Development and validation of a method for densitometric analysis of berberine in herbal extract and polyherbal formulation

OBJECTIVE

To develop a new high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the quantification of berberine in herbal extract and pharmaceutical dosage form.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The HPTLC was performed on aluminium foil plates coated with 200 μm silica gel 60F(254). Linear ascending development with toluene:ethyl acetate:formic acid:methanol 9:9:3:1 (v/v/v/v) was performed at room temperature (25 ± 2°C) in a twin-trough glass chamber saturated with mobile-phase vapour. Compact bands (R(F) 0.58 ± 0.02) were obtained for berberine. Spectrodensitometric scanning was performed in fluorescence mode at 350 nm. The method was validated for precision, recovery, robustness, specificity, and detection and quantification limits, in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization guidelines.

RESULTS

Linear regression analysis of the calibration plots showed a good linear relationship (r(2) = 0.9996 ± 0.0001) between peak area and concentration in the range 10-100 ng/band, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were 2.8 and 9.3 ng/band. The recovery of the method was 98.5-100.6%.

CONCLUSION

The above method was a rapid and cost-effective quality-control tool for routine analysis of berberine in herbal extracts and in pharmaceutical dosage form.

Impact of rainfall on residual subsidence in old coal mine workings

Subsidence over old coal mine workings can not be avoided if the underground workings are not fully filled. Existence of fire, illegal mining operation and seasonal impact (rainfall) aggravate proneness of subsidence over old workings. This paper deals with the causative factors of subsidence over old workings and its relation with rainfall with reference to Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields, India during the year 2007. The impact of subsidence has also been dealt in this paper.

Antillatoxin, a novel lipopeptide, enhances neurite outgrowth in immature cerebrocortical neurons through activation of voltage-gated sodium channels

Antillatoxin (ATX) is a structurally novel lipopeptide that activates voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) leading to sodium influx in cerebellar granule neurons and cerebrocortical neurons 8 to 9 days in vitro (Li et al., 2001; Cao et al., 2008). However, the precise recognition site for ATX on the VGSC remains to be defined. Inasmuch as elevation of intracellular sodium ([Na(+)](i)) may increase N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated Ca(2+) influx, Na(+) may function as a signaling molecule. We hypothesized that ATX may enhance neurite outgrowth in cerebrocortical neurons by elevating [Na(+)](i) and augmenting NMDAR function. ATX (30-100 nM) robustly stimulated neurite outgrowth, and this enhancement was sensitive to the VGSC antagonist, tetrodotoxin. To unambiguously demonstrate the enhancement of NMDA receptor function by ATX, we recorded single-channel currents from cell-attached patches. ATX was found to increase the open probability of NMDA receptors. Na(+)-dependent up-regulation of NMDAR function has been shown to be regulated by Src family kinase (SFK) (Yu and Salter, 1998). The Src kinase inhibitor PP2 abrogated ATX-enhanced neurite outgrowth, suggesting a SFK involvement in this response. ATX-enhanced neurite outgrowth was also inhibited by the NMDAR antagonist, (5R,10S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK-801), and the calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase (CaMKK) inhibitor, 1,8-naphthoylene benzimidazole-3-carboxylic acid (STO-609), demonstrating the requirement for NMDAR activation with subsequent downstream engagement of the Ca(2+)-dependent CaMKK pathway. These results with the structurally and mechanistically novel natural product, ATX, confirm and generalize our earlier results with a neurotoxin site 5 ligand. These data suggest that VGSC activators may represent a novel pharmacological strategy to regulate neuronal plasticity through NMDAR-dependent mechanisms.

Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency

Sermorelin, a 29 amino acid analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), is the shortest synthetic peptide with full biological activity of GHRH. Intravenous and subcutaneous sermorelin specifically stimulate growth hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary. Hormone responses to intravenous sermorelin 1 microg/kg bodyweight appear to be a rapid and relatively specific test for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency. False positive growth hormone responses are observed in fewer children without growth hormone deficiency after sermorelin than after other provocative tests. Adult data indicate that the combination of intravenous sermorelin and arginine is a more specific test and this merits evaluation in children with growth hormone deficiency. However, normal growth hormone responses to intravenous sermorelin cannot exclude growth hormone deficiency due to a hypothalamic deficit: subnormal growth hormone response to other provocative tests is needed to confirm the presence of disease in these patients. Limited data indicate that once daily subcutaneous sermorelin 30 microg/kg bodyweight given at bedtime is effective in treating some prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. Significant increases in height velocity were sustained during 12 months' treatment with sermorelin and data in a few children suggest the effect is maintained for 36 months of continued treatment. Sermorelin induced catch-up growth in the majority of growth hormone-deficient children. Slow growing, shorter children with delayed bone and height age appear to have a good response to treatment with sermorelin. The effect of long term treatment with once daily subcutaneous sermorelin 30 microg/kg bodyweight on final adult height is yet to be determined. The effects of the recommended dosage of sermorelin have not been directly compared with those of somatropin. However, increases in height velocity from baseline values with subcutaneous sermorelin 30 microg/kg bodyweight per day, given as continuous infusion or as 3 divided doses, were less than those in children receiving once daily subcutaneous somatropin 30 microg/kg bodyweight. Intravenous single dose and repeated once daily subcutaneous doses of sermorelin are well tolerated. Transient facial flushing and pain at injection site were the most commonly reported adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Sermorelin is a well tolerated analogue of GHRH which is suitable for use as a provocative test of growth hormone deficiency when given as a single intravenous 1 microg/kg bodyweight dose in conjunction with conventional tests. Limited data suggest that once daily subcutaneous sermorelin 30 microg/kg bodyweight is effective in promoting growth in some prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.

Role of different cytokines and seizure susceptibility: a new dimension towards epilepsy research

Epilepsy is a common health problem. Although variety of factors influence the incidence and prevalence of seizures, cytokines are considered to play an important role in seizures. Cytokines are also known to be involved in other neurodegenerative disorders. Proinflammatory cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha and growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as well as anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and related molecules have been described in CNS and plasma of experimental models of seizures and clinical cases of epilepsy. There are reports suggesting more predispositions to seizures during inflammatory conditions like colitis, pneumonia and rheumatoid arthritis. These inflammatory cytokines and growth factors are also known to have dual roles in affecting seizure susceptibility. It remains to be seen if cytokine modulators can be therapeutically exploited for patients with inflammatory disorder and suffering from epilepsy.

Appraisal of carbon monoxide emission at surface due to long standing underground fires in Jharia coalfield, India

Several locations of Jharia coalfield are affected by fire, and carbon monoxide (CO) is a product of active fires in coal mines. The paper deals with the investigation on emission of CO concentration at surface due to long standing fire at Lodna and Kusunda areas of Jharia coalfield. CO level was high at the point of emission from the surface (> 1000 ppm). CO concentration was confined within the smoke at the areas where only smoke was existing. The lateral spreading of the CO concentration was high all around the outcrop of fire.

Effect of Manuka honey and sulfasalazine in combination to promote antioxidant defense system in experimentally induced ulcerative colitis model in rats

Manuka honey (MH, 5g/kg) provided protection against trinitro-benzo-sulphonic acid induced colonic damage. Combination therapy (MH+sulfasalazine) also reduced colonic inflammation and all the biochemical parameters were significant compared to control and MH alone treated group. Combination therapy showed additive effect of the MH which restored lipid peroxidation and improvement of antioxidant parameters. Morphological and histological scores were significantly reduced in combination groups. In inflammatory model of colitis, oral administration of MH (5g/kg) and combination with sulfasalazine (360 mg/kg) with MH (5g/kg) significantly reduced the colonic inflammation. The results indicate the additive effect of Manuka honey with sulfasalazine in colitis.

The impact of analytic method on interpretation of outcomes in longitudinal clinical trials

AIMS

Various analytical strategies for addressing missing data in clinical trials are utilised in reporting study results. The most commonly used analytical methods include the last observation carried forward (LOCF), observed case (OC) and the mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM). Each method requires certain assumptions regarding the characteristics of the missing data. If the assumptions for any particular method are not valid, results from that method can be biased. Results based on these different analytical methods can, therefore, be inconsistent, thereby making interpretation of clinical study results confusing. In this investigation, we compare results from MMRM, LOCF and OC in order to illustrate the potential biases and problems in interpretation.

METHODS

Data from an 8-month, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled (placebo; n = 137), outpatient depression clinical trial comparing a serotonin-noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI; n = 273) with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI; n = 274) were used. The study visit schedule included efficacy and safety assessments weekly to week 4, bi-weekly to week 8, and then monthly. Visitwise mean changes for the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD(17)) Maier subscale (primary efficacy outcome), blood pressure, and body weight were analysed using LOCF, MMRM and OC.

RESULTS

Last observation carried forward consistently underestimated within-group mean changes in efficacy (benefit) and safety (risk) for both drugs compared with MMRM, whereas OC tended to overestimate within-group changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Inferences are based on between-group comparisons. Therefore, whether or not underestimating (overestimating) within-group changes was conservative or anticonservative depended on the relative magnitude of the bias in each treatment and on whether within-group changes represented improvement or worsening. Preference should be given in analytic plans to methods whose assumptions are more likely to be valid rather than relying on a method based on the hope that its results, if biased, will be conservative.

Comparison of caudal epidural bupivacaine with bupivacaine plus tramadol and bupivacaine plus ketamine for postoperative analgesia in children

This study compared the effect of single-dose caudal epidural bupivacaine, bupivacaine plus ketamine and bupivacaine plus tramadol for postoperative pain management in children having surgery for inguinal hernia. Following ethics committee approval and informed parental consent, 75 children ASA PS I and II, between three and nine years of age and scheduled for elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair with general anaesthesia were recruited. The patients were randomly divided into three groups to receive 0.5 ml/kg caudal bupivacaine 0.25% (group B), bupivacaine 0.25% plus tramadol 1 mg/kg (group BT) or bupivacaine 0.25% plus ketamine 0.5 mg/kg (group BK). The injections were performed under general anaesthesia. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry, respiratory rate and sedation and pain scores were recorded at defined intervals following recovery from anaesthesia. The groups were similar in age, weight and duration of operation (P >0.05). No patient experienced hypotension, bradycardia or respiratory depression. Duration of analgesia was (mean+/-SD) 6.5+/-4.1 h in group B, 9.2+/-3.9 h in group BK, and 8.5+/-3.1 h in group BT (P <0.05). More patients in group B required supplementary analgesics in the first 24 h (P <0.05). Sedation scores were comparable in all groups. Incidence of emesis and pruritus was similar in all the groups. Caudally administered 0.5 ml/kg bupivacaine 0.25% plus ketamine or bupivacaine 0.25% plus tramadol 1 mg/kg provided significantly longer duration of analgesia without an increase in the adverse effects when compared to bupivacaine alone.

A preliminary study comparing the endometrial expression of inhibin, activin and follistatin in women with a history of implantation failure after IVF treatment and a control group

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of activin: beta A and beta B subunit and follistatin in endometrium of women with implantation failure (n = 10) and compare it with a fertile control group (n = 7). Immunohistochemical staining intensity for follistatin in the endometrial glandular epithelium from women with implantation failure were significantly lower than that in control women (P = 0.03). The decreased expression of follistatin in epithelial cells in the endometrium of women with implantation failure after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) may suggest that follistatin may play a role in the implantation process.

Effect of propofol in altering pentylenetetrazol induced seizure threshold in rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of propofol in altering pentylenetetrazol induced seizure threshold in rats. Total 42 Wistar rats were used to evaluate different parameters (onset of action, duration of seizure, seizure severity score and number of seizure) following propofol injection. The present results showed that there was significant reduction in the time required for onset of seizure in propofol treated groups following PTZ treatment. If treated with propofol alone (2 and 5 mg/kg), there was no significant difference as compared to controls. In seizure severity score assessment, there was no significant difference with various doses of propofol alone treated groups, but the difference was observed in propofol (2 and 5 mg/kg) treated groups following PTZ treatment. Duration of seizure also significantly increased in propofol (5 mg/kg) treated group, but at 2 mg/kg of propofol treatment, no significant difference was observed. The present results showed that propofol ameliorate seizure threshold and caused prolongation of duration of seizure. However, further study and trials are needed to confirm the present results.

Patterns of depressive symptom response in duloxetine-treated outpatients with mild, moderate or more severe depression

AIMS

This was a post hoc analysis to determine whether baseline severity of depression influenced the efficacy of duloxetine in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) and to better characterise the symptom response profile for duloxetine in patients with mild, moderate or more severe depression.

METHODS

Data were pooled from four double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in which outpatients with MDD were randomised to duloxetine (60 mg/day) or placebo for 8-9 weeks. Patients were retrospectively stratified according to baseline 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAMD17) total scores: mild=total score<or=19 (duloxetine, n=246; placebo, n=184); moderate=20-24 (duloxetine, n=333; placebo, n=217); severe=25+ (duloxetine, n=127; placebo, n=87).

RESULTS

Duloxetine produced significantly greater baseline-to-end-point improvement vs. placebo (p<0.05) on the HAMD17 total score, Maier and retardation subscales, HAMD17 items 1 (depressed mood), 7 (work and activities) and 10 (psychic anxiety) in all three patient cohorts. The largest effect sizes were observed in assessments of core emotional depressive symptoms. A significant improvement for duloxetine vs. placebo was not observed for sleep-related symptoms at end-point or genital symptoms at any time point during acute treatment. With respect to the time course of depressive symptom improvement, the data show that regardless of baseline severity, the most rapid and consistent improvement for duloxetine compared with placebo was observed in the core symptoms of MDD (measured by the Maier subscale).

CONCLUSION

Regardless of baseline MDD severity, duloxetine at one dose (60 mg/day) produced a significant improvement compared with placebo on the core emotional symptoms of MDD.

Prognostic value of the measurement of uterine natural killer cells in the endometrium of women with recurrent miscarriage

BACKGROUND

Studies in mice suggest that CD56 + uterine natural killer (uNK) cells play an important role in implantation. Studies in humans have described an increase in the number of uNK cells in the non-pregnant mid-secretory endometrium of women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM). However, the predictive value of uNK cell number in the maintenance of pregnancy is controversial.

METHODS

A blind retrospective study was undertaken. The percentage of stromal cells positive for CD56 was identified by immunocytochemistry in endometrial biopsies from 10 normal control women and 87 women with unexplained RM, of whom 51 became pregnant following biopsy. Biopsies were obtained on days LH + 7 to LH + 9.

RESULTS

As in previous studies, the number of uNK cells in the 87 women with RM (mean 11.2% range 1.1-41.4%) was significantly higher (P = 0.013) than in the control women (mean 6.2% range 2.2-13.9%). No significance difference in uNK numbers was observed between 19 women who miscarried (mean 9.6% range 1.7-25.0%) and 32 women who had a live birth (mean 13.3% range 1.1-41.4%) in a subsequent pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study numbers of uNK cells in the peri-implantation endometrium of women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage did not predict subsequent pregnancy outcome.