Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background: Intraperitoneal (IP) perioperative chemotherapy with cisplatin is an interesting option in ovarian cancer treatment. A combination of cisplatin with IP epinephrine (already shown to improve IP and decrease systemic platinum (Pt) exposure) was evaluated using a population pharmacokinetic analysis. Methods: Data from 55 patients treated with cisplatin-based IP perioperative chemotherapy with ( n =26) or without ( n =29) epinephrine were analysed using NONMEM. Results: Epinephrine halves clearance between peritoneum and serum (IPCL) and increases the Pt central volume of distribution, IP exposure and penetration in tissue. IPCL has a better predictive value than any other parameter with respect to renal toxicity. Conclusion: This confirms that IPCL could be useful in assessing renal toxicity. As IPCL is also linked to tissue penetration and IP exposure, it may be proposed as biomarker. In addition to a Bayesian estimation, we propose a single-sample calculation-way to assess it. Prospective studies are needed to validate IPCL as a biomarker in this context.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether endurance exercise in middle-aged men induces changes in plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and total cysteine (tCys), and whether these changes depend on the diet especially on vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin B12 intakes. Methods: Twelve trained subjects (52.33 ± 2.4 years) and twelve untrained subjects (56.23 ± 0.9 years) volunteered for the present study. tHcy and tCys were measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography at rest in both groups and during an incremental exercise performed on a cycle ergometer until exhaustion in the trained subjects. Results: At baseline homocysteinemia and cysteinemia were lower in trained subjects (7.48 ± 0.4 and 183.45 ± 13.6 µmol/l) compared with untrained subjects (9.79 ± 0.4 µmol/l, p < 0.001; 229.01 ±14.7 µmol/l, p < 0.05, respectively). Incremental exercise also induced a decrease in tHcy and tCys concentrations. Moreover, tHcy concentration was negatively related to the folic acid and B12 intakes in untrained (r = –0.589, p < 0.05; r = –0.580, p < 0.05, respectively) as well as in trained groups (r = –0.709, p < 0.01; r = –0.731, p < 0.01, respectively) whereas no correlation between tCys and vitamin in the diet was observed. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the combined effects of a chronic physical exercise and a high folate and vitamin B12 intake could be responsible for the reduction of plasma tHcy and tCys concentrations that might be a key for the prevention of many diseases.

The genetic polymorphism of human N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) divides the human population into groups with rapid, intermediate and slow acetylator status. Slow acetylator status has been considered a predisposing factor for allergic diseases, lupus erythematosus, toxic epidermal necrolysis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Caucasian patients suffering from atopic dermatitis differed from healthy individuals with regard to the genotype and phenotype of NAT2. Twenty unrelated healthy Caucasian volunteers (9 females and 11 males, aged from 22 to 59 years) and twenty unrelated Caucasian patients suffering from atopic dermatitis (9 females and 11 males, aged between 20 and 54 years) participated in this study. For each one, the NAT2 genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction with DNA extracted from peripheral blood, using specific primers for the wild-type allele (wt) and the 3 most frequent mutated alleles of NAT2 (C481-->T, G590-->A and G857-->A). The NAT2 phenotype was evaluated with dapsone as a test substrate using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi(2) test. Phenotype and genotype were distributed as follows: (1) of the healthy subjects, 60% were rapid acetylators (RA) and 40% were slow acetylators (SA); 10% of the RA and 15% of the SA were homozygous, 50% of the RA and 25% of the SA were heterozygous; (2) of the patients, 55% were RA, 40% were SA and 5% were intermediate acetylators (IA); 10% of the RA and 10% of the SA were homozygous, 45% of the RA and 35% of the SA were heterozygous. No significant statistical difference was found between the two groups for genotypes (p = 0.75) or phenotypes (p = 0.60). The phenotyping and genotyping results of healthy subjects were comparable to those found in previous studies. The absence of a significant statistical difference between healthy subjects and atopic dermatitis patients is in contrast to the results of previous studies. Some authors considered that allergic patients are mostly SAs. This could be explained by the fact that we only considered patients suffering from atopic dermatitis whereas, in other studies, patients suffered from different (one or several associated) allergic diseases. NAT2 polymorphism does not differ between patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and healthy subjects. The importance attributed to the SA status, which was previously considered a predisposing factor for allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, should be reviewed.

Comment Selecting an appropriate pharmacological intervention for a patient with OH can reduce IOP by decreasing aqueous humour production by the ciliary processes-for example, carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors. Because of its efficacy, the β adrenergic blocker-for example, timolol, is the gold standard compared with the other treatment. The mechanism of choroidal detachment with dorzolamide is probably due to hypotony caused by the reduction of intraocular pressure by the combination of timolol and dorzolamide. 1, 5 This mechanism has been mentioned in cases of choroidal detachment caused by latanoprost, a prostaglandin analogue used topically to reduce IOP, reported by Marques after filtration surgery. 6 Another case of choroidal detachment has been reported in a patient who underwent left extracapsular cataract extraction with topically latanoprost prescribed immediately postoperatively. 7 Ocular surgery, even if there is a history, seems to increase the risk of choroidal detachment when used as a pharmacological aqueous humour suppressant therapy-for example, dorzolamide or the combination of timolol and dorzolamide.

The threefold aim of this experimental study was to test the correlation of cardiac troponin I released to myocardial infarction size and myocardial fixation of anticardiac troponin I antibody and to determine how long after myocardial infarction the measure of cardiac troponin I concentration can evaluate myocardial infarction size. Forty rabbits were assigned either to a control group or to an experimental preconditioned group. Infarction was obtained by tightening a snare around the left anterior descending artery. Serial venous blood samples were drawn for measurement of cardiac troponin I. The rabbits were sacrificed at 72 hours and a histological study was performed to determine the infarct size and the size of the area void of fixation of anticardiac troponin I antibody. There was a linear correlation between the total amount of CTn I released and both infarct size (r=0.45, p<0.02) and the size of the area void of anti-cardiac troponin I antibody (r=0.47, p<0.02). These two sizes were strongly correlated (r=0.95, p<0.02). The hour 9 CTn I sample was the best correlated with both the infarct size (r=0.47, p<0.02) and the size of area void of anticardiac troponin I antibody (r=0.45, p<0.02). Our study shows that: 1) cardiac troponin I release is correlated to both myocardial infarction size and the size of area void of fixation of anticardiac troponin I antibody, 2) the area void of anticardiac troponin I antibody fixation includes the whole ischemic area, and 3) evaluation of myocardial infarction size can be obtained by CTn I concentration as early as the ninth hour.

Background: Reactive oxygen species generated by ultraviolet light result in photocarcinogenic and photoaging changes in the skin. Antioxidants protect the skin from these insults. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the ex vivo ascorbic acid penetration and its degradation in the skin after its topical application from an 8% new formulation. Method: Ascorbic acid was applied to human skin fragments. Ascorbic acid and its metabolites were collected by microdialysis and assessed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results: After topical application of the new formulation, the ascorbic acid level achieved was 8.5% higher than the normal tissue value. This high ascorbic acid dermal concentration remained constant if a topical application was made every 8 h. No degradation of ascorbic acid was detected. Conclusion: Ascorbic acid penetrates rapidly after its topical application. The persistent reservoir of ascorbic acid provides an important and attractive photoprotection strategy.