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Commercial Preparations (commercial + preparation)
Selected AbstractsModeling pentachlorophenol bioavailability and bioaccumulation by the freshwater fingernail clam Sphaerium corneum using artificial particles and humic acidsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2001Noemi R. Verrengia Guerrero Abstract The uptake of anthropogenic chemicals by benthic bivalves may occur through the water phase and also by the ingestion of particles from both the suspended matter and bottom sediments. Many chemicals sorb to sediments and, subsequently, are released in the digestive tract of animals. The assessment of sediment-bound chemicals has been difficult because of the complexity of the association between these chemicals and natural particles. To simplify this complexity, we previously devised a test system using artificial particles with known chemical structures. In the present work, we improved this experimental design by adding humic materials as a source of organic matter. Bioassays were conducted by exposing the fingernail clam Sphaerium corneum to sublethal levels of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the presence or absence of the artificial particles, treated with or without a commercial preparation of humic acids. The results showed that the bioavailability and bioaccumulation could be explained on the basis of the interactions of PCP with the active groups and/or the backbone of the resins, both in systems with or without humic acids. This model may constitute a useful approach to modeling and predicting the uptake and accumulation of chemicals bound to natural sediments. [source] Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on canine atopic dermatitisJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 6 2004R. S. Mueller Twenty-nine dogs were included in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised trial and were orally supplemented for 10 weeks with either flax oil (200 mg/kg/day), eicosapentaenoic acid (50 mg/kg/day) and docosahexaenoic acid (35 mg/kg/day) in a commercial preparation, or mineral oil as a placebo. For each dog, clinical scores were determined based on a scoring system developed prior to the trial. Total omega-6 and omega-3 intake and the ratio of omega-6:omega-3 (omega-6:3) were calculated before and after the trial. The dogs' clinical scores improved in those supplemented with flax oil and the commercial preparation, but not in the placebo group. No correlation was identified between total fatty acid intake or omega-6:3 ratio and clinical scores. Based on the results of this study, the total intake of fatty acids or the omega-6:3 ratio do not seem to be the main factors in determining the clinical response. [source] Mouse diaphragm assay for detection of antibodies against botulinum toxin type BMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 12 2005Dirk Dressler MD Abstract With the advent of a commercial preparation of botulinum toxin type B (BT-B) for treatment of cervical dystonia detection of antibodies against BT-B (BT-B-AB) becomes necessary. For this purpose, we carried out a mouse diaphragm assay (MDA) by continuous measurement of the twitch force of a mouse hemidiaphragm preparation elicited by electric stimulation of its phrenic nerve. After exposing the preparation to BT-B 3 ng/ml the time to half-maximal twitch force reduction (paralysis time [PT]) was 69 ± 4 min (n = 25). Addition of sera from patients with antibodies against BT-A produced a PT of 68 ± 5 min (n = 24), whereas addition of sera from controls with antibodies against tetanus toxoid produced a PT of 67 ± 6 min (n = 30). When defined amounts of BT-B-AB were added to the MDA, PT was prolonged. This prolongation was correlated closely to the amount of BT-B-AB added, thus producing a calibration curve. The threshold for BT-B-AB detection was 0.4 mU/ml. When sera from 7 patients (4 women, 3 men; age 50.6 ± 14.2 years) with cervical dystonia (Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale score, 18.9 ± 2.9) and complete secondary failure of BT-B therapy (NeuroBloc; Elan Pharmaceuticals, Shannon, Ireland; 12,229 ± 2,601 MU/injection series, 1.86 ± 0.69 injection series before complete secondary therapy failure; 100.4 ± 15.8 days between injection series with normal therapeutic effect) were tested, BT-B-AB titers of more than 10 mU/ml were found in all of them. The MDA can be used to measure neutralizing BT-B-AB titers quantitatively and with adequate sensitivity and specificity. Further studies are necessary to understand the role of intermediate BT-B-AB titers in partial BT-B therapy failure. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society [source] Detection of contact hypersensitivity to corticosteroids in allergic contact dermatitis patients who do not respond to topical corticosteroidsCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 2 2005Müzeyyen Gönül The delayed hypersensitivity development against topical corticosteroids which are used in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) treatment is an important clinical problem. In our study, 41 ACD patients who did not show any response to topical corticosteroid treatment were patch tested with corticosteroid series and the commercial preparations of corticosteroids and their vehicles. In corticosteroid series, there were budesonide, bethametasone-17-valerate, triamcinolone acetonide, tixocortol pivalate, alclomethasone-17-21-dipropionate, clobetasole-17-propionate, dexamethasone-21-phosphate disodium and hydrocortisone-17-butyrate. We detected positive reaction to corticosteroids in 9 of our cases (22%) (5 single and 4 multiple). The sensitivity was mostly produced by tixocortol pivalate (6 patients). This was followed by triamcinolone acetonide (2 patients) budesonide (2 patients), alclomethasone dipropionate (2 patients), dexamethasone 21 phosphate disodium (2 patients) and betamethasone-17-valerate (1 patient). As a result, it should not be forgotten that the corticosteroids used to treat ACD patients may cause ACD themselves. In ACD patients who did not respond to corticosteroid treatment, routinely applying patch test with corticosteroids should be helpful in directing the treatment. [source] A method for the analysis of milk and egg allergens for the atopy patch testEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2009Cinzia Ballabio Abstract:, The patch test with food antigens (atopy patch test, APT) has been reported as a more specific method than prick or RAST for the early detection of cow's milk and/or egg sensitizations in children. Standardization of APT extracts is a major issue on the road towards full clinical exploitation of this assay. Here, we used sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to characterize sensitivity and specificity of commercial preparations of APT for milk and egg allergies, which are expected to improve the reliability of this test, when compared with fresh food allergen sources. We found that: (i) SDS-PAGE is an appropriate technique for quality control of APT and (ii) commercial milk and egg APT are equivalent to fresh food preparations in terms of allergen content. Clinical trials aimed at characterizing sensitivity and specificity of APT in the diagnosis of food allergy in children will benefit from this technique. [source] Immune Response and Resistance to Stress and Edwardsiella ictaluri Challenge in Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Fed Diets Containing Commercial Whole-Cell Yeast or Yeast SubcomponentsJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2007Thomas L. Welker Dietary supplementation of yeast or yeast subcomponents (YYS) as commercial preparations of ,-glucan (MacroGard®; Biotec-Mackzymal, Tromsø, Norway; and Betagard A®; Aqua-In-Tech, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA), mannan oligosaccharide (Bio-MosÔ Aqua Grade; Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA), or whole-cell Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Levucell SB20®; Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Milwaukee, WI, USA) at the manufacturer's recommended levels was evaluated on the physiological performance of juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Fish were fed YYS diets for 4 wk, followed by 2 wk of control diet. Fish were sampled at the end of each feeding period (4 and 6 wk) to measure hematological and immune parameters and growth and to determine the effects of dietary ,-glucan on resistance to Edwardsiella ictaluri infection and to low-water stress (6 wk). Supplementation of YYS in diets did not affect growth performance, hematology, or immune function. Survival from E. ictaluri infection was from 5 to 17.5% higher in fish fed YYS diets than in the control group, but the increases were not significant. Some improvement in stress resistance was observed in YYS-fed catfish after exposure to low-water stress. Stress reduction in fish fed diets supplemented with yeast subcomponents has been reported previously, but thus far, no explanation has been proposed for this effect. The present study and the previously published research suggest that dietary YYS supplementation does not appear to improve resistance of channel catfish to E. ictaluri. [source] Bioequivalence of four preparations of enrofloxacin in poultryJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2001L. H. Sumano In various parts of the world, many 10% enrofloxacin commercial preparations for water medication of chicken are being employed. To avoid the development of bacterial resistance to this agent, the original trademark and similar preparations must be bioequivalent. To assess whether or not bioequivalence exists among the pioneer vs. three commercial preparations of enrofloxacin, a controlled pharmacokinetic study was conducted. The following variables were compared: maximal plasma concentration (Cpeak), time to Cpeak, bioavailability (expressed as the area under the concentration vs. time curve), elimination half-life, and the shapes of the respective time-serum concentrations of enrofloxacin profiles. Results indicate that all three similar commercial preparations had lower Cpeak values than the reference formulation, being 39.62 to 67.77% of the corresponding Cpeak reference. Additionally, bioavailability of enrofloxacin in the pioneer product was statistically higher (P < 0.05). Based upon these results, we conclude that although all preparations were formulated as water-soluble products, bioequivalence studies are mandatory for the analogue formulations to ensure product comparability. Lack of product bioequivalence could facilitate the development of bacterial resistance and limit the useful life span of the product. [source] Carotenemia in Infancy and its Association with Prevalent Feeding PracticesPEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Sivaramakrishnan Venkatesh Karthik M.R.C.P.C.H. It is characterized by an abnormal yellowish orange pigmentation of the skin, most prominently seen in the palms, soles, and naso-labial folds. Infant feeding patterns have shown an increasing trend toward the usage of homogenized and pureed vegetables as well as meat-based commercial preparations. Whether this is reflected in an increased incidence of carotenemia in this age group still remains unclear. We report a series of infants identified by a retrospective review of records, observed over a 3-year period (1999,2002) in a tertiary children's hospital, who developed the condition that resolved spontaneously without intervention, as they grew older, on a changing diet. [source] Estimation of the relative antiinflammatory efficacies of six commercial preparations of Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's Claw)PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010Nassima Abdelouahab Ouitas Abstract The current work compared the relative efficacies of six commercial formulations of H. procumbens. Each formulation was assayed for the content of harpagoside (1), harpagide (2), verbascoside (3) and 8- O-p -coumaroyl harpagide (4) and, based on the recommended dosages, the total daily amounts were determined and used to establish anti-/proinflammatory (A/P) factors. The formulations were compared using ex vivo porcine skin for their activities towards COX-2 by Western blotting. The results showed great variation in the amounts of compounds 1,4 within the six formulations examined. The relative proportions of 1,4 also varied widely between the products and this inconsistency was reflected in the A/P factors, which correlated with the COX-2 expression (R2 = 0.9496). Although the data support the beneficial antiinflammatory effects from the use of some of the brands tested, others would appear potentially to exacerbate inflammation. To conclude, a ratio based upon the amount and relative proportions of anti- and proinflammatory compounds can be used to predict relative antiinflammatory properties. Also, with access to a diversity of ostensibly similar commercial products, the patient may experience varying therapeutic responses. Finally, current pharmacopoeia monographs, which are generally concerned with a minimum harpagoside content, are inadequate for ensuring the quality of products based on H. procumbens. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Use of herbal remedies by diabetic Hispanic women in The southwestern United StatesPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006Lane Johnson Abstract Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the use and documentation of herbal remedies used by Hispanic women with Type II diabetes enrolled in two Community Health Centers in the Southwest USA. A secondary purpose was to review the literature on identified herbs to assess their likely effects on diabetes. Design: Open-ended structured interviews were conducted on a convenience sample (n = 23) of participants. Medical and medication charts were reviewed for the interviewed participants, and for a random sample of enrolled Hispanic diabetic patients (n = 81) who were not interviewed. Setting: Two Community Health Centers in the Southwest USA. Participants: Enrolled patient, Hispanic females with Type II diabetes. Intervention: Subjects were interviewed about their use of herbal therapies and supplements. Information collected from medical and pharmaceutical charts included documented use of herbal remedies; standard therapies prescribed and diabetes control (hemoglobin A1C values). For those herbal remedies reported, literature reviews were conducted to determine if there was supporting evidence of harm or efficacy for the stated condition. Main Outcome Measures: Reports of herbal use, and types of remedies used. Results: Among the interviewed participants, 21 of 23 (91%) reported using one or more herbal remedies. Among a random sample of patient medical charts, seven (6.7%) contained documentation of diabetes-specific herbs, and 16 (15.4%) had documented general herb use. A total of 77 different herbal remedies were identified, most of which were contained as part of commercial preparations, and appeared to supplement, rather than replace standard medical therapy for diabetes. Conclusion: Use of herbal therapies is not uncommon among diabetic patients. Many of the herbs reported have potential efficacy in treating diabetes or may result in adverse effects or interactions. In practical use, however, the herbs reported in this study are unlikely to have a significant effect on clinical outcomes in diabetes, either positively or negatively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Pharmacokinetics and residues in milk of oxytetra-cyclines administered parenterally to dairy goatsAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 7 2001R. RULE Objective To determine for two commercial preparations of oxytetracycline (OTC) the pharmacokinetic behaviour, the presence of detectable milk residues and the penetration in milk of OTC administered by intravenous (IV) (conventional formulation [CF]) and intramuscular (IM) routes (CF and long-acting [LA] formulations) in goats producing milk. The effects of these formulations on plasma activity values of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also determined as indicators of tissue damage. Procedure Five healthy lactating goats producing 1.5 ± 0.5 L/d milk and weighing 56.0 ± 4.8 kg were used. Single doses of OTC chlorhydrate (CF) were administered (20 mg OTC/kg) by IV (Trial 1 IV) and IM (Trial 1 IM) routes and OTC dehydrate (LA) by the IM route. The same goats were first given IV CF, then IM CF followed by IM LA with 3 weeks between each treatment. Blood and milk samples were taken. The quantification of OTC was performed by HPLC and the plasma activities of CK and LDH enzymes were determined by spectrophotometry. The presence of OTC residues in milk was determined by a commercial reagent. The plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a two-compartment model. Results Estimates of kinetic variables following IV administration were: Vss= 400.0 ± 120.0 mL/kg and CL= 110.0 ± 14.0 (mL/h)/kg. The tfi for IV= 3.0 ± 0.3 h; IM, CF = 10.5 ± 2.1 h and IM, LA = 15.1 ± 3.1 h. The concentration of OTC in milk at 48 h was: IV= 0.6 ± 0.4; IM CF= 1.1 ± 0.2 and at 72 h (IM LA)= 0.6 ± 0.1 ,g/mL and the penetration in milk of OTC was: IV= 70.0 ± 18.0; IM CF= 79.0 ± 14.0 and IM LA= 66.0 ± 6.0 %. The areas under the curve of CK and LDH activities in plasma were calculated by the trapezoidal method. Values of CK and LDH IM, LA were greater (P < 0.05) than those observed for IM, CF at 2 and 3 days after administration of the antibiotic. Finally, the bioavailability of OTC CF = 92.0± 22.0 and LA= 78.0 ± 23.0 % was suitable for its usage by the IM route in lactating goats. Conclusion Plasma concentration-time values of OTC administered parenterally in production dairy goats showed similar bioavailability for the two pharmaceutical preaprations. The presence of detectable residues in milk indicates that milk should not be used for human consumption for 2 and 3 days after administration of conventional and long-acting formulations, respectively. The increments in CK and LDH activities after the IM administration of LA are consistent with the presence of tissue damage provoked by the pharmaceutical preparations at the injection site. [source] Recent Advances and Future Prospects in Peptaibiotics, Hydrophobin, and Mycotoxin Research, and Their Importance for Chemotaxonomy of Trichoderma and HypocreaCHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, Issue 5 2008Thomas Degenkolb Abstract Fungi of the genus Trichoderma with teleomorphs in Hypocrea are abundant producers of a group of amphiphilic, non-ribosomal peptide antibiotics, which are rich in the non-proteinogenic amino acid Aib (, -aminoisobutyric acid). They are referred to as peptaibiotics, or peptaibols, if a 1,2-amino alcohol is present at the C-terminus. Trichoderma/Hypocrea, like other ascomycetous fungi, also produce hydrophobins, a class of small, cysteine-rich proteins. Advanced soft ionization mass spectrometric techniques such as LC-CID-MS, LC-ESI-MSn, and IC-MALDI-TOF-MS enabled the high-throughput analysis, simultaneous detection and sequence determination of peptaibiotics and hydrophobins from minute quantities of fungal materials. Some Trichoderma species have been recognized to produce peptaibiotics as well as simple mycotoxins of the trichothecene group. The combination of sequence data of both groups of peptides with the pattern of low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites, including trichothecene-type mycotoxins, independently confirmed the results of morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses. This approach established a new lineage in Trichoderma/Hypocrea, the Brevicompactum clade, comprising four new and one redescribed species. Notably, commercial preparations of single or mixed cultures of Trichoderma species, in particular T. harzianum, and T. koningii, are registered as biocontrol agents for soil and plant pathogens. In this context, it is emphasized that the four mycotoxin-producing species of the recently established Brevicompactum clade (T. brevicompactum, T. arundinaceum, T. turrialbense, and T. protrudens) are not closely related to any of the Trichoderma species currently used as biocontrol agents. Furthermore, possible health concerns about release of peptaibiotics in the biosphere are discussed with respect to their bioactivities and their use as drugs in human and veterinary medicine. Finally, future prospects regarding novel bioactivities and further research needs, including interdisciplinary taxonomic approaches, are outlined. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||