Pesticide residues in thermal mineral water in Greece.

Eight different hot springs (SPA) in Greece were monitored over a one-year survey for priority pesticide residues. A specific and effective procedure including solid phase extraction in combination with HPLC and GC analytical methods were applied. Samples that were sensitive to nitrogen-phosphorus (NPD) and/or electron capture (ECD) detectors were analysed by capillary gas chromatography. From the twenty-six water samples, pesticide residues were detected in fourteen of them (54%) but no one exceeding the European Union Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC). Lindane (gamma-BHC) was the most frequently detected pesticide. It was found in nine samples (35%) in concentrations from < 0.005 to 0.01 microg/L. Other pesticides detected were phorate (in five samples), propachlor (in two samples) and chlorpyriphos ethyl (in three samples) but in concentrations far below the permissible levels.

Hoe 140 a new potent and long acting bradykinin-antagonist: in vivo studies.

1. The potency, duration of action and tolerability of Hoe 140, a novel and highly potent bradykinin (BK) antagonist in vitro, has been tested in different in vivo models and compared with the well-known BK antagonist D-Arg-[Hyp2, Thi5,8, D-Phe7]BK. 2. Hoe 140 is highly potent and long acting in inhibiting BK-induced hypotensive responses in the rat. Four hours after s.c. administration of 20 nmol kg-1, inhibition still amounted to 60% whereas the effect of 200 nmol kg-1 of D-Arg-[Hyp2, Thi5,8, D-Phe7]BK was not significant. 3. BK-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs was strongly inhibited by Hoe 140. The magnitude and duration of inhibition confirmed the findings obtained in the blood pressure experiments in the rat. 4. Carrageenin-induced inflammatory oedema of the rat paw was considerably inhibited at i.v. doses between 0.1 and 1 mg kg-1. 5. In conscious dogs, intravenous doses of 0.01 and 0.1 mg kg-1 of Hoe 140 and D-Arg-[Hyp2, Thi5,8, D-Phe7]BK were well tolerated. At doses of 1 mg kg-1 adverse effects occurred that were attributed to the residual BK agonistic activity of both compounds. 6. Hoe 140 has been shown to be a highly potent and long acting BK antagonist in vivo in different animal species and models. This makes it appropriate to investigate further the physiological and pathophysiological role of BK.