The pharmacokinetics, metabolism and urinary detection time of etamiphylline in camels after intramuscular administration

The pharmacokinetics of etamiphylline were determined after an intramuscular (i.m.) dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight in six healthy camels. Furthermore, the metabolites and drug detection time were evaluated. The data obtained median and (range) were as follows: the terminal elimination half-life (t(1/2 beta), h) was 3.04 (2.03-3.62); apparent total body clearance (Cl/F, L/h/kg) was 1.27 (0.74-2.99); the apparent volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)/F, L/kg) was 4.94 (3.57-12.54); and renal clearance (Cl(r), L/h/kg) determined in two camels was 0.005 and 0.004, respectively. The detection time of etamiphylline in urine after an i.m. dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight ranged between 12 and 13 days. Three etamiphylline metabolites were tentatively identified in camels urine: The first one desethyletamiphylline was the main metabolite and resulted from N-deethylation of etamiphylline had a molecular weight of 251, and was detected in urine for about 13-14 days. Theophylline (molecular weight 180) was the second metabolite and resulted from ring N-dealkylation of etamiphylline. It was present in small amounts and was detected for about 5 h after drug administration in urine. The third metabolite, possibly resulted from demethylation of etamiphylline, had a molecular weight of m/z 265, and was present in small amounts and was detected in urine for about 5 h after drug administration.     

Etude de la remanence du DDT sur legumes a la suite de l'application des traitements insecticides

Résumé On présente des données sur la persistence du DDT sur tomates, poivrons, et aubergines en plein champ, et sur tomates en serre, à la suite de l'application des traitements par concentrés émulsifiables. Dans le cas des tomates on a constaté que le dépôt résiduel est audessous de 1 ppm apres un intervalle de 11 jours depuis l'application du traitement en champ. En serre, et pour la même quantité de substance toxique, la persistence se maintient jusqu'à 36 jours.Le dépôt initial sur aubergines est plus élevé que dans le cas des tomates, atteignant jusqu'à 1 ppm. après environ 22 à 29 jours. Chez les poivrons, le résidu initial est très grand par rapport aux deux premières légumes et atteint 19 ppm. 22 Jours après le traitement celui-ci varie entre 0,8–1,3 ppm.Ensuite, on a étudié la dynamique de la répartition dans le temps de la substance toxique par unité de surface. Les résultats obtenus démontrent l'uniformité des traitements; la diminution de la quantité de substance toxique dans le temps est due autant au facteur croissance qu'aux conditions de climat.

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Summary The paper deals with data on the persistence of DDT on tomatoes, sweet peppers and eggplants in the field, and on tomatoes in the greenhouse, following the application of emulsions. It is shown that in tomatoes, residual deposits are below 1 ppm 11 days after treatments in the field. In the greenhouse, the persistence is long-lasting, attaining up to 36 days when the same amount of toxicant is applied.In eggplants, the initial deposit is higher than in tomatoes attaining about 1 ppm after 22–29 days. In sweet peppers, the initial amount of residue is very large as compared to the first two vegetables and attains 19 ppm; 22 days after the treatement it ranges between 0.8–1.3 ppm.Besides, the dynamics of toxicant distribution with time, per area unit was studied. The data obtained demonstrate the uniformity of the treatments, and that the diminution of the amount of toxicant with time is due to both the growth factor and the climate conditions.

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Zusammenfassung In diesem Beitrag werden Daten betreffs der Karenzzeit der DDT-Rückstände auf Tomaten, Paprika und Eierfrüchten nach Behandlung des Feldbestandes und auf Tomaten, die im Treibhaus mit DDT-Emulsionen behandelt wurden, wiedergegeben. Aus unseren Untersuchungen geht hervor, daß der Rückstandswert auf Tomaten 11 Tage nach der Behandlung des Feldbestandes weniger als 1 ppm beträgt. Im Treibhaus hingegen erstreckt sich die Karenzzeit (Verweildauer) bis auf 36 Tage unter Anwendung derselben Wirkstoffmenge.Auf den Eierfrüchten ist der anfängliche Rückstandswert größer als auf den Tomaten und erreicht nach ungefähr 22–29 Tagen Werte unter 1 ppm. Im Falle der Paprikaschoten sind die Rückstandswerte anfangs sehr hoch im Gegensatz zu den vorher genannten Gemüsesorten und zwar erreichen sie 19 ppm. Nach 22 Tagen verzeichnen wir hier Werte von 0,8–1,3 ppm.Anschließend verfolgten wir die Dynamik der Wirkstoffverbreitung im Verhältnis der Zeit zur Oberflächeneinheit.Die erzielten Ergebnisse deuten sowohl auf eine uniform durchgeführte Behandlungsweise hin als auch auf die Tatsache, daß der zeitliche Rückgang der Rückstandsmenge von Wachstum und Klimabedingungen abhängig ist.

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avec 4 figs.     

Glanders--a comprehensive review

Since 1990 the number of glanders outbreaks in race, military and pleasure horses in Asia and South America is steadily increasing. Glanders, which is eradicated in Western Europe, Australia and Northern America, is currently considered a re-emerging disease. Consequently, the disease may be introduced into glanders-free regions by subclinical carriers at any time. The causative agent of glanders, Burkholderia (B.) mallei, is highly contagious and leads to chronic disease in horses whereas in donkeys and mules the disease is acute and often fatal. Occurrence of the disease leads to international trading restrictions and infected animals immediately have to be culled and safely disposed off. In humans B. mallei infection results in a severe clinical course, and is fatal without appropriate therapy. Its pathogenicity makes B. mallei a potential biological agent that may be used in bioterroristic attacks. Due to the eradication of glanders in the second half of the last century, veterinarians in western European countries are no longer familiar with its clinical presentation in solipeds. Having these facts in mind, this review describes the epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology and the current eradication strategy of this interesting zoonosis. Pictures of imported endurance horses infected with glanders taken during an eradication campaign in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2004 illustrate most typical clinical findings.     

The use of air‐coolers in broiler houses under subtropical conditions in Iraq

1. Under summer conditions in north Iraq, 2 000 chicks were reared for 56 d in two broiler houses. One house was provided with two air‐coolers. The birds were housed at densities of eight to 16 birds/m².

2. Differences in weight gain between birds in cooled and uncooled houses ranged from 101.5 g at eight birds/m² to 385 g at 16 birds/m². Food consumption increased gradually with increasing bird density. Food conversion efficiency, meat yield and carcass conformation were much better in the cooled house than under conventional conditions.

3. The financial return/m² ranged from 2.30 to 4.51 ID¹ in the cooled house, compared with 2.01 to 2.77 ID in the uncooled house at different floor densities.     

Inhibition of postharvest senescence of green leafy vegetables by exogenous D-cysteine and L-cysteine as precursors of hydrogen sulphide

Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) inhibits senescence in harvested fruit and vegetables but presents logistical, safety and regulatory issues to become a commercial treatment. D-cysteine and L-cysteine are semi-essential amino acids that are metabolised to hydrogen sulphide by plant tissues albeit by different pathways. This paper examines the effect of cysteine on postharvest senescence of three green leafy vegetables. Spraying pak choy leaves with 10 mmol D-cysteine, L-cysteine or DL-cysteine inhibited leaf senescence through a delayed loss of green colour expressed as market life, reduced respiration rate and reduced ethylene production. The beneficial effects of cysteine were similar to those achieved by fumigation with hydrogen sulphide. L-cysteine sprays on parsley and peppermint leaves also showed reduced leaf colour loss and respiration compared to untreated leaves. Cysteine, either as the racemate or individual enantiomers, is considered to have commercial potential for green leafy vegetables as it provides the beneficial effect of hydrogen sulphide but should be easier to register for commercial use due to the GRAS status of L-cysteine.     

Immobilization of Cationic Titanium Dioxide (TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript>) on Electrospun Nanofibrous Mat: Synthesis,Characterization, and Potential Environmental Application

We report a facile approach to fabrication and characterization of cationic titanium dioxide (TiO₂⁺) on poly (vinyl alcohol)/poly (acrylic acid) (PVA/PAA) composite electro-spun nanofibrous mat. The aim of this study is to develop a “functional electrospun nanofibrous mat” as a sustainable approach to superior photocatalytic degradation of organic colorants. For that, the PVA/PAA nanofibrous mat was prepared by electrospinning of PVA and PAA solution according to an aspect ratio of 1:1 and later water stability was induced by the thermal cross linking at an elevated temperature of 145 °C for 30 minute. By means of electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly, cationic titanium dioxide (TiO₂⁺, ~19 nm) was immobilized on the surface of the water stable nanofibrous mat. As functionalized composited nanofibrous mat was characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Superior competency of the functionalized nanofibrous mat towards photocatalytic degradation of organic dye (methyl blue) in aqueous solution was observed by using UV-visible spectrophotometer with quantitative measuring method. The result indicates a complete degradation of methyl blue within 40 mins and superior reusability upto 5 cycles application. The study signifies the prospect of using electrospun nanofibers to manipulate the catalytic activity, which could be a foundation for further rational design of various composite nanofibrous materials.     

Organics captured from comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust spacecraft

Organics found in comet 81P/Wild 2 samples show a heterogeneous and unequilibrated distribution in abundance and composition. Some organics are similar, but not identical, to those in interplanetary dust particles and carbonaceous meteorites. A class of aromatic-poor organic material is also present. The organics are rich in oxygen and nitrogen compared with meteoritic organics. Aromatic compounds are present, but the samples tend to be relatively poorer in aromatics than are meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. The presence of deuterium and nitrogen-15 excesses suggest that some organics have an interstellar/protostellar heritage. Although the variable extent of modification of these materials by impact capture is not yet fully constrained, a diverse suite of organic compounds is present and identifiable within the returned samples.     

Mutations in a human ROBO gene disrupt hindbrain axon pathway crossing and morphogenesis

The mechanisms controlling axon guidance are of fundamental importance in understanding brain development. Growing corticospinal and somatosensory axons cross the midline in the medulla to reach their targets and thus form the basis of contralateral motor control and sensory input. The motor and sensory projections appeared uncrossed in patients with horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis (HGPPS). In patients affected with HGPPS, we identified mutations in the ROBO3 gene, which shares homology with roundabout genes important in axon guidance in developing Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse. Like its murine homolog Rig1/Robo3, but unlike other Robo proteins, ROBO3 is required for hindbrain axon midline crossing.