Intranasal corticosteroids topical characteristics: side effects, formulation, and volume.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines from throughout the world recommend intranasal corticosteroids (INSs) as first-line treatment for most patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. In general, limited comparative studies between different INSs have not indicated that one particular steroid moiety is more effective than another in controlling symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, there are numerous formulations available with different ingredients that may influence a patient's adherence to treatment. METHODS: This article looks at topical features with these agents, specifically, formulations, vehicles (aqueous vs aerosol), and side effects such as epistaxis and nasal septal perforation. RESULTS: Topical side effects are minimal with INSs with the exception of epistaxis. There are major differences in formulations, volumes, and vehicles between INSs, which could affect adherence. CONCLUSION: Physicians need to be aware of the different INS attributes to try to match patients' preferences in order to achieve better adherence and improve outcomes in sufferers of allergic rhinitis.

Dietary genistein induces sex-dependent effects on murine body weight, serum profiles, and vascular function of thoracic aortae.

BACKGROUND: The influence on, or interaction of, sex and dietary genistein on serum markers of cardiovascular health and cardiovascular function remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to examine the effects of a genistein-containing diet (600 mg/kg food) (600G) and a genistein-free diet (0G), on cardiovascular risk parameters of male and female mice. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were fed the diets for 1 month, after which time blood pressure, serum markers, and in vitro vascular reactivity was measured. RESULTS: Males fed the 600G diet gained significantly less weight than males fed the 0G diet (by 1.71 g); diet had no effect on female weight gain. Males fed the 600G diet also exhibited significantly elevated serum insulin (2.9 [0.5] vs 1.8 [0.4] ng/dL), and decreased serum glucose (0.15 [0.01] vs 0.24 [0.02] ng/dL) levels, resulting in a significant increase in the ratio of insulin to glucose; insulin and glucose levels were not changed by dietary genistein in females. Arterial pressure measurements from 0G-fed males were lower than other groups. However, basal vascular reactivity of isolated aortic rings was significantly increased by the 600G diet in both males (from 0.55 [0.03] to 0.94 [0.18] g) and females (from 0.45 [0.04] to 0.78 [0.09] g). Aortic wall thickness was not affected by diet. Norepinephrine-mediated contractility was also greater in aortic rings of male and female mice fed the 600G diet, and differences from the 0G diet persisted in the presence of L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester but were completely accounted for by increased basal reactivity. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that 1 month of a 600G or 0G diet significantly alters vascular function independent of sex. In contrast, sex-dependent differences exist in well-established serum markers of cardiovascular health and disease.

Central charged residues in DIIIS4 regulate deactivation gating in skeletal muscle sodium channels.

1. Mutations in the S4 segment of domain III in the voltage gated skeletal muscle sodium channel hNa(V)1.4 were constructed to test the roles of each charged residue in deactivation gating. Mutations comprised charge reversals at K1-R6, charge neutralization, and substitution at R4 and R5. 2. Charge-reversing mutations at R4 and R5 produced the greatest alteration of activation parameters compared to hNa(V)1.4. Effects included depolarization of the conductance/voltage (g/V) curve, decreased valence and slowing of kinetics. 3. Reversal of charge at R2 to R4 hyperpolarized, and reversal at R5 or R6 depolarized the h (infinity) curve. Most DIIIS4 mutations slowed inactivation from the open state. R4E slowed closed state fast inactivation and R5E inhibited its completion .4. Deactivation from the open and/or inactivated state was prolonged in mutations reversing charge at R2 to R4 but accelerated by reversal of charge at R5 or R6. Effects were most pronounced at central charges R4 and R5. 5. Charge and structure each contribute to effects of mutations at R4 and R5 on channel gating. Effects of mutations on activation and deactivation at R4 and, to a lesser extent R5, were primarily owing to charge alteration, whereas effects on fast inactivation were charge independent.

Dissipation of triclopyr herbicide applied in Lake Minnetonka, MN concurrently with Rhodamine WT dye.

Fluorescent dye was applied concurrently with triclopyr in two 6.5-ha treatment plots in Lake Minnetonka, MN for data collection to support full aquatic registration of this herbicide. The herbicide and dye mixture was applied by airboat to Phelps Bay with weighted, trailing hoses to maximize uniform distribution of these materials in the water column. A surface application was made to the Carsons Bay plot to attain theoretical triclopyr and dye concentrations of 2500 and 10 micrograms litre-1, respectively. Water samples collected at various times following application showed very little movement of the herbicide and dye out of the Carsons Bay plot. Triclopyr residues moved to a greater extent out of the Phelps Bay plot. The dye was easily tracked in real-time using field fluorometers, which allowed new sampling stations to be established to monitor this movement. Dye concentrations were strongly correlated to herbicide concentrations (r2 = 0.97 in both plots) but were less predictive of the triclopyr metabolite 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol (TCP; r2 = 0.82 in Phelps and r2 = 0.73 in Carsons), probably due to its differential metabolism and degradation. The inert dye can be used to compare the dissipation of herbicide residues by dilution versus microbial or other breakdown processes. Vertical sampling of dye in the water column showed that surface applications of aquatic herbicides can delay uniform mixing in the water column by several days. Although the dye aided the tracking of residues outside the treatment areas, predetermined sampling times and stations were still needed if very low concentrations of herbicide were to be detected at times and stations where the dye had been diluted below its limit of detection.