Effect of Ethanol in Paclitaxel Injections on the Ethanol Concentration in Exhaled Breath

BACKGROUND: Ethanol is included in certain injectable preparations of anticancer drugs to increase their solubility. Since the volume of ethanol in these preparations is approximately half of the total injection volume, the potential inhibitory effects of ethanol on the central nervous system cannot be disregarded, especially considering that patients may drive immediately after administration of the medication. Therefore, the concentration of ethanol was examined in exhaled breath after administration of paclitaxel, an anticancer medication containing ethanol. METHODS: The ethanol concentration in exhaled breath immediately after an intravenous infusion of paclitaxel was measured in 30 patients, using a balloon-type gas detector tube. Correlations between the concentration of ethanol in exhaled breath and the total amount of ethanol administered or the intravenous infusion speed were calculated. RESULTS: The mean ethanol concentration in exhaled breath was 0.028 ± 0.015 mg/L. The correlation between the ethanol concentration in exhaled breath and the total dose of ethanol was weak (R(2) = 0.25; p = 0.055), while the intravenous infusion speed showed a stronger positive correlation with the concentration of ethanol in the breath (R(2) = 0.49; p = 0.11). The maximum concentration of ethanol measured in exhaled breath (0.06 mg/L) was equivalent to 40% of the threshold for drunk driving, as specified in the Road Traffic Act in Japan. CONCLUSION: In this study, no patient had a breath ethanol concentration exceeding the legal threshold for drunk driving. However, it is still advisable for patients to avoid driving after receiving paclitaxel injections. When driving cannot be avoided, patients should wait for a sufficient time after receiving the injection before driving

セレン欠乏がもたらすラット肝薬物代謝酵素系への影響

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element and plays many important biological roles in the body. Selenium deficiency is associated with Keshan disease in clinical cases. However, little has been reported on the relationship between selenium deficiency and drug-metabolizing enzyme activities other than reduced glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity resulting in increased oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the effects of selenium deficiency on several drug-metabolizing enzymes in male Wistar rats. The contents of mRNA and protein of CYP2C11, which is a male specific P450 isoform, were significantly reduced in selenium deficiency. 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), which has a stronger activity in male rather than female rats, showed also significantly decreased enzyme activity with lowering tendency toward a reduced mRNA level. Aldehyde oxidase (AO) activity was almost completely disappeared in selenium deficiency without an accompanying by the decrease of the mRNA level. Other enzymes such as CYP3A, CYP2A, CYP2B, carbonyl reductase, 3α-HSD, flavin-containing monooxygenase and 15-ketoprostaglandin 〓13-reductase were not affected in selenium deficiency. These results suggested that selenium deficiency might decrease the activity and mRNA level of CYP2C11 and 17β-HSD by impairing the testosterone-hypothalamus-pituitary axis, whereas AO was influenced by a different mechanism

インターネットを活用した自主グループ間の情報ネットワークの構築

『地域を基盤とする看護教育への変革』が平成19年度文部科学省「現代的教育ニーズ取組支援プログラム」に選定され、グループ支援ネットワークとして、島根県下の自主グループと学内に設置した地域連携ステーションとの情報ネットワークの構築に取り組んだ。インターネットを活用することで会員や一般への情報発信や情報交換に有効だった。しかし、ホームページへの入力操作に困難性を認めるなど支援も必要としていた。これらの課題解決を図りながらメリット・デメリットを考慮したインターネットの活用は、今後、自主グループの機能強化に有効な手段となることが期待される