Kenalog
Growth characteristics of fibroblasts isolated from the trunk and distal aspect of the limb of horses and ponies.

Miller CB, Wilson DA, Keegan KG, Kreeger JM, Adelstein EH, Ganjam VK.

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia 65211, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a difference in in vitro growth of fibroblasts isolated from the trunk and distal aspect of the limb of horses and ponies. To determine the effects of a corticosteroid and monokine on in vitro growth of fibroblasts isolated from the trunk and distal aspect of the limb of horses and ponies. STUDY DESIGN: Growth of fibroblasts from tissues harvested from the trunk and limb were compared from horse and pony samples grown in control media and control media with triamcinolone or monokine added. ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION: Dermal and subcutaneous tissue from 22 horses and 17 ponies of various ages and breeds. METHODS: Fibroblast growth was assessed by tritiated thymidine uptake using standard cell culture techniques. The effect of a monokine or triamcinolone plus control media were compared with control media for fibroblast growth. RESULTS: Fibroblast growth from tissues isolated from the horse limb was significantly less than growth from the horse trunk and the limb and trunk of ponies. Monokine was more effective than triamcinolone in suppressing fibroblast growth from tissues isolated from the trunk and limb in both horses and ponies. CONCLUSIONS: There are growth differences in fibroblasts isolated from the limb of horses compared with those isolated from the trunk and from the limb and trunk of ponies. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The difference in fibroblast growth from tissues isolated from the trunk and limb of horses and ponies may provide evidence for the difference reported in the healing characteristics of limb wounds in horses and ponies. Influencing fibroblast growth may provide a key to controlling the development of exuberant granulation tissue in horses and ponies.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10653489&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
Mucoadhesive and physicochemical characterization of Carbopol-Poloxamer gels containing triamcinolone acetonide.

Shin SC, Kim JY, Oh IJ.

College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Kwangju, Korea.

The viscosity and bioadhesive property of Carbopol-Poloxamer gels containing triamcinolone acetonide to mucosa were tested according to various concentrations of Carbopol gels of various pH. The increase in Carbopol concentration caused increased viscosity and bioadhesiveness. The neutralization of pH in various concentrations of Carbopol gels showed the increased viscosity, showing the highest viscosity and highest bioadhesiveness when neutralized to pH 6. A relationship between the viscosity and bioadhesive strength was shown from the neutralized Carbopol gels. The physicochemical interactions between triamcinolone acetonide and polymers were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry. According to FTIR and XRD studies, the drug did not show any evidence of an interaction with the polymers used and was present in an unchanged state.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10738647&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
Corticosteroids decrease mRNA levels of SERCA pumps, whereas they increase sarcolipin mRNA in the rat diaphragm.

Gayan-Ramirez G, Vanzeir L, Wuytack F, Decramer M.

Respiratory Muscle Research Unit, Laboratory of Pneumology and Laboratory of Physiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.

1. In order to explore the potential role of the sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA)-type pumps and of their modulators phospholamban (PLB) and sarcolipin (SLN) in the functional alterations of the diaphragm induced by corticosteroid treatment, expression of SERCA, PLB and SLN was assessed by RT-PCR in the diaphragm of rats treated daily for 5 days either with triamcinolone (80 mg kg-1, n = 8) or with saline (control; 0.6 ml, n = 8). 2. Triamcinolone treatment reduced the normalised overall amount of all SERCA mRNA in diaphragm by 70 % compared to controls (P < 0.05). This reduction was accounted for by a relatively larger decrease in the SERCA1 mRNA (-69 %, P < 0.05) whilst the decrease in SERCA2 mRNA (-49 %, P = 0.09) did not reach statistical significance. As a result the relative proportion of SERCA2 mRNA was increased from 43 +/- 7 % in control diaphragm to 52 +/- 4 % after triamcinolone treatment (P < 0.05). 3. Only the adult isoform of SERCA1 (i.e. SERCA1a) mRNA was found in the diaphragm of the 15-week-old control rats. Furthermore, triamcinolone treatment resulted in reduced levels of SERCA2a (-40 %, P < 0.05) and increased levels of SLN mRNA (+100 %, P < 0.05), while the decrease in PLB mRNA (-31 %, P = 0.277) did not reach statistical significance. SERCA1b, SERCA2b and SERCA3 mRNA levels fell below the detection limit in the diaphragm of both control and triamcinolone-treated rats. 4. Compared to control diaphragm, control rat heart showed a relatively high PLB/(SERCA1 + SERCA2) mRNA ratio of 7.88 while this ratio amounted only to 0.16 in control extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. Remarkably, the SLN/(SERCA1 + SERCA2) mRNA ratio in normal cardiac muscle (0.96) was nearly the same as in diaphragm, but in EDL it amounted to only 0.05 that in diaphragm. This indicates the very low expression of SLN in rat EDL. 5. These data reveal that considerable alterations in SERCA mRNA levels accompany the functional changes seen in diaphragm after corticosteroid treatment. The relatively larger decrease in SERCA1 mRNA is in agreement with the selective type II fibre atrophy previously observed in the diaphragm of triamcinolone-treated rats, but the magnitude of SERCA alterations is more pronounced than expected on the basis of the structural changes in the diaphragm. The increase in SLN mRNA levels may represent a compensatory mechanism.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10766920&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
Long-acting steroid injection after endoscopic dilation of anastomotic Crohn's strictures may improve the outcome: a retrospective case series.

Brooker JC, Beckett CG, Saunders BP, Benson MJ.

Wolfson Unit for Endoscopy, St. Mark's Hospital, London, United Kingdom. j.brooker ic.ac.uk

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic balloon dilation of Crohn's strictures is widely practised, but may not result in long-term symptomatic benefit, leading to the need for repeat dilation or surgery. It is hypothesized that long-acting steroid injection into strictures after dilation may decrease the need for further stricture dilation and improve the outcome in symptomatic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with Crohn's disease who have had balloon dilation and triamcinolone injection performed for symptomatic anastomotic strictures were identified from endoscopy records. Case notes were reviewed to determine outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent a total of 26 dilations, with triamcinolone injected (median dose 20 mg, 10-40 mg) in 20 of the procedures. Seven patients (50%) had sustained remission after a single dilation and steroid injection, with a median follow-up period of 16.4 months (range 13.2-22.0 months). Four patients (28.5%) required more than one dilation (median three dilations, range two to four) to control their symptoms, with a median follow-up period of 27.8 months (range 14-32.8 months). Endoscopic management failed in three patients (21.4 %), who were referred for surgery. There were no complications due to dilation or triamcinolone injection. CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone injection into the stricture after dilation is safe, easy to perform, and may be a useful adjunct in the management of anastomotic Crohn's strictures. These data will require further support through a randomized and controlled trial.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12664391&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
[Triamcinolone Acetonide Reference Standard (Control 981) of National Institute of Health Sciences]

[Article in Japanese]

Iwata M, Maekawa K, Saito H, Tanimoto T, Okada S.

The raw material of triamcinolone acetonide was examined for preparation of the "Triamcinolone Acetonide Reference Standard (Control 981)". The analytical data obtained were: melting point, 289 degrees C (decomposition); UV spectrum, lambda max of 238 nm; IR spectrum, same as that of the Triamcinolone Acetonide Reference Standard (Control 834); optical rotation, [alpha]D20 = +106.8 degrees; thin-layer chromatography, no impurities detected; high-performance liquid chromatography, total amount of impurities less than 0.4%; loss on drying, 1.3%; assay by HPLC, 100.1%. Based on the above results, the raw material was authorized as the Triamcinolone Acetonide Reference Standard (Control 981) of the National Institute of Health Sciences.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10859949&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
[Triamcinolone Reference Standard (Control 981) of National Institute of Health Sciences]

[Article in Japanese]

Iwata M, Kawaguchi W, Maekawa K, Saito H, Tanimoto T, Okada S.

The raw material of triamcinolone was examined for preparation of the "Triamcinolone Reference Standard (Control 981)". The analytical data obtained were: melting point, 246 degrees C (decomposition); UV spectrum, lambda max of 239 nm and specific absorbance in methanol at 289 nm of 394; IR spectrum, specific absorptions at 3462, 1716, 1659, 1615, 1604, 1132 and 1061 cm-1; optical rotation, [alpha]D20 = +69.7 degrees; high-performance liquid chromatography, five impurities detected and amount of each impurity estimated to be less than 0.6% and total amount of impurities less than 1.4%; loss on drying, 0.24%. Based on the above results, the raw material was authorized as the Triamcinolone Reference Standard (Control 981) of the National Institute of Health Sciences.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10859950&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog