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Minimum Dose (minimum + dose)
Selected AbstractsORIGINAL ARTICLE: Lipopolysaccharide Alters the Vaginal Electrical Resistance in Cycling and Pregnant MiceAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Varkha Agrawal Problem, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been postulated to exert harmful biologic effects during pregnancy. The objective of present investigation is to measure the vaginal electrical resistance (VER) in LPS-treated normal cycling and pregnant female mice. Method of study, Minimum dose (MD) of LPS (250 ,g/kg body weight) was injected in pregnant female mice through i.p. route on day 0.5 of pregnancy. VER was measured during different phases of reproductive cycle in female mice, which were pre-exposed to LPS and in untreated cycling female mice. VER was also measured in control pregnant female mice (saline-treated mice) through whole pregnancy and LPS-treated female mice in early stages of pregnancy. Results, Vaginal electrical resistance was significantly higher during proestrous or early estrous stage as compared with any other stages of reproductive cycle in mouse. One peak of VER was observed during peri-implantation period of pregnancy in control female mice. The significant differences in the pattern of VER were found between LPS-treated and control female mice during peri-implantation period of pregnancy, and between cycling female mice, which were pre-exposed to LPS and untreated cycling female mice during proestrus. Conclusion, The presented results demonstrate, for the first time, that LPS exposure during pregnancy may be determined by measuring VER in mothers without any adverse effect on ongoing pregnancy and may help in refining the assisted reproduction techniques. [source] An audit of eccentrically-positioned ruthenium plaque radiotherapy of choroidal melanoma in LiverpoolACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009A RUSSO Purpose Brachytherapy is usually administered with the plaque overlapping the entire tumour margin by at least 1-2mm. With posterior tumours, our practice is to position the plaque with its posterior edge aligned with the posterior tumour margin. We audited ocular outcomes after eccentrically-placed ruthenium plaque radiotherapy of choroidal melanoma. Methods Patients were included if receiving primary ruthenium brachytherapy for choroidal melanoma during the three years up to the 31st July 2007. A perforated template was used to facilitate plaque positioning. For posterior tumors, the template was positioned so that trans-illumination produced a glow at the posterior tumour margin (,sunset sign'). Minimum doses of 300-350 Gy and 80-90 Gy were prescribed to the sclera and apex, respectively. Results The cohort comprised 162 patients (93 female and 69 male). The time to the last known visual acuity had a median of 23 months. The initial visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 94.6%, 20/60 to 20/200 in 13.0% and worse than 20/200 in 1.9% of patients. The tumours had a mean basal diameter of 11.7mm. Ten tumours exceeded 5.4 mm in height. Tumour extension to within 5mm of optic disc, fovea or both occurred in 18 (11.1%), 28 (17.3%) and 27 (16.7%) cases respectively. Risk factors for visual loss were proximity to optic disc or fovea, initial visual acuity worse than 20/40 and tumour height exceeding 5.4 mm. In 66 patients with none of these risk factors, 92% retained 20/40 or better and 5 had vision of 20/60 , 20/200. In 72 with one risk factor, 74.3% retained 20/16 , 20/40 and 95.7% had vision of 20/200 or better. In 12 patients with 2 risk factors, these percentages were 25.0% and 91.7%. Only 3 patients had 3 risk factors and one retained vision of 20/200 or better. Tumours distanced < 5 mm to fovea were divided in 3 groups, and visual acuity analysed. Three patients had local tumour recurrence and were treated respectively by proton beam radiotherapy, plaque radiotherapy and enucleation (the only eye lost in this series). Conclusion Eccentric plaque radiotherapy of choroidal melanoma achieves good rates of local tumour control, ocular retention and preservation of vision. [source] The Effect of Beta-Blocker (Carvedilol) Therapy on N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels and Echocardiographic Findings in Patients with Congestive Heart FailureECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2007Fuat Gundogdu M.D. Background: The favorable effects of beta-blockers on decreasing mortality in contemporary heart failure management have been demonstrated in recent years. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic (NT-proBNP) peptide levels increase in patients with heart failure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the NT-proBNP levels and echocardiographic findings for the patients who received carvedilol therapy in addition to standard therapy for congestive heart failure. Methods and Results: A total of 25 patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure and 25 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Before introducing beta-blocker into their therapy regimens, baseline transthoracic echocardiography recordings were made and venous blood samples were drawn for establishing NT-proBNP levels. The patients were administered with a minimum dose of carvedilol. Three months after reaching the maximum tolerable dose, blood samples were drawn from the patients once again for NT-proBNP measurements, and transthoracic echocardiography was performed. There was a significant drop in plasma NT-proBNP levels at the end of the study in comparison to the baseline values (baseline: 381.20±35.06 pg/mL, at the end of the third month: 254.44±28.64 pg/mL; P < 0.001). While left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters were observed to have significantly decreased as a result of the therapy (P < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (P<0.001) was established to have increased significantly. Conclusions: Carvedilol therapy resulted in a marked decrease in plasma NT-proBNP levels and increase left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with congestive heart failure. [source] The International Quotidian Hemodialysis Registry: Rationale and challengesHEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2008Robert M. LINDSAY Abstract Outcomes from conventional thrice-weekly hemodialysis (CHD) are disappointing for a life-saving therapy. The results of the HEMO Study show that the recommended minimum dose (Kt/V) for adequacy is also the optimum attainable with CHD. Interest is therefore turning to alternative therapies exploring the effects of increased frequency and time of hemodialysis (HD) treatment. The National Institutes of Health have sponsored 2 randomized prospective trials comparing short hours daily in-center HD and long hours slow nightly home HD with CHD. An International Registry has also been created to capture observational data on patients receiving short hours daily in-center HD, long hours slow nightly home HD, and other alternative therapies. Participation by individual centers, other registries and the major dialysis chains is growing and currently data from nearly 3000 patients have been collected. Pitfalls in data collection have been identified and are being corrected. A matched cohort (patients in other registries) study is planned to obtain information regarding hard outcomes expected from these therapies. The Registry may become the most important source of information required by governments, providers, and the nephrological community in assessing the utility of such therapies. [source] Dosimetric comparison of intensity modulated radiotherapy techniques and standard wedged tangents for whole breast radiotherapy*JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Andrew Fong Summary Prior to introducing intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT) into our department we undertook a comparison of the dose parameters of several IMRT techniques and standard wedged tangents (SWT). Our aim was to improve the dose distribution to the breast and to decrease the dose to organs at risk (OAR): heart, lung and contralateral breast (Contra Br). Treatment plans for 20 women (10 right-sided and 10 left-sided) previously treated with SWT for WBRT were used to compare (a) SWT; (b) electronic compensators IMRT (E-IMRT); (c) tangential beam IMRT (T-IMRT); (d) coplanar multi-field IMRT (CP-IMRT); and (e) non-coplanar multi-field IMRT (NCP-IMRT). Plans for the breast were compared for (i) dose homogeneity (DH); (ii) conformity index (CI); (iii) mean dose; (iv) maximum dose; (v) minimum dose; and dose to OAR were calculated (vi) heart; (vii) lung and (viii) Contra Br. Compared with SWT, all plans except CP-IMRT gave improvement in at least two of the seven parameters evaluated. T-IMRT and NCP-IMRT resulted in significant improvement in all parameters except DH and both gave significant reduction in doses to OAR. As on initial evaluation NCP-IMRT is likely to be too time consuming to introduce on a large scale, T-IMRT is the preferred technique for WBRT for use in our department. [source] Does Dihydrohonokiol, a Potent Anxiolytic Compound, Result in the Development of Benzodiazepine-like Side Effects?JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 8 2000HISASHI KURIBARA The aims of this study were to assess whether dihydrohonokiol, 3,-(2-propenyl)-5-propyl-(1,1,-biphenyl)-2,4,-diol (DHH-B), a potent anxiolytic compound, developed benzodiazepine-like side effects. A 1 mgkg,1 dose of diazepam, almost equivalent to the minimum dose for the anxiolytic effect, disrupted the traction performance, potentiated hexobarbital-induced sleeping and impaired learning and memory performance. DHH-B, even at a dose of 1 mg kg,1 (i.e. five times higher than the minimum dose for significant anxiolytic effect) neither developed diazepam-like side effects nor enhanced the side effects of diazepam. Rather, the potentiation by diazepam of hexobarbital-induced sleeping was reduced by 1 mg kg,1 DHH-B. Furthermore, mice treated with 10 daily administrations of 1 and 5 mg kg,1 diazepam, but not 0.2,5 mg kg,1 DHH-B, showed precipitated withdrawal symptoms characterized by hyper-reactivity, tremor and tail-flick reaction when they were challenged with flumazenil (10 mg kg,1 i.p.). These results suggest that, unlike the benzodiazepine anxiolytic diazepam, DHH-B is less likely to induce motor dysfunction, central depression, amnesia or physical dependence at the effective dose required for the anxiolytic effect. [source] Field efficacy of a 10 per cent pyriproxyfen spot-on for the prevention of flea infestations on catsJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 10 2001L. Maynard The clinical application of a new method for using the insect growth regulator, pyriproxyfen, for controlling flea populations in cat-owning homes is evaluated for the first time. In a multicentric, controlled and randomised trial, 107 flea-infested cats were treated with a minimum dose of 10 mg/kg bodyweight pyriproxyfen as a 10 per cent spot-on application on two occasions, with a three-month interval between doses. For comparison, 99 cats received lufenuron suspension orally, once a month, for six months. Flea counts decreased significantly over time in each group and were significantly lower in the pyriproxyfen group than in cats treated with the reference product. The percentage of ,zero-flea' cats increased from 49 per cent on day 30 to 88 per cent on day 180 in the pyriproxyfen group and from 30 to 71 per cent in the lufenuron group at the same time points (P<0,05). Appropriately timed topical applications of pyriproxyfen, therefore, offer a method of flea control in the domestic environment. [source] Thresholds for food allergens and their value to different stakeholdersALLERGY, Issue 5 2008R. W. R Crevel Thresholds constitute a critical piece of information in assessing the risk from allergenic foods at both the individual and population levels. Knowledge of the minimum dose that can elicit a reaction is of great interest to all food allergy stakeholders. For allergic individuals and health professionals, individual threshold data can inform allergy management. Population thresholds can help both the food industry and regulatory authorities assess the public health risk and design appropriate food safety objectives to guide risk management. Considerable experience has been gained with the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC), but only recently has the technique been adapted to provide data on thresholds. Available data thus vary greatly in quality, with relatively few studies providing the best quality individual data, using the low-dose DBPCFC. Such high quality individual data also form the foundation for population thresholds, but these also require, in addition to an adequate sample size, a good characterization of the tested population in relation to the whole allergic population. Determination of thresholds at both an individual level and at a population level is influenced by many factors. This review describes a low-dose challenge protocol developed as part of the European Community-funded Integrated Project Europrevall, and strongly recommends its wider use so that data are generated that can readily increase the power of existing studies. [source] Changes in the highest frequency of breath sounds without wheezing during methacholine inhalation challenge in childrenRESPIROLOGY, Issue 3 2010Chizu HABUKAWA ABSTRACT A breath sound analyser was used to detect bronchoconstriction without wheezing during methacholine inhalation challenge in children. The highest frequency of inspiratory breath sounds increased significantly during bronchoconstriction and decreased after inhalation of a bronchodilator. The highest frequency of inspiratory breaths sounds was correlated with bronchial reactivity. Background and objective: It is difficult for clinicians to identify changes in breath sounds caused by bronchoconstriction when wheezing is not audible. A breath sound analyser can identify changes in the frequency of breath sounds caused by bronchoconstriction. The present study aimed to identify the changes in the frequency of breath sounds during bronchoconstriction and bronchodilatation using a breath sound analyser. Methods: Thirty-six children (8.2 ± 3.7 years; males : females, 22 : 14) underwent spirometry, methacholine inhalation challenge and breath sound analysis. Methacholine inhalation challenge was performed and baseline respiratory resistance, minimum dose of methacholine (bronchial sensitivity) and speed of bronchoconstriction in response to methacholine (Sm: bronchial reactivity) were calculated. The highest frequency of inspiratory breath sounds (HFI), the highest frequency of expiratory breath sounds (HFE) and the percentage change in HFI and HFE were determined. The HFI and HFE were compared before methacholine inhalation (pre-HFI and pre-HFE), when respiratory resistance reached double the baseline value (max HFI and max HFE), and after bronchodilator inhalation (post-HFI and post-HFE). Results: Breath sounds increased during methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. Max HFI was significantly greater than pre-HFI (P < 0.001), and decreased to the basal level after bronchodilator inhalation. Post-HFI was significantly lower than max HFI (P < 0.001). HFI and HFE were also significantly changed (P < 0.001). The percentage change in HFI showed a significant correlation with the speed of bronchoconstriction in response to methacholine (P = 0.007). Conclusions: Methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction significantly increased HFI, and the increase in HFI was correlated with bronchial reactivity. [source] Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: Future Directions for Screening and Intervention in the Emergency DepartmentACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2009Rebecca M. Cunningham MD Abstract This article is a product of a breakout session on injury prevention from the 2009 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference on "Public Health in the ED: Screening, Surveillance, and Intervention." The emergency department (ED) is an important entry portal into the medical care system. Given the epidemiology of substance use among ED patients, the delivery of effective brief interventions (BIs) for alcohol, drug, and tobacco use in the ED has the potential to have a large public health impact. To date, the results of randomized controlled trials of interventional studies in the ED setting for substance use have been mixed in regard to alcohol and understudied in the area of tobacco and other drugs. As a result, there are more questions remaining than answered. The work group developed the following research recommendations that are essential for the field of screening and BI for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in the ED. 1) Screening,develop and validate brief and practical screening instruments for ED patients and determine the optimal method for the administration of screening instruments. 2) Key components and delivery methods for intervention,conduct research on the effectiveness of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in the ED on outcomes (e.g., consumption, associated risk behaviors, and medical psychosocial consequences) including minimum dose needed, key components, optimal delivery method, interventions focused on multiple risk behaviors and tailored based on assessment, and strategies for addressing polysubstance use. 3) Effectiveness among patient subgroups,conduct research to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from a BI for substance use, including research on moderators and mediators of intervention effectiveness, and examine special populations using culturally and developmentally appropriate interventions. 4) Referral strategies,a) promote prospective effectiveness trials to test best strategies to facilitate referrals and access from the ED to preventive services, community resources, and substance abuse and mental health treatment; b) examine impact of available community services; c) examine the role of stigma of referral and follow-up; and d) examine alternatives to specialized treatment referral. 5) Translation,conduct translational and cost-effectiveness research of proven efficacious interventions, with attention to fidelity, to move ED SBIRT from research to practice. [source] Mineral status of Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton) fingerlings in relation to supplemental phytase: absorption, whole-body and bone mineral contentAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005Dipesh Debnath Abstract A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to quantify the effects of microbial phytase supplementation on apparent absorption, whole body and bone contents of minerals in Pangasius pangasius fingerlings. Seven isoprotein (35.67%) and isocaloric (3870 kcal kg,1) diets were prepared with graded levels of supplemental phytase at 0 (T1), 150 (T2), 250 (T3), 350 (T4), 500 (T5), 1000 (T6) and 2000 (T7) FTU (Phytase Units) kg,1. Three hundred and fifteen fingerlings of P. pangasius (1.97,2.05 g) were randomly distributed in seven treatments with three replicates each. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in tissue protein content in phytase-supplemented groups compared with the control. Apparent absorptions of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), potassium (K), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the phytase-supplemented groups than the control group. Faecal ash and P contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the control (T1) than the phytase-supplemented groups. Whole-body contents of Ca, P, Zn, Fe, Cu and Co were significantly (P<0.05) improved by the dietary supplementation of phytase-barring Mg and Mn. Concentrations of bone Ca, P, K, Cu and Co were significantly (P<0.05) higher in phytase-supplemented groups. Bone ash contents (40.77,44.85%) were increased concomitantly with the increased level of phytase inclusion upto 500 FTU kg,1 diet. It was observed that a minimum dose of 250 FTU phytase kg,1 diet improved the mineral absorption and utilization in P. pangasius fingerlings. [source] Dosimetric implications of the addition of 18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography in CT-based radiotherapy planning for non-small-cell lung cancerJOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2010SK Vinod Summary The aim of this study was to assess the impact of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) CT on radiotherapy planning parameters for patients treated curatively with radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Five patients with stages I,III NSCLC underwent a diagnostic FDG-PET CT (dPET CT), planning FDG-PET CT (pPET CT) and a simulation CT (RTP CT). For each patient, three radiation oncologists delineated a gross tumour volume based on RTP CT alone, and fused with dPET CT and pPET CT. Standard expansions were used to generate PTVs, and a 3D conformal plan was created. Normal tissue doses were compared between plans. Coverage of pPET CT PTV by the plans based on RTP CT and dPET CT was assessed, and tumour control probabilities were calculated. Mean PTV was similar between RTP CT, dPET CT and pPET CT, although there were significant inter-observer differences in four patients. The plans, however, showed no significant differences in doses to lung, oesophagus, heart or spinal cord. The RTP CT plan and dPET CT plan significantly underdosed the pPET PTV in two patients with minimum doses ranging from 12 to 63% of prescribed dose. Coverage by the 95% isodose was suboptimal in these patients, but this did not translate into poorer tumour control probability. The effect of fused FDG-PET varied between observers. The addition of dPET and pPET did not significantly change the radiotherapy planning parameters. Although FDG-PET is of benefit in tumour delineation, its effect on normal tissue complication probability and tumour control probability cannot be predicted. [source] Color and Toxicity Removal following Tyrosinase-Catalyzed Oxidation of PhenolsBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 4 2000Keisuke Ikehata The products of phenol oxidation catalyzed by mushroom tyrosinase (polyphenol oxidase, EC 1.14.18.1) were assessed in terms of their residual color and toxicity. The addition of aluminum sulfate had little effect on the removal of colored products from phenol solutions treated with tyrosinase. Although chitosan was used successfully to remove the color when added before the reaction initiation or after the reaction completion, the required dose of chitosan was lower when it was added after the reaction. In this case, the minimum doses of chitosan required to achieve 90% color removal were proportional to the logarithm of the initial concentration of phenol. The color removal induced by chitosan addition appeared to be the result of chemical interaction followed by a coagulation mechanism. All treated solutions of phenol and chlorophenols, except 2,4-dichlorophenol, had substantially lower toxicities than their corresponding initial toxicities, as measured using the Microtox assay. Chitosan addition significantly enhanced the reduction in toxicity. The toxicities of the phenol solutions treated with tyrosinase were markedly lower than previously reported toxicities of solutions treated with peroxidase enzymes. [source] | ||||||||||