Concentrations of Diazepam and Nordiazepam in 1000 Blood Samples From Apprehended Drivers—Therapeutic Use or Abuse of Anxiolytics?

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan W. Jones ◽  
Anita Holmgren

Using an in-house forensic toxicology database, we selected 1000 cases of driving under the influence of drugs (DUIDs) over a 12-month period if diazepam (D) and nordiazepam (ND) were both present in the blood samples. Quantitative analysis of D and ND in blood was done by solvent extraction (butyl acetate) and capillary column gas chromatography (GC) with a nitrogen–phosphorous (N-P) detector. The limits of quantitation of this analytical method for D and ND in blood were 0.05 mg/L. The correlation between D and ND concentrations in blood was statistically significant ( r = .58, P < .001), as expected for a parent drug and its primary metabolite. However, the frequency distributions were markedly skewed to the right with mean (median) and highest concentrations of 0.37 (0.20) and 6.1 mg/L for D and 0.39 (0.20) and 5.6 mg/L for ND. The mean (median) total concentration (D + ND) was 0.76 mg/L (0.50 mg/L), and the concentration ratios D/ND and ND/D were 1.29 (median 0.95) and 1.41 (median 1.06), respectively. In 90 cases (9%), the concentration of D in blood exceeded 0.83 mg/L, which corresponds to an upper therapeutic limit in plasma (∼1.5 mg/L), assuming a plasma/blood distribution ratio of 1.8:1.

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Tsuru ◽  
Kenji Kawakita

We examined how acupuncture affected the blood flow of muscle, kidney, stomach, small intestine, brain, lung, heart, spleen and liver. Wistar rats anesthetized with urethane (n= 27) were allocated into the control (n= 10), ST-7 (Hsia-Kuan,n= 10) and LI-4 (Hoku,n= 7) groups. To measure organ blood flow, colored microspheres (CMS) were injected through a catheter positioned in the left ventricle and blood samples were drawn from the femoral artery. Yellow CMS (3.6–4.2 × 105) and blue CMS (6.0–6.9 × 105) were injected at intervals of about 30 min. An acupuncture needle (φ 340 μm) was inserted into the left ST-7 point (left masseter muscle) or the right LI-4 point after the first sampling and left for about 30 min (10 twists at 1 Hz, 2-min intervals). The mean blood flow of nine organs varied widely from 4.03 to 0.20 (ml/min/g). Acupuncture to the ST-7 produced significant changes of the blood flow (percentage change from baseline) in the muscle, kidney, brain and heart (P< 0.05, versus control), but those of LI-4 were not significant. The blood flow of the left masseter muscle after acupuncture to ST-7 (left masseter muscle) tended to increase (P= 0.08). Changes in blood pressure during the experimental periods were almost similar among these three groups. Acupuncture stimulation increases the blood flow of several organs by modulating the central circulatory systems, and the effects differed with sites of stimulation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanjida Shilpi ◽  
Humayun Sattar ◽  
Md. Ruhul Amin Miah

The present study was conducted over a period of one year to find the right time for measles vaccination when maternal antibody titer in infants was decayed rendering them susceptible to wild virus infection. Blood samples were collected from the cord of new born (147), 2-5 months (47) and 5 to 7.5 months (24) of age. The mean measles IgG antibody titer detected in cord blood at birth (0 months) was 348.8 mIU/mL which steeply decreased to 155.6 mIU/mL by the age of 2-3 months. After that the fall in antibody becomes relatively slower and decreased to 101.6 mIU/mL by the age of 3-5 months and 38.8 mIU/mL by the age of 5-6 months and to 19.2 mIU/mL between the age of 6 to 7.5 months. The fall in antibody level with the advance of age was statistically significant (p<0.001). Majority of the subjects (97.6%) exhibited protective level of antibody at birth. But only a little above one-quarter (25.5%) of them persisted the protective level between the age of 2-5 months and none had protective level from 5 months onwards.Keywords: Infant; Measle; VaccinationOnline: 8 Feb 2010DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v35i3.4204Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2009; 35: 101-104


1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 708-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry D. Smith ◽  
Gordon A. McFarlane ◽  
Mark W. Saunders

Average summer distribution of abundance and biomass for the migratory population of Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) is described by age, length, and latitude, based on a model proposing that (1) changes in mean length-at-age with latitude and (2) the nonnormal (skewed to the right) appearance of length-at-age distributions near southwest Vancouver Island could be caused by length-dependent migration velocities and changing migration velocity with latitude. Our model uses mean length-at-age data collected annually near four latitudes from California to Vancouver Island, length frequency data collected annually near southern Vancouver Island from 1978 until 1988, and hydroacoustic data collected triennialiy from 1977 until 1986. We conclude that (1) hake slow their northward migration from the spawning grounds off southern California as they approach the productive feeding grounds off southwestern Vancouver Island, (2) older (larger) hake migrate further north than younger (smaller) hake, and (3) older hake are more abundant in Canadian waters than younger hake. Although all three conclusions have previously been partly substantiated, we show that seemingly undramatic patterns in the mean, variance, and distribution of lengths-at-age can be remarkably revealing about the distribution of a migrating fish population.


2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (04) ◽  
pp. 107-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Roßmüller ◽  
S. Alalp ◽  
S. Fischer ◽  
S. Dresel ◽  
K. Hahn ◽  
...  

SummaryFor assessment of differential renal function (PF) by means of static renal scintigraphy with Tc-99m-dimer-captosuccinic acid (DMSA) the calculation of the geometric mean of counts from the anterior and posterior view is recommended. Aim of this retrospective study was to find out, if the anterior view is necessary to receive an accurate differential renal function by calculating the geometric mean compared to calculating PF using the counts of the posterior view only. Methods: 164 DMSA-scans of 151 children (86 f, 65 m) aged 16 d to 16 a (4.7 ± 3.9 a) were reviewed. The scans were performed using a dual head gamma camera (Picker Prism 2000 XP, low energy ultra high resolution collimator, matrix 256 x 256,300 kcts/view, Zoom: 1.6-2.0). Background corrected values from both kidneys anterior and posterior were obtained. Using region of interest technique PF was calculated using the counts of the dorsal view and compared with the calculated geometric mean [SQR(Ctsdors x Ctsventr]. Results: The differential function of the right kidney was significantly less when compared to the calculation of the geometric mean (p<0.01). The mean difference between the PFgeom and the PFdors was 1.5 ± 1.4%. A difference > 5% (5.0-9.5%) was obtained in only 6/164 scans (3.7%). Three of 6 patients presented with an underestimated PFdors due to dystopic kidneys on the left side in 2 patients and on the right side in one patient. The other 3 patients with a difference >5% did not show any renal abnormality. Conclusion: The calculation of the PF from the posterior view only will give an underestimated value of the right kidney compared to the calculation of the geometric mean. This effect is not relevant for the calculation of the differntial renal function in orthotopic kidneys, so that in these cases the anterior view is not necesssary. However, geometric mean calculation to obtain reliable values for differential renal function should be applied in cases with an obvious anatomical abnormality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1218
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Khalil BaniHabib ◽  
Ali Mostafai ◽  
Seyyed Mohammad Bagher Fazljou ◽  
Ghadir Mohammdi

Background: Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of hab shabyar in patients with open-angle glaucoma. Materials and Methods: In this clinical randomized controlled trial, 50 patients with OAG were randomized into two groups. The intervention group was received a drop of timolol plus 500 mg of hab shabyar every 12 hours. The placebo group was received a drop of timolol every 12 hours plus 500 mg of wheat germ as a placebo. The intraocular pressure in patients with OAG was measured in each group and compared at before the intervention (t1), one month (t2), and two months (t3) after the intervention. Results: The mean decrease in intraocular pressure for the right eye at three times in the intervention group was statistically significant, but the mean decrease in the placebo group was not significant. Similar results were obtained for the left eye at t1 when compared to t3. The patients in the intervention group expressed more satisfaction than the patients in the placebo group (P≤0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that consumption of timolol plus hab shabyar instead of consuming of timolol alone was probably more effective for reducing intraocular pressure in patients with OAG.[GMJ.2019;In press:e1218]


Author(s):  
K. Rokde ◽  
S. Kumar ◽  
A. Bhardwaz ◽  
S. S. Mahour ◽  
S. P. Nema ◽  
...  

This study was carried out on clinical cases of retained fetal membranes in crossbred cows presented at College Clinics and College dairy farm and from Villages in and around Mhow. The blood samples were collected from jugular vein just before 12 hr. postpartum and on 7th day postpartum. Haematological profile revealed that the mean values of haemoglobin, neutrophil and monocyte count after 12 hrs and 7th day postpartum were significantly lower and lymphocyte count was significantly higher in RFM cows (n=18) than normally calved cows (n=6). The differences in mean TLC, eosinophil and basophil counts were non-significant at 12 hrs postpartum, however on 7th day postpartum the TLC and eosinophil count were significantly higher and basophil count was non-significantly different in RFM cows than the normally calved cows.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (3) ◽  
pp. C528-C536 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Uhal ◽  
S. R. Rannels ◽  
D. E. Rannels

Type II pneumocytes were isolated by either Percoll density gradient centrifugation or by immunoglobulin G (IgG) panning from the lungs of normal rats and the right lung of rats subjected to left pneumonectomy. Cells were studied at 7- (pnx-7) and 15- (pnx-15) days postoperative, times during and after, respectively, rapid compensatory growth of the right lung. Acridine orange staining permitted resolution of type II cells from contaminants on the basis of high red fluorescence (greater than 590 nm). Simultaneous measurement of forward-angle light scatter (FALS) suggested a shift of pnx-7 cells toward greater size, which was reversed in pnx-15 cells. By Percoll gradient isolation, approximately 15% of pnx-7 cells analyzed were above the mean FALS of control cells. In contrast, approximately 30% of the pnx-7 cells isolated by IgG panning were above the mean FALS of corresponding control cells. Biochemical analyses of pnx-7 cells separated by cell sorting into "high FALS" and "low FALS" subgroups revealed that high FALS type II cells contained 50% more protein (P less than 0.05) and 140% more RNA (P less than 0.01) than low FALS cells, with no significant change in cellular DNA content. These data are consistent with previous studies of type II cells isolated from the lungs of pneumonectomized animals and confirm the presence of hypertrophic cells in these preparations. They provide a foundation from which to design further flow cytometric studies of the role of hypertrophic type II pneumocytes in compensatory lung growth.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Velarie Ansu ◽  
Stephanie Dickinson ◽  
Alyce Fly

Abstract Objectives To determine which digit and hand have the highest and lowest skin carotenoid scores, to compare inter-and-intra-hand variability of digits, and to determine if results are consistent with another subject. Methods Two subjects’ first(F1), second(F2), third(F3) and fifth(F5) digits on both hands were measured for skin carotenoids with a Veggie Meter, for 3 times on each of 18 days over a 37-day period. Data were subjected to ANOVA in a factorial treatment design to determine main effects for hand (2 levels), digits (4), and days (18) along with interactions. Differences between digits were determined by Tukey's post hoc test. Results There were significant hand x digit, hand x day, digit x day, and hand x digit x day interactions and significant simple main effects for hand, digit, and day (all P < 0.001). Mean square errors were 143.67 and 195.62 for subject A and B, respectively, which were smaller than mean squares for all main effects and interactions. The mean scores ± SD for F1, F2, F3, and F5 digits for the right vs left hands for subject A were F1:357.13 ± 45.97 vs 363.74 ± 46.94, F2:403.17 ± 44.77 vs. 353.20 ± 44.13, F3:406.76 ± 43.10 vs. 357.11 ± 45.13, and F5:374.95 ± 53.00 vs. 377.90 ± 47.38. For subject B, the mean scores ± SD for digits for the right vs left hands were F1:294.72 ± 61.63 vs 280.71 ± 52.48, F2:285.85 ± 66.92 vs 252.67 ± 67.56, F3:268.56 ± 57.03 vs 283.22 ± 45.87, and F5:288.18 ± 34.46 vs 307.54 ± 40.04. The digits on the right hand of both subjects had higher carotenoid scores than those on the left hands, even though subjects had different dominant hands. Subject A had higher skin carotenoid scores on the F3 and F2 digits for the right hand and F5 on the left hand. Subject B had higher skin carotenoid scores on F5 (right) and F1 (left) digits. Conclusions The variability due to hand, digit, and day were all greater than that of the 3 replicates within the digit-day for both volunteers. This indicates that data were not completely random across the readings when remeasuring the same finger. Different fingers displayed higher carotenoid scores for each volunteer. There is a need to conduct a larger study with more subjects and a range of skin tones to determine whether the reliability of measurements among digits of both hands is similar across the population. Funding Sources Indiana University.


Author(s):  
Dhaval Gohil ◽  
Nasser Mohammed ◽  
Anita Mahadevan ◽  
Nupur Pruthi

Abstract Objective To compare the histopathology of patent and nonpatent microvascular anastomosis using rat femoral artery end-to-end anastomosis model. Materials and Methods In 15 Sprague–Dawley rats, end-to-end anastomosis was performed on the right femoral artery. The classical method was used in four cases and one-way up method in 11 cases. The animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks and the anastomosis was subjected to histopathology. The pathological changes in patent and nonpatent cases were compared. Results The immediate patency rate and delayed patency (after 2 weeks) rate was 86.7% and 66.7%, respectively. The mean follow-up was 3 months. At sacrifice, 5/15 anastomosis were not patent. Marked subintimal thickening was noted in ⅘ (80%) of the nonpatent group, which was absent in the patent group. Severe loss or fibrosis of tunica media and marked adventitial inflammation were noted in all nonpatent cases (5/5, 100%). As much as ⅘ of the nonpatent cases had poor or indeterminate apposition; in contrast, good apposition was seen in 6/10 (60%) of the patent group. The mean clamp time and mean suturing time were significantly longer in the nonpatent group (69.2 minutes and 53.8 minutes, respectively) as compared with the patent group (48.8 minutes and 31.8 minutes, respectively). A single case that was initially nonpatent was found to have recanalized at 6 months. Conclusion Minimal intimal injury and reaction, minimal thinning of tunica media, mild-to-moderate adventitial changes, good apposition, and equidistant sutures were associated with a successful microvascular anastomosis. Short duration of vessel clamping time and suturing comes with experience and dedicated practice in a skills laboratory.


2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sana Sharifian ◽  
Vahid Malekzadeh ◽  
Ehsan Kamrani ◽  
Mohsen Safaie

Abstract Background Dotillid crabs are introduced as one common dwellers of sandy shores. We studied the ecology and growth of the sand bubbler crab Scopimera crabricauda Alcock, 1900, in the Persian Gulf, Iran. Crabs were sampled monthly by excavating nine quadrats at three intertidal levels during spring low tides from January 2016 to January 2017. Results Population data show unimodal size-frequency distributions in both sexes. The Von Bertalanffy function was calculated at CWt = 8.76 [1 − exp (− 0.56 (t + 0.39))], CWt = 7.90 [1 − exp (− 0.59 (t + 0.40))] and CWt = 9.35 [1 − exp (− 0.57 (t + 0.41))] for males, females, and both sexes, respectively. The life span appeared to be 5.35, 5.07, and 5.26 years for males, females, and both sexes, respectively. The cohorts were identified as two age continuous groups, with the mean model carapace width 5.39 and 7.11 mm for both sexes. The natural mortality (M) coefficients stood at 1.72 for males, 1.83 for females, and 1.76 years−1 for both sexes, respectively. The overall sex ratio (1:0.4) was significantly different from the expected 1:1 proportion with male-biased. Recruitment occurred with the highest number of annual pulse once a year during the summer. Conclusions The results, which show slow growth, emphasize the necessity of proper management for the survival of the stock of S. crabricauda on the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf.


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