Baclofen Pretreatment Attenuates the Suppressant Effect of Intraperitoneal Administration of Cholecystokinin (CCK) on Food Intake in Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate whether pretreatment with the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen could prevent the inhibitory effect of systemically administered cholecystokinin (CCK) on food intake in rats. Baclofen (2 mg/kg, SC) administered 60 min prior to IP injection of CCK (5 μg/kg) significantly attenuated the suppressant effect of the peptide on feeding in nondeprived rats (Experiment 1) and rats that had been deprived of food for 22 h (Experiment 2). Baclofen had no significant effects on food intake when administered alone. The results suggest that the inhibitory effect of exogenous peripheral CCK on food intake may be dependent on an interaction with a GABAB-receptor mediated mechanism. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.     

A simple and inexpensive metabolic cage for mice

An inexpensive and easily constructed metabolic cage for mice is presented. This apparatus can reliably monitor food and fluid consumption, as well as urine and fecal output, in a relatively non-intrusive manner.     

Learning,habituation, and training

Summary The apparent efficiency of sub-maximum exercise tends to be lower in subjects with a large aerobic power. This is probably an artefact arising from neglect of the oxygen debt in the calculation of mechanical efficiency. Changes in the extent of oxygen debt can obscure an increased skill of performance with training. Efficiency is improved by repetition of a given mode of exercise, but not by other forms of training. Habituation is greater during work than at rest, but even during work the change in pulse rate of young men does not exceed 2–5 beats/min over 5 experimental days. Habituation is lost if the test procedure is not repeated during training; this can complicate assessments of training from the response to sub-maximum exercise.     

骨关节炎动物模型对^99mTc—枸橼酸摄取及其分布的研究

目的　利用骨关节炎症动物模型观察99mTc -枸橼酸的生物分布和在骨关节炎症区域的代谢特点 .方法　在制作骨关节炎症动物模型的基础上 ,经在体显像及其感兴趣区技术计算器官和炎症关节的放射性活度的变化 ,同时也利用动物模型离体的测量器官或组织的百分注射量 ,分析99mTc -枸橼酸在各器官和骨关节炎症区域的代谢特点 .结果　99mTc -枸橼酸的蛋白结合率为 17.0 1± 0 .75 % ,骨关节炎症区域对99mTc -枸橼酸有较高的摄取 ,骨关节炎症的患 /健比值出现在注射示踪剂后的 30分钟到 1小时之间 :在体显像患 /健比值分别为 4.12 0± 0 .5 5 2和 3.15 0± 0 .5 87;百分注射量靶 /非靶比值分别为 3.2 79± 0 .46 3和 3.899± 0 .12 5 .99mTc -枸橼酸主要经泌尿系统排出 ,少量经肝脏 -肠道系统排出 .结论　99mTc -枸橼酸有较低的蛋白结合率 ,是急性骨关节炎症良好的显像剂 ,其最佳显像时间为注射99mTc-枸橼酸后的 1小时     

Potential health risks to adults and children in the UK from exposure to dietary lead in gamebirds shot with lead ammunition

We estimate potential risks to human health in the UK from dietary exposure to lead from wild gamebirds killed by shooting. The main source of exposure to lead in Europe is now dietary. We used data on lead concentrations in UK gamebirds, from which gunshot had been removed following cooking to simulate human exposure to lead. We used UK food consumption and lead concentration data to evaluate the number of gamebird meals consumed weekly that would be expected, based upon published studies, to result in changes, over and above those resulting from exposure to lead in the base diet, in intelligence quotient (IQ), Systolic Blood Pressure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) considered in a recent opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to be significant at a population level and also in SAT test scores and in rates of spontaneous abortion. We found the consumption of <1 meal of game a week may be associated with a one point reduction in IQ in children and 1.2–6.5 gamebird meals per week may be associated with the other effects. These results should help to inform the development of appropriate responses to the risks from ingesting lead from ammunition in game in the UK and European Union (EU).     

The Contribution of Fortified Ready-to-Eat Cereal to Vitamin and Mineral Intake in the U.S. Population,NHANES 2007–2010

Micronutrients play a pivotal role in achieving and maintaining optimum health across all life stages. Much of the U.S. population fails to meet Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) for key nutrients. This analysis aims to assess the contribution of fortified ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) to micronutrient intake for U.S. residents aged 2–18, 19–99, and 2–99 years of age according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010 data. We used the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method to assess usual intake of 21 micronutrients and the percentage of the population under EARs and above Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL). Without fortification of RTECs, the percentage of those aged 2–18 years that were below EARs increased by 155%, 163%, 113%, and 35% for niacin, iron, thiamin, and vitamin A, respectively. For vitamins B6 and zinc, the respective numbers were 118% and 60%. Adults aged 19–99 and 2–99 had lower percentages but similar outcomes. RTECs are associated with improved nutrient adequacy and do not widely affect prevalence above the UL. The data indicate that large proportions of the population fail to achieve micronutrient sufficiency without fortification, and that its use can help Americans reach national nutrient intake goals.     

Skin permeation and metabolism of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

Phthalates are suspected to be endocrine disruptors. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is assumed to have low dermal absorption; however, previous in vitro skin permeation studies have shown large permeation differences. Our aims were to determine DEHP permeation parameters and assess extent of skin DEHP metabolism among workers highly exposed to these lipophilic, low volatile substances.     

Impacto del consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados en la enfermedad renal crónica

The modern diet is closely linked to the consumption of processed foods, causing an increase in the intake of salt, simple sugars, phosphorus and added potassium. This excess intake is associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD, which according to data from the ENRICA study affects 15% of the population, magnifies its impact due to the higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and due to limitations in the management of sodium and phosphorus. The intake of these products far exceeds the established recommendations, assuming 72% of total sodium, 25-35% of phosphorus, 12-18% of potassium and exceeding 10% of the caloric intake in simple sugars. Measures are necessary to reduce their contribution through nutritional advice, labeling review, education campaigns on healthy habits, fees and institutional actions that involve food safety agencies, industry, distribution and scientific societies.     

Effects of Ethanol on Intestinal Absorption of Drugs.

The effect of chronic alcohol intake on the intestinal absorption of seven compounds belonging to a homologous series (ciprofloxacin derivatives) was evaluated using an in situ rat gut technique that measures the intrinsic absorption rates of the compounds both in control and chronic alcohol-fed rats. For chronic alcohol treatment, the animals were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (36% of calories), whereas an isocaloric diet was given to the pair-fed control animals. The biophysical absorption model, relating the intestinal absorption rate constants and partition indexes of the tested compounds, was then established either for control or alcohol-fed animals. Differences were analyzed and tentatively interpreted on the basis of general diffusion principles. Results revealed that, in chronic alcohol-fed animals, hydrophilic homologs are absorbed at a significantly faster rate than in control ones, whereas lipophilic homologs do not change their absorption rate relative to controls. Results demonstrate that the bulk polarity of the microvillous lipoidal membrane is enhanced by chronic ethanol intake, whereas basic features of the aqueous boundary layer are not altered. These observations suggest that the physicochemical properties of the compounds are an important factor in explaining the influence of chronic alcohol intake on passive intestinal absorption of xenobiotics. The possible practical implications of our results are discussed from a speculative viewpoint