Evaluation of newly formulated antiulcer drug on experimental ulcer model

The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential gastric protective and therapeutic effects of ranitidine mucoadhesive hydrogel formulae against ethanol induced gastric ulceration in rats. Adult female albino rats weighing between 200-220 g ,75 rats for evaluation of mucoadhesiveness of hydrogel and 70 rats for evaluation of protective and therapeutic effect of ranitidine hydrogel. The seventy rats were randomly divided into two experiments, protective and therapeutic effects of newly developed ranitidine mucoadhesive hydrogel formulae containing polymer mixture of Chitosan and Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose [HPMC] at ratio 9:1 [F1] or mixture of Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose [NaCMC] and HPMC at ratio 9:1 [F2]. Each experiment has five groups, seven rats each; group 1 serves as control and group 2 serves as ulcer control since received a single oral dose of absolute ethanol [5ml/kg body weight]. Group 3 ulcer group received an oral dose of ranitidine [27mg/kg], while groups 4 and 5 ulcer group received newly formulae of ranitidine F1and F2 respectively. In the present study some gastric parameters as ulcer index, total acidity, gastric volume and pH besides some biochemical parameters as alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC], total protein [TP] level and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] activity were carried out at the end of the experimental period.The present study showed that F1 revealed more protective and therapeutic potency than F2 as it was significantly reduced ulcer index, total acidity, gastric volume and pH in comparison to ulcerated group [p<0.05]. Also, the biochemical markers ALT, AST and TAC were decreased significantly compared to ulcerated group in both experiments. TP level and ALP activity were altered among different treatments. Moderate improvement in mucus secretion was recorded for F1 and F2 treatments than the reference drug. The present results were confirmed by the histopathology findings. Collectively, the current study confirmed the better therapeutic action of formulae 1 and 2 over the pure drug and that F1 was the most potent formula. Also, it encouraged the use of F2 as a curative agent of ulceration rather than a protective one

Chemical constituents of dichrostachys cinera, Haematoxylon campechianum and Sopher japonica leaves

The chemical constituents of Dicheostachys cinera, Hematoxylon campechianum and Sophora japonica leaves [Fam. Leguminosa] were studied. The coumarin fraction of D. cinera leaves was found to contain imperatorin I, marmesin II and esculetin III, whereas, stigmasterol IV and beta-sitosterol V were isolated from the unsaponifiable fraction. The coumarin fraction of H. campechianum leaves led to isolation of imperatorin I, umbelliferone VI and marmesin II, whereas, beta-amyrin VII, stigmasterol IV and beta-sitosterol V were isolated from the unsaponifiable fraction. Also, the coumarin fraction of S. japonica leaves was found to contain herniarin VIII, scopoletin IX, umbelliferone VI, marmesin II and esculetin III whereas, stigmasterol IV and beta-sitosterol V were isolated from the unsaponifiable fraction

Synthesis of N, N'-bis [N-4-N-methylcarbamyl-oxymethylthioxanthen-9-on-1-yI aminoethyI] piperazine of possible antitumor activity

N,N'-bis [N-[4-hydroxymethylthioxanthen-9-on-1-yl] piperazine and its N-methylcarbamate derivative have been synthesized. The compounds are considered a combination of two molecules of the antischistosomal drug, hycanthone. The two compounds are possibly active as antitumor as well as antischistosomal

Some hormonal assays in colostrum versus mature breast milk

This study was carried out on 25 healthy lactating mothers who breast fed their infants during the first 20 postpartum weeks. Human milk samples were collected from lactating mothers at one of the following: Colostrum [days l-5] and mature breast milk [2- 20 postpartum weeks]. Prolactin, cortisol, insulin, TSH, T3 and T4 levels were determined by RIA. It was concluded that prolactin is the main lactogenic hormone, while cortisol and TSII appear to have an important role in the maintenance of lactation. Prolactin and cortisol levels in milk are necessary for normal growth of neonates. Furthermore, breast milk is considered the main source of thyroid hormone during the early lactation period

Role of blood lactic acid in assessing the need for erythrocyte transfusion in healthy preterm infants with anemia of prematurity

The study included 60 healthy preterm infants [26 males and 34 females] with anemia of prematurity during the second week of life. Their gestational age ranged from 28 to 33 weeks. They were selected from the neonatology unit of A1-Hussein University Hospital during the period front June, 1994 to March, 1995. The aim of this work is to evaluate blood lactic acid as an indicator of early tissue hypoxia in identifying the need of blood transfusion to anemic otherwise healthy preterm infants and consequently save unnecessary blood transfusion. The results showed that the infant's body weight at transfusion and the estimated hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly increased after blood transfusion. There was a significant decrease in high blood lactate levels after blood transfusion while there was not such a decrease in normal lactate group following red cell transfusion. Moreover, there was a very high significant correlation between high blood lactate group and hematocrit values before and after blood transfusion, while such correlation was not found in nomal lactate group. We can conclude that elevated blood lactate levels is a good indicator to identify the need of anemic otherwise healthy preterm infants to save unnecessary blood transfusion

Evaluation of urinary leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests for diagnosis of bacterial urinary tract infections in the pediatric intensive care unit

This study included 100 infants and children with some urinary tract symptoms who were selected from the pediatric intensive care unit of Al-Hussein University Hospital. The aim of this work is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the urinary leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests on random urine samples. Also, microscopic urinalysis and urine culture were done to patients with some urinary troubles in the pediatric ICU to provide guidelines for its use. The results showed that the urinary leukocyte esterase test had a sensitivity of 80.36% in detecting leukocyturia [> 10 leukocytes/mm3].The urinary nitrite test had a specifity of 98.01% in detecting bacteriuria. The combination of the urinary leukocyte esterase, nitrite tests and microscopic urinalysis for bacteriuria had a sensitivity of 100%, a specifity of 99.23% and a negative predictive value of 100%. We conclude that, the urinary leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests are rapid screening tests for diagnosis of bacterial urinary tract infections in the pediatric intensive care unit