Stability-indicating methods for the determination of olanzapine in presence of its degradation products

Simple, sensitive and precise spectrophotometric and chemometric stability indicating techniques were adopted for Olanzapine (OLA) determination in presence of its degradation products over a concentration range of 0.002-0.02 mg/mL. The spectrophotometric technique involves six methods; first method is first derivative (D1) spectrophotometric one, which allows the determination of OLA in presence of its acidic and alkaline degradation products at 261.2 and 260.6 nm with mean percentage recoveries of 99.90±0.48 and 99.95±0.67, respectively. While second derivative spectrophotometry (D2) was used for determination of drug in presence of alkaline degradation products. Second method is first-derivative of the ratio spectra (DR1) for determination of OLA in presence of its acidic and alkaline degradation products at 267.9 and 251.6 nm, respectively with mean percentage recoveries of 99.81±0.64 and 100.53±1.11, respectively. The third method is pH-induced difference method for determination of OLA in presence of its acidic and alkaline degradation products; with mean percentage recoveries 100.09±0.06 and 99.77±0.78, respectively. Fourth method is the Q-analysis (absorption ratio) method, which involves the formation of absorbance equation at 296.3 nm (isosbestic point) and 271 nm (λmax of OLA) for the determination of OLA in presence of its acidic degradation products. The mean percentage recovery is 100.07±1.51. Fifth method based on dual wavelength selection was developed for the determination of OLA in presence of its acidic degradation products with mean percentage recovery of 100.36±0.69. Sixth method based on simple mathematic algorithm by the bivariate calibration was also used for the determination of OLA with the mean percentage recovery of 101.72±1.10. The second technique is chemometrics, which includes determination of OLA in presence of its acidic degradation products using multivariate calibration methods (the classical least squares (CLS), principle component regression (PCR) and partial least squares (PLS)) using the information contained in the absorption spectra

Can continuous venovenous hemofiltration prevent contrast-agent induced nephropathy in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease after coronary angiography?

To determine whether contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) post coronary angio-graphy procedure can be prevented in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients by continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), we evaluated 98 CKD patients [52 (53.1%) were males, the mean age was 60.7 ± 11.0 years] who underwent coronary angiography from January 2004 to December 2006. Serum creatinine (Cr) before the procedure was 411 ± 79.9 μmol/L and crea-tinine clearance (Cr Cl) was 18.04 ± 4.26 mL/min. All patients underwent post procedure CVVH for 21.34 ± 2.12 hours. The mean time interval between the procedure and the start of CVVH was 44.3 ± 18.8 min. The mean serum Cr at discharge was 403 ± 88.4 μmol/L (Cr Cl 18.5 ± 4.61 mL/min) and was 423 ± 88.9 μmol/L (Cr Cl17.6 ± 4.27 mL/min) 15 days after the procedure. One patient (1.02%) developed worsening of renal functions that required repeated CVVH during hospitalization and ended up on regular hemodialysis. There was no in-hospital mortality. We conclude that CVVH is effective in preventing CIN after coronary angiography in CKD patients

Renal biopsy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: indications and nature of the lesions

<b>Background and Objectives</b> :<b> </b>The prevalence of non diabetic renal disease (NDRD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus varies widely depending on the selection criteria and the populations being studied.<b><i> </b></i>The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal biopsies performed on type 2 diabetic patients for suspicion of NDRD and to correlate the pathological with the clinical and laboratory findings. <b> Subjects and Methods</b> : We selected and reviewed biopsies performed on type 2 diabetics for clinically suspected NDRD from January 2006 to December 2008 at a single hospital<b>. </b>Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed in relation to the histopathology findings. Patients were grouped into either group I with isolated DGS or group II with NDRD on top of DGS. <b> Results</b> : Thirty-one biopsies were performed on type 2 diabetic patients; Seventeen patients (54.8&#x0025;) were males. Mean age was 50.68 (11.29) years. The mean duration of diabetes was 9.33 (3.6) years. Renal biopsy showed that among the studied group 14 patients (45.2&#x0025;) showed NDRD on top of DGS. Crescentic glomerulonephritis was the commonest finding seen in 3 cases (21.4&#x0025; of group II cases) followed by acute tubulointerstitial nephritis and hypertensive changes each was seen in 2 cases (14.4&#x0025;). Other findings included IgA nephropathy, primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, rhabdomyolysis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis each of them was seen in one case (7.1&#x0025;). Group I had a significantly higher level of proteinuria 4.97 (2.08) gm/24 hrs urine than group II 2.72 (1.09) gm/24 hrs urine (<i>P=</i>.003). There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, duration of diabetes, gender, presence of hypertension, hematuria, serum creatinine or glomerular filtration rate. <b>Conclusion</b> : The present study showed that crescentic glomerulonephritis is the commonest NDRD among diabetic patients. A higher level of proteinuria was reported among those with NDRD superimposed on DGS. So, Renal biopsy should be performed in diabetics when the clinical scenario is atypical

Apoptotic effect of crude scorpion venom on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line versus normal human epithelial cell line: In-vitro study

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the apoptotic effect of Leiurus quinquestriatus (LQ) scorpion venom on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal human epithelial cell lines, in an attempt to introduce a novel selective therapeutic modality for OSCC. Methodology: we explored the effect of LQ scorpion venom on OSCC cell line (HNO-97) compared to normal oral epithelial (OEC) cell line. The cell viability by MTT assay and the expression of PUMA by ELISA were analyzed. Cell cycle analysis was studied for both groups using flow cytometry. Finally, we compared the expression of ROS by ELISA. Results LQ scorpion venom showed selective cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on OSCC cells. In comparison to normal cells, significant dose dependent cell viability reduction, cell cycle arrest and increased expression of apoptotic marker PUMA as well as ROS were observed in cancer cell group in comparison to the control group. Conclusions:&nbsp; LQ crude venom exerts a strong cytotoxic effect against OSCC with minimal effect on normal epithelial cells, thus, providing a selective, effective and less toxic possible chemotherapeutic agent for such a malignancy

Glossario, per la lettura dell'Affigurato

Il capitolo ricostruisce il glossario dei termini tecnici relativi all'arte del costruire, secondo le terminologie in uso a Ferrara in età estense, che sono ricorrenti nella stima trascritta nel volume. Ogni voce del glossario è ampiamente commentata, con puntuali rimandi bibliografici e riferimenti ad altri documenti archivistici. Le voci del glossario sono state completate da alcune brevi citazioni che ne esemplificano l'uso nelle diverse accezioni e nelle varianti di scrittura

Clinical and biological significance of microRNA-127 and microRNA-138 expression in women with breast cancer: response to treatment and survival impact

Abstract Background and Objective Genetic and epigenetic changes characterize the multi-step process of breast carcinogenesis. It is believed that abnormal microRNA (miRNA) expression has a role in the onset and progression of breast cancer. This study aimed to examine the link between miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 and metastasis, tumor invasion, and apoptosis in Egyptian women with breast cancer, as well as their correlation with its molecular types. Methodology A total of 150 participants were included in this study, including 75 women with breast cancer and 75 supposedly healthy women who were age and gender-matched. Every patient underwent a thorough physical examination, a general clinical examination, a mammogram, and lab tests, such as the determination of the levels of miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 expression by real-time PCR and the measurement of blood carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carcinoma antigen 15–3 (CA15-3) and CA15-3 and CEA levels. Results There was a significant low expression of miRNA-127 in favor of high TNM stage (Classification of Malignant Tumors), left-sided tumor, metastasis, high-grade disease, increased axillary nodal involvement, absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and low antigen Kiel 67 (Ki67) expression. Also, a significant expression of miRNA 127 in triple-negative breast cancer was found, followed by human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) overexpression, then luminal B, and the highest expression was with the Luminal A molecular subtype. A significant negative correlation existed between miRNA 127 and miRNA 138 with CEA and CA15.3 levels. Conclusion The miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 suppression may promote metastasis. Consequently, the restoration of miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 in breast cancer may have therapeutic potential; so, the miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 may play a role in breast cancer development

Acremonium kiliense: Reappraisal of Its Clinical Significance▿

A case of Acremonium kiliense peritonitis is described. Diagnosis was established by repeated isolation of the fungus from peritoneal dialysate and by its identification on the basis of morphological characteristics and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). This report and available literature suggest that A. kiliense may have a greater clinical significance than hitherto recognized