Changes of antipyrine pharmacokinetics during influenza and after administration of interferon-alpha and -beta

Muscle morphological alterations derived from protein malnutrition are subjected to debate, specially regarding the alteration of the proportion of the different fibre types. The aim of the present study was to analyse the morphologic changes of the different muscle fibre types in experimental protein malnutrition. Twelve male Wistar rats were fed on a 6% protein containing diet, and another 12 rats were fed on an isocaloric, 20% protein containing diet as control group. Right gastrocnemius muscle was removed. Fibre diameter and relative proportions of type I, IIa and IIb muscle fibre (by means of the myosin-ATPasa reactivity) were evaluated. Protein deprived rats showed a significant decrease in the mean diameter of type IIb fibres and also a decrease of the proportion of the type IIb fibres.     

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for detecting benzodiazepines in urine

A relatively simple ELISA technique was developed for the detection of a range of benzodiazepines (BZs) in urine. The assay employs a mouse anti-oxazepam antibody that is highly specific for the BZs. The limit of detection using 10 microliters samples of urine was 0.3 microgram ml-1 oxazepam. N-Desmethyldiazepam showed equal cross-reactivity to oxazepam, 11 BZs cross-reacted weakly and flurazepam and chlordiazepoxide did not cross-react at levels reported to be found in urine. No cross-reactivity was observed with drugs of abuse and a range of therapeutic drugs commonly found in urine. The assay was used as a screen to detect the presence of BZs in urine from 88 addicts that had been screened by the EMIT technique and a radioreceptor assay (RRA) for BZs. The ELISA produced two false negatives that were EMIT and RRA positive whereas the EMIT produced four different false negatives that were positive by both ELISA and RRA. Thirty-three positives were common to all three assays. The ELISA was also used to monitor nitrazepam-like activity in the urine of a greyhound receiving 5 mg oral medication and the results were compared with those obtained by RRA. Both assays were able to detect nitrazepam-like activity for up to 10 h post-administration.     

Long-term follow-up after deferral of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of intermediate stenosis on the basis of coronary pressure measurement

Poikilocytosis of red blood cells (RBCs) was observed to be associated with anemia in rats given subcutaneous injections of cadmium (Cd). Phase-contrast light and scanning electron microscopic examinations revealed that acanthocytes appeared in the early stages of administration, and that the number of RBC fragments increased later. Ultrastructural analysis of RBC ghosts by negative staining demonstrated that the normal lattice structure of the membrane skeleton was abolished. The osmotic fragility curve of the Cd-exposed RBCs disclosed that most of the cells were less fragile than control RBCs. These data indicate that the RBC membrane skeleton is initially altered by Cd-exposure, followed by deformation of the cell, thus promoting intrasplenic hemolysis, and resulting in anemia.     

Expression of human muscarinic cholinergic receptors in tobacco

The T lymphocyte beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR) density and function were compared in 15 patients suffering acute myocardial infarction and 10 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Density was determined using radioligand binding with 125IPIN, and function by in vitro cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production. In patients suffering acute myocardial infarction, T lymphocyte beta 2AR density (823.8 +/- 480 sites/cell) was slightly but not significantly different from that in patients with stable CAD (629 +/- 301 sites/cell). There was no difference in T lymphocyte cAMP production at baseline (1.11 +/- 0.70 vs 1.04 +/- 0.49 pM/10(6) cells) or after isoproterenol stimulation (2.53 +/- 1.63 vs 2.62 +/- 2.05 pM/10(6) cells), respectively. Further study is necessary to determine if beta 2AR numbers on T lymphocytes are significantly increased after acute myocardial infarction.     

GM1 increases the content and mRNA of NGF in the brain of aged rats

Aged (20-22 months old) and young (3 months old) Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with GM1 ganglioside, 30 mg/kg i.p. for 30 days, and the content of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the high-affinity tyrosine receptor kinase (Trk) examined. NGF, estimated by a two-site enzyme immunoassay, was found moderately decreased in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, but not in the striatum of aged animals compared with young animals. The NGF decrease was accompanied by a reduction of NGF mRNA, evaluated by northern blot. Trk protein, determined by western blot with a pan-Trk antibody, was not altered in any region studied in the aged brain. GM1 treatment partially restored NGF and NGF mRNA in frontal cortex and hippocampus in the aged brain, but treatment had no effect on Trk protein. GM1 did not modify any of the parameters investigated in young animals.