Evaluation of sutures after immersion in nonalcoholic benzydamine hydrochloride mouthrinse by scanning electron microscopy

This study evaluated the surface integrity of sutures after immersion in mouthrinse or water, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Pieces of resorbable suture remaining after oral surgery were immediately collected. Twelve pieces each of catgut, chromed catgut, and polyglactin 910 were divided into four groups and immersed in pure mouthrinse, mouthrinse diluted in water at 1:1 and 1:2, or water (positive control), for 24 h. Three pieces each of new sutures were used as negative control. Specimens were placed on stubs and sputter coated with gold for SEM analysis. Observation of experimental groups and comparison with controls revealed that immersion in the mouthrinse at different dilutions did not alter their surface; slight, nonsignificant changes were found in some experimental specimens yet also in the positive control group. It was concluded that immersion of resorbable sutures in water or non-alcoholic benzydamine hydrochloride mouthrinse did not produce any significant change; therefore, this mouthrinse may be safely employed after oral surgery.

Evaluation of the buccal vestibule-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine hydrochloride in impacted maxillary third molar extractions

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vestibular-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine with epinephrine 1: 100,000 and 1: 200,000, in impacted maxillary third molar extractions, without palatal injection. Materials and Method: Two hundred teeth were selected from patients age 15 to 46. Patients were divided into 4 groups: 1A, were anesthetized with 4% articaine 1: 100,000 and the surgery was initiated 5 minutes following anesthesia. 1B, used 4% articaine 1: 100,000 but the surgery was started 10 minutes after anesthesia. 2A, used 4% articaine 1: 200,000 the surgery was started 5 minutes after. 2B, used 4% articaine 1: 200,000 but 10 minutes was allowed for anesthetic diffusion before the initiation of in groups (50 extractions each) only buccal vestibule anesthesia was initially administered (i.e. no palatal injections were used). Results: The rate of sufficient vestibule-palatal diffusion, as determined by the lack of necessity of supplemental palatal anesthesia, was: 1A(84%), 1B(98%), 2A(78%), 2B(82%). Chi-square (X2) and residual analyses showed that a higher vestibule-palatal diffusion was obtained using 4% articaine 1: 100,000 with a period of 10 minutes (p<0.05). Conclusions: Most of the extractions could be performed only with vestibule anesthesia. However, vasoconstrictor concentration and the time interval between administration of the anesthetic and initiation of surgery did influence buccal vestibule-palatal diffusion of 4% articaine in the extraction models used.

Transition to raloxifene with and without low-dose estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women: effects on serum lipids and fibrinogen - a pilot study

Objective To compare the effects of transferring from low-dose transdermal estrogen to raloxifene (RLX), with a phase of alternate-day RLX therapy with or without low-dose transdermal estrogen, on serum lipids and fibrinogen in postmenopausal women previously administered estrogen plus progestogen therapy. Methods Sixty postmenopausal women (mean age 55 years) were randomized to one of two treatment groups: RLX + low-dose transdermal estrogen (RLX + E) or RLX + placebo. The study consisted of four 8-week phases: phase I (all subjects low-dose transdermal estrogen 25 mug/day), phase II (double-blind RLX 60 mg every 2nd day in combination with either low-dose transdermal estrogen or placebo), phase III (all subjects RLX 60 mg every 2nd day + placebo) and phase IV (all subjects RLX 60 mg/day + placebo). Results No significant differences existed between groups for baseline measurements prior to phase I. In phase I, for all subjects combined, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotem cholesterol both showed a significant increase (median increase of 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.008 and 0.4 mmol/l, p < 0.001, respectively), while triglycerides decreased significantly (median decrease of 0.2 mmol/l, p < 0.001). For the primary analysis (phase II to phase IV), the mean change from baseline observations showed no significant differences between the therapy groups for serum lipids, fibrinogen, vital signs or weight. In the comparison phase (phase II), changes in serum lipids, fibrinogen, vital signs and weight were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion Gradual conversion to RLX from low-dose transdermal estrogen, with a phase of alternate-day RLX therapy with or without low-dose transdermal estrogen, does not have any effect on the serum lipid profile or fibrinogen level.

Simple laccase-based biosensor for formetanate hydrochloride quantification in fruits

This work describes the development of an electrochemical enzymatic biosensor for quantification of the pesticide formetanate hydrochloride (FMT). It is based on a gold electrode modified with electrodeposited gold nanoparticles and laccase. The principle behind its development relies on FMT's capacity to inhibit the laccase catalytic reaction that occurs in the presence of phenolic substrates. The optimum values for the relevant experimental variables such as gold nanoparticles electrochemical deposition (at − 0.2 V for 100 s), laccase immobilization (via glutaraldehyde cross-linking), laccase concentration (12.4 mg/mL), substrate selection and concentration (5.83×10−5 M of aminophenol), pH (5.0), buffer (Britton–Robinson), and square-wave voltammetric parameters were determined. The developed biosensor was successfully applied to FMT determination in mango and grapes. The attained limit of detection was 9.5×10−8 ± 9.5×10−10 M (0.02 ± 2.6×10−4 mg/kg on a fresh fruit weight basis). Recoveries for the five tested spiking levels ranged from 95.5 ± 2.9 (grapes) to 108.6 ± 2.5% (mango). The results indicated that the proposed device presents suitable characteristics in terms of sensitivity (20.58 ± 0.49 A/μM), linearity (9.43×10−7 to 1.13×10−5 M), accuracy, repeatability (RSD of 1.4%), reproducibility (RSD of 1.8%) and stability (19 days) for testing of compliance with established maximum residue limits of FMT in fruits and vegetables.

Effects of Sevelamer Hydrochloride and Calcium Carbonate on Renal Osteodystrophy in Hemodialysis Patients

Disturbances in mineral metabolism play a central role in the development of renal bone disease. In a 54-wk, randomized, open-label study, 119 hemodialysis patients were enrolled to compare the effects of sevelamer hydrochloride and calcium carbonate on bone. Biopsy-proven adynamic bone disease was the most frequent bone abnormality at baseline (59%). Serum phosphorus, calcium, and intact parathyroid hormone were well controlled in both groups, although calcium was consistently lower and intact parathyroid hormone higher among patients who were randomly assigned to sevelamer. Compared with baseline values, there were no changes in mineralization lag time or measures of bone turnover (e.g., activation frequency) after 1 yr in either group. Osteoid thickness significantly increased in both groups, but there was no significant difference between them. Bone formation rate per bone surface, however, significantly increased from baseline only in the sevelamer group (P = 0.019). In addition, of those with abnormal microarchitecture at baseline (i.e., trabecular separation), seven of 10 in the sevelamer group normalized after 1 yr compared with zero of three in the calcium group. In summary, sevelamer resulted in no statistically significant changes in bone turnover or mineralization compared with calcium carbonate, but bone formation increased and trabecular architecture improved with sevelamer. Further studies are required to assess whether these changes affect clinical outcomes, such as rates of fracture.

EVALUATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF LEVAMISOLE HYDROCHLORIDE ON THIRD-STAGE LARVAE OF Lagochilascaris minor IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MICE

Lagochilascariosis, a disease caused by Lagochilascaris minor, affects the neck, sinuses, tonsils, lungs, the sacral region, dental alveoli, eyeballs and the central nervous system of humans. A cycle of autoinfection may occur in human host tissues characterized by the presence of eggs, larvae and adult worms. This peculiarity of the cycle hinders therapy, since there are no drugs that exhibit ovicidal, larvicidal and vermicidal activity. Given these facts, we studied the action of levamisole hydrochloride on third-stage larvae in the migration phase (G1) and on encysted larvae (G3) of L. minor. To this end, 87 inbred mice of the C57BL/6 strain were divided into test groups comprising 67 animals (G1-37; G3-30) and a control group (G2-10; G4-10) with 20 animals. Each animal was inoculated orally with 2,000 infective eggs of the parasite. The animals of the test groups were treated individually with a single oral dose of levamisole hydrochloride at a concentration of 0.075 mg. The drug was administered either 30 minutes prior to the parasite inoculation (G1 animals) or 120 days after the inoculation (G3 animals). The mice in the control groups were not treated with the drug. After the time required for the migration and the encysting of L. minor larvae, all the animals were euthanized and their tissues examined. The data were analyzed using the Student's unpaired t-test and the Levene test. The groups showed no statistically significant difference. Levamisole hydrochloride was ineffective on third-stage larvae of L. minor. These findings explain the massive expulsion of live adult worms, as well as the use of long treatment schemes, owing to the persistence of larvae and eggs in human parasitic lesions.

Prolonged cholestasis after raloxifene and fenofibrate interaction: A case report.

Assigning causality in drug-induced liver injury is challenging particularly when more than one drug could be responsible. We report a woman on long-term therapy with raloxifen who developed acute cholestasis shortly after starting fenofibrate. The picture evolved into chronic cholestasis. We hypothesized that an interaction at the metabolic level could have triggered the presentation of hepatotoxicity after a very short time of exposure to fenofibrate in this patient. The findings of an overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the liver biopsy suggest that angiogenesis might play a role in the persistence of toxic cholestasis.

Sevelamer hydrochloride: A novel treatment of hyperphosphatemia associated with tumor lysis syndrome in children

Background. Sevelamer is a phosphate-binder used effectively for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients treated with dialysis. Objectives. To describe the safety of sevelamer in children with hyperphosphatemia secondary to tumor lysis syndrome and the serum phosphate concentrations observed following its administration. Procedure. A retrospective chart review of all children with leukemia/lymphoma diagnosed between November 2002 and April 2004 who received sevelamer during their initial admission was conducted. We monitored the effects of sevelamer on serum phosphate concentration, calcium/phosphate product and renal function at hours 24, 48, and 72 from sevelamer initiation. Results. Thirteen patients received sevelamer during the Study period. Their median age was 13 years (range 2.7-17.9) and eight were boys. Nine children had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, one had acute myeloid leukemia and 3 had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The most frequently used dose of sevelamer was 400 mg orally twice daily. The median duration of sevelamer therapy was 2 days (range 1 -7). Two children were excluded from the efficacy analysis due to concurrent use of dialysis. Mean serum phosphate levels decreased after sevelamer administration, in eleven patients, from a baseline 2.2 mmol/L +/- 0.4 (95% Cl, 1.7-3.1) to 1.1 mmol/L +/- 0.2 at hour 72 (95%Cl, 0.6-1.5). The only toxicity attributed to sevelamer was mild vomiting in three patients. Conclusions. Sevelamer appears to be effective and tolerable for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia associated with tumor lysis syndrome.

In vitro compatibility of remifentanil hydrochloride and sufentanil citrate with selected drugs

: Objectives Physicochemical incompatibilities between intravenous drugs are a recurrent problem in intensive care units. The present study was aimed at investigating the physical compatibility of remifentanil and sufentanil with other drugs (insulin, midazolam, propofol, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, furosemide, heparin, monobasic potassium phosphate) that are frequently administered together intravenously. In addition, the physicochemical compatibility of three common associations of drugs was evaluated in glass tube tests and during dynamic simulated Y site administrations (remifentanil-insulin-midazolam; remifentanil-insulin-propofol; sufentanil-insulin-midazolam). Methods Physical compatibility was verified by visual inspection of the various mixtures (two, three or four drugs) in glass tubes and by pH determination of the mixtures collected during simulated Y site administrations. Solutions were considered as compatible in the absence of any visual change in the solution and of any significant variation in pH value. In addition, chemical stability was checked during in vitro dynamic simulations. The solutions were prepared in 50 ml syringes, placed on syringe pumps and connected to a Swan-Ganz catheter; the liquid collected at the tip was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results In the visual examinations, only the associations of remifentanil and furosemide were incompatible. The three assayed associations were compatible in the tested proportion range over 24 h. Conclusions Remifentanil was physically compatible with the tested drugs, except for furosemide (Lasix; Sanofi-Aventis, 250 mg/25 ml) and physicochemically compatible with insulin and midazolam and insulin and propofol. Sufentanil was physically compatible with all tested drugs and physicochemically compatible with insulin and midazolam

Recommendations for raloxifene use in daily clinical practice in the Swiss setting.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Raloxifene is the first selective estrogen receptor modulator that has been approved for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in Europe and in the US. Although raloxifene reduces the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer, it is approved in that indication in the US but not in the EU. The aim was to characterize the clinical profiles of postmenopausal women expected to benefit most from therapy with raloxifene based on published scientific evidence to date. METHODS: Key individual patient characteristics relevant to the prescription of raloxifene in daily practice were defined by a board of Swiss experts in the fields of menopause and metabolic bone diseases and linked to published scientific evidence. Consensus was reached about translating these insights into daily practice. RESULTS: Through estrogen agonistic effects on bone, raloxifene reduces biochemical markers of bone turnover to premenopausal levels, increases bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and total body, and reduces vertebral fracture risk in women with osteopenia or osteoporosis with and without prevalent vertebral fracture. Through estrogen antagonistic effects on breast tissue, raloxifene reduces the risk of invasive estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer. Finally, raloxifene increases the incidence of hot flushes, the risk of venous thromboembolic events, and the risk of fatal stroke in postmenopausal women at increased risk for coronary heart disease. Postmenopausal women in whom the use of raloxifene is considered can be categorized in a 2 × 2 matrix reflecting their bone status (osteopenic or osteoporotic based on their BMD T-score by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and their breast cancer risk (low or high based on the modified Gail model). Women at high risk of breast cancer should be considered for treatment with raloxifene. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women between 50 and 70 years of age without climacteric symptoms with either osteopenia or osteoporosis should be evaluated with regard to their breast cancer risk and considered for treatment with raloxifene within the framework of its contraindications and precautions.

Development and validation of a dissolution test for diltiazem hydrochloride in immediate release capsules

This work describes the development and validation of a dissolution test for 60 mg of diltiazem hydrochloride in immediate release capsules. The best dissolution in vitro profile was achieved using potassium phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 as the dissolution medium and paddle as the apparatus at 50 rpm. The drug concentrations in the dissolution media were determined by UV spectrophotometry and HPLC and a statistical analysis revealed that there were significant differences between HPLC and spectrophotometry. This study illustrates the importance of an official method for the dissolution test, since there is no official monograph for diltiazem hydrochloride in capsules.

Development and validation of a stability-indicating HPLC method for the determination of buclizine hydrochloride in tablets and oral suspension and its application to dissolution studies

A method using liquid chromatography has been developed and validated for determination of buclizine in pharmaceutical formulations and in release studies. Isocratic chromatography was performed on a C18 column with methanol:water (80:20 v/v, pH 2.6) as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and UV detection at 230 nm. The method was linear, accurate, precise, sensible and robust. The dissolution test was optimized and validated in terms of dissolution medium, apparatus agitation and rotation speed. The presented analytical and dissolution procedures can be conveniently adopted in the quality and stability control of buclizine in tablets and oral suspension.

Stability indicating HPLC method for simultaneous determination of moxifloxacin hydrochloride and ketorolac tromethamine in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple, RP-HPLC method was established for determining moxifloxacin and ketorolac in pharmaceutical formulations. Moxifloxacin, ketorolac and their degradation products were separated using C8 column with methanol and phosphate buffer pH 3.0 (55:45 v/v) as the mobile phase. Detection was performed at 243 nm using a diode array detector. The method was validated using ICH guidelines and was linear in the range 20-140 µg mL-1 for both analytes. Good separation of both the analytes and their degradation products was achieved using this method. The developed method can be applied successfully for the determination of moxifloxacin and ketorolac.

A study on the inhibition of mild steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid by pyridoxol hydrochloride

The inhibition of the corrosion of mild steel in 2M hydrochloric acid solutions by Pyridoxol hydrochloride (PXO) has been studied using weight loss and hydrogen evolution techniques. The inhibitor (PXO) exhibited highest inhibition efficiency of 71.93% at the highest inhibitor concentration of 1.0 x 10-2M investigated and a temperature of 303K from weight loss result. Also, inhibition was found to increase with increasing concentration of the inhibitor and decreasing temperature. A first order type of mechanism has been deduced from the kinetic treatment of the weight loss results and the process of inhibition attributed to physical adsorption. The results obtained from the two techniques show that pyridoxol hydrochloride could serve as an effective inhibitor of the corrosion of mild steel in HCl acid solution. The compound obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm equation.