Gluconeogenic activity in response to chronic administration of amphetamine sulphate and drug withdrawal

1. Chronic amphetamine administration (10 mg/kg) to young rats (Rattus norvegius) (40-90 g) produced an initial hyperglycemia following the initial drug administration. This was followed by progressive hypoglycemia with the continuous drug treatment. 2. The present data also demonstrate increases in levels of serum ACTH and corticosterone that were maintained after drug withdrawal, in the case of corticosterone. 3. The Analysis of the transaminase activity revealed the occurrence of significant increases in serum GOT level. Furthermore, progressive increase in the G-6-Pase activity was recorded, reaching its maximum level by the end of the experiment, which demonstrates that induced amphetamine toxicity is time-dependent.

Patient perceptions of a 1-h art-making experience during blood and marrow transplant treatment

Patients with various forms of cancer receiving blood and marrow transplant (BMT) treatment at an outpatient clinic develop chemotherapy-related symptoms and an increased desire to use complementary and alternative medicine in order to address these symptoms. Art-making offers an inexpensive way to pass time and relieve symptoms during long hours in treatment. Twenty-one BMT patients painted a tile and participated in research. Researchers used semi-structured interviews to understand patients' experiences with art-making. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded independently by researchers who met to agree on themes. Ten themes emerged from the data including, meaningful activity (32.2%), expression (18.7%), passing time (13.2%), BMT process (12.1%), social outlet (8.1%), therapy-related symptoms (7.3%), negative aspects of painting (5.9%) and encouragement to paint (2.6%). The results of this study revealed that art-making experience can provide patients a meaningful activity during treatment and an outlet to express their feelings.

Short-Term Weight Loss Outcomes of 104 Mini-Gastric Bypass or One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Operations: Retrospective study

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the short-term effects of mini-gastric bypass (MGB) or one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) procedures on weight loss in individuals with obesity.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted in Medicano Hospital, Erbil, Iraq, from January 2019 to May 2020. Preoperative body mass index (BMI), age, height and preoperative weight were recorded as baseline measures. Weight-related changes were evaluated during a follow-up phase of 48 weeks.

Results

A total of 104 patients with obesity underwent MGB or OAGB surgery. The mean baseline parameters of the subjects before surgery included 1.64 m for height, 122.9 kg for weight and 45.6 kg/m2 for BMI. During the 48-week follow-up period, there was a substantial reduction in mean weight, which dropped from 122.9 kg at baseline to 75.5 kg at week 48. The weight change (in percentage) gradually increased from -11.8% at week 12 to -37.9% at week 48, without statistically significant association with demographic factors or chronic diseases. From week 12 to week 48, the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) increased substantially from 26.8% to 86.1%. The results of the subgroup analysis indicated that the %EWL was considerably higher among those aged 30 or older at week 36 and singles at week 48.

Conclusion

This study's results illustrate the efficacy of MGB or OAGB procedures in significantly reducing weight in the short term. The %EWL increased with the follow-up time and was significantly associated with age and marital status.

Distribution and toxicity of 5-fluorouracil after intraperitoneal and anal submucosal administration

The correlation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) distribution and its toxicity had been investigated in Albino rats. H3-5-FU was administrated either by intraperitoneal (I.P.) or anal submucosal (A.sm.) route. 5-FU was promptly distributed in different organs with marked accumulation in the pelvic area after A.sm. and in liver and kidney after I.P. administration. Acute toxicity (L.D. 50) was stronger after I.P. (63 mg/kg compared with 80 mg/kg after A.sm.). Side effects expressed in elevation of transaminase and alkaline phosphatase and increase in liver tissue glucose-6-phosphatase and total white blood count were much pronounced after I.P. administration. The results suggest the possibility of using A.sm. route for administration.

Potentiation of therapeutic effect of methanesulphonate and protection against its organ cytotoxicity by vitamin C in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice

The effect of vitamin C upon the therapeutic index and side effects produced by methanesulfonate of aminoglycols (drug 864T, NSC 140117) had been evaluated in a laboratory system. The antitumor action of 864T, vitamin C and their combination were evaluated in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in vivo. Tissue toxicity was assessed using liver and intestinal DNA, RNA, protein contents and their synthesis as parameters. In addition, G-6-pase, 5-Nase and Alk, pase activity levels in both tissues were also measured. Drug 864T (200 mg/kg) produced 50 percent long-term survivors in tumor bearing mice in addition to 10 percent early mortality while in combination with vitamin C (250 mg/kg x 6), there was 80 percent long term survivors with no mortality related to drug toxicity. No toxicity, in all the parameters used, was observed when 864T was given in combination with vitamin C. Drug 864T alone produced a significant decrease in protein content of both liver and intestinal tissue while in combination with vitamin C normal levels were maintained. In addition, all the parameters used were either elevated or decreased by 864T treatment and returned to normal levels in combination with vitamin C. This study proved that vitamin C may be useful not only to potentiate the effect of anticancer drug 864T on the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma but also to antagonize the side effects of the drug.