In vitro evaluation of the effect of tobacco smoke on rat cornea function

The influence of tobacco smoke on the dielectric properties of rat cornea were measured in vitro over the frequency range of the electric field of 500Hz-100kHz and in temperatures of the air from 25 to 150°C. The temperature dependencies of the loss tangent for both healthy and smoky cornea represent the relation between the energy lost and the energy stored in the epithelium-stromal-endothelium systems of the cornea. The differences between the healthy and the smoky cornea concerned the temperature ranges in which there appeared the decomposition of loosely-bound water and β-relaxation associated with polar side-chains relaxations on protein molecules of this tissue. The effect of smoke is manifested as a shift of the loss tangent peaks of these two processes towards higher temperatures, when compared with the control. The results are interpreted as caused by the toxic compounds of the tobacco smoke leading to higher ion transport in the nonhomogeneous structure of the cornea when compared to that of the control tissue. The activation energy of conductivity were similar for the healthy and smoky cornea as a consequence of the braking of hydrogen and Van der Waals bonds between loosely bound water, and the proteins of channels in the epithelium and endothelium. Recognition of the effect of frequency and temperature on the dielectric behaviour of the smoky cornea may be of interest for disease characterization of this tissue.

[The influence of periodontal diseases on the concentration of selected metals in saliva]

Analysis of elements (mainly metals) in biological materials provides a challenge for analytics. It results from complex matrix of this kind of samples and strict requirements for purity at all stages of the analytical process. Over the years many effective methods for determination of metals in body fluids have been developed, which link with searching for the association between elemental composition of human body and various diseases. The aim of the investigation was to study the usefulness of available methodology to determination of selected metals in saliva and blood of patients with periodontitis and healthy controls by two techniques" ICP-MS and ICP-OES. Next statistical analysis of the data statistical was carried out. The influence of periodontal disease upon the concentrations of selected metals (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn) in saliva was examined, as well the attempt to classify samples of patients with periodontitis and healthy individuals correctly was made. Additionally mutual relations between analytes in examined materials were determined by computing the Pearson's correlation coefficient and principal component analysis (PCA).

[Cigarette smoking and its influence on skin aging]

Presently cigarette smoking is one of the most dangerous activities for health and human life. In tobacco smoke, nicotine and other dangerous substances have detrimental influence not only for smokers but for the "passive smokers" whom very often are children. Cigarette smoke causes unfavorable skin changes or intensifies course of many skin diseases including cancer. Tobacco smoke additionally quickens the natural process of skin aging. It has been observed that the skin of smoking addicts at the age of 40 years resembles skin of non-smoking 70 year old adults. Skin damage due to tobacco smoke is irreversible, where further damage can be avoided by stopping smoking. Present trends try to find ways to stop or at least delay changes caused by aging. Perhaps maybe it's first signs- wrinkles- more than the deadly consequences of smoking will be the most motivating reason for smokers to "kick the habit".

[Saliva cotinine determination using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode - array detection]

The use of tobacco is a very serious threat to public health. Reducing the proportion of smokers easily leads to improved health of the general population. Smoking is a proven risk factor for respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer and complications during pregnancy. To verify the level of exposure to tobacco smoke in most patients used a simple test markers of exposure. The most commonly used marker in the evaluation of exposure to tobacco products is cotinine, which is a major metabolite of nicotine contained in tobacco smoke. Biological material most commonly used in this type of study is blood, urine and saliva. In the present study Sarstedt Salivette tubes were used to samples collection. In order to determine the concentration of cotinine in saliva samples analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection after extraction of cotinine from saliva by solid phase extraction. The method was linear of 10 to 400 ng/ml. The limit of detection was the value of the signal-to-noise ratio S/N=3, it amounted to 6 ng/ml, the limit of quantification was 10 ng/ml. The intraday repeatability was 8% for lowconcentrations, for high concentrations - 3.7%. Reproducibility interdays for low concentrations was 2.4%, for high concentrations - 4.1%. We analyzed 18 samples of saliva derived from patients smoking volunteers from the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Medical Sciences. University of Medical Sciences and the Chair and Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, University of Medical Sciences. University of Medical Sciences. Mean concentrations of cotinine in patients was 240.9 ng/ml of saliva. In this study we demonstrated the usefulness of the saliva cotinine determination method in the assessment of patient exposure to tobacco smoke.

[The awareness of carcinogenic effect of tobacco smoke--a questionnaire survey of students and employees of Collegium Medicum of Nicolaus Copernicus University]

Smoking is currently the most significant risk factor for health according to WHO statements. It has been proven that smoking is the cause of many diseases, for example cardiovascular and respiratory tract diseases as well as impaired fertility and decreased immunity. The adverse effects of cigarette smoking on pregnancy and health of children were also proved. However, special attention is laid on impact of smoking on the development of cancer. In tobacco smoke there are over 4,000 different chemical substances and compounds, of which more than 50 are carcinogens. The present study was aimed to assess the knowledge of students and employees of Collegium Medicum of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (CM UMK), first on number and types of carcinogens contained in tobacco smoke and secondly on types of diseases caused by smoking. There were 480 responders included to the study(253 women and 227 men). Among them there were 416 students of CM UMK, 59 students of biomedical engineering at the University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz and 5 employees of CM UMK. Among the respondents there was considerable ignorance about the number of carcinogens contained in tobacco smoke with over 50% of them indicating the incorrect answer. Among the carcinogens there were mentioned mostly tar and nicotine, and among the diseases caused by tobacco smoke most often pointed response there were lung and larynx cancer and heart and blood vessels diseases and to reduce the weight of newborns. In summary, we can conclude that the awareness of students and employees of CM UMK about the carcinogenic properties of tobacco smoke was not sufficient. Respondents were aware of the dangers of smoking, they knew the basic carcinogenic substances and pointed a few diseases caused by smoking cigarettes. Unfortunately their knowledge does not refer to a number of diseases which in common believe are not connected to cigarette smoking, but in fact tobacco smoke is very important for their development.

[Head and neck cancer--history]

According to epidemiological data head and neck cancers constitute for 12% of all malignancies in the world. It is estimated that a total of 400 000 cases of the mouth and throat and of 160 000 cases of laryngeal cancer, 300 000 people die each year. History of head and neck cancers developed and underwent many changes at the turn of the century. Treatment, pathogenesis and possessed state of knowledge on the subject has changed. Starting from the ancient times there were texts on how to treat and examine patients. The Edwin Smith and Ebers Papyrus are two of the oldest medical documents describing the treatment of cancer patients. Hippocrates was the first person who used the word "cancer" and probably he was the first who divided the tumors into benign and malignant. In a document known as the Doctrine of Hippocrates he described skin cancer and cancer treatments. Over the next centuries, medical science did not develop because of religious concerns about autopsy and surgical procedures. The 17th century is a period in which there were a lot of new information about how to treat such oral cancer. Cancer of the tongue was removed by cauterization, which in the 18th century was replaced by the use of surgical instruments. In the same age glossectomy has been accepted as the treatment of choice performed in the treatment of cancer. The 19th century brought a major breakthrough in the treatment of surgical, diagnostic, anesthetic techniques and understanding of the pathological mechanisms. Histological evaluation of tumors has become mandatory and standard practice in the assessment of cancer. Laryngectomy and neck lymph nodes removal has become commonplace. Modified Radical Neck Dissection (MRND), became popularized as another cancer treatment technique. Describing ways to treat cancer, radiotherapy can not be ignored - there are several new techniques such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and hypofractionation currently used. Chemotherapy and the introduction of many new drugs have changed the outlook for patients suffering from cancer. Recently there are expectations about the targeted therapy, especially in medicaments blocking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

[Selected biochemical parameters of oxidative stress as a result of exposure to tobacco smoke in animals addicted to ethyl alcohol]

Smoking cigarettes and alcohol addiction are serious problems in health hazard and life of society. Tobacco smoke leads to many kinds of cancer formation and scientific research indicates, that heart-vascular disease and lung cancer are the most common diseases caused by tobacco smoke. While talking about ethanol, it is responsible for liver, pancreas, mucous membrane damage and leads to central and circular nervous disorder. Scientific research indicates, that many smokers drink alcohol and vice versa. Unfortunately in that case the risk of many diseases increases. Both of these stimulants leads to enlarged production of reactive oxygen species, which is connected with unbalance between pro and antioxidant processes in human organism. Free radicals in normal conditions plays positive role but with tobacco smoke and alcohol connection may lead to serious changes in human organism. They damage organs, it comes to protein structure, nucleic acid and fat violation, which in consequence leads to immunity decrease and many pathological changes. Reactive oxygen species also plays role in pathogenesis of many diseases: diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and Down syndrome. ROS may also increase the risk of pancreas, lung, larynx and urinary bladder cancer formation. Human organism defends oneself from harmful influence of reactive oxygen species owing to enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems presence-Non-enzymatic antioxidants: glutathione, carotene, bilirubin, tocopherol, uric acid and ions metals temporary complex belong to non-enzymatic systems. To enzymatic ones belong: catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase. The aim of the study was tobacco smoke and ethyl alcohol influence evaluation in rats addicted to these substances on activity of chosen enzymes responsible for organism defense against toxic compounds action. To this study 63 white, Wistar tribe rats at the age of 3,5 months were used - males addicted to ethyl alcohol. They were divided into 3 groups, each consist of 21 rats. Animals of Group I were exposed on harmful tobacco smoke influence. Group II constitute animals, which were given by stomach probe 10% alcohol dilution once at a dose of 2 g/kg weight. The next Group - III, in which animals at first were exposed on tobacco smoke influence. When exposition was over, animals were given by stomach probe 10% alcohol dilution once at a dose of 2 g/kg weight. Depending on the type of marker and studied organ, changes in the levels of selected enzymes, responsible for defending organism against reactive forms of oxygen has been shown. Both tobacco smoke and ethyl alcohol resulted in a change of glutathione levels in the serum and tissues of animals. Tobacco smoke has the biggest influence on protein nitrozylation in the brain and ethyl alcohol had influence on glutathione level in serum, kidney, brain and superoxide dismutase activity in the brain. Application of many oxidative stress markers allows for evaluation of its differential influence on various organs.

[Development and validation of method for the determination of cynarin, luteolin in plasma]

The aim of this study was to develop and validate the method of cynarin and luteolin, the main constituents of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf extract, determination in plasma. The compounds were separated using the high-performance liquid chromatography technique with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The analysis was preceded by liquid-liquid extraction using as the extracting agent ethyl acetate. The HPLC separation was performed on C18 column under gradient conditions using a mobile phase - 0,05% trifluoroacetic acid in water and methanol. The detector was set at lambda=330 nm. The validation was related to linearity, sensitivity (LOD and LOQ), accuracy and repeatability. In the validated method the linearity was achieved within concentration range 1,5625 - 50,0 microg/cm3 for the cynarin (R2=0,9989) and 1,5625 - 200,0 microg/cm3 for the luteolin (R2=0998). The limits of detection for cynarin and luteolin was: 0,75 microg/cm3 and 0,1 microg/cm3 and the limits of quatification: 2,25 microg/cm3 and 0,2 microg/cm3, respectively. Coefficient of variation for the inter-day and the intra-day analysis, which is a precision and accuracy parameter, do not exceed 10%. Recovery was 67% for the cynarin and 96% for the luteolin. The practical application of this method was proved by analysis of plasma samples from rats. The animals were administrated artichoke leaf extract - orally and intraperitoneally at a dose of 3 g/kg body weight or pure substances - intraperitoneally at a dose 1 mg/kg of luteolin and 0,5 mg/kg of cynarin. The presence of investigated compounds was proved only in samples after intraperitoneal administration of pure substances. The developed method is used to determine simultaneously cynarin and luteolin, after intraperitoneal administration of pure compounds.

[The etiology of Graves' disease--current state of knowledge]

Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disease of unknown etiology. Recently, it is assumed that the occurrence of GD co-existence with endogenous factors (genetic and interthyroid) and exogenous (environmental). Autoantibodies against the TSHR are a key element leading to the occurrence of autoimmune thyroid disease. TSHR stimulating antibodies dominate and lead to the development of hyperthyroidism. Among the environmental factors which directly affecting the defect-suppressor T cells can be calculated: infections, smoking, stress, excessive iodine intake, certain medications, therapy with radioiodine. Scientific reports in recent years allow more and better understand the mechanisms leading to the development CD at the molecular level. Linked to this is the hope of creating new treatments and prevention strategies.

[Physiological metals in the serum, hair and nails of patients with head and neck cancer]

Cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol drinking result in the rise of numbers of patients suffering from the head and neck cancer. Addiction to any of these stimulants carry a risk of developing a cancerogenesis process. Using them simultaniously lead not to a summary of each of those risks but multiplies them. Scientific research also indicates the important difference in the incidence of cancer in people who have never smoked cigarettes or drunk alcohol in comparison to those, whose exposure to these stimulatns was longterm - in such case, the former group had a lower percentage of developing the disease. Human body burdened with the ongoing cancer shows disturbances on various levels of the system. One of such disturbances is change of the concetration levels of physiological metals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc or mangenese. They play key roles in maintaing the hormonal and ionic stability, they act as cofactors in many enzymes in metabolic processes. Diagnostic research of any deviations in levels of those essential elements enables a full estimation of a patient condition. The aim of this study was physiological metal levels evaluation in different kinds of biological material in patients with tumors of larynx, salivary glands and oral cavity and tongue. Hair and nail samples were used as examples of alternative material, beside the serum samples, which is a standard material and often used. Subjects were patients of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology Clinic of Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny nr 2 im. Heliodora Swiecickiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu) and The Head and Neck Surgery Ward of The Greater Poland Cancer Centre in Poznan. Subjects were 41 men and 18 women with tumors of larynx, salivary glands and oral cavity and tongue. The control group consisted of patients from the Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology Clinic of Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny nr 2 im. Heliodora Swiecickiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu), The Head and Neck Surgery Ward of The Greater Poland Cancer Centre in Poznan and patients of Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine of Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny nr 2 im. Heliodora Swiecickiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu) and Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology Poznań University of Medical Sciences. They gave answers to the questionnaire concerning smoking habits, alcohol consumption and dietary habits, Then the samples of their serum, hair and nails were collected. After careful preparations the biological material has underwent the process of digestion, and then calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, mangenese were determined quantitatively using the method of ICP-MS. Profile of the patients who took part in the research displayed a strong correlation between tobacco smoking with alcohol drinking and appearance of larynx, salivary gland and oral cavity and tongue cancer as well as between exclusively tobacco smoking and appearance of these types of cancer. There is a higher incidence of larynx, salivary gland and oral cavity and tongue cancer when there is a deficiency of grain products or fibre in everyday diet. A higher level of calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese was found in patients' hair and nails who suffered from salivary gland cancer. According to applied Chemometric Analysis of Principal Component 1 - concentrations of iron, copper and manganese with magnesium and zinc in patients' nail samples showed strong correlation between measured variables. In patiens' hair samples measured correlation between variables was decreased - concentrations of calcium and magnesium as well as of iron and manganese were highlighted as two groups of variables which showed some correlation in this type of biological material. Further research is required to indicate which of alternative biological materials - hair or nail samples - in relation to serum, would provide a better evaluation of physiological metal levels.

[Effect of amiodarone on the thyroid function and safety of the therapy--what's new]

This paper presents the current state of knowledge on the effects of amiodarone (AM) on the thyroid gland function, including the question of epidemiology, pathogenesis and prognostic factors. Of all the antiarrhythmic drugs hitherto used, AM has the most adverse effects on the thyroid gland. In patients receiving AM, it may lead to a development of a full- symptomatic hyperthyroidism (AIT-Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis) and hypothyroidism (AIH - Amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism). The time from the start of the treatment of AM to the onset of symptoms of thyrotoxicosis is varied and amounts approximately to 3 years. The AIT may develop up to 2 years after the cessation of the AM treatment because of the accumulation of the drug and its metabolites in the body. The AIT treatment is complicated and often requires multiple treatment methods, such as: antithyroid drugs, glucocorticoids, iopanic acid, plasmapheresis, thyroidectomy and radioiodine. AIH is associated with the Wolff-Chaikoffa phenomenon. Thyroid hormone synthesis is impaired by blocking iodine organification. Hypothyroidism can also arise and be exacerbated by the output of thyroid disease - autoimmune diseases. The paper also devotes much attention to the relationship between smoking and the toxicity of AM. The components of tobacco smoke increase the activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of AM. Increased concentrations of desetyloamiodarone in lung tissue may be responsible for the increased toxicity in the lungs in smokers. In addition, the paper presents a new antiarrhythmic drug - dronedarone (DN), an attractive alternative, but, because of the high risk of heart failure, stroke and death from cardiovascular disease, with a limited potential.

[Application of HPLC-UV method for aripiprazole determination in serum]

Aripiprazole is a new drug applied in schizophrenia treatment. There are not strict indications for aripiprazole therapeutic drug monitoring. Despite, serum aripiprazole measuring would help control the drug doses effectiveness. The drug monitoring can eliminate overdosing, adverse effects and let control proper drug ingestion. The aim of the paper was to develop a simple method for aripiprazole determination in serum for therapeutic drug monitoring. High performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (HPLC-UV) was used. Resolution was performed on LC-8 column; moving phase was solution 0,025M trimethylammonium buffer: acetonitrile (62:38). Isocratic flow was 1,2 ml/min; internal standard (IS) was promazine; monitored wavelength was lambda=214 nm. The validation parameters were: limits of linearity (LOL) 100-800 ng/ml, limit of detection (LOD) 10 ng/ml, limit of quantity (LOQ) 100 ng/ml. Coefficient of variation (CV) describing accuracy and precision didn't cross 10%. The method was useful for therapeutic drug monitoring in serum of patients treated with aripiprazole.

Tobacco marketing and susceptibility to smoking: cross-sectional survey of Polish children

Susceptibility to smoking has been identified as predictor of smoking onset in adolescence. Aim of the study was to investigate whether receptivity to tobacco marketing, for which a link to adolescent smoking already could be shownin the past, was also associated with susceptibility to smoking. A cross-sectional survey of 1,478 Polish students who reported having never smoked wasconducted. Mean age was 10.1 years and about 53.3% were female. Overall, 84 (5.7%) students were classifiedas susceptible to smoking, and 33 (2.3%) were considered as receptiveto tobacco marketing, operationalised by asking students to name a brand of their favourite cigarette advertisement. Crude logistic regression analyses as well as logistic regression analyses adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, personality characteristics, factors of social influence and smoking-related cognitions revealed a positive association between receptivity to tobacco marketing and susceptibility to smoking (adjusted odds ratio=3.49 [95% confidence interval: 1.28-9.46], p=0.014). In conclusion, this study revealed that receptivityto tobacco marketing increases susceptibility to smoking. Results providesupport for the almost comprehensive ban of tobacco marketing as existing in Poland and recommend its further expansion towards a total ban including e.g. ban of promotion at point of sale.

High youth access to movies that contain smoking in Europe compared with the USA

BACKGROUND

Based on evidence that exposure to smoking in movies is associated with adolescent smoking, the WHO has called on countries to assign a rating that restricts youth access to such movies.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate youth access to movies that portray smoking in European countries and compare with that in the USA.

METHODS

The authors identified the most commercially successful movies screened in six European countries (Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and UK) and the USA between 2004 and 2009. The authors coded the 464 movies that were screened in both Europe and the USA according to whether or not they portrayed smoking.

RESULTS

87% of the movies were 'youth' rated in Europe (ratings board classification as suitable for those younger than 16 years) compared to only 67% in the USA (suitable for those younger than 17 years). Smoking was portrayed in 319 (69%) movies. 85% of the movies that portrayed smoking were 'youth' rated in Europe compared with only 59% in the USA (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco imagery is still common in popular films shown in European countries and the USA. None of the seven countries examined followed the WHO recommendations on restricting youth access to movies that portray smoking. Compared to the USA, European youths have access to substantially more movies in general, and this gives them access to more movies that portray smoking in particular.

Smoking in movies and adolescent smoking: cross-cultural study in six European countries

AIM

To investigate whether the association between exposure to smoking in movies and smoking among youth is independent of cultural context.

METHOD

Cross-sectional survey of 16,551 pupils recruited in Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Scotland with a mean age of 13.4 years (SD=1.18) and an equal gender distribution. School-based surveys were conducted between November 2009 and June 2010. Using previously validated methods, exposure to movie smoking was estimated from the 250 top-grossing movies of each country (years 2004-2009) and related to ever smoking.

RESULTS

Overall, 29% of the sample had tried smoking. The sample quartile (Q) of movie smoking exposure was significantly associated with the prevalence of ever smoking: 14% of adolescents in Q1 had tried smoking, 21% in Q2, 29% in Q3 and 36% in Q4. After controlling for age, gender, family affluence, school performance, television screen time, number of movies seen, sensation seeking and rebelliousness and smoking within the social environment (peers, parents and siblings), the adjusted ORs for having tried smoking in the entire sample were 1.3 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.5) for adolescents in Q2, 1.6 (95% CI 1.4 to 1.9) for Q3 and 1.7 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.0) for Q4 compared with Q1. The adjusted relationship between ever smoking and higher movie smoking exposure levels was significant in all countries with a non-linear association in Italy and Poland.

CONCLUSIONS

The link between smoking in movies and adolescent smoking is robust and transcends different cultural contexts. Limiting young people's exposure to movie smoking could have important public health implications.

Effect of maternal tobacco smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke on the levels of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in urine of mother and the first urine of newborn

Tobacco smoking during pregnancy is associated with a variety of negative consequences not only for the mother, but also for the developing fetus. Many studies have shown that carcinogens contained in tobacco smoke permeate across the placenta, and are found in fetus. The aim of the study was to determine the prenatal exposure to tobacco-specific carcinogenic N-nitrosamines on the basis of measurements of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in urine of smoking and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposed women and in the first urine of their newborns. A questionnaire documenting demographics and socio-economical data, smoking habits and exposure to SHS was completed by 121 delivering women near or at term. Maternal concentrations of cotinine and NNAL were measured in urine of the mother and the first urine of her newborn infant by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The mean concentration of cotinine was 439.2 ng/mg creatinine and NNAL concentration in urine of smoking women was 74.0 pg/mg creatinine, and for her newborn 78.6 pg/mg creatinine. Among mothers exposed to SHS, cotinine and NNAL mean concentration were 23.1 ng/mg creatinine, and 26.4 pg/mg creatinine. In newborns of SHS exposed mothers during pregnancy the mean concentration of NNAL was 34.1 pg/mg creatinine, respectively. Active tobacco smoking as well as passive exposure to smoking during pregnancy is an important source of tobacco specific N-nitrosamines to the fetuses as evidenced by increased concentrations of this carcinogen. Determination of NNAL in maternal urine samples can be a useful biomarker of prenatal exposure of newborn to carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Carbamazepine intoxication in alcohol dependent epileptic patients

Carbamazepine is frequently administrated to alcohol addict patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of alcohol addiction on carbamazepine pharmacokinetics and severity of drug intoxication. The total of 158 carbamazepine intoxicated patients participated in the study (76 non-alcohol-dependent, and 82 alcohol-dependent subjects). The results of the study indicate that the level of unconsciousness depends on carbamazepine concentration. The frequency of anticholinergic toxidrome was higher in alcohol-dependent patients (88.6% - alcohol-abused subjects, and 78.3% - alcoholics in abstinency) comparing to non-alcohol-dependent epileptics (67.1%). The average biological half-life of carbamazepine in non-addicted epileptics was 41.5 h, 43.5 h for alcohol-dependent patients during abstinency, and 38.6 in abused patients. It may be concluded that ethanol doesn't influence the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic of carbamazepine in acute drug intoxication.

Urinary elimination kinetics of pyrimethamine

In this study, the kinetics of pyrimethamine elimination via the urine was investigated. The experiments were carried out on six healthy male volunteers aged 23-32 years. The drug was administered orally (p.o.) in a single dose at three different concentrations i.e.: 50, 75 and 100 mg. The concentration of the drug in the urine was determined via the modified method of Bonini et al. and Garber et al. It was found that 13.4 +/- 1.3% of the dose eliminated via the urine was in unchanged form. The process of pyrimethamine elimination may be described according to an open kinetic two-compartmental model: the formula showing the course of pyrimethamine elimination over time has been given. Several examples of the quantitative exposure test have been proposed, which allow the calculation of the drug dose absorbed and thus the degree of toxicity to be determined. This test can also be useful in a controlled clinical setting.

Effect of pregnancy and tobacco smoke on the antioxidant activity of rutin in an animal model

Tobacco smoke is a source of free radicals and causes oxidative stress in smokers' tissues. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of rutin on the total antioxidant status (TAS) in pregnant and non-pregnant rats that were exposed to cigarette smoke. TAS in brain, lungs, liver, kidneys and plasma were measured by the 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical-cation decolorization assay. In pregnant rats, a diversified distribution of endogenous antioxidants was found in comparison to the matched non-pregnant animals. In pregnant rats, TAS was higher in plasma (by 33%) and kidney (by 76%), and lower in brain (by 48%) and liver (by 50%) compared with non-pregnant rats. Generally (except liver), exposure to tobacco smoke caused an increase in the antioxidative status of pregnant compared to non-pregnant animals (by 29, 16, 18 and 87% in plasma, brain, lung and kidney, respectively). Overall, rutin had little (plasma, non-pregnant rats) or a no protective effect in the examined tissues.

[Develop rapid and inexpensive method for the determination of methadone and its major metabolites for monitoring therapy]

Methadone maintenance therapy is one of the most popular treatments for opiate addiction. The easiest and the most reliable way to monitor the accuracy of the therapy is determination of methadone and its metabolites in biological material. The aim of this study was to develop rapid and inexpensive method for the determination of methadone and its major metabolites--EDDP and methandol in drug concentration monitoring therapy and to check its suitability to real samples collected from the patients, who participated in methadone maintenance therapy. The method is characterized by a wide range of linearity--from 50 to 1000 ng/ml for methadone and methadole, and from 20 to 600 ng/ml for EDDP. The lower limit of quantification for methadone and methadole was 50 ng/ml and for 20 ng/ml for EDDP. The repeatability of the method during the day and between days is below 10%. The method allows the determination of minimum concentrations of methadone (before the next dose) in patients treated with standard doses (40-120 mg/day) of this medicine. Different concentration ratios of metabolites to parent drug prove that the polymorphic metabolism leads both to the EDDP, methadone and methadole.

[Effect of tobacco smoke on lipids peroxidation and liver function in streptozotocin diabetic rats--preliminary study]

Diabetes is considered a group of diseases with chronic hyperglycemia caused by various organ disorders, failure or damage as a common feature. Hyperglycemia exerts toxic effect on endothelium, promotes oxidative stress, inhibits bioavailability of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and leads to formation of advanced glycation end products. Moreover, hyperglycemia induces production of reactive oxygen specimens (ROS) through several distinct mechanisms, such as: glucose autoxydation activation of polyol (sorbitol-aldose reductase) pathway, non-enzymatic glycation and neutrophil granulocyte's stimulation. These changes lead to uncontrolled oxidation and peroxidation of lipids, nucleic acids, certain enzymes and most of all--oxidative protein damage (OPD) in many tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate influence of exposure to tobacco smoke on lipid peroxidation and liver function in experimentally induced diabetes. The research showed that the protein level in blood serum did not change neither in case of induced diabetes nor after tobacco smoke exposure. However a statistically significant increase of lipid peroxidation was observed in rats with pharmacologically induced diabetes. In animals exposed to tobacco smoke only lipid peroxidation increasing trend was demonstrated, while in animals with induced diabetes and exposed to tobacco smoke a statistically significant decrease of lipid peroxidation was noticed. In the adopted experimental model basically no alterations of hepatic aminotranspherases were observed, with exception of AIAT in the group of diabetic animals compared to rats in the control group. Results of the study do not explicitly explain the influence of tobacco smoking in experimentally induced diabetes on lipid peroxidation and liver functions.

Smoking and thyroid diseases--what is new?

Cigarette smoking has multiple effects on the thyroid gland, which is associated with important clinical implications such as increased risk and severity of autoimmune thyroid disorders, especially Graves' ophthalmopathy. The influence of cigarette smoking is mainly associated with the pharmacological action of nicotine and also with toxins such as thiocyanate. The present review of relevant literature concentrates on the effect of smoking on the Graves' ophthalmopathy and other autoimmune thyroid disorders (such as Hashimoto's disease). The effect of passive smoking on children and the influence of smoking on the fetus is also shown. In contrast, the protective influence of cigarette smoke on thyroid cancer is also widely observed.

Psychological and legal aspects of quitting smoking in thyroid patients

Finally, our study describes observations related to psychological and legal aspects of smoking quitting in Poland. It has been noticed that quitting of smoking needs individual therapeutic approach. The intensity and period of addict has to be consider the same as coexistence of somatic illness. The role of neurotic personality in connection with psychosomatic diseases and wide adaptation of procedure to patient's condition has been also underlined.

[Occurrence of psychoactive substance in driver's blood samples in the materials of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Forensic Medicine]

Recently it has been observed increasing number of drugged drivers in Wielkopolska region. In the period from 2006 to 2009 a total number of 2473 blood samples collected from drivers (2141 from alive suspects and 332 from deceased) and examined for psychoactive agents in the Department of Forensic Medicine Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Positive results were obtained in 68.8% and 22.3% of blood samples taken from living men and women respectively. In the group of deceased 7.3% (male) and 8.4% (female) were found positive. The most frequently detected substance were cannabinoids - 57.8%, then amphetamines and its analogues 18.8%, benzodiazepines 5.8%, opiates 3.4% and cocaine benzoiloecgonine 0.9%. In 13.0% concomitant use of amphetamine and cannabinoids were reported.