Determination of theophylline and ephedrine HCL in tablets by ratio-spectra derivative spectrophotometry and LC

Two methods are described for the determination of theophylline (THP) and ephedrine hydrochloride (EPH) in combined pharmaceutical tablet forms. The first method depends on the use of the first derivative of the ratio-spectra obtained by dividing the absorption spectrum of binary mixtures by a standard spectrum of one of the compounds. The first derivative amplitudes at 231.8 and 250.3 nm were selected for the assay of THP and EPH, respectively. Calibration graphs were established for 20-180 microg ml(-1) for THP and 10-50 microg ml(-1) for EPH. The second method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase column using a mobile phase of methanol-water (40+60,v/v) (pH 3) with detection at 217 nm. Linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 5-150 microg ml(-1) for THP and 15-75 microg ml(-1) for EPH. The detection limits for THP and EPH were 0.73 and 0.92 microg ml(-1) by ratio-spectra derivative spectrophotometry and 0.59 and 0.86 microg ml(-1) by HPLC, respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in laboratory-prepared mixtures and in tablets. The relative standard deviations were found to be less than 1.5%, indicating reasonable repeatibility of both methods.     

Effects of piracetam supplementation on cochlear damage occurring in guinea pigs exposed to irradiation

In this study we aimed to determine the role of piracetam (PIR) in preventing radiation induced cochlear damage after total-cranium irradiation (radiotherapy; RT). Male albino guinea pigs used in the study were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (Control group) (n=11) received neither PIR nor irradiation, but received saline solution intraperitoneally (i.p.) and received sham irradiation. Group 2 (RT group) (n=32) was exposed to total cranium irradiation of 33 Gy in 5 fractions of 6.6 Gy/d for five successive days, with a calculated (alpha/beta=3.5) biological effective dose of fractionated irradiation equal to 60 Gy conventional fractionation, then received saline solution for five successive days i.p. Group 3 (PIR+RT group) (n=33) received total cranium irradiation, plus 350 mg/kg per day PIR for five successive days i.p. After the last dose of RT, the guinea pigs were all sacrificed at the 4th, 24th and 96th hours, respectively. Their cochleas were enucleated for histopathologic examination. It was observed that total cranium irradiation (RT group) promoted degeneration in stria vascularis (SV), spiral ganglion cells (SG), outer hair cells (OHC) and inner hair cell (IHC) of cochleas at these times (p<0.05). While in the PIR+RT group, there was no statistically significant difference on radiation-induced cochlear degeneration in SV and OHC at 4th (p>0.05) and IHC at 4th, 24th hours (p>0.05), there was a significant difference on radiation-induced cochlear degeneration in SV and OHC at 24th and 96th hours (p<0.05), IHC at 96th hour (p<0.05) and SG at 4th, 24th and 96th hours (p<0.05). There was no any cochlear degeneration in the control group. Piracetam might reduce radiation-induced cochlear damage in the guinea pig. These results are pioneer to studies that will be performed with PIR for radiation toxicity protection.     

Is it possible using handgrip strength instead of body mass index in MNA-SF test to assess the nutritional status of geriatric patients?

Introduction

In Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) test, a practical and reliable alternative parameter is still necessary for patients with difficult body mass index evaluation. We aimed to show whether or not handgrip strength may be used instead of body mass index (BMI) in MNA-SF test.

Materials and Methods

MNA-SF test scores, calf circumferences (CC), handgrip strength (HGS), and BMI of 191 patients were evaluated. The first one of calculated MNA-SF tests was with BMI, the second one with CC, and the last one with HGS. Zero point was given if CC was <31 cm and 3 points were given if CC was ≥31 cm. Zero, 1, 2, and 3 points were given if the loss of HGS when compared to expected HGS were ≥%60, from ≥%30 to <%60, from ≥%10 to <%30, and <%10 or greater than expected HGS, respectively. MNA-SF scores and nutritional status according to these three measures were compared.

Results

Mean age and median MNA-SF scores of the patients were 75±7.6 years and 12 points (min-max: 0-14) respectively. There were strongly positive correlations between MNA-SF scores with BMI and CC, with BMI and HGS, and with CC and HGS (r=0.938 p<0.001, r=0.938 p<0.001, r=0.914 p<0.001, respectively). Substantial agreement in nutritional status of the patients were seen between MNA-SF groups with BMI and CC, with CC and HGS, and with BMI and HGS (kappa: 0.795 p<0.001, kappa: 0.709 p<0.001, and kappa: 0.760 p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

HGS might be considered instead of BMI in MNA-SF test to assess nutritional status of geriatric patients.

     

Sympathetic skin response in patients with chronic renal failure

Sympathetic skin response (SSR) was measured in 20 normal healthy subjects and in 22 patients with chronic renal failure on regular hemodialysis, and its correlation with abnormalities of sensorimotor nerve conduction study and clinical autonomic symptoms was investigated. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were abnormal in 17 of 22 patients (77.3%), and SSR was absent in 14 of 22 patients (63.6%). Patients were divided into three groups based on their SSR response: patients with normal SSR (n:8, 36.4%), patients with absent SSR in the foot only (n:9, 40.9%), and patients with absent SSR in both hand and foot (n : 5, 22.7%). Good correlation between abnormalities of NCS and absent SSR was observed. No correlation was noted between patient age, sex, duration of hemodialysis, duration of renal failure history, and absent SSR. However, statistically significant correlation was found between mean amplitude of the foot SSRs and sensorimotor nerve conduction velocities, and weekly frequency of hemodialysis.     

Carotid Disease Is a Risk Factor for Stroke in Coronary Bypass Operations

A bstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of perioperative major cere-brovascular events (MCVEs) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to develop preventive therapy. After excluding the patients with marked ascending aortic atheromas and those with combined intracardiac procedures such as valve replacement and aneurysmectomy, 722 consecutive patients who had carotid artery duplex scanning (CADS) and CABG were studied. The results of the study showed the correlation of advanced age, smoking, previous major cerebrovascular event (MCVE), and severe coronary artery disease with high grade carotid artery stenosis of 80–99% (p < 0.05). A total of 13 patients had perioperative MCVE and an analysis of risk factors showed that the MCVE correlated with carotid stenosis of > 60% and reduced cardiac output requiring inotropic support (p < 0.01). Prophylactic carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with 80% to 99% carotid stenosis notably decreased the incidence of MCVE (p < 0.01). and the use of the "pump off" technique instead of standard cardiopulmonary bypass decreased MCVE (p = 0.0561. On the basis of these data, prophylactic carotid endarterectomy is effective in averting perioperative MCVE in subjects with carotid stenosis of 80% to 99%. and for those with 6096 to 7996 carotid stenosis, the pump off technique decreases MCVE.     

Fucoidin, a neutrophil rolling inhibitor, reduces damage in a rat electrical burn injury model

Background

Electrical injuries induce progressive tissue loss caused by free oxygen radicals released from neutrophil aggregates. Fucoidin, a potent inhibitor of L-selectin function, reduces the aggregation of neutrophils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fucoidin on tissue damage in rat electrical burn injury model.

Methods

Forty-two male Wistar albino rats (250–300 g) were divided into 3 groups (Group A (n = 6), control group without electrical burn injury; Groups B (n = 18) and C (n = 18), electrical burn injury groups without and with fucoidin therapy, respectively). Three separate analyses were performed at different time points on 6 out of 18 mice from Group B and C at each time point. Biochemistry (myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels) and histopathology (number of neutrophils) of the skin and muscle biopsies at 1st hour; tissue edema (ratio of wet weight/dry weight of extremities) at 24th hour; and necrotic areas at 7th day after electrical injury were evaluated. The electrical burn was induced by exposing rats to 220 V AC between their left upper extremity and right lower extremity for 10 s. Fucoidin was administered as 25 mg/kg intravenous bolus injection at 15 min after electrical burn injury.

Results

Myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels, number of neutrophils, tissue edema, and necrotic area were significantly less in fucoidin-applied rats than the group without fucoidin therapy.

Conclusions

Fucoidin inhibits tissue damage induced by electrical burn injury in rats by reducing necrotic area, edema and number of neutrophils.     

Postpartum-onset major depression is associated with personality disorders

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the incidence rate of postpartum-onset major depression (PPMD) and to examine associated sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric factors, and personality disorders. METHOD: The study data were obtained from 302 women who delivered at a child and maternity hospital. We interviewed the new mothers on the first day of their childbirth and at 6 weeks postpartum. Major depression and axis II diagnoses were determined by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, and the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition, Personality Disorders, respectively. RESULTS: Nineteen (6.3%) women had new-onset major depression during 6 weeks postpartum. Postpartum-onset major depression was unrelated to age, educational level, employment status, planned or unplanned pregnancy, history of abortion and gestational complications, term of delivery, type of delivery, sex of the baby, and mother's breast-feeding. Frequency of primiparity and of avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders was higher in women with PPMD than that in women without PPMD. As a result of logistic regression analysis, the independent predictor of PPMD was the presence of avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that childbearing women with avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders have increased risk of new-onset major depression during the postpartum period.