• Energy Research
• medical and health sciences close
• IT close
• ES close
• NL close
• English close

Acute oral administration of ethanol (3.2g/kg) to rats increased (DOPAC) levels in the caudate nucleus, but had no effect on DOPAC levels in the substantia nigra and frontal cortex and failed to modify dopamine content in any of the above areas. On the other hand, the administration of the same dose of ethanol to rats which had been chronically treated with ethanol (3.2g/kg daily for 60 days), produced a decrease of DA content and a parallel increase of DOPAC levels in all areas studied. In chronically treated rats, 24 hrs after last ethanol administration dopamine levels in the frontal cortex were 60% higher than in controls. The results suggest that ethanol administration causes dopamine release in different brain areas.

Alcohol has potential deleterious effects on donor heart function. This study was conducted in rats to determine whether long-term alcohol ingestion produces impaired hemodynamic performance while maintaining a normal left ventricular ejection fraction in donor hearts before transplantation and whether donor cardiac function is affected after heart transplantation.Rats fed 30% alcohol in their drinking water for 12 weeks were compared with rats fed a normal diet. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured by echocardiography with Simpson and single plane Dodge formulas in living sedated rats after 10 and 12 weeks of alcohol feeding. Explanted heart function was assessed before and 3 days after heterotopic heart transplantation (no immunosuppression) with a Langendorff preparation.Blood ethanol levels at 4 and 8 weeks were 0.08 +/- 0.04 and 0.08 +/- 0.09 gm/dl. Left ventricular ejection fraction was similar in the group fed an alcohol diet for 12 weeks when compared with the control group (65.4% +/- 1.6% vs. 66.5% +/- 2.9%, p = 0.33). Explanted alcohol-fed hearts before transplantation had significantly lower maximum and developed pressures and had a blunted response to 0.1 ml 10(-9) mol/L isoproterenol. After transplantation alcohol-fed hearts had significantly lower maximum and developed pressures and decreased maximum rates of pressure rise and pressure decline. Allografts (ACI to Lewis) exhibited decreased function in comparison with isografts (ACI to ACI).Alcohol feeding for 12 weeks in rats does not affect pretransplantation left ventricular ejection fraction, but it impairs explanted heart function, both before and after transplantation, resulting in a subclinical cardiomyopathy that is worsened by the presence of allograft rejection. Long-term alcohol exposure and rejection have independent, additive detrimental effects on left ventricular performance of the transplanted heart. Alcohol-exposed hearts may not be suitable donors.

Gastirn blood levels after the ingestion of a meat meal, either alone or associated with ethanol (1.0 gm./kg.), are higher and better sustained in dogs treated chronically with alcohol than in control animals. This greater gastrin-releasing capacity of the dog gastric antrum would be responsible for the increased parietal cell mass and gastric acid secretion shown by animals subjected to chronic alcohol intoxication.

This study investigates the possible influence of global climate change (GCC) on exposure to plant protection products (PPP) in the workplace.The paper has evaluated the main potential relationships between GCC and occupational exposure to pesticides, by highlighting how global warming might affect their future use and by reviewing its possible consequence on workers' exposure.Global warming, influencing the spatial and temporal distribution and proliferation of weeds, the impact of already present insect pests and pathogens and the introduction of new infesting species, could cause a changed use of pesticides in terms of higher amounts, doses and types of products applied, so influencing the human exposure to them during agricultural activities. GCC, in particular heat waves, may also potentially have impact on workers' susceptibility to pesticides absorption.Prevention policies of health in the workplace must be ready to address new risks from occupational exposure to pesticide, presumably different from current risks, since an increased use may be expected.

This study was designed to compare the protective effect of recombinant human TGF alpha or EGF against drug-induced damage to the rat gastric mucosa. Parenteral administration of TGF alpha and EGF prevented 100% ethanol-induced mucosal injury to a similar extent. Furthermore, both peptides, in non-antisecretory doses, significantly decreased the gastric mucosal damage brought about by acidified aspirin. TGF alpha and EGF did not afford significant protection of the gastric mucosa when administered orogastrically. We also evaluated the effect of TGF alpha and EGF on insoluble (adherent) gastric mucin and found that both compounds dose-dependently stimulated adherent mucin in a time frame consistent with their protective effect. In conclusion, TGF alpha and EGF are equally effective in preventing drug-induced injury to the rat gastric mucosa.

The influence of the hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties of bile salts (BS) on acute ethanol hepatotoxicity was investigated. Bile flow, biliary BS secretion and enzyme (LDH,AST) release in the perfusate were measured before and after exposure to low (0.1%) or high (1%) doses of ethanol in in vitro isolated livers perfused with 1 microM/min taurocholate (TCA), tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDCA) or taurodeoxycholate (TDCA). Ethanol promotes a rapid decrease of basal bile flow and BS secretion in TCA-perfused livers [-28% of basal values with 0.1% (N = 6), and -35% with 1% ethanol (N = 6)]. Bile flow and BS secretion were minimally decreased by ethanol in livers perfused with a hydrophilic BS (TUDCA) [-8% decrease of basal values with 0.1% ethanol (N = 6), and -10% with 1% ethanol (N = 9); p < 0.02 vs TCA-perfused livers]. In contrast, when livers were perfused with a hydrophobic BS (TDCA), ethanol showed a higher cholestatic effect than either TCA- or TUDCA-perfused livers. Enzyme release in the perfusate was not modified by 0.1% ethanol, while 1% ethanol promoted a 4-5 fold increase in LDH and AST release in the perfusate of TCA-perfused livers with respect to a mere 2-fold increase in TUDCA-perfused livers and a 6-7 fold increase in TDCA perfused livers (p < 0.03). In conclusion, we showed that TUDCA almost completely counteracts the cholestatic and cytolitic effects promoted by ethanol in the isolated perfused rat liver.

This paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the water-, sanitation- and hygiene (WASH)-related insecurities that people experiencing homelessness in urban areas of high-income countries (HIC) are facing, and how these insecurities are further complicated during extreme weather events. While limited recent research has looked into WASH among people experiencing homelessness in HICs, and while some work has considering the implications of climate change on WASH and health, the nexus of WASH, extreme weather events and homelessness in HICs have not been studied thus far. We conducted the first systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed literature on this nexus, which is understudied and marked by complexity, involving a range of systems and forms of impact. A total of 50 publications were included in our analysis.We found that public facilities like drinking water fountains, toilets, handwashing facilities, and showers are scarce, frequently unavailable, often pose safety and cleanliness issues, and access to non-public facilities may be cost-prohibitive for homeless populations. Consequently, people experiencing homelessness, including those sleeping rough, in encampments, or shelters, are often forced to limit drinking water consumption, forego healthy hygiene behaviours, and resort to open urination and defecation, all of which carry health risks. Extreme weather events, like heatwaves, extreme cold, heavy rain and flooding exacerbate challenges for people experiencing homelessness, further complicating their access to WASH, and reducing the ability of service providers to deliver extra relief, creating a dual WASH and health burden.Our review highlights that the Human Right to Water and Sanitation is not met for people experiencing homelessness in urban areas of high-income countries, with women emerging as one of the most vulnerable subgroups. It reveals that the impact of certain WASH issues (e.g. drinking water) on homeless populations are better understood than others (e.g. waste), and, similarly, the effects of certain extreme weather events (e.g. heatwaves) on the health and WASH conditions of people experiencing homelessness are better understood than others (e.g. flooding). Data gaps and the lack of information on limited WASH access and health circumstances of people experiencing homelessness, further minimize their representation and consequently impose obstacles to improve their situation.Based on our analysis, we established a framework which operationalizes the nexus of WASH, extreme weather events and homelessness. This framework improves our understanding of the underlying complexities at the intersection of these three issues and provides a foundation for enhanced preparedness and health-oriented planning.

The applicability and reliability of the clinical usefulness of monitoring salivary theophylline concentrations as a predictive measure of serum concentrations was evaluated in a total of 59 children with asthma, divided in four groups. Three pharmacological preparations of oral theophylline (aqueous, alcoholic and slow release) were evaluated after single administration (groups 1-3); slow release theophylline was also tested in a steady state of metabolism in children under chronic therapy with the drug (group 4). Although a good correlation between theophylline concentrations in serum and saliva was observed in each group, the wide range of variability in serum levels predicted from salivary levels (20-60%) appears to limit the usefulness of this approach. The salivary measurements of theophylline may be useful as a general guide in management of patients, or in assessment of compliance.

In membranes of smooth muscle cells cultured from rabbit mesenteric artery, ethanol dose-dependently activates adenylate cyclase, both basal and PGE1- or GPP(NH)P-sensitive. The alcohol increases the maximal stimulation induced by PGE1 and GPP(NH)P, without greatly affecting their potency. The arrhenius plot displays a discontinuity point, which is only slightly lowered by ethanol. On the contrary, in membranes from human platelets ethanol inhibits basal, GPP(NH)P- and PGE1-sensitive adenylate cyclase, without modification of the prostaglandin or guanine nucleotide potency. The break point present in the Arrhenius plots is definitely lowered by the alcohol. In addition, ethanol decreases the thermostability of the enzyme. Neither in myocytes nor in platelets does ethanol affect the activation energy of the reaction. The data suggest that ethanol probably interacts directly with the membrane proteins, and that its effect is not mediated only through a perturbation of membrane lipid fluidity.