Urinary neopterin excretion and dihydropteridine reductase activity in rheumatoid arthritis

A 61-day short-term prospective study comparing the efficacy of Chemiron capsules (Ferrous Fumarate 300 mg, Folic Acid 5 mg, Vitamin B12 10 ug, Vitamin C 25 mg, Magnesium sulphate, 0.3 mg and Zinc Sulphate 0.3 mg) with conventional ferrous gluconate and folic acid administration has shown that both haematinic regimens improve haematological indices in normal pregnant women. A significant rise in haemoglobin was seen in the Chemiron group on days 5 and 19 whereas a significant increase in packed cell volume was observed on days 5, 19 and 61. There were no significant differences between the mean value of platelets during the therapy period in either group. A significant rise in the mean reticulocyte values could be demonstrated in the Chemiron group throughout the study period. This study further shows that Chemiron has a better haematological effect than Ferrous Gluconate at the dosage used.     

Antagonistic effect of tetrahydroproberberine homologues on alpha 1-adrenoceptor

The antagonistic effect of tetrahydroproberberine (THP) homologues on alpha 1-adrenoceptor was studied by combination of radioligand binding assays and measurements of vasoconstriction responses. The results showed that l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), l-stepholidine (l-SPD), THPB-18 and tetrahydroberberine (THB) competitively inhibited the 125I-BE2254 specific binding in rat cerebral cortex with pK1 values of 5.54 +/- 0.36, 5.56 +/- 0.47, 5.75 +/- 0.56 and 6.01 +/- 0.60, respectively, and the Hill efficiency was not significantly different from unity. They inhibited phenylephrine-induced constrictions with pA2 values of 5.48 +/- 0.58, 5.66 +/- 0.54, 5.64 +/- 0.34 and 5.45 +/- 0.76, respectively, and the slopes of Schild plot were not significantly different from unity. The results indicate that the 4 THP homologues are non-subtype selective competitive antagonists for alpha 1-adrenoceptor with similar affinities.     

Application of thermogravimetry to loss on drying test and water-content determination of drugs

Thermogravimetry, one of the techniques of thermal analysis, was applied to the quality control of drug raw materials as a "Loss on Drying" or for "Water Content Determination". Twenty two kinds of drugs were selected for the comparison of the applicability of thermogravimetry with that of Loss on Drying Test and/or Water Content Determination by the Karl-Fisher method. In all kinds of drugs, it was ascertained that the results with thermogravimetry agreed well with those obtained by Loss on Drying test and/or Karl-Fisher method. In conclusion, thermogravimetry can be used as a substitute for the Loss on Drying test in cases where drug possess a water bound strongly. Further, thermogravimetry can be utilized for some drugs to which the Karl-Fisher method cannot be applied due to their insolubility in Karl-Fisher reagents.     

Anthraquinones, naphthohydroquinones and naphthohydroquinone dimers from Rubia cordifolia and their cytotoxic activity

Further investigation of the roots of Rubia cordifolia resulted in the isolation of four new naphthohydroquinones and two naphthohydroquinone dimers, and one known naphthohydroquinone, one naphthoquinone, two anthraquinones and one naphthohydroquinone dimer. The structures of these compounds were established by various chemical and spectroscopic methods including two dimensional NMR techniques. Also, the isolated compounds were submitted to a bio-assay for cytotoxic and antitumor activity.     

Advances in the study of neurohumors regulation of cerebrovascular circulation

During two outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, 68 children with acute respiratory illnesses were cultured for RSV using a Rhino-Probe (RP) nasal curette and either a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or a nasal wash (NW). In the first outbreak isolations of RSV by the RP nasal curette and NP swab methods were compared. RSV was cultured from 25 of 42 (60%) subjects using the RP nasal curette and from 20 of 42 (48%) subjects using the NP swab. In the second outbreak the RP nasal curette and the NW collection techniques were compared. RSV was isolated from 15 of 26 (58%) children evaluated. RSV was cultured from 14 of 15 (93%) patients by RP and 13 of 15 (87%) when using NW. In the group of culture-positive subjects, the TESTPACK RSV rapid antigen test was positive in 10 of 15 (67%) using the RP and in 6 of 15 (40%) using the NW. Like the NP swab the RP nasal curette was simple, noninvasive and relatively inexpensive, yet it was as sensitive as the NW for detection of RSV.