Effect of Coenzyme Q10 and green tea on plasma and liver lipids, platelet aggregation, TBARS production and erythrocyte Na leak in simvastatin treated hypercholesterolmic rats

This study was conducted to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of simvastatin (30 mg/kg BW) and antioxidant effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, 15 mg/kg BW) or green tea (5%) on erythrocyte Na leak, platelet aggregation and TBARS production in hypercholesterolemic rats treated with statin. Food efficiency ratio (FER, ADG/ADFI) was decreased in statin group and increased in green tea group, and the difference between these two groups was significant (p<0.05). Plasma total cholesterol was somewhat increased in all groups with statin compared with control. Plasma triglyceride was decreased in statin group and increased in groups of CoQ10 and green tea, and the difference between groups of statin and green tea was significant (p<0.05). Liver total cholesterol was not different between the control and statin group, but was significantly decreased in the group with green tea compared with other groups (p<0.05). Liver triglyceride was decreased in groups of statin and green tea compared with the control, and the difference between groups of the control and green tea was significant (p<0.05). Platelet aggregation of both the initial slope and the maximum was not significantly different, but the group with green tea tended to be higher in initial slope and lower in the maximum. Intracellular Na of group with green tea was significantly higher than the control or statin group (p<0.05). Na leak in intact cells was significantly decreased in the statin group compared with the control (p<0.05). Na leak in AAPH treated cells was also significantly reduced in the statin group compared with groups of the control and CoQ10 (p<0.05). TBARS production in platelet rich plasma was significantly decreased in the groups with CoQ10 and green tea compared with the control and statin groups (p<0.05). TBARS of liver was significantly decreased in the group with green tea compared with the statin group (p<0.05). In the present study, even a high dose of statin did not show a cholesterol lowering effect, therefore depletion of CoQ10 following statin treatment in rats is not clear. More clinical studies are needed for therapeutic use of CoQ10 as an antioxidant in prevention of degenerative diseases independent of statin therapy.     

Discussing options between patients and health care professionals in genetic diagnosis: ethical and legal criteria

The specific characteristics of genetic data lead to ethical-legal conflicts in the framework of genetic diagnosis. Several international organisations, including UNESCO and the Council of Europe, have enacted rules referring to the use of genetic information. This paper discusses possible legal and ethical criteria that could be used in genetic testing.     

Cyclodextrin formulation of dorzolamide and its distribution in the eye after topical administration.

Due to limited aqueous solubility of dorzolamide at physiologic pH, the pH of Trusopt eye drops (cont. 2% dorzolamide) has to be kept at about 5.65, and to increase the topical bioavailability of the drug from Trusopt the contact time of the drug with the eye surface is increased by increasing the viscosity of the eye drops to 100 cps. This low pH and high viscosity can lead to local irritation. In this study, dorzolamide hydrochloride was formulated as 2% and 4% low viscosity solutions (viscosity 3 to 5 cps) containing randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrin at pH 7.45. These formulations were evaluated in rabbits. The animals were sacrificed at various time points after topical administration of the drug and the dorzolamide concentration determined in the different parts of the eye. Trusopt was used as a reference standard. The topical availability of dorzolamide from the cyclodextrin-containing eye drops appeared to be comparable to that from Trusopt and the drug reached retina and optic nerve to give measurable concentrations for at least 8 h after administration of the eye drops.     

Gallibacterium anatis-secreted metalloproteases degrade chicken IgG.

Gallibacterium anatis (previously named Pasteurella haemolytica-like) is considered a normal inhabitant of genital and upper respiratory tracts of healthy chickens, but it is also associated with different pathological conditions. Secreted metalloproteases from field and reference G. anatis cultures were obtained by methanol precipitation and were characterized. Proteins of molecular mass higher than 100 kDa showing proteolytic activity were observed in 10% polyacrylamide gels copolymerized with 1% bovine casein. They were active at alkaline pH, and inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Their activity was stable at 50 degrees C, but partially inhibited at 60 degrees C, and totally inhibited at higher temperatures. Secreted proteins were able to degrade chicken IgG after 24 h of incubation, and cross-reacted with a polyclonal antibody against purified protease from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Secreted metalloproteases could play a role in infections caused by G. anatis.     

Maximized combined modality treatment of an unselected population of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. Final results of a pilot study compared with a treatment-dependent prognosis index.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to raise the survival of an unselected and representative population of oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer patients, a pilot study of an integrated four-modality treatment was conceived. Final endpoints were compliance, loco-regional control, survival (after complete 5-year follow-up), and a concept of trial assessment using the treatment-dependent prognostic index TPI. PATIENTS: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with histologically proven untreated stages I-IV disease presented in the period between 1997 and 1999 of whom 14 had to be considered uncurable and 73 were fit to be treated with the intention of achieving a cure. METHODS: All patients received one cycle of neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy with 150 mg/m(2) cisplatin (systemically neutralized with sodium thiosulphate), and, if possible, by consecutive treatment applying both surgery of the primary tumour and the neck lymphatics, as well as by adjuvant radiation over 5 weeks (51.3 Gy) plus concurrent chemotherapy (weekly systemic docetaxel 25 mg/m(2)). RESULTS: Ninety per cent of all cases and 96% of the patients treated with curative intention received more than one modality due to study design. Patient non-compliance in the group treated with curative intention has been 18/73 (=25%), and protocol compliance has been 32/73 (=44%). The locoregional control rate for all cases was 71% (62/87 patients) and for the patients treated with curative intention 83.5% (61/73 patients). Thirteen/fourteen non-curable patients died after a mean period of 4 months. After a median observation time of 5 years, the final absolute survival of the unselected population was 53%, and of the patients treated with curative intention 62% (especially, 70% and 50% for patients with operable stages III and IV, respectively). CONCLUSION: The multimodality regimen as presented proved feasible and showed high objective and relative survival rates in comparison with known data from tumour registries of unselected populations. Intra-arterial chemotherapy should be considered a valuable addition to treatment. The potential of survival benefit from this multimodality regimen in comparison with the prognosis index TPI should be investigated in further studies.     

A Spanish version of the Family Assessment Device

Introduction  

This paper presents the results of a study on the psychometric properties of an authorized Spanish version of the McMaster Family Assessment Device, a self-report measure of family functioning.