Effect of co-administration of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) rich diet and alcohol in rats.

The effects of co-administration of a cassava rich diet and alcohol in rats were investigated. The animals were divided into four groups (1) Control, (2) Alcohol, (3) Cassava and (4) Alcohol + Cassava. Consumption of alcohol along with cassava reduced the alcohol induced toxicity which was evidenced by the lower activities of GOT, GPT, GGT, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver and serum of co-administered group. The pyruvate content in the blood increased while the lactate content, lactate/pyruvate ratio and the activity of LDH decreased in the blood due to co-administration. The blood cyanide content, serum thiocyanate content and the activities of rhodanase and beta-glucuronidase increased on co-administration. The histopathological studies also revealed that co-administration reduced the alcohol induced toxicity.

Valores de referencia de tiocianato plasmatico e urinario / Urinary and plasmatic reference values for thiocyanates

Para possibilitar a interpretacao de resultados de bioindicadores da exposicao as substancias quimicas faz-se necessario conhecer seus valores de referencia, determinados em individuos nao-expostos ocupacionalmente aos xenobioticos que os afetam. Neste trabalho foram determinados os valores de referencia do tiocianato plasmatico e do tiocianato urinario em 193 voluntarios saudaveis, nao-fumantes e nao-expostos ocupacionalmente ao cianeto e/ou as substancias liberadoras deste ion no organismo. Os valores medios mais ou menos intervalo de confianca 95 por cento obtidos foram, respectivamente para o tiocianato plasmatico e urinario, de 2,04 mais menos 0,22 mg/L e 1,3 mais menos 0,11 mg/g creatinina. A analise de possiveis fatores que pudessem afetar os teores dos bioindicadores pesquisados mostrou que o sexo, a idade, o consumo de bebidas alcoolicas ou nao, nao os afetam. entretanto, a ingestao de mandioca cozida eleva significativamente seus niveis, especialmente, os do tiocianato plasmatico

Effect of cigarette smoking on thyroid hormone homeostasis.

Serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thiocyanate (SCN) levels in 40 smokers smoking filter or non-filter cigarettes were compared to those in 20 control subjects. Both types of cigarette smoking resulted in a decrease in T4 (P < 0.01) and increase in TSH (P < 0.05) to the same degree as compared to control. T3 was found to be higher in the smokers but the rise was not significant. SCN was elevated significantly in the smokers. The filter attached to the cigarette was found to have little or no effect on the alteration of the levels of the biochemical indices studied.

Lipid patterns and fibrinogen levels of smokers and non-smokers.

Hypercholesterolaemia, smoking and elevated levels of fibrinogen are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to determine whether smoking indirectly affects the other risk factors, namely cholesterol and fibrinogen levels. Serum lipid patterns and fibrinogen levels were determined in 67 cigarette or beedi smokers and 51 non-smokers in the age group 18 to 50 years. Serum thiocyanate levels were measured as an indirect indicator or smoking exposure. Smokers had significantly higher serum thiocyanate levels than non-smokers. The serum total cholesterol levels in smokers was significantly higher than in non-smokers, but there was no association with the degree of smoking. In contrast, smokers had significantly elevated fibrinogen levels which were positively related to thiocyanate levels, indicating that plasma fibrinogen levels increase in smoking exposure. These results suggest that smoking may increase the risk of CVD by elevating plasma fibrinogen levels.

Serum thiocyanate concentrations in smoking and non-smoking males.

The determination of serum thiocyanate is a simple and inexpensive method in assessing smoking status. It can be used alone or as adjuvant to other methods. We have found the thiocyanate method to be efficient for this particular purpose.

Plasma thiocyanate and free radicals in jaaraparesis

Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (TSP) in West African contries is countries is caused by combination of excess cyanide from the ingestion of Cassava and a deficiency of the sulphur-containing amino-acids required to detosify the cyanide. Free radical damage to long axons has also been reported to results in damage similar to that seen in Jamaican TSP. To investigate the possibility that these mechanisms may be responsible for Jamican TSP, venous blood from non-smoking blood donors and 22 patients with TSP were analysed for thiocyanate, superoxide dismutase and glutahione. Serum thiocyanate is an index of cyanide exposure. Superoxide dismutase protects against free radical damage, and glutathione in addition to rotecting against free radical damage is ana important sulphur-containing peptiae. Levels of thiocyanate in the patients with TSP were similar to those in control patients. Glutathione was elevated in all the patients, and superoxide dimutase activity was normal. The low levels of thiocyanate suggest that cyanide toxicity is not the primary cause of Jamaican TSP and, in any event, sufficient amounts of sulphur-containing amino-acids are present to detoxify cyanide. Free radical mechanisms ara also unlikely to be responsible for damage to the neurons in thes patients