[Reduced erythrocyte glutathione and urinary thioethers in children undergoing treatment with paracetamol]. / Glutation reducido eritrocitario y tioeteres urinarios en niños tratados con paracetamol.

In the present study the objective was to evaluate whether therapeutic doses of paracetamol in children has an impact on the concentrations of erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) and urinary thioethers (UT), used as indicators of internal exposure to electrophiles, as well as to establish the association between the two parameters. The population sample consisted of 40 children. From each patient, two blood and two urine samples were taken. Sample A was obtained one week after completing treatment and sample B was taken two hours after taking the last dose of paracetamol. The total group was divided into three subgroups according to age: subgroup I from 9 to 8 months, subgroup II from 19 to 72 months and subgroup III from 73 to 132 months. The concentrations of GSH and UT have been determined in blood and urine, respectively. The results demonstrate that after treatment with paracetamol for a period of days (3.57 +/- 0.86) an elevation in GSH was produced in the total group (Z = -2.40, p < 0.05). A significant and positive association (r = 0.52) existed between the GSH and UT values. No correlation was observed either between plasma levels, or the duration of treatment and the effects observed on GSH and UT.

The effect of chronic phenytoin treatment on serum lipid profile in adult epileptic patients.

Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoproteins A, A1, and B and gamma-glutamyltransferase (ggt) serum concentrations were measured in 100 adult epileptic patients receiving chronic phenytoin (PHT) treatment and in 100 control subjects. In relation to controls, patients showed higher HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins A and A1, and ggt levels and lower LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B values; the significance of the results was greater in women than in men. Among patients, ggt levels were positively correlated with PHT plasma concentrations; likewise, a negative correlation was found between the apolipoprotein A/A1 ratio and the PHT and ggt plasma levels, and a positive correlation between the apolipoprotein A/A1 ratio and the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. These data indicate that PHT exerts a beneficial effect on the serum lipids profile.

Lack of effect of alpha-methyldopa on pressor reflexes.

The effects of three cumulative doses (20 mg/kg i.v.) of alpha-methyldopa were studied on pressor responses elicited by the stimulation of the central end of visceral or cutaneous afferences in the anaesthetized dog : vagus, superior laryngeal and saphenous nerves. As clonidine (previous results) alpha-methyldopa failed to modify these cardiovascular reflexes under our experimental conditions.