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By C. Osmund. American University.

Investigators find that areca nut reduces schizophrenia symptoms in schizophrenic chewers purchase 40mg deltasone with mastercard. Although areca nut is a stimulant purchase 20 mg deltasone visa, its ability to improve workplace perfor- mance is unproven. One laboratory study demonstrated that the substance is unlikely to worsen job performance; another laboratory study showed im- provement in some reaction time; still another showed longer reaction time. Tests of workers who operated heavy earth-moving equipment while using areca nut found evidence that the men were more alert, but otherwise they exhibited no effect that would influence job performance; measurements in- cluded short-term memory, reaction time, and eye-hand coordination. Experiments with areca nut’s pyridine alkaloid are- coline indicate that the chemical can improve memory in mice, and arecoline produces the same benefit in persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (al- though improvement may be marginal). Still other chemicals isolated from areca nut seem to have potential for inhibiting formation of plaque on teeth, although in practice areca nut chewers have more plaque than nonchewers. Chewers, however, also seem to have less tooth decay than nonchewers, and areca nut toothpaste has been marketed. Areca nut chewing is linked to a lower prevalence of a bowel disease called ulcerative colitis, but the possible protective effect has not been differentiated yet from tobacco smoking of chewers (nicotine is known to improve ulcerative colitis). One alcohol extract of areca nut has been successfully tested as a treatment for skin wrinkles, making people look younger. Another alcohol extract shows promise in treat- ing inflammations, allergies, and cancer. Burning areca leaves at a campsite 50 Areca Nut helps repel some types of mosquito, effectively enough that researchers say the practice can reduce spread of disease carried by mosquitoes. Overindulgence can produce hallucinations and delusions, but those effects are uncommon. Based on chemical properties, theoretical reason exists for expecting areca nut to promote diabetes; animal experiments ex- ploring that hypothesis have been suggestive but not conclusive. Chewing areca nut produces large amounts of blood-red saliva, which over the years can turn teeth brown or black. The physical action of continual chewing day after day appears to promote breakage of tooth roots, while ever-present draining of saliva across corners of the mouth can crack that skin. Areca nut harms the antimicrobial ability of white blood cells, thereby promoting gum disease, but saliva of chewers apparently inhibits bacterial growth. Areca nut inhibits the body’s access to vitamin B1 and reduces metabolism of carbohy- drates, a situation that may produce an exhausting disease called beriberi. Some researchers spec- ulate that areca nut chewing helps explain why Asians are the predominant ethnic group hospitalized for asthma in Great Britain. Heartbeat abnormalities serious enough to hospitalize people have followed their chewing of areca nut, but a cause-effect relationship has not been established even though are- coline is known to cause cardiac crisis in dogs. Because of chemical transformations caused by heat, using roasted nut in- stead of unroasted may reduce short-term adverse effects. Some researchers have concluded that areca nut is as addic- tive as tobacco cigarettes. Unquestionably some users feel a strong continual need for the product; one person spoke of arising in the middle of the night to dose herself. Mild withdrawal symptoms are common but can become strong enough that persons seek medical aid. Withdrawal symptoms can in- clude fatigue, nervousness, depression, trouble with memory and concentra- tion, and paranoia. Compared to nonchewers, generally areca nut chewers are more likely to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol—although researchers studying schizophrenics find that, compared to nonchewers, schizophrenic areca nut chewers are less likely to use recreational substances causing more damage to themselves than areca nut does. Areca nut is believed to interact with psychiatric medi- cines that can produce tremors and spasms reminiscent of Parkinson’s disease, worsening such adverse effects of the medicines. People using a preparation of areca nut and pumpkin seed have experienced dizziness and stomach upset. The nut is rich in tannins, chemicals that inhibit utilization of dietary protein and that promote cancer.

Low-dose aspirin may be used as necessary throughout pregnancy in patients with lupus anticoagulant deltasone 5mg generic. Notably buy deltasone 20mg on-line, it is recommended that alkylating agents be avoided in early pregnancy if possible, but they can be used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (Glantz, 1994). It seems common among women of childbearing age, although the prevalence of this disease during 292 Miscellaneous drugs during pregnancy: tocolytics and immunosuppressants Box 15. Up to two-thirds of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis expe- rience marked improvement during pregnancy (Neely and Persellin, 1977; Ostensen and Husby, 1983; Unger et al. The mainstay of therapy for both pregnant and nonpregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis is aspirin (Box 15. To achieve therapeutic blood levels of 15–25 mg/dL, patients may require up to 4 g of salicylates daily (Thurnau, 1983). However, during pregnancy lower doses of salicylates (up to 3 g per day) are recommended. Large-dose salicylate ther- apy during pregnancy could cause hemorrhagic complications in the fetus, because salicy- lates cross the placenta. These agents can be associated with mild to moderate oligohy- dramnios, premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and persistent fetal circulation, as well as intracranial hemorrhage in the neonate (Chapter 8, Analgesics during preg- nancy). Penicillamine (Cuprimine) is used for rheumatoid arthritis, but should not be used during pregnancy. It crosses the placenta and is contraindicated for use during pregnancy because it interrupts fetal collagen formation (Gimovsky and Montoro, 1991) and is considered a human teratogen (Shepard, 1989). Immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporine and azathioprine are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in nonpregnant patients (Kerstens et al. These agents should be reserved to treat pregnant women with severe disease refractory to more commonly used agents with which there is greater clin- ical experience and published data. Organ transplantation Progress in organ transplantation and pharmacological therapy over the past three decades is significant. Occurrence of renal transplantation and subsequent pregnancy is increasing, and the literature on the subject is growing. Renal transplantation Among more than 800 pregnancies (from seven reports) after renal transplantation, there were 0. Three first-line medications are used to prevent rejection following renal trans- plantation: corticosteroids, azathioprine, and cyclosporine. Corticosteroid, cyclosporine, azathioprine, and tacrolimus therapy have been discussed above. Cyclosporine is key to decreasing the frequency of renal transplant rejection, espe- cially of cadaver kidneys (Hou, 1989). If the situation is life threatening, the benefits of its use clearly out- weigh any risks. Fetal growth retardation was reported in infants whose mothers used cyclosporine (Hou, 1989; Pickrell et al. Pregnant women should be counseled for the increased risks of both maternal and fetal infection, and the possible increased risk of genital carcinoma associated with immunosuppressant therapy (Kossay et al. Notably, women who have symp- toms of rejection within 3 months of delivery usually progress to loss of the renal trans- plant within the next 24 months. The medical significance of the correct immunosup- pressant therapy during pregnancy is emphasized by these sequelae. Other organ transplantation Several reports of pregnancies following liver, heart and heart–lung, and bone marrow transplants have been published (Deeg et al. Immunosuppressant therapy, especially with regard to cyclosporine, is utilized similarly with other organ transplants as with renal transplantation. Among 152 infants born after transplantation, a high frequency of preeclampsia (22 percent), preterm birth (46 percent), low birthweight (41 percent), infants small for gestational age (16 percent), and infant death were found for deliver- ies after transplantation. Heart transplantation More than 40 infants have been born to women with heart transplants (Miniero et al. Signs of organ rejection occurred in about one-quarter of mothers, and about one-third of infants were of low birthweight and premature. The pregnancies, mothers’ postpartum, and neonatal course were complicated by infection. Liver transplantation Among 38 pregnancies to 29 women with liver transplants, 13 percent of mothers had signs of organ rejection (Radomski et al.