Evaluation of directly observed treatment short courses at a secondary health institution in Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwestern Nigeria

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the success rate of tuberculosis intervention programme at a specialist hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria through a retrospective study as well as carry out physicochemical evaluation of anti-tuberculous agents as a way of eliminating drug-related failure.@*METHODS@#The retrospective study involved the use of quarterly tuberculosis central register at the Government Chest Hospital, Ibadan between 1st quarter (2003) to 4th quarter (2009). Relevant data were extracted from these register with the aid of data collection forms. The basic physicochemical analyses of the drugs given to the patients were also carried out using the International Pharmacopoeia methods.@*RESULTS@#All the drugs examined for their physicochemical properties passed the International Pharmacopeia recommended tests. A total number of 1 260 patients enrolled at the hospital were assessed through case notes. This comprises of 59.4% males of which 69.23% new cases were also males. There was a significant (P0.05). Failure rates in all categories were higher in males than females (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#More enlightenment and counseling is still required to meet up with the target for TB control.

Determination of the physicochemical properties of pyronaridine - a new antimalarial drug

The physicochemical properties of pyronaridine, a new antimalarial drug, have been determined for the first time in this study, since these parameters are comprehensively not available in literature. UV-Vis spectral analysis of both pyronaridine and its tetraphosphate salt were carried out in various solvents, in addition to solubility of the two drugs in these solvents. Partition coefficient was done in n-octanol-water mixture using the Leo-Hansch method as well hydrophobicity index determination. pKa determination was carried out on the tetraphosphate. UV-Vis spectral characteristics showed that both the base and the tetraphosphate salt have significant light absorption in the range 190-380nm. Solubility in different solvents revealed that pyronaridine base is sparingly soluble in chloroform [1.34%] while it is slightly soluble in methanol [0.29%] and ethanol [0.42%] and very slightly soluble in octanol and distilled water. The tetraphosphate salt was sparingly soluble in water [1.46%] while it is only very slightly soluble in other solvents. The higher aqueous solubility of the salt was further revealed by a greater Rm value on extrapolation to 100% water concentration in hydrophobicity index determination. Log P value determination showed that the base [log P of 0.26 +/- 0.02] is more liposoluble than the salt [logP of - [1.24 +/- 0.21]]. Four prominent pKa values were obtained for the tetraphosphate titrated which when extrapolated to the base gave values of 7.08 +/- 0.05, 7.39 +/- 0.05, 9.88 +/- 0.05 and 10.30 +/- 0.10. The results should guide in formulation of appropriate dosage forms to improve bioavailability of the drug especially from oral routes

Rapid colorimetric assay of diclofenac sodium tablets using 4-carboxyl-2, 6-dinitro-benzene diazonium ion [CDNBD]

This study describes a novel simple, rapid and sensitive colorimetric assay method for diclofenac sodium tablets. The method is based on a simple aromatic ring derivatization technique using newly developed 4-carboxyl-2, 6-dinitrobenzenediazonium ion [CDNBD] as chromogenic derivatizing reagent with subsequent formation of an azo dye. The diazo coupling reaction was carried out between CDNBD and diclofenac. Optimization studies for time and temperature was conducted using the method of steepest ascent. The UV absorption spectrum was recorded and the stoichiometric ratio for the drug and reagent was done by continuous variation method. Optimal calibration range was fixed [1-way ANOVA] and then the method was applied to dosage form analysis. Comparison of dosage form analysis was done with the BP HPLC method. The diazo coupling reaction is very fast and optimization studies established an optimal reaction immediately after mixing the reaction mixture in a vortex mixer for 10 sec. A new absorption maximum [lamda max] at 470nm was selected as analytical wavelength. The assays were linear over 1.35 -10.8 micro g/ml of diclofenac and the reaction required a 2:1 reagent/drug stoichiometric ratio. The new method has a low limit of detection of 0.27 microg/ml, and was reproducible over a three-day assessment of precision [RSD 2.31%]. The method has been successfully applied to the assay of diclofenac sodium slow-release tablets and found to be of equivalent accuracy [p>0.05] with the official [B.P 1998] HPLC method. The new method has distinct advantages of speed, simplicity, sensitivity, and more affordable instrumentation and could find application as a rapid analytical method for diclofenac sodium tablets