Simultaneous determination of sulfasalazine and its metabolites sulfapyridine and N-acetylsulfapyridine in human serum by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography using a polymer-based column

An HPLC method is described for the simultaneous and rapid determination of sulfasalazine (salicylazosulfapyridine) and two of its metabolites, sulfapyridine and N-acetylsulfapyridine, in human serum. The range of quantitation is 0.1 to 12 micrograms/mL for sulfasalazine and sulfapyridine and 0.25 to 12 micrograms/mL for N-acetylsulfapyridine. Serum is mixed with acetonitrile containing the internal standard sulfamethazine and the ion-pairing agent tetraethylammonium chloride. The acetonitrile extract is concentrated and analyzed by HPLC, using a new polymer-based column, and detected by UV spectroscopy at 270 nm. This paper is the first both to describe the simultaneous analysis of all three of the compounds from serum and to present sulfasalazine concentration-time data following oral administration to humans.     

Postoperative Intravenous Drip Infusion is not Required after Minilaparotomy Cholecystectomy

Objective: To determine if drip infusion should be discontinued after full recovery of the patient from anaesthesia after minilaparotomy cholecystectomy in uncomplicated cases.Design: A randomised controlled clinical trial on 60 patients, from the waiting list, of cholelithiasis/cholecystitis operated by minilaparotomy cholecystectomy between November 1995 to March 1996. 30 patients did not receive postoperative IV drip infusion and in 30 patients 12–24 hours of standard drip transfusion was continued according to the current practice.Setting: Single Surgical Unit, SS Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.Main outcome measure: Recognition of clinical indication for continuation of. IV drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia.Results: In the cohorts of 30 patients each who were or were not given IV drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia following minilaparotomy cholecystectomy the observations on pulse rate, blood pressure, time to first voiding of urine and time to start first oral intake of fluids were identical. However postoperative urinary retention occured in 6 (20%) patients in whom the IV drip infusion was given.Conclusion: There is no clinical indication to continue IV drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia in patients operated for minilaparotomy cholecystectomy.     

T and B lymphocytes in patients with enteric fever.

Estimation of T and B lymphocytes was done in 50 patients of enteric fever, 50 duration matched non enteric fever patients and 50 normal healthy individuals. The difference in both early and late rosette forming T lymphocytes was found to be statistically significant in enteric versus non-enteric patients. Significant difference was also observed in enteric versus normal individuals in case of late rosette forming T lymphocytes.     

Sweeteners, flavorings, and dyes in antibiotic preparations

Even though a variety of adverse effects caused by sweeteners, flavorings, and dyes in susceptible individuals have been reported, there is no good single reference with information about these substances in pediatric antimicrobials. Data on sweeteners, flavorings, and dyes in 91 antimicrobial preparations were collected. Sucrose was present in 74 (85%) of 87 preparations, followed by saccharin in 30 (34%) preparations. Mannitol, lactose, and sorbitol were each present in 7 preparations. None of the preparations were free of sweeteners. Thirty-four (37%) of 91 preparations did not specify the flavoring content. While cherry was the most common flavoring used, there were 25 other flavorings. Thirteen different dyes and coloring agents were used in these antimicrobials. Red dye no. 40 was present in 45% of preparations. Tables detailing sweeteners, flavorings, and dyes in different groups of antimicrobials (amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins, erythromycin, penicillins, sulfonamides, and others) and adverse effects reported with these inert ingredients are presented. These tables should be helpful to physicians in selecting an antimicrobial containing a different sweetener and/or dye when an adverse reaction occurs.     

Genotoxic effect of smoke-dried meat extract in Swiss albino mice using sperm head shape abnormality test.

The genotoxic effect of an extract of smoke-dried meat was assayed by employing in vivo sperm head shape abnormality. A significant dose responsive mutagenic effect was observed using the sperm head shape abnormality test. The result indicates that higher doses i.e., 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt. of smoke meat extract, significantly induced sperm head shape abnormality as compared to lower doses i.e., 20 mg/kg body wt. and control.     

Potassium permanganate resistant amyloid in fine-needle aspirate of the liver

A case of primary amyloidosis, initially detected by fine-needle aspiration of the liver, is reported here. Amorphous acellular metachromatic material was seen extracellularly in between the hepatocytic cords compressing them. This material showed typical apple-green birefringence under crossed bipolars after alkaline Congo-red staining proved its amyloid nature. It was resistant to potassium permanganate pretreatment, indicating it to be of the AL type. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mitogenic, chemotactic, and synthetic responses of rat periodontal ligament fibroblastic cells to polypeptide growth factors in vitro.

The mitogenic, chemotactic, and synthetic responses of rat periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblastic cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF)-AB, rhPDGF-BB, natural (n) PDGF-AB, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were examined in vitro using PDL cells obtained from the coagulum of healing tooth sockets. PDGFs and IGF-I have potent and comparable mitogenic effects on PDL fibroblastic cells. The maximum mitogenic effect of PDGFs was observed at the concentration of 10 ng/ml, whereas that of IGF-I was seen at concentrations higher than 100 ng/ml. In contrast, EGF induced moderate, and TGF-beta inhibitory mitogenic responses. The combination of rhPDGF-AB with either EGF or TGF-beta demonstrated comparable mitogenic potency, equivalent to the level of PDGF alone regardless of the mitogenic effect of other growth factors. The combination of rhPDGF-AB and IGF-I, however, showed a synergistic effect revealing the highest mitogenic effect among all individual growth factors as well as any combinations of the growth factors tested. Similarly, PDL fibroblastic cells demonstrated strong chemotactic responses to both IGF-I and PDGFs. The maximum effect was observed by IGF-I at concentrations higher than 10 ng/ml, followed by rhPDGF-BB at 0.1 ng/ml, rhPDGF-AB and nPDGF at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1 ng/ml. TGF-beta revealed no, and EGF slightly increased, chemotactic effects. IGF-I slightly enhanced the synthesis of total protein, whereas other factors had no significant effect. However, both rhPDGF-AB and TGF-beta stimulated collagen synthesis. On the other hand, IGF-I showed no effect on collagen synthesis, while EGF suppressed collagen synthesis. These findings suggest that rhPDGF-BB and IGF-I stimulate proliferation and chemotaxis of PDL fibroblastic cells. In addition, the combination of these growth factors further increases the mitogenic effect. rhPDGF-AB also stimulates collagen synthesis by PDL fibroblastic cells. Thus, rhPDGF-BB and IGF-I may have important roles in promotion of PDL healing, and consequently, may be useful for clinical application in periodontal regenerative procedures.