Ether (diethylether)

Ether (diethylether) MAC 2.0%, Blood/gas solubility ratio 15
- Ether is generally mixed with 3% ethanol to retard oxidation. Peroxides form on exposure to air and can enhance the danger of an explosion.
- Slow rate of induction and recovery due to its high blood/gas solubility ratio.
- Produces profound muscular relaxation.
- Both the rate and the minute volume of ventilation tend to be elevated during the inhalation of ether.
- Ether maintains good circulatory stability and does not sensitize the heart to the arrhythmogenic action of catecholamines.
- More than 90% of the absorbed ether can be recovered unchanged in the expired air. Metabolism is not extensive and the metabolites are not hepatotoxic.
- Ether is a versatile anesthetic of unexcelled safety, but it is flammable and irritating to breathe. Secretions can be blocked with anticholinergics.

Eicosanoid compounds

Prostaglandines, Leukotriens and Thromboxanes.

They are produced in minute amounts by all cells except RBCs and they act locally at the same site of synthesis.
These agents have many physiological processes as mediators and modulators of inflammatory reactions.

COAGULANTS

An agent that produces coagulation (Coagulation is a complex process by which blood forms clots).

ANTICOAGULANTS

An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting.

Anticoagulants:

Calcium Chelators (sodium citrate, EDTA)

Heparin

Dalteparin Sodium (Fragmin) -Low molecular-weight heparin

Enoxaparin - Low molecular-weight heparin

Tinzaparin Sodium  - Low molecular-weight heparin

Warfarin

Lepirudin - recombinant form of the natural anticoagulant hirudin: potent and specific Thrombin inhibitor

Bivalirudin - analog of hirudin: potent and specific Thrombin inhibitor

Procoagulants:

Desmopressin acetate

Antiplatelet Drugs:

Acetylsalicylic Acid, Ticlopidine, Sulfinpyrazone, Abciximab , Clopidogrel bisulfate

Fibrinolytic Drugs:

Tissue Plasminogen Activator (t-PA, Activase), Streptokinase (Streptase),

Anistreplase, Urokinase

Antagonists:

Protamine sulfate, Aminocaproic acid

Pharmacological agents used to treat blood coagulation disorders fall in to three major categories:

1. Anticoagulants: Substances that prevent the synthesis of a fibrin network which inhibits coagulation and the formation of arterial thrombi and thromboembolic clots.

2. Antiplatelet agents: Substances that reduce the adhesion and aggregation of platelets.

3. Fibrinolytic agents: Substances that promote the destruction of already formed blood clots or thrombi by disrupting the fibrin mesh.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

MAC 100%, blood/gas solubility ratio 0.47
- An inorganic gas., low solubility in blood, but greater solubility than N2
- Inflammable, but does support combustion.
- Excreted primarily unchanged through the lungs.
- It provides amnesia and analgesia when administered alone.
- Does not produce muscular relaxation.
- Less depressant to both the cardiovascular system and respiratory system than most of the other inhalational anesthetics.
- Lack of potency and tendency to produce anoxia are its primary limitations.
- The major benefit of nitrous oxide is its ability to reduce the amount of the secondary anesthetic agent that is necessary to reach a specified level of anesthesia.

Histamine: 

Involved in inflammatory and anaphylactic reactions 
Local application causes swelling redness, and edema, mimicking a mild inflammatory reaction.

Large systemic doses leads to profound vascular changes similar to those seen after shock or anaphylactic origin.

Storage: widely distributed; in tissues, primarily in mast cells; in blood- in basophils, platelets; non-mast cell sites (epidermis, CNS, regenerating cells)

Histamine Stored in complex with:
Heparin
Chondroitin Sulfate
Eosinophilic Chemotactic Factor
Neutrophilic Chemotactic Factor
Proteases

Release: during type I (IgE-mediated) immediate hypersensitivity rxns, tissue injury, in response to some drugs
a.    Process: Fcε receptor on mast cell or basophil binds IgE, when Ag binds → ↑ PLC activity → histamine

Symptoms: bronchoconstriction, ↓ Pa, ↑ capillary permeability, edema

Action

H1 receptors are located mainly on smooth muscle cells in blood vessels and the respiratory and GI tracts. When histamine binds with these receptors producing the following effects.

-Contraction of smooth muscle in the bronchi and bronchioles producing bronchoconstraction.

-stimulation of vagus nerve endings to produce reflex bronchoconstraction and cough.

-Increased permeability of veins and capillaries, which allows fluid to flow into subcutaneous tissues and form edema (little lower blood pressure).

-Increased secretion of mucous glands. Mucosal edema and increased nasal mucus produce the nasal congestion characteristic of allergic rhinitis and the common cold.

-Stimulation of sensory peripheral nerve endings to cause pain and pruritus.

Histamine promotes vasodilation by causing vascular endothelium to release nitric oxide. This chemical signal diffuses to the vascular smooth muscle, where it stimulates cyclic guanosine monophosphate production, causing vasodilation.

H2-receptors present mostly in gastric glands and smooth muscle of some blood vessels. When receptors are stimulated, the main effects are increased secretion of gastric acid and pepsin, increased rate and force of myocardial contraction.

The H3-receptor functions as a negative-feedback mechanism to inhibit histamine synthesis and release in many body tissues. Stimulation of H3 receptors opposes the effects produced by stimulation of H1 receptors.

The H4- receptor is expressed in only a few cell types, and their role in drug action is unclear.

Drugs cause release of histamine: 

Many drugs can cause release of histamine in the body.
-Intracutaneouse morphine injection in humans produced localized redness, localized edema and a diffuse redness. This is due to release of histamine.

-I.V. inj of curare may cause bronchial constriction due to release of histamine.

-codeine , papaverine, meperidine (pethedine), atropine, hydralizine and sympathomimetic amines, histamine releases by these drugs may not be significant unless they are administered I.V in large doses

Pharmacological effects

-  If injected I.V. (0.1 mg of histamine) causes a sharp decline in the blood pressure, flushing of the face and headache. 
- There is also stimulation of gastric acid secretion. 
- If this injection is given to an asthmatic individual, there will be a marked decrease in vital capacity and a sever attack of asthma. 

Circulatory effects of histamine:

The two factors involved in the circulatory action of histamine are:
Arteriolar dilatation and
Capillary permeability
So it leads to loss of plasma from circulation

Effect on gastric secretion:
Histamine is a potent stimulant of gastric Hcl secretion. 

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)

It is a neurotransmitter, widely distributed in the CNS, beginning in the midbrain and projecting into thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, and spinal cord. CNS serotonin is usually an inhibitory neurotransmitter and is associated with mood, the sleep-wake cycle.

Serotonin is thought to produce sleep by inhibiting CNS activity. 

In the blood, 5-HT is present in high concentration in platelets (regulator of platelets function) and also high concentration in intestine

Pharmacological effects:

Smooth muscles. 5-HT stimulates the G.I smooth muscle; it increases the peristaltic movement of intestine.
Serotonin contracts the smooth muscle of bronchi; 

Blood vessels. If serotonin is injected i.v, the blood pressure usually first rises, because of the contraction of large vessels and then falls because of arteriolar dilatation. Serotonin causes aggregation of platelets. 

Specific agonists

- Sumatriptan a selective 5-HT1D used in treatment of acute migraine.
- Buspirone a selective 5-HT1A used in anxiety.
- Ergotamine is a partial agonist used in migraine. It acts on 5-HT1A receptor.

Nonspecific 5-HT receptor agonist

o Dexfenfluramine used as appetite suppressant.

Specific antagonists

o Spiperone (acts on 1A receptor) and
o Methiothepin (acts on 1A, 1B, 1D receptors)