Pulmonary Function and Lung Fibrosis up to 12 Years After Breast Cancer Radiotherapy

PURPOSE

Breast cancer (BC) treatment may affect pulmonary function, but evidence of long-term pulmonary toxicity is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate pulmonary function, radiation fibrosis (RF), and patient-reported dyspnea up to 12 years after different BC treatment modalities.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Two hundred fifty patients with BC referred to postoperative radiotherapy (RT) were included in this study. High-resolution computed tomography, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), clinical examinations, and patient-reported dyspnea were assessed before RT and at 3, 6, and 12 months and up to 12 years after RT.

RESULTS

Vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) declined at 3 months after RT and remained low at long-term follow-up except for DLCO, which increased up to 12 years after RT. VC, FEV1, and FVC changes differed between patients treated with and without chemotherapy, and FEV1 differed between patients treated with locoregional and local RT. An early decline in VC, FEV1, and FVC predicted a late decline in PFT values up to 12 years after RT (P = .020, P = .004, and P = .020, respectively). RF, mainly grade 1, was observed in 91% of patients at long-term follow-up. Few patients reported severe dyspnea at long-term follow-up, and there was no statistically significant association with concurrent RF or decline in PFT values from baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy and locoregional RT affected performance in PFTs up to 12 years after RT. Reduction in VC, FVC, and FEV1 3 months after RT predicted a decline in PFT values at long-term follow-up. However, a late decline in PFT values was not associated with long-term RF or patient-reported dyspnea.

Sexual functioning, sexual enjoyment, and body image in Norwegian breast cancer survivors: a 12-year longitudinal follow-up study and comparison with the general female population

BACKGROUND

Given the scarcity of evidence concerning the long-term sexual health of breast cancer (BC) survivors (BC-Pop), we aimed to assess how BC treatments affect short- and long-term sexual functioning, sexual enjoyment, and body image, and compare with aged-matched women in the Norwegian general population (F-GenPop).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The 349 patients in BC-Pop treated at Trondheim University Hospital in 2007-2014, were assessed in clinical controls at the hospital; before starting radiotherapy (T1, baseline), immediately after ending radiotherapy (T2), and after 3, 6, and 12 months (T3-T5), and at a long-term follow-up 7-12 years after baseline (T6). Meanwhile, F-GenPop included 2254 age-matched women in the Norwegian general population. The impact of BC treatment on sexual functioning was examined using a Linear Mixed Model. Sexual functioning, sexual enjoyment, and body image were assessed with the EORTC's QLQ-BR23 scales and compared between the populations in the four age groups (30-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+ years) using means with 95% confidence intervals and Student t-test. Linear regression, adjusted for age and comorbidity was applied to estimate individual scores.

RESULT

BC survivors treated with mastectomy had overall lower sexual functioning than patients who had received breast-conserving surgery (p = 0.017). Although BC survivors treated with chemotherapy had lower sexual functioning than those treated without chemotherapy at T1-T5 (p = 0.044), both groups showed the same level of functioning at T6. BC-Pop exhibited significantly poorer sexual functioning (p < 0.001), lower sexual enjoyment (p < 0.05), and better body image (p < 0.001) than F-GenPop in all age groups.

CONCLUSION

The impact of specific BC treatments on sexual functioning was modest; only mastectomy had a persistent negative influence. Nevertheless, all age groups in BC-Pop displayed significantly poorer sexual functioning than F-GenPop at both 12 months and up to 12 years after treatment.

Norwegian general population normative data for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires: the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, the Sexual Health Questionnaire QLQ-SHQ22 and the sexual domains of the QLQ-BR23/BR45

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to provide sex-, age-, and morbidity-specific Norwegian general population normative values for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires QLQ-C30, the sexual health questionnaire QLQ-SHQ22 and the sexual domains of the breast modules QLQ-BR23 and QLQ-BR45.

METHODS

A random nationwide sample stratified by sex and age groups (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and ≥70 years) was drawn from the Norwegian National Population Register. Participants were notified through national online health services (HelseNorge) and postal mail. The survey included sociodemographic background information, health-related quality of life assessed by the EORTC questionnaires, and morbidity assessed by the Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression was carried out to estimate the associations of age, sex and morbidity with the EORTC scale and item scores.

RESULTS

Of the 15,627 eligible individuals, 5135 (33%) responded. Women and persons with morbidities reported lower functioning and higher symptom burden than men and persons without morbidities, respectively, on nearly all EORTC scales. Sex differences were most prominent for emotional functioning, pain, fatigue and insomnia (QLQ-C30), body image, sexual functioning (QLQ-BR23/45), importance of sexual activity, libido and fatigue (QLQ-SHQ22). The score differences between persons with and without morbidity were highly significant and largest in the youngest and middle-aged groups.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to provide normative values for the EORTC sexual health questionnaire QLQ-SHQ22 and the sexual subscales of the QLQ-BR23 and QLQ-BR45 for all, separately in age groups by sex and morbidity.

Ipilimumab in a real-world population: A prospective Phase IV trial with long-term follow-up

Ipilimumab was the first treatment that improved survival in advanced melanoma. Efficacy and toxicity in a real-world setting may differ from clinical trials, due to more liberal eligibility criteria and less intensive monitoring. Moreover, high costs and lack of biomarkers have raised cost-benefit concerns about ipilimumab in national healthcare systems and limited its use. Here, we report the prospective, interventional study, Ipi4 (NCT02068196), which aimed to investigate the toxicity and efficacy of ipilimumab in a real-world population with advanced melanoma. This national, multicentre, phase IV trial included 151 patients. Patients received ipilimumab 3 mg/kg intravenously and were followed for at least 5 years or until death. Treatment interruption or cessation occurred in 38%, most frequently due to disease progression (19%). Treatment-associated grade 3 to 4 toxicity was observed in 28% of patients, and immune-related toxicity in 56%. The overall response rate was 9%. Median overall survival was 12.1 months (95% CI: 8.3-15.9); and progression-free survival 2.7 months (95% CI: 2.6-2.8). After 5 years, 20% of patients were alive. In a landmark analysis from 6 months, improved survival was associated with objective response (HR 0.16, P = .001) and stable disease (HR 0.49, P = .005) compared to progressive disease. Poor performance status, elevated lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein were identified as biomarkers. This prospective trial represents the longest reported follow-up of a real-world melanoma population treated with ipilimumab. Results indicate safety and efficacy comparable to phase III trials and suggest that the use of ipilimumab can be based on current cost-benefit estimates.

Pneumonitis and fibrosis after breast cancer radiotherapy: occurrence and treatment-related predictors

BACKGROUND

Radiation pneumonitis (RP) and radiation fibrosis (RF) are common side effects after breast cancer (BC) radiotherapy (RT). However, there is a great variation in the frequency of RP and RF. This study presents the occurrence of- and the treatment-related predictors for RP and RF. Further, physician- and patient-reported pulmonary symptoms during the first year after postoperative RT for BC are demonstrated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2007 to 2008, 250 BC patients referred for postoperative RT were included in a prospective cohort study and followed during the first year after RT. High-resolution computed tomography of the lungs and symptom registration were performed before RT and 3, 6, and 12 months after RT. Patient-reported symptoms were registered by standard quality of life questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate treatment-related predictors for radiological RP (rRP), clinical RP (cRP), radiological RF (rRF), and clinical RF (cRF).

RESULTS

The occurrence of rRP and cRP at three months was 78% and 19%, while 12 months after RT rRF and cRF was 89% and 16%, respectively; all reported as grade 1. In multivariable analyses, mastectomy predicted cRP at three months (OR = 2.48, p = .03) and cRF at six months, ipsilateral lung volume receiving 20 Gray or more (V20), V30, and mean lung dose (MLD) predicted rRP at six months (OR = 1.06, p = .0003; OR = 1.10, p = .001; and OR = 1.03, p = .01, respectively). Endocrine treatment predicted cRF at 12 months (OR = 2.48, p = .02). Physicians reported significant more dyspnea at 3 months (p = .003) and patients reported 'a little dyspnea' more at 3 and 12 months compared to baseline (p = .007).

CONCLUSION

RP and RF are prevalent in the first year after BC radiation. Mastectomy predicted cRP at three months. V20, V30, D25, and MLD predicted rRP at 6 months, and endocrine treatment predicted cRF at 12 months. Patients and physicians reported dyspnea differently.

A woman in her eighties with chest pain during immunotherapy for melanoma

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy is used to treat several cancer types. As it is a relatively new type of treatment, knowledge of optimal handling of rare side effects is sparse.

CASE PRESENTATION

A woman in her early eighties with inoperable metastases from malignant melanoma was given immunotherapy. Five weeks after the first dose of nivolumab 480 mg she was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of coronary artery disease. On suspicion of side effects from nivolumab, she was given prednisolone 80 mg daily. MRI of the heart showed findings highly suggestive of myocarditis. Her condition initially improved, but 9 days after leaving the hospital she developed muscular weakness and ptosis. Neurography and electromyography revealed acute axonal polyneuropathy and she was treated with mycophenolate mofetil. In the days that followed she had increasing paresis, apnoea and pain in the right shoulder. Echocardiography showed reduced systolic function. The patient died 11 days after the second hospitalisation.

INTERPRETATION

The patient developed hepatitis, myocarditis and neuropathy after only one course of immunotherapy. Those are known to be rare side effects with a high mortality rate. The patient was given high dose prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil. Intravenous immunoglobulins and/or plasmapheresis could have been alternative treatments.

Oxygen consumption in T-47D cells immobilized in alginate

OBJECTIVES

Encapsulation or entrapment of cells is increasingly being used in a wide variety of scientific studies for tissue engineering and development of novel medical devices. The effect on cell metabolism of such systems is, in general, not well characterized. In this work, a simple system for monitoring respiration of cells embedded in 3-D alginate cultures was characterized.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

T-47D cells were cultured in alginate gels. Oxygen concentration curves were recorded within cell-gel constructs using two different sensor systems, and cell viability and metabolic state were characterized using confocal microscopy and commercially available stains.

RESULTS

At sufficient depth within constructs, recorded oxygen concentration curves were not significantly influenced by influx of oxygen through cell-gel layers and oxygen consumption rate could be calculated simply by dividing oxygen loss in the system per time, by the number of cells. This conclusion was supported by a 3-D numeric simulation. For the T-47D cells, the oxygen consumption rate was found to be 61 ± 6 fmol/cell/h, 3-4 times less than has previously been found for these cells, when grown exponentially in monolayer culture.

CONCLUSIONS

The experimental set-up presented here may be varied in multiple ways by changing the cell-gel construct 3-D microenvironment, easily allowing investigation of a variety of factors on cell respiration.

Effect of charge and size of diffusing probe on the diffusion through calcium alginate gel matrices

The diffusion of latex particles and low molecular weight fluorescein analogues in homogenous, well-defined calcium alginate gel matrices was studied. The experimental results indicate that the different types of diffusion probes are retarded by different mechanisms in the gel. The positively charged low molecular weight substance experienced some degree of retardation by the gels, but the diffusion rate of the uncharged low molecular weight substance was little influenced by gel composition. A wide range of diffusion rates was observed for the particles in the various gel compositions.

Preparation of a radionuclide/gel formulation for localised radiotherapy to a wide range of organs and tissues

Localised radiotherapy by instillation of radiolabeled particles is being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain tumors. Such therapy is limited to organs and tissues capable of retaining the radioactive compound until the radioactivity is sufficiently low, and the leakage to other parts of the body is no longer unacceptable. In this study, radiolabeled particles, i.e. 90Y-silica colloid particles, were encapsulated in calcium alginate gels, and the leakage of radioactivity from the gels was monitored. The purpose of the study was to develop a formulation suitable for the localised delivery of radiation therapy to a wide range of organs and tissues. An injectable gel formulation was developed, liberating only small amounts of radioactivity into the surrounding medium. The formulation is a viscous liquid at room temperature and forms a gel on heating to normal body temperature. Thus, it should be suitable for the localised delivery of radiolabeled particles to a wide range of organs and tissues. The study also includes a formulation exhibiting time-dependent gelation. However, this formulation was not found to be suitable for the purpose.

Measurement of diffusion through calcium alginate gel matrices

The diffusion of high molecular weight dextran samples and low molecular weight quinine sulphate in homogenous calcium alginate gel matrices was studied. An experimental design suitable for studying the diffusion of substances from or through a gel sample was established. The experimental results indicate that the different types of molecules diffuse in the gel by different mechanisms. The diffusion rate of the molecules in the gel is dependent on gel composition.

Nasal administration of carbamazepine using chitosan microspheres: in vitro/in vivo studies

The nasal route is used both for local therapies and, more recently, for the systemic administration of drugs, as well as for the delivery of peptides and vaccines. In this study the nasal administration of Carbamazepine (CBZ) has been studied using microspheres constituted by chitosan hydrochloride (CH) or chitosan glutamate (CG). Blank microspheres were also prepared as a comparison. The microspheres were produced using a spray-drying technique and characterized in terms of morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), drug content, particle size (laser diffraction method) and thermal behaviour (differential scanning calorimetry, DSC). In vitro drug release studies were performed in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). In vivo tests were carried out in sheep using the microparticles containing chitosan glutamate, chosen on the basis of the results of in vitro studies. The results were compared to those obtained after the nasal administration of CBZ (raw material) alone. For the evaluation of in vivo data statistical analysis was carried out using the unpaired t-test. Spray-drying was a good technique of preparation of CBZ-loaded microspheres. The loading of the drug into the polymeric network always led to an increase in the dissolution rate compared to CBZ raw material. The microspheres obtained using chitosan glutamate had the best behaviour both in vitro and in vivo. They increased the drug concentration in the serum when compared to the nasal administration of the pure drug (Cmax 800 and 25 ng/ml for microspheres and pure drug, respectively). The results obtained indicate that the loading of CBZ in chitosan glutamate microspheres increases the amount of the drug absorbed through the nose.

Toxicity of gamma irradiated liposomes. 1. In vitro interactions with blood components

Gamma irradiation is a potential technique for sterilisation of liposome suspensions. Unfortunately, gamma irradiation may result in chemical degradation of the phospholipids and the toxicological aspects have to be considered. The effects of liposome composition and gamma irradiation on the interactions of the liposomes with the hemostatic mechanisms (hemolysis, aggregation and coagulation) were studied. Non-irradiated liposome suspensions showed no hemolysis of erythrocytes. After irradiation, up to 3.1% hemolysis was measured. Least hemolysis was observed with irradiated liposomes composed of unsaturated or charged phospholipids. The negatively charged DSPG-liposomes (both non-irradiated and irradiated) induced aggregation of platelets as observed by the spectrophotometric method. However, no aggregates were seen in the microscope or measured by the aggregometer. Negatively charged liposomes also affected the coagulation cascade where prolonged coagulation times were measured. Irradiation of the liposome suspensions resulted in even longer coagulation times. The prolonged coagulation times correlated to some extent with the measured binding and depletion of calcium from plasma by the negatively charged liposomes.

Toxicity of gamma irradiated liposomes. 2. In vitro effects on cells in culture

In this study, the effects of liposome composition and gamma irradiation on their interactions with cell cultures were studied. The cytotoxicity test and the growth inhibition test clearly revealed toxic effects of liposomes composed of unsaturated phospholipids and gamma irradiation of these preparations enhanced their toxic effects. The murine fibroblast cell-line L 929 was less affected compared to the macrophage cell-line RAW 264 with a higher endocytic capacity. On the other hand, both gamma irradiated and non-irradiated liposomes composed of saturated phospholipids were non-toxic for the cells and irradiation did not affect their drug delivery properties. Hence, it seems that gamma irradiation is appropriate for sterilisation of these liposomes.

Zeta potentials of human enamel and hydroxyapatite as measured by the Coulter DELSA 440

The zeta potential of human enamel is of physiological importance for interactions between enamel surfaces and the surrounding aqueous medium of saliva. The zeta potentials of both enamel and hydroxyapatite (HA) have been examined previously by various techniques. In this study, we examined the zeta potential of human enamel and HA using the Coulter DELSA 440, which, by a laser, makes independent Doppler shift measurements of moving particles in an electric field at 4 different angles, providing advantages over previous techniques. The enamel and HA particles were suspended directly in different phosphate buffers, or first incubated for 2 hrs in parotid (PS) or whole saliva (HWS) and then suspended in the same buffers. The enamel and HA particles exhibited an overall net surface potential of -15 to -30 mV, depending on the buffer content. Incubation in PS and HWS gave less negative potentials of -8 to -14 mV. In our previous studies, the salivary micelle-like structures (SMSs), seen in TEM of parotid saliva, were observed to have a zeta potential of -9 mV (Rykke et al., 1996). The zeta potential determinations in this study support the concept of an adsorption of mostly SMSs to the enamel surfaces, with a change of the zeta potential of the enamel and HA toward that of the SMSs.

Characterization of rheological and mucoadhesive properties of three grades of chitosan hydrochloride

In the present study the rheological and mucoadhesive properties of three viscosity grades of a cationic polymer, chitosan, were investigated to assess the suitability of this polymer for gastroadhesive formulations. The influence of the pH, ionic strength and temperature of the hydration medium on the rheological properties was studied. The mucoadhesive performance was assessed in vitro by means of rheological synergism and tensile stress testing. A correlation was found between rheological synergism and tensile parameters (force of detachment and work of adhesion), which proves that both methods can correctly predict the mucoadhesive performance of the polymers examined. It was found that the interaction of chitosan with mucin decreases on increasing molecular weight.

Electrical methods for skin moisture assessment

Skin sites on 8 test subjects were treated with moisturizers, and different electrical measuring methods were compared regarding their quality in the assessment of the induced changes in the stratum corneum hydration level. Low frequency susceptance measurements were found preferable to high frequency admittance measurements, and the advantages of monopolar measurements with the three-electrode system are described.

Kinetics of thiamin and thiamin phosphate esters in human blood, plasma and urine after 50 mg intravenously or orally

The concentrations of thiamin and thiamin monophosphate and diphosphate in plasma and whole blood samples were assessed in six healthy subjects for 12 h and in urine for 24 h following an IV and PO bolus dose of 50 mg thiamin HCl. Unphosphorylated thiamin increased rapidly in plasma after IV administration and then decreased to its initial value within 12 h in all but one subject; the half-life was 96 min. Thiamin mono and -diphosphate increased moderately (56%), and decreased slowly; the half-life of diphosphate was 664 min. Within 24 h, 53% of the administered dose was recovered in the urine, indicating a restricted distribution. After oral administration, the peak thiamin concentration in plasma was reached after 53 min and the concentration then had increased to 179% of its initial value. The elimination half-life was 154 min, and only 2.5% of the given dose was recovered in the urine. The relative bioavailability of thiamin was 5.3%. A moderate amount of the administered thiamin was stored in blood. Other body tissues must play an important part, therefore, in the distribution of thiamin.

Concomitant determination of thiamin and its phosphate esters in human blood and serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of thiamin and thiamin phosphate esters in human blood or serum has been developed. The eluent consists of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer, in the ratios 90:10 (v/v) for the elution of thiamine and 60:40 (v/v) for the phosphate esters. The four compounds are eluted within 15 min. The detection limit is 13-16 fmol. Between-assay variation is 5-11%. Samples of whole blood and serum from 30 healthy adults were analysed. The following reference values were obtained for 15 females 15 males (nM, mean +/- S.D.). In serum: thiamin, 10.9 +/- 2.9/16.9 +/- 3.3; thiamin monophosphate, 8.3 +/- 1.5/3.7 +/- 1.5. In whole blood: thiamin, 29.6 +/- 10.0/33.4 +/- 10.4; thiamin monophosphate, 9.7 +/- 2.3/10.9 +/- 5.1; thiamin diphosphate, 121 +/- 29.6/165 +/- 40.4.

Characterization of the morphological properties of welding fume particles by transmission electron microscopy and digital image analysis

The morphological characteristics of welding fume particles have been determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and automatic image analysis (AIA). Two personal samples and one background sample were collected using a new, easy to handle sampling method, during tungsten inert gas (TIG) and manual metal arc (MMA) welding on Inconel in the same shop. The collection method gave samples which were suitable for TEM and AIA. Electron micrographs were taken in a transmission electron microscope and further analyzed using an image analysis unit. Aggregates composed of many individual particles were analyzed both for the parameters of the aggregate and for the parameters of the individual particles by using an algorithm based on a grain boundary reconstruction technique. The morphological parameters allowed the welding fume's particulate matter to be divided into three types - here called small, medium, and large - with a somewhat unclear distinction between medium and large. Medium and large particles occur either as individual particles or as clusters of approximately spherical particles with average diameters of 0.07 and 0.15 microm, respectively. Small particles occur almost exclusively as long chains or lace-like structures of aggregates of particles, often in the range of 5-10 microm. The aggregates have an average projected area of 2.6 x 10-3 microm2 and are composed of several hundred individual particles.

Obstetric behavior and ultrasonic uterine characteristics of oligomenorrheic women

Two groups of age-, parity-, and pregnancy-matched women, viz. 78 with oligomenorrhea (A) and 78 with normal menstrual intervals (B), plus all women with regular menstruation but in whom severe Müllerian malformations had been diagnosed during the same period (C) were followed in a prospective study to detect complications, sonographic changes, and the serum oxytocinase concentration during pregnancy and labor. Among the matched groups A and B, ultrasonic scanning revealed uterine changes in 45% and 9%, respectively (p less than 0.0005) during the 2nd trimester. Among the oligomenorrheic women who had HSG, fairly mild Müllerian malformations were found in 40%. The sonographic method in these mild and moderate anomalies had its limitations, and the findings were interpreted in several cases as fibroma or contractions. Complications occurred in 51% of the group A women who carried their pregnancies to term versus 20% in group B (p less than 0.0005). Among the primiparae the complication rates were 47% and 22%, respectively (p less than 0.025). Bleeding in early pregnancy (25%), an unstable fetal lie (28%), malpresentations (14%), and premature contractions or delivery (11%) were more common in group A (p less than 0.05-0.01). On stratification of the oligomenorrheic group without or with Müllerian anomalies (A1 and A2) the overall complication rates were 55% and 73%, respectively, and 86% in group C. Mutually, these differences are not statistically different, but all differ significantly from the control group (B) (p less than 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tubocutaneous fistula. Case report

A 40-year-old woman with Crohn's disease had a cutaneous fistula discharging only during menstruation. Surgical exploration showed a tubocutaneous fistula. Such fistula is extremely rare without prior surgery of the reproductive organs. Discharge during menstruation was the salient feature in most reported tubocutaneous fistulas. Resection of the fistula and salpingectomy is the treatment of choice.

Studies on curcumin and curcuminoids. IX: Investigation of the photobiological activity of curcumin using bacterial indicator systems

The dye curcumin is a natural, nontoxic food constituent. On irradiation with visible light, curcumin proves to be phototoxic for Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, even at very low concentrations. The observed phototoxicity makes curcumin a potential photosensitizing drug which might find application in the phototherapy of, for example, psoriasis, cancer, and bacterial and viral diseases.

Methotrexate in infusion solutions--a stability test for the hospital pharmacy

The stability of methotrexate solutions, subject to a freeze-thaw procedure, has been investigated. According to our results these solutions can be produced in batches in the hospital pharmacy and thawed to room temperature immediately before use without any degradation of methotrexate within the time limits given.

Studies on curcumin and curcuminoids. VIII. Photochemical stability of curcumin

The photodecomposition of curcumin when exposed to UV/visible radiation is studied. The main degradation products are identified. The reaction mechanisms are investigated and the order of the over-all degradation reactions and the half-lives of curcumin in different solvents and in the solid state are determined.

Studies on curcumin and curcuminoids. VI. Kinetics of curcumin degradation in aqueous solution

The kinetics of the pH-dependent degradation of curcumin has been investigated. A plot of the rate constant against pH indicates the pKa values of the acid protons. The graph also indicates the complexity of the curcumin degradation.

Rapid isothermal gas--liquid chromatographic determination of tricyclic antidepressants in serum with use of a nitrogen-selective detector

A rapid and simple gas--liquid chromatographic method suitable for routine use is described for quantitation of tricyclic antidepressants. The method can be used for quantitation of amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, desmethylimipramine, doxepin, desmethyldoxepin, clomipramine, desmethylclomipramine, trimipramine, desmethyltrimipramine and dibenzepine. The method involves one extraction with hexane--isopropyl alcohol, no derivative formation of the metabolites and chromatography using an OV-25 liquid phase which permits isothermal quantitation of the different drugs within 5--10 min. Standard curves for the different tricyclic antidepressants were linear over the concentration range tested (10--1500 micrograms/l) and the maximum coefficient of variation was 7.7%.

Changes in blood volume and extravascular water content in isolated perfused rat lungs during ventilation hypoxia

Isolated rat lungs were perfused with homologous blood at constant volume inflow. The effect of ventilation hypoxia on pulmonary vascular resistance, preparation weight and reservoir volume (vascular capacitance) were studied. In some experiments also wet/dry weight ratio of the preparation was estimated (extravascular water content). There was no difference in this last parameter between hypoxic and normoxic lungs, thus alveolar hypoxia had no effect on tissue water content as previously described in intact rats. With forward perfusion small and transient changes in either direction were seen in preparation weight and reservoir volume, even though inflow pressure exceeded 5 kPa during alveolar hypoxia. With backward perfusion marked weight increases were seen, and if inflow pressure in this situation was above 3.5 kPa, the weight change was irreversible, thus indicating outward fluid filtration. It is concluded that the vessels responding to alveolar hypoxia are located on the arterial side of the pulmonary vasculature.

Blood volume and extravascular water content in the rat lung during acute alveolar hypoxia

Values for pulmonary blood volume and extravascular lung water (estimated as wet weight of lung tissue) were arrived at in intact, anesthetized rats by labelling of blood constituents with isotopes and rapidly freezing the whole animals in liquid nitrogen. On ventilating the animals with 10% O2 in N2/N2O, a reduction in lung blood content could be demonstrated. The degree of reduction depended on the type of anesthesia and ventilation used. In some animals the volume reduction was so marked that both arterial, venous and capillary blood compartments have most probably been involved. The water content of the lung tissue was also rapidly and markedly reduced during hypoxia. Increased plasma osmolarity in mixed venous blood could partly be responsible for this tissue water reduction.

An all-purpose injection system for gas chromatographic analyses of biological samples

A versatile injection system for the direct introduction of samples into the gas chromatograph (GC) is described. Several years of experience in biological and pharmaceutical chemistry have led to the construction and final modification of this device. No modification of the injection port of the GC is necessary.

Effects of catecholamine-infusions and hypoxia on pulmonary blood volume and extravascular lung water content in cats

The effects of catecholamine-infusions and of hypoxia on lung blood volume and on extravascular lung water content have been studied in anesthetized cats with opened chests. To this end a biopsy technique, with isotope labelling of blood and with successive removal of the smaller lung lobes, was employed. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased by 30-75% upon infusing catecholamines or upon inducing general hypoxia, the latter stimulus being the more powerful one. Pulmonary blood volume did not increase during these procedures, where an active constriction of pulmonary vessels thus apparently took place. The extravascular lung water content was found to be reduced in animals infused with noradrenaline or ventilated by hypoxic air, whereas a small increase was observed in the animals receiving adrenaline. This difference might reflect domination of precapillary vasoconstriction in the former groups, whereas postcapillary vasoconstriction could be more pronounced with adrenaline.