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Objective: To examine the absorption, distribution and excretion of sevelamer hydrochloride in rats and humans.Participants: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the animal study, and twenty human volunteers participated in the clinical trial.Methods: In the animal study, six rats received a single oral dose of [(3)H]sevelamer and six rats were pretreated with unlabelled sevelamer in the diet for 28 days followed by a single dose of [(3)H]sevelamer on day 29. Total urine and faeces were collected at intervals up to 72 hours post dose, and tissues were obtained at the time of sacrifice. In the clinical trial, subjects received a single oral dose of [(14)C]sevelamer following 28 days of pretreatment with unlabelled sevelamer. Blood, urine and faeces samples were collected at intervals up to 96 hours.Results: In the rat study, no significant urinary excretion of radioactivity was observed. The average recovery of radioactivity in the faeces was 98% in the single-dose group and greater than 100% in the group pretreated with unlabelled sevelamer for 28 days. A total of less than 0.1% of the dose was found in the tissues. In the human study, no detectable amount of (14)C was found in the blood of any subject at any time. The majority of subjects had no detectable amounts of (14)C recovered in the urine. In subjects where (14)C was recovered in the urine, less than 0.02% was detected, a level equivalent to the free (14)C detected in the [(14)C]sevelamer preparation. On average, greater than 99% of the administered dose was recovered in the faeces of the subjects.Conclusion: These studies demonstrate that sevelamer is a non-absorbed compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteinuria associated with acute heart disease was studied prospectively in 160 patients admitted to the coronary care unit with suspected AMI. Series 1 comprised 150 patients, divided into the following groups: AMI, 27 UAP, 43 AP, 22 NIP and 18 excluded. Albumin and creatinine were measured in the first urine passed after admission (sample 1) and the first morning urine the following 2 days (samples 2 and 3) The ACR was significantly higher in the AMI and UAP groups than in the other patient groups (p<0.0001). There was no significant difference of ACR between the AMI and UAP in sample 1 (p = 0.31). In the AMI, UAP and AP groups ACR was significantly higher in sample 1 than in samples 2 and 3 (p<0.005). In the NIP group there were no significant differences between sample 1 versus samples 2 and 3 (p = 0.06). Series 2 comprised 10 patients: 8 AMI, 1 UAP and 1 AMYO. ACR were measured in all specimens voided during the period of observation. ACR can oscillate within hours between normal concentrations and concentrations well into or above the microalbuminuric range. We propose the term episodic albuminuria for this reversible, switch-like change in renal function. The albuminuric episodes lasted 90 - 600 minutes. Maximum values for ACR were between 133 - 790 µmol/mol or 78 - 466 mg/g. In healthy, resting individuals ACR is <50 µmol/mol (<30 mg/g). The rapid changes in glomerular permeability may reflect systemic changes in endothelial permeability in the affected individuals. We speculate that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may be a mediator of this type of albuminuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nalunaq deposit is a shear-zone hosted gold deposit, characterised by high grades (up to 5240 g/t Au over 08 m). The host rocks are Palaeoproterozoic metamorphosed mafic rocks in the Nanortalik district in South Greenland. As a generic type, the Nalunaq gold mineralisation is a mesothermal vein-type gold deposit, hosted in amphibolitefacies metamorphosed mafic rocks. The gold is associated with sheeted quartz veins, hosted in a large-scale shear structure, which appears to relate to regional thrusts. They vary in width between 005 m and 18 m and form a relatively continuous structure. However, possibly due to extensive post-mineralisation deformation, there is no simple relationship between gold grade and thickness of the quartz veins. Eight samples were examined from amphibolites (host rock), quartz veins and amphibolites cut by quartz veins. The mineralisation is a low-S system, and consists mainly of pyrrhotite, löllingite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, gold and electrum, scarce Bi-sulphosalts, covellite and galena, with gangue minerals dominated mainly by amphibole, plagioclase feldspars, quartz and clinopyroxene. Most of the gold grains occur predominantly as inclusions in silicate minerals (72–999%), interstitial to silicates (0–275%), inclusions in sulphides that are locked in silicates (0–67%), and inclusions in sulphides (0–29%). Preliminary upgrading of gold by heavy media mineral separation in one quartz vein sample revealed that gold primarily occurs in free form (97%). Mineralogical information on gold provides significant information on gold-bearing grains, recognition of the different phases, grain size and associations, important in both exploration and gold recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were carried out in parallel with male Ross 308 broilers over 37 d. An experiment with a total of 736 broilers was performed to study the effect of dietary inclusion of crimped kernel maize silage (CKMS) on broiler production and meat quality. Another study with 32 broilers was carried out from 21 to 25 d to investigate the inclusion of CKMS on nutrient digestibility.In both trials, 4 dietary treatments were used: wheat-based feed (WBF), maize-based feed (MBF), maize-based feed supplemented with 15% CKMS (CKMS-15) and maize-based feed supplemented with 30% CKMS (CKMS-30).Compared with MBF, the dry matter (DM) intakes of broilers receiving CKMS-15 and CKMS-30, respectively, were numerically 7.5 and 6.2% higher and feed conversion ratio 6 and 12% poorer (significant for 30% CKMS), although there were no significant differences in AME content between the three diets. At 37 d, the body weight of birds receiving 15% CKMS was similar to birds fed with MBF. However, the inclusion of 30% CKMS decreased broiler growth. Dietary supplementation with CKMS significantly reduced the apparent digestibility of phosphorus. The fat digestibility was significantly lower for CKMS-30 than for the other three diets.Broiler mortality decreased significantly when CKMS was added to the diet.The consumption of drinking water was significantly lower in all maize-based diets as compared to WBF and was lowest in broilers fed with CKMS-30.An improved litter quality in terms of DM content and a lower frequency of foot pad lesions was observed with broilers supplemented with both dietary levels of CKMS.The addition of CKMS to maize-based diets increased juiciness, tenderness and crumbliness of the meat.In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of 15% CKMS had no negative effect on broiler growth and positively influenced bird welfare in terms of mortality and foot pad health. Therefore, the addition of 15% CKMS to maize-based diets is considered an advantageous feeding strategy in broiler production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 This study reports on the pharmacological characterization of ZP120, a novel ligand of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide receptor, NOP. ZP120 is a structure inducing probes modified NOP ligand: Zealand Pharma proprietary SIP technology was used to increase the enzymatic stability and half-life of peptide. 2 In vitro, ZP120 mimicked the inhibitory effects of N/OFQ in the electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens, showing however higher potency (pEC(50) 8.88 vs 7.74), lower maximal effects (E(max) 69+/-5% vs 91+/-2%), and slower onset of action. Like N/OFQ, the effects of ZP120 were not modified by 1 micro M naloxone, but they were antagonized by the NOP receptor selective antagonist J-113397 (pA(2) 7.80 vs ZP120, 7.81 vs N/OFQ). 3 In vivo, ZP120 mimicked the effects of N/OFQ, producing pronociceptive effects in the tail withdrawal assay and decreased locomotor activity after i.c.v., but not after i.v. administration in mice. ZP120 elicited similar maximal effects as N/OFQ, but it was about 10 fold more potent and its effects lasted longer. 4 In conclusion, the novel NOP receptor ligand ZP120 is a highly potent and selective partial agonist of the NOP receptor with prolonged effects in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An early Archaean greenstone belt and mid-Archaean supracrustal rocks in central West Greenland host a number of significant mineral occurrences that have recently been targets for exploration, which has included diamond drilling. Diamond drilling in the ca 3750-m.y. Isua greenstone belt detected a large hematite orebody concealed beneath the Inland Ice; recent exploration in the Isua greenstone belt has identified small gold showings. The mid-Archaean supracrustal rocks host extensive copper, zinc and tungsten mineralization and significant gold occurrences have been explored recently. The gold is hosted in various supracrustal rock units and is spatially, and possibly genetically, associated with a major shear zone/terrane boundary. Diamond drilling and chip sampling have revealed economic grades over minable widths. The mineralization is conveniently located near ice-free waters and in close proximity to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]