Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant in vitro and has been reported to act as a vasodilator, possibly by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability. This study examined the antioxidant and vascular effects of a single large oral dose of vitamin C in 26 healthy human volunteers. Haemodynamic and oxidative DNA and lipid damage markers were measured for 8 h following an oral dose of 2 g vitamin C or placebo. Vitamin C had no effect on vasodilation (measured by augmentation index (mean change=0.04%, 90% CI=- 2.20% to 2.28%) or forearm blood flow (-0.19%/min (-0.68, 0.30)), in comparison to placebo) or on several markers of oxidative stress including DNA base oxidation products in blood cells, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8O HdG) in urine (0.068 (-0.009, 0.144)) or urinary or plasma total F(2)-isoprostanes (-0.005 ng/ml (-0.021, 0.010), -0.153 ng/mg (-0.319, 0.014), respectively).

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This study investigated the effect of a single dose of tomato sauce on healthy male volunteers in a randomized crossover study. Healthy male subjects (n = 10) were enrolled. Placebo (rice and olive oil) or tomato (tomato sauce, rice and olive oil) meals were provided to the volunteers. Blood and urine samples were taken before consumption of meal (0 h) and 2, 4, 6, 24 and 48 h after meal. Consumption of tomato sauce increased plasma lycopene level by 5-22%, with a maximum level at 24 h (p<0.01) after the meal. Levels of plasma F(2)-isoprostanes, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid products, allantoin and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine did not change after either meal, but urinary F(2)-isoprostanes (p<0.05) significantly decreased at 48 h compared to 0 h after the tomato sauce meal. This study showed that a single dose of tomato sauce meal had only a limited antioxidant effect in vivo.

Aims: To compare the efficacy of goserelin 10.8 mg (Zoladex LA – ZLA) administered 9–12 weekly with 3.6 mg (Zoladex – Z) given monthly in suppressing pubertal development, and effect on body mass index (BMI). Methods: Children with central precocious puberty (CPP) treated with Z (n = 34) or ZLA (n = 28) were studied retrospectively. Pubertal scores and BMI SDS during 24 months’ treatment were compared. Results: To attain adequate pubertal suppression, more patients on ZLA than Z required increase in injection frequency (p = 0.02) and this was so for 7/8 patients with a structural aetiology for CPP on ZLA and 2/8 on Z. A greater proportion of patients on ZLA had BMI >+2 SDS before (p = 0.05), and at 18 and 24 months (p = 0.02 and 0.04). BMI SDS transiently increased during the first 6 months on ZLA (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Both Z and ZLA were effective in suppressing puberty. To achieve adequate suppression, increased injection frequency was more likely with ZLA than Z, and particularly in patients with structural defects. Children with CPP had an elevated BMI at the onset of therapy and ZLA had a transient positive influence on BMI.

The metabolism of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 1-THC) by lung and liver of rat and guinea-pig have been studied by isolated perfused-organ techniques. Metabolites were identified by t.l.c. and mass fragmentography. Biotransformation in lungs showed a different quantitative pattern to the livers in both species. 4"-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC was a major metabolite in both rat and guinea-pig lung. 7-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC was another major metabolite in guinea-pig lung, but a minor one in rat lung. 6 alpha-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC and 6,7-dihydroxy-delta 1-THC were formed in small quantities in both species. Small amounts of 6 beta-hydroxy-delta 1-THC were detected in guinea-pig lung in addition to the metabolites mentioned. Livers of rat and guinea-pig formed 7-hydroxy-delta 1-THC as the most abundant metabolite together with minor amounts of 6 alpha-hydroxy- and 6,7-dihydroxy-delta 1-THC. 6 beta-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC was a minor liver metabolite in guinea-pig, and was found in rat only in trace amounts, together with delta 1-THC-6-one. No side-chain hydroxylated metabolites were detected in rat liver, while guinea-pig liver formed trace amounts of 3"-hydroxy- and 4"-hydroxy-delta 1-THC.