Spectrophotometric determination of raloxifene in pure form and pharmaceutical formulation

Five simple and selective spectrophometric methods were developed for quantitative determination of raloxifene [RAL] in pure forms as well as in its pharmaceutical formulation. Method [A] is based on the nitration and subsequent complexation with a neuleophilic reagent forming a yellow colour with [lambda][max] at 389 nm, Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 1.5-9 micro g ml[-1]. LOD and LOQ were found to be 0,054 and 0.180 micro g ml[-1] respectively. Method [B] is based on the coupling of the drug as a phenolic compound with the diazonium salt of o-nitroaniline forming red azodye with [lambda][max] at 520nm. Good linearity obtained in the range of 6-48 micro g ml[-1]. LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.711 and 2.372, respectively. Method [C] is based on coupling with diazo reagent [method B] and subsequent chelation with copper sulphate and extraction of the resulting chelate into chrorofom and measuring the chloroformic layer at 388 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 6-42 micro g ml[-1]. LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.268 and 0.894 micro g ml[-1], respectively. Method [D] involves the reduction of follin ciocalteu's phenol reagent [FCP] by the drug to give a blue colored product which exhibites an absorption maximum at [lambda][max] 660 nm. Regression analysis of Beer's plot showed good correlation in the concentration rage of 1-8 micro g ml[-1]. LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.043 and 0.145 micro g ml[-1], respectively. Method [E] involves the determination of [RAL] by difference spectrometry, the absorbance of the acidic drug solutions were measured against the alkaline drug solutions at 240 nm and calibration graph was plotted which is rectilinear in the range of 1-8 micro g ml[-1]. LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.032 and 0.134 micro g ml[-1], respectively. The optimization of the reaction conditions is investigated, the methods were successfully applied to the analysis of RAL in its pharmaceutical formulation with good recovery

Homocysteine in pregnancy and its complications

This study was done on 197 pregnant women. Fasting plasma total homocysteine [tHcys] was measured in each women at 16th week of pregnancy. They were divided into two groups according to development of preeclampsia. Women who did not develop preeclampsia [n=179] comprised the study group. Fasting plasma tHcys at 16th week of gestation was significantly higher in preeclampsia group compared to control group. Also, the number of cases with tHcys >/90th percentile of controls [>/5.37 ng/dl] was significantly higher in preeclampsia group compared to control group. It could be concluded that hyperhomocysteinemia at 16th week of gestation may be an indirect risk factor for placental vasculopathy predating preeclampsia

Significance of serum iron levels as a biochemical marker in pregnancy-induced hypertension

To determine the changes in serum iron levels, and as a biochemical marker of pregnancy induced hypertension [PIH]. Thirty five primigravidas with PIH and 20 normotensive primigravidas were selected in a prospective study. Serum iron levels were estimated at diagnosis of PIH, at termination of pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Subjects with PIH were found to have higher serum iron levels at diagnosis of PIH and at termination of pregnancy than controls. Serum iron levels in the PIH subjects decreased markedly in the postpartum period simultaneously with the clinical recovery from PIH. Serum iron values of >/ 100 ug/dl was found to different PIH from normotensive pregnancies. Changes in serum iron levels correlated with the clinical course of PIH and appeared to be a specific biochemical marker of PIH although its correlation with the severity of PIH was found to be poor

Breast feeding and urinary tract infection

50 infants aged from 1 to 6 months with [UTI] were encountered in this study and another 25 infants without [UTI] serving as control from January 1994 to January 1995. Out of the 50 infants 37 infants [74%] were exclusively formula fed, 6 infants [12%] were exclusively breast fed and 7 infants [14%] were mixed breast and formula fed. In control group 20 infants [80%] were breast fed and 5 infants [20%] were formula fed. The prevalent organism in UTI infection was Escherichia coli [E. coli] in 73% of cases, Proteus sp. 17% and 18% grew another species of organisms, the mean total IgA in urine of breast fed infants was 241 +/- 41 mug/l while, in formula fed infants the IgA level was 80.5 +/- 2.2 mug/l [P <0.001], the level of secretory IgA was 3 fold increased in breast fed than in formula fed group [mean +/- SD = 192.5 +/- 2.4 and 67.4 +/- 3.1, respectively. These results suggested that, the mean causative organism in UTI infants is E. coli and that breast feeding may prevent this infection probably through increased level of total and secretory IgA in urine

Fat emulsion adversely affects lymphocyte reactivity

This study examined the effects of five parenteral nutrition solutions on in vitro lymphocyte reactivity and measured lymphocyte responsiveness in patients receiving parenteral nutrition. Normal human lymphocytes were incubated with dilutions of: a] an amino acid/ dextrose solution, b] an amino acid-dextrose/fat solution, c] an amino acid solution, d] dextrose, and e] a fat emulsion and lymphocyte responsiveness to antigenic [PPD] and mitogenic [PHA] stimulation was measured. Lymphocyte reactivity was significantly depressed in patients during infusion of the fat emulsion impairs lymphocyte reactivity and suggest that careful consideration should be given using fat emulsion in patients in whom cell-mediated immunity is impaired already

Enhancement of neurophil chemiluminescence after elective gastrointestinal surgery

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that elective surgery as a form of injury has no prolonged deleterious effect on neutrophil activity in nonseptic patients. In the first 9 days after elective gastrointestinal surgery, a biphasic neutrophilia occurs and the metabolic response of neutrophils to an opsonized particle is not impaired. Major elective surgery has no deleterious effects on neutrophil activity, and indeed neutrophil activity may be enhanced

Review of treatment 98 cancer larynx patients

This study included retrospective analysis for 169 patients of laryngeal carcinoma presented to Kasr EI- Eini Center of Radiation oncology and nuclear Medicine at the period 1985-1989 inclusive. Cancer larynx represented 16.25% of all head and neck tumours and 2.04% of all malignancy at the same period. The aim of this work is to study the response to different treatment modalities and to study recurrence rate, disease free interval and survival period for the patients. Only 98 patients attended for regular follow-up for a period of 18 month. 45 patients received radiation therapy only, 38 patients were treated by surgery plus radiation therapy, 9 patients underwent total laryngectomy, 4 patients were treated by radiation therapy plus chemotherapy and 2 patients were treated by radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. Of this group of patients [40.8%] had no evidence of disease recurrence through that period. Recurrence was observed more in cases treated by radiotherapy only [15%] than those treated by surgery and radiotherapy [7%]. Radiotherapy in combination with surgery or alone in dose higher than 50 Gy had better results specially in treatment of locally advanced lesions [T3 - T4] In conclusion, combined treatment modalities in cancer larynx have direct effect on response to treatment, disease free interval and total survival duration. Tumour size, lymph node status have inverse effect on treatment response, disease free interval and total survival also. Regular follow-up and endoscopic examination is advised for proper assessment and early detection of local recurrence