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The satellite remote sensing is a relatively new technique which allows, through its means, the acquisition of satellite images on large land surfaces. Amongst the sectors in which the remote sensing data have immediate applicability there is also the forestry one. This article presents, in synthesis, the main aspects regarding the applications of the satellite remote sensing at the level of study and general analysis of the forest, and also at the level of the stands. The biophysical parameters of the forest are included in the first category, while the description of the structural characteristics of the stands is included in the second category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether cardioprotective strategies are still effective in elderly is a matter of debate. The present study was purported to assess the persistence of the protective effects of pharmacological agents targeting mitochondria in old Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods. To this aim isolated hearts from old (20-24 mo) and adult (4-6 mo) animals subjected to a protocol of 30 min ischemia/120 min reperfusion were randomized to receive throughout the postischemic reperfusion: no intervention, magnesium orotate (MO), magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and orotic acid (OA) at 5 x 10 (-3) M. The effects on functional recovery and infarct size were compared to the ones elicited by CsA at 2 x 10(-7) M, the classic mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) desensitizer. In a second group of experiments, cardiac mitochondria were isolated at 15 min of postischemic reperfusion for the assessment of respiratory function and calcium retention capacity. Results. Acute administration of MO and MgCl2 (but not of OA) during the postischemic reperfusion was associated with a significant recovery of left ventricular developed pressure and infarct size reduction in both adult and old animals. Cardioprotection was comparable to the one elicited by CsA. In mitochondria isolated from the old animals and energized with complex I (but not complex II) substrates, all the pharmacological agents were equally effective in protecting against the loss of outer mitochondrial membrane integrity, albeit to a lesser degree compared to adult mitochondria. Also, MO, MgCl2, and CsA (but not OA) prevented the calcium triggered-opening of mPTP. Conclusion. High dose of magnesium containing-pharmacological agents and cyclosporine A were effective in protecting heart mitochondria in aged rodents during the postischemic reperfusion.This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of National Education, CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2012-4-0512. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

What is known and objective Nebivolol is a highly selective beta-blocker with additional vasodilator properties, widely used in the clinical practice for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Paroxetine is a second-generation antidepressant and a potent inhibitor of CYP2D6, the same isoenzyme involved in the metabolism of nebivolol. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of multiple-dose paroxetine intake on the pharmacokinetics of nebivolol in healthy volunteers and its potential consequences upon nebivolol pharmacodynamics. Methods The study included 23 healthy subjects and was designed as an open-label, single-centre, non-randomized, two-period clinical trial. During period 1 (reference), each volunteer received a single dose of 5 mg nebivolol, whereas during period 2 (test), each volunteer received a single dose of 5 mg nebivolol and 20 mg paroxetine, after a pretreatment regimen with paroxetine (20-40 mg/day for 6 days). The pharmacokinetic parameters of nebivolol and its active metabolite were analysed by non-compartmental modelling. The pharmacodynamic parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were assessed at rest, after each nebivolol intake. Results and discussion Pretreatment with paroxetine increased the mean peak plasma concentrations ( Cmax) for unchanged nebivolol (1·78 ± 1·17 vs. 4·24 ± 1·67 ng/mL) and for its active metabolite (0·58 ± 0·21 vs. 0·79 ± 0·24 ng/mL) compared to nebivolol alone. The time ( tmax) to reach Cmax was 1·37 ± 0·88 (h) and 3·11 ± 1·76 (h) for the parent compound and its active metabolite after nebivolol administered alone and 3·96 ± 1·76 (h), respectively, 7·33 ± 7·84 (h) after pretreatment with paroxetine. Also, the total areas under the curve ( AUC0-∞) were significantly increased from 17·26 ± 43·06 to 106·20 ± 65·56 h ng/mL for nebivolol unchanged and 13·03 ± 11·29 to 74·56 ± 88·77 h ng/mL for its hydroxylated metabolite, before and after paroxetine intake. All the pharmacokinetic parameters presented statistically significant differences when paroxetine was administered with nebivolol. Nonetheless, statistical analysis did not show a significant difference between the vital signs measured during the two periods. What is new and conclusion After pretreatment with paroxetine, the exposure to nebivolol was increased by 6·1-fold for the parent drug and 5·7-fold for the hydroxylated active metabolite. Paroxetine influenced nebivolol pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers, but it did not have a significant effect on nebivolol pharmacodynamic parameters measured at rest, although the clinical relevance of this drug interaction needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ivabradine is a novel heart rate-lowering agent that selectively and specifically inhibits the depolarizing cardiac pacemaker I f current in the sinus node. Our objective was to evaluate a possible pharmacokinetic interaction between ivabradine and carbamazepine in healthy volunteers. The study consisted of two periods: Period 1 (Reference), when each volunteer received a single dose of 10 mg ivabradine and Period 2 (Test), when each volunteer received a single dose of 10 mg ivabradine and 400 mg carbamazepine. Between the two periods, the subjects were treated for 15 days with a single daily dose of 400 mg carbamazepine. Plasma concentrations of ivabradine were determined during a 12-h period following drug administration, using a high-throughput liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry analytical method. Pharmacokinetic parameters of ivabradine administered in each treatment period were calculated using non-compartmental and compartmental analysis to determine if there were statistically significant differences. In the two periods of treatments, the mean peak plasma concentrations ( C) were 16·25 ng/mL (ivabradine alone) and 3·69 ng/mL (ivabradine after pretreatment with carbamazepine). The time taken to reach C, t, were 0·97 and 1·14 h, respectively, and the total areas under the curve (AUC) were 52·49 and 10·33 ng h/mL, respectively. These differences were statistically significant for C and AUC when ivabradine was administered with carbamazepine, whereas they were not for t, half-life and mean residence time. TCarbamazepine interacts with ivabradine in healthy volunteers, and lowers its bioavailability by about 80%. This magnitude of effect is likley to be clinically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Preconditioning delays Ca2+-induced mitochondrial permeability transition," by L. Argaud et al. is presented.

Modulation of mitochondrial function in the settings of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury represents a major therapeutic target of pharmacological agents able to reduce the cell death at reperfusion. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acute administration of magnesium orotate (MO), MgCl2, orotic acid (OA) with those elicited by the classic mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) desensitizer, cyclosporine A (CsA) in two experimental settings. The pharmacological agents were administered: i) at reoxygenation in neonatal cardiomyocytes subjected to 4 hours simulated ischemia followed by 2 hours reoxygenation with the assessment of cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and ii) at reperfusion in isolated rat hearts subjected to 30 min of global ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. In the latter model myocardial functional recovery (at 30 min of reperfusion) and infarct size (at 120 min of reperfusion) were assessed. In a separate group of animals, mitochondria were isolated at 15 min of reperfusion after global ischemia, and mitochondrial respiration, ROS production (Amplex Red) and calcium retention capacity were assessed. Acute administration of 5 mM MO, MgCl2, OA or 1 μM CsA in neonatal cardiomyocytes subjected to simulated ischemia/reoxygenation enhanced cell survival; these protective effects were not associated with changes in ROS production during reoxygenation. During the postischemic reperfusion in rat hearts and isolated mitochondria, respectively, MO, MgCl2 (5 mM both) and CsA (0.2 μmol/L), but not OA: (i) induced an important recovery of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVDP), and decreased infarct size vs. controls, and (ii) protected against loss of outer mitochondrial membrane integrity and subsequent deficits in electron transport and also inhibited the calcium triggered-mPTP opening. In particular, the effects of MO were comparable to the ones elicited by CsA. In conclusion, acute administration of magnesium orotate in high concentration during the postischemic reperfusion is associated with cardioprotective effects via modulation of mitochondria functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]