Assessment of potential interaction between simvastatin and clarithromycin in healthy adult male subjects.

Cardiac patients with weak immune system are susceptible to bacterial infections. Their prescriptions frequently contain simvastatin and clarithromycin together. The objective of present project was to assess the potential interaction between simvastatin and clarithromycin by evaluating the clarithromycin effects on the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin in healthy adult male subjects. The study design comprised of two phases, used at interval of one week. In first phase simvastatin 20 mg alone was administered to each volunteer. In second phase, co-administration of simvastatin 20 mg with clarithromycin 250 mg was made under similar specified conditions. Blood samples were collected at specified time intervals. Simvastatin plasma concentrations were analyzed through High Performance Liquid Chromatography with UV detector at 238 nm wavelength. Using one compartment open model, MW/PHARM version 3.02 software program was used by F. Rombut for pharmacokinetic parameters calculation. Clarithromycin co-treatment resulted in 2.3 fold increase in maximum plasma concentration Cmax (from 2.47±0.34 ng.mL-1 to 5.66±1.18 ng.mL-1; p<0.05) and 3.9 fold increase in area under time versus concentration curve from 0 to 10 hours AUC0-10 (from 15.10±3.73 ng.hr.mL-1 to 58.49±15.73 ng.hr.mL-1; p<0.05) of simvastatin. These results suggest that co-prescription of simvastatin and clarithromycin should be avoided to minimize the adverse events resulting from high simvastatin concentration, without sacrificing therapeutic worth of simvastatin.

Disposition kinetics of omeprazole in healthy female volunteers in Faisalabad.

Omeprazole (OMP) a proton pump inhibitor is widely used to suppress gastric acid secretions of parietal cells of stomach and metabolized predominantly by CYP2C19. The objective of the present study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of OMP, after its single oral administration in eight healthy adult female subjects. Blood samples were collected at different time intervals after oral administration and their pH was measured. Plasma concentration of OMP was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system equipped with UV-visible Detector. The concentration versus time data was used to compute the pharmacokinetic parameters with the help of computer software programme MW/PHRAM APO version 3.02.Peak plasma concentration was (Cmax) 0.38±0.04 µg/ml achieved at 2.07±0.22 hrs. The elimination half-life (t1/2 ß) was1.82 ± 0.42 hrs. Volume of distribution (Vd) in the present study was 0.40 ± 0.07 l/kg with total body clearance (ClB) 0.19 ± 0.02 l/hr/kg and area under the curve (AUC) 1.89 ± 0.23 µg.hr/ml.The pharmacokinetic properties which are different from the literature after oral administration of 20 mg OMP in eight healthy female volunteers may be due to the variations of environment and genetic variation between Pakistan and drug manufacturing of foreign countries.

Determination of florfenicol residues in broiler meat and liver samples using RP-HPLC with UV-visible detection.

BACKGROUND: Broilers are vulnerable to various types of microorganisms, including Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in multiple infections. Broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs such as florfenicol (FF) are widely used in the treatment of such infections. Suspected residues of these drugs in body tissues of treated birds can be passed to humans through meat consumption and thus lead to serious ill effects on human health. The present study was designed to estimate the presence of FF residues in broiler meat and liver samples. RESULTS: The mean residual concentrations of FF in broiler meat and liver samples were 311.42 ± 186.56 and 2585.44 ± 1759.71 µg kg(-1) respectively, which are higher than their respective maximum residual limits (MRLs). The results showed that 126 and 24 samples were FF-positive and FF-negative respectively. Of the positive samples, 84 and 42 samples were above and below the MRL respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate the presence of FF residues in broiler meat and liver samples. Usage of this contaminated meat causes resistance in consumers and poses a public health threat. Thus there is a need to educate farmers about the ill effects of residual drugs on human health and their withdrawal times in poultry. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Histopathological evaluation of gastro protective effect of Berberis vulgaris (Zereshk) seeds against aspirin induced ulcer in albino mice.

The present study was carried out to investigate the antiulcer activity of Berberis vulgaris (Zereshk) seeds in albino mice. After acclimatization, animals were divided into six equal groups. Aspirin 150 mg/kg was used to induce gastric ulcer in all groups except normal control. Omeprazole 20mg/kg was used as synthetic anti ulcer drug in study. Three dose levels of B. vulgaris seed powder 300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg and 900 mg/kg were used respectively orally. Histopathological analysis was carried out to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of B. vulgaris seed powder. Results of the study showed that in case of aspirin treated mice gastric luminal mucosa villi were decreased in height or were absent. In the glandular region there was connective tissue proliferation and also infiltration of cells. Similar infiltration of cells was present on muscularis mucosa. In esophageal region tumor cells were present. However three dose levels of B. vulgaris significantly reduced the tissue proliferation, infiltration of cells and sloughing induced by aspirin. Highest dose of B. vulgaris (900 mg/kg) showed similar results as synthetic antiulcer drug omeprazole.

Dermatoprotective effects of some plant extracts (genus Ficus) against experimentally induced toxicological insults in rabbits.

AIM: Present study was conducted to evaluate the dermatoprotective effects of plant extracts (Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, and Ficus racemosa) against known irritants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), atrazine, and petrol. METHODS: The study was conducted in adult male rabbits. Ethanol extracts of plants were obtained through Soxhlet. All irritants and Ficus extracts were topically applied to the backs of rabbits daily for 4 days, while pure ethanol served as control. Skin was examined after 24, 48, and 96 h for erythema. Skin biopsies were taken on 5th day for microscopic examination. RESULTS: Erythema produced by irritants reduced significantly with the simultaneous application of Ficus extracts. The mean ± SEM epidermal thickness (micrometer) with SDS was 45.40 ± 1.89, F. religiosa + SDS was 18.60 ± 0.51, F. benghalensis + SDS was 18.40 ± 0.25, F. racemosa + SDS was 18.80 ± 0.37, and mixture of three Ficus species + SDS was 16.80 ± 0.37. Similar findings were revealed after using plant extracts with atrazine and petrol. The mean ± SEM epidermal layer count for SDS was 3.60 ± 0.25, atrazine was 3.40 ± 0.25, petrol was 3.40 ± 0.25, and ethanol (control) was 1.00 ± 0.20. This count reduced to 1.20 ± 0.20 for three Ficus species + SDS, 1.40 ± 0.25 for Ficus species + atrazine, and 1.40 ± 0.25 for Ficus species + petrol. CONCLUSION: Ficus species demonstrated the potential to block the dermatotoxic effects of topical irritants and could be used successfully to prevent skin toxicity.

Breast cancer: major risk factors and recent developments in treatment.

Breast cancer is the most common in women worldwide, with some 5-10% of all cases due to inherited mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Obesity, hormone therapy and use of alcohol are possible causes and over-expression of leptin in adipose tissue may also play a role. Normally surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy allow a good prognosis where screening measures are in place. New hope in treatment measures include adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and introduction of mono-clonal antibodies and enzyme inhibitors.

Supplementation of dietary vitamins, protein and probiotics on semen traits and immunohistochemical study of pituitary hormones in zinc-induced molted broiler breeders.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E and vitamin C, probiotics mixture and protein level and their combination on semen quality and immunohistochemical study of some pituitary hormones in male broiler breeders. One hundred and eighty male broiler breeders 65 weeks old were divided into six groups by completely randomized design. The birds were subjected to zinc-induced molt by mixing zinc oxide at the rate of 3000mg/kg in the feed. After molting, one group was fed control diet (CP16%). The other groups were fed vitamin E (100IU/kg), vitamin C (500IU/kg), probiotics (50mg/L of drinking water), protein (CP14%) and combination of these components. These treatments were given for five weeks. After the feeding period, semen samples were taken and analyzed for semen volume, sperm concentration, motility and dead sperm percentage. Pituitary samples were collected from three birds per replicate and were processed for immunohistochemical study. The results of semen quality parameters revealed that semen volume and sperm motility were significantly high in the vitamin E fed group, while the dead sperm percentage decreased significantly in the vitamin C group. The morphometric analysis revealed that compared to other groups, vitamin E caused a significant increase in the size and area of FSH, LH gonadotropes and lactotropes. These results showed that vitamin E alone may play some role in the enhancement of semen quality and growth of gonadotropes and lactotropes.

Au(III)-CTAB reduction by ascorbic acid: preparation and characterization of gold nanoparticles.

Upon addition of tetrachloroauric(III) (HAuCl(4)) to a solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), a perfect transparent yellow colored and yellowish-precipitate appears within the time of mixing, indicating the formation of a complex between HAuCl(4) and CTAB. Morphology of gold nanoparticles in situ via chemical reduction of title reaction has been determined by using conventional techniques. The position and shape of the surface plasmon resonance (SRP) band strongly depends on the [ascorbic acid], [HAuCl(4)], [CTAB] and mixing ratio of the reactants. Sub-, post- and dilution-micellar effects are accountable to the aggregation and/or adsorption of gold nanoparticles onto the surface of CTAB. The morphology of particles was altered by changing the [reactants] as well as [CTAB]. A mechanism of nanoparticle formation has been proposed comprising different steps of particle growth.

Amelioration of Ochratoxin A-induced immunotoxic effects by silymarin and Vitamin E in White Leghorn cockerels.

Silymarin (SL) is the bioactive extract of the plant Silybum marianum and Vitamin E (VE) is an important anti-oxidant. The present study was designed to evaluate potential ameliorative effects of SL and VE against Ochratoxin A (OTA)-induced immunotoxic effects in White Leghorn cockerels. One day-old birds were divided into 12 groups (20 birds/group) and fed basal diets amended with OTA (1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg) alone or in combination with SL (10 g/kg) and/or VE (200 mg/kg) for 42 days. Immunological in situ responses, including antibody formation against sheep red blood cells (7 and 14 days after both primary and booster injections), lymphoproliferative responses to avian tuberculin (30 days of age), and mononuclear phagocytic system function (i.e. by clearance of injected carbon particles) assay (42 days of age), were assessed. Results suggested that silymarin and Vitamin E alone or in combination ameliorated the immunotoxic effects induced by 1.0 mg OTA/kg but could not significantly impact on the effect from ingestion of 2.0 mg OTA/kg. The results of the present study suggested that both SL and VE possess an ability to ameliorate OTA-induced immunotoxicity in chicks. However, it remains to be determined whether/what SL:OTA or VE:OTA ratios are required to assure such mitigation of OTA-induced immunotoxicities.

Starch-directed green synthesis, characterization and morphology of silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles were prepared by a simple chemical reduction method using ascorbic acid and starch as reducing and stabilizing agents, respectively. The effect of starch, silver ions and ascorbic acid was studied on the morphology of the silver nano-particles using UV-visible spectrophotometry. The initial reaction time min and amount of starch were important parameters for the growth of Ag-nanoparticles. The morphology was evaluated from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The truncated triangle nano-plates (from 17 to 30 nm), polyhedron, spherical with some irregular shaped Ag-nanoparticles were formed in presence of starch. Particles are aggregated in an irregular manner, leads to the formation of butterfly-like structures of silver. Starch acts as a stabilizing, shape-directing and capping agent during the growth processes. Silver nanoparticles adsorbed electrostatically on the outer OH groups of amylose left-handed helical conformation in solution.

Effects of ionic surfactants on the morphology of silver nanoparticles using Paan (Piper betel) leaf petiole extract.

Stable silver nanoparticles were synthesized by the reduction of silver ions with a Paan (Piper betel) leaf petiole extract in absence and presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The reaction process was simple and convenient to handle, and was monitored using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Absorbance of Ag-nanoparticles increases with the concentrations of Paan leaf extract, acts as reducing, stabilizing and capping agents. The polyphenolic groups of petiole extract are responsible to the rapid reduction of Ag(+) ions into metallic Ag(0). The results indicated that the shape of the spectra, number of peaks and its position strongly depend on the concentration of CTAB, which played a shape-controlling role during the formation of silver nanoparticles in the solutions, whereas SDS has no significant effect. The morphology (spherical, truncated triangular polyhedral plate and some irregular nanoparticles) and crystalline phase of the particles were determined from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED).

Shape-directing role of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in the green synthesis of Ag-nanoparticles using Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract.

The shape-directing role of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, is reported to the green synthesis of Ag-nanoparticles for the first time using Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract. UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns were used to monitor the growth kinetics, morphology and crystalline nature of Ag-nanoparticles, respectively. It was observed that the growths of Ag-nanoparticles are stopped within 40 min of reaction time. The Ag-nanoparticles are polydispersed spherical and exhibiting an interesting triangle, flat, plate-like hexagonal and some irregular morphology in presence of different [CTAB]. Hexagonal particles aggregated in a systematic manor, leads to produce a fine tiles-like arrangement of Ag-nanoparticles with dimensions between 10 and 37 nm. The nature of reaction-time curves to the reduction of Ag(+) ions by Neem leaf extract are much different than those observed by us in our earlier studies using different bio-reductants.

Immunological status of the progeny of breeder hens kept on ochratoxin A (OTA)- and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-contaminated feeds.

This study aimed to evaluate the immunological status of progeny of hens kept on ochratoxin A (OTA)- and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-contaminated feed. For this purpose, White Leghorn (WL) layer breeder hens (40-weeks-of-age) were divided into six groups (A-F). Hens in Group A were fed a commercial layer ration while those in Groups B and C were kept on a diet amended with 3 and 5 mg OTA/Kg, respectively. Group D was fed a ration containing 5 mg AFB(1)/Kg, while hens in Groups E and F were kept on feed amended with OTA and AFB(1) each. All feedings were for 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Fertile eggs were set for hatching on a weekly basis to obtain progeny of each week separately. At 14 days-of-age, subsets of progeny were euthanized and the frequency of immunoglobulin(s)-bearing cells in their spleen and bursa of Fabricius assessed; at 16 days-of-age, other chicks in each set were utilized to determine their lymphoblastogenic responses against phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P). At 30 days-of-age, the final sub-set of chicks/group was euthanized and their peritoneal macrophages harvested for measurements of phagocytic potential and nitrite production. Relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and of the spleen were significantly lower in the progeny of hens fed mycotoxin-contaminated diets for 14 and 21 days. The frequencies of IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-bearing cells were also significantly lower in the bursa of Fabricius and spleen of progeny chicks obtained from hens fed the OTA + AFB(1) mixed diet. Feeding contaminated diets to breeder hens also resulted in significantly lower responses to PHA-P. In addition, the percentages of peritoneal macrophages displaying phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells (SRBC), the number of SRBC/macrophage, and nitrite production were each significantly lower in cells from progeny chicks from OTA- and AFB(1)-fed hens. The findings of the present study indicated there were severe immunosuppressive effects in progeny chicks as a result of exposure of their parent hens to OTA and AFB(1) either alone or in combination. These studies provide emphasis for the need for mycotoxin regulation policy with respect to the ingredients used in poultry feed, since it is clear that feeding multi-mycotoxin-contaminated diets to breeder hens will almost certainly result in the hatching of manifestly unhealthy chicks.

Effects of vitamins, probiotics, and protein level on semen traits and some seminal plasma macro- and microminerals of male broiler breeders after zinc-induced molting.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of vitamin E, vitamin C, probiotics, dietary protein level, and their combination on semen traits and seminal plasma macro- and microminerals in 65-week-old male broiler breeders after zinc-induced molting. One hundred eighty birds were induced to molt by mixing zinc oxide (3,000 mg/kg) in the diet. The birds were divided into six groups (five replicates) by completely randomized design. One group was kept as control (16% CP), while the other five were supplemented with vitamin E (100 IU/kg feed), vitamin C (500 IU/kg feed) probiotics (50 mg/L), protein level (14% CP), and their combination. Semen samples were weekly collected for determination of semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and dead sperm percentage. Analyses of Na, K, Ca and Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu in seminal plasma were also performed. Overall, mean semen volume was significantly high in vitamin E and C supplemented groups compared to control. Overall mean sperm motility was significantly higher in vitamin E supplemented group, whereas dead sperm percentage was significantly lower in the vitamin C group compared to control. Mineral analyses revealed that overall mean seminal plasma Mg increased significantly in vitamin E and C supplemented groups compared to control. Similarly, significantly high overall mean seminal plasma Cu concentration was observed in vitamins E and C and combination groups. It can be concluded that vitamins have a vital role in improving semen quality and bioavailability of Mg and Cu in seminal plasma of the post-molt cockerels.

Effects of individual and combined administration of ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B1 in tissues and eggs of White Leghorn breeder hens.

BACKGROUND: Mycotoxins, the secondary fungal metabolites, are unavoidable contaminants of human and animal food and feeds. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of concurrent feeding of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1) ) to breeder hens, upon their deposition in different tissues and eggs. RESULTS: Residues of OTA and AFB(1) in (ng g(-1) ) were significantly higher in liver followed by kidneys and breast muscles by 22.54 ± 1.48, 4.22 ± 0.93 and 0.56 ± 0.06 for OTA (group fed OTA at 5 mg kg(-1) diet) and 1.44 ± 0.21, 0.25 ± 0.01 and 0.03 ± 0.01 for AFB(1) (group fed AFB(1) at 5 mg kg(-1) diet), respectively. Residues of OTA and AFB(1) in eggs appeared at days 3 and 5 of toxin feeding and disappeared at days 5 and 6 of withdrawal of mycotoxins contaminated feed, respectively. The residues of OTA and AFB(1) were significantly lower in the tissues of hens fed these toxins concurrently compared with the groups fed OTA and AFB(1) independently. CONCLUSIONS: Residues of OTA and AFB(1) appeared in the tissues and eggs of laying hens kept on OTA- and AFB(1) -contaminated diets. Concurrent feeding of OTA and AFB(1) to hens significantly decreased the concentration of OTA and AFB(1) residues in the tissues and eggs.

Lipid lowering effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum in hyperlipidaemic albino rabbits.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the lipid lowering effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon) in hyperlipidaemic albino rabbits. For this purpose, forty eight albino rabbits were randomly divided into eight equal groups; untreated control on normal routine feed, untreated control on butter and cholesterol, treated control on synthetic cholesterol lowering drug simvastatin (Tablet survive (R) 20 mg), three treated groups on three respective doses of C. zeylanicum bark powder and two treated groups on water and methanol extracts of C. zeylanicum bark powder. Butter ad lib and cholesterol powder 500 mg/kg body weight were used to induce experimental hyperlipidaemia in all groups except untreated control group. The results suggested that C. zeylanicum bark powder at the rate of 0.50 g/kg, 0.75 g/kg and methanol extract equivalent to 0.75 g/kg powder produced respective percent reductions in total lipids by 45, 49 and 64; triglycerides by 38, 53 and 60; total cholesterol by 53, 64 and 69 and LDL-cholesterol by 50, 59 and 62. However, at these dosage levels HDL-cholesterol showed respective percent increase of 42, 48 and 53. Nonetheless, C. zeylanicum bark powder at the level of 0.25g/kg and C. zeylanicum extract in water could not significantly reduce lipid profile indicators. Based on these studies, it can safely be said that C. zeylanicum bark powder methanol extract equivalent to 0.75g/kg bark powder and simvastatin (0.6 mg/kg b. wt.) were equieffective in treating hyperlipidaemia.

In vivo and ex vivo phagocytic potential of macrophages from progeny of breeder hens kept on ochratoxin A (OTA)-contaminated diet.

This study aimed to investigate the phagocytic potential of macrophages in progeny of breeder hens kept on an OTA-contaminated diet. For this purpose, 84 White Leghorn (WL) layer breeder hens (40-weeks-of-age) were divided into seven groups (A-G). Hens in Group A were fed a commercial layer ration while those in Groups B-G were kept on a diet amended with 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, or 10.0 mg OTA/kg, respectively, for up to 3 weeks (n = 12/treatment group; n = 4/time sub-group/treatment group). Fertile eggs were set for hatching on a weekly basis to get the progeny of each week separately. Hatched chicks (n = 10 from each group) were injected with India ink at day 14-of-age to study the in vivo phagocytosis of carbon particles. At day 30, abdominal macrophages were collected from 15 chicks/group and were used to assess their ex vivo/in vitro phagocytic potential against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as well as for nitrite production upon challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The phagocytic indices of the reticuloendothelial system of all three sets of progeny (chicks obtained from hens fed OTA for 7, 14, and 21 days) were significantly lower than values seen with Group A chicks. The number of macrophages that were actively phagocytic, the number of SRBC internalized per macrophage, and the extent of nitrite production after stimulation with LPS were each significantly lower in the cells obtained from chicks of breeder hens that had been maintained on the OTA-contaminated diets. The findings of this study clearly showed that there are immunosuppressive effects-in terms of depressed in vivo and in vitro macrophage functionality-in progeny of OTA-fed breeder hens.

Immunological responses of male White Leghorn chicks kept on ochratoxin A (OTA)-contaminated feed.

This study was designed to evaluate some immunological responses of male White Leghorn (WL) chicks kept on an ochratoxin A (OTA)-contaminated diet. For this purpose, 350 1-day-old male WL chicks were divided into five groups (A-E). Group A was kept as control, while Groups B, C, D, and E were fed OTA-contaminated feed at 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/Kg diet, respectively, for 21 days, and then basal ration for the remaining period. At 14- and 16-days of age, random chicks (n = 10) from each group were used for analyses of phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system or for measuring the lymphoproliferative responses to intradermally-administered T-cell mitogen, phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), respectively. At 30-days of age, abdominal macrophages were collected from 15 chicks/group and utilized for determination of their phagocytic potential and for nitrite production. Antibody (Ab) titers (i.e., total antibodies, IgM, and IgG) against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were determined at 7 and 14 days after a primary (at 7 days of age) and a booster (given 14 days after primary [at 21-days of age]) dose (intravenous) of the antigen. Data from the present study showed that the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius of chicks fed OTA for 14 and 21 days and the spleen of chicks fed OTA for 21 days were significantly lower than their control counterpart. Phagocytic function of reticuloendothelial system evaluated by carbon clearance, and lymphoproliferative response to PHA-P, of chicks kept on OTA-contaminated diet were significantly lowered. The percentage of abdominal macrophages displaying phagocytosis of SRBC, the number of SRBC/macrophage, and nitrite production were each significantly lower in cells from chicks in the OTA-fed groups. Total Ab (at days 7 and 14 post-booster SRBC injection) and IgG (at day 14 post-primary and day 7 post-booster SRBC injection) titers against SRBC showed significant reductions in the groups fed OTA-contaminated diet. The findings of this study are in line with the previous work suggesting the immunosuppressive effect of OTA in male WL chicks regarding functional impairment in some of the components of the immune system.

Toxico-pathological effects of in ovo inoculation of ochratoxin A (OTA) in chick embryos and subsequently in hatched chicks.

This study was designed to investigate the toxico-pathological effects of in ovo inoculation of ochratoxin A (OTA) in chicken embryos and subsequently in the hatching chicks. Nine hundred fertile white leghorn (WL) layer breeder eggs were divided into eight groups (A-H). Group A was maintained as untreated control, whereas group B was kept as sham control (10 µL of 0.1 M NaHCO(3) solution). Before incubation, groups C, D, E, F, G, and H were injected with 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50, and 1.00 µg OTA/egg, respectively. At 53 hrs of incubation, crown to rump length, optic cups, and eye lens diameters were significantly (p ≤ .05) lower, whereas neural tube closure defects were higher in the OTA-treated embryos. Teratogenic defects (studied at day 9 of incubation) and embryonic mortalities were higher in the groups administered high doses of OTA. A significant increase was noted in the serum concentration of ALT, urea, and creatinine, along with higher weights of liver and kidney, in chicks hatched from OTA-contaminated eggs. These findings suggested that there are teratogenic and substantive toxicological risks in the developing chicken embryos and hatched chicks that could be exposed to OTA in ovo.

Silver nanoplates and nanowires by a simple chemical reduction method.

This paper describes a simple preparation of single-crystalline Ag-nanoparticles including plates, and wires in water by truncated triangular particles for the first time during the reduction of [Ag(NH3)2]⁺ complex with glucose at room temperature. Silver particles were characterized by means of the conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, plays a number of roles during the redox process by solubilizing the reactants, controlling the nucleation and/or growth of nanoparticles, stabilizing the thus-prepared Ag-nanoparticles and minimizing the formation of Ag2O, AgCl, and AgBr precipitates. It was found that the rate constant and absorbance of silver nanoparticles were sigmoidal to the concentration of silver nitrate.