In-vitro Relationship between Protein-binding and Free Drug Concentrations of a Water-soluble Selective Beta-adrenoreceptor Antagonist (Atenolol) and Its Interaction with Arsenic

The degree of binding of a drug to plasma proteins has a marked effect on its distribution, elimination, and pharmacological effect since only the unbound fraction is available for distribution into extra-vascular space. The protein-binding of atenolol was measured by equilibrium dialysis in the bovine serum albumin (BSA). Free atenolol concentration was increased due to addition of arsenic which reduced the binding of the compounds to BSA. During concurrent administration, arsenic displaced atenolol from its high-affinity binding Site I, and free concentration of atenolol increased from 4.286±0.629% and 5.953±0.605% to 82.153±1.924% and 85.486±1.158% in absence and presence of Site I probe respectively. Thus, it can be suggested that arsenic displaced atenolol from its binding site resulting in an increase of the free atenolol concentration in plasma

Arsenic in Eggs and Excreta of Laying Hens in Bangladesh: A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to detect arsenic concentrations in feed, well-water for drinking, eggs, and excreta of laying hens in arsenic-prone areas of Bangladesh and to assess the effect of arsenic-containing feed and well-water on the accumulation of arsenic in eggs and excreta of the same subject. One egg from each laying hen (n=248) and its excreta, feed, and well-water for drinking were collected. Total arsenic concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, coupled with hydride generator. Effects of arsenic-containing feed and drinking-water on the accumulation of arsenic in eggs and excreta were analyzed by multivariate regression model, using Stata software. Mean arsenic concentrations in drinkingwater, feed (dry weight [DW]), egg (wet weight [WW]), and excreta (DW) of hens were 77.3, 176.6, 19.2, and 1,439.9 ppb respectively. Significant (p<0.01) positive correlations were found between the arsenic contents in eggs and drinking-water (r=0.602), drinking-water and excreta (r=0.716), feed and excreta (r=0.402) as well as between the arsenic content in eggs and the age of the layer (r=0.243). On an average, 55% and 82% of the total variation in arsenic contents of eggs and excreta respectively could be attributed to the variation in the geographic area, age, feed type, and arsenic contents of drinking-water and feed. For each week\u2019s increase in age of hens, arsenic content in eggs increased by 0.94%. For every 1% elevation of arsenic in drinking-water, arsenic in eggs and excreta increased by 0.41% and 0.44% respectively whereas for a 1% rise of arsenic in feed, arsenic in eggs and excreta increased by 0.40% and 0.52% respectively. These results provide evidence that, although high arsenic level prevails in well-water for drinking in Bangladesh, the arsenic shows low biological transmission capability from body to eggs and, thus, the value was below the maximum tolerable limit for humans. However, arsenic in drinking-water and/or feed makes a significant contribution to the arsenic accumulations in eggs and excreta of laying hens

Depth Of Maximum Of Air-shower Profiles At The Pierre Auger Observatory. I. Measurements At Energies Above 1017.8ev

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Search for patterns by combining cosmic-ray energy and arrival directions at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Energy-dependent patterns in the arrival directions of cosmic rays are searched for using data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. We investigate local regions around the highest-energy cosmic rays with E > = 6×1019 eV by analyzing cosmic rays with energies above E > = 5×1018 eV arriving within an angular separation of approximately 15°. We characterize the energy distributions inside these regions by two independent methods, one searching for angular dependence of energy-energy correlations and one searching for collimation of energy along the local system of principal axes of the energy distribution. No significant patterns are found with this analysis. The comparison of these measurements with astrophysical scenarios can therefore be used to obtain constraints on related model parameters such as strength of cosmic-ray deflection and density of point sources

Environmental health hazard of arsenic on epididymis and ductus deferens in male Black Bengal Goats

Histomorphological changes of epididymis and ductus deferens in male Black Bengal goat due to arsenic were studied. A total of 12 male Black Bengal goats, in which 6 were collected from arsenic affected areas of Mymensingh district and another 6 were collected from hill tracts of Chittagong which were arsenic free.The goats were sacrificed by piercing carotid artery and the samples (Epididymis and Ductus deferens) were collected immediately. Samples were prepared and stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain technique to study the histology under light microscope. In the morphological study, measurement of length, width, breadth and weight of epididymis and ductus deferens were observed. The gross study revealed that there were slight variations in the gross morphology of epididymis and ductus deferens of arsenic affected Black Bengal goat, but this variation was statistically insignificant. In the histological study, arsenic affected goat showing increased thickness of epididymal covering (P<0.05) and trabeculae compared to control group of epididymis. The diameter of ductule efferentes of arsenic affected goat was narrower (P<0.01), width between intertubular space of ductuli efferentes was wider (P<0.01), lumen of ductules contain smaller in amount of spermatozoa compared to control group. The wall of the ductus deferens was thicker in arsenic affected goats than the control group (P<0.01). It may be concluded that environmental health hazard of arsenic might have adverse effects on the male reproductive organs

On-farm study on intercropping of hybrid maize with short duration vegetables

The experiment was conducted at Multi Location Testing (MLT) site, Netrakona during rabi season of 2009-10 and 2010-11 to study the feasibility of intercropping of hybrid maize with different short duration vegetables and economic returns. Three intercrop combinations of hybrid maize along with sole maize were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design replicated six times. There were four treatments viz., T1- Sole crop of maize, T2 - Three rows of red amaranth (25 cm apart) in between two (75 cm apart) rows of Maize, T3 - Three rows of bush bean (25 cm apart) in between two (75 cm apart) rows of Maize and T4 -Three rows of garden pea (25 cm apart) in between two (75 cm apart) rows of Maize. Yield contributing characters and yield of maize did not varied significantly due to intercropping with vegetables. The grain yield of maize in intercropped combination varied from 7.30-7.43 t/ha. But the highest grain yield (7.68 t/ha) was in sole maize. Maize equivalent yields in the intercrops ranged from 10.67-14.96 t/ha. The highest maize equivalent yield (14.96 t/ha), gross return (Tk. 224400/ha), gross margin (Tk.166830/ha) and benefit cost ratio (3.90) were obtained in maize + garden pea combination. The lowest maize equivalent yield (7.68 t/ha), gross return (Tk. 115200/ha), gross margin (Tk. 64128/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.26) were obtained from sole crop of maize

CNS Depressant Effect of the Crude Ethanolic Extract of the Flowering Tops of Rosa Damascena

The ethanolic extract of the flowering tops of Rosa Damascena   (Rosaceae) was assessed for effect on the central nervous system (CNS) using a number of neuropharmacological experimental models in mice. The extract produced a dose-dependent reduction of the onset and duration of pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis, reduction of locomotor and exploratory activities in the open field, hole cross tests. At the same dose levels, the extract dose-dependently inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. These results suggest that the extract possess CNS depressant activity