Effect of Prednisolone and Rifampin on Isoniazid Metabolism in Slow and Rapid Inactivators of Isoniazid

The effect of prednisolone and rifampin, alone and in combination, on the biodisposition of isoniazid in slow and rapid inactivators of isoniazid was investigated. In one investigation, we made serial determinations of plasma isoniazid concentrations up to 8 h and of isoniazid and acetylisoniazid in excreted urine up to 8.5 h in patients receiving isoniazid alone on one occasion and isoniazid plus prednisolone or isoniazid plus rifampin on another. Prednisolone caused a significant decrease in the plasma isoniazid concentrations in both slow and rapid inactivators. It also enhanced the renal clearance of isoniazid in both slow and rapid inactivators and increased the rate of acetylation of isoniazid in slow inactivators only. Rifampin had no effect on the biodisposition of isoniazid in either slow or rapid inactivators. In a second investigation, one group of slow and rapid inactivators received isoniazid and rifampin, and a different group received prednisolone, in addition. Plasma isoniazid concentrations in slow inactivators receiving prednisolone were significantly lower than in those who received isoniazid and rifampin only. In rapid inactivators, plasma isoniazid concentrations were similar in the two groups of patients, suggesting that concomitant administration of rifampin had considerably modified the prednisolone effect on the biodisposition of isoniazid in these patients

Classification of Subjects as Slow or Rapid Inactivators of Isoniazid Based on the Ratio of Acetylisoniazid to Isoniazid in Urine Determined by a Simple Colorimetric Method

A method for classifying subjects as slow or rapid inactivators of isoniazid based on the ratio of acetylisoniazid to isoniazid in a 3-4 hour urine collection following an intramuscular dose of isoniazid 3 mg./kg. body-weight has been described. Isoniazid and acetylisoniazid have been estimated using methods requiring the use of only a photoelectric colorimeter. Of the 279 patients investigated, 169 (61 per cent) were classified as slow inactivators and 110 (39 per cent) as rapid inactivators. This classification is an excellent agreement (97 per cent) with that based on a standard spectrophotometric method

Active removal of waste dye pollutants using Ta[sub]3N[sub]5/W[sub]18O[sub]49 nanocomposite fibres

A scalable solvothermal technique is reported for the synthesis of a photocatalytic composite material consisting of orthorhombic Ta3N5 nanoparticles and WOx≤3 nanowires. Through X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the as-grown tungsten(VI) sub-oxide was identified as monoclinic W18O49. The composite material catalysed the degradation of Rhodamine B at over double the rate of the Ta3N5 nanoparticles alone under illumination by white light, and continued to exhibit superior catalytic properties following recycling of the catalysts. Moreover, strong molecular adsorption of the dye to the W18O49 component of the composite resulted in near-complete decolourisation of the solution prior to light exposure. The radical species involved within the photocatalytic mechanisms were also explored through use of scavenger reagents. Our research demonstrates the exciting potential of this novel photocatalyst for the degradation of organic contaminants, and to the authors’ knowledge the material has not been investigated previously. In addition, the simplicity of the synthesis process indicates that the material is a viable candidate for the scale-up and removal of dye pollutants on a wider scale

Assisted Conception and South Asian communities in the UK: pulic perceptions of the use of donor gametes in infertility treatment

This paper explores 'public' attitudes to the use of donated gametes in infertility treatment amongst members of British South Asian communities in the UK. The study included 14 single-sex focus groups with a total of 100 participants of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origins in three English cities and 20 individual semi-structured interviews with key informants. It explores five themes from the data: childlessness and stigma; using sperm and using eggs; cultural connections; choosing gametes; religion and the use of donated gametes; and disclosure and the management of information. The paper demonstrates that the socio-cultural context of fertility treatment is highly relevant and those delivering services and those consulting the public need to be aware of cultural and gender differences. Third party assisted conception represents a challenge to received ideas of identity and has implications for social reproduction and kinship which go well beyond immediate conjugal relationships.6 page(s