N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a precursor of glutathione (GSH) synthesis, a free radical scavenger and an inhibitor of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF). Because these functions might be beneficial in diabetic complications, in this study we examined whether NAC inhibits peripheral neuropathy. Motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) was significantly decreased in streptozotocin-induced-diabetic Wistar rats compared to control rats. Oral administration of NAC reduced the decline of MNCV in diabetic rats. Structural analysis of the sural nerve disclosed significant reduction of fibres undergoing myelin wrinkling and inhibition of myelinated fibre atrophy in NAC-treated diabetic rats. NAC treatment had no effect on blood glucose levels or on the nerve glucose, sorbitol and cAMP contents, whereas it corrected the decreased GSH levels in erythrocytes, the increased lipid peroxide levels in plasma and the increased lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF activity in sera of diabetic rats. Thus, NAC inhibited the development of functional and structural abnormalities of the peripheral nerve in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

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Summary To evaluate the performance of four kinds of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbents (Medisorb® GE Healthcare, Amsorb® Plus Armstrong Medical, YabashiLime® Yabashi Industries, and Sodasorb® LF Grace Performance Chemicals), we measured their dust production, acceptability of colour indicator, and CO2 absorption capacity in in vitro experimental settings and the concentration of compound A in an inspired anaesthetic circuit during in vivo clinical practice. In vitro, the order of the dust amount was Sodasorb LF > Medisorb > Amsorb Plus = YabashiLime both before and after shaking. The order of the color acceptability was similar: Sodasorb LF > Amsorb Plus = Medisorb > YabashiLime both initially and 16 h after CO2 exhaustion. During exposure to 200 ml.min−1 CO2 in vitro, the period until 1 kg of fresh soda lime allowed inspired CO2 to increase to 0.7 kPa (as a mark of utilisation of the absorbent) was longer with Medisorb (1978 min) than with the other absorbents (1270–1375 min). In vivo, compound A (1.0% inspired sevoflurane) was detected only when using Medisorb. While Medisorb has the best ability to absorb CO2, it alone produces compound A.

SYNOPSIS Eu2+activated Sr2Al6O11 and Sr4Al14O25 were prepared with B2O3 additives at the temperatures of 1100•Ž to 1300•Ž in flowing 5% H2/Ar gas. These products were characterized by XRD analysis, UV and VUV spectroscopy and so forth. The precise crystal structure of Sr2Al6O11 was first determined by Rietveld method. Between the sheets of the edge shared AlO6 octahedron, the corner shared AlO4 tetrahedral linkages of Sr2Al6O11 demonstrated a quite different fashion than that of Sr4Al14O25 According to the UV-Vis. and VUV spectra, an intense broad emission was observed near 460 nm in Sr2Al6O11:Eu2+, and two emission peaks were recognized at 409 nm and 496 nm in Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+.

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