Spectrophotometric determination of ofloxacin in pharmaceuticals and human urine

Three simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of ofloxacin (OFX) in pharmaceuticals and in spiked human urine. First and second methods are based on the measurement of absorbance of OFX in 0.1 M HCl at 293 nm (method A) and 0.1 M NaOH at 287 nm, respectively. The third method is based on the measurement of 2:1 complex formed between OFX and iron(III) in H2SO4 medium, the complex peaking at 420 nm (method C). The optimum conditions for all the three methods are optimized. Beer's law is obeyed over the ranges 0.63-12.5 using method A and method B, and 10-120 ��g mL-1 using method C. The apparent molar absorptivity values are calculated to be 3.5 �� 10(4), 2.76 �� 10(4) and 2.51 �� 10�� L mol-1cm-1 for method A, method B and method C, respectively. The Sandell sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD) and limit quantification (LOQ) values are also reported. All the methods were validated in accordance with current ICH guidelines. The developed methods were employed with high degree of precision and accuracy for the estimation of total drug content in commercial tablet formulations of DOX. The results obtained from human spiked urine are satisfactory and recovery values are in the range 95.5-106.6%.

Sensitive spectrophotometric determination of lamotrigine in bulk drug and pharmaceutical formulations using bromocresol green

Two new, simple, rapid and reproducible spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of lamotrigine (LMT) both in pure form and in its tablets. The first method (method A) is based on the formation of a colored ion-pair complex (1:1 drug/dye) of LMT with bromocresol green (BCG) at pH 5.02��0.01 and extraction of the complex into dichloromethane followed by the measurement of the yellow ion-pair complex at 410 nm. In the second (method B), the drug-dye ion-pair complex was dissolved in ethanolic potassium hydroxide and the resulting base form of the dye was measured at 620 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1.5-15 ��g mL-1 and 0.5-5.0 ��g mL-1 for method A and method B, respectively, and the corresponding molar absorptivity values are 1.6932 x 10(4) and 3.748 x 10(4) L mol-1cm-1. The Sandell sensitivity values are 0.0151 and 0.0068 ��g cm-2 for method A and method B, respectively. The stoichiometry of the ion-pair complex formed between the dug and dye (1:1) was determined by Job's continuous variations method and the stability constant of the complex was also calculated. The proposed methods were applied successfully for the determination of drug in commercial tablets.

A SECOND OPINION ON RELATIVE TRUTH

In 'An undermining diagnosis of relativism about truth', Horwich claims that the notion of relative truth is either explanatorily sterile or explanatorily superfluous. In the present paper, I argue that Horwich's explanatory demands set the bar unwarrantedly high: given the philosophical import of the theorems of a truth-theoretic semantic theory, Horwich's proposed explananda, what he calls acceptance facts, are too indirect for us to expect a complete explanation of them in terms of the deliverances of a theory of meaning based on the notion of relative truth. And, to the extent that there might be such an explanation in certain cases, there is no reason to expect relative truth to play an essential, ineliminable role, nor to endorse the claim that it should play such a role in order to be a theoretically useful notion.

Use data from permanent sampling points in growth and yield modeling

This study was carried to evaluate the efficiency of the Bitterlich method in growth and yield modeling of the even-aged Eucalyptus stands. 25 plots were setup in Eucalyptus grandis cropped under a high bole system in the Central Western Region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The sampling points were setup in the center of each plot. The data of four annual mesurements were colleted and used to adjust the three model types using the age, the site index and the basal area as independent variables. The growths models were fitted for volume and mass of trees. The efficiency of the Bitterlich method was confirmed for generating the data for growth and yield modeling.

EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF SEED RAIN AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR FOREST RESTORATION IN PERMANENT PRESERVATION AREAS1

ABSTRACT The ecological restoration of degraded areas using seeds collected in forest remnants has shown significant results. This study was developed to verify the potential of seed rain to regenerate forest fragments of a Permanent Preservation Area (PPA) in the Apa River Basin which is located in the southwestern portion of the Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. To develop the study, we installed 25 collectors measuring 1 m2 each, which were systematically distributed on an area of 1.5ha. Seed gathering was conducted in a monthly basis throughout the year of 2013. A total of 26.411 propagules were identified and distributed among 50 species, 45 genera and 32 families. In terms of the propagules distribution, 70.51% were identified as trees, 22.8% as lianas, 6.5% as shrubs, 0.1 as herbaceous, 0.05% as palm and 0.05% could not be classified. The value for the Shannon Diversity Index was (H') = 1.67 and the Pielou Evenness index was (J) = 0.42. These results indicate that the seeds rain has low species diversity with the abundance of a few species. The overall results suggest that seed rain can be a potential technique for restoration of the PPAs and other forested areas. However, it is necessary to enhance the diversity of tree species.

METHODOLOGY FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIMITING PERMANENT PRESERVATION AREAS ALONG WATER COURSES - THE USE OF GIS IN THE HYDROLOGICAL BASIN OF THE SERGIPE RIVER, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) along watercourses have been the focus of numerous studies, not only because of the fragility and ecological relevance of riverine vegetation, but also because of the inefficiency demonstrated in conforming to the legislation protecting it. One of the major difficulties encountered in terms of guaranteeing the effective conservation of these riverside areas is the absence of methodologies that can be used to define them rapidly and accurately without manually determining the widths of the rivers or assigning only uniform linear values for the entire watercourse. The present work sought to develop a spatial analysis methodology capable of automatically defining permanent preservation areas along watercourses using geographic information system (GIS) software. The present study was undertaken in the Sergipe River basin, "considering the river itself and its principal affluents. We used the database of the Digital Atlas of Hydrological Resources (SEMARH/SE), and the delimitations of the PPAs were performed using ArcGIS 10.1 and the XToolPro 9.0 extension. A total of 5,003.82 hectares of Permanent Preservation Areas were delimited along the margins of the rivers analyzed, with a margin of error of <1% in delimiting the widths of the rivers within the entire area considered. The methodology described here can be used to define PPAs efficiently, relatively rapidly, and with very small margins of error, thus representing a technological advance in terms of using GIS for land management.

DYNAMICS AND PREDICTION OF DIAMETRIC STRUCTURE IN TWO ATLANTIC FOREST FRAGMENTS IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Monitoring analyses aim to understand the processes that drive changes in forest structure and, along with prediction studies, may assist in the management planning and conservation of forest remnants. The objective of this study was to analyze the forest dynamics in two Atlantic rainforest fragments in Pernambuco, Brazil, and to predict their future forest diameter structure using the Markov chain model. We used continuous forest inventory data from three surveys in two forest fragments of 87 ha (F1) and 388 ha (F2). We calculated the annual rates of mortality and recruitment, the mean annual increment, and the basal area for each of the 3-year periods. Data from the first and second surveys were used to project the third inventory measurements, which were compared to the observed values in the permanent plots using chi-squared tests (a = 0.05). In F1, a decrease in the number of individuals was observed due to mortality rates being higher than recruitment rates; however, there was an increase in the basal area. In this fragment, the fit to the Markov model was adequate. In F2, there was an increase in both the basal area and the number of individuals during the 6-year period due to the recruitment rate exceeding the mortality rate. For this fragment, the fit of the model was unacceptable. Hence, for the studied fragments, the demographic rates influenced the stem density more than the floristic composition. Yet, even with these intense dynamics, both fragments showed active growth.

Analysis of land use and occupancy in permanent preservation areas according to the hydrography of Ribeir��o ��gua Fria - Bofete, SP - Brazil

The use conflicts are determined by the inadequate occupations of the soil, as it is the case of soil occupation inside of permanent preservation areas. This study aimed to determine the classes of the soil use and if there are conflicts inside of permanent preservation areas along the drainage network of the ��gua Fria Stream watershed, located in Bofete city - S��o Paulo, Brazil. It locates geographically between the coordinates: 48��09'30" to 48��18'30" longitude WGr., 22��58'30" to 23��04'30" latitude S, with an area of 15242.84 ha. The map of soil use was elaborated through the interpretation directly in the computer screen of satellite digital image. In the orbital data, the study area is inserted in the quadrant A, of image TM/Landsat - 5, orbit 220, point 76, passage 9/8th/2007. The Geographical Information System used was CartaLinx. The conflict areas of the watershed were obtained from the crossing between the maps of soil use and of PPAs. The results allowed the conclusion that more than half of the area (51.09%) is occupied by pastures, reflex of sandy soils and low fertility. It was also verified that although almost half of the watershed is covered with some type of vegetation (48.78% of natural forest /reforestation), it has approximately a third of permanent preservation areas used inappropriately by pastures (88.15%), reforestation (10.42%) and exposed soil (1.43%), totaling 343.07ha of conflicting areas, in a total of 993.26 ha of PPAs.

Mudan��as na apresenta����o cl��nica da gravidez molar

OBJETIVO: determinar se a apresenta����o cl��nica da mola hidatiforme tem mudado nos ��ltimos anos (1992-1998) quando comparada a registros hist��ricos de controle (1960-1981). M��TODOS: foram revisadas 80 fichas de pacientes com mola hidatiforme acompanhadas entre 1960-1981 no Centro de Neoplasia Trofobl��stica Gestacional da Santa Casa da Miseric��rdia (Rio de Janeiro Brasil) e as de 801 pacientes atendidas entre 1992-1998 no mesmo centro. Foram analisados os seguintes par��metros: idade, n��mero de gesta����es, sangramento vaginal, hiper��mese, edema dos membros inferiores, hipertens��o arterial, ��tero grande para a idade gestacional e cistos teca-lute��nicos dos ov��rios. Para an��lise estat��stica foram utilizados os testes do qui-quadrado e o c��lculo do odds ratio (OR) com intervalo de confian��a (IC) de 95%. RESULTADOS: com rela����o �� idade, a ocorr��ncia de mola em pacientes com menos de 15 anos ou mais de 40 foi significativamente mais freq��ente no grupo II do que no grupo I; quanto ao n��mero de gesta����es, a diferen��a entre os dois grupos s�� n��o foi significativa entre aquelas pacientes que gestavam pela terceira e quarta vez. A hipertens��o arterial, foi detectada em porcentagem semelhante nos dois grupos e ��tero grande para a idade gestacional foi mais freq��ente no grupo II (41,4 vs 31,2% - p <0,05; OR: 1,5; IC: 1,0-2,3). Todos os outros elementos cl��nicos foram menos freq��entes no grupo II do que no grupo I. O sangramento vaginal permaneceu o elemento cl��nico mais freq��ente, ocorrendo em 76,9% das pacientes do grupo II e 98,7% das pacientes do grupo I (p < 0,05; OR: 0,04; IC: 0,030,04). Tamb��m foram menos freq��ente no grupo II quando comparado com grupo I a hiper��mese (36,5% vs 45% - p < 0,05; OR: 0,7; IC: 0,40,9); edema (12,7% vs 20% - p < 0,05; OR: 0,5; IC: 0,30,8); e cistose ovariana (16,4 vs 41,2% - p < 0,05 OR: 0,3; IC: 0,20,4). A ultra-sonografia foi o meio diagn��stico mais comum (89,2%), e o grande respons��vel pelo rastreio precoce da gravidez molar. CONCLUS��O: concluiu-se haver diminui����o da sintomatologia tradicional nas pacientes com mola hidatiforme quando comparadas a controle hist��rico, devendo-se o fato ao diagn��stico precoce proporcionado pela ultra-sonografia.

A curva de regress��o da gonadotrofina cori��nica humana �� ��til no diagn��stico precoce da neoplasia trofobl��stica gestacional p��s-molar?

OBJETIVO: avaliar a utilidade da curva de regress��o normal da gonadotrofina cori��nica humana (hCG) no diagn��stico precoce de neoplasia trofobl��stica gestacional p��s-molar (NTG). M��TODOS: estudo longitudinal, incluindo 105 pacientes com mola hidatiforme completa (MHC) acompanhadas no Centro de Doen��as Trofobl��sticas de Botucatu, entre 1998 e 2005. Os t��tulos da hCG s��rica foram mensurados quinzenalmente em todas as pacientes. Curvas individuais de regress��o da hCG das 105 pacientes foram estabelecidas. A compara����o entre a curva de regress��o normal estabelecida em nosso servi��o com as curvas individuais da hCG foi usada no rastreamento e diagn��stico (plat��/ascens��o) de NTG. O n��mero de semanas p��s-esvaziamento quando a hCG excedeu o limite normal foi comparado com o n��mero semanas em que a hCG apresentou plat��/ascens��o. RESULTADOS: das 105 pacientes com MHC, 80 apresentaram remiss��o espont��nea (RE) e 25 desenvolveram NTG. Das 80 pacientes com RE, 7 (8,7%) apresentaram, inicialmente, dosagem da hCG acima do normal, mas, no devido tempo, alcan��aram a remiss��o. Todas as 25 pacientes com NTG apresentaram desvio da curva normal da hCG em 3,8&plusmn;2,5 semanas e mostraram plat�� ou ascens��o em 8,4&plusmn;2,9 semanas (p<0,001). CONCLUS��ES: a curva de regress��o normal da hCG p��s-molar pode ser ��til para diagn��stico de NTG.

Obstetric outcomes in the second birth of women with a previous caesarean delivery: a retrospective cohort study from Peru

PURPOSE: To examine obstetric outcomes in the second birth of women who had undergone a previous cesarean delivery. METHODS: This was a large hospital-based retrospective cohort study. We included pregnant women who had a previous delivery (vaginal or cesarean) attending their second birth from 2001 to 2009. Main inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancies and delivery between a gestation of 24 and 41 weeks. Two cohorts were selected, being women with a previous cesarean delivery (n=7,215) and those with a vaginal one (n=23,720). Both groups were compared and logistic regression was performed to adjust for confounding variables. The obstetric outcomes included uterine rupture, placenta previa, and placental-related complications such as placental abruption, preeclampsia, and spontaneous preterm delivery. RESULTS: Women with previous cesarean delivery were more likely to have adverse outcomes such as uterine rupture (OR=12.4, 95%CI 6.8-22.3), placental abruption (OR=1.4, 95%CI 1.1-2.1), preeclampsia (OR=1.4, 95%CI 1.2-1.6), and spontaneous preterm delivery (OR=1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.7). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous cesarean section have adverse obstetric outcomes in the subsequent pregnancy, including uterine rupture, and placental-related disorders such as preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm delivery, and placental abruption.

Correlation between placental thickness in the second and third trimester and fetal weight

PURPOSE: To investigate relationship between placental thickness during the second and third trimesters and placental and birth weights. METHODS: From January 2011 to June 2012, a total of 250 singleton pregnant women presented at our antenatal clinic were enrolled in this prospective study. All recruited women were assessed at the 1st trimester screening for baseline demographic and obstetric data. The placental thickness was measured trans-abdominally by placing the ultrasound transducer perpendicularly to the plane of the placenta, in the area of the cord insertion at second and third trimester. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to establish the degree of relationship between placental thickness and birth and placental weights. RESULTS: Of 250 recruited participants, 205 women were able to complete the study. The mean age of cases was 26.4��5.1. Values of mean birth and placental weights were 305.56��657.0 and 551.7��104.8 grams respectively. Ultrasonographic measures of placental thickness in second and third trimester and changes between them were 21.68��4.52, 36.26��6.46 and 14.67��5.67 mm respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between placental thickness and birth weight in the second and third trimesters (r=0.15, p=0.03; r=0.14, p=0.04 correspondingly). CONCLUSION: According to our study, birth weight has a positive relation with both second and third trimester placental thickness; however, placental thickness change could not predict low birth weight.

Uterine Doppler velocimetry of the uterine arteries in the second and third trimesters for the prediction of gestational outcome

PURPOSE: The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate the value of uterine artery Doppler sonography during the second and third trimesters in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome in low-risk women. METHODS: From July 2011 to August 2012, a total of 205 singleton pregnant women presenting at our antenatal clinic were enrolled in this prospective study and were assessed for baseline demographic and obstetric data. They underwent ultrasound evaluation at the time of second and third trimesters, both included Doppler assessment of bilateral uterine arteries to determine the values of the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) and presence of early diastolic notch. The endpoint of this study was assessing the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine artery, for the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia, stillbirth, placental abruption and preterm labor. RESULTS: The mean age of cases was 26.4&#177;5.11. The uterine artery PI and RI values for both second (PI: 1.1&#177;0.42 versus 1.53&#177;0.59, p=0.002; RI: 0.55&#177;0.09 versus 0.72&#177;0.13, p=0.000 respectively) and third-trimester (PI: 0.77&#177;0.31 versus 1.09&#177;0.46, p=0.000; RI: 0.46&#177;0.10 versus 0.60&#177;0.14, p=0.010 respectively) evaluations were significantly higher in patients with adverse pregnancy outcome than in normal women. Combination of PI and RI >95th percentile and presence of bilateral notch in second trimester get sensitivity and specificity of 36.1 and 97% respectively, while these measures were 57.5 and 98.2% in third trimester. CONCLUSIONS: According to our study, it seems that uterine artery Doppler may be a valuable tool for the prediction of a variety of adverse outcomes in second and third trimesters.

Risco da ocorr��ncia de neoplasia trofobl��stica gestacional ap��s a normaliza����o da gonadotrofina cori��nica humana no seguimento p��s-molar

Disserta����o apresentada ao Curso de Mestrado Profissional em Sa��de Materno-Infantil da Universidade Federal Fluminense, como requisito para obten����o do grau de Mestre em Sa��de Materno-Infantil. ��rea de Concentra����o: Sa��de da Mulher e da Crian��a, em 16 de maio de 2014.OBJETIVO: avaliar o risco da ocorr��ncia de neoplasia trofobl��stica gestacional (NTG) ap��s a normaliza����o da gonadotrofina cori��nica humana (hCG) no seguimento p��s-molar. PACIENTES E M��TODOS: trata-se de estudo retrospectivo, tipo coorte n��o concorrente, colaborativo interinstitucional, realizado nos Centros de Refer��ncia em Doen��a Trofobl��stica Gestacional da SCMRJ, HUAP-UFF, ME-UFRJ, HC-UNESP e HC-UFG. Foram analisados dos prontu��rios m��dicos de pacientes acompanhadas nesses Servi��os, entre os anos de 2002 e 2013. Esse projeto foi aprovado pelo Comit�� de ��tica em Pesquisa. RESULTADOS: entre as pacientes que cursaram com remiss��o espont��nea, 10 (0,4% - 1 em cada 201 casos de MH) evolu��ram com NTG ap��s a normaliza����o de hCG (p<0,0001; IC95% 0,2&#8211;0,7). Quando se analisa o risco de NTG ap��s a normaliza����o de hCG nos diferentes tipos de gravidez molar, observou-se sua ocorr��ncia em 9/2016 (0,4% - 1 em cada 224 casos) dentre as pacientes com mola hidatiforme completa - MHC (p<0,0001; IC95% 0,2&#8211;0,7), de 1/982 (0,1% - 1 em cada 985 casos) dentre as pacientes com mola hidatiforme parcial - MHP (p<0,0001; IC95% 0,02&#8211;0,5) e em nenhuma das pacientes com gravidez molar gemelar - GMG. Consoante o tempo de normaliza����o de hCG, a ocorr��ncia de NTG foi observada em 1/1595 (0,06% - 1 em cada 1595 casos de MH) das pacientes cujo hCG normalizou com menos de 56 dias (p<0,0001; IC95% 0,01&#8211;0,3), enquanto que entre aquelas cujo hCG normalizou com mais de 56 dias a NTG ocorreu em 9/1416 (0,6% - 1 em cada 157 casos de MH) das pacientes (p<0,0001; IC95% 0,3&#8211;1,1), exibindo um OR de 10,19 (p=0,02; IC95% 1,29&#8211;80,58). CONCLUS��ES: o risco de NTG ap��s a normaliza����o de hCG �� ��nfimo. Parece-nos razo��vel que seja dada alta para a paciente com MHP ap��s a primeira dosagem normal de hCG. Nos casos de MHC e GMG, esse seguimento deve ser mantido por 6 meses.