Cisplatin treatment of rats results into a significant increase in the activity of Ca(2+)-independent nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in kidneys and liver. Significant enhancement of lipid peroxidation in gastric mucosa, kidneys and liver was also observed. The administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of NOS, markedly reduced renal and gastrointestinal toxicity, and also decreased the content of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and incidence of diarrhoea along with a significant inhibition in lipid peroxidation in the target organs. The present report, while demonstrating the beneficial effect of the blockade of NO pathways during cisplatin chemotherapy, may be helpful in developing strategies for combating some of the toxic side-effects of the drug.

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Vitamin K deficiency is common problem in patients on prolonged antibiotic therapy. There is no role of single dose of prophylactic vitamin K in preventing antibiotic induced hypoprothrombinemia.

A comparative evaluation of chelating agents, namely, diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDC), dimethyl dithiocarbamate (DMDC), 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (CYCLAM), 1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecane (TACPD), 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), and 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate (DMPS) was conducted to assess their efficacy against acute cadmium (Cd) toxicity. DMSA and DMPS appeared to be most effective in reducing mortality as well as Cd burden of liver, kidneys, and brain in cadmium intoxicated mice. DMDC reduced Cd levels only in liver and kidneys, while DDC significantly enhanced its level in brain. CYCLAM and TACPD significantly increased the Cd level in liver and kidneys and were ineffective in brain. The therapeutic index as well as therapeutic efficacy was highest for DMSA followed by DMPS and DMDC. A fair degree of correlation was found to exist between (1) stability constant of Cd chelates and percent survival (r = .438, (2) stability constant and percent transport (r = .479), and (3) percent survival and percent transport (r =.447). However, the lipophilicity did not show any appreciable correlation with percent survival and stability constant of Cd chelates.

No abstract