Drug repositioning of antipsychotic drugs for cisplatin-induced pica behavior in mice

We aimed to clarify whether various antipsychotics ameliorate cisplatin-induced pica behavior in mice using a drug repositioning approach. Mice were administered cisplatin (12.5 mg/kg, i.p.) with or without olanzapine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), asenapine (4 mg/kg, i.p.), mirtazapine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or standard three-drug antiemetics (granisetron [0.5 mg/kg, i.p.], fosaprepitant [25 mg/kg, i.p.], and dexamethasone [3 mg/kg, i.p.]). Kaolin, food, and water intake, and spontaneous motor activity on the day before and seven consecutive days after the cisplatin administration were measured using a telemetry system. At the primary endpoint, kaolin intake was significantly higher at day three in the cisplatin group than in the pre-treatment and saline groups ( p < 0.05). Additionally, kaolin intake was not significantly higher in cisplatin with olanzapine, asenapine, and mirtazapine groups for seven days than in the pre-treatment group. At the secondary endpoint, cisplatin decreased the food and water intake, and spontaneous motor activity in a time-dependent manner. Three antipsychotics failed to improve the cisplatin-induced decrease in food and water intake, and spontaneous motor activity. The findings suggest that prophylactic administration of antipsychotics besides olanzapine may improve cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting in a delayed phase and de-escalate standard 3-drug antiemetics.

New Phosphorus Oxygen Hole Center in Γ-Irradiated SiO2:P2O5 Optical Fiber

The formation of paramagnetic centers upon γ-irradiation was examined for the silica based waveguides doped with P2O5 by using ESR and optical absorption. The centers inherent in SiO2 glasses such as Si-E′ and OHC were found to be replaced with P-related centers such as phosphorus oxygen hole centers and phosphorus electron center by introducing a small amount of P2O5. New type of POHC was detected especially in the glass with [P2O5] of 1.3 mol % at 77K, which was assumed to be a precursor of the POHC stable at room temperature. The correlation between γ-induced loss-increase and the formation of these defects was examined.

Effects Of Sintering Atmosphere On Defects In SiO2:GeO2 Vad Fiber

Effects of the sintering atmosphere for 90SiO2 :10GeO2 preform-rods produced by VAD process were examined. The sintering atmosphere was changed from reducing to oxidizing, and the type and relative concentration of defects were estimated by photoluminescence, UV absorption and ESR absorption. Reducing condition accelerated the formation of defects, because these centers were considered to be the intermediate products of the thermal decomposition reaction of GeO2 which gives rise to reduction of Ge(IV) to Ge(II).

A New p-Type Conductive Oxide with Wide Band GAP, SrCu2O2

SrCu2O2 thin films were prepared onto SiO2 glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The film deposited in O2 atmosphere of 7×10-4 Pa at 573 K showed high optical transmission in visible and near infrared regions. The optical band gap of the film was estimated to be -3.3 eV. The dc electrical conductivity of the film was 3.8 × 10-3 Scm-1. Potassium was used for substitutional hole-doping. The dc electrical conductivity of the K-doped film at 300 K increased to 4.8 × 10-2 Scm-1. Positive sign of Seebeck and Hall coefficients demonstrated p-type conduction of the K-doped film. Hole concentration and mobility at 300 K were 6.1 × 1017 cm-3 and 0.46 cm2V-1s-1, respectively.

Comparison of antiemetic efficacy between single and repeat treatment with dexamethasone in patients receiving carboplatin-based combination chemotherapy

A retrospective study was carried out to compare the preventive effects of single and repeat treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) on delayed nausea and emesis in patients who had received carboplatin (CBDCA)-based combination chemotherapy. Sixty-four patients were evaluated. Efficacy was assessed using the nausea and emesis score, food intake score and the requirement for antiemetic medication. These forward scores were categorized as three-grade during the first 5 days after chemotherapy. Acute nausea and emesis were well controlled in both groups on day 1. Mean values of the nausea and emesis score on day 3 evening and the food intake score on day 4 morning in the repeat-treatment group was 1.31 ± 0.93 and 3.46 ± 1.03, respectively, which were significantly better when compared with the single-treatment group (2.00 ± 1.52; P = 0.028 and 2.79 ± 1.12; P = 0.018, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that less frequent dispensing of antiemetic medication was significantly associated with the repeat-treatment group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.153; 95% confidence interval, 0.026-0.734; P = 0.018). These results suggest that repeat-dose DEX may be more effective than single-dose DEX for the prevention of delayed nausea and emesis after CBDCA-based combination chemotherapy.

Problems associated with prophylactic use of erythromycin in 1566 staff to prevent hospital infection during the outbreak of pertussis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Pertussis developed in Kagawa University Medical School and University Hospital in May 2007. To control the outbreak and prevent the infection of hospital inpatients, the Infection Control Team (ICT) carried out the prophylactic administration of erythromycin (EM) to hospital staff (1566 staff) who might be exposed to Bordetella pertussis.

METHODS

An oral dose of 1000 mg/day EM was given for 10 days. To assess compliance and estimate the frequency of adverse effect, the ICT conducted a questionnaire survey.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Of 942 respondents (response rate: 60.2%), 264 (28.0%) experienced some form of EM adverse effects, of which the most commonly reported involved digestive organ symptoms, e.g. diarrhoea (15.6%), stomachache (7.5%), nausea (3.6%), epigastric distress (2.1%) and abdominal distention (1.8%). More importantly, 246 participants (26.1%) stopped taking the EM before completing 10 days because of perceived adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that EM appears to cause adverse effects more frequently than reported in the package insert in Japan. The prophylactic use of EM for pertussis infection is recognized in the guideline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, this study suggests that attention should be paid to EM non-compliance during a pertussis outbreak, which could extend the duration of the outbreak and increase the number of affected patients.

Dose-response studies on the induction of liver cytochromes P4501A1 and 1B1 by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in arylhydrocarbon-responsive C57BL/6J mice

1. To determine the biological effects of 23 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, the dose-response studies of the induction of CYP1-dependent xenobiotic oxidation activities by these chemicals in liver microsomes of C57BL/6J mice were studied. 2. In arylhydrocarbon-responsive C57BL/6J mice, the liver microsomal xenobiotic oxidation with substrates of 7-ethoxyresorufin, 7-ethoxycoumarin, (+/-)-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol, dibenzo[a, pyrene-11,12-diol and 2-amino-3,5-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline increased by increasing the doses of PAHs to mice, particularly when the PAHs that have been reported to be carcinogenic in experimental animals were used. In arylhydrocarbon receptor-knockout mice, there were no increases in liver microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activities nor in liver mRNA levels of CYP1A1, 1A2 and 1B1 by these chemicals. 3. Of the chemicals examined, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[j]-fluoranthene, 3-methylcholanthrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, dibenz[a,c]anthracene and 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl were potent inducers of the induction of liver microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation in mice. 4. Other PAHs such as 5-methylchrysene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, dibenz[a,j]acridine, benzo[a]anthracene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene moderately induced 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activities in mice. PAHs reported to be weak or less carcinogenic in experimental animals did not induce the xenobiotic oxidation activities of CYP1A1 and 1B1 in the mice. 5. The results suggest that induction of liver microsomal CYP1-dependent xenobiotic oxidation activities is a good tool in determining the potencies of carcinogenic PAHs in arylhydrocarbon-responsive C57BL/6J mice.

Preparation of Bragg gratings in sputter-deposited GeO(2)-SiO(2) glasses by excimer-laser irradiation

GeO(2) - SiO(2) thin glass films were prepared by the rfsputtering deposition method. Changes in the refractive index of -3% and in the volume of +18% were induced in the film by irradiation with excimer-laser pulses. Bragg gratings a (periodic surface-relief pattern with a sinusoidal wave) have been written in the film by irradiation through a phase mask.

Ultraviolet-radiation-induced chemical reactions through one and two-photon absorption processes in GeO(2)-SiO(2) glasses

Photochemical reactions in 10 GeO(2)-90 SiO(2) glass induced by irradiation with excimer lasers (KrF, 5.0 eV, XeCl, 4.0 eV) and a Hg lamp (4.9 eV) were examined. The irradiation with excimer lasers generated two types of paramagnetic defect, an electron-trapped center associated with fourfold coordinated Ge ions and a self-trapped hole center on bridging oxygen. Taking the optical band gap (~7.1 eV) of the glass obtained in this work and the power density of laser pulses [10-90 mJ/(cm(2) pulse), pulse duration 20 ns] into account, we concluded that these centers were formed by band-to-band excitation by two-photon absorption process. On the other hand, the lamp illumination ( 16 mW/cm(2)) caused the formation of Ge E' centers from preexisting oxygen-vacancy-type defects by the one-photon absorption process. These two kinds of reaction proceed independently, depending on the power densities of UV beams, at least in our experimental condition.

Clinical application of visible light-cured fluoride-releasing sealant to non-etched enamel surface of partially erupted permanent molars

A visible light-cured fluoride-releasing sealant was applied to non-etched enamel surfaces of partially erupted permanent molars. A scanning electron microscope was used to find an effective procedure to clean pits and fissures of the occlusal surfaces prior to application of the sealant. This procedure proved clinically acceptable and effective for prevention of dental caries immediately after eruption of permanent molars.