Protein binding of salicylic and salicyluric acid in serum from malnourished children: the influence of albumin, competitive binding and non-esterified fatty acids

The serum protein binding of salicylic and salicyluric acid has been determined by ultrafiltration in 60 children after administration of oral salicylate. The children were classified according to nutritional status: well-nourished (n = 12), underweight (n = 12), marasmic (n = 17) marasmic-kwashiorkor (n = 7) and kwashiorkor (n = 12). Salicylic acid free fractions were 0.106 +/- 0.026, 0.114 +/- 0.069, 0.141 +/- 0.037, 0.285 +/- 0.279 and 0.438 +/- 0.190 in the five groups, respectively. Salicyluric acid free fractions were 0.184 +/- 0.057, 0.280 +/- 0.282, 0.236 +/- 0.114, 0.484 +/- 0.497 and 0.646 +/- 0.261, respectively. The degree of binding was dependent on serum albumin levels, ligand concentrations and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). The NEFA/albumin ratio ranged from 0.05 to 6.6. The fitting of a one-site Scatchard binding model to the collective data was improved when a decrease was allowed for in the number of binding sites in proportion to NEFA concentrations. Salicyluric acid binding could be fitted only when inhibition of the parent compound was included. Binding was not affected by age or sex. The major determinants of salicylate binding in sera from malnourished children have thus been identified.     

胸骨正中小切口在心脏直视手术中的应用

目的:探讨胸骨正中小切口在心脏直视手术中的临床应用价值。方法 :对 4 0例风湿性心脏病、先天性心脏病患者 ,在常规体外循环下行心内直视手术。其中行二尖瓣置换术 18例 ,主动脉瓣置换术 12例 ,房间隔缺损修补术 10例。分别采用胸骨正中上段或下段部分胸骨劈开切口 ,切口长约 7～ 9cm。结果 :本组 4 0例无围术期死亡者。术后恢复快 ,无严重的并发症 ,术后纵隔引流量少 ,输血量少 ,无切口感染、裂开。手术效果满意。结论 :胸骨正中小切口可安全用于多种心脏直视手术 ,具有创伤小、胸骨完整性破坏小、疗效好及美观的优点。     

In-vivo antipyretic studies of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves of Ajuga remota and Lippia adoensis

BACKGROUND: There are quite large number of traditionally used plants that are used to treat ailments associated with fever in the ethnomedical system of Ethiopia. Most of them, however, have not been subjected to scientific investigation for their efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antipyretic effects of the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves of Ajuga remota and Lippia adoenesis. DESIGN: An experimental design in which five group of in-house bred albino mice weighing 30-35 g representing positive and negative control, and three dose levels extract treated groups, respectively was employed. The extracts, standard drugs and distilled water were administered into GIT by gavage to evaluate the antipyretic effect after inducing pyrexia in mice. RESULTS: All extracts of both plants that were administered orally at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg per kg showed antipyretic property. The antipyretic effects were observed to be dose dependent. In both plants, the aqueous extract was found to have more potent antipyretic effect than the ethanol extract. No mouse manifested toxic effects at any dose levels of all the extracts for the observed period of two weeks. CONCLUSION: The present study show that both extracts of the investigated plants have got antipyretic effects and the extracts are effective and safe at the doses tested. This supports the traditional claim or use of these plants.     

Malnutrition and Pharmacokinetics of Penicillin in Ethiopian Children

Abstract: Penicillin was given to 104 children with different nutritional status, normal, underweight, marasmus and kwashiorkor. Penicillin was given either intravenously, intramuscularly or orally and the plasma concentration was followed at regular times after administration. There was a significantly decreased plasma clearance of penicillin in all malnourished groups compared to the normal weight-for-age group. The half-lives of penicillin were, however, not significantly different between the nutritional groups. This was explained by the fact that also the volume of distribution was decreased in the malnourished group with a net result that the half-life was unchanged. The bioavailability was decreased if penicillin was given to non-fasting individuals. The greatest difference between fasting and non-fasting was seen in the severely malnourished children with marasmus and kwashiorkor. Therefore, it is advised that, if penicillin is given orally to very sick and undernourished children, the dose should be increased and preferably be given in the fasting state.