Clinical safety-in-use study of a new tampon design.

Objective: To confirm the safety of a new experimental Tampax tampon and applicator compared with that of a currently marketed Tampax tampon and applicator using comprehensive gynecological and microbiological assessments.

Methods: A 2-month, single-blind, randomized, crossover study was conducted in which each subject served as her own control. Safety was evaluated by comparing potential product-related irritation (using colposcopic examination and subject diary data), assessment of vaginal discharge, vaginal pH, and effects on selected microorganisms (yeast, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and group B streptococci) obtained by vaginal swab cultures after normal menstrual use in the experimental and control groups.

Transcriptional regulation of the human CYP1B1 gene. Evidence for involvement of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor response element in constitutive expression.

The cytochrome P450 1B1 gene (CYP1B1) is expressed constitutively and is inducible by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 but not in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Genomic DNA isolated from both cell lines was digested with the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme isoschizomers MspI and HpaII, and subjected to Southern analysis with a probe for the CYP1B1 promoter/enhancer region. Although differences were observed in methylation patterns for the CYP1B1 gene from MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, treatment with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (10 microM for 6 days) did not activate CYP1B1 mRNA expression in HepG2 cells.

Flavin-containing monooxygenase isoform 2: developmental expression in fetal and neonatal rabbit lung.

Mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenase functions in the oxygenation of numerous xenobiotics containing a soft nucleophile, usually a nitrogen or sulfur. A total of five distinct flavin monooxygenase (FMO) isoforms are expressed in mammals. Individual isoforms are expressed in a sex-, age-, and tissue-specific fashion.

Effects of dietary calcium on blood pressure, vascular reactivity and vascular smooth muscle calcium efflux rate in Zucker rats.

Previous data from this laboratory indicate that hypertension in insulin resistant Zucker obese rats is accompanied by an impairment in vascular smooth muscle Ca2+ efflux. Since insulin resistant states are also generally salt-sensitive and dietary Ca2+ reduces blood pressure in some salt-sensitive states, we evaluated the effects of dietary Ca2+ on blood pressure and vascular reactivity and examined whether these effects are due to increased vascular smooth muscle Ca2+ efflux. We assigned 16 obese and 16 lean rats to a normal (0.

Evidence for increased translational efficiency in the induction of P450IIE1 by solvents: analysis of P450IIE1 mRNA polyribosomal distribution.

The potential for enhanced translational processing of P450IIE1 mRNA during the early phase of P450IIE1 induction by pyridine or acetone was assessed by hybridization analysis of polyribosomal P450IIE1 mRNA distribution in rat hepatic tissue. Optical absorbance profiles of polyribosomal fractions exhibited an apparent shift at 5 h following pyridine administration relative to control. Slot and Northern blot analyses for P450IIE1 mRNA in the cytoplasmic extracts isolated from 5 h pyridine-treated rats demonstrated a shift in distribution of P450IIE1 message toward heavier polyribosomal fractions and Northern blot analysis suggested the presence of different populations of P450IIE1 mRNA.