Effect of combined treatment with zoledronic acid and propranolol on mechanical strength in an rat model of disuse osteoporosis

Objectives: A model that uses right hind-limb unloading of rats is used to study the consequences of skeletal unloading during various conditions like space flights and prolonged bed rest in elderly. This study was aimed to investigate the additive effects of antiresorptive agent zoledronic acid (ZOL), alone and in combination with propranolol (PRO) in a rat model of disuse osteoporosis. Methods: In the present study, 3-month-old male Wistar rats had their right hind-limb immobilized (RHLI) for 10 weeks to induce osteopenia, then were randomized into four groups: 1-RHLI positive control, 2-RHLI plus ZOL (50 mu g/kg, i.v. single dose), 3-RHLI plus PRO (0.1 mg/kg, s.c. 5 days per week), 4-RHLI plus PRO (0.1 mg/kg, s.c. 5 days per week) plus ZOL (50 mu g/kg, i.v. single dose) for another 10 weeks. One group of non-immobilized rats was used as negative control. At the end of treatment, the femurs were removed and tested for bone porosity, bone mechanical properties, and bone dry and ash weight. Results: With respect to improvement in the mechanical strength of the femoral mid-shaft, the combination treatment with ZOL plus PRO was more effective than ZOL or PRO monotherapy. Moreover, combination therapy using ZOL plus PRO was more effective in improving dry bone weight and preserved the cortical bone porosity better than monotherapy using ZOL or PRO in right hind-limb immobilized rats. Conclusions: These data suggest that this combined treatment with ZOL plus PRO should be recommended for the treatment of disuse osteoporosis. (C) 2014 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Amperometric acetylcholinesterase biosensor for pesticides monitoring utilising iron oxide nanoparticles and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid)

A new electrochemical sensing device was constructed for determination of pesticides. In this report, acetylcholinesterase was bioconjugated onto hybrid nanocomposite, i.e. iron oxide nanoparticles and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) (Fe(3)O(4)NPs/Pin5COOH) was deposited electrochemically on glassy carbon electrode. Fe(3)O(4)NPs was showed as an amplified sensing interface at lower voltage which makes the sensor more sensitive and specific. The enzyme inhibition by pesticides was detected within concentrations ranges between 0.1-60 and 1.5-70 nM for malathion and chlorpyrifos, respectively, under optimal experimental conditions (sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C). Biosensor determined the pesticides level in water samples (spiked) with satisfactory accuracy (96%-100%). Sensor showed good storage stability and retained 50% of its initial activity within 70 days at 4 degrees C.

Solubilities of 10-undecenoic acid and geraniol in supercritical carbon dioxide

The solubilities of 10-undecenoic acid and geraniol in supercritical carbon dioxide were measured at 308, 313,323 and 333K, and at pressures of 10-18 MPa. Solubilities (in mole fraction),ranged from 0.4 x 10(-3) to 17.4 x 10(-3) for 10-undecenoic acid and 2.7 x 10(-3) to 25 x 10(-3) for geraniol, respectively. The AARD was around 11% and 5% for these models for 10-undecenoic acid and geraniol, respectively. The solubilities of both compounds showed retrograde behavior wherein the solubilities decrease with temperature at isobaric conditions. The solubility of geraniol was higher than 10-undecenoic acid at all investigated temperatures and pressures. The data were found to be self consistent based on the Mendez-Santiago model. New models based on association theory using van Laar and Margules activity coefficient models for solute in liquid phase were derived, and used to correlate the solubilities. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.