Reduction of enantioselectivity in the kinetic disposition and metabolism of verapamil in rats exposed to toluene

Toluene and verapamil are subject to extensive oxidative metabolism mediated by CYP enzymes, and their interaction can be stereoselective. In the present study we investigated the influence of toluene inhalation on the enantioselective kinetic disposition of verapamil and its metabolite, norverapamil, in rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 6 per group) received a single dose of racemic verapamil (10 mg/kg) orally at the fifth day of nose-only toluene or air (control group) inhalation for 6 h/day (25, 50, and 100 ppm). Serial blood samples were collected from the tail up to 6 h after verapamil administration. The plasma concentrations of verapamil and norverapamil enantiomers were analyzed by LC-MS/MS by using a Chiralpak AD column. Toluene inhalation did not influence the kinetic disposition of verapamil or norverapamil enantiomers (p > 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test) in rats. The pharmacokinetics of verapamil was enantioselective in the control group, with a higher plasma proportion of the S-verapamil (AUC 250.8 versus 120.4 ng.h.mL(-1); p <= 0.05, Wilcoxon test) and S-norverapamil (AUC 72.3 versus 52.3 ng.h.mL(-1); p <= 0.05, Wilcoxon test). Nose-only exposure to toluene at 25, 50, or 100 ppm resulted in a lack of enantioselectivity for both verapamil and norverapamil. The study demonstrates the importance of the application of enantioselective methods in studies on the interaction between solvents and chiral drugs.

Influence of N-Hexane Inhalation on the Enantioselective Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of Verapamil in Rats

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Dynamical evolution of Saturn's F ring dust particles

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Morphological evolution of tin oxide nanobelts after phase transition

This article reports a study of the thermal stability and morphological changes in tin oxide nanobelts grown in the orthorhombic SnO phase. The nanobelts were heat-treated in a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) furnace at 800 degrees C for I It in argon, oxygen, or synthetic air atmospheres. The samples were then characterized by DSC, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and high resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results confirmed that the orthorhombic SnO phase is thermodynamically unstable, causing the belts to transform into the SnO2 phase when heat-treated. During the phase transition, if oxygen is available in the furnace atmosphere, nanofibers grow at the edge of nanobelts at about 50 degrees of the belts' growth direction, while particles grow on the belt surface in the absence of oxygen. Although the decomposition process reduces the nanobelt cell volume by 22%, most belts remain monocrystalline after the heat treatment. The results confirm that phase transition is a decomposition process, which explains the morphological changes in the belts based on metallic tin generated in the process.

Evaluation of DNA damage and lipoperoxidation of propofol in patients undergoing elective surgery

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Platelet aggregation and TGF-beta(1) plasma levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

In Vivo Effects of Bothrops jararaca Venom on Metabolic Profile and on Muscle Protein Metabolism in Rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Performance, incidence of metabolic disturbances and endocrine variables of food-restricted male broiler chickens

1. This experiment was carried out to evaluate the productive and physiological consequences of a slight but long term food restriction of male broiler chickens from 2 commercial strains.2. Cobb-500 and Ross chickens were submitted to a 20% food restriction from 8 to 21 d of age. Strain, food programme and their interactive effects were analysed in terms of consequences upon performance, mortality, incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS) and ascites syndrome (AS), index of right cardiac hypertrophy and plasma concentrations of hormones related to metabolism and growth (T-3, T-4, T-3:T-4 ratio, IGF-I and GH).3. Although some catch-up growth was observed by refeeding previously restricted birds after 22 d of rearing, food restriction decreased (P less than or equal to 0.05) body weight at market age (42 d) irrespective of the strain, but improved (P less than or equal to 0.05) food conversion.4. The incidence of mortality was not high in non-restricted birds but SDS and AS caused more than 50% of deaths. Hypertrophic cardiac index was observed in chickens of both strains after 4 weeks of age and was higher in ad libitum fed birds.5. During the period of food restriction, plasma T-3 and IGF-I concentrations decreased whereas plasma T-4 and GH concentrations increased compared to those of the age-matched ad libitum fed counterparts. During the subsequent ad libitum feeding period, few differences in circulating hormone concentrations were observed, except for the higher mean CH litres in previously food-restricted chickens at 35 d of age.6. These results indicate that even a non-severe food restriction negatively affects body weight of 42-d-old male broilers but these are benefits with improved food efficiency and diminished mortality from metabolic disturbances. The hormone results suggest that the degree of food restriction applied was not severe because there was a very fast adaptive response with small and transient alterations in T-3, T-4 and GH plasma concentrations during the period of compensatory growth.

Plasma progesterone concentration in beef heifers receiving exogenous glucose, insulin, or bovine somatotropin

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, IGF-I, and progesterone (P4) in pubertal beef heifers receiving exogenous glucose, insulin, or sometribove zinc. All heifers used had no luteal P4 synthesis but received a controlled internal drug-releasing device containing 1.38 g of P4 to estimate treatment effects on hepatic P4 degradation. In Exp. 1, 8 pubertal, nulliparous Angus x Hereford heifers (initial BW = 442 +/- 14 kg; initial age = 656 +/- 7 d) were randomly assigned to receive, in a crossover design containing 2 periods of 10 h, intravenous (i.v.) infusions (10 mL) of insulin (1 mu g/kg of BW; INS) or saline (0.9%; SAL). Treatments were administered via jugular venipuncture in 7 applications (0.15 mu g insulin/kg BW per application) 45 min apart (from 0 to 270 min). Blood samples were collected immediately before each infusion as well as at -120, -60, 330, 390, and 450 min relative to the first infusion. Heifers receiving INS had greater (P < 0.01) plasma insulin, reduced (P <= 0.04) plasma glucose and IGF-I, and similar (P = 0.62) plasma P4 concentrations compared with SAL heifers. In Exp. 2, the same heifers were assigned to receive, in a similar experimental design as Exp. 1, i.v. infusions (10 mL) of 1) insulin (1 mu g/kg BW) and glucose (0.5 g/kg BW; INS+G) or 2) SAL. Heifers receiving INS+G had greater (P <= 0.02) plasma insulin, glucose, and P4 but reduced (P = 0.01) plasma IGF-I concentrations compared with SAL heifers. In Exp. 3, the same heifers were assigned to receive, in a crossover design containing 2 periods of 14 d, subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of 1) 250 mg of sometribove zinc (BST) or 2) SAL. Blood samples were collected 3 h apart (0900, 1200, 1500, and 1800 h) from heifers on d 6, 8, and 10 relative to treatment administration (d 1). Heifers receiving BST had greater (P < 0.01) plasma glucose and IGF-I and similar (P >= 0.67) plasma insulin and P4 concentrations compared with SAL heifers. Results from this series of experiments suggested that concurrent increases in glucose and insulin are required to reduce hepatic catabolism and increase plasma concentrations of P4 in bovine females.

Circadian and circannual rhythms of T3 and T4 secretions in Polwarth-Ideal rams

Plasma concentrations of triiodothyronine (T-3) and thyroxine (T-4) in five adult Polwarth-ldeal rams located at latitude 22degrees51 'S and longitude 48degrees26'W were evaluated every 2 months for 1 year (June, August, October, December, February, April). Blood collections were made at 2 h intervals for 24 h in each month, and hormone determinations were by radioimmunoassay. Means of T-3 (97.52 +/- 21.45 ng/dL) and T-4 (4.30 +/- 0.94 mug/dL) varied in peaks throughout the 24 h period with the highest concentrations occurring in the afternoon (16:30 and 14:30 h, respectively), and throughout the year where the highest levels were during months of long daylengths (October, December, February). Results suggest circadian and circannual rhythms in thyroid hormone secretion may be present in rams kept relatively close to the equator. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Ultrasonographic and endocrine aspects of follicle deviation, and acquisition of ovulatory capacity in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers

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Effect of lidocaine on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in dogs

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The Effect of Season on Semen Characteristics and Freezability in Bos indicus and Bos taurus Bulls in the Southeastern Region of Brazil

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of season in southeast of Brazil comparing genotypes on semen characteristics, freezability and peripheral plasma concentrations of testosterone. Ejaculates of five Bos indicus bulls and six Bos taurus bulls were evaluated over a period of 27 months, which was divided into winter (July, August, September), spring (October, November, December), summer (January, February, March) and autumn (April, May, June). Semen was evaluated according to standard procedures for ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, gross-motility, progressive motility and sperm morphology. After preparing and freezing the ejaculates according to commercial procedures, the straws were stored in liquid N(2) until post-thaw evaluation. Ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, gross-motility, progressive sperm motility, vigor and morphological sperm defects were significantly influenced by season and genotype (p < 0.05). Heat tolerance was better in B. indicus bulls than in B. taurus bulls characterized by lower values of sperm abnormalities throughout the observation period. The highest values were recorded for abnormal heads followed by cytoplasmatic droplets in B. taurus bulls. The proportion of ejaculates which were eliminated before freezing for reasons of bad quality was lower in the B. indicus bulls. Temporal changes in peripheral plasma testosterone concentrations were higher in B. indicus bulls than in B. taurus bulls not revealing seasonal influences. The results of this study show clear genotype differences regarding semen quality. Freezability of B. taurus semen varies considerably throughout the year, leading to a high proportion of eliminated ejaculates. Collecting semen from B. taurus bulls during the summer in an artificial insemination centre may not be profitable.

Postsurgical stability of counterclockwise maxillomandibular advancement surgery: Affect of articular disc repositioning

Purpose: This study evaluated the affect of disc displacement and articular disc repositioning on stability after surgical counterclockwise rotation and advancement of the maxillomandibular complex.Patients and Methods: A total of 72 patients (59 females, 13 males), with an average age of 30 years (range, 15 to 60 years) were evaluated. The patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (G1; n = 21), with healthy temporomandibular joints (TMJs), underwent double jaw surgery only. Group 2 (G2; n = 35), with articular disc dislocation, underwent articular disc repositioning using the Mitek anchor (Mitek Surgical Products, Westwood, MA) technique concomitantly with orthognathic surgery. Group 3 (G3; n = 16), with articular disc dislocation, underwent orthognathic surgery only. Average postsurgical follow-up was 31 months. Each patient's lateral cephalograms were traced, digitized twice, and averaged to estimate surgical changes and postsurgical stability.Results: After surgery, the occlusal plane angle was decreased significantly in all 3 groups: by -6.3 +/- -15.0 degrees in G1, by -9.6 +/- 4.8 degrees in G2, and by -7.1 +/- 4.8 degrees in G3. The maxillomandibular complex was advanced and rotated counterclockwise similarly in all 3 groups, with advancement at the menton of 12.4 +/- 5.5 mm in G1, 13.5 +/- 4.3 mm in G2, and 13.6 +/- 5.0 mm in G3; advancement at the B point of 9.5 +/- 4.9 mm in G1, 10.2 +/- 3.7 mm in G2, and 10.8 +/- 3.7 mm in G3; and advancement at the lower incisor edge of 7.1 +/- 4.6 mm in G1, 6.6 +/- 3.2 mm in G2, and 7.9 +/- 3.0 mm in G3. Postsurgery, the occlusal plane angle increased in G3 (2.6 +/- 3.8 degrees; 37% relapse rate) but remained stable in G1 and G2. Postsurgical mandibular changes in the horizontal direction demonstrated a significant relapse in G3 at the menton (-3.8 +/- 4.1 mm; 28%), the B point (-3.0 +/- 3.4 mm; 28%), and the lower incisor edge (-2.3 +/- 2.1 mm; 34%) but remained stable in G1 and G2.Conclusions: Maxillomandibular advancement with counterclockwise rotation of the occlusal plane is a stable procedure for patients with healthy TMJs and for patients undergoing simultaneous TMJ disc repositioning using the Mitek anchor technique. Those patients with preoperative TMJ articular disc displacement who underwent double-jaw surgery and no TMJ intervention experienced significant relapse. (C) 2008 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Platform Switching in Different Implant Protocols: Computed Tomography-Based Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

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