Blood metabolite profiles in cycling and non-cycling Friesian-Sanga cross-bred cows grazing natural pasture during the post-partum period.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of plasma concentrations of the metabolic hormones [Growth hormone (GH), insulin and insulin-like growth factor -I (IGF-I)] and nutritional metabolites (Glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine) on the resumption of post-partum ovarian activity in sixteen Friesian-Sanga cows grazing extensively on native grassland. Blood samples were taken from cows from week 1 to 16 post-partum. Cows were classified as having resumed ovarian activity when a plasma progesterone concentration of ≥ 1.0 ng/ml was recorded for two consecutive weekly samples. Based on the resumption of ovarian activity, cows were classified as early-cycling, late-cycling or non-cycling. The concentrations of the metabolic hormones were measured from week 1 to 10, while those of the nutritional metabolites were measured during week 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 during the study period. The concentrations of the metabolic hormones, GH and insulin were similar (p > 0.05) in the three ovarian activity groups, likewise the concentrations of the nutritional metabolites, glucose, total protein, globulin, urea and creatinine. Plasma IGF-I concentration was higher (p < 0.001) in early-cycling (18.7 ± 0.74 ng/ml) than in late-cycling (12.4 ± 0.75 ng/ml) and non-cycling (10.4 ± 0.91 ng/ml) cows. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in early-cycling (1.94 ± 0.15 mmol/l) compared with late-cycling (2.48 ± 0.12 mmol/l) and non-cycling (2.61 ± 0.11 mmol/l) cows. For plasma albumin concentrations, the levels recorded for early-cycling cows were higher (40.7 ± 2.85 g/l) than in late-cycling (34.4 ± 1.97 g/l) and non-cycling (33.6 ± 2.66) cows. The results suggest that cows with lower plasma concentrations of IGF-I and albumin, but higher plasma cholesterol concentrations were at risk of delayed resumption of post-partum ovarian activity.

Safety profile of 3 months' therapy with alfuzosin in 13,389 patients suffering from benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The safety profile of alfuzosin, a selective alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist, was assessed in a total of 13,389 patients (mean age 66.9 +/- 8.5 years) with symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy in two open, noncontrolled, multicentre, post-marketing surveillance studies, both conducted in France. Alfuzosin was prescribed at the recommended dose of 2.5 mg t.i.d., according to the current labelling recommendations, for a 3-month period. Clinical safety was assessed using spontaneous reporting of adverse events leading to discontinuation of treatment. Overall, 89.7% of the patients completed the treatment period. Drop outs were recorded in 10.3% of patients: 3.7% for intolerance; 1.5% for resolution of urinary symptoms; 2.1% for lack of efficacy, and 3.0% for loss to follow-up, noncompliance, and miscellaneous reasons. Two thirds of the adverse events leading to discontinuation were vasodilatory and occurred in 2.7% of the patients: vertigo/dizziness (1.4%); malaise (0.6%); hypotension (0.4%), and headache (0.4%). Other adverse events (predominantly gastrointestinal disorders) were recorded in < 1.2% of the patients. Three quarters of the adverse events occurred during the first week of therapy. As expected, adverse events were more frequent in the elderly (aged over 75 years) and in patients taking cardiovascular drugs or with concomitant cardiovascular disease. Overall, alfuzosin was very well tolerated and the adverse event profile was consistent with the cumulative experience of the drug. No unexpected or serious adverse events considered to be related to alfuzosin were recorded. Particular care must be taken when prescribing for very elderly patients and/or those with concomitant cardiovascular disease for which they are receiving therapy.