Column switching liquid chromatography and post-column photochemically fluorescence detection to determine imidacloprid and 6-chloronicotinic acid in honeybees.

The determination of imidacloprid and its main metabolite (6-chloronicotinic acid) in honeybees was performed by liquid chromatography with post-column photochemical derivatisation in alkaline medium and fluorescence detection. The compounds were extracted from honeybees with acetone under ultrasound conditions prior to liquid-liquid partition with dichloromethane. The separation of extract components was performed using a 50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d. short column packed with 5 microm Aquasil C(18) using an acetonitrile:water gradient program as mobile phase. Injection of samples in 0.1 mol L(-1) H(3)PO(4)/KH(2)PO(4) buffer solution (pH 3) improved the chromatographic separation between the most polar components of matrix and the 6-chloronicotinic acid. Matrix components were removed to waste using an on-line clean-up method previously to post-column reaction. Limits of quantification were 0.3 and 5.0 microg L(-1) (corresponding to 1.2 and 20.0 microg kg(-1) in the honeybee sample) for imidacloprid and 6-chloronicotinic acid, respectively. The recovery was ranged from 80.2 to 91.7% with a relative standard deviation lower than 9.0%.

[Low-level laser therapy in osteoarticular diseases in geriatric patients]. / Laserterapia con bassa potenza nelle malattie osteoarticolari nel paziente geriatrico.

INTRODUCTION: Laser light absorption through the skin causes tissue changes, targeting the nervous, the lymphatic, the circulatory and the immune systems with an antalgic, anti-inflammatory, anti-edemic effect and stimulating tissue repair. Therefore low level laser therapy is now commonly used in numerous rehabilitation centers, including the "Istituto Gerontologico Pio Albergo Trivulzio", Milan, Italy. However, to activate the treatment program, the basic medical research results must always be considered to choose the best optical wavelength spectrum, technique and dose, for rehabilitative laser therapy. We analyzed the therapeutic effects of different wavelengths and powers in various treatment schedules. In particular, a protocol was designed to test such physical parameters as laser type, doses and individual schedule in different pathologic conditions. We report the results obtained with low level laser therapy in the rehabilitation of geriatric patients, considering the various physical and technical parameters used in our protocol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used the following laser equipment: an HeNe laser with 632.8 nm wavelength (Mectronic), a GaAs Laser with 904 nm wavelength (Mectronic) and a CO2 Laser with 10,600 nm wavelength (Etoile). To evaluate the patient clinical status, we use a different form for each involved joint; the laser beam is targeted on the region of interest and irradiation is carried out with the sweeping method or the points technique. Irradiation technique, doses and physical parameters (laser type, wavelength, session dose and number) are indicated on the form. The complete treatment cycle consists of 5 sessions per week--20 sessions in all. At the end of the treatment cycle, the results were scored on a 5-grade semiquantitative scale--excellent, good, fair, poor and no results. We examined 3 groups of patients affected with gonarthrosis (149 patients), lumbar arthrosis (117 patients), and algodystrophy (140 patients) respectively. RESULTS: In gonarthrosis patients, the statistical analysis of the results showed no significant differences between CO2 laser and GaAs laser treatments (p = .975), but significant differences between CO2 laser and HeNe laser treatments (p = .02) and between GaAs laser and HeNe laser treatments (p = .003). In lumbar arthrosis patients treated with GaAs or HeNe laser, significant differences were found between the two laser treatments and the combined sweeping-points techniques appeared to have a positive trend relative to the sweeping method alone, especially in sciatic suffering. In the algodystrophy syndrome, in hemiplegic patients, significant differences were found between CO2 and HeNe laser treatments (p = .026), between high and low CO2 laser doses (p = .024), and between low CO2 laser dose and high HeNe laser dose (p = .006). CONCLUSIONS: Low level laser therapy can be used to treat osteoarticular pain in geriatric patients. To optimize the results, the diagnostic picture must be correct and a treatment program defining the physical parameters used (wavelength, dose and irradiation technique) must also be designed.

A comparison of the local tolerability, safety and efficacy of meloxicam and piroxicam suppositories in patients with osteoarthritis: a single-blind, randomized, multicentre study.

The local tolerability, safety and efficacy of meloxicam 15 mg suppositories were compared with piroxicam 20 mg suppositories over a 3-week period in a single-blind, randomized study in patients with osteoarthritis. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive meloxicam (n = 216) or piroxicam (n = 109). More than 90% of patients and investigators assessed local tolerability of both treatments as good or very good (primary endpoint). There was no significant difference between the groups. Global efficacy was reported by approximately 80% of patients in both groups to be good or very good. Pain on movement and at rest and joint mobility showed statistically significant improvements compared with baseline with both meloxicam and piroxicam; there were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups. Piroxicam and meloxicam suppositories were equally well tolerated, with no serious adverse events recorded in either treatment group. Local adverse events occurred in 11.9% of patients receiving piroxicam and 6.9% of those receiving meloxicam. Overall, gastrointestinal adverse events were the most frequent of all 11.9% of piroxicam-treated patients). In both groups, about 90% of global tolerability assessments were classified, by the investigator and the patient, as either very good or good. In conclusion, meloxicam 15 mg suppositories showed excellent local tolerability accompanied by good safety and efficacy in osteoarthritis, which was comparable to that of an established non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administered by the rectal route, and to that previously observed with oral formulations of meloxicam 15 mg.

Efficacy and tolerability of galactosamino-glycuronoglycan-sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee: an 11-month experience.

Chondroprotective agents represent a model for basic therapy of osteoarthritis (OA), thanks to their activity directed towards the protection and repair of articular cartilage. One of the most recent compounds capable of interfering with the pathogenic mechanisms of OA is galactosamino-glycuronoglycan-sulfate (GGGS), a highly depolymerized glycosaminoglycan with favourable chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. The present paper describes the experience with GGGS given to a group of patients with symptomatic OA of the knee as compared to a parallel group treated with placebo. The drug (or placebo) was administered in two series of 25 intramuscular injections each over a period of 11 months, and four successive evaluations of treatment were made at various times during this period, and a fifth evaluation one month after the suspension of treatment to better evaluate the permanence of the therapeutic effect. The results obtained showed significant improvements on pain, algofunctional index and consumption of NSAIDs only in the group treated with GGGS. The drug was well tolerated and no reduction of dosage or drop-out from therapy were required. The favourable clinical effects and the patients' good compliance make GGGS a useful drug for successful chondroprotective treatment of OA.

Digestive disturbances in shift-workers: a clinical statistical investigation.

In order to give a clarifying contribution about the probable relationship between shift-work and digestive diseases the authors have conducted a clinical and anamnestical investigation on digestive disturbances and alimentary habits of shift-workers comparing them with non shift-workers. The former group of subjects is engaged in very different activities conducted in variable working environments, with shift rhythms which are always disordered, sometime are imposed by the working Companies and sometimes chosen on the basis of personal necessities. The most interesting result of this study is represented by the confirmation of statistical significance among the larger incidence percentage of digestive disturbances between shift and non shift-workers. Moreover, statistical differences have been remarked among the different groups of shift-workers examinated. For these reasons the authors believe that shift-work is per se responsible of digestive diseases in the workers engaged to it and they also think that it is very important to distinguish the kind of shift work which may produce environmental, psychological and motivational differences.

[Use of estrogens in post-coital contraception. Our case material of 243 cases]. / Uso degli estrogeni nella contraccezione post-coitale. Nostra casistica di 243 casi.

PIP: 294 women between 18 and 35 years of age -- without absolute contraindications to estrogen use, with regular menses, who had had intercourse from 3 days before to 2 days after presumptive ovulation -- were given ethinyl estradiol (EE) in dosages of 5 mg/day and domperidon 20 ng twice/day for 5 days between and 72 hours from intercourse. Follow-up visits 30 days later showed that only 243 women had adhered to the protocol. It was calculated that 32.9 pregnancies were statistically probable in the absence of therapy in the study group; none actually occurred. Even among the 27 women who presented not having followed the therapeutic protocol correctly, there were no pregnancies. Side-effects such as vomiting, nausea and breast tenderness occurred in 54% of the patients, even though domperidon is an efficacious anti-emetic.^ieng

[Abnormal cardiovascular findings in elderly athletic subjects. Epidemiologic data]. / Reperti cardiovascolari anormali nei soggetti sportivi anziani. Rilievi epidemiologici.

The authors examined 1831 asymptomatic subjects, aged 40 to 70 years, practicing physical activity in leisure-time. Two groups were considered: the first one with 1443 subjects aged 40-49 and the second one with 388 subjects over 50 years old. Subgroups were obtained by considering length of sport activity, type of sport and degree of training. The incidence of arrhythmias, S-T segment changes, intraventricular conduction defects and hypertension was found to increase with age. In atrioventricular conduction defects and valvular diseases, the trend appeared to be reversed. Arrhythmias and S-T segment changes were prevalent in mixed sports, while atrio- and intraventricular conduction defects prevailed in aerobic sports; hypertension was practically the same in both groups. From the other variables examined it appeared that adequate training is of more evident benefit than athletic seniority. The authors underline the need for the aged to have a correct sport orientation as well as a right training.