Abstract: Allogeneic blood transfusion leads to the infusion into the recipient of large amounts of antigens that may create conditions which are related to immune system modulation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of smoking habit on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in the plasma of blood donors. Blood samples from 170 consecutive blood donors was collected and analyzed for serum markers, while questionnaire data was collected. Serum cotinine levels were calculated for non-smokers, while serum cytokine IL-6 and VEGF concentrations were also calculated among 88 randomly selected subjects. Controlling for the donors age and gender, a strong tendency was found for smoking within 24 h of the blood donation to be associated with a higher VEGF concentration of the donated blood (beta = 141.13, p = 0.06), while the donor age was independently related to VEGF levels (p = 0.001). Additionally the IL-6 levels in the transfused blood were independently associated with the donors age (p = 0.001) and gender (p = 0.002) but not with their smoking status. Further research is needed so as to assess the need of updating blood donation guide lines to regulate the time intervals between the time from the last cigarette and blood donation.
Abstract: Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a significant threat to public health, and represents a danger for both the development and health status of children and adolescents. Taking the above into account, our aim was to quantify Greek adolescents' exposure to SHS using serum cotinine levels. During 2006, 341 adolescents aged 13-17 were randomly selected from high schools in Heraklion and agreed to participate as part of the European Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study. Blood samples were drawn from a random sample of 106 adolescents, while serum cotinine/nicotine concentrations were measured by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The mean levels of serum cotinine and nicotine were calculated at 1.60 +/- 2.18 ng/mL and 4.48 +/- 4.00 ng/mL, respectively, while 97.7% of the non-smoker adolescents were found to have measureable levels of serum cotinine indicating exposure to SHS. The analysis revealed that their paternal (p = .001) and maternal smoking habits (p = .018) as also the existence of a younger brother or sister (p = .008) were the main modifiers of SHS exposure during adolescence. Conclusively, almost all of the measured Greek adolescents were exposed to SHS, even when their parents were non-smokers. This finding indicates the need for both community and school-based educational programmes as also the implementation of a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places.
Abstract: A new, simple, fast and sensitive method that enables the measurement of four dialkyl phosphates (DAPs) in human head hair is presented in the current study. The dialkyl phosphates, dimethyl phosphate (DMP), diethyl phosphate (DEP), diethyl thiophosphate (DETP) and diethyl dithiophosphate (DEDTP) are non-selective metabolites of the organophosphate pesticides (OPs). The extraction of DAPs from hair matrix was achieved by one step methanolic extraction. Head hair samples from general population and population occupationally exposed to OPs were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after derivatization with pentafluorobenzylbromide. The recovery of the target compounds was estimated at 84.3% for DMP, 116.1% for DEP, 109.0% for DETP and 91.5% for DEDTP. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and detection (LOD) was 20 and 6 pg/mg for DMP, 10 and 5 pg/mg for DEP and DETP and 5 and 3 pg/mg for DEDTP, respectively. With-run and between-run precision as well as accuracy was estimated. The percentage of positive hair samples for DMP, DEP, DETP and DEDTP for the group of general population was 63.0%, 96.3%, 66.7%, and 70.4% respectively. The samples from the group with occupational exposure were positive for all dialkyl phosphates analysed. The median concentrations for DMP were 165.0 and 181.7 pg/mg, for DEP were 51.2 and 812.9 pg/mg, for DETP were 54.0 and 660.1 pg/mg, and for DEDTP were 40.0 and 60.6 pg/mg for the general population group and the group with occupational exposure respectively. Significant differences in the levels of the total dialkyl phosphates amongst exposed and not exposed groups were observed (p<0.001). More specifically, the total ethyl phosphate (DEPs) and DAPs median concentrations were 119.5 and 301.5 pg/mg for the general population group and 1498.8 and 1694.4 pg/mg for the group with occupational exposure.
Abstract: Allelic variants of CYP1A1 and PON1 have been extensively studied as susceptibility factors in toxic response, although little is known about the role of these variants as risk factors for the plethora of diseases appearing in the human population. In this study we investigated the hypothesis of correlation of CYP1A1 and PON1 enzymes with the incidence of various medical examination findings in a Greek rural population professionally exposed to a variety of pesticides. The medical history of 492 individuals, randomly selected for the total population of 42,000, was acquired by interviews and their genotype determined for the CYP1A1*2A, PON1 M/L and PON1 Q/R polymorphisms. The assessment of exposure to pesticides of the population was verified by analytical methods. Analysis of the genetic data revealed that the allele frequencies of PON1 R, M and CYP1A1*2A alleles were 0.243, 0.39 and 0.107 respectively. The CYP1A1*2A polymorphism was found to have significant association with chronic obstructive pneumonopathy (p=0.045), peripheral circulatory problems (trend p=0.042), arteritis (p=0.022), allergies (trend p=0.046), hemorrhoids (trend p=0.026), allergic dermatitis (p=0.0016) and miscarriages (p=0.012). The PON1 Q/R polymorphism was found to have significant association with hypertension (p=0.046) and chronic constipation (p=0.028) whereas, the L/M polymorphism, with diabetes (p=0.036), arteritis (trend p=0.022) and hemorrhoids (trend p=0.027). Our results demonstrated an association between the CYP1A1/PON1 polymorphisms and several medical examination findings, thus indicating the possible involvement of the human detoxification system to health effects in a rural population exposed professionally to pesticides.
Abstract: RATIONALE: The acute effect of secondhand smoke (SHS) on lung function and the duration of system disruption remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: To assess the SHS effects and their duration on lung function and inflammatory markers. METHODS: In a randomized single-blind crossover experiment data were obtained from 16 (8 women) nonsmoking adults at baseline and at 0, 1, and 3 hours after a 1-hour SHS exposure set at bar/restaurant SHS levels. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum and urine cotinine, lung function, and cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IFN-gamma. At 0 hours most lung function parameters were significantly reduced (indicative: FEV(1), 4.3 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.3 L; FEV(1)/FVC, 0.9 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.1; P < 0.05) but at 3 hours they were at baseline levels. In contrast, cotinine (serum, 8.9 +/- 3.2 vs. 35.5 +/- 10.2 ng x ml(-1)), IL-4 (41.3 +/- 5.8 vs. 44.2 +/- 4.5 pg x ml(-1)), IL-5 (36.1 +/- 3.2 vs. 60.1 +/- 7.0 pg x ml(-1)), IL-6 (2.5 +/- 0.3 vs. 7.6 +/- 1.4 pg x ml(-1)) and IFN-gamma (0.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.2 IU x ml(-1)) at 3 hours were higher than at baseline (P < 0.05). IL-4 and TNF-alpha increased only in men, whereas IL-5, IL-6, and IFN-gamma were different between sexes after exposure (P < 0.05). Regression analyses revealed inverse associations of FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC ratio with IL-5 (P < 0.05) in men and with IL-5 (P = 0.01), IL-6 (P < 0.001), IFN-gamma (P = 0.034) and serum cotinine (P < 0.001) in women. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 1 hour of SHS exposure at bar/restaurant levels is accompanied by significant decrements on lung function and marked increases in inflammatory cytokines, particularly in men. More importantly, whereas most smoke-induced effects on lung function appear to recede within 60 minutes, inflammatory cytokines remain elevated for at least 3 hours after exposure to SHS.
Abstract: We report a fatal case of a female for whom the forensic autopsy revealed injuries to the external respiratory orifices indicating smothering. Subsequent postmortem toxicological analysis confirmed heavy amitriptyline acute intoxication. The victim had serious psychological problems, was under long-term treatment with antidepressants and was a systematic alcohol abuser. Forensic autopsy determined damage to the external airways, along with multiple formal petechial hemorrhages (Tardieu) in various parts of the body. The presence of amitriptyline, nortriptyline and 10-hydroxynortriptyline was confirmed by GC-MS and quantified by HPLC in blood (7.0 microg/ml amitriptyline and 7.4 microg/ml nortriptyline). The cause of death was disputed between severe intoxication (poisoning or suicide attempt) and smothering due to controversial evidence.
Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate mitomycin C (MMC) aqueous humor concentration after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: In this experimental study, twenty-four eyes of 12 male pigmented rabbits were divided into 4 groups and studied at the Institute of Vision and Optics, Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece. Eyes in groups 1 and 2 underwent PRK to correct -5 diopters (D) in a 6-mm optical zone, while sponges soaked with 0.02% MMC were applied on the exposed corneal stroma for 60 and 120 seconds, respectively. Similarly, eyes in groups 3 and 4 underwent PRK to correct -10 D in a 6-mm optical zone, while sponges soaked with 0.02% MMC were applied on the exposed corneal stroma for 60 and 120 seconds, respectively. Aqueous humor was extracted from all rabbit eyes 10 minutes after MMC application and high-performance liquid chromatography was performed immediately to detect and quantify MMC levels. RESULTS: The mean aqueous humor concentration of MMC was 0.23+/-0.03 microg/mL, 0.39+/-0.05 microg/mL, 0.28+/-0.04 microg/mL, and 0.52+/-0.16 microg/mL in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The effect of application time and correction on aqueous humor MMC concentration was significant (p<0.0001 and p=0.019), while the exposure time had a greater impact on aqueous humor MMC concentration when compared with the attempted correction. CONCLUSIONS: Both exposure time of MMC on the corneal stroma and the attempted correction was correlated with MMC aqueous humor concentrations.
Abstract: The authors developed a sensitive analytical method for the determination of dialkyl phosphates (DAPs) in meconium. This method was applied to determine the DAPs, which are non-specific metabolites of the organophosphate pesticides (OPs), in meconium of newborns by mothers who live in rural areas in Crete, Greece. DAPs are considered as biomarkers of exposure to OPs. Meconium is produced in the foetus at approximately 16 weeks of gestation and it acts as a repository of many xenobiotics. The determined organophosphate metabolites were dimethylphosphate (DMP), diethylphosphate (DEP), dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP), diethylthiophosphate (DETP), and diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP). The DAPs were extracted from meconium by liquid-solid extraction, derivatized, and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The mean percentile recoveries were 76.9%, 65.2%, 94.1%, 109.4%, and 107.2% for DMP, DEP, DMTP, DETP, and DEDTP, respectively. The percentage of positive samples was 92.1% for DMP, 36.8% for DEP, 60.5% for DMTP, 63.2% for DETP, and 57.9% for DEDTP. Mean (+/- standard deviation) and the range concentrations of the positive samples (ng g(-1)) were 126.74 +/- 142.73 (10.64-739.45), 11.46 +/- 20.43 (1.50-79.14), 215.05 +/- 187.34 (8.54-662.16), 4.92 +/- 5.09 (1.25-19.04), and 1.84 +/- 2.07 (0.5-8.04) for DMP, DEP, DMTP, DETP, and DEDTP, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in meconium levels between high- and low-risk groups of exposure of pregnant women. However, the results of this study demonstrate that DAPs in meconium may be considered as a potential biomarker for the assessment of foetal exposure to organophosphate pesticides.
Abstract: In the present work we assessed chronic exposure of different working population groups of Messara and Sitia districts, Crete, Greece, to common currently used pesticides (diazinon, fenthion, methyl parathion and malathion) and two banned pesticides hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and DDT. The study population (211 persons, 110 females and 101 males) was divided to three groups; people working in greenhouses, animal breeders and people working in open cultivations. Methanolic extraction of pulverized hair was used for organophosphate pesticides extraction, followed by liquid-liquid extraction with water-ethyl acetate as a clean up step. The extraction of organochlorine pollutants was performed by acidic hydrolysis of the hair matrix followed by liquid-liquid and solid phase extraction. The levels of the aforementioned pesticides were measured by GC-ECD and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The median concentrations of a-HCH, HCB, lindane, opDDE, ppDDE, opDDD, ppDDD + opDDT and ppDDT were determined at 7.2, 2.2, 70.2, 2.7, 5.7, 3.1, 2.6 and 23.2 pg/mg. The median concentration of total HCHs and DDTs detected in the three working groups were: 95.0 and 8.9 pg/mg for the greenhouse workers, 38.2 and 3.3 pg/mg for the animal breeders and 24.1 and 5.2 pg/mg for the open cultivation group. Ten head hair samples were positive for diazinon at a mean concentration of 2.8 pg/mg. Fenthion, methyl parathion and malathion were not detected. Our results demonstrated the ability to assess chronic human past pesticides exposure, offering valuable information to epidemiological clinical studies.
Abstract: We present the assessment of chronic exposure of the rural population of Helia Peloponnesus, Greece to banned organochlorine pesticides, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), using hair analysis. A total of 222 head hair samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of those organochlorine pesticides and their metabolites or isomers. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used to measure the levels of the pollutants. The median concentrations of alpha-HCH, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, ortho para 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (opDDE), para para 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (ppDDE), ortho para 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (opDDD), para para 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (ppDDD) + ortho para 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane, and para para 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane were determined at 40.4, 19.7, 124.2, 6.2, 7.8, 73.1, 8.0, and 5.7 pg/mg. The median concentration of total HCHs and DDTs were 117.8 pg/mg and 9.4 pg/mg, respectively. The levels of total HCHs were much higher than the levels of DDTs in the hair samples of the studied population. This may be attributed to the presence of lindane, a pesticide officially banned in 2002. It is interesting to see that DDTs are still traced in samples despite their use being banned for more than three decades. There was no difference in the levels of the detected pesticides in hair sampled from men or women. The concentration of HCHs remains high and relatively stable across the age groups, suggesting constant exposure until very recently. The concentration of the total DDTs and the parent compound, pp-DDT presents a statistically significant decreasing trend across the age groups.
Abstract: CONTEXT: Active smoking influences normal metabolic status and thyroid function. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess experimentally the effects of 1 h of moderate passive smoking in a controlled simulated bar/restaurant environment on the metabolism and thyroid hormone levels in healthy nonsmokers. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen (nine females, nine males) healthy individuals (mean +/- sd: age, 25.3 +/- 3.1 yr; height, 174.0 +/- 10.1 cm; weight, 65.2 +/- 13.7 kg) participated in the study. DESIGN: In repeated-measures randomized blocks, participants visited the laboratory on 2 consecutive days. In the experimental condition, they were exposed to 1 h of moderate passive smoking at a carbon monoxide concentration of 23 +/- 1 ppm in an environmental chamber, whereas in the control condition participants remained in the same chamber for 1 h breathing normal atmospheric air. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In both conditions, cotinine serum and urine levels, resting energy expenditure (REE), as well as concentration of T3, free T4, and TSH were assessed before participants entered the chamber and immediately after their exit. Heart rate and blood pressure were tested in 10-min intervals during all REE assessments. RESULTS: The mean +/- sd difference of serum and urine cotinine levels (-0.27 +/- 3.94 vs. 14.01 +/- 6.54 and 0.05 +/- 2.07 vs. 7.23 +/- 3.75, respectively), REE (6.73 +/- 98.06 vs. 80.58 +/- 120.91) as well as T3 and free T4 (0.05 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.13 +/- 0.12 and 0.02 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.22 +/- 0.20) were increased in the experimental compared with the control condition at baseline and follow-up (P < 0.05). No statistically significant variation was observed in the mean difference of the remaining parameters (P > 0.05). Serum and urine cotinine values were linearly associated with REE (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: One hour of passive smoking at bar/restaurant levels is accompanied by significant increases in metabolism and thyroid hormone levels.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Poor solubility and toxicity severely hinder the clinical use of amphotericin B (AmB), in spite of its attractive chemotherapeutic properties. Water-soluble complexes of AmB and polyvinylpyrrolidone (AmB-PVP) could display lower cytotoxicity while maintaining antifungal activity. METHODS: AmB-PVP [with PVP of 10, 24 and 40 kDa (AC1, AC2 and AC4)] were compared with free AmB for (i) activity against Candida spp. (five albicans; nine non-albicans) and Aspergillus spp. (four strains), (ii) haemolysis of sheep red blood cells, and (iii) release of lactate dehydrogenase from J774 macrophages [with further comparison with free PVP and a liposomal formulation of amphotericin (AmBisome)]. RESULTS: MICs and MFCs of AC1, AC2 and AC4 against Candida spp. and of AC2 and AC4 against Aspergillus spp. were similar to those of AmB (and even lower for some Candida strains). Killing kinetics (24 h) were also similar. Haemolytic activity of AC2 and AC4 was 2-fold lower than that of free AmB. Cytotoxicity of AC2 towards J774 macrophages was 8-fold lower, and that of AC4 5-fold lower than that of AmB and not significantly different from that of AmBisome. The lower cytotoxicity of AC2, AC4 was correlated with a lower cellular accumulation of amphotericin. Spectroscopic analysis shows that the lower toxicity of AmB-PVP was not owing to significant change in the monomeric/polymeric forms ratio of the drug. CONCLUSIONS: AmB-PVP complexes compared favourably with AmB for antifungal activity, were less haemolytic and cytotoxic than AmB, and show a similar cytotoxicity profile to AmBisome.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Greece has the highest adult smoking prevalence in the European Union, affecting not only those who smoke but also threatening the health of those who are involuntarily exposed to passive smoke, especially young Greek children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to quantify passive smoking biomarkers (serum nicotine and cotinine levels) among preschool children in Crete in relation to parental smoking habits. METHODS: All children enrolled in kindergarten in western Crete (1,757 preschool children and 2,809 parents) were interviewed during the 2004-2005 Cretan health promotion programme out of which a sample of 81 children was randomly selected according to parental smoking status and blood samples for cotinine and nicotine assay were taken. RESULTS: The geometric means of serum nicotine values in children with both parents current smokers and in those with both parents non-smokers were 0.71 ng/ml (95%CI 0.62, 0.80) and 0.59 ng/ml (95%CI 0.49, 0.69), respectively, (p=0.073). Cotinine geometric mean values were found at 1.69 ng/ml (95%CI 0.93, 3.06) and 0.15 ng/ml (95%CI 0.09, 0.28), respectively, (p<0.001). Girls with smoker parents had also greater cotinine geometric mean values than boys (3.35 versus 0.85 ng/ml, respectively, p=0.018). CONCLUSION: Our findings prove that Greek preschool children, especially young girls, are exposed to substantial levels of passive smoke which therefore stresses the need for immediate action so as to prevent the predisposition and early addiction of Greek preschool children to tobacco.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to present Greek law and legislation for crimes and felonies regarding drugs of abuse and the interpretation of hair testing results with respect to Greek law. Details (such as the process, the decision and the competence of the Court, the police record, the indictment, the expert reports, the defendant's individuality, the crimes and the penal confrontal and many others) from legal cases related to toxicomany and its judicial verification were collected and analysed. Laboratory data of cases concerning the laboratory evaluation of toxicomany in addicts and also occasionally the legal course of cases with addict defendants are presented. In four representative cases segmental hair analysis proved that, for as long as the individuals were imprisoned, findings with drug substances corresponding to that period were lesser or practically absent compared with samples corresponding to the time out of prison, which showed increased drug abuse. Hair analysis provides information on chronic exposure rather than acute poisoning. Its detection window varies from some days to months or even years. The procedure that the law lays down in many cases is insufficient and in most cases impossible to abide by. When the medical examiner is not able to decide if the claim of toxicomany is real, segmental hair analysis may be the only way to prove it. In other cases where the medical examiner is able to diagnose the addiction, a segmental hair analysis is necessary because it can show long-term drug abuse.
Abstract: The degree of penetration of newer quinolones into the pleural fluid has not been studied. The objective of the present study was to determine the degree to which moxifloxacin and levofloxacin penetrate into empyemic pleural fluid using a new rabbit model of empyema. An empyema was created via the intrapleural injection of turpentine (1 mL), followed 24 h later by instillation of 2 mL (1 x 10(10)) Escherichia coli bacteria (ATCC 35218) into the pleural space of New Zealand white rabbits. After an empyema was verified by thoracentesis and pleural fluid analysis, moxifloxacin and levofloxacin (25 mg.kg(-1) for both, i.v.) were administered. Antibiotic levels were determined in samples of pleural fluid and in blood collected serially over 12 h. Antibiotic levels were measured using HPLC. Each of the antibiotics penetrated well into the empyemic pleural fluid. Antibiotic penetration was the greatest for moxifloxacin (area under the curve (AUC) for pleural fluid/blood (AUCPF/AUCblood) ratio=1.37) followed by levofloxacin (ratio=1.13). The time to equilibration between the pleural fluid and blood antibiotic levels was more rapid for moxifloxacin (3.9 h) than for levofloxacin (4.4 h). With moxifloxacin, the peak pleural fluid concentration (Cmax,PF) was 2.77 microg.mL(-1) and occurred at a time to maximum pleural fluid concentration (Tmax,PF) of 6 h after infusion and decreased thereafter. The peak blood concentration (Cmax,blood) was 4.81 microg.mL(-1) at 1 h after administration. With levofloxacin, the peak pleural fluid level (Cmax,PF=1.39 microg.mL(-1)) occurred at 6 h (Tmax,PF=6 h) after infusion. The Cmax,blood was 1.88 microg.mL(-1) at 1 h after administration. In conclusion, differences were found in the degree of penetration of the two quinolones into infected pleural fluid in rabbits. The clinical significance of these differences is unknown. More studies are needed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters in the pleural space in humans.
Abstract: Residues of fenthion and dimethoate pesticides were determined in organic and conventional olive oils by liquid-liquid and solid-phase extractions with subsequent gas chromatography and mass spectrometric analysis. The olive oil samples were collected from Crete during 1997-99. The average concentrations of fenthion in conventional olive oils were 0.1222, 0.145 and 0.1702 mg x kg(-1), and for dimethoate were 0.0226, 0.0264 and 0.0271 mg x kg(-1) for 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. The average concentrations of fenthion in organic olive oils were 0.0215, 0.0099 and 0.0035 mg x kg(-1) for 1997, 1998 and 1999, while for dimethoate they were 0.0098, 0.0038 and 0.0010 mg x kg(-1), respectively. All the olive oils contained residue levels lower than the maximum residue levels according to the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius. The organic olive oil contained significantly lower concentrations of the two pesticides. The levels of fenthion and dimethoate in organic olive oils exhibited a decreasing trend following the implementation of the new cultivation method. We propose procedures that should be established in the organic cultivation in order to maximize its effectiveness.
Abstract: The inhibitory activity of amphotericin B, clotrimazole, econazole, miconazole and nystatin was compared against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-cucumerinum. The most efficient antifungal agent against the growth of Fusarium oxysporum was econazole, followed by clotrimazole, miconazole, amphotericin and nystatin. The ED50 and ED90 values were 0.053 and 1.002 ppm for econazole, 0.088 and 1.100 ppm for clotrimazole, 0.173 and 3.210 ppm for miconazole, 0.713 and greater than 48 ppm for amphotericin and 3.860 and 16.702 ppm for nystatin. The ED50 values of nystatin and amphotericin against spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum were determined at 3.1427 ppm and 8.3990 ppm respectively, nystatin was 2.76 times more effective than amphotericin, while no effect was observed after the addition of econazole, clotrimazole and miconazole. The tested azoles were more effective than amphotericin and nystatin on growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum but amphotericin and nystatin acted significantly better on spore germination of Fusarium.
Abstract: Enzyme histochemical methods allow determination of wound age, especially in the range of a few hours, and are used to distinguish between postmortem and antemortem skin wounds. The methods are based on the determination of the presence and changes of the enzyme reaction in the wound area. Increased activity of nonspecific esterases was observed approximately 1 hour after wounding and was followed by an increase in adenosine triphosphatase at approximately 2 hours and alkaline phosphatase at approximately 3.5 hours. Maximum enzyme activity was reached for nonspecific esterases at 24 hours, for adenosine triphosphatase at 20 hours, and for alkaline phosphatase at 32 hours after wounding.
Abstract: In Greece, sectional hair analysis, in addition to clinical examination, has been used as a valuable tool for the confirmation of a person's history of drug use. The present report concerns the toxicologic analysis of the exhumed remains and hair samples of an 18-year-old woman. Postmortem toxicologic analysis of blood and urine confirmed recent opiate and cannabis use and indicated that death was associated with heroin abuse. Several months later, the woman's family asked for exhumation and reexamination of the body, insisting that the cause of death was homicide. The investigating judge ordered exhumation and new medicolegal examination of the body. The investigation of the drug profile along the hair shaft was undertaken by analyzing hair sections 1 cm from the hair root for morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, heroin, and cannabinoids. The total lengths of the hair samples ranged from 8 to 11 cm. The total morphine levels in the hair sections corresponding to the 3-month period before death were significantly lower (1.5-2.85 ng/mg) than those of the 4- to 10-month period before death (7.4-14.8 ng/mg). An interpretation of these results may be occasional drug use (with considerable attenuation of use during the last 3 months before death). Decrease of tolerance to heroin caused by abstinence and relapse in use could have been the cause of death.
Abstract: In vitro adsorption experiments simulating pH in gastric environment and using Langmuir isotherm, showed that 408 mg of oxytetracycline was adsorbed per gram of activated charcoal. Langmuir isotherm fitted adsorption data better than a Freundlich isotherm. Freundlich isotherm showed a specific adsorption capacity of 518 mg/g for activated charcoal. Both isotherm parameters indicated a strong oxytetracycline adsorption on activated charcoal in terms of quantity and binding strength. The results demonstrate that the concomitant use of oxytetracyline and activated charcoal should be avoided.
Abstract: New controlled release water-soluble formulations of sorbic (2,4-hexadienoic) acid were prepared and their inhibitory activity on mycelium growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-cucumerinum was evaluated. The new products are epoxidized polymers of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) containing covalently bonded sorbic acid (polymeric esters of sorbic acid) and complexes of PVP with hydrogen bonded sorbic acid, characterized by controlled release of sorbic acid. It was shown that the polymeric complexes of sorbic acid with PVP were more effective fungicidal agents than sorbic acid polymeric esters. In all cases the activity of polymeric derivatives (esters and complexes) was increased by lowering the molecular weight of the polymeric carriers. Controlled release formulations of these polymeric derivatives are new promising products due to their low toxicity, wide range of efficient concentrations for application and ability to regulate lyophilicity. Our data contribute to the understanding of the action mechanism of various polymeric sorbic acid formulations and can result in products which are particularly suitable for food and feed protection applications.
Abstract: This work studied the incorporation of methomyl, a carbamate insecticide, into the hair of New Zealand white rabbits. A total of 600 mg methomyl was administered by drinking water over 4 mo, and acetylcholinesterase activity in serum was monitored. At the end of the dosing period, hair from the back of the rabbits was cut off, and the methomyl concentration was measured using ELISA and HPLC. A decrease of serum acetylcholinesterase occurred. The top cm of hair contained no methomyl, the second cm contained 0.9 ng/mg and the 3rd cm of hair contained 3 ng methomyl/mg. Methomyl was incorporated into the rabbit hair in a process independent of gender but dependent on the hair growth rate.
