ALPHAGAN A M EDICAL D ICTIONARY , B IBLIOGRAPHY , AND A NNOTATED R ESEARCH G UIDE TO I NTERNET R E FERENCES
J AMES N. P ARKER , M.D. AND P HILIP M. P ARKER , P H .D., E DITORS
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ICON Health Publications ICON Group International, Inc. 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, 4th Floor San Diego, CA 92122 USA Copyright 2004 by ICON Group International, Inc. Copyright 2004 by ICON Group International, Inc. All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Last digit indicates print number: 10 9 8 7 6 4 5 3 2 1
Publisher, Health Care: Philip Parker, Ph.D. Editor(s): James Parker, M.D., Philip Parker, Ph.D. Publisher's note: The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem. As new medical or scientific information becomes available from academic and clinical research, recommended treatments and drug therapies may undergo changes. The authors, editors, and publisher have attempted to make the information in this book up to date and accurate in accord with accepted standards at the time of publication. The authors, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for consequences from application of the book, and make no warranty, expressed or implied, in regard to the contents of this book. Any practice described in this book should be applied by the reader in accordance with professional standards of care used in regard to the unique circumstances that may apply in each situation. The reader is advised to always check product information (package inserts) for changes and new information regarding dosage and contraindications before prescribing any drug or pharmacological product. Caution is especially urged when using new or infrequently ordered drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements, alternative therapies, complementary therapies and medicines, and integrative medical treatments. Cataloging-in-Publication Data Parker, James N., 1961Parker, Philip M., 1960Alphagan: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References / James N. Parker and Philip M. Parker, editors p. cm. Includes bibliographical references, glossary, and index. ISBN: 0-497-00049-0 1. Alphagan-Popular works. I. Title.
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Disclaimer This publication is not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher, editors, and authors are not engaging in the rendering of medical, psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. References to any entity, product, service, or source of information that may be contained in this publication should not be considered an endorsement, either direct or implied, by the publisher, editors, or authors. ICON Group International, Inc., the editors, and the authors are not responsible for the content of any Web pages or publications referenced in this publication.
Copyright Notice If a physician wishes to copy limited passages from this book for patient use, this right is automatically granted without written permission from ICON Group International, Inc. (ICON Group). However, all of ICON Group publications have copyrights. With exception to the above, copying our publications in whole or in part, for whatever reason, is a violation of copyright laws and can lead to penalties and fines. Should you want to copy tables, graphs, or other materials, please contact us to request permission (E-mail:
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Acknowledgements The collective knowledge generated from academic and applied research summarized in various references has been critical in the creation of this book which is best viewed as a comprehensive compilation and collection of information prepared by various official agencies which produce publications on Alphagan. Books in this series draw from various agencies and institutions associated with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and in particular, the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (OS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Administration on Aging (AOA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Healthcare Financing Administration (HCFA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Indian Health Service (IHS), the institutions of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Program Support Center (PSC), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In addition to these sources, information gathered from the National Library of Medicine, the United States Patent Office, the European Union, and their related organizations has been invaluable in the creation of this book. Some of the work represented was financially supported by the Research and Development Committee at INSEAD. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Finally, special thanks are owed to Tiffany Freeman for her excellent editorial support.
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About the Editors James N. Parker, M.D. Dr. James N. Parker received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Riverside and his M.D. from the University of California, San Diego. In addition to authoring numerous research publications, he has lectured at various academic institutions. Dr. Parker is the medical editor for health books by ICON Health Publications. Philip M. Parker, Ph.D. Philip M. Parker is the Eli Lilly Chair Professor of Innovation, Business and Society at INSEAD (Fontainebleau, France and Singapore). Dr. Parker has also been Professor at the University of California, San Diego and has taught courses at Harvard University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and UCLA. Dr. Parker is the associate editor for ICON Health Publications.
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About ICON Health Publications To discover more about ICON Health Publications, simply check with your preferred online booksellers, including Barnes&Noble.com and Amazon.com which currently carry all of our titles. Or, feel free to contact us directly for bulk purchases or institutional discounts: ICON Group International, Inc. 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, Fourth Floor San Diego, CA 92122 USA Fax: 858-546-4341 Web site: www.icongrouponline.com/health
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Table of Contents FORWARD .......................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. STUDIES ON ALPHAGAN ............................................................................................... 3 Overview........................................................................................................................................ 3 Federally Funded Research on Alphagan....................................................................................... 3 The National Library of Medicine: PubMed .................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 2. PATENTS ON ALPHAGAN............................................................................................ 19 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 19 Patents on Alphagan.................................................................................................................... 19 Patent Applications on Alphagan ................................................................................................ 20 Keeping Current .......................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 3. PERIODICALS AND NEWS ON ALPHAGAN ................................................................. 23 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 23 News Services and Press Releases................................................................................................ 23 Academic Periodicals covering Alphagan .................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 4. RESEARCHING MEDICATIONS .................................................................................... 27 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 27 U.S. Pharmacopeia....................................................................................................................... 27 Commercial Databases ................................................................................................................. 28 APPENDIX A. PHYSICIAN RESOURCES ............................................................................................ 31 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 31 NIH Guidelines............................................................................................................................ 31 NIH Databases............................................................................................................................. 33 Other Commercial Databases....................................................................................................... 35 APPENDIX B. PATIENT RESOURCES ................................................................................................. 37 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 37 Patient Guideline Sources............................................................................................................ 37 Finding Associations.................................................................................................................... 38 APPENDIX C. FINDING MEDICAL LIBRARIES .................................................................................. 41 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 41 Preparation................................................................................................................................... 41 Finding a Local Medical Library.................................................................................................. 41 Medical Libraries in the U.S. and Canada ................................................................................... 41 ONLINE GLOSSARIES.................................................................................................................. 47 Online Dictionary Directories ..................................................................................................... 47 ALPHAGAN DICTIONARY ......................................................................................................... 49 INDEX ................................................................................................................................................ 63
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FORWARD In March 2001, the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning: "The number of Web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading."1 Furthermore, because of the rapid increase in Internet-based information, many hours can be wasted searching, selecting, and printing. Since only the smallest fraction of information dealing with Alphagan is indexed in search engines, such as www.google.com or others, a non-systematic approach to Internet research can be not only time consuming, but also incomplete. This book was created for medical professionals, students, and members of the general public who want to know as much as possible about Alphagan, using the most advanced research tools available and spending the least amount of time doing so. In addition to offering a structured and comprehensive bibliography, the pages that follow will tell you where and how to find reliable information covering virtually all topics related to Alphagan, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. Public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research studies are emphasized. Various abstracts are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on Alphagan. Abundant guidance is given on how to obtain free-of-charge primary research results via the Internet. While this book focuses on the field of medicine, when some sources provide access to non-medical information relating to Alphagan, these are noted in the text. E-book and electronic versions of this book are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). If you are using the hard copy version of this book, you can access a cited Web site by typing the provided Web address directly into your Internet browser. You may find it useful to refer to synonyms or related terms when accessing these Internet databases. NOTE: At the time of publication, the Web addresses were functional. However, some links may fail due to URL address changes, which is a common occurrence on the Internet. For readers unfamiliar with the Internet, detailed instructions are offered on how to access electronic resources. For readers unfamiliar with medical terminology, a comprehensive glossary is provided. For readers without access to Internet resources, a directory of medical libraries, that have or can locate references cited here, is given. We hope these resources will prove useful to the widest possible audience seeking information on Alphagan. The Editors
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From the NIH, National Cancer Institute (NCI): http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/ten-things-to-know.
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CHAPTER 1. STUDIES ON ALPHAGAN Overview In this chapter, we will show you how to locate peer-reviewed references and studies on Alphagan.
Federally Funded Research on Alphagan The U.S. Government supports a variety of research studies relating to Alphagan. These studies are tracked by the Office of Extramural Research at the National Institutes of Health.2 CRISP (Computerized Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects) is a searchable database of federally funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other institutions. Search the CRISP Web site at http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/crisp_query.generate_screen. You will have the option to perform targeted searches by various criteria, including geography, date, and topics related to Alphagan. For most of the studies, the agencies reporting into CRISP provide summaries or abstracts. As opposed to clinical trial research using patients, many federally funded studies use animals or simulated models to explore Alphagan.
The National Library of Medicine: PubMed One of the quickest and most comprehensive ways to find academic studies in both English and other languages is to use PubMed, maintained by the National Library of Medicine.3
2 Healthcare projects are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and Office of Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH). 3 PubMed was developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The PubMed database was developed in conjunction with publishers of biomedical literature as a search tool for accessing literature citations and linking to full-text
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The advantage of PubMed over previously mentioned sources is that it covers a greater number of domestic and foreign references. It is also free to use. If the publisher has a Web site that offers full text of its journals, PubMed will provide links to that site, as well as to sites offering other related data. User registration, a subscription fee, or some other type of fee may be required to access the full text of articles in some journals. To generate your own bibliography of studies dealing with Alphagan, simply go to the PubMed Web site at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. Type “Alphagan” (or synonyms) into the search box, and click “Go.” The following is the type of output you can expect from PubMed for Alphagan (hyperlinks lead to article summaries): •
A 3-month comparison of efficacy and safety of brimonidine-purite 0.15% and brimonidine 0.2% in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Mundorf T, Williams R, Whitcup S, Felix C, Batoosingh A. Source: Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics : the Official Journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2003 February; 19(1): 37-44. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12648302
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A case of suspected Alphagan-induced psychosis. Author(s): Kim DD. Source: Archives of Ophthalmology. 2000 August; 118(8): 1132-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10922214
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A comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of brimonidine and latanoprost in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: a three-month, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, parallel-group trial. Author(s): DuBiner HB, Mroz M, Shapiro AM, Dirks MS; Brimonidine vs. Latanoprost Study Group. Source: Clinical Therapeutics. 2001 December; 23(12): 1969-83. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11813932
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A comparison of the short-term hypotensive effects and side effects of unilateral brimonidine and apraclonidine in patients with elevated intraocular pressure. Author(s): Yuksel N, Karabas L, Altintas O, Yildirim Y, Caglar Y. Source: Ophthalmologica. Journal International D'ophtalmologie. International Journal of Ophthalmology. Zeitschrift Fur Augenheilkunde. 2002 January-February; 216(1): 45-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11901288
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A paradoxical ocular effect of brimonidine. Author(s): Mushtaq B, Sardar J, Matthews TD. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2003 January; 135(1): 102-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12504711
journal articles at Web sites of participating publishers. Publishers that participate in PubMed supply NLM with their citations electronically prior to or at the time of publication.
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A short term study of the additive effect of timolol and brimonidine on intraocular pressure. Author(s): Arici MK, Sayici M, Toker M, Erdogan H, Topalkara A. Source: Eye (London, England). 2002 January; 16(1): 39-43. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11913886
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A short-term study of the additive effect of latanoprost 0.005% and brimonidine 0.2%. Author(s): Erdogan H, Toker I, Arici MK, Aygen A, Topalkara A. Source: Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology. 2003 September-October; 47(5): 473-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12967863
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Acute and chronic effects of brimonidine 0.2% on intraocular pressure and pulsatile ocular blood flow in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma: an open-label, uncontrolled, prospective study. Author(s): Vetrugno M, Maino A, Cantatore F, Ruggeri G, Cardia L. Source: Clinical Therapeutics. 2001 September; 23(9): 1519-28. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11589264
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Allergic reactions to brimonidine in patients treated for glaucoma. Author(s): Blondeau P, Rousseau JA. Source: Can J Ophthalmol. 2002 February; 37(1): 21-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11865954
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An economic analysis of switching to latanoprost from a beta-blocker or adding brimonidine or latanoprost to a beta-blocker in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Stewart WC, Leech J, Sharpe ED, Kulze J, Ellyn J, Day DG. Source: Am J Manag Care. 2002 August; 8(10 Suppl): S240-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12188166
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Anterior uveitis as a side effect of topical brimonidine. Author(s): Byles DB, Frith P, Salmon JF. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2000 September; 130(3): 287-91. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11020406
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Aqueous humor flow in normal human eyes treated with brimonidine and dorzolamide, alone and in combination. Author(s): Tsukamoto H, Larsson LI. Source: Archives of Ophthalmology. 2004 February; 122(2): 190-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14769595
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Aqueous humor flow in normal human eyes treated with brimonidine and timolol, alone and in combination. Author(s): Larsson LI. Source: Archives of Ophthalmology. 2001 April; 119(4): 492-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11296014
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Brimonidine (Alphagan): a clinical profile four years after launch. Author(s): David R. Source: Eur J Ophthalmol. 2001 July-September; 11 Suppl 2: S72-7. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11592536
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Brimonidine.2% as a replacement for beta blockers in geriatric patients with glaucoma. Author(s): Noecker RJ; Study Group for the Efficacy of Brimonidine in Geriatric Patients. Source: Adv Ther. 2002 March-April; 19(2): 91-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12069372
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Brimonidine 0.2% given two or three times daily versus timolol maleate 0.5% in primary open-angle glaucoma. Author(s): Konstas AG, Stewart WC, Topouzis F, Tersis I, Holmes KT, Stangos NT. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2001 June; 131(6): 729-33. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11384568
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Brimonidine 0.2% to prevent post laser IOP elevation. Author(s): Kasahara N. Source: Ophthalmology. 2002 May; 109(5): 828-9; Author Reply 829. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11986075
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Brimonidine 0.2% versus apraclonidine 0.5% for prevention of intraocular pressure elevations after anterior segment laser surgery. Author(s): Chen TC, Ang RT, Grosskreutz CL, Pasquale LR, Fan JT. Source: Ophthalmology. 2001 June; 108(6): 1033-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11382625
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Brimonidine 0.2% versus dorzolamide 2% each given three times daily to reduce intraocular pressure. Author(s): Stewart WC, Sharpe ED, Harbin TS Jr, Pastor SA, Day DG, Holmes KT, Stewart JA. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2000 June; 129(6): 723-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10926979
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Brimonidine and latanoprost as adjunctive therapy. Author(s): Camras CB. Source: Ophthalmology. 2004 February; 111(2): 410-1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15019405
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Brimonidine and latanoprost as adjunctive therapy. Author(s): Camras CB. Source: Ophthalmology. 2003 January; 110(1): 6-8; Author Reply 8-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12511334
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Brimonidine and postoperative pressure spikes in cataract surgery. Author(s): Whitehouse G. Source: Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 2000 October; 28(5): 364-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11097284
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Brimonidine formulation in polyacrylic acid nanoparticles for ophthalmic delivery. Author(s): De TK, Rodman DJ, Holm BA, Prasad PN, Bergey EJ. Source: Journal of Microencapsulation. 2003 May-June; 20(3): 361-74. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12881116
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Brimonidine Purite and bimatoprost compared with timolol and latanoprost in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Author(s): Netland PA, Michael M, Rosner SA, Katzman B, Macy JI. Source: Adv Ther. 2003 January-February; 20(1): 20-30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12772815
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Brimonidine tartarate 0.2% (Alphagan) associated granulomatous anterior uveitis. Author(s): Goyal R, Ram AR. Source: Eye (London, England). 2000 December; 14(Pt 6): 908-10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11584856
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Capillary electrophoretic analysis of brimonidine in aqueous humor of the eye and blood sera and relation of its levels with intraocular pressure. Author(s): Tzovolou DN, Lamari F, Mela EK, Gartaganis SP, Karamanos NK. Source: Biomedical Chromatography : Bmc. 2000 August; 14(5): 301-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10960828
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Cardiovascular effects of timolol maleate, brimonidine or brimonidine/timolol maleate in concomitant therapy. Author(s): Stewart WC, Stewart JA, Jackson AL. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. 2002 June; 80(3): 277-81. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12059866
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Changes in intraocular pressure and ocular perfusion pressure after latanoprost 0.005% or brimonidine tartrate 0.2% in normal-tension glaucoma patients. Author(s): Liu CJ, Ko YC, Cheng CY, Chiu AW, Chou JC, Hsu WM, Liu JH. Source: Ophthalmology. 2002 December; 109(12): 2241-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12466165
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Charles Bonnet syndrome and brimonidine: comments. Author(s): Rahman I, Fernando B, Harrison M. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2004 May; 88(5): 724. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15090439
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Charles Bonnet syndrome precipitated by brimonidine tartrate eye drops. Author(s): Tomsak RL, Zaret CR, Weidenthal D. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2003 July; 87(7): 917. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12812898
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Clinical effects of brimonidine ophthalmic drops ingestion in 52 dogs. Author(s): Welch SL, Richardson JA. Source: Vet Hum Toxicol. 2002 February; 44(1): 34-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11824775
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Clinical success and quality of life with brimonidine 0.2% or timolol 0.5% used twice daily in glaucoma or ocular t hypertension: a randomized clinical trial. Brimonidine Outcomes Study Group I. Author(s): Javitt JC, Schiffman RM. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2000 June; 9(3): 224-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10877373
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Comparison between latanoprost and brimonidine efficacy and safety in Indian eyes. Author(s): Thomas R, Parikh R, Muliyil J, George R, Paul P, Abraham LM. Source: Indian J Ophthalmol. 2003 June; 51(2): 123-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12831141
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Comparison of brimonidine with latanoprost in the adjunctive treatment of glaucoma. ALPHAGAN/XALATAN Study Group. Author(s): Simmons ST, Samuelson TW. Source: Clinical Therapeutics. 2000 April; 22(4): 388-99. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10823361
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Comparison of brimonidine/latanoprost and timolol/dorzolamide: two randomized, double-masked, parallel clinical trials. Author(s): Zabriskie N, Netland PA; Brimonidine with Latanoprost Study Groups 1 and 2. Source: Adv Ther. 2003 March-April; 20(2): 92-100. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12836809
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Comparison of latanoprost, brimonidine and a fixed combination of timolol and dorzolamide on circadian intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Author(s): Orzalesi N, Rossetti I, Bottoli A, Invernizzi T, Fumagalli E, Fogagnolo P. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. Supplement. 2002; 236: 55. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12390144
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Comparison of the clinical success and quality-of-life impact of brimonidine 0.2% and betaxolol 0.25 % suspension in patients with elevated intraocular pressure. Author(s): Cantor LB, Hoop J, Katz LJ, Flartey K; Alphagan/Betaxolol Clinical Success Study Group. Source: Clinical Therapeutics. 2001 July; 23(7): 1032-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11519768
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Comparison of the clinical success rates and quality of life effects of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% and betaxolol 0.25% suspension in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Brimonidine Outcomes Study Group II. Author(s): Javitt J, Goldberg I. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2000 October; 9(5): 398-408. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11039742
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Comparison of the efficacy and safety of latanoprost 0.005% compared to brimonidine 0.2% or dorzolamide 2% when added to a topical beta-adrenergic blocker in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Stewart WC, Sharpe ED, Day DG, Kolker AE, Konstas AG, Lee WH, Rieser JC, Chopra H, Holmes KT. Source: Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics : the Official Journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2000 June; 16(3): 251-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10872922
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Comparison of the safety and efficacy of dorzolamide 2% and brimonidine 0.2% in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Whitson JT, Henry C, Hughes B, Lee DA, Terry S, Fechtner RD. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2004 April; 13(2): 168-73. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15097265
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Contrast sensitivity improves after brimonidine therapy in primary open angle glaucoma: a case for neuroprotection. Author(s): Evans DW, Hosking SL, Gherghel D, Bartlett JD. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2003 December; 87(12): 1463-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14660453
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Cystoid macular oedema associated with brimonidine therapy. Author(s): Kim P, Lertsumikul S. Source: Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 2003 April; 31(2): 165-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12648055
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Delayed hypersensitivity to brimonidine tartrate 0.2% associated with high intraocular pressure. Author(s): Watts P, Hawksworth N. Source: Eye (London, England). 2002 March; 16(2): 132-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11988811
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Demographic and clinical factors associated with development of brimonidine tartrate 0.2%-induced ocular allergy. Author(s): Manni G, Centofanti M, Sacchetti M, Oddone F, Bonini S, Parravano M, Bucci MG. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2004 April; 13(2): 163-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15097264
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Dermatological side effects of brimonidine: a report of three cases. Author(s): Sodhi PK, Verma L, Ratan J. Source: The Journal of Dermatology. 2003 September; 30(9): 697-700. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14578562
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Does topical brimonidine tartrate help NAION? Author(s): Fazzone HE, Kupersmith MJ, Leibmann J. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2003 September; 87(9): 1193-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12928304
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Dorzolamide/timolol combination versus concomitant administration of brimonidine and timolol: six-month comparison of efficacy and tolerability. Author(s): Sall KN, Greff LJ, Johnson-Pratt LR, DeLucca PT, Polis AB, Kolodny AH, Fletcher CA, Cassel DA, Boyle DR, Skobieranda F. Source: Ophthalmology. 2003 March; 110(3): 615-24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12623832
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Dorzolamide/Timolol fixed combination versus concomitant administration of brimonidine and timolol in patients with elevated intraocular pressure: a 3-month comparison of efficacy, tolerability, and patient-reported measures. Author(s): Solish AM, DeLucca PT, Cassel DA, Kolodny AH, Hustad CM, Skobieranda F. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2004 April; 13(2): 149-57. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15097262
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Effect of 0.2% brimonidine in preventing intraocular pressure elevation after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Author(s): Seong GJ, Lee YG, Lee JH, Lim SJ, Lee SC, Hong YJ, Kwon OW, Kim HB. Source: Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers. 2000 July-August; 31(4): 308-14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10928668
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Effect of brimonidine on intraocular pressure in normal tension glaucoma: a short term clinical trial. Author(s): Gandolfi SA, Cimino L, Mora P. Source: Eur J Ophthalmol. 2003 August-September; 13(7): 611-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14552594
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Effect of brimonidine on patients undergoing uncontrolled IOP with beta-blockers. Author(s): Taverniti L, Di Staso S, Arrico L, Giuffre I, Recupero SM; S; Donati. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. Supplement. 2002; 236: 54. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12390143
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Effect of brimonidine tartrate on ocular hemodynamics in healthy volunteers. Author(s): Jonescu-Cuypers CP, Harris A, Ishii Y, Kagemann L, Gazozi HJ, Rotenstreich Y, Chung HS, Martin B. Source: Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics : the Official Journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2001 June; 17(3): 199-205. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11436940
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Effect of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.2% on pupil size in normal eyes under different luminance conditions. Author(s): McDonald JE 2nd, El-Moatassem Kotb AM, Decker BB. Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2001 April; 27(4): 560-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11311624
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Effect of latanoprost 0.005% and brimonidine tartrate 0.2% on pulsatile ocular blood flow in normal tension glaucoma. Author(s): Liu CJ, Ko YC, Cheng CY, Chou JC, Hsu WM, Liu JH. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2002 November; 86(11): 1236-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12386077
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Effect of prophylactic brimonidine on bleeding complications and flap adherence after laser in situ keratomileusis. Author(s): Norden RA. Source: Journal of Refractive Surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995). 2002 July-August; 18(4): 468-71. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12160159
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Effect of topical brimonidine on intraocular pressure after small incision cataract surgery. Author(s): Rainer G, Menapace R, Findl O, Petternel V, Kiss B, Georgopoulos M. Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2001 August; 27(8): 1227-31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11524194
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Effectiveness and safety of brimonidine as adjunctive therapy for patients with elevated intraocular pressure in a large, open-label community trial. Author(s): Lee DA, Gornbein JA. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2001 June; 10(3): 220-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11442187
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Effects of acute topical administration of clonidine 0.125%, apraclonidine 1.0% and brimonidine 0.2% on visual field parameters and ocular perfusion pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Author(s): Sebastiani A, Parmeggiani F, Costagliola C, Ciancaglini M, D'Oronzo E, Mastropasqua L. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. Supplement. 2002; 236: 29-30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12390124
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Effects of systemic beta-blocker therapy on the efficacy and safety of topical brimonidine and timolol. Brimonidine Study Groups 1 and 2. Author(s): Schuman JS. Source: Ophthalmology. 2000 June; 107(6): 1171-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10857839
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Efficacy and safety of brimonidine, dorzolamide and latanoprost as adjunctive therapy in primary open angle glaucoma. Author(s): Sodhi PK, Pandey RM, Ratan SK. Source: Int J Clin Pract. 2003 December; 57(10): 875-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14712889
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Efficacy and safety of timolol maleate/latanoprost fixed combination versus timolol maleate and brimonidine given twice daily. Author(s): Stewart WC, Stewart JA, Day D, Sharpe ED. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. 2003 June; 81(3): 242-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12780402
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Efficacy of brimonidine 0.2 per cent as adjunctive therapy to beta-blockers: a comparative study between POAG and CACG in Asian eyes. Author(s): Ruangvaravate N, Kitnarong N, Metheetrairut A, Danwiriyakul W. Source: J Med Assoc Thai. 2002 August; 85(8): 894-900. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12403210
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Efficacy of brimonidine 0.2% and dorzolamide 2% as adjunctive therapy to betablockers in adult patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Simmons ST; Alphagan/Trusopt Study Group. Source: Clinical Therapeutics. 2001 April; 23(4): 604-19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11354394
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Efficacy of brimonidine 0.2% in controlling acute postoperative intraocular pressure elevation after phacoemulsification. Author(s): Katsimpris JM, Siganos D, Konstas AG, PhD, Kozobolis V, Georgiadis N. Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2003 December; 29(12): 2288-94. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14709288
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Evaluation and comparison between the effects on intraocular pressure and retinal blood flow of two antiglaucomatous drugs administered in monotherapy: brimonidine and latanoprost. Preliminary results. Author(s): Rolle T, Cipullo D, Vizzeri GM, Triggiani A, Brogliatti B. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. Supplement. 2000; (232): 50-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11235536
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Evaluation of neuroprotective qualities of brimonidine during LASIK. Author(s): McCarty TM, Hardten DR, Anderson NJ, Rosheim K, Samuelson TW. Source: Ophthalmology. 2003 August; 110(8): 1615-25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12917182
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Evaluation of the comfort of Alphagan P compared with Alphagan in irritated eyes. Author(s): Mundorf T, Wilcox KA, Ousler GW 3rd, Welch D, Abelson MB. Source: Adv Ther. 2003 November-December; 20(6): 329-36. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15058750
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Failure of naloxone to reverse brimonidine-induced coma in an infant. Author(s): Sztajnbok J. Source: The Journal of Pediatrics. 2002 April; 140(4): 485-6; Author Reply 486. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12006970
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Granulomatous anterior uveitis associated with 0.2% topical brimonidine. Author(s): Cates CA, Jeffrey MN. Source: Eye (London, England). 2003 July; 17(5): 670-1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12855989
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Hypotension and bradycardia in infants after the use of topical brimonidine and beta-blockers. Author(s): Mungan NK, Wilson TW, Nischal KK, Koren G, Levin AV. Source: J Aapos. 2003 February; 7(1): 69-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12690374
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Incidence of brimonidine allergy in patients previously allergic to apraclonidine. Author(s): Williams GC, Orengo-Nania S, Gross RL. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2000 June; 9(3): 235-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10877374
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Influence of topical brimonidine on visual field in glaucoma. Author(s): Ruiz Lapuente C, Ruiz Lapuente A, Link B. Source: Eur J Ophthalmol. 2001 July-September; 11 Suppl 2: S67-71. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11592534
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Intraocular pressure-lowering effects of latanoprost and brimonidine therapy in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: a randomized observermasked multicenter study. Author(s): Kampik A, Arias-Puente A, O'Brart DP, Vuori ML; European Latanoprost Study Group. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2002 April; 11(2): 90-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11912355
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Latanoprost and brimonidine: therapeutic and physiologic assessment before and after oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy. Author(s): Sponsel WE, Paris G, Trigo Y, Pena M, Weber A, Sanford K, McKinnon S. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2002 January; 133(1): 11-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11755835
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Meta-analysis of the effect of latanoprost and brimonidine on intraocular pressure in the treatment of glaucoma. Author(s): Einarson TR, Kulin NA, Tingey D, Iskedjian M. Source: Clinical Therapeutics. 2000 December; 22(12): 1502-15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11192141
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Miotic effect of Alphagan P. Author(s): Faulkner W. Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2003 March; 29(3): 423. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12662989
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Ocular and systemic side effects of brimonidine 0.2% eye drops (Alphagan) in children. Author(s): Bowman RJ, Cope J, Nischal KK. Source: Eye (London, England). 2004 January; 18(1): 24-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14707960
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Ocular perfusion pressure and visual field indice modifications induced by alphaagonist compound (clonidine 0.125%, apraclonidine 1.0% and brimonidine 0.2%) topical administration. An acute study on primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Author(s): Costagliola C, Parmeggiani F, Ciancaglini M, D'Oronzo E, Mastropasqua L, Sebastiani A. Source: Ophthalmologica. Journal International D'ophtalmologie. International Journal of Ophthalmology. Zeitschrift Fur Augenheilkunde. 2003 January-February; 217(1): 3944. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12566871
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Prophylactic brimonidine before LASIK. Author(s): Uretmen O, Ates H, Andac K. Source: Journal of Refractive Surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995). 2003 September-October; 19(5): 612. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14518756
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Randomised controlled trial comparing the effect of brimonidine and timolol on visual field loss after acute primary angle closure. Author(s): Aung T, Oen FT, Wong HT, Chan YH, Khoo BK, Liu YP, Ho CL, See J, Thean LH, Viswanathan AC, Seah SK, Chew PT. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2004 January; 88(1): 88-94. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14693782
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Safety and efficacy of brimonidine in children with glaucoma. Author(s): Enyedi LB, Freedman SF. Source: J Aapos. 2001 October; 5(5): 281-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11641636
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Short posterior ciliary artery, central retinal artery, and choroidal hemodynamics in brimonidine-treated primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Author(s): Schmidt KG, Klingmuller V, Gouveia SM, Osborne NN, Pillunat LE. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2003 December; 136(6): 1038-48. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14644214
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Switching patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension from dual therapy to monotherapy: evaluation of brimonidine as a model. Author(s): Abelson MB, Netland PA, Chapin MJ. Source: Adv Ther. 2001 November-December; 18(6): 282-97. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11841198
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Systemic beta-blocker therapy and brimonidine and timolol. Author(s): Coulibaly R. Source: Ophthalmology. 2001 August; 108(8): 1368. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11470677
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The adverse effect of perioperative brimonidine tartrate 0.2% on flap adherence and enhancement rates in laser in situ keratomileusis patients. Author(s): Walter KA, Gilbert DD. Source: Ophthalmology. 2001 August; 108(8): 1434-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11470696
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The effect of latanoprost, brimonidine, and a fixed combination of timolol and dorzolamide on circadian intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Orzalesi N, Rossetti L, Bottoli A, Fumagalli E, Fogagnolo P. Source: Archives of Ophthalmology. 2003 April; 121(4): 453-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12695241
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The effects of latanoprost and brimonidine on blood flow velocity of the retrobulbar vessels: a 3-month clinical trial. Author(s): Inan UU, Ermis SS, Yucel A, Ozturk F. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. 2003 April; 81(2): 155-60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12752054
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The efficacy and safety of brimonidine 0.2% compared with timolol 0.5% in glaucoma: a randomized clinical trial on Taiwanese patients. Author(s): Chen MJ, Chou JC, Hsu WM, Liu JH. Source: J Chin Med Assoc. 2003 May; 66(5): 276-81. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12908569
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The efficacy and safety of latanoprost 0.005% once daily versus brimonidine 0.2% twice daily in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Stewart WC, Day DG, Stewart JA, Schuhr J, Latham KE. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2001 May; 131(5): 631-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11336939
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The efficacy of brimonidine in preventing intraocular pressure elevation in the provocative test for primary angle-closure glaucoma. Author(s): Chen YF, Hung PT, Hsieh JW, Shein J, Hsiao CK. Source: Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics : the Official Journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2002 April; 18(2): 99-103. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12002673
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The evolving pharmacotherapeutic profile of brimonidine, an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, after four years of continuous use. Author(s): Cantor LB. Source: Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2000 May; 1(4): 815-34. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11249518
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The safety and efficacy of unoprostone 0.15% versus brimonidine 0.2%. Author(s): Stewart WC, Stewart JA, Day DG, Jenkins J. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. 2004 April; 82(2): 161-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15043534
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The short-term IOP-lowering effect of brimonidine 0.2% and dorzolomide 2% combination in primary open-angle glaucoma. Author(s): Ermis SS, Ozturk F, Inan UU. Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. 2002 December; 80(6): 632-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12485285
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The teardrop sign: a rare dermatological reaction to brimonidine. Author(s): Scruggs JT, Whiteside-Michel J, Brodsky MC. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2000 June; 84(6): 671-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10896417
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Therapeutic success of latanoprost 0.005% compared to brimonidine 0.2% in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Stewart WC, Day DG, Stewart JA, Holmes KT, Leech JN, Rowan CT, Schwartz GF. Source: Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics : the Official Journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2000 December; 16(6): 557-64. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11132902
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Three-month comparison of brimonidine and latanoprost as adjunctive therapy in glaucoma and ocular hypertension patients uncontrolled on beta-blockers: tolerance and peak intraocular pressure lowering. Author(s): Simmons ST, Earl ML; Alphagan/Xalatan Study Group. Source: Ophthalmology. 2002 February; 109(2): 307-14; Discussion 314-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11825814
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Twelve-month evaluation of brimonidine-purite versus brimonidine in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Author(s): Katz LJ. Source: Journal of Glaucoma. 2002 April; 11(2): 119-26. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11912359
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Unoprostone as adjunctive therapy to timolol: a double masked randomised study versus brimonidine and dorzolamide. Author(s): Hommer A, Kapik B, Shams N; The Unoprostone Adjunctive Therapy Study Group. Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2003 May; 87(5): 592-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12714402
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Vitreous concentration of topically applied brimonidine tartrate 0.2%. Author(s): Kent AR, Nussdorf JD, David R, Tyson F, Small D, Fellows D. Source: Ophthalmology. 2001 April; 108(4): 784-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11297498
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Washout periods for brimonidine 0.2% and latanoprost 0.005%. Author(s): Stewart WC, Holmes KT, Johnson MA. Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2001 June; 131(6): 798-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11384581
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CHAPTER 2. PATENTS ON ALPHAGAN Overview Patents can be physical innovations (e.g. chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment) or processes (e.g. treatments or diagnostic procedures). The United States Patent and Trademark Office defines a patent as a grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the Patent and Trademark Office.4 Patents, therefore, are intellectual property. For the United States, the term of a new patent is 20 years from the date when the patent application was filed. If the inventor wishes to receive economic benefits, it is likely that the invention will become commercially available within 20 years of the initial filing. It is important to understand, therefore, that an inventor’s patent does not indicate that a product or service is or will be commercially available. The patent implies only that the inventor has “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States. While this relates to U.S. patents, similar rules govern foreign patents. In this chapter, we show you how to locate information on patents and their inventors. If you find a patent that is particularly interesting to you, contact the inventor or the assignee for further information. IMPORTANT NOTE: When following the search strategy described below, you may discover non-medical patents that use the generic term “Alphagan” (or a synonym) in their titles. To accurately reflect the results that you might find while conducting research on Alphagan, we have not necessarily excluded non-medical patents in this bibliography.
Patents on Alphagan By performing a patent search focusing on Alphagan, you can obtain information such as the title of the invention, the names of the inventor(s), the assignee(s) or the company that owns or controls the patent, a short abstract that summarizes the patent, and a few excerpts from the description of the patent. The abstract of a patent tends to be more technical in nature, while the description is often written for the public. Full patent descriptions contain much more information than is presented here (e.g. claims, references, figures, diagrams, etc.). We will tell you how to obtain this information later in the chapter. The following is an 4Adapted from the United States Patent and Trademark Office: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/whatis.htm.
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example of the type of information that you can expect to obtain from a patent search on Alphagan: •
Brinzolamide and brimonidine for treating ocular conditions Inventor(s): Dean; Thomas R. (Weatherford, TX), Desantis, Jr.; Louis (Fort Worth, TX), York; Billie M. (Conroe, TX) Assignee(s): Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX) Patent Number: 6,242,442 Date filed: August 4, 2000 Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating ocular conditions which find their etiology in compromised ocular blood flow with brinzolamide and brimonidine are disclosed. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to the treatment of ocular diseases and conditions which find their etiology in compromised blood flow with novel formulations of brinzolamide combined with brimonidine tartrate and the use of brinzolamide and brimonidine tartrate administered separately. Brinzolamide R-(+)-4ethylamino-3,4dihydro-2-(3-methoxy)propyl-2H thieno[3,2,e]1,2thiazene-6sulfonamide-1,1dioxide) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,703 and sold in a topical ophthalmic formulation (Azopt.TM.) for lowering elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, Tex.). Brimonidine tartrate ((5-bromo-6-2imidzolidisnylideneamino) quinozoline L-tartrate) hereinafter "brimonidine" is a relatively selective alpha-2-adrenergic agonist sold in a topical ophthalmic formulation (Alphagan.TM.) for lowering elevated IOP in patients with open angle-glaucoma or ocular hypertension (Allergan, Inc., Irvine, Calif.). Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06242442__
Patent Applications on Alphagan As of December 2000, U.S. patent applications are open to public viewing.5 Applications are patent requests which have yet to be granted. (The process to achieve a patent can take several years.) The following patent applications have been filed since December 2000 relating to Alphagan: •
Brimonidine compositions and methods for retinal degeneration Inventor(s): Iannaccone, Alessandro; (Cordova, TN), Jablonski, Monica M.; (Cordova, TN) Correspondence: Barbara S. Kitchell; Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.; 222 Lakeview Avenue, Fourth Floor; P.O. Box 3188; West Palm Beach; FL; 33402-3188; US Patent Application Number: 20010049369 Date filed: February 9, 2001 Abstract: The present study demonstrates that brimonidine tartrate, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, can prevent photoreceptor cell degeneration and the
5
This has been a common practice outside the United States prior to December 2000.
Patents 21
associated Muller cell degenerative signs in an in vitro model of retinal degeneration and retinal detachment (separation of the neuroretina from the retinal pigment epithelium). Similar to control conditions, brimonidine allowed for the formation of highly structured photoreceptor outer segments, prevented the expression of stress markers in Muller cells and preserved the expression patterns of Muller cell markers of proper cell-cell contact and differentiation. Ultrastructural studies also indicated that brimonidine favored the formation of cell-cell junctions between photoreceptor cells and Muller cells, indicating that this phenomenon is associated with the exertion of the neuroprotective effect. The results suggest that brimonidine compounds may be utilized as an effective therapeutic agent for early and late onset retinal degenerations caused by defects in photoreceptor cells, Muller cells or both, and as an adjuvant to therapeutic success in retinal detachment surgery or macular translocation surgery for age-related macular degeneration. Excerpt(s): This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part application based on U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/181,587, filed Feb. 10, 2000, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. The present invention concerns the use of highly selective alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists in preventing or reversing retinal degeneration. In particular, compositions and methods utilizing brimonidine are disclosed. Brimonidine (5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolidinylideneamino)-quinoxaline) is a potent adrenoceptor agonist recognized as highly selective for the alpha2-receptor compared with the alpha1-receptor. The best documented effect of brimonidine by topical administration to the eye is a decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP), the rise of which can lead to the damage to the optic nerve head known as glaucoma. This IOPlowering effect has been observed both in animals and in clinical trials (Burke and Schwartz, 1996; Walters 1996; Schuman, 1996; Serle et al. 1996; Wilensky 1996). Because of these properties, a topical formulation of brimonidine (brimonidine tartrate 0.2%) has been on the market for several years for the treatment of chronic open-angle glaucoma. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Combinations of prostaglandins and brimonidine or derivatives thereof Inventor(s): Garst, Michael E.; (Newport Beach, CA) Correspondence: Allergan, INC.; Carlos A. Fisher-T2-7h; 2525 Dupont Drive; Irvine; CA; 92612; US Patent Application Number: 20020010202 Date filed: July 12, 2001 Abstract: The invention concerns combinations of alpha adrenergic agents such as brimonidine and its derivatives as represented by formula (I) below 1wherein each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of N, N--CH3, O, S and C--R.sub.1; R.sub.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or oxo; R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl and lower alkenyl; n is an integer from 1 to 3; and a broken line beside a solid line indicates either a single or a double bond with the proviso that when n=1, both bonds from Y to C--R1 cannot be double bonds,and prostaglandins known in the art to cause lowering of intraocular pressurewhich are useful in compositions, methods of treatment and articles of manufacture for the treatment of glaucoma and alleviation of elevated intraocular pressure and providing neuroprotection.
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Excerpt(s): This application is a continuation of patent application, Ser. No. 09/440,379, filed Nov. 15, 1999 which is a continuation-in-part of patent application, Ser. No. 08/710,636, filed Mar. 17, 1998 as a Continued Prosecution Application of the application Ser. No. 08/710,636, filed Sep. 18, 1996, which was a file wrapper continuation of application Ser. No. 08/330,050, filed Oct. 27, 1994. The invention described herein relates generally to the field of glaucoma therapy. In particular the invention relates to the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension by use of a combination of at least one compound chosen from brimonidine and its derivatives, and at least one prostaglandin or derivative. Glaucoma is an ocular disorder associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) which is too high for normal ocular physiology and may result in irreversible loss of visual function. Owing to the progressive nature of glaucoma, the disease may begin with elevated IOP, progress through loss of visual field and eventually lead to blindness. Ocular hypertension, i.e., the condition of elevated intraocular pressure without optic nerve head damage or characteristic glaucomatous visual field defects, is now believed by many ophthalmologists to represent the earliest stage of glaucoma. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
Keeping Current In order to stay informed about patents and patent applications dealing with Alphagan, you can access the U.S. Patent Office archive via the Internet at the following Web address: http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html. You will see two broad options: (1) Issued Patent, and (2) Published Applications. To see a list of issued patents, perform the following steps: Under “Issued Patents,” click “Quick Search.” Then, type “Alphagan” (or synonyms) into the “Term 1” box. After clicking on the search button, scroll down to see the various patents which have been granted to date on Alphagan. You can also use this procedure to view pending patent applications concerning Alphagan. Simply go back to http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html. Select “Quick Search” under “Published Applications.” Then proceed with the steps listed above.
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CHAPTER 3. PERIODICALS AND NEWS ON ALPHAGAN Overview In this chapter, we suggest a number of news sources and present various periodicals that cover Alphagan.
News Services and Press Releases One of the simplest ways of tracking press releases on Alphagan is to search the news wires. In the following sample of sources, we will briefly describe how to access each service. These services only post recent news intended for public viewing. PR Newswire To access the PR Newswire archive, simply go to http://www.prnewswire.com/. Select your country. Type “Alphagan” (or synonyms) into the search box. You will automatically receive information on relevant news releases posted within the last 30 days. The search results are shown by order of relevance. Reuters Health The Reuters’ Medical News and Health eLine databases can be very useful in exploring news archives relating to Alphagan. While some of the listed articles are free to view, others are available for purchase for a nominal fee. To access this archive, go to http://www.reutershealth.com/en/index.html and search by “Alphagan” (or synonyms). The following was recently listed in this archive for Alphagan: •
Allergan approved to label Alphagan for patients as young as two years Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: December 21, 2001
•
FDA approves Alphagan P to treat intraocular pressure Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: March 19, 2001
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Alphagan
The NIH Within MEDLINEplus, the NIH has made an agreement with the New York Times Syndicate, the AP News Service, and Reuters to deliver news that can be browsed by the public. Search news releases at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html. MEDLINEplus allows you to browse across an alphabetical index. Or you can search by date at the following Web page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/newsbydate.html. Often, news items are indexed by MEDLINEplus within its search engine. Business Wire Business Wire is similar to PR Newswire. To access this archive, simply go to http://www.businesswire.com/. You can scan the news by industry category or company name. Market Wire Market Wire is more focused on technology than the other wires. To browse the latest press releases by topic, such as alternative medicine, biotechnology, fitness, healthcare, legal, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals, access Market Wire’s Medical/Health channel at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_index?channel=MedicalHealth. Or simply go to Market Wire’s home page at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/home, type “Alphagan” (or synonyms) into the search box, and click on “Search News.” As this service is technology oriented, you may wish to use it when searching for press releases covering diagnostic procedures or tests. Search Engines Medical news is also available in the news sections of commercial Internet search engines. See the health news page at Yahoo (http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/News_and_Media/), or you can use this Web site’s general news search page at http://news.yahoo.com/. Type in “Alphagan” (or synonyms). If you know the name of a company that is relevant to Alphagan, you can go to any stock trading Web site (such as http://www.etrade.com/) and search for the company name there. News items across various news sources are reported on indicated hyperlinks. Google offers a similar service at http://news.google.com/. BBC Covering news from a more European perspective, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) allows the public free access to their news archive located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/. Search by “Alphagan” (or synonyms).
Periodicals and News
25
Academic Periodicals covering Alphagan Numerous periodicals are currently indexed within the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database that are known to publish articles relating to Alphagan. In addition to these sources, you can search for articles covering Alphagan that have been published by any of the periodicals listed in previous chapters. To find the latest studies published, go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed, type the name of the periodical into the search box, and click “Go.” If you want complete details about the historical contents of a journal, you can also visit the following Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi. Here, type in the name of the journal or its abbreviation, and you will receive an index of published articles. At http://locatorplus.gov/, you can retrieve more indexing information on medical periodicals (e.g. the name of the publisher). Select the button “Search LOCATORplus.” Then type in the name of the journal and select the advanced search option “Journal Title Search.”
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CHAPTER 4. RESEARCHING MEDICATIONS Overview While a number of hard copy or CD-ROM resources are available for researching medications, a more flexible method is to use Internet-based databases. Broadly speaking, there are two sources of information on approved medications: public sources and private sources. We will emphasize free-to-use public sources.
U.S. Pharmacopeia Because of historical investments by various organizations and the emergence of the Internet, it has become rather simple to learn about the medications recommended for Alphagan. One such source is the United States Pharmacopeia. In 1820, eleven physicians met in Washington, D.C. to establish the first compendium of standard drugs for the United States. They called this compendium the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP). Today, the USP is a nonprofit organization consisting of 800 volunteer scientists, eleven elected officials, and 400 representatives of state associations and colleges of medicine and pharmacy. The USP is located in Rockville, Maryland, and its home page is located at http://www.usp.org/. The USP currently provides standards for over 3,700 medications. The resulting USP DI Advice for the Patient can be accessed through the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. The database is partially derived from lists of federally approved medications in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Drug Approvals database, located at http://www.fda.gov/cder/da/da.htm. While the FDA database is rather large and difficult to navigate, the Phamacopeia is both user-friendly and free to use. It covers more than 9,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications. To access this database, simply type the following hyperlink into your Web browser: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html. To view examples of a given medication (brand names, category, description, preparation, proper use, precautions, side effects, etc.), simply follow the hyperlinks indicated within the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Below, we have compiled a list of medications associated with Alphagan. If you would like more information on a particular medication, the provided hyperlinks will direct you to ample documentation (e.g. typical dosage, side effects, drug-interaction risks, etc.). The
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Alphagan
following drugs have been mentioned in the Pharmacopeia and other sources as being potentially applicable to Alphagan: Brimonidine •
Ophthalmic - U.S. Brands: Alphagan http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/203130.html
Commercial Databases In addition to the medications listed in the USP above, a number of commercial sites are available by subscription to physicians and their institutions. Or, you may be able to access these sources from your local medical library.
Mosby’s Drug Consult Mosby’s Drug Consult database (also available on CD-ROM and book format) covers 45,000 drug products including generics and international brands. It provides prescribing information, drug interactions, and patient information. Subscription information is available at the following hyperlink: http://www.mosbysdrugconsult.com/. PDRhealth The PDRhealth database is a free-to-use, drug information search engine that has been written for the public in layman’s terms. It contains FDA-approved drug information adapted from the Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) database. PDRhealth can be searched by brand name, generic name, or indication. It features multiple drug interactions reports. Search PDRhealth at http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/index.html. Other Web Sites Drugs.com (www.drugs.com) reproduces the information in the Pharmacopeia as well as commercial information. You may also want to consider the Web site of the Medical Letter, Inc. (http://www.medletter.com/) which allows users to download articles on various drugs and therapeutics for a nominal fee. If you have any questions about a medical treatment, the FDA may have an office near you. Look for their number in the blue pages of the phone book. You can also contact the FDA through its toll-free number, 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332), or on the World Wide Web at www.fda.gov.
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APPENDICES
31
APPENDIX A. PHYSICIAN RESOURCES Overview In this chapter, we focus on databases and Internet-based guidelines and information resources created or written for a professional audience.
NIH Guidelines Commonly referred to as “clinical” or “professional” guidelines, the National Institutes of Health publish physician guidelines for the most common diseases. Publications are available at the following by relevant Institute6: •
Office of the Director (OD); guidelines consolidated across agencies available at http://www.nih.gov/health/consumer/conkey.htm
•
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); fact sheets available at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/news/facts/
•
National Library of Medicine (NLM); extensive encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.) with guidelines: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
•
National Cancer Institute (NCI); guidelines available at http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/list.aspx?viewid=5f35036e-5497-4d86-8c2c714a9f7c8d25
•
National Eye Institute (NEI); guidelines available at http://www.nei.nih.gov/order/index.htm
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); guidelines available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/index.htm
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National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI); research available at http://www.genome.gov/page.cfm?pageID=10000375
•
National Institute on Aging (NIA); guidelines available at http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/
6
These publications are typically written by one or more of the various NIH Institutes.
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•
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); guidelines available at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/publications.htm
•
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); guidelines available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/
•
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); fact sheets and guidelines available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/index.htm
•
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD); guidelines available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm
•
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD); fact sheets and guidelines at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/
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National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); guidelines available at http://www.nidr.nih.gov/health/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); guidelines available at http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/health.htm
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National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); guidelines available at http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugAbuse.html
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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); environmental health information available at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/facts.htm
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); guidelines available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/practitioners/index.cfm
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); neurological disorder information pages available at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorder_index.htm
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National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR); publications on selected illnesses at http://www.nih.gov/ninr/news-info/publications.html
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National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; general information at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/becon/becon_info.htm
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Center for Information Technology (CIT); referrals to other agencies based on keyword searches available at http://kb.nih.gov/www_query_main.asp
•
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM); health information available at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/
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National Center for Research Resources (NCRR); various information directories available at http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications.asp
•
Office of Rare Diseases; various fact sheets available at http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/html/resources/rep_pubs.html
•
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; various fact sheets on infectious diseases available at http://www.cdc.gov/publications.htm
Physician Resources
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NIH Databases In addition to the various Institutes of Health that publish professional guidelines, the NIH has designed a number of databases for professionals.7 Physician-oriented resources provide a wide variety of information related to the biomedical and health sciences, both past and present. The format of these resources varies. Searchable databases, bibliographic citations, full-text articles (when available), archival collections, and images are all available. The following are referenced by the National Library of Medicine:8 •
Bioethics: Access to published literature on the ethical, legal, and public policy issues surrounding healthcare and biomedical research. This information is provided in conjunction with the Kennedy Institute of Ethics located at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_bioethics.html
•
HIV/AIDS Resources: Describes various links and databases dedicated to HIV/AIDS research: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/aidsinfs.html
•
NLM Online Exhibitions: Describes “Exhibitions in the History of Medicine”: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/exhibition.html. Additional resources for historical scholarship in medicine: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/hmd.html
•
Biotechnology Information: Access to public databases. The National Center for Biotechnology Information conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data, and disseminates biomedical information for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
•
Population Information: The National Library of Medicine provides access to worldwide coverage of population, family planning, and related health issues, including family planning technology and programs, fertility, and population law and policy: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_population.html
•
Cancer Information: Access to cancer-oriented databases: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_cancer.html
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Profiles in Science: Offering the archival collections of prominent twentieth-century biomedical scientists to the public through modern digital technology: http://www.profiles.nlm.nih.gov/
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Chemical Information: Provides links to various chemical databases and references: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Chem/ChemMain.html
•
Clinical Alerts: Reports the release of findings from the NIH-funded clinical trials where such release could significantly affect morbidity and mortality: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/alerts/clinical_alerts.html
•
Space Life Sciences: Provides links and information to space-based research (including NASA): http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_space.html
•
MEDLINE: Bibliographic database covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the healthcare system, and the pre-clinical sciences: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_medline.html
7 Remember, for the general public, the National Library of Medicine recommends the databases referenced in MEDLINEplus (http://medlineplus.gov/ or http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/databases.html). 8 See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases.html.
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•
Toxicology and Environmental Health Information (TOXNET): Databases covering toxicology and environmental health: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/ToxMain.html
•
Visible Human Interface: Anatomically detailed, three-dimensional representations of normal male and female human bodies: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/visible_human.html The NLM Gateway9
The NLM (National Library of Medicine) Gateway is a Web-based system that lets users search simultaneously in multiple retrieval systems at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). It allows users of NLM services to initiate searches from one Web interface, providing one-stop searching for many of NLM’s information resources or databases.10 To use the NLM Gateway, simply go to the search site at http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd. Type “Alphagan” (or synonyms) into the search box and click “Search.” The results will be presented in a tabular form, indicating the number of references in each database category. Results Summary Category Journal Articles Books / Periodicals / Audio Visual Consumer Health Meeting Abstracts Other Collections Total
Items Found 896 0 579 0 0 1475
HSTAT11 HSTAT is a free, Web-based resource that provides access to full-text documents used in healthcare decision-making.12 These documents include clinical practice guidelines, quickreference guides for clinicians, consumer health brochures, evidence reports and technology assessments from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), as well as AHRQ’s Put Prevention Into Practice.13 Simply search by “Alphagan” (or synonyms) at the following Web site: http://text.nlm.nih.gov.
Adapted from NLM: http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd?Overview.x. The NLM Gateway is currently being developed by the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications (LHNCBC) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 11 Adapted from HSTAT: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/hstat.html. 12 The HSTAT URL is http://hstat.nlm.nih.gov/. 13 Other important documents in HSTAT include: the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference Reports and Technology Assessment Reports; the HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS) resource documents; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAT) Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP) and Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP) Prevention Enhancement Protocols System (PEPS); the Public Health Service (PHS) Preventive Services Task Force's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services; the independent, nonfederal Task Force on Community Services’ Guide to Community Preventive Services; and the Health Technology Advisory Committee (HTAC) of the Minnesota Health Care Commission (MHCC) health technology evaluations. 9
10
Physician Resources
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Coffee Break: Tutorials for Biologists14 Coffee Break is a general healthcare site that takes a scientific view of the news and covers recent breakthroughs in biology that may one day assist physicians in developing treatments. Here you will find a collection of short reports on recent biological discoveries. Each report incorporates interactive tutorials that demonstrate how bioinformatics tools are used as a part of the research process. Currently, all Coffee Breaks are written by NCBI staff.15 Each report is about 400 words and is usually based on a discovery reported in one or more articles from recently published, peer-reviewed literature.16 This site has new articles every few weeks, so it can be considered an online magazine of sorts. It is intended for general background information. You can access the Coffee Break Web site at the following hyperlink: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Coffeebreak/.
Other Commercial Databases In addition to resources maintained by official agencies, other databases exist that are commercial ventures addressing medical professionals. Here are some examples that may interest you: •
CliniWeb International: Index and table of contents to selected clinical information on the Internet; see http://www.ohsu.edu/cliniweb/.
•
Medical World Search: Searches full text from thousands of selected medical sites on the Internet; see http://www.mwsearch.com/.
Adapted from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Coffeebreak/Archive/FAQ.html. The figure that accompanies each article is frequently supplied by an expert external to NCBI, in which case the source of the figure is cited. The result is an interactive tutorial that tells a biological story. 16 After a brief introduction that sets the work described into a broader context, the report focuses on how a molecular understanding can provide explanations of observed biology and lead to therapies for diseases. Each vignette is accompanied by a figure and hypertext links that lead to a series of pages that interactively show how NCBI tools and resources are used in the research process. 14
15
37
APPENDIX B. PATIENT RESOURCES Overview Official agencies, as well as federally funded institutions supported by national grants, frequently publish a variety of guidelines written with the patient in mind. These are typically called “Fact Sheets” or “Guidelines.” They can take the form of a brochure, information kit, pamphlet, or flyer. Often they are only a few pages in length. Since new guidelines on Alphagan can appear at any moment and be published by a number of sources, the best approach to finding guidelines is to systematically scan the Internet-based services that post them.
Patient Guideline Sources The remainder of this chapter directs you to sources which either publish or can help you find additional guidelines on topics related to Alphagan. Due to space limitations, these sources are listed in a concise manner. Do not hesitate to consult the following sources by either using the Internet hyperlink provided, or, in cases where the contact information is provided, contacting the publisher or author directly. The National Institutes of Health The NIH gateway to patients is located at http://health.nih.gov/. From this site, you can search across various sources and institutes, a number of which are summarized below. Topic Pages: MEDLINEplus The National Library of Medicine has created a vast and patient-oriented healthcare information portal called MEDLINEplus. Within this Internet-based system are “health topic pages” which list links to available materials relevant to Alphagan. To access this system, log on to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html. From there you can either search using the alphabetical index or browse by broad topic areas. Recently, MEDLINEplus listed the following when searched for “Alphagan”:
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Alphagan
Glaucoma http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/glaucoma.html You may also choose to use the search utility provided by MEDLINEplus at the following Web address: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/. Simply type a keyword into the search box and click “Search.” This utility is similar to the NIH search utility, with the exception that it only includes materials that are linked within the MEDLINEplus system (mostly patient-oriented information). It also has the disadvantage of generating unstructured results. We recommend, therefore, that you use this method only if you have a very targeted search. The NIH Search Utility The NIH search utility allows you to search for documents on over 100 selected Web sites that comprise the NIH-WEB-SPACE. Each of these servers is “crawled” and indexed on an ongoing basis. Your search will produce a list of various documents, all of which will relate in some way to Alphagan. The drawbacks of this approach are that the information is not organized by theme and that the references are often a mix of information for professionals and patients. Nevertheless, a large number of the listed Web sites provide useful background information. We can only recommend this route, therefore, for relatively rare or specific disorders, or when using highly targeted searches. To use the NIH search utility, visit the following Web page: http://search.nih.gov/index.html. Additional Web Sources A number of Web sites are available to the public that often link to government sites. These can also point you in the direction of essential information. The following is a representative sample: •
AOL: http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=168&layer=&from=subcats
•
Family Village: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/specific.htm
•
Google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/
•
Med Help International: http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/A.html
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Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/
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Yahoo.com: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/
•
WebMDHealth: http://my.webmd.com/health_topics
Finding Associations There are several Internet directories that provide lists of medical associations with information on or resources relating to Alphagan. By consulting all of associations listed in this chapter, you will have nearly exhausted all sources for patient associations concerned with Alphagan.
Patient Resources
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The National Health Information Center (NHIC) The National Health Information Center (NHIC) offers a free referral service to help people find organizations that provide information about Alphagan. For more information, see the NHIC’s Web site at http://www.health.gov/NHIC/ or contact an information specialist by calling 1-800-336-4797. Directory of Health Organizations The Directory of Health Organizations, provided by the National Library of Medicine Specialized Information Services, is a comprehensive source of information on associations. The Directory of Health Organizations database can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/Dir/DirMain.html. It is composed of two parts: DIRLINE and Health Hotlines. The DIRLINE database comprises some 10,000 records of organizations, research centers, and government institutes and associations that primarily focus on health and biomedicine. To access DIRLINE directly, go to the following Web site: http://dirline.nlm.nih.gov/. Simply type in “Alphagan” (or a synonym), and you will receive information on all relevant organizations listed in the database. Health Hotlines directs you to toll-free numbers to over 300 organizations. You can access this database directly at http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/hotlines/. On this page, you are given the option to search by keyword or by browsing the subject list. When you have received your search results, click on the name of the organization for its description and contact information. The Combined Health Information Database Another comprehensive source of information on healthcare associations is the Combined Health Information Database. Using the “Detailed Search” option, you will need to limit your search to “Organizations” and “Alphagan”. Type the following hyperlink into your Web browser: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find associations, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” For publication date, select “All Years.” Then, select your preferred language and the format option “Organization Resource Sheet.” Type “Alphagan” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. You should check back periodically with this database since it is updated every three months. The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. has prepared a Web site that provides, at no charge, lists of associations organized by health topic. You can access this database at the following Web site: http://www.rarediseases.org/search/orgsearch.html. Type “Alphagan” (or a synonym) into the search box, and click “Submit Query.”
41
APPENDIX C. FINDING MEDICAL LIBRARIES Overview In this Appendix, we show you how to quickly find a medical library in your area.
Preparation Your local public library and medical libraries have interlibrary loan programs with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the largest medical collections in the world. According to the NLM, most of the literature in the general and historical collections of the National Library of Medicine is available on interlibrary loan to any library. If you would like to access NLM medical literature, then visit a library in your area that can request the publications for you.17
Finding a Local Medical Library The quickest method to locate medical libraries is to use the Internet-based directory published by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM). This network includes 4626 members and affiliates that provide many services to librarians, health professionals, and the public. To find a library in your area, simply visit http://nnlm.gov/members/adv.html or call 1-800-338-7657.
Medical Libraries in the U.S. and Canada In addition to the NN/LM, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) lists a number of libraries with reference facilities that are open to the public. The following is the NLM’s list and includes hyperlinks to each library’s Web site. These Web pages can provide information on hours of operation and other restrictions. The list below is a small sample of
17
Adapted from the NLM: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/psd/cas/interlibrary.html.
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libraries recommended by the National Library of Medicine (sorted alphabetically by name of the U.S. state or Canadian province where the library is located)18: •
Alabama: Health InfoNet of Jefferson County (Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences), http://www.uab.edu/infonet/
•
Alabama: Richard M. Scrushy Library (American Sports Medicine Institute)
•
Arizona: Samaritan Regional Medical Center: The Learning Center (Samaritan Health System, Phoenix, Arizona), http://www.samaritan.edu/library/bannerlibs.htm
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California: Kris Kelly Health Information Center (St. Joseph Health System, Humboldt), http://www.humboldt1.com/~kkhic/index.html
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California: Community Health Library of Los Gatos, http://www.healthlib.org/orgresources.html
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California: Consumer Health Program and Services (CHIPS) (County of Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Library) - Carson, CA, http://www.colapublib.org/services/chips.html
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California: Gateway Health Library (Sutter Gould Medical Foundation)
•
California: Health Library (Stanford University Medical Center), http://wwwmed.stanford.edu/healthlibrary/
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California: Patient Education Resource Center - Health Information and Resources (University of California, San Francisco), http://sfghdean.ucsf.edu/barnett/PERC/default.asp
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California: Redwood Health Library (Petaluma Health Care District), http://www.phcd.org/rdwdlib.html
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California: Los Gatos PlaneTree Health Library, http://planetreesanjose.org/
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California: Sutter Resource Library (Sutter Hospitals Foundation, Sacramento), http://suttermedicalcenter.org/library/
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California: Health Sciences Libraries (University of California, Davis), http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/healthsci/
•
California: ValleyCare Health Library & Ryan Comer Cancer Resource Center (ValleyCare Health System, Pleasanton), http://gaelnet.stmarysca.edu/other.libs/gbal/east/vchl.html
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California: Washington Community Health Resource Library (Fremont), http://www.healthlibrary.org/
•
Colorado: William V. Gervasini Memorial Library (Exempla Healthcare), http://www.saintjosephdenver.org/yourhealth/libraries/
•
Connecticut: Hartford Hospital Health Science Libraries (Hartford Hospital), http://www.harthosp.org/library/
•
Connecticut: Healthnet: Connecticut Consumer Health Information Center (University of Connecticut Health Center, Lyman Maynard Stowe Library), http://library.uchc.edu/departm/hnet/
18
Abstracted from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/libraries.html.
Finding Medical Libraries
43
•
Connecticut: Waterbury Hospital Health Center Library (Waterbury Hospital, Waterbury), http://www.waterburyhospital.com/library/consumer.shtml
•
Delaware: Consumer Health Library (Christiana Care Health System, Eugene du Pont Preventive Medicine & Rehabilitation Institute, Wilmington), http://www.christianacare.org/health_guide/health_guide_pmri_health_info.cfm
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Delaware: Lewis B. Flinn Library (Delaware Academy of Medicine, Wilmington), http://www.delamed.org/chls.html
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Georgia: Family Resource Library (Medical College of Georgia, Augusta), http://cmc.mcg.edu/kids_families/fam_resources/fam_res_lib/frl.htm
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Georgia: Health Resource Center (Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon), http://www.mccg.org/hrc/hrchome.asp
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Hawaii: Hawaii Medical Library: Consumer Health Information Service (Hawaii Medical Library, Honolulu), http://hml.org/CHIS/
•
Idaho: DeArmond Consumer Health Library (Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d’Alene), http://www.nicon.org/DeArmond/index.htm
•
Illinois: Health Learning Center of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago), http://www.nmh.org/health_info/hlc.html
•
Illinois: Medical Library (OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria), http://www.osfsaintfrancis.org/general/library/
•
Kentucky: Medical Library - Services for Patients, Families, Students & the Public (Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington), http://www.centralbap.com/education/community/library.cfm
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Kentucky: University of Kentucky - Health Information Library (Chandler Medical Center, Lexington), http://www.mc.uky.edu/PatientEd/
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Louisiana: Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation Library (Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans), http://www.ochsner.org/library/
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Louisiana: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Medical LibraryShreveport, http://lib-sh.lsuhsc.edu/
•
Maine: Franklin Memorial Hospital Medical Library (Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington), http://www.fchn.org/fmh/lib.htm
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Maine: Gerrish-True Health Sciences Library (Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston), http://www.cmmc.org/library/library.html
•
Maine: Hadley Parrot Health Science Library (Eastern Maine Healthcare, Bangor), http://www.emh.org/hll/hpl/guide.htm
•
Maine: Maine Medical Center Library (Maine Medical Center, Portland), http://www.mmc.org/library/
•
Maine: Parkview Hospital (Brunswick), http://www.parkviewhospital.org/
•
Maine: Southern Maine Medical Center Health Sciences Library (Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford), http://www.smmc.org/services/service.php3?choice=10
•
Maine: Stephens Memorial Hospital’s Health Information Library (Western Maine Health, Norway), http://www.wmhcc.org/Library/
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•
Manitoba, Canada: Consumer & Patient Health Information Service (University of Manitoba Libraries), http://www.umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/health/reference/chis.html
•
Manitoba, Canada: J.W. Crane Memorial Library (Deer Lodge Centre, Winnipeg), http://www.deerlodge.mb.ca/crane_library/about.asp
•
Maryland: Health Information Center at the Wheaton Regional Library (Montgomery County, Dept. of Public Libraries, Wheaton Regional Library), http://www.mont.lib.md.us/healthinfo/hic.asp
•
Massachusetts: Baystate Medical Center Library (Baystate Health System), http://www.baystatehealth.com/1024/
•
Massachusetts: Boston University Medical Center Alumni Medical Library (Boston University Medical Center), http://med-libwww.bu.edu/library/lib.html
•
Massachusetts: Lowell General Hospital Health Sciences Library (Lowell General Hospital, Lowell), http://www.lowellgeneral.org/library/HomePageLinks/WWW.htm
•
Massachusetts: Paul E. Woodard Health Sciences Library (New England Baptist Hospital, Boston), http://www.nebh.org/health_lib.asp
•
Massachusetts: St. Luke’s Hospital Health Sciences Library (St. Luke’s Hospital, Southcoast Health System, New Bedford), http://www.southcoast.org/library/
•
Massachusetts: Treadwell Library Consumer Health Reference Center (Massachusetts General Hospital), http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/library/chrcindex.html
•
Massachusetts: UMass HealthNet (University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester), http://healthnet.umassmed.edu/
•
Michigan: Botsford General Hospital Library - Consumer Health (Botsford General Hospital, Library & Internet Services), http://www.botsfordlibrary.org/consumer.htm
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Michigan: Helen DeRoy Medical Library (Providence Hospital and Medical Centers), http://www.providence-hospital.org/library/
•
Michigan: Marquette General Hospital - Consumer Health Library (Marquette General Hospital, Health Information Center), http://www.mgh.org/center.html
•
Michigan: Patient Education Resouce Center - University of Michigan Cancer Center (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor), http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/learn/leares.htm
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Michigan: Sladen Library & Center for Health Information Resources - Consumer Health Information (Detroit), http://www.henryford.com/body.cfm?id=39330
•
Montana: Center for Health Information (St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Missoula)
•
National: Consumer Health Library Directory (Medical Library Association, Consumer and Patient Health Information Section), http://caphis.mlanet.org/directory/index.html
•
National: National Network of Libraries of Medicine (National Library of Medicine) provides library services for health professionals in the United States who do not have access to a medical library, http://nnlm.gov/
•
National: NN/LM List of Libraries Serving the Public (National Network of Libraries of Medicine), http://nnlm.gov/members/
Finding Medical Libraries
45
•
Nevada: Health Science Library, West Charleston Library (Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Las Vegas), http://www.lvccld.org/special_collections/medical/index.htm
•
New Hampshire: Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries (Dartmouth College Library, Hanover), http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biomed/resources.htmld/conshealth.htmld/
•
New Jersey: Consumer Health Library (Rahway Hospital, Rahway), http://www.rahwayhospital.com/library.htm
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New Jersey: Dr. Walter Phillips Health Sciences Library (Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood), http://www.englewoodhospital.com/links/index.htm
•
New Jersey: Meland Foundation (Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood), http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/9360/
•
New York: Choices in Health Information (New York Public Library) - NLM Consumer Pilot Project participant, http://www.nypl.org/branch/health/links.html
•
New York: Health Information Center (Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse), http://www.upstate.edu/library/hic/
•
New York: Health Sciences Library (Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park), http://www.lij.edu/library/library.html
•
New York: ViaHealth Medical Library (Rochester General Hospital), http://www.nyam.org/library/
•
Ohio: Consumer Health Library (Akron General Medical Center, Medical & Consumer Health Library), http://www.akrongeneral.org/hwlibrary.htm
•
Oklahoma: The Health Information Center at Saint Francis Hospital (Saint Francis Health System, Tulsa), http://www.sfh-tulsa.com/services/healthinfo.asp
•
Oregon: Planetree Health Resource Center (Mid-Columbia Medical Center, The Dalles), http://www.mcmc.net/phrc/
•
Pennsylvania: Community Health Information Library (Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey), http://www.hmc.psu.edu/commhealth/
•
Pennsylvania: Community Health Resource Library (Geisinger Medical Center, Danville), http://www.geisinger.edu/education/commlib.shtml
•
Pennsylvania: HealthInfo Library (Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton), http://www.mth.org/healthwellness.html
•
Pennsylvania: Hopwood Library (University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System, Pittsburgh), http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/chi/hopwood/index_html
•
Pennsylvania: Koop Community Health Information Center (College of Physicians of Philadelphia), http://www.collphyphil.org/kooppg1.shtml
•
Pennsylvania: Learning Resources Center - Medical Library (Susquehanna Health System, Williamsport), http://www.shscares.org/services/lrc/index.asp
•
Pennsylvania: Medical Library (UPMC Health System, Pittsburgh), http://www.upmc.edu/passavant/library.htm
•
Quebec, Canada: Medical Library (Montreal General Hospital), http://www.mghlib.mcgill.ca/
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•
South Dakota: Rapid City Regional Hospital Medical Library (Rapid City Regional Hospital), http://www.rcrh.org/Services/Library/Default.asp
•
Texas: Houston HealthWays (Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library), http://hhw.library.tmc.edu/
•
Washington: Community Health Library (Kittitas Valley Community Hospital), http://www.kvch.com/
•
Washington: Southwest Washington Medical Center Library (Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver), http://www.swmedicalcenter.com/body.cfm?id=72
47
ONLINE GLOSSARIES The Internet provides access to a number of free-to-use medical dictionaries. The National Library of Medicine has compiled the following list of online dictionaries: •
ADAM Medical Encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.), comprehensive medical reference: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html
•
MedicineNet.com Medical Dictionary (MedicineNet, Inc.): http://www.medterms.com/Script/Main/hp.asp
•
Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary (Inteli-Health, Inc.): http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/
•
Multilingual Glossary of Technical and Popular Medical Terms in Eight European Languages (European Commission) - Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish: http://allserv.rug.ac.be/~rvdstich/eugloss/welcome.html
•
On-line Medical Dictionary (CancerWEB): http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/omd/
•
Rare Diseases Terms (Office of Rare Diseases): http://ord.aspensys.com/asp/diseases/diseases.asp
•
Technology Glossary (National Library of Medicine) - Health Care Technology: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nichsr/ta101/ta10108.htm
Beyond these, MEDLINEplus contains a very patient-friendly encyclopedia covering every aspect of medicine (licensed from A.D.A.M., Inc.). The ADAM Medical Encyclopedia can be accessed at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html. ADAM is also available on commercial Web sites such as drkoop.com (http://www.drkoop.com/) and Web MD (http://my.webmd.com/adam/asset/adam_disease_articles/a_to_z/a).
Online Dictionary Directories The following are additional online directories compiled by the National Library of Medicine, including a number of specialized medical dictionaries: •
Medical Dictionaries: Medical & Biological (World Health Organization): http://www.who.int/hlt/virtuallibrary/English/diction.htm#Medical
•
MEL-Michigan Electronic Library List of Online Health and Medical Dictionaries (Michigan Electronic Library): http://mel.lib.mi.us/health/health-dictionaries.html
•
Patient Education: Glossaries (DMOZ Open Directory Project): http://dmoz.org/Health/Education/Patient_Education/Glossaries/
•
Web of Online Dictionaries (Bucknell University): http://www.yourdictionary.com/diction5.html#medicine
49
ALPHAGAN DICTIONARY The definitions below are derived from official public sources, including the National Institutes of Health [NIH] and the European Union [EU]. Adjunctive Therapy: Another treatment used together with the primary treatment. Its purpose is to assist the primary treatment. [NIH] Adjuvant: A substance which aids another, such as an auxiliary remedy; in immunology, nonspecific stimulator (e.g., BCG vaccine) of the immune response. [EU] Adrenergic: Activated by, characteristic of, or secreting epinephrine or substances with similar activity; the term is applied to those nerve fibres that liberate norepinephrine at a synapse when a nerve impulse passes, i.e., the sympathetic fibres. [EU] Adrenergic Agents: Drugs that act on adrenergic receptors or affect the life cycle of adrenergic transmitters. Included here are adrenergic agonists and antagonists and agents that affect the synthesis, storage, uptake, metabolism, or release of adrenergic transmitters. [NIH]
Adverse Effect: An unwanted side effect of treatment. [NIH] Affinity: 1. Inherent likeness or relationship. 2. A special attraction for a specific element, organ, or structure. 3. Chemical affinity; the force that binds atoms in molecules; the tendency of substances to combine by chemical reaction. 4. The strength of noncovalent chemical binding between two substances as measured by the dissociation constant of the complex. 5. In immunology, a thermodynamic expression of the strength of interaction between a single antigen-binding site and a single antigenic determinant (and thus of the stereochemical compatibility between them), most accurately applied to interactions among simple, uniform antigenic determinants such as haptens. Expressed as the association constant (K litres mole -1), which, owing to the heterogeneity of affinities in a population of antibody molecules of a given specificity, actually represents an average value (mean intrinsic association constant). 6. The reciprocal of the dissociation constant. [EU] Agonist: In anatomy, a prime mover. In pharmacology, a drug that has affinity for and stimulates physiologic activity at cell receptors normally stimulated by naturally occurring substances. [EU] Algorithms: A procedure consisting of a sequence of algebraic formulas and/or logical steps to calculate or determine a given task. [NIH] Alternative medicine: Practices not generally recognized by the medical community as standard or conventional medical approaches and used instead of standard treatments. Alternative medicine includes the taking of dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, and herbal preparations; the drinking of special teas; and practices such as massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. [NIH] Antiarrhythmic: An agent that prevents or alleviates cardiac arrhythmia. [EU] Antigen: Any substance which is capable, under appropriate conditions, of inducing a specific immune response and of reacting with the products of that response, that is, with specific antibody or specifically sensitized T-lymphocytes, or both. Antigens may be soluble substances, such as toxins and foreign proteins, or particulate, such as bacteria and tissue cells; however, only the portion of the protein or polysaccharide molecule known as the antigenic determinant (q.v.) combines with antibody or a specific receptor on a lymphocyte. Abbreviated Ag. [EU]
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Antihypertensive: An agent that reduces high blood pressure. [EU] Anti-inflammatory: Having to do with reducing inflammation. [NIH] Aphakia: Absence of crystalline lens totally or partially from field of vision, from any cause except after cataract extraction. Aphakia is mainly congenital or as result of lens dislocation and subluxation. [NIH] Aqueous: Having to do with water. [NIH] Aqueous humor: Clear, watery fluid that flows between and nourishes the lens and the cornea; secreted by the ciliary processes. [NIH] Arachidonic Acid: An unsaturated, essential fatty acid. It is found in animal and human fat as well as in the liver, brain, and glandular organs, and is a constituent of animal phosphatides. It is formed by the synthesis from dietary linoleic acid and is a precursor in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. [NIH] Arterial: Pertaining to an artery or to the arteries. [EU] Artery: Vessel-carrying blood from the heart to various parts of the body. [NIH] Ascites: Accumulation or retention of free fluid within the peritoneal cavity. [NIH] Axons: Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. [NIH] Base: In chemistry, the nonacid part of a salt; a substance that combines with acids to form salts; a substance that dissociates to give hydroxide ions in aqueous solutions; a substance whose molecule or ion can combine with a proton (hydrogen ion); a substance capable of donating a pair of electrons (to an acid) for the formation of a coordinate covalent bond. [EU] Beta blocker: A drug used to slow the heart rate and reduce pressure inside blood vessels. It also can regulate heart rhythm. [NIH] Betaxolol: A cardioselective beta-1-adrenergic antagonist with no partial agonist activity. [NIH]
Biotechnology: Body of knowledge related to the use of organisms, cells or cell-derived constituents for the purpose of developing products which are technically, scientifically and clinically useful. Alteration of biologic function at the molecular level (i.e., genetic engineering) is a central focus; laboratory methods used include transfection and cloning technologies, sequence and structure analysis algorithms, computer databases, and gene and protein structure function analysis and prediction. [NIH] Blood Flow Velocity: A value equal to the total volume flow divided by the cross-sectional area of the vascular bed. [NIH] Blood pressure: The pressure of blood against the walls of a blood vessel or heart chamber. Unless there is reference to another location, such as the pulmonary artery or one of the heart chambers, it refers to the pressure in the systemic arteries, as measured, for example, in the forearm. [NIH] Blood vessel: A tube in the body through which blood circulates. Blood vessels include a network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins. [NIH] Bradycardia: Excessive slowness in the action of the heart, usually with a heart rate below 60 beats per minute. [NIH] Cardioselective: Having greater activity on heart tissue than on other tissue. [EU] Carotene: The general name for a group of pigments found in green, yellow, and leafy vegetables, and yellow fruits. The pigments are fat-soluble, unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons functioning as provitamins and are converted to vitamin A through enzymatic processes in the intestinal wall. [NIH]
Dictionary 51
Cataract: An opacity, partial or complete, of one or both eyes, on or in the lens or capsule, especially an opacity impairing vision or causing blindness. The many kinds of cataract are classified by their morphology (size, shape, location) or etiology (cause and time of occurrence). [EU] Caudal: Denoting a position more toward the cauda, or tail, than some specified point of reference; same as inferior, in human anatomy. [EU] Cell: The individual unit that makes up all of the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells. [NIH] Central Nervous System: The main information-processing organs of the nervous system, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges. [NIH] Central retinal artery: The blood vessel that carries blood into eye; supplies nutrition to the retina. [NIH] Character: In current usage, approximately equivalent to personality. The sum of the relatively fixed personality traits and habitual modes of response of an individual. [NIH] Choroid: The thin, highly vascular membrane covering most of the posterior of the eye between the retina and sclera. [NIH] Chronic: A disease or condition that persists or progresses over a long period of time. [NIH] Ciliary: Inflammation or infection of the glands of the margins of the eyelids. [NIH] Ciliary processes: The extensions or projections of the ciliary body that secrete aqueous humor. [NIH] Circadian: Repeated more or less daily, i. e. on a 23- to 25-hour cycle. [NIH] CIS: Cancer Information Service. The CIS is the National Cancer Institute's link to the public, interpreting and explaining research findings in a clear and understandable manner, and providing personalized responses to specific questions about cancer. Access the CIS by calling 1-800-4-CANCER, or by using the Web site at http://cis.nci.nih.gov. [NIH] Clinical trial: A research study that tests how well new medical treatments or other interventions work in people. Each study is designed to test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. [NIH] Cloning: The production of a number of genetically identical individuals; in genetic engineering, a process for the efficient replication of a great number of identical DNA molecules. [NIH] Coagulation: 1. The process of clot formation. 2. In colloid chemistry, the solidification of a sol into a gelatinous mass; an alteration of a disperse phase or of a dissolved solid which causes the separation of the system into a liquid phase and an insoluble mass called the clot or curd. Coagulation is usually irreversible. 3. In surgery, the disruption of tissue by physical means to form an amorphous residuum, as in electrocoagulation and photocoagulation. [EU] Computational Biology: A field of biology concerned with the development of techniques for the collection and manipulation of biological data, and the use of such data to make biological discoveries or predictions. This field encompasses all computational methods and theories applicable to molecular biology and areas of computer-based techniques for solving biological problems including manipulation of models and datasets. [NIH] Concomitant: Accompanying; accessory; joined with another. [EU] Cones: One type of specialized light-sensitive cells (photoreceptors) in the retina that provide sharp central vision and color vision. [NIH] Contraindications: Any factor or sign that it is unwise to pursue a certain kind of action or
52
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treatment, e. g. giving a general anesthetic to a person with pneumonia. [NIH] Cornea: The transparent part of the eye that covers the iris and the pupil and allows light to enter the inside. [NIH] Cranial: Pertaining to the cranium, or to the anterior (in animals) or superior (in humans) end of the body. [EU] Curative: Tending to overcome disease and promote recovery. [EU] Cyclic: Pertaining to or occurring in a cycle or cycles; the term is applied to chemical compounds that contain a ring of atoms in the nucleus. [EU] Degenerative: Undergoing degeneration : tending to degenerate; having the character of or involving degeneration; causing or tending to cause degeneration. [EU] Delusions: A false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that persists despite the facts, and is not considered tenable by one's associates. [NIH] Deuterium: Deuterium. The stable isotope of hydrogen. It has one neutron and one proton in the nucleus. [NIH] Diagnostic procedure: A method used to identify a disease. [NIH] Diastolic: Of or pertaining to the diastole. [EU] Direct: 1. Straight; in a straight line. 2. Performed immediately and without the intervention of subsidiary means. [EU] Dorsal: 1. Pertaining to the back or to any dorsum. 2. Denoting a position more toward the back surface than some other object of reference; same as posterior in human anatomy; superior in the anatomy of quadrupeds. [EU] Drug Interactions: The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. [NIH] Drug Tolerance: Progressive diminution of the susceptibility of a human or animal to the effects of a drug, resulting from its continued administration. It should be differentiated from drug resistance wherein an organism, disease, or tissue fails to respond to the intended effectiveness of a chemical or drug. It should also be differentiated from maximum tolerated dose and no-observed-adverse-effect level. [NIH] Edema: Excessive amount of watery fluid accumulated in the intercellular spaces, most commonly present in subcutaneous tissue. [NIH] Efficacy: The extent to which a specific intervention, procedure, regimen, or service produces a beneficial result under ideal conditions. Ideally, the determination of efficacy is based on the results of a randomized control trial. [NIH] Environmental Health: The science of controlling or modifying those conditions, influences, or forces surrounding man which relate to promoting, establishing, and maintaining health. [NIH]
Enzymatic: Phase where enzyme cuts the precursor protein. [NIH] Epinephrine: The active sympathomimetic hormone from the adrenal medulla in most species. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, causes systemic vasoconstriction and gastrointestinal relaxation, stimulates the heart, and dilates bronchi and cerebral vessels. It is used in asthma and cardiac failure and to delay absorption of local anesthetics. [NIH] Epithelium: One or more layers of epithelial cells, supported by the basal lamina, which covers the inner or outer surfaces of the body. [NIH] Extraction: The process or act of pulling or drawing out. [EU]
Dictionary 53
Family Planning: Programs or services designed to assist the family in controlling reproduction by either improving or diminishing fertility. [NIH] Fatty acids: A major component of fats that are used by the body for energy and tissue development. [NIH] Gas: Air that comes from normal breakdown of food. The gases are passed out of the body through the rectum (flatus) or the mouth (burp). [NIH] Gene: The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein. [NIH]
Geriatric: Pertaining to the treatment of the aged. [EU] Governing Board: The group in which legal authority is vested for the control of healthrelated institutions and organizations. [NIH] Heart failure: Loss of pumping ability by the heart, often accompanied by fatigue, breathlessness, and excess fluid accumulation in body tissues. [NIH] Hemodynamics: The movements of the blood and the forces involved in systemic or regional blood circulation. [NIH] Hydrogen: The first chemical element in the periodic table. It has the atomic symbol H, atomic number 1, and atomic weight 1. It exists, under normal conditions, as a colorless, odorless, tasteless, diatomic gas. Hydrogen ions are protons. Besides the common H1 isotope, hydrogen exists as the stable isotope deuterium and the unstable, radioactive isotope tritium. [NIH] Hypersensitivity: Altered reactivity to an antigen, which can result in pathologic reactions upon subsequent exposure to that particular antigen. [NIH] Hypertension: Persistently high arterial blood pressure. Currently accepted threshold levels are 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure. [NIH] Hypotensive: Characterized by or causing diminished tension or pressure, as abnormally low blood pressure. [EU] Immune response: The activity of the immune system against foreign substances (antigens). [NIH]
Immunology: The study of the body's immune system. [NIH] Impairment: In the context of health experience, an impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function. [NIH] In situ: In the natural or normal place; confined to the site of origin without invasion of neighbouring tissues. [EU] In vitro: In the laboratory (outside the body). The opposite of in vivo (in the body). [NIH] In vivo: In the body. The opposite of in vitro (outside the body or in the laboratory). [NIH] Incision: A cut made in the body during surgery. [NIH] Infection: 1. Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, which may be clinically unapparent or result in local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication, or antigen-antibody response. The infection may remain localized, subclinical, and temporary if the body's defensive mechanisms are effective. A local infection may persist and spread by extension to become an acute, subacute, or chronic clinical infection or disease state. A local infection may also become systemic when the microorganisms gain access to the lymphatic or vascular system. 2. An infectious disease. [EU]
Inflammation: A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues
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caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. [NIH] Ingestion: Taking into the body by mouth [NIH] Intracellular: Inside a cell. [NIH] Intraocular: Within the eye. [EU] Intraocular pressure: Pressure of the fluid inside the eye; normal IOP varies among individuals. [NIH] Ions: An atom or group of atoms that have a positive or negative electric charge due to a gain (negative charge) or loss (positive charge) of one or more electrons. Atoms with a positive charge are known as cations; those with a negative charge are anions. [NIH] Iris: The most anterior portion of the uveal layer, separating the anterior chamber from the posterior. It consists of two layers - the stroma and the pigmented epithelium. Color of the iris depends on the amount of melanin in the stroma on reflection from the pigmented epithelium. [NIH] Kb: A measure of the length of DNA fragments, 1 Kb = 1000 base pairs. The largest DNA fragments are up to 50 kilobases long. [NIH] Laser Surgery: The use of a laser either to vaporize surface lesions or to make bloodless cuts in tissue. It does not include the coagulation of tissue by laser. [NIH] Lens: The transparent, double convex (outward curve on both sides) structure suspended between the aqueous and vitreous; helps to focus light on the retina. [NIH] Levo: It is an experimental treatment for heroin addiction that was developed by German scientists around 1948 as an analgesic. Like methadone, it binds with opioid receptors, but it is longer acting. [NIH] Life cycle: The successive stages through which an organism passes from fertilized ovum or spore to the fertilized ovum or spore of the next generation. [NIH] Localized: Cancer which has not metastasized yet. [NIH] Lymphatic: The tissues and organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, that produce and store cells that fight infection and disease. [NIH] Macula: A stain, spot, or thickening. Often used alone to refer to the macula retinae. [EU] Macula Lutea: An oval area in the retina, 3 to 5 mm in diameter, usually located temporal to the superior pole of the eye and slightly below the level of the optic disk. [NIH] Macular Degeneration: Degenerative changes in the macula lutea of the retina. [NIH] Manic: Affected with mania. [EU] Manic-depressive psychosis: One of a group of psychotic reactions, fundamentally marked by severe mood swings and a tendency to remission and recurrence. [NIH] MEDLINE: An online database of MEDLARS, the computerized bibliographic Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System of the National Library of Medicine. [NIH] Mental: Pertaining to the mind; psychic. 2. (L. mentum chin) pertaining to the chin. [EU] Mental Disorders: Psychiatric illness or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impairment of function. [NIH] Modification: A change in an organism, or in a process in an organism, that is acquired from its own activity or environment. [NIH] Molecular: Of, pertaining to, or composed of molecules : a very small mass of matter. [EU]
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Molecule: A chemical made up of two or more atoms. The atoms in a molecule can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many thousands of atoms. [NIH] Monotherapy: A therapy which uses only one drug. [EU] Morphology: The science of the form and structure of organisms (plants, animals, and other forms of life). [NIH] Multicenter study: A clinical trial that is carried out at more than one medical institution. [NIH]
Myopia: That error of refraction in which rays of light entering the eye parallel to the optic axis are brought to a focus in front of the retina, as a result of the eyeball being too long from front to back (axial m.) or of an increased strength in refractive power of the media of the eye (index m.). Called also nearsightedness, because the near point is less distant than it is in emmetropia with an equal amplitude of accommodation. [EU] Naloxone: A specific opiate antagonist that has no agonist activity. It is a competitive antagonist at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. [NIH] Neural: 1. Pertaining to a nerve or to the nerves. 2. Situated in the region of the spinal axis, as the neutral arch. [EU] Norepinephrine: Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers and of the diffuse projection system in the brain arising from the locus ceruleus. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic. [NIH] Nuclei: A body of specialized protoplasm found in nearly all cells and containing the chromosomes. [NIH] Ocular: 1. Of, pertaining to, or affecting the eye. 2. Eyepiece. [EU] Ocular Hypertension: A condition in which the intraocular pressure is elevated above normal and which may lead to glaucoma. [NIH] Ocular Physiology: Functions and activities of the eye as a whole or of any of its parts. [NIH] Oedema: The presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid in the intercellular tissue spaces of the body; usually applied to demonstrable accumulation of excessive fluid in the subcutaneous tissues. Edema may be localized, due to venous or lymphatic obstruction or to increased vascular permeability, or it may be systemic due to heart failure or renal disease. Collections of edema fluid are designated according to the site, e.g. ascites (peritoneal cavity), hydrothorax (pleural cavity), and hydropericardium (pericardial sac). Massive generalized edema is called anasarca. [EU] Opacity: Degree of density (area most dense taken for reading). [NIH] Ophthalmic: Pertaining to the eye. [EU] Opiate: A remedy containing or derived from opium; also any drug that induces sleep. [EU] Opsin: A protein formed, together with retinene, by the chemical breakdown of metarhodopsin. [NIH] Optic Chiasm: The X-shaped structure formed by the meeting of the two optic nerves. At the optic chiasm the fibers from the medial part of each retina cross to project to the other side of the brain while the lateral retinal fibers continue on the same side. As a result each half of the brain receives information about the contralateral visual field from both eyes. [NIH]
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Optic Nerve: The 2nd cranial nerve. The optic nerve conveys visual information from the retina to the brain. The nerve carries the axons of the retinal ganglion cells which sort at the optic chiasm and continue via the optic tracts to the brain. The largest projection is to the lateral geniculate nuclei; other important targets include the superior colliculi and the suprachiasmatic nuclei. Though known as the second cranial nerve, it is considered part of the central nervous system. [NIH] Optic nerve head: The circular area (disc) where the optic nerve connects to the retina. [NIH] Palliative: 1. Affording relief, but not cure. 2. An alleviating medicine. [EU] Paradoxical: Occurring at variance with the normal rule. [EU] Pathologic: 1. Indicative of or caused by a morbid condition. 2. Pertaining to pathology (= branch of medicine that treats the essential nature of the disease, especially the structural and functional changes in tissues and organs of the body caused by the disease). [EU] Perfusion: Bathing an organ or tissue with a fluid. In regional perfusion, a specific area of the body (usually an arm or a leg) receives high doses of anticancer drugs through a blood vessel. Such a procedure is performed to treat cancer that has not spread. [NIH] Perioperative: Around the time of surgery; usually lasts from the time of going into the hospital or doctor's office for surgery until the time the patient goes home. [NIH] Peripheral vision: Side vision; ability to see objects and movement outside of the direct line of vision. [NIH] Peritoneal: Having to do with the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen). [NIH] Peritoneal Cavity: The space enclosed by the peritoneum. It is divided into two portions, the greater sac and the lesser sac or omental bursa, which lies behind the stomach. The two sacs are connected by the foramen of Winslow, or epiploic foramen. [NIH] Pharmacologic: Pertaining to pharmacology or to the properties and reactions of drugs. [EU] Photoreceptor: Receptor capable of being activated by light stimuli, as a rod or cone cell of the eye. [NIH] Physiologic: Having to do with the functions of the body. When used in the phrase "physiologic age," it refers to an age assigned by general health, as opposed to calendar age. [NIH]
Pigment: A substance that gives color to tissue. Pigments are responsible for the color of skin, eyes, and hair. [NIH] Pleural: A circumscribed area of hyaline whorled fibrous tissue which appears on the surface of the parietal pleura, on the fibrous part of the diaphragm or on the pleura in the interlobar fissures. [NIH] Pleural cavity: A space enclosed by the pleura (thin tissue covering the lungs and lining the interior wall of the chest cavity). It is bound by thin membranes. [NIH] Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs. [NIH] Pons: The part of the central nervous system lying between the medulla oblongata and the mesencephalon, ventral to the cerebellum, and consisting of a pars dorsalis and a pars ventralis. [NIH] Posterior: Situated in back of, or in the back part of, or affecting the back or dorsal surface of the body. In lower animals, it refers to the caudal end of the body. [EU] Postoperative: After surgery. [NIH] Practice Guidelines: Directions or principles presenting current or future rules of policy for
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the health care practitioner to assist him in patient care decisions regarding diagnosis, therapy, or related clinical circumstances. The guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, professional societies, governing boards, or by the convening of expert panels. The guidelines form a basis for the evaluation of all aspects of health care and delivery. [NIH] Progressive: Advancing; going forward; going from bad to worse; increasing in scope or severity. [EU] Projection: A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, whereby that which is emotionally unacceptable in the self is rejected and attributed (projected) to others. [NIH] Propranolol: A widely used non-cardioselective beta-adrenergic antagonist. Propranolol is used in the treatment or prevention of many disorders including acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, hypertension, hypertensive emergencies, hyperthyroidism, migraine, pheochromocytoma, menopause, and anxiety. [NIH] Prospective study: An epidemiologic study in which a group of individuals (a cohort), all free of a particular disease and varying in their exposure to a possible risk factor, is followed over a specific amount of time to determine the incidence rates of the disease in the exposed and unexposed groups. [NIH] Prostaglandin: Any of a group of components derived from unsaturated 20-carbon fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, via the cyclooxygenase pathway that are extremely potent mediators of a diverse group of physiologic processes. The abbreviation for prostaglandin is PG; specific compounds are designated by adding one of the letters A through I to indicate the type of substituents found on the hydrocarbon skeleton and a subscript (1, 2 or 3) to indicate the number of double bonds in the hydrocarbon skeleton e.g., PGE2. The predominant naturally occurring prostaglandins all have two double bonds and are synthesized from arachidonic acid (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid) by the pathway shown in the illustration. The 1 series and 3 series are produced by the same pathway with fatty acids having one fewer double bond (8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid or one more double bond (5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid) than arachidonic acid. The subscript a or ß indicates the configuration at C-9 (a denotes a substituent below the plane of the ring, ß, above the plane). The naturally occurring PGF's have the a configuration, e.g., PGF2a. All of the prostaglandins act by binding to specific cell-surface receptors causing an increase in the level of the intracellular second messenger cyclic AMP (and in some cases cyclic GMP also). The effect produced by the cyclic AMP increase depends on the specific cell type. In some cases there is also a positive feedback effect. Increased cyclic AMP increases prostaglandin synthesis leading to further increases in cyclic AMP. [EU] Prostaglandins A: (13E,15S)-15-Hydroxy-9-oxoprosta-10,13-dien-1-oic acid (PGA(1)); (5Z,13E,15S)-15-hydroxy-9-oxoprosta-5,10,13-trien-1-oic acid (PGA(2)); (5Z,13E,15S,17Z)-15hydroxy-9-oxoprosta-5,10,13,17-tetraen-1-oic acid (PGA(3)). A group of naturally occurring secondary prostaglandins derived from PGE. PGA(1) and PGA(2) as well as their 19hydroxy derivatives are found in many organs and tissues. [NIH] Prostaglandins D: Physiologically active prostaglandins found in many tissues and organs. They show pressor activity, are mediators of inflammation, and have potential antithrombotic effects. [NIH] Protein S: The vitamin K-dependent cofactor of activated protein C. Together with protein C, it inhibits the action of factors VIIIa and Va. A deficiency in protein S can lead to recurrent venous and arterial thrombosis. [NIH] Protons: Stable elementary particles having the smallest known positive charge, found in the nuclei of all elements. The proton mass is less than that of a neutron. A proton is the nucleus of the light hydrogen atom, i.e., the hydrogen ion. [NIH]
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Psychosis: A mental disorder characterized by gross impairment in reality testing as evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, markedly incoherent speech, or disorganized and agitated behaviour without apparent awareness on the part of the patient of the incomprehensibility of his behaviour; the term is also used in a more general sense to refer to mental disorders in which mental functioning is sufficiently impaired as to interfere grossly with the patient's capacity to meet the ordinary demands of life. Historically, the term has been applied to many conditions, e.g. manic-depressive psychosis, that were first described in psychotic patients, although many patients with the disorder are not judged psychotic. [EU] Public Policy: A course or method of action selected, usually by a government, from among alternatives to guide and determine present and future decisions. [NIH] Pupil: The aperture in the iris through which light passes. [NIH] Quality of Life: A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral and social environment. [NIH] Quinoxaline: AMPA/Kainate antagonist. [NIH] Radioactive: Giving off radiation. [NIH] Randomized: Describes an experiment or clinical trial in which animal or human subjects are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare different treatments. [NIH] Randomized clinical trial: A study in which the participants are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare different treatments; neither the researchers nor the participants can choose which group. Using chance to assign people to groups means that the groups will be similar and that the treatments they receive can be compared objectively. At the time of the trial, it is not known which treatment is best. It is the patient's choice to be in a randomized trial. [NIH] Reality Testing: The individual's objective evaluation of the external world and the ability to differentiate adequately between it and the internal world; considered to be a primary ego function. [NIH] Receptor: A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific physiologic effect in the cell. [NIH] Refer: To send or direct for treatment, aid, information, de decision. [NIH] Regimen: A treatment plan that specifies the dosage, the schedule, and the duration of treatment. [NIH] Retina: The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the optic nerve and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the choroid and the inner surface with the vitreous body. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent. [NIH] Retinal: 1. Pertaining to the retina. 2. The aldehyde of retinol, derived by the oxidative enzymatic splitting of absorbed dietary carotene, and having vitamin A activity. In the retina, retinal combines with opsins to form visual pigments. One isomer, 11-cis retinal combines with opsin in the rods (scotopsin) to form rhodopsin, or visual purple. Another, all-trans retinal (trans-r.); visual yellow; xanthopsin) results from the bleaching of rhodopsin by light, in which the 11-cis form is converted to the all-trans form. Retinal also combines with opsins in the cones (photopsins) to form the three pigments responsible for colour vision. Called also retinal, and retinene1. [EU] Retinal Artery: Central retinal artery and its branches. It arises from the ophthalmic artery, pierces the optic nerve and runs through its center, enters the eye through the porus opticus and branches to supply the retina. [NIH]
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Retinal Detachment: Separation of the inner layers of the retina (neural retina) from the pigment epithelium. Retinal detachment occurs more commonly in men than in women, in eyes with degenerative myopia, in aging and in aphakia. It may occur after an uncomplicated cataract extraction, but it is seen more often if vitreous humor has been lost during surgery. (Dorland, 27th ed; Newell, Ophthalmology: Principles and Concepts, 7th ed, p310-12). [NIH] Retinal Ganglion Cells: Cells of the innermost nuclear layer of the retina, the ganglion cell layer, which project axons through the optic nerve to the brain. They are quite variable in size and in the shapes of their dendritic arbors, which are generally confined to the inner plexiform layer. [NIH] Retinal pigment epithelium: The pigment cell layer that nourishes the retinal cells; located just outside the retina and attached to the choroid. [NIH] Retinol: Vitamin A. It is essential for proper vision and healthy skin and mucous membranes. Retinol is being studied for cancer prevention; it belongs to the family of drugs called retinoids. [NIH] Retrobulbar: Behind the pons. [EU] Rhodopsin: A photoreceptor protein found in retinal rods. It is a complex formed by the binding of retinal, the oxidized form of retinol, to the protein opsin and undergoes a series of complex reactions in response to visible light resulting in the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain. [NIH] Risk factor: A habit, trait, condition, or genetic alteration that increases a person's chance of developing a disease. [NIH] Rod: A reception for vision, located in the retina. [NIH] Sclera: The tough white outer coat of the eyeball, covering approximately the posterior fivesixths of its surface, and continuous anteriorly with the cornea and posteriorly with the external sheath of the optic nerve. [EU] Screening: Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. [NIH] Side effect: A consequence other than the one(s) for which an agent or measure is used, as the adverse effects produced by a drug, especially on a tissue or organ system other than the one sought to be benefited by its administration. [EU] Skeleton: The framework that supports the soft tissues of vertebrate animals and protects many of their internal organs. The skeletons of vertebrates are made of bone and/or cartilage. [NIH] Social Environment: The aggregate of social and cultural institutions, forms, patterns, and processes that influence the life of an individual or community. [NIH] Specialist: In medicine, one who concentrates on 1 special branch of medical science. [NIH] Stress: Forcibly exerted influence; pressure. Any condition or situation that causes strain or tension. Stress may be either physical or psychologic, or both. [NIH] Subcutaneous: Beneath the skin. [NIH] Synapse: The region where the processes of two neurons come into close contiguity, and the nervous impulse passes from one to the other; the fibers of the two are intermeshed, but, according to the general view, there is no direct contiguity. [NIH] Systemic: Affecting the entire body. [NIH] Systolic: Indicating the maximum arterial pressure during contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. [EU] Therapeutics: The branch of medicine which is concerned with the treatment of diseases,
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palliative or curative. [NIH] Threshold: For a specified sensory modality (e. g. light, sound, vibration), the lowest level (absolute threshold) or smallest difference (difference threshold, difference limen) or intensity of the stimulus discernible in prescribed conditions of stimulation. [NIH] Timolol: A beta-adrenergic antagonist similar in action to propranolol. The levo-isomer is the more active. Timolol has been proposed as an antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, antiangina, and antiglaucoma agent. It is also used in the treatment of migraine and tremor. [NIH]
Timolol Maleate: Antihistaminic drug. [NIH] Tissue: A group or layer of cells that are alike in type and work together to perform a specific function. [NIH] Tolerance: 1. The ability to endure unusually large doses of a drug or toxin. 2. Acquired drug tolerance; a decreasing response to repeated constant doses of a drug or the need for increasing doses to maintain a constant response. [EU] Topical: On the surface of the body. [NIH] Toxic: Having to do with poison or something harmful to the body. Toxic substances usually cause unwanted side effects. [NIH] Toxicity: The quality of being poisonous, especially the degree of virulence of a toxic microbe or of a poison. [EU] Toxicology: The science concerned with the detection, chemical composition, and pharmacologic action of toxic substances or poisons and the treatment and prevention of toxic manifestations. [NIH] Toxin: A poison; frequently used to refer specifically to a protein produced by some higher plants, certain animals, and pathogenic bacteria, which is highly toxic for other living organisms. Such substances are differentiated from the simple chemical poisons and the vegetable alkaloids by their high molecular weight and antigenicity. [EU] Transfection: The uptake of naked or purified DNA into cells, usually eukaryotic. It is analogous to bacterial transformation. [NIH] Translocation: The movement of material in solution inside the body of the plant. [NIH] Tremor: Cyclical movement of a body part that can represent either a physiologic process or a manifestation of disease. Intention or action tremor, a common manifestation of cerebellar diseases, is aggravated by movement. In contrast, resting tremor is maximal when there is no attempt at voluntary movement, and occurs as a relatively frequent manifestation of Parkinson disease. [NIH] Uvea: The middle coat of the eyeball, consisting of the choroid in the back of the eye and the ciliary body and iris in the front of the eye. [NIH] Uveitis: An inflammation of part or all of the uvea, the middle (vascular) tunic of the eye, and commonly involving the other tunics (the sclera and cornea, and the retina). [EU] Vaccine: A substance or group of substances meant to cause the immune system to respond to a tumor or to microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses. [NIH] Vascular: Pertaining to blood vessels or indicative of a copious blood supply. [EU] Venous: Of or pertaining to the veins. [EU] Veterinary Medicine: The medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in animals. [NIH] Visual field: The entire area that can be seen when the eye is forward, including peripheral
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vision. [NIH] Vitreous: Glasslike or hyaline; often used alone to designate the vitreous body of the eye (corpus vitreum). [EU] Vitreous Humor: The transparent, colorless mass of gel that lies behind the lens and in front of the retina and fills the center of the eyeball. [NIH] Vitro: Descriptive of an event or enzyme reaction under experimental investigation occurring outside a living organism. Parts of an organism or microorganism are used together with artificial substrates and/or conditions. [NIH]
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INDEX A Adjunctive Therapy, 7, 12, 13, 18, 49 Adjuvant, 21, 49 Adrenergic, 9, 17, 20, 21, 49, 50, 52, 57, 60 Adrenergic Agents, 21, 49 Adverse Effect, 16, 49, 59 Affinity, 49 Agonist, 15, 17, 20, 21, 49, 50, 55 Algorithms, 49, 50 Alternative medicine, 24, 49 Antiarrhythmic, 49, 60 Antigen, 49, 53 Antihypertensive, 50, 60 Anti-inflammatory, 14, 50 Aphakia, 50, 59 Aqueous, 5, 6, 7, 50, 51, 54 Aqueous humor, 5, 6, 7, 50, 51 Arachidonic Acid, 50, 57 Arterial, 50, 53, 57, 59 Artery, 16, 50, 58 Ascites, 50, 55 Axons, 50, 56, 59 B Base, 50, 54 Beta blocker, 6, 50 Betaxolol, 9, 50 Biotechnology, 3, 24, 33, 50 Blood Flow Velocity, 16, 50 Blood pressure, 50, 53 Blood vessel, 50, 51, 56, 60 Bradycardia, 14, 50 C Cardioselective, 50, 57 Carotene, 50, 58 Cataract, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 50, 51, 59 Caudal, 51, 56 Cell, 20, 49, 50, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59 Central Nervous System, 51, 56 Central retinal artery, 16, 51, 58 Character, 51, 52 Choroid, 51, 58, 59, 60 Chronic, 5, 21, 51, 53 Ciliary, 16, 50, 51, 60 Ciliary processes, 50, 51 Circadian, 9, 16, 51 CIS, 51, 58 Clinical trial, 3, 9, 11, 16, 21, 33, 51, 55, 58 Cloning, 50, 51
Coagulation, 51, 54 Computational Biology, 33, 51 Concomitant, 7, 10, 11, 51 Cones, 51, 58 Contraindications, ii, 51 Cornea, 50, 52, 59, 60 Cranial, 52, 56 Curative, 52, 60 Cyclic, 52, 57 D Degenerative, 21, 52, 54, 59 Delusions, 52, 58 Deuterium, 52, 53 Diagnostic procedure, 19, 24, 52 Diastolic, 52, 53 Direct, iii, 27, 52, 56, 58, 59 Dorsal, 52, 56 Drug Interactions, 28, 52 Drug Tolerance, 52, 60 E Edema, 52, 55 Efficacy, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 52 Environmental Health, 32, 34, 52 Enzymatic, 50, 52, 58 Epinephrine, 49, 52, 55 Epithelium, 52, 54, 59 Extraction, 50, 52, 59 F Family Planning, 33, 53 Fatty acids, 53, 57 G Gas, 53 Gene, 50, 53 Geriatric, 6, 53 Governing Board, 53, 57 H Heart failure, 53, 55 Hemodynamics, 11, 16, 53 Hydrogen, 21, 50, 52, 53, 55, 57 Hypersensitivity, 10, 53 Hypertension, 8, 20, 22, 53, 57 Hypotensive, 4, 53 I Immune response, 49, 53 Immunology, 49, 53 Impairment, 53, 54, 58 In situ, 12, 16, 53 In vitro, 21, 53
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In vivo, 53 Incision, 12, 53 Infection, 51, 53, 54 Inflammation, 50, 51, 53, 56, 57, 60 Ingestion, 8, 54 Intracellular, 53, 54, 57 Intraocular, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 54, 55 Intraocular pressure, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 54, 55 Ions, 50, 53, 54 Iris, 52, 54, 58, 60 K Kb, 32, 54 L Laser Surgery, 6, 54 Lens, 50, 51, 54, 61 Levo, 54, 60 Life cycle, 49, 54 Localized, 53, 54, 55 Lymphatic, 53, 54, 55 M Macula, 54 Macula Lutea, 54 Macular Degeneration, 21, 54 Manic, 54, 58 Manic-depressive psychosis, 54, 58 MEDLINE, 33, 54 Mental, iv, 3, 32, 34, 54, 58 Mental Disorders, 54, 58 Modification, 54, 58 Molecular, 33, 35, 50, 51, 54, 60 Molecule, 49, 50, 55, 58 Monotherapy, 13, 16, 55 Morphology, 51, 55 Multicenter study, 14, 55 Myopia, 55, 59 N Naloxone, 14, 55 Neural, 55, 59 Norepinephrine, 49, 55 Nuclei, 55, 56, 57 O Ocular, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 55 Ocular Hypertension, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 55 Ocular Physiology, 22, 55 Oedema, 10, 55 Opacity, 51, 55 Ophthalmic, 7, 8, 11, 20, 28, 55, 58 Opiate, 55
Opsin, 55, 58, 59 Optic Chiasm, 55, 56 Optic Nerve, 21, 22, 55, 56, 58, 59 Optic nerve head, 21, 22, 56 P Palliative, 56, 60 Paradoxical, 4, 56 Pathologic, 53, 56 Perfusion, 8, 12, 15, 56 Perioperative, 16, 56 Peripheral vision, 56, 61 Peritoneal, 50, 55, 56 Peritoneal Cavity, 50, 55, 56 Pharmacologic, 56, 60 Photoreceptor, 20, 56, 59 Physiologic, 14, 49, 56, 57, 58, 60 Pigment, 56, 59 Pleural, 55, 56 Pleural cavity, 55, 56 Pneumonia, 52, 56 Pons, 56, 59 Posterior, 11, 16, 51, 52, 54, 56, 59 Postoperative, 7, 13, 56 Practice Guidelines, 34, 56 Progressive, 22, 52, 57 Projection, 55, 56, 57 Propranolol, 57, 60 Prospective study, 5, 57 Prostaglandin, 22, 57 Prostaglandins A, 21, 57 Prostaglandins D, 57 Protein S, 50, 57 Protons, 53, 57 Psychosis, 4, 58 Public Policy, 33, 58 Pupil, 11, 52, 58 Q Quality of Life, 8, 9, 58 Quinoxaline, 21, 58 R Radioactive, 53, 58 Randomized, 4, 8, 9, 14, 17, 52, 58 Randomized clinical trial, 8, 17, 58 Reality Testing, 58 Receptor, 20, 21, 49, 56, 58 Refer, 1, 54, 58, 60 Regimen, 52, 58 Retina, 51, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61 Retinal, 13, 20, 21, 55, 56, 58, 59 Retinal Artery, 58 Retinal Detachment, 21, 59 Retinal Ganglion Cells, 56, 59
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Retinal pigment epithelium, 21, 59 Retinol, 58, 59 Retrobulbar, 16, 59 Rhodopsin, 55, 58, 59 Risk factor, 57, 59 Rod, 56, 59 S Sclera, 51, 59, 60 Screening, 51, 59 Side effect, 4, 5, 10, 15, 27, 49, 59, 60 Skeleton, 57, 59 Social Environment, 58, 59 Specialist, 39, 59 Stress, 21, 59 Subcutaneous, 52, 55, 59 Synapse, 49, 59 Systemic, 12, 15, 16, 50, 52, 53, 55, 59 Systolic, 53, 59 T Therapeutics, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 28, 59 Threshold, 53, 60 Timolol, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 60
Timolol Maleate, 6, 7, 13, 60 Tissue, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60 Tolerance, 18, 60 Topical, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 20, 21, 60 Toxic, iv, 60 Toxicity, 52, 60 Toxicology, 34, 60 Toxin, 60 Transfection, 50, 60 Translocation, 21, 60 Tremor, 60 U Uvea, 60 Uveitis, 5, 7, 14, 60 V Vaccine, 49, 60 Vascular, 50, 51, 53, 55, 60 Venous, 55, 57, 60 Veterinary Medicine, 33, 60 Visual field, 12, 14, 15, 22, 55, 60 Vitreous, 18, 54, 58, 59, 61 Vitreous Humor, 59, 61 Vitro, 61
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Alphagan
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Alphagan