Biochemical study on the critical period for treatment of the mottled brindled mouse

Hemizygous mottled brindled mice (Mobr/y mice) were treated by subcutaneous injection of copper and were decapitated on postnatal day 14. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity of the brain mitochondria in the mice given 10 micrograms of copper/g on day 4 or 7 showed significant increases compared with that of untreated Mobr/y animals, and these mice had no neurological symptoms. Mice given 10 micrograms of copper/g on day 12 showed neither increases in COX activity nor clinical improvement. The brain levels of copper, noradrenaline, and dopamine in the mice treated on day 12 were the same as those in animals treated on day 4 or 7. The in vitro activities of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase of the brain were also the same among the treated mice, irrespective of the date of treatment. The results indicate that delays in copper treatment produce irreversible changes in COX activity of the brain and lead to clinical unresponsiveness to treatment.

Niobium filters for dose reduction in pediatric radiology

The performance of a niobium filter, with K-edge at 19 keV, and a copper filter have been studied concerning absorbed dose, image quality and tube loading. Absorbed doses were measured with TLD. To evaluate image quality a perspex phantom with image quality test objects was used. In comparison with a conventional filter made of copper no significant advantage was obtained with the niobium filter.

Effect of copper oxide wire particle treatment on establishment of major gastrointestinal nematodes in lambs

Eighty-four 10-week-old lambs were used to investigate the effect of copper oxide wire particle treatment on the establishment of major gastrointestinal nematodes. They were maintained on pasture previously treated to minimise larval contamination. Five grams of uniform sized copper oxide wire particles were given orally five days before infection with either 20,000 Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae, 20,000 Ostertagia circumcincta larvae or 3000 Haemonchus contortus larvae given as three doses at three-day intervals. The animals were slaughtered 21 or 22 days after the last infective dose. Parasite burdens in the lambs treated with copper oxide wire particles were reduced by 96 per cent in the case of H contortus and by 56 per cent in the case of O circumcincta compared to burdens in controls. There was no significant effect of copper particles on the establishment of T colubriformis.

[The correction of disorders of lipid-mineral composition of the bile as a method for preventing cholelithiasis]

A study is presented of the lipid and mineral metabolism composition in 60 patients with diseases of the biliary tract (dyskinesias, chronic noncalculous cholecystitis, cholelithiasis) before and after treatment with a hepatoprotective agent silibor, with a dry protein mixture containing amino acids and minerals and a vitamin-mineral agent quadevit. It was established that the patients showed disorders of the mineral and lipid composition of monotypical character but of different degrees of severity in those suffering of dyskinesias, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. Silibor treatment furthered normalization of the lipid composition of bile, while treatment with dry protein mixture--of the mineral, with quadevit--of the lipid and mineral.

Ovine white-liver disease (OWLD). Serum copper and effects of copper and selenium supplementation

Serum copper was generally higher in lambs affected with ovine white-liver disease (OWLD) than in cobalt/vitamin B12 supplemented lambs grazing the same pastures. Although the copper content of the grass was very low on the OWLD pastures, dosing lambs with Cu alone resulted in worsening of the clinical condition and aggravation of clinical pathology. Dosing with selenium had no effect on OWLD. Dosing with a combination of Co, Se and Cu resulted in normal lamb growth and normal laboratory tests. Lambs growing well on other pastures (H) showed elevated serum Cu when they were subclinically B12 deficient.

Ferromagnetic thermoseeds: suitable for an afterloading interstitial implant

Previous studies have shown implantable ferromagnetic thermoseeds to be a promising hyperthermia method. However, migration from the implant site and chemical toxicity caused by corrosion of the thermoseed alloy have proven to be potential hazards. These problems could be overcome by placing the thermoseeds into removable catheters similar to those used for afterloading interstitial brachytherapy. As an additional merit, the method would allow convenient combination of heat and radiation therapy. To test the clinical performance of this method, we compared temperature distributions and biologic effects in canine muscle and transmissible venereal tumors for bare thermoseeds and thermoseeds contained within catheters. We found no significant difference in the heating patterns and similar tissue changes when all implants were removed immediately after heating. More severe tissue changes were present around bare thermoseeds that were retained. This suggests that catheters provide a safe and reliable method for thermoseed hyperthermia which would allow convenient combination with interstitial radiation.

Effects of oral copper administration to pregnant heterozygous brindled mice on fetal viability and copper levels

Copper (6 ppm) was administered to pregnant heterozygous brindled and normal mice from 13 to 18 days gestation. The copper and zinc concentrations in the cerebrum, cerebellum, liver, and kidneys of mothers and their fetuses were determined. The placental concentrations in fetuses of heterozygous mothers administered copper were also determined. The heterozygous mothers had smaller numbers of live fetuses than the normal mothers, but had the same number as normal mothers when copper was administered. The hepatic copper concentration in the heterozygous mothers was lower than that in the normal mothers and was not increased by the administration. The body and tissue wet weights of all fetuses were unaffected by the maternal genotype or drinking fluid. The cerebral copper concentrations in hemizygous and heterozygous fetuses were increased by the copper administration but did not reach normal levels. The hepatic and renal concentrations remained unchanged. The cerebral copper concentrations in normal fetuses of both heterozygous and normal mothers were increased by the copper administration. The copper administration increased the copper concentrations in liver of normal fetuses of heterozygous mothers and in kidneys of normal fetuses of normal mothers. The placental copper concentration in hemizygous fetuses was higher than those in heterozygous and normal fetuses. These results suggested that oral copper administration to pregnant females could improve an abnormal copper distribution in hemizygous and heterozygous fetuses without affecting fetal growth.

Viral infection correlated with superoxide anion radicals production and natural and synthetic copper complexes

Studies conducted on asymmetric triazine derivatives synthetized at the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research Institute showed that products S1, S16, S17, S19, S20 and S22 have a remarkable O2- radical scavenger activity. Among these derivatives, the product S1 is the most efficient as an antiviral agent.

[Is Solcoderm suitable for treating malignant skin tumors?]

Solcoderm, a liquid preparation developed in the USSR, is recommended for topical treatment of benign and malignant skin tumors. We present 5 out of 25 patients treated in our department over the past 2 years who had been treated with Solcoderm for malignant skin tumors. The preparation appeared to have affected only the superficial layers of the tumor and had not penetrated in depth. Cellular remnants tended to spread far beyond the confines of the original tumor and seemed to become much more aggressive. To be effective, the technique of applying the drug would have to be much more complicated than originally specified. Both the functional and esthetic results are much worse than expected.

Investigations on the influence of copper succinate on the production of superoxide anion radicals by bovine small intestinal mucosa cells

The effect of an experimental ischemia lasting for 45 minutes and a subsequent period of reperfusion of equal length on the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) and microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (NADPH-CR) were investigated in the small intestinal mucosa of male neonatal calves of the breed German "Schwarzbunte". The activity of the NADPH-CR was determined by chemiluminescence. The activity of XO decreased during ischemia, but rose to values above the control level following reperfusion. 5 mg of Cu2(succinate)2 (CuSu) administered either intraarterially or intraluminally during reperfusion prevented the rise in XO. Formation of malondialdehyde decreased in the presence of CuSu. The NADPH-CR likewise showed subnormal activity values during ischemia, but also remained at a low level during reperfusion. The activity of this enzyme was further lowered by local intraarterial or intraluminal administration of 5 mg of CuSu and by 120 mg of CuSu administered intravenously during the reperfusion. These results are discussed with regard to the superoxide anion radical induced tissue lesions observed during reperfusion.

[Correction of disorders of bile lipid-mineral composition as a method of preventing cholelithiasis]

A study of 60 patients with biliary tract diseases revealed different disorders of the lipid and mineral composition of bile of monotypical character but different by severity in patients with dyskinesias, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. Silibor favours normalization of the lipid composition of bile, a dry protein mixture--the mineral composition quadevit--the mineral and lipid composition of bile.

Rhodium, iridium, copper and gold antitumor organometallic compounds (review)

Recent results on the antitumor activity of organometallic compounds of rhodium, iridium, copper and gold are reviewed. Coordination compounds of some organic ligands are also briefly mentioned. The most promising seem to be copper and gold complexes which exhibited remarkable activity against several tumor systems.

Diagnosis of copper deficiency and effects of supplementation in beef cows

The effects of feeding supplementary dietary copper to a herd of 400 beef cows, were studied over a two year period. In the first year of the trial, the calves showed clinical signs of copper deficiency. There was improved growth following subcutaneous injection of copper ethylenediamine tetraacetate, and the treated calves had a 2.8% increase in adjusted weaning weights. In the second year of the trial pregnant cows were fed a basal ration of bromegrass silage, barley and minerals over the winter feeding period. The feed was supplemented with copper so that half received 5.5 mg/kg of copper on a dry matter basis and half 40 mg/kg. Calving occurred in the spring and half the calves were treated with injectable copper at birth and again at 12 weeks of age. There was no evidence of copper deficiency in the calves and there was no effect of high level copper supplementation on calf birth weight, or neutrophil candidacidal activity. Susceptibility to diarrhea varied in a complex fashion; morbidity was lowest in calves born to dams fed supplementary copper and highest in calves born to supplemented dams and injected with copper at birth. The cows and calves grazed the same copper deficient pasture over the summer. The average daily gain for calves born to supplemented cows was 0.999 +/- 0.010 kg/day (x +/- SEM) which was significantly greater than the 0.972 +/- 0.009 kg/day for calves from nonsupplemented dams (p = 0.044). The benefit of copper supplementation on 200 day weaning weight was estimated at 4.8 kg. Evidence of copper deficiency was seen when a herd test showed mean serum levels below 9 mumol/L and liver values below 0.09 mmol/kg wet matter.

Transvenous copper wire insertion for dural arteriovenous malformations of cavernous sinus

Therapeutic embolization by means of transvenous copper wire insertion was performed in five patients with dural arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) of the cavernous sinus. In each case, angiograms had shown that the AVM's were supplied from both internal and external carotid arteries, which was thought to render complete transarterial embolization difficult. A No. 2.5 French Teflon catheter was introduced into the affected cavernous sinus through the superior ophthalmic or internal jugular vein with the aid of a flexible mini guide wire. Copper wires were pushed by the guide wire into the cavernous sinus until the disappearance or a sufficient decrease in the arteriovenous shunt was noted. The patients' symptoms resolved or improved without any severe complications. Angiography revealed complete disappearance of the lesion immediately after treatment in three cases and follow-up angiography taken within 8 months showed no arteriovenous shunt in any patient. This method is a promising treatment for dural AVM's when conventional transarterial embolization is thought to be difficult.

The pharmacologic activity of complexes and mixtures with copper and salicylates or aminopyrine following oral dosing in rats

Cu(II) complexes with salicylates or aminopyrine were administered to rats with local inflammation (acute paw oedema elicited with carrageenan) to determine their anti-inflammatory activity and ulcerogenic effects following oral administration. The complexes were more effective than the parent ligands or appropriate mixtures of these ligands with Cu(II) as anti-inflammatory agents. All complexes indicated low ulcerogenity. The differences in pharmacologic activity between the complexes and mixtures in question are discussed.

Evaluating the anti-plaque capabilities of a copper-containing prophylaxis paste

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a dental prophylaxis paste containing mono-copper citrate (MCC) for short term anti-plaque capabilities. In addition to other baseline data, plaque scores were recorded on 36 paid volunteer subjects from the dental school student, staff, and faculty populations. After scaling, two quadrants of each subject's dentition were polished with the MCC containing paste and two quadrants with the placebo paste, using a diagonal split mouth double blind design. Subjects did not brush or floss for two days. Plaque scores were recorded at 24 and 48 hours, after which they resumed normal hygiene. Results showed that after 24 hours placebo areas had 92% higher plaque and after 48 hours 33% higher plaque than the active paste areas. This was statistically significant at the P less than .001 level. The diminishing effect of the copper containing prophy paste over 48 hours might indicate that the copper ion should be applied on a daily basis for best anti-plaque results.

[Effect of a highly dispersed copper powder on superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in experimental myocardial infarct]

Administration of highly dispersed copper powder in a dose 0.2 mg/kg three days before modelled coronary-occlusion myocardial infarction caused transitory increase in activity of antioxidant enzymes--superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the necrotic zone of myocardium of rats, and also staunch increase in the activity of these enzymes in noninfarction region.

Bioavailable copper complexes offer a physiologic approach to treatment of chronic diseases

Copper (II)2(3,5-Diisopropylsalicylate)4(H2O)2 has been found to have antiinflammatory, antiulcer, anticonvulsant, anticancer, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, and radiation recovery activities and it prevents reperfusion injury. To study pharmacokinetic parameters accounting for these pharmacological effects the double labeled 67Cu(II)2(carboxy-14C-3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)4 complex was synthesized and used to obtain these parameters. Treatment of mice with 1 mumol of this complex revealed that 67Cu was distributed to blood, liver, kidney, intestine, lung, thymus, femur, muscle, spleen, brain, urine, and feces within 0.5 hr and patterned changes in 67Cu content of these tissues and excreta were found throughout the 96 hr term of this study.