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Biomedical subjects

A Tabak

Publications and source records attributed to A Tabak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Modulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes function by incubation with human serum from oxidant-challenged individuals.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from healthy donors were tested for stimulated release of superoxide anions after being incubated with serum of welders and of a group of unexposed individuals. These two groups were further subdivided either according to age or to smoking habits. The experiments showed that stimulated superoxide production from PMN was inhibited (P < 0.05) by serum from young smokers as compared to that of young nonsmokers, both from the unexposed group. Incubation of PMN with serum from elderly nonsmoking individuals decreased superoxide production as compared to incubation with serum from young nonsmoking individuals, both from the unexposed group. A decrease in superoxide production by incubation with serum of welders as compared to that of unexposed individuals was significant only when the comparison was carried out between the young, non-smoking subgroups. These findings suggest that age, smoking, and exposure to oxidants induce appearance in serum of factors that affect the PMN function

Adult↗

Accidental busulfan overdose: enhanced drug clearance with hemodialysis in a child with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

A 4.6 kg infant with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome received an accidental overdose of busulfan during preparation for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma busulfan levels alerted staff to the dosing error. Hemodialysis was immediately performed and resulted in accelerated clearance of busulfan. There were no acute neurologic and hepatic side-effects of the busulfan overdose, and despite 2 months of cough accompanied by rales, the patient is now free of pulmonary symptoms. Stable partial donor chimerism occurred after transplantation. At present, the patient is thriving and infection-free 12 months after transplantation, although his platelet count remains at the lower limit of normal.

Area Under Curve↗

Monitoring of busulfan area under the curve: estimation by a single measurement.

Because the busulfan area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) has been correlated with the outcome of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and the occurrence of veno-occlusive disease after BMT, a rapid determination of AUC is needed to ensure its suitable dosage. The present work describes a method based on combining aliquots from the 10 blood samples collected for an AUC busulfan determination and performing a single determination of the resulting mixture. In 42 patients undergoing a preparative regimen for bone marrow transplantation this combined sample AUC was compared with the regular determined AUC obtained from 10 consecutive samples drawn at various time intervals after dosing. It is apparent that the AUCs calculated by pharmacokinetic analysis using a noncompartmental model package and those obtained by analyzing the sample mixture are very similar ( r = 0.961). The proposed method allows rapid adjustment of the busulfan dose, reducing the number of uncorrected dosages during therapy.

Adult↗

The effect of propofol anaesthesia on oocyte fertilization and early embryo quality.

Propofol, frequently used for i.v. induction of anaesthesia in assisted reproduction procedures, has been suspected of damaging oocytes. Concentrations of propofol have recently been shown to increase in follicular fluid during oocyte retrieval. Our study was designed to assess whether exposure to increasing concentrations of propofol has a measurable effect on in-vitro fertilization, cleavage and embryo development. A cohort of 130 women underwent i.v. anaesthesia using propofol and fentanyl. Time of anaesthesia from i. v. injection of propofol was measured, as were the doses of the two drugs. In 32 women expected to have more than 15 oocytes retrieved, first, middle and last oocytes were cultured separately. The mean time from i.v. injection to first follicle aspiration was 200 s. The mean time for the aspiration of each additional oocyte was 17.6 s. In 10 out of 11 cases where follicular fluid concentrations of propofol were measured, there was an increase from the first to the last follicle, but no difference was found in the ratio of mature to immature oocytes. Nor were any differences found in fertilization, cleavage and embryo cell number. In so far as in-vitro development reflects embryo quality, we conclude that the time elapsed between retrieval of the first and last oocyte does not affect oocyte quality.

Anesthetics, Intravenous↗

Adhesion molecules of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages in rats: modulation by exposure to ozone.

1. Exposure to elevated levels of ozone results in an infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the lungs. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ozone-induced inflammatory process is preceded by a change in the expression of adhesion molecules (integrins and selectins) in peripheral blood PMNs and alveolar macrophages in rats. 2. Female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to air or ozone (1 p.p.m., 2 h). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was carried out and blood was collected via intracardiac puncture at 0 or 18 h after the exposure. There were no PMN in the BAL fluid at time 0 after the 2 h exposure to ozone. The expression of cell adhesion molecules from the integrin family (represented by CD18) on alveolar macrophages (AM) was lowered. The expression of cell adhesion molecules from the selectin family (represented by CD62L) on blood PMN was not affected by exposure to ozone, while the expression of integrins (CD11b) on blood PMN was lowered. 3. This effect was confirmed by experiments in which plasma of ozone-exposed animals was incubated with PMN from peripheral blood obtained from non-exposed animals. In these experiments, the expression of CD11b on PMNs of non-exposed animals was lower after incubation with plasma from ozone-exposed animals. 4. Our experiments suggest the presence of factor(s) in blood, which cause a decrease in the expression of CD11b on PMNs.

Animals↗

Prolonged elimination half-life of phenol after dermal exposure.

BACKGROUND: Phenol is a general protoplastic poison which has been in use in medicine and industry for decades. It is readily absorbed through the skin causing both local and systemic toxicity. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old male had 90% phenol spilled over his left foot and shoe (3% of body surface area). After a 4 1/2-hour exposure, manifestations included confusion, vertigo, faintness, hypotension, ventricular premature beats, atrial fibrillation, dark-green urine, and tense swelling, blue-black discoloration, hypalgesia, and hypoesthesia of the affected area. Treatment consisted of irrigation with copious amounts of water, incisions, and supportive measures. RESULTS: Peak serum phenol was 21.6 micrograms/mL, considered in the fatal range. Peak urine phenol plus urine-conjugated phenol was 13,416 mg/g creatinine, indicating a major absorption. Elimination half-life was 13.86 hours, considerably longer than previously reported. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged skin contact with concentrated phenol in an occlusive environment may result in a major absorption and a long elimination half-life even if the area involved is small. Prolonged elimination may be explained by extensive tissue distribution or by "slow-release reservoir" properties of the skin. Such exposure may be associated with severe systemic and local toxicities. Immediate removal from exposure and aggressive decontamination of the skin are essential to reduce these risks.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Effect of single and repeated administration of fluvoxamine on noradrenaline release in rat brain.

In vivo microdialysis in conscious rats was used to evaluate the effect of acute and chronic administration of fluvoxamine on extracellular levels of noradrenaline, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the frontal cortex. A single administration of fluvoxamine (12 mg/kg i.p.) during dialysate collection caused a significant delayed decrease in 5-HIAA and a mild increase in noradrenaline with no change in HVA and DOPAC levels. Chronic administration of fluvoxamine (12 mg/kg i.p. daily for 3 weeks, last dose 24 h prior to microdialysis) or a single dose 24 h prior to microdialysis had no effect on noradrenaline, DOPAC and HVA levels in the frontal cortex; 5-HIAA levels were significantly decreased 24 h after a single dose, but increased following long term treatment. Tissue concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the frontal cortex showed a mild (though not significant) increase in rats chronically treated with fluvoxamine. Release of noradrenaline in the frontal cortex may be enhanced initially by a 5-HT uptake inhibitor, but this effect is not seen following drug washout.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Paraquat-induced formation of leukotriene B4 in rat lungs: modulation by N-acetylcysteine.

The present work is focused on the formation of the inflammatory mediator leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the lungs of paraquat (PQ)-intoxicated rats. The levels of LTB4 and the number of neutrophils in lung lavages of PQ-intoxicated rats, measured 12 h after 30 mg/kg PQ, increased significantly compared with those of control animals; administration of 50 mg/kg IP N-acetylcysteine (NAC), 8 h after PQ, inhibited this effect. The release of LTB4 from alveolar macrophages (AM) or alveolar epithelial type II cells from healthy animals incubated with PQ and/or NAC did not offer' an explanation for the effect of these chemicals on LTB4 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The PQ-enhanced, NAC-inhibited release of arachidonic acid (AA) by alveolar epithelial type II cells did, however, explain our in vivo results, when one assumes that the AM synthesize their 5-lipoxygenase products from alveolar epithelial cell-derived AA, an hypothesis demonstrated already by other researchers.

Acetylcysteine↗

N-acetylcysteine increases the glutathione content and protects rat alveolar type II cells against paraquat-induced cytotoxicity.

A protective effect of N-acetylcysteine in oxidative lung damage was reported by a number of workers; however, the mechanism underlying this effect was not thoroughly elucidated. The present research investigates the protection by N-acetylcysteine against paraquat-induced cytotoxicity to alveolar type II cells, which are known to be specific targets of paraquat toxicity in vivo. We found that addition of 1 mM N-acetylcysteine to alveolar type II cells incubated with 1 mM paraquat reduced the cytotoxic index from 17.4 +/- 1.3% to 9.3 +/- 1.5%. This effect could not be explained by the interference of N-acetylcysteine with the active uptake of paraquat by type II cells. Incubation of these cells with N-acetylcysteine enhances their glutathione content, thus reducing the paraquat- induced depletion of glutathione in these cells. These results suggest that N-acetylcysteine exerts its protective effect by acting as a precursor for glutathione in alveolar type II cells.

Acetylcysteine↗

Evaluation of a liposome system for the delivery of desferrioxamine to lungs in rats.

Liposomes with various lipid composition and sizes, prepared by two different techniques were evaluated for their potential to deliver desferrioxamine to lungs as a treatment against oxidative lung damage. Multilamellar vesicles (MLV) and reverse evaporation vesicles were prepared out of a lipid mixture containing dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, stearyl amine, cholesterol and vitamin E. The administration of desferrioxamine-encapsulated liposomes to rats by the intravenous route at a dose of 100 mg kg-1, significantly prolonged the presence of desferrioxamine in all the tested organs when compared with the administration of free desferrioxamine. The injection of reverse evaporation vesicles extruded through a 2 microns polycarbonate membrane exhibited a longer residence time of the desferrioxamine and of liposomal vitamin E in lungs compared with the other types of liposomes tested. The examination of liposome components in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the alveolar macrophages recovered from BALF revealed that about 7 x 10(-3)% of the administered desferrioxamine dose was recovered by this technique at 3 and 17 h after liposome administration. This high residual concentration in the alveolar space confirms the hypothesis that liposomes can be delivered to the lung tissue when encapsulated in alveolar macrophages.

Animals↗

N-acetylcysteine delays the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs of paraquat-intoxicated rats.

We investigated a possible role for N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-known antioxidant and free radical scavenger, against oxidative lung damage as observed in the in vivo model of paraquat-intoxicated rats. The administration of two ip doses of 50 mg/kg NAC to paraquat-intoxicated animals did not change the glutathione status of the lungs, as determined by the measurement of nonprotein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) groups. The administration of NAC did however suppress the paraquat-induced release of chemoattractants for neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar fluid when the lavage was carried out 12 hr after the administration of 30 mg/kg paraquat. Also, in the intoxicated NAC-treated animals, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was significantly reduced, as demonstrated by the examination of the cell composition of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), 24 hr after paraquat. Phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated superoxide anion production from the AM isolated from the BAL of paraquat-intoxicated nontreated animals was lower than that of controls, whereas in the NAC-treated animals, it was close to that of the controls. The obtained results indicate that NAC has a protective effect against oxidative lung damage by delaying inflammation. It also prevents the paraquat-induced reduction of superoxide anion production by stimulated AM. In the present model, however, the NAC administration regimen did not affect the survival rate of paraquat-intoxicated rats.

Acetylcysteine↗

The administration of desferrioxamine to paraquat-intoxicated rats.

We investigated the effect of desferrioxamine, an effective iron chelator, on animal survival and on plasma vitamin E levels after administration of paraquat doses close to the LD50. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received 20 mg paraquat/kg followed by 300 mg desferrioxamine/kg/d given ip over 2 d at 3 equal intervals. The results suggested that desferrioxamine prevented the paraquat-induced depletion of vitamin E, but did not improve the mortality due to paraquat. In ancillary in vitro experiments with a paraquat-based free radical system, where glutathione reductase and NADPH were used as sources of enzymic activity for the redox cycling of paraquat, desferrioxamine effectively prevented the formation of hydroxyl radicals, as determined by deoxyribose degradation.

Animals↗

Tailor-made agarose-based reactive beads for hemoperfusion and plasma perfusion.

Composite beads of approximately 1 mm diameter, made of crosslinked agarose and containing Fuller's Earth or zirconium oxide powders, were prepared and used in extracorporeal systems for blood detoxification. The former was used for the removal of Paraquat, while the latter was used to remove inorganic phosphate from hyperphosphatemic animals with or without acute renal failure. The high surface area of the powder, combined with the low resistance to diffusion in the crosslinked agarose matrix, are highly advantageous. The crosslinking provides high mechanical strength, heat stability, prolonged shelf life, good blood flow characteristics, and prevents the release of fine particles into the blood. Crosslinked agarose beads of 1 mm diameter, containing chemically-bound heparin were also prepared, and used as a model for direct contact removal of LDL-cholesterol from the blood of familial hypercholesterolemic patients by hemoperfusion. The high capacity of these beads (over 5 mg LDL/mL beads) indicates that this clinical modality can replace the highly expensive plasmapheresis procedure presently used.

Animals↗

Novel composite sorbent beads for paraquat removal by hemoperfusion.

The present report describes the development and performance of a column that is to be used for removal of paraquat from circulating blood in a hemoperfusion-type set-up. The key element of the system is a newly developed sorbent material containing fuller's earth entrapped in cross-linked agarose beads (Talosit). The technique produces a sorbent material exhibiting a very large active surface area while allowing for high mobility of paraquat molecules within the beads and favorable flow characteristics of packed column. Cross-linking of the agarose (by epichlorohydrin) also has a most beneficial effect on the mechanical strength of the beads as well as on their stability to sterilization in an autoclave. The composite beads exhibit good blood compatibility. A scanning electron microscope analysis of the beads showed no adherence of cellular blood components after contact with blood. Moreover, no significant changes in plasma composition had taken place when the beads were properly conditioned prior to contact with fresh human blood. A comparative study of paraquat removal from saline solution by the new beads and by cellulose-coated activated charcoal (Adsorba-300C) indicates a higher removal rate with the former. The results obtained so far with this new sorbent are very promising and extension of these studies to in vivo hemoperfusion is under way.

Adsorption↗

In vivo evaluation of a composite sorbent for the treatment of paraquat intoxication by hemoperfusion.

In vivo evaluation of a new hemoperfusion (HP) device for Paraquat detoxification is reported. The key element of the extracorporeal system is a column packed with newly developed composite sorbent beads containing Fullers' Earth (FE) entrapped in crosslinked Agarose. The proposed HP system exhibits very good biocompatibility characteristics when conventional heparinization is supplemented by infusing 0.02 ml per min acid-citrate dextrose (ACD) solution per ml. perfused blood at the inlet to the HP column. No complications or abnormalities were detected in animals which were hemoperfused with the system described. It is suggested that the new device is effective and safe for clinical application.

Aluminum Compounds↗

Therapeutic monitoring of busulfan in pediatric bone marrow transplantation.

The aim of this study was to describe busulfan disposition in a pediatric population who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Busulfan administered dose was 1 mg/kg every 6 h for 4 days. Plasma determinations were performed after the first dosing at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 min. A noncompartment analysis model for extravascular absorption was used for the pharmacokinetic analysis. To obtain the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) within the "therapeutic window" of 1,000-1,200 microM x minutes a busulfan dose adjustment Was performed at the fourth dose. Forty-five busulfan pharmacokinetic analyses were performed in 34 children. Eleven children had their dose adjusted [1.19 +/- 0.14) mg/kg] at the fourth dose and the AUC was monitored at the fifth one. The mean AUC +/- SD after the fifth dose (998.1 +/- 189.2 microM x min) was different (p = .006)from that after the first dose (1 mg/kg) (687.63 +/- 166.43 microM x min). Six children had their first AUC into the "therapeutic window," 17 children had their dose adjusted [1.2 (+/- 0.22) mg/kg], but the "adjusted" AUC was not available. These data suggest that it may be reasonable to recommend a busulfan dose of 1.2 mg/kg to achieve the accepted therapeutic target in children undergoing BMT.

Animals↗