Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis--treatment with heparin and insulin.

Heparin and insulin stimulate lipoprotein lipase and are known to decrease serum triglyceride levels. However, their efficacy in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis is not well documented. We report a 51-year-old man in whom treatment with heparin and insulin was accompanied by reduction in serum triglyceride levels and resolution of pancreatitis.

Biological efficacy and plasma norethisterone levels of orally administered norethisterone enanthate in rat and hamster.

Norethisterone enanthate (NET-En) is a well known intramuscular contraceptive drug. The long acting nature of this preparation when administered orally was evaluated in female rats and hamsters using fertility inhibition test and from the plasma levels of norethisterone (NET). An oral dose of 20-60 mg NET-En was administered to random groups of six female rats and hamsters and were mated after five and ten days with males of proven fertility. The fertility inhibition rate was determined from vaginal delivery. A dose-dependent reduction in fertility was seen in rats 5 days after oral administration of NET-En. This effect was found to be less pronounced and not significant 10 days after administration of similar doses of NET-En. In hamsters, a similar but less pronounced effect was noted. The decrease in fertility was significant only at the 60 mg dose. The plasma levels of NET estimated by RIA over a period of 15 days, in a different set of treated rats, suggested rapid absorption of NET-En within a day, and drug concentration decreased slowly, the levels on the 4th day ranged from 0.9-2.3 with the 10 mg and 1.0-4.0 ng/ml with the 20 mg dose. Detection of adequate levels of NET in plasma during the estrous cycle in rats, and the fertility inhibition observed in female rats and at higher doses in hamsters, suggest that NET-En is orally active.

Plasma levels of estradiol & progesterone at different gestational ages in Indian women.

Plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone were determined at different gestational ages in Indian pregnant women from the low socio-economic group. The levels of estradiol and progesterone progressively increased with gestation and reached maximum values (14.35 +/- 1.092 and 145.9 +/- 7.69 ng/ml, respectively) by term. Though the estradiol values were comparable to those reported in literature, the term values of progesterone were found to be lower (145.9 +/- 7.69 ng/ml) than those reported from Western countries (160 +/- 7.5 ng/ml) at 34-38 wk of gestation. These low progesterone values may have physiological implication in placental function.

Dietary hexachlorocyclohexane induced changes in blood and liver lipids in albino mice.

Dietary intake of technical hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) by albino mice for 2 weeks (at 400 and 800 ppm) resulted in hyperlipemia. Significant increase in triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol fractions of blood was observed in these animals. Dietary intake of gamma-isomer of HCH for 2 weeks (at 200 ppm) did not have any effect on blood lipid profile, but at 400 ppm level produced higher contents of phospholipids and cholesterol. The hepatomegaly produced by dietary technical HCH or gamma-HCH was not accompanied by fatty metamorphosis of liver. Hypertriglyceridemia caused by HCH was accompanied by lower triglyceride levels in liver, suggesting a possible higher rate of secretion from liver.

Biochemical toxicity of hexachlorocyclohexane and its gamma-isomer in albino mice.

Dietary hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and gamma-isomer of HCH produced significant increase in liver weights of mice. Elevated levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and of alkaline phosphatase in the blood of these animals suggested hepatotoxicity. Hepatic soluble enzymes--aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase--were markedly lowered. Among the hepatic lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and acid cathepsin were increased in the experimental animals. Hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase was lowered by HCH while aldolase activity was increased. Hydrolytic enzymes in small intestine, viz., disaccharidases, lipase, amylase, dipeptidase and phosphatases, were also affected by dietary HCH and gamma-HCH. The results suggested cellular toxicity in hepatocytes of HCH and gamma-HCH fed animals, and also interference in gastrointestinal absorption.

Pharmacokinetics of norethisterone from two different combination contraceptive pills in Indian women.

In view of our previous studies that the plasma elimination of norethisterone (NET) from mini pill is faster in low socio-economic group Indian women, the present studies were contemplated to find the least effective dosage of NET from combination pills. Pharmacokinetics of NET were evaluated in a total of twenty women of low socio-economic group taking pills containing NET-acetate (500 micrograms or 1 mg) and ethinyl estradiol (30 or 50 micrograms respectively) on empty stomach. Blood samples were drawn at different time intervals from 0.5 to 24 hr and plasma NET was estimated by a specific radio-immunoassay. In the women taking 1 mg NET-acetate containing pills peak plasma levels ranging from 6.2 to 20.8 ng/ml were observed at 1 hr whereas with 500 micrograms pill they ranged from 2.0 to 6.5 ng/ml and the peak was noted at 4 hr. Pharmacokinetic parameters of NET were more or less comparable between the two pills. The results suggest that pills containing 500 micrograms NET-acetate and 30 micrograms ethinyl estradiol provide adequate levels of NET even in low-socio-economic group women.