ABSTRACT
Lorazepam is being used with increasing frequency as a sedative in the newborn and the young infant. Concern has been raised with regard to the safety of lorazepam in this age group, especially in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; < 1,500 g) infants. Three young infants, all of birth weight < 1,500 g, experienced myoclonus following the intravenous administration of lorazepam. The potential neurotoxic effects of the drug (and its vehicle) in this population are discussed. Injectable lorazepam should be used with caution in VLBW infants.
Subject(s)
Infant, Low Birth Weight/physiology , Lorazepam/adverse effects , Myoclonus/chemically induced , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature/physiology , Injections, Intravenous , Lorazepam/administration & dosage , Lorazepam/therapeutic use , Seizures/drug therapyABSTRACT
The structural gene and cDNA encoding cardiotoxin in Naja naja sputatrix have been cloned and characterized with a view to study the gene protein relationships and also to produce pure protein in large amounts. Using the polymerase chain reaction on the total RNA isolated from the venom glands, the structural gene (180 bp) has been synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli to produce a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase. Immunoblotting using polyclonal antibodies raised against the total venom in rabbits demonstrated the presence of cross-reacting proteins in plaques produced by recombinant lambda gt11 phages.
Subject(s)
Cloning, Molecular , Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins/genetics , Genes , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Base Sequence , DNA/chemistry , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Gene Expression , Molecular Sequence Data , SnakesABSTRACT
Biochemical characteristics of one non-deficient fast G6PD variant (GdSingapore) and six different deficient variants (three new, two Mahidol, one each of Indonesian and Mediterranean) were studied among the Malays of Singapore. The GdSingapore variant had normal enzyme activity (82%) and fast electrophoretic mobilities (140% in TEB buffer, 160% in phosphate and 140% in Tris-HCl buffer systems respectively). This variant is further characterized by normal Km for G6P; utilization of analogues (Gal6P, 2dG6P; dAmNADP), heat stability and pH optimum. The other six deficient G6PD variants had normal electrophoretic mobility in TEB buffer with enzyme activities ranging from 1 to 12% of GdB+. The biochemical characteristics identity them to be 2 Mahidol, 1 Indonesian and 1 Mediterranean variants and three new deficient variants.
Subject(s)
Genetic Variation , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/genetics , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/genetics , Electrophoresis , Erythrocytes/enzymology , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/enzymology , Humans , Malaysia/ethnology , SingaporeABSTRACT
A total of 954 subjects of both sexes from nine Mongoloid tribes of eastern India were investigated for the distribution of red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) phenotypes by starch-gel electrophoresis. The incidence of Gd- was found to be 8% in the Khasi, 6% in the Nishi, 5% in Apatani and 3% in Adi. The small group of Bodo and the mixed group of other Arunachal tribes had Gd- frequencies of 19% and 15%, respectively. Only one isolated incidence of Gd- was encountered in the Naga, while the Hmar lacked Gd-. The Khasi had a polymorphic frequency (about 4%) of a non-deficient fast variant (GdV) (105% mobility in TEB buffer of pH 8.6). Two heterozygotes of this allele with a combination of common GdB+ were detected in two females. Interestingly, the same allele was reported earlier in another Australasian tribe--the Korkus of central India.
Subject(s)
Asian People/genetics , Erythrocytes/enzymology , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/genetics , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/genetics , Alleles , Electrophoresis, Starch Gel , Female , Heterozygote , Humans , India , Male , Phenotype , Polymorphism, GeneticSubject(s)
Lung Neoplasms/blood , Vitamin A/blood , Adult , Aged , Body Weight , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Smoking , Statistics as TopicSubject(s)
Ancylostoma/metabolism , Glucose/metabolism , Glycogen/biosynthesis , Animals , Dogs/blood , TemperatureABSTRACT
Streptozotocin administered i.m. was as effective a diabetogenic agent as when administered i.v. This is useful, particularly for the induction of diabetes in small animals.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/chemically induced , Streptozocin/administration & dosage , Animals , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Glucose Tolerance Test , Injections, Intramuscular , Male , RatsABSTRACT
Eleven commercially available alcohol and ethylene glycol derivatives were tested for their toxicity toward a problem organism in jet fuel, Cladosporium resinae. In the presence of glucose, 20% (vol/vol) ethylene glycol monomethyl ether prevented spore germination and mycelial growth, and 10% (vol/vol) 2-ethoxybutanol, 10% 2-isopropoxyethanol, 10% 3-methoxybutanol, 5% 2-butyloxyethanol, 5% ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, and 5% diethylene glycol monobutyl ether were found to have similar effects. In a biphasic kerosene-water system, 3-methoxybutanol, 2-butyloxyethanol, and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether were again found to be more toxic than ethylene glycol monomethyl ether. Considerable potassium efflux, protein leakage, and inhibition of endogenous respiration were observed in the presence of the more toxic compounds. 2-Butyloxyethanol also caused loss of sterols from cells.
Subject(s)
Cladosporium/drug effects , Ethylene Glycols/pharmacology , Fatty Alcohols/pharmacology , Mitosporic Fungi/drug effects , Alkanes/metabolism , Cladosporium/growth & development , Cladosporium/metabolism , Glucose/metabolism , Kerosene , Oxygen Consumption , Potassium/metabolism , Soil Microbiology , Spores, FungalSubject(s)
Carbohydrates/analysis , Anthracenes , Azides , Benzoates , Colorimetry , Ethylmercury Compounds , False Negative Reactions , Glucose/analysis , Kinetics , Methods , Sodium Chloride , Sulfides , Sulfuric AcidsABSTRACT
1. Studies in vitro have shown that rat diaphragm muscle is freely permeable to alpha- and beta-methyl d-xylosides and beta-methyl l-arabinoside but not to alpha- or beta-methyl d-glucoside or alpha-methyl d-mannoside. 2. No competition for entry between methyl pentosides and d-xylose, l-arabinose, d-glucose or 3-O-methyl-d-glucose could be demonstrated and alpha-methyl xyloside entry was not inhibited by phlorrhizin. 3. It is concluded that the monosaccharide transport system is unlikely to contribute significantly to the entry of the methyl pentosides in this tissue.