Ultra-Fast Gradient LC Method for Omeprazole Analysis Using a Monolithic Column: Assay Development, Validation, and Application to the Quality Control of Omeprazole Enteric-Coated Pellets

A method was optimized for the analysis of omeprazole (OMZ) by ultra-high speed LC with diode array detection using a monolithic Chromolith Fast Gradient RP 18 endcapped column (50 x 2.0 mm id). The analyses were performed at 30 degrees C using a mobile phase consisting of 0.15% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in water (solvent A) and 0.15% (v/v) TFA in acetonitrile (solvent B) under a linear gradient of 5 to 90% B in 1 min at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and detection at 220 nm. Under these conditions, OMZ retention time was approximately 0.74 min. Validation parameters, such as selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness, showed results within the acceptable criteria. The method developed was successfully applied to OMZ enteric-coated pellets, showing that this assay can be used in the pharmaceutical industry for routine QC analysis. Moreover, the analytical conditions established allow for the simultaneous analysis of OMZ metabolites, 5-hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulfone, in the same run, showing that this method can be extended to other matrixes with adequate procedures for sample preparation.

Fluoxetine induces preventive and complex effects against colon cancer development in epithelial and stromal areas in rats

Fluoxetine (FIX) is a drug commonly used as antidepressant. However, its effects on tumorigenesis remain controversial. Aiming to evaluate the effects of FIX treatment on early malignant changes, we analyzed serotonin (5-HT) metabolism and recognition, aberrant crypt foci (ACF), proliferative process, microvessels, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in colon tissue. Male Wistar rats received a daily FLX-gavage (30 mg kg(-1)) and, a single dose of 1.2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH; i.p., 125 mg kg(-1)). After 6 weeks of FIX-treatment, our results revealed that FIX and nor-fluoxetine (N-FIX) are present in colon tissue, which was related to significant increase in serotonin (5-HT) levels (P < 0.05) possibly through a blockade in SERT mRNA (serotonin reuptake transporter; P < 0.05) resulting in lower 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels (P < 0.01) and, 5-HT2C receptor mRNA expressions. FIX-treatment decreased dysplastic ACF development (P < 0.01) and proliferative process (P < 0.001) in epithelia. We observed a significant decrease in the development of malignant microvessels (P < 0.05), VEGF (P < 0.001), and COX-2 expression (P < 0.01). These findings suggest that FIX may have oncostatic effects on carcinogenic colon tissue, probably due to its modulatory activity on 5-HT metabolism and/or its ability to reduce colonic malignant events. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development and Validation of a Simple Method for Routine Analysis of Ractopamine Hydrochloride in Raw Material and Feed Additives by HPLC

A simple method was optimized and validated for determination of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) in raw material and feed additives by HPLC for use in quality control in veterinary industries. The best-optimized conditions were a C8 column (250 x 4.6 mm id, 5.0 mu m particle size) at room temperature with acetonitrile-100 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0; 75 + 25, v/v) mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV detection at 275 nm. With these conditions, the retention time of RAC was around 5.2 min, and standard curves were linear in the concentration range of 160-240 mu g/mL (correlation coefficient >= 0.999). Validation parameters, such as selectivity, linearity, limit of detection (ranged from 1.60 to 2.05 mu g/mL), limit of quantification (ranged from 4.26 to 6.84 mu g/mL), precision (relative standard deviation <= 1.87%), accuracy (ranged from 96.97 to 100.54%), and robustness, gave results within acceptable ranges. Therefore, the developed method can be successfully applied for the routine quality control analysis of raw material and feed additives.

Inflorescence and floral development of Dahlstedtia species (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Millettieae)

Inflorescence and floral development of two tropical legume trees, Dahlstedtia pinnata and Dahlstedlia pentaphylla, occurring in the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern and southern Brazil, were investigated and compared with other papilionoids. Few studies have been made of floral development in tribe Millettieae, and this paper is intended to fill that gap in our knowledge. Dahlstedtia species have an unusual inflorescence type among legumes, the pseudoraceme, which comprises axillary units of three or more flowers, each with a subtending bract. Each flower exhibits a pair of opposite bractcoles. The order of flower initiation is acropetal; inception of the floral organs is as follows: sepals (5), petals (5), carpel (1) plus outer stamens (5) and finally inner stamens (5). Organ initiation in sepal, petal and inner stamen whorls is unidirectional; the carpel cleft is adaxial. The vexillum originates from a tubular-shaped primordium in mid-development and is larger than other petals at maturity, covering the keels. The filament tube develops later after initiation of inner-stamen primordia. Floral development in Dahlstedtia is almost always similar to other papilionoids, especially species of Phaseoleae and Sophoreae. But one important difference is the precocious ovule initiation (open carpel with ovules) in Dahlstedtia, the third citation of this phenomenon for papilionoids. No suppression, organ loss or anomalies occur in the order of primordia initiation or structure. Infra-generic differences in the first stages of ontogeny are rare; however, different species of Dahlstedtia are distinguished by the differing distribution pattern of secretory cavities in the flower. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Development and validation of HPLC method for imiquimod determination in skin penetration studies

A simple, rapid and sensitive analytical procedure for the measurement of imiquimod in skin samples after in vitro penetration studies has been developed and validated. In vitro penetration studies were carried out in Franz diffusion cells with porcine skin. Tape stripping technique was used to separate the stratum corneum (SC) from the viable epidermis and dermis. Imiquimod was extracted from skin samples using a 7:3 (v/v) methanol:acetate buffer (100 mm, pH 4.0) solution and ultrasonication. Imiquimod was analyzed by H-PLC using C(8) column and UV detection at 242 ran. The mobile phase used was acetonitrile:acetate buffer (pH 4.0, 100 mM):diethylamine (30:69.85:0.15, v/v) with flow rate 1 mL/min. Imiquimod eluted at 4.1 min and the running time was limited to 6.0 min. The procedure was linear across the following concentration ranges: 100-2500 ng/mL for both SC and tape-stripped skin and 20-800 ng/mL for receptor solution. Intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision values were lower than 20% at the limit of quantitation. The recovery values ranged from 80 to 100%. The method is adequate to assay imiquimod from skin samples, enabling the determination of the cutaneous penetration profile of uniquimod by in vitro studies. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Precursor system of liquid crystalline phase containing propolis microparticles for the treatment of periodontal disease: Development and characterization

Precursor systems of liquid crystalline phase were prepared using the surfactant PPG-5-Ceteth-20, isopropyl myristate, and water; gelatin microparticles containing propolis were then added into these systems. Homogeneity of dispersion, the in-system microparticle morphology, and sedimentation behavior of each formulation were evaluated. The rheological and mechanical properties (hardness, compressibility, and adhesiveness), the work of syringing, and the propolis release profile were also evaluated. All the formulations exhibited pseudoplastic flow and thixotropy, and they displayed storage modulus, loss modulus, dynamic viscosity, and loss tangent that depended on temperature, frequency, and composition. Mechanical properties varied significantly among the formulations being affected by changes in the composition and temperature. Raising the concentration of surfactant and adding propolis microparticles significantly decreased the work of syringing. The drug release was non-Fickian (anomalous) and there was no significant difference between the tested systems in the times required for 10%, 30%, and 50% release of the initial drug loading.

Development of a Phytopharmaceutical Intermediate Product via Spray Drying

The influence of concentration and incorporation time of different drying excipients on the processing yields and physical properties of Eugenia dysenterica DC spray-dried extracts were investigated following a factorial design. Under the established conditions, the process yield ranged from 57.55 to 89.14%, and in most experiments, the recovered products presented suitable flowability and compressibility, as demonstrated by the Hausner factor, Carr index, and angle of repose. Additionally, in a general way, the parameters related to the dried products` flowability varied over a range acceptable for pharmaceutical purposes. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) proved that both factors and some of their interactions significantly affected most of the investigated responses at different levels. Mannitol proved to be an interesting alternative as an excipient for the drying of herbal extracts, even at low concentrations such as 12.5%. Furthermore, these results imply that the best condition to obtain dry extracts of E. dysenterica with high performance and adequate pharmacotechnical properties involves the lowest concentration and the highest incorporation time of mannitol.

Development of Vegetable Oil Emulsions with Lamellar Liquid-Crystalline Structures

Emulsions containing vegetable oils and anisotropic phases have especially attractive properties in pharmaceutical technology. They are use as vehicle for different kind of drugs, especially those of topical application. Apart from that, many vegetable oil have pharmacological activity, increasing the necessity for the development of new delivery systems for them. We developed emulsions with vegetable oils at a fixed surfactant ratio and observed the formation of liquid crystalline phases. Nine vegetable oils: Andiroba, Apricot, Avocado, Brazil Nut, Buriti, Cupuassu, Marigold, Passion Fruit and Pequi and mineral oil were tested. Surfactant system was consisted by Steareth-2 and Ceteareth-5. Emulsions were prepared by the emulsion phase inversion (EPI) method, presenting high stability independent on the HLB value. Results indicate that this method could be employed to attain stable emulsions, even if the required HLB value is not known.

Intellectuals in a Network A New Generation Faces the Challenges of Development

Brazilian social thought draws on the inspiration of past masters the common denominator of whose work is probably a deep humanism. Confronting the challenges of a fluid, ever-changing reality is now a matter of survival. The idea of climate change has made the environment, long relegated to second place, a matter of much wider interest and concern. The other great problem is poverty, and here, while there have been undeniable advances, much remains to be done. The main challenge is producing forms of social organization that will allow ordinary citizens to have an impact on what really matters. Developing policy in these areas has engaged the efforts of a wide range of experts from a variety of fields. Whereas university-educated intellectuals once formed an intelligentsia, today they are engaged in practical politics and much more often function as agents who link social actors together than as mere elaborators of theories.

Development Resource Planning: Complexity of Product Development and the Capacity to Launch New Products

Overcommitment of development capacity or development resource deficiencies are important problems in new product development (NPD). Existing approaches to development resource planning have largely neglected the issue of resource magnitude required for NPD. This research aims to fill the void by developing a simple higher-level aggregate model based on an intuitive idea: The number of new product families that a firm can effectively undertake is bound by the complexity of its products or systems and the total amount of resources allocated to NPD. This study examines three manufacturing companies to verify the proposed model. The empirical results confirm the study`s initial hypothesis: The more complex the product family, the smaller the number of product families that are launched per unit of revenue. Several suggestions and implications for managing NPD resources are discussed, such as how this study`s model can establish an upper limit for the capacity to develop and launch new product families.

Petroleum royalties and regional development in Brazil: The economic growth of recipient towns

In 1997, Brazil approved law n(cr) 9478, establishing new rules for sharing petroleum royalties with Brazilian municipalities. The goal of this paper is to evaluate whether royalties distributed under the new law have contributed for the development of benefited municipalities. For that the difference-indifferences estimator (diff-in-diff) is used, which compares the evolution of the economic product into the municipality affected by the new law with the unaffected ones, by exploring the new legislation as an exogenous change. The data refer to the municipal gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate before and after the event. Results are surprising, showing that royalty receivers grew less than municipalities that did not receive such resources. The difference is small but statistically significant. In general, an increase of one real in royalties per capita reduces the growth rate of the municipal product in 0.002 percentile points. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Social Movements and the Dynamics of Rural Territorial Development in Latin America

This special section brings together 4 of the 12 studies conducted within a research program analyzing the relationships among social mobilization, governance. and rural development in contemporary Latin America. The introduction Lives an overview of the contemporary significance of social movements For rural development dynamics in the region, and of the principal insights of the section papers and the broader research program of which they were a part. This significance varies Lis an effect of two distinct and uneven geographics: the geography of social movements themselves and the geography of the rural political economy. The effects that movements have oil the political economy of rural development also depend significantly oil internal characteristics of these movements. The paper identifies several such characteristics. The general pattern is that movements have had far more effect oil widening the political inclusiveness of rural development than they have oil improving its economic inclusiveness and dynamism. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Social Movements Beyond the Iron Cage: Weak Ties in Territorial Development

The incentives and governance system of organizations are important in explaining how they behave in localized development processes. This article builds on the observation that the literature on territorial development does not generally address the action of social movements. At the same time, research on social movements rarely studies their effects on the territories ill which they act. This text is a contribution to fill this gap. It compares two social movement organizations: a trade union federation and a credit cooperative system operating throughout southern Brazil, Both organizations share common origins and social bases, yet their impacts oil territories have been quite different. The analysis focuses Oil the social ties that link trade unions and cooperatives to their territories to show that governance systems may explain the performance of each organization, especially with regard to their capacity for innovation. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analyses of Individual and Organizational Competences Associated with Knowledge Management Practice

The research analyzed critical aspects of the knowledge management process based on the analyses of knowledge, abilities and attitudes required to individual knowledge workers and to organizations responsible for the management process. In the present work a characterization of the knowledge management process was developed and information and knowledge wokers defined. Competence concept was discussed and specialists gave opinions about critical competences to knowledge management process. The opinions were organized and analyzed by the Delphi method. The results aggregate to the management context by discussing an extremely important resource to organizations - knowledge - and because they support its management process. The research identified wide critical aspects that are compatible with current organizational challenges, directing the process management to important themes as: the worker able to create, the organization able to convert individual knowledge into organizational knowledge, knowledge sharing while still tacit, the maximization organizational knowledge use, information and knowledge generation and preservation, among others important topics to be observed by knowledge workers and by administrators responsible for the knowledge management process.

Management Innovation at the Brazilian Superior Tribunal of Justice

We describe administrative reform involving management innovation undertaken at the Superior Tribunal of Justice, Brazil`s highest appellate court for infra-constitutional cases. The innovation is the introduction of a new management model based on strategic planning and a process management approach to work processes. Introduction of the new model has been supported by the use of information technology and project management techniques. Qualitative methods were used for data collection and analysis. Findings reveal that the innovation is contributing to the development of a systemic overview of key processes, reducing the fragmenting effects of the division of work activities within the Tribunal. At least three new organizational routines or capabilities have been developed as a result of the innovation studied: Electronic Court Management, Project Management, and Process Management. The paper contributes to knowledge about court management, a field that has received little research attention in the public administration literature.