Studies on metabolic evaluation of urinary risk factors in southern Punjab, Pakistan

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the metabolic abnormalities such as hypercalciuria, low urine volume, hypocitraturia, hyperoxaluria and hyperuicosuria in recurrent stone formers of southern Punjab as these abnormalities vary in different populations

Study Design: Prospective study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Biochemisty, Bahauddin Zakarya University Multan and Nisthar Medical College Multan from December 2010 to January 2012

Materials and Methods: One hundred adult patients who were known idiopathic recurrent calcium oxalate renal stone formers [RCSF[S]] were selected from the various districts of the Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Twenty four hour urine collections were made while the subjects were on their usual diet. Samples were collected in clean polyethylene containers. Volume was measured using a graduated cylinder. Hydrochloric acid N/10 HCl [1 ml/100 ml of urine] was added to stop auto-conversion of ascorbic acid to oxalate during storage. Thymol was added as a preservative

Results: Common metabolic change found in the present work was hypercalciuria. It was found in 38 patients [38%] it was isolated in 25 cases and associated with other changes in 13 patients

Conclusion: Most of the patients were noted to have metabolic abnormalities. Hypercalciuria, low urine volume, and hypocitraturia were common metabolic defects. Hypercalciuria was the most frequent risk factor

Spectrophotometric determination of citalopram hydrobromide in tablet dosage form using chloranil

A fast, sensitive and extraction free spectrophotometric method for the quantitative determination of citalopram hydrobromide in pharmaceutical raw and tablet formulations has been proposed. The newly proposed method is based on the charge transfer reaction between citalopram as electron donor and chloranil as electron acceptor. The charge transfer complex of citalopram and chloranil shows lamda[max] at 550 nm in methanol. The experimental conditions such as reaction time, temperature, stoichiometry of the colored complex have been optimized. The developed method allows the determination of citalopram hydrobromide over a concentration range of 1-25 micro g/ ml. The proposed method is used to determine the citalopram in tablet dosage forms. The results of proposed method are compared to the official USP method. The newly developed method is accurate, reproducible and easy to perform. It does not require stringent experimental conditions. No interference has been observed for excipients and additives in tablet formulations

Comparative evaluation of some commercially available brands of pharmaceutical preparations for Na, K and Mg concentrations

A study was carried out to investigate the concentrations of macro-elements [Na[+], K[+] and Mg[+2]] in twelve commercially available pharmaceutical preparations used as sex stimulant, by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. A wet digestion method was adopted to prepare the samples. The results indicated that sodium concentration was maximum [3702 +/- 29 micro g g[-1]] in LB and minimum [495 +/- 06 micro g g[-1]] in H-E-H. Potassium concentration was maximum [6337 +/- 13 micro g g[-1]] in NBA while minimum [150 +/- 06 micro g g[-1]] in ZGRA. Magnesium concentration was maximum in V-100 [9226 +/- 11 micro g g[-1]] and minimum in FGRA [1194 +/- 25 micro g g[-1]]. The concentration of macro-elements in the imported herbal preparations was in the order of Mg>Na>K and in the local herbal preparations as follows: Mg>K>Na. Some of these herbal preparations contain high level of macro-elements than the recommended daily dietary allowances. The excessive use of such preparations may cause severe allergic reactions, kidney damage and pulmonary atherosclerosis