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In the present manuscript, an automated three‐phase hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐diode array detection is applied for the extraction and determination of three pyrethroids, deltamethrin, fenpropathrin, and permethrin in water and fruit samples. N‐dodecane was selected as a supported liquid membrane (SLM) and its polarity was adjusted by trioctylphosphine oxide one‐variable‐at‐a‐time method was used in order to achieve optimal hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction parameters such as type of organic acceptor phase, the composition of SLM, ionic strength of sample solution, extraction time, length of hollow fibers and stirring speed. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves for the three pyrethroids were plotted, and figures of merit of the proposed method were calculated. The linear dynamic ranges were in the range of 0.9–200, 0.75–200, and 1.5–200 μg/L for deltamethrin, fenpropathrin, and permethrin, with the coefficient of determination better than 0.998. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.3, 0.25, and 0.5 and the limits of quantification were in the range of 0.9, 0.75, and 1.5 μg/L for deltamethrin, fenpropathrin, and permethrin, respectively. The precision of the method was evaluated in terms of relative standard deviation at two different concentration levels 10 and 50 μg/L. The results of real sample analysis in cucumber exhibited high sensitivity, excellent sample clean‐up, favorable repeatability, and suitable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylamide (ACR), a vinyl monomer that has multiple chemical and industrial applications, is a neurotoxic agent in human and animal. Fasudil is a potent Rho-kinase inhibitor which exhibits neuroprotective effects in some neuronal degenerative disorders. In this study, the potential protective effect of Fasudil on ACR-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells was evaluated. Our results showed that ACR increased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequently upregulated the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and significantly elevated the level of caspase-3 and 9 proteins in PC12 cells. Interestingly, pretreatment with Fasudil protected PC12 cells against ACR-induced toxicity mainly through the reduction of ROS production and modulation of proteins which involved in apoptosis pathway. Fasudil down-regulated the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the levels of caspase-3 and 9 proteins in cells exposed to ACR. In conclusion, the neuroprotective effect of Fasudil against ACR-induced toxicity in PC12 cells appears to be mediated through inhibition of ROS production and modulation of apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People are exposed to a number of environmental, occupational, and therapeutic toxic agents which may be natural or man made. These hazardous substances may manifest as direct side effects on the function of organs or indirectly induced alteration of gene expression, cancer‐associated metabolic pathways, and/or alter homeostasis. Lycopene, as a one of the most potent antioxidant, is found in fruits and vegetables. High‐intake of lycopene has been shown to be effective in decreasing the risk of both natural toxins including mycotoxins, bacterial toxins, and chemical toxins including heavy metals, pesticides as well as herbicides. Recently, there is growing attention in understanding the mechanisms of the phytochemicals and carotenoids as antioxidative, antiapoptotic, radical scavenging, and chelating agents and their roles in the modulation of inflammatory pathways. This review summarizes available data from several recent studies about lycopene and its role against chemical and natural toxicants. © 2018 BioFactors, 45(1):5–23, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to recognize the predictors of long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in the elderly candidates for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at our center. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the data of the elderly (age >65 years) candidates for elective PCI who met our study criteria, at Tehran heart center between 2004 and 2013. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, angiographic, procedural and follow-up data of the enrolled patients were retrieved from the angiography/PCI databank of our center. The study characteristics of the patients with or without MACE were compared in a univariable Cox-regression analysis. A multivariable Coxregression model was applied using variables selected from the univariable model to determine the predictors of MACE. Results: We reviewed the data of 2772 patients (mean age = 70.8±4.7 years, male sex=1726 patients [62.3%]) from which 393 patients (14.4%) developed MACE. In the multivariable regression model, female sex was a protective factor for MACE (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.701; P = 0.001), while presence of diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.333; P=0.007), family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (HR = 1.489; P = 0.003) and plain balloon angioplasty (HR = 1.810; P = 0.010) were independent risk factors for MACE. Conclusion: PCI is a safe and effective method of revascularization in the elderly patients, and some clinical and procedural factors can predict MACE in this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tramadol hydrochloride is a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic drug and is used to treat chronic pain. In this study, the effects of Bile Duct Ligation (BDL) on the pharmacokinetics of tramadol in a liver recirculating perfusion system of male rats were used. Twenty-four Wistar male rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham and two weeks BDL and four weeks BDL. Serum levels of liver enzymes were measured before perfusion and the pharmacokinetics of tramadol was evaluated by using liver recirculating perfusion system. Tramadol and metabolites concentrations were determined by HPLC-FL. The sharp increase in liver enzymes level in both BDL groups was observed and significant changes were also observed in liver weight and volume. Tramadol metabolites concentration significantly decreased compared with the control and sham group (P < 0.05). The decrease in the hepatic metabolism of tramadol and increase in the half-life of the elimination of tramadol in rats with BDL suggests that personalized treatment and the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data examination are necessary for patients with bile duct diseases and the dose of tramadol should be accordingly adjusted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluation of risk factors associated with coronary artery disease and cardiac health in hemophilia patients is necessary to prevent the onset of ischemic heart disease. In this study, we evaluated the cardiovascular status of hemophilic patients in Lorestan province for the early onset of ischemic heart disease., Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, a total of 80 patients presenting severe hemophilia, a detailed questionnaire-based investigation was conducted to analyze the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in severe hemophilic patients. In patients with hemophilia, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, diabetes, LDL, cholesterol and HDL, the risk of cardiovascular death was estimated using a predictive risk predictor algorithm of Europe SCORE., Results: The mean age of the patients was 25 years, where all the patients were non-diabetic. Echocardiography did not show any wall motion abnormality and changes in the T wave and dysrhythmia were also not seen by ECG. 7 patients had high blood pressure, 11 had abnormal HDL, and 1 had abnormal LDL. In this study, serum LDL and HDL levels were not significantly correlated with age and BMI. Conversely, age and BMI were significantly associated with hypertension. Hypertension was observed in people over the age of 25 years and in overweighed individuals. 78.8% had normal BMI and 21.3% were overweighed. There was no significant correlation between serum LDL, serum HDL, and blood pressure and sex. The levels of abnormal LDL and HDL were higher in men than in women., Conclusion: ECG findings from our study did not report any significant cardiac abnormalities among hemophilic patients. Cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly correlated in these patients., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)