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Although fast green (FG) is widely used as food colorant by the cosmetics and drug industries, there is no evidence about whether FG affects leukocytes. The aim was to investigate the effect of FG on leukocytes. Male albino mice were subdivided into five equal groups: four of them were given 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg kg(-1) bw day(-1) FG in drinking water for 44 days. The fifth (control group) was given pure water only. During the experimental period changes in body weight, lymphoid organs weight (absolute and relative) as well as the total count and viability of lymphoid cells for the treated groups showed that FG was an immunotoxic agent. The structural effects induced by FG on thymocytes and splenocytes were investigated through measurements of their dielectric spectra in the frequency range 20-100,000 Hz. The estimated dielectric parameters of the treated groups reflected the changes occurring to lymphocytes by FG administration and indicated that FG dye is an immunotoxic agent. It is shown that the dielectric methodology can be used for the identification of lymphocyte modification induced by food colorants.

Ringer's solution prime reduces colloid osmotic pressure and causes edema during cardiopulmonary bypass, while hydroxyethyl starch (HES) can be used to attenuate this effect. Fifty patients were classified into five equal groups: Group I (preoperative patients) is the control group and the other four groups (II, III, IV, V) received different volume ratios of Ringer's solution to HES (1:0, 2:1, 1:2, 0:1, respectively). This study was aimed at evaluating the optimal quantity of HES regarding body fluids expansion, ventilation and recovery time, blood rheologic properties, clotting parameters, platelet counts, blood loss and red blood cell membrane properties. The results showed a reduction in interstitial fluid (ISF) expansion, changes in blood rheologic properties with the increase in HES quantity and shorter ventilation and recovery times in Groups IV and V. We concluded that the optimal HES quantity in the prime is two thirds, which insures an 85% reduction of ISF relative to Group II, shorter ventilation and recovery times and avoidance of the hazards of high levels of HES.