Sensitive and selective method for the analysis of menthol from pharmaceutical products by RP-HPLC with refractive index detector.

OBJECTIVE: Liquid chromatography with refractive index (RI) detection has been found to be very useful for the determination of menthol from pharmaceutical products. A simple and rapid HPLC method has been developed for this purpose compared to conventional GC methods, requiring no special sample pretreatment for the determination of menthol from pharmaceutical products. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A chromatographic separation was achieved on a Inertsil ODS 3V (4.6mm×250mm, 5µm) column using water : methanol (30:70 v/v) as a mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. RESULTS: Method was validated as per ICH guidelines for various parameters such as precision, linearity, accuracy, solution stability, robustness, limit of detection and quantification. Results were found to be within acceptable limits. CONCLUSION: The method has been successfully applied for the quantification of menthol from syrup formulations. The developed method can be conveniently used by the quality control department to determine assay of menthol from pharmaceutical preparations.

Development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of ambroxol hydrochloride and azithromycin in tablet dosage form.

A simple, precise and accurate reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of ambroxol hydrochloride and azithromycin in tablet formulations. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Xterra RP18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) analytical column. A Mixture of acetonitrile-dipotassium phosphate (30 mM) (50:50, v/v) (pH 9.0) was used as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.7 ml/min and detector wavelength at 215 nm. The retention time of ambroxol and azithromycin was found to be 5.0 and 11.5 min, respectively. The validation of the proposed method was carried out for specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantitation and robustness. The linear dynamic ranges were from 30-180 to 250-1500 microg/ml for ambroxol hydrochloride and azithromycin, respectively. The percentage recovery obtained for ambroxol hydrochloride and azithromycin were 99.40 and 99.90%, respectively. Limit of detection and quantification for azithromycin were 0.8 and 2.3 microg/ml, for ambroxol hydrochloride 0.004 and 0.01 microg/ml, respectively. The developed method can be used for routine quality control analysis of titled drugs in combination in tablet formulation.

Simultaneous determination of aceclofenac, paracetamol, and chlorzoxazone by RP-HPLC in pharmaceutical dosage form.

A simple, rapid, and precise reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method is developed for simultaneous determination of paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorzoxazone in their ternary mixtures of commercial pharmaceutical preparation. This method uses a Zorbax SB C18, 250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm analytical column. Mobile phase is acetonitrile and buffer (40:60, v/v), buffer containing 50 mM orthophosporic acid; pH of the buffer is adjusted to 6 with 10% w/v sodium hydroxide solution. The instrumental settings are at a flow rate of 1 mL/min; the column temperature is 25 degrees C, and detector wavelength is 270 nm. The sample concentrations are measured on weight basis to avoid the internal standard. The method is validated and shown to be linear. The correlation coefficients for paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorzoxazone are 0.9981, 0.9990, and 0.9986, respectively. The recovery values for paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorzoxazone ranged from 100.7-101.4%, 100.4-101.0%, and 100.5-101.3%, respectively. The relative standard deviation for six replicates is always less than 2%. This HPLC method is successfully applied to the simultaneous quantitative analysis of the title drugs in tablets and can be applied for assay and dissolution test of tablets for the estimation of paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorozoxazone in their commercial samples.

The anti-tumor effect of bee honey in Ehrlich ascite tumor model of mice is coincided with stimulation of the immune cells.

Honey is thought to exhibit a broad spectrum of therapeutic properties including antibacterial, antifungal, cytostatic and anti-inflammatory activity and has been used for the treatment of gastric ulcers, burns, and for storage of skin grafts. The present study investigated the antitumor effect of bee honey against Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice and the possible mode of antitumor action. Peroral administration of mice with honey (10, 100 or 1000 mg/ 100 g BW) every other day for 4 weeks before intraperitoneal inoculation with Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT, 1 x 10(6) cells) increased the number bone marrow cells as well as peritoneal macrophages, but not peripheral blood leukocytes nor splenocytes. The phagocytic function of macrophages as well as the T- and B-cell functions were also increased. Honey pre-treatment also recovered the total lipids, total proteins, as well as liver and kidney enzyme activities in EAT-bearing mice. In vitro studies on EAT cells demonstrated inhibitory effect of honey on tumor cell proliferation, viability % of tumor cells as well as the size of solid tumor. The present results indicate that the preventive treatment with honey is considerably effective against EAT in mice both in vivo and in vitro. The antitumor activity of honey may occur through the activation of macrophages, T-cells and B-cells.

Recovery of age-dependent immunological deterioration in old mice by thyroxine treatment.

On the basis that multiple interactions exist between thyroid hormones and immune system, and ageing is accompanied by changes in thyroid hormone secretion, it seems possible that thyroid hormones may be involved in the age-related immune dysfunction. The present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo and in vitro effects of thyroxine (T(4)) treatment on both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of aged mice. In a trial to improve age-associated immune dysfunction, T(4) (0.2, 1.0 and 5.0 microg) was subcutaneously supplemented to BALB/c mice (over 18 months old) for 30 consecutive days. The present results showed that exogenous treatment of aged mice with T(4) was associated with a marked increase in serum T(4) level, and the total number of peripheral blood leukocytes as well as the total cellularity of thymus, spleen, peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and bone marrow (BM). T(4) treatment also caused a significant increase in the total and differential numbers of peritoneal exudate cells (PECs), while it caused a slight increase in macrophages' phagocytic activity of PEC. Moreover, T(4) treatment elicited a statistically significant increase in both plaque-forming cell and rosette-forming cell responses. In vitro results showed that the addition of T(4) at concentrations of 0.001, 0.005 and 0.025 microg/well substantially potentiated the ability of splenocytes from aged mice to proliferate in the presence of concanavalin-A mitogen. Histological examination of thymuses from T(4)-treated aged mice revealed that the cortex was preferentially enlarged and repopulated with immature thymocytes. The present study postulates that thyroid hormones may be involved in the observed decrease in the immune responsiveness during ageing, and that T(4) treatment to aged mice is able to restore the age-related decline of the immune efficiency.

[Tests and criteria in diagnosis of chronic hypotension--a systematic review]. / Tests und Kriterien in der Diagnostik der chronischen Hypotonie--Ein Systematic Review.

The diagnosis of hypotensive circulatory disorders is based on a variety of criteria and classifications. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of published definitions and diagnostic criteria for hypotensive disorders. Searches for relevant papers were undertaken in Medline, Winspirs version (January 1966 to December 1999) and in textbooks of internal medicine. References of all identified articles were also searched. Publications in English, French, German and Italian were included. In 47 articles, 56 different reference were made to definitions and diagnostic criteria for hypotension. At present there is no uniform definition of hypotension and there are no clear, standardized criteria on which to base a diagnosis. Basically, one distinguishes between two schools of thought. The Anglo-American literature describes hypotensive disorders in terms of orthostatic dysregulation in the presence of an underlying primary condition, whereas the German-speaking countries use mixed approaches. On the one hand, the questionable pathological value of essential/primary hypotension is discussed; on the other hand, tests for orthostatic circulatory function, like the Schellong test, appear to have become established. Neither resting blood pressure limits nor a drop in blood pressure during orthostatic challenge can be used to diagnose hypotension. The orthostatic test is a better diagnostic tool than resting blood pressure. Hypotension is probably difficult to classify in simple terms because it is usually a symptom of numerous disorders hallmarked by a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms. Hypotension should indeed be understood as a secondary symptom of a primary disease. Accordingly, the primary aim of diagnostic efforts should be to uncover the underlying condition. The studies included were of insufficient methodological quality. Moreover, the heterogeneity among the individual studies made pooled analysis impossible. This systematic review revealed a marked lack of studies with valid results.

Comparative study of diclofenac sodium and flurbiprofen in osteoarthritis.

A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of diclofenac sodium and flurbiprofen both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in osteoarthritis. Forty patients of either sex between the ages of 35-60 years suffering from osteoarthritis of at least one knee joint minimum of eight weeks duration were included in the study. Diclofenac sodium exhibited better results by improving the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis in both high and low doses compared to flurbiprofen. The adverse effects observed were similar in both groups.

Unusual subclavian artery lacerations resulting from lap-shoulder seatbelt trauma: case reports.

While the impact of seatbelts on injury is favorable, their use is also associated with unique and previously unrecognized patterns of injury. Two cases of combined subclavian and vertebral artery injury, when lap shoulder harness restraints were used, are presented.

Ender nail fixation in long bone fractures: experience in a level I trauma center.

Early fixation of extremity fractures in polytrauma patients is a well accepted and desirable treatment. In our patient population, the indications for immediate Ender nail fixation was for Grade I and Grade II open long bone fractures and closed long bone fractures in patients with small intramedullary canals. Ender nails were also used in patients in whom reaming was undesirable. This included patients with open physes for immediate fracture fixation and in those with Grade III open wounds in a delayed fashion. These flexible nails were also implemented for use to minimize anesthesia time as a life saving measure in the severely injured. This study is a retrospective review of a 30-month period in which 68 patients with 91 fractures underwent Ender intramedullary nailing. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 12.4. There were 16 humerus fractures, 26 femur fractures, and 49 tibia fractures. Thirty-three per cent (30 fractures) were open fractures. The average operating time per fracture was 70 minutes (range, 15 to 150 minutes). The estimated blood loss per fracture was 150 cc with a range of 25 to 500 cc. The average followup is currently 19 months (range was 8 to 29 months). This approach achieved an excellent result in 95% of the patients treated. There were no wound, soft-tissue, or bony infections experienced. Major complications were seen in five patients: three nonunions and two malunions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Early use of the Brooker-Wills interlocking intramedullary nail (BWIIN) for femoral shaft fractures in acute trauma patients.

During a 33-month period, 40 multiply injured patients underwent 43 Brooker-Wills interlocking intramedullary nailings (BWIIN) for femur fractures in the setting of a Level I trauma unit. There were 12 open fractures (28%), 66% of the closed fractures underwent BWIIN within the first 24 hours of injury, and 33 fractures (77%) had comminution of Winquist-Hansen Type II or greater, and either static or dynamic locking techniques were used in 38 (88%) of the cases. There were three intraoperative technical problems. The estimated blood loss and operative times were consistent with other reported series for interlocking nailing techniques. The average followup was 65 weeks. Only one fracture went on to nonunion. There were no problems with angulation or rotation. One patient had 1.5 cm of shortening. There were four major (9%) and four minor (9%) complications. Rod removal was successful in 17 of 18 cases. Mechanical failure (deformation and/or fracture) of the proximal end of the rod was found in four (22%) of the extracted nails and caused failure of removal in one. The Brooker-Wills nail is a versatile device which can be used to treat complex fractures of the entire femoral shaft in acutely injured patients.

Iliac vein to pulmonary artery missile embolus: case report and review of the literature.

Intravascular foreign body emboli, although first reported in 1834, are rare sequelae of penetrating injuries. We report a case of missile embolus to the pulmonary artery after penetrating injury to the left iliac vein and artery. A review of the literature and discussion of appropriate management are presented.

Rapid sequence induction with oral endotracheal intubation in the multiply injured patient.

The charts of 1798 consecutive admissions at this level one trauma center to evaluate the practice of emergency airway control were reviewed. A total of 335 patients required endotracheal intubation, 320 oral endotracheal, 12 nasotracheal, and three surgical. A technique of rapid sequence induction (RSI) with oral endotracheal intubation was the method of airway control in 260 spontaneously breathing patients. Prior cervical spine evaluation was not obtained. In all instances airway control was prompt and accurate. There were no hemodynamic nor neurologic complications secondary to RSI or oral endotracheal intubation. It is believed that RSI with oral endotracheal intubation is a reasonable alternative to nasotracheal intubation in the spontaneously breathing patient.

Aortic rupture in blunt trauma.

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta should be suspected in all patients who have a history of severe deceleration injury or blunt chest trauma. A good upright (except in fractured spine) and supine x-rays of the chest using the correct technique are important. Mediastinum widening (subjective impression or mediastinum to chest ratio of 1:4) and/or loss of aortic knob contour or disfigurement should lend more support to a thoracic aortogram. The other findings discussed are rarely found alone and are almost always associated with multiple findings. The only way to diagnose a ruptured thoracic aorta is to do a comprehensive aortogram with biplanar films and always to have a high index of suspicion.

Wirsungorrhagia or hemoductal pancreatitis: report of a case and review of the literature.

An unusual case of gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to rupture of the splenic artery into the pancreatic duct in a patient with chronic pancreatitis is described. The diagnosis was suspected by observing blood coming from the papilla of Vater during duodenoscopy and corroborated by findings seen on splenic arteriography. Previously reported cases are reviewed. An etiology is discussed and a classification suggested. This obscure cause of gastrointestinal bleeding should be suspected when the more common causes of bleeding have been satisfactorily ruled out.