Effects of metronidazole, tinidazole, captopril and valsartan on taste and serum levels of zinc and magnesium

To study the effect of metronidazole, tinidazole, captopril and valsartan on the levels of zinc and magnesium in the serum of rabbits and humans and the histology of taste buds in rabbits. We conducted this study in the College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Basrah, Iraq from April 2005 to September 2006. It was in 2 parts: a clinical observational study of 54 patients treated with one of these drugs. The second part involved oral administration of metronidazole [45mg/kg], tinidazole [40mg/kg], captopril [3mg/kg] or valsartan [3mg/kg] or normal saline to 42 rabbits randomly. Serum zinc and magnesium were measured, and histological sections of tongues were examined for taste buds. In rabbits, oral metronidazole [13.6%] or tinidazole [7%] resulted in a significant reduction in serum zinc. Reductions in captopril [6.7%] and valsartan [4.2%] were smaller and insignificant. Body weight increased by 15.5gm [1391 +/- 225.3 gm to 1407 +/- 223.2 gm] in the control group, a lesser increase of approximately 8 gm, was found in the metronidazole group [1452 +/- 222.6 gm to 1460 +/- 221.9 gm]. Rabbit tongues showed moderate degeneration of taste buds caused by tinidazole, severe degeneration of captopril and minimal changes of valsartan. In humans, the drugs did not result in significant changes in serum zinc or magnesium. Approximately 73.3% of patients in the metronidazole group and 11.1% in the valsartan group had taste changes. It is concluded that metronidazole and tinidazole, but not captopril or valsartan resulted in a significant reduction of zinc level in rabbit, but not in human. Captopril and not valsartan caused severe degeneration in taste buds. Serum zinc level seems not to be related to taste buds changes

Evaluation of three topical anaesthetic agents against pain: a clinical study.

AIM: To compare pain responses of children during local anaesthetic infiltration at bilateral buccal sites prepared with topical application of EMLA 5% cream, benzocaine 18% gel or lignocaine 5% ointment and also to find out the rapidity of onset of action of these agents. METHODS: 60 healthy children aged 6 to 12 years old, received bilateral buccal infiltration following application of topical anaesthetic agents applied in a double blind design. Pain responses were compared based on subject self report using visual analogue scale (VAS) and operator assessment using Sound -Eye -Motor (SEM) scale. RESULTS: Benzocaine gel had the rapidest onset of action. EMLA 5% cream proved to be superior in pain reduction compared to benzocaine and lignocaine. Taste acceptance was better with benzocaine gel. Further studies are required for EMLA cream with an improved formulation more suitable for mucosal application before its routine use in dentistry.

Salt preference across different phases of menstrual cycle.

It is well established that women experience food craving for particular foods and gain weight in relation to phases of menstrual cycle. In this study, the preference for different concentrations of salt sprayed on bland popcorn was assessed in 55 healthy women (age 18 to 22 yrs). Salt solutions of 0, 1, 2, 3 and +3 molar strength were used. Samples of sprayed popcorn were consumed in random order and preference marked on a Likert scale. It was observed that women preferred unsalted popcorn in the menstrual phase more than in the luteal phase. The preference for salted popcorn was most during the luteal phase and was proportionate to the strength of the salt solution used. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the preference rating between the menstrual phase and the other two phases. There was no significant difference in preference between the luteal and follicular phases.

Central N omega-nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester Does not Influence Lithium-induced c-Fos and Conditioned Taste Aversion

LiCl at doses sufficient to induce conditioned taste aversion (CTA) causes c-Fos expression in the brain regions implicated in CTA formation. It has been reported that nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in CTA learning and LiCl increases both the synthesis and activity of NO synthase (NOS) in the brain. In this study, we examined the effect of central N omega-nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the brain c-Fos expression and CTA learning induced by lithium in rats. In the results, intracerebroventricular L-NAME given prior to lithium did not change either the lithium-induced CTA or c-Fos in the relevant brain regions. This suggests that the brain NO system may not be involved in the neuronal activation during lithium-induced CTA formation.

Comparación de olor, cuerpo, sabor y sensación posterior a la ingesta que producen cinco ampicilinas y dos trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol en presentaciones líquidas con sabor distinto / Comparison of the smell, body, taste and sensibility produced by five oral ampicillins and two trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol liquid formulations with different taste

Una de las características para el cumplimiento adecuado del tratamiento con un antibiótico líquido en la edad pediátrica es que el gusto y la sensación posterior a la ingestión sean acetables al paladar del niño. Se comparan siete suspensiones de antimicrobianos (cinco ampicilinas y dos trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol) de uso común en pediatría en un estudio doble ciego con 50 médicos pediatras voluntarios a determinar diferencias en la aceptabilidad del olor, textura, gusto, sensación posterior a la ingestión y el total de los antibióticos orales. en el recuento total el mejor es Pentrexyl, con diferencias significativas (p< 0.05), seguidos de omnipen, Binotal y pembritin sin diferencias significativas entre ellos, seguido de Lampicin y al final se encuentran Septrin y Bactrim. En el gusto el mejor fue Pentrexyl con diferenias significativa al resto. Muchos clínicos pueden considerar lo resultados del presente estudio, para seleccionar una suspensión antimicrobiana y así obtener un mejor cumplimiento del tratamiento

Effect of thyroxine on taste hedonics in rat.

1. The hedonic response to sweetness was tested in 12 thyroxine treated rats using the method of single-bottle brief-exposure to sweet (saccharin) solution. 2. Consumption of the sweet solution was significantly more following administration of thyroxine than during the control period. 3. The 1-hr consumption of saccharin solution appeared to be more sensitive to thyroxine than the 5-minute consumption.

Taste deficiency for phenylthiocarbamide in Mathur Kayasths community of Hyderabad, A.P.

The ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been investigated in 422 individuals representing both sexes among the Mathur Kayastha community of Hyderabad, A.P. There is a great excess of non-tasters with a high 't' gene frequency (0.76). There is no significant difference between the males and females for the t-gene. It is suggested that the high incidence of non-tasters in Mathurs is possibly due to their Aryan origin or even endogamdus customs.

Relation of PTC responses and secretor status to blood groups.

Blood groups (ABO, Rh-including sub-types M-N, Duffy), secretor status and ability to taste Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) were investigated in 102 medical students of Delhi University, and the distribution was found similar to that observed in the north Indians. Both faster and secretors had highest percentage in AB, O and in rr, while the lowest values were obtained in B and R1r.