ABSTRACT
Introduction: Accurate measurement of HbA1c is crucial in the diabetic control and diagnosis. Elevated levels of HbF are reported to falsely decrease the HbA1c result and effect is very much method dependent. Material & Methods: Commercial assay methods G8 HPLC analyzer and DCA 2000 were evaluated. G8 is an ion exchange, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method that measures the HbA1c as a percentage of total amounts of hemoglobin present in the sample. Two whole blood EDTA patient pools were prepared with HbA1c concentrations in the normal (5% to 7%) and abnormal range (7% to 8%). All chromatograms from G8 were reviewed for any change in the peak resolution time due HbF concentrations. Results: The mean value for normal and abnormal pool was 5.8% and 7.5% resp. HbF showed no interference on Tosoh HbA1c results up to 30% in normal pool and up to 25% in abnormal pool. Observed difference between G8 and both Dimension EXL and DCA 2000 was clinically significant beyond 10% HbF. Conclusion: Accurate measurement of HbA1c is crucial for the decision making for diabetic control and diagnosis. The allowable error proposed by College of American Pathologist (CAP) is 6% therefore, appropriate knowledge about factors interfering with HbA1c results is absolutely important.
ABSTRACT
A multidrug‑resistant clinical isolate of Ralstonia pickettii from a woman was analysed. Modified Hodge test was positive for carbapenemase production. Conjugation experiment revealed the presence of conjugative plasmid of >140 Kb size typed as IncN type. This is the first report of emergence blaVIM‑2 in R. pickettii in India.
ABSTRACT
Piperine, [1-[5-[1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl]-1-oxo-2,4, pentadienyl] piperidine], is a pungent alkaloid present in Piper nigrum Linn, and P. longum Linn. It is shown to enhance the bioavailability of various structurally and therapeutically diverse drugs. A concise mechanism responsible for its bioavailability enhancing action is poorly understood. This study is an effort to understand the absorption dynamics of piperine in intestine on oral absorption. It encompasses intestinal everted sacs as an experimental model. Cycloheximide treatment and exclusion of Na+ salts from incubating medium were the variables used. Absorption half life, absorption rate, absorption clearance and apparent permeability co-efficient were computed from the data. Experiments to denote physico-chemical characteristics of this moiety exhibited that it is a weak base, highly lipophilic in nature with partial solubility in aqueous media. It exhibited passive diffusion constituting non-saturable absorption kinetics. Transport of piperine was not resisted by UWL and was proposed to be absorbed through transcellular pathway. It displayed short absorption clearance and high apparent permeability co-efficient. Data thus obtained suggested that piperine is absorbed very fast across the intestinal barrier. It may act as an apolar molecule and form apolar complex with drugs and solutes. It may modulate membrane dynamics due to its easy partitioning thus helping in efficient permeability across the barriers.