Evaluation of leaf and root absorptions of glyphosate in the growth of coffee plants / Avaliação da absorção foliar e radicular de glifosato no crescimento de plantas de café

Intoxication by dispersion of glyphosate droplets in coffee seedlings is common and, in addition to the problem of drift, there are reports of contamination of this herbicide to a nontarget plant via the rhizosphere. Hydroponics allows the comparison of the translocation of the glyphosate absorbed by the foliage or the roots and avoids the interaction with the soil, which could hamper the achievement of more accurate conclusions when it is absorbed by the root. Thus, the toxicity of glyphosate sublethal dosages in the initial growth of coffee plants in hydroponics was evaluated by applying four sublethal dosages in two different locations (solution and leaf). Fifty days after the application of the herbicide, the intoxication percentage and the growth of the coffee seedlings were evaluated. From the reduced dose of 115.2 g·ha-1 of glyphosate, height reductions, root length; number of leaves, dry mass of leaf, roots and total, leaf area, and leaf mass ratio were observed. The first two parameters were observed only in leaf application and the others via leaf and solution. The aerial part­root ratio system had an increase in herbicide sublethal dosages when applied to leaves and the ratio of leaf area and specific leaf area increased in both applications. Sublethal dosages of glyphosate applied to young coffee plants under hydroponic conditions impair their growth, and it is more accentuated with increasing doses and when the leaves, instead of the roots, absorb the herbicide.(AU)

Intoxicação por dispersão das gotas de glifosato em mudas de café são comuns, além do problema da deriva, há relatos da passagem desse herbicida para planta não alvo via rizosfera. A hidroponia possibilita comparar a translocação do glifosato absorvido pelas folhagens ou raízes e evita a interação do solo que poderia dificultar a obtenção de conclusões mais precisas quando absorvido pela raiz. Assim, a toxidade de subdoses de glifosato no crescimento inicial de plantas de café em hidroponia foi avaliada aplicando-se quatro subdoses em dois locais distintos (solução e folha). Cinquenta dias após a aplicação do herbicida, a porcentagem de intoxicação e o crescimento das mudas de café foram avaliados. A partir da subdose de 115,2 g·ha-1 de glifosato observaram-se reduções da altura; comprimento radicular; número de folhas; massa seca da folha, raiz, radicular e total; área foliar; razão de massa foliar, sendo os dois primeiros parâmetros observados somente na aplicação foliar e os demais via foliar e solução. A relação parte aérea/sistema radicular aumentaram com o incremento das subdoses do herbicida quando aplicado nas folhas e a razão de área foliar e área foliar específica aumentaram em ambas as vias de aplicação. Subdoses de glifosato aplicadas em plantas jovens de café, em condições hidropônicas, prejudicam o seu crescimento sendo mais acentuados com o aumento das doses e quando o herbicida é absorvido pelas folhas em relação à absorção radicular.(AU)

Evaluation of the bioequivalence of two formulations containing the combination of 400 mg of acetaminophen (paracetamol), 4 mg of phenylephrine and 4 mg of chlorpheniramine in capsules: open-label, three-way crossover study, partially replicated in healthy volunteers of both sexes

This study was carried out in order to compare the relative bioavailability of two different formulations containing 400 mg of acetaminophen + 4 mg of phenylephrine hydrochloride + 4 mg of chlorpheniramine maleate, Test formulation (Cimegripe®) and Reference formulation (Resfenol®) in 84 healthy volunteers of both sexes under fasting conditions. The study was conducted in a single dose, randomized, open-label, crossover 3-way and partially replicated. The tolerability was evaluated by the monitoring of adverse events and vital signs, results of clinical and laboratory tests. Plasma concentrations were quantified by validated bioanalytical methods using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-inf, T1/2 and Kel pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from these obtained concentrations. The 90% confidence intervals were constructed for the ratio reference/test from the geometric average of the Cmax and AUC parameters which were comprised between 80% and 125%. Only the Cmax parameter of the phenylephrine was applied the scaled average bioequivalence due to the intraindividual coefficient of variation > 30% obtained, thus extending the acceptance limits of the interval. It can be concluded that the two formulations were bioequivalent in terms of rate and absorption extent and thus interchangeable

Physical characteristics of ceramic/glass-polymer based CAD/CAM materials: Effect of finishing and polishing techniques

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different finishing and polishing techniques on water absorption, water solubility, and microhardness of ceramic or glass-polymer based computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials following thermocycling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 150 disc-shaped specimens were prepared from three different hybrid materials and divided into five subgroups according to the applied surface polishing techniques. All specimens were subjected up to #4000 grit SiC paper grinding. No additional polishing has been done to the control group (Group I). Other polishing procedures were as follows: Group II: two-stage diamond impregnated polishing discs; Group III: yellow colored rubber based silicone discs; Group IV: diamond polishing paste; and Group V: Aluminum oxide polishing discs. Subsequently, 5000-cycles of thermocycling were applied. The analyses were conducted after 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days of water immersion. Water absorption and water solubility results were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests. Besides, microhardness data were compared by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests (P.05). CONCLUSION: Surface finishing and polishing procedures might negatively affect physical properties of hybrid ceramic materials. Nevertheless, immersion periods do not affect the microhardness of the materials. Final polishing by using diamond polishing paste can be recommended for all CAD/CAM materials.

Importance of nutritional therapy in the management of intestinal diseases: beyond energy and nutrient supply

The gut is an immune-microbiome-epithelial complex. Gut microbiome-host interactions have widespread biological implications, and the role of this complex system extends beyond the digestion of food and nutrient absorption. Dietary nutrients can affect this complex and play a key role in determining gut homeostasis to maintain host health. In this article, we review various dietary nutrients and their contribution to the pathogenesis and treatment of various intestinal diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colorectal cancer, and diverticulitis, among other such disorders. A better understanding of diet-host-gut microbiome interactions is essential to provide beneficial nutrients for gut health and to limit nutritional hazards to ensure successful nutritional management of gastrointestinal conditions in clinical practice.

Egg phospholipids exert an inhibitory effect on intestinal cholesterol absorption in mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Consumption of cholesterol-rich foods, such as eggs, has a minimal effect on circulating cholesterol levels in healthy humans. To gain insight, we investigated whether phospholipids rich in eggs (EPL) interfere with intestinal cholesterol absorption in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the acute effect of EPL on intestinal cholesterol absorption, male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered with 6, 11, or 19 mg of EPL for three days. We also tested the effect of chronic EPL consumption on cholesterol metabolism in the small intestine and the liver in mice with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat/high cholesterol (HF/HC; 35% fat, 0.25% cholesterol, w/w) diet for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia, and subsequently the mice were either fed 0, 0.4 or 0.8% (w/w) of EPL for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Intestinal cholesterol absorption was significantly decreased by the highest dose of acute EPL administration compared to control. Chronic EPL supplementation did not significantly alter intestinal cholesterol absorption nor plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the small intestine and the liver, EPL supplementation minimally altered the expression of genes which regulate cellular cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Although chronic EPL consumption was not able to counteract hypercholesterolemia in HF/HC-fed mice, acute EPL administration decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. This study provides in vivo evidence that acute administration of PLs in eggs prevent cholesterol absorption in the intestine, suggesting a mechanism for a minimal effect of egg consumption on circulating cholesterol levels.

In vitro UV absorption properties and radical scavenging capacity of Morella parvifolia (Benth. ) Parra-Os. extracts

The goal of this research was to identify major compounds of the aerial parts of M. parvifolia (Benth.) Parra-Os., that could enhance its possible application as additive in dermocosmetic products, as well as evaluate the antioxidant properties. The extracts agreed with the broad-spectrum UVB/UVA absorption detected and could act as broad-spectrum sunscreens, covering the UVA and UVB range. Methanolic extracts showed an important antiradical capacity (0.46 and 0.47 g/µmol DPPH), TPC (37.58 and 51.41mg GAE/g DS) and TAC (1.12 and 3.31 mg C3GE/g DS) in fruits and leaves, respectively. M. parvifolia could be considered as a prospective source of natural UV-radiation absorbers with antioxidant capacity. Although the results have clearly demonstrated the potential photoprotection capacity, more studies are needed to enhance its application as an additive in pharmaceutical and medicinal formulations.

Sitosterolemia: a review and update of pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, diagnosis, and management

Sitosterolemia is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by increased plant sterol levels, xanthomas, and accelerated atherosclerosis. Although it was originally reported in patients with normolipemic xanthomas, severe hypercholesterolemia have been reported in patients with sitosterolemia, especially in children. Sitosterolemia is caused by increased intestinal absorption and decreased biliary excretion of sterols resulting from biallelic mutations in either ABCG5 or ABCG8, which encode the sterol efflux transporter ABCG5 and ABCG8. Patients with sitosterolemia show extreme phenotypic heterogeneity, ranging from almost asymptomatic individuals to those with severe hypercholesterolemia leading to accelerated atherosclerosis and premature cardiac death. Hematologic manifestations include hemolytic anemia with stomatocytosis, macrothrombocytopenia, splenomegaly, and abnormal bleeding. The mainstay of therapy includes dietary restriction of both cholesterol and plant sterols and the sterol absorption inhibitor, ezetimibe. Foods rich in plant sterols include vegetable oils, wheat germs, nuts, seeds, avocado, shortening, margarine and chocolate. Hypercholesterolemia in patients with sitosterolemia is dramatically responsive to low cholesterol diet and bile acid sequestrants. Plant sterol assay should be performed in patients with normocholesterolemic xanthomas, hypercholesterolemia with unexpectedly good response to dietary modifications or to cholesterol absorption inhibitors, or hypercholesterolemia with poor response to statins, or those with unexplained hemolytic anemia and macrothrombocytopenia. Because prognosis can be improved by proper management, it is important to find these patients out and diagnose correctly. This review article aimed to summarize recent publications on sitosterolemia, and to suggest clinical indications for plant sterol assay.

Nutrition Therapy for Adult Intestinal Failure Patients

Intestinal failure (IF) is a condition, in which the intestinal function or length remaining is below the minimum amount required for the absorption of sufficient nutrients and fluid to maintain normal life. The nutritional supply of IF depends on the anatomical site, length, and function of the remaining bowel. The goals of nutritional therapy for patients with IF are to achieve bowel adaptation to absorb nutrients sufficiently to live a healthy life with the current intestinal condition, and to promote the enteral autonomy to control nutrient digestion, absorption, excretion, and bowel movement. To stabilize and recover the patient's nutrition condition after a huge bowel resection, the intestinal rehabilitation team (IRT) for individual nutritional therapy should be established. IRT carefully monitors the changes in body weight, medication use, patient's symptoms, nutrient deficiency, hydration status, function of the remaining bowel, degree of bowel adaptation, adverse effects due to nutritional therapy, and enteral balance. To achieve intestinal adaptation and enteral autonomy through complicated and difficult nutritional intensive therapy in IF patients, it is essential to manage the patients through multidisciplinary collaboration involving physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, and nurses.

A Study on Vitamin C Content of Nutrition Emphasized Products / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: Vitamin C has various functions such as antioxidative effect and supporting absorption of iron (Fe). Aim of this present study was to provide vitamin C nutrition information and to briefly evaluate absorption interaction of vitamin C and Fe content of vitamin C emphasized products. METHODS: Vitamin C emphasized foods including beverages, cereal, snacks, chocolate products, other cocoa products, and sugary products were examined by HPLC. Fe contents in samples after dry-ashing were examined by ICP. RESULTS: Vitamin C content ranges in various products tested were the following: beverages (n=11) 20.15 ± 0.08~845.41 ± 6.07 mg, cereal (n=11) 52.50 ± 0.23~262.50 ± 0.07 mg, snacks (n=1) 50.00 ± 0.25 mg, chocolate products (n=1) 311.73 ± 2.44 mg, other cocoa products (n=1) 311.73 ± 2.44 mg, other sugary products (n=2) 52.50 ± 0.23~262.50 ± 0.07 mg. Vitamin C (n=27) analysis values ranged from 82 to 450% of the labeled value. Vitamin C content in vitamin C emphasized food (n=6) was estimated 7.7 times~56.6 times more than Fe content. CONCLUSIONS: Analyzed samples ranged more than 80% of the labeled value in vitamin C emphasized products, which complied with food labeling regulation. But, beverages (n=3), cereal (n=4), chocolate products (n=1) were 2 times more than the labeled value. To provide accurate nutrition information, food manufactures should supervise nutrition labeling and understand the interactions between nutrients. Also, consumer should decide about the adequate amount of nutrient intake by thoroughly checking nutrition labeling.

The Role of Vitamin D in Menopausal Medicine / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

Menopause is the time at which menstruation stops in women. After menopause, women are more susceptible to some diseases, especially osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D has a protective effect against osteoporosis by facilitating the absorption of calcium and affecting parathyroid hormone. Vitamin D also affects cardiovascular function by lowering the blood pressure, which affects the renin–angiotensin system and alters the low-density lipoprotein receptor activity. This paper discusses supplemental vitamin D in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Decreased absorption of midazolam in the stomach due to low pH induced by co-administration of Banha-sasim-tang

OBJECTIVES: Banha-sasim-tang (BST), which consists of seven different herbs, is one of the most popular herbal formulae for treating gastrointestinal disorders in Eastern Asia. The commonly used herbal medicine is often co-administered with other therapeutic drugs, which raises the possibility of herb–drug interactions and may modify the clinical safety profile of therapeutic drugs. METHODS: We investigated the potential herb–drug interactions between BST extract and midazolam (MDZ) in mice. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of MDZ and 1ʹ-hydroxymidazolam (1ʹ-OH-MDZ) was evaluated for both oral and intraperitoneal administration of MDZ, following oral administration of BST (0.5 and 1 g/kg). RESULTS: It was found that the AUC of MDZ and 1ʹ-OH-MDZ was lower in case of oral administration of MDZ. Administration of BST extract was not associated with hepatic cytochrome P450 activity. BST extract induced a strong reduction in pH and it has been reported that oral mucosal absorption of MDZ is lower at low pH. The decreased absorption rate of MDZ might be caused by the ingredients of BST and may not be related to other factors such as increased excretion of MDZ by P-glycoprotein. CONCLUSIONS: The altered pharmacokinetics of midazolam caused by co-administration with BST in vivo could be attributed to a decrease in pH and subsequent reduction of MDZ absorption rate.

Calcium as a nutrient involved in the synthesis and localization of proteins that facilitate iron uptake and efflux in enterocytes / El calcio como nutriente implicado en la síntesis y localización de proteínas que participan en la captación y eflujo del hierro en los enterocitos

Iron deficiency is the most common type of nutritional deficiency in the world, and calcium intake is low in many populations. Developing a supplement that contains both micronutrients would be an excellent method to prevent iron deficiency and increase calcium intake. Human and cellular studies have shown that calcium inhibits iron absorption. Currently, the mechanisms underlying this inhibitory effect have not been elucidated. Because calcium is involved in cell signaling pathways, it may affect the regulation of the expression or localization of proteins involved in iron uptake and efflux in enterocytes. The aim of this review was to describe the processes involved in the absorption of dietary iron and the regulation of the expression and activity of proteins involved in this absorption. Additionally, the potential mechanisms by which calcium affects the expression and localization of these proteins are also discussed.

La deficiencia de hierro es la deficiencia nutricional más común en el mundo y la ingesta de calcio es baja en la mayoría de poblaciones. El desarrollo de un suplemento que contenga ambos micronutrientes sería una excelente estrategia para prevenir la deficiencia de hierro y aumentar la ingesta de calcio. Estudios en humanos y en células han demostrado que el calcio inhibe la absorción del hierro. Actualmente los mecanismos que explican este efecto inhibitorio no están claramente dilucidados. Dado que el calcio está implicado en la señalización celular, podría afectar la regulación de la expresión y localización de proteínas implicadas en la captación y eflujo de hierro en los enterocitos. El objetivo de esta revisión es describir los procesos implicados en la absorción del hierro dietario y la regulación de la expresión y actividad de las proteínas implicadas en esta absorción. Además, se discutirán los posibles mecanismos por los cuales el calcio afecta la expresión y localización de esas proteínas.

Optical Imaging and Its Clinical Application in Otorhinolaryngology / 대한이비인후과학회지

Optical imaging visualizes tissue function and structure by analyzing the properties of absorption, scattering, or reflection. Light in the near-infrared spectrum relatively penetrate human tissue well. Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) is a functional imaging modality which can evaluate the perfusion and metabolism of human tissue and tumor by analyzing the optical properties of hemoglobin, water, and lipid. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) acquires the cross-sectional images by analyzing the coherence pattern of the reflected light from the human tissue. OCT has higher resolution more than 15 times compared to conventional imaging modalities like ultrasonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Optical imaging has advantages of harmlessness, noninvasiveness, and high resolution. However, it has limitation in the penetration depth. In this review, mechanism of DOI and OCT and their clinical application in the otorhinolaryngology field will be discussed.

[Drugs malabsorption after bariatric surgery]. / Zaburzenia wchlaniania leków u chorych po operacjach bariatrycznych.

Along with the increasing prevalence of obesity surgical methods of treatment are becoming more accessible. The success of bariatric surgery results from the failure of conservative treatment of obesity through diet, exercises and behavioral changes. Such behaviors, including less effective drug therapy, are responsible for rather small and unstable weight reduction. In contrast, surgical treatment restrictions limiting the amount of food intake, excluding treatments and mixed treatments usually give a spectacular effect, though it is not always consistent with the previous assumptions. Most of us, however, do not realize the risk of the consequences that these treatments bring. The change of the absorption of oral medications, vitamins, microelements, often change the way they are metabolized and it forces ones to change the form of the drug, the way they are taken, which undoubtedly is associated with higher costs of later treatment. Many clinicians are unaware of the need for lifelong supplementation of some vitamins and microelements, as well as the need to modify pharmacotherapy in patients who have undergone this type of operations. This article presents examples of the best known and described changes in the absorption of drugs and micronutrients and explains how well oriented the internist ought to be when qualifying a patient to undergo this type of treatment. The described topic is interesting, but also controversial due to the fact that it corresponds closely with the surgical specialties, quite spectacular in their effects and behavioral specializations, that in many years time will be looking after the patient who underwent the surgery, but is still sick.

[Absorption and transportation of calycosin in Astragali Radix by using Caco-2 monolayer model].

Flavonoids are a class of important active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, pharmacological activity and in vivo process is the focus of research in recent years. Calycosin is the main active ingredients of flavonoids in Astragali Radix, recent studies indicate that it has many kinds of pharmacological activity, but the absorption and transport characteristics in vivo is unclear. The experiment using Caco-2 cell model, with apigenin as internal standard substance, using the method for the determination of drug concentration by HPLC, were studied at different concentrations and absorption transport characteristics of respectively adding different types of protein inhibitors. Data were analyzed by Q test, the results show that low, middle, high concentration of P(app)(BL-AP)/ P(app)(AP-BL) = 1.38 < 1.5, respectively adding different types of protein inhibitors, compared with the control group of P(app)(BL-AP)/ P(app)(AP-BL), there were no significant differences. Calycosin absorption may mainly passive transport, also involved in active transport mechanism, the transport may not be affected by the P-protein, MRP2 protein, SGLT protein.

Phosphorus leaching from a sandy soil in the presence of modified and un-modified adsorbents.

Phosphorus (P) leaching from a sandy soil was investigated in the presence of modified and unmodified clay minerals and nanoparticles (NPs). Compared with control soil, amended soil with NPs had the highest percentage of P retention than amended soil with clay minerals. Among the adsorbents used, the highest percentage of P retention was produced by Al2O3-chitosan while the lowest percentage of P retention was by zeolite. Data measured for P leaching after using adsorbents were used to predict P leaching using transport model. PHREEQC model was able to model P leaching from control and amended soil. After leaching, P values in control and amended soil were fractionated by a sequential extraction procedure. Concentration of P in Ca-bound fraction (HCl-P) after application of modified and unmodified clay minerals and NPs (except TiO2 and Al2O3) increased and decreased, respectively. Saturation indices (SIs) and P speciation were assessed using the Visual MINTEQ version 2.3 program. According to the SIs, leaching P from control and amended soil with different adsorbent was controlled by dissolution of hydroxyapatite. The results indicated that used adsorbents can reduce P leaching from the sandy soil. Thus, retention of P by amended soil reduced a risk in terms of groundwater contamination with P.

In vitro assessment of commercial sunscreens available in Latin America.

In Latin America, people have largely abandoned the practice of wearing hats and traditional clothing that provided skin protection. Sunscreen application has therefore become essential to protect against the increased sun exposure. The physician-prescribed medical-grade sunscreens provide sufficient sun protection but the requirement for regular use puts a financial burden on the patient that is often not sustainable. An appropriate sunscreen should provide a high and broad ultraviolet (UV) protection against UVB and UVA. Several over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreens have been developed for sale at affordable prices and are available for purchase in convenient locations, such as local grocery stores. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro UV protection of 34 popular OTC sunscreens found in the Latin American market. UV absorbance/transmittance was quantified by diffusion transmission spectroscopy using coarse silica plaques. Photostability was tested by irradiating them with simulated solar light and calculating the sun protection factor (SPF), critical length of absorption (C lambda ), UVA/UVB ratio, and the spectral uniformity index (SUI). The results indicated that the in vitro SPFs were significantly lower than the value declared on the labels, particularly for those claiming high SPF values; however, the majority of these sunscreens offered high levels of UV protection. Considering the advantages of low cost and ample accessibility, we concluded that this sample of OTC sunscreens can be beneficial to the general public by providing some level of skin protection from solar radiation, and may be promoted to improve compliance with recommended photoprotection behavior.

[Study on oral absorption enhancers of astragalus polysaccharides].

Astragalus polysaccharides was lounded to 4-(2-aminoethylphenol), followed by labeling the APS-Tyr with fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC) at the secondary amino group. The absorption enhancement effects of low molecular weight chitosan and protamine on astragalus polysaccharides were evaluated via Caco-2 cell culture model. The results show that the fluorecent labeling compound has good stability and high sensitivity. On the other hand low molecular weight chitosan and protamine also can promoted absorption of the astragalus polysaccharides without any cytotoxity, and the absorption increase was more significant with increasing the amount of low molecular weight chitosan and protamine. At the same time, the low molecular weight chitosan has slightly better effect. The transepithelial electric resistance (TEER) of Caco-2 cells show that absorption enhancers could improve its membrane transport permeability by opening tight junctions between cells and increasing the cell membrane fluidity.

[Integrative pharmacology: new paradigm of modernization of Chinese medicine].

Chinese medicinal formulae( CMF) were often used in the clinics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which were critical for modernization of Chinese medicine to shed light on the interaction between CMF and biological organisms. In current studies, correlation between system and part, macroscopic actions and microcosmic mechanism, ADME process and pharmacologic actions were often neglected. Thus, we put forward integrative pharmacology, which could integrate the correlation between CMF and biological organisms from multi-levels and multi-dimensional views. Integrative pharmacology would reveal the molecular mechanism of CMF for ailments treatment and screen out effective material systematically, which would be the new paradigm of TCM research.