oxidative stress and the anti-oxidant mechanisms in patients with vitiligo in relation to the duration and severity of the disease

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. Previous studies showed that the progress of auto-immune diseases may be related to oxidative modification of cellular structures by free radicals, and at least partly depends on the concentration of antioxidants at critical cellular sites. The present work was arranged to evaluate the alterations in oxidative stress as measured by plasma and red blood cells Malondialdehyde [MDA] and the changes in antioxidant mechanism as measured by plasma and red blood cells Glutathione [GSH] in patients with vitiligo, in comparison to a healthy control group. These changes were studied according to the severity and duration of the disease. Fifty patients with vitiligo were included in this study. The severity of the disease was graded according to the rule of nine into three grades [mild, moderate, and severe]. Duration of the diseases was graded into 2 grades [less than 6 months and equal or more than 6 months]. Plasma and red blood cells Malondialdehyde [MDA], and plasma and red blood cells Glutathione [GSH] were assessed in all patients. The results showed that plasma and red blood cells Malondialdehyde [MDA] were high in mild cases and in the early course of the disease, while they were low in severe and chronic cases. Plasma Glutathione [GSH] was low in mild and acute cases while it reached near to normal levels in chronic and extensive cases. Free radicals are high in mild, and in the early course of the disease in patients with vitiligo, and near to normal in chronic, generalized vitiligo. Similarly, the antioxidants are low in mild, and in the early course of the disease in patients with vitiligo, and near to normal in chronic, generalized disease

Is it helicobacter pylori or are they the drugs?

The study included 22 patients of age range 12-76 years. They were selected carefully to have history of drug that induced their gastroduodenal disorders. Biopsy specimens were taken from the gastric antrum of each patient to detect Helicobacter pylori infection by the urease test. Significant association was found between Helicobacter pylori infection and drugs induced gastro duodenal disorders. As the infection was detected in 90.9% of the total patients. Treatment was given to nine H. pylori positive patients which included a single dose of amoxycillin [3gm/week] plus metronidazole [750 mg/day] for a period of two weeks. This regimen was found to be effective in eradicating H. pylori and resulted in disappearance of signs and symptoms in 83.3% of the patients who had gastroduodenal disorder triggered by drugs.

Ciprofloxacin and metronidazol in the treatment of gastroduodenal disorders

The study included 42 patients of age range 16-58 years, were selected randomly from the gastroenterology unit. They were suffering of gastrointestinal disorders and diagnosed as having gastritis, duodenal ulcer or duodenitis. Biopsy specimen was taken from the gastrointestinal lesion from each patient to detect Helicobactor pylori infection by the urease test. Significant association was found between Helicobactor pylori infection and the gastrointestinal disorder being diagnosed, as the infection was detected in 85.7% of the total patients. The infection was detected in 94.1%, 76.4% and 87.5% of the patients having gastritis, duodenal ulcer and duodenitis respectively. A new treatment regimen was tried in this study to eradicate Helicobactor pylori infection. Biopsy specimen was taken from each patient after two weeks of treatment to figure out the effect of therapy on the eradication of Helicobactor pylori. The regimen used included a combination ofciprodar [ciprofloxacin 500 mg. b.i.d.] plus flagyl [metronidazol 200mg. q.i.d.] for two weeks. This regimen was found significantly effective in eradicating Helicobactor pylori and resulted in disappearance of signs and symptoms with the healing of the gastrointestinal lesion. This combination therapy resulted in a healing rate of 81.25%. But there was a difference in response between gastritis, duodenal ulcer and duodenitis. Patients with duodenitis were found to be the most responsive to this regimen. The resultant healing rates were 76.9%, 83.7% and 85.7% for gastritis, duodenal ulcer and duodenitis respectively.

Formulations and in vitro evaluations of an effervescent dosage form for diazepam, pyridoxine hydrochloride, dimenhydrinate, and ibuprofen

Different dosage forms for a certain drug could be considerably affected its bioavailability and consequently its pharmacological effect. Effervescent tablets were prepared For diazepam [2,5,10 mg], pyridoxine HCL [50 mg],. dimenhydrinate [50 mg], and ibuprofen [200 mg]. For the first three drugs, an effervescent base which was composed from sodium bicarbonate; tartaric acid; and citric acid in a a ratio of 3.44: 2:1, respectively, was used. On the other hand, a ratio of 5.44: 0.5: 0.5 was used for ibuprofen. For all formulations 1.5% polyethylene glycol [PEG 6000] was used as a lubricant. The resulted effervescent tablets were evaluated physically and chemically. The results showed that hardness of these tablets was in the range of 3.5- 5.6 kg with a friability of less than 1%. At the same time, disintegration time for these talets was 1.8 - 3.0 mins. and the pH of the resulted solutions was in a range of 5.15- 7.24. The stability of the prepared effervescent tablets was also studied at 40C, 50C, and 60C for eight weeks. The calculated expiration date [t 10%] for diazepam, pyridoxine HC1, dimenhydrinate, and ibuprofen was about 2.32,2.1, 2.2, and 2.38 years, respectively. The data of this study encourage the formulation of effervescent tablet for above drugs which might affect the patient compliance and absorption of these drugs

Formulation of potassium chloride as a sustained release oral solid dosage form I

Many trials were made to prepare a satisfactory formula for potassium chloride as a sustained release tablet dosage form by employing various retardants [carnauba wax, stearic acid and bees wax] using fusion method for dispersion. It was found that the release of drug is affected by the concentration of total wax contents, by the type of waxy material, and by the ratio of one type of wax to the other when a combination of two waxes were used. The best formula was obtained from combination of carnauba wax and stearic acid as a 20% total wax contents of the tablet weight in a ratio of 1:1. In addition, acrylic resin Eudragit[TM] Ll00 and Eudragit[TM] RS PM were used as a film coating material. More satisfactory results were obtained by coating the tablet for 5 times with Eudragit[TM] Ll00 which has an enteric property. Comparing the dissolution of the prepared tablets with KCL- retard Zyma[R] tablets showed that, the release of drug from the selected formula was more or less similar to that obtained from KCL- retard Zyma[R] tablets at pH 7.6 and 37C. The dissolution rate constants were: K1: 0.5 meq. min-1/2, K2: 0.27 meq. min-1/2 and K1: 0.52 meq. min-1/2, K2: 0.31 meq. min -1/2, for the selected formula and KCL- retard Zyma[R]] tablets, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the selected formula could be used to prepare sustained release tablets of potassium chloride

Comparative bioavailability and pharacokinetic study between the formulated sustained release potassium chloride tablets and KCL-retard Zyma [R] tablets II

The bioavailability of the formulated enteric coated sustained release potassium chloride tablets was measured from the urinary excretion data of the drug after a single does of 40 meq k+ [5 tablets]. The cumulative excretion data showed that 80% +/- 13.56 of the administered does was excreted within 24 hours. The bioavailability of the formulated tablets was 94.87% relative of the commercially available sugar coated KCL- retard Zyma [R] tablets