An alternative method for the determination of element concentrations in schizophrenic, lung cancer and leukaemia patient bloods

Concentration of the elements present in schizophrenic, lung cancer and leukaemia patients’ bloods were determined using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) method. EDXRF spectrometer with an annular and sources was applied for the analysis of blood samples. A sample preparation procedure suitable for the EDXRF, the experimental approach, analytical method used in this study and the results were presented. EDXRF technique has been successfully used for the determination of elements present in blood.     

Design and characterization of nanocrystal formulations containing ezetimibe

Ezetimibe is a lipid-lowering compound that selectively inhibits the absorption of cholesterol and related phytosterols from the intestine. As ezetimibe is almost insoluble in water, its bioavailability is too low to be detected. Thus, the objective of this study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of ezetimibe by preparing drug nanocrystals utilizing ball milling, high speed homogenization techniques. Pluronic F127 was chosen as a surface modifier to stabilize the nanocrystal formulations. Nanocrystal formulations of ezetimibe were prepared by using ball milling and high speed homogenization techniques. Additionally, the physicochemical characteristics of ezetimibe and nanocrystal formulations were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray analysis and particle size analysis. Tablets were prepared containing ezetimibe nanocrystals formed by high speed homogenization (ultrasonic) and ball milling according to the results of particle size measurements and in vitro dissolution rates of the nanocrystal formulations. As a result of these experiments, it was found that the dissolution rate of the nanocrystal formulations increased and although tablet formulations which did not contain any solubilizing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS), the dissolution profile of these formulations were found similar to the commercial product.     

Bmp 2 and Bmp 7 Induce Odonto- And Osteogenesis of Human Tooth Germ Stem Cells

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) initiate, promote, and maintain odontogenesis and osteogenesis. In this study, we studied the effect of bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP 2) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP 7) as differentiation inducers in tooth and bone regeneration. We compared the effect of BMP 2 and BMP 7 on odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation of human tooth germ stem cells (hTGSCs). Third molar-derived hTGSCs were characterized with mesenchymal stem cell surface markers by flow cytometry. BMP 2 and BMP 7 were transfected into hTGSCs and the cells were seeded onto six-well plates. One day after the transfection, hTGSCs were treated with odontogenic and osteogenic mediums for 14 days. For confirmation of odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation, mRNA levels of BMP2, BMP 7, collagen type 1 (COL1A), osteocalsin (OCN), and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) genes were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. In addition to this, immunocytochemistry was performed by odontogenic and osteogenic antibodies and mineralization obtained by von Kossa staining. Our results showed that the BMP 2 and BMP 7 both promoted odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hTGSCs. Data indicated that BMP 2 treatment and BMP 7 treatment induce odontogenic differentiation without affecting each other, whereas they induce osteogenic differentiation by triggering expression of each other. These findings provide a feasible tool for tooth and bone tissue engineering.     

Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of interaction between antimalarial drug cinchonine and human serum albumin at physiological pH

In the present study, the interaction between cinchonine (CCN) and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated using differential pulse polarography (DPP), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and spectroscopic techniques in Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer pH 7.4. CCN displayed a main cathodic peak at ?1.228 V (vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl_sat) on mercury working electrode. The addition of HSA into CCN sulfate solution resulted in the decrease of the main reduction peak current of CCN and no new peaks appeared. The decay in the peak current of CCN, after the addition of HSA, showed a decrease in free drug concentration and formation of a biocomplex. The peak current changes of CCN in the presence of HSA were followed by DPP to determine the binding parameters. The logarithm of binding constant and binding ratio between CCN and HSA were 6.128 and 1: 1, respectively. This interaction was also confirmed by UV-Vis and FTIR-ATR spectroscopic measurements.