The hydrosoluble fiber Plantago ovata husk improves levodopa (with carbidopa) bioavailability after repeated administration

P. 15-20The influence of treatment duration (7 or 14 days) with Plantago ovata husk/levodopa/carbidopa in the bioavailability and other pharmacokinetic parameters of levodopa were evaluated in rabbits. Fiber was administered at two different doses, 100 and 400 mg/kg, and the dosage of levodopa/carbidopa was 20:5 mg/kg. These doses were administered once a day. When 100 mg/kg of fiber was administered, the mean AUC value obtained for levodopa increased 20.2% from day 1 to day 7, and 27.2% from day 1 to day 14; Cmax was 8.6% higher on day 7 and 11.7% higher on day 14. When administering 400 mg/kg of fiber, the increase in AUC values was 17.6% on day 7 and 24.9% on day 14, and that of Cmax 11.1% on day 7 and 11.3% on day 14. The concentration determined immediately before drug administration (Cmin) increased progressively with the duration of treatment, and the highest increase (53.2%) was observed on day 14 with 100 mg/kg of fiber. There was also a delay in levodopa elimination (higher MRT and lower Cl) in a fiber-dose dependent manner. In summary, we found that there was an improvement in the extent of levodopa absorbed with higher final concentrations and that levodopa elimination was slower with the administration of P. ovata husk.S

Influence of two dietary fibers in the oral bioavailability and other pharmacokinetic parameters of ethinyloestradiol

P. 253-257Dietary fibers are widely used in hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, slimming diets. It is probable that their ingestion coincides with the oral administration of drugs and a modification of their pharmacokinetics can appear. In the present study, the influence of two soluble fibers (guar gum and psyllium) was evaluated on the pharmacokinetics of ethinyloestradiol (EE) when they were administered together to female rabbits via the oral route. Three groups of rabbits were used. All animals received 1 mg/kg of EE; this compound was administered alone in the control group and with 3.5 g of guar gum or psyllium in the other two groups. When guar gum was administered, there was a decrease in the extent of EE absorbed, but no change was observed in the rate of absorption. When psyllium was administered, the extent of EE absorbed increased slightly and the rate of absorption was slower.S

Effects of ispaghula husk and guar gum on postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in healthy subjects

P. 235-243The aim of this study was to evaluate, under the same experimental conditions and in the same subjects, the effects of ispaghula husk and guar gum on postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in healthy female subjects(ten healthy female volunteers aged 30 ± 48 y with normal body mass indices).S

Therapeutic effects of psyllium in type 2 diabetic patients

P. 830-842The study included three phases: phase 1 (1 week), phase 2 (treatment, 14 g fibre=day, 6 weeks) and phase 3 (4 weeks). At the end of each phase a clinical evaluation was performed after the ingestion of a test breakfast of 1824.2 kJ (436 kcal). Measurements included concentrations of blood glucose, insulin, fructosamine, GHbA1c, C-peptide and 24 h urinary glucose excretion. In addition, uric acid, cholesterol and several mineral and vitamin concentrations were also evaluated. Twenty type 2 diabetic patients (12 men and 8 women) participated in the study with a mean age of 67.4 y for men and 66 y for women. The mean body mass index of men was 28.2 kg=m2 and that of women 25.9 kg=m2. Glucose absorption decreased significantly in the presence of psyllium (12.2%); this reduction is not associated with an important change in insulin levels (5%). GHbA1c, C-peptide and 24 h urinary glucose excretion decreased (3.8, 14.9 and 22.5%, respectively) during the treatment with fibre (no significant differences) as well as fructosamine (10.9%, significant differences). Psyllium also reduced total and LDL cholesterol (7.7 and 9.2%, respectively, significant differences), and uric acid (10%, significant difference). Minerals and vitamins did not show important changes, except sodium that increased significantly after psyllium administration.S

Mixed-method tutoring support improves learning outcomes of veterinary students in basic subjects

P. 1-10Tutoring is a useful tool in the university teaching-learning binomial, although its development is impaired in large classes. Recent improvements in information and communication technologies have made tutoring possible via the Internet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mixed-method academic tutoring in two basic subjects in Veterinary Science studies at the University of León (Spain) to optimize the usefulness of tutoring support in the college environment. This quasi-experimental study was firstly carried out as a pilot study in a small group of tutored students of “Cytology and Histology” (CH) (47/186; 25.3%) and “Veterinary Pharmacology” (VP) (33/141; 23.4%) subjects, and was implemented in a large class of CH the next academic year (150 students) while comparing the results with those obtained in a previous tutorless course (162 students). Tutored students were given access to online questionnaires with electronic feedback on each subject. In addition to traditional tutoring carried out in both tutored and tutorless students, the pilot study included three sessions of face-to-face tutoring in order to monitor the progress of students. Its efficacy was assessed by monitoring students’ examination scores and attendance as well as a satisfaction survey. Online tutoring support, together with conventional teaching methods, may be a useful method to incorporate student-centered learning in basic subjects in Veterinary Science.S

The Pharmacokinetics and Interactions of Ivermectin in Humans—A Mini-review

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug with a broad spectrum of activity, high efficacy as well as a wide margin of safety. Since 1987, this compound has a widespread use in veterinary medicine and it use has been extended in humans. Here we present a brief review of the information availabile regarding the pharmacokinetics and interactions of ivermectin in humans. Awareness of these characteristics could improve the clinical efficacy of Ivermectin. All Authors declare that they do not have any Conflict of interest and that the work is original. All Authors agree that the contents of the manuscript are confidential and will not be copyrighted, submitted, or published elsewhere (including the Internet), in any language, while acceptance by the Journal is under consideration

Evolution of the bioavailability and other pharmacokinetic parameters of levodopa (with carbidopa) in rabbits

P. 451-457Levodopa pharmacokinetics show i111portanl inter- and intraindividual dijferences when it is administered by the oral route. As a result of fluctu­ ating drug plasma concentrations, patients may develop motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Therefore, it is in1portanl tope1form studies on levodopa pharmacokinetics in the same individual. The aim of this sh1dy was to contribute to a better knowledge of the evolution of thephannacokinetics of lev­ adopa adnúnislered ivith carbidopa. The study involved the oral administration of 20/5 mg/kg levodopa/carbidopa to rahbits for two different time periods (7 or 14 days), due to the fact that inhibition of aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase by carbidopa is not immediate. After 7 days of treat­ ment, the levodopa AUC increased by 12.6%.fivm day 1 (range: 114.2-150.7 µg.min/ml) to day 7 (range: 131.1-166.0 µg.min/ml) and C"'ª" increased by 9.6% (range: 1.90-2.86 µg/ml on day 1 and 2.12-3.13 µglml on day 7). After 14 days of treatment, the increase in AUC was 17.0% (range: 119.6-160.1 µg.min/ml on day 1 and 142.9-172.7 ¡ µg.min/ml on day 14) and Cmax increased by 6.5% {tange: 2.29-2.96 µg!ml on day 1 and 2.41·-3.07 µg/ml on day 14). The values obtained for C,max (sample obtained im1nediately befare levodopa/carbidopa administration) in both grups increased progressively with the duration of the treatment. Cmax and AUC values were very similar after 7 or 14 days of treatment. The time needed far Cm,in sta­ bilization was slightly highe1; because we found significant djfferences until day 11 of treatment.S

Correction to: Mixed-method tutoring support improves learning outcomes of veterinary students in basic subjects

Abstract The original article [1] contains an error whereby Fig. 2a and b are mistakenly swapped with each other, and thus do not correspond to their correct respective sub-headings in the caption

Cuidados pediátricos en los campos de refugiados: un tema a incluir en los programas docentes de la diplomatura de enfermería

P. 31-34Cada vez es más frecuente encontrar a jovénes enfermeros que desean colaborar con una organización no gubernamental (ONG) y poner en práctica sus conocimientos profesionales en un campo de refugiados o en otra ubicación que, sin tener esa denominación, dispone de unos medios sanitarios precarios. Estimamos que sería de gran interés introducir un tema teórico con este contenido en los estudios de enfermeria que podría ubicarse en el programa de enfermeria materno-infantil, al constituir los niños uno de los colectivos más afectados. En él se enseñaría a los alumnos, cómo aplicar cuidados y la línea de actuación en un medio con unas características socioculturales y sanitarias muy alejadas de las que tiene la sociedad desarrollada en la que viven. El contenido de este tema se plantearía teniendo en cuenta las directrices de actuación que marca el Consejo Internacional de Enfermeras, e incluiría los cuidados que se deben aplicar a los niños en el plano psicológico, los programas nutricionales, el conocimiento de las enfermedades más frecuentes y su tratamiento farmacológico y los diferentes programas de actuación que se aplican a largo, medio y corto plazo, así como en situaciones de emergenciaS