Profiling the Concentration of Reduced and Oxidized Glutathione in Rat Brain Using HPLC/DAD Chromatographic System.

This study aimed to develop a HPLC/DAD method in order to determine and quantify the reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in rat brain. Due to the presence of the thiol group (-SH), GSH can interact with the Ellman's reagent (DTNB), with which it forms a reaction product through which the level of GSH can be quantified, using the DAD detection system. Chromatographic separation was achieved after a derivatization process by using a mobile phase acetonitrile (A) and phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH = 2.5) (B). The compounds of interest were detected at 330 nm using a chromatographic C8 column. The method of determination met the validation criteria, specified by the regulatory bodies. The applicability of the method was demonstrated in a chronic toxicology study of central nervous system (CNS), following different treatment regimens with haloperidol.

A Simple HPLC/DAD Method Validation for the Quantification of Malondialdehyde in Rodent's Brain.

In the present study, a HPLC/DAD method was set up to allow for the determination and quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain of rodents (rats). Chromatographic separation was achieved on Supelcosil LC-18 (3 µm) SUPELCO Column 3.3 cm × 4.6 mm and Supelco Column Saver 0.5 µm filter by using a mobile phase acetonitrile (A) and phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH = 6) (B). Isocratic elution was 14% for (A) and 86% for (B). The injection volume (loop mode) was 100 µL with an analysis time of 1.5 min. Flow rate was set at 1 mL/min. The eluted compound was detected at 532 nm by a DAD detector by keeping the column oven at room temperature. The results indicated that the method has good linearity in the range of 0.2-20 µg/g. Both intra- and inter-day precision, expressed as RSD, were ≤15% and the accuracies ranged between ±15%. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), stability, and robustness were evaluated and satisfied the validation criteria. The method was successfully applied in a study of chronic toxicology following different treatment regimens with haloperidol and metformin.

With or Without Internal Standard in HPLC Bioanalysis. A Case Study.

The mandatory strategy of using internal standard in HPLC is still controversial. Despite that the introduction of internal standard methodology in the early stage of development of HPLC technology was used to improve method accuracy and precision, there are still practical situations in which a simple external standard quantification is adequate. The aim of the study is to compare the determination of meloxicam (MXC) in human plasma by HPLC with or without using an internal standard according to some key points related to the reason of introducing the internal standardization such as the reducing of sample preparation errors or variability for low injection volumes. The HPLC analysis was performed on reversed phase with UV detection after protein precipitation. Piroxicam (PXC) was used as an internal standard. The two methods are compared in terms of accuracy and precision over the same concentration range. The stability of the analyte has been proved. According to the results, the quantitative determination of MXC in human plasma after simple protein precipitation by using PXC as an internal standard does not bring any significant improvement of accuracy and precision of the experimental measurements.

Vaccinium Extracts as Modulators in Experimental Type 1 Diabetes.

Antihyperglycemic effects of four extracts obtained from leaves and fruits of Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium corymbosum were assessed in diabetic rats. In addition, the effects of extracts on diabetic-related complications such as the development of diabetic cataract and oxidative stress were evaluated. Type 1 diabetes was induced with a single dose of streptozotocin in Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into seven equal groups: NC-normal control, DC-diabetic control, PC-positive control treated with metformin, VML-received V. myrtillus leaf extract, VMLF-received VML and fruit extract, VCL-received V. corymbosum leaf extract, and VCLF-received VCL and fruit extract. Body weight and glucose levels were monitored every second week. After 8 weeks of treatment, serum glucose, insulin, and malondialdehyde were measured. Lenses were removed after sacrifice and eight lenses from each group were randomly selected for evaluation of cataract development. A decrease in body weight was observed in all diabetic groups in the first weeks. In the VML group, no significant decrease was observed. Glucose levels during the experiment were high in DC, PC, and VCL groups, with no improvement during the 8 weeks. In VML, VMLF, and VCLF groups, a decrease in blood glucose levels was observed. Similar results regarding serum insulin and glucose levels at the end of the experiment were observed within groups. V. myrtillus extracts prevented the development of cataract compared with the DC group (P < .05).

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric determination of rufinamide in low volume plasma samples.

Quantification of rufinamide in plasma was achieved using a selective and sensitive liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed phase column (Zorbax SB-C18 100mm×3mm, 3.5µm) under isocratic conditions. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of water containing 0.1% formic acid and methanol (50:50, v/v). The mass spectrometric detection of the analyte was in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) using an electrospray positive ionization (ESI positive). The monitored ions were 127m/z derived from 239m/z rufinamide and 108m/z derived from 251m/z the internal standard (lacosamide). Protein precipitation with methanol was applied for sample preparation using only 50µl aliquots. The concentration range was 40-2000ng/ml for rufinamide in plasma. The limit of detection was 1.25ng/ml and the lower limit of quantification was established at 5ng/ml rufinamide concentration. Selectivity and matrix effect was verified using individual human, rat and rabbit plasma samples. Short-term, post-preparative and freeze-thaw stability was also investigated. The proposed method provides accuracy, precision and high-throughput (short runtime 4.5min) for quantitative determination of rufinamide in plasma. This is the first reported liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for analysis of rufinamide from low volume plasma samples. The LC-MS/MS method was validated according to the current official guidelines and can be applied to accurately measure rufinamide level of large number of plasma samples from clinical studies or therapeutic drug monitoring.

Nitrones are able to release nitric oxide in aqueous environment under hydroxyl free radical attack.

Importance of a nitric oxide donor that can act as a spin trap might bring some new therapeutic possibilities regarding the treatment of ischemic diseases by reducing the intensity of free radical produced reperfusion lesions. These substances might be also used as a new type of photo protectors since they can absorb UV radiation, capture free radicals formed by interaction of UV radiation with tissue constituents, and tanning of the skin will be permitted due to nitric oxide release. The purpose of this work was to measure the ability of nitrones to release nitric oxide and how different factors (temperature, nitrone concentration, and free radicals) influence the releasing ability. Mostly, indirect determination of nitric oxide was carried out, by measuring nitrite and nitrate amounts (as decomposition products of nitric oxide), all nitrones proved to release significant amounts of nitric oxide. Nitrite measurements were made based on an HPLC-VIS method that uses pre-column derivatization of nitrite by forming an azo dye (limit of quantification: 5ng/ml). No good correlation was found between the amount of nitric oxide and temperature for most studied nitrones but between the formation of nitric oxide and nitrone concentration an asymptotic correlation was found. Fenton reagent also yielded formation of nitric oxide from nitrones and formed amounts were not different from those recorded for UV irradiation. Most of the nitrones effectively released about 0.5% of the maximum amount of nitric oxide that is chemically possible and estimated concentrations of 0.1µM were present in the solutions during decomposition.

Optimized HPLC method for tramadol and O-desmethyl tramadol determination in human plasma.

The optimized method for HPLC determination of tramadol and its metabolite O-desmethyl tramadol in human plasma using sotalol as internal standard has been developed and validated by a new approach. The determination by fluorescence detection was performed on re-eluted solution, obtained after liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate of the three analytes from plasma. The chromatographic separation of tramadol under a gradient elution was achieved at a temperature of 15 degrees C with a RP-18 column, guarded by a C18 precolumn. The mobile phase was a mixed aqueous solution containing ortho-phosphoric acid, triethylamine, acetonitrile and methanol in a complex gradient mode. The quantitative determination of tramadol was performed at different successive pairs of excitation/emission wavelengths (200/300 nm, 200/295 nm, 212/305 nm) with lower limits of quantification: LLOQ=4.078 ng/ml for tramadol, respectively LLOQ=3.271 ng/ml for O-desmethyl tramadol. For the LLOQ limits, were calculated the values of the coefficient of variation and difference between mean and the nominal concentration. For tramadol analyte they were CV%=5.147% and bias%=-7.273% in the intra-days and CV%=4.894% and bias%=0.836% in the between-days assay, respectively for the metabolite O-desmethyl tramadol they were CV%=11.517% and bias%=0.337% in the intra-days and CV%=6.41% and bias%=3.259% in the between-days assay. In addition, the stabilities of the analytes were verified in different conditions. Both, tramadol and its metabolite proved to be stable in plasma for four weeks, frozen at -20 degrees C, but also for 48 h at 15 degrees C in the re-eluted solution after liquid-liquid extraction.

Looking for the best management of myasthenia gravis at the Tg.Mures Clinic of Anesthesia and Intensive Care.

Thymectomy is one of the current management strategies for myasthenia gravis. This is observational study focused on the evolution of the surgical and anesthesiological strategies applied to the patients submitted to thymectomy initially by maximal sternotomy (in the years 1994-1998), followed by unconditioned reorientation towards thymectomy by VATS. A number of 103 patients are included, 51 thymectomy by left VATS. All the thoracoscopic thymectomy were performed in general anesthesia, the lungs were separated by left selective intubation, and the left lung was deflated during the surgical procedure. The surgical complications appeared mainly in the VATS group: one pericardial and one myocardial lesion leading to sternotomy (minimal blood loss, uneventful recovery), contralateral pleural lesion with pneumothorax. The classical approach accounted for one hemothorax. The postoperative mortality was zero in the VATS group vs. 6 out of 52 pts in the sternotomy group. The postoperative evolution confronted the anesthesiologist with the classical crises of myasthenia. Death occurred within the first three weeks following surgery. The demise in 3 cases was due to cardiac complications (preexisting cardiomyopathy complicated by ventricular arrhythmia) and respiratory failure plus sepsis (for the remaining cases that we lost). The treatment options in the ICU are discussed: plasmapheresis, immunosuppression, ventilatory support. VATS is appropriate for almost all thymectomy, but the outcome is heavily based on a team approach: neurologist, surgeon and anesthetist.

[Qualitative determination of flavonoids and phenol-carboxylic acids of indigene Stachys species using HPLC method]. / Analiza calitativa a flavonoidelor si a acizilor fenol-carboxilici din specii indigene ale genului Stachys prin cromatografie de lichide de înalta performanta.

Indigene Stachys species have a high content in interesting compounds as iridoids, but also high quantities of flavonoids and phenol-carboxylic acids. These compounds present vasorelaxing effect on smooth vascular muscle interfering with metabolic degradation of nitric oxide pathways (inhibition of peroxynitrites formation) and by inhibition of phosphodiesterase. This work shows flavonoids spectrum of 3 Stachys species using HPLC methods. We identified quercetol, rutoside, miricetin and phenol-carboxylic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acids).

Validation of an HPLC method for the determination of ciprofloxacin in human plasma.

A simple HPLC method with fluorescence detection of ciprofloxacin in human plasma was developed and validated. After protein precipitation, chromatographic separation of ciprofloxacin in plasma was achieved at 35 degrees C with a C18 column and acetonitrile-phosphate mixture, pH 3, as mobile phase. Quantitative determination was performed by fluorimetry after excitation at 278 nm. The method was specific and validated with a limit of quantification of 41 ng/ml. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were between 0.5 and 6.6% and accuracy between -2.02 and 7.04%. Ciprofloxacin was stable in plasma for 40 days at -20 degrees C and after three freezing-thawing cycles. The method has been applied in a bioequivalence study of two formulation of 500 mg ciprofloxacin.