Evaluation of different methods of enhanced elimination in phenobarbital overdose

Twenty-seven patients with phenobarbital overdose were treated by multipledoses of oral activated charcoal [n = 9], urinary alkalinization [n = 9] and acombined use of both modalities [n = 0]. Blood samples were taken from eachpatients at the time of admission [time 0], then at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hourspost admission for the estimation of plasma phenobarbital concentrations. Half life, total body clearance and elimination rate constant of all patientswere calculated. It was found that multiple-dose activated charcoal [MDAC]and combined use of both MDAC and urinary alkalinization resulted in asignificant statistical reduction of phenobarbital half life and an increasein its total body clearance and elimination rate constant, when either of themwas compared with urinary alkalinization alone. MDAC alone was the mosteffective method for enhancing phenobarbital elimination in overdosedpatients, even more than the combined therapy, although there was nosignificant difference between them

Vitreous / blood concentration ratio in drug overdoses an experimental study

Serum and vitreous concentrations in three drug overdoses [phenobarbitone,morphine and theophylline] were measured in albino rats after 1, 2, 4 and 12 hours of i.p. injection. Vitreous/blood ratio was determined for every drugoverdose. It was found that this ratio remained constant regardless of thetime passed since injection. The study demonstrated that vitreous is a cleanbiological fluid that can be used for the detection of drug overdose by EMIT and can predict the blood concentration of the drug as long as vitreous/bloodratio is known

Evaluation of the effect of gastrointestinal dialysis by multiple doses of activated charcoal on the toxicokinetics of drug overdose in rats

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of multiple oral doses ofactivated charcoal [MDAC] on the toxicokinetics of intraperitoneallyadministered drug overdoses [phenobarbitone, salicylate, theophylline anddiazepam] in albino rats. Four groups of rats [310 rats] were injected withthe previous 4 drugs, respectively [0 time]. Each group was divided intotest animals [received multiple doses of oral activated charcoal] and controlanimals [received distilled water orally]. Ten animals were sacrificed fromeach group [five from controls and five from test animals] after one hour from zero time, then at different subsequent hours according to every drug groupregimen. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma drug concentration, by enzymemultiplied immunoassay technique for phenobarbitone, theophylline anddiazepam, and fluorescence polarization immunoassay [FPIA] by TDx-FLx for theestimation of salicylate. Significant reduction in half life and enhancedclearance were found in phenobarbitone and theophylline groups. In salicylategroup, the reduction in half life and enhancement of clearance wereinsignificant. No effect of MDAC was found on the plasma concentration ofdiazepam

Immediate postmortem estimation of cerebrospinal fluid albumin as an indication of premortal suffering period [an experimental study]

Albumin cocentration of CSF was estimated in 24 dogs divided into 4 equal groups, three of them were divided according to the premortal suffering period while the fourth group used as control. Insignificant increase of albumiun concentration was found in the second group [duration of agony was 10-20 minutes], in the third group [duration of agony was 1-2 hours] it showed highly significant increase, while in the first group [duration of agony 1-2 minutes] insignificant change was found in comparison to the control group. The increase in albumin concentration of CSF may be related to the hypoxia and hypercapnia which characterise the premortal suffering period, increasing the permeability of the blood-brain brain and transfer of the albumin to CSF. Therefore, postmortem estimation of CSF albumin could be a reliable indication of the premortal suffering period

Biochemical and histopathological changes as markers of alcoholism in atbino rats

Fourty mature albino rats of buth sexes were divided into four equal groups. Three groups received doses equivalent to 1/20, 1/10 and 1/5 L D50 of ethanol, six days/week orally for eight weeks. The remaining group served as a control. Serum and vitreous levels of Na, K, uric acid, ALT, AST and GGT were measured. Most of the obtained results were significantly different from those of the control group in such a way that would help in detecting alcohol abuse especially the GGT levels. Histopathological findings in the internal organs of rats [liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen and testes] revealed changes of variable degree of severity, but are not pathognomonic for alcohol abuse

Some effects of heated raid mat on albino rats

Forty adult albino rats were divided into four equal groups. Three groups were exposcd to heated Raid mat overnight [about 10 hours] daily for 4, 8, 12 weeks respectively, the fourth group was used as a control. At the end of the periods of exposure, blood was taken for haematological and enzymatic analysis, the liver was removed for histological and histochemical studies. It was found that the R B Cs count and HB% were statistically decreased while the total W B Cs count and lymphocytes were statistically increased, the serum enzymes [ALT, AST, AP] were statistically increased. These haematological and biochemical changes were time related with exposure. The histological and histochemical changes of the liver were more marked in the third group

Hepatotoxic effect of concomitant administration of acetaminophen [paracetamol] and ethanol in rats

Five groups of albino rats, 10 animals each, were used in this work. Animals of group I were given ethanol, those of group II were given acetaminophen, while in group III and IV animals were given both ethanol and acetaminophen concomitantly. The dose of acetaminophen was doubled to animals of group IV. The fifth group was served as a control. Histopathological and histochemical studies of the liver showed that the hepatotoxic effect of acetaminophen or ethanol when each was given alone is more than when both substances were given concomitantly

Congenital morphological and skeletal abnormalities of cyproheptadine hydrochloride [periactin] in rats

Cyprotoheptadine hydrochloride [periactin] is one of the antihistaminic drugs which are widely used and frequently described. The aim of this work is to evaluate and find out the effects of periactin on the offsprings of the pregnant rats. It is given orally in a dose of 1.8 mg/kgm to pregnant rats which are divided into 3 groups according to the period of pregnancy. Several morphological and skeletal abnormalities are observed among the offspring. It can be concluded that periactin is a dangerous antihistaminic on the off springs of the rats, hence it is better to be avoided at any time during pregnancy

Estimation of creatine phosphokinase enzyme in the cerebrospinal fluid of hypothermic dogs

Creatine phosphokinase enzyme in the cerebrospinal fluid was determined in two groups of animals [Dogs], each comprised 6 dogs. Animals of the first group were anaesthetised and cooled to a body temperature of 29°C, and then rewarmed to 35°C [total time was 5 hours], while animals of the second group [control] were anaesthetised without cooling for a corresponding time. CPK level was significantly increased in the first group in comparison to the control group, the enzyme level remained high for 24 hours after hypothermia, then the values returned to the initial levels after 1 week. This indicate that estimation of CSF CPK can be used in the diagnosis of hypothermtic death

Histological changes of some internal organs in offsprings of the rats treated with some antihistamines during pregnancy

Antihistamines can pass the placental barrier exposing the foetus to various hazards. This work was done to study the histopathological effects of some antihistamines on the offsprings of the rats. Tavegyl, Avil, and Periactin were given to 3 groups of animals before and during pregnancy. Drugs were given orally in doses of 0.18 mg, 3.6 mg, and 1.8 mg per kilogram body weight respectively. Histopathological study of the liver, kidney and lungs of the offsprings was done. In Tavegyl group, no histopathological changes could be detected, in Avil group, only the lungs showed some changes while in periactin group, several histopathological changes were noticed in the liver, kidney and lungs

Vitrous humour magnesium in sea and river water drowning an experimental study

Vitreous humor magnesium was estimated in two equal groups and a control groupof albino rats. Each test group [N-80] was divided into 8 equal subgroupswhich were drowned [first group in seawater, second group in river water] andremained immersed for 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours, respectively. Magnesium was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer after aciddigestion of the vitreous. Significant increase of the vitreous magnesium wasfound in seawater drowning and immersion till the 24th hour after which thechanges became insignificant. In river water drowning, there wasinsignificant decrease with no correlation to immersion interval

Effect of concurrent administration of acetaminophen with acetyl salicylic acid or indomethacin on the kidney, liver and stomach of rats

This study was conducted on 72 albino rats weighing averagely 100- 120 g. Theywere divided into 6 equal groups, the first group was served as control, the2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th groups were given acetyl salicylic acid, indomethacin,acetaminophen, acetyl salicylic acid + acetaminophen and indomethacin +acetaminophen, respectively. Drugs were given orally in dose of 1/10 LD50daily for 30 days. After this period, the animals were subjected tobiochemical investigations [serum urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, ALT, AST]and histopathological studies [kidney, liver and stomach]. It was found thatconcurrent administration of acetaminophen with acetyl salicylic acid orindomethacin had good protection against gastric erosive effect of eitheracetyl salicylic acid or indomethacin, moreover, no exaggeration of thehepatic and renal impairment was detected

Effect of pretreatment with catapres [clonidine hydrochloride] and avil [pheneramine maleate] on acute dimethoate toxicity in rabbits

Twenty four male rabbits were used in this study, they were about 4 months oldand their weight ranged between 1.1-1.3 kg. They were divided into 4 equalgroups. Animals of the first group served as control, they were given 75mg/kg [1/4 LD50] of dimethoate orally. The other 3 groups receivedsubcutaneous pretreatment with clonidine [0.35 mg/kg], avil [15 mg/kg] andcombined clonidine and avil before giving dimethoate, respectively. Theeffects of pretreatment and dimethoate were assessed by serial measurements ofserum cholinesterase enzyme activity and observation of the physical signs. It was found that clonidine pretreatment has more protective effect againstacute dimethoate toxicity than that of avil. On the other hand, combinedclonidine and avil pretreatment produced more protective effect than occurredby single drug alone

Middle phalangeal hair [MPH] and its relation to sex and ABO blood groups in an Egyptian population [Dakahlia district]

Middle phalanx [MPH] was observed in 50.49% in an Egyptian population [927 students [654 males and 273 females], aged averagely 18-22 years. Males had a higher incidence of MPH than females, but this difference was statistically nonsignificant. The order of frequency of MPH in males in relation to ABO blood groups was AB, O, A and B, respectively; while it was O, A, B and AB, respectively, in females. Chi-square test of these differences in distribution was nonsignificant, except with blood group AB which was highly significant statistically. Ring finger was the highest among all fingers for the presence of MPH, followed by the middle, then the little fingers. The thumb and the index fingers were nearly devoid of MPH [1%]. Results of this study proved that MPH could be of great value in both populations and genetic studies