Batch and flow injection potentiometric monitoring of ceftriaxone sodium in pharmaceutical reparations using two novel membrane sensors

Two novel potentiometric sensors are prepared, characterized and successfully used for static and continuous determination of ceftriaxone sodium [CRXN]. Both sensors are based on the use of plasticized PVC matrix membranes incorporating tetradodecylmethyl ammonium bromide [TDMAB], ortridodecylmethyl ammonium chloride [TDMAC] ion-exchangers and used for quantitative determination of CRXN at concentration level down to 29 micro M using both sensors with a good accuracy. Both sensors offer the advantages of fast response, reasonable selectivity, elimination of drug pre-treatment or separation steps, low cost and possible interfacings with computerized and automated systems. The use of plasticized membrane electrodes were used for continuous monitoring of CRXN offers the advantages of simple design, ease of construction and possible applications to small volumes of drug solutions with little manipulation and without pre-treatment. Both detectors display a wide dynamic measurement range of the drug under continuous mode of operation with a flow rate of 2.0 ml.min[-1] and used for quantitative determination of CRXN. The developed sensors were utilized in static continuous modes successfully for the determination of CRXN in pure powders and in dosage forms. It is worth noting that the developed membrane electrodes exhibited good selectivity toward CRXN over other cephalosporins such as; cefradine, ceftazidime, cefadroxil, cefaclor and cefoperazone, as well as other additives found in the pharmaceutical preparations such as; glucose, fructose and maltose

prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa L. On CCI[4]-treated rats

This study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa L. on lipid peroxidaton, antioxidant systems and liver function in carbon tetrachloridetreated rats. The rats were divided into five experimental groups: Control non-treated group, CCl[-4] intoxicated group, Nigella sativa oil+ CCl[4] group, Nigella sativa seeds + CCl[4] group and Antox + CCl[4] group. Antox was used as a reference antioxidant. All groups received CCl[4] [4 ml/Kg b.wt. in sunflower oil [1:1] Sc] as a first initial dose, then every 15 days [half dose of CCl[4]]. Nigella sativa oil [2ml/Kg b.wt./day by gavage], Nigella sativa crushed seeds [2g/100g diet] and Antox [45.22mg/Kg b.wt./day by gavage] were administered 14 days before Cd4 treatment and continued till the end of the experimental period [45 days].The CCl[4] treatment significantly increased lipid peroxide products [as measured by the concentration of plasma malondialdehyde, MDA,] erythrocyte Giutathione peroxidase [GSHPx] and liver transaminases [ALT and AST] coupled with significant decrease in whole blood Glutathione level [GSH], erythrocyte Superoxide dismutase [Cu-Zn SOD] activity, total protein and albumin levels. The positive protective effect of the test plant or Antox against the deleterious effects of CCl[4] was indicated by a well marked inhibition in malondialdehyde production, regulation of the antioxidant system, decrease in liver transaminases and increase in total protein and albumin levels. The obtained data revealed that Nigella sativa crushed seeds displayed a potent antioxidant effect that super exceeds those recorded by either Antox or Nigella sativa oil

Phytochemical and antiviral studies of some coumarins extracted from grape fruit leaves [Citrus Decumara]

The antiviral effect of the natural coumarins extracted from the grape fruit leaves have been tested in vitro against the replication of measles virus using Vero cell line. Coumarins showed a powerful antiviral effect against measles virus in concentration of 50 ug/ml and also did not interfere with the growth and viability of Vero cells

Evaluation of a rapid assay for detection of rifampicin resistance in my cobacterium tuberculosis; a microbiological, clinical and epidemiological study

The aim of the present study was to portray the clinical and epidemiological features of mycobacterium tuberculosis [MDR-TB] patients and to determine the ability of a commercial kit [fast plaque TB-RifTM test] to correctly identify, within 48 hours, rifampicin susceptibility on the strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultured on solid media and compare it with a conventional method of susceptibility testing. Sputum specimens were collected from hospitalized patients with known or suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. They were examined microscopically after Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Specimens that were 1+ smear +ve were inoculated on LJ medium and incubated for eight weeks. Forty-five cultures were tested for rifampicin susceptibility, employing both the proportion and the fast plaque TB-RifTM test. The study concluded that fast plaque TB-RifTM test offers a performance comparable with the standard conventional method of rifampicin susceptibility testing. Furthermore, it has the advantage of quick results [within 48 hours] without the need for specialized equipment. This makes it a reliable rapid diagnostic tool in testing for rifampicin resistance and as an indicator of MDR in TB

Role of some inflammatory mediators in asthmatic children below 5 years of age

This study was carried on 38 children [24 boys and 14 girls] between 2 and 4 years of age suffering from wheezy chest. In addition, 15 age matched apparently normal children were included in the study serving as normal control group. Eosinophilic cationic protein [ECP], sICAM-1 and E-selectin were measured during both acute exacerbation and stable condition. The results showed that ECP concentration was significantly higher in children with acute wheezy exacerbation than either in stable condition or in control group. Total blood eosinophilic count showed nonsignificant increase in children with acute wheezy exacerbation than either children in stable condition or in control group. Serum sICAM-1 was significantly higher during acute exacerbation of asthmatic children than those in stable condition or control group. The results of E-selectin showed a significant increase during acute exacerbation of asthmatic children than either in stable condition or in control group. E-selectin level in children in stable condition also showed significant difference when compared to control group. These results suggested that these parameters play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthmatic children below 5 years of age

Differential display analysis of mRNAs in chronic myelogenous leukaemia

Analysis of expressed mRNAs with differential display-polymerase chain reaction [DD-PCR] is a powerful tool for the characterization of genes involved in malignant pathways and might identify markers for different phases of chronic myelogenous leukaemia [CML]. We examined the presence of BCR-ABL transcripts in 25 CML patients in either the chronic phase or blast crisis. We then analysed the expression of leukocytic RNA transcripts in CML phases. DD-PCR technique was used to examine CML cases with BCR-ABL in comparison with CML cases lacking detectable BCR-ABL transcripts. Our results support the use of differential display not only for characterization of the CML differentially expressed genes but also to locate patterns that can be implemented as valuable fingerprints for each phase of CML

Beneficial role of L-thyroxine on hepato-renal toxicity induced by amikacin and potassium dichromate

Amikacin aminoglycoside antibiotic, potassium dichromate and L- thyroxine were employed to study the induction of hepatonephrotoxicity changes using potassium dichromate; the effect of amikacin sulfate aminoglycoside antibiotic on liver and kidney functions in normal rats and in rats subjected to potassium dichromate induced hepatonephrotoxicity and to minimize the undue effect of both potassium dichromate and amikacin by either concomitant or pre-administration of L- thyroxine. The following test parameters were carried out in serum: ALT, AST, isocitrate dehydrogenase, glucose-6- phospatase, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine and N- acetyl-B- glucosaminidase. The results indicated that the efficient potassium dichromate induced renal impairment required the use of adult rats weighing 250-350 g. The well-marked changes of all the previous test parameters were investigated throughout the experimental period. Among these parameters, serum albumin level seemed to be of a special concern as a risk factor for aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity. The administration of L- thyroxine [10 mug/100 g body wt.] caused an improvement of kidney and liver functions of rats receiving amikacin or potassium dichromate, respectively

Prophylactic and protective effect of L-thyroxine on hepato-renal dysfunction induced by amika.cin and potassium dichromate

The present study was concerned with amikacin's hepatorenal hazards on certain kidney and liver tissue enzymes in normal rats as well as rats subjected to potassium dichromate induced hepatorenal toxicity. Minimizing the undue effects of both amikacin and potassium dichromate by either concomitant or pre-administration of L-thyroxine was also undertaken. Specific enzyme activity of N-acetyl-beta-D- glucosaminidase, NAG [as a marker of lysosomal enzyme], Na-K- ATPase [as a marker of basolateral membrane enzyme] and glucosed-6-phosphatase, G-6-Pase [as a marker of endoplasmic reticulum] as well as liver 5-nucleotidase specific enzyme activity were measured. The association of potassium dichromate, amikacin or both with the membrane binding caused increased lysosomal hydrolase specific enzyme activity extracted from the liver and kidney tissues, reduction of Na- K-ATPase, G-6-Pase and liver 5-nucleotidase activities, membrane damage in renal tubule of the rats as well as the induction of ultrastructural alterations of the liver. Thyroid hormone had an important stimulatory action on the plasma membrane pump that maintained cellular constancy of sodium and potassium. The recorded data may suggest that L- thyroxine administration may enable the cell to resist liver and kidney injury

Effect of garamycin and cefobid on liver function of hyperlipidaemic rats

This study dealt with the effect of aminoglycosides [garamycin] and cephalosporins [cefobid] on liver function in normal adult male albino rats and in experimentally induced hyperlipidemia. A total of 230 adult male albino rats was used to study the effect of two antibiotics [garamycin 40 and 80 and cefobid 500 and 1000] on liver function tests. The rats were divided into five equal groups for each drug in case of normal and hyperlipidemic diet. The results revealed that i.m. injection of the two test drugs to normal rats caused insignificant fluctuations in serum total lipids and significant elevations in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum HLD cholesterol, serum ALT and ALP. The administration of the two test drugs to hyperlipidemic rats aggravated the pre- mentioned undue effect. Therefore, the reductions of the doses of the two test antibiotics in case of hyperlipidemia were recommended

Rapid decline in infant and child mortality

The present study uses the nationwide data of the 1990 Child Survival Survey to examine levels, trends, and differentials of infant and child mortality. The analysis reveals a considerable infant and child mortality decline during the period 1976-1987. The infant mortality declined from 81 in 1976 to 38 per 1,000 live births in 1987. During the same period, the child mortality rate under five years declined from 113 to 42 per 1,000 live births. The findings of the survey also showed a significant differential of infant and child mortality by [a] urban/ rural settings, [b] geographical regions, and [c] parental education

Erythrocyte transketolase activity as a function of vitamin B1 after prolonged oral contraceptive administration under different vitamin B1 nutritional status

The present investigation is concerned with studying the effect of feeding adult female rats, standard synthetic diet, diets [deprived, deficient and supplemented] with high dose of vitamin B1 on vitamin B1 functional activity during prolonged administration of an oral contraceptive [O.C] [Containing 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.5 mg norethindrone]. The experiment lasted for 165 days. Blood samples were withdrawn after 15, 45, 75, 105, 135 and 165 days from O.C administration, for the determination of vitamin B1 level by a functional test, i.e. erythrocyte transketolase [ETK] basal activity and after in-vitro thiamin pyrophosphate addition [TPP]. Results were discussed. It is proved that a proper high dose of vitamin B1 should be given during prolonged oral contraceptive administration

Leaf protein concentrate in feeding mirror carp [cyprinus carpio L] in intensive culture

Fingerlings of mirror carp [Cyprinus carpio L.] were allotted in nine groups [2 tanks/group] and fed on nine different diets contained fish meal protein replaced by 0, 10, 20, 30 and 50% protein of leaf protein concentrate [LPC] from berseem [Trifolium alex and rinum] or water hyacinth [Eichhorinia crassipes] in one feeding experiment for 86 days. The results showed that replacing of fish meal protein by 10, 20 and 30% protein from LPC of berseem and water hyacinth, resulted in an increase in feed intake, body weight gain, specific growth rate [SGR%] and better efficiency of feed utilization by mirror carp. However, the higher levels of replacement [50%] decreased feed intake, growth performance and feed utilization. The differences between the two tested LPCs were not significant. It was recommended that the use of LPC from berseem and water hyacinth could replace about 30% of the fish meal and optimum level for replacement in the diet of mirror carp reared in intensive culture