Regulation of uterine estrogen receptors (ER) by beta-adrenergic stimulation in immature rats

The effects of a 3-day intramuscular (i.m.) administration of clenbuterol (25 μ.g/ Kg), propranolol (12 mg/kg), clenbuterol (25 μg/kg) plus propranolol (12 mg/ Kg) and estradiol (0.5 μg) upon the female reproductive system were investigated in immature Sprague-Dawley rats. Clenbuterol and estradiol treatments induced a significant increase in uterus weight and in relative uterus weight, whereas in the groups treated with propranolol and clenbuterol plus propranolol no differences were detected versus controls. The uterine estrogen receptor levels were significantly increased by clenbuterol administration. In the rats dosed with propranolol and clenbuterol plus propranolol, no modifications occurred in estrogen receptor concentrations when compared with control values. Uterine progesterone receptors were never significantly affected by any of the considered treatments. Data obtained indicate that clenbuterol treatment induces an increase in uterus weight and in estrogen receptor levels and that these effects are regulated by acute beta-adrenergic stimulation, as the contemporaneous administration of high doses of a beta-blocker inhibit such effects.     

Influence of storage and mixing factors on the biological activity of silver thiosulfate

Silver thiosulfate (STS) complex stability and degradation during formulation and storage were monitored indirectly by determining the effectiveness of treatment solutions in retarding flower petal abscission in geraniums (Pelargonium hortorum Baily). Freshly prepared solutions composed of Ag⁺:S₂O₃^2? ratios from 1:1 to 1:16 at constant silver concentration were all equally effective. There were no differences in effectiveness when a Ag⁺:S₂O₃^2? solution of ratio 1:4 was formulated at 5, 25 or 50°C, when prepared at pH 4.01, 7.0 or 10.0, or when prepared in the presence of 10 mM KCl, Na₂CO₃, Ca(NO₃)₂ or MgSO₄. The ability of solutions to retard abscission was reduced when Ag⁺ was substantially in excess of S₂O₃^2?. Rapid mixing of AgNO₃ and Na₂S₂O₃ solutions yielded effective solutions, independent of mixing order. Complete loss of activity was observed when solutions were stored in contact with either tin or galvanized metal for 5 days, whereas there was no loss in activity after 3 months' storage in plastic or glass at 2°C. These results indicate that currently recommended formulation procedures are unnecessarily stringent, and that long-term cold storage of prepared STS solutions is feasible.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous ceftiofur sodium and concentration in body fluids of foals

The objectives of this study were to determine pharmacokinetics of intravenous (i.v.) ceftiofur in foals, to compare ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and microbiologic assay for the measurement of ceftiofur concentrations, and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration ( MIC ) of ceftiofur against common equine bacterial pathogens. In a cross-over design, ceftiofur sodium was administered i.v. to six foals (1–2 days-of-age and 4–5 weeks-of-age) at dosages of 5 and 10 mg/kg. Subsequently, five doses of ceftiofur were administered i.v. to six additional foals between 1 and 5 days of age at a dose of 5 mg/kg q 12 h. Concentrations of desfuroylceftiofur acetamide (DCA), the acetamide derivative of ceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofur-related metabolites were measured in plasma, synovial fluid, urine, and CSF by use of UPLC-MS/MS. A microbiologic assay was used to measure ceftiofur activity for a subset of plasma samples. Following i.v. administration of ceftiofur at a dose of 5 mg/kg to 1–2 day-old foals, DCA had a t _½ of 7.8 ± 0.1 h, a body clearance of 74.4 ± 8.4 mL/h/kg, and an apparent volume of distribution of 0.83 ± 0.09 L/kg. After multiple i.v. doses at 5 mg/kg, DCA concentrations in CSF were significantly lower than concurrent plasma concentrations. Ceftiofur activity using a microbiologic assay significantly underestimated plasma concentrations of DCA. The MIC of ceftiofur required to inhibit growth of 90% of isolates of Escherichia coli , Pasteurella spp, Klebsiella spp, and β-hemolytic streptococci was <0.5 μg/mL. Intravenous administration of ceftiofur sodium at the rate of 5 mg/kg every 12 h would provide sufficient coverage for the treatment of susceptible bacterial isolates.     

Crystalline Ropes of Metallic Carbon Nanotubes

Fullerene single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) were produced in yields of more than 70 percent by condensation of a laser-vaporized carbon-nickel-cobalt mixture at 1200degreesC. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed that these SWNTs are nearly uniform in diameter and that they self-organize into "ropes," which consist of 100 to 500 SWNTs in a two-dimensional triangular lattice with a lattice constant of 17 angstroms. The x-ray form factor is consistent with that of uniformly charged cylinders 13.8 +/- 0.2 angstroms in diameter. The ropes were metallic, with a single-rope resistivity of <10(-4) ohm-centimeters at 300 kelvin. The uniformity of SWNT diameter is attributed to the efficient annealing of an initial fullerene tubelet kept open by a few metal atoms; the optimum diameter is determined by competition between the strain energy of curvature of the graphene sheet and the dangling-bond energy of the open edge, where growth occurs. These factors strongly favor the metallic (10,10) tube with C5v symmetry and an open edge stabilized by triple bonds.