Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) represents a group of progressive hereditary diseases of the retina that lead to incurable blindness and affect two million people worldwide and principally characterized by progressive rod-dominant photoreceptor degeneration in the initial stage and eventual cone photoreceptor degeneration in later stages. RP has been known to be initiated by photoreceptor apoptosis a...

The complete amino acid sequence of the receptor for organic calcium channel blockers (CaCB) from rabbit lung has been deduced by cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA. Synthetic RNA derived from this cDNA induces the formation of a functional CaCB-sensitive high voltage activated calcium channel in Xenopus oocytes.

Most recent studies have supported inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) with diuretic as initial hypertensive therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The recommended role of calcium channel blockers (CCB) in CKD patients had diminished due to class-specific differences in antiproteinuric effects and lesser efficacy in reducing composite renal clinical out...

Hypertensive crises (HCs) are common occurrences and can result in immediate or delayed organ damage. Given the complex pathophysiological process associated with HCs, selecting appropriate treatment be a challenge. The goal of this report is to provide nurse practitioners an up-to-date evidence-based mnemonic tool help effectively manage HCs. Using alphabetized provides quick recall into optio...

A positive association between intake of calcium channel blockers and psoriasis has been observed recently. Intake of blockers of voltage-gated calcium ion channels is associated with outbreaks of psoriasis after a latent period in patients with and without a previous family history of psoriasis. This suggests that interfering with calcium influx may trigger psoriasis. Calcium influx also occur...

BACKGROUND Beta-blockers may be cardioprotective in patients receiving chronic dialysis. We examined cardiovascular outcomes among incident dialysis patients receiving beta-blocker therapy. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study employing linked healthcare databases in Ontario, Canada. We studied all consecutive chronic dialysis patients aged≥66 years who initiated dialysis between...

BACKGROUND The aetiology of perforated colonic diverticular disease (PCDD) remains largely unknown. Perforation may result from a combination of high intracolonic pressures, secondary to excessive colonic segmentation, and impairment of the mucosal barrier. Calcium channel blockers and antimuscarinic drugs, which reduce colonic contractility and tone, could potentially protect against perforati...

PC12 cells, a clonal rat pheochromocytoma cell line, possess voltage-dependent calcium channels that bind the high affinity dihydropyridine calcium antagonist [3H]nitrendipine and other calcium channel blockers. The binding is temperature-dependent and saturable, and shows no cooperativity. The calcium antagonists inhibit potassium-induced 45Ca uptake into the cells with approximately the same ...

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of the L-type calcium channel blockers verapamil and diltiazem on the currents of voltage-gated potassium channel (fKv1.4ΔN), an N-terminal-deleted mutant of the ferret Kv1.4 potassium channel. Measurements were made using a two electrode voltage clamp technique with channels expressed stably in Xenopus oocytes. The fKv1.4ΔN currents displayed...