UV-spectrophotometric determination of ampicillin sodium and sulbactam sodium in two-component mixtures

A simple spectrophotometric method is used for the resolution of the binary mixtures of ampicillin sodium and sulbactam sodium. In aqueous solution, zero-order spectra are subject to interference, so first-derivative spectrophotometry was used to enhance the spectral details allowing the determination of ampicillin sodium from the signal at the zero-crossing point for sulbactam sodium at 268 nm. In 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, sulbactam sodium was determined from the absorbance at 260 nm with negligible contribution from ampicillin sodium. Also, sulbactam sodium was determined without interference using first- and second-derivative spectra in 0.1 N sodium hydroxide at 276 nm (peak-height) and 262–284 nm (peak-to-peak), respectively. The method is rapid, simple, does not require a separation step and allows the determination of each drug without interference from the other. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the assay of these drugs in mixtures and in commercial injections.     

Ketamine sedation during spinal anesthesia for arthroscopic knee surgery reduced the ischemia-reperfusion injury markers

We studied the effect of ketamine sedation on oxidative stress during arthroscopic knee surgery with tourniquet application by determining blood and tissue malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and hypoxanthine (HPX) levels. Thirty ASA I-II patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery with tourniquet were randomly divided into two groups. Spinal anesthesia induced with 12.5 mg bupivacaine was administered to all patients. In the ketamine group, after IV administration of 0.01 mg/kg midazolam, a continuous infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg . kg(-1) . h(-1)) was used until the end of surgery whereas the placebo group received a volume-equivalent placebo infusion. Ramsey Sedation Scale (RSS) was used for assessing the sedation level. Venous blood and synovial membrane tissue samples were obtained before ketamine infusion, at 30 min of tourniquet ischemia, and at 5 min after tourniquet deflation for MDA and HPX measurements. Tissue MDA and HPX levels were significantly less in the ketamine group than the control group after reperfusion. RSS scores were higher in the ketamine group without any adverse effect. We conclude that ketamine sedation attenuates lipid peroxidation markers in arthroscopic knee surgery with tourniquet application.     

Does maternal nicotine exposure during gestation increase the injury severity of small intestine in the newborn rats subjected to experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Background/Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal nicotine exposure during gestation on injury severity of small intestine in the newborn rats subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation and cold stress.

Methods

A total of 21 Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats were divided into 3 equal groups. The groups were labeled as group 1, control group; group 2, hypoxia-reoxygenation group; and group 3, nicotine-hypoxia-reoxygenation group. The rats of group 3 were exposed to nicotine via subcuticular injection for the last week of gestation (2 mg/kg/d). Newborn rats were collected immediately after birth to prevent suckling of maternal milk (40 rat pups in group 1, 43 rat pups in group 2, and 41 rat pups in group 3). Litters in groups 2 and 3 were stressed twice daily with asphyxia followed by cold (4°C for 10 minutes) stress to induce hypoxic intestinal injury which is relevant to human necrotizing enterocolitis. Breathing 100% CO₂ for 10 minutes in a chamber followed by 10-minute 100% O₂ breathing was the asphyxia model repeated twice daily. After hypoxia-reoxygenation and cold stress, newborn rats were returned to their mother's cages. This protocol was repeated for the following 2 days, and the rat pups were decapitated on the third day. Using this protocol of asphyxia and cold stress, all of neonatal rats developed clinical and pathological signs of hypoxia-induced intestinal injury. The entire gastrointestinal tract was removed and examined macroscopically. A 2-cm section of distal ileum from each animal was taken for histopathological and biochemical examinations. Histological changes in ileal architecture were scored and graded from 1 to 5. The remaining intestinal tissues of the animals were used for lipid peroxidation analysis.

Results

Typical signs of hypoxia-induced intestinal injury were observed in the 2 experimental groups (groups 2 and 3) macroscopically. There were more grades 3 and 4 injuries in group 3 (P < .05). The malondialdehyde levels were elevated in groups 2 and 3 (P < .001). The malondialdehyde levels of the group 3 were also significantly higher than group 2 (P < .01).

Conclusions

Maternal nicotine exposure during gestation results in higher grade histological injury in newborn rats subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation and cold stress.     

Cystic hygroma in the quadriceps muscle: a sanguine diagnosis for knee pain

Reported here is a 28-year-old female who presented with severe right knee pain and swelling nearby the joint. Ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and eventually surgery were performed. She was diagnosed to have a cystic hygroma in the vastus lateralis muscle. This is the first patient of a cystic hygroma in the quadriceps muscle.     

Musculoskeletal disorders among full-time homemakers in poor communities

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors associated with self-reported musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among full-time female homemakers. METHODS: Data on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and health were collected on 1266 married women aged 15-59 years living in poor suburbs in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. Independent associations with MSD of factors and characteristics were examined using odds ratios (ORs) derived from multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Women's age, weight, and number of children were significantly, positively, independently associated with self-reported MSD, while women's conduct of specific household tasks were not. Women with MSD were more likely to be stressed than women without MSD (OR = 1.5). CONCLUSION: A major finding of this study was the positive association between distress and musculoskeletal disorders. The measures used to assess women's involvement in housework did not account for the duration of time spent performing each household task. Better measures of domestic labor, including housework and childcare, are required to understand better their impact on the health of full-time homemakers and on MSD in particular. Intervention programs to alleviate MSD in full-time homemakers should address psychosocial factors.     

Validation of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess energy and macronutrient intakes of Cuban Americans

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of a 131-item semiquantative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) by comparison with multiple food records in Cuban Americans. DESIGN: The Willet FFQ was administered and food consumptions of three random days (two weekdays and one weekend day) were collected. SETTING: Cuban Americans residing in Miami. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty adult Cuban American volunteers who participated in a larger epidemiological study to evaluate the dietary risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the mean intakes of energy, macronutrients, cholesterol and alcohol estimated by the Willett FFQ and the 3-day food records. For most of the macronutrients the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.14 to 0.71. The correlation coefficient was highest for polyunsaturated fatty acid (r = 0.71, P<0.001) and lowest for protein (r = 0.14, P=0.56). Correlation coefficients for carbohydrate (r = 0.42) and monounsaturated fatty acid (r = 0.43) were only marginally significant (P=0.06). CONCLUSION: Compared with 3-day food records, the Willett FFQ is a reasonable instrument to assess the intakes of most macronutrients and alcohol among Cuban Americans. Further studies should be conducted to validate the usefulness of the Willett FFQ in Cuban Americans for other nutrients.