Quantitative determination of xipamide in pure form and in tablets through complexation with iron [III] chloride

Two simple, accurate, and reproducible spectrophotometric methods for the determination of Xipamide [XIP] in pure form and in pharmaceutical preparations were described. The first method was based on the formation of orange complex between iron [III] chloride and the investigated drug. The method permits the determination of XIP over a concentration range 20-160 micro g ml[-1] at 490 nm. The second method was developed by formation of ternary complex by reaction of the drug with Fe [III] chloride and ophenanthroline [phen] in the presence of sodium lauryl sulphate as surfactant and measuring the absorbance at 440 nm. The method obeys Beer's law over the concentration range of 10-80 micro g ml[-1]. The factors affecting the formation of complexes were studied and optimized. The relative standard deviations of these methods were less than 1.0% and their detection limits were 2.75-4.45 micro g ml[-1]. The methods have been successfully applied for the determination of the studied drug in its pharmaceutical tablets and the results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by the reference method

Preparation of casein-chitosan sustained release microspheres containing indomethacin

A combination of polymers, casein and chitosan, was used for the preparation of sustained - release indomethacin microspheres by applying aqueous complex coacervation technique. The incorporation efficiencies of indomethacin within casein chitosan microspheres were achieved between 30.5-60.7% in the different prepared batches depending on the preparation conditions. Encapsulation efficiency was found to be 50.2 and 60.7 for 120 and 40 minutes hardening time, respectively. The results showed an increase in the mean microspheres diameter with the increase in casein concentration from 5% to 30% w/v. It was also observed that the larger the amount of initially loaded indomethacin into the microspheres that smaller was the microspher diameter. In addition, increasing chitosan concentration from 0.5 to 1.5% w/v decreased the mean microspheres diameter from 870 +/- 23 to 678 +/- 12 microm. Variation in chitosan concentration showed small effect on the particle size distribution where, increasing chitosan concentration slightly shifts the particle sizes to small diameter. Results show that the longer the stirring time [2 hours], the smaller was the microspheres size. The microspheres exhibited angle of repose values between 31- 42 and the values of the compressibility index were lower than 15% in some batches. An initial release [brust effect] of the drug is exhibited in all the prepared microspheres where 28-45% of the drug was released in the first 30 minutes in all the cases depending on the preparation conditions. Increase in casein concentration significantly decreases the rate of indomethacin release from the microspheres [P

Ultrasonographyic and histopathological study of the gallbladder in bilharzial periportal fibrosis

Ultrasonographic scanning of 100 patients with bilharzial periportal fibrosis was done and showed that the incidence of gallstone was 7%. These patients showed also a statistically significant increase in gallbladder wall thickness in comparison to control patients Mean, 6.41mms and 1.9mms respectively. Cholecystomy and pathological examination of the removed speciemen was performed in 20 bilharzial patients.Chronic inflammation was found in 90% and bilharzial granuloma in 10%.From this study, its shown that the high incidence of gallstone in patients with bilharzial periportal fibrsis could be explained in addition to the role of the liver by gallbladder disease proved ultrasonographically and pathologically

Ultrasound assessment of uterine involution

Uterine involution was studied ultrasonographically in 130 patients. The patients included 4 groups: Group I of 40 patients, 20 of them were primiparas and 20 multiparas to study the effect of parity on the rate of involuation. Group II of 30 patients, 15 of them delivered vaginally and the other 15 delivered by cesarean section to study the effect of the mode of delivery on uterine involution. Group III of 20 patients, 10 of them were lactating and the other 10 non-lactating to study the effect of lactation on uterine involution. Group 1 V of 40 patients, 20 of them received ecbolics and the other 20 did not to study the effects of ecbolics. The results have shown that parity and ecbolics have no effects on the rate of uterine involution. The rate of uterine involution was faster in breast feeders and those delivered vaginally compared to non-breast feeders and those delivered by cesarean section [P < 0.05]. Ultrasonography proved to be a useful method for assessing uterine involution

Histology of vulvar skin: relative depth of skin appendages and subcutaneous fat

The relative depth of skin appendages in vulvar skin was evaluated in 256 histologic sections taken from 8 patients. The mean hair follicle depth was 1.2 mm [SD = 0.51], with 99.5% of all hair follicles extending no deeper than 2.6 mm from skin surface. The mean depth of dermis-subcutaneous fat junction was 1.3 mm [SD = 0.37], with 99.5% of all junctions being 0.20 mm or more from skin surface. The mean depth of sebaceous glands was 0.64 mm [SD = 0.23], with 99.5% of those glands extending no deeper than 1.28 mm from the surface. These data might be a useful guide during laser vaporization of local vulvar skin lesion affecting skin appendages with preservation of the adjacent normal tissues

Protein C-activity and protein S in chronic liver disease in children

Protein C and protein S were measured in twenty patients [13 males and 7 females] suffering from chronic liver disease. They were all attendants of the pediatric hepatology clinic, Ain Shams University. Their ages ranged between 1-12 years [mean 4.79 +/- 3.13 years]. This group was further subdivided into two subgroups group A :10 patients with liver cirrhosis and group B 10 patients with chronic active hepatitis. A comparable group of 10 healthy children served as control group.All patients as well as the controls were subjected to careful history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations including prothrombin time [PT], partial thromboplastin time [PTT], serum albumin, SCOT and SGPT. Protein C activity and total and free protein S were measured in all the cases.PT and PTT were significantly prolonged, but there was only negative correlation between PC activity and PT in all the patients especially of group A There was a positive correlation between PC activity and albumin in all the patients groups. Protein C activity showed a highly significant decrease in the patients' group, particularly group A, when compared to the control [P < 0.01]. Both total and free protein S were reduced in the patients' group but the decrease wasn't statistically significant. Protein S reduction was not as marked as protein C reduction since the former can be synthesized in sites other than the liver. In conclusion Protein C activity and protein S are decreased in chronic liver disease but the decrease of protein C is more pronounced and depends more on the severity of the disease. Thus it is a good marker of liver cell dysfunction and can be used as a prognostic test in chronic liver disease

Intrauterine insemination

Intrauterine insemination was performed for 118 infertile couples. Through evaluation of these couples revealed male problems in 58 cases, cervical factors in 20 cases, anovulation in 24 cases and unexplained infertility in 16 cases. Superovulation was achieved in all patients using human menopausal gonadotropin [HMG] and human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG], semen was prepared by wash and swim-up technique and intrauterine insemination using Wallace catheter was planned 34 to 36 hours after HCG injection. Out of 118 patients, 20 pregnancies were achieved from single attempt [giving a pregnancy rate of 17% per attempt]. The pregnancy rate achieved in this population with prolonged infertility justified the use of IUI

Dorsal nerve block of penis for pain relief in hypospadias surgery

This study was carried out on 30 boys undergoing surgical correction for hypospadias under general anesthesia. They were classified into 2 equal groups, the first group was taken as control, in the second group dorsal nerve of the penis was blocked with 0.25% bupivacaine through lateral approach. The block was successful in all patients as observed by the significant decrease in pulse rate in the block group. Halothane concentration was significantly less in the blocked group with quick recovery of consciousness, children were quiet during recovery of consciousness and analgesia extended into the postoperative period

Correlation between peripheral hormonal profile and mid-luteal endometrial histology in patients with unexplained infertility

This study investigates the relationship between mid luteal endometrial histology and serum levels of progesterone and estradiol, also the relationship between endometrial dating and serum levels of prolactin, FSH, LH, T3 and T4. The results revealed that patients having progesterone values less than 4.6 mg/ml, estradiol values less than 86 pg/ml showed proliferative or anovular pattern. On the other hand 100% of patients with progesterone values over 9.9 ng/ml and 84% of patients having estradiol over 86 pg/ml, showed secretory activity. There was a good correlation between endometrial histology and progesterone and estradiol, specially progesterone which showed 100% correlation

Intercorrelations of the anthropometric measurements of the newborn infants in upper Egypt

A study of 151 hospital births in Minia district in Upper Egypt revealed significant intercorrelations of the anthropometric measurements of the newborn infants. The best correlation of birth weight is with raidarm circumference and with head circumference. Birth weight of < 2.5 kg is the criterion of low birth weight and mid-arm circumference of < 8.9 cm or head circumference of < 31.4 cm has good predictive value in identifying this risk group. This trial is performed in order to select a simple measure which could be substituted for weight when problems prevent weighing of every newborn infant. Skinfold thickness of the studied newborns can be used to measure subcutaneous fat but not maturity of the baby. Skinfold thickness has low correlations with body lengths and high correlations with birth weight and arm circumference. However, because of non-linear relation to body weight, it is not recommended to use skinfold thickness in regression equations to predict birth weight