Faculty of Pharmacy - Mahidol University

300 Faculty of Pharmacy
vaccine against SARS is available. However, it was found that a
mixture of two HIV-1 proteinase inhibitors, lopinavir and ritonavir,
exhibited some signs of effectiveness against the SARS virus. To
understand the fine details of the molecular interactions between these
proteinase inhibitors and the SARS virus via complexation, molecular
dynamics simulations were carried out for the SARS-CoV 3CL(pro)
free enzyme (free SARS) and its complexes with lopinavir (SARS-
LPV) and ritonavir (SARS-RTV). The results show that flap closing
was clearly observed when the inhibitors bind to the active site of
SARS-CoV 3CL(pro). The binding affinities of LPV and RTV to
SARS-CoV 3CL(pro) do not show any significant difference. In
addition, six hydrogen bonds were detected in the SARS-LPV system,
while seven hydrogen bonds were found in SARS-RTV complex.
(Journal of Theoretical Biology Volume 254, Issue 4, 21 October
2008, Pages 861-867) (This work was jointly supported by the
Commission on Higher Education and the Thailand Research Fund
(MRG4880041)
FORENSIC DETECTION OF MARIJUANA TRACE
(NO. 816)
Thitika Kitpipit 1 , Nathinee Panvisavas 1,2 , Nuntavan
Bunyapraphatsara 3
1Forensic Science Graduate Programme, Faculty of Scinece,
Mahidol Univerfsity, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; 2Department of
Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand;
3Deparment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol
University, Thailand.
Key words : DNA, Forensic, Marijuana, TLC, Trace
In this study, we compared the use of both chemical and
biological tests for precise screening. Marijuana leaves had been
treated in simulated conditions according to the way they are
consumed; leaves materials were boiled in water for 5 min to 8 h.
dried in hot-air oven, air-dried in shade and sunlight, and burned to
black and white ashes. The THC band was detected in the TLC
fingerprints of all samples, except the white ash extract. In contrast,
the 197-bp mitochondrial trnL-F fragment was amplified in two
samples, i.e., the DNA extracted from fresh marijuana leaves that
were boiled for 5 min and some of the dried marijuana sample. The
results suggested that TLC was a robust method for the detection of
THC in marijuana. However, DNA analysis seems to be limited when
DNA from heat-treated materials were analyzed 2008 Elsevier
Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
(Forensic Science International : Genetics Supplement Series; 1(1)
August 2008: 600-602.)
THE SMOOTHNESS OF BLOOD PRESSURE
CONTROL OF RAMIPRIL IN ESSENTIAL
HYPERTENSIVE THAI PATIENTS EVALUATION
BY 24-HOUR AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE
MONITORING. (NO. 817)
Uchaipichat, V. 1,4 , Koanantakul, B 2 , Suthisisang, C 3
1 Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; 2 Division
of Medicine, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand;
3 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol
University, Bangkok, Thailand; 4 Department of Pharmacy
Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen
University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Key words : Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; Blood
pressure variability; Hypertension
Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of ramipril 2.5 and 5 mg
once daily on the degree and homogeneity of 24-hour blood pressure
reduction in essential hypertensive Thai patients. Material and
Method: Nineteen male subjects, aged 30 to 60 years, with newly
diagnosed essential hypertension were evaluated using the 24-hour
ambulatory blood pressure (24-h ABP) measurement. Results: Twelve
subjects responded and/or normalized with ramipril once daily, where
the office and 24-h ABP were decreased significantly from baseline
(p < 0.01). The percentage and magnitude of 24-h SBP/DBP loads
after treatment were significantly decreased from 92 9.7/91 15.9
to 67 23.8/65 27.6 (p < 0.01) and from 23 10.6/16 5.3 mmHg
to 17 10.3/10 4.8 mmHg (p < 0.05). Trough to peak ratio for
SBP/DBP was 0.59/0.52 (overall estimated) and 0.68 0.23/0.52
0.22 (individual estimated), while the smoothness index was 0.89/
1.03. Conclusion: Ramipril 2.5 and 5 mg once daily exerted the
smooth 24-hour blood pressure reduction in essential hypertensive
Thai patients.
(Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand Volume 91, Issue 9,
September 2008, Pages 1468-1477.)
EFFECT OF FENOFIBRATE THERAPY ON
PARAOXONASE1 STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH
LOW HDL-C LEVELS (NO. 818)
Wimon Phuntuwate 1 , Chuthamanee Suthisisang 1 , Banhan
Koanantakul .2 , Preecha Chaloeiphap 3 , Bharit Mackness 4 , Mike
Mackness. 4
1 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol
University, Sri Ayudhaya Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand;
2 Cardiac and Preventive Center, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital,
Bangkok, 10200, Thailand; 3 Division of Preventive Medicine,
Royal Thai Air Force, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand; 4 University of
Manchester, Department of Medicine, Manchester Royal
Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, United
Kingdom
Key words : Fenofibrate; HDL-C; Oxidized LDL; Paraoxonase1
Objectives: We evaluated the effect of micro-coated
fenofibrate on lipid parameters, high sensitivity C-reactive protein
and paraoxonase1 levels in dyslipidemic patients with low highdensity
lipoproteins levels. In addition, the effects of the paraoxonase1
polymorphisms on lipid and paraoxonase1 responses to fenofibrate
therapy were examined. Methods: A total of 61 dyslipidemic patients
with low high-density lipoproteins levels were recruited into this study
to receive micro-coated fenofibrate (160 mg/day) for 12 weeks. Lipid
parameters, C-reactive protein, paraoxonase1 concentration and
activity were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of
fenofibrate treatment. Four polymorphisms in both the coding (L55M
and Q192R) and regulatory regions (T-108C and G-909C) of human
paraoxonase1 were also quantified. Results: Micro-coated fenofibrate