Ciprofloxacin-induced QTc prolongation.

Ciprofloxacin has been widely used for treating infections and has been found to have very low cardiovascular side effects. QTc prolongation with the use of ciprofloxacin is yet to be reported in literature. A case report highlighting QTc prolongation by use of ciprofloxacin is being presented.

Comparison of aminophylline and insulin-dextrose infusions in acute therapy of hyperkalemia in end-stage renal disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare the efficacy of aminophylline and insulin-dextrose infusion as acute treatment modality of hyperkalemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: This study was conducted on 30 ESRD patients with serum potassium > 6.0 mEq/L. These patients were divided in two groups of 15 each. Group A patients were treated with aminophylline infusion, whereas group B patients were treated with insulin-dextrose infusion. Serum potassium and other biochemical parameters such as blood sugar were measured at beginning of treatment followed by at 60 minutes, 180 minutes, and 360 minutes after treatment. RESULTS: Intervenous infusion of aminophylline lowered plasma potassium from 6.48 +/- 0.39 mEq/L to 5.92 +/- 0.40 mEq/L at 180 minutes (p < 0.001 Vs basal) and 6.05 +/- 0.53 mEq/L at 360 minutes (p < 0.01 Vs basal). Whereas, intravenous infusion of insulin-dextrose decreased plasma potassium from 6.59 +/- 0.31 mEq/L to 5.76 +/- 0.32 mEq/L (p < 0.001 Vs basal) and 5.84 +/- 0.21 mEq/L (p < 0.001 Vs basal). Thus in both groups, plasma potassium levels were significantly less than basal levels throughout the study. The decrease in plasma potassium was significantly more in group B patients (p value is < 0.001 after 60 minutes, < 0.05 after 180 minutes and < 0.05 after 360 minutes) when compared to group A patients. There was one episode of hypoglycemia (blood sugar < 60 mg%) in insulin-dextrose infusion group. No other side effects were observed throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Aminophylline is an effective modality for acute treatment of hyperkalemia, though it is less effective than insulin-dextrose infusion. However, more studies are required to confirm these results.

In vivo and in vitro investigations on rotenoids from Indigofera tinctoria and their bioefficacy against the larvae of Anopheles stephensi and adults of Callosobruchus chinensis.

Various plant parts of Indigofera tinctoria L. were collected separately at different growth stages and analysed for their rotenoid content. The total rotenoid content decreased with age; among the plant parts, maximum content was in leaves and minimum in stem. The identity of different rotenoids was confirmed by melting point, mixed melting point, UV and infrared spectral studies, and gas-liquid chromatography. Six rotenoids (deguelin, dehydrodeguelin, rotenol, rotenone, tephrosin and sumatrol) were isolated, identified and quantified in vivo. The static cultures of Indigofera tinctoria were established from seeds on RT medium, and maintained for a period of six months by frequent subculturings. Only four rotenoids were present in callus cultures; sumatrol and tephrosin were absent. The maximum content was found in eight week old tissue after fresh subculturings and minimum at 2 weeks. The toxicological studies of in vivo and in vitro extract against the pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) and mosquito (Anopheles stephensi) larvae, showed that rotenoids were more effective against mosquito larvae than Callosobruchus chinensis. Extracts from callus was more effective against both the test animals than that from plant parts.