Extra-label use of ivermectin in some minor ruminant species: pharmacokinetic aspects.

The characterisation of ivermectin pharmacokinetics can be used to predict and to ensure an optimal activity in the target species and for designing programmes aimed for parasite control. Ivermectin pharmacokinetic studies performed in several minor ruminant species are reviewed in this paper with the aim of facilitating the adoption of rational basis for the establishment of appropriate dosage schedules.

Ivermectin residue depletion in food producing species and its presence in animal foodstuffs with a view to human safety.

From a human safety perspective, the administration of ivermectin to food producing animal species entails potential risks related to the presence of drug residues in edible tissues, milk, and other derived products. The European Medicines Agency has established the maximum residue limits for ivermectin in the European Union, with values of 100 µg·kg(-1) in fat and liver and 30 µg·kg(-1) in kidney for all mammalian food producing species, in order to ensure that the amount of ivermectin that can be found in animal foodstuff is below dangerous levels for the consumers. According to these values, withdrawal periods after subcutaneous injection were recently established in the European Union (2009), in 49 days for products containing ivermectin as a single active substance or in combination with closantel, and in 66 days when combined with clorsulon. The marker residue for ivermectin was found to be H(2)B(1a), which is the major component of the parent compound. The tissue distribution of residues and the overall ratios of marker to total residues were generally similar in most species, and the highest concentrations of ivermectin residues were found in fat and liver with high levels also detected in injection site muscles. Ivermectin is not licensed for use in animals from which milk is produced for human consumption, however its extra-label use should be considered regarding human safety, due to its long persistence in milk and milk-derived products.

Dietary fiber and its interaction with drugs.

As the intake of purified dietary fibers is increasing in the society, it is necessary to know how these fibers interact with simultaneously administered drugs, in order to ensure adequate therapeutic effects, minimizing the risk for adverse effects. This paper reviews the literature on the interactions between different types of purified fibers and several drugs.

Dietary fiber and its interaction with drugs / La fibra dietética y su interacción con los fármacos

As the intake of purified dietary fibers is increasing in the society, it is necessary to know how these fibers interact with simultaneously administered drugs, in order to ensure adequate therapeutic effects, minimizing the risk for adverse effects. This paper reviews the literature on the interactions between different types of purified fibers and several drugs (AU)

El uso, cada vez más frecuente, de distintos tipos de fibra dietética en la población hace necesario conocer cómo interaccionan dichas fibras con los fármacos empleados simultáneamente, para garantizar un adecuado efecto terapéutico y minimizar la posibilidad de aparición de efectos adversos. En el presente trabajo se revisan las publicaciones relativas a las interacciones entre distintos tipos de fibras dietéticas purificadas y fármacos (AU)

Association of cytosine-adenine repeat polymorphism of the estrogen receptor-beta gene with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

The influence of the polymorphism of the estrogen receptor-beta gene, cytosine-adenine (CA) dinucleotide repeat in intron 6, in the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated. Forty-seven RA patients and 36 control subjects with osteoarthritis (OA) were recruited. CA repeat polymorphism was examined using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (WAVE DNA Fragment Analysis System). The mean number of CA repeats was significantly higher in RA than in OA patients. Two groups were established: or=22 repeats (long L); and 3 kinds of genotypes (SS, SL, LL) were found. In RA patients, the L allele frequency was higher (OR = 2.03; P

[Glucomannan: properties and therapeutic applications]. / Glucomanano: propiedades y aplicaciones terapéuticas.

Glucomannan is a dietary fiber employed quite frequently in the western countries since two decades now, as its ingestion plays an important role in human health. However, eastern people have used this fiber for more than a thousand years. This dietary fiber is the main polysaccharide obtain from the tubers of the Amorphophallus konjac plant, a member of the family Araceae found in east Asia. The chemical structure of glucomannan consists, mainly, in mannose and glucose in the ratio 8:5 linked by beta (1-->4) glycosidic bonds. This soluble fiber has a extraordinarily high waterholding capacity, forming highly viscous solutions when dissolved in water. It has the highest molecular weight and viscosity of any known dietary fiber. It has been demonstrated that this product is highly effective in the treatment of obesity due to the satiety sensation that it produces; as a remedy for constipation, because it increases the faeces volume; as hypocholesterolemic agent, interfering in the transport of cholesterol and of bile acids and as hypoglycemic and hypoinsulinemic agent, probably, by delaying gastric emptying and slowering glucose delivery to the intestinal mucosa. To the beneficial properties of this fiber, several disadvantages can be added as the production of flatulence, abdominal pain, esophageal obstruction, lower gastrointestinal obstruction or even the possible modification of the bioavailability of other drugs. This paper reviews the main characteristics of glucomannan, as well as its properties, physiologic effects and therapeutic uses.

Glucomanano: propiedades y aplicaciones terapéuticas / Glucomannan: properties and therapeutic applications

La fibra dietética glucomanano se utiliza con cierta frecuencia en Occidente desde hace dos décadas, dadas sus demostradas acciones beneficiosas para la salud, si bien su uso se remonta, en las civilizaciones orientales, a más de mil años. Esta fibra es el principal polisacárido obtenido de los tubérculos de la planta originaria del este asiático Amorphophallus konjac y que pertenece a la familia Araceae. La estructura química del glucomanano incluye Dmanosa y D-glucosa (en una proporción 8:5, respectivamente), unidas por enlace (14).El glucomanano es una fibra muy soluble, que posee una excepcional capacidad de captar agua, formando soluciones muy viscosas. Posee un peso molecular y una viscosidad más elevados que cualquier fibra conocida. Se ha demostrado que es eficaz en la obesidad, por la sensación de saciedad que produce; en el estreñimiento debido a que aumenta el volumen fecal; como hipocolesterolemiante interfiriendo en el transporte de colesterol y ácidos biliares; y también disminuye los niveles de glucosa e insulina, probablemente debido a que retrasa el vaciado gástrico y, por tanto, dificulta el acceso de la glucosa a la mucosa intestinal. A estas propiedades beneficiosas, podemos añadir algunos inconvenientes como la producción de flatulencia, molestias abdominales, obstrucciones esofágicas o del tracto gastrointestinal, o incluso puede modificar la biodisponibilidad de otros fármacos que se administren al mismo tiempo que la fibra. Esta revisión recoge las principales características del glucomanano, así como sus propiedades, efectos fisiológicos y aplicaciones terapéuticas (AU)

Glucomannan is a dietary fiber employed quite frequently in the western countries since two decades now, as its ingestion plays an important role in human health. However, eastern people have used this fiber for more than a thousand years. This dietary fiber is the main polysaccharide obtain from the tubers of the Amorphophallus konjac plant, a member of the family Araceae found in east Asia. The chemical structure of glucomannan consists, mainly, in mannose and glucose in the ratio 8:5 linked by ß (1→ 4). glycosidic bonds. This soluble fiber has a extraordinarily high waterholding capacity, forming highly viscous solutions when dissolved in water. It has the highest molecular weight and viscosity of any known dietary fiber. It has been demonstrated that this product is highly effective in the treatment of obesity due to the satiety sensation that it produces; as a remedy for constipation, because it increases the faeces volume; as hypocholesterolemic agent, interfering in the transport of cholesterol and of bile acids and as hypoglycemic and hypoinsulinemic agent, probably, by delaying gastric emptying and slowering glucose delivery to the intestinal mucosa. To the beneficial properties of this fiber, several di sadvantages can be added as the production of flatulence, abdominal pain, esophageal obstruction, lower gastrointestinal obstruction or even the possible modification of the bioavailability of other drugs. This paper reviews the main characteristics of glucomannan, as well as its properties, physiologic effects and therapeutic uses (AU)