Effects on the Respiratory and Cardiovascular System

Whereas the occurrence of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex depends on the degree of access of capsaicin to the right side of the circulation, under certain circumstances involving the systemic arterial circulation capsaicin administration may lead to hypertension, tachycardia, and tachypnea. These latter responses prevail after vagotomy (Toh et al., 1955 Coleridge 

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Midazolam Midazolam is water-soluble and can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly,13 buccally,14,15 and nasally.16,17 At physiologic pH, it becomes more lipophilic and can diffuse into the CNS. Compared to diazepam and lorazepam, it has fewer effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Its short half-life requires that it be re-dosed... 

Recently, much emphasis has been put on the harmful effects of small particles, i.e., particulate matter (PM), on human health. A number of standards have been established to characterize the PM fractions in the air and their effects on human health. A widely used PM standard in force in both Europe and the United States is based on the mass concentration of particles with a diameter of 10 gm or less (PMjo). However, recently the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new standard that is based on the aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 gm particles. This new standard emphasizes the significant impact of small particles on human health, especially on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. 4 ... 

Analeptics are drugs that have a stimulatory effect on the respiratory and vasomotor centers of the medulla. Analeptics are primarily used as antagonists in depressant drug overdose (hypnotics, narcotics). Having a relatively small range of therapeutic action, they can stimulate other parts of the CNS even in minor overdoses, causing a number of undesirable side effects such as stimulation of the cardiovascular system, hyperreflexia, vomiting, and seizures. 

To assess the effects of the test substance on the central Anon.27 nervous system, peripheral nervous system, sensory organs, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, smooth muscles including uterus, peripheral organs, renal function, and adverse effects observed in clinical studies... 

Finally the effect of the compound on several body functions is investigated in so-called safety pharmacology studies. The most relevant are the possible effects on the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system and on the central nervous system. Usually these studies are done in rodents, dogs or primates. Lately there has been increased interest in the effect of new drugs on ECG parameters. 

No studies were located regarding effects on the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematological, musculoskeletal, hepatic, renal, and dermal/ocular systems in humans following inhalation exposure to chlorobenzene. 

Cannabinoids are able to cause different effects at the level of various systems and/or organs the most important effects occur on the central nervous system and on the cardiovascular system. In fact, they are able to affect mood, memory, motor coordination and cognition, and they increase heart rate and variate the systemic arterial pressure. Furthermore, it is well known the capability of cannabinoids to reduce intraocular pressure and to affect the respiratory and endocrine systems (L. E. Hollister, Health Aspects of Cannabis, Pharmacological Reviews, 38,1-20,1986). More recently, it was found that they suppress the cellular and humoral immune response and have antiinflammatory properties (A. W. Wirth et al.. Antiinflammatory Properties of Cannabichromene, Life Science, 26,1991-1995,1980). 

The actions on skeletal muscles are transient and reversible, whereas the CNS side effects can be deleterious. The primary effect of the toxicity seems to be convulsions, followed by severe CNS depression, particularly of the respiratory and cardiovascular centers. This may be related to an initial depression of inhibitory neurons, such as GABAergic systems, causing convulsions, followed by depression of other neurons, leading to general depression of the CNS. 

As noted in Chap. 4, toxic trauma to the RS and cardiovascular system (CVS) may occur as a direct effect on the lungs and the respiratory tree and also indirectly due to the effects on the brainstem-controlled breathing. Airways may be blocked by direct action (e.g. sulphur mustard) and by pharmacological actions (e.g. nerve agents). Box 7.4 summarises the presenting signs of toxic agents effects on the airways. 

The literature emphasizes that arsenic metabolism and toxicity vary greatly between species and that its effects are significantly altered by numerous physical, chemical, and biological modifiers. Adverse health effects, for example, may involve respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and hematopoietic systems, and may range from reversible effects to cancer and death, depending partly on the physical and chemical forms of arsenic tested, the route of administration, and the dose. 

The actual requirements of the November 8, 2000 ICH guidelines are broadly outlined. They call for the conduct of studies in a core battery to assess effects on the cardiovascular (Table 19.1), respiratory (Table 19.2), central nervous system (Table 19.3) and secondary organ system (Table 19.4) effects. Follow-up studies for the care battery are also required on a case-by-case basis for the three main organ systems. 

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