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Biomedical subjects

A Rubin

Publications and source records attributed to A Rubin.

207 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Abnormalities of cilia in the middle ear in chronic otitis media.

We studied the fine structure of nasal and middle ear mucosa in 18 patients with chronic otitis media, comparing them with ten age-matched control patients. Electron microscopy revealed no single fundamental defect of cilia in the tissue samples; however, patients with chronic otitis media had a significantly higher incidence of abnormal cilia in the middle ear without correlating abnormalities of nasal cilia. These findings indicated that ciliary anomalies, including deletion of ciliary microtubules, presence of supernumerary tubules, and fusion of cilia, occur as a result of infection or inflammation. Such abnormalities would impair normal mucociliary clearance and exacerbate clinical complications.

Adult↗

A modified risk assessment to establish molybdenum standards for land application of biosolids.

The USEPA standards (40 CFR Part 503) for the use or disposal of sewage sludge (biosolids) derived risk-based numerical values for Mo for the biosolids --> land --> plant --> animal pathway (Pathway 6). Following legal challenge, most Mo numerical standards were withdrawn, pending additional field-generated data using modern biosolids (Mo concentrations <75 mg kg(-1) and a reassessment of this pathway. This paper presents a reevaluation of biosolids Mo data, refinement of the risk assessment algorithms, and a reassessment of Mo-induced hypocuprosis from land application of biosolids. Forage Mo uptake coefficients (UC) are derived from field studies, many of which used modern biosolids applied to numerous soil types, with varying soil pH values, and supporting various crops. Typical cattle diet scenarios are used to calculate a diet-weighted UC value that realistically represents forage Mo exposure to cattle. Recent biosolids use data are employed to estimate the fraction of animal forage (FC) likely to be affected by biosolids applications nationally. Field data are used to estimate long-term Mo leaching and a leaching correction factor (LC) is used to adjust cumulative biosolids application limits. The modified UC and new FC and LC factors are used in a new algorithm to calculate biosolids Mo Pathway 6 risk. The resulting numerical standards for Mo are cumulative limit (RPc)=40 kg Mo ha(-1), and alternate pollutant limit (APL) = 40 mg Mo kg(-1) We regard the modifications to algorithms and parameters and calculations as conservative, and believe that the risk of Mo-induced hypocuprosis from biosolids Mo is small. Providing adequate Cu mineral supplements, standard procedure in proper herd management, would augment the conservatism of the new risk assessment.

Agriculture↗

Disposition in humans of racemic picenadol, an opioid analgesic.

Racemic picenadol is being tested clinically as an analgesic. The (+)-enantiomer of picenadol is an opioid agonist and the (-)-enantiomer is a weak agonist/antagonist. The disposition of racemic [14C] picenadol was studied in healthy men after a single dose was administered im (N = 3) and orally (N = 5). After the dose, virtually none of the radioactivity that appeared in blood was associated with the red cells. In plasma, approximately 4% of the radioactivity was attributable to the parent drug, the remainder being picenadol glucuronide (approximately 35%) and other metabolites. The t1/2 for total radioactivity was 6 hr, that for the unchanged drug was 3.5 hr. Picenadol was present in plasma almost exclusively as the (+)-enantiomer. However, after incubation with glucuronidase and sulfatase, plasma contained 2 to 4 times more (-)- than (+)-picenadol, indicating that more conjugated (-)-picenadol than conjugated (+)-picenadol was in the plasma. After im and oral administration of [14C]picenadol, plasma levels of radioactivity were generally 10 and 70 times higher than those in saliva, respectively. More than 90% of the administered radioactivity was excreted in the urine, mostly as picendol glucuronide, and lesser amounts of picenadol sulfate and N-desmethylpicenadol sulfate. Only about 1% of the administered dose of picenadol appeared unchanged in urine. The disposition of racemic picenadol in humans was stereoselective, the (-)-picenadol apparently being metabolized preferentially over the (+)-enantiomer. This finding was of particular interest in view of the dissimilar pharmacologic activities of the enantiomers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

Induction of general anesthesia with diazepam or thiopental: a comparison of the cardiorespiratory effects.

Detailed cardiorespiratory studies were performed in 10 volunteers in whom general anesthesia was induced with thiopental 3 mg/kg and diazepam 0.4 mg/kg.Minimal changes in blood pressure were noted with both agents. Depression of total peripheral resistance lasted in excess of 20 minutes with diazepam but had returned to control levels with thiopental, elevations in cardiac rate and output were most evident and lasted longer with diazepam. In the healthy volunteer induction of anesthesia with diazepam causes alterations in cardiovascular parameters which are more profound than with thiopental. The data presented is in contrast to that obtained when patients with cariovascular disease are studied.With diazepam, considerable individual variation and long recovery times were confirmed.Following extensive clinical use, a detailed study demonstrated minimal cardiovascular depression following intravenous induction of sedation with diazepam, in patients who had prior cardiovascular disease. Subsequent studies suggested that diazepam would be a more suitable alternative for induction of general anesthesia in patients with cardiovascular disease. This was confirmed by Ikram and Rubin. It has been used extensively for sedative techniques in dentistry, and therefore it was logical to extend this concept to the induction of general anesthesia by intravenous diazepam. It was decided to evaluate the use of intravenous diazepam for induction of general anesthesia and to compare the detailed cardiovascular and respiratory effects of this drug with thiopental.

Adult↗

Nizatidine, an H2-blocker. Its metabolism and disposition in man.

The disposition of a single oral dose of about 150 mg of nizatidine, an H2-blocker, was studied in five men. Plasma levels of both parent drug and radioactivity peaked in 1-3 hr. Nizatidine accounted for about 60% of the plasma radioactivity. The t1/2 of nizatidine was 1.6 hr. About 35% of nizatidine became bound to plasma proteins in vitro, particularly to alpha-1-glycoprotein. Warfarin, acetaminophen, phenobarbital, propantheline, diazepam, and propranolol did not notably affect the amount of nizatidine bound. Two to 3 times more radioactivity was in plasma than in blood cells or saliva. Greater than 90% of the dose of nizatidine was excreted in urine, probably by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion. Nizatidine accounted for about 65% of the urinary radioactivity. The major metabolite of nizatidine was N2-monodesmethylnizatidine; it represented about 7% of the nizatidine dosage. Another metabolite, constituting about 5% of the dose, is proposed to be nizatidine N2-oxide. Nizatidine sulfoxide also may be a minor metabolite of nizatidine.

Adult↗

The disposition of l-3-[(dimethylamino)-(m-dioxan-5-yl)methyl]pyridine in man.

l-3-[(Dimethylamino)-(m-dioxan-5-yl)methyl]pyridine hydrochloride (LY 108380) is being evaluated in man as a potentially useful, nonaddicting analgesic agent. This substituted dioxane is structurally different from any currently known analgesic. Following im administration of the 14C-labeled compound to healthy volunteers, the drug was absorbed rapidly (t1/2(abs) = 2--20 min). Pharmacokinetic analyses suggested that LY 108380 was widely distributed and extensively bound in tissues. The drug was not bound to plasma proteins in vitro or in vivo. In the blood, radioactivity was distributed in both red cells and plasma; a cell/plasma radioactivity ratio of 0.5 was maintained for about 1 hr. The t1/2 for elimination of LY 108380-14C from plasma was about 1.3 hr, although radioactivity persisted in plasma for over 100 hr. At the time of peak radioactivity, the parent compound was the major constituent in plasma; quaternary N-glucuronide and N-desmethylated metabolites were also detected in plasma. Levels of radioactivity in saliva were 2--5 times higher than those in plasma shortly after drug administration. About 82% of the radioactivity was eliminated in the urine, 6% in expired air (as 14CO2), and 1% in feces. The major metabolite of LY 108380 (55% of the dose) was a quaternary amine formed by glucuronidation at the pyridine nitrogen. Less than 10% of the dose was N-demethylated to secondary and primary amines, and about 2% was excreted unchanged.

Adult↗

Disposition of zatosetron, a serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, in humans.

Zatosetron is being tested clinically as an antianxiety agent; it is a highly selective antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor, with minimal agonist activity. The disposition of [14C]zatosetron was studied in five healthy men after a single oral dose (46.2 mg). Serum levels of radioactivity and parent drug peaked in 3-8 hr. About 15% more radioactivity was measured in red blood cells than in plasma. In serum, the parent compound represented about 85% of the radioactivity, zatosetron-N-oxide represented 10%, and N-desmethyl-zatosetron and 3-hydroxy-zatosetron each represented 2-3%. The t1/2 of zatosetron was 25-37 hr. About 75% of zatosetron added to human plasma became reversibly bound to protein. Concentrations of zatosetron in saliva were generally 10-50% higher than those in serum. About 80% of the administered radioactivity was eliminated in urine and 20% in feces; radioactivity was measurable in the excreta for 10-12 days after drug administration. The major route of metabolism of zatosetron was a stereoselective N-oxidation to form 8-alpha-methyl, 8-beta-oxo zatosetron (zatosetron N-oxide). In urine, approximately 45% of the radioactivity was unchanged zatosetron, 35% was zatosetron N-oxide, 10% was N-desmethyl-zatosetron, and 5% was 3-hydroxy-zatosetron. In feces, 30% of the radioactivity was unchanged zatosetron, and 70% was N-desmethyl-zatosetron. Overall, approximately 60% of the administered zatosetron was metabolized in humans. In a separate multiple-dose study, the disposition of zatosetron was found to be similar to that in the single-dose study.

Adult↗