Characterisation and changes in the antioxidant system of chloroplasts and chromoplasts isolated from green and mature pepper fruits.

Purification and characterisation of pepper (Capsicum annuum L) chloroplasts and chromoplasts isolated from commercial green, red and yellow mature fruits were undertaken. Induction of the synthesis of several antioxidants in organelles isolated from mature fruits was found. The ultrastructure of organelles and the presence and activity of SOD isozymes and enzymes involved in the ASC-GSH cycle, together with the non-enzymatic antioxidant content and some oxidative parameters, were analysed. It was found that lipids, rather than proteins, seem to be a target for oxidation in the chromoplasts. The ascorbate and glutathione contents were elicited during differentiation of chloroplasts into chromoplasts in both red and yellow fruits. The activity of SOD and of components of the ASC-GSH cycle was up-regulated, suggesting that these enzymes may play a role in the protection of plastids and could act as modulators of signal molecules such as O(2) ( -) and H(2)O(2) during fruit maturation. The presence of an Mn-SOD in chromoplasts isolated from yellow pepper fruits was also investigated in terms of structural and antioxidant differences between the two cultivars.

Chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for anal cancer: a retrospective comparison.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of adding one cycle of concomitant chemotherapy to curative radiotherapy on tumor control and toxicity in the treatment of anal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred twenty-five patients completed curative sphincter-conserving treatment, 57 with radiotherapy alone and 68 with concomitant chemo-radiotherapy. Compared with chemoradiotherapy patients, radiotherapy patients were older (median age 71 vs 63) and had less advanced tumors (T3-4 26% vs 51%). Radiotherapy patients were usually treated with a direct perineal cobalt field (mean dose 31 Gy at 5 cm/10 fractions/3 weeks), complemented in most cases by a sacral are field, followed (mean split 54 days) by Iridium-192 implantation (mean dose 23 Gy, Paris system). The large majority of chemoradiotherapy patients received antero-posterior opposed 10 MV photon fields, including pelvic and inguinal nodes (mean dose 38 Gy/19 fractions/4 weeks), followed (mean split 42 days) by implant boost (mean dose 18 Gy). In addition, chemo-radiotherapy patients received starting on day 1 an IV bolus of Mitomycin-C, 0.4 mg/kg (maximum 20 mg) and a 5-day continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600-800 mg/m2/day. Median follow-up was 65 months for radiotherapy and 48 months for chemo-radiotherapy patients. RESULTS: For all 125 patients at 5 years, overall survival was 65.5%, definitive local control 83% and local control with sphincter preservation 68%. Overall and stage for stage, there was no difference in overall, progression-free or cancer-specific survival, nor in local control, local-regional control, or sphincter preservation rates between patients treated with chemoradiotherapy vs. radiotherapy alone. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding acute or late toxicity. CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis does not confirm the efficacy of one course of simultaneous Mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil, at least in association with full-dose radiotherapy incorporating Iridium-192 boost.

Impact of clinical and therapeutic factors on major late complications after radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy for anal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate factors potentially influencing major late morbidity after sphincter-conserving treatment for anal carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Grade 3-4 complications were retrospectively analyzed in 144 evaluable patients (pts), 55 pts after split-course radiotherapy (RT), and 89 after concomitant chemo-RT. First sequence RT delivered a median dose of 39.6 Gy using megavoltage photon beams. Boost treatment used either 192Ir implantation or external beam RT (median dose 20 Gy). Chemotherapy started on day 1 and in 83% of pts consisted of Mitomycin-C (10 mg/m2) and a 5-day infusion of 5-fluorourcil (600-800 mg/m2/day). Uni- and multivariate analyses tested the association of following factors with complication rate: age, gender, stage, anatomic tumor extent, type of biopsy, external RT technique (dose, fraction size, field arrangement), boost type (brachytherapy vs. external), brachytherapy dose and dose rate, overall treatment time, and addition of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Five-year actuarial complication rate was 16%. Two variables were significantly associated with complication rate: anatomic tumor extent (canal or margin vs. both +/- rectum; 10 vs. 31% complications, p = 0.0004) and first sequence prescribed dose (< 39.6 Gy vs. > or = 39.6 Gy; 7 vs. 23% complications, p = 0.012), confirmed as independent factors by Cox analysis. Grade 4 anal morbidity correlated significantly with prior local excision. All six bone complications were observed in pts treated by chemo-RT using large pelvic fields, five occurring in pts older than 66. CONCLUSION: Pts with tumors involving more than one anatomic subsite or treated with the higher first sequence RT dose are at greater risk of major complications. Prior tumor excision and combined modality therapy in older pts appear to favor major anal and bone complications, respectively.

Sensitivity of mouse vas deferens to neurotransmitters: changes after morphine treatment.

1. The pharmacological responses of the isolated vas deferens of the mouse were investigated after acute and chronic treatment with morphine. 2. The addition of morphine to the bath did not alter the responses of the vas deferens to exogenous noradrenaline, adrenaline or dopamine. 3. Low doses of morphine depressed the responses to acetylcholine. Very high concentrations of the opioid (8.5 x 10(-4) M) completely abolished, in about 50% of the preparations, the responses to exogenous acetylcholine, while in the other 50% a potentiation of the responses to low concentrations of acetylcholine was observed. 4. The vas deferens of mice chronically treated with morphine showed increased sensitivity to exogenous noradrenaline, but decreased sensitivity to acetylcholine. 5. A fresh amount of morphine added to the bath enhanced the responses of morphine-tolerant preparations to noradrenaline but not to dopamine or acetylcholine. The specificity of this phenomenon was demonstrated by the use of pentobarbitone instead of the opioid. 6. These results are in agreement with the theory that tolerance could result from a form of disuse supersensitivity.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in large bowel surgery: results of a controlled clinical trial.

A prospective, randomized clinical trial was undertaken to compare the value of a combination of two antibiotics for the prevention of postoperative septic complications after large bowel surgery. In group I the patients received three doses daily for 2 days of 80 mg gentamicin and 600 mg clindamycin, intravenously. Patients in group II received three doses daily for 2 days of 80 mg gentamicin and 500 mg metronidazole. Antibiotic administration was started in the operating room before the surgical procedure. The two antibiotics were administered by separate venous routes. One hundred and seven patients were allocated to either one of the two groups. Both groups were equally matched for gender, age, and surgical procedure. Bacteriologic specimens were taken in the wound as soon as the peritoneum was closed. They were immediately incubated for identification by aerobic and anaerobic cultures and sensitivity determinations. Cultures of one or more organisms were positive in 63 of 107 specimens. There was no difference between the two groups. No death occurred as a result of intra-abdominal complication, no reoperation was required, and in no case did peritonitis occur. Six wound abscesses and three delayed stitch infections were observed: five in group I and two in group II. Five clinical anastomotic leakages were observed (5.1%): two in group I and three in group II. They did not require treatment and healed spontaneously. Furthermore, five radiologic anastomotic leakages were present in 45 patients who received a control barium enema. No side effects were noted with metronidazole of with clindamycin. No clinical evidence of ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity was observed in patients receiving gentamicin. There is no statistically significant clinical difference between the combination of gentamicin and metronidazole or gentamicin and clindamycin. Both combinations are effective in preventing wound sepsis in large bowel surgery. Metronidazole and clindamycin were equally effective in preventing postoperative anaerobic infections. No resistance of anaerobic organisms to metronidazole was observed.

The effects of chronic morphine administration to mice on the contractile activity in vitro of the vas deferens without and with morphine.

Chronic treatment of mice with morphine enhances maximal responses to noradrenaline in isolated vasa deferentia. Addition of morphine to the bath further increases the responses to noradrenaline (facilitatory effect). Vasa deferentia from reserpine-pretreated mice showed increased responses to noradrenaline, but upon addition of morphine to the bath no further facilitatory response to noradrenaline. The facilitatory response was not inhibited by naloxone and it was not elicited by narcotic analgesics other than morphine. High calcium in the medium (3.8 mM) suppressed the enhanced maximal responses to noradrenaline of vasa deferentia from mice chronically treated with morphine and also suppressed the facilitatory response to noradrenaline. Low calcium in the medium (1.43 mM) had the opposite effects. Reserpine-induced changes of noradrenaline responses were not affected by alteration of the calcium concentration in the medium. In the K-depolarized vas deferens, a reduction of the depressant effect of morphine on the calcium-induced contractions was observed after chronic administration of morphine.

Relationship between alpha-adrenoceptor occupancy and contractile response in rat vas deferens. Experimental and theoretical analysis.

The rat vas deferens has been considered to be the tissue of choice to study alpha-adrenergic drugs. However, some of these agonists have elicited complex responses in this organ. Therefore, detailed characterization of alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated responses of the rat vas deferens was the aim of this work. Experiments were designed to study the contractile response of this tissue to phenylethanolamine (noradrenaline) and to two imidazolines (oxymetazoline and naphazoline). These responses were related to receptor occupancy and to other parameters of drug action, i.e. dissociation constants, relative efficacies, ED50 and maximal responses. A theoretical model was used to check the experimental data. There was a non-linear relationship between response and receptor occupancy with all three agonists. The dissociation constants for noradrenaline, oxymetazoline and naphazoline were 11.06, 0.15 and 0.10 microM, respectively. The rat vas deferens had 75-80% spare receptors for noradrenaline. Oxymetazoline and naphazoline were shown to be partial agonists with low relative efficacies as compared to noradrenaline (0.0063 and 0.0056 respectively). The dose-response curves generated by the model for partial agonists were similar to the curves obtained experimentally in vitro.

Results of sphincter repair in postobstetric fecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Postobstetric fecal incontinence is a rare and severe complications of vaginal delivery. Most often, it is the result of a tear of the anal sphincter, pudendal neuropathy, or a combination of the two. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-six patients operated upon at our institution for postobstetric fecal incontinence during a ten year period (1983 to 1992) were questioned (score) and examined to assess the operative results. RESULTS: Preoperatively, all 36 patients (mean age of 37 years, range of 24 to 70 years) had sphincter tears and 32 patients were totally incontinent (score of 16 to 18). Three patients were moderately incontinent (score of 9) and one patient was incontinent of flatus only (score of 3). Eighty percent of the patients were referred with delay. Thirty-six sphincteroplasties with various degrees of rectovaginal and perianal reconstructions were performed. Twenty-eight women (78 percent) are continent (score of zero to 3), seven patients (19 percent) are partially incontinent (score of 4 to 6), and one patient (3 percent) is totally incontinent (score of 18). There was no mortality. Among the six postoperative complications, there were two sphincter breakdowns with persistent incontinence and four minor local complications. CONCLUSIONS: Careful assessment and operative management of sphincter damage at the time of delivery as well as counseling of all women at risk for fecal incontinence are essential. Sphincteroplasty is a simple and safe procedure that offers symptomatic relief in almost all patients with sphincter lesions and cure in 80 percent.

Determination of the UV filters worldwide authorised in sunscreens by high-performance liquid chromatography. Use of cyclodextrins as mobile phase modifier.

Simultaneous determination of organic UV filters worldwide authorised in sunscreen formulations was performed by HPLC with UV spectrophotometric detection. The filters determined were: benzophenone-4, benzophenone-3, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, octyl dimethyl PABA, octyl methoxycinnamate, homosalate and octyl salicylate. A C18 stationary phase and an isocratic mobile phase of ethanol-water-acetic acid (70:29.5:0.5) containing 65.4 mM of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, were used with a flow-rate of 0.6 ml/min. UV measurements were carried out at 313 nm. The time required for the analysis was 20 min and the limits of detection were between 1.5 and 2.3 mg/l. The procedure proposed provides a green analytical method with a basic instrumental configuration, it is fast and accurate and does not involve highly toxic organic solvents.

Analytical methodologies for atomic spectrometric determination of metallic oxides in UV sunscreen creams.

In this study, methodologies for determining titanium oxide, zinc oxide and iron oxide are proposed and assayed in commercial sunscreen products. The proposed methodology for TiO2, determination in sunscreens is based on a microwave-assisted treatment for digesting the organic components in a closed teflon reactor in presence of HNO3 and HCl. Titanium is determined by inductive coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The proposed methodologies for measuring ZnO and Fe2O3 are based on a sample emulsification in water with a non ionic tensioactive and IBMK, followed by Zn and Fe determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The methodologies allow a precise and accurate determination of metallic oxides in UV sunscreen creams, where the sample treatment is less time-consuming than in the classic methods. To our knowledge this is the first study focused to the determination of metallic oxides in commercial sunscreen products.

Determination of caffeine in pharmaceutical preparations by the linear absorbances method.

In this work a fast Linear Absorbance Method for the determination of caffeine in pharmaceutical preparations in the presence of paracetamol or acetylsalicylic acid is presented. The determination of acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol is also possible by means of a tabulated parameter fB, which values are included in this paper. The method avoids the use of separation steps or multicalibration methods. The determination was carried out in commercial preparations with good results.

[Loco-regional anesthesia in proctological surgery]. / Anesthésie loco-régionale en chirurgie proctologique.

Among the various techniques of anaesthesia, local anaesthesia, posterior perineal block and caudal block allow most of the surgical procedures involving the anal canal to be performed. Practical modalities of the various techniques, choice of drugs and selection of the various indications are reported.

The effect of volatile fatty acids on the nitrification of a saline effluent.

Anaerobically produced volatile fatty acids (VFA) may affect the nitrification yield. The effect of the type of VFA (acetic, propionic and butyric acid) on nitrification of a saline (24 g NaCl l(-1)) medium was studied. Nitritation (40 mg N-NH4+ l(-1)) and nitratation (100 mg N-NO2- l(-1) were assessed in batch cultures fed with different VFA (32 mg TOC l(-1)). The effect of increasing VFA concentrations on nitrification was studied in batch reactors fed with an initial concentration of 40 mg N-NH4+ l(-1) and C/N ratios of 0, 2, 4, 8 and 16 as well as in a continuous mixed flow reactor operated at 30 degrees C and pH 7.5 and fed with 500 mg N-NH4+ l(-1) and 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg TOC l(-1). Nitritation and nitratation rates were decreased by organic matter; inhibition increased with the VFA size. A non-competitive inhibition model fitted the experimental data on nitrification rate reduction at increasing acetic add concentrations; inhibition constants were 685 mg acetic acid l(-1) for ammonia oxidation and 74.3 mg acetic acid l(-1) for nitrite oxidation. The continuous reactor's nitrifying ability decreased from 82% to 40% at C/N ratios 1 and 4, respectively. Loss of nitrification, but a 50% ammonia removal was found at a C/N of 8. It was concluded that the nitrification rate reduction is proportional to the VFA molecular weight and that an increase in VFA concentration diminishes the nitrifying ability due to kinetic limitations.

[The swiss experience of ileo-anal anastomosis with reservoir (AIA). Complications and functional results]. / Expérience suisse de l'anastomose iléo-anale avec réservoir (AIA). Complications et résultats fonctionnels.

Two hundred and thirteen ileal pouch-anal anastomoses were performed in Switzerland from August 1980 to December 1991, 174 (82%) of them in 7 centres. One hundred and sixty four patients (77%) were operated for ulcerative colitis, 47 (22%) for familial polyposis and 2 others (1%) for another reason. A J pouch was created in 176 cases (83%), an S pouch in 35 cases (16%) and a W pouch in 2 cases (1%). Detailed results were available for 157 (74%) of the 213 operated patients: 81 females (52%) and 76 males (48%) with a mean age of 33.5 years (10-65). One hundred and twenty seven patients (81%) were operated for ulcerative colitis, including 42 as an emergency, and 30 (19%) for familial polyposis. One hundred patients (64%) developed complications which required one or several reoperations (laparotomy and/or perineal operation) in 64 cases (41%). Pouchitis was the most frequent complication (19%). Small bowel obstruction and pelvic abscess secondary to an anastomotic leak were the complications most frequently requiring second laparotomy with an incidence of 13% and 11%, respectively. The mean number of stools per 24 hours was 5.5 (2 to 14). 27% of patients passed one or several nocturnal stools every night, 27% occasionally, and 46% never. Occasional faecal incontinence was reported by 8 patients (6%) and 4 patients (3%) reported uncontrollable urgency. Nine patients retained a permanent ileostomy (failure rate: 6%).

[Ambulatory proctologic surgery]. / Ambulante proktologische Chirurgie.

An increasing number of proctological procedures may be performed on outpatients under extensive local anesthesia or by posterior perineal bloc. Precise selection criteria should be observed. Results of 1233 outpatients procedures are reported.

[Mucosal flaps in the treatment of anal fistula]. / Lambeaux muqueux dans le traitement des fistules anales.

Results in the treatment of transsphincteric et suprasphincteric fistulae have been greatly improved with the use of mucosal sliding flaps. The aims of this surgical procedure are: division of the fistulous tract from the primary opening within the anal canal, closure of the primary opening to prevent any repermeabilisation of the tract, excision and curettage of fistulous tract without section of the sphincters. Technical details of this procedure and results achieved in the treatment of 30 consecutive cases are reported.

[Recto-vesical fistula (author's transl)]. / Les fitules entéro-vésicales.

23 cases of recto-vesical fistula are described; their diagnostic and therapeutic approach are discussed. The entero-vesical fistula result mainly from diverticular disease but may be secondary to tumor or Crohn's disease of the large bowel too. The treatment needs allways surgery: bowel resection and bladder extraperitonisation. Results and literature are compared.

[Treatment of fecal incontinence by overlapping sphincteroplasty]. / Leczenie niewydolnosci zwieraczy odbytu sposobem overlapping.

The authors describe overlapping sphincteroplasty for the reconstruction of injuried anal sphincters. This technique was applied for obstetric, surgical and traumatic injuries i 57 patients. Both anal sphincters were injuried in 37 cases. A single damage of the external sphincter was observed in 20 cases. The anal sphincteric function has been evaluated pre and postoperatively according to Miller's scale (clinical criteria) and by manometry. The manometric studies were performed in 49 patients. Maximal resting tone, maximal squeeze pressure and the anal canal length were studied preoperatively and 6 months after the reconstruction. The functional results were excellent and good in 93% of patients. The improvement of maximal squeeze pressure and anal canal length were statistically significant.

[Epidermoid cancers of the anal canal]. / Les cancers épidermoïdes du canal anal.

The frequency of anal epidermoid carcinoma is constantly increasing. Despite the fact that such cancers are easily detectable through rectal examination, anuscopy or biopsy, diagnosis is delayed in 30 to 50% of the cases due to late and unspecific clinical features, often mistaken for benign lesions. Prognosis of anal epidermoid carcinoma has radically improved due to a better knowledge of the tumour's natural history and of its spreading, to new stage classification (UICC-TNM) and to association fo external or interstitial radiotherapy with chemotherapy. Recovery rates of 80% can be achieved nowadays, 75% of which being obtained with complete sphincter preservation. Subsequent actinic lesions are rare. Surgery is now essentially proposed in these cases of therapeutic failure and consists in a rectal excision. Treatment of such tumours requires a multidisciplinary approach and a close collaboration between surgeon, radiotherapist and oncologist.

[Incontinence and supra-continence as complications of anorectal surgery]. / Incontinence et supracontinence comme complications de la chirurgie ano-rectale.

Incontinence and supra-continence may complicate various ano-rectal surgical procedures. These troubles result from modifications of the ano-rectal angulation, troubles of rectal sensitivity and neurological pathways, direct or functional sphincter damage and modification of the reservoir function of the rectum. These various disorders should be prevented by careful surgery. If they occur, detailed investigations should help to choose the best therapy: medical and bio-feedback treatment or surgical correction.