Exercise-induced intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting and pulmonary gas exchange

Recent research suggests the recruitment of intrapulmonary shunt vessels during exercise, which may contribute to the exercise-induced impairment in pulmonary gas exchange. These findings are consistent with substantial anatomical data demonstrating large-diameter (> 25 microm) anatomical shunts in the lung, but are contrary to the considerable functional gas exchange-dependent research that has not detected right-to-left physiological shunt during exercise.     

Access to immunology through the Gene Ontology

The Gene Ontology (GO) is widely recognized as the premier tool for the organization and functional annotation of molecular aspects of cellular systems. However, for many immunologists the use of GO is a very foreign concept. Indeed, as a controlled vocabulary, GO can almost be considered a new language, and it can be difficult to appreciate the use and value of this approach for understanding the immune system. This review reflects on the application of GO to the field of immunology and explains the process of GO annotation. Finally, this review hopes to inspire immunologists to invest time and energy in improving both the content of the GO and the quality of GO annotations associated with genes of immunological interest.     

Drug permeation through membranes V: interaction of diazepam with common excipients.

The effects of common tablet excipients on the permeation of diazepam through polydimethylsiloxane membranes and on the turnover time of goldfish were studied. The permeability coefficient decreased and the turnover time increased in the presence of talc, polysorbate 80, and, possibly, fumed silicon dioxide, but these parameters were unaffected by lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, and starch.     

Impurities in drugs II: meperidine and its formulations

Three lots of meperidine hydrochloride, seven lots of meperidine tablets, and 41 lots of meperidine injectables were examined for impurities by TLC. Impurities found were ethyl 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinecarboxylate, methyl-4-piperidinecarboxylate, ethyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinecarboxylate, and three unidentified compounds. Not all impurities were found in every lot of drug investigated, and none of the impurities exceeded a concentration of 1% of the meperidine present.     

Gentamicin concentrations in diagnostic aspirates from 25 patients with hip and knee arthroplasties

BACKGROUND: There is little information on long-term release of antibiotics from impregnated bone cement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assayed joint fluids obtained for diagnostic purposes from 25 patients for the presence of gentamicin. All patients had presented with failing or painful joints up to 20 years following primary hip or knee arthroplasty, using gentamicin-impregnated cement. RESULTS: Gentamicin was detected in the joint fluids from 9 of 15 patients with knee prostheses and 4 of 10 patients with hip prostheses. The concentrations ranged from 0.06 mg/L to 0.85 mg/L with no significant differences in concentration between the patients with hip or knee prostheses, or the type of prosthesis. We found no relationship between the gentamicin concentration and the time after primary arthroplasty. INTERPRETATION: Although most concentrations were below the levels required to inhibit susceptible pathogens, we conclude that gentamicin release around failing implants may lead to false negative cultures in some patients and provide selective pressure for the emergence of resistance where infection is present in others.     

A reverse-phase HPLC assay for the simultaneous determination of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in pig faeces

A reverse-phase HPLC assay is described for the simultaneous assay of enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CPX) in pig faeces. Extraction used dichloromethane, 2-propanol and 0.3M ortho-phosphoric acid (1:5:4 v/v/v). Separation was achieved using a Spherisorb S5 C8 column, heated to 50 degrees C and a mobile phase of 0.16% ortho-phosphoric acid (adjusted to pH 3.0 with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide solution) with 20 ml acetonitrile per litre solution. The method used fluorescence detection (Ex 310 nm; Em 445 nm), a flow rate of 1 ml/min and a 20 microl injection volume. Retention times were approximately 6 min for ciprofloxacin and 10 min for enrofloxacin. The linearity range for both compounds was 0-20 mg/kg, lowest limit of quantification 0.3 mg/kg and recoveries were >92%.