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Cardiotonic steroids, predominantly known as cardiac glycosides, are a group of compounds found in plants and animals, but also synthesized by the human body. Cardiac glycosides, a class of organic compounds with a long history of use of over 200 years in medicine, are known as prescribed preparations for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. In the last two decades, studies have been reported attributing to cardiotonic steroids the function of hormones involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis and fibrosis, modulation of immunity and carbohydrate metabolism, control of central nervous system functions and behaviour. Recent research on cardiotonic steroids has focused on identifying specific compounds in animals and humans, determining changes in their concentrations and their role in human disease states, discovering the cellular signaling functions of Na+/K+-ATPase and its involvement in many aspects of basic cell biology. Of note, recent studies have reported a number of pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, antiviral, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory, and the possibility of research and development of new drugs with possible use in the treatment of tumors, viral infections, neurological, inflammatory and immune disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe the mortality and survival rates of elderly with heart failure who used digoxin, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with mortality. Records of elderly patients (≥60 years old) treated at the heart failure outpatient cardiology clinic were screened and selected for this retrospective study. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were measured. Survival was verified by Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. Adjusted multiple logistic regression was used to assess potential risk factors associated with mortality. Of the 65 medical records analyzed, survival was lower in patients using 0.125 mg (p=0.093). The mortality rate was 35.9% and the chances of death increased in individuals over the age of 76 years (p=0.010; ORaj: 4.021), who had other heart disease (p=0.004; ORaj: 5.943) and with longer use of digoxin (p=0.047; ORaj: 1.164). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Digoxin is one of the most used drugs in cardiovascular diseases, frequent in the geriatric patient, characterized by its narrow therapeutic margin. Objectives: To characterize the prescription of digoxin and identify problems related to its prescription in geriatric patients. Method: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out on the use of drugs, indication-prescription type, in 23 patients with digoxin indication, treated at the Policlínico José Martí in Santiago de Cuba, from April to June 2017. Results: In the case study, women (78.26%), ages between 70-74 years (26.08%), and patients with one or two associated diseases were more likely to use it. Diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases by Comprehensive General Medicine was preva lent, associated with a greater frequency of diuretics and antiplatelet drugs intervention group. The group with the lowest probability of survival was that of late treatment. Conclusions: The prescription of digoxin may be considered as rational, although there is a possibility of drug interactions that could lead to toxic effects or therapeutic failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the therapeutic safety theoretically and experimentally, the biopharmaceutical equivalence parameters of two batches of multisource Digoxin tablets of 0.25mg. Material and Methods: Two batches, each of 200 tablets multisource digoxin 0.25 mg were studied, assigning code multisource TDH025 Lot 105031 and TDF025 Lot 10940431. The therapeutic range was determined by theoretical formula VT = aFraction pharmacokinetics / apredicted fraction by usual concentration x, then by the difference CmE and CME, the therapeutic range was obtained. The analytical method used for quantification of the active ingredient, was described in The International Pharmacopoeia of the World Health Organization (WHO); while the fretting test and the hardness was determined according to the USP. Results: The therapeutic index is 1.2 ng/ml; and evaluation of the parameters of the biopharmaceutical equivalence percentages of active ingredient of the two lots of multisource drugs are within the acceptance range (90-110%) given in the USP and WHO.The fretting of TDH025 fretting batch 105031 was 0.55% and TDF025 was 0.56%, both values are below 1% which is acceptable value; and hardness indicates an acceptable mechanical shock endurance. The 06 tablets were completely disintegrated, passing through a No. 10 (1700 uM) sieve, in a dissolution medium simulating gastric and intestinal pH in less than 5 min. Conclusion: Biopharmaceutical equivalence of multisource drugs digoxin 0.25 mg TDH025 TDF025 batch batch 105031 and 10940431 was demonstrated according to the acceptance criteria of the WHO and USP, the active ingredient (digoxin) quantified in each batch were within the range of 90-110%; attrition and hardness parameters indicate adequate stability in their lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalis purpurea L. produces cardiatonic glycosides such as digoxin and digitoxin, which are widely used for congestive heart failure. Genomic studies of this species are limited because there is no efficient genetic transformation system. One of the first steps to launch a transgene technology is to obtain the method and agent to select transformed out of non-transformed cells. In the current study, the Geneticin G-418 minimal inhibitory concentration was determined for leaf explants on callus formation. Besides, the effect of concentrations of this antibiotic between 10 and 50 mg·l-1 on leaf fragments was evaluated. An evaluation scale, taking into account the percentage of the explants which did not form callus, was proposed. No explant developed callus when leaf fragments were cultured at 50 mg·l-1. This concentration was considered as the minimal inhibitory and was selected for future works on genetic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]