema effect in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats, one of the well-established acute inflammatory models in vivo. Pelubiprofen was well tolerated in single doses up to 120mg and at a dosage of 180 mg/day. No drug accumulation was evident, suggesting that it may be useful for long term treatment.

Guanazodine is a new antihypertensive drug. Guanazodine caused a sustained decrease in the systemic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats, renal hypertensive dogs and normal cats. No tachyphylaxis developed when the drug was administered orally. The heart rate decreased. Guanazodine relaxed the cat nictitating membrane, attenuated the positive chronotropic response to sympathetic nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs and in isolated rabbit aorta to transmural electrical stimulation. Guanazodine potentiated the pressor response to noradrenaline but attenuated the response to tyramine in anesthetized cats. It may be concluded that the hypotensive effect of guanazodine is related to adrenergic neuron blocking action, the noradrenaline-depleting action in peripheral tissues is similar to the effect of guanethidine and bethanidine. However, this drug is less potent than guanethidine. Toxicity and side effects appear to be less with guanazodine than with guanethidine and bethanidine.

Dimethylaminoethyl reserpilinate is reserpilinate derivative with hypotensive activity. Given subcutaneously to rats in doses 200 mg/kg dimethylaminoethane reserpilinate increased very slightly the gastric motility but showed no ulcerogenic effect.

Oxypyrronium is an anticholinergic and spasmolytic agent containing quaternary ammonium. In animal models it inhibited gastric motility, hypotension induced by vagus stimulation or intravenation of acetylcholine; salivation induced by chorda tympani nerve stimulation, and contraction elicited by preganglionic cervical sympathetic nerve stimulation. Oxypyrronium was marketed in France under tradename Immetropan for the treatment of gastric pain.

Clorprenaline is a β2-adrenergic receptor agonist. As a bronchodilator it has been used for the treatment of bronchial asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. It is a potential new lean meat-boosting feed additive because it can promote animal muscular mass growth and decrease fat accumulation.

Ritipenem (FCE 22101), a penem antibiotic, penicillin binding protein inhibitor, is potent against both gram-positive and -negative bacteria, and its acetoxymethyl ester (FCE 22891; ritipenem-acoxil) is orally available. Ritipenem is manufactured by Tanabe Seiyaku in the ritipenem acoxil prodrug form, which can be taken orally. It is not FDA approved in the United States.