Comparative effects of different supplemented dietary doses of chlorophyll on blood parameters of experimental male rats.

Chlorophylls are organic pigments that are a part of our daily diet, particularly in light of the increased popularity of more eco-friendly and healthy practices. Since altering oxidative equilibrium seems to be connected to the emergence of numerous illnesses, the antioxidant capacities of both groups of lipophilic compounds have been studied. The objective was to evaluate adding dietary chlorophyll at two concentrations-30 and 60 mg/ml-would improve blood characteristics in rats. Supplemented dietary chlorophyll showed significantly increased WBCs, RBCs, granulocytes, lymphocytes, HGB, HCT MCHC, and Platelets. it nonsignificant effect on RDW, MPV, and Eosinophil. These findings support a significant rise in critical hematological parameters at two separate time intervals, 14 and 28 days following dietary chlorophyll supplementation, at dosages of 30 and 60 mg/ml. After 30 and 60 mg/ml, platelet count, PCT, lymphocytes, and monocytes substantially (p0.001) rose. In light of these findings, critical hematological indicators markedly rise in response to exogenous dietary chlorophyll. To strengthen blood parameters and enhance blood features and prevent anemia, dietary chlorophyll is advised.

DTI of the Olfactory Bulb in COVID-19-Related Anosmia: A Pilot Study.

This study aimed to assess the utility of DTI in the detection of olfactory bulb dysfunction in COVID-19-related anosmia. It was performed in 62 patients with COVID-19-related anosmia and 23 controls. The mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy were calculated by 2 readers. The difference between the fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values of anosmic and control olfactory bulbs was statistically significant (P = .001). The threshold of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity to differentiate a diseased from normal olfactory bulb were 0.22 and 1.5, with sensitivities of 84.4% and 96.8%, respectively, and a specificity of 100%.

Voltammetry and quantification of the contraceptive drug norethisterone in bulk form and pharmaceutical formulation.

The electrochemical behavior of norethisterone at the mercury electrode was studied in the universal buffer of various pH values using dc-polarography, cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis. Norethisterone was reduced at the mercury electrode via the consumption of two electrons corresponding to reduction of the 3-keto-delta-4-group in the A-ring of the molecule. The pK(a) value (8.7) of norethisterone was determined from the polarographic and spectrophotometric measurements. A fully validated, simple, sensitive, precise and inexpensive square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping (SWAdCS) voltammetry procedure was described for trace quantification of bulk norethisterone. The stripping voltammetry peak current of norethisterone in a universal buffer of pH 5 following its accumulation onto the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) at -0.6 V (versus Ag/AgCl/KCl(s)) for 130 s showed a linear response with the concentration over the range 5 x 10(-9) to 3 x 10(-7)M norethisterone. Detection and quantitation limits of 1.5 x 10(-9) and 5 x 10(-9)M bulk norethisterone, respectively, were achieved. The proposed procedure was successfully applied for the assay of norethisterone in Steronate tablets without interference from excipients.

Adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric assay of the estrogen drug ethinylestradiol in pharmaceutical formulation and human plasma at a mercury electrode.

The electroreduction of ethinylestradiol at the hanging mercury drop electrode in the Britton-Robinson universal buffer of pH 2-11 was studied and its interfacial adsorptive character onto the mercury electrode surface was identified. A validated simple, rapid, sensitive, specific, precise and inexpensive square-wave voltammetric procedure is described for the determination of ethinylestradiol following its accumulation onto a hanging mercury drop electrode in a Britton-Robinson universal buffer of pH 7. The optimal procedural conditions were: accumulation potential E(acc)=-0.7 V versus Ag/AgCl/KCl(s), accumulation duration=60s, pulse-amplitude=70 mV, scan increment=10 mV and frequency=120 Hz. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 5.9x10(-10)M and 1.9x10(-9)M bulk ethinylestradiol, respectively, were achieved. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to the quantification of ethinylestradiol in pharmaceutical formulation (Ethinyl-oestradiol tablets) and in human serum and plasma without the necessity for sample pretreatments and/or time-consuming extraction or evaporation steps prior to the analysis. LOD of 8.7x10(-10)M and 3x10(-9)M and LOQ of 2.9x10(-9)M and 1x10(-8)M of ethinylestradiol were achieved in human serum and plasma, respectively.

Voltammetric assay of the anthelmintic veterinary drug nitroxynil in bulk form and formulation at a mercury electrode.

The electrochemical behavior of the anthelmintic veterinary drug nitroxynil at the mercury electrode was studied in a series of Britton-Robinson universal buffer of pH 1.9-11 containing 20% (v/v) ethanol using dc-polarography cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The voltammograms exhibited two irreversible cathodic steps over the pH range 1.9-10.2; the height of the first step is double that of the second one. Controlled-potential coulometry in the B-R universal buffer of pH 1.9-10 at a mercury pool working electrode revealed the consumption of four and two electrons via the first and second reduction steps, respectively, which attributed to reduction of the NO2 group to the hydroxylamine stage (first step), and then to the amine stage (second step). Three voltammetric analytical procedures including dc-polarography, differential-pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry were optimized for the direct determination of bulk nitroxynil. The three proposed procedures were applied for analysis of bulk nitroxynil with limits of detection of 3 x 10(-5), 1.31 x 10(-8) and 8.4 x 10(-10)M and limits of quantification of 1 x 10(-5), 4.36 x 10(-8) and 2.80 x 10(-9)M, respectively. The three procedures were successfully applied to the determination of nitroxynil in formulation (Dovenix, 25% nitroxynil injection solution) without the necessity for sample pretreatment and/or time-consuming extraction steps prior to the analysis.

Diazepam and propranolol in panic disorder and agoraphobia.

The response to diazepam and propranolol hydrochloride was compared in 21 patients who (with one exception) met DSM-III criteria for panic disorder and agoraphobia. Each drug was administered for two weeks in double-blind fashion according to a crossover design. The response to diazepam was significantly superior on all measures. By observer rating, 18 patients showed at least moderate improvement with diazepam compared with seven receiving propranolol. Panic attacks and phobic symptoms responded to diazepam, but not to propranolol. The results suggest that benzodiazepines constitute effective short-term treatment for these newly defined disorders.

Assay of the anti-psychotic drug haloperidol in bulk form, pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluids using square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry at a mercury electrode.

The cyclic voltammetric behavior of haloperidol at a hanging mercury drop electrode was studied in Britton-Robinson buffer series of pH 2.5-11 containing 40% (v/v) ethanol. A single two-electron irreversible cathodic peak was obtained which attributed to reduction of the CO double bond. In addition, a small enhanced adsorptive pre-wave was observed at less negative potentials over the pH range 3.5-11. Controlled adsorptive accumulation of haloperidol onto the hanging mercury drop electrode provided the basis for its direct trace assay in bulk form, pharmaceutical formulation and human biological fluids using square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry. Following preconcentration of bulk haloperidol onto the HMDE a well-developed square-wave cathodic peak was generated in Britton-Robinson buffer especially at pH values 9-10; its peak current showed a linear dependence on the concentration of haloperidol over the range 1 x 10(-9)M to 1.5 x 10(-6)M depending on the preconcentration duration. The procedural parameters for assay of haloperidol were studied. The achieved limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) were 3.83 x 10(-10)M and 1.28 x 10(-9)M bulk haloperidol, respectively. The procedure was successfully applied to assay haloperidol in tablets (Safinace) and in spiked human serum and urine. LOD of 3.3 x 10(-9)M and 5.46 x 10(-9)M, and LOQ of 1.10 x 10(-8) and 1.82 x 10(-8)M haloperidol were achieved in spiked human serum and urine samples, respectively.

Voltammetric behavior and assay of the antibiotic drug cefazolin sodium in bulk form and pharmaceutical formulation at a mercury electrode.

The electrochemical behavior of the antibiotic drug cefazolin sodium (CFZ) in Britton-Robinson buffers (pH 2-11) at the mercury electrode was studied by means of dc-polarography, cyclic voltammetry, controlled-potential coulometry and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry techniques. A validated square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric procedure was described for the trace determination of cefazolin in bulk form up to limits of detection and quantitation of 2.6 x 10(-10)M and 8.6 x 10(-10)M, respectively. The method was successfully applied for determination of cefazolin in pharmaceutical preparation without the necessity for samples pretreatment or any time-consuming extraction or evaporation steps prior to the analysis.

Optical and thermal properties of azo derivatives of salicylic acid thin films.

N-acryloyl-4-aminosalicylic acid (4-AMSA), monomer (HL) and 5-(4'-alkyl phenylazo)-N-acryloyl-4-aminosalicylic acid (HLn) are synthesized and characterized with various physico-chemical techniques. Thin films of 5-(4'-alkyl phenylazo)-N-acryloyl-4-aminosalicylic acid (HLn) are prepared by spin coating technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of 4-aminosalicylic acid (4-ASA) and its derivatives are investigated in powder and thin film forms. Thermal properties of the compounds are investigated by thermogravemetric analysis (TGA). The optical energy gap and the type of optical transition are investigated in the wavelength range (200-2500 nm) for 4-ASA, HL and HLn. The values of fundamental energy gap (Eg) are in the range 3.60-3.69 eV for all compounds and the type of optical transition is found to be indirect allowed. The onset energy gap Eg(∗) appeared only for azodye compounds is found to be in the range 0.95-1.55 eV depending on the substituent function groups. The refractive index, n, shows a normal dispersion in the wavelength range 650-2500 nm, while shows anomalous dispersion in the wavelength rang 200-650 nm. The dispersion parameters ε∞, εL, Ed, Eo and N/m(∗) are calculated. The photoluminescence phenomena (PL) appear for thin films of 4-ASA and its derivatives show three main emission transitions.

Polymer complexes. LX. Supramolecular coordination and structures of N(4-(acrylamido)-2-hydroxybenzoic acid) polymer complexes.

A number of novel polymer complexes of various anions of copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and uranyl(II) with N(4-(acrylamido)-2-hydroxy benzoic acid) (ABH) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic spin resonance, vibrational spectra and thermal analysis. The molecular structures of the ligand are optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters are calculated. Tentative structures for the polymeric metal complexes due to their potential application are also suggested. The IR data exhibit the coordination of ONO2/OAc/SO4 with the metal ions in the polymeric metal complex. Vibrational spectra indicate coordination of carboxylate oxygen and phenolic OH of the ligand giving a MO4 square planar chromophore. Ligand field ESR spectra support square planar geometry around Cu(II). The thermal decomposition of the polymer complexes were discussed in relation to structure, and the thermodynamic parameters of the decomposition stages were evaluated applying Coast-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger methods.

Comparison of two benzodiazepines with differing accumulation: behavioral changes during and after 3 weeks of dosing.

The effects of diazepam (0.2 mg/kg for 15 days followed by 0.3 mg/kg for 7 days), oxazepam (0.8 mg/kg for 15 days followed by 1.2 mg/kg for 7 days), and placebo were studied in healthy subjects after the first dose, once a week during chronic dosing, and at 48 and 96 hours after withdrawal through a battery of psychologic tests. Diazepam produced quick effects followed by relatively rapid recovery, whereas the effects of oxazepam appeared slowly and lasted longer. Tolerance developed to the effects of both active drugs, so that when the dosages were increased, effects did not. There were no symptoms or signs indicative of withdrawal reactions. There were also no differences between the effects of the two active drugs after repeated dosing, although diazepam is an accumulating drug with active metabolites and oxazepam is a slightly accumulating one with inactive metabolites.

Diphenhydramine in Orientals and Caucasians.

The kinetics and psychomotor effects of diphenhydramine were investigated in Orientals and Caucasians. Each of 5 Oriental and 5 Caucasian young adults received on 1 of 3 occasions diphenhydramine 50 mg/70 kg body weight either intravenously or orally, or placebo. Plasma levels of diphenhydramine were measured hourly for 8 hr at each session. Tests of subjective sedation and psychomotor performance were performed at hourly intervals. The results showed that after both intravenous and oral diphenhydramine, at all times Orientals had plasma levels approximately half those of Caucasians. With the assumption of linear kinetics and a 1-compartment open model, analysis of the data showed that the volume of distribution (VD) and plasma clearance (Cl) but not plasma half-life (t 1/2) were higher in Orientals than Caucasians: [VD = 480 +/- 24 (SEM) and 292 +/- 36 1/70 kg; Cl = 79 +/- 7 and 51 +/- 7 1/70 kg/hr; t 1/2 = 4.1 +/- 0.4 and 4.3 +/- 0.4 hr]. Unbound diphenhydramine in fresh plasma was higher in Orientals than Caucasians [24.0 +/- 1.9% (SEM) and 14.8 +/- 1.5%] and probably explains the increased VD in Orientals. Orientals had significantly less sedation and deterioration in psychomotor performance.

Diazepam effects and kinetics in Caucasians and Orientals.

Mental and psychomotor effects and diazepam kinetics were studied in Caucasian and Orientals. 12 Caucasian and 13 Oriental young adults received on one of two occasions, separated by 2 weeks, either 0.2-mg/kg diazepam or saline intravenously. Serum diazepam and desmethyldiazepam concentrations were measured by electron-capture gas-liquid chromatography in samples drawn up to 72 hr after injection. Serum protein binding was measured by equilibrium dialysis. Subjects were tested on a battery of psychological tests before and 0.5, 2, and 4 hr after treatment. While the free fraction of diazepam was identical in both races (0.02), volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) was different when calculated as absolute volume (Vdss = 76.55 +/- 9.63 l in Caucasians and 54.96 +/- 4.55 l in Orientals, p = 0.04) and marginally significant when corrected for body weight (Vdssl/kg = 1.10 +/- 0.11 in Caucasian and 0.88 +/- 0.05 in Orientals, p = 0.07). total body clearance (Cl), but not elimination half-life (t 1/2), was higher in Caucasians than Orientals, p less than 0.01; t 1/2 = 37.70 +2- 5.53 hr in Caucasians and 41.77 +/- 3.80 in Orientals). Desmethyldiazepam levels were higher in Orientals than Caucasians. Mental and psychomotor effects were maximal at the first session (0.5 hr), followed by complete recovery by the 4-hr session. Effects were similar in both groups. If repeated dosing causes a higher rate of cumulated diazepam serum levels in Orientals, as expected, there might be deeper brain depression in that group.

Studies on human memory: the interactions of diazepam, scopolamine, and physostigmine.

Seventy volunteers were injected with diazepam (0.3 mg/kg), scopolamine (8 mug/kg), or placebo, followed 70 min later by another injection of physostigmine, physostigmine and methscopolamine (in case of diazepam treatment), or placebo. Physostigmine was given in two doses, 16 and 32 mug/kg; methscopolamine, 8 and 16 mug/kg. Subjects (Ss) were tested in groups of 5 in a double blind procedure with treatments distributed according to a Latin square design. Prior to treatment, Ss heard a series of lists of words, followed by an immediate recall test. Following the first injection, delayed free recall and recognition tests were given. The second drug was then injected, followed by a presentation of another two sets of lists which were tested similarly. Subjective feelings were also evaluated with a rating questionnaire. Diazepam and scopolamine did not affect recall of information which had been learned prior to drug injection. However, both drugs impaired the learning or acquisition of new information. Physostigmine, especially in its high dose, antagonized most of the memory deficits produced by scopolamine while those of diazepam remained. This is a strong indication that scopolamine acts centrally through an anticholinergic mechanism while diazepam may act through a different system.

Effects of chronic marijuana use on human cognition.

Impairments of human cognition and learning following chronic marijuana use are of serious concern, but have not been clearly demonstrated. To determine whether such impairments occurred, this study compared performance of adult marijuana users and non-users (N = 144 and N = 72, respectively) matched on intellectual functioning before the onset of drug use, i.e., on scores from standardized tests administered during the fourth grade of grammar school (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills). Subjects were given the twelfth grade versions of these tests (Iowa Tests of Educational Development) and other, computerized cognitive tests in successive test sessions. "Heavy" marijuana use (defined by use seven or more times weekly) was associated with deficits in mathematical skills and verbal expression in the Iowa Tests of Educational Development and selective impairments in memory retrieval processes in Buschke's Test. The retrieval impairments were restricted to words that were easy to visualize. Impairments depended on the frequency of chronic marijuana use, i.e., "light" and "intermediate" marijuana use (defined by use one to four and five to six times weekly, respectively) were not associated with deficits. Intermediate use was associated with superior performance in one condition ("fuzzy" concepts) of a Concept Formation test.

Diazepam, behavior, and aging: increased sensitivity or lower baseline performance?

Cognitive performance, psychomotor skills, and subjective reactions to diazepam and placebo were compared in 12 healthy, well-educated subjects in three age groups: 19-28, 40-45, and 61-73 years old. With only minor exceptions, the changes in performance caused by diazepam and age differences were statistically additive and noninteracting. Diazepam did not act synergistically in older individuals; the decrements in performance were about the same in all age groups. Baseline performance decreased with increasing age; middle-aged subjects performed more like older than younger subjects. A variety of tasks exhibited similar effects of aging and diazepam, i.e., when performance declined with increasing age, it was also reduced by diazepam.

Sodium pentobarbital: sensory and associative effects in classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of sodium pentobarbital (0, 3, 9, and 15 mg/kg) on the acquisition of the rabbit's classically conditioned nictitating membrane response (NMR) and to determine the locus of the drug's effects on sensory, motor, associative, and nonassociative processes. In experiment 1, classical conditioning of the NMR was accomplished by pairing tone and light conditioned stimuli (CSs) with paraorbital shock as the unconditioned stimulus (US). The experiment revealed that pentobarbital retarded the acquisition of conditioned responses (CRs) to both tone and light CSs. Experiment 2, employing unpaired CS, UCS presentations, indicated small but significant drug effects on NMR base rate and nonassociative NMRs to the CS. Experiment 3 revealed no significant drug effect on the psychophysical functions relating UCS intensity to UCR frequency or amplitude, nor on the UCS intensity threshold for eliciting UCRs. On the other hand, in experiment 4, the drug significantly impaired CR frequency over an extended range of CS intensities and raised CS intensity threshold. It was concluded that pentobarbital's attenuation of CS intensity also operated to impair CR acquisition.

The behavioral actions of diazepam and oxazepam are similar.

In a double-blind and randomized study, we assessed the comparative pharmacodynamic profiles and behavioral effects of diazepam and oxazepam administered to young healthy volunteers. Diazepam 0.3 mg/kg or oxazepam 1.2 mg/kg or placebo were each administered orally to 13 subjects who were tested with tasks which measured learning and memory, cognition, psychomotor performance and mood before and for 9 h after treatment. The two drugs had similar actions, although subjective effects were milder after oxazepam, which also had a slower onset of action. There was no evidence of rebound behavioral impairment.

Diazepam and memory: retrograde facilitation produced by interference reduction.

Although diazepam (Valium) reduces learning and memory of information presented after administration (anterograde amnesia), in some cases it improves retention of predrug information (retrograde facilitation). Three experiments examined the magnitude and the conditions for producing retrograde facilitation and tested three hypotheses about the cause of memory enhancement. Differential effort and enhanced consolidation explanations were rejected in favor of a reduced interference interpretation. Improvement in predrug memory occurs because poor postdrug learning reduces the amount of new information available to interfere with prior learning.

Dose-response analysis of the behavioral effects of diazepam: I. Learning and memory.

A total of 120 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to four treatments (placebo, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg) and three testing times (7 AM, 1 PM and 7 PM). Immediate and delayed free recall of word lists revealed consistent decreases in performance as oral diazepam dose increased from 0.1, 0.2, to 0.3 mg/kg. Paradoxically, as the dose increased, the number of predrug list words recalled also increased. A serial number-learning task displayed a pattern of delayed improvement of acquisition as the dose increased. Response times in a semantic-categories task were prolonged as the dose increased. Parallel recovery functions were observed for all doses and tasks. Full recovery after a single administration of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg doses was estimated to occur after 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 h, respectively. Several analyses were consistent with the view that acquisition and not retrieval was impaired by diazepam. There were no circadian interactions with the effects of the drug.