Intestinal tract

Atropiae (41), isolated from the deadly nightshade Airopa belladonna L.) is the racemic form, as isolated, of (—)-hyoscyamine [which is not isolated, of course, from the same plant but is typically found ia solanaceous plants such as henbane (HyosQiamus mgerl. )]. Atropiae is used to dilate the pupil of the eye ia ocular inflammations and is available both as a parasympatholytic agent for relaxation of the intestinal tract and to suppress secretions of the saUvary, gastric, and respiratory tracts. In conjunction with other agents it is used as part of an antidote mixture for organophosphorus poisons (see Chemicals in war). 

Coccidiosis is a proto2oal disease of the intestinal tract of animals that leads to severe loss of productivity and death. The development and widespread use of anticoccidials has revolutionized the poultry industry. The estimated world market for anticoccidial agents in 1989 was 425 million and this was dominated by the polyether ionophore antibiotics monensin, salinomycin [53003-10-4], n imsm [55134-13-9], la.s9locid, and maduramicin [84878-61-5] (26). 

Health and Safety Factors. The strontium ion has a low order of toxicity, and strontium compounds are remarkably free of toxic hazards. Chemically, strontium is similar to calcium, and strontium salts, like calcium salts, are not easily absorbed by the intestinal tract. Strontium carbonate has no commonly recognized hazardous properties. Strontium nitrate is regulated as an oxidizer that promotes rapid burning of combustible materials, and it should not be stored in areas of potential fire hazards. 

Absorption of mannitol (209), sorbitol (210), and xyfltol (4) from the intestinal tract is relatively slow, compared to that of glucose. In humans, approximately 65% of orally adrninistered mannitol is absorbed in the dose range of 40—100 g. About one-third of the absorbed mannitol is excreted in the urine. The remainder is oxidized to carbon dioxide (211). 

A variety of therapies for thallium poisoning have been suggested by neutralising thallium in the intestinal tract, hastening excretion after resorption, or decreasing absorption. Berlin-Blue (fertihexacyanate) and sodium iodide in a 1 wt % solution have been recommended. Forced diuresis hemoperfusion and hemodialysis in combination results in the elimination of up to 40% of the resorbed thaHous sulfate (39). 

A bacteriological examination of water is primarily carried out to determine the possible presence of harmful microorganisms. Testing is actually done to detect relatively harmless bacteria called colon bacilli commonly called the coliform group, which are present in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. If these organisms are present in a water in sufficient number, then this is taken to be evidence that other harmful pathogenic bacteria may also be present. 

Toxicology. The toxicity of ethyl ether is low and its greatest hazards in industry are fire and explosion. The vapor is absorbed almost instandy from the lungs and very prompdy from the intestinal tract. It undergoes no chemical change in the body. Prevention and control of health hazards associated with the handling of ethyl ether depend primarily on prevention of exposure to toxic atmospheric concentrations and scmpulous precautions to prevent explosion and fire. 

Escherichia coli (E. coli) A species of bacteria that inhabits the intestinal tract of most vertebrates. Many non-pathogenic strains are used experimentally as hosts for rDNA. 

Most ACE inhibitors are prodrugs, with the exceptions of captopril, lisinopril, and ceranapril. Prodrugs exert improved oral bioavailability, but need to be converted to active compounds in the liver, kidney, and/or intestinal tract. In effect, converting enzyme inhibitors have quite different kinetic profiles with regard to half time, onset and duration of action, or tissue penetration. 

When a-glucosidase activity is inhibited, carbohydrate digestion is prolonged and takes place further along the intestinal tract. This in turn delays and spreads the period of glucose absorption, which reduces the extent of the postprandial rise in blood glucose concentrations. The effectiveness of a-glucosidase inhibitors is dq en-dent on the consumption of a meal rich in complex carbohydrate. 

Botulism is a disease caused by ingestion of foods contaminated with Clostridium botulinum (food-borne botulism) or, very rarely, by wound infection (wound botulism) or colonization of the intestinal tract with Clostridium botulinum (infant botulism). The toxins block the release of acetylcholine. Botulism is characterized by generalized muscular weakness, which first affects eye and throat muscles and later extends to all skeletal muscles. Flaccid paralysis can lead to respiratory failure. 

Defensins are a group of antimicrobial and cytotoxic peptides made by immune cells. There are seven defensins in humans, six alpha-defensins and one beta-defensin, which are involved in the innate immune defense at the surface of epithelia from the respiratory tract, the intestinal tract or the urinary tract. 

The dopamine precursor l-DOPA (levodopa) is commonly used in TH treatment of the symptoms of PD. l-DOPA can be absorbed in the intestinal tract and transported across the blood-brain barrier by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport system, where it taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted into dopamine by the activity of TH. In PD treatment, peripheral AADC can be blocked by carbidopa or benserazide to increase the amount of l-DOPA reaching the brain. Selective MAO B inhibitors like deprenyl (selegiline) have also been effectively used with l-DOPA therapy to reduce the metabolism of dopamine. Recently, potent and selective nitrocatechol-type COMT inhibitors such as entacapone and tolcapone have been shown to be clinically effective in improving the bioavailability of l-DOPA and potentiating its effectiveness in the treatment of PD. 

Simethicone (Mylicon) and charcoal are used as anti-flatulents (against flatus or gas in the intestinal tract). Simethicone has a defoaming action that disperses and prevents the formation of mucus-surrounded gas pockets in tiie intestine Charcoal is an absorbent that reduces the amount of intestinal gas. 

Human tissues can synthesize purines and pyrimidines from amphibolic intermediates. Ingested nucleic acids and nucleotides, which therefore are dietarily nonessential, are degraded in the intestinal tract to mononucleotides, which may be absorbed or converted to purine and pyrimidine bases. The purine bases are then oxidized to uric acid, which may be absorbed and excreted in the urine. While little or no dietary purine or pyrimidine is incorporated into tissue nucleic acids, injected compounds are incorporated. The incorporation of injected [ H] thymidine into newly synthesized DNA thus is used to measure the rate of DNA synthesis. 

The solubility guidelines can be used to design ways of making salts. Suppose that we want to prepare barium sulfate, BaSOq. This substance is opaque to X rays, so it is often used to visualize the intestinal tract. Patients are given a barium cocktail, and then the areas of interest are irradiated. Barium sulfate absorbs the X rays to give a picture of the intestines. Soluble barium salts are poisonous, but BaSOq is insoluble in water, so it can be administered safely. (Only 1.0 X 10" mol dissolves in 1 L ofwaterat25 °C.)... 

Parenteral Fluids. During the past ten years interest has been renewed in the total alimentation of the infant by vein (2). The motivation for this is the fact that neonates may suffer from some congenital malformation of the intestinal tract which would require surgical resection. If this is done, then one needs some outside way for alimentation, bypassing the intestine, until the intestine is able to heal and recover its normal function. This may take many weeks. A second source of motivation is the small premature infant weighing less than a kilogram, whose immature central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract make it difficult to establish nutrition by oral intake soon after birth. These also require total intravenous nutrition for a substantial period of time. 

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