Short- and long-term prognosis after coronary artery bypass grafting in relation to smoking habits

A study was conducted to determine the conditions needed to achieve the equilibrium concentration for the epimerization of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to iso-LSD. The reaction was followed by integration of the C-9 resonance of LSD and iso-LSD by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The C-9 resonance of LSD and iso-LSD appear as singlets at 6.35 and 6.27 ppm respectively. Starting with pure LSD, the conversion to iso-LSD is attained at temperatures above 37 degrees C and pH levels over 7.0. At a pH of 7.0 or higher, the LSD/iso-LSD ratio of 9:1 is achieved after one week at 45 degrees C or two weeks at 37 degrees C. Starting with iso-LSD, the conversion to LSD requires more vigorous conditions. The 9:1 LSD/iso-LSD ratio is attained only after 6 weeks at a temperature of 45 degrees C and a pH of 9.7. At lower pH levels, the reaction proceeds more slowly. The 9:1 LSD/iso-LSD ratio is achieved whether the starting material is LSD or iso-LSD and therefore represents an equilibrium concentration (K = 9). In addition, the more vigorous conditions needed to achieve equilibrium of iso-LSD to LSD demonstrate the difficulty in extraction of the epimerizable proton of iso-LSD. This study is the first to quantitate the epimerization of LSD by NMR techniques and establishes the conditions needed to induce epimerization in solution.     

Multiple human cytochromes contribute to biotransformation of dextromethorphan in-vitro: role of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A

Cytochromes mediating the biotransformation of dextromethorphan to dextrorphan and 3-methoxymorphinan, its principal metabolites in man, have been studied by use of liver microsomes and microsomes containing individual cytochromes expressed by cDNA-transfected human lymphoblastoid cells. In-vitro formation of dextrorphan from dextromethorphan by liver microsomes was mediated principally by a high-affinity enzyme (Km (substrate concentration producing maximum reaction velocity) 3-13 microM). Formation of dextrorphan from 25 microM dextromethorphan was strongly inhibited by quinidine (IC50 (concentration resulting in 50% inhibition) = 0.37 microM); inhibition by sulphaphenazole was approximately 18% and omeprazole and ketoconazole had minimal effect. Dextrorphan was formed from dextromethorphan by microsomes from cDNA-transfected lymphoblastoid cells expressing CYP2C9, -2C19, and -2D6 but not by those expressing CYP1A2, -2E1 or -3A4. Despite the low in-vivo abundance of CYP2D6, this cytochrome was identified as the dominant enzyme mediating dextrorphan formation at substrate concentrations below 10 microM. Formation of 3-methoxy-morphinan from dextromethorphan in liver microsomes proceeded with a mean Km of 259 microM. For formation of 3-methoxymorphinan from 25 microM dextromethorphan the IC50 for ketoconazole was 1.15 microM; sulphaphenazole, omeprazole and quinidine had little effect. 3-Methoxymorphinan was formed by microsomes from cDNA-transfected lymphoblastoid cells expressing CYP2C9, -2C19, -2D6, and -3A4, but not by those expressing CYP1A2 or -2E1. CYP2C19 had the highest affinity (Km = 49 microM) whereas CYP3A4 had the lowest (Km = 1155 microM). Relative abundances of the four cytochromes were determined in liver microsomes by use of the relative activity factor approach. After adjustment for relative abundance, CYP3A4 was identified as the dominant enzyme mediating 3-methoxymorphinan formation from dextromethorphan, although CYP2C9 and -2C19 were estimated to contribute to 3-methoxymorphinan formation, particularly at low substrate concentrations. Although formation of dextrorphan from dextromethorphan appears to be sufficiently specific to be used as an in-vitro or in-vivo index reaction for profiling of CYP2D6 activity, the findings raise questions about the specificity of 3-methoxymorphinan formation as an index of CYP3A activity.     

Crystallography and equilibrium solubility for ammonium and potassium orthophosphites and hypophosphites

The composition and solubility properties of eight ammonium and potassium orthophosphites and hypophosphites were determined to evaluate the potential of these classes of materials for increasing the plant nutrient content of liquid fertilizers. Phase relationships for the systems (NH₄)₂O-P₂O₃-H₂O, K₂O-P₂O₃-H₂O, (NH₄)₂O-P₂O-H₂O, and K₂O-P₂O-H₂O were determined along with the crystallographic properties (X-ray and optical) of the solid phases. Toxicity and phosphite response was tested in greenhouse experiments for the compounds.     

Influence of neutron irradiation on Eudragit coated tablets: validation of neutron activation II

Enteric coated dexchlorpheniramine maleate (DCPA) tablets and pellets with varying coating thickness were subjected to several in vitro tests after irradiation by thermal neutrons in a flux of 1. 1 x 10(13) n cm-2 s-1 for 2, 4 or 15 min. The appearance of the tablet formulation changed extensively after exposure of the tablets to pile radiation. The irradiation caused the film to loosen from the surface of the core, indicating the generation of gases during the irradiation process. Already after irradiating the tablets for 2 min the disintegration and dissolution behaviour were significantly changed. The extent of tablet damage increased with increasing time of exposure and increasing thickness of the coating. Compared with the tablet formulation, the cores could resist a larger amount of irradiation since dissolution behaviour of the cores was only affected after 15 min of irradiation. This indicates that the irradiation procedure initially affects the coating of the formulation. Although the dissolution behaviour of the pellet formulations changed significantly after the irradiation procedure, the changes were too small to be attributed exclusively to radiation damage.     

Prospective predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Direct and mediated relations.

This study assessed the relations between pretrauma risk (neuroticism, negative affect, prior distress) and protective (self-esteem, optimism) factors and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and potential mediators (subjective event-related distress, unsupportive social interactions, perceived control) of those relations. Students (N = 1,528) at four U.S. universities completed online surveys assessing pretrauma risk and protective factors at Time 1 (T1); 84% (N = 1,281) completed a survey 2 months later (T2). PTSD symptoms and the three potential mediators were assessed among those who experienced potentially traumatic events between T1 and T2 (n = 264). PTSD symptoms related to prior traumas were controlled in all analyses. In structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses, the relation between risk factors and PTSD symptoms was mediated by unsupportive social interactions. Protective factors did not independently predict PTSD symptoms when risk factors also were included in the SEM models. Implications for research and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transfection of the gene for B7-1 but not B7-2 can induce immunity to murine malignant mesothelioma

A 56-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis was admitted because of bilateral hip pain. In a few months of her hospitalization, a relatively abrupt renal dysfunction was emerged besides complement breakdown, and renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis. Immunofluorescence study showed peripheral granular deposits of IgG, IgM, and C3 in the glomeruli. Cresents were predominantly composed of macrophages and glomerular epithelial cells. Amyloid nephropathy, renal vasuculitis, and association of other collagen vascular diseases were negligible for the causative factor. It was suggested that immune complexes were formed in the glomeruli, in which both humoral and cellular immune responses were to be induced, that brought cescents formation in the lesions. Crescentic glomerulonephritis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is rare and a possible pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of renal dysfunction are discussed with the special reference to immune complex-induced inflammation.