Biochemical effects of feeding soft drink and ethanol.

This work was undertaken to study whether consumption of alcoholic beverage mixed with soft drinks could reduce the metabolic effect caused by ethanol. When 24 hr fasted rats were intragastrically fed rum (with 40% ethanol) diluted (1:1) with water, 3.0 ml (0.5 g ethanol) per 100 g body weight and sacrificed 12 hr later in fasting condition, exhibited higher levels of triacyl glycerol, glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum, higher levels of total cholesterol, triacyl glycerol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in both liver and kidneys, and lower levels of serum albumin. When fasted rats were fed 3.0 ml soft drink (0.31 mg caffeine), they showed increased levels of triacyl glycerol, glucose, ALT and ALP in the serum, TBARS in liver and kidneys, triacyl glycerol and total cholesterol in kidneys and lower levels of serum albumin. Soft drink feeding did not reduce serum total cholesterol but reduced HDL levels. Also soft drink did not alter liver lipids. When a mixture of 1.5 ml diluted rum (0.25 g ethanol) and 1.5 ml soft drink (0.154 mg caffeine) were fed to the fasted rats, the serum parameters increased similar to rats fed rum only except that total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were unaltered. TBARS in kidneys and liver were also increased but triacyl glycerol levels were not altered. Thus feeding ethanol with soft drink does not reduce the metabolic effects of ethanol but it will prevent ethanol induced serum HDL cholesterol rise.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of diacetodibutyl disulphide.

The hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and the high levels of liver and kidney thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) observed in rats which were fed ethanol for 45 days, could be significantly reduced by feeding diacetodibutyl disulphide (DADBDS). Ethanol-induced hypoproteinemia and the rise in serum enzymes like AST (EC 2.6.1.10), ALT (EC 2.6.1.2) and ALP (EC 3.1.3.1) could also be ameliorated by DADBDS. Feeding of this compound to normal rats did not produce any change in serum or tissue lipid levels or serum enzymes or tissue TBARS except a moderate reduction in serum triacyl glycerols. DADBDS feeding to rats maintained on a high lipid diet could also reduce the serum and tissue lipid levels and also reduce the serum transaminases.DADBDS which is an aliphatic disulphide could produce hypolipidemic effects in rats fed a single large dose of ethanol, whereas dimenthol disulphide which is an aromatic disulphide was not useful as a hypolipidemic agent. Perhaps hypolipidemic effects are shown only by aliphatic disulphides and not by aromatic disulphides. Feeding of 100 mg DADBDS per kg body weight to normal fasted rats produced a mild hypoglycemia, but higher doses produced a hyperglycemic effect. This dose of DADBDS increased the serum insulin levels and reduced blood glucose levels in fasted diabetic rats, but DADBDS feeding did not alter the serum insulin levels in fasted normal rats. DADBDS is odourless and tasteless in 1% solution and it could be a better substitute for garlic for hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic studies.

The importance of hemoglobin levels during radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether blood transfusion can overcome the negative impact of anemia before or during radiotherapy (RT) in patients with carcinoma of the cervix. The objective of this retrospective study was to examine the impact of anemia and blood transfusion on 605 patients with carcinoma of the cervix treated with radical RT at 7 centers across Canada in 1989, 1990, and 1992. METHODS: The data collected included hemoglobin (Hgb) levels from the time of diagnosis to the end of therapy; blood transfusions administered; and identifiable patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors. Survival, disease free survival, and pelvic control analyses were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 41 months (range, 0-92 months). Presenting Hgb level, average weekly nadir Hgb (AWNH) during RT, and blood transfusion were correlated significantly with local control, disease free survival, and overall survival on univariate analysis. However, the AWNH remained significant on multivariate analysis, whereas Hgb at presentation and blood transfusion did not. The 5-year survival was 74% for patients with an AWNH >/= 120 g/L, 52% for patients with AWNH levels 110-119 g/L inclusive, and 45% for patients with AWNH levels < 110 g/L (P < 0.0001). At each Hgb level, patients who were transfused and maintained a specific Hgb level had a survival rate that was not significantly different from patients who were at that level spontaneously. There was a significant reduction in both pelvic and distant recurrence (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0006, respectively) in patients whose AWNH level during RT was >/= 120 g/L compared with < 120 g/L. A reduction in the rate of distant recurrence was observed in patients with and without pelvic recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: AWNH is highly predictive of outcome for patients treated with RT for carcinoma of the cervix. Blood transfusion appears to overcome the negative prognostic effects of low presenting Hgb levels and AWNH levels.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy using an Inoue balloon in children with rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) using the Inoue technique was performed in 557 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Of these, 107 were children aged 10-18 years (mean +/- SD 14.5 +/- 2.3). All patients were symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II (n = 78) and Class III (n = 29). All were in sinus rhythm. Following PTMC, the mitral valve area (MVA) increased from 0.73 +/- 0.18 to 1.7 +/- 0.53 cm2 (P < 0.001). There was a significant fall in mean transmitral gradient from 15.6 +/- 5.2 to 5.1 +/- 2.3 mmHg, and in mean pulmonary artery pressure from 41 +/- 15 to 28.4 +/- 10 (P < 0.001). Cardiac tamponade developed in one patient. One patient developed severe mitral regurgitation requiring emergency mitral valve replacement. Five patients (4.7%) developed moderate mitral regurgitation. There was no mortality or cerebral embolism in any of the children. Four patients (3.7%) had oximetry evidence of atrial septal defect. Mean mitral valve area and transmitral gradient at 14 months mean follow up was 1.68 +/- 0.4 cm2 and 6 +/- 3.5 mmHg, respectively, and were comparable to the immediate post-PTMC results. Two patients (1.8%) developed restenosis. The immediate haemodynamic results in children were compared to 450 adult patients who underwent PTMC in the same period. The outcome was similar in both groups. Children were found to have significantly higher pulmonary artery pressure compared to adults. We found that PTMC using an Inoue balloon is very effective and safe in children, and consider that it should be the procedure of choice for young patients with symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Long-term results of combined interstitial gold seed implantation plus external beam irradiation in localised carcinoma of the prostate.

Carcinoma of the prostate is one of the leading causes of death in men. Patients with localised disease can be treated with radiotherapy, but controversy still exists regarding the most effective therapeutic technique. We report 180 patients with surgical stage A2-C prostate cancer treated between 1976 and 1986 by pelvic lymphadenectomy and radioactive gold seed implantation followed by external irradiation. Annual post-treatment biopsies were performed up to 5 years in most patients. Regular follow-up included a digital rectal examination, prostatic acid phosphatase and bone scan. One hundred and sixty-four patients had complete follow-up data at the end-point of data collection (December 1991). The actuarial 10-year cancer-free survival rates were 83.0% and 91.3% for stages A2 and B1 respectively. The incidence of positive biopsy at 2 and 5 years was 13% and 17.1% respectively for the whole series. A firm correlation was defined between biopsy result and subsequent development of local progression, distant metastases and overall survival. Combined interstitial gold seed implantation plus external beam irradiation represent a valid option for the treatment of patients with localised prostatic cancer.

Toxic effects of garlic extract and garlic oil in rats.

Significant rise in urea and D-aspartate aminotransferase and inhibition of alkaline phosphatase in serum were observed in rats fed garlic extract (2 ml/100 g body wt, intragastrically) for 10 days. The liver showed histological changes. Garlic oil feeding (10 mg/100 g body wt, intragastrically) after 24 hr fasting was found lethal. The cause of death appears to be acute pulmonary oedema. On histological examination, all the organs of the dead rats revealed severe congestion. However, similar feeding of garlic oil was well tolerated by rats in the fed state. Also, 24 hr fasted rats could tolerate this dose of garlic oil, provided they were previously adapted to garlic oil feeding.

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Results and complications in 81 patients.

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is usually used for preoperative decompression and for palliation in obstructive jaundice, but little attention has been focused on catheter complications. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in 81 consecutive patients. There was a 10.0% failure rate and an 8.6% mortality rate. Four patients (4.9%) required emergency operations for complications and an additional ten patients (12.3%) required transfusions. The overall sepsis rate was 34.6%; prophylactic antibiotics decreased the sepsis rate. Thirty-eight patients (47.0%) required 68 manipulation procedures for catheter malfunctions. No distinguishing characteristics could be found to identify the subgroups having complications or mortalities. The efficacy of preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage has not been proved, and the indications for palliation are not clearly defined. Further trials are needed to define the role of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in patients with obstructive jaundice.

Hypolipidemic effects of garlic oil in rats fed ethanol and a high lipid diet.

Feeding of ethanol and a high fat-high cholesterol diet to rats markedly increased the total lipids in the liver, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the serum, liver and kidneys. However, when ethanol mixed with 0.5% garlic oil was fed to animals maintained on the high fat-high cholesterol diet, these lipid levels were significantly reduced to levels near to those seen in untreated control rats. Garlic oil did not reduce the serum albumin or the total proteins of liver, kidneys or serum when fed along with ethanol. Probably the garlic oil enhances the catabolism of dietary cholesterol and fatty acids.

Certain biochemical effects of garlic oil on rats maintained on high fat-high cholesterol diet.

The feeding of a high fat-high cholesterol (HF-HC) diet to normal rats for 1 month increased the lipid components cholesterol and triglyceride in serum, liver and kidneys and decreased the serum albumin very significantly. Administration of garlic oil (100 mg/kg b. wt/day) for 1 month together with the HF-HC diet to another group almost nullified the lipid-increasing and albumin-decreasing effects of that diet. The reduction in total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides and the restoration to normal level of serum albumin were highly significant in the garlic oil group. Adipose tissue triglyceride lipase activity was significantly increased in both the above groups with a much greater rise in the oil group.