Spectrophotometric and atomic absorption spectrometric determination of ramipril and perindopril through ternary complex formation with eosin and Cu(II)

Two sensitive, spectrophotometric and atomic absorption spectrometric procedures are developed for the determination of ramipril and perindopril. Both methods are based on the formation of a ternary complex, extractable with chloroform, between copper(II), eosin and the two cited drugs. Spectrophotometrically under the optimum condition, the ternary complexes showed an absorption maximum at 535 nm, with apparent molar absorptivities of 6.55 and 4.00 x 10(3) mol(-1) x cm(-1) and Sandell's sensitivities of 5.80 x 10(-2) and 1.04 x 10(-1) microg x cm(-2) for perindopril and ramipril, respectively. The solution of ternary complex obeyed Beer's law in concentration ranges 10-60 and 20-100 microg x ml(-1) for perindopril and ramipril, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the two cited drugs in pharmaceutical tablets. The atomic absorption spectrometric method, directly through the quantitative determination of copper content of the organic extract of the complex, was also investigated for the purpose of enhancing the sensitivity of the determination. The spectrophotometric and atomic absorption spectrometric procedures hold their accuracy and precision well when applied to the determination of ramipril and perindopril dosage forms.     

Imaging of the dopaminergic neurotransmission system using single-photon emission tomography and positron emission tomography in patients with parkinsonism

Parkinsonism is a feature of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy. The results of post-mortem studies point to dysfunction of the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system in patients with parkinsonism. Nowadays, by using single-photon emission tomography (SPET) and positron emission tomography (PET) it is possible to visualise both the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and the striatal dopamine D2 receptors in vivo. Consequently, SPET and PET imaging of elements of the dopaminergic system can play an important role in the diagnosis of several parkinsonian syndromes. This review concentrates on findings of SPET and PET studies of the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system in various parkinsonian syndromes.     

Proinflammatory macrophage-activating properties of the novel phospholipid diacylglycerol pyrophosphate

We have found that the novel phospholipid diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), identified in bacteria, yeast, and plants, but not in mammalian cells, is able to potently activate macrophages for enhanced secretion of arachidonate metabolites, a key event in the immunoinflammatory response of leukocytes. Macrophage responses to DGPP are specific and are not mediated by its conversion into other putative lipid mediators such as phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, or diacylglycerol. The responses to DGPP are compatible with a receptor-recognition event because they are blocked by suramin. Intracellular signaling initiated by DGPP includes phosphorylation and activation of the Group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2 and of the extracellular-signal regulated p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p44 MAPK, and membrane translocation of the protein kinase C isoenzymes alpha, epsilon, delta. These results establish DGPP as a novel macrophage-activating factor and suggest a potential role for this compound in triggering homeostatic cellular responses.     

The changing presentation of pyloric stenosis

A triplet pregnancy in a 23-year-old woman was terminated at 15 weeks of gestation because of her severe hypertension, lung edema, and secondary hyperthyroidism. The pregnancy consisted of a hydatidiform mole with a 46,XY karyotype and two fetuses each with 46,XX and a 46,XY karyotype. To determine the zygosity and genetic origin of the mole and fetuses, PCR- and computer-assisted genotyping were performed at 27 CA-repeat marker loci that were distributed evenly over the genome. As a result, genotypes of the three pregnancy products were distinct from each other, indicating that the triplets were trizygotic. The mole lacked any maternal alleles but inherited both of the paternal alleles and/or one paternal allele in duplicate. This, along with the XY sex chromosome constitution, indicated that the mole resulted from dispermic androgenesis. The mother developed a persistent trophoblastic tumor thereafter.     

Low seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in feral pigs from a remote island lacking cats

Serum samples from 1,264 feral pigs from Ossabaw Island, Georgia were initially screened for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test (MAT) using whole-formalinized tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol. Seropositive samples were also tested by the Sabin-Feldman dye test, the latex agglutination test (LAT), and the indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT). Ossabaw Island is a remote, barrier island located southeast of Savannah, Georgia. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 11 (0.9%) of 1,264 pigs. The antibody titers were 1:20 (1 pig), 1:80 (2 pigs), 1:160 (2 pigs), 1:320 (4 pigs), and 1:640 (2 pigs) by the MAT, and 1:8 (2 pigs), 1:16 (3 pigs), 1:32 (1 pig), 1:64 (2 pigs), 1:128 (1 pig), and > or = 1:256 (2 pigs) by the Sabin-Feldman dye test. By the LAT, 5 pigs had a titer of > or = 1:64 and by the IHAT all 11 pigs had a titer of < 1:64. Antibodies (MAT titer, > or = 1:25) were found in 31 (18.2%) of 170 feral pigs from mainland Georgia. This seroprevalence on the mainland was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) as compared on Ossabaw Island. The markedly low prevalence of T. gondii on Ossabaw Island was attributed to the virtual absence of cats on the Island; only 1 domestic cat was known to be present.